Parking partners upbeat over deal

What was a low-key partnership on parking between Port Canaveral and two hotels has expanded to 12 hotels. And both sides say the Online Deals has been beneficial.

Port Canaveral is offering a 40 percent discount on parking to cruise passengers who stay at one of the participating hotels before their cruise.

Even with the discount, the port can benefit if it means cruise passengers are using its lots, instead of parking at off-site operations, according to David Poston, the port's director of cruise, hospitality and business development.

"We would recapture our lost revenue on parking — or, at least, some of that revenue," Poston said. "It's been working really, really well. It's a wonderful program to market."

Poston updated port commissioners on the program this week, and they were impressed by its expansion, with four more hotels added to the program in the last month.

"This is a creative partnership," Port Authority Chairman Tom Weinberg said. "This is a win-win. Our revenue improves, and, frankly, it's an advantage to the hotels," partly because the hotels don't have parking spaces filled by vehicles of people who are on a cruise.

Jim Underwood, managing partner of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Melbourne and Titusville, said the program has been "a great program for us. Our guests love it, and we get a lot of good comments. It's been a real good drawing card for us."

On Friday, for example, occupants of six rooms at Underwood's Titusville hotel took advantage of the program.

Underwood said he also already has gotten repeat business through the program, which his hotels began in April.

Port Canaveral charges $60 for those taking a three-day cruise, but the parking fee is reduced to $36 for guests staying at participating hotels.

For a seven-day cruise, the $120 parking fee drops to $72.

Poston said the program has generated more than $310,000 to the port in added parking revenue so far.

As a bonus, Poston said, the port is able to gather general data on cruise passengers using the program, such as the ZIP code of their residence, to help determine the port's customer base and devise marketing strategies for the port.

Poston said, in addition to Florida, the greatest number of cruise passengers using the program are coming from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Alabama.

Frustrations over Best Buy cable TV offer

Cable companies are losing customers every month to other providers. So they are fighting back with deals and bonuses to get you to come back., or switch to them for the first time.

But as one customer learned, getting the "welcome back" bonus is not always so easy.

Offer at Discount Buy hard to resist

Joe Matthews wasn't sure he needed Cable TV anymore, with streaming video and HD local channels available free with an antenna.

But like a lot of people shopping at Best Buy, a deal to come back to cable caught his eye.

"It was TV, phone service, and Internet," Matthews said. "And we would get an email from Best Buy, to go into a Best Buy store and get any iPad up to $250."

Successful Promotion

Cable companies nationwide from Time Warner to Cox to Comcast have been offering Best Buy gift cards the past year as a way to bring back customers who cut the cord.

It works.

So Matthews signed up, then waited.... and waited... and waited. "We got the cable, the phone, the Internet," he said, "but no email gift card from Best Buy."

Why so many complaints?

He's not alone: Complaints of long delays in receiving Best Buy gift cards have been piling up at online forums the past year.

So we contacted Time Warner Cable, which was the partner in this promotion, and promised to expedite Matthew's gift card.

Time Warner has explained that a third party company is handling the program.

That firm has to make sure that customers meet all the conditions first, such as getting all required services, and keeping those services for a certain time period.

It says everyone will receive their gift cards. But Matthews, like others, says the wait is frustrating.

"Somebody should step up and deliver those iPads or gift cards," he said.

What you can do

If you are thinking of switching back to cable, these offers are tempting.

But make sure you meet all the qualifications, and then hold on to all emails and paperwork in case you hit a delay.

A website called "Stop the Cap" even has a section devoted to how to get your promised promotion.

That way you don't waste your money.

______________________________________

Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co. "Like" John Matarese on Facebook

Follow John on Twitter (@DWYM)

Why Amazon's Kindle Fire Is Not a Threat to Apple or Google

The Kindle Fire line of tablets from NASDAQ: NASDAQ: amazon app store ( AMZN ) seems like an incredible bargain compared to higher-priced options. The latest entry, the Kindle Fire HDX, has technical specs that rival or surpass the new iPad Air from Apple ( AAPL ) in most areas, while selling for a significantly lower price. The lower-end models are outrageously inexpensive for a tablet, with the most basic version selling for just $139. But a tablet is more than just technical specs, and in the case of the Kindle Fire, you get what you pay for. While the Kindle Fire seems to be a big threat to Google's and Apple's mobile business models, it's really nothing more than a niche product.

NASDAQ: Limited price, limited options
Amazon sells its tablets essentially at cost, looking to make money when people use the tablets to buy things like movies and books. Kindle Fire tablets run an operating system based on Google's ( GOOG ) Android, but heavily modified to allow Amazon to control the experience. The tablets are built specifically to sell content through Amazon, and they work wonderfully for that purpose.

