How Google Made Us Laugh on April Fools' Day 2016

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 01 Apr 2016

Throughout the year, Google is all serious and focused. But on April Fools' Day, the search engine giant lets its hair down and has a bit of fun. It’s done so for the past few years and it’s doing it again this year.

Google has prepped multiple jokes for April Fools' Day 2016. Are they funny? They made me laugh, but I’m easily amused, so don’t take my word for it. Check them out below and see for yourself.

Have the last word with Gmail’s "Mic Drop"

For months now, Google’s Gmail team has been testing Mic Drop, a new feature that makes it easier to have the last word on any email. All the testing uncovered that:
  • "Sending email is so much easier when you don't have to worry about people responding!"
  • "Mic Drop is a huge improvement over Mute! I can finally let everyone know I'm just not interested."
  • "My team solves problems so much faster with Mic Drop. In fact, we stopped talking to each other entirely!"
To test the Mic Drop feature, you need only click the new 'Send + Mic Drop' button.

This is what you have to do to access it.




And this is how it looks on the recipient’s end.



The new Mic Drop feature is launching on the web first, with mobile updates coming in the future.

UPDATE: Turns out that there was a bug with Mic Drop that "caused more headaches than laughs". Consequently, Gmail had to turn it off.


Inbox by Gmail adds emojis to Smart Reply

Smart Reply is a pretty cool feature, but has it reached its full potential? Obviously not! Everyone knows that text is never enough and you can better express yourself with emojis. That’s why Inbox by Gmail added emojis to Smart Reply.



“In our testing, we've also found that emoji do a better job of plumbing the emotional depths of one's soul, so we're optimistic that today's update will encourage more open and honest email conversations,” said Balint Miklos, Software Engineer with Google.


And speaking about emoji…

Google Photos is taking its groundbreaking visual search to the next level by adding support for emojis. That’s right, you can perform searches by using emojis.




Google Cardboard Plastic makes VR real

Virtual reality (VR) is cool and all, but it isn’t as cool as real life. Google aims to fix that with Cardboard Plastic, a new headset that offers a truly immersive experience. It lets you see, touch, smell and hear the world, just like you do in real life.



“Cardboard Plastic is the world’s first actual reality headset, complete with 4D integrated perspective, 360° spatially accurate sound, 20/20 resolution, and advanced haptics for realistic touch sensations," said Jon Wiley, Director of Immersive Design, Google Cardboard Plastic.

"Expertly crafted from polymethyl methacrylate, Cardboard Plastic is lightweight, waterproof, and engineered to last a lifetime—no batteries, no wires. And unlike other VR headsets, it integrates seamlessly into your life—so you’ll never miss a thing. Unless you blink.”


YouTube introduces Snoopavision

Snoopavision is a revolutionary new way to watch YouTube videos. It lets you watch any YouTube video in 360-degress, it offers a fully immersive experience, and best of all, it features Snoop Dogg.



“Sometimes, it’s the most obvious ideas that are the best, and that’s certainly the case with SnoopaVision,” said Ben Relles, Head of YouTube Innovation.


Devs, are your Android apps ready for space?

With space exploration rapidly advancing, it’s only a matter of time until a high number of Android users set off to space. The question is “are your Android apps ready for space?” Google can help you prep your Android app for space, just like it helped The Guardian.



"I am pleased to have The Guardian's application to test the growing Interplanetary Internet" said Vint Cerf, distinguished visiting scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Google's Chief Internet Evangelist. "The interstellar version is in development and I'm looking forward to having more Google Play apps and games tested in space flight."


Pegman gets a funky disco look

Open Google Maps in your browser and you’ll notice that Pegman has a funky new disco look. Open the Google Maps app on your Android, tap the search box, and you’ll notice a Funky Town destination. Tap it to see a video of Pegman’s awesome disco moves.




Google Australia intros Bluetooth-enabled Searchable Socks

I hate it when I lose a sock, but not as much as Google Australia. Google’s Australian division hates it so much that they’ve decided to team up with retailers across the country and launch a new range of Searchable Socks.



“These new bluetooth-enabled socks are fitted with thin LTE beacons that wrap around the top of your lower calf, just like the coloured stripes you’d see on traditional socks. If you can’t find one sock, you can press the beacon on its pair and let the Google Search app on your phone pinpoint its whereabouts. The missing sock will then sing this song to help you find it,” explained Paula Legg, Searchable Socks Product Manager, Google Australia and New Zealand.


Google Japan presents the Furikku keyboard

And over in Japan, Google introduced a new physical keyboard called Furikku. It’s the physical equivalent of of Google's Japanese input software for Android.




Google Express to start using new delivery technology

Everyone loves the convenience of shopping online, but no one likes to wait for their delivery. That is why Google Express plans to adopt new technology that offers fast delivery of whatever you purchased online.




Google Netherlands presents the self-driving bike

You already know that Google is working on a self-driving car. While self-driving cars aren't ready for the public just yet, self-driving bikes are. Google Netherlands just unveiled the world's first self-driving bicycle.




Google’s Quantum AI Lab discovers evidence of String Theory




Google Play presents realBooks




Google Cloud Platform releases Style Detector as a Beta

"We’re proud to announce Style Detection, the newest Cloud Vision AP feature. Using millions of hours of deep learning, convolutional neural networks and petabytes of source data, Vision API can now not just identify clothing, but evaluate the nuances of style to a relative degree of uncertainty," said Miles Ward, Global Head of Solutions.




Teleport from one place to another with Google Fiber

Google Fiber uncovered a compression algorithm that makes speeds of 1,000 Mbps seem slow, algorithm that allows Google to compress matter with only imperceptible levels of quality degradation. Even though Google doesn’t want to be a teleportation company, it is now able to provide the data transfer speeds required to enable teleportation.



"The potential benefits of teleportation are tremendous. Imagine a world where you could live anywhere and commute instantly. Imagine traffic and urban congestion becoming a thing of the past. That's what teleportation can do: allow us to live gently and efficiently, spending less energy on getting from place to place, and more on the people and projects that matter," said Pál Takácsi, Director of Engineering with Google Fiber.


Google Tag Manager provides support for Real World Tags

“We’re excited to announce Google Tag Manager for real world tags!” announced the Google Tag Manager Team. “Google Tag Manager for real world tags seeks to automagically inventory, categorize and help manage your real world tags no matter what variety they are. And by using the power of the cloud, the hard work will get done for you!”


Meet the Chrome Chromebook

It doesn't get any flashier than the Chrome Chromebook – "best-in-class hardware and software, with flashy design that reflects a new generation of the brightest."



Addison Nuding, Program Manager and Bringer of Bling, explains how the Chrome Chromebook looks like:

"Enjoy tungsten space-grade chrome engineering with revolutionary new microchrome technology, so it’s light -- in every sense of the word. The highly reflective chrome alloy case with two layers of automotive clear-coat creates infinite reflections, enveloping the Chrome Chromebook like a shimmering sheath. The platinum white backlit keyboard LED bounces light off a minimum of seven surfaces before striking the eye, and the included microfiber sleeve helps retain that just-unboxed glow."


Google X can shrink objects




Want more April Fools' fun?

Here are some of the jokes other companies pulled on April Fools' day 2016.



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