Happy birthday, Google!

Fifteen years ago this month, two Stanford grad students founded a company called Google, named after the mathematical term googol, which represents the number one followed by a hundred zeros. Today’s Google Doodle, a keyboard piñata game, commemorates the big day.

The company that Sergey Brin and Larry Page founded was actually established on September 7, 1998, but the official “birthday” was later switched to September 27, as noted by SearchEngineLand’s Danny Sullivan. Before the search tool had even launched at google.com, Page told Sullivan, “I’d like to build a service where the priority is on giving users great results.”

Fifteen years later - after expanding to everything from email to mobile operating systems to a quest to conquer death - Google has changed the technology landscape forever. And it still boasts a whopping 66.9% marketshare among search engines in the U.S., according to ComScore’s latest rankings. For some extra fun, try typing “google in 1998″ in the google search box to see how far the company has come.

In, TIME

Image credits: GOOGLE    

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Google's Doodles

I couldn't finish this week's main topic without mentioning the Google's doodles!... Like many people, I am a Google's doodles fan. So here goes some information about this fantastic every now and then Google's logo metamorphosis!... 

Image credits: Google

'Over the years, doodles on the Google homepage have made searching on Google more fun and enjoyable for its users worldwide. When doodles were first created, nobody had anticipated how popular and integral they would become to the Google search experience. Nowadays, many users excitedly anticipate the release of each new doodle and some even collect them! Doodles are known as the decorative changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists and scientists. Whether it is the beginning of Spring, Albert Einstein's birthday, or the 50th anniversary of understanding DNA, the doodle team never fails to find artistic ways to celebrate these unique events.'

Source: Doodle4Google (abridged)

I would suggest you a visit to TimePhotos to know more about this topic through a fantastic photo gallery, as well as to Google Doodle, where you can take a look at the most amazing doodles ever! 

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April Fools & Google

April Fools' Day happens on the first day of April, but do you know why we play tricks, gags and practical jokes on one another? 

History

In the 16th century, France celebrated the New Year just like we do today, except they partied on April 1st. In 1562, Pope Gregory changed the calendar to the one we use today and from then on, the New Year began on January 1st. Lots of people didn't know about the new calendar, or they ignored the new calendar and kept celebrating on April 1st. Everyone else called them April fools and played tricks on them.

Fools Around the World

In France today, April 1st is called Poisson d'Avril, which means April Fish. Children tape paper fish to their friends' backs and when the young 'fool' finds out, the prankster yells 'Poisson d'Avril'. In England, tricks can only be played in the morning. If a trick is played on you, you are a 'noodle'. In Scotland, you are called an 'April gow', which is another name for a cuckoo bird. In Portugal, April Fools' is best known as 'Dia das Mentiras'.

Practical Jokes on April Fool's Day

April Fools' practical jokes should be done in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The best jokes are the clever ones where everyone laughs, especially the person who had the joke played on them.

Found information
@April Fools' Day (adapted)

Google is a great fun of April Fools...

The first Google April Fools's joke dates back 2000. Last year, Google April Fools' joke was about Gmail Motion '(...)which was a new way to communicate. The mouse and keyboard were invented before the Internet even existed. Since then, countless technological advancements have allowed for much more efficient human computer interaction. Why then do we continue to use outdated technology? Introducing Gmail Motion — now you can control Gmail with your body.'

Rumour has it, this year's Google doodle will be something like this...

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@April Fools' Day Jokes by Google

Thank you, Google

              Google's doodle and video to celebrate this year's IWD