Posted in: 2012 London Olympics
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sep 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With only 65 days left until Black Friday, dealnews.com, the premier year-round resource for the best deals on consumer electronics, gadgets, computers, apparel, and more, today released its 2011 Black Friday Predictions report, which is intended to help consumers get the deal of a lifetime by shopping online this holiday season. High-end products such as tablets, HDTVs, laptops, eBook readers and select Apple products can be purchased for less than $250, while many more desirable items, such as Blu-ray players, tech accessories and apparel are expected to be priced up to 50 percent off.
"This year's holiday shopping season is a buyers' market, as technology innovation and growing competition among product manufacturers and retailers alike will drive Black Friday prices down to historic lows," said Daniel de Grandpre, editor in chief, dealnews.
These findings and more are part of dealnews' annual Black Friday Predictions report, an invaluable resource that outlines anticipated deals for a wide variety of the season's hottest consumer electronics and more. To date, the report has successfully projected the price for eight out of every 10 predictions made for many of the holiday's most popular product categories. Some of the findings from this year's report include the following:
Apple Products
-- For the fourth consecutive year, Apple's rumored Black Friday sale will generate significant media hype, but will disappoint shoppers with actual discounts reaching only five to 10 percent off.
-- Consumers wanting to purchase iPads, MacBooks and iPhones should avoid Apple stores, both physical and online. Instead, shopping online through authorized resellers like Amazon, MacConnection and MacMall will offer discounts that are up to two times better.
Tablets
-- Consumers can expect to see all-time low prices on popular tablet brands, even new models.
-- Tablets such as the Motorola XOOM and the 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab are predicted to cost $319 and $239, respectively. What's more, generic Android tablets are likely to fall to $75 this holiday season.
HDTVs
-- Retailers are predicted to slash prices for various sizes of 1080p LCD HDTVs, some as much as 50 percent off compared to sales offered during Black Friday 2010.
-- Shoppers in search of smaller HDTVs to furnish bedrooms, game rooms or dens will be in luck--prices for 32" 1080p LCD models are expected to fall to $199. Those looking for larger displays can also save hundreds of dollars, as 60" 1080p LCD sets may drop to just $699.
eBook Readers
-- This holiday season, eBook readers will be discounted more heavily than in years past. Shoppers will be able to take advantage of bundle deals offered by retailers, such as $25 book credits.
-- The Kindle 3 WiFi Reader is expected to drop to just $99 on Black Friday, while the NOOK Color Reader will be offered for as low as $179.
Laptops
-- While laptops may appear to be overshadowed by the high market demand for tablets, they remain one of the most popular gifts and will be offered at historically low prices this holiday season.
-- 16" dual-core processor systems, with basic features and functionality for the average consumer, will be on sale for just $189.
"Instead of battling long lines, rowdy crowds and sleep deprivation to get in-store deals, we're encouraging consumers to start new Black Friday traditions," de Grandpre continued. "Shopping online from home will result in discounts that match, if not exceed, in-store reductions, plus the ability to compare prices before buying. Our Black Friday Predictions essentially puts the retailers' playbook in shoppers hands, giving them the foresight needed to determine what and when to buy online to stretch their shopping budgets."
The dealnews 2011 Black Friday Predictions report also includes buying advice, shopping tips and other projected deals on Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, external hard drives, solid state drives (SSDs), apparel, and other must-have items to help consumers save money.
Methodology
For its Black Friday predictions, dealnews uses up to three years of historical data based on deals listed on dealnews.com. Using that data, dealnews extrapolates expected sales for Black Friday by applying current trends to historical Black Friday price drops. In so doing, the company corrects for anomalies such as outliers, floor effects, and disruptive new technologies that influence pricing trends.
SOURCE: dealnews.com, