Treasure Hunt for Google’s Hidden Features
Ahoy, mate!
Did you know that our very own Google has quite the sense of humour?
All this while you’ve been searching for different content types all over the internet, you’ve been passing by a lot of treasures without knowing it.
And in this post, we’re going to reveal most of them. And while we’re on the subject of big reveals, did you know that you can rank high by doing little with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Google’s Treasures.
Google has been hiding a lot of things behind-the-search on the internet from billions of users all over the world. These features are quite interactive, and have been improving, over time.
Some of these treasures (in the forms of tricks and games) are entertaining, and can even be regarded as educative.
Some are just downright silly, proving that Google is more than just your typical search engine for the web. Especially now that it has added new features to better its search.
But most importantly, Google has tasked you, and all other users online to find and illuminate these treasures.
And we’re going to help you uncover some of them.
Google’s hidden features
What are Google’s hidden features?
There are quite a lot of hidden Google tricks to discover, actually, and they’re not necessarily limited to this list. But these 8 are the ones that really caught our attention:
1. Recursion
This first one is dedicated to all the computer geeks out there. Flashback to computer class and you might be able to remember the concept of “recursion“.
For those who do not have a clue what this means, it is when an algorithm simplifies a problem by dividing it into smaller pieces. This will allow you to solve that problem by applying the same algorithm to every piece of the problem.
Basically, it’s a “one stone, two birds” solution. The recursive solution is one where there are repetitions, and these repetitions continue until it covers the enter problem.
Now, what does this have to do with Google?
Well, search for the word “recursion“. Google will ask you if you meant “recursive” instead, deceiving you into thinking there’s no such word as “recursion“, or you’ve made a spelling mistake.
And when you click on the suggested “recursive” word, you’ll find that Google will ask you “Did you mean: recursive?“. This will repeatedly happen, every time you click on the suggestion.
And you might think you’ve found a pesky bug, but it’s not that deep.
Google is just messing with you.
2. You can flip a coin to kill indecisiveness.
If you’re known to be the world’s most indecisive person, then it’s time to find you your cure. You can now flip a coin for every decision or choice you’re uncertain about making.
Heads says you’re going to keep on reading this article to the end. Tails says you won’t.
Want to try it out?
Trick tip: Just type “flip a coin” into the search bar on your phone, or even your laptop. When the page is done loading, you should see a nice coin waiting to be flipped.
3. Google sky
Want to explore the universe without leaving your couch?
Then you can do this with Google Sky. It allows you to get a close-up and realistic view of space, and you can even pan your screen to view all the different planets, stars, galaxies, and so much more.
The best part is that it’s totally free.
Just type “Google Sky“, then click on the first page that pops up, and you should be there in no time.
Enjoy your view!
4. Watch your screen succumb to gravitational pull.
While a lot of us have plans to live out our dreams of floating in Zero G, it might excite you to learn that this one Google’s hidden features has other plans.
To see what this means for you, here’s a trick tip; just head on over to your Chrome browser now, and type in “Google gravity” into the search bar.
Next, click on search and then make sure to open the site with the exact “Google Gravity – Mr. doob” title, otherwise this won’t work.
And just as soon as you do it, the texts on your screen will literally fall to the bottom.
5. Barrel roll
Here’s something to make you dizzy. Google tries to show off with a perfect 360 spin in its Barrel roll feature.
And if you’re dying to see it, just search “Google barrel roll“.
Or why don’t we make this easier for you?
You can thank us later.
6. Retro Arcade games.
If you love classics, then you’re in luck. There’s a long list of old arcade games just waiting for you to play.
Like Zerg Rush, for example.
It is one game feature on Google that infests your device’s screen with “O“s that try to destroy your search results. To win, you have to eliminate the Os by clicking them in time, before they reach your search results.
There’s also the famous Pacman, the legendary Atari breakout where you have to deplete tiles with a ball bouncing off a moving slab, and the Snake game.
And let’s not forget the Dinosaur Race (which you literally have to turn off your connection to play), among many others.
7. Vintage Google.
We all love those old photographs of us when we were little. Of when our first tooth sprung out, or when we started walking.
And sometimes, we’d love to travel back in time to see all those moments by ourselves.
Well, if you want to get a glimpse of what baby Google used to look like, in the year when it was born, then you should know that it’s very possible to do so.
Trick tip: “Google in 1998“.
8. Askew
Whatever you do, do NOT type askew into your search browser.
Just kidding. You should totally do it. And you should do it now.
Why?
Because your search results will slant or tilt to the side.
Like this.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that there are still more secrets than these that we are yet to discover about our favourite search buddy.
But in time, all will be revealed in the treasure hunt for Google’s hidden features and tricks.