Looking for a feature-packed MP3 player without the iPod price?
The iRiver H10 5GB MP3 player.
(Credit: iRiver)Buy.com has the iRiver H10 5GB MP3 player (refurbished) for $33.99 with free shipping. The player works with Windows Media Player 10 and supports MP3 and WMA, as well as Secure WMA for online downloads and services.
The iRiver H10 is supersleek at 3.7 by 2.1 by 0.6 inches and 3.4 ounces. This model is a few years old but still has a 1.5-inch color LCD screen for viewing photos and a swappable battery that the company claims delivers about 12 hours of continuous listening.
When you get tired of listening to the same albums over and over again, you can switch to the FM tuner, which features 20 autoscannable presets. It also sports an integrated voice recorder with FM recording capabilities.
A CNET reviewer gave this model a rating of "very good" back in 2005, saying that the "iRiver H10 truly outclasses the competition in the features department...however, its controls aren't as intuitive as they look, and battery life was disappointing."
It's available only in Trance Red at this price. No word on how long Buy.com will be offering this deal, so if it sounds good, act fast.
Updated at 2:25 p.m. PST: The previous deal is sold out, but we found you an even better deal on the iRiver H10 at Buy.com. Get the same refurbished MP3 player as before with free shipping and a docking cradle and a leather case for $36.99. Cradle and case for three more bucks. If you missed out earlier, you just got a better deal.
On Sale Now: $120.95
View the latest prices for iRiver H10 (5GB, Trance Red)
Stock up on free holiday music (for kids and adults alike) from Amazon.
(Credit: Amazon)Those of us who celebrate Chanukah may get eight nights of presents, but you X-mas folks get all the good music.
Thanks to Mrs. Cheapskate, who tinsels with the best of 'em, I've really come to enjoy Christmas songs over the years. Consequently, I'm always on the lookout for new (and cheap, natch) tunes to add to the holiday playlist.
Amazon has quite a bounty this year. For starters, check out these 29 free holiday tunes from artists like Tori Amos, Lady GaGa, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Over at Dealnews you can find 11 more holiday freebies from Amazon, including the kid-friendly "Christmas with a Monkey" and funk-tastic "Boogaloo Santa Claus."
Finally, you can download a free audio book of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" from Learn Out Loud.
Got a few bucks to spare? For my money there's no better holiday album on the planet than Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which Amazon sells for $5.99 (two bucks less than iTunes).
Update: Apple just joined the fun with 20 free holiday tunes, which are available for download via iTunes. Artists include Amy Grant, Sarah McLachlan, Aretha Franklin, and Weezer.
If you're serious about rechargeable batteries, and saving money on disposables, this charging kit can't be beat.
(Credit: Amazon)A battery charger is essential gear for any household with a game console (those controllers burn through AA's like nobody's business), childrens' toys, or anything else battery-powered.
Because, let's face it, you'll pay a lot more in the long haul for disposable batteries than you will for a good charger and some rechargeable batteries.
Of course, a good charger--one with features such as a heat monitor and status LCD--can cost you upward of $70 or more--batteries not included.
Today only, Amazon has the La Crosse BC-9009 AlphaPower Battery Charger for $34.99 shipped. And in addition to the kick-ass charger, you get four AA rechargeables, four AAA's, adapters for C and D cells, and a travel case.
What makes the BC-9009 so special? Start with four independent status displays, one for each of its four slots. They can cycle through stats like charge rate, discharge rate, elapsed time, and total battery capacity.
The charger also includes a heat monitor to prevent overcharging. And buyers certainly seem to like it: nearly 650 reviewers rated it 4.5 stars out of 5 on average.
Looks like a perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person (or blogger) in your life. I'm just hoping this doesn't sell out in five minutes like everything else I post these days. Dang holiday season!
Backup deal: It's that time of year when we clear out some space on the ol' iPod to make room for the holiday playlist. If yours is a little, well, played out, Amazon MP3 has Diana Krall's "Christmas Songs" album for just $2.99. It's a digital download, of course, in DRM-free, universally compatible MP3 format. Perfect for cozy nights by the fire.
Microsoft's second-gen Zune isn't quite as sexy as the new Zune HD, but it's still a versatile, feature-packed media player and a worthy iPod alternative.
