Also works for searches ‘Times new roman’ and ‘Courier new font’, but not for ‘Lucida console font’ or ‘Dejavu sans font’.
Actually…
Seems like the font being used by this Google’s Easter Egg is not exactly the Comic Sans (because it’s copyrighted) but something that resembles it.
If you zoom in, you’ll notice some subtle differences. For example: the lowercase A is curved at its “tail” under Comic Sans, but it’s a straight line under the Google’s font. The “tails” of the uppercase S are also more “curved” under Comic Sans.
I was just thinking it didn’t feel as offensive as I remembered. Seems that the fake comic sans is more normal.
Comic Sans is freeware. Also, they can use CSS to force Comic Sans if installed.
Comic Sans is freeware
Unfortunately, no… It’s neither freeware nor open source, as per https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/font-list/comic-sans-ms
It’s copyrighted to Microsoft Corporation. It only comes with Windows installations and with Microsoft Office installations, both of which aren’t freeware as well.
While any person with access to a functional Windows installation could copy the files from C:/WINDOWS/Fonts, it doesn’t mean that the file can be freely used legally, especially for embedding within the web, especially by another big tech corporation which Google is.
they can use CSS to force Comic Sans if installed.
Indeed (the CSS font fallback feature), but considering that the OP is using Google Search app, it’s Android so it isn’t expected to have the font (except if they manually installed the font using a file copied from a Windows installation) .
That’s definitely not Comic Sans. It’s similar – you can compare the screenshots in the image – but I’m guessing it’s a licensing or cross-platform thing and they’re using a Google webfont?
There are several easter eggs that still work. A few of my favorites:
- Search roll a die and it’ll bring up a special box with a virtual die in it.
- Search askew to tilt the page.
- Search either do a barrel roll or z or r twice to make the page spin.
- Search recursion and it suggests you search “recursion” instead.
- Search anagram and it suggests “nag a ram”.
- Go to the Google frontpage, type zerg rush there, and hit “I’m Feeling Lucky” for a swarm to destroy the search results.
It’s the phrase “that still work” in there that’s depressing.
A lot of these are holdovers from Google’s cool new kid phase back before hope for the future died.
In case you needed any more proof that Google has become the evil thing it originally promised not to be…
Another but if Comic Sans trivia, it was originally designed for Microsoft Bob OS. However it was not finished in time to be included.
For those not aware, this is what Bob looked like.
