Blog Archives for 2011

New Year's Day shall soon arrive! We vow to spruce up our house and make it more of a home, update our office flare, and find our new 2012 style. We've got a roundup of the best current furniture deals to help meet this 2012 resolution.

Another year is coming to a close, and we're celebrating by counting down the top 10 hottest deals of 2011. We also included some details on whether you'll find any of these stellar bargains again in 2012. So grab a bottle of bubbly and raise a toast to these amazing offers.

The iPhone is certainly one of the leaders in the smartphone game, but it's not exactly deal-friendly. Both Android and Windows phones are priced for a wide array of budgets, while still offering top-of-the-line features. (Or, as you'll see with some deals below, they can also offers a cheap barebones option.) Today we've rounded up the best current smartphone deals from Samsung, Dell, and HTC that offer great features and affordability.

Are you on the hunt for informational resources for your outdoors activities, but hesitant about carrying around cumbersome guidebooks? With these eight outdoors apps for both iPhone or Android, you'll have all the information you need at your fingertips. And in some cases, these apps you can even save you some money to put toward, say, a new set of golf clubs or a telescope.

The dealnews Podcast is offering you Episode 191. Take it as our gift to you, with nothing more to buy, ever. This week: Gift card strategies, Best Buy Black Friday backlash, Netflix hides its DVDs, top search terms of 2011, holiday stories, and more.

The season of mistletoe and "ho, ho, ho" may be winding down, but it seems that holiday shopping isn't ready to, well, take a holiday just yet. Thus, today we've rounded up the best current deals on Android tablets. At some of these prices, even an Apple fan may be convinced to give an inexpensive Android tablet a try.

As we mentioned in a feature from yesterday, gas prices will continue to rise next year, and already, the average American spends approximately $1,600 per year on gas for their car. Rather than just accept this growing expenditure, take a look at these five rewards credit cards with no annual fees that will help you save on your purchases at the pump throughout the year.

As another year draws to a close, we think back on everything we've seen. Then we judge its worthiness and put the cream-of-the-crop into end-of-year lists. For dealnews, that means we've got our 2011 Tech Awards piece all ready for you. Find out what we thought was noteworthy in the past year!

Were you eco-unfriendly in 2011? Well thankfully with the new year, everyone gets a fresh start. Here are Green Dad's list of 10 resolutions for a greener and leaner 2012. Any one of these tips could make you an eco-friendlier person in the year ahead. Commit to all 10, and you could give Green Dad some serious tree-hugging (and cost-saving) competition.

It's inevitable that as the New Year creeps closer, we begin to muse about what's to come in the next 12 months. So dealnews is taking a look at what price adjustments consumers can expect to see in 2012. This week, we read the economic tealeaves to see exactly what will be more expensive this year. Some increases seem almost customary, like ever-rising gas prices, while others, like a potential 25% hike on tap water, are more surprising.

With leftovers divvied up and torn wrapping paper recycled, what's left to the holidays? After-Christmas sales, of course! We've rounded up some of the day's most popular sales from your favorite merchants. From Target to Barnes & Noble, these are the hottest after-Christmas sales so far.

What a holiday season it has been! We at dealnews have had lots to be thankful for this year. But there are still a few things we've got to take care of: namely, some holiday gift returns. We unwrap the stats on holiday returns thanks to this gifted infographic.

It's almost Christmas, and we're bringing out an oldie from the dealnews video archives. It's a USB Christmas! 2.0! (No, we didn't update it, we're just stating that most of these items are 2.0 compatible.) A few years back, we gathered a slew of bus-powered, Christmas-themed doodads and let them all run loose simultaneously. Click through to watch this cacophony of festiveness!

It's been a rough couple of months for hard drives; deals on HDDs are still in short supply due to flooding in Thailand, and now both Seagate and Western Digital have announced that they will slash warranties on their new drives in 2012.

During this weekend last year, a large portion of the country was blanketed in snow and ice. But so far this year, the winter hasn't been very, well wintry. Those in Florida may be happy as clams to maintain 60- and 70-degree temperatures, but if you're seeking out colder climates (and some fluffy snow!) to get in the spirit of the season, then check out these budget-friendly cold-weather vacation deals.

You've made your list, checked it twice, and just realized you forgot to buy a few gifts. And since no one likes a sad present-less meme, the elves at dealnews central have accessed Santa's secret database to share some hot, last-minute gifts. With these deals, you can buy online and pick up at the store.

