Can you recall how Google looked back when it first launched in 1998? Many current users have no idea the search engine originally sported a primitive design prioritizing utility over aesthetics. Thanks to a nostalgic Easter egg, we can revisit the retro 1998 version of Google.com.
This light-hearted trip down memory lane reveals Google’s spare early interface before it evolved into the powerhouse we know today. Beyond just the 1998 throwback though, Google still hides other fun surprises as Easter eggs inside its software.
In this guide, I’ll guide you on an Easter egg hunt through Google’s past and present, with stops including:
- What exactly are Easter eggs?
- Accessing the 1998 retro Google layout
- Additional Easter egg gems hidden in Google Search
- Easter eggs scattered across Google Workspace apps
- How the Chrome T-Rex game works offline
- Troubleshooting tips
- Easter egg support in rival browsers
So click that bookmark for Lycos and Altavista, set Netscape Navigator as your default browser, and let’s rewind back to the early days of Google on the open information superhighway!
What Are Easter Eggs in Technology?
Before we see Google’s old 1998 interface, it helps to cover what exactly an Easter egg refers to in tech.
Easter eggs are secret features or visual gags integrated intentionally into software interfaces and games. Tech companies add Easter eggs to connect with savvy users “in the know” and to inject an element of surprise and delight.
Popular Easter eggs over the years include:
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Films: Directors Alfred Hitchcock or Francis Ford Coppola making cameo appearances in movies they direct. The Godfather movies also used oranges to foreshadow a character’s impending death.
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Video Games: Hidden rooms with secret items in Skyrim. Unlockable Star Fox outfits for your Avatar in Super Smash Bros. Special items for using amiibo figurines in Animal Crossing. And many more.
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Browsers/Apps: Google search results doing a barrel roll or tilting askew. Unlocking Pride flags in Google Sheets. Making Mario Kart icons drive around Google Maps temporarily. And so forth.
Most Easter eggs are intended as light-hearted inside jokes between tech/gaming companies and their fans. Hunting for Easter eggs becomes a game itself for those Internet savvy enough to find them.
Now let’s revisit Google’s past…
View Google‘s Sparse 1998 Website Layout
When contrasting Google.com in 1998 versus today, the differences appear quite striking:
Google Circa 2022
- Refined logo with shadow effects
- Prominent toolbar navigation
- White space maximized designed
- Feature-rich including Images, Gmail, Maps and many additional Google products
- Voice search and camera icons built right into mobile search bars
- Knowledge panel shows related info to the left of some results
- Focus on beautiful aesthetics
Google Way Back in 1998
- Multi-colored logo with funky font choices
- Links line the top for Web, Images, Groups, and Directory
- Searches and results crammed top and center
- Only basic web search functionality, no other Google Workspace apps existed yet
- Dated web 1.0 graphics like mail icons and under construction signs
- Pure focus on search utility over stylistic design
Obviously Google now stands taller as a behemoth tech titan while the 1998 version proves quite minimalist by today’s standards.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane by accessing this retro layout Easter egg.
Access the Wayback Google 1998 Interface
Follow these simple steps to view Google’s old 1998 interface:
1. Launch Google Chrome
This Easter egg displays best in Chrome but also works in Firefox.
2. Search for “Google in 1998”
Literally type those words into the search bar then select the suggested result.
3. Relive 1990s Web Design in All Its Glory!
It may take a few seconds for the page to shift back in time. But soon you‘ll see a nostalgic interface resembling Yahoo circa 1998.
Take in observes on the vintage layout:
- That original Google logo! So much color and shadow work crammed together in a funky font.
- The top navigation shows essential links for Web, Images, Groups, and Directories. No Gmail back then and few other Google Workspace apps we rely on today.
- A simple search box and "I‘m Feeling Lucky" button occupy the bulk top-center space. Actual results load below. Pure focus on search utility.
- An "Under construction" graphic urges users to stay tuned for Google Labs and improved search features to come. Quaint!
When you‘ve soaked in enough web retro nostalgia, click the "Take me back to the present!" link. What a trip down early internet lane though!
Of course the 1998 Google Easter egg represents merely one of many fun surprises they hide. Next let‘s showcase other Google egg treasures…
Top Google Easter Egg Surprises Still Active Today
Beyond the 1998 throwback, Google still conceals many gems for users willing to hunt behind specific search terms. Give these amusing Easter eggs a try for some quick entertainment:
Do a Barrel Roll
Input this search phrase and your screen literally does a 360 degree X-Wing fighter spin. Enjoy the ride while avoiding motion sickness!
Askew
Feeling Goofy? Then query this word and watch your screen shift slightly to the right. It sticks askew until you click elsewhere to reset the perspective.
Anagram
When searching the word “anagram” one of the first suggested results that pops up is “nag a ram.” Looks like Google enjoys silly linguistic tricks as well!
Heart-Shaped Equation Graph
For math geeks seeking romance, this complex equation when plotted forms the shape of a heart. Geometry is the ultimate love language after all.
