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Amazon's new Exclusives store showcases Kickstarter successes
Amazon is launching a new store section today called Amazon Exclusives that looks to highlight "up-and-coming brands." The store features products from Kickstarter successes like Jackery phone chargers, Zackees' clever cycling gloves and Olloclip phone camera lenses. The new store claims to offer "the best prices" on such items, and also includes products not born from crowdfunding. Tower's inflatable paddle board, for example, came from ABC's Shark Tank.
Amazon opens a store on its Chinese rival's marketplace
Amazon is willing to do a lot to gain a competitive edge... including setting up shop on a big rival's home turf, apparently. The online shopping giant has launched a store on Tmall, Alibaba's China-focused marketplace. The move requires that Amazon give Alibaba a cut of any sales, which is unusual for an internet retailer that likes to operate on thin profit margins. However, it's clear that Jeff Bezos and crew are primarily interested in getting their foot in the door. Amazon doesn't have that much clout in China compared to Alibaba, which is worth more than Amazon and eBay combined -- a Tmall storefront will at least remind Chinese customers that an American alternative exists.
Samsung's VR headset gets the first Oculus-powered paid app store
It's the day many, many virtual reality developers have been waiting for: Finally, a way to sell VR games to people with VR headsets. Namely, Oculus and Samsung's collaboration on the Gear VR headset is bearing digital fruit in the form of a digital store. In short: You can finally buy and sell games on Samsung's VR headset. That's a bigger deal than it sounds, as Gear VR's store has been riddled with little more than tech and game demos since its launch late last year. We've been anxious for deeper experiences, and many developers have been withholding those experiences for a time when they could actually make money on their work. Let the floodgates open!
Staples expands its tech shopping empire by acquiring Office Depot
Best Buy may have to fight a bit harder for your technology dollar. Staples just bought Office Depot, making it by far the biggest office supply outlet in the US and a considerably larger source for everything from computers to 3D printing. The combined company hopes to use its newfound clout to speed up its "strategic reinvention," letting it dip into delivery businesses and escape its old-school focus on workplace basics like pens and desk chairs.
Pantheon removes its web store
If you were waiting to grab something from the website store for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, you are now officially too late. A forum post this week states that after internal developer discussion, the devs made the decision to remove the store in prep for a redesign of the interface and a re-evaluation of the various items up for sale. Any orders already placed via the store will still be honored, so you don't need to worry if you had purchased something just before the shutdown. The post also makes note that if the store is brought back, no items with any sort of statistics or concrete advantages will be sold there, although there are no hard and fast decisions about when or whether it will be brought back. Of course, it's probably a little early to be worrying about that anyhow, but points for thinking ahead.
Apple giving away TV shows and music with 'Free on iTunes'
Free stuff is always great, especially if people actually want what's on offer. Apple now has a special section called "Free on iTunes" where you can find TV shows and music freebies if you've already blown through your monthly entertainment budget. It features TV episodes from 12 Monkeys, Eye Candy and others, as well as music from bands like Purity Ring and Houndmouth. As 9to5 Mac points out, Apple offered a similar service before, but this time, the focus seems to be less on hits and more on material that's still looking for an audience.
Samsung has closed its flagship London store
Just like that, Samsung has decided to close its flagship 'Experience Store' in London. Only ten of these retail outlets exist across the UK, and the one in Westfield Stratford City shopping center was Samsung's crown jewel, playing host to numerous early bird product launches such as the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy S III. The store, originally run by Phones4u staff, was disassembled last night, while a notice informed customers of its closure. Samsung says it will do its upmost, "where possible," to find employees at Westfield new jobs, and emphasized that it's "fully committed" to its remaining UK stores. It's a stark statement -- for so many years, there's been no expense spared for Samsung, with huge marketing campaigns, countless pop-up stores and even an airport takeover. But the company's profits are in decline as it faces fresh competition from younger smartphone makers such as Xiaomi. Samsung has already abandoned its laptop business in Europe, and with handset sales on the downward slide, it's no surprise the firm is re-evaluating its retail ambitions.
