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Loyalty programs cost you your personal data — are the rewards worth it?

Jun12
by on June 12, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insights


Last year, music streaming service Spotify partnered with Google to bundle a free Google Home Mini smart speaker for all US-based account holders with a Spotify Premium for Family subscription. Sounds like a great way to listen to music right? But there is a catch. There exists a laundry list of reward programs like Swagbucks, and Shopkick that lets you collect points every time you shop at one of its partner retailers, and use them to trade for gift cards at places like Amazon, Starbucks, and Home Depot. Google pays you to answer opinion polls and surveys. Even Amazon Prime is a loyalty program in the…

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CHEAP: A pillow with built-in cooling has 58% off? YES P-p-p-ppppLEASE

Jun12
by on June 12, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Plugged


I don’t know how hot it is where you live, but Delhi (which is where I’m based) is a firepit. The maximum temperatures are easily past 45 degrees Celsius (yes, Celsius), and even at night, the mercury is dancing around the high 30s. So naturally, I wanted to look for a ‘cool’ product. This is how I came across the cooling memory foam pillow with infused memory gel just for $22.99, down from $54.99. The PharMeDoc cooling pillow has a hole-punch design that increases airflow and ventilation to keep your head cool. Plus, the memory foam is injected with temperature regulating gel to disperse the…

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3 years later, Visa’s blockchain-powered payment network finally goes live

Jun12
by on June 12, 2019 at 10:09 am
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, Hard Fork


Visa’s blockchain-powered B2B payments product has finally gone live after almost three years in the making. First made public in October 2016, the Visa B2B Connect network is being made available in 30 markets, with plans to expand to as many as 90 territories by the end of the year. According to a company statement, the service was created to help financial institutions (aka Visa’s corporate clients) to circumvent existing banking networks and process cross-border payments by leveraging blockchain technology. “Launching Visa B2B Connect marks an important industry milestone which will accelerate the evolution of how commercial payments move around…

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Coinbase’s crypto debit card launches in 6 more EU countries, despite user problems

Jun12
by on June 12, 2019 at 9:38 am
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Following its launch in the UK in April, Coinbase is rolling out its cryptocurrency debit card to more European countries, despite users reporting numerous problems. The cryptocurrency exchange will be launching its Coinbase Card in six more European nations. As of today, the crypto-funded debit card will be available to users in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The debit card lets users spend the cryptocurrency they hold on Coinbase anywhere in the world, providing the store accepts Visa cards as payment. Coinbase’s UK CEO Zeeshan Feroz told CNBC the goal of the card is to make payments…

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Addressing the privacy paradox: Top leaders and experts share insights

Jun12
by on June 12, 2019 at 8:40 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider


As technological innovation evolves, society evolves with it. The problem is, with each new innovation also comes risk. Whether it opens us up to new security issues or debates over our personal privacy, we’re moving fast towards a future with a lot of unknowns. During TNW Conference 2019 top government officials, business and technology leaders and everyday technology users like you and me came together at The Assembly to discuss the growing privacy paradox. The talks centered around the biggest challenges society is facing today including: protecting data privacy; paving the way for the next billion internet users; the need…

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