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Amazon's new delivery drone is a helicopter-airplane hybrid
Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery still isn't a practical reality, but that isn't stopping the company from iterating on its robotic flyer's design. The internet retailer has unveiled a next-generation electric drone that tackles some of the challenges the autonomous courier faces. It's now a "hybrid design" that can take off and land vertically like a typical hexacopter drone, but has aerodynamics (and thus efficiency) more like that of a fixed-wing aircraft. More importantly, it's safer -- and we're not just talking about the protective shroud that doubles as wings.
YouTube and AXS sell concert tickets through music videos
YouTube might make it decidedly easier to see your favorite band. The internet giant has forged a deal that offers fast access to concert tickets from AXS, expanding on earlier deals with Ticketmaster and Eventbrite. Watch official music videos from the right artists and you'll see both listings for their US tour dates as well as an option to snap up tickets (both fresh and resales) in short order.
IKEA will finally offer online shopping through mobile apps
IKEA's mobile apps have so far been focused on enhancing the retail experience, not replacing it. You can preview furniture in your home, but you'll have to either visit the web or travel to the store to make a purchase. That's poised to change, digital chief Barbara Martin Coppola told Reuters in an interview. The big-box store is prepping an app that would let you shop remotely for that couch or desk while still visualizing how it appeared in your home. The new app would allow you to enter your room dimensions to ensure a good fit, and choose from different styles and "life stages" to narrow down the selection.
Amazon says it mistakenly pulled ads with religious content
Amazon's growing ad business may have produced some unintended casualties. CNBC has learned that Amazon staffers were mistakenly removing ads with religious content, explaining to sellers that a "policy update" reportedly banned promos for products "related to a specific religion." A company spokesperson said that the policies hadn't changed, however, and that it was implementing "corrective training" to make clear that religious material was acceptable.
Return your Amazon orders to any Kohl's store starting in July
You no longer have to be lucky if you want to return your Amazon order to a Kohl's store instead of heading to your local courier. As of July, you'll have the option of returning your goods at any of Kohl's 1,150 stores in the US. You won't need a box or label, and it won't cost you a dime as long as you're covered by the return policy in the first place.
eBay uses AI to help you shop for similar-looking items
When you're shopping, you probably have a general look in mind. But how do you describe that to a shopping site? eBay might have an answer: have AI figure it out. It's implementing a feature that uses computer vision to find items that resemble what you're looking at. Tap the three-dot menu next to a product and it'll give you both simple category buttons (such as "athletic shoes") as well as a "looks like this" option to find visually similar items. Eye a green set of sneakers, for instance, and you should see comparable footwear without having to construct an elaborate search.
Amazon creates its own skincare line called Belei
Amazon loves to capitalize on popular products, and that apparently extends to the recent fascination with skincare products. The internet giant has introduced its first "dedicated" skincare line, Belei, to snap up customers who'd otherwise hunt down coveted Korean products. The initial catalog includes everything from basics like facial wipes ($9) to a slew of moisturizers (typically $35) and multi-purpose serums (up to $40), helping you deal with everything from acne to wrinkles. Notably, Amazon's own name is conspicuously absent -- it clearly doesn't want to you to associate your eye cream too closely with the company that made your Echo speaker.
Instagram will let you buy products without leaving the app
Instagram is moving a little deeper into commerce by allowing you to buy goods without leaving the app. The checkout feature will at first be a closed beta in the US with more than 20 brands involved, including Adidas, Nike, Zara, Kylie Cosmetics, Uniqlo, Burberry, H&M, Mac, Prada and Michael Kors. More brands will join in the coming months.
Epic Games Store plans include cloud saves and achievements
Don't worry if you think the Epic Games Store's features are threadbare at the moment -- there's a good chance the features you like are in the pipeline. Epic has posted a public roadmap for its portal, and you can expect a steady stream of additions. Most notably, it's hoping to add cloud saves as soon as May, with offline mode upgrades planned for April. Things should get rosier after that, with user reviews, wish lists, mod support and in-game overlays expected in the next four to six months.
Amazon lets third-party sellers offer lower prices on rival sites
Amazon just made online shopping slightly more competitive. A Reuters source has learned that the internet heavyweight has stopped telling third-party sellers that they're forbidden from offering lower prices at rival sites. The insider didn't explain why Amazon made the move, and Amazon declined to comment on the decision. However, it follows political inquiries that might have put pressure on the company to take action.
