‘Do a Barrel Roll,’ Says Google
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Google after you search for "Do a barrel roll." Screen shot by ABC News.
Got a moment to kill? Try this:
Go to Google’s homepage. Type in the words “Do a barrel roll.” Click Enter.
(Brief pause while you try it. Then please come back.)
Did the Earth move for you? The image in your browser should — well, it should have done a barrel roll. As often happens, the Internet was filled with speculation when people began to notice it on Thursday. Many Twitter posts asked if it was a takeoff on Apple’s iPads, with their built-in accelerometers so that their screens turn if you turn the device (the New York Times’ Bits blog called the effect “Siri-like”). At least one blogger suggested Google was invoking Nintendo’s “Star Fox.”
No such notions, says Google, which sent us this explanation:
“Today’s fun query, ‘do a barrel roll,’ was created by a Google software engineer with the primary goal of entertaining users — while showcasing the power of CSS3, a presentation feature of modern browsers. The “do a barrel roll” query, which causes the search page to spin, will remain in place for a while.”
(By the way, Google says you may not see the effect in older browsers. Newer ones support HTML5, the newest version of the code that makes online content work.)
Twitter has been lighting up as people discover “Do a Barrel Roll.”
A few sample comments:
“Google is being nerdy again and I love it.”
“It will bring you joy for approximately 5 seconds.”
“You won’t be disappointed. Or maybe you will if you are a grump.”
(NOTE: I’ve rewritten the fourth paragraph of this post because some readers got the impression that the connection to Apple was my idea. It was widely suggested in blog comments and tweets on Thursday. Apologies for the confusion.)
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Why is the assumption that this is homage to iAnything? From personal experience, I can tell you that Android does the same thing, as does Windows Phone. Maybe, just MAYBE, it’s just something fun they did, with no alternate allusion or hidden “nod”. I get it, maybe we need to see if they created this code before iPods were introduced so we can see if Apple ahs anotehr lawsuit available for them to file…
Posted by: Towhead | November 3, 2011, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
This is an incredibly obvious reference to starfox.
Posted by: Tom | November 3, 2011, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Little things, amuse little minds.
Posted by: Pete | November 3, 2011, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
It’s definitely a Star Fox reference because “z or r twice” produces the same effect.
Posted by: Daetrin | November 3, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
It’s not Apple or iPhone related at all… it’s from Star Fox 64
Posted by: not iPhone | November 3, 2011, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
This has absolutely nothing to do with the ipad, it is obviously referencing starfox. Why does the writer insist on making up lies?
Posted by: John | November 3, 2011, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
@Towhead your are really over thinking this.
This is without a doubt a starfox reference, I mean name a more equally popular and overused internet meme. iPhone screen rotation, that’s just stupid.
Posted by: Klae | November 3, 2011, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
@Pete you mad bro?
Posted by: Klae | November 3, 2011, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
An Apple reference? Are you for real?????
My god it’s like your world revolves around your iPhone.
Posted by: lolusrs | November 3, 2011, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Ned, do some research. Not everything interesting comes from Apple. This is from Starfox
Posted by: Ryan | November 3, 2011, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Little things, amuse non-grouches.
Posted by: Adam | November 3, 2011, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
As Pete said, this was a direct nod/easter egg to Starfox 64 as ‘Z or R twice’ works. iphone screen rotation? lolwtfnoob?
Posted by: the Darkstar | November 3, 2011, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
really, so… you think apple even invented the screen rotation! your a idiot the screen rotation comes from basic pc settings that they set to be changed via the acceleration, and goggles graphic inst even that, its a PowerPoint effect also by MS,
your world apparently revolves around a idea that apple invented everything and the rest of the world is catching up to apples outdated pieces of junk.
apple only sells there overpriced pieces of outdated hardware because they had the ipod which was a cool item before that they only sold macs to people who do non professional animations (because they have a good animation program included and those cost 2.5k for a better one on the pc) that was there entire business, give people a expensive program to sell $300 of parts for $2000+.
now, they will give out macs to company’s, in some cases, to make idiots thank there computer must be better because they saw some corporate guy using one. despite the fact that a $500 PC even with viruses will outrun the best mac.
(anyways) lol its a STAR FOX 64 REFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: c1c2c3c4c | November 3, 2011, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
The author is an idiot. It’s not referencing apple at all. It’s a nintendo internet meme -___-
Posted by: Jake | November 3, 2011, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm
Ned needs to spend more time playing iconic Nintendo games and less time on Apple products…
This is some poor reporting…
If he’d actually googled it himself he would know exactly where it comes from…
Posted by: Giblet | November 3, 2011, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
You have destroyed all my hope in humanity
Posted by: Steve | November 3, 2011, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
VERY obviously a Star Fox reference.
Posted by: Todd | November 3, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Explain to me how this is even a reference to star fox, it’s clearly just a developer have some fun..
Posted by: David | November 3, 2011, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
What do you mean people don’t care?
You are obviously very deprived, for Starfox is one of the first video games created. I hope you know what Super Smash Bros or SSBM or SSBB are.
Posted by: HighQuality | November 3, 2011, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
So many grumpy people! This is cute! Leave it at that. :-)
Posted by: Laura | November 3, 2011, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
Nice. Seems like all you need to report on the internet is in fact an internet connection and an overwhelming infatuation with Apple products.
Posted by: Dylan | November 3, 2011, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
obviously a Star Fox reference. And it isn’t Ned that is wrong , Google is the one trying to say it isn’t a reference to star fox
Posted by: rylin25 | November 3, 2011, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
If they had even bothered to check.. Its been around on 4Chan boards for years now..
Posted by: Cyth | November 3, 2011, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
The author obviously has no clue what he is talking about. Let’s just let it go people.
Posted by: Eric | November 3, 2011, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
Ned Potter isn’t very good at barrel rolls, but he is probably using a mac, so it isn’t entirely his fault.
Posted by: Mr. McCloud | November 3, 2011, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
As has been covered this is obviously a reference to Starfox 64. The fact that “z or r twice” also returns the same result pretty much proves it.
Posted by: Cornan | November 3, 2011, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
It didn’t work for me =(
Posted by: Bec | November 3, 2011, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
Difficult to argue that this isn’t a reference to the Star Fox series, when ‘Z or R twice’ results in a barrel roll as well. =)
Posted by: Yzeal | November 3, 2011, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
The author does know what they’re doing….shamelessly exploiting SEO for the brownie points having Apple related keywords earns them.
Posted by: nitestick | November 3, 2011, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
H
Posted by: Steve | November 3, 2011, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
obviously from starfox (screw you Peppy)
Posted by: Key | November 3, 2011, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
also you can type in TILT in the search…thats the best one, beside do a barrel roll
Posted by: charlotte | November 3, 2011, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
This was a meme on 4chan and other places on the web for at least 4-5 years. It’s hilarious that these old media dinosaurs try to do their “research” and attempt to see it as an homage to Apple. It has absolutely nothing to do with Apple and everything to do with Peppy from Starfox 64 and the ensuing internet culture that followed. Anyone who denies that has absolutely no business commenting because they have no idea what they’re talking about.
Posted by: John | November 3, 2011, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
Not an Apple reference. Get over thine self.
Posted by: Dave | November 3, 2011, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
i have a dell but it didnt work for me.. HELP
Posted by: kailey | November 3, 2011, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
It doesn’t work for me. My Mac is probably broken.
Posted by: Eeyore | November 3, 2011, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
this article is hilarious. Homage to apple? lmfao really? maybe hire someone under the age of 40 to write articles about stuff going on in the internets :$
Posted by: lol | November 3, 2011, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
Also didn’t work for me (see a few posts above with the same issue) tried it from my Dell netbook AND my iMac….
Posted by: Vicki | November 3, 2011, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Did you even bother to research this. It has absolutely nothing to do with Apple.
Posted by: Agg | November 3, 2011, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
It’s an homage to Star Fox 64 for the Nintendo 64. in the game, Slippy the Frog says “Do a barrel roll.” Later, it became an internet meme. So yes, whether intentional or not, Google was paying homage to a Nintendo game.
Posted by: Chad | November 3, 2011, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
Did you even look at the search results!?!?!?…..you would have seen what the barrel roll reference is……….
Someone fire this editor.
Posted by: anonymous | November 3, 2011, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm
this author clearly isn’t a gamer. nor did they do any research on the phrase.
Posted by: mike | November 3, 2011, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
Journalist didn’t even bother researching the term’s origin.
Posted by: Van | November 3, 2011, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
it not working
Posted by: devi | November 3, 2011, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
It doesnt matter what type of computer you have, update your browser to chrome, firefox, opera, anything but IE or safari built on your machine
Posted by: Duhya | November 3, 2011, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
As a journalist, maybe you should at least take the effort to search where the reference originates from. Embarrassing.
Posted by: Epz | November 3, 2011, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
Just a way to use the key words Google, Nintendo, and Apple in the same header just to get more hits. I wouldn’t have probably read the story otherwise.
Posted by: Greg O'Byte | November 3, 2011, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
Man, this is why I love this site, the comments really make me laugh. You guys are brilliant comedians.
Posted by: They mad | November 3, 2011, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
LOL!!! How does “do a barrel roll” have anything to do with Apple products? XD!!! Oh ignorance… you never cease to entertain.
Posted by: pants | November 3, 2011, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
Seriously Ned Potter? What does Apple have to do with the quote “do a barrel roll”? It’s an obvious reference to “Star Fox” because the phrase “z or r twice” works as well. As others have posted, do some research before you write articles. This guy needs to be fired.
After reading this article, I don’t want to live on this planet anymore…
Posted by: Jet | November 3, 2011, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
If you don’t see the connection to StarFox, in which you press “Z or R twice” in order to “do a barrel roll,” you should not be writing tech news. Stick with human interest stories about old people with special pets. You could actually look at the search results and figure it out. Truly, you’ve done half the research just by observing the effect. Don’t even get me started on your iPhone theory.
Posted by: David | November 4, 2011, 12:05 am 12:05 am
What I want to know is why does it not make my screen rotate on my “google” based android phone. Google has such an untapped think tank here it is incredible. Sad for them I say.
Posted by: Nathan Belmont | November 4, 2011, 12:23 am 12:23 am
how does i googles?
Posted by: Ned Potter | November 4, 2011, 12:30 am 12:30 am
Wow. Some of you raving commenters are really funny. I particularly enjoyed this one: “Starfox is one of the first video games created.” In what universe is a game made in 1993 one of the first video games created? I keep telling myself to keep to the article and not read the comments because they are just full of hateful ranters with nothing to contribute, but for some reason I just never seem to learn. Maybe next time.
Posted by: Emily | November 4, 2011, 12:34 am 12:34 am
i lol’d!
Posted by: am3rico | November 4, 2011, 12:42 am 12:42 am
i don’t know if anyone tried but it doesn’t work for safari users.
Posted by: Tyler | November 4, 2011, 12:45 am 12:45 am
This author is a moron. To associate a homage to Star Fox 64 to Apple is an insult to Nintendo. Implying page rotation is Apple’s creation and inspiration for something like this is an embarassment to thos website and its credability.
Posted by: Tom | November 4, 2011, 12:46 am 12:46 am
Every time some dumb news site assumes something is related to Apple, a kitten dies.
Posted by: Jake | November 4, 2011, 12:53 am 12:53 am
This is some really poor reporting. The Barrel roll reference has nothing to do with apple. Stop giving credit where it is not due.
Posted by: Jack | November 4, 2011, 12:59 am 12:59 am
If this doesn’t make you smile, you’re pretty much dead on the inside. (pete)
Posted by: Marco | November 4, 2011, 1:18 am 1:18 am
Omg, my phone goes to the internet. Who invented this? Oh im so dumb. It had to be apple.
Posted by: brian | November 4, 2011, 1:26 am 1:26 am
SKIPPY!
Posted by: Travis | November 4, 2011, 1:55 am 1:55 am
Why is a tech writer allowed to be so out of touch with internet culture?
Posted by: JR | November 4, 2011, 1:56 am 1:56 am
Star Fox reference for sure.
Posted by: Marc | November 4, 2011, 1:59 am 1:59 am
ABC’s tech stories have to mention Apple. Don’t forget the Jobs/Pixar/Disney/ABC connection. Follow the money. The FCC & FTC should be all over ABC for it’s blatant abuse of plugola/payola rules when it comes to promoting product that’s made by one of it’s owners/partners. The author’s post is the poorest example of tech journalism I’ve seen in a while. I’d expect this out of Gizmodo — not ABC. The body of the story even contradicts the headline. Bravo. So. Well. Done.
Posted by: reid | November 4, 2011, 2:08 am 2:08 am
@Emily
Really? One person makes a stupid mistake, so now no one is contributing by pointing out that this entire article is flawed?
Posted by: TJ Fadness | November 4, 2011, 2:09 am 2:09 am
Hey ABC,
Protip; fire whoever wrote this article. They don’t know a goddamn thing.
Cheers,
The Internet
Posted by: All of the Internet | November 4, 2011, 2:11 am 2:11 am
I’m sorry to inform you but apple did not invent everything, this is a starfox reference.
Posted by: Gary | November 4, 2011, 2:18 am 2:18 am
DO YO ALL REALLY HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE TO DO BUT ARGUE ABOUT A LITTLE APP THAT GOOGLE PLACED WITHING ITS HOMEPAGE. GET A LIFE.
Posted by: jimbob | November 4, 2011, 2:29 am 2:29 am
Oh god, if you had looked at the results for the ‘do a berril roll’ query you would KNOW what it was. I could do your job ABC blogger, and I could do it better.
Posted by: X | November 4, 2011, 2:47 am 2:47 am
It is DEFINITELY a starfox homage. How do I know for sure? Try typing in “z or r twice” which is how you do a barrel roll in star fox. Viola.
Posted by: Good Researcher | November 4, 2011, 2:53 am 2:53 am
If you also google ’tilt’ it will tilt your screen
Posted by: bree | November 4, 2011, 3:08 am 3:08 am
whats a starfox?
Posted by: Curly | November 4, 2011, 3:08 am 3:08 am
Congrats Ned, you made the Reddit front page for being a fanboy moron.
Posted by: Jose | November 4, 2011, 3:21 am 3:21 am
This “journalist” is full of fail. Nothing to do with Apple. You should lurk moar.
Posted by: Merops Apiaster | November 4, 2011, 3:23 am 3:23 am
You have got to be kidding me. You have to know this has nothing to do with Apple. Please tell me you just put “Apple” in there so it would get more hits.
The only alternative is that you are a complete and utter moron and if you had any less brain power, you’d have to go to rehab to re-learn the alphabet.
Posted by: WhatTheHell | November 4, 2011, 3:29 am 3:29 am
Author, retract the Apple reference. You are obviously wrong. Save yourself some credibility.
Posted by: HopeDoesNotFloat | November 4, 2011, 3:46 am 3:46 am
It’s not a “takeoff of Apple’s iPhone & iPad with their accelerometers”, it’s actually a line taken from the 1997 Nintendo64 game titled ‘StarFox 64′, in which one of your wingmen (Peppy Hare) tells you to “do a barrel roll” while approaching four stationary turrets firing lasers at you. The entry on Urban Dictionary for “do a barrel roll” was created on January 30th, 2004 and skyrocketed into internet meme status shortly after. “Do a barrel roll” was also a popular line used during the 4chan Tom Green raids in 2006.
