San Diego Comic-Con is in full swing, and Google is back with another fun experience for attendees. Last year, the company had a whole Ferris wheel setup, but this time around, the experience is much more immersive, thanks to a collaboration with Monopoly Go! and Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which hits theaters on July 25.

Visitors will be able to take their first steps into the Google Play Rewards Lab, with unique experiences related to each of the members of the Fantastic Four. However, Google also has some rewards for members who aren’t able to experience the Rewards Lab in person.

Taking your first steps

The Google Play Rewards Lab was all about letting you experience what it’s like to be a member of the Fantastic Four. You step onto a conveyor belt that leads you into each of the four pods with four very different experiences.

The first experience was inside the Stretch pod, after Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic. Here, you get to play a game where you try to catch Play Store rewards points utilizing touch pads to control Mister Fantastic’s stretched arms. The goal is to score a certain number of points within a given time.

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The second pod is perhaps my favorite, and it’s the Force Field pod. Here, you can hone your inner Sue Storm, aka The Invisible Woman, who is able to create and manipulate force fields.

This pod won’t let you turn invisible, but it will let you manipulate a display of cascading lights with your hands. The lights change colors and move in response to your hands, allowing you to create a variety of figures and images.

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The third pod is the Strength pod, which is probably my second favorite area. Here, you can have your own Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, moment and clobber the floor with your feet. You can team up with a few other people to stomp on the digital display on the floor from four different corners of the room, which will crumble beneath your feet to reveal a rather cool (and somewhat disorienting) display.

There are several levels to complete, which means smashing through a few surfaces. Once you smash through enough of the floor, you’ll be rewarded with a special honor for saving the day.

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Finally, the last pod was the Fire pod for the fiery Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch. Here, you can “flame on” and become the Human Torch by shooting a video of yourself flying in the air. Your video will be inserted into a clip from the new film, which you can then preview and even send to yourself to share with your friends or on social media.

You can see my video below:

You can stop by the Rewards Lab outside the San Diego Convention Center starting July 24, and you’ll even get prioritized entry and other rewards if you’re a Google Play Points member.

Perks for everyone

If you’re unable to attend San Diego Comic-Con for the full experience, don’t worry, because Google is offering everyone a chance to get in on some rewards. Thanks to the collaboration with Monopoly Go!, players can grab a limited-edition Fantastic Four in-game rewards in the form of an exclusive The Thing Tea Emoji for U.S. players. This can be added to their showrooms, and users can also use it to react to other players.

Furthermore, Google is letting Play Points members redeem their points for other exclusives, such as a Fantastic Four Fan Pack, an enamel The Thing pin, a signed comic book, and even a Citizen watch.

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Google’s Four Days of Fantastic Rewards is available from July 24 to 27, while the exclusive in-game Monopoly Go! reward will be available until August 4, which you can redeem over on the Play Store.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are rapidly gaining ground in the e-commerce sector, offering new ways for businesses to connect with customers, authenticate products, and create unique shopping experiences. As more brands look to differentiate themselves in a crowded digital marketplace, NFTs present a compelling solution that merges technology, creativity, and commerce. This blog explores how NFTs are shaping the future of online shopping, the benefits for businesses and consumers, real-world use cases, and guidance for those seeking an NFT Development Company to integrate these solutions into their e-commerce platforms.

NFTs are digital tokens that represent ownership of unique items or content, stored securely on a blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, each NFT is distinct, carrying its own identity and value. This uniqueness makes NFTs particularly suitable for digital art, collectibles, and, increasingly, e-commerce applications.

In e-commerce, NFTs can be used to:

• Authenticate digital and physical products
• Offer exclusive or limited-edition items
• Power customer loyalty programs
• Enable new revenue streams, such as digital collectibles or virtual goods

For businesses, NFTs provide a way to build trust, drive engagement, and stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

NFTs are built on blockchain technology, which ensures transparency, security, and authenticity. Here’s how they fit into the e-commerce ecosystem:

• Product Authentication: Each physical or digital product can be paired with an NFT, serving as a certificate of authenticity and proof of ownership.
• Digital Collectibles: Brands can create digital versions of their products or unique digital assets that customers can buy, sell, or trade.
• Loyalty Programs: NFTs can be used as rewards, offering customers tradable or redeemable digital assets that go beyond traditional points systems.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Blockchain’s immutable records allow for precise tracking of goods, reducing counterfeiting and ensuring product provenance.