But the low cost comes at a price. There's no Google Play store, meaning that all apps must come from Amazon's app store. This means that Amazon has direct control over what apps you'll be able to use, and some significant omissions may be enough to avoid the device entirely. There are ways around this, but nothing the average consumer could pull off.

First, users have absolutely no choice when it comes to the browser. All Kindle Fire tablets run Amazon's Silk browser by default, and it's not possible to download an alternative from Amazon. Also missing are most of Google's apps, like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, as well as apps like Dropbox. Again, it's possible to install these apps using various methods posted on the web, but it seems simpler to just buy a normal Android tablet and avoid the hassle.

One of the reasons why Android has been so successful is because it's open. Anyone can build an app and put it in the app store, even if it competes with a Google product. Imagine if Google banned the Dropbox app because it competes with Google Drive, or if it banned the Pandora app because it wanted people to use its own music service. Android users would not be happy.

Since Google gives its Android operating system away for free, the company relies on selling apps through the Google Play store -- as well as getting people to use its services -- in order to monetize the platform. With the Kindle Fire bypassing Google Play and not offering Google's services, Amazon's tablets represent a threat to Google's mobile business model. If the Kindle Fire were to pick up a significant share of the tablet market, Google would essentially be subsidizing a major competitor.

For Apple, the threat comes from the Kindle Fire HDX matching the high-end specs of the iPad while selling for a far lower price. The iPad is a premium product, but when a Kindle Fire tablet with the same or better hardware sells for a significantly lower price, it brings into question whether Apple will be able to maintain its premium pricing.

The good news for both Google and Apple is that the Kindle Fire's software, with the lack of major apps and the Amazon-centric design, makes the line of tablets undesirable to anyone looking for the full tablet experience. The hardware isn't the main selling point of a tablet, the experience is, and both Android tablets and iPads trump the Kindle Fire in that regard. The Kindle Fire is a niche product at best, and Amazon investors should be questioning the wisdom of selling hardware at-cost when Amazon's apps are already available on Android and iOS.

Who, exactly, needs Mayday?
One of the biggest new features to come with the Kindle Fire HDX is the Mayday customer service feature. By tapping on the Mayday button, users will be connected with a customer service representative within 15 seconds, with a live video popping up on the screen. This representative can help users by explaining a feature, drawing things on the screen, or taking over the tablet and doing things directly. "Revolutionary" is the word used by Amazon to describe the feature.

But here's the problem: Mayday is an admission that the Kindle Fire is not intuitive enough to use. The user interface should explain itself, and the fact that people even need the Mayday feature is an admission that this isn't the case. Or it's an admission that Amazon thinks its customers can't figure out a simple touch-screen device. Either way, it's more pointless than revolutionary.

Why do iPhones and iPads not have a feature like Mayday? Because they don't need it. The devices are intuitive, and it's simple to figure out how things work. The goal of UI design is to not need to explain how to use the device. If I were an Amazon investor, I'd be questioning why the company was spending money on the Mayday system at all. When customer service is the most-touted feature of a device, something is seriously wrong.

The bottom line
The market share that the Kindle fire can attain is limited by the crippled functionality of the devices. If you want to buy an Amazon store front, the Kindle Fire is perfect for you. I suspect that most people would prefer to pay a bit more for an Android tablet or an iPad and be able to download any app that they want. Amazon's strategy of selling the devices at cost prevents the Kindle Fire from offering all of the features of normal tablets, since that would defeat the purpose of Amazon selling tablets in the first place. The Kindle Fire is not a real threat to Apple or Google because, ultimately, most people won't accept the restrictions that come with it.

The tech war doesn't end at tablets
Television, as we know it, is on the verge of a transformation. The companies that prevail in this epic disruption could go on to earn their shareholders untold sums of money. And the companies that lose could very well end up in bankruptcy court within a matter of years. With this in mind, our top technology analysts created a groundbreaking free report that sorts out the likely winners from the losers. In doing so, they reveal the handful of companies that are best positioned to make their shareholders exceptionally rich over the next few decades. To download this invaluable free report before the rest of the market catches on, simply click here now.

Fed up with euro, France flirts with coupon money

Whether buying bread, filling a pharmacy prescription, getting a haircut or going to the doctor, some residents of Montreuil, France, are rejecting the euro in favor of 'La Peche', a local community currency.

In France, local currencies are growing in popularity as trust in state institutions erodes. An elaborate Coupon system lets locals pay for services and goods with special local banknotes, which are recycled and kept within the community.

France, Europe's second largest economy, has at least 20 different types of complementary currencies. Worldwide there are over 4,000 community-centered money schemes.

"First it's practical. Local currencies stay and develop in the region. Second ideological. A lack of confidence in official currencies makes people want to have something they understand, that they can control, and that they can trust, not just something that is printed, you don't know how, with no control and leads to speculation," Herve Pillard, a French finance lawyer told RT.

