Google Celebrates its 13th Birthday with a Creative, Colorful, Clay-Looking Doodle

The only question is: what's in the wrapped boxes? And what will Google wish for when it blows out the candles?

I'm guessing that the boxes are filled with new ideas for Google+ features, and I'm betting the site will wish for a chance to beat Facebook. But who knows? Maybe Google simply wants to drive off in a Mustang like everybody else*.

Launched in September of 1998, Google began entirely as a search engine. The site quickly grew in popularity by providing a faster, simpler, and superior search engine experience. Before long, the company overtook its competitors, including Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), one of the former search engine leaders.

Google went public in 2004. In addition to its initial business, Google has expanded into the realms of software development, cloud computing, advertising, analytics, web browsing, and social networking, among others. YouTube and Android are two of its most notable acquisitions.

Most recently, Google acquired Zagat and Motorola (NYSE: MMI).

*Everybody = me.

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