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Google Desktop Themes

March 20, 2007 | Links

Google recently released the new customisable themes for Google Personalized Homepage. To use a new theme just click the little “select theme” link on the right of the screen.

screenshot of Googles Personalized Homepage

The themes also update based upon your location (weather, time, and season all change) which is a very nice feature. I’ve never wanted a weather widget before, but I’ve got the bus stop theme running it looks great.

That’s another thing - the themes are lovely, they’re all very pastel and soothing but they also work very nicely and fit the Google style really well. I have noticed other google products being tweaked so that they look nicer/ more consistent recently and I really hope this trend continues.

This new skinning feature has actually gotten me interested in using the Personalized Homepage for something other than creating widgets for work (as seen in the screenshot :) ). I have tried using it before but always go back to the classic search - the site was too sterile before - which is a little funny coming from someone who normally shies away from themes and runs things as simplistically as possible.

So - what’s your favourite theme? And can anyone recommend any good widgets for the personalized homepage?

Comments »

  1. 1. Luke
    March 20, 2007

    That reminds me of this thing I use: Netvibes.
    Good idea though. I suggest a TNMT countdown widget!

  2. 2. electro^plankton
    March 22, 2007

    Hey! I hooked mine up too!

  3. 3. Matthew
    March 23, 2007

    its not there no more

  4. 4. Ben
    March 23, 2007

    Matthew - yes it is. Make sure you are on http://www.google.com/ig and not google.com. Also it doesn’t seem to work on other googles (.co.uk for example)

  5. 5. Ron
    March 26, 2007

    Only US locations? Try Amsterdam at 11 pm: bright daylight according to Google!

  6. 6. Ben
    March 26, 2007

    I’m not sure - it seems to work ok in the UK

  7. 7. jett galindo
    April 12, 2007

    hahah, i share the same sentiments. i try to steer clear from desktop themes, as it normally feels cluttering and heavy to the computer. but google’s desktop themes are really addicting!

    my favorite’s the Tea House theme. can’t get enough of the fox, lol.

  8. 8. Mike
    May 9, 2007

    Weather is a good feature, really.

  9. 9. Artem
    July 28, 2007

    I didn’t know till this time, that google introduced these themes. I am tired of seeing my Google page always the same. Need to get another one.

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