Could Pokemon Go could be next big marketing tool for retailers?

NEW YORK: Pokemon Go, a mobile game that has rocketed to the top of Apple Inc and Android app stores in record time, looks set to challenge young internet companies which specialise in increasing foot traffic for small businesses and may end up playing a role in major brands' marketing, according to industry experts.

The augmented reality game from Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd , where players walk around real-life neighborhoods to hunt down virtual cartoon characters on their smartphone screens, has more than 65 million users in the United States just seven days after launch.

That is more users than Twitter Inc, and the game is already helping local restaurants, coffee shops and small retailers to attract new customers.

L'inizio Pizza Bar in Long Island City in New York claims its sales jumped 75 per cent over the weekend by activating a |lure module" feature that attracts virtual Pokemon characters to the store, thereby tempting in nearby players.

The store's manager spent $10 to have a dozen Pokemon characters placed in the location, according to a report in the New York Post.

That sort of instant effect is a potential threat for Groupon Inc, LivingSocial Inc, Foursquare and other relatively new companies which have revolutionised online marketing for small businesses in the last few years.

Pokemon Go's instant popularity appears to be the result of nostalgia for the classic 20-year-old cartoon franchise and players' desire to win kudos within the game by capturing as many characters as possible.

|People born in the 1980s and 90s, they grew up with this. It's approachable and reassuring and that's why it's gone from zero to millions of users in just a few days," said Jeremiah Rosen, managing director at creative agency Reason2Be in New York City. "I see McDonald's, Home Depot, national brands playing into the culture."

A report on tech news site Gizmodo on Wednesday said a student in Australia had uncovered code in the game's workings that indicated a sponsorship system and mentioned the name of McDonalds Corp. McDonald's declined to comment on the matter or any of its marketing plans.

Disrupting disrupters

The popularity of Pokemon Go threatens companies like Foursquare, which has a service called Swarm offering coupons and prizes to customers who "check in" at participating venues, and social e-commerce sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, which many businesses use as a vehicle to offer discount deals. Such "daily deal" sites get a cut every time a customer buys a retailer's coupon.

Groupon and LivingSocial were not immediately available for a comment. Foursquare said it was too soon to tell the impact of Pokemon Go.

Marketing experts said small businesses may increasingly turn to Pokemon Go ─ and redirect some of their marketing spend ─ as the mobile game racks up a bigger user base.

"With Pokemon Go, you are seeing it as bypassing a lot of digital (marketing) channels that the brick and mortar shops have been relying on for the past few years," said Christophe Jammet, director of social media and mobile at consultancy DDG in New York. "There hasn't been a geolocation social platform that can lure so many people all at once."

Pokemon Go players are highly engaged, spending far more time in the app than they do with some of the most popular social apps such as Facebook Inc's Instagram and messaging services WhatsApp and Snapchat, according to SimilarWeb, a market intelligence and web analytics firm.

Many shops are attracting customers by advertising themselves as "Poke Stops", a place where gamers can grab new Pokemon balls and increase their level of power within the app. \

Experts said it is only a matter of time before major brands jump on the bandwagon.

"They are already looking into it," said Tom Kelshaw, director of technology at Maxus Global, a media investment management group in New York.

The Pokemon Go craze ─ and potential for further revenue from third parties ─ has sent Nintendo's shares skyrocketing since the game's debut on Thursday, adding nearly $10 billion to the company's market value.

Source: Dawn News

Now here’s what I want YOU to do.

·         Click on social sharing buttons below and share this post with your friends, I’m sure they’ll love it!

·         Comment below and let me know your VIEWS about it.If you have any questions feel free to ask.

