Friday, May 6, 2011

Google?s Daily-Deal Groupon Clone Now Live

Spurned by daily-deal site Groupon, Google is now testing Google Offers, its own service for sending users deeply discounted offers for local businesses, starting with Portland, Oregon.

Yes, it?s YADDS (Yet Another Daily Deal Site), but Google has the advantage of already having both millions of users and advertisers.

Google reportedly tried to buy Groupon for $6 billion in December, only to be rebuffed. Groupon, based in Chicago, exploded in popularity in the recession, likely becoming the fastest-ever billion-dollar corporation. After spawning dozens of copycat sites, Groupon is now looking to IPO.

The beta of Google Offers is launching in Portland, and a splash screen prompting users to sign up began showing up Thursday.

Google confirmed that Google Offers is now official.

?Today we launched a marketing campaign inviting Portlanders to sign up for a test of Google Offers ? to get great deals delivered right to their inboxes,? a company spokeswoman said by e-mail. ?Offers is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new services that give consumers great deals while helping connect businesses with customers in new ways.?

Google is also offering users in five other locations ? New York City Downtown, New York City Midtown, New York City Uptown, Oakland-East Bay in California, and San Francisco ? the chance to sign up.

Businesses interested in testing Google Offers can fill out a form to join the beta.

Ryan Singel covers tech policy, broadband, search and social networking for Wired.com.
Follow @rsingel and @epicenterblog on Twitter.

Source: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/04/google-groupon-2/

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NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony's Czech site, quickly removed

Sony is still staying mum on any official details for the NEX-C3, but the camera's instruction manual has now made a brief appearance on the company's Czech Republic site, offering yet more evidence that the successor to the NEX-3 is set for an imminent launch. The camera mock-up on the description page appears to be identical to previously leaked photos, and judging by control layout, NEX-3 and NEX-5 users should have no trouble adjusting. The full manual is no longer available, but DPReview points out that the camera is smaller than both previous models, and includes a 16 megapixel sensor. A post on Mirrorless Forum also reveals a new lens -- a 30mm f/3.5 macro priced at €259 (about $383) -- adding a fourth option to the limited mix of NEX-compatible optics.

Continue reading NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony's Czech site, quickly removed

NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony's Czech site, quickly removed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/nex-c3-instruction-manual-appears-on-sonys-czech-site-quickly/

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