We are not sure if Google is on the Light or Dark side, but one thing for sure – the Force has awakened within Google.
Google has launched a new Easter egg themed around the highly anticipated movie, “The Force Awakens”. We won’t spoil the surprise for you – go to google.com now and search for “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” under the search bar.
This latest Easter egg is not all. Google has partnered with Disney to promote the movie and come up with other Star Wars-themed enhancements to your Google experience.
You can also add Star Wars customisation to your desktop and apps by going to www.google.com/starwars to get the Light or Dark Side browser tool kit. You will be asked to choose the Light or Dark side, and selecting either will add enhancements such as YouTube’s progress bars turning into lightsabers, the inclusion of alien languages in Google Translate and Star Wars-themed backgrounds in Gmail. In Google Maps, the “pegman” turns into a First Order Stormtrooper or Resistance Pilot, and flies to your destination in either a TIE fighter or X-wing. And, don’t be surprised to find your Google calendar filled with Star Wars-related events.
Between now and the movie’s 8 December release, Google will be adding more experiences.
In a post on his company blog, Clay Bavor, VP of product management at Google, said: “It’s a place for fans, by fans, and starting today you can choose the light or the dark side, and then watch your favorite Google apps like Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and many more transform to reflect your path.
“And that’s just the beginning. We’ve got more coming between now and opening night–the Millennium Falcon in all its (virtual reality) glory included, so stay tuned. And we’ve hidden a few easter eggs, too.”
The settings can be turned off at any time. In any case, these Star Wars enhancements will deactivate on 1 February 2016. So, have fun while it lasts.
