The Cheapskate

As you may have heard, Amazon just dropped the price of the Kindle 2 to $299.

As a fan of A) e-books, B) gadgets, and C) deals, I'm pleased--but I still think there are better, cheaper alternatives. Hear me out.

For starters, the 8GB iPod Touch does waaaay more than the Kindle (you don't really need me to list everything, do you? Music, videos, games, Internet, apps of all kinds...), but costs just $229. Heck, get a refurb for $179--I just did.

Obviously the Touch has a smaller screen than the Kindle, but it's also a backlit touch screen. Just yesterday I spent the better part of a five-hour flight reading an e-book on my iPhone (via the Kindle app, ironically). No eyestrain, no headaches, no problem. Try it before you pooh-pooh it. (I also routinely read in bed with it. Can't do that with the Kindle unless there's a light on.)

Here's an even more radical idea: buy a Netbook. As regular Cheapskate readers know, it's not uncommon to find models selling for as low as $200, sometimes even less.

And with a couple minor tweaks, it's a simple matter to turn your Netbook into a Kindle. Yes, I know, it's heavier and bulkier--but it's also a full-blown computer!

My goal here is not to trash the Kindle, which I think is a terrific device. (Anything that encourages reading is aces in my book.) In fact, it's even more terrific now that you can (cheap plug alert!) read the Cheapskate blog on it.

But $299 is still too high, at least for me. (Amazon needs to lower its e-book prices, too, but that's a gripe for another day.) What about you? How much would you pay for a Kindle?

In honor of today's release of iPhone OS 3.0, which promises to add stereo Bluetooth capabilities to iPhones and iPod Touches, here's a selection of headsets to pair with your soon-to-be wire-free devices:

Buy.com has the Tritton AX BlueStream Bluetooth headset for $28.99 shipped.

Bear in mind that this is a headset, meaning it includes an inline microphone and an OLED display that shows volume, Caller ID, and music-playback status. Unfortunately, that means it involves wires, which some might say defeats the purpose of stereo Bluetooth.

For those folks, Buy.com has the Motorola S805 Bluetooth stereo headphones for $29.99 shipped. These are more-traditional, over-the-ear 'phones, suitable for kicking back in your favorite chair.

In between the two lies the Bluetrek ST1 Bluetooth stereo headset ($34 shipped from TigerDirect), which combines earbuds with a slightly dorky-looking behind-the-neck frame. Could be good for jogging, the gym, etc.

Though there's no immediate evidence of a microphone, the ST1 does indeed have one, so you can use it to make and take calls. In fact, its feature list is pretty extensive, making this the headset to beat of the three.

Of course, all the models should work with any stereo Bluetooth-compatible device. Which style suits you best?

NPR, e-books, and auto-repair, oh my! The fantastic iPhone (and iPod Touch) freebies just keep on coming. Here's a look at six apps that have earned a permanent home on my handset. (Note: All links go directly to the iTunes Store.)

• Kindle for iPhone Though not perfect in its 1.0 release, the Kindle app brings Amazon's 240,000-strong e-book library to your iPhone--and that alone is reason to celebrate. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
• Lose It! Trying to lose weight? Forget the diet du jour: It all boils down to math. If you burn more calories than you consume, presto: the pounds come off. Lose It! makes it a snap to set a weight goal and track daily calories and exercise.
• Public Radio Tuner An excellent companion to the NPR Mobile app I mentioned last time, Public Radio Tuner lets you stream hundreds of stations and can even zero in on local ones.
• RepairPal A must-have for car owners, RepairPal helps you price-compare repair estimates, find and contact local mechanics, get roadside assistance, and more.
• SnapTell The ultimate app for cheapskates? Might could be. Snap a photo of any book cover, CD, DVD, or video game, and the app serves up ratings, reviews, videos, and, best of all, price comparisons. (Thanks to brohan81 for recommending this one.)
• Textfree Lite If you routinely rack up massive text-messaging charges (I'm looking at you, teenagers), grab Textfree Lite. It lets you send messages free of charge (15 per day in the Lite version, so consider this a trial run). You can receive free texts as well, but only from other Textfree users. Yeah, it's a bit of a hassle, but so are big monthly bills.

Good stuff, no? As always, I'm eager to hear about your favorite freebies in the Comments. And while you're at it, how about nominating the "best iPhone apps that are worth the money"?

In the meantime, check out my last roundup of fab iPhone freebies. And the batch before that. Talk about an embarrassment of free riches!

How do I love thee, iPhone (and iPod Touch)? Let me count the ways. Hmmm. Well, space doesn't permit me to list all 12,503, so I'll settle for six. As in, six free apps you absolutely positively gotta get. (Note: as with my previous batch of iPhone freebies, all links go straight to iTunes.)

• Mancala FS5 I love the Mancala board game, and this iPhone edition is even better. It teaches beginners the basics, automatically moves your beads, and supports Internet multiplayer! (You can even play against your AIM buddies.) Consider splurging on the $1.99 full version to enjoy ad-free play.
• NPR Mobile Though not an official NPR app, it lets you browse broadcasts by topic, series, and even commentator, then stream to your heart's content. It can also do a location search, great for when you're traveling and want to tune the car radio to the nearest NPR station.
• Slacker Radio Best. Streaming music app. Ever. I know some folks prefer Pandora, but I've always loved the Web-based Slacker and its robust custom-station building. The new iPhone app (pictured) is just plain fantastic. Read my full review here.
• Sportacular At the risk of ruining my geek cred, I do follow (and even play) some sports. Sportacular gives you scores, standings, schedules, stats, and more. It also lets you designate favorite teams so you can track them more easily.
... Read More

Apple's price on the second-generation iPod Touch (8GB): $229. Best Buy's price on the same model: $229.99, plus sales tax in most states.

