Changers, founded in 2010, hopes to build a community and marketplace of eco-conscious users and retailers through shopping and competition. Here’s the proposition: you buy a solar charging kit that, when connected to your computer, will allow you to upload data about the energy generated by the charger and stored in a battery. That data goes to your profile page on Changers’ website, where the energy, measured in watt-hours, will be converted into credits that you can use to buy actual stuff from online shops.

The solar kit charges at a rate of 4 watts per hour and can hold 16 watts in its battery, which can supply power for two iPhones. So you can charge up the battery during the day and then transfer those electrons to your cell phones, tablets or other gadgets at night.

Solar social network

Through your page on Changers, you can track you solar energy generation, the carbon offset created by the solar electricity (2 watt hours of solar electricity equal to 1 gram of carbon emission), and see how you stack up against friends, neighbors or those in other countries. The energy-to-money conversion rate could be different, depending on the retailers, said Hans Raffauf, head of communications at Changers.

The site’s first retailer is Holstee, which sells clothes, bags, coffee makers, sunglasses, ear buds, and other products made from recycled materials. To shop on Holstee, you will have to accumulate a minimum of 100 watts, which gives you a voucher.

While the solar charging kit will cost you 9, joining the Changers community is free. Changers, which has raised an undisclosed seed investment of “a couple of million dollars” from German solar company Centrotherm Photovoltaics, wants to charge retailers in the future, Raffauf said. That won’t happen until Changers builds up a user base large enough to attract more retailers.

And, yes, sharing what your energy production and rewards via Facebook and Twitter is highly encouraged.

Web 2.0 launch

Changers hails from Berlin, Germany, but is launching its site in the U.S. primarily because it wants to start at a place with early technology adopters in order to get feedback and tweak its site. Raffauf said Germany could actually be a larger market – Germans are ahead of Americans when it comes to supporting solar electricity and emission-reduction plans.

Building an active online community isn’t easy. You have to create fun ways for people to interact and offer rewards that people want. And it can’t cost too much money, for while early adopters are happy to shell out big bucks for an iPhone and iPad, they often won’t pay anything for online social circles and web games. The 9 charging kit can therefore be a serious barrier for Changers to attract a big crowd. Raffauf said the company hopes to be able to subsidize the purchases, but it doesn’t have the means to do so now.

Finding the right retailers and enough of them also will be crucial not just for Changers to attract initial users but also to sustain user interest over time. The challenge of sustaining consumer interest has been a big hurdle for many energy management hardware and app developers, some of whom mistakenly thought that consumers would continue to be engaged with their energy management tools. Google and Microsoft, for example, launched energy measuring tools only to pull them earlier this year.

Energy software startup Opower, in partnership with Facebook and the Natural Resources Defense Council, thinks it has come up with something better. Opower plans to launch a Facebook app next year that will let users compare their energy use with their friends and get energy efficiency tips. The goal is to build “the world’s largest social energy community,” and the means involve using games, competitions and Facebook’s already large online user base.

Raffauf believes consumers need more incentives than energy data, games and competitions. “We are able to reward you for your behavior in a monetary way,” he said. “It’s a motivation that will get people to use it.”

Images courtesy of Changers

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Continue reading Starbucks rolls out mobile payment app for Android users, java junkies

Starbucks rolls out mobile payment app for Android users, java junkies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although, it is important to hit the iron simply when it is hot – you have to strike the best deal you can, after all. For example, buyers who chose a used BMW in 2010 had to spend more money than they expected. That was because of the fact that new BMW sales were badly hit by the 2009 slump and hadn’t had time to recover. Hence, few people were trading in their old BMWs for new and even there were fewer best used BMW car deals available.

While new BMW sales have shown some progression, it is a little premature to say how low used BMW prices will dip. In case you are willing to wait some time, you may most likely get a much better package than you can right now. The costs of certified pre-owned BMWs in 2011 will generally depend on how much the new BMW market makes a solid recovery. Pre-owned BMW rates are prone to fall even more.

However there are many factors to consider than merely the big picture. Many BMW dealers are enticing buyers with low as well as zero interest fund for their pre-owned BMW cars. It does seem as if the used BMW market is heating up with the weather. As well as when you do buy your dream set of wheels, make sure you buy smart. Think about what you want and arm yourself each of the latest information used BMW deals.

