Blog Archives for 2014

A 22-year-old programmer named Aktarer Zaman made headlines this week when he was sued by United Airlines and Orbitz over his website Skiplagged, which helps travelers find cheaper fares through the practice of "hidden city" ticketing. According to the complaint, United says the whiz kid "intentionally and maliciously" interfered with airline industry business relationships "by promoting prohibited forms of travel." But what is this practice, and do the airlines have any right to shut it down?

The week after Christmas is also known as the week in which everyone returns all the awful sweaters (and other unwanted gifts) that they received for the holidays. In this brief video, our experts discuss the ins-and-outs of returning unwanted merchandise.

Complaining won't make the cold weather go away, though the right garments can certainly keep it at bay. Here we survey 10 clothing choices that will turn cold and frosty into warm and toasty. Hot cocoa is optional; just don't spill it on these fine specimens of anti-winter wizardry.

Merry Christmas! No doubt you reading this through a food-and-nog coma, having already given and received enough presents. But with the holiday gifting season over, you can think about what you REALLY want. If that pottery kit from Aunt Marge isn't doing it for you, see if you can use the store credit on one of the items below, like an unlocked, refurbished iPad mini for the best price we've ever seen, or a 65" Smart HDTV. These offers and more are in the Editors' Choice deals that we found overnight and early this morning

Amazon houses a rich ecosystem of marketplace sellers that have clawed their way up to top seller status. But cashing in on the marketplace model isn't a matter of merely posting products. You've got to work it, though the question remains: How? We talked to some experts to find out.

With the temperature dropping and family and friends gathering close, what better way to pass the time than watching some seasonal programming? You don't need a cable subscription to enjoy your favorite holiday episodes from hit TV shows, since many are available online. So come all ye un-entertained, and enjoy some of our favorite streaming holiday TV specials.

Steam's annual Holiday Sale means massive discounts for PC gamers. Since many of the best Steam Sale deals pop up only briefly, we've rounded up a few quality titles to watch for that will help fill your game library without emptying your wallet. You're likely to find these games, at these prices, and know that they're worth your time.

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

T-Mobile unveiled a new perk that allows users to rollover unused data from month to month. Except the wireless provider can't actually call it "rollover." That's fine though, because CEO John Legere claims that the current name, Data Stash, is cooler anyway. Readers, help us find the answer to this debate!

Why chance ruining the holiday by getting your kids toys that'll harm them? That's not very cheery and in the spirit of things! To make sure you don't spend Christmas in the E.R. check out W.A.T.C.H.'s list of the season's 10 Worst Toys.

The rumor going around is that the next version of the Windows operating system will be subscription-based. Either you'll pay a monthly fee to use it, or you'll pay a monthly fee for add-ons. In this brief video, our experts discuss the pros and cons of paying a monthly fee to use software.

The last weekend before Christmas is a heady, anxious time for shoppers. The so-called "Super Saturday" sales that occur during this time offer one last chance to score a deal on that perfect present. Super Saturday falls on December 20 this year, and we've searched our archives to give you all the data you need to prepare.

Sick of hearing about Zuzu's petals for the millionth time? Do you think the flag pole scene in A Christmas Story is just endangering children at this point? Check out our list of 10 lesser-known holiday films, many of which can be found for free or cheap online.

Love bourbon, bacon, and chocolate? Too bad. Those are just a few of the things you can expect to pay more for next year, thanks to droughts, increased demand, and, possibly, hipsters. Find out what else will be more expensive next year.

The Great Recession may have technically ended over five years ago, but that's probably a surprise to millions of Americans still worrying about their budgets. A modicum of relief is on the way in 2015, as prices fall on some popular goods and services. From cranberry sauce to a Kia sedan, read our predictions for things that will be cheaper in the coming year.

While it's possible today to start big, big, big with a bankroll of private financing, that's not exactly how many of America's iconic brands got off the ground. In an overwhelming number of cases — and with the seven examples listed here — humble origins preceded the evolution into something huge.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Apple Watch, Mass Effect 4, Windows 10, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

In the past, we've cautioned against buying an "Ultra HD" 4K TV because there was barely any content for it and they were still too expensive. A year has passed, so has the situation changed? In this video, our experts discuss if 4K TVs are now a smart purchase.

As you go on your shopping runs this ho-ho-holiday — whether at malls or on the Internet — you're probably not thinking much about the smells, colors and textures around you. But retailers certainly are, and their manipulation of these things can encourage you to spend more money.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Apple, Star Wars, Assassin's Creed, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

Everybody take a deep breath: Black Friday has come to an end. While there are still some Cyber Week sales to consider, and an onslaught of holiday promotions on the horizon, we can at least close the book on Black Friday 2014. Which retailers made the week awesome, and which just made the week more difficult?

Today Amazon announced that it will sell its own line of diapers, stepping into the world of house-brand products like Target's Up & Up line. But if you were hoping for much cheaper, generic-level pricing, think again.

Give your photos a much-needed reboot with one of these Editors' Choice camera deals. From point-and-shoots to SLRs, we've got the right Cyber Monday camera deals for every need and budget.

Sure, the deals are great on Black Friday, but don't forget that Cyber Monday is just around the corner! Sales will be starting as early as tomorrow, and the best way to save is to be prepared. Find out what to buy, where to buy it, and more with our Cyber Monday guides:

• The Top 10 Stores for Cyber Monday Deals in 2014
• The Best Things to Buy on Cyber Monday
• Black Friday Who? How to Prepare for Cyber Monday!
• 12 Ways Cyber Monday is Different From Black Friday

The last time Black Friday rolled around, the Xbox One was a distinctly bad buy. But that's not the case these days! With significantly patched software and a robust library of games, gamers can finally feel good about adding an Xbox One to the cart. Read on to discover the best Xbox One Black Friday ads out there.

