Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Latin Post

First Posted: Apr 01, 2014 12:02 PM EDT

Plenty of attention has been given to the Samsung Galaxy S5 ever since it was recently unveiled, but what does this mean for Android users who still have its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S4?

One thing that we can expect right away is price cuts. The Galaxy S4 will eventually be phased out -- not quite yet -- but in the meantime people can keep their eyes peeled for specials and deals that could make a big difference.

One special deal to keep an eye out for is the accessories deal at Coupon Codes. As of now, the tech giant is offering a special deal that allows customers to buy 3 or more accessories and in turn they receive a discount ranging from $5-30. Already among things that have been discounted include the Case-Mate Case for the Samsung Galaxy S4. According to Best Buy, the original price was $149.99 but now it has dropped down to $115.98.

In other sales, T-Mobile is offering the Samsung Galaxy S4 in a special deal that allows users to pay $26 per month instead of the $624 full retail price. No money is required up front in this particular deal. Even better, Sprint is offering users the phone for only $49.99 as long as people agree to a special two-year service agreement.

All in all, this is a great time to get the phone if you are someone who is willing to wait and does not mind getting the older version. Although getting an older version of a phone does not exactly sound desirable, it is more common than people might imagine; iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, and the iPhone 5 are all out of date but those are some of the most commonly seen phones in public right now. The companies update the phones so often that it is simply impossible for many people to keep up with each update.

On the Apple side, you can also find cases for your iPhone 5s. Amazon offers the Life Proof case for a variety of different prices hovering around the $80 range. The Life Proof case is special because it is water proof, shock proof, snow proof, dirt proof -- you get the idea. It basically can make it through anything. You can buy the 16 GB iPhone 5s for only $199 on Apple.com. This gives you the opportunity to jailbreak your phone (Evad3rs.com) and this is special considering that other brands of smartphones do not have the same capabilities.

What do you think about the new Samsung Galaxy S5 compared to the iPhone? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Monday, March 31, 2014

LG G2 on Sprint receiving Android 4.4 update now

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The Android 4.4 KitKat update is slowly rolling out for the LG G2 and we've already seen it appear for both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. Now the LG G2 on Sprint is receiving the Android 4.4 update, as it has begun rolling out today.

Sprint has announced the arrival of the update that will bring improvements and new features as well as including some bug fixes. This is being pushed out as an OTA update, so owners of the Sprint LG G2 simply need to follow the instructions when they receive notification to their device.

Bear in mind you may need to be a little patient as the update is being rolled out in stages. If you want to check manually rather than wait for a prompt then you can head to Settings followed by System Updates followed by Update LG Software and finally Check Now. Sprint advises your device has at least 50% when you attempt to update and it's wise to use a Wi-Fi connection.

Are you one of the lucky ones who have already received the Android 4.4 update for the LG G Flex on Sprint, and if so, what do you think of the changes?

Friday, March 28, 2014

Energy giant SSE promises to freeze gas and electricity bills

  • SSE to axe 500 jobs and slash spending on wind farms to fund freeze
  • Comes after it warned that Miliband's proposed freeze was 'dangerous'
  • Move now heaps pressure on other major players to follow suit

By Martin Robinson and Matt Chorley and Sean Poulter

Britain's second-biggest energy firm has announced it will axe hundreds of jobs and slash spending on wind farms to fund a freeze on gas and electricity bills.

However, there are already many cheaper deals available which last for even longer - including one from SSE itself.

The decision by SSE means the average standard tariff dual-fuel bill for those paying by cheque or cash will be held at £1,266 until January 2016.

It represents a remarkable U-turn for the company, which had argued that a Promotional Code freeze would be dangerous when the idea was put forward by Labour leader Ed Miliband last autumn.

The move also heaps pressure on the other major players to follow suit. British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower and Scottish Power have also argued against price freezes.

The news triggered a heated row at Prime Minister's Questions as David Cameron and the Labour leader squabbled over who should take credit.

For months, the Prime Minister ridiculed Labour's pledge to freeze energy prices if it wins the next election as a 'price con' that was impossible to deliver because of fluctuating global prices.

But Mr Miliband insisted the decision by SSE meant Mr Cameron's argument had been 'totally demolished'.

SSE DEALS A CRUSHING BLOW TO THE WIND FARM INDUSTRY

SSE said the freeze is possible as it plans to cut costs by £100million, axe 500 jobs and cancel spending on new wind farms.

Six months ago, SSE chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies dismissed Labour's price freeze plan as 'unsustainable'.

Yesterday he said: 'We're responding to questions that have been asked of us with a positive agenda for customers, including the longest ever unconditional energy price freeze.'

However, the firm's new deal is still more expensive than others available.

