rewards

Swag Bucks: Yeah, it's still a thing

It was just over three years ago that I first encountered (and wrote about) Swag Bucks, a service that rewards you for completing various online activities.

I used it pretty hot and heavy for about a year, eventually accumulating some downright decent prizes, but then it dropped off my radar. Way, way off -- I kind of forgot it existed.

Come to find out, though, that Swag Bucks is alive and well -- and still a rather interesting way to score freebies just for doing stuff you might already be doing anyway.

For example, you can earn points ("swag … Read more

Singer forced to pay promised $1M reward for found laptop

In the throes of anguish, we make promises that if only the anguish can be removed we will be eternally grateful.

Now a court has decided that such promises are legally enforceable.

For here is the tale of Ryan Leslie, a Harvard-educated singer, songwriter, and producer (Booba and Cory Gunz are two acts whom he has graced), who had his laptop and an external hard drive stolen in 2010 from a black Mercedes in Cologne, Germany.

Leslie was in pain. He took to YouTube, where he offered $1 million for the safe return of the gadgets.

How bursting with joy … Read more

iPad Mini, 4th-gen iPad reviews

While CNET's New York office works to get power back after the storm, we're bringing you the Update show from our San Francisco office. Wednesday's top tech stories include:

- Apple judgement day: Read CNET's reviews of the iPad Mini and the latest full-size iPad. The Wi-Fi versions of the Mini and updated iPad arrive in stores on Friday.

- Give 4G connection to an iPod Touch with a $99 Freedom Pop sleeve.

- If you're buying the deluxe Wii U game console bundle, Nintendo has a perk for downloading games: 10% of every dollar … Read more

Square launches loyalty rewards program

After replacing credit-card machines, cash registers, and cash, Square is moving on to customer reward punch cards.

The company launched its loyalty rewards program feature today with updates to its Square Register and Pay with Square apps.

Square COO Keith Rabois said the new feature will helps merchants and customers forge a relationship without the need of a physical hole-punched card. Coupled with the seamless Pay With Square transaction, customers will only have to give their name to buy something, receive a receipt, and accumulate points automatically. The app will let customers know when they are due for that free … Read more

Spend money in the real world, get cash in the Zynga world

Zynga and American Express have come up with a plan to combine physical and virtual commerce.

The companies today announced a program called Zynga Serve Rewards. The program allows FarmVille players to earn rewards after making purchases with a prepaid card from American Express.

In order to take advantage of the offer, users will need to jump through some hoops. To kick things off, FarmVille players will need to plant a Serve Money Tree on their farms. After doing so, they will need to register for Zynga Serve Rewards to receive the prepaid card in the mail. After adding money … Read more

Google ups cash reward for being hacked

In an effort to cut down on hacking, bugs, and vulnerabilities, Google offers dollar rewards for people to hack into its Web services.

The Internet giant began swapping security research for cash over the past couple of years, but today it announced that it was upping the ante.

"In just over a year, the program paid out around $460,000 to roughly 200 individuals," Google security team members Adam Mein and Michal Zalewski wrote in a blog post. "We're confident beyond any doubt the program has made Google users safer."

As of today, hackers can … Read more

Most expensive Starbucks drink in the world?

Do you gripe about the high prices at Starbucks? Some people try to avoid paying a large sum of money for a drink at the popular coffee shop, but Logan Warren went a different route.

"Armed with my Starbucks Rewards card, I decided to take the opportunity to find out just how much money I could pour into a Trenta--Starbucks' whopping 31-ounce cup," Warren says on his blog. … Read more

SwagBucks Android app pays rewards for watching videos

Late last year I sung the praises of cash-rebate sites, which pay you back for making online purchases you were going to make anyway.

SwagBucks gives you prizes for doing stuff you already do, like searching the Web, playing games, taking polls, and watching videos.

It may sound a little scammy, but the site's legit: in the past couple years I've redeemed bucks for things like Amazon and iTunes gift cards. The challenge, of course, lies in earning enough bucks for a decent prize.

You now have one more tool in your arsenal: SwagBucks TV Mobile, a new Android app … Read more

Shopkick links up with Visa for mobile rewards

Shopkick, a mobile check-in and rewards app, and Visa are hoping consumers are in a holiday-shopping mood.

The two companies announced a partnership today to offer a faster way for consumers to earn "kicks"--Shopkick's version of rewards--which can be redeemed for gift cards, gadgets, and other goodies. Shopkick works when a user walks into a retail partner: enter the store and get your kicks. With the new offer, users get additional kicks when they purchase their goods using a linked Visa credit or debit card.

Shopkick gets a major partner in Visa and offers its customers … Read more

Shopkick gets you discounts and rewards at the same time

To use Shopkick, simply download the app, and fire it up whenever you're out shopping. Then, just by making supported purchases, scanning items, or even walking into featured retailers, you'll start earning "kickbucks," which can be redeemed for gift cards, free merchandise, and more. You can also earn kickbucks by "checking in" to specific commercials you're watching, or by sharing the app with friends.

The other half of Shopkick is the deals. Whenever you're in a featured store, be sure to check the app to see if any coupons are available. If … Read more