Microsoft now accepting Bitcoin at Xbox and Windows online stores
Bitcoin just got a big boost in stature as Microsoft is now accepting the cryptocurrency for digital content from its stores. If you live in the US, you can use it to buy apps, games, music and videos from the Windows, Windows Phone, Xbox Games, Xbox Music and Xbox Video stores. According to Coindesk, Redmond partnered with Bitpay to make the new arrangement possible. Microsoft pointed out that you can only add $100 at a time using Bitcoins, the payments can't be refunded and support is limited to the United States. In addition, they can only be used to purchase digital goods and not products like Microsoft Lumia phones.
OnePlus is opening a retail store in China
Still haven't scored an invitation for a OnePlus One, and missed out on the rare public sales? You may want to book a flight to China. OnePlus has revealed its first-ever retail shop, which will officially open in Beijing on December 20th. As you might imagine, the product selection is fairly limited -- it'll offer the One smartphone, of course, but you'll mostly find accessories like cases and headphones. To make up for this, OnePlus is positioning this as an "experience" with a water bar as well as plans for both customer training and get-togethers. More stores are expected to roll out in China, although you shouldn't expect them abroad. OnePlus only just teamed with Amazon to launch Indian online sales, so the company has a long way to go before it can even consider a worldwide retail empire.
Guild Wars 2 previews the Tangled Path for November 18th
A dragon egg exists in Tyria. Yes, we know, dragons are overdone, but the existence of one of their eggs in Tyria is extremely rare, as evidenced in no small part by the fact that the main enemies of the setting are the six elder dragons. So everyone wants that egg... including Mordremoth, the main antagonist of Guild Wars 2's second season of Living World content. And that means that everyone who can try to get that egg will try to get that egg. Yes, the next Living Story update is one big egg hunt, but it's one with pretty high stakes. The trailer just past the cut is short, but it should get players excited for when the update goes live on November 18th. And who wouldn't want a dragon egg of his very own? We recommend naming it Lord Snugglescale; that'll keep it on your side for sure. [Source: ArenaNet press release]
Poynt's smart store terminal lets you pay any way you like
One of the many reasons you don't see widespread support for mobile payment tech like Apple Pay or Google Wallet is the hardware investment needed to make it all work. Why should a store spend thousands of dollars on machines that miss out on some features, or will be obsolete in a few years? That's what Poynt wants to fix with its new smart terminal. The Android-powered device takes just about every form of payment imaginable, including NFC transactions from your phone, chip-and-pin cards, QR codes and old-fashioned magnetic stripe cards. You can even add a cash drawer through USB. The countertop machine also has Bluetooth beacon support for in-store offers, and its app platform lets stores adapt to new services by either downloading apps or writing their own.
Amazon's first brick-and-mortar store said to open in Manhattan
It's hardly a secret that Amazon wants to be your go-to store for everything, but despite its big pushes for same-day delivery, there's still nothing like trudging into a physical store when you need something in a rush. Amazon seems to understand that all too well -- according to reports from CNBC and the Wall Street Journal, the e-commerce titan is gearing up to open its first brick-and-mortar store in midtown Manhattan in time for the holidays.
Apple Watch makes first public appearance at Paris Fashion Week
Colette is one of those ultra-hip Paris shops that may tempt you with its eclectic toys, clothing, tech and art -- until you see the prices. For Fashion Week in Paris, it's about to have a shiny new bauble: the Apple Watch. The store has announced a one-day only preview of the 1.53- or 1.33-inch wearable so that le public can see it for the first time. So far, only the press have glimpsed it, though we couldn't try any functions since it was just running a demo program. Apple told us that it'll be a strictly look-but-don't-touch event, with no new details -- and there's no word if Colette will actually sell it yet. If you happen to be in Paris though, you can see it now in it the fancy window display (which resembles the Watch interface) or brave the crowds in the store starting at 11:00 AM. [Image credit: Papasoey/Instagram]
Dixons Carphone celebrates its merger with seven new upgraded stores
After almost three months and a number of important approvals, Dixons and Carphone Warehouse have officially become one. Dixons Carphone, as it's now known (no, we're not making it up), is getting straight down to business, opening seven "store-in-stores" across the UK today with plans to open another 23 by the end of the year. When you enter one of the new "combined" shops, there will be dedicated areas for white goods, computers and now contract phones. That approach is mirrored across its websites too, pointing customers to new branded areas to better serve their needs. As time moves on, though, you may notice smartphones and tablets are given more prominence inside Currys & PC World stores as Dixons Carphone tries to lure you away from Amazon and offer everything under one physical and digital roof.
