Tuesday, May 5, 2015

5 Cheap (or Free!) Digital Tools You Could Be Using for Your Ecommerce Site




Marketing your ecommerce site takes money -- sometimes money you don’t have. Fortunately, there are plenty of free and cheap tools out there to help you get the job done. Some are as simple as hashtag use in social media, while others may take a little more research and practice. In the end, if it helps you market your ecommerce business for a fraction of the cost, why wouldn’t you go for it?

The tools listed here range from promotion assistance to ad design and everything in between. Even if one of the tools wasn’t specifically designed for ecommerce, it could have ecommerce applications. Let’s take a look.

Offerpop

When you want to create a promotional offer, whether a sweepstakes or contest, Offerpop is the way to go. It does cost money to begin and maintain a campaign, but the cost is negligible when compared to the money you’d spend trying to pull off design, placement, coding, content, and management.

The campaigns run on any social media platform out there, from Facebook to Vine and everything in between. You won’t need to redesign or recode for each network -- not even the graphics.

Canva

Speaking of graphics, what do you do when you need high quality social media headers and blog images? Without a full-time designer on staff, it’s hard to develop images you’d feel comfortable using on your marketing and promotion efforts. Canva makes just about everyone a graphic designer -- on a much smaller and more amateur scale, of course.

There are some things only a trained and experienced designer can do. For the rest, Canva can get the job done. With templates, easy sizing, and even some free backgrounds, this cheap (or even free) resource covers your simpler graphics needs.

Camtasia

Running a small ecommerce business probably means you don’t have the budget for professional video production. Apple computers come with a fairly intuitive video editing program, but what about PC users? Well, now there’s Camtasia, which actually offers more tools than the basic iMovie offering from Apple. 

Again, there’s a charge for the software, but really, how expensive is $99 one time when compared to the money you’d spend having someone else film and edit your ecommerce product videos? 

Overvideo

Sometimes you just need something quick and powerful without paying exorbitant prices. Overvideo lets you create short snippet videos, lay text and CTAs over the images, and then share to all your social networks. The app gives plenty of control over your final product, including choices for fonts and timing for text to appear.

The videos really are short and to the point, so Overvideo is perfect for Instagram, Twitter, and Vine, where you just have a few seconds to grab a buyer’s attention. The links within the video lead to landing pages or just your website home page. Marketing that makes a difference without breaking the bank? Perfect.

Fiverr

Fiverr gets a bit of a bad rap, which isn’t entirely deserved. Yes, there are potential pitfalls of contracting strangers to do work for very small amounts of money. If you go into Fiverr with your eyes open and a solid plan, you can get a lot out of your experience.

Logo creation, website development, content creation, and so much more is all available. It’s silly to think you could get a five-minute long video created and produced for only five dollars. The more legitimate freelancers on the site will offer levels of service, meaning you’ll get quality work for more than five dollars, but still less expensive than other freelance or agency services. You may be able to pull together a host of services for a reasonable amount of money.

As you’ve probably already seen, there really are tools out there to help you develop and market your ecommerce company while remaining well within your budget. Need more ideas? Check out even more free tools you could be using to make the most of your ecommerce site.


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Our successful eCommerce software solutions deliver an optional shopping experience for targeted prospects. Our solution creates fast, easy browsing and simple ordering and checkout process.Pixotri technology is a  creative house developing quality web designs, E-Commerce solution. SEO services and Gaming development .

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Surface 3 now on sale in Australia

Apple’s iPad Air 2 still rules the tablet roost, but that hasn’t stopped Microsoft from having another crack at displacing Apple from sitting upon the tabletised Game of Thrones.

iPads started off as a thorn in Microsoft’s throne, so much so that the thorn grew into an entirely new throne of its own, with iPhones and iPads the place these days that compelling and cutting edge new software is written. 
Microsoft’s answer to the iPad Air 2 is the Surface 3, an Intel-powered tablet running all Windows software, and it’s finally on sale.


Even so, Windows still has a massive library of software that is still very much in use across hundreds of millions if not billions of PCs around the world, and Microsoft isn’t a company that takes defeat lightly.

So now we come to the Surface 3, an Intel ‘Cherry Trail’ Atom powered tablet for $699, with 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD - a price that is $20 cheaper than the iPad Air 2 equivalent.

The 128GB model comes with 4GB - twice that of the iPad Air 2 - for $839, again $20 cheaper than the iPad Air 2 equivalent.

Both models come also come with a 1-year subscription to Office 365 Personal ‘for a limited period’, which includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access.

