dealnews Unveils its 2011 Black Friday Predictions Report

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sep 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With only 65 days left until Black Friday, dealnews.com, the premier year-round resource for the best deals on consumer electronics, gadgets, computers, apparel, and more, today released its 2011 Black Friday Predictions report, which is intended to help consumers get the deal of a lifetime by shopping online this holiday season. High-end products such as tablets, HDTVs, laptops, eBook readers and select Apple products can be purchased for less than $250, while many more desirable items, such as Blu-ray players, tech accessories and apparel are expected to be priced up to 50 percent off.

"This year's holiday shopping season is a buyers' market, as technology innovation and growing competition among product manufacturers and retailers alike will drive Black Friday prices down to historic lows," said Daniel de Grandpre, editor in chief, dealnews.

These findings and more are part of dealnews' annual Black Friday Predictions report, an invaluable resource that outlines anticipated deals for a wide variety of the season's hottest consumer electronics and more. To date, the report has successfully projected the price for eight out of every 10 predictions made for many of the holiday's most popular product categories. Some of the findings from this year's report include the following:

Apple Products

-- For the fourth consecutive year, Apple's rumored Black Friday sale will generate significant media hype, but will disappoint shoppers with actual discounts reaching only five to 10 percent off.

-- Consumers wanting to purchase iPads, MacBooks and iPhones should avoid Apple stores, both physical and online. Instead, shopping online through authorized resellers like Amazon, MacConnection and MacMall will offer discounts that are up to two times better.

Tablets

-- Consumers can expect to see all-time low prices on popular tablet brands, even new models.

-- Tablets such as the Motorola XOOM and the 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab are predicted to cost $319 and $239, respectively. What's more, generic Android tablets are likely to fall to $75 this holiday season.

HDTVs

-- Retailers are predicted to slash prices for various sizes of 1080p LCD HDTVs, some as much as 50 percent off compared to sales offered during Black Friday 2010.

-- Shoppers in search of smaller HDTVs to furnish bedrooms, game rooms or dens will be in luck--prices for 32" 1080p LCD models are expected to fall to $199. Those looking for larger displays can also save hundreds of dollars, as 60" 1080p LCD sets may drop to just $699.

eBook Readers

-- This holiday season, eBook readers will be discounted more heavily than in years past. Shoppers will be able to take advantage of bundle deals offered by retailers, such as $25 book credits.

-- The Kindle 3 WiFi Reader is expected to drop to just $99 on Black Friday, while the NOOK Color Reader will be offered for as low as $179.

Laptops

-- While laptops may appear to be overshadowed by the high market demand for tablets, they remain one of the most popular gifts and will be offered at historically low prices this holiday season.

-- 16" dual-core processor systems, with basic features and functionality for the average consumer, will be on sale for just $189.

"Instead of battling long lines, rowdy crowds and sleep deprivation to get in-store deals, we're encouraging consumers to start new Black Friday traditions," de Grandpre continued. "Shopping online from home will result in discounts that match, if not exceed, in-store reductions, plus the ability to compare prices before buying. Our Black Friday Predictions essentially puts the retailers' playbook in shoppers hands, giving them the foresight needed to determine what and when to buy online to stretch their shopping budgets."

The dealnews 2011 Black Friday Predictions report also includes buying advice, shopping tips and other projected deals on Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, external hard drives, solid state drives (SSDs), apparel, and other must-have items to help consumers save money.

Methodology

For its Black Friday predictions, dealnews uses up to three years of historical data based on deals listed on dealnews.com. Using that data, dealnews extrapolates expected sales for Black Friday by applying current trends to historical Black Friday price drops. In so doing, the company corrects for anomalies such as outliers, floor effects, and disruptive new technologies that influence pricing trends.

SOURCE: dealnews.com, Inc

 

Read More >> Black Friday Deals, Black Friday Ads

US Open 2011: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic progress to second round

 

Rafael Nadal's serve was broken six times during his victory against Kazakhstan's Andrei Glubev. Photograph: Mehdi Taamallah/PA

Rafael Nadal overcame a spirited challenge from Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev to reach the second round of the US Open with a 6-3, 7-6, 7-5 victory in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A player ranked 98th in the world who recently ended an 18-match losing streak on the ATP World Tour did not sound like the most testing of opponents for the world No2, but that was doing the Kazakh a disservice.

Nadal has had a shaky time since losing the Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic and he was broken in only the fifth game. But that merely fired the Spaniard up and he promptly reeled off four games in a row to clinch the set. It was Golubev who was dictating play, though, and he put himself in a winning position in the second set as he moved into a 5-2 lead.