THANKS FOR READING!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOIN US on Following SOCIAL NETWORKS:

Like on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/fullofamazing/

Follow on GOOGLE+:https://plus.google.com/b/117251672345992630330/?pageId=117251672345992630330

Follow  on TWITTER : https://twitter.com/fullofamazings

Follow Our BLOG : http://fullofamazings.blogspot.com/

Subscribe on YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpq3x-_bSlbkbhgx92QDyfA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MORE  AMAZING VIDEOS:

Amazing Experiments

How To Do Videos

Recipes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EU files fresh anti-trust charges against Google

BRUSSELS (APP) – The European Union filed new anti-trust charges against Google on Thursday, piling pressure on the US tech giant over the alleged abuse of its dominance of the market.

Brussels targeted the Silicon Valley firm’s advertising business, saying it had restricted some websites from displaying advertisements from Google’s competitors.

The EU also beefed up its charge sheet in an earlier case against Google which alleges that the firm abused the dominance of its search engine for online shopping.

There are now three EU cases against Google in total, with the EU having also filed charges this April against it for its Android mobile phone operating system.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Google did not have “the right to deny other companies the chance to compete and innovate.”

“Today, we have further strengthened our case that Google has unduly favoured its own comparison shopping service in its general search result pages,” she said in a statement.

“We have also raised concerns that Google has hindered competition by limiting the ability of its competitors to place search adverts on third party websites, which stifles consumer choice and innovation,” she said.

Credit card skimming : How to spot, Deal and Avoid it

"Skimming" is a method by which thieves steal your credit card information, and all it requires is a little illicit technology and a lot of criminal intent by those who handle your credit card.

Skimming occurs most frequently at retail outlets that process credit card payments -- particularly bars, restaurants and gas stations. 

How skimming works
Skimmers are small devices that can scan and store credit card data from the magnetic stripe. Crooks can install skimmers on a gas pump, or corrupt employees can have a skimmer stashed out of sight of customers. Once the card is run through the skimmer, the data is recorded, and the crooks can sell the information through a contact or on the Internet, at which point counterfeit cards are made. The criminals go on a shopping spree with a cloned copy of the credit or debit card, and cardholders are unaware of the fraud until a statement arrives with purchases they did not make. 

John Brewer, assistant district attorney in the major fraud division of Harris County (Texas) District Attorney's Office, regularly prosecutes identity thieves. "Many consumers think that shopping online is a high-risk endeavor compared to going to a brick-and-mortar store, but I believe the opposite," Brewer says. "The vast majority of cases we investigate have to do with employees at a physical store stealing your information."

There's often little you can do to prevent it, but do be alert to odd-looking card reader protruding from, or maybe crudely affixed to, a gas pump.

How to avoid skimming
Brewer has encountered many skimming victims and has tips for consumers on how to stay out of trouble.

• Make sure your card stays in sight, and never let anyone leave of your presence with the card if you can help it. "Skimming occurs most at restaurants since the waiter has to walk away with your card," Brewer says. "If you are in a retail store and they say they have to go to another counter to run the card, follow them." If you are concerned about letting go of your card at restaurants, use cash instead.
• Your credit card is like cash. "You need to be aware that your credit card is very valuable," Brewer says. "Treat it like a diamond or cash. Would you just give someone cash and let them walk away with it?"
• Monitor credit card receipts and check them carefully against your statements. If you are married, sit down with your spouse to account for all charges, Brewer says. Some thieves take out small amounts in hopes cardholders won't notice.
• Shred unwanted financial solicitations and put your mail on hold when you leave town. This will not help with skimming, but it can help with other forms of identity theft.

To further protect yourself from potential unauthorized charges or identity fraud, you can request that credit bureaus monitor your accounts for unusual spending patterns and require them to notify you before new credit can be granted in your name. These services come at a price; normally under $100 per year depending on the credit agency. But that might be a worthy investment, especially if you eat in restaurants on a regular basis. 

