April Fools' Day might strike you as a throwaway holiday, but for many companies, it's a chance to imagine fun twists on their best selling products. And whether you appreciate that tradition or not, you have to admit — it's pretty funny. This year definitely did not disappoint. While some of the creations are too crazy to ever actually exist, there are many that we would love to see in production. Hey, if Nike can really create Back to the Future's self-lacing sneakers, some of these should be possible, right?
As usual, Google went all out with the product fakes today. (Unfortunately, the company already ended one of its pranks, a fake Gmail feature, because people did not find it funny. At all.)
But plenty of other companies got in on the action, too. From apps to gadgets and even clothes, read on for our favorite tech-y gags in honor of April 1.
We'll be updating this post throughout the day with our favorite online pranks.
The ZumbaRoomba
Zumba Fitness and iRobot joined forces to create an epic cleaning and dancing party. iRobot's Roomba (yes, the incredible vacuum cleaning robot) has an iPhone holder so you can Zumba while you Roomba. Genius. If only this were actually arriving in summer 2016.
Mark Zuckerberg x H&M
H&M is known for its many successful collaborations (Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, and Sonia Rykiel, to name a few), and now, it's adding a new name to the mix: Mark Zuckerberg. The Facebook CEO is launching seven basic grey T-shirts and one pair of basic jeans so that, the H&M campaign says, you have "one less thing to think about in the morning." As Zuckerberg told the company, "I really want to clear my life so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community." Think of this as a new twist on tech x fashion.
Google Cardboard Plastic
There's no doubt that virtual reality is a major tech trend. But this year, Google is on top of the next trend in experiencing the world: actual reality. With Google Cardboard Plastic, you can get a "4D integrated perspective" of the world with "360 degrees spatially accurate sound, 20/20 resolution, and advanced haptics for realistic touch sensations." It's made of polymethyl methacrylate, so the headset is lightweight and waterproof, and unlike other headsets and wearables, it has no batteries, and no wires. "You’ll never miss a thing. Unless you blink," Google's blog post says.
Dial-A-Drama
Have you ever arrived to a show late and felt completely lost because you missed the opening scenes? TodayTix, a (real) app that helps you find the cheapest prices on last-minute theater tickets, is solving that problem with their new service, Dial-A-Drama. Just call the hotline and "you'll get a play by play of every detail on stage," from facial expressions to stage directions. We vote for a movie theater version of Dial-A-Drama, too.
Gmail Mic Drop
If you've ever been stuck on an impossibly long email thread, Gmail's newest feature, Mic Drop, is for you. The new feature "is making it easier to have the last word on any email." Even if people respond to you, you won't see the email.
Unfortunately, this is one joke that has made people who use Gmail for professional communications very angry and, since debuting late last night, Mic Drop has been switched off. Word to the wise: you should only hit the Mic drop button (which was found to the right of the regular "send" button) if you want to prank a friend with a funny Minions' GIF.
Edible CandyShell iPhone Cases
Case maker Speck already carries a line of brightly hued CandyShell iPhone cases, but now they're (fake) releasing edible phone cases. The candy cases boast a soft taffy interior surrounded by a rock candy exterior and come in coconut, fruit punch, and blue raspberry. Phone stickiness aside, this idea is a winner.
Burrit-OH!
Dating site Zoosk is, for one-week only, launching Burrit-OH!, a new dating site that uses a "burrito compatibility framework" to match daters. What exactly is that framework? It all comes down to how you feel about the 32 ingredients that go into a burrito (are you yay or nay to peas in your burrito rice?). The site is only live until April 8, so we recommend logging on immediately. [Ed. Note: This one actually is real for a week! If you find your soul mate based on your burrito compatibility, please let us know.]
SnoopaVision
One surefire way to make YouTube videos better: Watch them with Snoop Dogg. YouTube picked some of its most popular videos (think "Double Rainbow") and filmed Snoop Dogg watching them and providing hilarious commentary. By clicking the SnoopaVision icon on the lower right corner of videos such as "Double Rainbow Song,""Seniors Webcam 101," and "6ft Man in 6ft Giant Water Balloon," you can chill with Snoop in a 360 virtual experience.
WonderPaw
Wonder Workshop is bringing its coding software to the dogs — literally. In an effort to bring more dogs into the tech industry, the company has created the WonderPaw app so that dogs can land prestigious roles at Google, Apple, and even, as the promotional video notes, NASA. We love that now, even yellow labs can breakdown barriers, too.
Google Maps' Funky Town
Google Maps has taken a Saturday Night Fever approach to April 1 by introducing a dancing disco guy. On the Google Maps page in your web browser, click "Visit Funky Town in the Google Maps App." Open the app in your phone and "Explore Nearby" to see all that Funky Town has to offer — along with some pretty incredible dance moves.
Royal Caribbean UK’s Orbiter of the Galaxies
In true Star Wars (er — Virgin Galactic) fashion, Royal Caribbean UK has announced its latest “ship”, Orbiter of the Galaxies. The brand’s first spaceship will orbit in 2030. Onboard, you can expect features such as VOOM, “the fastest internet in space”, and Ripcord by iFly, which will let you float, astronaut-style, in the galaxy. Just guessing, but this will probably cost you more than a standard cruise to the Bahamas.
DeepFoot Technology from Zappos
The frustration of ordering shoes in the wrong size may disappear thanks to DeepFoot Technology, a new heat-activated tool from Zappos. When you step on your keyboard, the device creates a 3D model that’s used to recommend shoe styles and sizes. (If this were real, it could end up being very dangerous for your bank account. And very smelly for your keyboard.)
Pornhub’s Cornhub
Pornhub may have pulled off the most committed prank yet. The landing page of the site has been transformed into Cornhub, a site for corn porn with images for videos such as “Hot Steamy Hardcore Corn” and “Watch As He Butters It Up.” Just don’t try to click one of these videos unless you actually intend to go to the real Pornhub.
Ringly’s Hula-Hooply
On the heels of its smart bracelet release, jewelry x tech company Ringly has announced another wrist wearable: the Hula-Hooply. The bracelet tracks your “hooping” workouts through a corresponding phone app, so that you can record all your spinning activities. If only we had this during elementary school recess. At just $20, this one is a steal.
Zipcar’s Selfie-Driving
Reserving Zipcars just got much easier. Now, all you need to do is take a selfie! The Zipcar app will use your selfie help you find the best car for that day. If your selfie has multiple people, you’ll get paired with a larger car. If you look stressed, you’ll get a comfier car. If you look “super fly”, you’ll get a special car from the brand new “Diddy” line. Sign us up for one of those.
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