He should have levelled the match but he blew a 40-0 lead and five set points in all in the same game as Nadal broke back, and the Kazakh then missed another two chances on his opponent's serve. The Spaniard made it four games in a row with another break as Golubev got involved in an argument with the umpire and, even though the outsider forced a tie-break, he rather fell apart to allow Nadal to move two sets up.

Golubev continued to mix thumping winners with wild shots but there were enough of the former to put him two breaks ahead in the third set.

It looked as though this time it would be enough, but Golubev could not find the big shots when the crunch moments came and Nadal sealed victory with a trademark forehand winner down the line, setting up a second-round clash with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Nadal's serve was broken six times, once more than in seven matches when he won the title 12 months ago, but the Spaniard was content with his start against a difficult opponent. "I was practising very well all week," he said. "For sure I was nervous. That's normal. It's normal to start the tournament like this with some nerves.

"And what happened today, he didn't help because he played very fast all the time. All the shots, he was trying to hit a winner on almost every shot. So it was difficult for me to find the rhythm. But it's a positive start winning in straight sets, even if it was unbelievable that I won in straight sets. But it is a victory in straight sets.

"I'm happy for the victory. I'm happy to come back to New York. I think I didn't play that bad. But the mental part was positive tonight. The tennis for sure can improve. I have to play a little bit more inside the court. But I am confident I can do it."

Roger Federer and Nadal are seemingly not the only ones sick of the sight of Djokovic and his domination of men's tennis. Ireland's Conor Niland threw up then gave up during his first-round match with the world No1.

Niland lasted only 44 minutes before he tossed in the towel against Djokovic. He was trailing 6-0, 5-1 and already looking as green as the fluffy balls he was frantically trying to retrieve. The first Irishman to play at the US Open, he did at least have a valid excuse. He was suffering food poisoning after eating a meal of pork and salad at a fancy Manhattan restaurant.

"I thought I could bluff my way through but you can't do that against the No1 in the world, I just found out," Niland said.

It was not a fair contest anyway. Djokovic, his appetite for more grand slam titles still driving him, was in a ruthless mood and showing little charity to his ailing opponent. He showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury that forced him to quit last week's Cincinnati final against Andy Murray but was glad to get an early mark on a hot and sunny afternoon at Flushing Meadows.

"I really don't mind that I spend less time on the court," Djokovic said. The Serbian has lost just two matches this year, claiming the Wimbledon and Australian Open titles along the way, but his intentions for the next two weeks are clear and his main rivals have been put on notice. "Now, more than ever, I know that I can actually perform equally well on any surface," he said.

Enjoy the NFL Experience at Super Bowl XLVI

The National Football League will produce the 20th NFL Experience at the Indiana Convention Center, beginning Jan. 27, 2012. The NFL Experience is the most exciting continuous event surrounding Super Bowl XLVI -- pro football's interactive theme park offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids' football clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football memorabilia show ever.

The NFL Experience ticket includes all games and attractions. $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Tickets are available by calling (866) TIX-4NFL (849-4635), visiting Ticketmaster.com beginning Dec. 7 or visiting the NFL Experience box office at the Indiana Convention Center. Tickets will go on sale one hour before opening daily.

NFL Experience dates*

Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 --
3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 --
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 --
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 --
3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 -- 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 -- 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
* All times Eastern

NFL Charities donates a $1 million Super Bowl Legacy Grant to benefit youth in the local community from proceeds from ticket sales to NFL Experience each year. These funds are used to establish enrichment centers for under-served youth in diverse communities. In 2012, the Indianapolis Youth Education Town will open its doors on the Near East Side as a result of proceeds generated by NFL Experience at Super Bowl XLVI.

For a list of player appearances, please call 1-888-NFL-CARD (635-2273) beginning January 23. Due to potential scheduling changes, player appearances will be announced the night before they are scheduled to appear at the NFL Experience.

ATTRACTIONS:

» Free autograph sessions with more than 50 NFL superstars -- 10,000 free autographs!

» Kids, learn the skills of the game in the Play 60 Youth Football Clinics! Get in line early! First-come, first-served basis.

» Super Bowl XLVI Memorabilia Show Presented by Panini America & Topps

» Live television programming from the NFL Network!

» Visit the NFL SHOP for official Super Bowl XLVI merchandise!

» See the Vince Lombardi Trophy up close!

» Visit the NFL Rush Zone for scaled down versions of the adult games!

SPECIAL EVENTS DESCRIPTIONS:

NFL Experience Autograph Stage Presented by Panini America & Topps: Get free autographs from past and present NFL stars. For a schedule of appearances, call 1-888-NFL-CARD (635-2273) toll free. All appearances are subject to change.

