Gearlog

TechSaver Test: RadioShack July 4 Sale

2009-07-02T17:33:25Z

RadioShack is offering 17 products at a discounted rate for its July 4 Sale. Several of the products are on sale through the end of the month, too. Orders totaling $50 or more will receive free ground shipping (except desktops, laptops, and TVs).

RadioShack doesn't have a huge stock of electronics as we all know, but from time to time it does offer great deals. To put the store to the challenge this week, I'm taking four sale items and comparing them to other retailers' prices. Let's see if RadioShack's sale on the Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS, Casio Exilim EX-Z29 10.1MP Digital Camera, Plantronics Explorer 230 Bluetooth Headset, and Cyber Acoustics CA-3402 2.1-Channel Speaker System will have you running back for more.

Magellan Maestro 4350
(Regularly $249.99; Now $159.99)--Good Deal!
The Maestro 4350, back in December 2008 when PCMag tested it, was available for $499.99 (street). Since then, it's come down in price substantially. PCMag GPS Analyst Craig Ellison liked the 4350's improved user interface, its OneTouch feature for accessing frequently used destinations or searches quickly, and its ability to calculate up to three route profiles simultaneously. Unfortunately, Magellan took away its excellent voice-command feature for hands-free control. Still, it's one of Ellison's top-rated GPS models. And guess what? It's also the best deal you can score online! NewEgg, TigerDirect, Best Buy, Amazon, and other retailers don't even come close to beating RadioShack's sales price. Good deal verified.

Plantronics Explorer 230 Bluetooth Headset
(Regularly $39.99; Now $34.00)--Bad Deal!
Sale valid until July 5
This Bluetooth-enabled headset works from up to 33 feet away from your cell phone, letting you go hands-free while driving or in a business meeting. Right off the bat, it doesn't seem like the Explorer 230 is going to be a good deal. For starters, you won't get free shipping with this item since it isn't over $50. In order to avoid shipping costs, you'll of course have to head to your local RadioShack or get it shipped to the store. And don't forget to add on tax to your total. Thankfully, you can get better deals elsewhere. Amazon has the Explorer 230 for $28.68 with free shipping; for $28.61 (includes $2.99 shipping, no tax) at Buy.com; and for $27.55 (with free shipping and no tax) at an online store called ABT.com, which has received great ratings from customers.

Cyber Acoustics CA-3402 2.1-Channel Speaker System
(Regularly $49.99; Now $24.99)--Good Deal!
Sale valid until July 7
This speaker system comes with a wooden subwoofer cabinet and flat-panel satellite speakers. Again, you won't get free shipping with this item since it's not over $50, so you'll have to visit your local RadioShack store or get it shipped to the store. But if you want to pay the extra $6.05 for shipping, plus tax, you're looking at a total price of about $34. Surprisingly, that number is still cheaper than Amazon's, Office Depot's, and other retailers'. Good deal verified.

Casio Exilim EX-Z29 10.1MP Digital Camera
(Regularly $129.99; Now $119.00)--Bad Deal!
Sale valid until July 5
The Casio Exilim EX-Z29 is a basic cam with a 4x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, and anti-shake technology to reduce blurry photos. Although it comes in four color options, the black model is the only one on sale here. However, you do get a special bonus with your purchase: add a SanDisk 2GB SD memory card to your cart, and you can have it for just $4. Since your order will be over $50, you'll get free shipping; only thing extra you'll have to dish out for is the tax. I don't know about you, but I like color choices. Thanks to Best Buy, you can get the black, purple, or pink EX-Z29 for only $116.99. That includes free shipping; just add on the tax, and you've got yourself a colorful bargain! Even better, for $114.99 plus tax (free shipping) you can get the purple or silver model from Buy.com. Boo-yah!

Is a store running a sale that you want me to put to the TechSaver Test? Send me an e-mail at TechSaver@pcmag.com, and I'll investigate.

Happy Fourth of July!