How to deal with skimming

• Call the police. "When your identity or credit card is stolen, it's just like having a car stolen," Brewer says. Make a police report and hang on to the police report number.
• Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately and tell them your card data has been stolen. If you don't make a report quickly, you may be liable for some or all of the unauthorized charges.
• If you report swiftly, federal law caps your liability at $50. Most credit cards voluntarily go further, and won't charge you at all -- again, if you report quickly. "If you end up being a victim, it's probably not going to cost you any money," Brewer says. "If you notify your bank quickly, they'll return the money. Don't get hung up about the fact that someone might drain your bank account. The most you will probably spend on it is wasted time and lots of aggravation, since it can be a long process to get everything worked out."
• Contact the three major credit bureaus -- TransUnion, Equifax and Experian -- to request a security freeze, which prevents new credit authorizations without your consent. Brewer suggests visiting the website www.annualcreditreport.com. "It's an institution created in response to a large number of identity theft victims and the cost incurred to them," Brewer says. Through the site, which was mandated by federal law in response to consumer outcry, you are entitled to receive one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Brewer suggests viewing the reports on a computer you can print from since you only get to check them once a year. "Look at the inquiries section of your report, and see which companies have looked at your credit," Brewer says. 

If a car dealership looked at your report but you didn't go there, it's a sign that the person with your card information went car shopping. Give these reports to the police; it will help them investigate your case. 

Source : CreditCards.com

10 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Warm Water

It’s a common knowledge that water is necessary for our continued survival. We are recommended to drink around 8 glasses of water a day. However, health benefits are not exclusive to cold water only, as drinking warm water also has its advantages. Here are 10 surprising benefits of consuming hot water.

1. Warm water really helps in maintaining a healthy metabolism, which is ideal if you’re looking to lose a bit of weight. Try to push your metabolism into action early by beginning your day with a mug of warm water with lemon squeezed into it. The water also helps digest the tissues of fat in your body.
2. Drinking warm water also helps with nasal and throat congestion. It’s an easily available cure for colds, coughs, and sore throats. The hot water breaks down phlegm, as well as remove it from the respiratory tract. In this way, it soothes a sore throat, and helps clear up congestion in the nostrils.
3. Drinking warm water also helps relieve menstrual cramps. The heat which is emitted from the water calms and soothes the abdominal muscles which helps diminish cramps.
4. Consuming warm water detoxes your body as well. Through drinking it, your body temperature is heightened, which makes you sweat. This releases toxins from your body which aids in its cleansing. Adding the juice of a lemon improves the results.
5. Drinking warm water also helps prevent premature aging. Firstly, your body is cleansed of toxins, that make you age faster. Secondly, hot water repairs skin cells which heighten the elasticity of your skin which are damaged by dangerous free radicals. In this way your skin becomes smoother as well.
6. Drinking warm water is also beneficial for getting lush, shiny, hair. It gives energy to the nerve endings in the roots of your hair which activates them. This returns the natural vitality to your hair and gives it health. Consuming hot water also accelerates the growth of your hair. It increases the regular activity at the roots which makes your hair grow faster. Warm water also helps prevent dandruff in your hair. It keeps your scalp hydrated and moisturized which prevents dry scalps and dandruff.
7. Drinking warm water also improves and enhances your blood circulation, which encourages a healthy nervous system. Good blood circulation is necessary for proper nerve and muscle movement. This keeps your nervous system healthy as surrounding fat deposits are broken down.
8. Warm water also helps avoid acne and pimples as the water deep cleanses your body which removes the initial cause of infections related to acne.
9. Hot water is also beneficial to your digestion. Consuming cold water during or after a meal can toughen the oils present in the foods you ate. This oil forms an oil deposit in the inner wall of your intestine which can sometimes later cause intestinal cancer. However, if you drink a glass of warm water instead, this whole problem can be avoided. As an added bonus, hot water helps in the digestion process.
10. Lastly, drinking hot water aids in your bowel movements. Hot water makes your bowel movements regular, healthy, and pain free. If you do not drink enough water your body becomes dehydrated, and results in the chronic issue of constipation. The stool accumulates in your intestine, and your bowel movements are slowed down. Studies show that deinking a mug of warm water every morning on an empty stomach helps relieve you of constipation. This is because the hot water breaks down any remaining food and causes the movement of the particles through the intestine to be smooth and less painful for you.