Congressman asks Amazon to stop suggesting anti-vaccination content
More internet giants are coming under pressure to crack down on anti-vaccination myths. Rep. Adam Schiff has sent a letter to Jeff Bezos expressing concern over a CNN report showing that Amazon was not only recommending anti-vaccination books and videos in its search results, but was displaying them in sponsored posts. Schiff worried that Amazon was spreading false scientific claims, including content that appears to be neutral on the surface. He effectively asked Bezos to stop suggesting these titles out of a duty to "act responsibly" and asked the CEO to answer questions about Amazon's stance on the material.
Sinemia ventures beyond movie subscriptions with direct ticket sales
Sinemia isn't counting solely on movie theater subscriptions to draw you in. The service has launched an option to buy movie tickets in the US through either its apps or its website. You need to buy them for one of 400-plus participating theaters (from chains like B&B, Emagine or New Vision), but you don't need to be a Sinemia subscriber -- you can use it if you'd just prefer an alternative to your theater's usual ordering methods. You can buy in advance, reserve seats and buy additional tickets if more people will tag along.
Amazon wants half of its shipments to be carbon-neutral by 2030
Amazon doesn't have a sterling environmental record, but it is making some headway. The internet giant has launched a Shipment Zero initiative that aims for net zero carbon emissions for deliveries. While it doesn't have a timetable for achieving perfectly carbon-neutral shipping, it expects half of shipments to be net zero by 2030. It believes the rise of aircraft biofuels, electric vehicles, renewable energy and reusable packaging will make that possible.
Amazon's Coachella delivery lockers will help you get more sunscreen
The Coachella music festival is known for pampering fans with treats, but they'll now have one of the ultimate creature comforts: online deliveries. Amazon is making multiple Lockers available at Coachella on both weekends (April 12th-14th and April 19th-21st), giving you a way to pick up online orders while you're still at the venue. If you run out of sunscreen or lose your phone charger, you might not have to leave or shop from a pricey on-site vendor.
Amazon revives its live shopping stream with a larger scope
Amazon isn't giving up on live shopping streams just because its first attempt fell flat. The internet giant recently launched Amazon Live, a streaming channel with a much larger scope. Where the old Style Code Live was a single show devoted to beauty and fashion, Live encompasses a variety of shows that showcase products ranging from technology to household items. There are some shows with dedicated hosts, but some are run by the brands themselves -- the beauty brand Grace & Stella was hosting a segment as we wrote this.
Brie Larson's new Netflix film tackles sexism in internet startups
Brie Larson is set to star in a Netflix movie that highlights startup sexism as part of a two-film deal with the streaming service. Lady Business is based on a Fast Company article about two female entrepreneurs who invented a fake male cofounder in order to be taken seriously in the patriarchal business world.
'Zero-waste' Loop delivers Coke and Häagen-Dazs in reusable packaging
A lineup of the world's biggest consumer brands are joining a zero-waste online shopping project that delivers items in refillable and reusable containers. Loop -- announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week -- is an online shopping platform that wants to save customers the hassle of recycling by adopting the age-old model of the milkman.
Target's same-day delivery service will soon cover all 'major' products
Target's same-day delivery service, Shipt, is about to be much more useful if you'd prefer to shop from home. The company told TechCrunch that it's planning same-day shipping for "all major product categories" in 2019, not just certain groceries and a handful of other product categories. Shipt wouldn't say how many products would be covered or narrow down the time frame, but this suggests you could order clothes and get them in time for a night out.
Walmart opens its first online store in Japan
Walmart has opened its first online store in Japan with the help of local e-commerce giant Rakuten. Over 1,200 items will be available to Japanese customers on the "Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store," including clothing, outdoor items and toys from US brands. It marks the latest step in the duo's strategic alliance, announced in January, which also spans an online grocery delivery service in Japan and the sale of e-readers, audiobooks and e-books from Rakuten-owned Kobo in the US.
Nike uses AR to tease its biggest Jordan launch of the year
If it wasn't already clear that Nike sees augmented reality as a big deal for footwear, it is now. The company is using AR inside its SNKRS app to offer a peek at its biggest shoe release of the year, the Air Jordan 11 Concord, days before you can buy it on December 8th. The immersive feature is no longer there just to help in "the hunt" or serve as an "unlock trigger," a spokesperson tells Engadget. Rather, it's there to "enhance the shopping experience" in your feed.
