2012)

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

Users of the Samsung Galaxy Mini will find a number of products designed to protect their gadgets as they use them. These accessories come in variety of styles and designs making it easier for the users to select the ones that best met their needs. regardless of the choice, the users must ensure that they have picked the ones that not only come from reputable manufacturers but also those with features that are easy to use without compromising on the safety of the products.

Samsung Galaxy Mini Leather Case
Users can find leather cases that are will not only protect their Samsung Galaxy mini but also offer them a stylish look. Leather is a great choice because it is strong and durable. The users will need to select from a wide array of designs including:

• Horizontal Pouch
• The vertical leather case
• The flip Type
• The book type

All these designs come with a number of features including magnetic studs to provide the users easy access of their gadgets and keep them safe. They also come with removable 360 degrees belt clip which allows the users to attach their devices to their belts. Once they have determined the type of case they need, they will have to select the color as well as the pattern. The easily available colors include black, red and brown but users can find white and beige among others while in terms of pattern they can pick from the plain design or the crocodile design as per their wish. They can also opt to enhance the look of their phones by using leather case that come with contrasting colors for stitching such as a white stitching on a black case.

Samsung Galaxy Mini Accessories
When it comes to accessories the users will find a wide variety of options to select from and it is important for them to check on the quality and certification of the products before buying them. some of them include:

• Car Mount – With these accessories, the users will be able to increase the convenience and ease of use with their device. it is designed to specifically hold the leather case with belt clip, meaning that the users no longer need to remove their cases. The best thing about these Samsung Galaxy Mini accessories is the fact that it is easy to install and use.

• Screen Protector – when using the Galaxy Mini, the users will expose its screen to damages such as scratches. With the screen protector, they will not protect it from these scratches but also ensure durability. These accessories offer the users 99% transparency and clarity that is incredible. besides strong protection, the users are also going to enjoy the ease of use that they come with.

• USB car adapter – this is an important tool, especially when traveling the users can charge their Samsung Galaxy mini. it allows them to get USB power from the car. With this product they will benefit from the ease of use as well as the convenience it offers them wherever they are.

-cases & Pouches For Siemens - Standardized testing change puts schools to test - (5/18/2012)

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

Texas has been evolving school testing since the Reagan era ushered in testing as a national form of school accountability. here are the acronyms testing has gone by in the Lone Star State:

1980: TABS, Texas Assessment of Basic Skills

1986: TEAMS, Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills

1990: TAAS, Texas Assessment of Academic Skills

2000: RPTE, Reading Proficiency Tests in English

2001: SDAA, State-Developed Alternative Assessment

2003: TAKS, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills

2004: TELPAS, Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System

2005: LAT, Linguistically Accommodated Testing

2006: TAKS-I, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills-Inclusive

2008: TAKS-Alt, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills-Alternate

2009: TAKS-M, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills-Modified

2012: STAAR, State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

Source: Historical Overview of Assessment in Texas

SAN ANGELO, Texas —On Tuesday, 1,133 third-graders at San Angelo Independent School District’s 17 elementary schools will have their heads down, pencils to paper for their first statewide exam.

From Del Rio ISD to Texoma ISD, all third-graders will be taking their first STAAR assessment in mathematics, as will all fourth-graders.

On the same day at SAISD’s Lincoln, Lee and Glenn Middle Schools, all sixth- and seventh-graders will take their STAAR exam in math.

That’s not all. that day, sophomores at Lake View High School and Central High School will take the TAKS for mathematics, as will sophomores at Wall High School and TLC Academy charter school and every other public school in the state.

“Everybody on a campus that can be trained as a test administrator is trained or taking on classrooms for other teachers,” said Shelly Hullihen, SAISD’s assistant superintendent of educational support services.

In all, eight grades will take statewide exams this week in reading, science, social studies and English language arts as well as math.

One of the reasons for the stacked-up testing schedule is the launch of the STAAR — the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness. Students statewide in grades three through eight are taking STAAR exams this spring.

All school districts, meanwhile, have to continue administering the outgoing TAKS — Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills — to the state’s sophomores and juniors, who will not take STAAR exams.

“The biggest difference last year to this year is last year we had one system of testing. This year we have two systems,” said Tammy Utter, of the San Angelo-based Education Service Center Region XV. “Two sets of testing going on and overlapping. There’s a lot of days, a lot of logistics, a lot of need for trained test administrators when you’ve got that many going at one time.”

Utter is in charge of state assessment for Region XV’s 43 school districts, including Brownwood ISD, San Angelo ISD and Del Rio ISD, the three largest.

“We went out and trained 1,700 of our teachers and administrators on how to do this testing, on scheduling, test security,” Utter said. “At smaller schools, your district testing coordinator has multiple jobs and is responsible for ordering test materials, training test administrators if we didn’t train them, responsible for the testing calendar, final checks for accommodations for students as required.”

