We all love Google’s Doodles, in which the classic homepage design is changed to mark a special anniversary or event. But if you’re anything like us, you probably wish that the Google logo was a little more fun every day of the year.
Fortunately, there’s a clever little and unofficial Greasemonkey script from Google employee Tiffany Lane that will let anyone using Firefox or Chrome personalize their Google homepage with their favorite Doodle all year-round.
If that sounds like a win to you, then head to the gallery below for a quick how-to on this super-simple process, along with a few of our favorite Doodle choices.
Getting Started...
You're a few small steps away from seeing your favorite Google Doodle every time you fire up Google.com. Here's how:
Firefox users who don't already have Greasemonkey installed, proceed to the next slide.
Firefox users who are Greasemonkeyed up can start their journey at the slide entitled "Firefox: Step 2."
Chrome users can click right on through to the 7th slide in this set, entitled, "Chrome: Step 1."
Go on! What are you waiting for?
Firefox: Step 1
First off, you need to install Greasemonkey, a very popular add-on that essentially lets you change and customize how standard web pages behave or look using JavaScript.
Head over to the download page, hit "Add to Firefox," click the necessary permissions, and restart Firefox (don't worry, your open tabs will be saved and reloaded). Once complete, proceed to the next slide.
Firefox: Step 2
So you have Greasemonkey going on, congrats!
Click through here to the "gmsearchscripts" download page, then proceed to the next slide.
Firefox: Step 3
Hit "Download It" and then "Install," then click to the next slide.
Firefox: Step 4
If your install has been successful, head to Google.com. You should see the Google LEGO Doodle showing up in place of the normal logo.
If you're in a real rush, you can click on LEGO logo to access the Google Doodle gallery and then choose your own doodle from there. Head on through to the next slide and we'll show you how to change it within Greasemonkey too.
Firefox: Step 5
This may be familiar to existing Greasemonkey users - you'll see a little monkey face on the bottom-right of your browser screen. You need to right-click on the face.
Select "user script commands" and then "Choose favorite Doodle." This will take you to the Google Doodle gallery where you can change your selected Doodle at any time in the future.
For now though, click through the gallery to slide 10, entitled "Now Choose Your Doodle!"
Chrome: Step 1
To get started, you need to get the download from the Google extensions listings.
You'll find the exact page you're after by clicking this link.
Chrome: Step 2
If you're already an extensions user, you'll know how easy this is. Just hit install and you're good to go.
Now click through to the next slide.
Chrome: Step 3
This being Chrome, and Greasemonkey boasting native support on the Google browser, you'll find that your install has kicked in seamlessly and if you head to Google.com, you'll see a special logo in place. Just click this to get to the gallery of available Doodles and then click through to the next slide.
Now Choose Your Doodle!
Good job! The hard work is over, so on to the fun stuff!
You are now ready to browse through the Google Doodles to pick the one you'd like to see gracing your homepage.
In the Google gallery, you will now see a button under every available Doodle saying "Make This My Favorite Doodle!"
Simply hit the button and your preferred pic will be loaded up.
And the best thing is that when Google does introduce a new Doodle, you will still see it, so there's no fear of missing a potential new fave.
If you're looking for a little inspiration, we've hand-picked our five recent favorites. Simply click through the next five slides to see them.
Alfons Mucha's 150th Birthday
This beautiful Doodle was shown in select countries to celebrate Czech art nouveau painter Alfons Mucha's 150th birthday (as in, if he hadn't died in 1939, he'd have been 150, not that he actually lived to that grand old age).
Nam June Paik
Celebrating the life and works of Korean-born video artist Nam June Paik (who coined the phrase "super highway") this animated Doodle was displayed on Korean Google homepages.
Peder Severin Krøyer's 159th Birthday
This Danish Doodle was created in tribute to Peder Severin Krøyer, one of the Skagen Painters, and features arguably his most loved work -- "Summer Evening."
Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa Returns
We're suckers for anything space-related, so we love this image that depicts the Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa's return after it was sent to collect material and data from the 25143 Itokawa asteroid.
Josef Frank's 125th Birthday
Josef Frank is perhaps better known as an architect that an artist, which, considering he set up the famous Vienna School of Architecture isn't surprising. However, this Doodle marks his birthday with a tribute to his style of illustration -- a skill that led to him being dubbed the father of modern Scandinavian art.
More Google Resources from Mashable:
- 10 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Google
- 10 Must-See Google Street View Sightings
- 5 Must-See Google Easter Eggs
- The Small Business Guide to Google Apps
More About: chrome, Firefox, gallery, geasemonkey scripts, Google, google chrome, google doodles, greasemonkey, how to, how to gallery, how tos, mozilla firefox
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