The Palm Pre Plus (left) and Palm Pixi Plus
Photo: Palm

Verizon finally has a Palm Pre and Pixi of its own, complementing the very similar Sprint versions of these smart phones. Known as “Plus” models, and costing $150 and $100 respectively, the most interesting new capability of the Verizon versions is the ability of the Palm Pre Plus to act as a 3G hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a service called Mobile Hotspot.

The service is a free download from the Palm App Catalog. Not free is the service, which costs $40 on top of your data plan of $30 or more. What’s more, you’ll pay an extra 5 cents per megabyte if you exceed the monthly data allowance of 5 gigabytes.

But at least Mobile Hotspot is fairly easy to set up. When you launch it for the first time, it asks you to create a password (8 to 63 characters). You can also change the name of phone network from the default webOS Network. Then all you have to do just have to go into the Wi-Fi setting of your laptop or other wireless device, select the Palm network hotspot you created, type in the password, and voila.

Download speeds on 3G are noticeably slower than Wi-Fi—especially if you have several devices hooked up at the same time. But the connection can be a lifesaver when you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot and need to connect several devices to the Internet.

However, other smart phones, including the Motorola Droid, can attach to your laptop so that you can use their 3G data connections to access the Internet—also from an additional monthly fee.

The new Verizon Palm phones, are largely identical to their Sprint cousins, which remain available. The Pre Plus ($150 with a two-year contract and rebates) has double the memory of the Sprint Pre, offering 16 gigabytes (GB). It also drops the pearl-like hardware button for closing apps, leaving that job to a swipe on the gesture bar. The only improvement to the Pixi ($100), which I’m not reviewing but will soon be in our Ratings, is that it gains Wi-Fi capability.

One quibble about the Palm Pre Plus: As with the Pre that debuted on Sprint, the tiny keys on its tiny keyboard perform double duty for numbers, punctuation, and symbols. But at least on the Sprint Pre, the numbers are highlighted in bright orange. On the Pre Plus, however, the number keys are no longer highlighted, which further complicates the already difficult task of finding them.

—Mike Gikas

If you’re still looking for a new TV for the Super Bowl, this year’s “Big Game” is looking a lot like Black Friday, when sub-$500 flat-panel TVs were used as a shopping enticement.

In fact, based on the recently released Super Bowl advertising circulars and online specials we’ve seen from the major retailers, $500 seems to be the new entry-level price point for a 42-inch plasma, while 50-inch 720p sets start at about $700—about the same price as a major-brand 42-inch 1080p plasma set.

The LCD pricing picture is a bit blurrier, due primarily to the wide range of potential features—such as 120Hz or 240Hz technology and LED backlights—being offered. But among major brands, we’re seeing 40- to 42-inch 60Hz 1080p LCDs start just above $600, while 46- or 47-inch 120Hz 1080p models begin at about $800. The least expensive LED-backlit models, in the 40-inch screen size, begin at about $1,200.

We’re also seeing some major-brand 720p 32-inch LCD sets as low as $350, and off-brands for even less.

Here’s a quick rundown on some of the specials we’ve seen from major consumer electronics retailers. We'll also be following up with deals from Walmart and Target.

Sears
Overall, Sears is offering a 5 percent instant savings on LCD TVs $499 or more online only, or 10 percent instant savings or 24 months no-interest financing for purchases $999 or more when you use a Sears charge card.

Among the key enticements is a $450 42-inch Zenith plasma, model Z42PQ20. For $600 you can get a 42-inch Panasonic 720p plasma (TC-P42X1) for $600, though its 50-inch sibling is just $100 more. If a 1080p model is in your sights, Panasonic’s 42-inch S1-series 1080p plasma is $700, or $1,000 for the 46-inch version.

If you’re looking for an LCD with an LED backlight, Sears is bundling a free Samsung Blu-ray player (we believe its the BD-P1600) and free delivery with certain Samsung LED-backlit models. For example, the Samsung UN40B6000 is priced at $1,400, while a larger 46-inch step-up model (UN46B7000) is priced at $1,930, and a 55-inch flagship UN55B8000 set is $2,800.

Among smaller sets, Sears has a 32-inch Sony 720- set (32L5000) for $400, and a 32-inch 720p Panasonic LCD (TC-L32C12) for $350. A 32-inch Samsung 720p set (LN32B360) is $380.

