Those long-time readers might also recall that Ben had published a book back in 2005, titled Off the Top of My Head, which collected the columns he had written while working for the Katahdin Times in Maine. The book is still available in hardcover and paperback, starting at $20.99. But I recently commented to Ben that he should look into Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing program as a way to bring the book to the Kindle platform, and he took my suggestion. The book became available tonight to Kindle users for just $4.99. And it is in the Kindle Lending Library so Amazon Prime customers can borrow it for free – though Ben could use the five bucks, so I hope you buy it if you like it.

Sure, he’s been my best friend since we met back in 1991, so I’m admittedly biased, but he’s a clever & witty writer and the columns are full of humor. And I feature in a few of the columns, when he’s relating tales of our misadventures.

Remember, not all devices that use SD cards may support the later SDHC, or especially the SDXC, specifications. So before you buy a card to use in your device, make sure it will be supported.

First up, originally slated to end March 26th, but extended through March 31st, the DROID Madness Sale. This sale is only good on new Verizon Wireless activations. New activation includes a new individual account, a new family account, or a new line to an existing account. The promotion does not include upgrades or contract extensions.

All Motorola DROID devices on Verizon are on sale. The DROID RAZR MAXX 4G 32GB in black is $199.99. The DROID 4 4G is $49.99. The DROID RAZR 4G 16GB is $34.99 in black, white, or purple. The DROID BIONIC 4G 32GB is $29.99. While the DROID BIONIC 4G 16GB, DROID X2, DROID 3 Global, and DROID PRO are all just $0.01 each – a penny! My wife has the DROID RAZR and she loves it, it is a very nice phone.

The second sale has some overlap with the first, now extended through April 15th (formerly March 31st) Double Your Data on 4G Phones. It is pretty simple – all 4G Verizon phones qualify for twice the amount of data for the same monthly price. New 4G smartphone activations and upgrades are eligible, including existing customers with 4G smartphones.

The following prices are for new activations, upgrade pricing may differ. As above, the DROID RAZR MAXX 4G 32GB is $199.99. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G is $99.99. The HTC Rezound 4G is $79.99. The DROID 4 4G is $49.99. The DROID RAZR 4G 16GB is $34.99 in black, white, or purple. The DROID BIONIC 4G 32GB is $29.99. The LG Spectrum 4G is $19.99. The HTC ThunderBolt 4G, Samsung Stratosphere 4G, DROID BIONIC 4G 16GB, Samsung DROID CHARGE 4G, and Pantech Breakout 4G are all just $0.01 – one red cent.

Of all of these the one I’d select is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus – which is in fact the phone I carry. My second choice would probably be the DROID RAZR, or maybe the DROID RAZR MAXX, though battery life hasn’t really been an issue for me so far.

Let’s compare the Roku HD from Sellout.Woot! to the Roku 2 XS and see what the extra $30 gets you:

The Roku 2 XS includes the Bluetooth motion sensing remote to support casual gaming – and it comes with a full copy of Angry Birds. And it runs all of the latest software with full support for the latest Roku channel features. I’d grab the Roku 2 XS for the extra features and current platform.

The new Premiere family lineup will be:

• TiVo Premiere – 500GB/75 Hours HD, 2 tuners, analog cable, digital cable, FiOS, antenna – $149.99
• TiVo Premiere XL – 1TB/150 Hours HD, 2 tuners, analog cable, digital cable, FiOS, antenna – $249.99
• TiVo Premiere Elite – 2TB/300 Hours HD, 4 tuners, digital cable, FiOS – $399.99

As further good news, TiVo is reducing their monthly subscription pricing from $19.99 on the first unit and $14.99 on each additional unit under the Multi-Service Discount, to $14.99 for the first unit and $12.99 for each additional unit. Product lifetime service remains at $499.99 for the first until and $399.99 for each additional unit. (Note that this pricing only applies to the Premiere family, older models remain at the $12.95/$9.95 pricing level. This reflects the different pricing model and subsidized on the older units when they were sold.)

So the Premiere gets a 180GB capacity bump and a $50 MSRP bump, the Premiere XL drops by $50, the Premiere Elite drops by $100, and monthly service pricing drops by $5 on the first box and $2 on each additional unit. Not a bad change I’d say.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – do not go monthly, buy product lifetime service. Yes, it is more up front. But you break even in 33 months with the new pricing on the first box ($499.99 vs. $14.99/month), and 31 months on additional units ($399.99 vs. $12.99/month). Odds are you’re going to be using the unit for longer than that. TiVo expects units to remain in service at least 60 months; that’s the period they amortize lifetime service revenue over. Once you break even you’re effectively saving money every month you use the box.