Both electronic or paper, the currency is spent and then directly fed back into the community from where they come from, which cuts down on the number of monetary circuits through which it passes, which in theory strengthens the community, reduces the ecological footprint, and is a hedge against speculative markets and tax havens, according to the organization's website.

Traditional money like the euro lost its appeal as Greece's credit crisis dragged the currency to record lows in September 2011.

The value of one 'peche' is directly tied to the euro at a 1:1 exchange rate.

"The problem with the Euro is that it's not just a mode of exchange, but it also became a mode of speculation to feed banks. While local currencies support local projects on the ground, which means it works for us, the people," Ghislaine Scheffer of 'La Peche, Monnaie Locale' association told RT.

Economies around the world have tried to use monetary and fiscal policies as a tool to strengthen economic growth. The US opted to pump billions of stimulus into their economy, and Japan used monetary easing to boost exports on a weak yen.

"Banks play enough with money but at the end of the day ordinary people have to pay for mistakes and losses. This is why people want to have a currency they will be sure will serve them and not disappear in a fiscal paradise, global finance systems, or banks," Etienne Hayem, entrepreneur and local currency expert told RT.

The intentional 'currency wars', at first criticized were later deemed acceptable by G20 nations as a way to guide their economies back on track.

Put into circulation in January 2002, the euro is currently administered by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the eurozone central banks. In 2014, the Frankfurt-based ECB will officially take over supervision of more than 6,000 eurozone banks.

Startup currencies, both hard and digital, have been making headlines in 2013, with Bitcoin the clear winner. Following the spectacular rise from just pennies to over $1000 , the cryptocurrency has won fans from the US to China to Cyprus, and amongst consumers looking for an alternative approach to state-backed financial systems.

Though alternative money has been making waves, most experts agree it won't replace the central bank-backed conventional ones.

New Ebay Promotional Codes in January 2014 Announced by CheckBestCoupons.com

<Deal Of The Dayp>

New York, NY -- ( SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2014 -- In uncertain economic times, consumers are turning to age old practices reengineered for the digital world. Gone may be the days of clipping coupons from magazines, but couponing, and the thrifty mindset, is anything but history. That's why more shoppers than ever are turning to CheckBestCoupons.com.

Launched 2013, CheckBestCoupon.com is designed to supplant other online coupon and discount providers. Where before consumers had to jump through hoops for their discounts, now they have a streamlined option in CheckBestCoupon.com.

For 7 years, the site's CEO closely monitored other digital couponing tools. His research allowed for the creation of a smooth platform, where no gimmicks that stand in-between shoppers and discounts. And not a moment too soon.

CheckBestCoupons.com strives to give consumers a free concise method to access the best available popular deals and discounts such as ebay promo codes, without the headache. The simplicity lies in the fact that the top deals are directly based on customer feedback. Offers which are the most frequently voted for and commented on show up at the top of the page. Truly a site of the people, CheckBestCoupons.com puts the power in the purchaser's hands. And continual updates, taking into account the most recent data, ensure it stays that way.

According to PSSmarketing, an online publication for "marketing, branding, sales and advertising specialists," online couponing is on the rise. "Digital couponing has been growing in leaps and bounds recently, a trend that is expected to persist for the next few years," said their mobile marketing division.

They also cited an eMarketer survey which indicated that over 92 million people redeemed digital coupons in 2012. By 2014, that number has soared to over 100 million.

To ring in the New Year, CheckBestCoupons.com is now promoting its new collection of deals on EBay, as well as a whole list of free samples. Individuals can try dozens of products from familiar companies including, Philips Norelco, Hormel, MARS Chocolate and other everyday brands.

Unlike at competing sites, patrons of CheckBestCoupons.com will be spared the tedious process of building profiles and surrendering mountains of personal information. Instead they need only enter their name an email if they want to leave a comment. And if they only wish to vote on a particular deal? No information is required at all. Not only is CheckBestCoupons.com more efficient than other deal websites, it is far safer.

Coin conscious shoppers should see where they can save by checking: http://checkbestcoupons.com/ebay.

Additional information is available on the site's YouTube videos, which offer quick how-to lessons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVvtpIRZLac

Despite the shifting sands of physical commerce, the dependability of finding online discounts is stable. Nowhere is this truer than at CheckBestCoupons.com. The site that consumers have come to trust will continue to deliver throughout the coming year, and beyond.

