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Apps that reward users with free stuff

Scott Webster
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Raise your hand if you love getting things for free. Whether it’s the seventh cup of coffee, a gift card for virtual goods, or something else, we all like it when they’re free.

Many of the more popular credit cards offered cashback incentives and other rewards as do a lot of banking institutions. Moreover, a lot of restaurants and coffee shops tend to have a program that lets users earn credits toward free drinks or meals.

Then there are frequent flyer miles, retail gift cards, in-game rewards, and other ways of picking up free stuff. To be sure, there’s plenty of ways to come away with free things just for doing the same stuff you normally do.

There are a lot of services available to sign up to which provide users with valuable items both real-world and digital. And when it comes to mobile apps there are a few titles worth exploring.

The following apps reward users with free stuff and are all worth a look.

Apps that reward users with free stuff

Google Opinion Rewards

Looking for a fun and easy way to earn credits from Google which can be used on app and game purchases? Look no further than this one as it will occasionally ask you a short survey which results in money that gets accumulated in your Google Play balance. Use them every few dollars or save up for larger purchase on books or movies. Surveys and polls are short and sweet and can be conducted in just a few minutes. FREE

Fetch Rewards

Take pictures of your receipts from the restaurants and stores you already frequent and earn points for gift cards. Don’t worry about changing your habits as this app and service just compliments your current shopping and buying habits. Scan receipts from any grocery store, pet store, gas station and you’ll be on your way to picking up gift cards for places like Walmart, Best Buy, CVS, and many more. FREE

SurveyMonkey Rewards

Similar to Google Opinion, this free app lets users make money for taking surveys but with a bit of a twist. Take the surveys and you can earn credits which can be redeemed for Amazon Gift Cards or donated to a charity. Indeed, if you’re the benevolent type, you can help with answering the questions and pass your earnings along to others. Short surveys offer $.35 each and redemption can be done at $5 or more. FREE

Premise

Take surveys, share local information, and complete simple tasks to earn money. Move at your own pace and you’ll earn money that can be redeemed through PayPal, Coinbase, and more. Sign up for the local contributions and reserve tasks as often as you can or want. Your updates on traffic conditions, supermarket sales, and other nearby events can be worth real money. FREE

Drop rewards users with gift cards on top brands

Drop

Shop the stores and the brands you already love and earn cash back while doing it. Link your card through the secure app and then do your shopping through it, earning gift cards and discounts along the way. Keep an eye on the boosted offers which can add extra points as they’re only offered for a limited time. Answer rewards surveys and play real money games to earn even more points! When you’re ready, redeem gift cards for brands like Nike Ray-Ban, Sephora, Starbucks, Dunkin’, and more. FREE

Shopkick

Earn points called “kicks” when shopping in person or online or for activities such as scanning items and interacting with the app. After you accrue enough kicks you can redeem them for gift cards from participating retailers and brands like Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Lowe’s, Pampers, Amazon, and others. While many of the rewards are instantly available inside of the app, others may be emailed or sent to your home. FREE

Swagbucks

Offering up more than 10,000 gift cards on a daily basis, Swagbucks lets users earn points by doing some of the same things they do on a regular basis. Sign up for free and earn points by watching videos, answering surveys, or making online purchases from retail outlets such as Groupon, Hotels.com, Old Navy, Sam’s Club, and many others. You can also get paid for scanning your grocery receipt; receive exclusive coupons and cash back, too. FREE

Dosh looks for deals on things you’ve already purchased

Dosh

Sign up for this app and connect your debit or credit card and you’re on your way to earning money. Shop everywhere you normally would and buy things you’d typically buy. If Dosh detects a cash back opportunity or chance to save, it automatically does it, depositing into a wallet. Once you’re at $25 you can transfer that to your back, PayPal, or Venmo account. Or, send it to a charity. FREE

Belly

Like having a universal loyalty card, Belly is a network that connects restaurants and retailers together in one handy spot. The app is an easy way of identifying the various offers available in your area; the bigger the market, the better the deal selection. Get credit for checking into places that you’re already visiting but earn rewards that are considerably cooler than a free 11th cup of coffee. Own your own business? Create a kick-ass loyalty program! FREE

Affinity Cellular Buyer’s Guide

Jason England
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When it comes to your mobile service, I’m sure you’ve heard all of the big names out there like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. However, I’m sure you’ve also noticed the premium prices each one of these mobile providers charges. Cell service through one of these carriers can oftentimes run you upwards of $60 or more a month for a single line.