National Football League

Children participate in a flag football game.

NFL FLAG Clinics: These clinics are open to any participants between the ages of 6 and 12. Kids will learn the basics of NFL FLAG Football through small scrimmages focusing on skills such as flag pulling, catching, passing and agility.

Coaches Chat: NFL Coaches will discuss their coaching experiences and take your questions, located in the Locker Room.

Football 101 Clinics: NFL Players host seminars on the fundamentals of football, located in the Locker Room.

NFL Draft Set: Visit the official Draft Set and take your spot behind the podium.

Wilson Football Factory: See how official NFL game balls are individually produced. Authentic Super Bowl XLV Game Balls will be manufactured and sold on site.

Super Bowl Rings: See the collection of all 45 Super Bowl rings up close.

NFL Network Theatre: Take a seat and relax in the NFL Network Theater to watch "America's Game".

NFL Locker Room: Visit a replica of an NFL locker room as it appears on game day and experience the sights and sounds of the NFL behind the scenes.

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Relive pro football's glorious past with rare mementos on display from the Pro Football Hall of Fame including the 2011 Class' bronze busts.

Walter Payton Man of the Year: Celebrate the NFL Man of the Year, the NFL player who best exhibited charity and community service for the 2011 season.

NFLRUSH Zone for Kids: The smallest all-pros can enjoy America's favorite game with scaled-down versions of the popular interactive football activities.

Look Like A Pro: Step inside a uniformed body-cast mold bearing the insignia of your favorite NFL team and have a friend snap your photo.

National Football League

Fans take an opportunity to show off their speed.

Measure Up to the Pros: Compare your physical dimensions and athletic abilities to those of the biggest stars in the game.

NFL Command Center: Visit the NFL Control Room to learn how NFL officials are graded with a collection of plays from the 2011 NFL season.

NFL EXPERIENCE FAQ:

How much are tickets to the NFL Experience?

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Children under 2 years of age are admitted free of charge.

Is there a senior citizen discount?

No, all adult tickets are $25 each.

Are there any discounts for group tickets?

Yes, if you purchase 25 or more tickets, the ticket price is reduced to $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12. To receive the group order form, email: nflexperience@nfl.com.

Can I purchase tickets prior to the event?

You can purchase tickets at the NFL Experience Box Office beginning one hour before the gates open every day the NFL Experience is open. You can also purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster or by calling 1-866-TIX-4NFL (849-4635). To avoid lengthy lines at the Box Office, it is strongly encouraged you purchase tickets prior to coming to the NFL Experience as our dedicated NFL fans come out in large numbers.

Is there a will-call window at the box office?

Yes, you can leave purchased tickets at the will call window at the box office.

If I purchase tickets via Ticketmaster for a specific time period, will my ticket be honored if I come earlier or later?

Yes, your ticket will be honored if you attend on the same date as printed on your ticket however, those ticketholders who come to the NFL Experience at the time printed on their ticket will be given priority. Therefore, please make every attempt to arrive at the time printed on your ticket.

Is it safe to buy tickets online?

The only authorized seller for NFL Experience tickets online is Ticketmaster. The NFL is not affiliated with any other vendor for the purchase of NFL Experience tickets.

Is my ticket good for only 1 day?

Yes, once your ticket is scanned you will not be allowed to re-enter the NFL Experience with the same ticket under any circumstances due to security considerations.

I lost my ticket. Can it be replaced?

Individual tickets purchased at the box office or through Ticketmaster outlets will not be replaced. New tickets can be purchased at the box office at their face value.

What NFL players will be signing autographs at the NFL Experience?

To get the scheduled list of players signing autographs, please call 1-888-NFL- CARD (635-2273) beginning in January. Please note, all player appearances are subject to change without notice.

How many items will NFL players sign? Can I bring my own memorabilia?

One item per person per player is allowed and you can bring your own item for the player to sign.

Are there age limits on the elements at the NFL Experience?

Yes, the football clinics conducted on the Gatorade Clinic Field are for boys & girls ages 6-12 only. The various passing, running, kicking & receiving games are for fans of all ages after waivers have been signed by an adult or guardian age 18 or over.

Is there an ADA entrance to the NFL Experience?

Yes, the NFL Experience is ADA-approved. Please look for the NFL staff wearing "ADA" jackets for assistance on-site.

Can I bring in any outside food or beverages?

No, food and beverages will be available for purchase within the Experience concession area.

Film Review: Bodyguard

Yet another South Indian-inspired masala film, but this one crashes fast.

