price cuts
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Netflix cuts prices in over 30 countries
Despite raising North American prices a year ago, Netflix is getting cheaper in over 30 countries.
Tesla's high-end Model S and X just got a lot cheaper
Tesla just made its high-end vehicles more reasonably priced for potential buyers. In addition to launching the long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, the automaker has also slashed the prices of its higher-end Model S and Model X configurations. The long-range Model S and Model X vehicles now cost $83,000 and $88,000, respectively, down from $96,000 before savings. That makes the long-range Model S just $4,000 more expensive than the base version, despite having a range that's 65 miles longer and a top speed that's 15mph faster.
UK price Smash: Wii U, white PS4 deals ahead of the holidays
UK retailers are already gearing up for the holiday season with some console promotions, including GameStop's £300 deal on a glacier white PlayStation 4. The brightly white PS4 was first available as part of the Destiny bundle, but then Sony released it as a standalone a few weeks ago. GameStop's promo offer is a £30 cut off its regular listing, and £50 less than Sony's recommended retail price. Meanwhile, Super Smash Bros Wii U is a few weeks out from its newly bumped-up November 28 release date in Her Maj's kingdom. As Nintendo Life reports, a few British retailers are taking the opportunity to bundle the brawler with the 8GB Basic Wii U, which Nintendo's been trying to phase out instead of the 32GB model. Those retailers include ShopTo, which has the white Wii U, Super Smash Bros. and New Super Mario Bros U going for £190.
HTC One X might drop to $100 on contract at AT&T, tempt our wallets (update: confirmed)
HTC might have turned green having seen the Galaxy S III steal the Android spotlight at AT&T, but it could be poised to use a classic trick to get the One X front and center once again: a price drop. An AT&T staff leak at XDA-Developers suggests the carrier is cutting the One X contract price in half to $100 on July 29th, putting it well under its Samsung rival and giving the similarly-priced Atrix HD no small amount of heat. Nothing's confirmed unless AT&T pulls the trigger, of course. If it does, we could see at least some shoppers deciding that HTC just makes more Sense (4.0) in the end. Update: We've confirmed directly with AT&T that the price cut is official and part of the company's back-to-school promos.
Sony refreshes VAIO Z series with Ivy Bridge, price now starts at $1,600 without the docking station
In case you didn't notice, Sony completely revamped its laptop lineup this morning. Unlike some of the other models on offer, the high-end Z series didn't get a redesign, but Sony at least took the opportunity to refresh it with new Ivy Bridge processors. Oh, and lower the starting price. The Z will no longer be bundled with the Power Media Dock, that external hub housing both a discrete GPU and optical drive. As such, the laptop will now start at $1,600, down from $2,000, while the dock will retail for an additional $400. Spec-wise, the Z still weighs a scant 2.6 pounds, but it's now constructed from carbon fiber and will be offered with a glossy finish. It will also be available with quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs, though the starting model's processor is dual-core. Otherwise, it offers nearly the same specs as the model we reviewed last year, including a 1080p display and solid-state RAID drives. Look for the refresh sometime this month, and in the meantime we've included pics below to jog your memory on what this guy looks like.%Gallery-156870% %Gallery-156166%
Hasselblad cuts H4D prices by up to 23 percent, might let you afford rent
Hasselblad is typically known for everything but price cuts, and sometimes goes in the opposite direction. As such, we're more than a little caught off-guard by a round of price cuts on what's usually considered the definitive medium format camera line. The 'entry' H4D-31 has been cut down by as much as 23 percent; we're not sure we'd call it a steal at $11,995 without a lens, but it's now an option if you think even a Nikon D800's full-frame sensor is puny. Price slashes aren't reserved for the bargain models, either, as even the 200-megapixel, status symbol H4D-200MS shaves enough off the cost (now $35,995) to be a worth look for those sitting on the fence. You can get the full details at the source link, and you won't have to survive on ramen noodles for a year to shoot billboard-sized photos.
