Tech companies celebrate April Fools’ with fake products & pranks (roundup)

Every April Fools’ Day, a handful of big-name companies get into the spirit of pranks and practical jokes. Some — namely Google — go all out with well produced videos, while others just phone in a silly Photoshop and call it a day.

Of course, since its April Fools’, people are often more wary than usual of anything they read on the Internet. So really it’s just an opportunity for these companies to poke fun at themselves, other companies, or current events.

Take a look below to see some of the better practical jokes companies have introduced today.

BMW: Royal baby carriage

BMW said today that “we are proud to announce the launch of our limited edition BMW P.R.A.M. (Postnatal Royal Auto Mobile)” to coincide with the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first child.

The Guardian: Guardian Goggles

Playing on Google Goggles, The Guardian newspaper released its own set of smart frames.

Google: Closing of YouTube, Treasure layer in Google Maps, Google Nose, Gmail Blue, Add emotions to Google+ pictures, Levity algorithm

At this point, Google is the master of humorous tech pranks for April Fools’ Day. We clearly don’t believe anything Google tells us on March 31 and April 1, but here’s a roundup of Google’s pranks:

Closing of YouTube

Treasure layer in Google Maps

Google Nose

Gmail Blue

Levity algorithm

Google+ emotions

Finally, the Google+ team added the ability to add “emotions” to pictures.

IKEA: Flat-pack lawnmower

IKEA launched a “brand-new, fully flat-pack GRÄSSAX lawnmower.”

Nokia: Touchscreen Lumia microwaves

If you can’t win the people with Lumia Windows Phones, maybe it’s time to try pitching them on smart microwaves?

Runkeeper for iPad

Runkeeper brings its iPhone app for tracking your exercise to the iPad.

Samsung: Smart trees

What’s smarter than a Galaxy S IV? How about SMART Eco Trees?

Sphero: Peacekeeper Edition

The Sphero robotic ball that can be controlled from your phone has been modified to help crush objects and trip runners. It costs $10,000.

Sony: Pet technology including cat headphones and TVs for dogs

Sony launched a set of technology for pets including Cat Cans, speakers for your hamster, and TVs for dogs.

Toshiba: Shibasphere game console

Toshiba gets in on April Fools’ by introducing a terrible game console — the Shibasphere.

ThinkGeek: Play-Doh 3D Printer and Eye of Sauron Desk Lamp

3D printing is super-hot. Why not a 3D printer that works with Play-Doh? Oh, and how about a sweet “Eye of Sauron Desk Lamp” while you’re already ordering?

Twitter: Charging to use vowels

It’s now going to cost to use vowels on Twitter. No more “LOL” for you freeloaders. You’ll just have to use smiley faces.

Virgin Atlantic: Glass-bottomed plane

Maybe the most scary sounding prank we’ve heard today is Virgin Atlantic’s proposed glass-bottom plane.

Let us know what we missed

Other companies will surely have their own April Fools’ pranks today. Let us know in the comments what we missed or what you found particularly funny.

Woman wearing April Fool’s sign via Everett Collection/Shutterstock