However, unlike the iPad, you’ll want to at least get yourself a keyboard and a mouse so you can use Windows in the traditional way (alongside the finger touch tablet way), and while you can buy inexpensive wireless keyboard and mouse combos, Microsoft’s $179 Surface 3 Type Cover is the one specifically designed to match.

A Surface Pen is also available for $59.99, with Surface designed with a pressure-sensitive stylus compatible screen, unlike any iPad.

iTWire colleague Ray Shaw has written up his thoughts on the Surface 3, calling it ‘almost a Pro’ in reference to the more powerful Surface Pro 3.

Ray gives the Surface 3 high praise and suggests that anyone thinking of buying a small notebook “should serious consider the S3”.

So, the reason for this post today is because Microsoft has announced the Surface 3 is finally on sale in Australia, as promised for 5 May 2015.

You can buy it from Microsoft’s Australian online store and get free shipping, and you can also buy it from JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and ‘commercial resellers’.

Microsoft describes is at being the ‘newest addition to the Surface family of devices’, offering the ‘best of a tablet yet works like a laptop and starts at just AU$699.’

The description continues, with Microsoft saying it has a ‘quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor,’ and that it is Microsoft’s ‘thinnest and lightest Surface yet – perfect for students, families and anyone who needs to get work done on the go.’

There’s also a Surface 3 Docking Station for $279.99 and a Surface 3 screen protector for $59.99.

If you need more raw processing power than the Surface 3 provides, there’s the Surface Pro 3 and a whole range of competing tablets, notebooks, ultrabooks and 2-in-1s from traditional Windows PC builders.

There’s also always Apple’s MacBook range too, for those who wish to dance to the drum of a different beat while still being able to run Windows - at additional cost, of course, but without any of the touch screen capabilities you'll find on iPads or many of today's Windows PCs. 

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Six reasons stopping Apple Watch from ticking in China


Although it will still take a while before walk-in consumers could purchase Apple Watch at physical stores, many of them in China have already made up their minds if they are going to buy it at all.

A poll conducted by Tencent Tech showed that 54.6 per cent said they would not buy an Apple Watch, while 18 per cent said they would and 27.4 per cent were not sure.

The high price tag has become the most crucial reason behind those reluctant buyers, followed by its short battery life and high dependence on iPhones.

Here are the top six reasons behind the reluctance of Chinese consumers to buy Apple Watch, according to the survey that interviewed more than 22,000 people.

1. High price tag

Price is listed as the number one hurdle, as 35.4 per cent of them said they would consider buying one if the company lowered its price, according to the online survey by Tencent Tech.

The lowest price for the wearable is nearly 2,600 yuan (S$558) while the premium version costs 128,000 yuan.

2. Short battery life

Extending the battery life may be a more practical wish compared to the company lowering its price. More than 27 per cent of Chinese consumers said they turned off by the gadget because of its short battery life.

The Apple Watch currently has to recharge its battery every 18 hours.

3. Dependence on iPhones

That the Apple Watch can only adapt to iPhones means an extra expense for buyers who are Android phone users. About 22.8 per cent said they wish the wearable could be used independently.

4. Lack of practical functions

Eighteen per cent of Chinese consumers said they hoped Apple Watch would include more practical functions in the future, according to the survey.

5. Exterior design

The survey showed that the exterior design of Apple Watch won the heart of potential customers, as only 7.3 per cent said they expected a more fashionable outlook.

6. Relatively small screen

According to the online survey, 5.7 per cent of interviewees said they would consider buying an Apple Watch if it offered a larger screen.

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Microsoft slams Android updates, claims Google ships a ‘big pile of... code’




Microsoft's Windows chief, Terry Myerson, isn't pulling any punches against Android this week. Speaking during a keynote appearance at Microsoft's Ignite conference in Chicago, Myerson knocked Google's Android update plans. "Google ships a big pile of… code, with no commitment to update your device," Myerson said, with an intentional pause that left the audience laughing. "Google takes no responsibility to update customer devices and refuses to take responsibility to update their devices, leaving end users and businesses increasingly exposed every day they use an Android device."

While Myerson was quick to knock Android, he didn't really reveal how Microsoft plans to bypass carriers and deliver regular updates to its Windows 10 phones in future. Microsoft first unveiled a developer preview for Windows Phone back in 2013, but unless you sign up to this as a consumer then it's not a true way to deliver updates to devices. Updates have also been a mixed experience for Windows users. There were no upgrades from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8, and those stuck with Windows RT won't get Windows 10 in the future.

