Gmail, like Google Maps, has been seeing updates like crazy recently. The latest appears to be the ability to color-code your labels! (update below, I’m seeing them now)

Of all the recent updates, this one might be the most useful to me. I love the simplicity of the Gmail ’star’, but I have so many starred items at this point that it’s almost pointless to star anything else. I was looking for some new way to differentiate important emails I receive and has begun using a ‘TO REPLY’ new label, but was looking for more of a visual reminder as well – this will do just the trick.

As you can see from the screen-capture, you’ll be able to pick a color for each label much like you do for calendars in Google Calendar, and that color will then be the backdrop for the label itself in Gmail.

This feature was first reported in October when Google Operating System did some digging through the new Gmail code. Some users are reportedly already seeing this update, but I sadly am not one of them yet. Anyone else seeing it?

[UPDATE]: And now I’m seeing the labels on one of my *many* Gmail accounts. Very nice feature.

[UPDATE 2]: Now all my accounts are showing the colored labels – sign out and sign back in again to check yours.

[UPDATE 3]: Here’s the Official Gmail Blog on the update. Interestingly they say:

*P.S. We actually kinda like folders. In fact, we’re doing some work to add some folder-y-ish functionality. Stay tuned.

Interesting… They also say the new features only work in IE7 and Firefox 2, but I’m using them right now in Camino and Safari.