But there’s more – it is like buying vs. renting. If you go monthly, when you stop paying the box becomes a doorstop. And a used TiVo without any subscription has very little residual value on the resale market because of the relatively low pricing on new units – and factory refurbished units which have a full warranty unlike a used box from a user. But units with product lifetime service have a high residual value because PLS transfers with the unit. So you can resell the box on eBay, Craigslist, etc., and recoup a good bit of your initial investment. You won’t get that with monthly service – those payments add nothing to the value of the unit. So you save even more in the long run if you decide to resell the box.

Of course, you can always just give it away to someone else – a friend, the kids, etc. – or put it in another room in your home when you decide to upgrade to the latest and greatest. Since it has lifetime service it will continue to do its thing with no additional cost. And if you’re worried about it failing, which will happen to everything eventually, most failures are the hard drive or the fan – the only two moving parts. And both of those are readily replaced with very little technical knowledge required. If you can operate a screwdriver you can replace either one. Even a unit with a failed hard drive will carry value if it has PLS as people buy them just to fix them and put them back into service.

I’ve owned six TiVo units and I’ve had PLS on all of them. I’ve resold four of those over the years and recouped a fair bit. It works out especially well when PLS pricing increases between the time you purchase it and when you resell it. But enough of this – you get the point.

The full press release from TiVo is below:

ALVISO, Calif. (March 25, 2012) – TiVo Inc., the creator of and a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs), announced the launch of its new entry-level TiVo Premiere DVR which records up to 75 hours of HD content giving customers 65% more recording space than its previous version. Beginning Sunday, March 25, the upgraded memory version of TiVo Premiere is available for purchase on tivo.com or from your local Best Buy store.

With the introduction of this expanded model, TiVo has updated its pricing structure across all TiVo products giving customers easier access to even higher recording capabilities. The TiVo Premiere product line is the following:

• TiVo Premiere $149.99: Records two shows at once and up to 75 hours of HD content
• TiVo Premiere XL $249.99 (reduced $50): Records two shows at once and up to 150 hours of HD content
• TiVo Premiere Elite $399.99 (reduced $100): Records four shows at once and up to 300 hours of HD content

“We now live in a world where HD entertainment is the standard and there is more demand than ever to provide customers with additional recording space,” said Doug Bieter, Vice President of Retail Sales for TiVo, Inc. “By enhancing the TiVo Premiere, we’ve also responded to customers’ requests for upgraded memory and introduced a new TiVo monthly service fee structure that is highly competitive with most cable DVR pricing. It is now easier than ever to get the greatest at-home entertainment experience available on the market today.”

TiVo has introduced new monthly pricing for all TiVo Premiere DVRs:

• The TiVo monthly service fee is now $14.99 per month, with a one-year commitment, making it lower on a monthly basis than most cable offerings
• Multi-service discount pricing is now $12.99 per month

For customers wanting to pay once for the lifetime of the DVR, product lifetime service is still available for $499.99 and at a discounted price of $399.99 for customers with multiple TiVo DVRs.

TiVo’s award-winning user interface offers a unique combination of TV, web and on demand content, paired with top-of-the-line recording capabilities and the many great features users have grown to love. With TiVo Premiere, Premiere XL, and Premiere Elite, users have access to the world’s largest on demand library from services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Pandora and more.

The 500 GB TiVo Premiere TiVo can be purchased nationwide at retail stores like Best Buy or directly from TiVo by calling 1-877-BUY-TIVO (1-877-289-8486) or visiting www.tivo.com.

# # #

* There will be no pricing change for non-Premiere legacy boxes; monthly service now costs $12.95/month ($9.95/month for multi-service discount pricing). Product Lifetime Service remains the same: $499.99 – $399.99 multi-service discount pricing for additional units.

About TiVo Inc.
Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO – News) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo’s intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry www.tivo.com
TiVo, TiVo Logo, and Trick Play are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. ©2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

If 32GB is more than you need, you can pick up the same card in 16GB for $13.99. But I’d really take the Gold Box deal and snag a 32GB card for cheap.

But what’s this on Amazon? A TCD746500? Yep, it is listed as a TiVo Premiere with 500GB, or 75 hours of HD recording. And it shows as “Usually Ships in 2 to 5 weeks”, so it may be about to launch. The price is $149.99, which slots in between the current 320GB model’s $99.99 MSRP and the Premiere XL’s $299.99. So perhaps this will be a new family member and not a replacement/upgrade of the current Premiere? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Personally, if this is really coming to market, I expect it to replace the 320GB model. There isn’t enough differentiation between 320GB and 500GB to keep both models in production. And the branding on the Amazon page is simply ‘TiVo Premiere’, just like today’s 320GB model. Having two units with the same branding with only the drive being different would seem to be too confusing for consumers.