Verizon to sell $200 Droid RAZR, 16GB microSD card not included this time
The question of the day: is a 16GB microSD card worth $100? Verizon Wireless said it will sell the Droid RAZR for $200 with a two-year contract -- a $100 discount off the original price, but one that forces you to give up that complimentary 16GB microSD card. Otherwise, you'll find the same 'ol spes, including a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 16GB of internal storage, a 4.3-inch AMOLED display and LTE connectivity. The microSD slot itself will be perfectly operational and accept up to 32GB in storage, provided you bring your own card. Expect this price to go into effect next week on January 23rd. Or, you know, spend $300 after all, but on that other RAZR with 32GB of storage and 21 hours of talk time.
Sony cuts Tablet S price by $100, now starts at $400 for 16GB
New year, new pricing strategy? We just got word that Sony's cut the price of its 9.4-inch Tablet S by $100, so that it now starts at $400 for the 16GB model, and $500 for the 32GB flavor. The move follows a temporary $50 price cut, which Sony announced on December 15th and said would last through the end of the year. So, the fact that the outfit has lowered the price by another fifty bucks, and permanently, can't bode well for sell-through figures. In any case, that takes the Tablet S out of Transformer Prime and iPad 2 territory, though it now finds itself in an increasingly crowded field of mid-range slates, a category populated by the likes of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, the original ASUS Transformer and both Toshiba Thrive tablets.
iPhone price cuts hitting Radio Shack, Target tomorrow?
Let the speculation begin! It may not be a sign of an iPhone refresh, but we've received multiple tips today about an imminent price drop for Apple's flagship smartphone. According to a pair of trusty tipsters, Radio Shack is prepping to cut the cost of AT&T's 16GB iPhone 4 to $169.99, with a two-year contract, from $199.99. The 32GB version will likewise take a $30 plunge at the Shack, ringing in at $269.99, and the price of the 8GB 3GS will drop to $19.99. Phone Arena is likewise reporting on Target slicing up the old Apple price tag, but lists varying numbers based on carrier. If all this talk turns out to be true, those prices should be ripe for the picking starting tomorrow. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
T-Mobile expected to cut Galaxy Tab pricing to $249.99 (update: drop is official!)
After initiating the first on-contract Galaxy Tab price cascade back in December that quickly led Sprint to respond, T-Mobile may chop subsidy prices again today for the 7-inch tablet to just under $250 (after a pesky $50 mail-in rebate). Together, that's only $62 more than the bargain bin CherryPad, which should infuriate early adopters who paid double that only a few months ago, not to mention sober up Samsung. However, when you consider that pseudo-4G tablets like the Dell Streak 7 and LG G-Slate will join Magenta's lineup soon, it is a viable strategy for extending the Tab's consumer appeal in this viciously competitive Android tablet world we live in. Then again, if the dual-core processors teased for the Tab's successor actually pan out, we doubt Samsung will need any assistance getting back to its smug position on top of the Android heap. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled on T-Mobile's site today and be sure to update should the price change actually materialize. Update: A recent peek at T-Mobile's site shows the price drop is now official. If you're in the UK and prefer buying the Tab unsubsidized, Amazon and Tesco have also chopped their prices to a palatable £341.24 ($542) and £359.20 ($571), respectively. Thanks, Raphael and Rupert!
Samsung cuts Galaxy Tab prices in the UK, still more than AT&T
We've already shared some opinions on why Samsung's Galaxy Tab pricing makes sense stateside -- granted, that was before AT&T announced it would be charging $50 more than every other US carrier. After initially showing up for pre-order in the UK on Carphone Warehouse for £530 ($850) and for a Queen's ransom of £799 ($1280) on Amazon though, we're glad to find The Inquirer reporting that Tab prices on both Amazon and Dixons have dropped to £469 ($738) for a 16GB model with free delivery. Carphone Warehouse has also cut prices down to £489.99 ($784) for the 32GB version. Sure, that may still sound steep to us Yankees, but keep in mind it's now a good bit less than the basic 16GB 3G iPad which currently sells for £529 ($850). Whether these prices will slide even closer to Stateside levels is still obviously anyone's guess, but at this point we're sure those of you in the UK won't have an issue paying less for your tab.
