Blog Archives for October 2012

The dealnews Podcast Episode 234 is here to haunt you ... with knowledge! This week, it's a fun-size episode that covers very important Halloween-related consumer news including: The cost of Halloween, sexy Big Bird and other top adult costumes, presidential mask predictions, and more.

The recently-released Optimus G is LG's latest flagship handset and the first quad-core processor smartphone available in the States, and is quickly being dubbed "The most powerful smartphone in the world." But does the Optimus G actually live up to the claim? Our friends at GadgetReview scoured the Internet for reviews to find out.

Whether you're a showroomer or an early-morning in-store Black Friday shopper, having your smartphone nearby is a smart move this holiday season. From special QR codes to price matching via your smartphone, retailers will rely on the latest technologies to deliver discounts right into the hands of shoppers.

As the entire Eastern Seaboard receives a windy wash from the hurricane, some consumers may be considering a last minute emergency food kit purchase. While this is an excellent resource to have on hand, shoppers should take a moment to study those food labels, as serving sizes don't always translate to the portions we're used to eating.

The Black Friday ads for Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria's Secret have leaked! While Tommy may offer some pretty choice discounts, the promotion from Victoria's Secret leaves us feeling underwhelmed. However, a look into our archives suggests that the lingerie store may offer something better come Black Friday, anyway.

The reins of Digitizd, a tech news site that offers insight into the constantly changing Web 2.0 landscape, have passed from David Pierce to Adam Thompson. We sat down with Thompson to get the scoop on his five favorite gadgets, with an emphasis on affordability over high-end.

Whether you're interested in the childlike wonder of Orlando's theme parks, the charm of a gondola ride in Fort Lauderdale, or the Latin flair of Miami, we've got the deals you need to make Florida an affordable vacation.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane rumors about the latest from Apple, Color, and Google? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

We often list cheap fake mustaches on the site, and it got us wondering: do they actually disguise your identity? We sent intrepid reporter, Jeff Somogyi, into a Starbucks to find out.

The dealnews Podcast Episode 233 is here with a barrel of apples in-arm. This week we cover the latest Apple event, including the new iPad mini, the new iPad, the new Mac mini, and other small Apple products.

Earlier today, we wondered why anyone would buy the newly revamped iPod touch for $299 when the even newer iPad mini is available for just $30 more. We're now taking that questioning a step further: for consumers who just want a budget-friendly Apple tablet, why buy the iPad mini at all?

The iPad mini is finally a reality! But does giving the people what they want hurt Apple's other product lines? Who will buy an iPod touch when you can get an iPad for just a few dollars more?

Here are dealnews, we of course like good prices, but we also love everyday data that sheds light on what Americans like to indulge in. As we come closer to the spookiest of holidays, here's a look at the real sweetness behind Halloween candy. So, double bag those pillowcases for the customary Halloween candy binge and take a moment to review the facts and figures behind the hidden world of candy.

The Black Friday countdown has begun. And while every day is Black Friday at dealnews, there are just a few weeks left for trimming the fat from your budget in order to save up for a big Black Friday purchase like a new HDTV. Just take heed of these money-saving tips, and you'll be set for a new TV in T-31 days.

Does Microsoft want to be more like Apple? It would sure seem so, judging from the company's latest decisions regarding its retail stores and Windows Surface RT tablets. Inside, we make our case, as well as offer insight on what this could mean in terms of deals.

On October 23rd, it's expected that Apple will finally announce an iPad mini. We thought we would take this occasion to share with you all the rumors - past and present - that we could find and remember that relate to this long-time-coming device. So, c'mon in to this week's Rumor Roundup! It's Apple-tastic!

Fancy letting your hair down whilst a Caribbean groove resets your stress level? Get ready for a relaxing tour because we've found deals in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and more. These two-person flight and hotel packages are a great way to treat your partner to a little romantic break.

Suffering from a stiff neck or back pains? It may be time to buy a new mattress. But mattress shopping can actually be fun if you know what you're looking for. Here are some guidelines on how to pick out the perfect mattress.

Love them or hate them, rebates are quite popular with bargain hunters. Yet over the last few years the number of deals with rebates have declined. However, the mail-in rebate isn't extinct; it's just a bit more rare, and slightly more precious, as deals with rebates now yield even better prices than before.

The dealnews Podcast Episode 232 is here to educate you about the latest consumer news ... and have a laugh while doing it. Edutainment. This week: iPad mini invites go out, but Jeff misses them; Time Warner starts charging for their modems; Best Buy wants to be relevant this holiday shopping season; Microsoft Surface RT tablet prices; Amazon breaks even; Boba McRib; and more!