What if I told you there was a cheaper way to get service using the same towers the mobile giants use? Welcome to the world of Mobile Virtual Network Operators, companies that lease the same towers as the big boys but charge a fraction of the cost.
One of those companies happens to be Affinity Cellular, keep reading to find out more about this MVNO and the plans it offers.

About

Affinity Cellular has been in business since 1993 providing members of AAA cellular phone service. It runs on the Verizon network and saves subscribers money by purchasing minutes at lower rates and packaging them into plans.

Plans

Affinity Cellular offers contract-free plans for casual phone users who don’t require many minutes or data and who are looking to save some money. Voice-only plans start as low as $10 per month or you can get an unlimited everything plan for as little as $60 a month.

Family plans are supported by adding additional members to your current plan for $14 per user for up to five people, with the exception of the $10 and $15 voice-only plans, as well as the Unlimited plan. Furthermore, AAA members get access to exclusive discounts.

Plans without data

  • $10 per month – 350 minutes + 350 text messages
  • $15 per month – 500 minutes + 500 text messages
  • $20 per month – unlimited minutes
  • $24 per month – unlimited minutes + text messages

Plans with data

  • $20 per month – 1500 minutes + unlimited text messages + 1GB data
  • $25 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + 1GB data
  • $28 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + 2GB data
  • $30 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + 3GB data
  • $35 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + 5GB data
  • $50 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + 15GB data
  • $60 per month – unlimited minutes + unlimited text messages + unlimited data

Can you bring your own device?

Affinity Cellular allows you to bring your own device as long as it is compatible with its network. You can use the BYOD device checker from the website to check if your device is eligible. Affinity Cellular also sells phones via its storefront if you need one or your current phone is incompatible.

Where to learn more

More information can be found on Affinity Cellular’s website or on the company’s FAQ page.

Coolpo Video Conference Camera review

Jason England
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It’s no surprise that video conference calls are more popular than ever these days. Many of us have been forced to work from home or take classes in a virtual school environment. Things are upside down, to be sure. And as we return to “normal”, video calls are sure to continue in homes and conference rooms across the globe.

One challenging aspect of conference room video calls is the ability to have everyone sitting around the table and visible during the calls. How to combat this?

You can have people shuffle around to be in view of the camera, rotating them in and out of frame. Or, you could force every single person to bring in a device to join the call. There is a much simpler way to handle this situation.

Devices such as the Coolpo Conference Camera are built for just such occasions as it features a fisheye lens and a smart tracking camera.

Key features

  • 4K video resolution
  • 360-degree view with smart focus
  • Split-screen view
  • Built-in microphone
  • Works with Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more

Design

The Coolpo Conference Camera stands at around eight inches tall and has some heft to it at a little over four pounds. Its plastic shell feels solid, and thanks to the weight, you shouldn’t have to worry about it tipping over easily during a meeting.

At the top, is the star of the show, the 360-degree fisheye camera that gives you a look at the entire room, while at the bottom of the unit is the speaker. The body of the Coolpo Conference Camera looks smooth and professional, it only features one physical button for power, and three touch-sensitive buttons to control volume.

The underside of the Coolpo Conference Camera is where all the ports are hidden, with a USB Micro 3.0 to connect to your computer and a power port.

User experience

The Coolpo Conference Camera is easy to set up. Simply plug in the power cable and connect it to your computer. The camera is automatically detected on Windows 10, and within a few minutes, the drivers are installed and it’s ready to go. My only real complaint, is both the power and USB cable are quite short. This really limits placement when you’re trying to connect it to both a power outlet and a computer.

After plugging it in, the Coolpo is detected by your computer as an external camera and this makes it easy to switch to it in any video conferencing software that you use.

During calls, the Coolpo will automatically provide the viewer with a split-screen view with a 360-degree look of the room in the bottom portion of the screen. It will then divide up the rest of the screen by focusing on people around the table as they speak. It’s not always 100% accurate but, overall, it does a great job tracking individuals and zooming in on them.

Just be aware that the split-screen view also means that the 4K resolution will also be split up. Don’t expect every person to be in 4K quality, especially when it starts to zoom in. Regardless, I still found the picture quality to be more than acceptable as well as the audio quality for calls.

App

While the Coolpo Video Conference Camera works fine as a plug-and-play device, installing the app supercharges it by adding a lot more customization and features. For example, without the app, the Coolpo constantly shows the 360-degree view at the bottom of the video window and will split the screen to track users. That’s really only ideal if you have a presentation where people are moving around.

Using the app, I was able to turn off the 360-degree view on the bottom, which I found didn’t suit my needs and gave more screen real estate for the other windows. There were also controls for blocking out certain areas of the frame you may want to keep hidden, which is a big plus.