Best Buy
Like Sears, Best Buy has pursued a bundling strategy with many Samsung LED-backlit models 40-inches or larger, combining the TV, a BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, plus free delivery and a basic hookup (the TV paced on a stand and connected to one source component) and recycling in a single package price. For example, the bundle with Samsung’s 46-inch UN46B800XF LED-lit set with 240Hz technology is $2,000, while the package with a 40-inch 120Hz model (the UN40B6000VF) is $1,400, the same price as Sears.

Other Samsung deals include a 58-inch 1080p Samsung plasma (PN58B550) for $1,600, a 50-inch 720p (PB50B450B1D) plasma for $800, and a 42-inch 720p plasma (PN42B450B1D) for $625. A 50-inch 1080p plasma (PN50B550T2F) is $1,000.

Best Buy has also aggressively priced some of its Insignia-brand TVs, which act as a house brand. For example, a 42-inch, 720p plasma (NS-P42Q-10A) is priced at $550, and a 55-inch 1080p, 120Hz Insignia LCD (NS-L55X-10A) is $1,300. Best Buy is also offering a few Insignia TV/Blu-ray bundles, including a 46-inch 1080p LCD with 120 Hz technology (NS-L46Q120-10A) paired with a Wi-Fi enabled Insignia Blu-ray player (NS-WBRDVD ) for $900. A similar bundle, with a 42-inch 1080p, 120Hz set (NS-L42X-10A) LCD TV, is $800. The bundle deals include Geek Squad installation, including connecting the Blu-ray player to your home network.

Best Buy also has deals on several LG models, including a $1,500 55-inch 1080p set with 120Hz LCD (55LH40), a 42-inch 1080p LCD (42LH30-UA) for $615 and 47-inch version for $800. LG’s 55-inch LED-backlit LCD with 240Hz technology (55LH90, one of CR’s top-rated models) for $2,300, about $200 below its price when it was tested.

Among smaller sets, Best Buy has a 32-inch Insignia 720p LCD (NS-L32Q-10A) for $350, and a 26-inch 720p Dynex LCD for $280.

P.C. Richard
This NY-area retailer is leading its Big Game advertising with a 42-inch 720p Samsung plasma (PN42B430) for $580. A 40-inch 1080p Samsung LCD (LN40B550) is $755, and a 55-inch 1080p 120Hz Samsung LCD (LN55B650) is $1,800.

Also on sale are several LED-backlit Samsung LCDs, including the 40-inch B6000-series set for $1,400, comparable to what we’ve seen elsewhere. Other deals include the 46-inch UN46B6000 for $1,600, the 46-inch flagship UN46B8000 for $2,000, and
UN55B8000 for $2,800.

Note that these Samsung LED TVs are not bundled with “free” Blu-ray players. However, P.C. Richard is offering several Sony bundles that pair a Sony Bravia LCD TV with a Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray player. For example, a 40-inch “Eco” series Bravia LCD (KDL-40VE5) package is $800, while a bundle with Sony’s KDL-46XBR9, a flagship 240Hz set, is $1,590. Sony’s 46-inch 1080p Sony LCD (KDL-46S5100) for $780, but it doesn’t include a Blu-ray player.

There are also several deals on LG TVs, including a 60-inch 1080p plasma (60PS11) for $1,475, a 47-inch 1080p LCD (47LH30) for $780, and a 42-inch version of that set for $615. Also in the mix are a 46-inch Sharp Aquos LCD with an LED backlight (LC46E77U) for $1,260, and a 46-inch 1080p Toshiba LCD (46RV525R) for $757.

PC Richard offers free delivery, free set-up (placed on a stand and connected to a single source component), and free haul-away ad recycling.

Circuit City
Now an online retail brand owned by Systemax, the parent company of Tiger Direct, Circuit City gets into the Super Bowl fray with a few deals. For example, it’s offering Sony’s 52-inch V-series Bravia LCD (KDL52V5100), bundled with Sony’s BDP-N460 network Blu-ray player and free delivery, for $1,475. LG’s 42-inch 1080 LCD set (42LH30) is priced at $650 with free shipping.