And now it's a cheap one, too: Buy.com has the refurbished Zune 80 player for $129.99 shipped. It sold for $249 when it debuted a couple years ago, and is still running around $200 new.
Obviously a big draw here is the whopping 80GB hard drive, which should be enough to hold even the largest music libraries, with room left over for photos, videos, podcasts, and the like.
You get to view all that stuff on a 3.2-inch glass LCD--way bigger than the screen on the only comparable iPod, the Classic.
Other perks include an FM radio, wireless syncing/sharing, support for Microsoft's Zune Pass subscription service (one of the few such services left), and a terrific interface.
What's more, a free firmware update endows the Zune 80 with many of the features added to the third-gen Zune, so be sure to read CNET's review of that model.
If you have a lot of media you want to keep in your pocket, the Zune transports it in style. My only complaint is with the 90-day warranty--a far cry from Apple's 1-year coverage for refurbished hardware.
On Sale Now: $399.99
View the latest prices for Microsoft Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)
Like audiobooks? Here's your chance to get two for free.
(Credit: Audible)I'm a longtime fan of Audible, an audiobook-download service that lets you burn your own CDs and/or transfer books to portable devices (iPods, BlackBerrys, etc.).
The company has offered various free trials and promotions over the years, but this is the best one I've seen: Sign up for a 30-day trial of AudibleListener Gold and get two free audiobooks.
So here's how it works: You sign up for a new account (which does require a credit card), then download the Audible software (available for Windows and Mac, or as an iTunes add-on if you're doing the iPod/iPhone thing). You'll automatically receive two credits in your account, which you can use to download the books of your choice.
After the 30-day trial expires, you'll start getting billed $14.95 per month for your Gold membership, which entitles you to one audio credit, 30 percent off any additional purchases, and a free subscription to The New York Times or Wall Street Journal (the audio versions, natch).
If you routinely buy one audiobook every month, the Gold plan is pretty solid. For example, Jonathan Tropper's "This Is Where I Leave You" (a terrific read, by the way) costs $23.95 on iTunes. If you used your Audible credit, it'd effectively cost you $14.95. Already burned through your credit? Your membership price is $19.59--still cheaper than iTunes.
Of course, you can always cancel your account before the end of the trial, end up paying nothing, and walk away with your two free books.
But if you spend a lot of time in the car, on the train, or even on the biking/hiking/jogging trail, nothing beats a good book. Like I said, I'm a longtime Audible fan. It's a great resource for scoring audiobooks for less than you'd pay elsewhere.
Looking for a compact, feature-packed MP3 player that's as good for the car as it is for the gym?
Newegg has a refurbished 8GB Zune player for $69.99 shipped with a free leather case and Microsoft Zune Car Pack.
So let's do some math. A new Zune 8 player sells for $128. The Car Pack costs $70. Add around $30 for the leather case and you're up to around $230.
With this deal, your out-the-door price is $70. Nice!
A quick refresher course in Zune goodness: This flash-based player offers a 1.8-inch screen, an FM tuner, Wi-Fi file sharing and syncing (which is truly awesome), and compatibility with Microsoft's underrated Zune Marketplace music-subscription service.
Normally $69.99, the Zune Car Pack comes free with your purchase of a $69.99 Zune.
(Credit: Microsoft)The Car Pack includes a charger and an FM transmitter, which can broadcast music from your Zune through your car stereo.
The transmitter will automatically select the best available frequency, which eliminates a lot of the hassles of traditional FM-radio gizmos. It also offers two presets for easy switching between commonly used stations.
There's even a dashboard "grip pad" so you can lay your Zune on the dash and not worry about it sliding all over the place. (A windshield mount would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.)
Newegg doesn't offer any details about the leather case, nor about the Zune's warranty, which we'll assume is 90 days.
Bottom line: mighty nice deal. A refurbished iPod Nano would cost you $30 more, and you wouldn't get Wi-Fi, FM, a car kit, or a case. Might not be a bad little stuffing stocking stuffer.
By the way, if black's not your color (or it sells out), you can also get the Zune in blue or pink.
Looking to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping? Here's a can't-miss gift: Apple has the refurbished 2nd-generation iPod Touch (8GB) for $149 with free shipping.
It wasn't too long ago that first-gen refurbs were selling for more than that, so this is a decidedly sweet deal.
