Google's Gags 2013: We got fooled!

Based on the number of pranks Google has pulled over the past... four years, (at least), it should be no surprise that they kicked it in full gear this year. If your like me, however, with no knowledge of past pranks, it's possible you got fooled too. Or no, am I alone in this?

The first video I saw, as a subscriber to Google's youtube channel, was this:

Gmail Blue

For a product that actually was launched on April 1st (2004), you’d think Gmail would come up with something a little more involved than turning its interface blue.

So ofcourse, I instantly took to social media. "Is it just me, or is this an incredibly passionate, serious video introducing a product that's only difference... is that it's blue?" Not just blue, but completely blue. The video description did in fact make me lol, "Fast. Beautiful. Powerful."

But after a little more research, (clicking on their next video) I quickly realized that this was a joke. And my feelings towards Google changed drastically. Not only did they fool me, they made me laugh. Even if I didn't ever find out it was a joke, I still laughed. So job WELL done, Google. Very well done.

Youtube Shutdown

My favorite prank of this year has to be this one, the youtube shutdown, entitled Youtube's Ready to Select a Winner. Whattt?? So all this time I've been posting videos to youtube, I've been entering myself in a competition? No, no, no, that is unacceptable. I do not want my Redneck's Got Talent Audition tape to be entered into a competition against people like Charlie, in Charlie Bit Me!

This video was my favorite, because it applies to me - an avid youtube video uploader and watcher since the 9th grade. Not only that, but they brought in some of my favorite youtube sensations! iJustine, KassemG, Antione Dodson?! It shows how in-tune they are with their customers. They really know who's going to appreciate this joke, and who is relevant to the cause.

Google Nose

Okay, so if asked about this prank it might accidentally slip out as "my favorite," also. This one just gets me! Google Nose, is “the new scentsation in search.” (Punny. Very punny.) It’s exactly what it sounds like … a joke about smell-based search. If you were to do a search on Google.com, one of the search verticals at the top was “Nose (beta).” Plus, in certain Knowledge Graph results, the “People also searched” heading said “People also sniffed.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-P6jEMtixY&feature=player_embedded

They're so serious! Imagine if Google played a prank like this any other day of the year. They would totally get away with it.

Google Trends: Cold Searches

Google Trends decided to not only show “hot” searches, but for April Fools’ Day they would also show Cold search trends. This is stuff that nobody’s searching for, like “Y2K,” “Macarena step-by-step” and “prom scrunchies.”

It seems that April Fool’s Day is pretty much a national holiday for everyone that works for Google. I've never see anyone on the Web take the tradition of pranks and jokes as seriously as Google does. And believe me, there are way more pranks for this year that we weren't able to catch.

To read up on last year's pranks, check out this post from Search Engine Land, (since I am apparently 4 years behind on this.)