The retailer’s price on Samsung’s 40-inch LED-backlit UN40B6000 set, which includes a bundled Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, is $1,200, $200 lower than other places. A similar package, but with the 46-inch B6000-series set, is $1,600, and the flagship 55-inch B8000-series bundle is $2,800. Oddly, however, there is often no difference between the price of just the TV and the TV/Blu-ray bundle. Also, some prices are for "open box" models from this dealer.

In plasma sets, Circuit has the 50-inch Panasonic X1-series 720p set for $765, $65 more than Sears.

Abe’s of Maine
During Black Friday, we saw a lot of great deals at Abe’s of Maine, so we decided to check its deals for the Super Bowl. Like then, Abe's prices can vary from very low to well above those offered buy competitors, so you'll need to do some legwork. For example, in plasma sets Abe’s has Panasonic’s 42-inch 720p X1-series set
(TC-P42X1) for $688, and the 50-inch version for $828, more than Sears. But its price on the 46-inch 1080p S1 model is $895, more than $100
cheaper than at Sears.

Abe's has Sony’s 52-inch Bravia KDL-52XBR9 model, a 1080p set with 240Hz technology, for $1,748. Its price on Samsung’s 40-inch B6000 LCD with an LED backlight (UN40B6000) is $1,148, a few hundred dollars less than Sears’ price. The 46-inch step-up 46UNB7000 is $1,638, but it doesn't include a bundled Samsung Blu-ray player, though we've seen that model for about $120, so it's still a good deal.

In the bigger sets, Abe’s has a 60-inch LG plasma (60PS60) for just under $1,700, and Panasonic’s 65-inch S1-series Viera for $2,728. It also has the increasingly hard to find 60-inch Pioneer Kuro PDP-6020FD, one of CR’s reference TVs, for just under $4,000.

Abe’s generally includes free delivery and a free wall mount.

One note of caution: Many retailers, including Best Buy, Sears and P.C. Richard, have extended their "no-interest; financing offers, sometimes to 24 months or more. While this can be an attractive option, you need to make sure that you don't miss a minimum monthly payment, and pay off the balance before the term expires. If not, you'll likely be responsible for the interest–perhaps as high as 25 percent—dating all the way back to the date of purchase.

Have you seen any great Super Bowl deals? If so, we'd like to hear about them, so hit the Comments section at the bottom of the blog and let us know about the best deals you're seeing.

—James K. Willcox

Today's electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• Buy.com : Energizer Easy Battery Charger + Rechargeable Batteries for $12.99 w/ Free Shipping
• Meritline : Airlink Wireless-N Mini USB Adapter (PC or MAC) for $12.99 w/ Free Shipping
• BuyDig: Tascam DR-1 Portable Stereo Recorder $188 Shipped
• HP Direct: HP Coupon Code STACKABLE $300 off HP Pavilion Laptops $1499+
• Newegg: Lenovo G550 15.6-inch Laptop $379.99 + free shipping
• Lenovo:
  Lenovo IdeaPad G550 Intel Dual-Core T4300
  2.1GHz 15.4in Laptop (3GB/250GB/Win7) $429 Free Shipping
• Dell : Sharp 42" LCD 1080p HDTV for $499 w/ Free Shipping
• NewEgg: LG 47LH30 47-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $679.96 + free shipping
• Amazon: Sony Webbie MHS-PM1 HD Camcorder $108.71 + free shipping

• Buy.com: Upcoming Release - Bioshock 2 Game (PS3, Xbox 360) $51.99 Free Shipping
• Amazon: Six Feet Under: The Complete Series [DVD] $67.99 + free shipping

Related: TV Ratings and buying tips; Computer Ratings and buying tips; DVD & Blu-ray player Ratings and buying tips, Camcorder Ratings and buying tips.

Neither Consumer Reports nor The Consumerist receive anything in
exchange for featuring these deals; the posts are intended to be purely
informational. These deals are often fleeting, with prices changing or
products becoming unavailable as the day progresses.

These posts are not an endorsement of the featured products or
the Web sites that sell them—though some of the sites may be included,
and recommended, in our Ratings of retailers for computers and other major electronics (both available to subscribers). Price shouldn't be your only criterion. Be wary of lower-priced deals that seem too good to be true, and check return policies for restocking fees and other gotchas.

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.

