Hasta La Gadget!

Today is April 1st, and that means there will be lots of pranks floating around online today. This is one of the more irritating days to be a gadget writer, some of the pranks are obvious, but at times they can be subtle and you end up writing about something that is fake that you think is real. It’s safe to say I saw this prank coming from a mile away.

Sony has unveiled what it says are the “latest in fuel cell technology.” I opened the press release expecting something to power gadgets, what I found was a picture of a protein energy bar, and other food items they say can power your electronics. The “product line” also includes Power Food Cake mix, Crunchy Loop Cereal.

Sony says that its Voltaic Enzyme is the conduit for transferring chemical energy or organic matter into gadgets as electricity. It all sounds rather like the Mr. Fusion that Doc Brown had on his car in Back to the Future.

Have you seen any good pranks online today?

ThinkGeek came prepared for April Fools’ Day this year, with a number of fake items that are silly but not too outrageous that they can’t ever exist. A cynic would say that they’re using the holiday to drive interest up in products that they already plan on making. But one of their joke items doesn’t need to be real, because such is the demand for it that it actually already exists, though not in this exact form. I’m talking about the Rosetta Stone: Klingon edition.

They even had Worf himself pitch in on the joke:

The thing is, if you really want to learn Klingon, you already have a variety of educational books and software to choose from. Because that’s the kind of world we live in. Our civilization is so advanced we get to have the punchline before the setup.

Steve Wozniak just sent this fun stunt caught on video a few years ago: Watch him deliver a Mac to Emma, a girl who freaks out when she realizes her idol is at the door carrying her new computer. As Emma’s father says in the video: "This is like having your lightbulbs delivered by Thomas Edison". He’s totally right. Updated with Steve’s explanation.

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When posting online, how much personal information is too much? A lot of people post statuses, pictures, and videos on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram that often reveal more than they intend to.

For example, someone could simply be posting a selfie shot in their garden, but other people (like would-be stalkers, for example) might be able to identify where they live from that photo alone.

This is the premise that Jack Vale worked with in his social media experiment. Jack began by searching Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles of people within his current location. He noted down personal information that these users have posted and then approached them in real-life. He then proceeded to reveal the personal (and often, private) information that he was able to gather, which lead to more than a few shocked reactions.

While Jack’s video is mildly humorous, it’s worth noting that internet privacy and security isn’t something that should be ignored these days. According to Trend Micro, many people have already had their identities, bank information, and money stolen through social media scams and phishing emails, so remember to be vigilant so you won’t become a victim.

If you haven’t already, then maybe it’s time to tweak your accounts’ privacy settings before it’s too late.

[via Laughing Squid]

How do you feel after completing a large LEGO project? Probably very proud. You feel great. It took some time and dedication, but you did it! You can do anything. It must feel awesome to complete the LEGO Millennium Falcon, which is made up of over 1,200 pieces. It is a huge accomplishment. Now you can put it on your shelf and admire it for the rest of time. Not Michael. His “friends” suck.

Micheal’s buddies Joost and Thomas completely disassembled his LEGO Millennium Falcon right after he just finished the thing. That takes guts. They even put it back into the individual bags inside the box.

These guys suck. I would have gone all Wookiee on them. Check out the video to see Michael’s reaction, which surprisingly does not include ripping Joost or Thomas’ arms out of their sockets.

[via ViralViralVideos via Nerd Approved]