You can also type “z or r twice” into the query box, and it will produce the same results (a barrel roll). It’s mind-numbingly obvious that Google is paying homage to StarFox, not Apple. At least, someone who actually pressed their enter key and proceeded with the search on Google would have figured out it’s origin with ease.
A clip of the phrase can be found on YouTube (video link wZ8z9FQEQiQ for the exact clip in question). It has absolutely nothing to do with Apple or any of their products. Please, Ned Potter, do your research before making yourself look like an idiot to thousands of readers. However, I suppose it’s a little too late for that though, eh?
Posted by: msh | November 4, 2011, 3:56 am 3:56 am
I think this is the best case of irony I’ve ever seen. You’re literally googling the phrase, an action that in most cases results in seeing the search results, and yet you’ve ignored all facts and decided to simply email google employees to answer whether or not it’s related to star fox. Even so, how on earth does their answer negate the star fox claim? it just says they’re using html5 to entertain users.
Posted by: Dai | November 4, 2011, 4:00 am 4:00 am
This is a reference to Star Fox and not the fruit company. This author is substandard.
Posted by: UNBELIEVABLE | November 4, 2011, 4:03 am 4:03 am
I’m glad Steve lost his Jobs, he lost his mind before he died and abused the legal system to remove competition. Instead of making a better product, he just sued them.
And it’s a starfox reference MSNBC, learn to do research before doing “news”.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2011, 4:03 am 4:03 am
I have the latest version of Firefox and have NO idea what all the fuss is about? Is there a certain result I ma supposed to click on? Is this something for internet phones????(I do not have) I don’t get it?
Posted by: Don't get this | November 4, 2011, 4:07 am 4:07 am
So apparently they just let anyone write the news these days. This is what happens when you let someone who isn’t all that interested in technology write about it.
The insane thing is, Ned MUST have googled “Do a barrel roll”, how is it possible he hasn’t learned anything about the phrases origin?
Posted by: FRB | November 4, 2011, 4:12 am 4:12 am
This journalist appears to be a master troll. Or at least i hope he is.
Posted by: alpaca | November 4, 2011, 4:18 am 4:18 am
Nice
Posted by: zet | November 4, 2011, 4:31 am 4:31 am
Does it work also with IE?
MS is not so interested in open standards like HTML5 (or ODF) which does not lock to Windows. IE does not score high in HTML5 tests.
Posted by: consumer | November 4, 2011, 4:51 am 4:51 am
Can we get that in writing, Ned? Oooooh, wait…
Posted by: Jyhash | November 4, 2011, 5:17 am 5:17 am
Officially, it’s not a reference to Starfox. Except it clearly and obviously is a reference to Starfox 64. The guy who made it just must not have told his bosses where the phrase comes from.
Posted by: Rob | November 4, 2011, 5:48 am 5:48 am
Life will never be the same
Posted by: chris peters | November 4, 2011, 6:05 am 6:05 am
Dear Google: Keep this! It’s awesome.
Posted by: Crystallia | November 4, 2011, 6:50 am 6:50 am
Oh. My. God. Seriously, how did the author get to the conclusion that this is even close to be related to APPLE!?
argh… just, god… sigh
Posted by: Phillip | November 4, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am
I Love it……good to see Google is doing its geeky thing again, so cool :)
I want more LOL!
Posted by: Jackie | November 4, 2011, 8:01 am 8:01 am
Also try the following in google:
askew
tilt
recursion
Posted by: Jim | November 4, 2011, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Ok I know it’s stupid to think that this is from apple, but apperantly, all you noobs think about is games, specificly starfox 64. As one comment said,DO SOME REASERCH!!!! Its an airplane manuever, for REAL LIFE AIRPLANES, not starfox.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2011, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Hmm NO. Doing a barrel roll and Apple are not related at all.
Posted by: Charlie | November 4, 2011, 8:54 am 8:54 am
THIS IS NOT A STARFOX REFFERENCE
A BARREL ROLL IS A STANDARD FIGHTER PLANE MANEUVER IN THE AIRFORCE
Just because that line was for say quoted in starfox 64, does not mean google/apple is quoting it from starfox them selfs, even in the airforce that same stated line is given out as an order to pilots, so no it is not intended as a refference to starfox
Posted by: Logan | November 4, 2011, 9:03 am 9:03 am
ITS A STAR FOX REFERENCE YOU IDIOTS
TYPE: z or r twice
HERP DERP that was the command in starfox 64
FEEL RETARDED NOW?? THANK YOU
Posted by: Kai Schulte | November 4, 2011, 9:23 am 9:23 am
I was on a call and asked a friend of mine to open a browser and type this in. Her expression was EPIC! She was playing around with it for the next 5 minutes, keeping me on hold
Posted by: Sai | November 4, 2011, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Yo, yo, yo I hears Apple be taking credit for my moves? Shame on you Apple.
Posted by: Fox McCloud | November 4, 2011, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Really? Apple? No. The same result occurs when you google “z or r twice” which were the button prompts to do a barrel roll i starfox. How the hell did you get Apple in there?