Fujifilm Finepix Z700EXR
Photo: Fujifilm

Seventeen new digital point-and-shoots, ranging in price from $100 to $500, have just been announced by Fujifilm (13 models) and Olympus (4 models) in preparation for the PMA camera trade show. Although most are tweaks to existing lines, there are a few standouts:

• Fujifilm unveiled its first touch-screen point-and-shoot, the 12-megapixel Finepix Z700EXR, $280. This subcompact includes Fujifilm's Super CCD EXR sensor, which should make the camera very flexible in various lighting situations. The touch screen has a touch-shot feature, which lets you tap the LCD to indicate where you want to focus. And if face detection weren't enough, this model also has pet detection, which lets you recognize up to 10 dogs or cats and keep them in focus. Sorry, owners of birds, rabbits, guinea pigs or snakes.

Fujifilm Finepix HS10
Photo: Fujifilm

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010
Photo: Olympus

• Both manufacturers have introduced new rugged models. Olympus, one of the first to produce waterproof or rugged cameras, has introduced two 14-megapixel Stylus Tough cameras: the Stylus Tough 8010, $400, and the Tough 6020, $300. Both have 5x zoom and large internal memory capacity (2 GB and 1 GB, respectively). Like its predecessor, the Tough 8000, the 8010 can go to a depth of 33 feet in water, but has a wider zoom range. The Tough 6020 can go to a depth of 16 feet, deeper than its predecessor, the Tough 6000, and has a wider zoom range. Both can shoot HD resolution video. The 12-megapixel Finepix XP10, $200, isn't Fujifilm's first waterproof model, but it is the brand's first rugged camera. The XP10 is waterproof (to a depth of 10 feet), can withstand a 3-foot drop and is freezeproof to 14 degrees F.

All the new cameras mentioned will be available in March except the Finepix XP10, which will be available in February.

—Terry Sullivan

I mentioned in a previous post I have been in high gear getting ready for the Olympics. One major issue I have been working on is balancing the bitrates between my main HD and Universal Sports. I have not applied any changes on air yet, and found an interesting software bug that will be resolved today.

The DTV streams are controlled by a server that allocates the bits for each encoder during the process of muxing the streams. To describe the system, the three encoders take our serial digital video and audio inputs and combines them into an MPEG-2 stream, which are fed into a unit that combines them into one output stream. That process is called the mux, or multiplexer. It combines the encoders and PSIP information into one output stream.

It also gives a feedback stream to the encoder that tells it there are basically 19.4 Million bits available, and that each stream needs a certain amount to provice a good quality picture. It determines that if HD has high action and lots of detail, the encoder should use the maximum allotment of bits to encode the streams to MPEG-2, using spare bits from the other streams. It also tells the encoder that if the pictures are simple with little motion, to give the extra bits to the sub-channels.

That’s the Statistical Multiplexing system in a nutshell. The streams’ bitrates vary according to the demand of the streams. Its’ goal is to deliver the most efficient use of the total number of bits on the output.  If the streams do not require all the bits available, it adds the null packets I showed you in the “Air Versus Cable” posts to ensure the output stream is always 19.4 Mbs.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am squeezing every bit for active video I can use without adding null packets and especially without over-subscribing the data available. That’s commonly referred to as being bit starved- trying to get say 20 Mbs with a cap of 19.4 Mbs available. Every receiver seeing that situation would croak, freeze, and possibly lock up and have to be re-booted, so it’s a situation we try not to introduce.

Another goal I have is allowing the AFD signal to pass from the network. The Active Field Descriptor tells your receiver how to display the 16:9 picture on your 4:3 set, or allows cable and satellite to deliver the proper ratio. We have been working with Time-Warner Cable and our encoder manufacturer and have discovered a software issue that needs to be addressed.

So today, I will be upgrading the server software and applying a bug patch to fix the AFD issue, and help smooth out the datarates and improve the MPEG compression.

There will be little noticeable impact on the air for the main HD, although I may have to bring the sub-channels down while new code is flashed into their memories. That’s the kind of thing I’ll do at a time that will have little impact on you viewers. It takes 10 to 20 minutes to download the code into each encoder, which takes it off air during the process, but I’d rather do it now than to wait. Don’t panic if we disappear today  around noon, we’ll be right back! To quote Col. Mustard in “Clue” “This is war, Peacock. Casualties are inevitable. You can not make an omelet without breaking eggs, every cook will tell you that”