Sony refuses to get caught up in a price war with Kindle, intends to compete on quality
Boy, Sony sure loves to drag its heels when it comes to obvious industry trends. First netbooks were "a race to the bottom," now the company's saying it "won't sacrifice the quality and design" of its e-readers in order to lay claim to being the cheapest. This comes as a reaction to the Kindle's aggressive new $139 entry price point and continues Sony's reluctance to fiddle with what it sees as a successful formula. We're not going to second-guess the reasoning (too much), but it's not like there's that much room to differentiate yourself when you're using the same E Ink tech as the competition, is there? Guess if all else fails, Sony can always innovate the hell out of those leatherette cases and bundle them with the Reader.
Other shoe drops: TomTom cuts price of US and Canada GPS app by 30%
It was just last week that TomTom offered a new version of its nav app for the US (minus Canadian data) for $49.99US [iTunes link]. That didn't make people who bought the full version for a hundred bucks and never needed the Canadian info anyway filled with joy. Now, TomTom has dropped the price of the version that does include both the U.S. and Canada to $69.99 [iTunes link] until December 28, making those earlier customers even more unhappy. Price cuts, of course, are a way of life, and no one should be surprised that competition drives down prices. In my view, most of the iPhone GPS navigators are priced too high. I think somewhere between $35 and $50 is about right considering that you are providing all the hardware. Hardware solutions have really plummeted in price, with many selling for close to $100.00. The advantage of the iPhone solution is there is only one device to carry, but navigation stops when a call comes in. I'll have a roundup of my favorite GPS apps in a couple of days, but if you are ready to go a 30% discount on the TomTom is a pretty good deal, especially if you need to navigate in both Canada and the U.S. The well regarded Navigon app [iTunes link] is selling for $89.99, but watch for sales on that product as well. I know a lot of people are holding out for the free Google Navigator for the iPhone, but there is no guarantee that it will ever hit the App Store. Thanks to Steve for the tip!
GameStop CEO reckons there 'will have to be price cuts' for Wii, PS3
Sitting atop his throne made with the profits from used games, GameStop CEO Daniel DeMatteo said in an investor call that he believes a price drop for the Wii and PS3 is due. Edge reports (echoing Seeking Alpha's transcript) that DeMatteo thinks, given the current economy, that console prices are too high. He believes that by the third quarter there need to be "price cuts in order to get the hardware moving" to where the company's projections expect them to be.Dematteo had previously mentioned in a CNBC interview that he'd like to see a $100 cut for the PS3, the same figure that Lazard Capital's Colin Sebastian is expecting by fall. As for a Wii cut, Nintendo doesn't really need one, even as it cut manufacturing costs by 45 percent. If Nintendo does cut the price of the Wii, it would almost feel like charity.
Nintendo comments on Wii manufacturing costs, not planning price cut
Following Credit Suisse analyst Koya Tabata's estimation that Wii manufacturing costs are down 45 percent, Nintendo has come out from its corner swinging, ready to put down any and all speculation that a price cut for the console is due soon. In speaking to Edge, Nintendo said the depreciation of the U.S. dollar and British pound is also a factor, as from "launch in December 2006 to December 2008, the value of the pound fell by 43 percent against the yen," and, in the same period of time, the U.S. dollar and euro fell against the pound 22 and 18 percent, respectively.Ed Barton, analyst for Screen Digest, thinks that if Nintendo is to cut the console's price, it could first happen in Japan if "supply has truly equaled demand." Barton points to Nintendo's next financial earnings report, where any and all reduction in manufacturing costs should be evidenced in the company's operating profits. Though trying to gauge an improvement in Nintendo profits is kind of like finding a giant needle in a stack full of giant needles.
