freebie

Yes, new FTC guidelines extend to Facebook fan pages

Prominent users of Twitter and Facebook won't be exempt from controversial new Federal Trade Commission guidelines that keep tabs on blogger freebies and giveaways, according to Richard Cleland, associate director for the FTC's advertising division. The agency absolutely plans to keep tabs on social networks as well as blogs in accordance with revised regulations that could see violators fined up to $11,000, he said.

Here's a sample scenario: a celebrity or other prominent figure with loads of friends on Facebook receives free hotel says from Hotel Chain X in exchange for running Hotel Chain X ads … Read more

FTC to bloggers: Fess up or pay up

Independent bloggers who fail to disclose paid reviews or freebies can face up to $11,000 in fines from the Federal Trade Commission, according to revisions to the agency's "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" published Monday.

This marks the first time that the Guides document has been updated since 1980.

From an FTC-issued release:

"The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that 'material connections' (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers--connections that consumers would not expect--must be disclosed. These examples address what constitutes … Read more

Get free app codes at Promo Dispenser

Good news for freebie junkies like me: Promo Dispenser offers free, no-strings-attached promo codes for iPhone apps.

Good news for developers: Promo Dispenser offers a free and easy way to promote your apps.

Here's how it works: Developers add their apps' info and promo codes to the site. Users (who must register with an e-mail address) grab the allotted codes on a first-come, first-served basis. (There's no waiting and no random draw, as with previously mentioned AppGiveaway.)

Users are limited to one code per day, and you can't get another code without first commenting on and rating … Read more

Another way to find free iPhone apps

To paraphrase the old Sara Lee commercial, nobody doesn't like free apps.

Good luck trying to find them, though. Sure, the App Store lists the top freebies in each software category, but what about the apps that have just been price-reduced to $0? iTunes offers no way to find them.

However, FreeAppAlert does find them for you. The site catalogs all iPhone apps that previously cost money but are now free (either temporarily or permanently).

If this sounds a bit familiar, it's because I recently wrote the 148Apps' Twitter feed that notifies you when an app's price drops to zero.… Read more

Three cheap alternatives to $40 iPhone stands

Whether you're watching a movie on an airplane or interacting with your iPhone while it's charging on your desk, some kind of stand is essential. That's why I read David's Mobile Xtand review with great interest.

Pretty cool product--but $40? That's way too rich for my Cheapskate blood. Fortunately, there are iPhone stands that cost significantly less--and some that cost nothing at all. Here's a look at three way-cheaper alternatives:

The business-card stand Far and away my all-time favorite, this 60-second Instructables project turns any business card (the thicker, the better) into a perfect … Read more

Today only: Free astronomy apps for iPhone

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, astronomy apps SkyGazer and SkyVoyager are available free of charge from the App Store. Normally they're priced at $2.99 and $14.99, respectively.

SkyVoyager is a planetarium app that gives you a precise view of the sky from any position on Earth. If you have a telescope that's linked to a computer, the app can control it via Wi-Fi.

SkyVoyager features a database of 300,000 stars and 30,000 deep-sky objects. Definitely sounds like a must-have for hardcore astronomers.

If you're a beginner or … Read more

Twitter feed notifies you of newly free iPhone apps

Still think there's no good reason to have a Twitter account? Here's a damn good one: iPhone app-review site 148Apps has a Twitter feed that notifies you when an app's price drops--to zero.

See, developers frequently run temporary promotions in which they give their apps away. Of course, it's all too easy to miss these freebies because you didn't know about them.

Based on what I've seen of twitter.com/148apps_nowfree, these promotions happen a lot. In the last 12 hours, I received tweets about at least 20 apps. Some darn good stuff, … Read more

Do mommy bloggers need to grow up?

How acceptable is it for independent bloggers to accept free products and other giveaways? It's been a heated discussion of late.

Now MomDot, a community site for the ever-expanding corps of "mommy bloggers," has decided to encourage its followers to spend a week ignoring the PR and marketing industries altogether.

"MomDot is challenging bloggers to participate for one week in August in a 'PR Blackout' challenge where you do not blog any giveaways, any reviews, and zero press releases," the post on Monday announced. "In fact, we don't want you to talk to … Read more

iPhone Deal of the Day: Five App Store freebies

I love free stuff, and it seems like each day brings a wealth of new free goodies to the iPhone App Store. Here's a look at five notable apps that won't cost you a cent (at least for now--some are free only temporarily, so get 'em while you can).

20! Top Man Things Men Must Know If you can excuse the sexist, unwieldy title, you'll find some undeniably useful information here: how to bandage a wound, perform basic CPR, fix a flat, and so on. (Note to developer: Why not call it 20 Top Things Everyone Should … Read more