Here in the DealNews ivory tower, it's easy to forget that not everyone loves Black Friday deals the way we do. Because we love and value the opinions of our fellow netizens, we're sharing our favorite quotes from this web fight. Can the Internet convince you to sit out Black Friday for good?

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

Amazon's official Black Friday ad is out and in addition to starting its deals an entire week before the competition, the online retailer is also throwing some serious price-matching punches toward Black Friday veterans like Walmart and Target. Here are the deals we think you shouldn't miss.

Navigating through stores on Black Friday can be a nightmare. But what if there's a Black Friday doorbuster you simply must have? As professional deal hunters, we're here to show you how to increase your chances of getting that super deal, and more importantly, how to decide if it's worth your time in the first place.

We now know what will be included in Walmart's "Pre-Black Friday Event" in the store will match the prices of various items found in competitor ads. As it turns out, there are some pretty awesome doorbusters available.

We're all aware that men and women sometimes approach situations differently, and that certainly extends to Black Friday shopping. We recently surveyed our readers and discovered that there are quite a few areas in which the genders differ when planning for the biggest shopping week of the year.

When it comes to the numerous shopping days that arise at the end of November — Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and their more-forced ilk (like Mobile Monday) — word of mouth is a powerful promotional tool to get shoppers excited to spend. And, in theory, save. But which of these shopping events gets people chattering the most? The answer makes sense, but might seem contradictory to what we know about these events.

All things considered, it's relatively easy to prepare for Black Friday — what with the ad leaks and analyses starting months ahead of time. But then, just days after Black Friday, you're blindsided by another amazing shopping day that you're just not ready for! Well not this year. We put together some tips and tricks to make sure you hit Cyber Monday running.

From the delightful to the debunkable, over-the-top marketing schemes speak (or perhaps scream) to the carnival barker in us all. Here are eight examples of product promotions that have made history, hysteria, or in some cases both.

When it comes to Black Friday doorbusters, few retailers can step into the arena with the likes of Best Buy and Walmart. However, despite the intense competition, hhgregg has come out swinging with its own batch of record-breaking TV deals, some of which are putting its bigger competitors to shame.

Better late than never, Toys "R" Us has finally put out its Black Friday ads. These stores will open up at 5 pm local time on Thanksgiving, with a handful of in-store exclusives that are certain to make kids melt and parents grumble. Will any of the Fabulous 15 toys break tradition and see super savings? (Spoiler alert: Nope.) Read on for our full Toys "R" Us ad analysis.

Macy's is known for making Black Friday headlines. In fact, since 2011 the retailer has been debuting its Black Friday ad as early as October. But this year the nationwide retailer has released its Black Friday ad 28 days "late." So which retailers beat Macy's to the punch?

If you can get past the pages and pages of TV and tablet ads, you'll see that retailers are cooking up some seriously great home deals this year. We've scoured the Black Friday ads from top to bottom to bring you the appliances, gadgets, and kitchenware deals that are set to save you the most money. Read on for our favorite Black Friday home ads.

We have always wondered why — with the mounting evidence that proves that most Black Friday deals appear online — people continue to shop in-store rather than chill at home once the shopping holiday rolls around. Our recent poll, however, seems to explain it.

Shoppers will do anything for a good Black Friday deal, but two California diehards are taking things to the extreme by setting up camp outside a Best Buy retail store 22 days before Black Friday. Are they taking it too far?

Kmart isn't playing around with Black Friday this year. Boasting the earliest Thanksgiving opening time at 6 am, Sears' sister store is intent on holding a 42-hour Black Friday shopathon. But will the deals be worth ditching your turkey dinner to stand in line? We examined the leaked Kmart Black Friday ad to find out.

It's name may conjure up images of economy-size paper towels, but this membership-only wholesaler is stepping up its game this Black Friday with a handful of electronics sales we think are worth checking out, including the best iPhone 6 sale we've seen to date.

'Tis the season... but which one? It used to be that you could walk down the road, see the leaves changing, feel the crispness in the air, and smell the pumpkin spice, and you'd know it's fall. But over the years Black Friday has turned into Black Friday Eve and this year retailers are flat out opening on Thanksgiving.

High-tech gadgets aren't the only items to go on sale on Black Friday. As it turns out, Black Friday is also a great time to stock up on power tools and home appliances for the do-it-yourselfer. We've hand-picked the best deals from Ace Hardware, Sears, and Harbor Freight Tools for an early look at what we can expect later this month.

Stores have increasingly been using social media to promote Black Friday, and Lowe's continues that trend by turning to Vine. This is the first time we've seen a store preview via Vine, and it's actually pretty amusing.

We'll be updating this page with all the latest news, ads, buying guides, and any other information you'll need to get the best gaming deals on Black Friday. We're expecting the biggest deals on the Xbox One as well as PC games; so be sure to bookmark it and check back regularly.

Subsidized phones, even flagship models from Samsung and Apple, will be dipping to $1 and lower this Black Friday. We'll be updating this page with all the latest news, ads, buying guides, and any other information you'll need to get the best phone deal on Black Friday; so be sure to bookmark it and check back regularly.

The tablet market may be saturated, but that will mean great deals on Android and Windows devices this Black Friday. We'll be updating this page with all the latest news, ads, buying guides, and any other information you'll need to get the best tablet; so be sure to bookmark it and check back regularly.

Want to start planning your Black Friday shopping? Or are you looking for the latest ads on the day itself? We're putting all out news, ads, and guides in one place. Read on for a complete list of our Black Friday TV resources.