1. Product Authentication and Trust

NFTs provide a tamper-proof way to verify the authenticity of products, especially in industries plagued by counterfeits, such as luxury goods, fashion, and electronics. By linking each item to a unique NFT, customers can verify the origin and ownership history, building trust with the brand.

2. Exclusive Digital and Physical Products

NFTs enable brands to offer limited-edition or exclusive products, both digital and physical. For example, a sneaker brand might release a limited run of shoes, each paired with a digital NFT certificate or a virtual version for use in online games or metaverse platforms.

3. Enhanced Customer Loyalty

NFTs can power new types of loyalty programs. Instead of traditional points, customers receive NFTs as rewards, which can be traded, sold, or redeemed for special perks. This approach increases engagement and gives customers a sense of ownership and value.

4. New Revenue Streams

Brands can sell digital collectibles, virtual goods, or access to exclusive experiences through NFTs. This opens up additional revenue opportunities beyond physical product sales.

5. Supply Chain Transparency

NFTs, backed by blockchain, provide end-to-end visibility in the supply chain. This helps businesses track inventory, prevent fraud, and ensure that customers receive genuine products.

Starbucks Odyssey

Starbucks introduced the Odyssey project, integrating NFTs into their loyalty program. Customers earn or purchase digital collectible stamps (NFTs) that unlock new benefits and experiences. Some NFTs have even been resold for significant amounts, showing strong customer engagement10.

Dior’s NFC-Embedded Sneakers

Dior launched sneakers with embedded NFC chips linked to NFTs. This provides customers with verifiable proof of authenticity and ownership, helping to combat counterfeiting and add value to the product.

Dubai’s Physical NFT Store

Dubai opened the world’s first physical NFT store, allowing customers to purchase NFTs in a traditional retail setting. This bridges the gap between digital assets and brick-and-mortar retail, offering a novel shopping experience.

NFTs are driving a shift in how brands interact with customers and manage their products. Key trends include:

• Community Building: NFTs foster a sense of community among customers, encouraging engagement and long-term loyalty.
• Personalization: Brands use data from NFT purchases to offer personalized experiences and rewards, strengthening the emotional bond with customers.
• Digital-Physical Integration: Combining digital NFTs with physical products creates a hybrid shopping experience, appealing to tech-savvy consumers.
• New Business Models: NFTs enable businesses to explore models like digital-only products, virtual fashion, and gamified shopping experiences.

While NFTs offer many benefits, businesses must consider several challenges:

• Technical Complexity: Integrating NFTs requires blockchain expertise and secure infrastructure. Partnering with an NFT Development Company can help navigate these complexities.
• User Education: Customers may need guidance on how to use and store NFTs, especially if they are new to blockchain technology.
• Regulatory Compliance: NFT regulations are evolving. Businesses must stay informed about legal requirements in their regions.
• Environmental Concerns: Some blockchains consume significant energy. Choosing energy-efficient platforms is important for sustainability.

1. Define Your NFT Strategy: Identify goals, target audience, and desired outcomes for NFT integration.
2. Choose a Blockchain Platform: Select a blockchain that aligns with your needs (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon, Solana).
3. Develop Digital Assets: Create unique digital representations of your products or rewards.
4. Partner with an NFT Development Company: Work with experts to design, mint, and deploy your NFTs securely.
5. Integrate with E-commerce Platform: Connect NFT functionality with your existing online store or marketplace.
6. Launch and Promote: Announce your NFT offerings, educate customers, and build excitement through marketing campaigns.
7. Monitor and Optimize: Track customer engagement and sales, and refine your strategy as needed.

Partnering with an NFT Development Company brings several advantages:

• Technical Expertise: Professional teams have experience with blockchain integration, smart contract development, and NFT minting.
• Security: Experts implement best practices to protect digital assets and user data.
• Custom Solutions: Development companies can build custom NFT marketplaces, loyalty programs, and digital collectibles tailored to your brand.
• Ongoing Support: From initial concept to post-launch optimization, an NFT Development Company provides guidance at every step.

Looking ahead, NFTs are expected to play a growing role in e-commerce innovation:

• Phygital Products: Combining physical and digital components for a richer customer experience.
• Metaverse Integration: Brands will offer virtual goods and experiences in digital worlds, expanding their reach.
• Dynamic NFTs: NFTs that change over time or in response to user actions, creating interactive shopping experiences.
• Decentralized Marketplaces: Peer-to-peer trading of NFTs, reducing reliance on centralized platforms.

• Start Small: Pilot NFT offerings with limited editions or loyalty rewards to gauge customer interest.
• Educate Customers: Provide clear instructions and support for users new to NFTs.
• Focus on Value: Offer NFTs that provide real benefits, such as exclusive access, discounts, or unique experiences.
• Prioritize Security: Work with experienced developers to safeguard digital assets and user data.
• Stay Compliant: Monitor regulatory developments and ensure your NFT initiatives meet legal requirements.

When selecting an NFT Development Company, consider the following:

• Experience: Look for a proven track record in NFT and blockchain projects.
• Technical Skills: Ensure the team is proficient in smart contract development, blockchain integration, and security.
• Customization: Choose a company that can create solutions tailored to your brand and business goals.
• Support: Opt for a partner that offers ongoing maintenance, updates, and customer support.
• Transparency: Clear communication about costs, timelines, and deliverables is essential.

A leading coffee brand wanted to refresh its loyalty program. By partnering with an NFT Development Company, they created digital collectible stamps (NFTs) that customers could earn through purchases and activities. These NFTs unlocked access to exclusive experiences, discounts, and merchandise. The program increased customer engagement, drove repeat purchases, and generated buzz on social media, with some NFTs being resold for significant value.

A successful NFT launch requires more than just technology. Marketing plays a crucial role in educating customers, building excitement, and driving adoption. Strategies include:

• Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with influencers to reach new audiences.
• Social Media Campaigns: Use platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Discord to share updates and engage with fans.
• Email Marketing: Send targeted messages to subscribers about upcoming NFT drops and exclusive offers.
• Community Building: Foster a sense of belonging through online forums, events, and interactive content.

As with any emerging technology, the NFT space attracts bad actors. Protect your business and customers by:

• Verifying Smart Contracts: Ensure all NFT contracts are audited and publicly verified.
• Using Reputable Marketplaces: List NFTs on established platforms with strong security measures.
• Educating Users: Warn customers about phishing scams and fake giveaways.
• Building Trust: Maintain open communication and transparency with your community.

NFTs are set to become a standard feature in online shopping, offering new ways for brands to connect with customers and create value. As technology evolves, expect to see:

• Greater Integration with Augmented Reality: Virtual try-ons and interactive shopping experiences powered by NFTs.
• Cross-Platform Interoperability: NFTs that work across different e-commerce sites and digital environments.
• Sustainable Blockchain Solutions: Increased adoption of eco-friendly blockchains to address environmental concerns.

NFTs are reshaping the e-commerce sector by introducing new dimensions of ownership, authenticity, and customer engagement. For businesses, NFTs offer a way to build trust, drive loyalty, and unlock new revenue streams. For consumers, they provide unique products, verifiable authenticity, and engaging shopping experiences.

Integrating NFTs into your e-commerce platform requires careful planning, technical expertise, and a clear understanding of your audience. By partnering with an experienced NFT Development Company, you can navigate the complexities of blockchain technology and create solutions that set your brand apart.

Ready to explore the potential of NFTs for your e-commerce business? Partner with Codezeros, a leading NFT Development Company, to create secure, innovative, and engaging NFT solutions that drive growth and customer loyalty. Contact us today to get started!

