Google ups Santa Tracker, starts Christmas countdown

It's that time of the year again, when young ones' fancy will turn to thoughts of Santa Claus.

 

With this in mind, Google has reactivated its Santa Tracker site, which includes not just games but also describes Christmas in places including the Philippines.

 

"The Philippines is known for having the world's longest Christmas season. Four months are considered Christmas months: September, October, November, December. Christmas carols can oftentimes be heard as early as the beginning of September," Google said in its description of the Philippines.

 

Games at least on the first day of the 24-day countdown to Santa's annual journey around the world include a reindeer race and a skydiving Santa.

 

In a blog post, Google's "Santa Launch Strategist" Sandy Russell said the elves will unlock a new project or game "each day in preparation for Santa’s annual journey around the world." 

 

Click here to visit Google's Santa Tracker.

 

"The elves have a busy month ahead of them—the reindeers need training and the presents need packing. They’re studying up on Santa’s upcoming stops with candy cane cartography, holiday tradition tests, and even jolly JavaScript courses," Russell added.

 

Russell said Google aims to get the sleigh tracking algorithm ready for "prime time," especially for Android so one can just tap away on a mobile device.

 

A separate report on The Next Web said there will also be new coding courses and geography games.

 

"(T)here are geography games to let you explore holiday traditions around the world, you can learn how to say ‘Santa’ in different languages and there’s even a coding project that teaches you JavaScript as you help Santa get on his journey," it said.

 

Christmas Eve

 

On Christmas Eve, Google will showcase a Santa's dashboard, the technology that "powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey."

 

"Santa’s dashboard - featuring the latest and greatest in Google Maps technology and sleigh engineering - will allow you to follow his progress around the world, and also learn a little about some of his stops along the way," it said (https://santatracker.google.com/#about). — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News