@Charlie- yes it is a starfox reference. Again, googling “z or r twice” gets the same barrel roll-esque effect, and those were the barrel roll commands from starfox.
Posted by: Philip | November 4, 2011, 9:44 am 9:44 am
It doesn’t work!!! ;(
Posted by: katie | November 4, 2011, 9:56 am 9:56 am
RAAAAAAAAAAGEEEEEEEE ON THE INTERWEBSSSSSSS!
Posted by: Mr. Rage | November 4, 2011, 9:57 am 9:57 am
@ TJ Fadness I’m sorry that you are unable to read. What I said was that I thought that specific comment was particularly stupid. I then separately stated that the comment section is “full of hateful ranters with nothing to contribute”. The FIRST person to say that it was from StarFox pointed it out nicely. Every single one of the rest of them that said the EXACT SAME THING contributed NOTHING. I’m not saying they are incorrect, I’m only saying that going off on a rant about it when the point has already been successfully made is NOT contributing. It’s just noise at that point.
Posted by: Emily | November 4, 2011, 9:58 am 9:58 am
It’s definitely a Star Fox reference. It’s obvious that the author of this article is a little too old to understand the reference though. It’s ok Mr. Ned Potter, it’s nothing against you, but if you were a kid in the 90′s you’d understand why Apple is in no way being referenced here.
Posted by: Curtis | November 4, 2011, 10:02 am 10:02 am
Ned, how bout stop fanboying Apple up and read what the GOOGLE RESULTS show when you type “Do a barrel roll”?
Posted by: Ohaidere | November 4, 2011, 10:15 am 10:15 am
HAY GUISE, DID YOU HEAR GOOGLE MADE AN APPLE REFERENCE?
TYPE “DO A BARREL ROLL” TO SEE. :3 [/sarcasm]
Posted by: Psion | November 4, 2011, 10:22 am 10:22 am
Doesn’t seem to work on CRTs or older LCD displays. Only newer LED displays and of course Apple products.
Posted by: Dave | November 4, 2011, 10:26 am 10:26 am
“do a barrel roll” is one of the most famous internet memes there is, and it is from star fox.
Posted by: Adam Google | November 4, 2011, 10:34 am 10:34 am
I don’t personally know the developers, but I’d have to agree with the majority here: this is not Apple, Mac, Jobs or Siri-related.
This is a great nod to nineties kids’ childhood love of Nintendo 64 games. You’re showing your age ABCnews.
Posted by: Matt | November 4, 2011, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Its quiet… Too quiet.. BE CAREFUL IT’S A TRAP!
Posted by: Bgwin | November 4, 2011, 10:40 am 10:40 am
I think this might be sorta kinda possibly definitely referencing a barrel…while rolling.
Posted by: CJ Rich | November 4, 2011, 10:55 am 10:55 am
How could you be so ignorant? It’s referencing the “do a barrel roll” line from Star Fox 64.
For more proof, typing “z or r twice” does the same thing.
Posted by: YayMii | November 4, 2011, 11:06 am 11:06 am
why does evvvvvverything “have” to reference Apple? Know your roots article writers, this is a Starfox game reference. Your readers are correct
Posted by: VGDJ Cr4sh | November 4, 2011, 11:14 am 11:14 am
In September, our SUV rolled down a 20′ embankment. I don’t need to play with Google.
Posted by: w w | November 4, 2011, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Since you can also perform the same spinning motion when you do a Google search for “ZZ” or “RR”— it is obviously a reference to Nintendo’s classic video game Star Fox 64′s “do a barrel roll” which the player does by pressing “Z” or “R” twice
Posted by: Mike Z | November 4, 2011, 11:45 am 11:45 am
I can’t believe how stupid reporting is nowadays. This has NOTHING to do with Apple and EVERYTHING to do with an internet meme that comes from Starfox 64.
Not everything in the world revolves around Apple.
Posted by: T.L. | November 4, 2011, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Do real pilots also type “z or r twice” when they want to do a barrel roll?!? Of course it’s StarFox 64!!!
Posted by: Bostjan | November 4, 2011, 11:54 am 11:54 am
of course it’s a Star fox reference try searching for “z or r twice” and you get the same thing
Posted by: Sakas | November 4, 2011, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Seriously? Even if you googled “Do a barrel roll” the first results that come up tell you it is referring to Starfox. What kind of lazy journalism is this?
Posted by: WTFBBQ | November 4, 2011, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Why is this author allowed to write…?
Posted by: Mike | November 4, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Why do only some “Tech” articles allow/have a user response/forum? Is there an agenda, being forced upon us? I have disagreements with the internet article. The internet has functioned very well up to now. Why to we need the government to come in and screw it up?
Posted by: deanbob | November 4, 2011, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Hey, W W – how did you roll our SUV – did you press ZZ or RR?
Posted by: Starbox | November 4, 2011, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
I typed in “usefull ways to spend my time”….. It crashed right away.
Posted by: Jorrell | November 4, 2011, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
I’m surprised he managed to type that in and fail to read the entire first page of what he just searched. Reading comprehension and research much?
Posted by: Gene Ricdude | November 4, 2011, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
“z or r twice” <– that does the same thing making it very clear its a star fox reference cause u tap z or r twice in star fox to do barrel roll
Posted by: eric jghkj | November 4, 2011, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
It’s from Starfox, dude. The little frog guy in the game kept shouting “do a barrel roll” to you. It became a famous internet meme.
