901am

New Media News Every Morning

Zappos offers “Cease and Desist” t-shirt

By

918394-dOnline apparel and footwear online store Zappos.com is offering a limited edition “Cease and Desist” service and t-shirt designed exclusively for Zappos.com.

The rare collector’s item comes with a hefty price tag of $50,000 and a guarantee by Zappos to permanently disable a significant other’s Zappos.com account for life. In addition, the “Cease and Desist” t-shirt will be personally hand-delivered by a member of the Zappos Customer Loyalty Team.

The limited edition t-shirt is being introduced due to the tsunami of calls received in 2008 by the Zappos Customer Loyalty Team from spouses of loyal customers lamenting that the web site was causing relationship and financial strains.

Some of Zappos’ top customers spend well over $10,000 annually. The purchase of this limited edition t-shirt gives the buyer peace of mind in knowing his/her significant other will never be able to shop at Zappos.com again. It is the quintessential gift that keeps on giving.

The limited edition “Cease and Desist” t-shirt is available in five colors and choices suitable for wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend or “it’s complicated.”

Originally posted on January 7, 2009 @ 11:40 am

Filed Under: Web

CityWatch by Zannel keeps you abreast with what’s happening in your city

By

citywatchZannel has launched CityWatch, a new location-based iPhone application which allows users to instantly see, share, and talk about what’s going on around them.

Now available at the Apple App Store, CityWatch enables users to select a location on an easy-to-maneuver map which shows the latest multimedia and text updates, including pictures imported from Flickr. CityWatch users can also post their own geo-tagged updates to start real-time discussions around them via threaded commenting.

In addition to CityWatch, the Zannel community uses their “channels” to instantly and visually communicate what’s happening in their lives across mobile and the web, including all major social networks. People use Zannel to capture and share authentic moments in their lives, tell their stories, debate issues, and communicate with their community.

Zannel.com is available online and on all mobile phones in the US. Instant-membership is available by texting “Join” to 58888 to start creating your own mobile channel.

Originally posted on December 30, 2008 @ 3:08 pm

Rediff MoneyWiz launches fantasy share trading game

By

Rediff MoneyWiz, the personal finance service from India’s Rediff.com, has launched the Share Bazaar Game. This fantasy share trading game lets players invest in shares using free ‘game rupees’ for a chance to win daily and monthly prizes.

The game allows players to buy and sell shares traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange, based on actual market quotes. Shares may be bought and sold at any time as players are not restricted to trading hours. Further, players can form or join teams for added excitement.

In addition to playing, the game provides real-world value as well. The Share Bazaar Game provides an excellent opportunity for seasoned investors to test investment strategy. For stock market novices, the game is a great way to learn the ropes without personal risk.

Originally posted on January 2, 2009 @ 10:49 am

Filed Under: Web

Adobe to bring Flash platform to TVs

By

Adobe Systems Incorporated and Intel Corporation announced plans to collaborate on the development to port and optimize Adobe Flash technology for the Intel Media Processor CE 3100. This is expected to provide consumers with richer and more seamless web-based and video viewing experiences through advanced Intel-based cable set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, digital TVs and retail connected AV devices.

The high-definition capabilities of the Adobe Flash Platform, together with the Intel Media Processor CE 3100, the first in a new family of purpose-built Intel System on Chips (SoCs) for CE devices, creates a powerful entertainment hub capable of delivering rich web content and Adobe Flash based applications to an array of Internet-connected CE devices. Intel and Adobe are working together to optimize both the Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Flash Lite for the CE3100. Intel plans to ship the first CE3100 with support for an optimized implementation of Adobe Flash Lite before mid-2009.

Originally posted on January 5, 2009 @ 11:34 am

Boingo to power Skype Access

By

Boingo Wireless and Skype forged a new agreement that will allow Skype users to access more than 100,000 Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide, and pay using Skype Credit. The feature, called Skype Access, will be embedded into Skype as a core feature, first in the Skype for Mac 2.8 Beta software released today and then in versions of Skype for other operating systems sometime in 2009.

The new application lets users connect to a Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot with a single click and to pay per minute only for what they use. Skype Access actively scans for available Boingo hotspots and presents a pop-up dialogue box displaying the price per minute to use the Boingo network using Skype Credit. Boingo’s Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy apply and access to all Internet services will be provided on a simple, per minute billing basis.

By sharing one authentication and enrollment process, one download and one payment method, the Skype-Boingo collaboration clears a path between one of the most popular communications platforms on the Internet with the world’s largest network of Wi-Fi hotspot operators.

Skype Access will be embedded into the Skype client as a core feature. In addition to Skype Credit and a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, users must have Skype for Mac 2.8 Beta installed and running. Prices will vary based on location and currency. There are no connection fees or monthly charges for Skype Access.

Originally posted on January 6, 2009 @ 12:06 pm