And even SSE itself has a tariff that holds prices until March 2017 and comes in at an annual average of £1,186, a saving of around £80 a year, although it has to be paid monthly by direct debit.

Clare Francis, of price comparison website MoneySuperMarket, said: 'Those paying the provider's standard prices could still save money by switching to a cheaper tariff.

'There are seven tariffs where the price is fixed until 2016 and five fixed until 2017.'

Adam Scorer, of customer watchdog Consumer Futures, said: 'A freeze at current electricity prices will provide security and reassurance for millions of consumers, even if it will not reduce the burden on households struggling to afford to keep their homes warm.'

Number switching energy supplier lower now than a decade ago

The number of people switching energy supplier is lower now than a decade ago, a study shows.

In 2003 a total of 7.26million switched gas and electricity supplier, compared to only 5.88million in 2013.

The numbers peaked in 2008 at 9.58million and have been falling ever since.

The research was carried out by The Big Deal which is arranging collective switching so a large group of customers can secure a better deal.

It found that despite what Energy UK and the Big Six claim the amount of switching is lower now than it was ten years ago.

Henry de Zoete, co-founder of The Big Deal, said: 'Energy UK and the Big Six claim that the market is working because more and more people are switching.

'The truth is the opposite. There are less switches now than ten years ago. Investigating the Big Six is long overdue but people need help with their bills now.

' A review will take years to complete and even longer to implement. People can rightly ask how many more winters will go by before bills come down? The Big Deal will deliver cheaper energy now by harnessing people power to get a better deal.'

COULD YOU SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS BY SWITCHING?

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Get The Best Hand-Crafted Icons To Make Your Designs Pop [Deals] | Cult of Mac

Buy Cheap-designs">

If you want a successful app you will need to get across a large amount of information in a tiny amount of space - and that is where these Webbicon icons come in handy.

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Chances are incredibly low that you won't find what you're looking for throughout this set...and these icons also come in all the formats you need to keep your design clean and looking its best.

The highlights of this offer include the following:

  • Over 1200 Vector Icons: This insane collection features over 1,200 different icons to choose from.
  • Dozens of Popular Categories: You'll find high-quality icons representing categories like the Internet, eCommerce, Documents, Gadgets, and much more.
  • Multiple Formats: Formats include GIF, ICO, PNG, TIFF, AI, CSH, EPS, PDF, and SVG. This set even includes a Webfont format too.
  • Varying Sizes: The collection includes 5 different sizes for each icon: 16×16, 32×32, 64×64, 256×256 and 512×512.
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Note: To view samples of each design set, click here.

These icons can be used for web applications, iOS applications, Android applications, and native desktop applications...and you've got a slew of them to choose from in the process.

So what are you waiting for? Head to the Deals page and pick up this bundle for just $19 to get pixel perfect icons for your designs today!

Allan Blocker is the lead editor at StackSocial;, an e-commerce platform offering flash sales on digital tools, web apps, and tech gear. He sleeps, breathes, and would probably eat Mac apps if it was at all possible. Follow Allan on Twitter @allanblocker.

(sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)| Read more posts by Allan Blocker.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Find these products at Sam's for best deal

Do you love shopping at warehouse clubs such as Sam's Club? I do! You're sure to find great deals on lots of items, but be careful. Not everything you find in a warehouse store will be the Online Deals possible price. Here are some of my favorite warehouse store finds and some things that I find a better deal on elsewhere.

One of my favorite reasons to shop at Sam's Club is for parties. I love throwing birthday parties at our house and a Fourth of July party in the summer. Whenever I am getting ready for those, there is definitely a stop at our local Sam's Club on my list. We always make our own food so stocking up on meat there is a must, especially hamburger meat. The quality is near restaurant-grade and the price is great! Frozen appetizers or desserts are also much cheaper, often as much as 40 percent less. If I need buns for something like sausage and peppers, that's usually where I find the best deal on nice rolls too. You'll also find the best price and quality on buffet supplies such as chafing fuel and aluminum pans. Instead of paying nearly the same price at other stores for two-hour chafing fuel, you'll be getting six-hour cans that can be reused. Some things that I skip at Sam's for my parties are soda, condiments, pickles, and chips. I can usually find better deals on those item s at the grocery store with coupons or even the dollar store. Summer produce I buy at local farm stands where I get a great deal on the freshest fruits and veggies.