Texas first initiated statewide standardized tests in 1979 as a way to ensure all public school students were learning basic skills in math, reading and writing. in 1980 the Texas Education Agency launched the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills, or TABS. New assessment programs — with new acronyms — have been launched every decade or so since. This spring’s new assessment program, STAAR, is designed to continue a philosophical shift from ensuring students have basic skills to evaluating students for their college and career readiness.

Students in 10th grade or higher will continue in the TAKS program, but all other students from third through ninth grade started the STAAR this spring.

In a couple of years TAKS will be phased out, but the testing calendar will still be longer than it was under TAKS.

One reason is STAAR requires two days for the writing tests, whether for fourth- and seventh-graders or for high schoolers. Another reason is the Texas Education Agency is being more liberal with makeup days for students who were sick or otherwise could not take their test on the scheduled day.

“This year a makeup day for all subjects, all grades was allowed,” Utter said. “That’s part of STAAR and hadn’t been allowed in the past.”

A big reason for the increased number of testing days is known as end of Course exams, or EOC, which will unfold in the next three years.

This spring, first-time ninth-graders are taking EOC exams, which will be in math, biology, English and world geography. At SAISD a number of eighth-graders will take the high school-level end-of-course exam and not the eighth-grade STAAR math exam because they are already taking Algebra I.

The student’s EOC marks are part of a complex formula to determine promotion and graduation.

All districts will have to deal with other special cases, such as transfer students who have completed freshman English or math.

Caroline Toliver, district testing administrator for Ballinger ISD, said the statewide assessments affect every student, whether it is their day to test or not.

“When a campus goes into testing mode, it affects the whole campus, not just those kids,” Toliver said. “It won’t necessarily affect learning, but it might change lunch schedules or the class schedule. The kids are very much aware when others are testing, not just their own grade.”

Logistics and staffing are key issues for SAISD as well, Carol Asbill, the district’s director of assessment, said.

Staffing demands are huge on test days.

“The rules say you can’t test more than 30 at a time with one test administrator,” Asbill said. “Generally, those elementary classrooms are like 20 each. On top of that, there are many students who have special needs. there might be five or six students in a class who might need individual administration. now we’ve got five people.

“At the same time, they might not need individual, but that might need small group testing,” she said. “So you have your regular students, about 20, no telling how many small groups of four or five students, and no telling how many individuals. plus we have to have hall monitors so they’re not talking about the test; we have to have restroom monitors to ensure no one is texting or using a cellphone.”

Each SAISD campus has a campus testing coordinator who decides what works for their campus, Asbill said.

“What works for Bowie (Elementary School) may not work for Holiman (Elementary School). but they do not have the choice to change the date,” she said, “which is why we try to publish those dates — they are on our website; they are on the TEA website; our campuses send home the test dates well in advance, saying please don’t schedule your doctors appointments and other things on those dates. Parents comply with that request very well. The word’s out there; they know what we have to do and the kids have to do.”

At Ballinger ISD, substitute teachers are pulled in to train as testing administrators or to cover classrooms of teachers who are administering tests.

“This next week is a rather large testing week,” Toliver said. “On our elementary and junior high campus, there could be as many as 10 additional teachers required to pull those tests off. in a small district, we don’t have the luxury of having a lot of extra staff on hand. It’s another financial burden because we have to pay those substitutes.”

Utter said, as with any new assessment, there are likely to be questions, concerns and possible testing irregularities. for one thing, the printed manual of the past has been replaced by an electronic version on the TEA website, which is like “peeling an onion for information.”

“This is a new year. Even for those who’ve been in it for a long time, district test administrators for 10, 15 years, there’s so much new,” Utter said, pointing to a huge, zebra-striped bag filled with three-ring binders she said was her STAAR bag.

There are elements of STAAR she likes.

“One of the things that I think has been really good is the state has broadened the number of students who can use accommodations,” Utter said. “It could be using scratch paper or grid paper, which could be very helpful, or optional test procedures. These are for any kids who need them. that doesn’t mean any kid. The operational words are ‘needs them.’

“These are things we’re trying to make teachers and test administrators aware of. I feel like the state has really provided a good opportunity if people are aware of these. if they’re utilized, they are extremely beneficial to students.”

One aspect that concerns administrators is the time limit for all the STAAR tests, an element TAKS does not have.

Hullihen said the STAAR four-hour test time was hard for “our little ones.”

“We know it’s to prepare for the ACT, the SAT (college entrance exams), but it’s not ‘one size fits all.’ some kids can do it in two hours, three hours; others need five,” she said. “I understand phasing that time limit in as they get older. It’s like with teachers. The little ones have one teacher all day, then they get older, get two teachers, then four or more in high school.”

School district personnel are forbidden to ask the students anything about the tests, a matter of test security, Utter said, but she isn’t worried.