Best Buy announced that, due to overwhelming demand, it has had to cancel numerous online orders this month, including some that were placed as far back as Black Friday. Have any of you had issues with your Best Buy purchases? And has it affected your holiday shopping game plan?

Have you put off your holiday shopping until the absolute, very last minute? Well fear not. You can still find gifts for your loved ones thanks to in-store pickup. Here's a list of national and regional "click-and-mortar" stores that'll let you shop online and pick up your gifts through Saturday, December 24.

In the next few days, airports nationwide will be flooded with travelers en route to see family or friends for the Christmas weekend, and many of them may be shopping at the increasingly popular terminal electronics stores. Travelers often look to replace headphones and chargers, while some might be hoping to pick up last-minute forgotten gifts. But how much will it cost you to buy electronics at the airport? dealnews investigated by gathering data from five different airports — and we discovered that you could be paying 34% more than you should.

We know, you're an Internet maven. You pride yourself on your navigating skills and your e-shopping acumen. But now that we've passed the date of safe standard Christmas shipping for most stores, you may find it necessary to get out of the house and go to a retail store — those are places where people traditionally interact with other humans while shopping. We've rounded up a few excellent deals with in-store pickup for you. Now go! Because you still need time to wrap them!

The dealnews Podcast is overnighting Episode 190 to your ears, for delivery in time for the holidays. Be home to sign for it! This week: Last minute holiday shopping, AT&T / T-Mobile merger falls through, Simple banking, Toys "R" Us will remain open until Christmas Eve, Facebook Timeline, holiday stories, and more.

Some deals are a no-brainer, and that includes discounted credits for your favorite stores. If you're sure to be shopping at American Apparel in the near future, for example, then why not jump on a deal that takes 50% off a credit? Inside, we've rounded up five deals that will please your closet, taste buds, and iTunes library.

Saving money is our motto here at dealnews, but occasionally we come across items worth spending a little more on. We've found that by splurging on things like computer systems, certain office gear, and yes, 500-thread count sheets, you actually wind up saving money in the long run because the higher quality of these items prolongs the need to replace them every year. From desktop replacements to cosmetics, we've listed our top five items where we think being too frugal doesn't pay.

Christmas may come first, but plenty of deal-seeking shoppers already have their sights on December 26. So what can you expect from the after-Christmas sales this year? We looked into the dealnews archives to find some post-festivity trends that will help guide your shopping game plan.

Hooray, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon is finally available to purchase! And there's a deal at Amazon that takes 50% off the starting price! But to get the best discount, you may not receive it for another two months. How many of you have waited patiently for the Nexus to be released? And are you willing to wait even longer for a deal?

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the future of Apple, Google, Facebook, and/or Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

You may have heard the famous adage: "If you aim to leave Las Vegas with a small fortune, go there with a large one." However, with these travel deals to Las Vegas, you won't need a fortune of any kind to enjoy the glitz, ritz, and razzamatazz that America's playground has to offer. So leave your holiday snowsuit behind and welcome 2012 with a bang, Frank Sinatra style.

We've got some great bargains up for grabs this week on three of the most trusted brands in photography: Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic. Every single deal ranks as an Editors' Choice, and we're spotlighting merchandise at a variety of price points for both the advanced photographer and the hobbyist shooter. We bet you can picture yourself taking advantage of at least one of these fabulous camera deals.

When trying to lead an eco-friendly life, you may find that you need a little help to keep you on the right path. Since our dealnews readers are technologically savvy folks, we decided to round up some top eco-friendly-themed apps for iPhone and Android. We've got a carpooling "social" tool, programs that record energy usage, and more.

Christmas! Hanukkah! Festivus! Kwanzaa! These words all signify a great season to be a child, so we've rounded up five more of the best toy deals out there for tots and toddlers. We've got five Editors' Choice bargains from a Dora the Explorer ball pit to a Star Wars light saber night light. (You could always just say you're buying that light saber for a kid...)

Snow may seem like the enemy when you're shoveling your walk or commuting through it, but for the skier, a heavy snowfall is a ticket to heaven. Few moments in life are as exhilarating as gliding down a mountain, carving smooth curves in fresh snow. If you're itching to give the sport a try, read our checklist of the gear you'll need, and about how much you can expect to pay.

The dealnews Podcast is sending you Episode 189, so open your heart (and ears) and let it in. This week: shipping deadlines, tipping guidelines, and (again) SharkBanana.