Any certified pre-owned BMW you think about buying have to be in good condition, supported by a certified pre-owned car (CPO) warranty and completely inspected by the dealer. Bargain for a sweeter deal with special incentives and other offers. Keep in mind that used BMW financial offers come with higher interest rates compared to those for new BMWs. If the dealers are providing lower than regular interest rates, it is time to strike a deal. Dealers hardly provide cash back offers with certified pre-owned BMWs, but you can surely bargain hard on the sales price.

If you are a Phoenix, Arizona residential you can visit Chapman BMW on Camelback for the finest offer for Phoenix BMW.

The Internet has opened up a whole new world to people wanting to buy previously owned automobiles . The majority of people would agree that the cheapest way to replace an old car is to buy previously owned automobiles. Now on the off chance that the price of the car is what you have earmarked to buy previously owned automobiles / motorcycles then you have to go much deeper in to the vehicles assorted attributes. Deciding on what features are very important to you will help you narrow your search when you purchase used cars.

Read useful and popular articles about car repair and troubleshooting as well as how to buy previously owned automobiles for a good price. Things like the gas mileage, part replacements, and total conditions are all valid considerations when you buy used cars. These incentives are sold from the factory on new vehicles but aren’t extended to those looking to buy previously owned automobiles .

If you’re financially strapped and are in desperate need of a car a quality cheap use car can be a godsend. Many individuals that buy previously owned automobiles don’t have the money to invest in the car if something goes wrong.

The days of driving around to several dealers during a used car search has long since gone by. The ability to browse thousands of used cars online has revolutionized the business and has done so much for those looking to buy previously owned automobiles.

Fain said the startup, part of TechStars’ first New York class, helps brands and companies track their social media efforts across multiple platforms and build engagement and loyalty through real rewards. He said he’s found budding success by tying game mechanics to things that people care about, not just points and badges.

CrowdTwist recently worked with LiveNation on its website for the upcoming Bamboozle music festival. The company created a feature called BoozleTwist on the Bamboozle website that allowed fans to gain points by doing things on the site and sharing online. For instance, viewing Bamboozle photos earns a user 500 points while “liking” Bamboozle’s status is worth 100 points. Reading the Bamboozle blog is worth 25 points. Users who attend the show can then eventually redeem their rewards, which can include things like signed posters from bands performing at the festival to a dinner with a band. One reward includes having a performer serenade a fan onstage.

Fain said in a month, BoozleTwist added 10,500 members. Engagement went from an average of three page views a week per visitor to 26 page views a week. Visitors now spend about eight minutes and 30 seconds on the site, compared to a little over two minutes before BoozleTwist. The campaign has resulted in 6 million impressions through Facebook and Twitter.

Fain said the key has been Bamboozle working with its artists to offer up valuable and unique rewards. That has given fans the motivation to engage a lot more than without the incentives. He said the power of points and badges is limited to people who are motivated by status. But real rewards can get people engaging because the pay off is tangible.

“Gamification tied to virtual things can’t sustain long-term engagement,” Fain said. “Our platform can activate and magnify an audience. It can encourage people to move outside their regular behavior.”

He said that’s where gamification works best, by bringing about smaller behavior changes on the periphery of a person’s existing actions. If brands are creative about what assets they have to offer users, they can build a lot more engagement and loyalty if they build that into their gamification efforts.

I think CrowdTwist has got a good take on this. There’s a lot of companies adding simple game mechanics to their products and websites. But many times, the features seem mindlessly bolted on and don’t seem to cater to what the the product is. Badges, points and other virtual rewards are great for certain users, but to activate a larger audience, a company needs to offer something real.

Foursquare, a leader in game mechanics, is also realizing this. It recently launched a program with American Express at SXSW that allowed Foursquare users who check-in at dozens of Austin retailers and spend at least to get another credit added to their American Express account. Others are also moving in this direction. Last year, I wrote about how TopGuest is tying location check-ins with real rewards like from existing loyalty programs. CrowdTwist’s take is different in that it can tie a host of online actions to rewards not just check-ins.

Ultimately, I think we’re going to see a lot more of this happen. It doesn’t have to cost brands and companies a lot. It’s more about figuring the right type of reward and the best way to implement it. If done right, real world rewards could help turn gamification from a buzzword into a real tool for companies.