Tweetlog: Epson Perfection V300 Photo

2009-07-02T16:53:37Z

Have a ton of old slides and prints in the closet? The Epson V300 (http://tinyurl.com/l3wcnj) can bring your family photos into the 21st century.

Any Surface is a Speaker with the K-box

2009-07-02T16:50:17Z

Want to play your iPod's music throughout the room? You don't need external speakers when you've got the Kerchoonz K-box, which turns any solid surface into a speaker.

The K-box has a standard 3.5mm audio jack, so it works with any audio device. Simply plug it in to your player and the surface beneath it resonates with the music you're playing. To see it in action, check out this impressive demonstration video on YouTube.

According to the press release, the K-box uses patented Gel Audio Technology to convert surfaces into speakers. It has both a standard speaker inside for mid- to high-range frequencies, and the Gel Audio Technology for delivering bass through the surface beneath it. The result seems to be a much more balanced sound that most compact speakers can produce.

The K-box is the size of a mobile phone, and it recharges through a USB connection for a playtime of 20 hours between chargings. Get it for $74.50 US plus shipping and handling from the company site.

TechSaver: Olympus Camera, Skype Adapter, Jenson Music System

2009-07-02T16:32:44Z

Apparently I have something in common with the iPhone: I also shut down in the summer heat.

1. Sing it with me: "I want to be/ Under the sea/ With a waterproof Olympus camera." I'm going to have to work on that last bit. Anyhoo, Adorama is practically giving away the Olympus 1050 digital camera for $149 with free shipping. This classy compact camera delivers 10.1 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom, and it's waterproof up to 10 feet. So take it snorkeling with no worries. Take it with you in the pool. Take those secret bathtub pics you've been waiting to try. This Olympus will still work perfectly when it's out of the water.

2. Here's a clever device for people who want to use Skype at home but aren't crazy about wearing a headset. The D-Link DPH-50U IP Telephone Adapter lets you use your exiting corded or cordless home phone with Skype. Your phone will be able to receive both standard and Skype calls. You can even forward Skype calls to your cell phone when you leave home. How does it do all this? Magic. Buy.com has it for $8.99 after $10 mail-in rebate, with free shipping.

3. It's a whole compact stereo system for $34.98 (with free shipping). That's the NewEgg.com price for the Jensen Docking Digital Music System, which plays and charges your iPod, and also includes speakers, an AM/FM radio, and an alarm clock.

Please, Silence Your Cell Phones

2009-07-02T15:51:58Z

The month of July is known for cookouts, family fun, and fireworks, but did you know that July is also National Cell Phone Courtesy Month? So be sure to silence those phones before you go any further, because I want our top three tips to observe this holiday to go uninterrupted.

1. I'll put my phone on vibrate for you. Remember this handy little function? Vibrate allows you to feel the calls without interrupting everyone in the room with Beyonce's hit song "Single Ladies". This function can best be put to use when at dinner with friends, in class and at work, or on the bus. "On a Boat" may be your summer theme song, but others may be in a different zone.

Two more, after the jump.

2. To text or not to text. Similar to how slurping in some countries is considered a compliment; there are some places where texting is rude. Different places and people set the bar at different levels. If you're unsure if sending a quick message to a friend, ask if it's OK to whip out the phone.

3. Talking while ordering. Speaking from personal experience, I know cashiers certainly don't like it when people order their food while talking on the phone. Put down the phone and talk to the person who holds the fate of your burger in his or her hands. Not only will they appreciate it, but I guarantee they will hold the spit.

Archos 9 PCtablet: The New Netbook on the Block

2009-07-02T14:58:40Z

Archos is throwing the keyboard out the window for its new netbook, the Archos 9 PCtablet. The 9-inch screen is touch sensitive, so all typing is done on onscreeen. The design allows this netbook to weigh under 2 pounds, and it's only 0.63 inches thick.

It's not just about what's on the outside, though. The Archos 9 uses the new Intel Atom Z515 processor, boasts a 60GB or 120GB hard drive, has built-in Bluetooth, and features two antennas to receive DVBT TV with diversity reception. As a final bonus, this model comes standard with Microsoft Windows 7.