“There’s a four- to seven- or eight-year life span for statewide testing,” she said. “Without question, our kids have risen to the test every time.”

The state has yet to release the passing standards for the high school end-of-course exams but it will this spring in time for ninth-graders to know how they did. Elementary and middle school students, on the other hand, will get “raw scores,” which have little meaning until the passing standards are released.

“You hear everything from the kiddos, just as a parent you hear it, as an administrator you hear it, but there’s no way to know until you get those scores next fall,” Toliver said. “We get the raw scores the end of May, but we’re not scheduled to receive the passing standards until next fall.”

Students taking STAAR now — those in grades three through eight — will not know whether they have passed until well into the fall semester, when they already are in their assigned classes.

2012 Spring Testing Calendar

Hardly a week goes by in the San Angelo Independent School District, like others around Texas, when some form of testing is not taking place. As an example, here is the district’s testing schedule through the end of the school year.

March 5: TAKS Exit Level Social Studies (retest)

March 7: TAKS and TAKS-M Grade 10 ELA, TAKS Exit Level ELA, TAKS-M Grade 11 ELA, TAKS Exit Level ELA (retest)

March 8: Make-up session for TAKS Grade 10 ELA, TAKS Exit Level Mathematics (retest)

March 9: TAKS Exit Level Science (retest)

March 26: STAAR Grade 5 and Grade 8 Mathematics, STAAR English I Writing and English III Writing

March 27: STAAR Grade 5 and Grade 8 Reading, STAAR English I Reading and English III Reading, STAAR Grade 4 and Grade 7 Writing Day 1

March 28: STAAR Grade 4 and Grade 7 Writing Day 2, STAAR English I Writing Make-up, STAAR English II

March 29: STAAR English I Reading Make-up and English II Reading, STAAR Grade 4 Writing Make-up and Grade 7 Writing Make-up

March 30: STAAR Make-up sessions Grade 5 and Grade 8 math and reading

March 31: last day to for STAAR Make-up sessions Grade 5 and Grade 8 math and reading

April 23: TAKS LAT and TAKS-M LAT Grade 10 Mathematics

April 24: STAAR Grades 3 and 4 Mathematics, STAAR Grades 6 and 7 Mathematics, TAKS and TAKS-M Grade 10 Mathematics, TAKS LAT and TAKS-M Grade 10 ELA, TAKS Exit Level ELA (retest)

April 25: STAAR Grades 3 and 4 Reading, STAAR Grades 6 and 7 Reading, TAKS Exit Level Mathematics, TAKS-M Grade 11 Mathematics, TAKS Exit Level Mathematics (retest)

April 26: STAAR Grade 5 and Grade 8 Science, TAKS, TAKS LAT and TAKS-M and TAKS-M LAT Grade 10 Science and Exit Level Science, TAKS-M Grade 11 Science, TAKS Exit Level Science (retest)

April 27: STAAR Grade 8 Social Studies, TAKS, TAKS-M Grade 10 Social Studies, TAKS Exit Level Social Studies, TAKS-M Grade 11 Social Studies, TAKS Exit Level Social Studies (retest)

May 7: STAAR Algebra 1 (ninth-graders and some eighth-graders)

May 8: STAAR U.S. History

May 9: STAAR Biology (ninth-graders)

May10: STAAR Geometry

May 11: STAAR World Geography (ninth-graders)

May 12; STAAR Make-up sessions

May 14: STAAR Physics

May 15: STAAR World History

May 16: STAAR Algebra II

May 17: STAAR Chemistry

May 18: STAAR Make-up sessions

May 19: STAAR final Make-up session

July 9: STAAR World Geography, Geometry, English III Writing, TAKS Exit Level ELA (retest)

July 10: STAAR Algebra I, English II Writing, English III Reading, TAKS Exit Level Mathematics (retest)

July 11: STAAR Biology, English II Reading, Algebra II, TAKS Exit Level Science (retest)

July 12: STAAR English I Writing, Chemistry, U.S. History, TAKS Exit Level Social Studies (retest)

July 13: STAAR English I Reading, World History and Physics

IPhone 3G Sales Records – Presales Soaring For New IPhone 3g

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

The 3G iPhone hasn’t even come out yet and already the demand is so high it looks like they’ll be out of stock before they hit the shelves. O2, a leading UK smartphone marketplace and the exclusive online iPhone retailer for the UK market, announced today, just five days before the second generation iPhone’s official release date on Friday, July 11, that they’ve received such an unprecedented influx of preorders for the device that it actually crashed their server

This within just 1 hour of this morning’s 8 a.m. pre-order opening as about 200,000 avid Apple fans registered with the site to express their interest in purchasing the device. in fact, site spokespeople even claimed to already be completely out of stock of 3G iPhones until (at least) the day before the highly-anticipated release. And even then, there’s no certainty when they’ll be able to replenish their supply, as it depends in large part on how many of the 3G iPhones Apple can produce in time. this incredible demand means only one thing to technophiles and Apple enthusiasts everywhere: that you’d better secure yourself a 3G iPhone ASAP if you want to own one before there are no more left to buy. Part of the appeal of the new iPhone, no doubt, is the lower price, basically half of the price of the first generation iPhone.

