Google leads Web-based April 01 shenanigans

Tech News

By Stevie Smith Apr 2, 2007, 13:19 GMT

The traditional deluge of April Fool’s pranks have come and gone, some leaving more of an influential mark than others, but who – if anyone – emerged as the biggest culprits in attempting to pull the world’s perception-blurring wool down over its perennially gullible eyes? You might be surprised to learn that Google Inc. tops the list with an online prank that plumbed the very depths of believability by offering consumers cost-free high-speed Internet access via… wait for it… the cold comfort of their lavatory systems. Seriously. Further compounding the spiralling lack of credibility invested in the Internet by users, Google’s “Dark Porcelain” stunt amusingly (and perhaps acidly) claimed that its groundbreaking “Toilet Internet Service Provider” (http://www.google.com/tisp/) functioned perfectly with Microsoft’s newly released Windows Vista operating system (OS), though not, it was keen to point out, with “septic tanks”. And, not content with the mere April 01 dangling of TiSP before the sleep-encrusted eyes of millions of early risers, search engine giant Google also fleshed out the online joke with three applicable speeds: Trickle, The No.2, and The Royal Flush, as well as a related FAQ section, an in-depth installation guide, and an ‘official’ press release containing quotes from Google president Larry Page.Google Inc.’s market rival Yahoo! also teased the more easily befuddled by posting technology reviews of groundbreaking new electronic devices such as the Motorola DynaTEC 8000X, a new cutting edge cell phone handset, which just so happens to weigh in at a slight 730gs and measure a miniscule 25cms in length… and was released by Motorola as the first ever cell phone back in 1983. Also, online auction Web site eBay listed its Top-10 “unbelievable deals” or rather fake auctions, for such items of wonder including a beachfront property in landlocked Arizona, a healthy dose of happiness, and the amorous appeal of cowlicks. Other, fun but not so inventive stunts included: XM Satellite Radio’s new XM Widget Channel; PC Magazine’s review of a protective helmet accessory designed for over exuberant users of the Nintendo Wii; autoblog.com’s report on SEAT’s new ‘driverless’ Leon touring race car; and Mugglenet.com’s attainment and review of an advance copy of the final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows, which reveals that unlucky Harry slips on a slice of carrot cake and fractures his pelvis.

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VernApr 2nd, 2007 - 14:06:08

Love your site but I am sure that is not the correct spelling of minuscule.

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RilesApr 2nd, 2007 - 14:18:51

www.dictionary.com
Miniscule.

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AndyApr 2nd, 2007 - 14:22:08

That is the correct spelling of miniscule. I looked it up on the internet, since I was already on my computer and I didn't want to look foolish.

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XApr 2nd, 2007 - 14:28:10

Yes it is...

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MarkApr 2nd, 2007 - 14:29:52

min·is·cule(mn-skyl)
adj.
Variant of minuscule.

min·us·cule(mn-skyl, m-nskyl) also min·is·cule (mn-skyl)
adj.
1. Very small; tiny. See Synonyms at small.
2. Of, relating to, or written in miniscule.
n.
1. A small cursive script developed from uncial between the seventh and ninth centuries and used in medieval manuscripts.
2. A letter written in minuscule.
3. A lowercase letter.

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YawawaApr 2nd, 2007 - 15:30:58

'Miniscule' and 'minuscule' are both correct. Minuscule is far less common, though, but 'minuscule' is used in French, which may be why you thought 'miniscule' is wrong.

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YawawaApr 2nd, 2007 - 15:32:01

Anyway, what happened to mentioning Gmail Paper Archives? That was also a funny April Fool's thing yesterday. Nobody noticed that??

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expedientnexusApr 2nd, 2007 - 16:01:53

Yeah, I did notice that. I was looking all over for the paper archives and actually gave up thinking it was in fact an April fool's joke...

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jtApr 2nd, 2007 - 16:59:39

there were a ton of fools stories on local online mag, onmilwaukee.com yesterday. some were rather funny

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Hot Stock TipApr 2nd, 2007 - 17:49:20

Any truth to the rumor about Google merging with Roto-Router