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| Google April Fool Gmail button sparks backlash | Google April Fool Gmail button sparks backlash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Google has removed an April Fool's Gmail button, which sent a comical animation to recipients, after reports of people getting into trouble at work. | Google has removed an April Fool's Gmail button, which sent a comical animation to recipients, after reports of people getting into trouble at work. |
| The button appeared beside Gmail's normal send button and allowed users to shut down an email thread by sending a gif of a Minion dropping a microphone. | The button appeared beside Gmail's normal send button and allowed users to shut down an email thread by sending a gif of a Minion dropping a microphone. |
| However, a flurry of complaints about the button appeared on Google's forums. | However, a flurry of complaints about the button appeared on Google's forums. |
| The firm has since withdrawn the feature and apologised. | The firm has since withdrawn the feature and apologised. |
| "It looks like we pranked ourselves this year," Google said in a statement. | "It looks like we pranked ourselves this year," Google said in a statement. |
| "Due to a bug, the MicDrop feature inadvertently caused more headaches than laughs. We're truly sorry." | "Due to a bug, the MicDrop feature inadvertently caused more headaches than laughs. We're truly sorry." |
| A mic drop is a popular meme in which someone makes a conclusive statement or rebuttal before dropping a microphone and walking off. | A mic drop is a popular meme in which someone makes a conclusive statement or rebuttal before dropping a microphone and walking off. |
| Google was not immediately able to clarify details of the bug. | Google was not immediately able to clarify details of the bug. |
| Google added that users who were still able to see the feature could switch it off by reloading or restarting Gmail. | Google added that users who were still able to see the feature could switch it off by reloading or restarting Gmail. |
| The button was not enabled on the Gmail accounts of enterprise business customers. | The button was not enabled on the Gmail accounts of enterprise business customers. |
| 'Lost job' | 'Lost job' |
| "Thanks to MicDrop I just lost my job," claimed one user on Google's product forums. | "Thanks to MicDrop I just lost my job," claimed one user on Google's product forums. |
| "I am a writer and had a deadline to meet. I sent my articles to my boss and never heard back from her. I inadvertently sent the email using the MicDrop send button." | "I am a writer and had a deadline to meet. I sent my articles to my boss and never heard back from her. I inadvertently sent the email using the MicDrop send button." |
| Another complained that they had been having interviews for a job with a company for three months and then accidentally sent a mic drop email to the HR department. | Another complained that they had been having interviews for a job with a company for three months and then accidentally sent a mic drop email to the HR department. |
| And a third said that they had sent an "important email to 30 recipients". | And a third said that they had sent an "important email to 30 recipients". |
| Users had been informed of the button and what it would do via a message in Gmail when it first appeared. | Users had been informed of the button and what it would do via a message in Gmail when it first appeared. |
| Furthermore, users with the "undo send" capability enabled would have been able to retract a message within a certain time period after sending it. | Furthermore, users with the "undo send" capability enabled would have been able to retract a message within a certain time period after sending it. |
| Google also unveiled a couple of April Fool's joke videos, including one about a new parachute delivery service and an "actual reality" headset. | |
| Google originally announced the creation of Gmail on 1 April 2004 and, at the time, there was speculation as to whether the email service was an April Fool's stunt. | Google originally announced the creation of Gmail on 1 April 2004 and, at the time, there was speculation as to whether the email service was an April Fool's stunt. |
| April Fool's Day: 10 stories that look like pranks but aren't | |
| It's hard to know what to trust on April Fool's Day as there are are many stories that seem rather strange but are in fact genuine. | |
| The BBC has compiled a round-up of some of this year's odder stories that are apparently true. |