Source Htv 

Now here’s what I want YOU to do.

·         Click on social sharing buttons below and share this post with your friends, I’m sure they’ll love it!

·         Comment below and let me know your VIEWS about it.If you have any questions feel free to ask.

THANKS FOR READING!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOIN US on Following SOCIAL NETWORKS:

Like on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/fullofamazing/

Follow on GOOGLE+:https://plus.google.com/b/117251672345992630330/?pageId=117251672345992630330

Follow  on TWITTER : https://twitter.com/fullofamazings

Follow Our BLOG : http://fullofamazings.blogspot.com/

Subscribe on YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpq3x-_bSlbkbhgx92QDyfA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MORE  AMAZING VIDEOS:

Amazing Experiments

How To Do Videos

Recipes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Lifestyle of Prince Al Waleed Will Blow Your Brains Out!

He’s a prince! He graduated with honors from Menlo University in 1979! He’s the Saudi Warren Buffet! He’s also Fox News’ fourth biggest investor and worlds 25th most richest man.

King Of His Castle His sand-colored palace has 317 rooms, including four kitchens given over to Arabic, Continental and Asian cuisine. The fifth is just for desserts, and his chefs can feed 2,000 with just an hour’s notice. There are also 250 TVs, apparently.

Born Into Royalty His parents are Prince Talal and Mona Al Solh. His maternal grandfather was the first prime minister of Lebanon and his paternal grandfather, King Abdulaziz, created Saudi Arabia.

He Married Most Beautiful Women The first wife of Al Waleed was Dalal bint Saud, a daughter of King Saud. They have two children: Reem and Khalid, they later divorced. His second wife was a young woman Ameera al-Taweel, but they also recently got divorced.

He Knows Some Of The Most Influential People Al Waleed know’s some of the worlds most influential world’s royals, politicians, and celebrities. He and his then-wife were guests at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding

Millions Owned in Jewelry Alwaleed claims to have a collection worth $730 million, and gave Britain’s future Queen Camilla (née Parker-Bowles) a diamond and ruby necklace worth $1.5 million. The necklace he’s wearing in the picture is the Order of Distinguished Rule of Izzuddeen, bestowed on him by President Nasheed of the Maldives, in December last year.

Big Break As An Investor At the age of 36, in 1991, he made a high-stakes decision to invest in Citicorp, which made him $800 million. By 2005, that had turned into $10 billion.

He’s Building The Tallest Skyscraper The prince has spearheaded the construction of Kingdom Tower, the tallest planned building in the world. That’s at least 568 feet taller than the world’s current tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which was designed by the same architect. It’s slated for completion in 2018.

Former Owner Of Airbus 380 The plane was reportedly tricked out with three floors, a Turkish bath, a “concert hall” with seating for 10, a boardroom with holographic projectors, and a garage for his Rolls Royce. The aircraft cost an estimated $500 million.

Source:Hamariweb Now here’s what I want YOU to do. ·         Click on social sharing buttons below and share this post with your friends, I’m sure they’ll love it! ·         Comment below and let me know your VIEWS about it.If you have any questions feel free to ask. THANKS FOR READING!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN US on Following SOCIAL NETWORKS: Like on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/fullofamazing/ Follow on GOOGLE+:https://plus.google.com/b/117251672345992630330/?pageId=117251672345992630330 Follow  on TWITTER : https://twitter.com/fullofamazings Follow Our BLOG : http://fullofamazings.blogspot.com/ Subscribe on YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpq3x-_bSlbkbhgx92QDyfA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE  AMAZING VIDEOS: Amazing Experiments How To Do Videos Recipes --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------