General

Over the years I've written about numerous free DVD rippers, and even the occasional free Blu-ray ripper. But almost without exception, those programs were for Windows. Today, I've got something for the Mac crowd.

From now until November 29, Digiarty Software is offering MacX DVD Ripper Pro absolutely free. Regular price: $34.95.

(Fear not, Windows users, you can get in on the freebie action as well: Digiarty's MacX HD Video Converter Pro for Windows is also free, but only after you "like" Digiarty on Facebook. Don't like or use Facebook? Head over to … Read more

My unofficial goal this week is to post only items that won't sell out. Yesterday's $25 American Express credit, for example.

Today, let's talk actual products. If you're willing to brave the crowds this Friday, you might come away with something like a 42-inch HDTV for $199.99 or a 24-inch HDTV for $79.99--both of which are among the "doorbusters" at Best Buy. (I take back what I said about this year's Black Friday; there are some deals to be had!)

Of course, as I've mentioned many times before, the speakers … Read more

I'm a longtime fan of Tales2Go, the iOS app that provides unlimited children's audiobooks for a flat monthly rate.

Tales2Go - Happy Holidays bundles 20 seasonal audiobooks into one app, with no subscription required. Instead, you pay just 99 cents. That's a great deal any way you slice it, and an outright steal for parents and schoolteachers alike.

The collection includes short stories, full-length books, and even a familiar poem or two. Here's a sampling:… Read more

Big week ahead, fellow cheapskates! And I'm kicking it off with my annual guest appearance on CNET's Holiday Help Desk, which airs live today at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. The big topic, of course, is Black Friday, and if you think you know what I'm going to say about it, think again. Hope you'll tune in!

That said, let's table Black Friday for a moment and talk Sweet Saturday. On November 26, American Express is sponsoring an event called Small Business Saturday. The upshot: Spend at least $25 at any … Read more

With Blockbuster hanging by a thread and Netflix clearly positioning itself to exit the movies-by-mail business at some point down the road, buying a Blu-ray player might not seem like the smartest move.

Unless, of course, that player is a mere 50 bucks. While supplies last (and they never seem to last long these days), Best Buy has the refurbished Samsung BD-C5500C Blu-ray player for $49.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

Update: Sold out! If you're still keen on this model, Tech for Less has it for about the same price: $43.97, plus $7.70 … Read more

To my thinking, the most interesting aspect of Amazon.com's new Kindle Fire tablet is not the hardware, nor even the price. It's Amazon Prime, the $79-per-year service that delivers, among other things, video and e-book content to the device.

That $79 outlay may seem like a lot, but let's crunch the numbers a bit.… Read more

Apologies for my unannounced absence yesterday; I was attending a funeral and neglected to leave a heads-up on Tuesday.

It seems only fitting, then, that I serve up three sweet deals today. Technically, I've got five, but "five-deal Thursday" doesn't have quite the same alliterative ring.

First up, TigerDirect has the ViewSonic gTablet 10-inch Android tablet for $269.97, plus $7.50 for shipping. It's new, not refurbished, and it comes with 16GB of storage. It's on the chunky side, not unlike the $299.99 Toshiba Thrive from the other day, but the real … Read more

Just yesterday I was discussing the merits of standalone nav systems with my brother-in-law Charles (who's as savvy a cheapskate as there ever was--and I mean that in the best possible way).

I said, "Hey, look, here's a GPS with lifetime traffic for under $100." His response: "I'd rather have lifetime maps."

Well, sir, how about both? Today only, Staples has the TomTom VIA 1405TM 4.3-inch GPS for $99.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). It comes with free traffic data and map updates for life.

The Via 1405TM is … Read more

Lots of great iOS games routinely sell for 99 cents, but some of the higher-profile titles run as high as $4.99, $6.99, and even $9.99.

Today, I've rounded up five really good games that typically have high price tags, but are currently on sale for just a buck. I'm not sure how long these price cuts will last, so if an app catches your eye, grab it pronto!

All these games are available in the App Store, natch. Where possible, the links below lead to related posts so you can "read all about it" before plunking down your dollar.… Read more