A round-up of some of the best tech companies' April Fools' Day pranks
Nest
The company behind the smart, learning thermostat has posted a video outlining its partnership with Virgin Galactic to bring the world's first space tourists something called Total Temperature Control. It means that as well as travelling to the outer reaches of the Earth's atmosphere, each passenger on board the space craft gets his or her own Nest thermostat to perfectly customize the temperature around each individual seat.
Desperate to address the negativity around Google Glass and anxious to be seen as more of a hipster brand with ironic chic, the search giant has announced the launch of Google Glass Solo -- the world's first smart monocle. Described as the first device in an upcoming range known as Glass OLE (one lens experience) it offers a more socially acceptable alternative to the standard Google Glass headset because it can be worn around the neck on a lanyard or tucked into a waistcoat pocket when not in use.
Samsung
The South Korean company has been very focused on its pranking. As well as a story in the UK claiming that it is co-opting pigeons and fitting them with miniaturized transmitters in a bid to bring free wi-fi throughout central London -- a project it calls Fli-Fy -- it has also announced the smart glove. Called Samsung Fingers, the glove has an integrated flexible screen in its palm and each finger offers different features -- a built in speaker, microphone, and temperature and movement sensors. The company intends to market the product under the strap line ‘Talk to the hand."'April
HTC
Proving that great minds think alike, HTC has also chosen April 1 to launch its first smart glove, or ‘Gluuv' as it calls it. It boasts built-in solar panels, boom box speakers, an 87-megapixel camera and of course, seamless integration with its latest flagship phone, the recently launched HTC One (M8).
BMW
The German carmaker has been busy perfecting something it calls the Force Injection Booster. A new technology that will make it feel like you're driving extremely fast and recklessly even when sitting in traffic, it captures kinetic energy and uses it to create the sensation of g-force in the cabin. At the same time a small electrical current runs through the car's seats to ensure sensual stimulation. The technology is balanced with something called AirNet which ensures that no matter how intense the simulated ride gets, that occupant's hair stays in place so that personal style never compromises driving performance.
Under its Mini brand, the company has also revealed the Cooper Tea, the first car to run form a special bio fuel derived from tea leaves and a special edition of the Paceman aimed at football fans that is carpeted in Astroturf and combines mobile goalposts in the trunk.
