UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY
For years now, April Fool’s Day has taken on a special life across the Internet, with big companies and brands getting in on the act. Sometimes I think about the meetings and planning that went into a few of these pranks and just shake my head. Note that all the Google departments and companies have their own April Fool’s Day joke, which The NextWeb has listed for us already. Here are a few more I’ve come across today:
Last night, Google Maps announced their Pokemaster contest. Over 150 Pokemon are spread out across the world. Find all 150 and become a Pokemaster, in the running for a job at Google and a Challenge Match. I have no idea if they’ll carry through on the job thing, but I couldn’t sleep last night and found all 150 Pokemon. It’s addictive, and the Googlers who put this together have a definite sense of humor as to the placement. (Don’t forget to look on the Apple and Facebook campuses.)
Google Maps April Fools Joke
TvAddict announces the Firefly reboot by Netflix (how many of us wish this one was real?)
Pick and grow your favorite facial hair with the Mr Beard Beard Machine from ThinkGeek
Google AdBirds from AdWords – taking your ads to new heights (I love this one!)
Netflix new movie in the style of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”: Rotisserie Chicken
Google Plus is AutoAwesoming your photos as usual, but this time more #Hoffsome with Hasselhoff photobombs
Twitter is introducing the Twitter Helmet (like Google Glass but for tweeting)
LinkedIn is adding LinkedIn for the stars of the Internet: LinkedIn Cats
Nest teamed up with Virgin Atlantic for Total Temperature Control in your airplane seat (not a bad idea, all things considered), and Richard Branson is in on the joke
While Apple itself doesn’t seem to have released a joke yet, iFixIt has announced that they have been acquired by Apple
Tumblr has Tumblr Pro. You have to go a long way for the joke – as in watch a video and then click a button and there’s a small payoff, but I laughed.
CERN has switched to Comic Sans. Nice to know the Really Smart Folks have a sense of humor.
UPDATES:
Julep introduces Cat Color (manicures for your kitty).
Microsoft Office (at Office.com) has re-released Clippy. Remember Clippy?
Hulu has announced spin-offs, including In the Kitchen with Hannibal.
Let me know what else you see out there as the day progresses.