Are NFTs only for digital products?
No, NFTs can represent both digital and physical products, serving as certificates of authenticity, loyalty rewards, or exclusive access passes.

Do customers need cryptocurrency to buy NFTs?
While many NFT transactions use cryptocurrency, some platforms allow purchases with traditional payment methods. An NFT Development Company can help integrate user-friendly payment options.

How can NFTs prevent counterfeiting?
Each NFT is unique and recorded on a blockchain, making it nearly impossible to duplicate or forge. This helps verify the authenticity of high-value goods.

What industries benefit most from NFTs in e-commerce?
Luxury goods, fashion, collectibles, electronics, and any sector where authenticity and exclusivity are important.

Is NFT integration expensive?
Costs vary depending on the complexity of the project, blockchain choice, and desired features. Consulting with an NFT Development Company provides a clear estimate and roadmap.

Recent research has highlighted the state of payment experiences in the financial services industry, with the sector encountering substantial gaps that threaten customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Payment Experience Index, developed by payment solutions experts Access PaySuite, part of The Access Group, analysed 160 businesses across 16 sectors using TrustPilot data, calculating a Trust Discrepancy Score for each sector to highlight which are excelling and which are struggling to meet consumer expectations.

It identified the financial services industry as one with a moderate Trust Discrepancy Score of 24.2. While not among the best-performing sectors, the findings indicate opportunities for businesses to enhance their payment processes and strengthen customer loyalty.

As consumer expectations evolve, businesses in the financial services industry face increasing pressure to offer seamless and reliable payment solutions. While the sector is performing better than some of its peers, outdated systems and limited payment options may be hindering its ability to fully meet customer needs.

* The Trust Discrepancy Score quantifies the gap between how customers rate a business overall and how they specifically rate its payment processes. A smaller score signals better alignment with customer expectations. 

Commenting on the findings, Dave Carr, transformation director at Access PaySuite, said:

“In 2025, the sectors leading in payment experiences will be those that prioritise seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions. Our Payment Experience Index demonstrates that businesses embracing innovation in payment technologies are not only meeting customer expectations but redefining them. This is about more than just enabling transactions – it’s about creating a smooth, transparent, and reliable experience that builds trust and fosters loyalty.

“Industries that adapt to evolving consumer demands for flexibility, personalisation, and speed are positioning themselves as leaders in their fields. Conversely, those that fail to modernise their payment systems risk eroding customer satisfaction and falling behind competitors. At Access PaySuite, we believe that seamless payment experiences are the cornerstone of exceptional customer journeys, and we’re committed to helping businesses unlock their full potential through smarter, more intuitive payment solutions.”

For more information, you can view the full research here https://www.accesspaysuite.com/blog/which-sectors-offer-the-best-payment-experiences/

UPDATE 10:37 p.m.: I actually wriote this review in two parts, and reading it back, I can see now it reads a bit disjointedly for that reason, so I am including a separator between the two parts to make it clearer. Also, I had misnamed the Encounter Dinosaurs experience, an error which I have now corrected. Thanks!

I have also added a link to a blogpost by metaverse blogger Matthew Ball, with his opinions after using the Apple Vision Pro for six months.

Since I received my prescription lenses for my Apple Vision Pro on July 29th, I am nearing the end of my third week using the device almost every day, usually for an hour or two each day. The prescription lenses are magnetically attached to the AVP, so I can very easily remove them if and when I decide to start giving demonstrations of the Apple Vision Pro to other people!

I’m still getting used to the device myself, and I want to make sure that I am comfortable enough with it before I start giving demos to other people. Also, I will be reviewing documentation that other AVP users have already written up (like this example), so I can make sure that I give demos in such a way that I (and the person who receives a demo!) don’t accidentally damage my very expensive device!

For example, you have to remember to tell new users not to pick up the device by the facial shield, because it (like my prescription lenses) is only magnetically attached to the actual, glass-and-metal Apple Vision Pro itself, and it will detach when you pick it up by that! You have to remember to pick it up by holding onto the edges of the actual, curved-glass-and-metal device itself. I’m probably going to have to write up detailed, step-by-step instructions, so that any staff who work in the University of Manitoba’s future virtual reality lab will be able to help university faculty, staff, and students have their first AVP experience!

