Google April Fools 2014 Prank Roundup: Google Maps Pokemon, Google Hand …

aNewDomain.net — And here they are, rounded up as they come in, the Google April Fools 2014 pranks and gags. April 1, 2014 is April Fools Day in the United States. And, as we’ve demonstrated for you before, Google rarely disappoints with a range of gags for the occasion.

For Google April Fools 2014, something is up with Google Chrome on Android. Do you get the joke?

Video: Google Youtube Channel

Click here for a roundup of Google April Fools gags from 2013 …

Another Google April Fools 2014 joke: from Google Maps, it’s Pokemon Explorer. Find wild Pokemon … quick! Find the Pokemon hidden in Google Maps and get a job at Google? April Fools!

Video: Google Maps Youtube Channel, Google Maps Pokemon Challenge

If you open up Gmail today — April 1, 2014 anywhere in the world — you’ll see Google’s Gmail team has taken the opportunity to announce Google Shelfie. Try it for yourself. You’re so vain …

To explain Google software engineer Greg Bullock writes:

You all love setting selfies as your custom theme in Gmail, but you’ve told us there’s one major problem: there isn’t a way to share your selfie with others. As the pioneering platform for selfies, Gmail is committed to being at the forefront of innovation in the selfie space. And we think it’s a tragedy that your handsome hair, luscious lashes and beautiful brows have been trapped in your own inbox. Until now, that is. Today, we’re proud to free your selfies by launching Gmail Shelfie, the SHareable sELFIE.”

On the Google blog, check out Auto Awesome photobombs — with David Hasselhof.

Try it and see what happens.
Google Japan execs got in on the act, too. Here’s Google Japan’s Magic Hand.

Video: Google Japan Youtube Channel

Check this out.

For aNewDomain.net, I’m Gina Smith.

Gina Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s memoir, iWoz Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Doing It (W.W. Norton, 2005/2007/2012). With John C. Dvorak and Jerry Pournelle, she is the editorial director at aNewDomain.net. Email her at gina@aNewDomain.net, check out her Google + stream here or follow her @ginasmith888.