Google has launched a Santa tracking website that will give competition to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which runs a Santa tracking website.
Microsoft has partnered with NORAD to monitor Santa's journey around the globe during Christmas Eve. This is the second straight year that Microsoft has partnered with the NORAD website after Google parted ways with NORAD.
The NORAD website, which is live now, is different than what it was last year and offers Christmas-themed games, some videos and music. And now, Google's doing something similar.
Using Google Maps, viewers can track Santa's journey around the world on Christmas. On the Google Santa tracker, the users can also visit Santa's village, which is filled with cartoon elves and fun games. Keeping pace with the NORAD's site, Google will also release new games every day, including fun-filled games that will let users throw gifts down a chimney or race reindeers.
"On Christmas Eve we'll be proudly showcasing a preview of Santa's dashboard-the technology that powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey," says Google "We've received this special preview from one of Santa's many developer elves, who are hard at work in the North Pole helping Santa prepare for his big day. 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."
Apart from the Santa tracking website, Google is also expected to release a Santa tracking app for Android phones as well as for the Google Glass. For 2013, only the developer version of the Google Glass has been released and as such only select users can enjoy the upcoming Santa tracking app on their gadget.
NORAD, on the other hand, will release its app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.