April Fool’s Day could not pass without a few technology stories that test the bounds of credibility, although it isn’t always easy to separate the jokes from reality.
Apple’s products have earned a reputation as hard-to-fix so it came as something of a surprise to learn that it had bought iFixit, the company dedicated to DIY repairs. On iFixit’s website, it declared itself proud to have been acquired by Apple and said that it would “become a key player in the future of Apple device development”.
“As part of the deal Apple made a commitment to produce the most replaceable electronic devices and personal computers on the market. This is a clear win for the whole iFixit community,” it said.
“Visit any of our Apple Store locations and an army of well-groomed young people will happily take your money and congratulate your excellent taste.”
Google, the search giant traditionally throws itself into the the spirit of April Fool’s Day, and this year is no exception.
Google has claimed to have added emoji support for the Chrome browser on Android and iOS. The add-on will translate web pages into emoji icons to make them faster to read, it says.
Its most elaborate joke though is an update for Android and iPhone versions of Google Maps that lets users go around the world catching Pokemon.
The game is real but comes with a fictional job ad, offering the position of “Pokemon master” for those who could catch all 150 Pokemon.
Mobile phone manufacturers HTC and Samsung chose to poke fun at the growing range of smart wearables on the market with both advertising a fake smart glove.
“Imagine the power of complete smartphone creative freedom. Now imagine that freedom in the shape of a glove,” said HTC.
Meanwhile rival Samsung announced its first “all-over-hand” wearable device, dubbed Fingers.
The fictional smart glove features a 3in (8cm) LED display, 16 megapixel camera, as well as gyro, barometer, compass, heart rate, proximity, thermometer, voice and gesture recognition sensors. It can be solar charged by raising your hand towards the sun.
“Samsung Fingers reinvents and modernises the classic use of the human hand,” it said in a perfectly believable press release.
The Register decided to poke fun at the increasing press interest in the wonders of 3D printing.
It reported that BT’s iconic central London tower would be replaced by a 3D-printed version.
Due its lightweight plastic construction the tower would be “unable to carry today’s payload of telecommunications equipment and hospitality suites at the top”, it reported.
But the design would have some advantages.
“In the event of a terrorist bomb attack the lightweight 3D printed BT Tower will fall harmlessly onto the 3D printed version of Euston Station below,” it said.
source: bbc.com