This is especially appealing to those people who wanted to purchase an iPhone from the very beginning but couldn’t afford one or were waiting for Apple to iron out the bugs. Now, with the existence of the iPhone SDK (software developers kit) and the iTunes-like iPhone App Store (which also, conveniently, comes out this Friday) it looks like that time has finally come. one web reporter revealed that iPhone fanatics are already camping out front of the Apple Store in the Big Apple itself, trying to get a leg up on the inevitable long lines. Another online iPhone retailer, Carphone Warehouse, reported that more than 10 times the people who pre-ordered the original iPhone last year registered their interest in the new iPhone this week.

A combination cell phone, music and video player, and web browser, by the end of this year the 3G iPhone will be sold in over 70 countries worldwide. 8 a.m. Friday morning will be a telling moment for the entire technology industry, as Apple will either meet, beat, or disappoint what seem to be overwhelming expectations. Especially interested in the response to the new device are manufacturers of the various iPhone Killers on the market, such as: Sprint’s Samsung Instinct, the HTC Touch Diamond, the LG Voyager and LG Dare, and the upcoming BlackBerry Thunder. On another, related, note, consumers who prefer prepaid smartphone can look forward to a pay-as-you-go iPhone reportedly coming out around Christmas-time.

Fishbone Protection 2.0: Valor Communication’s Latest Fishbone Designs

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., may 7, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ – Valor Communication, Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of mobile phone accessories worldwide, has expanded their premier line of Fishbone Protector Covers with more designs and styles. Their latest line of Fishbone covers includes rhinestones, fabrics, and more.

The Fishbone Series has always been a very popular model due to its soft, rubberized interior layer and hardened exterior shell that provides even greater levels of protection. the latest lineup improves upon the traditional Fishbone’s unique shape with animal skin patterns, rhinestones, and even fabrics.

These Fishbone covers will be featured at this spring’s CTIA 2012 expo at Valor Communication, Inc.’s booth #2351.

Valor Communication, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of cell phone accessories worldwide. Valor Communication’s comprehensive product line includes hard protector covers, soft skin covers, Li-ion batteries, pouches, car & travel chargers, holsters, headsets, and more. Valor Communication, Inc. combines high-quality products, sophisticated order technology, and streamlined service for multi-tiered excellence that is unparalleled in the industry. for more information, please visit 2valor.com.

SOURCE Valor Communication, Inc.

Rep. Jim Dwyer’s legislative update

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

Last week, the House of Representatives debated the budget crafted by the House Committee on Ways and Means, of which I am a member. After months of formulating our budget, I strongly believe that this budget is a fair, balanced, and bi-partisan proposal, having passed by a 152-4 vote margin.

Local aid/education funding

The House made an early commitment to no new taxes or fees in our budget and we stood by that commitment, adopting a budget that had neither. Even in the midst of a budget process that had no new revenue streams, the House was able to provide each district with additional funding in Local Aid and Chapter 70 (Education) funding. In total, the 30th Middlesex District, consisting of Woburn, Reading, and Stoneham, will collectively receive an additional $1,078,847 in funding from the Commonwealth. It is because our of stable tax policy, growing confidence in our state economy, and fiscal planning that we are able to deliver much needed additional local aid for our cities and towns.

other initiatives and proposals that I supported which would save taxpayers money are as follows:

1) Exempting cities and towns from having to pay the gas tax for municipal fuel purchases. This would have saved over roughly $100,000 for our district. However, this proposal failed.

2) Changing the way we tax cell phone purchases. Currently, if you purchase a cell phone as an upgrade at a discounted rate or if you bundle purchases at discounted rates, you pay the sales tax on the retail price, not the discounted price. I supported an amendment that would make the sales tax only applicable to the sale/discounted price. Unfortunately, this amendment failed as well.

Social Services

The House also took up an aggressive approach at reforming Electronic Benefit Transfer cards or EBT cards. Many of you may have been following the news of the egregious abuses of this transitional system. This abuse takes advantage of our hard working taxpayers and drains economic resources from deserving programs , such as programs that address those with developmental disabilities and early education programs, to name a few. However, this reform approach was approved on a bi-partisan way, leading to a strong 122-33 vote in favor of aggressive reforms. Going forward I am hopeful that the EBT system will be a cash free voucher system, thus hopefully eliminating the abuse’s and restoring the integrity of the system.

