Companies Take To The Web To Pull April Fool's Gags
By Edward Cardenas
SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - April Fool's Day pranks have gone from simple gags around the office to elaborate videos and stunts on social media and Websites.
Google Maps was one of the first companies to head to the Web with a prank. Users could punch in an address and have the choice to turn a map into Pac-Man video game with the characters moving through the streets.
Best Buy sent out a Tweet promoting its new untangling service:
IKEA offered a LURA selfie stick holder for "stylish, simple storage for your selfie stick." If shoppers clicked on the "Add to basket" button, a new page opens with the statement "LURA Swedish for April fool."
Google introduced the Smartbox by Inbox by Google, which is a smart mailbox which has a number of hi-tech features including notifying users when mail arrives; temperature controls; smart folders to organize incoming envelopes and a shredder to weed out spam.
Motorola posted a video about the company's handcrafted selfie sticks. While the selfie sticks aren't real, the company does allow customers to personalize their Moto X smart phones.
Samsung introduced the "world's first smart knife" with the Galaxy BLADE edge smart knife that allows users to chop and cut up to 50 percent faster than conventional knives, wireless meat thermometer and finger-detection management to prevent cuts during the cooking process.
Ford Motor Company posted a news report about a Mustang fan in England who created a large galloping pony in the field to show his love for the muscle car. While tongue-in-cheek, Ford is actually taking Mustang global.
Redbox used April Fool's Day to introduce Petbox, a new mobile rental kiosk which carries moves and games pets would enjoy with titles such as "Pig Hero 6" and "Horrible Possums 2."
Southwest Airlines posted a video announcing "Bag Fee Bandwagon Bonanza" which announced a variable pricing structure for bags depending on their color, number of wheels and height of their users.
Twitter also unveiled a Twelfie Stick, which makes it easier to take selfies and Tweet them out from the stick.
This report was updated at 12:18 Wednesday.
