Mars Needs Google

Google has become famous for its annual April Fool's hoaxes. This year, the search giant has dialed the amp up to 11.

Last year's pranks, it must be said, fell a little flat. Google announced the "launch" of Google TiSP, or "Toilet Internet Service Provider" -- a free broadband service that would allow you to connect to the internet for free through your toilet.

In its Gmail application, Google announced a tongue in cheek service called "Gmail Paper" that would add e-mails to a "Paper Archive," which Google would print and mail via traditional post.

Funny...but not laugh-out-loud funny.

This year, Google has come up with a remarkable number of pranks, proving that a) Google employees have too much time on their hands, and b) Google is determined not to lose its identity as the class clown of the tech world.

The most obvious goof, linked from Google's search page, introduces "Virgle", a joint project with Richard Branson's Virgin Group to establish a permanent colony on Mars.

The humor is in the details -- of which there are many, including a YouTube video featuring Sergei and Larry, a complete outline of Google's100-year plan for Mars, and a Google Group rapidly filling with comments from delighted Google users uncovering the prank. And this year's hoax has turned 2.0 with the a "Virgle Pioneer" application and a solicitation to submit a YouTube video explaining why you would like to participate in founding a colony on Mars.

"Explain why you want to live on Mars and you could win a coveted slot on the earliest, most uncomfortable and dangerously untested manned space flights to the new New World -- or a fabulous prize!," the page reads.

But Virgle is just the tip of the iceberg, as Google enthusiasts will learn as they access various services today. The April 1 hoaxes include:

"Gmail Custom Time," which purportedly allows you to backdate your emails.

"Google GDay," linked off the company's Australia site, claims that it will allow you to search internet pages 24 hours before they are created.

On the YouTube front, if you click on any video featured on the YouTube homepage you will be "Rick-rolled" to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up."

Google Docs and Google Calendar were not immune from pranks either. Check out Google Calendar's new "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, as well as the new SMS Wake Up Kit.

In Google Docs, notice the "New Airplane" option under the file menu.

Liz Gunnison