GPS

Best and Worst Things to Buy in February

The short month of February is here, and just because it's a mere 29 days long doesn't mean it's any less chock full of deals. Check out the list of the best and worst things to buy in February, which the dealnews editors compiled after poring over their extensive archives of sales, coupons, and individual products from years past. If you're curious about Presidents' Day sales, gifts for Valentine's Day, or prices on electronics, outerwear, and more, then read on.

Valentine's Day Deals Are Predictably Not Great
Since this is the time of year in which jewelry, flowers, and perfume are in their highest in demand, it shouldn't surprise anyone that you probably won't get the best price possible on these items; perfumes, for example, generally see better discounts in late February after Valentine's Day and March. That's because there's less incentive for retailers to offer truly great deals on these items when they're selling so well due to circumstance. Try buying your sweetheart a less routine Valentine's Day gift in a category that's more likely to see a fair discount.Read more

Add new comment

Great Gifts for People On-the-Go

by jessica on Thu, 2011-12-08 15:39

Do you have someone on your gift list this year that's always on-the-go – whether it's driving the kids to basketball practice or constantly running around town for a business meeting? Check out our picks of some of the best gifts for people on-the-go:

Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse
Designed for people on the go, this wireless mouse pops up for comfort and flattens for portability. When you're ready to go simply collapse the mouse, slip it in your bag, purse or pocket and you're set! Arc Touch features a touch scroll strip with Microsoft Touch technology for fast and easy navigation and Bluetrack technology lets you use it on almost any surface – even on carpet!

Price: $59.95
Website: www.microsoft.comRead more

Black Friday Deals Revealed

Black Friday 2011 is almost here. The editors over at Retrevo have been analyzing the deals on electronics from HDTV sets to digital cameras and have turned up some real deals and some duds. There are some great deals like a Sharp 42-inch 1080p TV for $199 at Best Buy although we suspect supplies will be limited on killer deals like this one. On the other hand, there are some deals that don't look as sweet - like the $78 Magnavox Blu-ray player at Walmart - that has been offered in past Black Friday deals. Here are some picks and recommendations:

*Amazon hadn't announced their prices as this list was put together but we're sure Amazon will be offering some very compelling deals

HDTV Bargains Come in All Sizes

If you're looking for a small TV to put on the counter, bedside or next to Grandma's chair there are some under $100 small screen sets worth considering. There are plenty of larger screen deals to consider as well even some 3D sets.

Samsung 55-inch D6000 LCD TV for $1099 at Sears
This TV offers some attractive features for the price. You get 120Hz, LED backlight and connectivity all for $400 off the normal price.

Dynex 24-inch 1080p LCD TV, $79 at Best Buy
Dynex is Best Buy's house brand which we understand is made by a Thai electronics manufacturer named Orion. Even though you don't really need 1080p on a set this size, it might make DVDs and games look better and it's hard to turn down at $79. Read more

Add new comment

How Car Gadgets Improve the Landscape of the Auto Industry

by David Novak on Thu, 2011-10-06 13:31

The past few years have seen a big influx of car gadgets, and many consumers will not consider even the best looking car if it doesn't have the gadgets and technology they need. Simply put, people are hooked on gadgets, gizmos and all sorts of tech for their cars and trucks. From music - to Bluetooth - to GPS - to onboard PCs, the automobile's primary attraction is not so much the big engine anymore, but rather, all of the bright shiny electronics that accompany them.

These are the top 5 car gadgets that people are interested in when purchasing a car:

Keyless Ignition: Cars with remote ignition make it easy to warm your auto during the winter. With this gadget, you can push a button and the car starts heating up for you, while simultaneously locking the doors and securing the car. But if you really want to keep your hands free to battle corruption, you should go keyless. With a keyless ignition system, you keep a key fob in your pocket. A sensor will detect the key fob's presence in the car and start. All the driver has to do is push a button on the dash and press the brake.Read more

TomTom Launches First Nav Device with Apps from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia & Twitter

by David Novak on Wed, 2011-08-31 08:32

TomTom recently announced the GO LIVE 1535, the world's first portable navigation device to feature apps from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia and Twitter, all designed for safe use on the road.

