rewards
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Reddit turns top contributors' Reddit Gold into real-world money
Reddit rolled out a new program today that allows the platform’s biggest contributors to earn real-world money for their virtual rewards.
Forget cash back: Microsoft's Xbox Mastercard exclusively earns game discounts
Microsoft announced a new Xbox Mastercard today. Cardmembers can earn points on purchases to redeem on games in the Microsoft Store. The card will launch exclusively for Xbox Insider Program members in the US on September 21, but it will open to all US-based Xbox users next year.
Starbucks now lets you pay with Venmo
Starbucks is teaming up with Venmo to let you use the popular payment service at its retail locations.
PayPal's new rewards program includes Honey shopping discounts
PayPal has trotted out a unified rewards program that now includes Honey's shopping discounts.
Uber's expanded rewards program offers Apple Music and HBO Max perks
Uber's rewards program is now more flexible, including 'free' access to Apple Music and HBO Max.
NBA and Microsoft plan personalized, AI-powered game streaming
Microsoft and the NBA are teaming up to deliver personalized game broadcasts that use machine learning and AI to learn fans’ preferences. To start, they’ll broadcast live and on-demand games via Microsoft Azure and add personalized real-time stats overlays.
Google's Play Points program rewards you for downloading apps
After first launching in Japan last year, Google is bringing its Play Store rewards program to the US. Starting this week, you'll be able to enroll in Google Play Points, allowing you to earn rewards by using the company's digital marketplace.
Audi’s Silvercar rental service adds a customer loyalty program
Audi's premium rental service, Silvercar, just launched a customer loyalty program. All Silvercar customers will be automatically enrolled in the Premium Rewards Program. They'll earn one point for every dollar spent -- excluding those spent on taxes, insurance coverage, extras and fees -- and be able to use points on future rentals.
Early version of the new 'Plants vs. Zombies' is available today for $30
As we get closer to the October 18th launch of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, PopCap Games is ready to share a Founder's Edition. Today, fans can play the digital-only version of the game. New features and content will be added weekly over the next six-weeks, as PopCap polishes the title for its official launch.
Uber launches a tiered rewards program in the US, just like Lyft
Uber has launched a rewards program for passengers just a few days after Lyft announced its own. Like Lyft's rewards system, Uber's will also give you access to discounts and more experienced drivers the more points you collect from every Uber and Uber Eats transaction. The program has four membership levels you can join for free, with Blue being the lowest. After your first 500 points, you'll advance to Gold membership, which gives you a way to cancel and rebook trips for free (if done within 15 minutes) and give you access to priority support.
Lyft rewards program will offer perks to frequent riders
Lyft thinks it has a simple way to reel people into its service: shower frequent riders with perks. It's launching a Rewards program in December for "select" passengers. The more you travel, the more points you'll get toward bonuses like ride upgrades and more experienced drivers. There will also be double-points days to encourage you to head out.
Razer suspends 'Paid to Play' rewards over negative feedback
Last March, Razer put forth a way to earn points that could be redeemed for the company's peripherals like keyboards and mice. All you needed to do was to launch games via Razer's Cortex desktop software and play up to five hours of eligible games each day. Unfortunately, this "Paid to Play" initiative is now at an end, at least temporarily. Razer will suspend the program beginning on March 1, based on what the company calls negative feedback from the community.
Uber’s new credit card could be a tough sell (updated)
Uber isn't exactly known for protecting the privacy of its drivers or riders. Tim Cook reportedly had to threaten to remove the Uber app from iPhones after he discovered the app was "fingerprinting" iPhones with a permanent ID. The ride sharing company had to stop gathering location data from passengers, even after a ride ended, and it settled with the FTC over abuse of customer data. Now Uber is offering a new credit card, available November 2nd, which might seem a bit counter-intuitive.