Warmer weather, or just knowing that warmer weather is on the way, also gets me giddy to shop at Sam's. If you are looking for outdoor patio furniture and don't have a specific color or style in mind, you might just find the perfect set. The selection won't be quite as large as other stores, but the quality is likely to be better for less of a price. Gardening supplies are a fantastic buy there too. You'll find high-quality commercial tools, hoses, plants, mulch, and more at great prices. If you're planning a vacation this summer, you'll find the best deal on beach towels and boogie boards now before summer. Once after-summer clearance sales start you'll also be able to find good deals at department stores too, but much later in the season. Skip the bulk sunscreen though … the best price on that is always found at drugstores with a sale and coupons.

Other items that you'll find great deals on at warehouse stores include tires, electronics, appliances, laundry detergent, and batteries. When shopping there just don't let yourself get too carried away. Even though there are many deals to be found at warehouse stores think about if you really need an item in bulk, if you will use it before it goes bad, or if you can find a better deal elsewhere with a sale and coupons before adding it to your cart.

Happy saving!

Friday, March 14, 2014

New Super Hero Comics On Sale: Week Of March 12

You like All-New Marvel NOW! I mean, you must really, really like it.

At least it seems that way because a bunch of Marvel's recently relaunched books are back this week for second or third printings. If you missed out on All-New Invaders #1, All-New X-Factor #2, Amazing X-Men #2 or #3, Avengers World #2, Black Widow #2 or #3, Guardians of the Galaxy #11.now or a couple other titles that debute over the past three months, you're in luck, because they'll be back on shelves today.

And there are more first issues this week. Captain Marvel takes flight once again, and the Secret Avengers test how long they can remain a secret as their latest volume kicks off. The only question is what Marvel is going to call the next wave of relaunches. All-New-New? Deal Today-New?

But I kid Marvel. Switching gears, the highlight of the week for DC is the finale of the "Zero Year" storyline in Batman #29. The solicitation says Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo (who is really killing it on this book, IMO) have saved the best for last, and if nothing else, you've got to love the way this exploration of the New 52 Batman's rookie year elevated the Riddler into the A-list player he deserves to be.

Without further ado, here's the full list of new super hero comics on sale this week:

Marvel

  • All-New X-Factor #4
  • All-New X-Men #24
  • Avengers Undercover #1
  • Black Widow #4
  • Captain Marvel #1
  • Deadpool #25.1
  • Fantastic Four #2
  • Hawkeye #17
  • Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble #6
  • Mighty Avengers #8
  • Revolutionary War #6
  • Secret Avengers #1
  • The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #9
  • Superior Spider-Man #29
  • Wolverine #3
  • X-Force #2
  • X-Men: Legacy #300

DC

  • Batgirl #29
  • Batman #29
  • Batman Lil Gotham #12 - FINAL ISSUE
  • Constantine #12
  • Green Lantern Corps #29
  • Justice League 3000 #4
  • Justice League of America #13
  • Legends of the Dark Knight 100 Page Super Spectacular #2
  • Nightwing #29
  • Smallville: Alien #4 (of 4)
  • Superboy #29
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #6

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Using Snapchat: A Guide for Brands

Previously, I've discussed the rising popularity of Snapchat, the ephemeral 10-second photo-sharing app that teens are absolutely crazy about. While Snapchat's user base has been growing by the millions, unfortunately, only a tiny fraction of its active users are brands. This is because Snapchat presents a few unique challenges to brands looking to leverage the app as a marketing tool. Despite its lack of an advertising platform, some brands are successfully using Snapchat to reach the coveted teen demographic. With this guide, your brand can, too.

The Stats on Snapchat

Exactly what audience can you reach through Snapchat? Here's what the stats have to say:

  • Snapchat has an estimated 26 million active users in the U.S.
  • About 400 million snaps (photos and videos) are sent per day.
  • The core audience on Snapchat is ages 13-25.
  • Women make up 70% of Snapchat's user base.
  • 18% of people who own an iPhone are on Snapchat.
  • From May 2012 to April 2013, the number of snaps sent per day grew from 6 million to 150 million.

These statistics show not only that Snapchat's core audience is the same audience that many marketers are trying to reach, but also that its audience is ever-expanding, making Snapchat a prime target for your brand's social media marketing strategy.

The Snapchat Challenge

Snapchat is an app with a massive, growing audience, but unfortunately for brands, poses significant challenges for marketers:

    Snapchat is almost entirely visual. Other than the doodle function, Snapchat does not provide any space for marketers to add text to their messages, eliminating the ability to add context.
    It lacks editing capabilities. Marketers cannot edit the images they send out to improve their quality.
    Discoverability on the app is extremely limited. Your audience isn't likely to find you on Snapchat unless they make the choice to add you as a friend.
    Snapchat offers basically zero metrics. With a lack of in-app metrics, Snapchat does not allow you to track the success of your campaign.
  • Hosting contests
  • Providing sneak peeks & exclusive content
  • Offering coupons & discounts
  • Going behind-the-scenes
  • Using the Snapchat Stories feature
  • Introducing new products
  • Inviting fans to participate

With these massive obstacles standing in your way, is Snapchat really worth it? Depending on your brand's audience, it may not be. But for brands looking to catch the eye of the teen demographic, it's time to look at how others are overcoming these challenges.