Additionally, you’re able to lock certain views in place, which is perfect for a conference table and ensuring the camera doesn’t get confused or keep panning around needlessly. Last but not least, the app allows you fine control over the exposure, color, and more.

The only caveat is that you cannot make these adjustments on the fly or during the call. Instead, you are required to set this all up ahead of time in the Coolpo app and save the settings before exiting and opening your video conference app of choice.

Final thoughts

There’s not many options on the market for an intelligent conference camera, let alone one that can give you a full view of the room along with each participant. The Coolpo Conference Camera fits a very particular niche, but it does it well.

Unfortunately, that also means it won’t come cheap, with a price of nearly $600 on Amazon. The good news is, there are often coupons to drop the price an additional $50-100.

Buy from Amazon

Teach yourself about Kubernetes, blockchain and Google Cloud with this $30 bundle

AG Deals Team
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If you think blockchain is some strange technology that magically creates Bitcoin, you don’t quite understand how things work. While they may be correlated and connected, they aren’t the same. The same goes for cryptocurrency, Ethereum, and Hyperledger. These are all concepts and technology that related to one another but each has its own distinct features and reasons to exist.

At the root of all this is blockchain, which is already revolutionizing money, applications, supply chains, contracts, and transactions., you’re not reading beyond the headlines. The applications are seemingly endless and even though we’re years into the tech, it’s still the early days. This means that there are plenty of job opportunities on the horizon.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve as a developer, you’re definitely going to need to know blockchain. This is where The Google DevOps & Blockchain Developer Bundle, just $30, comes in handy.

Spanning some eight different courses, these self-led training courses provide more than 30 hours of education on blockchain, Google Cloud, DevOps, and Kubernetes. First and foremost, you’ll learn what blockchain can do, what makes it work, and how to leverage its capabilities.

Additionally, you’ll come away with an understanding of the fast-growing space that is Google Cloud. Further, there are courses on how DevOps works in cloud infrastructure, as well as training on the versatile and popular Kubernetes platform.

All told there are more than 400 lessons across the eight courses; you can even receive certification upon completion of some of the courses.

Get Started!

Ready to get started on a new career in blockchain development? Visit the AG Deals Store today and you’ll find the Google DevOps & Blockchain Developer Bundle there for just $30. Valued at roughly $100 each, you’ll have all eight courses at your disposal. Hurry, prices are subject to change.

How to use an SD card for app storage on Chromebooks for apps like Netflix and Prime Video

Jason England
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Chromebooks are fantastic little devices, and their popularity has skyrocketed during the pandemic. However, they are notorious for being light on storage space. Fortunately, many Chromebooks have the option to add additional storage through a USB drive or SD card slot.

This comes in handy when you have files you’ve downloaded or created and you need a place to keep them. But what about when an app needs more storage space? A prime example of this would be the Netflix app which can download videos for viewing when you’re offline.

In that case you’re going to need to enable saving files to the SD card. That’s not much of a hassle, really, but we’ll walk you through the process and show you how to do it.

How to use an SD card for app storage on Chromebooks for apps

First, you’re going to need to make sure external storage is enabled and you have a card inserted in your Chromebook.

  1. Open the settings menu. You can do this by pressing the search button (magnifying glass key on the keyboard) and typing in “settings” and “enter.”
  2. Type “storage management” into the search bar at the top.
  3. Choose “External storage preferences” at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Toggle on the SD card.
  5. Restart your Chromebook.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve given the app storage permissions before you can save files internally or to the SD card.

To check this, open the settings menu and location the Apps section. Click on “Manage your apps,” navigate to the app you want to give storage permissions to, and toggle it on.

If you don’t see a toggle for storage, then click on “More settings and permissions” to access the permissions menu and enable storage.

Now that you have it all set up, you’ll be able to change the download location if the app supports that feature. Since Netflix is so popular and supports changing location, we’ll use it as our example.

  1. Open the Netflix app.
  2. Tap on More.
  3. Select App Settings.
  4. Choose Download Location and select SD Card.

And now you can fill up your SD card with lots of Netflix series and movies to watch anytime, anywhere, because you won’t need an internet connection to watch.

Where each app hides the setting to change the download location will differ, if it supports it at all. For example, Amazon’s Prime Video is another app that supports this feature, however, Disney+ does not.

So, be aware, you’ll have to do a little digging in the settings and there’s no guarantee your chosen app will have this option.

