Redbox Now Does Blue-ray Hooray!
Everyone has heard (read) us rave about Redbox for their cheap rentals and numerous kiosks, but they have gotten better. Why? Because they will now be carrying Blu-ray disks for a whopping $1.50. That’s a pretty sweet deal and maybe enough to get people on the fence about buying a Blue-ray player to actually get one. Although, I still stand by a media computer docked to the TV with a Blue-ray drive, but that’s not really the point.
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Swaptree.com Offers a Cost-Effective Swap Site with a Conscience
Millions of Books, CDs, DVDs, and Video Games Available
While bartering for goods has occurred since the beginning of time, a new consumer trend is emerging as people look to save money and reduce their environmental footprint (to make yourself feel better)- by swapping their stuff online.
Leading the way in the online swap movement is Swaptree.com, which gives consumers the option to trade in books, CDs, DVDs and video games they already have for items they actually want. There is no money exchanged as swappers pay only for shipping (generally under $3), so the site represents an enormous opportunity for cost-savings, versus buying the products off the shelf. (It’s also great for clearing out the old stuff that’s just collecting dust around your house.)
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Attention Runners and Bikers, Save Money by Using Your Phones GPS
I recently finished my first marathon and spent about 5 months training and around $200 on a GPS watch to help me track my progress. For anyone serious about biking or running and you have yet to try a GPS training gadget, you have got to give it a try. Knowing exactly how far you have traveled and the exact pace you are going is key to tracking your progress and reaching your goals. Not to mention, it’s just pretty cool.
Now, you can give GPS training a go for free! The Endomondo Sports Tracker application for your cell phone is now available that can give you most of the benefits of an expensive watch without any of the costs. This nifty application will not only track your runs, but when integrated with their website, you can find a summary of all your workouts, keep an eye on your friends latest workouts, see your workouts on a map and more. I guess the only downsize is you’ll have to figure out a way to carry or strap your phone on you during your run, but if you have a memory card in your phone, you can then use your phone as your GPS trainer and MP3 player.
Currently, the free application works with Nokia, HTC, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, HP, Eten, Palm, and Garmin devices.
Give it a try, for $0.00, you cant go wrong.
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How to Connect Your TV to your Computer
And Avoid Buying Unnecessary Media Equipment
There seems to be more and more devices coming out similar to Roku, Boxee, Google TV etc, which allow users to stream media, like Netflix, to their TVs. None of these players are all that cheap and they all seem to be limited in what they can do. Essentially, all the different type of media machines are just trying to mimic what a computer does. This is why I think more people should consider just buying a computer and having it permanently hooked up to your TV.
A computer hooked up to your TV allows you do to do pretty much anything other media machines offer and more. You could stream Netflix movies, use it as a Blue Ray player (with a Blue Ray drive of course), view your pictures, listen to your music, stream sports, watch hulu and more. All of this would come at relatively the same price if not cheaper than a limited media machine.
There are added bonuses to having another computer in your house as well, this machine could also be used as a server and storage spot for all your other home computers and laptops. You could hook your cable to this machine and install orb, which allows you to stream your computers media and cable to your blackberry or iphone for free (avoiding a slingbox). The flexibility of computers over these other devices is endless.
I do this at home and use an old laptop that is always hooked up to the my TV and I use my blackberry as the mouse and keyboard for the computer through an blackberry application. If you decide to go this route, make sure you use a fast enough computer to run your media and its probably best to have a video card with an HDMI out that would go to your TV.
Have you done this? How did you do it?
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Should I buy BP?
BP Exec by Mike Mitchell
This is an interesting question, for a number of reasons. I won’t go into too much detail here on BP (BP); you should make your own decisions…but consider this:
Yes.
- Stock is already at 50% of it’s highest value for the year.
- Might get bought by another company which will immediately make the value more.
- Over the long term, oil is only going to increase in value.
- Crowd seems to think its a good buy: you see a bounce after every big drop, thats from others scooping it up.
No.
- They haven’t even made a dent in the leak.
- Company is literally hemorrhaging billions of dollars.
- Lawsuits against BP.
- Obama’s oil fund is going to be expensive.
- Rebuilding their image is going to be expensive.
What do you think?
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DIY: How to Add Refrigerant to a Homes Heat Pump
To follow up on a recent post describing how to recharge your car’s air conditioner, I’d like to take the issue further and describe the process of charging your home’s air conditioner. Specifically, if you have a heat pump unit, which is one unit that does both your homes heating and cooling. If you Google the issue of adding refrigerant to your homes heat pump, all you will get is message boards of everyday people asking how to do it, and certified “professionals” saying it’s a job only for them to handle and you will likely blow up your unit just by looking at it wrong. The reality is that although heat pumps are slightly complex, the only reason “normal” people are banned/afraid of working on them is because the refrigerant used (usually R-22 in older units) requires a certification to either purchase, install, or take out of a unit. Now, there is a product on the market that emulates the same refrigerants your homes air conditioner requires, but is environmentally friendly and does NOT require a license. So here is my quick tutorial on how to add a charge to your homes heating and cooling unit.
