• Marketing Land
  • Sections
    • CMO
    • Social
    • SEM
    • SEO
    • Analytics
    • Display
    • Retail
    • MarTech
    • Resources
    • More
    • Home
  • Marketing Land
  • CMO
  • Social
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Analytics
  • Display
  • Retail
  • MarTech
  • Resources
  • More
  • SUBSCRIBE

Marketing Land

Marketing Land
  • CMO
  • Social
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Analytics
  • Display
  • Retail
  • MarTech
  • Resources
  • More
  • Home
  • Newsletters
  • Home
CMO Zone

April Fools’ Day 2017: Play Ms. Pac-Man, Amazon Echo’s Petlexa, Google Gnome & more

The annual day (or days, as has become the case) of pranks from major search/marketing/tech companies is underway.

Matt McGee on March 31, 2017 at 11:33 am
  • More

If you thought you would avoid April Fools’ Day gags and pranks this year because the actual day falls on a Saturday, think again. C’mon now, Google and other search/marketing/tech companies have a history of starting their (attempts at) fun and games a day or two before April 1, and this year is no exception.

Here’s a look at what we’ve found so far, and we’ll do our best to keep this updated throughout the day … for better or worse.

Google Maps plays Ms. Pac-Man

First out of the gate, as far as we can tell, is Google Maps. It has a history of getting involved in fun and games, like last year’s gag when the Street View “pegman” was dressed in disco attire. This year, it’s added a playable version of Ms. Pac-Man right on top of whatever map you’re viewing. Just click the little Ms. Pac-Man button and start playing; the app even keeps score as you move along local roads and try to avoid death.

Amazon Echo with Petlexa

No joke: First thing I did when I got to my home office this morning was ask my Amazon Echo if it had any good April Fools’ Day jokes for me. It didn’t, but apparently that’s because I’m a human. Amazon’s Echo gag is a new technology called “Petlexa” that turns the Alexa voice system into something that can communicate with dogs, cats and other animals. I’m not much of an April Fools’ Day fan, but I confess: This one got me laughing.

Kik launches Storyz

The popular chat/messaging app is getting in on the fun, and poking some fun at Facebook’s expense. Kik’s joke is the launch of Storyz, which lets users “share short snippets of video from their everyday lives that expire within 23 hours and 57 minutes.” It’s a copy of all the copying that Facebook has done of Snapchat stories.

Flickr’s GIF comments

In all fairness, I’m not positive this counts as an April Fools’ joke because the feature is actually live on Flickr’s website, and most of these gags aren’t actually real. But anyway, you can now make your own GIF and use it to comment on a Flickr photo. It’s kind of weird, but it actually works — I just tested it twice with my own webcam. There are a lot of Flickr users who are unhappy and hoping it’s just a joke.

Google Gnome

Google Home has a new sibling assistant: Google Gnome. “The smart yard is finally here,” says Google’s announcement. Gnome is exactly what it sounds like: an assistant for outside your home, complementing your Google Home on the inside. And this Gnome has a bit of an attitude, as you’ll see in the video below:

Snapchat’s Instagram filter

Maybe the best prank of all comes from Snapchat, which added a filter that makes your snaps look like Instagram posts. Our Danny Sullivan put up this example on Twitter:

The @Snapchat filter that turns your snaps into Instagram-like posts is very awesome. #AprilFools pic.twitter.com/XXH7yvBmBM

— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) April 1, 2017

The gag is an obvious swipe at how Facebook, Instagram and even Facebook Meesenger have all copied Snapchat’s stories feature recently. Well played, Snapchat. Well played.

If you’ve found others that we haven’t listed — from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon or others — feel free to drop us an email at tips@marketingland.com. Thanks!



About The Author

Matt McGee
Matt McGee joined Third Door Media as a writer/reporter/editor in September 2008. He served as Editor-In-Chief from January 2013 until his departure in July 2017. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee.

Related Topics

Amazon: Amazon EchoChannel: CMO ZoneGoogle: Google HomeGoogle: Maps

We're listening.

Have something to say about this article? Share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or our LinkedIn Group.

Get the daily newsletter digital marketers rely on.
See terms.

ATTEND OUR EVENTS

Next Event: Sept. 14-15, 2021

Available On-Demand: March 2021

Available On-Demand: October 2020

×

Attend MarTech - Click Here


Learn More About Our MarTech Events

April 13, 2021: SMX Create

May 18-19, 2021: SMX London

June 8-9, 2021: SMX Paris

June 15-16, 2021: SMX Advanced

June 21-22, 2021: SMX Advanced Europe

August 17, 2021: SMX Convert

November 9-10, 2021: SMX Next

December 14, 2021: SMX Code

Available On-Demand: SMX

Available On-Demand: SMX Report

×


Learn More About Our SMX Events

White Papers

  • Nielsen Annual Marketing Report: Era of Adaptation
  • Global Social Media Advertising Trends Among Retailers in 2021
  • 2020 Hispanic Market Report
  • Delivering Audio Success: Industry Trends in Streaming Audio & Podcast Performance
  • Ten Tips for Acquisition Email Success
See More Whitepapers

Webinars

  • Drive Customer Engagement with the Power of Personalization
  • 7 Use Cases That Prove Why You Should Implement DAM
  • Accelerate Your SEO & Content Marketing Program with 4 Key Milestones
See More Webinars

Research Reports

  • Local Marketing Solutions for Multi-Location Businesses
  • Enterprise Digital Asset Management Platforms
  • Identity Resolution Platforms
  • Customer Data Platforms
  • B2B Marketing Automation Platforms
  • Call Analytics Platforms
See More Research

Attend SMX For Only $149

h
Receive daily marketing news & analysis.

Channels

  • MarTech
  • CMO
  • Social
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Mobile
  • Analytics
  • Retail
  • Display

Our Events

  • MarTech
  • SMX

Resources

  • White Papers
  • Research
  • Webinars

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Staff

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Youtube

© 2021 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.