April Fools!

It's that time of year again, folks!  The day when Google, once again, kicks ass.  Apparently they were busy in Japan coming up with stuff this year!

First, here's a quick roundup of various jokes Google has unleashed.  From The Next Web:
"Roundup: All of Google’s jokes for April Fools’ Day 2014"
http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/03/31/round-googles-jokes-april-fools-day-2014/


Google Magic Hand (from Japan):
http://www.google.co.jp/ime/m9/


Google Maps Pokémon Challenge (also from Japan):
http://googlejapan.blogspot.com/2014/04/blog-post.html


Gmail Shelfie (from the official Google blog):
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/introducing-gmail-shelfie.html
I love the "Kitty Purry" name in the photo!


Nest Total Temperature Control (with newly-acquired Nest, and Virgin Airlines):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zocNCBXHVQo


WazeDates (with newly-acquired Waze):
http://blog.waze.com/2014/03/waze-acquires-israeli-startup.html
Best quotes:
"I've always been a big fan of honking, but honking only takes you so far."
"Has it really come to this, do I really need Waze?"
"It's obvious the way you drive says a lot about your character."


Emoji translation in Chrome for Android and iOS (from Google Chrome):
http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-faster-mobiler-web-with-emoji.html
I think you need the latest version of Chrome on your phone.


Auto Awesome Photobombs (don't forget the Hoff!):
"Introducing Auto Awesome Photobombs with David Hasselhoff"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/introducing-auto-awesome-photobombs.html


Google Auto-Awesome Resumes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeWkXmPqpA
I love the enhanced resumes in this one, around 1:25 and 1:46!


‘Top planets and moons’ in AdSense:
https://plus.google.com/116176459448466735273/posts/eEaA1a9pL36


Official cat keyboard:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+FrancoisBeaufort/posts/PRRQzmoG2wQ?cfem=1
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=135117
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/qwerty-cats/mecnbplejdlmfdgbdhgddhgnaojmbkne?hl=en-US


YouTube’s viral video trends for 2014 (from YouTube):
YouTube is 'planning' their viral video trends for 2014!
http://youtube-global.blogspot.ca/2014/04/announcing-viral-video-trends-for-2014.html
http://youtube-trends.blogspot.com/2014/04/analysis-shows-2014-could-be-huge-year.html

"YouTube Announces Upcoming Viral Video Trends #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUbYohGMOg&feature=youtu.be
Clocking.  Finish Lining.  Butter Fails.  Baby Shaming.  Glub Glub Water Dance.  Elaborate Flash Mob Divorces.  Bun Nutting.  Kissing Dad. Gettysburg Addressing.  Cake Bumping.  Nap Cams.  Geology.  Wolf Mask T-Ball.  The Harlem Shake (again).  $1000 Gifting.

"See, the longer you stand there in place, the funnier it [clocking] is!"
"It's going to be even bigger than planking!"
"This dumb baby can't read.  Have to take care of it all the time."
"For the first time in YouTube history, we're getting viral videos from you, the user!"   :)

Details of some of the new trends:

"Clocking First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBeNcfwXja0
"And you just keep doing it.  For hours."
Human beings are ruled by clocks.  They tell us when to act.  If we, ourselves, become the clock, does that put us back in control over our own destiny?"

"Glub Glub First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C1ieLGok40

"Kissing Dad First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvt1ZNONemI


Chromecast for squirrels (from Chrome):
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+chrome/posts/MqE1jeJ8yUe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpT1787EjbE



Data-less Decision Making (from Google Analytics):
http://analytics.blogspot.com/2014/04/mastering-science-of-random-chance.html
https://analyticsacademy.withgoogle.com/course20140401
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuGhpz_6O1E
"We've determined that 50% of the time 99% of the decisions can be made with only 38% of the data!"


Coffee-to-the-home (from Google Fiber):
http://googlefiberblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/introducing-coffee-to-home.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2JBFlW--UU
Hey, we're bringing fiber to the home, why not coffee?
"Coffee and fiber just go together!"


Google Apps for Business Dogs (Google Enterprise):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97IS180hxR4#t=13


Google Play Signature Edition (Google Play):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGQ2EyuQ1Q


AdBirds (Google Ads):
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GoogleAds/posts/DZDb2GamtS8


Blockly in Klingon (Google Research / Google Code):
http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2014/04/making-blockly-universally-accessible.html
https://code.google.com/p/blockly/wiki/Klingon



Interesting to see so many April Fools jokes.  It shows, among other things, just how big Google has gotten.  So many divisions.

What's your favorite?  Hard to choose.  I'll just narrow it down to ... Emoji translation, WazeDates, and YouTube Viral Video Trends!  I always wonder if Google will be able to make me laugh out loud, but they always come through.  I loved showing my daughters the Emoji translation.  Absolutely priceless.