New Google patent aims to offer free taxi rides for online shoppers to stores

Google is imaging a new method to entice online shoppers to head over to retail stores. The tech giant recently received a patent that is meant to develop means for online ads that can offer consumers free taxi rides to actual stores in order to avail certain promotions. According to The Verge, this concept can involve various software algorithms and even Google’s self-driving cars. A “get me there” button could appear near the ad and trigger a ride. However, the trick will be getting the right customer and not just someone who would just want to take a free ride to the store.

Google says in the patent filing, “The invention involves automatically comparing the cost of transportation and the potential profit from a completed transaction using a number of real-time calculations.”

Community-based Q&A site Stack Exchange unveils Android app

Community-based question and answer website just unveiled an Android app that centralizes over 120 communities on its network. Android users can view everything relevant to their network, regardless of what site they participate in. You can get customized recommendations of questions you can answer according to the tags or sites you visit. It also updates you when you get upvoted or have your answers accepted. And you can view all replies in one timeline. Of course, you can also ask and answer new questions, comment, and flag or vote to close items. There is also support for reply notifications.

The Next Web reports that an iOS alpha is reported to be coming soon. Interested users can sign up here for updates.

See only the posts you want to see with new Facebook iOS app update

Facebook has updated its iOS app to allow users to select which updates they want to see in their News Feed. While the News Feed generally measures different parameters to show you what they think is relevant for you, it isn’t always accurate. Now, the social network is giving you more control over what you want to see. iOS users can also now view videos a user uploaded in one album. 

Source: Ubergizmo

Apple earnings report reveals record sales for iPhone and iPad, Mac sales up as well

Apple's on a roll with record sales for iPhone and iPad as well as a spike in Mac sales thanks mainly to the update MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. Apple executives also discussed inroads to China as well as the drop in iPod sales.

Apple announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 first quarter ended December 28, 2013. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $57.6 billion and quarterly net profit of $13.1 billion, or $14.50 per diluted share.

Click to read more ...