Google goes pretty
Example of Googles seasonal logos
Google has long been known as the most minimalistic, yet still incredibly functional, site around.
While its not unusual for Google's logo for certain occasions to be 'pretty', the rest of the page - and even most of their services have used a very familiar white-blue-grey theme. In a sense, for a huge player in the 'Web 2.0' evolution, they've stuck to a more common 'Web 1.0' look (apart from services they've bought).
Today, however, Google's personalised pages have had themes added.
As a user of a lot of Google services (there isn't a viable free/open-source alternative in a lot of cases. Look at Gmail for example; while RoundCube provides a lot of the functionality, its buggy and slow. Oh, sure, there is Horde IMP/SquirrelMail, but I'm talking about AJAX goodness) I'm welcoming these changes - I've already updated my personalised Google homepage to the 'japanese tea set'. I just wish all the other Google branded services took on the theme as well! ;)
[Via SMH]
Ah, very cool!
They've added a number of easter eggs, if you care to look.
It also seems as though it could be easy to hack to make your own theme. See time-based skin: http://www.google.com.au/ig/skins/teahouse.xml
Cool stuff:
- The Bus Stop theme changes depending upon weather. (snowy, raining, foggy, etc)
- The other themes change depending upon time of day, and at 3:14AM, they have a different theme. eg: the Tea House one has little … things appearing: http://www.google.com/ig/images/skins/teahouse/3.14am/header_bg.jpg
The Cityscape has aliens abducting people:
http://www.google.com/ig/images/skins/cityscape/3.14am/header_tile.jpg
Sweet Dreams has the Pi symbol picked out in stars:
http://www.google.com/ig/images/skins/sweetdreams/3.14am/header_bg.jpg
The Beach theme has Lochy appearing:
http://www.google.com/ig/images/skins/beach/3.14am/header_bg.jpg
And, for Winterscape - there's just an aurora:
http://www.google.com/ig/images/skins/winterscape/3.14am/header_bg.jpg
There might be other hidden stuff, but I haven't found it yet :)