By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 6:00AM Thursday August 2, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
Last month I told you about
two surprisingly affordable ways to own a
smartphone. One of them, Republic Wireless, offered unlimited
talk, texting, and data for the impossibly low price of $19 per
month.
But there were two catches: the decidedly entry-level LG Optimus S
phone, then the only model available; and the need to get on a
waiting list to become a customer.
Today, Republic Wireless
took steps to remedy both issues, starting
with the announcement of a new phone: the
Motorola Defy XT.
While not a state-of-the-art model by any stretch, the Defy XT is a
vast improvement over the Optimus S.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 2:38PM Thursday July 26, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
The more I use my Kindle Fire, the more I like it. Right out of the
box, it's a great device for reading books, watching videos,
playing games, and so on.
However, with a little know-how, you can go beyond the box, so to
speak. I've rounded up three ways to get more from your Kindle
Fire.
1. Turn the Web Into a Personal, Portable
Magazine
Suppose you were sitting at your PC when you spotted the
headline for this blog post -- but didn't have time to read it.
That's pretty common; I frequently encounter news items, feature
stories, and other Web goodies I'd like to revisit at a later
date.
With
Pocket
(formerly Read It Later), I can quickly and easily transfer any Web
page to my Kindle Fire for on-the-go viewing.
It works like this: You add the Pocket bookmarklet to your desktop
Web browser. When you see something you want to view later, just
click the bookmarklet.
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 12:00PM Tuesday July 10, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
Wi-Fi
hotspots are like police officers: there's never one around when
you need one. Or they're around but password-protected. (The
hotspots, not the cops.) Or they're open but not working properly.
(Again, the hotspots.)
I've had it happen too many times when I want to set up shop with
my laptop or tablet, only to discover there's no Internet access
available. That's why I'm a firm believer in BYOMH: Bring Your Own
Mobile Hotspot.
These pocket-friendly gizmos create a personal Wi-Fi network that
taps into a carrier's high-speed Internet, then shares that
connection one or more of your devices. They're incredibly
convenient.
But expensive, especially if you buy from a carrier like AT&T
or Verizon.
Read More »
By ashleywade(view all posts by ashleywade)
at 3:56PM Friday June 29, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
If you weren't already aware, June 29th is Camera Day, and we love pictures. While there are a ton of incredible photography blogs, we decided to take a bit of a different spin and look at the top 10 blogs for aspiring photographers. These blogs are a mix of "how-to" guides and equipment reviews to help you figure out where to start.
1. Pop Photo The popular photography magazine site. This well organized site is the digital home of the popular photography magazine. The blog has a deep range of practical guides and instruction, along with an extensive buying guide which covers cameras and film to software and accessories. If you're a budding photographer, you won't want to miss out on this.
2. Ken Rockwell Want no-nonsense camera equipment advice on a site that's not fluffed up by fancy design and navigation? We've found the site for you! Based on his own experience, Ken provides his own personal advice, which he breaks down into categories by camera type and recommended use. If you're worried about staying within a specific budget, there is also a guide based on price range, which can be quite helpful. Well-established and chock full of great information, you'll be taking better pictures in no time after seeing his detailed guides to improving technique.
3. SimplyNess I was originally struck by the clean layout and design of this site, Ness mixes in reviews on gear with striking images on a bright, easy to read canvas. This blog does a great job of highlighting sample photos that can be produced with the various cameras and equipment that are reviewed.
4. Photography Blog The name says it all for numero quattro. If you need to buy gear, this is a great place to start. The blog provides a super helpful buying guide and gear reviews. Additionally, it has a bunch of useful tips and tricks along with contributed guest content.
5. Camera Dojo Looking for alternate ways to school yourself on photography basics than simply reading a book? Camera Dojo will help you "Get your black belt in photography". What makes it stand out from the rest? Podcasts! It's also good for staying up to date on news and reviews in the photo world, and has a lengthy section of Photoshop tips and tutorials.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 4:38PM Tuesday June 26, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
If there's one monthly bill I hate more than any other, it's my
smartphone bill.
Like many folks, I'm locked into a two-year contract that costs me
around $80 per month -- money I pay even if I don't use my
allotment of data or minutes. Most months, in fact, I use a whole
lot less.
That's why I'm enamored with a couple companies that are shaking up
the way smartphones are sold and serviced. If you're more
interested in saving money than owning a state-of-the-art phone,
one of these options might be just what the accountant ordered.
Republic
Wireless
How does $19 per month sound? That's the tantalizing deal offered
by Republic Wireless, which takes an ingenious,
why-didn't-someone-think-of-this-before approach to mobile
service.
Believe it or not, that price includes unlimited talk, texting, and
data, with no overage charges whatsoever.
