Features Archives for 2011

This Christmas, there were nearly 7 million new Android and iOS activations, which means we're going to guesstimate that there are also now approximately 7 million out-of-service cell phones lying around. (Give or take.) If you got a fancy new tech item during the holidays this year, it stands to reason that you now have an older, unused counterpart sitting around collecting dust. How about donating, recycling, or even exchanging them for some cold hard cash?

Another year is coming to a close, and we're celebrating by counting down the top 10 hottest deals of 2011. We also included some details on whether you'll find any of these stellar bargains again in 2012. So grab a bottle of bubbly and raise a toast to these amazing offers.

New Year's Day shall soon arrive! We vow to spruce up our house and make it more of a home, update our office flare, and find our new 2012 style. We've got a roundup of the best current furniture deals to help meet this 2012 resolution.

Are you on the hunt for informational resources for your outdoors activities, but hesitant about carrying around cumbersome guidebooks? With these eight outdoors apps for both iPhone or Android, you'll have all the information you need at your fingertips. And in some cases, these apps you can even save you some money to put toward, say, a new set of golf clubs or a telescope.

The iPhone is certainly one of the leaders in the smartphone game, but it's not exactly deal-friendly. Both Android and Windows phones are priced for a wide array of budgets, while still offering top-of-the-line features. (Or, as you'll see with some deals below, they can also offers a cheap barebones option.) Today we've rounded up the best current smartphone deals from Samsung, Dell, and HTC that offer great features and affordability.

The dealnews Podcast is offering you Episode 191. Take it as our gift to you, with nothing more to buy, ever. This week: Gift card strategies, Best Buy Black Friday backlash, Netflix hides its DVDs, top search terms of 2011, holiday stories, and more.

As we mentioned in a feature from yesterday, gas prices will continue to rise next year, and already, the average American spends approximately $1,600 per year on gas for their car. Rather than just accept this growing expenditure, take a look at these five rewards credit cards with no annual fees that will help you save on your purchases at the pump throughout the year.

The season of mistletoe and "ho, ho, ho" may be winding down, but it seems that holiday shopping isn't ready to, well, take a holiday just yet. Thus, today we've rounded up the best current deals on Android tablets. At some of these prices, even an Apple fan may be convinced to give an inexpensive Android tablet a try.

As another year draws to a close, we think back on everything we've seen. Then we judge its worthiness and put the cream-of-the-crop into end-of-year lists. For dealnews, that means we've got our 2011 Tech Awards piece all ready for you. Find out what we thought was noteworthy in the past year!

Were you eco-unfriendly in 2011? Well thankfully with the new year, everyone gets a fresh start. Here are Green Dad's list of 10 resolutions for a greener and leaner 2012. Any one of these tips could make you an eco-friendlier person in the year ahead. Commit to all 10, and you could give Green Dad some serious tree-hugging (and cost-saving) competition.

It's inevitable that as the New Year creeps closer, we begin to muse about what's to come in the next 12 months. So dealnews is taking a look at what price adjustments consumers can expect to see in 2012. This week, we read the economic tealeaves to see exactly what will be more expensive this year. Some increases seem almost customary, like ever-rising gas prices, while others, like a potential 25% hike on tap water, are more surprising.

Did you miss out on that 55" HDTV you wanted because Santa couldn't get it down the chimney? Well, all is not lost! Today's after-Christmas sales include deep discounts on a variety of electronics, from cameras to streaming HDTVs. These are the hottest after-Christmas tech deals we've seen so far today.

With leftovers divvied up and torn wrapping paper recycled, what's left to the holidays? After-Christmas sales, of course! We've rounded up some of the day's most popular sales from your favorite merchants. From Target to Barnes & Noble, these are the hottest after-Christmas sales so far.

As you bask in the glory that is your stash of gifts from the Christmas weekend, you may be pawing over a gift card or two. And today's after-Christmas sales might seem like an extremely tempting place to start redeeming them. But depending on what you're looking for, you might get the most value out of your gift card if you wait to shop.