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I am going to be speaking about two of the bonus offers that are the most interesting that I have recently come across. The first one is an offer what was in February 2011, a holiday giveaway from Foxy Bingo.

Every day for a total of two weeks, they offered a game with free entry, and whoever won got a holiday. The holidays that you got were not to Blackpool for the weekend either, they were to glamorous destinations like Florida and Monte Carlo. Entering in to these games obviously made sense because they were free.

Also an interesting promotion is one from Jackpot Joy, this is going to run throughout all of 2011. It is called Ad Break Bingo, this forms part of the Channel 4 sponsorship deal that they have for deal or no deal, a popular daytime program. You simply need to have a Jackpot Joy account for this promotion, and each day you have to log in to see what your Ad Break numbers are.

Next, you simply need to watch the program Deal or No Deal, and pay attention to the ad breaks to see if your numbers come up, if not you can always log back in to Jackpot Joy later to check. You will get a huge prize of £250k if your numbers do come up, and to enter it is completely free of charge.

For an online bingo site to have promotions like this, it is really good for them, as the attention will be drawn to them and they will get lots of custom. Sure they’re basically giving prizes away, but when you look at the bigger picture, they’re acquiring more players due to these incentives. An edge like this is just what operators need in this competitive market that has a lot of companies wanting to be the best.

Microsoft, like its rival Google, sees dollars in daily discounts. The company today announced Bing Deals, which integrates daily discount information from The Dealmap into its Bing mobile and desktop sites. The idea puts Microsoft into the same game as Groupon and Living Social, something Google tried to get into with a failed purchase of Groupon.

Bing Deals will have more than 200,000 offers in over 14,000 places from The Dealmap, which aggregates coupons from Groupon, Living Social, Restaurant.com and many others. The partnership gives Microsoft another way to lure people into Bing by offering them the chance to find coupons and discounts. Microsoft has tried to drawn in user with incentives in the past including a Bing Cashback program that was eventually discontinued.

Bing Deals will appear as a link on the mobile web version of Bing on iPhone and Android browsers. Users can see the best deals of the day for their metro area and can drill down to better deals in their immediate vicinity. Or they can search by category or keyword. Users can claim their deal directly, save it on their phone or share it online with friends from Bing. From a desktop or mobile browser, users who research a specific business will now see an icon or link alerting them to a deal offered by that business.

This is a first step for Microsoft because the company is looking to integrate the deal information into its search results. But it’s unclear when the Bing Deal integration will come to other platforms outside of Android and iOS and when it will get integrated into its Bing mobile app. But it gives Microsoft a way to dip its toe into the hot local daily deal game, without too much of an investment in terms of time or effort. The question is does Microsoft want to go further with its Dealmap partnership or perhaps look at an acquisition down the road of the company or a competitor. We’ll have to see.

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Can Electronics Gadgets Kill Your Seller Reputation?

Your reputation as a seller lives and breathes by the products you sell and services you provide. So what factors influence successful selling when it comes to electronic gadgets? Your reputation dictates both attracting new and maintaining return customers.

Article Ref: T54VCG7VB

Why Sell Gadgets?

Demand for gadgets is high – the very nature of technological improvement means that they quickly become outdated and need replacing or upgrading as updates in design, software and hardware occur.

Thus the thirst for products continually self-replicates. So finding customers is rarely the issue – attracting customers and keeping them coming back for more should be your key goals.

What are the Risks?

Most gadgets are physically fragile and break easily, so you must be prepared to provide warranties and insurance policies should customers begin returning goods in large numbers.

You must also look at packaging and shipping, as deficient products and services in this regard can lead to transit-damaged goods reaching the customer.

What Assurances can You Give Your Customers?

You can assure your customers by offering warranties and money-back guarantees, risk-free trial periods, and the like.

Of course, you must have faith in your gadgets to offer such incentives, and the only way to acquire such faith is by researching them.

You need to know which items are at a greater risk of breaking or malfunctioning so you can tailor their warranties, or even discontinue selling them if you assess the risk as being too great.

What About Warranties?

Most retailers nowadays defer to the manufacturer’s warranty, where the customer deals directly with the manufacturer for service, upgrades, replacements, refunds etc. after the sale.