Posted by: DanielThorn | November 4, 2011, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
For those who are crying “It’s not working for me, help…” – just scrap your Internet Explorer (aka IE) and start using decent browsers – Firefox, Chrome etc.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Dude Goiko | November 4, 2011, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Google reps only said that because Nintendo tends to go sue crazy.
Posted by: A1rh3ad | November 5, 2011, 5:16 am 5:16 am
Can’t let you do that, Starfox
Posted by: Jordan M | November 5, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
“Is it a takeoff on Apple’s iPhones and iPads with their built-in accelerometers” /facepalm
Posted by: Anonymous | November 5, 2011, 10:32 am 10:32 am
WOW! I didn’t even remember that it was from StarFox, and I knew it had nothing to do with iPhones! What the hell kind of idiots do these “news companies” hire anyways? Obviously the dude did the search to play with the thing. The least he coulda done was clicked on one of the links that came up.
Posted by: kyla | November 5, 2011, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Most of you all nuts. Nowhere in this article does the author say it’s a reference to Apple. All he did was pose a question to frame Google’s negative response. Everyone who’s trying to read voodoo between the lines is guilty of far more stupidity than what they’re accusing the author of.
Posted by: Brenda | November 5, 2011, 10:37 am 10:37 am
How the hell does this have anything to do with Apple? For one thing, Chrome has been able to work with accelerometers for real for a long time. There was an extension I downloaded once that would use the computer’s built-in accelerometers (used to shut down the hard drive during sudden drops and the like) to turn the page into goo that would tilt back and forth and upside-down.
Second, this is Star Fox 64. Whenever you hear someone say “Do a barrel roll!” they’re probably making a joke about that game. Particularly if they do it in a kind of funny voice.
Apple, my god, you people are insane.
Posted by: Crabbers | November 5, 2011, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Mind didn’t do it.
Posted by: Kristin | November 5, 2011, 11:24 am 11:24 am
I heard ABC is a take off of iTV
Posted by: The name | November 5, 2011, 11:30 am 11:30 am
It has nothing to do with Apple, bad journalism!!!!
Posted by: Bas | November 5, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Wow. ABC has absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.
Posted by: Jake | November 5, 2011, 11:47 am 11:47 am
The author has NO IDEA what an Internet Meme is…fail noob is fail.
Posted by: BAM | November 5, 2011, 11:48 am 11:48 am
ABC reminds me of my clueless parents…why would “Do a barrel roll” remind anyone of an Apple product…? *Sigh*
Posted by: Jesse | November 5, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Sorry to jet,but I’m in a hurry.
Location confirmed,sending supplies.
This baby can take temperatures up to 9000 degrees.
The hatches are open.
I guess I should be thankful.
Your daddy screamed real good before he died.
Cocky little freaks.
Posted by: Mike | November 5, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
ITS A STARFOX REFERENCE!! NOT TO DO WITH iPhone!!!
Posted by: andrepd | November 5, 2011, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
Wow. Awful, awful reporting.
Posted by: Brandon | November 5, 2011, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
I like the part where the screen rotates
Posted by: Rolan | November 5, 2011, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Why everyone thinks that it’s Apple who first decided to do anything? They did not invent anything, they merely recycle.
Posted by: Airazz | November 5, 2011, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
this author is clearly technology illiterate, when he got his first iPhone and installed his first app, he felt like he was on top of the world of in technology!!! a professional electrical engineer couldn’t POSSIBLY know as much as him now. so he turns on his macbook and just started typing away… wait isn’t this the birth of every apple fanboy?
Posted by: eric | November 5, 2011, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
USE THE BOOST TO GET THROUGH
a nod to the apple 4gs boosted speed am I right?
Posted by: Max Trollington | November 5, 2011, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Why do you try and give the reference to apple ? It doesn’t make any sens. Do a barrel roll stems from a game called Star Fox.
Posted by: qqs | November 5, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
Fox McCloud: We’re heading out. All aircraft report.
Slippy Toad: You did it! I was worried for a moment.
Peppy Hare: You’re becoming more like your father.
Falco Lombardi: I’m fine. You okay over there, Fox?
Posted by: James McCloud | November 5, 2011, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
Ned Potter, you embarrassed yourself. Please go write about anything but technology. Please ABC can you get someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.
Posted by: glacia | November 5, 2011, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
I watched the ad before the video thinking that the airplane was going to do a barrel roll…
Posted by: Kiki | November 5, 2011, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
IF YOU DIDN’T PLAY STAR FOX 64, THIS PROBABLY MEANS NOTHING TO YOU.
IF YOU DID, THIS IS ONE HELL OF A CULT-STUNT! AWESOME STUFF GOOGLE.
HATERS ARE EITHER SNES FANBOYS, GRUMPY OLD MEN, OR FEMINISTS.
Posted by: BENNY | November 5, 2011, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
This has nothing to do with apple, at all. Literally nothing.
Posted by: Tyler Brainerd | November 5, 2011, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
What a dumb article, how did the writer connect a well known reference to a computer game to Apple products? It’s completely unrelated to iDevices, embarrassing.