Every year, PNC Bank calculates the cost of all the gifts given in the classic song "The 12 Days of Christmas". They call this their "Christmas Price Index" and they say it can be viewed as an indicator of how the economy is doing. This year, the magic number for all those birds and lords and ladies is $101,119.84. But here at dealnews, we're all about bargains. So we went looking to see if there was a better "12 days" that would be more in-line with our cost-saving perspective. We found just such a list in Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of the classic.

Athletic shoes that promise toning and shaping without actual physical exercise have become a popular trend, but do they actually work? If you or anyone on your gift list this holiday season is craving a pair of toning shoes, then some recent studies may make you reconsider your investment.

Making gift returns after the holidays can be a stressful task, since you're receiving an item that could have been purchased several weeks earlier. Fortunately, a handful of merchants have relaxed their return policies for the holidays, giving consumers until January to make any returns. Inside, we've got a cheat sheet of stores that are and aren't offering extended return periods.

Short on cash this holiday? Your insurance policies may be tying up hundreds of dollars over the year that you could be putting towards a plethora of other things. We've got some tips on where to begin to find your extra savings.

Ahhh, Hawaii. The name conjures up images of clear, emerald green waters, miles of beaches, tropical waterfalls and volcanoes... and often how expensive it can be to visit. If you've ever thought that the Aloha State was out of your budget, then maybe these Hawaii travel deals will make you think otherwise. Just send us a postcard, will ya?

Wintertime is upon us, and while many people associate the weeks ahead with snowfall, Santa, and sleigh bells, it also means we're indoors a lot more. While that can lead to cabin fever, it can also make you ill in other ways. The more you're indoors, the more exposure you may have to household environmental hazards, which is why this week, Green Dad turns the spotlight on indoor risk factors — and deals on handy products to help keep you safe, all winter long.

Christmas is right around the corner, which means we're approaching numerous shipping cutoff dates. If you're still planning on placing online orders, then be sure to check out our expanded roundup of shipping deadlines.

Shopping for women can be a daunting undertaking for the average guy; even if you know that she'd like new clothes, where do you begin? What brand? What size? What style? We've got some solid advice to get you started as you seek out the perfect jewelry, handbag, clothes, or shoes for that special lady in your life. Take a look, and keep these tips in mind while perusing the deals on our site.

The dealnews Podcast is streaming Episode 188 through your ears. It's like an audible neti pot. This week, your phone is spying on you, you can rent toys for your kids, Google's planning a 2-day shipping scheme, ad-supported ATMs are in our future, holiday Coca-Cola cans and bottles confuse the masses, and more. Also: SharkBanana!

'Tis the season for gift cards — regardless of whether you're looking to give them or receive them. We've rounded up some current deals that come with free gift cards so you can score credits to buy future gifts, for yourself or someone on your holiday list.

The holidays should be fun, not hazardous. However, there are always toys just waiting to harm your kids. That's why W.A.T.C.H. puts together its list of the 10 Worst Toys every year. The group's mission is to save your children from horrible, strangulated, punctured, visits to the doctor and hospital. Here's the big 10 for 2011!

Twenty-first century technology has revolutionized the way hikers and hunters explore the woods. Both handheld GPS units and smartphones have compasses, but which is more reliable out in the middle of Mother Nature? Are smartphones replacing GPSs in this area as well? We compared the two technologies to determine which is the better wilderness guide for your needs.

The Vibram FiveFingers: a goofy running trend or the best way to run? We frequently find discounts on Vibram FiveFingers, and nearly every time they end up being amongst our most popular deals. So our staff became curious about their comfort and running attributes. We put four pairs to the test under three conditions: walking, hiking, and various increments of running. Here's what we found.

Last week, ConsumerWorld.org criticized Sears for padding online appliance purchases by automatically tacking on lengthy warranties that cost up to $550. Sears reacted by changing its practice, now allowing shoppers to manually opt-in. Are there other sites that engage in a similar practice? Are you less likely to shop there? Click here and sound off!

Been curious about those DSLR-like cameras we've been listing? Their compact size and price tags can be appealing, but what sort of features can you expect? We've got details on the oft-misunderstood mirrorless digital camera, as well as reviews on five models we've frequently found discounted.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the future of Apple, Google, and Amazon? No? Well neither are we! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

The temptation to shop enticing flash sale sites like Gilt and One Kings Lane for holiday gifts may be strong, but there are numerous caveats you should be aware of before you buy. Make sure you get your goods on time, and more, with our flash sale shopping tips.