Technology Electronics -
Redbox's new streaming service, economically
priced Ultrabooks, and slashed prices on HDTVs are expected at Consumer
Electronics Show.
Mon, Jan 07 2013 at 10:27 AM
An LG OLED TV display from the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
As the Consumer Electronics Show prepares to open next week in Las Vegas, we've already heard about the $10,000 55-inch OLED TV
from LG and a 100-inch laser TV projector with an as yet undisclosed
price. But when the hoopla is over, you'll be able to count on some good
deals in the coming year.
Here are five ways you can save money on technology in 2013.
1. HDTV
DealNews.com, a site that tracks prices on all sorts of electronics, has said it expects continued price cuts on big-screen LCD TVs this
year. One reason for the discounts may be that TV manufacturers
invested in 3D technology, which has been largely shunned by shoppers,
according to research firm NPD. Manufacturers may be eager to boost
sales with less complex models. For instance, a 50-inch LED TV from LG
is available from Walmart for $648 with free shipping — the lowest price
for any 50-inch HDTV, according to DealNews.
2. Streaming Movies
Redbox Instant from Verizon is a soon-to-be-released streaming
movie service that could be a better deal than Netflix. Redbox Instant
will offer unlimited movie streaming along with four Redbox DVD rentals
per month for $8, compared to $16 for a similar service from Netflix. At
the onset, Redbox will only offer movies (no TV shows) but it will
include a bigger streaming selection of blockbuster titles than Netflix.
Customers will be able to watch Redbox Instant on their phones,
tablets and computers, as well as through Blu-ray players and smart TVs
from Samsung and LG. To sign up for an invitation, visit the Redbox Instant website and submit your email.
3. E-books
In 2012, the U.S. Justice Department sued Apple and five major
e-book publishers over allegations of price-fixing. Four of the
publishers — Penguin, Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster —
agreed to settle and will no longer be able to prevent retailers from
discounting their titles. Apple and Macmillan declined to settle, and a
trial has been scheduled for June 2013. But the good news for readers is
that Amazon has begun discounting e-books once again, and even Apple has followed suit to remain competitive.
4. Laptops
Last year at CES, Ultrabooks
were all the rage. Lightweight and thin with higher resolution
displays than previous PC laptops, the new Intel-branded computers were
almost as expensive as MacBook Air laptops, starting at around $800.
However, a slew of "basic" Ultrabooks with prices starting around $500
is expected to debut at CES.
5. Smartphones
For the first time, new iPhones got a big discount. Walmart slashed the price of the iPhone 5
to $127 by offering a $60 in-store discount. A similar discount is
available on the iPhone 4S. Both require the purchase of a new 2-year
service contract along with the phone. The iPhone 4 has become free on
contract with all service providers.
While CES won't be the place for major new phone announcements,
which are traditionally reserved for Mobile World Congress in February,
expect to see a bigger selection of Android smartphones on budget plans
to compete with iPhones as the year progresses. Check back for CES 2013 coverage from Las Vegas beginning Jan. 6.
Courtesy information and Related on TechNewsDaily and FROM MNN:
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario