Kodeclik Blog
Beyond its powerful search capabilities, Google delights users with an array of hidden treasures and interactive surprises. From seasonal animations that bring holidays to life with flying Santas and spooky Halloween ghosts, to educational games like the Pi memory challenge where you can test your numerical recall.
Below are the list of things you can explore!
Type "do a barrel roll" into the search bar and watch as your entire screen rotates 360 degrees (the picture below is a screenshot still while it was rotating). This playful nod to the Star Fox video game series is sure to surprise and delight.
Search for "askew" and witness the search results page tilt slightly to the right, adding a quirky twist to your browsing experience.
Type "dvd screensaver" and it will send Google logo bouncing around your browser window! (Note the position of the Google logo in the middle of the screen, screenshotted while it was bouncing around the screen)
Need to make a quick decision? Type "flip a coin" or "roll a die" into the search bar, and Google will provide a virtual coin toss or die roll.
As another variation on the above, click the microphone icon in the Google search box and say "flip a coin," "coin toss," or "heads or tails" for a virtual coin flip.
Go to google.com, type "zerg rush" and click "I'm Feeling Lucky".When activated, a swarm of "O" characters will descend from the search bar and begin attacking your search results. Your objective is to double click the Os before they multiply and protect your search results from being consumed!
They will keep gobbling up the page till your screen is completely overwhelmed! At the end, you will see "GG" (meaning "good game"), a reference to gaming culture.
Google created a playable Pac-Man game as a Google Doodle to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic arcade game. Just type “Pac-Man” and click “I am feeling lucky”.
Similarly, type Solitaire” on Google and click “I am feeling lucky”.
Interestingly this game is built into your Chrome Browser and works when the Internet connection is off! Say your power supply or Internet is out and you are bored. You will see a little Dino character on your Chrome Browser that you can use the space bar to jump over hurdles. Because the code for this game is built into your browser, it will work even without a network!
Perform quick calculations by simply typing your equation into the search bar, such as "23 x 57" or "123 / 4.5".
Easily convert currencies or units by typing queries like "5 USD to EUR" or "10 kilometers to miles".
Set a timer or use a stopwatch by searching for "set timer for x minutes" or just say "stopwatch".
Search for "the answer to life, the universe and everything" and get back a playful reference to Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
Click the camera icon in the image search box to upload or drag in an image. This feature is great for identifying fake photos or finding the source of an image.
Type “anagram” into Google and it will say “Did you mean: nag a ram”.
Type “recursion” into Google and it will say “Did you mean recursion”.
Google usually creates themed results; for instance,
- Halloween brings spooky ghosts in search results.
- Christmas shows Santa flying across the screen.
- Hanukkah displays a glowing Menorah.
- Kwanzaa shows a golden background with traditional patterns.
To enhance search precision:
- Use quotes for exact phrase matching to get specific results.
- Exclude unwanted terms with the minus sign (-) to filter out irrelevant content.
- Search within specific websites using "site:" operator.
- Find content within number ranges using two periods (..) between numbers.
For improved content discovery:
- Use wildcards (*) to find unknown words in phrases or lyrics.
- Search multiple terms simultaneously using OR operator.
- Find related websites using the "related:" operator.
- Search specific file types using "filetype:" operator.
Also, try out these advanced features:
- Perform reverse image searches to find image sources.
- Convert measurements and units instantly.
- Use Advanced Search page for more detailed parameters.
- Search within specific date ranges or locations.
All the above tricks transform basic searching into a more powerful tool for research, fact-finding, and efficient information retrieval.
In conclusion, whether you're solving a virtual Rubik's Cube or watching your screen do a barrel roll, Google's platform proves that even the most sophisticated technology can have a delightfully whimsical side.
If you liked the above and know of other tricks we missed, write and let us know!