Posted by: comical | November 5, 2011, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
the first webpage link on google (not image or news or video) tells you exactly what “do a barrel roll” is from.
well you’re getting your hits. instead of providing actual information to your audience, you instead opted to just throw in some buzzwords (this has nothing to do with Apple) and just be all around dumb. if you took 5 seconds to actually see what came up when you googled ‘do a barrel roll’ you wouldn’t come off as such an idiot but hey, who needs to check any facts?
if you want blogs to stop being a joke then you need to stop being a joke yourself. do some research.
Posted by: what | November 5, 2011, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
What kind of luddite do you have to be to have used the internet in the past five years and NOT KNOW WHERE THIS COMES FROM?
I mean what the heck, if you were to wait for the Google page to stop spinning, Peppy saying the iconic phrase on youtube was the second search result, every search result past that is comprised of websites explaining what it means and where it is from, how does Apple factor into any of this?
Posted by: anonymous c | November 5, 2011, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
This will not work for me.
1. Did it only work for that 1 day?
2. When I go to Google’s site & type this in, it starts auto-completing. Is this why it won’t work for me?
Posted by: Corey | November 6, 2011, 12:45 am 12:45 am
I couldn’t believe the author wrote about this being from apple….what an idiot and I know never to read this crap again…
Posted by: john | November 6, 2011, 1:03 am 1:03 am
Haha. It’s funny seeing “news” people out of the loop. ABC thinks it “channels Apple” haha.
Inside jokes rule!!
Posted by: Wesley | November 6, 2011, 1:10 am 1:10 am
@What:
“What kind of luddite do you have to be to have used the internet in the past five years and NOT KNOW WHERE THIS COMES FROM?”
Hey, nice to meet you, too. My name’s Luddite. My friends call me Luddie, but you can call me Luddite.
I’ve been using the Internet probably since you were in diapers, and I had no idea what Star Fox 64 was until about half an hour ago. You see, I have better things to do with my time than playing video games.
Posted by: Nathanael | November 6, 2011, 5:55 am 5:55 am
hahaha
Posted by: rich | November 6, 2011, 6:52 am 6:52 am
It doesn’t work for me in Star Fox — I mean Firefox.
Posted by: Mark | November 6, 2011, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Whoever wrote this article should be fired.
Posted by: ryan | November 6, 2011, 10:30 am 10:30 am
I’m running IE 9with windows 7 and nothing fun happens for me…sadness…
Posted by: Shelley | November 6, 2011, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Didn’t work for me
Posted by: Angel Elf | November 6, 2011, 11:54 am 11:54 am
@Nathanael
“I’ve been using the Internet probably since you were in diapers, and I had no idea what Star Fox 64 was until about half an hour ago. You see, I have better things to do with my time than playing video games.”
Oh so you’ve been using it since it was considered the ARPANET? Not the craziest thing I’ve heard on the internet, but I don’t see what that has anything to do with being on the internet in the five years preceding this moment to see a very common internet phrase that was literally on every blog, social networking site, and even some news outlets. Which means you have spent the last 10 or so years with your head buried in a sand mound on Mars. Especially since every person and their dog(or rabbit in this case) was repeating that phrase almost everywhere that text could be posted (particularly if you had a functioning email address during this time).
I find it strange that you’re trying to invoke some sense of superiority via seniority when you fail to do the most basic tasks such as notice which comment you’re replying to despite the fact that there’s a big arrow in the comment box pointing to the name.
But your entire post proves one law is still universal on the internet: When you wish to fail, fail spectacularly.
Posted by: Anonymous C | November 6, 2011, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Ummm… It doesn’t work for me, so I suspect this may entice a few to upgrade their browser. Clever marketing Google, clever indeed.
Posted by: Nicole | November 6, 2011, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Do a barrel roll
Posted by: Chris | November 6, 2011, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
I’d to agree that those “it’s starfox dammit nintendo roxorz apple suxorrz” ranters really contribute nothing but noise.
Could you calm down and stop this nerd rage nonsense? Look -
1. Yes – it is a starfox reference, because the alternate command is a starfox command
2.BUT – the reason why some have commented it’s apple like is because it comes hot off the heels of SIRI, and the command was “do a barrel roll” and the screen proceeds to do it, as opposed to “easter barrel roll” or even “barrell roll”, if you were on a more traditional voice recognition system..
Finally, to all the similar Android fanboys who say oh blah all the android phones have voice command and so on, you can blame 1. timing of the wording of the command 2. the more conversational nature which reminds people of what sets Siri apart from regular voice recognition systems.
So get your heads out of your anti-Apple ass. Nintendo’s still going to earn millions off your money without giving you a dime and nobody’s going to give you a “the coolest dude and chick magnet” sticker if you show off your Nintendo legacy knowledge and ironic fanboyism.
If anything, the writer is attempting to give balanced reportage.