Look for the PCtablet to ship this fall; no pricing information has been announced as yet.

Images of Apollo Landing Sites Will Soon Hit the Intertubes

2009-07-02T14:05:20Z

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has entered into a flawless orbit around the moon, and is now getting ready to snap images from a distance of about 31 miles above the surface, according to Slashdot.

Among the expected findings will be high-resolution, close-up images of the Apollo landing sites from 1969 through 1972, along with some of the old Soviet automatic probes.

To date, the best images we have so far were made by the Japanese probe Kaguya, the report said; they showed a white patch where the lunar module's engine had blown away dust on the surface.

TechSaver Test: Office Depot's 4th of July Savings

2009-07-01T22:19:00Z

Office Depot isn't just an office supplies store; it also carries electronics and computer hardware. This week you can enjoy discounted items in Office Depot's 4th of July Savings. It's offering $30 off on digital cameras, $10 to $60 off on USB keys, up to $70 in savings on printers, up to $200 off on select HP notebooks, some freebie offers, and more. All offers expire on July 4. Place $50 or more in your shopping cart online to get free next business day delivery (Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. local time).

In today's TechSaver Test, I'm going to challenge Office Depot's sale prices on the SanDisk Cruzer USB 2.0 Flash Drive (32GB), the HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us) notebook, the Nikon Coolpix S560 camera, and the Lexmark X7675 Wireless Color Flatbed All-In-One. Is the Depot your savings hero? Find out after the jump.

SanDisk Cruzer USB 2.0 Flash Drive (32GB)
(Regularly $139.99; Now $79.99)--Bad Deal!
SanDisk USB flash drives have been rated very well by PCMag.com's analysts. In fact, the SanDisk Cruzer Contour had a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, as well as an Editors' Choice award. The 32GB Cruzer model that's on sale, however, offers tons more storage and is smaller in size, at 2.3-by-0.8-by-0.4 inches. With an instant savings of $60, the Cruzer seems like a good deal; you even get free shipping if you don't want to waste gas money driving to the store. The only extra money you'll have to dole out, of course, is for taxes. I hate to break it to Office Depot, but NewEgg.com has the same drive for $74.99, with free shipping and no tax. Buy.com even has it on sale for $65.99; tack on shipping ($7.30) and taxes, and you'll still pay less (even if it does only save you 30 cents or so).

HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us)
(Regularly $799.99; Now $599.99 with mail-in rebate)--Good Deal!
When PCMag reviewed the HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us) back in April (3.5 stars out of 5), Laptop Analyst Cisco Cheng boasted about its thin form factor, 4GB of memory, 3D-capable graphics chipset, and that it's one of the cheapest 12-inch ultraportables around. And it still is: Office Depot is not only giving out $150 in instant savings, it's also offering a mail-in rebate worth $50. The good news: no retailer comes close to this super deal, not even NewEgg or Amazon. Good deal verified.

Nikon Coolpix S560
(Regularly $199.99; Now $169.99)--Bad Deal!
This lightweight camera features a 10-megapixel image sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD, a 5x optical zoom, and supports SD and SDHC memory cards. Lacking a viewfinder is always a negative in my book, but that's probably one of the reasons why the S560 is priced to sell. PCMag hasn't reviewed this camera, but the word on the street is that it has good performance and image quality, especially at higher ISO settings. With free shipping, Office Depot's sales price seems like a good deal, but you will have to add in tax. But if you buy the S560 at ButterflyPhoto, you can snag the black model for $158.99 (free shipping and no tax); the "cherry blossom red" and blue models sell for a little more, at $165.95 and $164.95, respectively. Amazon.com's price of $157.97 for the "cherry blossom red" model (with free shipping) is even lower; the blue model is $158.03. You can get the black model from Amazon, but it's shipped through Adorama Camera. This means you'll have to pay extra for shipping, which will cost you around $10, for a total price of about $165; that's still cheaper than Office Depot's price!