[Ed. - New update after the jump]
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Hottest Deals of the Season
If you are going to do some serious shopping, do it smart and do your homework!
Top Deals:
• 13.3″ Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310RD for $599.99 plus free shipping (normally $699).
• Battle Fantasia (360) for $9.99 plus free shipping (normally $22).
• Match.com 3 days for $0
Computing and Peripherals:
• 20″ HP TouchSmart 300-1025 All-in-one Desktop PC for $872.65 plus free shipping (normally $949).
• HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server for $199.99 plus free shipping (normally $249).
• 18.4″ Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q830 Core i7 Laptop for $1,349.99 with free 2-day shipping (normally $1,432)
• 15.6″ HP Pavilion DV6-1354US Laptop for $649.99 plus free shipping (normally $799 – use this form).
• 15.6″ Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 LED Laptop for $599 plus free shipping (normally $1,043 – use coupon code USPGIFTY550).
• 15.4″ Dell Vostro 1520 2.2GHz NoteBook for $499.99 plus free shipping (normally $570).
• 14″ ASUS UL80Vt-A1 Laptop for $819.95 plus free shipping (normally $915).
• 13.3″ Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310RD for $599.99 plus free shipping (normally $699).
• 10.1″ Lenovo S10e Netbook with 160GB HDD for $229.99 plus free shipping (normally $270).
• 10″ Acer AOD250-1584 Netbook for $318.64 plus free shipping (normally $340).
• 10″ Lenovo IdeaPad S10e Atom 1.6GHz Netbook for $230 plus free shipping (normally $280).
• 28″ I-Inc iF-281DPB Widescreen LCD for $274.99 plus free shipping (normally $300).
• 21.5″ Compaq Q2159 1080p LCD for $139.99 plus free shipping (normally $170).
• 24″ Dell S2409w LCD for $189.00 plus free shipping (normally $279).
• HP Photosmart C4680 All-in-One Printer for $55 plus free shipping (normally $100 – use coupon code:SVN9846).
• XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB Video Card for $164.99 plus free shipping (normally $190 – use coupon code EBAAA280 and this rebate form).
• 1.5TB Western Digital WD Elements WDBAAU0015HBK External HDD for $99.99 plus free shipping (normally $139).
• Brother HL-2170w Wireless Laser Printer for $79.99 plus free shipping (normally $110 – use coupon code EMCMNMS95).
• Logitech Outdoor Video Security Master System for $199.99 with free shipping (normally $259.99)
• Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 Keyboard & Mouse for $54.99 with free shipping(normally $84.99 – use coupon code SVP54664 and this form)
Gaming:
• Nintendo Wii Console + 3 Wii Games Value Bundle for $239.00 (normally $260).
• Xbox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle w/Pure & Lego Batman + $50 Gift Card for $299.00 (normally $349).
• DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (360/PS3/Wii) for $88 plus free shipping (normally $118.99).
• Silent Hill: Homecoming (360) for $12.99 with free shipping (normally $18.99)
• Battle Fantasia (360) for $9.99 plus free shipping (normally $22).
• Left 4 Dead 2 (360) for $39.99 plus free shipping (normally $55.98).
• Left 4 Dead 2 (PC) for $29.99 plus free shipping (normally $39.90).
• Dead Space Extraction (Wii) for $36.99 plus free shipping (normally $48.99).
• Far Cry 2 (PS3) for $14.99 plus free shipping (normally $28.99).
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster USB Headset (PC) for $54.99 plus free shipping (normally $101.43).
Home Entertainment:
• 55″ Samsung LN55B650 1080p HDTV for $1,479.00 plus free shipping (normally $1640 – use coupon code LN55B650).
• 47″ LG 47LH85 1080p HDTV for $1,199.99 plus free shipping (normally $1549).
• 40″ Samsung UN40B6000 1080p HDTV for $1249.00 plus free shipping (normally $1399 – use coupon code EMCMNMS34).
• 32″ VIZIO VL320M 1080p LCD HDTV for $379 with free shipping (normally $480)
• 24.6″ Samsung P2570 1080p LCD for $248.99 with free shipping (normally $312 – use coupon code 40693M3916H1CP)
• 19″ VIZIO VA19LHDTV10T ECO 720p HDTV for $174.84 (normally $208).
• Energy Take Classic 5 Pack 5.0-Ch. Home Theater Speakers, plus Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer for $199.99 plus free shipping (normally $250).
• Planet Earth-Complete Collection Blu-Ray for $31.99 plus free shipping (normally $39 – use coupon code XB692).
• Band of Brothers (DVD) for $29.99 plus free shipping (normally $44.83).
• Superbad 2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition (Blu-ray) for $12.99 (normally $22.70).
• Sylvania NB530SLX Blu-ray Disc Player for $124.99 plus free shipping (normally $149.99).
Personal Portables and Peripherals:
• Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones for $136.02 plus free shipping (normally $180.17 – use this form).
• Magellan Maestro 4700 4.7-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator for $149.99 plus free shipping (normally $199.99).
• Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes for $119.99 plus free shipping (normally $166.99).
• Griffin Simplifi Dock, Media Reader & USB Hub (iPhone 3G, iPod) for $37.99 with free shipping (normally $49.99)
• Garmin nuMaps Lifetime Map Update Card for $79.99 with free shipping (normally $96.49)
• AT&T Option GT Ultra Express Card (unlocked) for MC/Mac for $29.99 with free shipping (normally $40)
• Sandisk 4GB MicroSDHC Card for $7.95 plus free shipping (normally $15).
Hobomodo:
• Match.com 3 days for $0
• Team Fortress 2 Free-Weekend(PC) $0
• Pitter-Pat Acoustic AmazonMP3 Exclusive Version (MP3) by Erin McCarley for $0 (download here).
• 7 Cities (iPhone) for $0 (normally $2.99).
Thanks to the new intern David at Gizmodo for helping out with today’s list. If a deal looks too good to be true, investigate the store and see if it’s a good, reputable place to buy. Safe shopping!
[Thanks also: TechDealDigger, Dealzon, Logic Buy, GamerHotline, Cheap College Gamers,CheapStingyBargains and TechBargains.]
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2009 Black Friday Deals Leaked
This is one of those moments where you should be wary of impulse buying: corporations created this pseudo holiday and are enjoying every minute of it … especially when you say
Wow, I wouldn’t normally buy this, but its too cheap not to!”
Be sure you are buying what you can afford. Oh yea…and don’t trample anyone….
Read more »
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Droid vs iPhone vs Palm Pree vs MyTouch: Total Cost of Ownership
Wow, that was a long title, but this is exactly what it says, a comparison of all these phones and what it might end up costing you in the long run.
Its hard to really condone some of these phones simply because, not only are they wicked expensive, but in order to fully realize their potential, you have to buy into data plans that (per MB) are way more expensive than the data connection going to your house. [Remember this?]
Billshrink.com has put together a nice little huge image that captures a lot of the finer details of what these devices shake out at.
(Click to enlarge)
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Deep Savings at Swoopo.com
Update: I have some more current findings I would like to share…let me type them up. Check back soon. (Or subscribe)
I received a link from a buddy of mine the other day to a site that kind of blew my mind. Swoopo.com is a discount shopping site with lightening fast auctions that seems to work really well.
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Free Boston Market Coupon!
Print the image below and present at any participating Boston Market for a $1 Chicken Meal!
Expires on November 1, 2009.
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Hulu Will No Longer Be Free in 2010
It was too good to last let alone be true…Hulu will be a paid subscription service as of 2010. While we all are enjoying this free service kicking the shorts of cable, it seems that the rumors are true and Hulu isn’t able to survive on ads alone.
Read more »
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Five Reasons to be Skeptical About Your Finances
This is a guest post by Al Jacobs, the author of OnThe MoneyTrail.com.
Do you regard yourself as a skeptic? Does a clever advertisement or plausible testimonial convince you to buy a product, or do you normally suspend judgment until you can check it out? If you fall into the latter category, you’re a skeptic—and if so, it’s a good thing, particularly in managing your money. The world of finance is a hazardous place, perhaps more so today than ever before. You’ll need to be extra cautious if you want to avoid losing your shirt. Let me describe five areas in which you must exercise skepticism.
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Ally: New Bank on the Block
There is a new bank on the block that seems to be making waves as all the other banks flounder. Some are starting to recover but Ally Bank was able to jump in when the getting was good. They also have the unique position in having a perfect traffic record if only because they are younger. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, its actually a great place to be.
Ok, maybe its technically not a new bank, they used to be GMAC and changed the whole brand last May, but the whole new persona and semblance of being a younger, nimble, “hip” bank is probably going to do wonders for them. Older more “wiser” banks have been shown to be full of greed and malice and Ally hopes to stay away from that.
The data sheet on what you can get through them as far as services aren’t necessarily mind blowing but they are definitely competitive. And since they have few competitors, they aim to stay around. At this time, their online savings account has a higher interest rate than most money markets. Worth a look!
[Edit: Below are the brand new rates]
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GOOD’s Complete List of the Best Infographics on the Financial Mess
If you have never been to Good.is, take a second and head over there right now. I’ll wait here. Patiently. It’ one of my favorite sites, not only for the excellent content on sprinkling of design items but for the business information I get from it as well. Careful, its a time suck.
They are putting together a $500 contest for the best infographic based on this financial mess and its a great opportunity to learn something interesting and enjoy excellent design work. You might have realized that I really dig these things from earlier posts, like this one. Natch, I picked this winner months ago. :)
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