Reforms that were implemented are as follows

Local aid/education funding

other initiatives and proposals that I supported which would save taxpayers money are as follows:

1) Exempting cities and towns from having to pay the gas tax for municipal fuel purchases. This would have saved over roughly $100,000 for our district. However, this proposal failed.

Social Services

Reforms that were implemented are as follows

1) EBT cards will no longer be allowed to be used for lottery, tobacco, alcohol, manicures, firearms, entertainment venues, cosmetics, cruise ships, tattoos, jewelry, gaming establishments, and pornography.

2) Penalties for card holders that knowingly use their EBT to purchase any of the previously mentioned prohibited uses have been made more strict

3) Penalties for businesses that knowingly allow EBT card holders to violate the prohibit purchases have been made more strict as well.

4) A commission will be established to develop a cashless EBT program that creates a voucher system to lower the amount of cash that is available through the EBT program.

Illegal immigration

some several months ago, I joined with colleagues from both parties in supporting a comprehensive approach to immigration reform by co-sponsoring legislation known as an Act to Enhance Community Safety. During this budget process, I was joined by my colleagues in putting together a proposal that would include many of the measures from that bill. These are common sense reforms that will assist in making sure that the best interests, both fiscal and public safety related, are met.

Provisions that were included in the budget are as follows

1) Implementing stronger verification measures on access to public assistance benefits, unemployment assistance payments, educational subsidies and public housing opportunities, thus assuring those who need assistance are deserving and warranted.

2) Increasing criminal penalties and fines for knowingly hiring or allowing unlicensed individuals to operate vehicles.

3) Increasing the penalty for operating without a license;

4) Closing the loophole that allows registration of an automobile without a social security or tax id number

5) Establishing new penalties and fines for making and distributing false licenses and identification cards.

6) Mandating that state law enforcement agencies analyze the cost factors, the involvement of state and local law enforcement efforts and the logistical requirements necessary to sufficiently prepare for the state’s mandatory participation in the Secure Communities program in 2013. Secure Communities provides for the sharing of information on the identity of persons who are in the custody of local law enforcement agencies, with the FBI and Homeland Security in order to conduct comprehensive background checks via a national database and allow those federal agencies to take into custody persons determined to be in the country illegally.

The above are common sense public safety measures that need to be enacted now.

Other initiatives in the budget that I supported are as follows

1) The House passed an amendment that would create a transfer of credit system for Veterans seeking employment within professions that require professional licensure in the Commonwealth. Many returning Veterans have been trained in particular fields that have bearing on employment they are seeking in the Commonwealth that requires a license. The intent of this amendment is to look at the Veterans qualifications, and exempt the veteran from having to take training courses or certification programs to gain a license, if there has been sufficient or similar training during his/her time in the military.

2) The House passed an amendment that would establish a cap on the amount of time that those in the HomeBASE program can stay sheltered in hotels/motels. This legislation caps the length of stay at 9 months. This will force the Department of Housing and Community Development to find a more permanent placement for those that are homeless.

3) The House failed to pass an amendment that would have allowed the Sheriff’s departments to charge a $5 per day fee to inmates incarcerated in their facilities. if an inmate is unable to pay the fee upon release and stayed out of trouble for two years after his/her release, the amount incurred by the $5 per day fee would be waived. This measure would have supported Sheriff’s re-entry programs, while preventing recidivism when it usually happens the most; months after release.

Next month’s office hours

Please note change. Office hours will be held each month, on the 3rd Monday of the month, at Woburn Senior Center at 1:30-2:30 p.m., and Woburn City Hall in the Committee Room from 3:00-4 p.m. (In the event of a holiday, office hours will be the following Monday). if you are unable to make office hours, but would like to discuss an issue or concern, do not hesitate to contact me at my office at 617-722-2220 or via email at

State Rep. James Dwyer, D-Woburn, represents the 30th Middlesex District, including wards 2 through 6 in Woburn and parts of Reading and Stoneham.

-cases & Pouches For Siemens - Best things to buy in May - (5/6/2012)

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

This guest post comes from Lindsay Sakraida at Dealnews.

It’s easy to know that you’re getting the best deal around when shopping through Dealnews, but sometimes you want to plan for purchases in advance. so, to help you out, we’ve mined our archives of product prices, sales and coupons to see what consumer goods are best buys throughout the month of may.

While every month features its own unique deal fluctuations, we often see overlap across months, especially when they fall within the same season. as such, some of the advice for may might sound familiar if you’ve diligently followed the April guide. That said, may has some unique shopping characteristics to take note of, like stellar Memorial Day sales later this month. so dive in and brush up on the best and worst things to buy in may.

