Black Friday 2017 Predictions

With only a few weeks until Thanksgiving on November 23rd, savvy shoppers are ramping up to this year’s Black Friday deals and sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become some of the biggest shopping days of the year, and sales keep getting bigger and bigger. In the past, sales have started on Thanksgiving and gone into Black Friday proper and the weekend and Monday following the holiday (Cyber Monday), but in recent years, retailers have begun their sales earlier and earlier, sometimes having promotions all month long. Look for these trends this November!

Spending

According to predictions by the National Retail Federation, Holiday sales (retail sales between November and December) will grow by up to 4% from last year, up to a $682 billion dollar amount. PwC’s holiday outlook data suggests that the average holiday spend for 83% of US consumers is expected to be $1,189.

Top Stores

DealNews.com suggests keeping an eye on sales at Kohl’s (where your savings will largely be in Kohl’s Cash), Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon this year, however, the best places to make your purchases will depend on what your items of interest are and will also be largely based upon price point. Forbes has a list of where to look for tablets and laptops this year, which can be found here.  If you are interested in Apple Products, online retailers will likely have better discounts on Apple products than the Apple Store itself.  Last year, Apple’s Black Friday deal included a gift card with the purchase of older product models at an undiscounted rate, and that is expected to continue this year, hinging on whether Apple even decides to participate in Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Top Deals

Video game bundles for the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are rumored to be heavily discounted this year, as well as many smartphones including the newest iPhones (8, 8 Plus and X), the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 and the Google Pixel 2. Discounted prices for 4K TVs and 4K media players are also expected.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

Tech Radar: Google Pixel 2

Photo by Maurizio Pesce via Flickr

On October 4th, Google’s tech event revealed a number of changes and product releases, including announcing the newest iteration of the highly rated Google Pixel cell phone: the Google Pixel 2. This is what you need to know before you buy!

Features:

The original Pixel heralded an extremely high-quality camera and the Pixel 2 is no different. The photo quality is outstanding, even in low light. As an added bonus, you are able to store the photos and videos you take for free with unlimited online storage. The water-resistant phone is equipped with fast charging technology, similar to its predecessor and comes with an improved version of Google Assistant. In a drastic departure from the original Pixel, the 3.5 mm headphone jack has been removed, an interesting change after the introduction of the original Pixel that shaded Apple for their headphone jack removal on the iPhone 7.

The Pixel 2 is available in four colorways and in two sizes.

Specs:

The Pixel 2 is loaded with high tech updates, including the 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a dual focus camera, pOLED screen, updated security functions, and high-quality stereo speakers. There is a 5-inch screen on the Pixel 2 and a 6-inch screen on the Pixel 2 XL. Both sizes come with 64 GB and 128 GB storage options.

Pricing:

The Pixel 2 starts at $649, and the Pixel 2 XL starts at $849. Both models went on sale October 4th.

Read more about the Pixel 2 and the other products announced at Google’s October 4th event here.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/