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special sale on Nexus S 4G and HTC EVO 3D ends Feb. 8th

RetroDan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:00:28 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sprint, the nation's third largest wireless provider, is currently offering deep discounts on two popular 4G smartphones. I'm sure Sprint is facing tough competition right now, not only from AT&T and Verizon but also the various pre-paid options offered on Sprint's very-own network which includes Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile. What all that ultimately leads to are great deals for wireless consumers.

Right now, you can get a Nexus S™ 4G at no cost from Sprint with a new activation or the HTC EVO™ 3D for only $49.99 with a new activation.

The Nexus S™ 4G runs Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" on a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor. The phone doesn't have a microSD slot but offers 14GB of on-board storage. The phone isn't "state of the art" in terms of features and processing power but for the average smartphone user, it'll do the job.

The HTC EVO™ 3D is newer than the Nexus S 4G and features the ability to display 3D images and video without the need for special glasses. The phone also features a Qualcomm dual-core, 1.2GHz MSM8660 Snapdragon processor and the latest version of HTC Sense over Android 2.3.3.

If you're in the market for a new phone on the Sprint network, be sure to check out this sale. The discount on these phones are only available until February 8th.

Lenovo Enhanced Multimedia Remote with keyboard N5902

RetroDan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:01:27 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Lenovo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As more and more folks incorporate PCs into the family entertainment center, people are finding that the full sized keyboard is a bit too cumbersome for the family room. I mean, where do you store the thing when you're done with the keyboard? Thankfully the forward thinking designers at Lenovo has come up with a great solution for Home Theater PCs. It's the Lenovo Enhanced Multimedia Remote.

You can control your PC using this fully functional wireless hand-held device. It features a simple plug-in USB nano dongle that provides a wireless range of up to 30 feet. The remote is designed for thumb-keyboarding with an optical track-point for scrolling the pointer on the screen. There's also a touch sensitive scroll bar on the remote which helps you navigate pages up and down with ease.

Model N5902 is an improved version over the previous model N5901. Lenovo took note of all the feedback from users of N5901 and incorporated some of the features into this version. Two things that you'll notice right away is the matte finish (the previous piano finish was a fingerprint magnet) and the backlit keyboard. The backlit keyboard is definitely a must in home theaters. I also like the compact form factor which won't take up too much space when you set it aside.

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enter to pimp your cube

RetroDan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:27 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Time's almost up to register for the Pimp My Cube Contest. As I've mentioned last month, you can win one of three prize packages including a new computer system, new furnishings and even an espresso machine. Come on, what have you got to lose? All you have to do is submit a video of yourself and your cube explaining why your cube needs a makeover. The funnier, the better. The winning video will be based on votes as well as how compelling your story is. In addition to the grand prize, folks who register to vote for this contest, will be automatically entered in a drawing for a $200 gift card. So, anyone can win just for signing up. The majority of us all work in cubicles so we all know how drab and congestive these work environments can be. So, wouldn't it be nice to get a chance to spruce things up in your office space? add a little pizazz around your workspace. Well, get to work on the video because as I said at the beginning of this post, time's running out. The contest ends 1/31/12 at 12:00 pm so be sure to submit the video before then. Last I heard, there are only a few qualified entries, so your chances of winning are pretty good!

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Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

RetroDan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:00:28 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have school aged kids at home, you're probably in the midst of a heated battle against colds, germs or the dreaded flu bug. Even though we make sure our kids wash their hands thoroughly right when they get home from school, sometimes one of us would still catch something. I guess it just comes with the territory of having children and being a parent. But that doesn't mean we should give up the fight. Just stock up on remedies to keep cold and flu symptoms at bay. Thankfully there's always a Walgreens pharmacy nearby.

Walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain with over 7000 stores across the country. Their pharmacists are friendly and always available to answer questions. They offer flu shots and have a massive selection of items to keep you well.

