a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

The Honk app takes the pain out of finding a tow truck

Nov19
by on November 19, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web

honk-3
Searching for a tow truck isn’t a problem most of us experience often, but when we do, it’s usually a huge pain. Honk is trying to modernize roadside assistance with an on-demand model and iPhone and Android apps that can summon a faster and cheaper tow truck than existing options. Previously known as RoadsTruck, the newly rebranded Honk is launching with nationwide (US) 24/7 operations and over 20,000 trucks signed up. The startup claims 50 percent faster truck arrival times over its competitors, with times as low as 15-30 minutes in urban areas.              …

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: 
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Google wants more engagement with product ads, as Merchant Promotions rolls out internationally

Nov19
by on November 19, 2014 at 11:10 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, Insider

IMG_20141119_110347

Two years after Google launched its Merchant Promotions product to US retailers, the internet giant has announced it’s rolling the program out internationally this week, kicking off with the UK, Germany, France, Australia and India. With Merchant Promotions, online advertisers can basically offer special promotions alongside their Product Listing Ads in Google Search and through Google Shopping. So, if you search for a photo-printing service or perfume, you could now see a ‘Special Offer’ link underneath Sponsored listings. Click, and you’ll see a message such as: “Save £5 when you spend £50 or more on selected fragrance Expires in 42…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: 
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

O2 UK launches shared data plans for families and people with multiple devices

Nov19
by on November 19, 2014 at 10:41 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Product Launches, UK

O2sim660
Good news if you carry multiple devices or want to share a data plan with your family: O2 UK has launched two new data sharing plans. The Sharer and Family Sharer contracts give you one data bundle of up to 8GB to share across multiple devices. The O2 Sharer Plan is for users with tablets and other data-connected devices as well as their phone. If you’re on the O2 Refresh tariff – minimum 1GB data allowance – you can pay from £6 extra per month to share the data across your kit. The O2 Family Sharer Plan is designed to…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

This belt charges your smartphone and keeps your trousers up at the same time

Nov19
by on November 19, 2014 at 10:33 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Product Launches

XOO
Until someone develops an inexpensive smartphone battery that can last a week, portable batteries will be a popular accessory. The trouble is, they’re bulky and easy to lose. Enter Nifty‘s new XOO Belt, which has just launched as a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. After all, you can’t lose a battery if you’re wearing it, right? Nifty made its name with the Minidrive, a tiny storage expander that fits into the SD Card slot on Apple laptops. On a recent trip to China, co-founders Piers Ridyard and Steve Levy discovered a new type of flat, flexible battery that hadn’t been built into a…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Google updates its Hobbit Chrome experiment with peer-to-peer battles

Nov19
by on November 19, 2014 at 10:15 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, Insider

Remember when Google unveiled a new Chrome experiment last year that was inspired by the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug? To recap, A Journey through Middle-earth features an interactive map of Middle-earth built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can zoom in to explore locations, learn their history and meet the characters. Now, to mark the conclusion to the Hobbit trilogy, Google has given the Chrome experiment a refresh, introducing a battle game where you can pit your wits against friends. Naturally, this is all designed to demonstrate the latest Web-based technologies, including WebRTC and WebGL. And it…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,