I’m not sure if anyone really falls for the commercial April Fool’s Day pranks anymore. It was novel a few years ago, but it is so widespread that we come to expect it (or, if you have some time to spend in front of the computer–you seek it out).

But, the point is not so much to fool consumers as it is to impress us with their cleverness.

Here’s my top five list of 2012 April Fool’s Day Pranks:

• No. 5: Google Analytics — Interplanetary Reporting.
• No. 4: The YouTube Collection on DVD — discs delivered to you for those days when the Internet is down.
• No. 3: Apple prepares to enforce its patent:  ”A quadrilateral having all four interior angles of 90°, opposite sides that are parallel, and congruent diagonals that bisect each other.”
• No. 2: Google 8-bit Quest maps. “Your system may not meet the minimum requirements for 8-bit computations.”
• No. 1:  Though the Star Wars’ Admiral Ackbar Singing Bass is a close runner-up (“It’s a trap!”), being the devoted Trekkie, I have to go with the inflatable Star Trek Captain’s chair. The product description is fantastic, and the video, though completely inane, is somehow compelling. I found myself hoping that, in the spirit of the Tauntaun sleeping bag, ThinkGeek would hear the cries of thousands of Trekkies, and get this product made. For fun, I clicked the “Buy Now” button. It’s real.

Did I miss any others? What are your favorites?

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