Google’s foray into the commercial-hardware space has inspired the company to roll out a new marketing effort for the holidays called Winter Wonderlabs. Consumers can visit the temporary installations to try out the latest Google hardware, and to experience interactive magic.
Inside the Wonderlab, there are circular, igloo-like structures that allow visitors to experience virtual snowfall. On the Wonderlab site, Google invites visitors to “step into the giant Snow Globe to create amazing slow-motion videos that are yours to keep and share." There is also a text field that says visitors can “enter [their] snow pass” code to view a video recorded at a Wonderlab.
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At the locations, visitors can test out and purchase the Nexus 7 tablet, Google's Chromecast smart-television tool and its browser-based Chromebook.
Currently, there are Wonderlabs in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif. The website does not indicate whether additional cities will be added, nor does it say when Wonderlabs will open and for how long.
However, Twitter users are reporting that the New York City location is already open, posting photos of visitors entering Google's domed structure.
Google doing a nice job of promoting chromebooks and tablets at Bryant Park rink http://t.co/ft4It8Q2bC
— Barry Graubart (@graubart) November 16, 2013
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. BONUS: 10 Great Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses of Google
This official Google vid offers a tour of Google HQ (a.k.a. the "Googleplex") in 200 seconds. Most interesting snippet of info? There are more than 200 dogs on campus on any given day. Woof!
Offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Google from an NBC news report's perspective, this clip was shot just after Google had been named America's best place to work by Fortune back in 2007.
Google's Zurich office is up there as one of the top premises in terms of wackiness. Here, Web User Magazine has a little nose around -- be sure to keep watching to the end for a quick look at the old fashioned library room.
The New York offices look just as sweet as Google's Silicon Valley headquarters. The building in the Big Apple has the second largest footprint of any NYC structure -- so big that the Googlers get round on scooters, leaving them in special scooter "parking bays." Watch out for the LEGO wall and really cool floor map.
There aren't a lot of revelations in this Aussie clip (the usual colorful offices, look at all the food and oooh, there's a ping pong table) but it goes some way to show that Google manages to keep its wacky office set up even 7,000 miles around the globe.
While it's hardly Google's most famous office, the Madison, Wisconsin location adds a good dose of the usual Google zaniness and manages to incorporate some of the building's history into its decor -- truly a unique workspace for all those lucky Googlers.
WGN News gets a tour of Google's premises in the windy city where we find out just how those "Recent Searches" displays in Google's lobbies remain so smut-free.
And -- as we didn't see this in the previous tour -- here's a look at the cool game room within the Chicago complex. It's like your dream lounge, but with more geeks.
An insider look at a Google office in Russia transcends any language barriers, although what's with all the soft toys?
Google isn't just about the colorful offices and crazy fun. It's also about the million or so servers that keep us Googling. Here Google opens the door to a data center in a somewhat dry video that will no doubt be fascinating to anyone in the industry!
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Image: YouTube, Google