It’s never too early to start planning for a major electronics purchase during the holiday season—and it may make more sense than ever this year.

Traditionally, the season’s first (and often best) blowout sales on electronics are on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But in anticipation of tightfistedness among electronics consumers, retailers are already cutting prices sharply, as many analysts have been predicting since early in the fall.

We’ll track some of the pre-season deals in a series of "Holiday Headstart" posts in the coming five-or-so weeks that lead to the bird and Black Friday. First up, our audio-video specialist Jim Willcox will blog on some of the enticing early offers on Blu-ray players and flat-panel TVs. We’ll also offer buying tips and in other product areas, too.

Meantime, where are you at on your buying plans? Are you already planning your purchases? Share your thoughts with us below. —Paul Reynolds

Previous navigation applications for smart phones have usually fallen short when compared to dedicated navigation units. But the new Google Maps Navigation program for Android 2.0 that's just been announced is worth watching as a possible game changer.

Why? Because Google has lots of experience working with data-intensive map applications and has built both web and mobile applications that work when the user is online or off. Even more importantly, the Google Maps Navigation app will be free to own and use on any Android 2.0 phone–such as Verizon's soon-
to-be-released Motorola Droid. (Note: We recently acquired a
Droid from Verizon and will be testing and reporting on it here in this blog soon.)

Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 includes all the features you expect from GPS, including turn-by-turn voice guidance, automatic rerouting and visually appealing 3-D views. But, it's also designed to take advantage of your phone's Internet connection. According to Google, the app will have:

1. Constantly updated maps and business information from Google's database.
2. Voice recognition, so you can search by just speaking.
3. A traffic view from Google's live traffic feed.
4. Data for gas stations and other points of interests that can be layered on a route map, allowing users to find what they need without straying from their original route.
5. A satellite view that, according to Google, may help users see upcoming complicated maneuvers more clearly.
6. Street eye-level views for many roads allows you to see exactly what your next turn looks like in the real world.

Gizmodo is reporting that Google has indicated the application will be available for other platforms eventually, including the iPhone. We'll share our own hands-on experiences with it soon. –Dirk Klingner

Sony announced a recall of AC adapters for certain all-in-one VAIO desktops due to potential shock hazards. The adapter model number is VGP-AC19V17. It was sold after September 2007 with these systems: VGC-LT; VGC-JS240; VGC-JS250; VGC-JS270; and VGC-JS290.

The adapter was also sold with notebook docking stations after September 2005. The docking stations are model numbers VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1.

The company is replacing the adapters with new ones. You’ll find more information on Sony’s Web site, where you can also confirm whether your specific adapter is affected. (Unplug it if it’s on the list.) You can also call 877-361-4481 for more information. —Donna Tapellini

Digital SLRs are weathering the economic downtown better than point-and-shoots, say experts who track camera sales. Falling prices, innovative features, and superior performance are some of the reasons for this continuing appeal. (See also "Four steps for choosing a point-and-shoot digital camera.")

Still, not all SLRs are created equal: Our latest Ratings of digital SLRs (available to subscribers) tell you which models performed best and which fell short. But, if you're shopping for an SLR, choosing the best model for your needs also means making sense of a variety of factors. Here are some basic steps to help you get started:

1. Select the right type. Basic SLRs are smaller and simpler to use. Advanced SLRs are usually more rugged and offer the kind of performance serious photographers prize, including more accurate autofocus and faster burst modes.
2. Don’t skimp on performance. All the SLRs we tested are good or very good overall. Limit your choice to those that scored at least very good for image quality and versatility and can shoot to at least 800 ISO without graininess in the image. Battery life is important, too; most of the better performers took more than 400 shots per charge.
3. Consider special needs. If you often shoot above crowds, look for a swiveling LCD, a feature that’s not very common. To see greater detail when you view images on the LCD, choose a high-resolution LCD, found mostly on advanced SLRs. If you take lots of action shots, select a model with a burst mode that can capture the most frames per second. If you often shoot in low light, look for a model with the highest “Maximum ISO with best quality” in our our Ratings.
4. Decide on a lens. SLRs are usually sold with entry-level lenses that are adequate, but they often have limitations. You’ll capture better images with a higher quality lens. Models in our SLR lens Ratings include general-purpose standard zooms, telezooms for sports or nature photography, and superzooms, which offer the greatest zoom range (from wide angle to telephoto). All the rated lenses cost less than $1,000 and are available alone or bundled with a camera. There were some notable differences in price, ease of use, maximum aperture, and weight.

Our tests show that higher price doesn’t always guarantee a better lens. Some modestly priced models ranked higher in our Ratings than lenses that cost two or three times as much. If you’re buying a lens for a brand of SLR that doesn’t include image stabilization in the camera body, such as Canon and Nikon, check the Ratings for a lens that includes a built-in stabilizer. Because there’s no universal mount that allows a lens from any company to fit every SLR, we’ve grouped recommended models by the type of mounts with which they are compatible. Recommended third party lenses, available in separate versions for major SLR brands, are also listed. —Jeff Fox

Well, not the cars themselves obviously. But the folks that test them will be taking questions in a live video chat on Facebook today at 2PM (EST) concerning the results of our Annual Car Reliability Survey. If you haven't heard, Ford wowed 'em in Detroit:

Ford has secured its position as the only Detroit automaker with
world-class reliability. About 90 percent of Ford, Mercury,
and Lincoln products were found to have average or better reliability…Ford’s sustained production of vehicles
that are as dependable—or better than—some of the industry’s best
dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars.

Questions can be submitted through Facebook during the chat.  To participate (or just sit back and watch) log on here.

For more from Consumer Reports throughout the day, you can also follow us on Twitter at @CReporter. —Nick K. Mandle