Facebook has rolled out this dinosaur mascot to help users navigate a "privacy checkup." The New York Times nicknamed the blue creature the "Zuckasaurus," a nod to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Read on for more tech mascots, past and present.
Tech mascots: The good, the bad and the ugly —
Facebook has rolled out this dinosaur mascot to help users navigate a "privacy checkup." The New York Times nicknamed the blue creature the "Zuckasaurus," a nod to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Read on for more tech mascots, past and present.
From Facebook
The original version of Twitter's bird mascot, instantly recognizable to the site's millions of users, was purchased from a stock photo site for less than $6. The logo got a more streamlined makeover in 2012.
Twitter's bird —
The original version of Twitter's bird mascot, instantly recognizable to the site's millions of users, was purchased from a stock photo site for less than $6. The logo got a more streamlined makeover in 2012.
Courtesy Twitter
Australian artist Yiying Lu created the iconic image that would become known as the "Fail Whale" on Twitter. The illustration, which she called "Lifting a Dreamer," started as a doodle she sent to friends, and the original "dreamer" was an elephant. She changed it to a whale when she moved to New South Wales.
Twitter's 'Fail Whale' —
Australian artist Yiying Lu created the iconic image that would become known as the "Fail Whale" on Twitter. The illustration, which she called "Lifting a Dreamer," started as a doodle she sent to friends, and the original "dreamer" was an elephant. She changed it to a whale when she moved to New South Wales.
From Twitter
The name TiVo and its smiley, TV-guy mascot were both created by Michael Cronan, a San Francisco graphic designer, in 1997. Cronan reportedly said he wanted the character to be as recognizable as Mickey Mouse. Mmm, not quite.
Tivo's smiling TV guy —
The name TiVo and its smiley, TV-guy mascot were both created by Michael Cronan, a San Francisco graphic designer, in 1997. Cronan reportedly said he wanted the character to be as recognizable as Mickey Mouse. Mmm, not quite.
Courtesy Tivo
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates presents a T-shirt as a retirement gift to "Clippy" -- or someone dressed as the virtual Microsoft Office assistant -- a cartoon paper clip that once popped up on screens to assist and annoy users of the workplace software. Clippy was widely mocked before Microsoft retired the character in 2001.
Microsoft Office's 'Clippy' —
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates presents a T-shirt as a retirement gift to "Clippy" -- or someone dressed as the virtual Microsoft Office assistant -- a cartoon paper clip that once popped up on screens to assist and annoy users of the workplace software. Clippy was widely mocked before Microsoft retired the character in 2001.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
Google touts its Android operating system with this stout green robot, which looks a bit like "Star Wars'" R2-D2 with longer legs. The Android logo was designed for Google in 2007 by graphic designer Irina Blok.
Google's Android robot —
Google touts its Android operating system with this stout green robot, which looks a bit like "Star Wars'" R2-D2 with longer legs. The Android logo was designed for Google in 2007 by graphic designer Irina Blok.
From Google
Reddit calls this friendly guy an alien, who jokes on the site that "I also do birthday parties." The mascot appears on the home page of the user-generated site.
Reddit's alien —
Reddit calls this friendly guy an alien, who jokes on the site that "I also do birthday parties." The mascot appears on the home page of the user-generated site.
Courtesy Reddit
This critter became a symbol for the dot.com bust. It appeared in a Super Bowl commercial and even got its own balloon in the 1999 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade before Pets.com folded the following year.
Pets.com sock puppet —
This critter became a symbol for the dot.com bust. It appeared in a Super Bowl commercial and even got its own balloon in the 1999 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade before Pets.com folded the following year.
Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty
Travel site Hipmunk launched in 2010 with this cute flying chipmunk. Or squirrel. Or whatever it is. Note the scarf and aviator goggles.
Hipmunk's chipmunk —
Travel site Hipmunk launched in 2010 with this cute flying chipmunk. Or squirrel. Or whatever it is. Note the scarf and aviator goggles.
From Hipmunk
Social app Glomper launched with this mascot in 2012 as a way to share event-related plans with friends. We're not sure what this pudgy white thing with the ringed eyes is supposed to be.
Glomper —
Social app Glomper launched with this mascot in 2012 as a way to share event-related plans with friends. We're not sure what this pudgy white thing with the ringed eyes is supposed to be.
From Glomper