How Brands Are Using Snapchat

Although there aren't many brands on Snapchat, a select few are taking the app by storm. Brands are using a range of strategies to reach their audience, including:

Taco Bell

An early adopter of Snapchat, Taco Bell used the app to send out an exclusive announcement: the Beefy Crunch Burrito comeback. As shown in the Twitter response above, many users were excited to receive a snap from the well-known brand. In addition, Taco Bell was the first amongst major brands to leverage the Snapchat Stories feature, which allows you to put multiple snaps together to create a story that can be viewed for 24 hours rather than the typical 10 seconds.

16 Handles

A frozen yogurt chain located in New York, 16 Handles successfully used Snapchat to target its core audience with a delicious deal. In return for sending a snap of yourself enjoying one of their tasty treats, 16 Handles sent snaps of coupons for either 16%, 50%, or 100% off your purchase. They reported over 1,400 engagements with customers through the app. 16 Handles chose Snapchat for this promotion not only because the coupon couldn't be shared with friends, but also because they noticed that many of their younger customers were using it.

Karmaloop

While many disapprove of Snapchat due its reputation as a platform for sexting, clothing retailer Karmaloop chose to take advantage instead. They target their college-aged audience through Snapchat by sending risqué snaps of models in addition to new products and coupons. They also encourage audience participation, and they now have over 2,000 friends on Snapchat.

Acura

Acura took advantage of the video feature on Snapchat, sending a six-second clip of their new NSX Prototype. They made the content even more exclusive by only sending this clip to the first 100 users who added them as a friend through the app.

GrubHub

GrubHub took a similar approach to Acura, offering exclusive content to the first 100 users to add them as a friend. Like many other brands, they also promoted their Snapchat account on Twitter to jumpstart their campaign.

MTV UK

MTV UK created a successful Snapchat campaign to promote season six of Geordie Shore, the British version of the popular reality show Jersey Shore. They sent exclusive cast footage as well as reminders to catch the premiere on air.

The New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are another brand to take advantage of the Snapchat Stories feature. They plan to send snaps that go behind-the-scenes with the team as well as sneak peeks of the Saints' weekly uniforms and pictures of new team merchandise.

The Co-operative Electrical

A retailer based in the UK, the Co-operative Electrical targeted a student audience on Snapchat. They offered Promo Codes codes for £30 off the purchase of a laptop to those who added them as a friend. Because the snaps only lasted for seconds, their audience had to be ready to copy the code down immediately.

Rebecca Minkoff

Just moments before the Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2014 collection was set to appear on the runway of New York Fashion Week, the brand sent exclusive snaps of the full line to anyone who added them as a friend.

ChatSports

ChatSports, a personalized website and app for sports fans, used Snapchat to promote a contest giving away free baseball tickets. To earn tickets, fans had to have five friends not only add ChatSports on Snapchat, but also send a snap containing their username and a hashtag.

Wet Seal

To gain a following on Snapchat, Wet Seal took a very unique approach: they had a 16-year-old take control of their Snapchat account. Meghan Hughes, also known as MissMeghanMakeup online, is a beauty blogger who has 200,000 subscribers on YouTube, 101,000 followers on Instagram, and 49,000 followers on Twitter. Meghan ran the account for two days, during which she used the Snapchat Stories feature to document herself not only wearing Wet Seal clothing, but also playing with the family dog and making cookies for Christmas. The story was viewed 6,000 times, and Wet Seal gained 9,000 friends on Snapchat.

Unilever's Lynx

Will your brand add Snapchat to its social media roster?

Unilever's brand Lynx is another brand that provided exclusive content via Snapchat. They "leaked" the news of a secret launch party, including photos that went behind-the-scenes with Charlie Webster, TV presenter and host, on a photo shoot. Lynx also took advantage of the risqué nature of Snapchat, responding to some questionable snaps from their followers with a photo of their Deep Space Shower Gel and the suggestion of a cold shower.

Your Snapchat Strategy

Having trouble coming up with ideas for your Snapchat marketing campaign? Try taking advantage of someone else's. Recently, Tongal ran a contest that drew 584 ideas for how top brands can up their Snapchat marketing game. Some ideas included "sexts" from Victoria's Secret with coupon codes, a city naming contest for free airfare through Southwest Airlines, and cheat codes for EA Games' most popular video games. Head on over to the project page to view some of these great ideas.