Related content:

Good2Go Mobile Buyer’s Guide

Jason England
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When it comes to your mobile service, I’m sure you’ve heard all of the big names out there such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. However, I’m sure you’ve also noticed the premium prices each one of these mobile providers charges. Cell service through one of these carriers can oftentimes run you upwards of $60 or more a month for a single line.

What if I told you there was a cheaper way to get service using the same towers the mobile giants use? Welcome to the world of Mobile Virtual Network Operators, companies that lease the same towers as the big boys but charge a fraction of the cost.

One of those companies happens to be Good2Go Mobile, keep reading to find out more about this MVNO and the plans it offers.

About

Good2Go Mobile is a subsidiary of Ztar Mobile that has been in operation for the past 15 years. It offers contract-free mobile plans running on two of the country’s GSM networks which cannot be named due to contracts. Although, it’s most likely AT&T and T-Mobile.

Plans

Good2Go Mobile’s plans start as low as $15 per month for unlimited minutes and texting, but be aware that all of the plans get an additional $5 off if you turn on autopay.

  • $15 per month – unlimited minutes and texting
  • $20 per month – unlimited minutes, texting, and 1 GB of data
  • $25 per month – unlimited minutes, texting, and 2GB of data
  • $35 per month – unlimited minutes, texting, and 6GB of data
  • $40 per month – unlimited minutes, texting, and 10GB of data
  • $50 per month – unlimited minutes, texting, and 20GB of data

Can you bring your own device?

Good2Go Mobile is BYOD-friendly. You can check on the website if your phone is eligible and have a SIM card delivered to your home to get started. There is also an option to order a phone through Good2Go Mobile’s website in case you need a new one or want to upgrade.

Where to learn more

More information can be found on Good2Go Mobile or on the company’s FAQ page.

Podcast: History of Android (v1.5 Cupcake)

Scott Webster
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Podcast: History of Android (v1.5 Cupcake)

What are your earliest memories of Android? Were you paying attention to the platform all the way back in 2007 and 2008? We certainly were.

For this season of the AndroidGuys podcast we’re taking a trip through time, looking at each version of the Android platform.

If you subscribe to the podcast through your favorite outlet, you’ve already heard a few of these. Each episode is dedicated to a specific release as well as key devices of the time.

We often take for granted all of the great things that our devices do for us. There was a time when our smartphones could not do “basic” things by today’s definition. The series of podcasts aims to educate listeners about the features added into Android along the way.

About This Episode

History of Android Releases – Android 1.5 Cupcake

Where were you in early 2009? We were face down in Android news and rumors, piecing together details for the next release in the platform.

Scott Webster and Luke Gaul head down memory lane to the beginning days of Android and its first big software update. The two discuss not only where mobile software was at the time, but also where hardware was, too. Remember the Samsung Galaxy and HTC Hero? We certainly do.

Topics Discussed

  • Android 1.5 Cupcake
  • HTC Hero
  • Samsung Galaxy
  • Historical context for phones of the time
  • Notable apps and features of the day

Disc Golf Rival review: Fun stuff but ridiculous with notifications

Scott Webster
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Fans of disc golf have no shortage of options when it comes to mobile apps and games. With a seemingly endless number of titles to choose from, it can often be tough to find the right one.

Up for review today we take a look at Disc Golf Rival, a free-to-play game with in-app purchases.

Description

With more than 100 courses to play, you won’t set out on your own to see how well you do on a 9-hole or 18-hole game. Instead, you’ll play in head-to-head matches over one randomly determined hole. You’ll be paired up against another real-world player and attempt to beat them to earn rewards like better discs or upgrades to your existing gear.

A fun time-waster that you can pick up and put down at your own pace, the game does its best to bring you back again and again. Thanks to coins and gems and treasure chests you’ll surely be revisiting on a regular basis. Oh, and then there are plenty of notifications to make sure you don’t forget about the game.

Features

  • Play against Facebook friends
  • Head-to-head matches against real-world players
  • Free to play with in-app purchases available
  • Gifts and incentives to hook players

Check out the podcast below to hear our review of the game!

Get your mind right with Gauthmath app (Review)

Andrew Allen
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Math can be a daunting subject of study. I mean, c’mon! It pairs letters and numbers for elaborate equations. One can easily get overwhelmed with all the complex principles found in mathematics.

What is Gauthmath?

A new app hopes to alleviate this anxiety. Gauthmath is an interactive mobile app that mixes artificial intelligence with human tutors to help students get to the correct answers. Its founder wants to bring educational services to a global audience with the Gauthmath mobile app.

How’s it work?

The interface is fairly straightforward. You are immediately dropped into a UI that resembles that of Snapchat. You then take a picture of the math problem tripping you up and Gauthmath jumps to action.

