Daily Deals: Back-to-School Sale, $929 MacBook Pro, $99 16GB iPhone 3GS

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We start off with Apple’s Back-to-School offer. Buy an iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air and get a free 8GB iPod touch. We also have a deal on unibody MacBook Pros, starting at $929 for a 2.26GHz version. Lastly, while the iPhone 4 has gotten much of the attention recently, there are deals to be had on the iPhone 3GS. AT&T is offering a refurbished 16GB iPhone 3GS for $99.

Along the way, we’ll also check out the latest batch of App Store freebies, including the new “Tap Defense,” a tower defense game. As usual, details on these and many other items are available at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.


779898-largeNow at Apple, purchase a MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac from the Apple Store for Education and receive an iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player for $0 via a mail-in rebate. (Click on the “Buy a Mac for college, and get a free iPod Touch” banner). This offer is valid only for qualified students, teachers, and staff and expires September 7. Both the system and iPod must appear on the same receipt. Limit one rebate per customer.

Note that you will have to create or sign into an Apple ID to fill out your information to receive your rebate(s).

777062-largeThe Apple Store now has stock of 39 factory-refurbished unibody MacBook Pro notebooks in its Special Deals section, with prices starting at $929. (Combined with free shipping, that puts most systems at lowest-we’ve-seen prices.) Sales tax is added where applicable. All come with a 1-year Apple warranty, the same as new Macs. Items are removed from Apple’s site when they sell out. Notable systems:

Refurbished MacBook Pro MB990LL/A Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz 13.3″ (pictured) for $929
refurbished MacBook Pro MB985LL/A Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz 15.4″ for $1,529
refurbished MacBook Pro MC372LL/A Core i5 Dual 2.53GHz 15.4” for $1,699
refurbished MacBook Pro MB986LL/A Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz 15.4″ for $1,779
refurbished MacBook Pro G0GW5LL/A Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz 17″ for $2,199
see all refurbished MacBook Pro laptops at The Apple Store

770988-largeWith activation of new voice and data plans, AT&T Wireless once again offers the refurbished Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB Smartphone for AT&T Wireless in Black or White for $99 with free shipping via 2-day delivery. (That’s tied with our mention from last week as the lowest total price we could find for an iPhone 3GS 16GB. Sales tax is added where applicable.) Major features over the iPhone 3G include significantly faster processing, 3MP auto-focus camera with support for 30FPS VGA video, voice control, digital compass, built-in support for Nike+, instant remote wipe, at least five hours of 3G talk time (up to 12 if you switch off 3G), and more.

The refurbished Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB Smartphone for AT&T Wireless is also available in Black or White for $149. With free shipping via 2-day delivery, that’s a $100 drop from last month and another price low.

Note: No warranty information is provided. Also, a $36 activation fee applies.

785484-largeBelow are downloads of several free applications available for a limited time from Apple’s App Store, with price drops from $1 to $6. These apps are created for the iPhone and iPod touch, and are compatible with the iPad but will run at a significantly lower resolution. (Check the individual apps for further information.) The apps:

HOT AIR: POCKET DEVIL HELLZAPOPPIN’: 2D flying game
iPhorex: Stock trading utility
Tumult: Audio visualization
Winmail File Viewer: .dat file viewer
Optia: Laser-shining logic game
CatchPrince: Reacton-time game
Ice Coming: Materials-based game
pure hidden (pictured): “Art meets player”
Crazy Chipmunks: Whack-a-mole type game
new: TapDefense: Tower defense game
new: Jailbreaker: Platform game

785429-largeThe iTunes App Store offers downloads of iHandy Level for iPhone / iPod touch for free. (That’s tied with our mention from last winter as the lowest price we’ve seen for this virtual level.)

785506-largeThe iTunes App Store offers downloads of Invaders World Tour for iPhone / iPod touch for free. (That’s $1 off and the lowest price we’ve seen for this space invaders-type game.)

778502-largeBuy.com offers the Kensington Nightstand Charging Cradle for iPhone / iPod touch, model no. K33458US, for $24.95. This $10 mail-in rebate knocks it down to $14.95. (With free shipping, that’s $2 under our May mention and the lowest total price we could find by $12.) This charger turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a bedside clock and weather center. Note that you must download the Kensington Rise&Shine App from the iTunes App Store. (It’s free.) Rebate ends July 17.

752393-largeToday only, MacUpdate.com offers downloads of Eltima Software’s Flash Decompiler Trillix 4 for Mac for $39.95. That’s $40 off and the lowest price we could find for this SWF-to-FLA conversion utility. Click here for more information.

780359-largeB&H Photo-Video offers the Panasonic 1080i 16GB HD Digital Camcorder in Black, model no. HDC-TM15K, for $249 with free shipping. (That ties our mention from a week ago as the lowest total price we could find by $40.) It features 16GB of internal memory, 16x optical zoom lens, 2.7″ LCD, 1080i recording (“1080/60i” according to Panasonic), optical image stabilization, SD/SDHC memory card slot, mini HDMI output, USB connectivity, and more. Deal ends July 31.

777500-largeShop4tech.com offers the Galaxy Tvisto Mini 2.5″ DivX USB Hard Drive Enclosure, model no. 3500TVISTO-MINI, for $21.99 with free shipping. Coupon code “SS15” cuts it to $18.69. (That’s a buck under our May mention and the lowest total price we could find.) This aluminum case is designed for 2.5″ IDE drives with up to 500GB of storage and features built-in media playback capabilities. Deal ends July 15.

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