Just when we were beginning to admire the progress in narratives, style and technique in recent Hindi cinema, there comes along a sucker punch like Bodyguard to push us backwards several steps. South Indian director Siddique holds the distinction of making the same film four times. When his original Malayali film of the same name became a massive hit, Siddique then decided to remake it in Tamil as Kaavalan, in Hindi as Bodyguard, and the upcoming Telugu version titled Ganga. While the Malayalam and Tamil versions garnered significant box office and critical success, the Hindi remake – starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor – is an exercise in redundancy. Bodyguard tries to build on the current resurgence of the full on masala film that has been doing surprisingly well lately. But it ends up simply as an exhausting experience, offering painfully little by way of entertainment, plot or performances. Or anything else you might expect from a film.

For a film that has the biggest of India’s film factories clamoring  for remake rights, you would naturally go in expecting some sort of novel experience and plot. But the story is predictable from the start and resorts to every possible stereotype and plot device that has been used umpteen times. There’s a fearless (and feared) one-man juggernaut, Lovely Singh (Salman Khan), who beats up evil goons for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then there’s an omnipotent wealthy man Sartaj Rana (Raj Babbar) whose daughter Divya (Kareena Kapoor) faces some sort of vague danger. We are never told why. But this seems enough for the scared father to call in the brawny nice guy to look after his little girl as she moves to college.

In a bid to loosen up the robotically loyal bodyguard, Divya begins prank-calling him pretending to be a long lost girlfriend. Surely enough, the prank backfires and Divya falls for her bodyguard, while he falls for the non-existent girlfriend he’s been speaking to on the phone. And a gimmicky move to use Karisma Kapoor’s voice for Divya’s alter-ego on the phone oddly results in the older Kapoor sister having more interesting speaking parts than the actual female lead in the film, Kareena.

Such seemingly hasty moves define Bodyguard as it unravels, one dud slapstick joke after another. The film also checks off every cringeworthy stereotype in what becomes a desperate move to evoke laughter. At any cost. There’s an obese sidekick named Tsunami Singh who grunts, makes weird noises and is a bumbling, overacting fool. A dwarf character is thrown in just so Lovely Singh can make some flat jokes about a “half human” who needs to drink Complan. And when a flamboyantly gay man (wearing all pink) flirts with the hero, he gets scared and avoids any sort of contact as if a mere touch would bring on the “gay disease.”

To his credit, Siddique employs some of the requisite elements of a masala film. Khan’s introduction – grand song sequence, silly-cool dance moves and an afterthought appearance by Katrina Kaif – is engineered for mass appeal. The fight sequences are creative, to say the least, and the anticipated climax scene where Khan must inevitably lose his shirt as he readies for one last smack down is actually funny in its outlandishness. However, the film suffers overall from bad dialogues, a sorely punctured script, and half-hearted performances.

Khan tries hard to revisit his Chulbul Pandey of Dabanng but fails to do much in Bodyguard. His expressions and dialogue delivery both remain monotone throughout. There are a few moments when he successfully moves beyond his usual range of histrionics; for example, the scene where he is nervous about meeting his telephonic girlfriend in person is suitably executed. But for the most part, Khan hardly moves his lips to mouth the dialogues and then resorts to overacting when a scene demands some level of intensity.

Kapoor, while she looks radiant, offers shockingly little in terms of substance. Perhaps more at fault is the writing, which makes her an incredibly mundane character that could have been played by absolutely anyone. Yes, a masala film heroine is usually a mere trophy, but even Sonakshi Sinha had depth in Dabanng. Here, the be all and end all of the Divya character is Lovely Singh. She is first angry with him, then she teases him, then plays a prank, then falls in love with him. She has no other purpose in her life besides doing something related to Lovely.

The villains – special appearances by Mahesh Manjrekar and Aditya Pancholi – seem unnecessary since we never know exactly what they want or what their motives are. The songs aren’t exciting enough and are forcefully inserted without much regard to the plot or visual themes.

With Bodyguard, Khan hopes to continue his winning streak at delivering successful masala films after Wanted, Dabanng and Ready. However, this film by Siddique goes wrong in numerous places, most of all in the script. The best dramatic point in the film only comes at the end, which is when the film finally begins to get interesting. If only the same innovative dramatic streaks ran throughout the film, Bodyguard would have veered away from becoming the bumbling, unfunny and bland film that it is. This bodyguard won’t save anyone!