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention: I am so blown away by what I experienced these past three weeks (more details below), that I am 100% certain that, in addition to the Vive Pro 2 and Meta Quest 3, I will be asking the Libraries to purchase an Apple Vision Pro to make available to faculty, staff, and students at my university, to use for teaching, learning, and research purposes. In three short weeks, I have become an Apple Vision Pro evangelist! Come hell or high water, we are getting one. It’s just that good. I will repeat what I said in an earlier blogpost, written during my first week of using my Apple Vision Pro:

The Apple Vision Pro makes every single VR headset I have used to date feel like one of those red plastic View-Masters I used to play with as a kid in the 1960s. The “screen door” effect so evident in earlier VR headsets (where you can see individual pixels, making everything slightly blurry) is COMPLETELY, UTTERLY gone.

In fact, the Apple Vision Pro is such a leap forward in terms of technology, that it is going to be hard to go back to the once-formerly-state-of-the-art displays of the Meta Quest 3, and especially the Vive Pro 2, afterwards!

Anyway, let’s get back to the reason I wanted to write this blogpost: I wanted to talk about some of the apps and experiences I have had in my new Apple Vision Pro over the past three weeks, as well as give some more first impressions of the device itself.

Apple has lavished its usual slavish attention to style and construction on the Apple Vision Pro headset. It is beautiful to look at as well as to use! The front is one piece of custom curved glass, attached to a sleek, rounded metal frame, and it is the smallest VR headset that I have ever tried on (not as small as the Bigscreen Beyond, which I wrote about previously here, but then again, I have never tried that device).

Having worn other, bulkier, VR headsets, I found that the Apple Vision Pro sits higher on my cheeks, which feels strange at first, but you quickly get used to it. The AVP has many internal sensors and cameras, and it is smart enough to warn you when you are wearing the device too high or too low on your face, so you can adjust it accordingly for the best experience. Also, when you give somebody else a demonstration using the built-in guest mode, it automatically calculates the correct interpupillary distance (IPD; i.e. the distance between the pupils of your left and right eyes) so that you have an optimal view. (When giving demos on the Vive Pro 2 and Meta Quest 3 VR headsets, I now have a special app on my work iPad Pro 11 to measure someone’s IPD so I can dial in the correct value before they put on the headset.)

When you place your order for an AVP from the Apple website (or, if you were to purchase one in your local Apple Store), you will have to use a FaceID-enabled iPhone or iPad to do a scan of your face to determine the correct size of facial shield. The facial shield is highly customized to your face and your needs. For example, because I need prescription lenses, the facial shield has to be somewhat deeper to accommodate them (if I were to wear soft contact lenses instead to correct my vision, then I would need to purchase a separate, less deep facial shield, and my field of view would be a little bit wider than it would be with the prescription lenses).

Which brings me to something that I wish was better: the field of view. While I have found that the up-and-down field of view to be pretty good, I was less impressed with the side-to-side field of view. In particular, when recording spatial videos, it is disappointing when playing them back to see just how constrained they are. While they do offer you a wider-screen, “immersive” playback option for spatial videos, that, too, has its limitations, as the video tends to blur at the edges, instead of the crisp edges you would see when watching the video in a regular (small) window. But I have no doubt that this aspect of the technology will improve over time.

There are actually two different kinds of 3D videos that you can play in the Apple Vision Pro: spatial videos and immersive videos. The videos you can record and share using the Apple Vision Pro or a later-model iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models with iOS 17.2 or later) are called spatial videos; that is, you can clearly see the 3D effect, but it is not immersive. Immersive videos are recorded using more expensive equipoment, and the results are truly spectacular—you watch the video, and you feel like you are actually present!