Microsoft might not have a perfect update history, but it's planning to fix some of that with Windows 10. "We’re not going to be delivering all of the updates to all consumers on one big day of the month," explained Myerson, noting that the software giant will continue to deliver updates to Windows 10 in distribution rings. Microsoft introduced the idea of slow and fast rings with its Windows 10 preview, allowing some users to get the latest bits and others to wait for stable releases without bugs.

Microsoft is also launching Windows Update for Business today, which is designed for businesses to get the latest updates for Windows 10. Similar to consumer updates, businesses will also be able to select distribution rings and maintenance windows to ensure not all machines take rapid updates to Windows 10.

e-commerce

Our successful eCommerce software solutions deliver an optional shopping experience for targeted prospects. Our solution creates fast, easy browsing and simple ordering and checkout process.Pixotri technology is a  creative house developing quality web designs, E-Commerce solution. SEO services and Gaming development .

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Nintendo: Sorry About the Amiibo Mess


Nintendo today apologized for the shortage of amiibo figurines, and promised to be more communicative with customers about when new ones are on their way.

Nintendo's amiibo arrived last year, but the company had trouble keeping up with demand. In February, it blamed a U.S. port strike, but some versions were in short supply due to retailer exclusivity.

"We understand how frustrating it can be at times if consumers are unable to find certain figures, and we apologize for that," Nintendo said in a Facebook post. "We're trying to meet the demands of our fans and consumers by increasing the amount of amiibo we manufacture and ship to retail. We may continue to see consumer demand outpace supply levels for certain characters at times, but we will do our best to prevent that from happening."

Amiibo is Nintendo's line of Skylanders and Disney Infinity-like miniature toys. Your amiibo stores game data, so when you touch your amiibo to a Wii U GamePad, character data is downloaded into the game you're playing, or you can send data to the figurine.

Character options include Mario, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, Fox, and Yoshi. Going forward, "some figures will be easier to find than others," Nintendo said today. "We are constantly looking for the opportunity to reissue amiibo and are already making plans to bring back some currently out-of-stock amiibo figures."
Also on tap is Animal Crossing amiibo cards, which will arrive by year's end.


e-commerce

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Monday, May 4, 2015

Google takes on Pinterest with its own topic-based sharing feature

Google+, the search giant's social network, has rolled out a new feature that appears to be its take on Pinterest.


Dubbed "Collections," the new feature allows users to group their posts by topic or shared interest.

"Our happiest Google+ users are those who connect with others around shared interests and passions. So we set out to give people a place to express the things they love. Today, we’re announcing Google+ Collections, a new way to group your posts by topic," Google said in a Google+ post.

Collections are focused sets of posts on a particular topic, and can be shared publicly, privately, or with a "custom set of people."

Posts in collections a user follows will appear in a user's home stream, and will have a link to jump into the collection.

"Once you create your first collection, your profile will display a new tab where other people can find and follow your collections," Google+ added.

For now, Collections is available on Android and the web, with a version for iOS coming later.

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What's Up With the 'Secret' Apple Watch Port?

The Apple Watch has a "hidden" charging port in one of its slots for connecting to a watch band, according to accessory maker Reserve Strap.
Blocked by a metal cover, the mystery port isn't listed in Apple's documentation for its new smartwatch, The Verge noted on Monday. Previously, the mystery door had been described as a "diagnostic port."

Now Reserve Strap claims to have cracked the secret, saying the metal cover hides a 6-pin port which can be used to charge the Apple Watch much faster than via the wireless, inductive charging the device is designed to do out of the box. The accessory maker has designed a watch strap packing a battery that it says will connect to the 6-pin port to charge the Apple Watch more quickly and efficiently than through inductive charging.

Reserve Strap recently said that its "discovery" of the secret port has caused it to scrap a wireless charging battery strap in favor of a "completely rethought design that takes advantage of the 6-pin port underneath the band slide of the Apple Watch."
"This port hadn't been deciphered by anyone until now but we've been able to make significant enough observations so far to warrant shifting our development focus to this new method. We're looking forward to sharing more design details and technical specification of this new Reserve Strap as soon as we can," the company added.

But will Apple allow just anybody to take advantage of a port it has walled off from prying eyes? 

Getting the metal cover off the port is apparently difficult enough to have stymied the efforts of the teardown specialists at iFixit to do it without resorting to brute force.


"Apple could disable the port or cripple it for outside parties through a future Watch OS firmware update," The Verge opined. "Then, all possibilities for docks and accessories that plug into the port would immediately vanish. If Apple won't be using this port for its own accessories, it's doubtful the company will let anyone else cash in."