Contact Information:
Jesus Sanchez
Email: Admin@CheckBestCoupons.com
Ph: 408-471-8047

Deals of the Day

Venture Capital Deals

CAN Capital, an online provider of small business capital, has raised $33 million in new VC funding. Meritech Capital Partners led the round, and was joined by Ribbit Capital, QED Investors and return backer Accel Partners. www.cancapital.com

Aquion Energy Inc., a Pittsburgh-based developer of water-based sodium ion batteries, has raised $20 million in additional Series D funding, bringing the round total to $55 million. New backers include Bill Gates, Yung's Enterprise, Tao Invest, Bright Capital and Gentry Venture Partners. Return backers include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Foundation Capital, and Advanced Technology Ventures. www.aquionenergy.com

Avelas Biosciences, a San Diego-based startup focused on visualizing cancerous lymph nodes in breast cancer patients, has raised $6.85 million in Series B funding. Existing backer Avalon Ventures led the round, and was joined by Torrey Pines Investment and WuXi AppTec. www.avelasbio.com

Private Equity Deals

Affinity Equity Partners has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire juice bar chain operator Retail Zoo from The Riverside Company, according to The Australian. UBS is managing the process. www.boostjuice.com.au
ComplexCare Solutions Inc., a New York-based provider of healthcare payer services, has raised $40 million in growth equity funding from Warburg Pincus. www.complexcaresolutions.com

Macquarie Group, TPG Capital and Vitol Group are considering bids for some of Royal Dutch Shell's Australian downstream operations, according to Bloomberg. The Amazon Sales could be valued at around $2.7 billion. www.shell.com

IPOs

Flexion Therapeutics Inc., a Woburn, Mass.-based developer of therapeutics for musculoskeletal disorders, has filed for an $86.25 million IPO. It plans to trade on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol FLXN, with BMO Capital Markets serving as lead underwriter. Shareholders include Versant Ventures (29.76% pre-IPO stake), Sofinnova Capital (19.25%), Pfizer Inc. (17.32%), 5AM Ventures (15.52%) and Novo AS (11.2%). www.flexiontherapeutics.com
, an Emeryville, Calif.-based developer of biomarker platform technology, has filed for a $48.3 million IPO. It plans to trade on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol KNMD, with H.C. Wainwright & Co. serving as lead underwriter. www.kinemed.com

OTHER DEALS

Glori Energy Inc., a Houston, Texas-based provider of biotech solutions to increase recovery from mature oil wells, is going public via a $185 million reverse merger with Infinity Cross Border Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: INXB). Infiniy's sponsors are Infinity Group and Hicks Equity Partners, while Glori Energy backers include GTI Ventures (18.5% stake), Oxford Bioscience Partners (19%), The Ozmest Group (18.3%), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (15.7%), Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund (13.5%), Energy Technology Ventures (6.9%), Gentry Venture Partners and Advantage Capital Partners. www.glorioil.com

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Nikon D5300 review

<Nikon D5300 Cheapp>

The Nikon D5300 offers a semi-pro spec with 24.2MP resolution, tilting LCD and Wi-Fi in the body of an entry-level camera, but is it worth your cash?

Nikon D5300 review

Recent Nikon DSLR releases have all been high-end and full frame, most notably the D610 and Nikon Df. But the Nikon D5300, updating yet not immediately replacing the Nikon D5200, shows that the manufacturer hasn't given up on the sub-£1,000 consumer market. And sensibly so, as industry figures suggest its entry-level Nikon D3100 was the best selling DSLR of 2013.

Like that camera, the higher 24.2 megapixel resolution D5300 is your regular APS-C sensor model. Its chip's physical dimensions are smaller than the 35mm film frame equivalent of the pricier Df and D610 models, but APS-C is standard fare at its price.

The D5300 is being aimed at the 'advanced beginner' according to Nikon, a class of consumers that sounds kinda mutually exclusive. Suggested cost is a high-ish £729.99 body only, or £829.99 if twinning the camera with a standard 18-55mm zoom lens, which any beginner would surely want, no matter how advanced.

Unusually for Nikon, as well as regulation issue black, the D5300's body is being offered in red or, our favourite, gun metal grey. However the single shell plastic construction - which Nikon claims has reduced overall weight - and finish does conspire to make it look like a shiny toy, which we can't say we're overly thrilled about.

But at least it stops the camera from looking overly serious and complicated to newcomers at first glance.

New this time around is the fact that the D5300 is Nikon's first DSLR to feature built-in Wi-Fi, complete with a dedicated 'i' button to select pictures for upload.

In terms of core photography, ISO range can be boosted from ISO12800 to ISO25600 for near see-in-the-dark performance and, of course, here we also get 1920x1080 pixels video with the benefit of stereo microphones located just in front of the camera's hotshoe. These are neatly tucked behind the pop up flash.

While this all sounds mostly positive, is the D5300 truly a camera worth spending £700 to £800 on, especially when a typical entry-level APS-C sensor DSLR, such as the Nikon D3200 or D3100, would cost you £500 or under?

Source: T3