I’ll note that in my post last week on TiVo’s pitch to cable operators I linked to TiVo’s one-sheet on the TiVo Premiere as offered to MSOs, and it has a 500GB drive. Perhaps they’re seeking to simplify their supply chain by just producing one 500GB model for both retail and MSOs? It could also be 320GB drives are getting harder to source, it has been a while since the Premiere first launched.

Based on the specs given this is a revised Premiere, and not based on the Premiere Elite – it still lists antenna support. But it could have other internal revisions, past models of TiVo have had minor board re-spins during their lifespans. Note that the images on the Amazon listing aren’t anything to go by. The front photos of the unit are a TiVo Premiere, the box is clearly from the 320GB model as it states “45 Hours”, and the rear image is of a Premiere XL prototype/beta unit – the “TCD7F8″ serial is a giveaway. (Pre-production TiVo units replace a digit with a letter.)

I’ve emailed TiVo to see if they have anything official to say about this 500GB TiVo Premiere. But I suspect Amazon jumped the gun in listing this. I did look for other sites and found some that also listed this – but on further investigation they all tied back to Amazon in some way.

Spotted via FaceBook.

First up, running through March 26th, the DROID Madness Sale. This sale is only good on new Verizon Wireless activations. New activation includes a new individual account, a new family account, or a new line to an existing account. The promotion does not include upgrades or contract extensions.

All Motorola DROID devices on Verizon are on sale. The DROID RAZR MAXX 4G 32GB in black is $199.99. The DROID 4 4G is $49.99. The DROID RAZR 4G 16GB is $34.99 in black, white, or purple. The DROID BIONIC 4G 32GB is $29.99. While the DROID BIONIC 4G 16GB, DROID X2, DROID 3 Global, and DROID PRO are all just $0.01 each – a penny! My wife has the DROID RAZR and she loves it, it is a very nice phone.

The second sale has some overlap with the first, through March 31st Double Your Data on 4G Phones. It is pretty simple – all 4G Verizon phones qualify for twice the amount of data for the same monthly price. New 4G smartphone activations and upgrades are eligible, including existing customers with 4G smartphones.

The following prices are for new activations, upgrade pricing may differ. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G is $99.99. The HTC Rezound 4G is $79.99. The DROID 4 4G is $49.99. The DROID RAZR 4G 16GB is $34.99 in black, white, or purple. The DROID BIONIC 4G 32GB is $29.99. The LG Spectrum 4G is $19.99. The HTC ThunderBolt 4G, LG Revolution 4G, Samsung Stratosphere 4G, Samsung DROID CHARGE, and Pantech Breakout 4G are all just $0.01 – one red cent.

I note that the sale specifically states “all 4G Verizon phones qualify”, yet the DROID RAZR MAXX 4G 32GB and DROID BIONIC 4G 16GB from the first sale aren’t listed in the second. But I’d expect them to qualify as well, as they are “4G Verizon phones”.

Of all of these the one I’d select is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus – which is in fact the phone I carry. My second choice would probably be the DROID RAZR, or maybe the DROID RAZR MAXX, though battery life hasn’t really been an issue for me so far.

If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime membership you can try it free for a month, then it is $79 a year. And you get more than free streaming video, you get free two-day shipping on all of your orders and free book each month to borrow from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.

Now if only TiVo would get around to the promised support for Prime Instant Video.

The full announcement is below:

It isn’t the biggest, baddest router on the market, that’s for sure, but for $30 it is a solid product.

Android phones:

Android tablets:

Kindle Fire:

iPhone:

iPad:

Windows Phone 7:

Web:

The normal rate through Verizon is $299.99 with a two-year commitment. But Amazon Wireless is now offering this top-end phone at a low-end price, just $99.99 for new subscribers with a two-year commitment. If you want to add a line to an existing family account it is just $179.99. And even those renewing can save with a $259.99 price. If you’ve been thinking about switching to Android and/or Verizon, this is a fantastic deal. Big savings on a killer phone. I’m extremely happy with mine.

In other Android news, my Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime arrived Tuesday. I haven’t had a lot of time to play with it, but so far I love it. I’m planning to take it on my extended trip starting next week, for my wedding and honeymoon, instead of my laptop.

With the release of SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue it can act as a SlingCatcher – only better than the SlingCatcher ever was, and a lot less expensive. Logitech is getting out of the Google TV game, and when the existing stocks of the Revue are gone, that’s it. So if you think you might be interested, now is a good time to grab one cheap.

You can get deals on computers, digital storage, printers, digital cameras, software, GPS products, computer accessories, office technology, office supplies, office furniture, assorted gift items, and more. Act now!

And there is still time to donate $5 to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and have it matched for a total $10 donation. It’s just $5 and it can make a big difference for some child’s holiday.