However, the latter is currently offering a $50 gift card with the purchase of the 8GB Touch. That's a pretty solid deal if you're planning to do more shopping at Best Buy anyway.

Because I continue to encounter folks who, shockingly, don't know what the iPod Touch is, here's the scoop: it's an iPhone without the phone. It plays music, movies, games, photo slideshows, audiobooks, podcasts, etc. It surfs the Web and fetches e-mail like a champ. And it runs all kinds of kick-ass programs.

Indeed, there's only one thing on this planet I love more than the iPod Touch: the iPhone I replaced it with. CNET loves the iPod Touch too, as evidenced by an Editor's Choice award.

Side deal: Not interested in the iPod? Buy.com has a 1TB external hard drive for that magical price of $99.99 shipped (after a $20 mail-in rebate).

As a mostly ecstatic new iPhone owner, I've spent considerable time checking out--you guessed it--the hundreds of freebie apps available from iTunes. Here's a list of seven I'm loving right now. (Note: all links are for iTunes.)

• AroundMe Instantly find nearby banks, gas stations, coffee shops, and other businesses and services.
• Dashbuster Manage your Blockbuster or Netflix queue anytime, anywhere. Great for those times when a friend recommends a movie and you think, "Yeah, I gotta rent that."
• Movies This Flixster-powered app finds cineplexes near you, then serves up show times, trailers, and even upcoming theater and DVD releases.
• Google Earth Like the desktop version? The iPhone app is even cooler because it can pinpoint your current location and "tilt" your view as your tilt your phone.
• Joost Though buggy and crash-prone in its first release, Joost brings a boatload of free streaming TV shows and movies to your iPhone. Just one catch: it requires a Wi-Fi connection.
• Melodis Voice Dialer No voice dialing on the iPhone? No problem. Just press and hold a button to voice-search for contacts, or say "call" and then a name to auto-dial. Best freebie dialer I've seen (or spoken to) yet.
• TapDefense It's an iPhone version of the mega-popular Tower Defense game. Need I say more? (Productivity be damned!)

What fab freebies have filled your iPhone? Hit the comments and list your favorites. And don't miss my earlier list of iPhone goodies.

Tuesday's roundup of killer freebies for Windows reminded me that I haven't covered iPhone/iPod Touch freeware in awhile, so here's another list of must-have apps that won't cost you a penny:

• Air Sharing Turns your device into a portable, wireless hard drive and document viewer. Note: this jewel will eventually be priced at $6.99, but for the next few days you can snag it free.
• Graphing Calculator Why spend big bucks on a graphing calculator when your iPhone/touch can do the job for nada? This uber-handy tool offers functions ranging from absolute value to tangent.
• Hanoi A beautiful rendition of the classic Towers of Hanoi game. The object is simple: move a stack of disks from one side of the board to the other. I couldn't put it down.
• Instapaper Free When you're browsing on your PC and come across a Web site (cough *Cheapskate* cough), blog post, news item, feature, or whatever that you want to read later, just click the Instapaper bookmarklet. Then fire up the Instapaper app on your iPhone, and presto: there's the Web page. Genius!
• White Noise Having trouble getting to sleep? White Noise offers an assortment of ambient sounds--waves, rain, wind chimes, etc.--to help you drift off. And there's a shut-off timer so you don't wake up to a dead battery.

If you like this list, be sure to check out my original roundup of iPhone freebies and the sequel. In the meantime, hit the comments and vote for your favorite no-cost iPhone apps.

If you've been waiting to pull the trigger on the "iPhone without the phone," now might be the time. You can get a refurbished 16GB iPod Touch for $269.99 shipped from Buy.com. That's 30 bucks lower than I've seen it anywhere else.

I imagine most of you are familiar with the Touch by now, so I won't waste your time with specs and info--all of which you can find in CNET's review. I will say it's my single favorite gadget of all time, and that if I'm wearing pants, you can bet I'm carrying it with me.

A few caveats. First, Buy.com offers only a 60-day warranty. If you buy a refurb Touch from Apple (currently $299), you get a one-year warranty. Second, plan on spending another $10 for the recent 2.0 software update (which isn't included with Apple's refurbs, either). Finally, rumor has it Apple plans to unveil some new iPods in a couple weeks, and a newer/better Touch could be among them. But none of that changes the fact that this is the best price you can get on a 16GB iPod Touch. I reckon they'll sell out fast, so don't mull for long.

Let's hear it for software developers who don't charge for their work. Witness these five excellent apps for the iPhone 3G and updated iPod touch, then check out five more freebies you'll definitely want to install. (As before, all links will take you directly to the iTunes Store.)

• Aurora Feint Bejeweled meets Bard's Tale in this amazingly polished puzzle/RPG game.
• Last.fm and Pandora Tired of your own music library? Name a favorite artist and these two apps will build you a custom radio station, then stream tunes over 3G or Wi-Fi. I can't pick a winner; they're both awesome.
• Morocco Play the classic game of Othello against your iPhone/touch or another person. Morocco also helps beginners learn the game by showing possible moves.
• reQall A combination to-do list and reminder service, reQall lets you type or say something you need to remember. Then, at the appropriate time, the app issues a reminder via voice, text message, instant message, e-mail, or calendar alert. Sweet!
• Writing Pad Promising a better way to take notes, WritingPad employs ShapeWriter technology, which lets you enter text by tracing out "word shapes" on a virtual keyboard. It works remarkably well.

What great freebies have you installed? Hit the Comments and name your favorites.