Google Easter Eggs and Hidden Gems

An Easter egg is a hidden feature that the programmers have deliberately put in their software, often for their own amusement.

Generally, it is something entertaining but hidden, and has been put there on purpose by the developer.

A true Easter egg needs to satisfy the following criteria,

1. Hidden and un-documented
2. Reproducible
3. Not malicious
4. Entertaining

Google is well renowned for their many Easter Eggs.. and without further ado, here is a list of some of my favourites.

Google Reader’s Secret Ninja Mode

In case you missed it, the commands (using your arrow keys and keyboard) in Google Reader are,

up + up + down + down + left + right + left + right + b + a

.. just repeat these commands to “undo”

If you are an old school gamer, then you will recognise this to be the legendary Konami code. Just for fun, try entering the Konami code at Konami Code Sites.

Google Search

Chuck Norris

Several years ago there was a Chuck Norris phenomenon happening and Google also jumped on board.

In Google search type in “where is chuck norris” then click on <I’m feeling lucky>,

Google’s search result says,

Google won’t search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don’t find Chuck Norris, he finds you.

Answer to Life the Universe and Everything

This is an oldie but a goodie.

The answer to life the universe and everything is 42.. according to Douglas Adams in his book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

In Google search type in answer to life the universe and everything.. then click <Google Search>,

Google knows the answer too,

Recursion

This Easter egg is for the true geeks..

In Google search type in recursion.. then click <Google Search>,

Google will display,

.. click on this link..

Google will now display,

.. recursively..

Ascii Art

Searching for ascii art turns Google’s logo into Ascii art,

Number of Horns on a Unicorn

In Google search type in number of horns on a unicorn.. then click <Google Search>,

..one, right?

Once in a Blue Moon

The saying once in a blue moon refers to a period of time in which something doesn’t happen that often.

Technically, it’s when there are two full moons appearing in one calendar month.

When this is Googled,

Google gives the actual period of time in which a blue moon appears.. about once in every 32 months,

Worst Band in the World

Google has a sense of humour with this one.

Google worst band in the world.. then click <Google Search>,

Google will also offer you to see results for Creed (the worst band in the world),

Google Pig Latin

The Google search page for Google Pig Latin,

Google Bork

The Google search page for the Swedish Chef Bork from the Muppets,

Google Pirate

The Google search page for Pirates,

Google Hacker

The Google search page for Hackers,

Google Elmer Fudd

The Google search page for Elmer Fudd,

Google Klingon

The Google search page for Star Trek’s Klingons,

Google Gothic = Googoth

Google google gothic.. then click on <I’m Feeling Lucky>,

Where are my socks?

Google Where are my socks?.. then click on <I’m Feeling Lucky>,

Easter Egg Game

Try to catch the Easter eggs,

French Military Victories

In Google search type in french military victories.. then click on <I’m feeling lucky>,

The result returned is the albinoblacksheep.com’s owner taking advantage of Google’s ranking system,

Niniane Kicks Ass!

Niniane Wang was an engineering manager at Google.. and after winning a bet, her Google colleague Dan Egnor renamed Google’s HQ (Googleplex), on Google Maps.. to Niniane Kicks Ass!,

466453.com

If you enter the word Google into a mobile phone it spells out 466453..

Try entering 466453.com into your address bar,

Google Earth

Martians on Mars

In Google Earth go into Mars mode by selecting View –> Explore –> Mars,

Then search for Meliza,

You wll be taken to Meliza the Martian.. and can even converse with it,

Flight Simulator

If you press Ctrl+Alt+A in Google Earth.. a flight simulator game will appear,

The keyboard controls for the flight simulator can be found here.

Google Translate

Enter the term table into Google Translate from Spanish to English.. translates to “Is there a striptease bar in the town?“,

Enter the term não into Google Translate from Portuguese to English.. translates to “Can I sit in a non-smoking area?“,

Google Maps

The Google employees knew when the Google car drive past whilst mapping out the streets of Mountain View, CA.,

The Street With a View project collaborated with Google during the mapping of Sampsonia Way, Pittburgh,

Driving Directions

Google Maps has a nice little Easter egg when asking for driving directions from San Francisco to Tokyo,

Google Chrome

When putting Google Chrome into incognito mode.. Google tells you this doesn’t affect the behaviour of other people.. especially Surveillance by secret agents and People standing behind them,

iPhone – Bells and Whistles

In Google’s iPhone app there is a hidden feature.. click on Settings,

then continue to scroll UP.. a hidden menu item will appear called Bells and Whistles will appear,

April Fool’s Day

Since 2000 Google have come up with some cool hoaxes on April Fool’s day.. here are some of them.

2000 – Google MentalPlex

Rather than typing your search query, Google MentalPlex reads your thoughts as you stare into the MentalPlex circle,

2002 – Pidgeon Rank

The technology behind Google’s great results is officially explained,

2004 – G-Cheese: Google Copernicus Hosting Environment and Experiment in Search Engineering

Google said they were interviewing for engineering positions on the moon,

2005 – Google Gulp

You can’t make Google searches smarter.. but you can make the people performing searches smarter.. with Google Gulp,

2006 – Google Romance

Dating is a search problem. Solve it with Google Romance,

Google TiSP (Toilet Internet Service Provider)

Google provides free wireless broadband,

2007 – Gmail Paper

Gmail Paper was part of April Fools Day 2007.. where users could get a hard copy of their Gmail’s,

2008 – AdSense for Conversations

Display Google ads in an unobtrusive screen above your head,

Google Weblogs

Among other things, allows you to publish text to the web and your most recent blog posts appear at the top of the page..,

Google gDay with MATE

Search tomorrow’s web, today! Google Australia has introduced a new feature, enabling you to search content on the internet before it is created,

Gmail Custom Time

Any email you send to the past appears in the proper chronological order in your recipient’s inbox,

Have YOU found any cool Google Easter eggs?

Let us know!

Enjoy!

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