Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the iHouse, not a creature was stirring – not even a MagicMouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care – in hope that an iPhone 4 would soon be there. The children were snug, their tummies full from a big meal – with visions of iMacs and iPad deals…
Okay, enough cheap rip-offs of Clement Moore. We spend the last day before Christmas showcasing a number of stocking-stuffer bargains, including applications for the iPhones and iPads likely to be unwrapped Saturday. First up is a new crop of price cuts on iPad apps, such as “Catan HD,” a guitar simulator. Next we check out some new iPhone app price drops, including “Inspector Gadget.” We wrap up our spotlight deals with an 8GB iPod touch (with a $50 gift card) for just $205.
Along the way, we also take a look at some iMacs on sale, such as a 22-inch desktop running a 3.06 Core 2 Duo processor for $929. As always, details on these and more items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.
iPad App Price Drops: Super Badminton 2010, Catan HD, Trainz, more
The iTunes App Store offers price drops on downloads of several Apple iPad applications, as listed below. The deals:
Penultimate for 99 cents ($1 off): Handwriting-tracking
Super Badminton 2010 HD (pictured) for 99 cents ($4 off): Badminton game
DisplayPad for 99 cents ($4 off): Utilize iPad as external display
Twin Blades HD for 99 cents ($4 off): Adventure game
Noteshelf for 99 cents ($4 off): Note taking application
GuitarPad for 99 cents ($3 off): Guitar simulator
Catan HD for $3.99 ($1 off): Digital version of board game
Trainz Simulator for $7.99 ($4 off): Railroad operation game
Below are downloads of several applications which have dropped in price and are available for a limited time from Apple’s App Store. These apps are created for the iPhone and iPod touch; they’re also compatible with the iPad but will run at a significantly lower resolution. (Check the individual apps for further information.) Each is the best deal we’ve seen on that title. The deals:
WorldMate Gold for 99 cents ($14 off): Travel management
80 Animal Sounds in 1 App! for 99 cents ($1 off): Animal soundboard
Flick Fishing for 99 cents ($1 off): Fishing simulator
Inspector Gadget’s MAD Dash for 99 cents ($1 off): Action adventure game
iPNP for 99 cents ($1 off): Personalized Santa message creation
All Phone Tracker for 99 cents ($1 off): Spoof phone tracking
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D for 99 cents ($2 off): Kart-racing game
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for 99 cents ($6 off): Classic fighting game
Assassin’s Creed II Discovery for 99 cents ($5 off): Action adventure game
Best Buy offers the new, 4th-generation Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player, model no. MC540LL/A, bundled with a $50 Best Buy Gift Card for $204.99 plus $5.99 for shipping. (Add both items to your cart separately.) That’s $14 under a similar bundle earlier this week from Amazon and, assuming you use the gift card, the lowest total price we could find by $43. Sales tax is added where applicable. This current-generation iPod touch features a new high definition Retina Display, 3-axis gyro, iOS 4.1, front- and rear-facing cameras (the latter capable of HD recording), FaceTime, Game Center, and more.
The Apple Store has stock of 10 factory-refurbished previous- and current-generation Apple Aluminum iMac Desktops in its Special Deals section. They’re up to $430 off. With free shipping, each is at the lowest total price we’ve seen. These come with a 1-year Apple warranty, the same as new iMacs. Sales tax is added where applicable. Items are removed from Apple’s site when they sell out. Notables:
Apple MB950LL/A iMac 21.5″ Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz Desktop for $929
Apple MC508LL/A iMac 21.5″ Intel Core i3 Dual Core 3.06GHz Desktop for $1,019
Apple MB413LL/A iMac 21.5″ Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz Desktop for $1,099
Apple MB509LL/A iMac 21.5″ Intel Core i3 Dual 3.2GHz Desktop for $1,269
Apple MC510LL/A iMac 27″ Intel Core i3 Dual Core 3.2GHz Desktop for $1,439
browse all refurbished Apple iMacs at the Apple Store
The iTunes App Store offers downloads of several applications for Apple iPhone and iPod touch for free, as listed below. With a savings of up to $8, each is at the lowest price we’ve seen. Note that these apps are compatible with the iPad but will run at a significantly lower resolution. (Check the individual apps for further information.) The deals:
Snowing Screensaver (pictured): iPhone screensaver
Zoo Toss: Reaction time game
Bunny Dodge: Action game
The Stone of Destiny: Point-and-touch adventure
MindMeister: Mind-mapping assistant
Collider!: Physics-based puzzle game
ToyShot: Strategy game
Vocal Training: Voice training software
Moto Chaser: Racing game
The iTunes App Store offers downloads of SoundHound for iPhone / iPod touch for free. While this music recognition app has always been free, it now includes unlimited song IDs, a feature that was previously exclusive to the paid version, SoundHound ∞. (This free app is ad-supported.)
Today only, Yugster.com offers the XtremeMac InCharge Travel Kit for iPod / iPhone, model no. IPD-ICT-10, for $9.97 plus $3 for shipping. (Buy.com charges pennies more.) That’s tied with our Black Friday mention and it’s the lowest total price we could find by $15. This kit includes the XtremeMac InCharge Travel for iPod/iPhone, detachable USB cable, wall charger, removable 12-volt accessory plug, three international plug adapters, and more.
Meritline.com offers the Belkin Front-Access In-Desk 4-Port Powered USB 2.0 Hub, model no. F5U201-KIT, for $12.95. Coupon code “MLC218288122420NL1″ cuts it to $8.95. With free shipping, that’s the lowest total price we could find by $6, although we saw it for a buck less back in August. The powered hub fits into a 3” round opening on your desk and connects to your computer while providing four angled USB ports. Coupon ends after 300 uses.
CompUSA.com offers the Klipsch Image S3 In-Ear High Performance Headphones in Gray, model no. 1012135, for $49.99. Coupon code “QBM13579” cuts them to $29.99. With $1.99, that’s the lowest total price we could find by $17, although we saw them for $2 less three weeks ago (since expired). Features include 20Hz to 18KHz frequency response, 106dB sensitivity, and more.
Big Fish Games offers downloads of Hidden Expedition: Amazon for Windows or Mac for $1.99. (If the discount doesn’t show in-cart, use coupon code “expedition80”.) That’s $8 off and the best deal we’ve seen on this title. (It’s also a current price low by $5.) Deal ends today.
