Every year on April 1st, many technology companies and other related businesses put out a press release or a video about their new product or service they have came out with. The result, creativity and effort put into these products vary every time. For companies, April Fools Day is a day not only to do whatever you feel would be funny, but also to attract potential worker by showing how fun and relaxed these companies are. None of these are real, of course, but they all try to be humorous, just for the fun of it. Here are some of the best pranks by notable tech giants or startups:
iStragetyLabs’ BeardSwipe
After all the recent talk of Apple’s TouchID and other biometric products, BeardSwipe is a good channel into mainstream technology. basically, BeardSwipe is an app that would allow you to answer calls, buy apps, and unlock your phone by just swiping your phone across your jaw and beard. Like Google Nose, BeardSwipe is based of a absurd gesture with a phone and seeing how many people would actually do it. If the technology to make a “beardprint” was available and made, I’m sure this app would actually be a success. As BeardSwipe’s website says, if you have a beard, it says with you. You can’t just “lose it”. Funny and practical.
AirBnb’s AirBrb List Your Desk
Airbnb, the living space rental service app, has taken their service one step further for this April Fools. They have made Airbrb, an “app” that would let people rent out their desk for anyone to use. For some reason, if you need to work and don’t have a desk (a seemingly rare situation) you can just go to Airbrb and rent out a desk while the usual user is at break or lunch. Unlike BeardSwipe, Airbrb is a more of a joke than a potential service, but fun all the same.
Orbotix’s #Selfiebot
Have you ever been in a situation where you want to take a selfie, but your arm isn’t long enough? or you get into the right position? Or even worse, you forgot your phone? Orbotix, the company behind Sphero, has made a solution to your problems: #Selfiebot. #Selfiebot is a flying orb-like drone with a big camera on the front. The #Selfiebot follows you around, and based of the video below, I am guessing it recognizes that your are looking at it and takes a selfie. Obviously, if you watched the video, the “#selfiebots” are animated, though it is a funny and intriguing concept.
LinkedIn CYMK
Everyone knows LinkedIn, the social media site for business people. Like Airbnb, LinkedIn has expanded their service, now tapping into a social media craze to draw traffic to their site: cats. You might have been wondering what CYMK stands for. Well, it’s Cats You May Know. LinkedIn’s new “feature” will allow cats to make profiles highlighting their skills such as “speed napping”, friend other cats and even endorse other cats. A perfect cat social network.
Google’s Pokemon Challenge
Last but certainly not the least is Google’s Pokemon challenge. The Google Maps team does something every year, and this year the theme was the fantastical card game Pokemon. (product placement much?) The team sprinkled little Pokemon all over the mobile Google Maps, which if you found, you could click on and collect, then go back and look at your amazing collection. (they took it down already) There were 150 Pokemon possible to find, and supposedly, whoever got the most Pokemon would start working for Google as their official “Pokemon Master”. Of course this is all fictional, but it would sure excite the younger generation.
Every year on April Fools Day, these companies stop their drab, boring workload and work on something fun and creative, which must be a breath of fresh air for them. And of course, nobody could enjoy it more than the public. If you want to see last years April Fools Day pranks, click on this highlighted word: sasquatch.
The Google I/O has brought another big change in Google’s wide range of products. That product is Google Maps, which will get a pretty big redesign soon. It will have some features (which I will explain) that will make it easy to plan trips to anywhere. Also, it has a seamless and very responsive design that learns your preferences and customizes itself to fit you. Google Maps is no more just a virtual map; it’s your travel assistant.
Everything is going modern. That includes Google Maps. It’s new design takes away the sidebar (which isn’t a very big loss) and expands the map to the whole screen. This lets you use a MUCH wider view for planning and will be very be beneficial. Also modern.
The New Sidebar In Use
But, there will have to be SOME way to put in you desired location. For that, Google has put in a little floating bar at the top. From that bar, you can put in your destination, and Google does the rest. You can also pick the way you want travel; bike, car, walking, public transit and even sometimes planes. For each of these settings, Google Maps highlights the best route, while also dimming out roads it doesn’t think is important. All the small details matter to get the easiest and best experience.
Public Transit Screenshot
So, when you put in your address, Google Maps will (1) place the usual marker on the building and (2) show a drop down square on the search bar that has all the needed information. This square is probably the most important feature of the new Google Maps. You will see all the information on it that you would need such as a directions button, a review for stores, other information and more.
The New Maps Being Displayed At The 2013 Google I/O
Google Maps is also a good way to find a store, restaurant or other retail. You can put in a general term, such as Italian Restaurant in a certain area and it will bring up all the options as red dots (red for food only). Once you hit one of them, a square will come up with the information. Also, the map will adjust and show similar restaurants and streets. Over time, the map will learn your preferences and adjust the map for exactly what you like. It’s actually scary how fast smart computers are developing, and Google is surely working to speed that up. Soon, (I think) they will be able to PREDICT exactly when you will look something up or or go somewhere. Lets just hope they don’t turn against us.
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