Manufacturer’s often offer shorter warranties on factory-refurbished gadgets. Shipping warranties, especially for electronics, are extremely important so the customer is covered if the product arrives damaged.

As the retailer, you may offer a replacement warranty to further assure the customer that he or she is safe buying gadgets from you.

Before you commit to selling electronic gadgets, I would advise you to investigate the type of gadgets you want to sell, and research their reliability, lifespan, potential for malfunction, and the manufacturer’s and shipping warranties to ensure you don’t get saddled with a warehouse full of expensive lemons.

Protect Yourself with Disclaimers

A disclaimer is an important selling tool as they give buys a clear idea of what to expect from you as a seller.

They protect you from customers who expect more than you are willing to deliver.

If disputes occur, you can always reference your disclaimer while describes your responsibilities in detail.

A disclaimer also reassures a buyer by informing them that there won’t be any nasty surprises if they buy from you since you’ve already told them exactly how you operate.

Disclaimers are usually found at the bottom of your print advert. Which disclaimers you include depends on the product you’re selling and what level of service you wish to provide.

So – research your products, review the relevant warranties, and consider appropriate disclaimers to financially protect yourself.

If you follow these steps then you can be guaranteed to keep your seller reputation intact. If not… well, perhaps a 9-5 job won’t be such a terrible prospect after all.

Now you know how to handle the electronics gadgets markets get the gadgets that will sell and keep your reputation healthy. Visit Chinavasion.com or paste this URL into your browser: http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/electronic-gadgets/

Find More Gadget Articles

Shortly after the infection, this virus will perform a false system scan of your computer. During that step, this malware will modify, delete and create files for the following purposes:

- To hide itself from security related programs – usually, anti viruses fail to identify this infection and others similar to is because these malware tools have the possibility to block some of the anti viruses’ protection processes. Here PC Repair you will find a great online service dedicated to fix any problems your PC may have.

- Your browser’s configuration will be modified so you will see lots of ads and popups over your screen. Also, when you’re going to visit a good website, you will be redirected to some compromised webpage.

- Your Registry will be changed also. So this threat will modify/create many program’s names besides shortcuts.

Because users don’t see all these things and they can only observe something that is apparent to a protection scan, AntiSpyware Soft successfully continues its activity on the operating system. You will get a fake system scan result showing you that your PC has many and various viruses on it. So they are given more incentives to buy that full, and fake, version. Some PC users will actually browse to that webpage where they are being asked for their personal infos including financial ones. Bad news are that the PC user will lose money and give away its personal infos besides paying for some fake program.

• A dealer might say something like “With your credit score you cannot qualify for competitive financing rate.” This may not always be a scam though. The statement only applicable if you have a routine of paying your bills after their due dates or have missed your payments. A few dealers will give you a picture of your most horrible credit so you might think you are paying more than you had to. The solution is to keep a good follow up of your payments and not ignore due dates. Contact the credit bureaus and get yourself your credit report.

• A dealer might trick you in quoting a wrong value of the car. You will find the MSRP (manufacturer suggested listed price) on the window. However, if you want to know the correct cost, and ensure that the dealer might not be tricking you in a scam, you should surf the web. Numerous websites can let you know about the real prices, rebates and incentives.

• Another scam is when a dealer may provide you a comparatively lower payment to be paid per month. For example he might say, “We can give you this car for $390 per month.” This may mean that your down payment is a handsome sum or the tenure holds for several months. The key here is to look at the total cost of the car. Calculate how much you will have to pay each month and never inquire this from the dealer. Present to him your terms such as, “I will be able to get the car by paying this amount.”

• Another popular trick is that the dealer contacts you weeks and months after your purchase to inform you that the financial scheme that you signed has finished. The reason why they do this is because they want you to opt for a costlier car.

• Who does not want a new and a more luxurious car than the previous one? Even earlier than you would have have been over with paying the loans for your current car, a dealer might insist that you take a car saying that the left over payments of your current car will ‘roll over’ to the new one. Be alert! The end to such payments might never arrive. The consequence may be that you will have to pay even more than the current payments you are making.

The frauds, however, do not finish here. Whatever you do, you should stay alert at all times. Also ensure that you read all the documents properly. It is also a better idea to take a person along who has an experience in buying cars and knows about different internal parts.