Lexmark X7675 Wireless Color Flatbed All-In-One
(Regularly $199.99; Now $119.99)--Good Deal!
The X7675 printer received good marks (3.5 out of 5 stars) from PCMag Printer Analyst M. David Stone. He liked that it has a duplexer for printing on both sides of the page; an automatic document feeder; and ethernet and Wi-Fi support. Although slow with a low paper capacity, it's more suitable for light-duty printing in your home or home office. Surprisingly, several retailers are offering the Lexmark X7675 for around the same price, with free shipping: Staples ($119.98); B&H ($119.95); and Amazon.com ($119.95). But remember, you'll have to pay tax with your Staples or B&H purchase, along with Office Depot; Amazon is tax-free and the better choice of the three, but if you live in NY State, you have to cough up the tax. So, if you want to avoid tax (unless you live in NY State), go with Amazon. However, Office Depot's price is still worthy, so I'm keeping it as a good deal.

Until next time, be savings smart!

eMachines Introduces All-White Budget Mini-Tower

2009-07-01T20:58:30Z

Budget PC manufacturer eMachines has released a new all-white budget desktop in a mini-tower form factor, priced from $299 to $449. The computers come with a matching white-trim keyboard and LCD monitor with a 1366x768 resolution. There are three models in the line, from the cheapest ET1810-01 to the most expensive ET1300-02. As for computing power in these sleek desktops, these are exactly the type of computers that eMachines is known for. Expect budget performance and affordable prices.

Specs after the jump.
The ET1810-01 features an integrated Intel Celeron processor clocked at 1.6GHz, integrated NVIDIA GeForce 7050 graphics, 2GB of memory and a 160GB hard drive. The ET1810-03 sports an Intel Pentium Dual-Core processor at 2.2GHz, integrated NVIDIA GeForce 7050 graphics, 3GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. Finally, the ET1300-02 has an AMD Athlon X2 4850e Dual-Core processor at 2.5GHz, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce G100 GPU with 512MB of onboard RAM, 3GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive and DVI and HDMI video connections.

All models feature 6 USB 2.0 ports, an 18x DVD+/-R/RW burner, a multi-in-one media card reader and the aforementioned matching keyboard and monitor.

Study: Half of Mobile Subscribers Would Cut Data Plans

2009-07-01T20:29:17Z

We all know the economy is a mess, but smartphones have been one of the few bright spots--yet a new study has found that there's a limit even to that category. According to research firm Strategy Analytics, nearly half (48 percent) of Americans would drop their mobile data plans completely if they had to trim expenses, MediaPost reports.

That's markedly different than what the firm found about home broadband services, which customers are far more reluctant to cut; only 10 percent would do so. "What surprised us was the vulnerability of mobile services," Ben Piper, director of Strategy Analytics' multiplay market dynamics service, said in a statement.

In addition, just 12 percent said they would cut pay TV services altogether, but 41 percent would scale back to a lower tier of pricing, the report said--which is exactly what I've done recently. In fact, my first recommendation would be for the 13 percent of mobile subscribers that don't use their cell phones at all to cancel their plans and stop paying for them, but hey, what do I know.

NASA Launches 'Free Spirit' Web Site for Stuck Mars Rover

2009-07-01T19:08:07Z

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has launched Free Spirit, a Web site dedicated to keeping track of the agency's efforts to free the stuck rover on the surface of Mars, Space.com reports. NASA currently has an entire team of engineers working to simulate the rover's predicament using a test rover and several tons of simulated Mars dirt.

"People really like the whole 'free Spirit,' idea and we thought we should make it really easy for people to find updates," said Veronica McGregor, a NASA spokesperson at JPL, in the article. "In a way, we're trying to make it a campaign that everyone can get involved in."