Black Friday promotions are designed to drive shoppers into stores and kick off the holiday shopping season. And each year, these ads are leaked to the public before their intended release date. But this isn't always an accident, and in many cases, there's a marketing strategy behind leaked Black Friday ads.

As the Black Friday season ramps up, dealnews will be analyzing every Black Friday ad we come across, separating the bad deals from the good, and in the process letting you know which sales are worth your time. Today, we cross-examine the 2012 Harbor Freight Tools Black Friday ad. And as it turns out, there are many notable items, including a slew of products that are less than last Black Friday.

Although solid state drives are still costlier than traditional drives, prices on SSDs have fallen to the point where outfitting a laptop is no longer a luxury. But in terms of price-per-GB, are you better off buying a low-capacity drive or will you (and your wallet) benefit more from investing in a high-capacity SSD?

The newest editions to Barnes & Noble's NOOK tablet family are not only cheaper, lighter, and far more capable than the 7" NOOK Color, but the 2012 NOOK HD family also boasts features — like better resolution and design — that rival its brand name competitors.

If there's one date on which Walmart stands to make a lot of money — even more than usual — it's Black Friday. But the reailer could also stand to lose big this year if its employees make good on a threat to walk off the job on Black Friday, citing unfair labor practices, including low worker pay.

Aimed at discussing the intersection of technology, science, art, and culture, The Verge has earned its place in tech world. And The Verge's Senior Reviews Editor David Pierce is no stranger to gadgets. In this week's installment of the Techie Top 5, we get the scoop on his must-have electronics.

Worried that you might have a ghost, but think ghost hunting equipment is too expensive? Who ya gonna call™ to get the best bets for budget bustin'? dealnews, of course. In this video, our resident spirit-finder, Jeff Somogyi, reviews and gives you tips on several pieces of equipment that every "real" ghost hunter should have.

Can a $13 eBook reader make a splash in an already-crowded tablet market? German company Txtr hopes so, as it's looking to debut a no-frills eReader in conjunction with AT&T and Sprint. But other than a rockbottom price, what does the Txtr Beagle offer?

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane rumors about the latest from Apple, Google, and Batman? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

The undeniable nip in the air this morning triggered a warning in our minds: Winter is coming. So we took refuge in researching sunny vacations, and up popped Mexico. Besides the pictures of pristine white beaches and palm trees, our interest was piqued when we learned that Mexico's climate stays above 75°F year-round. And thanks to the price tag provided by these deals, we won't have to sell any more of our children to get there.

Full-frame sensor are typically associated with very high-end digital SLR cameras, with equally high price tags. But recent debuts from Canon and Nikon include a full-frame censor at a much lower price point. So what does this technology do for your photography, and will we soon see new price lows on full-frame DSLRs?

If our Black Friday Predictions toy piece didn't already get your heart racing about the upcoming shopping season, then this should: Toys "R" Us just released its list of the most anticipated toys for the holidays. (And yes, it is only October.) If you have a kid in your life, you better familiarize yourself with this selection of playthings. To make it a tad easier, we've cherry-picked our favorite five toys.

The dealnews Podcast Episode 231 is gonna teach you a thing or two ... and have a laugh along the way. This week: iPhone 5 camera problems; Halloween spending; 1 billion Facebook users; Starbucks tries to figure out tipping in a digital world; Google's next Nexus devices, haggling at Amazon; and more!

As the amount of digital content we consume increases and the quality of that content improves, we turn to bigger and better digital storage options. But how much storage do we really need? And does buying brand name storage matter?

Just how long will you have to wait for a refurbished deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 5? We combed through our archives of refurbished iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S deals to determine how long until deals for iPhone 5 refurbs start popping up, and how big of a price cut a consumer can expect.

An electric-assist bicycle is an ideal purchase that offers transportation and exercise. The cost of these bikes, however, can vary widely. So to help would-be electric-assist bike owners decide which bike is best for them, we've detailed some of the differences between high- and low-end bike models.

Home to storybook waterfalls, sputtering active volcanoes, vibrant vegetation, and some of the most coveted surf spots in the world, Hawaii has 'ideal destination' written on every islands' sands – or at least it does in our minds. With our latest deals to this most northern set of Polynesian islands, the worn-out budget vacay-hunter in you can find peace. After checking out our Hawaii vacation deals, you may find yourself saying aloha to warmer temperatures sooner than you expected.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane rumors about the latest from Apple, Microsoft, and Google? ? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

We know you gadget geeks liked reading about Darren Murph and Molly Wood's top five gadgets. In this installment of the Techie Top 5, we asked GottaBeMobile and Notebook.com's Josh Smith what his must-have tech goods are as of late.

