Blog Archives for 2012

Have you seen Google's Project Glass augmented reality glasses? Then you're going to want to take a peek at the alternate reality we've envisioned where you can get all the functionality of it, but without the high-tech shenanigans! You haven't seen the video? Well, then, we've also included it inside for your viewing pleasure!

Spring is busting out across the land, which can only mean two things: shutterbugs springing into action, if you will, and lots of cool SLR deals to harvest and highlight. This week we're zooming in on Editors' Choice SLR deals from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax, as well as an "SLR-like" Olympus.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was reportedly spotted at the offices of game software heavyweight Valve, spurring rumors that the manufacturer is planning a foray into serious gaming. But in what capacity, exactly?

The birds are singing as they line their nests and wake you up far too early in the morning. And although you're not expecting hatchlings, their industriousness is infectious. You, too, feel compelled to welcome the changing season by refurnishing your home. And we at dealnews make that simple! From tables and chairs to an inflatable hot tub spa, we've found the best deals on home furniture.

Even if you're expecting a hefty refund for 2011, the tax season can still be a stressful time for consumers. You can soothe your nerves and (if you owe the government) by indulging in our favorite perks for Tax Day: freebies, deals, and discounts! From massages to free food, here are the best deals to make your day a little brighter.

Recently, we offered a secondary lens guide for readers looking to take their photography to the next level. And now, equipped with that second (or third, or fourth!) lens, in addition to your camera body and kit lens, you may see a need for the right camera bag to carry them all.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane rumors about Apple, the iPhone 5, Facebook, and Nintendo? Well neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

It's hard to imagine a world without stereo headphones. You practically can't go anywhere in public without seeing someone sporting earbuds, big puffy headsets, or designer headphones that look like the hi-fi equivalent of body art. And to celebrate the art of sound, we've got five deals on headphones.

Apple and five book publishers were slapped with a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice yesterday, with charges that they have conspired to fix prices on eBooks. Some analysts believe the result could eventually mean lower prices for consumers. But how much do you think an eBook should cost anyway?

Best Buy caused a stir when it announced that it would close 50 stores and focus its efforts on mobile technology. Then, the retailer disclosed that its CEO, Brian Dunn, was resigning. A seismic executive shift and a reconsideration for what it sells is worrying behavior to say the least, but how will these events impact the bottom line for consumers?

The dealnews Podcast Episode 206 is here! This week, Jeff, Louis, and Dan ponder the billion dollars Facebook just spent on Instagram, get cross-eyed thinking about Google's Project Glass, combat cell phone theft with the FCC, and more.

The Golden Poo Award is bestowed upon the champ of the corporate chumps in The Consumerist's annual Worst Company in America Award. This year the honor went to an unlikely winner: Electronic Arts, which publicly pooh-poohed the award. dealnews talked to Chris Morran at The Consumerist to find out how the video game company has run afoul with customers.

Not surprisingly, eBook reading is on the rise, according to a recent poll. But under what circumstances are you willing to go digital, and when are you more likely to opt for print?

Whether you're working at a construction site or in an office, or if you only use your iPad, Kindle Fire, laptop, smartphone, or other gadget at home, there are all kinds of protective covers available to keep your electronics safe. Read on for the lowdown on the best materials used in electronics cases, so you can choose the right deal for your needs.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane rumors about Jeremy Lin, the iPhone 5, the next-gen PlayStation, and Facebook? Well neither are we! YAY! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures!

Amazon's bargain prices and its logotype A to Z arrow (or customer satisfaction "smile") have earned the company worldwide notoriety. But if you've been reading The Seattle Times' scathing series of reports, Amazon isn't as idyllic of a company as some may have thought. With purported grievances from sales tax evasion to a glaring lack of philanthropy, the Times suggests that Amazon's image has become a source of contention amongst the community, the company's peers, and even its employees.

Last year 112 million taxpayers filed federal taxes online, and this year the IRS predicts that more folks will file electronically than ever before. It's therefore no wonder that tax software products become popular purchases around this time every year. While we can't promise you a hefty refund, we can offer details on a variety of tax prep tools you'll need to get one.

The dealnews Podcast Episode 205 is here! This week, Jeff, Louis, and Dan contemplate the usefulness of the penny, non-expiring Groupons, Ashton Kutcher's role as Steve Jobs, and more.

