Amazon

Amazon tops Netflix in customer satisfaction survey

U.S. consumers who shop online continue to enjoy the experience more than going to brick-and-mortar stores, according to customer satisfaction rankings released today, and Amazon continues to lead the industry.

A report produced by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and analytics firm ForeSee gave the general e-commerce industry a ranking of 82 out of 100 in 2012 -- a 1.2 percent increase from the year before. Brick-and-mortar stores, however, ranked 76.6.

Not surprisingly, the companies that have seen the most growth are small online retailers and brick-and-mortar retailers that also have a Web presence. This category … Read more

Oscars winners, losers jump in Amazon sales rankings

The old adage goes that it doesn't matter who wins or loses but that it's an honor just to be nominated.

Some of last night's Oscar losers may disagree, but it does prove true when it comes to movie and song rankings on Amazon.

The online retail giant says today that winners and losers from the Academy Awards all saw bumps in their sales on Amazon.com.

Seth MacFarlane, the host of the awards show, saw volume 10 of his "Family Guy" TV show rise more than 3,000 percent in the ranks to No. … Read more

Crave Ep. 110: Prevent a hangover with the world's first 'sober pill'?

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Cheers! Scientists have created what may be the world's first pill that can make you sober if you've gone a little too far with the booze. Russian meteorite fragments go up for sale online, as do Milla Jovovich's shorts. And later this year a man will have surgery to attach a bionic hand that can feel touch sensations. … Read more

The 404 1,213: Where Sphere says no to 'Yes to the Dress' (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Is Spotify unfair to musicians?

- Spotify reports net loss of $59 million 2011.

- Spotify will pay $500 million to artists and rights holders in 2013.

- Benford's law, also called the first-digit law.

- Godwin's Law, also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies.

- The Audiophiliac wants to see your audio system.

- Are the Monoprice 9774 speakers inspired by, or knocks-offs of, the Energy Take Classic 5.1?… Read more

Amazon in antitrust crosshairs over Marketplace price rules

Amazon's in a bit of trouble in Germany.

The country's Federal Cartel Office (FCO) announced yesterday that it's launching an antitrust investigation against Amazon to determine if the e-commerce company is unfairly treating third-party merchants that sell their products through its Marketplace platform.

According to BBC, which spoke with FCO chief Andreas Mundt, the organization is specifically trying to determine whether a clause that Amazon places on merchants limiting them from offering a product they sell through Marketplace at a cheaper price on competing sites, violates the country's antitrust clauses.

"This is particularly the case … Read more

Amazon opens celebrity memorabilia store

Here's one way to get into Milla Jovovich's shorts. Amazon launched its Entertainment Collectibles store today, selling celebrity memorabilia just in time to capitalize on the frenzy created by the Grammys and the Oscars.

One item for sale is the stained pair of shorts worn by Jovovich in "Resident Evil: Extinction." They can be yours for the low, low price of $2,999.99.

They're just one of more than 350,000 collectibles featured at the new store, according to a press release from Amazon. … Read more

Politicians push bill to help states collect online sales tax

A group of Republicans and Democrats yesterday reintroduced a federal bill that could cost online retailers and customers more money.

The Marketplace Fairness Act would allow states to require online vendors to collect sales and use tax on certain out-of-state purchases. Only businesses with less than $1 million dollars in annual U.S. sales would be exempt.

The bill was debated by the Senate last year but went nowhere. Now a group of 35 House members and 18 senators are trying again. And they're optimistic the bill will pass this time, according to The Hill.

The bill's top … Read more

Apple's iWatch and the smartwatch trend

Wednesday's CNET Update is watching the wrist:

The buzz is building over the rumored Apple iWatch. Today's tech news roundup looks at the latest report on the team working on Apple's smartwatch and the growth of this new category.

Along with the wrist, Under Armour wants to be the gadget for your chest. Armour 39 is the company's new fitness monitor set to take on the Nike FuelBand, and it is a sensor worn around the chest during a workout. If you want to live-track your progress, you'll need an iPhone app or the special $… Read more

Amazon's Prime Instant Video adds more CBS reruns

Amazon announced today that it's adding a new batch of CBS and Showtime reruns to its video-streaming service.

The new additions to Amazon's Prime Instant Video service include "America's Next Top Model," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Jericho," "The L Word," "Undercover Boss," and "United States of Tara." This selection builds on the existing licensing agreement between Amazon and CBS (the parent company of CNET).

"CBS was one of our earliest content partners for Prime Instant Video and our Prime customers have consistently told us how … Read more

An Amazon Prime report card: Is it really worth $79 per year?

I've been an Amazon Prime customer for nearly a year now, meaning it's time for me to decide whether to continue subscribing to the program.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, Prime works like this: For $79 annually, you get unlimited movie and TV streaming, one free borrowed e-book per month, and automatic two-day shipping on nearly everything you buy (with no minimum dollar amount).

Awesome deal, right? Maybe, and maybe not.

Let's start with the streaming. Amazon has vastly expanded its movie- and TV-show libraries over the past year, to the point where I'd … Read more