The dealnews Podcast Episode 230 is gonna rock your ears with knowledge! This week: iPhone 5 glitches; the Samsung vs. Apple lawsuits continue; Android Gingerbread; 30 years of CDs; Amazon Wine; and, of course more!

With the days rapidly growing shorter, runners face some safety issues when hitting the pavement in the waning hours of sunlight. To make the most of a long, evening or early morning run, make sure to gear up and take precautions to ensure your safety.

Every year, Blu-ray players become more and more affordable. This year, we predict that a model with streaming capabilities will drop to a mere $39. But what about all the entertainment you'll want to play on this new device? Blu-ray disc movies will drop to just $4 a piece, while summer blockbuster titles could see discounts of up to 72% off.

While many apparel retailers will likely offer their best coupon of the year, the news might not be as good for luxury retailers and flash sale sites. Last year, both Groupon and Living Social disappointed us with their Black Friday-branded sales, and we predict that it will be more of the same this year. And although both Saks and Neiman Marcus joined in on the Black Friday fun last year, it looks like they might pull back from sales once again in 2012.

Black Friday doesn't have to be as serious as its name implies. After all, we typically see some very good toy deals during the shopping holiday. While we're predicting that the two major video game consoles won't see new all-time low prices this year, shoppers can still score a solid deal on a special holiday video game bundle marked 30% to 40% off. Popular, recently-released video game titles for as low as $15, too, should make any weary deal seeker feel like a giddy kid again.

While traveling on Black Friday (or any time during the holidays) will likely require paying top dollar, you can at least book future plans — perhaps a vacation for 2013, to relax after the shopping frenzy — around Black Friday weekend. There are plenty of ways to use the holiday sales to your advantage, and we've listed tips and advice about what you can expect from travel sales during Black Friday 2012.

Black Friday smartphone deals are calling! Will you answer the deal if it's 1 cent or free? This year we are expecting to see an abundance of deals on Android smartphones, and maybe even a discount on the new Apple iPhone 5.

The tablet landscape has certainly changed in 2012, as more brands and models have entered the sub-$200 price range. That said, this Black Friday, we predict that the new iPad and iPad 2 will see better price cuts than the slates from Amazon, Google, and Barnes & Noble. But what about Samsung models, or eBook readers? Check out our entire Black Friday tablet predictions for more details.

While Apple's Black Friday sale always generates lots of buzz, speculation, and media interest, we are anticipating this year's holiday sale to be a lot like years' past. We are, however, wagering some bets on discounts on a variety of Apple products from resellers — some offering sales of up to 25% off. And for those with the new iPad or an iPhone 5 on their wishlist, we expect to see some of the lowest prices on these Apple products this Black Friday, too.

In order for shoppers to know exactly what prices to expect for laptops this Black Friday, we poured over our archive of deals to understand past trends. As it turns out, Black Friday 2012 may push prices on even the most expensive of laptop models to about $500. As for budget laptops, prices could drop to around $180 — but not much lower. For all the details on laptops, from desktop replacements to ultra-popular ultraportables, be sure to read through and bookmark our entire Black Friday 2012 Predictions feature.

No device embodies Black Friday quite like the HDTV. From the leaked ads to the doorbuster sales, HDTV deals can be found everywhere during Black Friday week — making it truly a prime time to purchase a new set.

And this Black Friday we anticipate HDTV prices to drop even lower than last year, with some smaller sized-sets sinking to a mere $159. But on the whole, we predict a sizing-up trend for entry-level HDTVs from 42" to 46" and 47" HDTVs. Want to know what's up with 55" HDTVs, 3D technology, and plasma models? Be sure to read through and bookmark our entire Black Friday 2012 Predictions feature.

The best way to make the most of Black Friday savings is to be prepared. So we're kicking off the holidays early at dealnews with our fifth annual Black Friday deal predictions, compiled by our expert staff. If you're wondering how low big-screen HDTVs can go, how much you'll have to spend on a decent laptop, or whether you'll actually see a discount on an iPad, then you've come to the right place. We also have predictions for smartphones, eBook readers, toys, game systems, apparel, and even travel.

Apple's iPhone 5 remains the talk of the town from its raved-about Retina display to iOS 6 mapplegate. But Apple isn't the only 4G kid on the smartphone block. There is an assortment of Android and Windows 4G phones that give the iPhone a run for its money.

Whether you're a Starbucks spender or a Dunkin' drinker, free coffee should never be taken for granted. Because we believe loyal customers should be rewarded for their repeat business, we're looking at the perks from some of our favorite coffee shops.