Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
Potentially taking the place of moms and their ever-flashing cameras, a new device allows people to document their lives simply by wearing it. According to New Scientist, U.K.-based firm Vicon has licensed technology from Microsoft Research Cambridge in order to produce the camera, which automatically snaps pictures as users wear it around their necks. The device, which can be programmed to take photos as often as every 30 seconds, whenever light changes in an environment, or when the camera detects body heat, was originally designed to aid the memory of Alzheimer's patients by allowing them to look back on their "lifelogs" at the end of each day. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Millerson said 7:00AM on 10-18-2009
Maybe it would help some people realize how boring their lives really are.
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theateam2 said 8:37AM on 10-18-2009
Yes, It is good idea but it's very dangerous threat in the world that will cause very increasing which climb up 95% arrest people into jail and it will cause that government will can reach 100% control people's life as become slaves to any governments. Where is their own protection of their personal life? No way for that kind of camera for shots on every 30 seconds which means arrest each person per minute a day into jail. It 's very crazy idea of that kind that Government will love that kind of technology item.
Daniel's story was right about explained future of Government will find this kind of item. It was explained from old testament of the Bible Book. Shame on you who invent and Govermnent will get all you down someday! It's not total fair to all kinds of people.
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ehmdkg said 9:00AM on 10-18-2009
i understand your concerns ateam, but if they could turn that into a webcam, i think every senator and congressperson should be required to wear one..hopefully we could get sound too..help end all the backroom deals and tired political underhandedness.
donahmar5 said 10:24AM on 10-18-2009
repeat that in English please....
Malaycobra said 6:19PM on 10-18-2009
Well, as long as it's in the Bible Book!
Seriously, what are you smoking?
William said 6:56AM on 10-19-2009
WHAT!!!!! Where are you from. Nothing you are saying makes any sense, it doesn't pertain to anything or even itself. Sounds like you are very nervous and just rambling on.
lali said 12:30PM on 10-18-2009
This would be a great idea. Think about when you are going on vacation and don't have enough hands or time to take a picture, this camera sure is coming in handy also for those parties, events that you attend. I hope the price tag will come down. I would love to have one.
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jenesis227 said 9:41AM on 10-18-2009
This is better than being micro-chipped! One cold REALLY blame all of life's stupid and bad choices on parents now! And we could finally capture and imprison all the bad people in this world! So totally inventive and inspiring!
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jenesis227 said 9:43AM on 10-18-2009
oops.... 'one COULD .... " i meant to type. Dang keyboard!
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theateam2 said 10:33AM on 10-18-2009
donahmar5,
same as you-----> repeat that in your English please!
End of disussion!
Thanks!
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Jay said 10:43AM on 10-18-2009
I smell trouble...as soon as the wrong person gets a hold of this
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JD said 11:02AM on 10-18-2009
It's voluntary, not mandatory. I think it's a great idea. You reach a point later in life when you find yourself wondering what you were doing during a particular moment or one summer or on the day of a huge blizzard or with old flames - generally, reminiscing. The memory doesn't serve us very well for details. Sure we all remember the big things in our lives, but sometimes little things really make your day. Knowing what I was doing in June of 1976 might be fun - for some of us. The problem with this device, it's not "recording" anything, it's just taking random snapshots of whatever it's pointed at. Now if it was a 24/7 HDD video camera with audio recording as well, then they'd have something for the narcissists among us.
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Onyx said 7:26PM on 10-18-2009
Hi
its1luckycat said 11:15AM on 10-18-2009
people, get over yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Crystal Brass said 11:42AM on 10-18-2009
How stupid we have become. Tell the world who you know, and who you blow.
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Funke, Tobias Dr. said 6:11PM on 10-18-2009
$850? Oh, right, researchers have deep pockets... yours.
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Dean Smith said 7:41AM on 10-19-2009
HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY THINK I/WE HAVE TO WASTE AT THE END OF OUR DAYS? DO THE MATH.......1 PICTURE EVERY 30 SECONDS....=.......2 PICTURES A MINUTE...120 PICTURES EVERY HOUR.........2880 PICTURES EVERY 24 HOURS!! MYSELF......I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME AT THE END OF THE DAY TO GO THROUGH 2880 PICTURES. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE IF WE WAITED UNTIL ALL 30,000 WERE SAVED? AND ANY ALZHEIMERS PATIENTS WOULD FORGET WHY OR WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT HALFWAY THROUGH IT ANYWAY. WHAT A COMPLETE RIPPOFF AND WASTE OF TIME. USE YOUR BRAINS PEOPLE, IT'S THE BEST HI-DEF, DIGITAL, 3-D, AUDIO VIDEO DEVICE THERE EVER WILL BE. IT'S LIFE LIKE!!!!
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nobody148 said 7:41AM on 10-19-2009
Wow, that's seriously creepy. Anyone else see a disturbing resemblance to a miniature telescreen from the book 1984? Big Brother is watching you...
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Sandy and Sue said 10:10AM on 10-19-2009
Why in the world would I want to log every moment of my life? It was boring enough the first time and I certainly would not want to relive it. The only things
that could be written in my obituary would be: He paid his taxes and stayed our
of jail.
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