PS3 price cut may be on the way very soon, says analyst
Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco, says that a major price cut on the Playstation 3 could be on the way in the near, near future (like, in the next few days). Hickey claims that the price slash needs to be at least $100 to get the retail juice moving again, and that, failing that, Sony should expect to see its sales on the console continue to decline. We've heard predictions of a coming price reduction already (sure, they were from Microsoft, but whatever), and this wouldn't be a huge surprise, though we'll just have to wait and see. Hickey also speculates that Sony could hack the Blu-ray out of the PS3 in order to make that price cut doable, but that seems slightly wild to us. Then again, stranger things have happened. [Via Joystiq]
Premium LCD HDTV makers slash the deepest on Black Friday
Despite the mass media crying their hearts out about how dreadful sales would be on Black Friday, things actually turned out pretty good. 'Course, we suspect that had just a wee bit to do with how deep the discounts were on big ticket items, and a new report from iSuppli suggests that the premium brands peeled back the furthest. Yeah, Sony was talking tough about keeping its prices high, but it was still one of the six top-tier brands that slashed LCD prices 23% on average for the Black Friday weekend. Lower-cost manufacturers like Vizio and Westinghouse dropped their prices only 19%, though analysts are expecting the decline in prices to remain steady or fall even more as the end of 2008 draws near. If you've been holding off, there's never a time like the present...[Image courtesy of SanDiegoHomeBlog]
Microsoft officially slashes Xbox 360 prices in Europe
We're getting reports that the rumored Xbox 360 price cuts for the UK have gone official. After our exclusive peak (pictured above) at the Woolworth's catalog, Microsoft has stepped up and slashed prices across the board for the Queen's own population of punters, boffins, and geezers. Starting Friday, the pricing drops to £130 for the Arcade, £170 for the 60GB Premium console, and £230 for the 120GB Elite.Update: The rest of Europe too: Arcade (€180), Premium (€240), and Elite (€300).[Via Gadgetoid]
Radio Shack ad confirms Xbox 360 price cuts?
According to our good, dear, beautiful friends at Joystiq (and Radio Shack, incidentally) the Xbox 360 family is going to be seeing those rumored price cuts in the very near future. Falling right in line with that chatter we heard at the beginning of the month, a leaked Radio Shack circular seems to indicate that there will be reductions across the board for the console, with the 60GB version clocking in at $299, the Elite running you a cool $399, and the Arcade setup dropping to a totally affordable $199 (we're looking at you, potential Xbox LIVE opponents). Sure this could all be some Photoshop wiz's idea of a hilarious joke, but we're keeping the fingers and toes crossed over here. Target date for truth? September 7th -- so stay tuned.
Rumor: Microsoft gets more competitive next month
Let's face it: each console does something pretty well. The Xbox 360 has Xbox Live, which is a pretty good online service. The PS3 has a very comfortable controller and can do some sweet media stuff. The Wii has an innovative control scheme and No More Heroes. Each console is great in their own way and this current generation's console war has been fun to watch. Now that consoles are getting older, prices are falling and we're anxious to see how the rest of this struggle for market dominance will play out. If this rumor turns out to be true, the Xbox 360 will be the cheapest console on the market, besting the Wii by $50.Both the Xbox 360 "Arcade" bundle and the "Pro" bundle are supposedly getting their prices slashed. The "Arcade" is apparently dropping from $279 down to $199, while the "Pro" will drop from $349 down to $299. This might come as good news to the Xbox camp, but, should this happen, we wonder how this could affect the sales moving forward.Could this drive Nintendo to cut the price of the Wii? We doubt it. With the console doing so well, we don't think Nintendo is looking to their competition to determine when they should slash their own console's price. But, if this price drop does spur a big increase in Xbox 360 sales and people start buying less Wiis, we wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo announced a price drop on our around the holidays later this year. What do you all think?[Via GamePro]
