Google Hoax (Beta)

It's no secret that I love all things Google. From Gmail to GCalendar to GChat to Google Reader to Google Analytics, the company always finds new ways to improve the quality of my online life.

Every April 1, I'm reminded of another reason why Google is awesome: They have a fantastic sense of humor.

I hate to break it to any Gmail users who didn't get the joke, but today's newest Gmail feature--"Gmail Custom Time"--is just the latest in a long line of Google-rific April Fool's Day hoaxes.

Since Google is such an innovative company, it's in a perfect position to propose a completely ludicrous new feature and leave you wondering if it could possibly be real. These prank features are written in such a normal, matter-of-fact tone that I always seem to buy into it at first, until I either A) remember that it's April Fool's Day or B) read a line that blows the whole thing completely out of the realm of possibility.

Here are a few of my favorite Google hoaxes from over the years (some more believable than others):

Google AdSense For Conversations (2008)
"Now, in just a few simple steps, you can begin displaying ads that are relevant to the topics you're discussing -- in an unobtrusive screen above your head."


Google MentalPlex (2000)
"Search smarter and faster with Google's MentalPlex. MentalPlex technology senses electronic field variations created by concentrated thought and can interpret those field variations as broad categories of content."

Gmail Paper (2007)
" Now in Gmail, you can request a physical copy of any message with the click of a button, and we'll send it to you in the mail."

Google TiSP: Toilet Internet Service Provider (2007)
"Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines." (I love the photo on the home page with the toilet in the background.)

Google Romance
Google Romance is a place where you can post all types of romantic information and, using our Soulmate Search, get back search results that could, in theory, include the love of your life."

See the complete list.