What can I tell you about the Touch you don't already know? It's an iPhone without the phone--though if you plug in a headset and use an app like Fring or Skype, it can do a damn fine impression of one.
As I've mentioned before, Apple's refurbs are usually indistinguishable from new units, right down to the same bundled accessories and one-year warranty. The only real difference: They come in a brown cardboard box instead of the flashy plastic one.
My daughter has this exact Touch, and she looooves it. And what's not to love? Music, videos, games, apps, Internet--no wonder CNET awarded it 4.5 stars out of 5 and an Editors' Choice.
The Apple Store has been known to sell out of certain refurbished models, so if you want one of these, I'd act fast.
Bonus deal: Need an HDMI cable? Buy.com has a Belkin 12-footer for $7.99 after rebate--plus the awesome, awesome "Planet Earth Vol. 1" on Blu-ray.
Bonus deal #2: What's better than a Nintendo Wii for $199? How about a Wii for $199 and a free game? That's the deal over at eToys, where you'll get the console and "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" for $199.99 shipped. (Add the Wii to your cart; the game gets added automatically.)
Like an underwater-themed Bejeweled, Big Kahuna Reef offers puzzle fun...for free!
(Credit: Amazon)I'm back! Miss me? I missed all y'all so much that I'm kicking off this week with two, count 'em, two great freebies.
Amazon is offering a free download of Big Kahuna Reef, a Bejeweled-style puzzle game for Windows PCs. (The product page shows only XP, but it's running fine in Vista.)
Better still, when you "buy" the game, you'll receive a $5 credit good for any Amazon MP3 purchase(s). In other words, you get five free songs or $5 off any album. (I highly recommend Brendan Benson's new one, "My Old, Familiar Friend." Awesome stuff.)
Big Kahuna Reef is by no means a new title (it debuted in 2005), but it's still a great little puzzler for fans of casual games (and, um, fish). Check out GameSpot's extremely positive review.
You will need to have an Amazon account already set up to take advantage of this deal, and you'll need to install Amazon's Games and Software Downloader to grab the game.
Other than that, there are no catches to this splendid pair of freebies. Let me know how you like the game and what music you're going to download with your credit.
It wasn't very long ago that scoring a 4GB third-generation iPod Nano for $99 was a big deal. Now you can get an 8GB current-gen Nano for $99. Good things come to those who wait!
That deal (which, admittedly, has been around a while) comes straight from the Apple Store--the section that sells "certified refurbished" stuff.
I've purchased gear from there before, and it always arrives in mint condition--complete with the same one-year warranty as the new iPods come with.
Which begs the question: why spend another $50 on a new one? The only real difference is the box: Refurbs come in a nondescript cardboard one, not the fancy plastic shell you see in stores. Meh.
The $99 Nanos are available in your choice of colors: yellow, pink, purple, blue, black, etc.
In case you don't already know everything there is to know about this iPod, check out CNET's First Look video up there on the right.
Want to stock your new Nano with free music? Check out my recent post on scoring free tunes from Amazon, Rhapsody, and MP3.com. That's in addition to yesterday's item on 1,000 free songs from Microsoft. So many freebies, so little time!
Update: Or you could get a refurbished 8GB Zune from Newegg for $74 shipped. It features an FM tuner and Wi-Fi syncing--but only one color choice: black.
Like music? Like free music? You may remember my previous post about the mammoth library of free MP3s at Amazon (which is now nearing 1,000 tracks).
Don't stop there. Music-marketing and -discovery site ReverbNation is offering 1,000 free song downloads. No strings, no software to install, just a big fat library of free tunes.
It may take you a while to download all 1,000 free tunes, but at least the price is right.
(Credit: ReverbNation)Though sponsored by Microsoft, the giveaway makes tracks available in both M4A and MP3 format--there's not a WMA in sight. Certainly no DRM.
The songs span seven genres, including alternative, pop, jazz, and hip-hop. You can filter the list by genre or alphabetically by artist, but there's no search option. What's more, you can't download the full library at once or even batches of it; you must download each track individually.
Also, don't expect to find any Kings of Leon or Raconteurs here; the collection is largely of indie artists.
Still, free is free, and if you're looking to stock your iPod with some fresh tunes, look no further.