What a holiday season it has been! We at dealnews have had lots to be thankful for this year. But there are still a few things we've got to take care of: namely, some holiday gift returns. We unwrap the stats on holiday returns thanks to this gifted infographic.

It's almost Christmas, and we're bringing out an oldie from the dealnews video archives. It's a USB Christmas! 2.0! (No, we didn't update it, we're just stating that most of these items are 2.0 compatible.) A few years back, we gathered a slew of bus-powered, Christmas-themed doodads and let them all run loose simultaneously. Click through to watch this cacophony of festiveness!

It's been a rough couple of months for hard drives; deals on HDDs are still in short supply due to flooding in Thailand, and now both Seagate and Western Digital have announced that they will slash warranties on their new drives in 2012.

During this weekend last year, a large portion of the country was blanketed in snow and ice. But so far this year, the winter hasn't been very, well wintry. Those in Florida may be happy as clams to maintain 60- and 70-degree temperatures, but if you're seeking out colder climates (and some fluffy snow!) to get in the spirit of the season, then check out these budget-friendly cold-weather vacation deals.

Is your favorite Christmas tradition forgetting to buy gifts for people? Do you find yourself without a single present for anyone you care about? Fear not! We've compiled a list of last-LAST-minute gifts you can give to save your skin. Barely.

You've made your list, checked it twice, and just realized you forgot to buy a few gifts. And since no one likes a sad present-less meme, the elves at dealnews central have accessed Santa's secret database to share some hot, last-minute gifts. With these deals, you can buy online and pick up at the store.

Best Buy announced that, due to overwhelming demand, it has had to cancel numerous online orders this month, including some that were placed as far back as Black Friday. Have any of you had issues with your Best Buy purchases? And has it affected your holiday shopping game plan?

Have you put off your holiday shopping until the absolute, very last minute? Well fear not. You can still find gifts for your loved ones thanks to in-store pickup. Here's a list of national and regional "click-and-mortar" stores that'll let you shop online and pick up your gifts through Saturday, December 24.

In the next few days, airports nationwide will be flooded with travelers en route to see family or friends for the Christmas weekend, and many of them may be shopping at the increasingly popular terminal electronics stores. Travelers often look to replace headphones and chargers, while some might be hoping to pick up last-minute forgotten gifts. But how much will it cost you to buy electronics at the airport? dealnews investigated by gathering data from five different airports — and we discovered that you could be paying 34% more than you should.

We know, you're an Internet maven. You pride yourself on your navigating skills and your e-shopping acumen. But now that we've passed the date of safe standard Christmas shipping for most stores, you may find it necessary to get out of the house and go to a retail store — those are places where people traditionally interact with other humans while shopping. We've rounded up a few excellent deals with in-store pickup for you. Now go! Because you still need time to wrap them!

The dealnews Podcast is overnighting Episode 190 to your ears, for delivery in time for the holidays. Be home to sign for it! This week: Last minute holiday shopping, AT&T / T-Mobile merger falls through, Simple banking, Toys "R" Us will remain open until Christmas Eve, Facebook Timeline, holiday stories, and more.

According to AAA, 84 million people will take road trips between Christmas and New Year's this year. But is your car ready for potential freezing temperatures, snow, and ice? Winterize your ride with these tips and product deals.

Some deals are a no-brainer, and that includes discounted credits for your favorite stores. If you're sure to be shopping at American Apparel in the near future, for example, then why not jump on a deal that takes 50% off a credit? Inside, we've rounded up five deals that will please your closet, taste buds, and iTunes library.

Saving money is our motto here at dealnews, but occasionally we come across items worth spending a little more on. We've found that by splurging on things like computer systems, certain office gear, and yes, 500-thread count sheets, you actually wind up saving money in the long run because the higher quality of these items prolongs the need to replace them every year. From desktop replacements to cosmetics, we've listed our top five items where we think being too frugal doesn't pay.

Christmas may come first, but plenty of deal-seeking shoppers already have their sights on December 26. So what can you expect from the after-Christmas sales this year? We looked into the dealnews archives to find some post-festivity trends that will help guide your shopping game plan.