Memorial Day deals are among the best of the year

Oftentimes, stores want you to believe that every holiday weekend will feature some of the deepest discounts, but that isn’t always the case. However, as an almost midyear sale, we found that Memorial Day weekend tends to have some of the most exceptional sales since January. You’ll see the ubiquitous sale ads, but where these promotions truly become money-saving is in the plethora of stacking coupons we find on those already-discounted goods. look to your favorite apparel and home goods stores for special holiday promotions. And in particular, keep an eye on department stores, nationwide apparel retailers, and home stores like Pottery Barn and West Elm.

Spring clothing deals heat up

Late April was an excellent time to start shopping for spring clothing deals, but the discounts really heat up in may, where you could find cuts of up to 75% off. And if you want a particularly strong discount, try holding out until Memorial Day weekend for those aforementioned stacking coupons. (Post continues below.)

Sleep easy with mattress deals

May is generally a good time to find a deal on a new mattress and, indeed, for the past two years the sales we saw on mattresses had deeper discounts in may than in April. so far we’ve seen items at Sears, for example, hit about 60% off after all discounts, which we anticipate improving in may and potentially spilling into June. keep in mind, however, that last year we saw excellent discounts on mattresses around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so you’ll have another opportunity to cash in on strong deals later in the year, too.

Opt for the less traditional on Mother’s Day

Last month, we suggested that shoppers buy their Mother’s Day gifts early to get the best deals possible. but, if you still haven’t bought Mom that perfect gift, consider avoiding the traditional. That’s because, for the past two years, we’ve seen a lot of jewelry styles actually increase in price at the beginning of the month, so you may not be getting the best value possible if you go that route.

For grills, wait just a little bit longer

We mentioned it last month, but it’s even more pertinent as the weather truly starts becoming dreamy: Hold off on buying a grill, regardless of whether it’s charcoal or gas. we see an increase in Editors’ choice offerings in June, so you’d be better served shelving your buying plans for another month. you can also wait until after the Fourth of July when we’ll see a wealth of grill models featured in summer home sales.

Growing discounts on home office furniture

We begin to see an influx of deals on home office furniture – desks, shelving units, and padded chairs – in may. If you can hold out until June, though, a majority of those items will likely see their all-time lowest price points of the year. If you want to update your home office, look to OfficeMax, Staples, Office Depot, and Wal-Mart for the best offers.

Jump on outdoor gear deals

Breathe in the fresh spring air and get active outside with a plethora of deals on camping and outdoor gear from stores like REI, Gander Mountain, and Altrec. look for hiking, fishing, and camping accessories to hit appealing prices.

Learn to haggle for gym memberships

When the weather is warm enough to run or exercise outside, you have more ammunition to haggle a good deal from a gym that’s looking for ways to encourage people to work out indoors. you can seek out promotions that cut initial costs like initiation fees or the first few months of enrollment, or you can put your game face on and demand the discounts while negotiating the terms of your contract.

Ivy Bridge to usher in new deals on Sandy Bridge systems?

May will be an interesting month for laptop deals. on the one hand, we have Intel’s new Ivy Bridge-based systems poised to enter the market with better battery life and more powerful graphics than today’s laptops. Naturally, these new laptops will be competing with the very capable line of Sandy Bridge laptops already on the market. While initial reviews indicate consumers won’t notice that much of a performance increase with Ivy Bridge laptops, the new systems are bound to lower prices on current Sandy Bridge-based laptops.

Secondly, deals on fully equipped quad-core desktop replacements continue to sell at all-time low prices. In fact, last month we saw an HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Edition Intel Core i7 Notebook come in at $700; that’s the second lowest price we’ve ever seen for any 17-inch quad-core Core i7-based desktop replacement with a full 8GB of RAM, dedicated graphics card, and 750GB hard drive. Savvy shoppers should look for deals under $800 and snag anything under $700.

LED LCDs remain flat; OLED makes its official debut

As expected, April wasn’t a stellar month for HDTV deals. Deals generally remained flat for name-brand 42-inch and 47-inch models, and rose by roughly $50 for name-brand 55-inch sets. we expect may to offer more of the same.

However, we started seeing deals on 2012′s new line of HDTVs. the LG 47-inch 120Hz 1080p 3-D Wi-Fi LED-backlit wide-screen LCD HD television (47LM6700) in particular has dropped from its debut price of $1,379 in late March to $999.99 in late April. That’s a $379 drop in just four weeks. Not bad for a new TV that packs every feature imaginable. we expect to see more deals on this TV in may. (For comparison, brand-name 2011 47-inch LCD HDTVs have averaged $547 so far this year.)

Smart Spending on the go: get our app for Android or iPhone

Another 2012 TV, the Panasonic VIERA 50-inch 600Hz 1080p wide-screen plasma HD television (TCP50U50), made its debut on dealnews for $781. It’s one of Panasonic’s budget models and will likely see further discounts in the coming weeks.

