Marketplace Blog

Wi-Fi Webcams can be really cool, allowing you to stream live video to, say, a laptop or phone without having to run cables all over the place.

But many, if not most, of them are expensive, unattractive gizmos requiring complicated setup and delivering iffy results.

They're getting better, though, and for today at least, more affordable: Ben's Outlet has the Stem Innovation iZon Wi-Fi Webcam for $64.99 shipped. That's half the list price, and definitely the best deal I've seen on this product.

The small, white, cylindrical iZon stands about 4 inches high on its … Read more

And now for something completely different.

Need a wireless speaker to complete your home-theater surround system? How about a Pandora-friendly speaker for the living room? Maybe you're just tired of sitting in the dark.

Whatever the case, here's a product I didn't even know existed until this morning, but now feel I must have: today only, 1SaleADay has the Soundolier DUO-CP lamp with wireless speaker for $129.99, plus $4.99 for shipping.

The Soundolier has a list price of $379.99, and that's exactly what you'd pay for one at Amazon. Elsewhere I've … Read more

Apple may have just priced itself into a corner.

At least week's product launch event, the company unveiled a new, fifth-generation iPod Touch with a slightly larger screen, better camera, faster processor, and so on. Starting price: $299.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill continues to churn about an iPad Mini that could appear as early as next month, potentially obliterating Amazon's Kindle Fire and other competitors in the 7-inch tablet market (much as the current iPad has dominated the 10-inch market).

Indeed, many have speculated that a $249 iPad would spell doom for the Kindle Fires and Nooks of … Read more

There was quite the hullabaloo last week regarding Amazon's new Kindles.

Turns out that the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Fire HD tablets were all "Special Offers" models, meaning they'd display ads on their lock screens and main home screens.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos neglected to mention this when announcing the prices for all these Kindles, causing a minor uproar in the hours that followed -- especially when Amazon reps said there would be no way to opt out. Then, barely a day later, Bezos and Co. reversed course and gave Kindle Fire customers the option of … Read more

Need a good desktop-publishing program? For my money, nothing compares to Serif PagePlus X6. At $99.99, it's a fraction of the cost of Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress (which, against all logic, still sell for hundreds and hundreds of dollars). And it's nearly as capable as both.

For a limited time, you can get Serif PagePlus X6 for just $49 -- oh, and six other programs, too.

It's all part of Avanquest Software's PC SuperBundle, which includes $379' worth of Windows software for that same price.

I'll come right out and say that PagePlus is … Read more

The ideal backup configuration for a home user is one that combines local and cloud storage, one that works automatically and in the background, and one that's reasonably priced -- for multiple users, not just one.

Bam! Think I've found just the thing, and if you'll excuse a little nepotism, it's right here on CNET.

In fact, it's a CNET exclusive: the Pogoplug Family backup with Pogoplug Mobile for $29 per year. Shipping adds $9.95.

Pogoplug Family is the new Pogoplug cloud-storage service that gives you 100GB of online backup space for up to … Read more

Planning to preorder an iPhone 5? You might want to have a new skin ready to peel and stick when it arrives.

Today only, Skinit.com is offering buy-one-get-one-free skins for all devices, including the iPhone 5.

To get the deal, add any two skins to your shopping cart, then apply coupon code 2012BOGO when you get to the checkout page.

Just to clarify, you don't have to choose two iPhone 5 skins, or even one iPhone 5 skin -- the BOGO offer applies to any two skins the company sells.

And it sells them for just about every … Read more

Ultrabooks -- often regarded as the Windows camp's answer to the MacBook Air, but really just a marketing term to describe thin, lightweight laptops. (In my day they were called ultraportables, but whatever.)

Most ultrabooks start at $799, a hard price to swallow given that non-"ultra" laptops packing just as much power often sell for half as much.

So on paper, at least, today's deal is looking mighty sweet: While supplies last, Wal-Mart has the Vizio Thin+Light CT14-A0 ultraportable for $598, with free store pickup. Obviously you'll be on the hook for sales … Read more

It might seem crazy to buy a smartphone the day before Apple unveils its new model, but hear me out.

See, not everybody loves Apple, and not everybody loves the iPhone. (I know, heresy, right?) For those folks, tomorrow is just a Wednesday. What matters today is scoring the best possible deal on the best possible non-iPhone handset.

By most accounts, that handset is the Samsung Galaxy S III (S3), which has earned rave reviews from critics and users alike -- including an Editors' Choice award from CNET.

Most carriers sell it for $199.99, but for a limited time, … Read more