The phrase "everything old is new again" is as true for cameras as it is for fashion trends. Fortunately, retro chic actually costs less when it comes to refurbished cameras. This week, we've found deals on Olympus, Nikon, and Canon digital cameras, plus camera accessories.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the iPhone 5, the next-gen PlayStation, and mutant turtles? Or the future of Apple, Microsoft, and Zynga? Well neither are we! YAY! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures! And then go tell everybody about them!

April is here, and if you're stuck indoors waiting out showers that will bring May flowers, consider it a blessing: You'll have an excuse to devote more time to shopping around for deals! In an effort to guide you toward savvy purchases, we dug through the dealnews archives from years past to see what goods are, well, good to buy in April, and what you should hold off on.

Just as there's no such thing as a free lunch, quite a few apps out there entice you with a gratis download price tag, then ensnare you with in-app purchases. But just how much money are otherwise frugal folks willing to spend? And which in-app purchases will set you back the most money? dealnews investigates the cost of free apps.

If you're the kind of traveler who enjoys the act of traveling as much as the vacation portion of a trip, we encourage you to book a sea-bound voyage. Not only are cruise packages at some of the lowest prices we've ever seen, but the destinations are abundant. With a cruise package deal, you'll enjoy more than just the pleasures of traveling at sea and days in port; the savings to be had with these cruise deals may change the way you think about fun and relaxing vacations.

In less than a year 4G technology has matured from a cool add-on to have on your handheld to a must-have feature for any smartphone. But with so many models on the market, how do you know which phone is right for you or which model offers the best value? We've hand-picked five of today's best-rated (or most anticipated) 4G smartphones to help make your decision easier

The dealnews Podcast Episode 204 is here! This week, Jeff and Louis were left to fend for themselves, but they handle the situation with aplomb through such topics as: Employers asking for your Facebook login, Pottermore cranking out the Harry Potter eBooks, Instagram, Angry Birds, Draw Something, and more.

A few months ago, the increasingly popular Shopkick app announced that it had recently reached 3 million active users. These millions of consumers cash in on in-store savings from the shopping rewards application by earning points and rewards, as well as unlocking special discounts redeemable at the cash register. This obviously excites anyone invested in brick-and-mortar retail, but is the app really providing a sizable advantage over online shopping?

Yesterday, news spread that Newt Gingrich's campaign had decided to charge $50 a pop for photographs taken with him at a campaign speech in Delaware. Now, we don't report on political issues, as we are, after all, a shopping website. But we do report on deals. And we just couldn't help but point out that there are some more thrifty options available for our Republican readers out there.

If you're shopping at a Kohl's retail location and can't find what you're looking for, you can look to the Kohl's Kiosk, which houses the online version of the store's shopping experience. But will the kiosk let you redeem those online coupon codes we frequently find for Kohl's? And if so, is there an advantage to using the in-store kiosks for certain items over shopping at home from a computer? dealnews investigates!

At what point does exercise and work converge? Well, for personal trainers, that's every day. For the rest of us, however, it rarely happens. But thanks to the FitDesk, we can all experience the confluence of human existence's worst activities! Since we liked the idea of knocking out two chores at once, we wanted to see how well this exercise bike works. To read (and see!) our thoughts on the FitDesk, click through for our video review!

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the iPhone 5, the iPad 4, and Windows 8? Or the future of Apple, Microsoft, and Zynga? Well neither are we! YAY! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures! And then go tell everybody about them!

Have you ever seen a Pacific sunset? The majesty of the California coastline is breathtaking. And now's the perfect time to head west. The Golden State boasts some of the best wine, restaurants, scenic views in the nation. To help you experience all that California has to offer, we've found deals on flights, hotels, and activities.

Gas prices have been steadily climbing, and some experts are predicting that there's a chance we could see $5 a gallon gas prices come June. As consumers, we may not be able to control the escalating prices — but we're not powerless. Here are some sensible ways to save on gas and use less of it, so you end up with more cash in your pocket this summer.

Kids are taken from their families and forced to fight to the death on a remote island. This is the plot of "Battle Royale." But, it turns out, it's also the plot of a new book / movie combo, too: The Hunger Games! In this piece, we investigate the monetary value of Katniss' bag. You know, the one — NO SPOILERS!

The dealnews Podcast Episode 203 has been approved by the FDA for human consumption. (It contains 76% of your daily dose of comedy.) Discussed by our expert panel of non-doctors is the new iPad's bigger battery and hotter temperature; Windows 8; the New York Times creating further restrictions for online viewing, and more.