As most of you know, getting prescriptions filled can get pretty expensive, even with generics. Thankfully Walgreens has implemented a new program called the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. Just pay $10 to join, and you and your family can receive discounts on prescription medication for the rest of the year. The new program offers savings on more than 8,000 brand-name as well as generic medications. Discounts can also be applied to pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies.

If you want to keep up with the latest news, follow Walgreens on Twitter as well as Like Walgreens on Facebook.

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it's about time to pimp my cube

RetroDan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:00:25 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ahh, the ubiquitous office cubicle. it's the most typical office environment nowadays and most of us have all worked in a cube at one point or another. shoot, most of us are probably STILL working in one at this very moment. yes, even yours truly is currently working out of a cube. we all try to personalize our workspace but there's only so much you can do to your space when they're designed to be so "impersonal" and uniform among the rest in a cube farm. Wouldn't it be great if you could redo your drab, mundane office cubicle and take it up a couple notches? Well, check out the new Pimp My Cube Contest. The grand prize includes a brand new high end computer system, chair, desk, cool decorations, plus a stereo and even an espresso machine! All you have to do to enter the contest is to submit a video of your pathetic workspace and share a couple of witty tidbits about yourself. the funnier, the better. The video with the most votes will win the whole enchilada so be sure to get all your office mates and friends to vote for your video. The contest runs from December 5th to January 31st so you still have time to get your video footage together.

Time On Earth

Regal Cinemas gift card giveaway on facebook

RetroDan — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:00:25 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Who doesn't want a Regal Cinemas gift card for the holidays? With all the great movies out in theatres this month, one of those gift cards would definitely come in handy. That's why you need to check out the Gift Card Weekend facebook page. They're giving away 100 Regal Cinemas gift cards this week. And that's not all- they're giving away gift cards every week for the rest of the month. That's a total of $10,000 in gift cards!! All you have to do is like their facebook page in order to register for the giveaway. Also, getting your friends to join in on the fun can earn you extra entries.

So, what's this all about? Well, Gift Card Weekend is an annual event that takes place January 6th through the 8th. With all the gift cards received over the holidays, retailers want to give out extra incentives to get you back into their stores and spend those gift cards.

Participating retailers include: Applebee's, Bass Pro Shops, Adidas, Buca di Beppo, Lowe's, Spa Finder, Marriot, Giant Eagle, JCPenny, Regal Cinema, Subway, and Sephora.

The bonus offers vary from store to store but ultimately it's pretty cool that these gift cards are essentially worth more on this one particular weekend.

win 500,000 Delta SkyMiles from TravelPro Luggage

RetroDan — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:30 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TravelPro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Can you just imagine having 500,000 Delta SkyMiles at your disposal? Where would you go and what would you do? I know I'd take the wife along and travel across Europe. I spent a couple weeks over in the Czech Republic back in my college days and I remember marveling at the historic architecture all around Prague. I'm sure my wife would be bowled over by all the historic sites in a city like Prague. It's definitely something that has to be seen and experienced in person. And that's why I entered the TravelPro sweepstakes. And so can you! There's no catch and it's absolutely free to enter. The grand prize winner receives 500,000 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program as well as two Travelpro® Rollaboard® bags.

Those TravelPro rollaboard bags are a must for the modern day traveler. They come in a variety of styles and sizes and are built to last. Come on, we've all seen what a piece of luggage goes through while at the airport. It's got to withstand a lot of scrapping, tossing and getting stacked on. And these TravelPro bags are specifically made for these rough conditions.

So, be sure to enter the sweepstakes before time runs out. The contest ends December 2, 2011. good luck and safe travels!

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get a little quirky with LG DoublePlay

RetroDan — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:01:04 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you but I've been getting tired of the same ol' smartphone designs. If you're into what's popular, you probably own an iphone or one of the android clones. But I've been searching for something a bit different, a bit more "quirky", like me. Why conform with the masses when you can step out and be a lil' different, you know?

So, with that in mind, I checked out the new LG DoublePlay™. At first glance, it appears to be one of the typical touchscreen android clones but when you slide out the keyboard, you'll immediately notice the difference.