First up, Special Holiday Deals on Select LG Home Entertainment Products. Save on 25 different HDTVs, three different Blu-ray Disc players, and three different Home Audio Systems.

Or maybe you’d prefer a Free Family Pack of 3D Glasses with Select LG Cinema 3D LED HDTVs with Smart TV. Five LG 3D HDTV models to choose from.

Or a free LG AN-MR200 Magic Motion Remote when you buy an LG Infinia 42LV5400 42″ 1080p HDTV with Smart TV.

Next up, Save Big on Select Sony HDTVs. Seventeen different models to choose from.

Of perhaps Great Savings on Select Panasonic HDTVs. Sixteen models to choose from!

Next, Save up to 45% on Select HDTVs. HDTVs from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony – 102 different models to choose from!

Maybe Big-Screen HDTVs for $999 or Less. LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Toshiba, VIZIO and Westinghouse, 42 models all together.

And to feed those HDTVs content, Blu-ray Disc Players and Digital-Media Devices Under $100. The Apple TV and TiVo Premiere are in there along with the Roku 2 family and Roku LT. Blu-ray Disc players from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, VIZIO, and Toshiba, and streaming devices from Iomega, Western Digital, Patriot, Netgear, and the aforementioned Apple, TiVo, and Roku boxes.

And for those Blu-ray Players, save on thousands of TV shows and movies on Blu-ray and DVD.

Now, if you want to create your own content, there is this special: Instant Savings on Select Sony Camcorders. Eighteen different models to choose from – from the $89.99 Bloggie to the $399.99 HDR-XR160.

If still photography is more your thing, get a Free DSLR Backpack, Memory Card, and Tiffen Filter with Select Canon Rebel DSLR Cameras. Thirteen different camera models to choose from.

Or perhaps you prefer to Save Big When You Bundle Select Canon DSLRs with Qualifying Canon Lenses and/or Printers. With seven different cameras to choose from.

Amazon certainly has your entertainment electronics needs covered.

Anyway, Amazon’s Black Friday Week sale is in full swing. It actually started on Monday and runs through next Monday. They have deals all over the site, so I’m not going to try to list them all.

But I did want to focus on the deals in Movies & TV. They have specials on DVD, Blu-ray, and Amazon Instant Video – thousands of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs at up to 67% off. Check it out.

Of course, the key piece of info that is missing is the release date. Still no word on that. But it is supposed to be this year.

Via Liliputing.

But that’s not all; if you buy a phone with mobile hotspot capabilities and you actually activate them, Amazon will give you a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

The catch? All of this is for new activations only. The official word:

For a limited time only, all phones from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T with a new line of service are on sale for a penny and include standard FREE Two-Day Shipping. Offer valid between midnight PDT November 21, 2011, through 11:59 p.m. PDT November 28, 2011, while supplies last. Plus, if you buy an eligible hotspot-ready smartphone and activate the hotspot feature, you’ll get a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card

There are 97 different devices to choose from. Mostly Android, unsurprisingly, but also WebOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and even non-smartphones. But why would you get a non-smartphone with this deal? You have one week, start shopping.

Some of the specs:

• 10.1-megapixel resolution, large 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor
• 7.1x Wide-Angle Nikkor ED Optical Zoom Glass Lens
• 3-inch Ultra-High Resolution (921,000-dot) Clear Color Display
• HD (720p) movie with stereo, mic input jack and HDMI output
• Dial controls for key functions including ISO, white balance, bracketing, exposure compensation and more
• Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
• Battery charger included

There are a lot more details in the Amazon listing. Remember, this deal is today only.

Basically this is a totally kick-ass Android smartphone. I’m personally debating if I want to get one or wait for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and it isn’t an easy choice. My fiancee almost ordered a RAZR earlier tonight to replace her OG Droid – but didn’t pull the trigger. Which might have been a good thing.

Why? Verizon is asking $299.99 for the phone with a 2-year contract.

But Amazon is doing something a little crazy. This is a brand new phone, easily the top end phone for Verizon’s 4G LTE network and one of the best smartphones on the market. Full off contract pricing is an insane $799.99! Normal two-year contract pricing, as I said, is $299.99. But, in honor of 11/11/11, Amazon is offering it to new customers for only $111.11 with 2-year contract! That’s $188.88 off Verizon’s price for a phone launching today. Existing Verizon customers who are up for renewal can get it for $249.99. And if you want it without a contract you can have it for only $749.99 – ouch.

If you’ve been thinking of switching to Verizon, this is an incredible deal. You can get the top end Android smartphone for the cost of an entry level model. Don’t pass this up!

The latest television teaser is also pretty slick. Like past Droid commercials, it is more like the trailer for the latest action flick.