And for you well-heeled shoppers out there, mark your calendars. on may 16, at the Cannes Film Festival, LG is expected to debut its 55-inch OLED HDTV, reports PCWorld. the price? a cool $8,000. Painful as that may sound, keep in mind that this could trigger further discounts on LED-based LCD HDTVs.

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-cases & Pouches For Siemens - This Week in Fashion: Stylish Summer Bags - (5/3/2012)

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

Handbags are the can’t-live-without year-round accessories. and every woman has her own unique purse preference, large, small or somewhere in between. Whether you need to carry around the entire kitchen sink, or you prefer to tote just a few unmentionables, this season’s choices are sure to fit the needs of any fashionista.

Straw totes aren’t just for the beach anymore. This season’s straw bags make a statement with bright hues and leather accents. Fun, practical and spacious, straw bags are available in various price points and compliment almost any casual style.

Multicolored canvas bags are also trending this season. with chic and wearable florals, geometric shapes and vintage patterns, these carryalls are unique and creative and add color to any summer ensemble.

Clutches are a bit feminine and perfect for work or a night out. a small woven clutch like this one in navy, yellow and orange is a popular choice. with the magnetic snap closure, and modern design it’s a great option for a smaller bag.

Pouches and wristlets are everywhere. Beaded, leather, and tasseled, these styles are growing in popularity. The fancier, intricate ones are good for special occasions. while simple, unadorned wristlets are better for every day and can carry just your phone and credit cards for errands and such.

Accessorizing with a great handbag is an important as jewelry and shoes. They are not only functional, but can add a little extra flair and style to your look.

All of these great bags are available at Anthropologie. Share your favorite handbag trend and follow This Week in Fashion on Facebook.

-cases & Pouches For Siemens - Prepaid Phones Are For Everyone - (5/2/2012)

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

Prepaid cell phone companies are a good choice for those who like to save money. One of the quickest growing prepaid companies is called Straight Talk. This company founded in 2009 has been smashing the competition with an Unlimited Plan that is $45 for a 30-day period. Though this company has been criticized for lack of customer service, it still is a big saving compared to other prepaid providers.

Straight Talk is what is called a MVNO which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. these MVNO companies are licensed to sell network usage on networks such as AT&T or Verizon.

Pay as you go is not just for people that are on lower incomes, because everyone should be trying to save money and the literally is no difference in coverage on Prepaid as opposed to Postpaid, in fact, they all share the same networks.

There is only one difference that has been seen that is radically different on Prepaid and that is sometimes providers will give lower 3G speeds to Prepaid MVNO providers. Aside from some Internet data speeds, there isn’t any problem with coverage for phone calls.

Many times cell phone users simply accept that they are going to get a phone bill for hundreds of dollars each month and never do anything about it. So knowing about how to save with prepaid is the hardest thing to get across to people who could save these large amounts of money each month.

If you’re the sort of person who simply has to go to a phone shop to get a phone, just ask them if you can have the details on the prepaid deals that they currently have on offer. Many times the sales representative will talk you out of buying a prepaid phone as it is in their best interest to get you on a contract phone due to large commissions associated with contract signups for long durations.

For business owners, a contract might be a better setup as when it comes to tax time it might be easier to consolidate all the bills and track usage of employees, but apart from that prepaid makes complete sense for small and micro business.

If you compare the amount, you’re spending on a yearly basis it will blow your mind how much can be saved often in the 1000′s Family deals under contracts are not that good, and kids are always losing phones so the best option is to give them the most basic prepaid phone.

-cases & Pouches For Siemens - Barnidge: As an attraction, Cow Palace gun shows pack some real firepower - (5/2/2012)

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

The cars pulling into the Cow Palace parking lot Saturday morning were backed up onto Geneva Avenue. The line of people waiting to spend $10 to enter the North Hall snaked 150 feet back from the ticket booth. inside the building, another 1,000 or so people were spread across 48,000 square feet and 17 display aisles.

If you never have attended a gun show — guilty as charged — the first thing you notice is the crowd such an event can draw.

The Crossroads of the West Gun show had been open two hours when I arrived, but there was no letup in new attendees.

They came in all sizes and ages, men outnumbering women about 20 to 1. Many wore baseball caps with the insignia of their favorite teams (49ers, Giants, NRA), others wore sunglasses pushed back on their heads — it seems to be a gun-enthusiast thing — and bluejeans were the consensus dress code of the day.

A few youngsters walked at their parents’ sides, two women pushed toddlers in strollers, and one woman in a black leather jacket and stiletto heels looked like she might have been dropped off at the wrong address.

What most of them shared was the glazed look of wonderment at the variety of merchandise that filled the hall. It’s the same vacant look you see in Vegas when people first enter a casino.

There were rifles, shotguns and handguns, of course, along with ammunition, scopes, targets and shooting gloves. but there also were knives, machetes, handcuffs, hatchets, bayonets and, fittingly, first-aid kits.