Microsoft offering $75 credit if gamers upgrade to an Xbox One (update)
If you've pondered buying an Xbox One, but have felt a sense of loyalty to your Xbox 360, Microsoft is very keen to help you make the switch. As spotted by user BeforeU on NeoGAF, the company is running a new promotion that gifts its "very best customers" with a $75 promotional code if they buy an Xbox One or any Xbox One bundle. It appears that not everyone is eligible for the offer, with Microsoft only targeting a subset of Xbox 360 owners across the US ahead of its July 31st deadline. However, there's no word on whether the promotion will come to other countries. To find out if you qualify, turn on your Xbox 360 and make sure it's connected to Xbox Live. If you've been selected, you can order a (full-priced) console from any retailer and Microsoft will credit your Xbox account with $75, as long as you redeem your voucher code by October 15th. That'll cover you for at least one Xbox One game like Destiny, ensuring your game collection gets off to a good start. Update: Microsoft has confirmed that the deal is also running in the UK and Canada: "This short-term promotion is offered to select Xbox fans in the US, Canada and the UK. We are always looking for opportunities to bring promotions like this to our customers, but we have nothing further to share at this time."
Game to complete a remarkable two-year turnaround by going public (again)
Two years after it went into administration, UK video game retailer Game could complete a stunning comeback by floating on the London Stock Exchange for a second time. The company, which was forced to close 300 stores, abandon its European expansion and kill the Gamestation brand in 2012, has surged following last year's console launches and is looking to put the worst behind it by selling a 35 percent stake to investors. Led by investment firm OpCapita, the group will rename itself to Game Digital and is expected to hit London's financial markets within the next four weeks. With 560 stores, a 33 percent share of the new game and hardware market in the UK and over 16 million combined Reward Card members, Game is expected to earn a £400 million valuation -- not bad for a company that was all but dead 26 months ago.
Windows Store now helps you find apps faster, even if they're for your phone
Although Windows 8.1's store has a healthy stock of apps, actually finding those apps has been a pain at times. Much of the store's interface has been hidden, and it hasn't always been clear where to go if you're just getting started. Starting today, it's considerably easier to get around: Microsoft is pushing out a Windows Store update that puts more content front and center. The navigation bar is now a permanent fixture on the screen, and points you to popular areas like the categories and top app charts. You'll also see themed collections (such as music apps) and multiple featured selections right on the first store page.
Can't I help you? Shoppers are shunning store assistants in favor of smartphones
Although it often feels like you're stealing, being able to walk into an store, pay for a product with your phone and leave without any employee interaction can be liberating. It's an experience that an increasing number of consumers are starting to enjoy too, as evidenced by a new report from Deloitte that suggests shoppers would rather pull out their smartphone or tablet inside a store than speak to an associate. More than half of the people surveyed admitted they prefer using a mobile device to compare prices, gather more information or check availability, while just under half of respondents said they'd rather use complete a mobile payment than head to a cash register. Even unmanned kiosks (think touch displays or tables full of tablets) outranked small talk with a retail employee.
Amazon now has a dedicated wearables store
Looking for something to replace that faltering Fuelband? Amazon wants you to know it has your back: the online retailer just opened a dedicated wearables portal, filtering all of its smartwatches, fitness trackers and human-mounted camera rigs to one place. It looks like little more than a featured-product splash page, but there's a more going on under the surface. The Amazon Wearables Technology store has an editor's corner (with commentary from Gizmodo), brand and product specific description pages, but we found landing page's "learning center" its most interesting feature. This section is essentially a crash-course in wearable devices, featuring half a dozen videos and several buyers guide's -- all designed to give Amazon's less gadget-obsessed buyers a reason to shop for wearables. It's hardly an in-depth study on smartwatches, but if you're absolutely mystified by the category, it's a start.
Microsoft's now letting developers respond to app store critics
If a Windows Phone app disappoints you, it's probably right that you call out its failings and warn others to steer clear. Don't be surprised, however, if the minds behind the software start responding to your gripes directly. Microsoft is slowly rolling out a program whereby developers can comment on your reviews of their handiwork. Fortunately for you, however, the devs won't get access to your personal details, and, if they overstep the mark, you can report them for poor conduct. Still, the notion that coders will now get the chance to openly gain feedback from users seems like a step in the right direction -- just as long as everyone remains civil.