Since their mainstream debut at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, 3D TVs have been a niche product. Sky-high prices, competing technologies, and expensive glasses have given consumers more than enough reasons to ditch these TVs in favor of lower-priced LCDs. However, we're predicting this summer will be the year of the 3D TV (finally), and here's why.

It's been roughly six months since the devastating floods in Thailand, and the storage industry is still struggling in the wake of the destruction. Analysts predicted hard drive prices would increase in the months following, and unfortunately, that's precisely what we've seen. But where do we stand now, and how long will it take for prices to stabilize? We looked at price trends in the dealnews archives to get a better picture.

Some people look at sunglasses as disposable items to buy at the dollar store, while others see them as fashion statements worth paying hundreds to get just the right pair. But we just want to make sure that you get a pair that protects your eyes. So here are some tips (and deals) to help you pick a pair that will suit your face and your budget at the same time.

While energy-efficient appliances can save you money through usage, few people realize that you can get a tidy refund via a tax credit too! And though it's too late to claim such a credit on last year's taxes, you can start planning for a payoff on this year's, by purchasing an Energy Star appliance. Here's what you need to know about the savings can you expect.

There will always be a deluge of people who always buy the latest and greatest from Apple, but what about consumers who are currently tablet-free and ready to jump aboard the slate train? We wanted to know how many first-time tablet owners plan to buy the new iPad, a previous generation, or a different platform entirely, so we asked our readers. And the results of the dealnews survey are in!

Any savvy traveler knows to check the fine print before making travel plans. We generally know that hotels require notice if we cancel our stay, and that airlines won't let us switch departure dates without paying a fee. But what happens if the vendors are the ones who change your plans?

The palindromic dealnews Podcast Episode 202 is ready for you, for ready is 202 Episode Podcast dealnews pallindromic The! Discussed by our expert panel of certified talkers is the unveiling of Google Play, Walmart offering UltraViolet copies of your DVDs, Netflix grasping at straws, Marvel pushing digital, total coverage of the London Olympics, homeless hotspots, Doritos Tacos, and more.

Anyone who has dropped or scratched their iPhone, tablet, or other gadget knows the importance of having a good case or screen cover on it. These accessories can be the difference between having a working device and one that's barely functional. But, it doesn't end there. We talked with some electronics experts for their ideas on the best ways to protect your gadgets from damage that goes beyond your basic cases and coves.

There are challenges that tell us how much heart we have, and the peak of a mountain is one that always looms above our heads. Every day, ordinary people attempt to ascend to altitude greatness, whether it's at Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, or Mt. Hood, Denali, or even Mt. Katahdin in Maine. We praise these climbers, but advise that before you begin your vertical ascent, you not only gear up, but brush up. Here are tips for preparing to undertake a mountain climbing adventure this spring.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing about the iPhone 5, the iPad 4, and the iTV? Or the future of Apple, Microsoft, and Maggie Smith? Well neither are we! YAY! That's why we put all the latest buzz from the Internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup! Go on, indulge your guilty pleasures! And then go tell everybody about them!

Look around your own home, and you'll find power guzzling electronics and appliances in both likely and unlikely places. But by making some fairly painless changes, you can see big savings: in energy, cash, and yes, saving the planet. Here's a look at some of those power-hungry appliances, and what you can do to be more efficient and economical without backbreaking hassle.

It's the dealnews Podcast Episode 201 In this show, we cover the new iPad ... and that's about it. (There was a lot to say, so we said it.) There's also plenty of our usual jokes, laughs, and fun, so even if you hate Apple, you'll probably find this show enjoyable, anyway!

Universities understand that the stress of midterms must be offset by a week of leisure, and it's a pity that "going on spring break" ends at graduation. But why not change that this year with a trip to Mexico? With the deals we found on hotels, vacation pacakages, and fun-in-the-sun activities — in both Cancun and Cabo! — you'll be making those vacation days from work worth while.

One of the most notable upgrades for the third generation iPad is the inclusion of 4G LTE connectivity. But how much will that speedy service cost you? And if everything can be streamed and downloaded so much easier, how quickly might you use your allotted data?

The best way to improve your car's stereo system? It isn't exactly what you think. While new speakers and amplifiers are surefire ways to make your stereo louder, boosting its sound quality is as easy as peel-and-stick sound dampening material.