A steady stream of customers was captivated by the inventiveness of a combination flashlight-stungun. a merchant showed how easily it changed functions — first, delivering 160 lumens of light, then 7 million volts of leave-me-alone persuasion. The price was $60, thanks to cost-efficient Chinese manufacturing.

Zap your victim for one second, the salesman said, and he will be stunned; three seconds, and his muscles will convulse; five seconds, and he’s in a world of hurt.

If you were looking for something both decorative and functional, you could hardly go wrong with a stash-box clock, available for as little as $159. Cleverly hidden in the fine oak styling was an 8-inch sliding compartment ideal for concealing your .45-caliber handgun.

The array of items filling more than 120 booths included everything from jewelry to metal sculpture, antique swords, leather pouches, ammo cases, ice packs, scabbards, belts and hunting gear.

One vendor used his booth to solicit contributions for Ron Paul; T-shirts bearing the image of the white-haired presidential candidate were for sale. Another vendor asked $5 for a poster of Adolf Hitler, caught in mid-salute, alongside the words: “All in favor of gun control raise your right hand.”

Folks pushing a cause really get a lot of mileage out of Hitler.

Why do people attend gun shows? well, it’s sure not for publicity. of the show-goers I talked to, none was anxious to share his last name.

Nick, of Berkeley (yes, Berkeley), said it’s a good place to buy cheaper ammunition. he and his son — who have taken NRA safety lessons, he added — like to target shoot.

Ernie, of Castro Valley, said he was looking for accessories for his 12-gauge shotgun, and also for deals on ammunition because “the prices are steadily going up prior to the election.” who knew presidential races drove up ammo prices?

Sean, of Concord, bought a rifle for “target shooting, hunting and home defense. It’s an all-round good gun; it’s what the military uses.”

Jerry, of San Jose, came to the show because “I like guns. I come for security.”

Judging by the 500 rounds he purchased for his 9 mm handgun, he should be secure for quite some time.

Contact Tom Barnidge at tbarnidge@bayareanewsgroup.com.

-cases & Pouches For Siemens - A tale of two Koreas - (5/1/2012)

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Cheap Contract Mobiles

I suppose we’re part of the problem.

South Koreans – living in a peaceful, democratic society, the world’s 15th largest economy, home to global success stories like Samsung and Hyundai – often wonder why the rest of the world is so obsessed by their northern neighbours, at their expense.

Wednesday April 11, was a case in point. a general election – the closest in years, full of scandal, personal rivalries, and not least big philosophical differences – has been largely overlooked by the world’s media. Us. me.

Of course the reason is North Korea’s unerring ability to surprise, provoke and infuriate. Most recently with its announcement that it would launch a satellite – saying its sovereign right to a space programme trumped UN resolutions banning it from rocket launches.

A little while after the polls opened here in Seoul, North Korea said it had started fuelling its Unha-3 rocket. Many are expecting the launch to happen soon – Thursday is the first day of a five-day window timed to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of the birth of North Korea’s founding father, Kim Il Sung.

However on Wednesday, there was another surprise.

The fourth conference of the Workers Party of Korea – for many North Korea experts the stage for Kim Jong Un to attain the position of party General Secretary – instead bestowed that title on his father, Kim Jong Il, for all eternity. Kim Jong Un would assume the newly created post of first Secretary.

Contrast that with the goings-on here south of the border: voters going to the polls from six in the morning to six in the evening; casting ballots into boxes that scan and count them as they go; instant exit polls, confirming what we’d all thought – a neck and neck race, with no outright winner.

But if the rest of the world has largely overlooked their election, South Korean voters have largely overlooked North Korea. They’ve got used to living with the nagging threat of conflict, and it comes well down the list of priorities when deciding how to vote.

This election has been mainly about the economy, and about scandal.

The Democratic United Party has tried to capitalise on a sense of disenchantment felt by many left out of recent economic growth. especially young graduates with no decent job to show for years of arduous, expensive education. The DUP had constantly called on them to vote in judgement of the administration of president Lee Myung Bak.

But his ruling Saenuri, or New Frontier, Party has hotfooted it away from an unpopular president. Now led by his rival Park Guen-hye, it’s moved leftward while issuing dire warnings of the social divisiveness of its opponents.

When hit with revelations that the government had spied on private citizens, the party called for an investigation into the administration’s actions, and said the previous liberal government had done the same.

Then a leading DUP candidate – a celebrity satirical podcaster – was found to have made a series of indefensibly misogynistic and aggressive comments eight years ago. he apologised but refused to stand down. his party was trammelled for not kicking him out.

The upshot looks to have been a narrow upset victory for Saenuri. a couple of months ago, it’d looked electorally dead. a fascinating turnaround, and worthy of some examination.

But not by me. North Korea’s about to launch a rocket, after all.

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