How is that possible? Thank Wi-Fi.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 9:30AM Tuesday June 19, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
In the past I've warned Savings.com readers to
steer clear of cheap Android tablets. You know
the kind I mean: the no-brand models you see selling for around $79
at places like Big Lots, Walgreens, and various online outlet
stores.
These bargain-basement slates might look good on paper, but they're
usually hobbled by slow processors, terrible screens, and serious
app-store limitations.
Recently, however, I've been checking out an inexpensive Android
tablet that's actually pretty good. So good, in fact, that I'm
willing to recommend it -- with a few caveats.
It's the Kocaso M760W, and it's currently
available from RedTag for $99, plus $1.95 for
shipping.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 1:08PM Tuesday May 29, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
If your HDTV is anything like mine, it doesn't sound very good.
Ironic, isn't it? The latest LCD and plasma panels dazzle the eyes
with their gorgeous colors and razor-sharp images, but disappoint
the ears with weak, muffled, bass-less audio.
Blame their designs: today's super-thin TVs just don't have
room for much in the way of speakers. That's why I highly
recommend adding some kind of external speaker system. Whether you
spend $50 or $500, you'll vastly improve the quality of the sound
you're hearing.
For example, suppose you purchased a smallish TV for your den or
bedroom. It probably has small, down- or rear-facing speakers that
sound atrocious.
Got an old set of PC speakers lying around? Plug them into the TV's
headphone jack and you should enjoy much louder, clearer, fuller
sound.
Failing that, look for a mini-soundbar, the kind designed to clip
on top of a laptop's screen. These work just as well with small
HDTVs.
Read More »
By ashleywade(view all posts by ashleywade)
at 8:30AM Saturday May 26, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
Time for part two of our Employee Spotlight! If you missed last week's spotlight with Community Manager Allegra, you can find it
here. We're rolling back the curtain to introduce you to the people behind Savings.com! This week, we're moving from our onsite community to your inbox, with Email Marketing Specialist, Tim.
Tim's the person you talk to without realizing it. As incredible as it would be if our daily, weekly, and personalized newsletters magically came together, that isn't the case. We have a team that works to craft each and every one with the best deals; a team composed of Mr. Tim Katlic. Alternating between seersucker and running shorts, he's often found in an elaborate game of chase with one of our office dogs.
Tim took a
moment from his busy day to chat
with us.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 3:09PM Thursday May 24, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
There's never been a better time to ditch your landline.
If you're already paying for cable or DSL Internet service, you've
got everything you need to kiss your local and long-distance
telephone companies goodbye.
Well, almost everything: The missing ingredient is a voice-over-IP
adapter, which sounds complicated but isn't. It's a little box that
sits between your existing phone (or cordless phone system) and
your router and provides full-featured home phone service. For
pennies.
You've probably heard of one such product: the MagicJack, an
infomercial staple. A few months back, I reviewed its successor,
the
MagicJack Plus.
Today let's talk about its latest competitor, the
NetTalk Duo
WiFi.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 12:08PM Tuesday May 22, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
Ever wish you could get in and out of the grocery faster, easier,
and maybe even smarter? You can, provided you're packing your
smartphone.
I've rounded up five apps that can seriously simplify your shopping
experience. They're all available for both Android and iOS
(some work with other platforms as well), and they're all free!
Cozi
A must-have for busy families, Cozi keeps a shared calendar in sync
between everyone's PCs, phones, and tablets. But it also features a
shopping list that any family member can add to.
Read More »
By JulianaWeissRoesslerGuest Blogger(view all posts by JulianaWeissRoessler)
at 10:20AM Tuesday May 15, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
[picture from AllYou]
One of the most expensive food "groups" can also be one of
the least healthy: snacks. In fact, the parentheses around "groups" weren't a
mistake. Snacks – at least the way that most of us eat them – not only aren't a
real group, many of them don't really fall into any useful food category!
So, how can you find snacks that are healthy, filling, and
delicious without breaking the bank? Read on.
Read More »
By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 3:00PM Thursday May 10, 2012
under
Stuff We Like
Except for single-handedly destroying newspapers, Craigslist is the
greatest thing ever.
With it you can sell your stuff for free and find garage-sale pricing
on everything from appliances to videogames.
Using Craigslist is pretty easy - the site remains admirably free
of clutter, even after all these years - but there are tricks of the
used-goods trade that can help you have a better overall experience.
Here are three ways to improve your Craigslist life.
Practice
Safe Craigslist
You've
seen the headlines: Craigslist can be a dangerous place. That's why
it's essential to take some precautions whenever you're meeting with
a stranger to conduct business.
For
starters, keep a "paper trail" by preserving all your e-mails and/or
text messages. You never know when you might need them to resolve a
court case or even file a criminal one.
When
the time comes to meet with someone, always choose a public place. (Gizmodo
recommends a bank lobby, but I think
any spot where people congregate should be pretty safe: a coffee shop,
a library, etc.)
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