Google removed background images from its homepage last November;
the Custom Google Background extension lets you add a little personal flair to
your searches again.
Granted, not everyone loved the feature, but if you're one
of the people who did and you miss it, this simple Chrome extension brings it
back. Specify a URL for a photo you want to use in the background or upload one
from your computer (although it suggested using another service due to high
demand), and the extension adds it for you on the Google homepage, and any
other Google search page you may visit. You can also choose to show or hide the
Google logo, show or hide the search or "I Feel Lucky" buttons, and
tweak the layout more, depending on what you prefer.
The developer notes that while the app asks for a lot of
permissions, no user data is collected, and the permissions are required for
the add-on to know when you're using a Google page where it needs to add your
background. It’s available now over in the Chrome Web Store.