Read More >> Latest Baraking News, Latest India News

India vs England: Statistical highlights, Day 1

London: Following are the statistical highlights of the first day's play of the first Test between India and England at Lord's, London.
# Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 58 is his fourth innings of 50 or more at Lord's. He has totalled 564 (ave.141.00) at a strike rate of 56.68 in six innings at this venue.
# Trott's first half-century against India is his seventh in Tests.
# Trott's home Test record is splendid - 1154 runs at an average of 82.42 in 17 innings, including four centuries and four fifties.
# Alastair Cook has been dismissed by Zaheer Khan four times in Tests - once each at Lord's & Nottingham in July 2007, at Mohali in December 2008 and Lord's on July 21, 2011.
# Cook has taken his run-aggregate to 591 at an average of 98.50 in six innings (five Tests), including three hundreds and two fifties - the most by a batsman in 2011.
# Cook has managed 539 runs in eight Tests at an average of 38.50) against India.
# Cook (12) has missed an opportunity to equal a world record for most fifties in consecutive innings. Prior to his innings today, he had made 82 & 189 against Australia and 133, 96, 106 & 55 against Sri Lanka in his last six innings.
# Sir Everton Weekes (West Indies), Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) are the only three batsmen to record fifties in seven successive innings.
# A history has been created with the start of the 2000th Test match - the 100th Test between India and England.
# Strauss has been dismissed by Zaheer six times in six Tests. Shane Warne had dismissed him eight times in ten Tests.

ICC Goes Back to 14 Teams for 2015 World Cup

The International Cricket Council has reversed its decision to cut the number of teams in the 2015 World Cup, throwing a lifeline to the so-called minnows who were fast heading down the international sporting plughole.

Associated Press

ICC President Sharad Pawar

"In Hong Kong today, the ICC Executive Board opted to retain the 14-team format that was used at the highly successful and universally acclaimed ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka with the 10 Full Members being joined by four Associate or Affiliate qualifiers," the ICC said in a statement Tuesday.

The ICC, however, stuck to its guns on the 2019 Cricket World Cup, confirming that it would be a 10-team event with the top eight-ranked teams automatically assured of a place and the remaining two positions decided through a qualifying process.

Last October, the ICC said only the 10 full members—countries with Test cricket status—would be eligible for the 2015 World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

That decision was aimed at reducing the number of mismatches in the quadrennial tournament, which has seen the likes of India lining up against the Netherlands and Australia taking on Zimbabwe.

But the ICC's plan to cut the number of teams left it open to charges of failing to expand cricket globally. Critics charged the "international" council's main aim should be developing the sport world-wide and that lesser nations suffer if they never get to play the top teams.

Ireland has provided a consistent ray of hope that cricket could expand beyond its traditional heartlands, as seen during the 2011 World Cup when the Men in Green beat England.

"The initial reaction is probably just one of relief to be honest with you, relief that we now have the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup and relief that we can now devote our energy to actually trying to qualify for it,'' Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom told Reuters.

Other "minnows" didn't perform quite so well during this year's World Cup but Ireland's efforts were enough to force a rethink. Soon after the World Cup finished, ICC President Sharad Pawar provided a glimmer of hope when he said he had asked the ICC executive board to revisit its decision to cut the number of teams in the 2015 edition.

It appears the ICC board listened to Mr. Pawar, who is also India's agriculture minister and one of the country's most powerful and richest politicians.

The ICC's reversal was welcomed by Irish cricket fans, though some were perhaps a little over-optimistic about their team's chances in 2015. One supporter, called James Bohan, took to Twitter to write, "Now let's go and win it!!" Another, calling himself Rick O'Shea, opted for a more balanced approach: "It's the right, decent, smart decision for all concerned and opens the sport up here even further. Great news."

The ICC also announced Tuesday that it had decided against expanding the 2012 and 2014 World Twenty20 tournaments to 16 teams, and would instead maintain the 12-team format that has prevailed since the event's inception in 2007.

The 2012 World T20 will be held in Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh will host the 2014 installment.

DU First Cut Off List 2011 | Delhi University First Cut-Off List 2011

The University of Delhi has published the First Cut-off list marks (percentage) for Science and Arts & Commerce declared on 15th June 2011. The Cut off list helps to determine admissions to various undergraduate courses and programs at Delhi University (DU) and affiliated colleges.

The First Cut-off percentage eligible candidates are advised to complete admission formalities in the college concerned from 16th June to 20th June 2011 (except on SUnday) within the stipulated time. The First Cut-off list of SC/ST candidates is to be notified on 15th June 2011 at 2:00 PM.

DU First Cut Off List 2011:

http://www.du.ac.in/index.php?id=634&back=single&uid=79

FIRST CUT OFF - 2011

Science cut off

Arts & Commerce cut off