Google apps customization: Star Wars Light or Dark Side?

The force is about to awaken and Google wants you to choose sides. But we welcome these features like new overlords, as we go “deep geek” during the final homestretch (“Chromestretch”?) toward next month’s opening of “The Force Awakens”. You can select your favourite side by visiting https://www.google.com/starwars. The latest edition to the Star Wars franchise stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis and Lupita Nyong’o, Collider reported. The Gmail inbox background will display light or dark side images.

Or maybe you always dreamed of flying a TIE fighter on your daily commute.

Google promises there will be updates between now and through December 17, the first night of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Google says there are also a few easter eggs hidden away for you to find, and more Star Wars additions will roll out leading up to the movie release.

Even if you’re not a fan, it can’t have escaped your attention that there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out soon. The Alphabet-owned internet giant has launched a campaign dubbed #ChooseYourSide, which adds subtle Star Wars-themed changes to YouTube and other Google properties.

Disney has partnered with Google, allowing mobile users to integrate a “Star Wars” theme into Google’s apps, the two announced Monday. If you leave them on, they’ll automatically deactivate on 1 February next year. Plus, Bavor teased “the Millennium Falcon in all its (virtual reality) glory”, so get those Google Cardboard headsets assembled and be prepared for a space tour.

According to Clay Bavor, VP of Product Management at Google, “And that’s just the beginning”.