Smart mailbox, selfie car among April Fools' Day pranks from companies (with videos)

By No Author
Published: April 02, 2015 08:39 AM

WASHINGTON, April 2: "Smart" was the keyword for companies celebrating April Fools' Day with hoax videos and tweets including a smart mailbox, kitchen knife and airline seats.

Google got into the prankster spirit Wednesday with a YouTube video announcing a smart mailbox, the "Smartbox by Inbox by Gmail by Google."

 

Samsung announced the fictional Galaxy BLADE edge, a version of its Galaxy smartphones with an edge "so sharp and strong that the device can also serve as a chef's knife."

#Samsung presents #GalaxyBLADEedge: Chef’s Edition http://t.co/texLjuVLPi pic.twitter.com/qdVW3rrAYJ

— Samsung Electronics (@SamsungTMRW) March 31, 2015


Airline WestJet released a video showing how its idea for "SmartSeats" could go horribly wrong.


Speaking of things that could go horribly wrong, British supermarket chain Tesco got into the April Fools' fun with a tweet announcing "bouncy

Want to be a beta-bouncer? We’re currently holding a bouncy aisles trial – tweet us to apply! pic.twitter.com/2h6pOHuqpJ

— Tesco (@Tesco) April 1, 2015


Honda may not have billed its HR-V "selfie edition" as "smart," but the video pokes fun at smartphone-obsessed millennials with a vehicle featuring 10 different selfie cameras.


Fellow automaker BMW also got in on the action with a hoax press release promoting a line of auto-inspired mouth guards for athletes.

All the protection you’ve come to expect from a BMW, bite-sized. http://t.co/k58D7Q8aD3 #motormouth pic.twitter.com/s0WbhG5dSV

— BMW UK (@BMW_UK) April 1, 2015


Insurance company Esurance's hoax video announced Presurance, a service offering to inform people of their next fender bender up to seven days in advance.


Google Japan's April Fools' prank was the "Google Panda," a cuddly stuffed panda that conducts Google searches verbally.


Uber riffed on the defunct Skymall magazine with a video promoting Uber Car Shop magazine.