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  • An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    The updated mobile app from the veteran online marketplace will make it much easier to upload your stuff. The new eBay app, which has already rolled out on both iOS and Android, allows users to upload an item in a just a few seconds.

    Scan and Go

    The biggest change to the app is the addition of a barcode scanner, along with a product search feature. The app works best if you have the original box since you can simply scan the barcode. However, if you didn’t hang on to the box, never fear! You can still look up the name of the product in eBay’s extensive database and pull up the necessary information.

    The app fills out the majority of the fields for you although you’ll still need to enter the item’s condition. For many items, eBay is even able to provide images from its library, suggest a price, and calculate shipping costs. You can edit any of the pre-populated fields as needed.

    The Power of Data

    The new app builds on the simplified selling tools debuted by eBay last year. Using structured data and predictive analytics, the platform draws on its vast database of listings to cut down on the time it takes to upload an item. They hope that the streamlined process will make the platform more appealing to current sellers and newbies alike.

    “At eBay, we’re dedicated to delivering a seamless and efficient selling experience for both first-time and seasoned sellers alike,” says Kelly Vincent, eBay’s VP of Consumer Selling Product & Engineering. “This is one of many enhancements we’ll be making this year. We’ll continue to leverage structured data and new technology developments to help our sellers ‘get it sold.’”

    Limited Features

    Unfortunately, sellers who trade in vintage or unique items will find that the new app has limited functionality. The lack of barcodes on vintage items and the variability in condition means that these sellers will still need to enter most of their information by hand and upload their own photos instead of using the provided stock images available for newer mass-market products.

    Increased Competition

    When it arrived on the scene over 20 years ago, eBay was a revolutionary way to sell online. Since then, resale apps like OfferUp, Poshmark, LetGo, and ThredUp have emerged to pose serious competition. Facebook’s Marketplace has also claimed a piece of the online resale pie, focusing on connecting local sellers and buyers.

    Although there are over 13 million listings added to the site each week using the mobile app, eBay is betting that their faster, simpler uploading process will keep the platform competitive.


  • Beau’s No. 1 App Review: Hole.io

    Beau’s No. 1 App Review: Hole.io

    Beau’s App series. Each week, I install whatever is the No. 1 bestselling app on the iOS or Android store and review it, to save you the effort in case it’s total waste of life. This week a game called Hole.io is in the top spot and we are gonna talk about it. Why isn’t it No. 1? not sure, its a very simple and basic game but it’s free. So let take a look and see what has this game rocketing to the top of the charts.

     

    The latest twist on multiplayer growth game “Agar.io” has arrived, with “Hole.io,” from French publisher Voodoo. Enter the arena and face the other holes in a fierce battle. you go head to head with 8 other live players. The goal is to eat everything in sight, including other holes to increase your size and consume larger object. Eat everything in sight with your black hole and expand it to eat more! Show them who is the biggest hole in town!

    So far I have enjoyed this game immensely, much more than I expected that I would. Its fun challenging and addictive. When Hole.io becomes bigger, its strength to pull other things becomes much more powerful.  Hole.io is easy to use yet very funny to play. What I enjoy is its a 2 min time investment, its quick fun, easy and challenging at the same time. 8 Players 2 mins…go.

    Good App Not Great

    While I have enjoyed the game a lot over the past few days, I do have some beefs and Id like to address them now. This is a good game but few minor improvements and this can be a great game and hit universal popularity. First, I need different modes. Size and Time variation to choose from. Its only been a few days and I feel like I have seen all there is to be seen. Second, some new maps would be great, right now there is only one. Spice it up with some new maps or even mock ups of real cities. Go obscure with it, instead of New York, DC and LA. Let me play Tucson, Daytona Beach and Bend, OR. Let me eat a city I’ve never been to and haven’t seen in a video game a billion times. Lastly, address the lag and lack of speed, make my hole faster and fix the lagging.

     

    The Final Thought

    This game has blown up on the scene in just a month. It fun, entertaining and has a ton of potential.

  • Beau’s Number 1 App Review: Fortnite

    Beau’s Number 1 App Review: Fortnite

    Beau’s App series. Each week, I install whatever is the No. 1 bestselling app on the iOS or Android store and review it, to save you the effort in case it’s total waste of life. This week a game called Fortnite is not in the top spot but  Im taking it on anyways. How did it get to No. 1? it didn’t, its number 2. Love Balls has been holding strong for over 3 weeks now.. Also because it’s free, because it just came out for phones, and because it’s  already crazy popular console game.

    Fortnite is the latest battle royale style game that is taking the world by storm. Developed by Epic Games, the people behind Unreal Tournament (and the Unreal Engine), the game takes the battle royale format that is made popular by PUBG and brings it to everyone by being free to play everywhere. Today, we are taking a look at the mobile version, which although launched before the mobile version of PUBG, was invite-only for a while.

    The battle royale version is similar to PUBG, you know all about PUBG from the last Beau’s Number 1 App Review. 100 players compete on one island to be the last man standing. During the course of the game, players have to survive by scavenging items such as weapons and health packs, and killing others before being killed themselves. The area of the island is constantly shrinking as time goes on to encourage confrontation and avoid camping. The last person to survive wins the game.

    Some Cool Fortnite Features

    Fortnite actually supports cross-platform multiplayer gaming across iOS, PS4, PC and Mac. There is also a function over PUBG that allows you to build objects with wood, metal and brick you collect through the game. They also have a much varied wepon and character spectrum. Thanos and the infinity gauntlet where recently added as a feature weapon. So think of this as PUBG with Minecraft and a touch of Ratchet and Clank.

    iOS Functionality

    Fortnite runs great on iPhone, delivering the same experience we’ve seen on PC and consoles. Touch controls work fine, but the weapons you usually pick-up during the matches don’t fit well with the manual fire approach.​  Fortnite definitely functions on mobile, although players will have to refine their tactics and become deft with virtual controls that often work against them in the heat of battle. But it looks nice, it’s fun, it’s graphically stable and, if you’re signed into a regular Epic account, XP is shared across PC, mobile and console – so if you’re playing on the train or during your lunch break at work, you’re leveling up for when you get home. You see, it’s productive.

