Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

A method, a system and devices for dispensing a reward are provided. A reward dispensing machine (RDM) may include one or more reward reservoirs each storing a respective kind of pre-customized reward items or material. The RDM may include a customization unit, as well as a communication unit configured to receive a reward request associated with a recipient and comprising a description of an intended reward. The RDM may include a processor and memory storing a customization script that causes the processor to control the customization unit to produce the intended reward by receiving one of the pre-customized reward items or material from one of the one or more reward reservoirs and customizing the one of the pre-customized reward items or material into the intended reward based on the description of the intended reward. The RDM may include a dispensing unit configured to dispense the intended reward to the recipient.

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a cloud-hosted central service platform that interfaces and enables access to both central and distributed resources and peripherals for connected mobile applications. For example, this platform allows service providers and application developers to create a large number of new classes of applications, leveraging web access to devices, sensors, and/or actuators of any kind. This platform can be applied to virtually any vertical segment. Any of the disclosed features or aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be used in various combinations and subcombinations with one another or with other methods, apparatus, and systems.

A shopping incentive and discount system and method for consumers including: a processing system, where the processing system includes a database, memory and a processor; software residing of the memory of the processing system, wherein the software enables functions related to the shopping incentive and discount system; and a portable computing device, where a user utilizes the portable computing device to access the shopping incentive and discount system. The functions available through the shopping incentive and discount system may include coupon retrieval, prize contests, rewards system, winning number generation and interactive features. The shopping incentive and discount system preferably includes downloadable interactive software for consumer users.

A consumer interfacing apparatus comprising: a retrieval assembly configured to retrieve used consumables from an external container, the external container configured to be placed in mechanical engagement with the consumer interfacing apparatus: a controller operably coupled to the retrieval assembly and configured to collect data regarding at least used consumables retrieved from the external container, wherein the external container or an owner of the external container is awarded with a recycling reward for used consumable retrieved from the container: and an apparatus recycling compartment for storing the used consumables retrieved from the container.

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide power to devices are disclosed. An example method includes determining an indication of visual media consumption of a display by a person; and enabling delivery of power to a device associated with the person in response to determining that the visual media consumption is associated with the person.

An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.