Google, ever the world’s biggest supporter of the minimal user interface, appears to be having second thoughts about the advantages of ascetic design and no-frill search pages. If you go to the Google homepage while signed into your Google account, you’ll be (pleasantly?) surprised with a small link in the bottom-left corner titled “Change Background Image.”
Perhaps even more shocking than that link is where it takes you. One would expect it to show a nice selection of pre-prepared background designs showing taste and style. Perhaps some swirls, some modern art, some crazy tie-dye… Certainly not letting you choose and upload any photo of your liking to serve as your new Google background! Even more, the feature is directly connected to Picassa, letting you browse your own albums, the public Picassa uploads of other users, and more.
Update: This appears to be working only on Windows, at the moment. Looks like Google is taking this for a test-drive.
Not working for me in Safari or Chrome. And yes, I am logged in to my Google account. Could this be Windows only?
Actually, I just tested it on my MacBook and it seems you are right. Logged into the same account, it shows up in Chrome 6.0/Windows 7 but not on Chrome 6.0/OS X.
I’m using FF3.6.3/Win 7 and I don’t see it, so maybe it’s just a chrome feature,….
I have windows, tried mozilla, chrome, iexplorer and nothing. was positively signed in yet nothing.
please be careful as google may have a comeback on you Mahmoud.
c-ya.
Can i use this in Google German? I cannot find it. Thanks
In the german version the link is visible but with IE 7 I cannot see any Images.
Nice feature.
@ Andy mit SMS
Bei google Germany ist es unten Links in der Ecke zu finden.
Tried it, found the backgrounds distracting (one of the reasons I don’t care for Bing) – although settled on a nice dark blue background for some reason.