Posts in June 25, 2015

Following the lead of other major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Etsy and eBay in removing products featuring the Confederate flag, Apple has reportedly begun removing apps that feature the Stars and Bars from its online store. The apps most affecte... -- For more information read the original article here.

Amazon, ever trying to think up new ways to get people to buy things, is launching something called the "Treasure Truck" in Seattle.

The Treasure Truck will drive around the city several days a week, jam-packed with a single "highly desirable" product each day.

These items will either be heavily discounted or otherwise unique, including limited edition "Glassbaby" cups, two porterhouse 24-oz steaks for $20, or a knife set for 50% off.

Shoppers can see where the Treasure Truck is, what it's carrying each day, and pick a time and place to go find it, all through a new section in the company's app.

That's likely one of the motivations behind the launch for Amazon: Getting more people to download and log into the Amazon Shopping app.

It also gives the company a way to test out a new kind of local pick-up that could eventually work alongside its Prime Now, one-hour delivery service.

Treasure Truck will be Seattle-exclusive at launch (Amazon declined to comment on whether it planned to spread outside of its home city), and starts Saturday, June 27 with a $99 inflatable paddle-board that usually retails for $476.99.

"It's a truck, but it's got treasure!" the narrator in Amazon's promo video gushes, "It's like a pirate ship, but with wheels, and a horn!"

SEE ALSO: Amazon just increased prices on a service you've probably never heard of, and some researchers are really upset

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NOW WATCH: Here's what happens when you drop an Apple Watch face down on cement

-- For more information read the original article here.

With Apple Music launching in less than a week, much of the focus has been on its relationship with artists and the royalties it pays. Thanks to Taylor Swift, it appears to have weathered its minor storm, allowing it to focus on other parts of its up... -- For more information read the original article here.

Netflix's popularity is soaring around the world, and analysts predict it will have a larger audience than all the major broadcast networks within a year.

According to Variety, Wall Street analysis firm FBR Capital Markets said Netflix was already on par with the likes of ABC and NBC, and that given its 40% compound annual growth rate, it will also surpass CBS and Fox by 2016.

That said, the analysis is not a perfect comparison. FBR used Nielsen TV ratings for the major networks, which excludes online video views, and only covers DVR and video-on-demand for seven days. The analysts compared this to an estimate based on Netflix's report that its users had streamed about 10 billion hours of video in the first quarter of 2015.

But even if the analysis is an estimate, there is no doubt that Netflix is gaining power relative to paid TV. FBR pointed to a survey they performed in which consumers were asked to choose between Netflix and cable (or satellite): 57% went with Netflix, while only 43% chose cable or satellite.

One factor that could contribute to Netflix's rise is the sheer amount it is starting to spend on content rights. FBR said Netflix is expected to spend almost $2 billion on content rights in the U.S. alone — more than HBO, Showtime, and Starz. That's still less than the major networks, however.

SEE ALSO: Netflix stock split boosts share price

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NOW WATCH: It's stunning how the all-star cast for Netflix's highly anticipated ‘Wet Hot American Summer' hasn't aged

-- For more information read the original article here.

Determined to watch streaming video with the maximum color range possible? You now have your chance. As promised, Amazon Prime Instant Video is now offering high dynamic range (HDR) videos to American customers. Watch the first season of Mozart in th... -- For more information read the original article here.

As part of a continued focus on protecting user privacy, Apple is reportedly planning to change a policy on third-party applications and prevent them from finding out what other apps are installed on an iPhone or iPad. -- For more information read the original article here.

If you've been having problems with your T-Mobile iPhone, you're not alone. A lot of people have been experiencing random freezes, restarts and (this is not a joke, folks) the dreaded blue screen of death. A lot of people have been airing their compl... -- For more information read the original article here.