Posted by: dan | November 6, 2011, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Maby google didn’t copy it from starfox and made it up themselves and they latter found out starfox did it because not everyone is a video game nerd and know everything about starfox
Posted by: Rich roach | November 6, 2011, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
It’s one thing to be confronted with ridiculous trivialities in life. It’s another thing altogether to be confronted with people whose perspective is so incredibly limited that these trivialities fill their lives to the point where they are arguing over which triviality pays homage to which other triviality. Don’t you people ever read the news or consider the nature of your existence? Star Fox 64? Internet memes? That’s your life? Have you ever considered pottery or guitar? Running? Some light carpentry? Ways to fill your time that involve giggling at someone else’s arrangement of one and zeros?
Posted by: Eduardo | November 7, 2011, 2:15 am 2:15 am
@Eduardo
Calling the kettle black, much? It looks to me that you’re using ones and zeros to argue with us the usage of us using ones and zeroes to argue with each other.
On that note, it IS possible to argue Star Fox references and internet memes AND have a life. You CAN play video games and write poetry (it’s true, trust me!) Or you CAN stalk Facebook and play guitar (oh my stars and garters!) Then again, is light carpentry any more important than keeping up on technology? I think keeping up on online communities is incredibly important to our future (being an anthropologist who studies such things).
P.S. Yeah, people, you should read the news instead of spending your time here! Or, wait. This is a new site. Huh.
Posted by: Dru | November 7, 2011, 4:59 am 4:59 am
not happy with the auto-play ad
Posted by: Dennis | November 7, 2011, 10:07 am 10:07 am
do a barrel role!
Posted by: phillip | November 7, 2011, 10:10 am 10:10 am
It’s funny because almost every single person saying it’s not a starfox reference is able to compare it to the game and even give the controls to do the move lol.
Posted by: trey | November 7, 2011, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Obviously, as many have said, its a starfox reference. The line “do a barrel roll” is used by Peppy Hare in the first mission.Pressing z or r twice produces a barrel roll. Face it, Peppy said it first, not apple or whatever.
Posted by: Ozzy | November 7, 2011, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
it diddnt work for me so i guess wolf is saying:
- “Cant let you browse that, Firefox!”
Posted by: Fox McCloud | November 7, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
It’s clearly stolen from the Luftwaffe. Why dose it have to be stolen from anywhere, n64, give me a break and put down your Nintendo controllers. It’s another interesting person putting their style on something. Leave it at that. Bravo google employee, keep up the great work. Imagination is clearly a fading trait.
Posted by: Meal man | November 7, 2011, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
If you liked the barrel roll one, search askew on Google!
Posted by: nwbl | November 8, 2011, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Typing “Z or R twice” also works. “Tilt” is another fun one.
Posted by: A1rh3ad | November 9, 2011, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
lol-ing at the fact no one at google wants to fess up that this is from star fox. even typing “z or r twice” does it. the guy who put it together is obviously trolling all of you. congrats.
dumb ass mainstream media as usual.
Posted by: dylan | November 10, 2011, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Dear Abcnews,
Thanks for the above, Over the weekend, I was browsing the net and glimpsed at a book titled – “Get Google Ads Free”. On seeing the title, I was shocked and thought I should buy this book and analyze. Let me review this “Get Google Ads Free” book here.
Regards
Posted by: loans,mortgage,payday | November 12, 2011, 6:54 am 6:54 am
Charming…. Nuff said…
Posted by: Icyferret | November 13, 2011, 10:18 am 10:18 am
i dont care about apples or star…fire…fox or whatever. i just wanna know why it takes me here stead of doing a dang barrel roll!
Posted by: meh :( | November 14, 2011, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Know your freaking Meme!
Posted by: Justin | December 1, 2011, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Apple reference??
I don’t want to live on this planet anymore =/
Posted by: angela | December 6, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
now write “tilt”
Posted by: Lilian | December 7, 2011, 6:52 am 6:52 am
Barrell roll is originally from Star Wars. This is a fact. Also, Toy Story 2 was ok
Posted by: Decepticon 5 | December 7, 2011, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
You can always tell who the iPhone haters are…geez let it go already, I’m sure your android or whatever is a great phone, as is the case with most apple products. Who cares…
Posted by: Tim | December 11, 2011, 10:24 am 10:24 am
can it do anything else? lol
Posted by: T | December 14, 2011, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
LIES! ALL LIES!!! I type it in and hit enter and nothing happens at all!
Posted by: Thomas | December 18, 2011, 2:37 am 2:37 am
It still does it!!!!! at least for me anyway lol
Posted by: Michelle | January 12, 2012, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Except it doesn’t make sense to sue Google because of their partnership with Apple. Hurrr.
Posted by: Keith | February 8, 2012, 3:57 am 3:57 am
Funny, but I thought for sure my browser was infected when this happened!
Posted by: Rich | February 8, 2012, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
I don’t want to come off as hateful, but the author is definitely wrong here. If he wants to continue writing for a living, he should tune into what his readers have to say because he’s obviously making a fool out of himself.
There is absolutely no possible way this is a reference to Apple. It’s Starfox 64! You have a thousand people telling you that!
Posted by: charlie | February 17, 2012, 1:56 am 1:56 am
uh yeah, this if for the idiot that said starfox was one of the first games ever created… apperantly companies like atari, intellivision, and coleco never existed.. starfox was one of the first games for the N-64, not one of the first games period, your about 20 years late moron
Posted by: Spiky | March 21, 2012, 2:38 am 2:38 am