1 April: Thumb insurance for Twitter addicts and NFC chip implants

1 April: Thumb insurance for Twitter addicts and NFC chip implants

Here at Finextra we have far too much respect for the intelligence of our readers to try and trick them with April Fools Day hoaxes. Fortunately, plenty of others are less concerned so here's a round-up of some our favourites.

Online price comparison site Confused.com is apparently introducing thumb insurance for social media addicts. If you get Tweeter's cramp the policy offers a free emergency kit including Savlon cream and fast healing plasters.

Saffron Building Society, meanwhile, has announced the launch of an account that pays interest in chocolate every month. The 'safe, secure but definitely not boring' mutual, serving the East of England, unveiled this innovative savings concept as part of a new initiative to 'make saving a little sweeter'.

Over at Mobile Industry News, a breathless report tells us that banking giant HSBC has acquired mobile network operator 3UK to help it build a "true mobile wallet service".

The bank's chief executive 'Nigel Smith' says the new HSBC Mobile-branded Google Nexus S device is "simply unbelievable!"

Finextra blogger Brett King informs us that the IOC will trial RFID bio-chips implanted under athletes skin. This will be used for "everything from entry to secure venues, payment for meals and beverages in the Olympic village, and even linked to personal bank accounts for payments".

The IOC isn't the only organisation looking into implanted NFC chips according to blogger Dave Birch. He reports on rumours that Google will start offering people free injectable NFC chips "in return for special offers, coupons, additional loyalty points and a variety of value-added services around Android NFC phones".

Google has apparently been busy on the innovation front. It has also developed 'GMail Motion', a system that uses computers' built-in webcams to let you control it by moving your body.

Social Networking site LinkedIn seems to think its members may know some interesting people, offering this reporter the chance to connect with Groucho Marx and activist/chief fundraiser for Nottingham, Robin Hood.

Fresh from the success of its mobile payment app, coffee chain Starbucks has lifted the bar once more with a new 'mobile pour' feature: "We've even made ordering easy with our Mobile Pour app for your smartphone. Simply download it, allow it to pinpoint your location, select your coffee order and keep walking. Your fresh, hot Starbucks brew will be in your hands before you can say abra-arabica."

Finally, the Guardian, unable to contain its excitement, has begun a live blog on the Royal Wedding, just 29 days before Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to tie the knot.

Feel free to add your favourite hoaxes below.

Comments: (1)

Jacqui Taylor
Jacqui Taylor - FlyingBinary - London 01 April, 2011, 11:44Be the first to give this comment the thumbs up 0 likes

As the lovely Liz Lum has me on her FinGodessTech list my favourite today is of course a data related one, from the marvelous websci guys at Southampton.

Nigel Shadbolt explains that they have made the earth shattering decision to abandon the RDF format for Linked Data, and move to PDF for all their data. He even posts a visualisation backed up by Google search data explaining why the decision was inevitable.

Here is the link if you would like to read it for yourself.

http://blogs.ecs.soton.ac.uk/data/2011/04/01/pdf-selected-as-interchange-format/

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