    The Final Thought

    Its a really great game, very exciting and fun. There is a lot more too this game but it isn’t quite as intense as PUBG. I prefer PUBG although it has been dethroned as the top battle royale game in the app store.

  • An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    The updated mobile app from the veteran online marketplace will make it much easier to upload your stuff. The new eBay app, which has already rolled out on both iOS and Android, allows users to upload an item in a just a few seconds.

    Scan and Go

    The biggest change to the app is the addition of a barcode scanner, along with a product search feature. The app works best if you have the original box since you can simply scan the barcode. However, if you didn’t hang on to the box, never fear! You can still look up the name of the product in eBay’s extensive database and pull up the necessary information.

    The app fills out the majority of the fields for you although you’ll still need to enter the item’s condition. For many items, eBay is even able to provide images from its library, suggest a price, and calculate shipping costs. You can edit any of the pre-populated fields as needed.

    The Power of Data

    The new app builds on the simplified selling tools debuted by eBay last year. Using structured data and predictive analytics, the platform draws on its vast database of listings to cut down on the time it takes to upload an item. They hope that the streamlined process will make the platform more appealing to current sellers and newbies alike.

    “At eBay, we’re dedicated to delivering a seamless and efficient selling experience for both first-time and seasoned sellers alike,” says Kelly Vincent, eBay’s VP of Consumer Selling Product & Engineering. “This is one of many enhancements we’ll be making this year. We’ll continue to leverage structured data and new technology developments to help our sellers ‘get it sold.’”

    Limited Features

    Unfortunately, sellers who trade in vintage or unique items will find that the new app has limited functionality. The lack of barcodes on vintage items and the variability in condition means that these sellers will still need to enter most of their information by hand and upload their own photos instead of using the provided stock images available for newer mass-market products.

    Increased Competition

    When it arrived on the scene over 20 years ago, eBay was a revolutionary way to sell online. Since then, resale apps like OfferUp, Poshmark, LetGo, and ThredUp have emerged to pose serious competition. Facebook’s Marketplace has also claimed a piece of the online resale pie, focusing on connecting local sellers and buyers.

    Although there are over 13 million listings added to the site each week using the mobile app, eBay is betting that their faster, simpler uploading process will keep the platform competitive.

  • Beau’s Number 1 App Reveiw: Player Unknown: Battlegrounds PUBG

    Beau’s Number 1 App Reveiw: Player Unknown: Battlegrounds PUBG

    Beau’s App series. Each week, I install whatever is the No. 1 bestselling app on the iOS or Android store and review it, to save you the effort in case it’s total waste of life. This week a game called Player Unknown: Battlegrounds, better known as PUBG is in the top spot and Im taking it on. How did it get to No. 1? Because it’s free, because it just came out for phones, and because it’s already crazy popular. Its PC/console versions made PUBG the most-played new video game of 2017.

     

    Lets Start The Battle

    PUBG is a “battle royale” game, meaning that it’s a military-style, free-for-all, fight to the death. It’s extremely similar to its arch-rival, Fortnite: Battle Royale (which is also free, and is currently neck-and-neck with PUBG on the iOS app store [not available yet for Android]).

    At the very start of the game (after choosing the look, gender, race, and screen name for your avatar), you’re in sort of a limbo where you can run around, practice punching and crouching, waiting for 100 players from the internet to accumulate. Once they do, the action cuts to a plane flying high above an island. You choose when to jump out, at which point you skydive, and eventually pop your parachute.

    Just Past the Tutorial

    You explore this island by running around (the “camera” is always behind you) or hopping onto rusty old cars, tanks, or motorcycles. As you go, you find and pick up weapons, protective gear, medical kits, and energy drinks. But be wise: You can carry only so much weight — and you can hold only two guns at a time.

    If you’re in Squad mode, getting shot by the enemy doesn’t necessarily mean Game Over. You’re just wounded at first, and your teammates can help you back to your feet.

    As time goes by, the playing area slowly contracts, forcing players into a tighter space and heightening the action. The walls, in the form of a creepy blue shimmering bubble, slowly close in on you; if you’re caught inside it, you lose Health.

     

    What Makes it Great

    PUBG has elements of a survival game, with a stamina and health bar to maintain through collectables, but a typical match lasts no longer than 30 minutes or so. You start each one with no equipment and have to parachute off a randomly moving plane, so that it’s almost impossible to start any two matches in the same place. The location of loot is also randomised, although obvious hot spots do tend to have better equipment.

    The most interesting thing about PUBG is that it’s a true sandbox game. None of the gameplay mechanics are very complex or unusual, and while the map is well designed it’s really its size that is the greatest benefit. Everything which makes the game fun comes from the simple but inflexible rules, and the knowledge that if you die that’s it – there’s no lives and not even a way to watch the rest of the match unfurl. The tension this creates is incredible, and every player has their own favourite PUBG story. Your first kill is usually a good one (mine was a fist fight that had me running away into another room, and coming back with a crowbar) but the decision on when and how to move away from the safety of a good hiding place is always the most difficult.

     

     

    The Final Thought

    This is the first app review Ive done and Ive had a blast for the last 13 hours playing this game. Truth be told I only just heard about it last week, quickly dismissed it, one try and Im hooked. All I can think about now is that Ive got the good loot where is the bullet that is gonna kill me..