The keyboard on the DoublePlay is split down the middle with a 2 inch touchscreen. My kids have already told me many times over that it reminds them of their Nintendo DS. And I guess with the "dual screen" feature, it does resemble that concept of design. But the split keyboard design is pretty unique and would take time to get used to.

It's obviously designed for social networking in mind with facebook and twitter apps prominently displayed. The phone also has a 5-megapixel camera with a bright LED flash and a 720p HD video recorder so sharing great looking photos and videos from the phone would be a cinch.

I like the fact that it has a physical QWERTY keyboard since I frequently send texts to friends throughout the day. And like the rest of you, I'm a facebook addict so I can't help but check status updates whenever I have a free moment. And with the combination of T-Mobile's 4G network and the phone's zippy 1GHz processor, it should be able to keep up with my multi-tasking ways.

So, are you addicted to facebook and twitter like me? How many hours would you say you spend a day texting, tweeting and facebooking? Do you think the LG DoublePlay would help you with your online habits? Feel free to post your thoughts in the comment section below.

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feel a bit richer by owning a Straight Talk android phone

RetroDan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:01:02 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the constant barrage of advertising from wireless providers and cell phone manufacturers, it seems that the world has gone smartphone crazy. I guess the marketing campaign is working since even my second grader thinks he himself "needs" a droid. And yes, I totally agree, smartphones are very useful "on the go" since you have access to gps-enabled maps, email and wireless web. What I'm not so keen on is the extra cost of wireless web/data access which most providers consider an "add-on" to their regular monthly plan. And if you choose to go with one of the major providers, you have to commit yourself to paying their premium monthly rates for a full two years. Now that's a huge commitment especially in this day and age where a lot can change in a two year period.

Well, there's an alternative for those in search for an affordable way to own a smartphone. Straight Talk is currently offering the Samsung Galaxy Precendent for only $149.99. Need a qwerty keyboard? no problem, they also have a LG Optimus Q for $179.99. Either way, you'll finally have The power of Android in the palm of your hand. The great thing about Straight Talk is that they keep their plans simple with no hidden fees and no "add-on" charges to worry about. For their android phones, you simply pay $45 a month. That's right, $45 a month which includes unlimited voice, text AND DATA! Just think, no more worrying about overages or running out of minutes. And to top it all off, there's no contract to commit to. Come on, what more can you ask for?

And don't you dare think that these are somehow "dumbed-down" version of an android phone. No, Straight Talk's android phones can pretty much do what any other droid phone can do with full access to apps, games and social networks. Honestly by cutting your monthly phone bill in half, you do Feel Richer with Android, all thanks to Straight Talk.

The getting richer effect has expanded… by LittleBard95

reduce your cell phone bill with NET10

RetroDan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:01:09 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As our nation still waits for the economy to turn for the better once again, folks are continuing to find ways to cut back on expenses. Like most people, I've been re-evaluating my monthly expenses. You have to ask yourself – What are my priorities? What are the "necessities" and what are just "nice to have"?

One thing that most people should take a hard look at is their cell phone bill. Those contract-based phone companies desperately want you to purchase their latest & greatest smartphones so that can hook you for another two years at their premium rates. But there's an alternative that can save you money and with no messing about with contracts or long term commitments.

Have you considered a prepaid wireless service like NET10? Tthere are no contracts, no commitment and no extra hidden charges. You just pay for what you need. Whether you rarely use a phone or need unlimited service, NET10's got a plan for you.

For the bare-minimum user, I'd definitely recommend going for the pay-as-you-go plan. But for the best deal, check out NET10's unlimited plan which gets you unlimited voice minutes, text and web for $50 a month.

NET10 is part of a larger multinational wireless conglomerate, America Movil which also runs Tracfone and Straight Talk. So, obviously the company has a lot of experience in the prepaid arena. So no worries there. But don't just take it from me, click here to hear a Real NET10 customer share their experience using this service. Also check out What Rob has to say about NET10 which essentially sums up all the benefits of the service in under a minute.