[youtube.com...] :)

It seems that they officially celebrate on 27th September. A bit like the Queeen of England, with a real birthday and an official birthday.

The addition of the "Yahoo!esque" exclamation mark is interesting..as are other elements in the "logo/picture" chosen for use today.

[edited by: tedster at 3:18 pm (utc) on Sep 27, 2011]

The addition of the "Yahoo!esque" exclamation mark is interesting..as are other elements in the "logo/picture" chosen for use today.

I didn't pick up on the exclamation mark but did note that I didn't expect a retro old fashioned simple static picture compared to the other dynamic, interactive (even fun) logos we have seen.

Perhaps they feel that not everyone share the "happy" wishes like walkman and want to keep things simple.

In the words of Buddy Hackett: "While you're carrying a grudge, they're out dancing."

And out dancing they should be! Hats off to thirteen years of mostly successful innovation.

[edited by: tedster at 3:20 pm (utc) on Sep 27, 2011]

Note the recurring three motif ..three party hats , three celebrants, three presents , three plates ( birthday cake for the eating of )..three items in the pictures on the wall etc..

It is still very much a triumvirate,( despite Eric being in DC more than in mountainview )..and this is their celebration...

It is also their first teenage birthday..their "childhood" phase is over...inspite of the "retro" innocent, even wistful image that the studied simplicity of the album photo is meant on one level to engender..

Google know more than most do, about symbolism and the psychology and perception of colour, form and image.

Every picture tells a story..this one speaks volumes.

Puts me in mind of [en.wikipedia.org...] amongst a few dozen other allegorical, symbolically charged, icon rich pictures and images from different periods...