Every year, Google tries to outdo itself for April Fools’ Day. The company’s various divisions pull together more jokes than any other tech firm we know, and it gets difficult to keep track of them all. As a result, like last year we’ve put together a roundup.
Google Magic Hand
First up, Google Japan has introduced the Magic Hand, a new input method for smartphones. In short, you no longer have to operate your own mobile device: the magic hand does all the hard work.
The nonexistent device weighs just 800g and can be attached to any keyboard. There are right-hand and left-hand versions, as well as ones to replace your thumb, pinkie, cat paw, or back scratcher:
If you want to learn more, including the technical specifications, check the hand out here.
Google Maps Pokémon Challenge
The Google Maps team has launched a new Pokémon Challenge that lets anyone with an Android or iOS device catch the critters. Just launch the latest Google Maps app, tap the “Search” option at the top of the screen, and hit the “Press Start” option beside the blue Pokéball icon.
To play, you’ll need to use the map to find Pokémon nearby, catch them by going to the location in person, and finally add them to your Pokédex. If that seems complex, this video will explain it for you better:
We have to admit, this beats last year’s joke of Google Maps Treasure Mode.
Gmail Shelfie
Google says Gmail is 10 years old today, and that part is completely true: the service launched on April 1, 2004. To celebrate the double-digit anniversary, Google’s joke this year is the Gmail Shelfie, which stands for the SHareable sELFIE.
Google even went as far as to say that it is responsible for the selfie, calling Gmail “the pioneering platform for selfies” and explaining how the trend began:
When custom themes launched back in 2012, we urged you to find “your perfect image and make Gmail your own.” And you did. Many of you rushed to take photos of yourselves to upload as your Gmail custom theme, which you started referring to as selfies.
The company has a very scientific graph to back up its claim:
Yet since there’s no obvious way to share your selfie with others (Google doesn’t like to talk about Facebook, Instagram, or even apparently Google+), the Shelfie had to be introduced. With just a few clicks, everyone can now set your Shelfie as their Gmail theme “so they can enjoy checking, reading, and writing emails while seeing your friendly face in the background.” If you upload your selfie and upgrade it to a Gmail Shelfie, you may even manage to get it on the trending list.
Nest Total Temperature Control
Google’s acquisition of Nest Labs closed over a month ago, which means the home automation company can now join the April Fools’ Day bonanza. Nest has teamed up with Virgin America to reinvent the way people fly:
Total Temperature Control lets every single passenger set their own temperature for an even more personalized flight. There are even presets like Cancun Afternoon and Chicago Polar Vortex.
Chrome Translates Text to Emoji
Google hasn’t announced this one yet, but it’s pretty straightforward: Chrome replaces certain words with emoji. Thankfully, the feature is entirely optional, and has to be enabled first: if your device’s date is April 1, just hit the “Translate to Emoji” option in the menu.
When it comes to its April Fools’ Day marketing budget, Google seems to have a bottomless pit around this time of year. We’ll continue to update this post as the company launches more jokes.
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