The GO LIVE 1535 makes it easy for technophiles and travel lovers alike to get all the information they need, from hotel availability and local restaurant reviews, to the ability to automatically Tweet your arrival time without taking your eyes off the road. TomTom's award-winning HD Traffic technology provides real-time traffic updates to ensure travelers reach their destination via the quickest route.

HD Traffic is the most accurate reporting available. It captures more of the actual traffic jams than ever before. It also processes traffic conditions for all major and secondary roads within the U.S. road network, and proactively delivers real-time traffic updates to devices every two minutes.Read more

TomTom Makes HD Traffic Service Available on All LIVE Models

by jessica on Fri, 2011-05-13 05:00

TomTom announced this week that they are expanding its TomTom HD Traffic service to all LIVE models available in the United States. Until now, TomTom HD Traffic was only available on the GO 2535 M LIVE.

Now, owners of the GO 740 LIVE and XL 340 LIVE, as well as the newly released GO 2535 M LIVE, will not only have access to LIVE Services - including Local Search, Fuel Prices, and Weather Forecasts – but they will also have access to TomTom HD Traffic.

TomTom also announced that they have dropped the annual subscription fee for LIVE Services to $59.95 per year (previously it was priced at $119.95!). Read more

TomTom GO Series Now Available

by jessica on Wed, 2011-04-20 05:00

First introduced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, TomTom's GO Series is now available in the United States. The new models include the GO 2535 M LIVE (formerly the GO 2505 M LIVE) and the GO 2435 and 2535.

The connected GO 2535 M LIVE is the first of the TomTom GO LIVE devices to feature LIVE Services, including TomTom HD Traffic. TomTom HD Traffic captures more actual traffic jams and recognizes traffic conditions for all major and secondary roads within the U.S., with real-time traffic updates delivered every two minutes.

LIVE Service is delivered via AT&T's wireless network and also includes Local Search powered by Google, Fuel Prices, and Weather Forecasts. LIVE Services are available out-of-the-box with a free 12-month subscription. Read more

Verizon Brings 3D Maps to DROID Smartphones with VZ Navigator VX

by jessica on Fri, 2011-01-28 14:11

Verizon Wireless just announced VZ Navigator VX – the latest version of the company's navigation service. Now available on select DROID smartphones (DROID X by Motorola, DROID Incredible by HTC and the Samsung Fascinate), VZ Navigator VX provides customers with 3D navigation views using 3D city models and true-to-life images of highway and exit signs.

The 3D capabilities of VZ Navigator VX are available in six cities at launch (with more cities being added in 2011):

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
Kansas City, Mo.
New York
Washington D.C.

Read more

12 Things That Will Cost Less in 2011

By Beth Pinsker, Editorial Director of dealnews

One of the great things about technology is that we can count on prices dropping at a steady clip over time on the things we want most. The more demand, the faster the electronics industry seems to satisfy us with new, cheaper products. Think how different it is for non-electronic items such as milk and cereal, which always seem to go up (see our list of 20 Things That Will Be More Expensive in 2011). We've now proven this mathematically, by sifting through thousands upon thousands of tech deals that we've listed over the past couple of years.

Our price trend data shows how prices dropped on 12 popular items from 2009 to 2010, based on the individual deals we list on our site. Then we keyed up our dealnews experts to find out what low price points you'll likely see in 2011. Just a note on our process: The data for this analysis is derived from "deals" that were previously listed on dealnews.com. By definition, all deals on dealnews are price-checked, verified offers — "the lowest total price we've seen" — so the data used for dealnews predictions is based on low prices, not average prices. Refurbished deals are excluded. We correct for anomalies like outliers, floor effects and disruptive new technologies that influence pricing trends. Read more

1 comment

Technology Winners and Losers of 2010

2010 was a great year for consumer electronics although some product categories may have had a better year than others. The Retrevo editors compiled a list of some of the big winners and losers among consumer electronics products and technologies for 2010 based on data from Retrevo Gadgetology studies and their own expertise in the world of gadgets.

Winners, 2010