The team is still working on the problem of a big rock situated beneath the rover's stomach, though it appears that it isn't touching quite enough to become a huge problem. Still, the situation remains precarious. "This is a very tough situation and we're not sure we can get Spirit out," McGregor said in the report. There's lots more, including a video showing the spinning wheel in the dirt, so head on over to the Free Spirit Web site at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/freespirit/. (Image credit: NASA/JPL)

TechSaver: Westinghouse LCD TV, Guitar Hero Bundle, McAfee Security

2009-07-01T17:30:37Z

The Walkman turns 30 this week and so does TechSaver, which started life as a blue ditto sheet stapled on an A&P bulletin board. The first deal? A SpaceMaker microwave oven.

1. Shhh! This is going to be our little secret. Nobody has to know you paid only $483.99 for a Westinghouse 42-inch LCD TV. The price is so low because this is a refurbished model sold by MacMall. Your friends don't have to know that, though. Just let them be impressed by the crisp 1080p display. You'll also enjoy the 16:9 widescreen, the 1000:1 contrast ratio, and the 4 HDMI inputs. It's a no-compromise television at a super-low price.

2. Guitar Hero fans, you're going to hold your lighters in the air when you see this deal. RedOctane is selling the World Tour wireless guitar and mic bundle for the Xbox 360 for only $49.99, and that's with free shipping. They'll be no cords in your way as you wail on this guitar with a new touch-sensitive neck. The mic is wired and comes with a 15-foot USB cable.

3. Sure, you know you need security software on your computer, but it's so expensive. Well, not today. Buy.com, selling on eBay, is offering a time-limited deal on McAfee Internet Security 2009. You can get it for $11.99 with free shipping today only. Jump on it, because prices like that don't come around often.

Win a Macbook Pro from MoonFruit

2009-07-01T16:30:42Z

MoonFruit, a free web-building provider, is celebrating its 10th birthday. To kick off the joyous event, the service is giving away 10 new Macbook Pros--one each for 10 days, that is. All you have to do is twitter about it.

Include #moonfruit tag in any tweet, and maybe you'll be one of the lucky winners. There has already been a victor for day one, by the name of gecko84 from the UK. So who's next?

Apple Issues Heat Advisory for iPhone 3G, 3GS

2009-07-01T16:02:11Z

Whether anecdotal reports of iPhones overheating are true or not, Apple has taken them seriously enough to reveal the presence of a temperature warning screen for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Here's the deal: an unknown but probably very small number of iPhones have been affected by overheating, to the point that some white iPhone 3GSes have allegedly turned pink. Sascha Segan, our phone analyst, said he hasn't seen any such problems with his iPhone 3GS, however.

Apple, however, has issued what some might call a "common sense" warning: a support document that warns users not to keep the iPhone in an environment where temperatures can exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit, including parked cars.

But Apple also warns that CPU-intensive applications, such playing music or using the GPS while in direct sunlight may also overheat the iPhone.

In that case, actually using the iPhone in temperatures over 95 degrees can also trigger the temperature warning. "Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly," Apple warns.

Obviously, summer temperatures in many locations top 95 degrees.Las Vegas, for example, has forecasts topping 100 degrees for the next 10 days; Phoenix routinely climbs above 103.

So what will happen? Read on.

Apple also says that the iPhone 3G and 3GS should not be stored where the temperature can fall under -4 degrees Fahrenheit, or used in less in temperatures under 0 degrees F.

If the phone exceeds those temperatures, Apple says, the iPhone may stop charging, its display might dim, a weak cellular signal may be experienced, and the temperature warning screen on the left may also appear. Apple's support document implies that there's a temperature sensor of some sort built in to the iPhone 3G or 3G S

If that happens, Apple says, you'll need to let the iPhone cool down before you use it again, although the phone may be able to make emergency calls during that time. How long will that take? Apple doesn't say.

The Walkman Turns 30

2009-07-01T16:01:30Z

Over at PCMag today, we're marking the 30th anniversary of the Sony Walkman by looking at the last 30 years of portable audio. Do you know who Andreas Pavel is, and why Sony paid him millions? Do you know what the Walkman was originally named on its first U.S. release? How 'bout the name of the first MP3 player? (Even if you think you know this one, I bet you don't!)

For answers to these burning questions and more, check out the full story at PCMag.com.

Post by Tim Gideon