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Three ways stores can make me care about Black Friday again

A little while back I confessed my general apathy about Black Friday. It could have something to do with my day job -- finding awesome tech deals all year round -- but I just can't work up much excitement about the day. And many readers agreed: most of the day's bargains aren't worth standing in long lines in cold weather and being surrounded by pushy shoppers.

But then I got to thinking. (I hate when that happens.) How could stores recapture some of that old Black magic? What would it take for me to give a damn … Read more

Tech deals and apps for Black Friday

Wednesday's CNET Update has mall madness:

This episode of CNET Update is chock-full of tips for conquering Black Friday. Start your research with CNET's Black Friday page and Holiday Gift Guide. You'll also want to load your phone up with helpful apps, like Black Friday Survival Guide, ListBliss and ShopSavvy.

Be sure to also comb through CNET's slideshow of the best Black Friday tech deals. If you spot a deal on a Blu-ray player, it could be smart to grab it.

For those shopping online, do your homework to know if a sale price is really … Read more

Shoppers turn to retailers for mobile coupon deals

Most thrifty spenders are still turning to retailer sites and not coupon sites when it comes to getting mobile coupons, according to a Nielsen study released today.

Fifty-four percent of U.S. consumers who use their mobile phone or tablet to shop turn to retailer Web sites for mobile deals. Daily deal sites, like Groupon and Living Social, are the second choice with 31 percents. Shoppers also use retailer apps and daily deal apps, but to a lesser degree.

This means consumers are going to the brands they are most familiar with and what is most convenient while their shopping … Read more

B&N to sell Nook Simple Touch for $59 on Black Friday

Last year, Barnes & Noble ran a Black Friday sale on its Nook Simple Touch e-reader, chopping $20 off its list price of $99. This year it slices $40 off with a $59 in-store special -- while supplies last, of course.

Both Target and Sears are offering doorbuster deals on the Nook Simple Touch for $49 and $39.99, respectively, but I suspect Barnes & Noble will have more units on hand, which means you'll probably have a better shot of picking one up at a discounted price.

When it was released in 2011, we gave the Nook Simple … Read more

Five great enthusiast camera deals for less than $500

When it comes to holiday shopping, I tend to take a conservative approach: decide what you want, then look for good prices. That makes you a little less likely to be swayed by faux bargains, like bundles with mediocre bags or accessories you really won't use. The one exception is for lenses -- provided they're ones you'll actually use -- which do increase the value of a bundle, though you don't want to buy a mediocre body just because the two-lens kit is cheap. With that in mind, I found a handful of models that take … Read more

CNET Exclusive: Up to 50 percent off headphones for a good cause

This week I am most excited about the GoGroove AudiOHM iDX Noise Isolating Earbuds with Integrated Microphone for only $14.99. They not only sound good, but the profits go to a good cause. The Fender Music Foundation provides grants for music education programs such as classrooms, community-based organizations, and music therapy programs. Accessory Power has partnered with The Fender Music Foundation to raise awareness and funding for the foundation. Five percent of net profits from the sale of all AudiOHM iDX models during this CNET Exclusive will be donated to the Fender Music Foundation. These comfortable earbuds … Read more

Top 16 Black Friday tech deals

Every year the Black Friday online circulars hit the Web and lots of sites round up every tech deal under the sun. That's great, but it's always hard to tell the real deals from all the crap that's being advertised to lure you into the stores. The truth is that a lot of the so-called superbargains are already available online from stores like Amazon and others.

However, a few items do stand out. Alas, many of these are "doorbusters" that are available in very limited quantities and only the people who arrive long before the … Read more

Top Black Friday apps for iOS

Black Friday is rapidly approaching and we all know that means people are going to be hitting the stores both online and at brick-and-mortar locations to grab gifts for friends and family. But if you want to find the best deals, you're going to need a little help, and I have just the right apps for the job on iOS devices.

Whether you plan to brave the crowds on Black Friday or stay home and shop online, these apps will get you the best deals and hopefully make your gift shopping a little easier.

Editors' note: For Android shopping … Read more

CNET Exclusive: Thirty-three percent off Roku Bundle

I love my Roku. I want to start with that so there is no confusion. I've been the proud owner of a Roku since 2010 (thanks Uncle Mike) and just upgraded to the Roku 2 XD. And today we've teamed up with the wonderful people at Roku to bring the CNET Exclusives' audience an unbeatable deal on a Roku bundle.

The Roku is a fantastic streaming media device that allows you watch content from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Pandora, and the list goes on and on. With an assortment of free and paid services, the Roku 2 … Read more

The five best Black Friday deals I've seen yet

I'll admit that in recent years I've become pretty jaded on the subject of Black Friday. Grinchy, even.

That's because I don't think it's worth standing in long lines and fighting crowds just to save a few bucks. And I literally mean "a few": many stores' "doorbusters" aren't much cheaper than they are during other sales held throughout the year.

Still, as The Cheapskate, I couldn't help but peruse all the store ads that have been conveniently leaked during the past week. And you know what? I've spotted … Read more