MP3 Headlines & News for December 8, 2009

As someone who typically ends up frustrated on Black Friday, I must admit that I couldn't help but check many of the Black Friday "leaks" that have been bombarding the Internet. It's like pressing a button that says "DO NOT PRESS!" I just can't help it.

Apparently, though, I'm not the only one. Google data shows that the "upswing" for Black Friday searches started two weeks earlier this year, according to an article in the Advertising Age. Meanwhile, the number of shoppers who plan to get their Christmas shopping started on Black Friday rose to 16 percent this year from 10 percent last year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (there's an International Council of Shopping Centers?).

Still, some are projecting Black Friday to be just that — black. Nielsen, the NPD Group and the National Retail Federation have all released buzz-killing predictions as far as sales. I'm no economist but I don't need to sleep at a Holiday Inn last night to figure out why. (As Bill Clinton once so eloquently put, "It's the economy, um, you not-so-smart person!")

Meanwhile, Retrevo's Director of Content Andrew Eisner is predicting many "mediocre deals" masquerading as Black Friday bargains. These include discounts that aren't as big as they seem to be and the pushing of outdated items.

Now, one can't fault someone for thinking Eisner's comments may have to do with Retrevo promoting its own product and pricing analysis (not to mention its Black Friday Real-Time Resource Center). Still, I know from personal experience that the man actually has a point. Fortunately, Google and the entire Interwebs is your friend so you can do your due diligence in researching products before pouncing on a deal.

As for me ... well, while I'm always tempted to line up in the cold with complete strangers just for a chance to get a good bargain, the reasonable person that resides in the little room in my mind always steps up in the end and tells me that it's better to go to bed and sleep on these things instead. Still, I understand the allure of the ever-powerful Black Friday deal. What about you?

Photo by Jason Hidalgo

Fade to Black: The Real Deal With Black Friday? originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 04:37:50.

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Plenty of skeptical eyebrows were raised when some researchers and analysts predicted an explosive holiday season for eBook readers earlier this year.

Then Amazon stock reached an all-time high thanks to "best-ever" Kindle sales in November. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble is "scrambling" to fill out orders for its recently released — or soon-to-be released, depending on your point of view — Nook eReader, which the company can't make enough of to meet current demand. Sony is also citing stronger than expected demand for shipping delays involving its own new device, the Wi-Fi enabled Reader Daily Edition.

The whole eDrama is certainly fueling plenty of healthy debate. Despite the successes enjoyed by eBooks this holiday season, some folks are still opting for the Grinch position, including comparing the whole eReader holiday hullabaloo to fruitcake. Others, meanwhile, aren't ready to label the whole eBook boom as a passing fad.

So do you think eBooks are here to stay or are they this decade's more literate version of the mullet? Regardless, there's no doubt that this Christmas will be quite merry for eBook makers.

Photo © Amazon

For tips on buying an eBook reader, check out our eBook buying tips. Need to know which eBook reads what? Here's our eBook File Compatibility Chart.

Are eBook Readers a Fad or Here to Stay? originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 00:20:19.

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By the time you read this post, your humble guide will likely be driving to California with a bunch of relatives in tow. I'm sure they're giving thanks for having a personal driver. (Somebody better be riding shotgun up front, darn it! My brother, for example, loves to sit in the back and leave the front passenger seat empty so I look like his "personal chauffeur." No wonder he's been cursed with always ripping holes in his socks.)

Being the pragmatist that I am, I figure this is as good a time as any to test some portable devices in my list of things to review. I got a set of portable DVD players designed for car mounting, a portable iPod speaker/case, an MP3 player, headphones -- my cup definitely runneth over. With so many "toys" to test, this is certainly one of those times I wish I could be a passenger.

Alas, I have to drive so it looks like my passengers will be the ones having all the fun. Plus I'm leaving late so that means no stopover at Popeye's Chicken for this trip. On the plus side, it looks like I won't have to deal with snow showers up in the Sierra Nevadas, which is always good. Snow + mountain road + crazy SUV drivers who think 4-wheel drive makes them invincible = screaming relatives all around me.

On that note, I hope y'all have a screaming fun Thanksgiving this year. 'Cause as bad as things can get, there's always something you could be thankful for. And to my fellow road warriors, I hope you have a safe trip!

Photo © Getty Images

Talking Turkey: Happy Thanksgiving Everyone originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 00:10:20.

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For more information on budget MP3 players, be sure to read our guide on Top Portables for Less Than $100.

Image © Camila Schnaibel.

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• Portable media players for less than $200
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Thinking of Buying an MP3 Player This Holiday Season? originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 09:00:25.

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Recently, the portables site featured a talking clock in this very space.

Certainly, a voice-enabled clock is nice and all. But if you equate the ability to talk with nagging, then perhaps you prefer the strong, silent type.

Enter, the Ambient Flurry clock. While this clock doesn't talk, it does offer a pretty neat feature — the ability to tell you the weather. Hey, isn't that how small talk usually starts?

On that note, feel free to check out my Ambient Flurry review.

Timing the Weather originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 00:01:52.

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The material that iTunes U hosts is of a high quality and has been created mostly by universities, colleges, and other educational organizations. There's a 'Top Downloads' section too which is useful to see what the most popular downloads are and it can give you an idea on what you'd like to study next. One of the best things about using iTunes U for your studies is that all the files you download can then be viewed at your leisure - either on your computer or transferred to an iPod/iPhone for learning on the go!

For more information on using iTunes U as a free educational tool, read our iTunes U Guide on how to get started.

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iTunes U: Free Educational Audio and Video Downloads originally appeared on About.com Digital Music on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 08:17:29.

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Sony was basking in the limelight just a few months ago after it fielded three new entries in the eBook Reader wars.

But in a "What have you done for me lately world," August and September suddenly seem so long ago, especially after the announcement of Barnes & Noble's hot new "nook" eReader.

So in case you missed it, Sony recently started taking pre-orders at its online store for the top banana of its new eBook trio, the Reader Daily Edition. Compared to its two other siblings, this device's claim to fame is its wireless capability. Well, that and its pinky-raising price tag of $399.

You can take a sneak peek at the Reader Daily's capabilities in our Sony Reader preview. I also should have a review up of the Pocket and Touch editions soon.

In the meantime, you can pre-order the Daily version at sonystyle.com.

Photo © Sony

Sony Reader Daily Edition Available for Pre-order originally appeared on About.com Portable Entertainment on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 01:05:54.

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