Reserve Strap said it will include a tool for opening the port with its battery strap for the Apple Watch. The company is also promising that its engineers are testing a charging solution for the 6-pin port which won't disrupt key functions of the smartwatch.
"By utilizing this port instead of wirelessly charging, we've been able to achieve a higher charge capacity and quicker, more efficient charging times while also improving durability and eliminating any interference with Apple Watch functionality including taptic feedback and heartrate sensors," Reserve Strap said.

The Reserve Strap battery band will be available in white, gray, or black this fall for both the 38mm and 42mm versions of the Apple Watch, the company said. Reserve Strap is taking pre-orders for its $249 battery strap now.


e-commerce

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Google to improve iOS experience, acquires Timeful app

Google has announced their acquisition Timeful Inc. Their Timeful app pulls together time management, calendar, to-dos and scheduling into a single portal.



Google’s Director of Product Management, Alex Gawley, says “The Timeful team has built an impressive system that helps you organize your life by understanding your schedule, habits and needs. You can tell Timeful you want to exercise three times a week or that you need to call the bank by next Tuesday, and their system will make sure you get it done based on an understanding of both your schedule and your priorities”.

The iOS-only app will continue to be available from the App Store.

Timeful was taking sign-ups for an upcoming Android beta.

As a rusted-on iOS user, being able to pull together all our organisational information into a single place makes a lot of sense. It’s one of the reasons we’ve abandoned Apple’s Calendar and Tasks apps on our Mac and moved to BusyCal and have been looking more closely at Outlook on our iPad.

e-commerce

Our successful eCommerce software solutions deliver an optional shopping experience for targeted prospects. Our solution creates fast, easy browsing and simple ordering and checkout process.Pixotri technology is a  creative house developing quality web designs, E-Commerce solution. SEO services and Gaming development .

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Windows Media Center will not be updated for Windows 10, says Microsoft


Microsoft Windows Media Center was first introduced in 2001 as a separate Windows XP version, but the software giant stopped updating it in 2009. The company is now reportedly planning to kill off the Media Center in Windows 10, which means that PCs which are upgraded from previous Windows version will not have this feature, and there will be no way to get it back.

In conversation with ZDNet at the Build developers’ conference in San Francisco, a Microsoft executive confirmed that there will be no update to the company’s Media Center software for Windows 10. If a user tries to install the most recent build of Windows 10 on a PC running Media Center, they will get a message which states, “Uninstall this app now because it isn’t compatible with Windows 10.”

Windows Media Center’s basic functionality included ‘file media player, broadcast TV recording and playback, DVD playback control, CD playback, photo display, media sharing and controlling the channels for TV watching through an attached TV tuner card’, elaborated Venture Beat. It came pre-installed in Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions, and all Windows 7 editions. Later, it was also available on Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro.

Users who do not upgrade their PCs to Windows 10 will still be able to run it on their Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Pro. The company says these users will get support through 2020 and 2023 respectively.


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Net Neutrality: Facebook’s Internet.org now an open platform for developers

Facebook Inc is launching an open platform for online content and application developers to join its Internet.org service, in a move the social media giant said would boost efforts to get people online in low-income and rural areas in emerging markets.


The platform, unveiled on Monday, will be open to all developers who meet certain guidelines, including content being built for browsing on both feature and smartphones and in limited bandwidth scenarios, the company said in a statement.

The move comes amid growing debate in India, home to the world’s third-largest population of Internet users, over free access and net neutrality in the country.

Facebook partnered with Reliance Communications to launch Internet.org in India in February. But a number of e-commerce firms and content developers pulled out of the service subsequently as activists claimed it violated principles of net neutrality – the concept that all websites on the internet are treated equally.

“We’ve heard the debate about net neutrality in India and have been tracking it,” Chris Daniels, vice president of product for Internet.org, told Reuters.

“The principles of neutrality must co-exist with programs that also encourage bringing people online,” Daniels said, highlighting that Internet.org was open to mobile operators and involved no payments, either to or from the developers.

Facebook has launched the service in nine countries, including in India, bringing over 8 million people online, said Daniels, who was in India to speak with partners and operators.

The Internet.org application offers free access to basic internet services on mobile phones, as well as access to Facebook’s own social network and messaging services.

Digital marketing

Digital marketing helps you to find yourself in first place among the other competitors. We help you to strategically plan and execute your,product and services through our online platforms.Pixotri technology is a  creative house developing quality web designs, E-Commerce solution. SEO services and Gaming development .

Contact us for your Digital marketing requirements .email-info@pixotritechnologies.com. Visit our website: www.pixotritechnologies.com