The app first tries to use its database and AI to find the solution automatically. I found that it was successful on all the equations I threw at Gauthmath. I snapped a photo and was asked to confirm the details from the image.

Next, it works some magic behind the scenes giving you a prompt to be patient. You then get a nice response that the app has your answer. Gauthmath does a great job of offering a step-by-step solution page for your equation.

Not only does it show the steps, but also offers some insight into the principles behind each line. You can see a drop-down arrow on each line that elaborates on the reasoning of the steps.

Now, what happens when you get a complex equation Gauthmath can’t solve on demand? Good question. The app then goes to a board of curated tutors. These mathematics wizards then send you the same step-by-step responses as the automated app intelligence.

There are groups, too

Gauthmath also has a dedicated Discord server to help students with like-minded studies join forces. The team promotes this as a great tool to get students to create private study groups or help one another fight through harder concepts together.

And it’s free

If you were wondering about the cost of the Gauthmath service then don’t let that make you look twice. The app and all included services are free. You simply create an account by linking either your Facebook or Google account and off you go to solving the world’s math problems.

Conclusion

The Gauthmath app is a nice niche product for modern students. From remote pandemic-friendly protocols to just children that live online, the app has a familiar interface that works for this generation.

Students will immediately recognize the UI and be on their way to solving complicated problems in a seamless app. It just works and takes almost no learning curve.

Get the Gauthmath Android app

iPhone 13 Highlights the Best and Worst of Apple

AndroidGuys
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Apple’s iPhone is the biggest selling smartphone in the world. Hold on Samsung and Huawei fans. Before you show me statistics that show those two companies outsell Apple, let’s clarify this. Samsung and Huawei have dozens of phone models and do vastly outsell Apple. However, when it comes to a sole product range, the iPhone remains top of the pile. 

As customers prepare to sell their iPhone 12 models to upgrade to iPhone 13, why does Apple’s success continue? Why does this continue to happen year-after-year? 

Let’s be clear, even with my Android hat on I can see Apple makes an excellent product. The iPhone is an excellently made phone that feels like something expensive and premium. Then there is iOS, that works seamlessly with the hardware. It is, admittedly, a good all-round package. 

Still, it is hard to escape the fact that there may also be a little truth in the iSheep meme. If you’re unfamiliar with said meme, an iSheep is an Apple fan that will purchase any product from Cupertino simply because it has an Apple logo on it. 

Despite the iPhone remaining a stellar device, it also plays the game from a losing position but still somehow wins. Each year another iPhone is launched with a selection of “new” features that grab headlines and consumers. The problem is the features are not really all that new. It is a well-storied fact by now that many of the iPhones “innovations” have been available on Android for some time. 

People, both the press and customers, went wild for the 5G iPhone and Apple was talking like it was blazing a trail with 5G connectivity. Except for the small detail that 5G had been available on Android phones already. Sure, Apple can be innovative, as we have seen with Touch ID and then Face ID. 

However, the company’s great strength comes from being able to stand on the shoulders of giants. That may be quite flippant considering Apple is the biggest of all giants, but it holds true. Apple’s genius is taking a technology that already exists and nearly perfecting it in a consumer-fronted way. In other words, bringing mass appeal to a tech that is nascent. 

Apple did not invent touch screens or the smartphone, but the original iPhone paved the way for the market by showing the template for an effective smartphone (we still have that template today). Apple did not create the digital music player but brought it to mass appeal with the iPod. It is just what Apple does, coupled with using clever marketing to convince consumers its products are somehow superior and innovative. 

All that may seem like a criticism of Apple, but it is really a compliment. It is hard not to admire the way Apple has refined technologies and products for mass appeal with consumers. Although, that does not change the fact that the iSheep are real and they remain a force. And so it will prove during 2021 when Apple launches the iPhone 13. 

Over 40% of current iPhone users have said they will buy one of the new iPhone 13 devices (normal iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max). It seems the biggest reason those customers cite for upgrading is the 120Hz refresh rate on the new models. Yes, they will spend around $1000 to get Apple’s shiny new 120Hz technology, which has been available on Android for years. 

So, please… don’t tell me iSheep do not exist. They do and they are what keep Apple at the top of the market. Again, you will throw Samsung and Huawei at me as the smartphone market share leaders, but it is a hollow victory. Despite selling fewer overall devices, Apple has comfortably higher profit margins. As the iPhone 13 range will show, the company’s strategy of repackaging tech and selling it as something fresh, coupled with excellent hardware and software, continues to attract consumers. 

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