In fact, one of the apps I signed up for is a monthly subscription service called Explore POV (Point of View), where I can download and play high-quality immersive videos, recorded in 180-degree 3D 16K resolution. The creators visit various locations around the world, and record either one long video scene, or an edited series of scenes in one video. For example, one Explore POV video is simply the videographer walking along a beach in New Zealand, watching the surf pound onto the sand under a blue sky. When you watch it, it actually is so realistic that it feels as if you are actually there—and when you lift your hand and look at it, it is superimposed on the video! Here is the Explore POV website if you want to learn more, and here’s a recent video by the creator himself:

Separate from spatial and immersive videos are the Apple Vision Pro’s built-in 360-degree Environments, which you can turn on and adjust using a knob on the upper-right of the AVP. Turn the knob all the way clockwise, and it completely replaces your space with a selected virtual-reality Environment. Turn it all the way counter-clockwise, you are in full augmented-reality mode, where your icons and app windows hover in and over your physical environment. You can also adjust the knob to somewhere in the middle, where your central view has an Environment, which fades away at the edges to your real world. It’s one of those things which is hard to describe but easy to experience, but Apple Vision Pro Environments in themselves are so well-done and so realistic, that I consider them, alone, to be a “killer app” for the Apple Vision Pro! Quite often, I will simply close all my apps and just sit and meditate (or listen to tunes from my Apple Music library) while sitting peacefully in front of Mount Hood, or halfway up Haleakalā volcano in Hawaii, watching the sun set behind the clouds.

Given this ability to surround you in various realistic environments, it is perhaps not surprising that one of the many use cases for the Apple Vision Pro is as a device to assist in calming, centering, and meditation. There are already numerous spatial meditation apps in the Apple Vision Pro Store, but the one that I have found myself using the most is called Tripp. Tripp’s main menu has five sections (Focus, Calm, Breathe, Ascend, and Sleep) where you can select from many different kinds of guided meditations, or mix and match pieces to create a customized meditation. The Ascend section features a truly psychedelic mini-documentary on the life journey of Ram Dass, the American psychologist and popularizer of Eastern spirituality and yoga, which everybody should try out, at least once!

And, of course, there is already a lot of video content to enjoy in the Apple TV+ app and the Disney+ app, including a small but growing selection of 3D videos. There is a short but extremely well-done app called Encounter Dinosaurs which really should be something anyone who tries on an Apple Vision Pro should experience! It’s definitely a showcase for the cutting-edge capabilities of the technology, where you feel you can almost reach out and touch a real, living dinosaur! Always a good demo.

And, speaking of demos, I finally gave my first demonstration of the Apple Vision Pro to another person, my brother. And this is where I have to say, things did not go so well.

I had difficulties in getting mirroring to work (that is, being able to cast what the other person was seeing in the AVP to another device, such as a MacOS desktop, iPad, or iPhone). Once I got that working, then I was able to set it up so that I could help talk my brother through how to use the Apple Vision Pro—only to forget that I had to turn mirroring off before he could watch any content on Apple TV+ and Disney+ apps! (At least he got to try out Encounter Dinosaurs.)

All in all, trying to give a demo to another user via the AVP’s Guest Mode was highly frustrating. Perhaps I have been too quick to judge the usefulness of the Apple Vision Pro for a multi-user environment like the virtual reality lab that I am currently working on setting up for my university library system. We’ll see what happens as I give other people their first taste of the device.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I have also made five or six forays into InSpaze, the Apple Vision Pro’s premier social app, and had some wonderful conversations with people from around the world! I will save that report for a later blogpost on my blog. In the meantime, you can read what I wrote earlier about InSpaze here (before I got my hot little hands on my own Apple Vision Prto!).

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: I just discovered that Matthew Ball (whom I have written about before on this blog) has written up a blogpost titled 9 Takeaways from the Vision Pro after 6 months, so I have linked to it from my blog. I very much appreciate Matthew’s take on things, and I wanted to share what he said with you as well, as a sort of counterpoint to my own, obviously more limited, thoughts and impressions. (By the way, I agree 100% with Matthew’s take on the EyeSight feature of the AVP. While it’s cool, I also feel it’s a bit gimmicky.)

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