Don’t be Fooled, these things are not really happening

Since April Fools Day falls on a weekend, a number of companies got a head start by unveiling their jokes on Friday or earlier in the week. Here is just a small sampling of some of pranks:

Editor’s Note: You get the feeling the folks at Google have a lot of time on their hands!

This one is not a new one but Google has turned it’s Maps app into a game of Ms. Pac Man, one in which you can actually play on your computer or mobile device

Officials in Holland have joined forces with the Google Cloud Platform to retrofit some historical windmills for its Google Wind project. “Google Wind then uses Machine Learning to recognize cloud patterns and orchestrate the network of windmills when rain is approaching. Test results look very promising”

We have the smart car and the smart home, now meet Google Gnome who is set to transform your yard

Amazon has taken it’s Alexa platform to the next level. Introducing Petlexa, a feature that allows dogs, cats, and other animals the freedom to place orders from Amazon, and to activate smart home enabled toys

For those of you who can’t get enough of popping bubble wrap, designers in Japan have come up with a keyboard that aims to provide hours of endless joy

Closer to home, the TTC has decided to rebrand all its stations to colours

Internet streaming service Hulu has come up with a new service, Hu, after discovering that the human attention span has dropped to eight seconds. “Eight second hits, your quick fix. This is HU we are”

Apocalypse Mingle helps you connect with other daters based on how your post-apocalyptic survival skills maximize your probability of surviving a zombie outbreak, killer bees, nuclear war, or an alien invasion.

From Lexus, a “visionary semiautonomous passing-lane-assistance technology” that will move other cars out of your way

Eau de Chlôrine promises “an exhilarating race of the senses” that will leave an impression both in and out of the pool

Plated is also getting into the fragrance game, launching their own line that captures the essence of all your favorite ingredients and recipes. “You don’t have to be a professional chef to smell like one”

Can’t get enough coffee? Well, Coffee-Mate to the rescue with its latest flavor innovation: Coffee Flavored Coffee-Mate!

You can wake up to the taste of Burger King’s Whopper every morning with the new Whopper Toothpaste, the first toothpaste that keeps your mouth Whopper fresh

KFC New Zealand is pushing the boundaries of Asian fusion just a little bit with its introduction of KFC Sushi

Not to be outdone, KFC Canada has come up with “The Bucket” – the first the first ever voice-activated delivery and smart dining device

Even our political leaders took the time to get in on the fun