The concept of the April Fools Day joke has had something of a renaissance with the advent of the Internet. Many brands take it very seriously as they try to out do each other with varying levels of success. Google is always up there and this year Twitter also scored well in the original stakes. But the traditional media companies also performed well this year.

Here is my top 5 of this year’s gags.

5) Youtube is shutting down

4) Google now has a search by smell feature (still in beta stage)

3) The Guardian newspaper in the UK launched a product a pair of Web-connected ‘augmented reality’ spectacles that will beam content directly into the wearer’s visual field, enabling users to see the world through the Guardian’s eyes at all times.

2) Apple to release a unisex scent that smells like Steve Jobs. This report came from Macworld in the UK (I’m not sure if it refers to when he was alive or now)

1) Richard Branson announces Virgin has developed new technology that will see the production of glass bottomed planes