April Fools' Day 2012: Best of the Brand Hoaxes Google, YouTube, Skype lead this year's pranks
Sadly, for those marketers who build April Fools' Day into their plans, it falls on a Sunday this year, so most of you will probably be reading about their shenanigans on Monday. After the jump, it's our yearly roundup of April Fools' Day pranks by brands:
• Google has been the winner for the past several years, and it's won again by teaming with Nascar and creating Google Racing. The effort pimps its latest technology offering, the self-driving car, and even stars co-founder Sergey Brin. But wait, that's not all! Google Japan's maps have gone 8-bit for NES. In Australia, Google has announced Street Roo kangaroo-operated street cams. Gmail is offering Gmail Tap, which lets you enter Gmail in Morse code from your smartphone. Oh, and check the Really Advanced Search.
• YouTube is offering the YouTube collection on DVD, which mocks all that former, inferior technology we used to rely on for information. Add the feedback pack, and mail your comments to the video's creators.
• Check out new Skype for String, another throwback, low-tech solution.
• Flickr is also taking your photography back in time.
• Lynx (aka Axe) body spray has created an app that lets you spray yourself with your phone.
After the jump: Think Geek, Virgin, Honda and more.
Email
Print
- ESPN's Cherie Cohen Headed to NBCUniversal to Focus on Cable
- Digital Dignitaries Debate Display's Death
- Mayer Talks Tumblr Plans, Unveils New Flickr
- Spotify Launches Music Charts
- NBC Makes Bet on Fake Reality
- Cramer-Krasselt Beats the Odds to Keep Porsche
- 67% of Smartphone Owners Would Rather See Ads Than Pay for Premium Content
- Can the Empire State Building Brand Its View?
- Nutella Thanks Its Biggest Fan, Founder of World Nutella Day, by Sending Her a Cease-and-Desist
- Ad of the Day: Nike
- ESPN Lays Off More Than 100 Employees
- The New York Times Reinvents the Boring Banner Ad
- Advertising Student Ships His Pants to Kmart's Agency, Lands Internship
- Introducing Beardvertising: Tiny Billboards That Clip on to Your Beard
- Jann Wenner Discusses Putting His Son in Charge
- WPP Created One Big Digital Shop From 8 Smaller Ones
AdFreak is your daily blog of the best and worst of creativity in advertising, media, marketing and design. Follow us as we celebrate (and skewer) the latest, greatest, quirkiest and freakiest commercials, promos, trailers, posters, billboards, logos and package designs around. Edited by Adweek's Tim Nudd. Updated every weekday, with a weekly recap on Saturdays.