Razer's 'paid to play' program bribes gamers to use its Cortex software
Lingering in the mind of every gamer is a silly, whimsical idea that very few manage to make a reality. "Gee," we think to ourselves. "It sure would be neat if I could get someone to pay me to play video games." Most of us know it's a futile dream, but it's a desire Razer is banking on. Today the company announced its "paid to play" initiative, a program that's almost exactly what it sounds like. Yes, Razer is going to reward gamers for play their favorite games, but those players won't be earning cash -- they'll be earning ZSilver points from the company's new digital currency platform.
Samsung Pay rewards program encourages you to shop
Most mobile payment systems don't really offer incentives to shop besides convenience, but Samsung wants to dangle a bigger carrot in front of its users. It's launching a rewards program for Samsung Pay (appropriately, Samsung Rewards) that gives you perks whenever you use the service in the US, whether it's at retail or online. Much like typical banking card rewards, you earn points with each purchase that can go toward bonuses -- other Samsung products, a Visa prepaid card and gift cards for certain stores. You can also enter giveaways, and loyalty tiers reward frequent shoppers with point multipliers.
Nintendo explains its reward program and that smartphone app
Nintendo's first smartphone entry is gradually, actually, happening. During an investor call earlier today, the company showcased what is actually going on and how it'll attempt to make the most of your smartphone. You can also start registering for the game (and its corresponding "My Nintendo" online service) starting February 17th. This dovetails with the company's new rewards scheme, which was also elaborated on further in today's call. You'll have to ensure you have your "My Nintendo" account ready for all the above when it launches globally in March, but until then, here's what the gaming company had to say.
GoPro rewards you for sharing photos and videos of your adventures
To encourage GoPro users to share more action-packed video footage and still photos, the company is offering rewards. The GoPro Awards will give you money when your snapshots, raw video or edited footage are selected for use on the GoPro Channel or licensed for other uses. Those rewards are $500, $1,000 and $5,000, respectively, and span a smattering of nine genres including motorsports, action, adventure and more. GoPro is pretty serious about the program too, as it plans to shell out $5 million in rewards annually. The company says the awards program offers its customers a way to gain recognition for their efforts as its user base has "some of the most creative people on the planet." Ready to submit your work? Head over the Awards page to get started.
Lyft rewards its drivers for picking you up more often
A ridesharing service only helps you out if drivers want to pick you up in the first place, and Lyft clearly knows it -- the company just countered Uber's new perk system with one of its own. Accelerate, as it's called, puts drivers in one of three status levels depending on how many rides they offer in a given month. Everyone starts out at silver, which offers basic access to Lyft's preferred providers for services like health insurance. If they handle at least 20 rides a month, though, they'll move up to a gold rank that gives them discounts on everything from car maintenance to movie tickets. And if they're committed enough to offer 200 rides a month, they'll get platinum-level status that bumps them to the front of the queue whenever they ask Lyft's headquarters for help.
The Club Nintendo rewards program is closing down
Club Nintendo is closing down. What's Club Nintendo, you ask? That's probably why it's closing. The rewards program has been running since 2007, but outside of Japan it's never really captured the public's attention. It offers "Coins" (or "Stars," "Star Points" and "Points" in Europe and Japan) to gamers that register and fill out surveys on their purchases, which can then be exchanged for vouchers, trinkets and the occasional exclusive item -- like this awesome throwback SNES controller for Wii.
Club Nintendo closing, 'new loyalty program' on the way
'Club Nintendo is dead, long live the new loyalty program,' is the message from Nintendo this morning, after the company announced it's closing its current rewards service. Users in the US and Canada have until the end March to earn Club Nintendo Coins and until the close of June to redeem them, signalling when the service will finally hang up its brown boots. "We thank all Club Nintendo members for their dedication to Nintendo games and their ongoing love for our systems and characters," said Nintendo of America executive VP Scott Moffit in the company's press release. "We want to make this time of transition as easy as possible for our loyal Club Nintendo members, so we are going to add dozens of new rewards and downloadable games to help members clear out their Coin balances."