(sqrt(cos(x))*cos(200x)+sqrt(abs(x))-0.7)*(4-x*x)^0.01 Image Breakout
Google developers coded their own version of the classic 70s arcade game Breakout. Just search “Atari Breakout” then start batting the ball with your mouse or trackpad. But don‘t blame me if you can‘t stop playing!
The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything
Any fans of Douglas Adam’s sci-fi franchise The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series will instantly recognize the numerological reference behind this Easter egg result.
DVD Screensaver
We’ve all gotten hypnotized staring at DVD logo screensavers endlessly bouncing around our TVs. This Easter egg perfectly simulates that nail-biting wait to see if the icon will finally hit a corner.
As demonstrated above, Google hides jokes, movie references, and more behind search terms if you simply know the right phrase to look up. What other Google Easter egg goodies exist?
Easter Eggs Scattered Across Google Products
While Google search boasts the most Easter eggs by far, other surprises hide across their various Workspace apps and products:
Unleash the Pride Flag in Google Sheets
Open a Google Sheet document and type the word “pride” with one letter in each of the first 5 top row cells. Suddenly your spreadsheet transforms into a vibrant rainbow color theme for Pride Month.
Make UFOs Appear in Area 51 on Google Maps
Go to Google Maps and navigate to Area 51 military base deep in the Nevada desert. Now drag the small yellow Street View character icon around the map. Doing so summons a tiny UFO to beam down onto the nearby mountain! A fun way for conspiracy lovers to storm Area 51 virtually.
This represents just a small sample. Easter egg treasures lurk across the full suite of Google offerings. But what about when no apps work at all? Let’s explore Chrome’s offline T-Rex game for times without connectivity.
Play Google‘s No Internet T-Rex Runner Easter Egg
This dinosaur-themed Easter egg game surfaces not from a search term but rather lack of Wi-Fi connection. Specifically when Chrome cannot load a webpage due to no access, it triggers an endless runner style game.
Here’s how to activate it:
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Turn off your internet Wi-Fi or unplug the router cable.
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You‘ll now see the Chrome browser display the standard “No Internet” error page.
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Simply tap your keyboard spacebar once.
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The page transforms into an 80s style pixelated game with your T-Rex hopping over cacti and pterodactyls.
You can play the T-Rex Runner indefinitely every time your internet cuts out. Although reaching 99,999 points resets your score back to zero unfortunately.
If you don‘t want to manually disable internet, visit chrome://dino/ to load the game instantly on any Wi-Fi. It serves as a nice quick distraction when nothing else will launch without connectivity.
Now let‘s tackle what to do if Easter eggs don‘t load properly before examining rival browser eggs.
Troubleshooting When Easter Eggs Don‘t Appear
If you search an Easter egg trigger phrase but still don‘t see any special effect occur on your screen, try these troubleshooting tips:
Update Your Browser
Maybe you‘re not running the newest Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari software version with the latest Easter egg coding intact. Upgrading often resolves display issues.
Use a Different Browser
Certain Easter eggs only appear in Chrome for example. If a phrase doesn‘t trigger anything unusual in Safari, try Chrome and vice versa.
Refresh the Page
Sometimes browser caches get stuck loading old page versions without new eggs loading. Simply refreshing forces the latest update.
With browser troubleshooting addressed, let’s do a final comparison…
Easter Egg Support Across Other Browsers
Google isn’t the only tech company baking special surprises into their software these days. Here‘s a quick comparison versus other browser Easter egg offerings:
Mozilla Firefox: Dubbed “about pages,” Firefox Easter eggs activate by typing certain words after about:. For example about:robots displays an army of Firefox mascots while about:config opens advanced browser preferences.
Microsoft Edge: Arguably Edge‘s most famous Easter egg is typing edge://surf to fill your entire browser with an animated ocean and surfboard! Customizing the default new tab page background also qualifies.
Apple Safari: Open a new Safari tab and hold Command⌘+Shift+G to initiate a Space Invaders style shooter game on the page itself. Safari also inserts fireworks on Chinese New Year.
Opera: Like Chrome, Opera has offline browsing T-Rex games but with different themes and obstacles. One natural scenery Easter egg even lets your browser tab transform into a customizable Zen garden for relaxation.
As demonstrated above, all major tech brands bake special surprises into their software experience. It becomes an engaging way for companies to reward power users who know where to look off the beaten path.
So now that you know about Google’s old 1998 design plus many other eggs out there, it’s your turn to start hunting! Finding Easter eggs can inject a sense of unexpected delight into otherwise mundane browsing.
P.S. Want to experience the earliest days of the internet yourself? I recommend revisiting early versions of classic sites via The Wayback Machine digital archive. Mosaic browsers and blinking “Under Construction” .GIFs for all! Just mind the web design hazmat suit.
Sincerely,
Jayce – Your Friendly Neighborhood Internet Tour Guide
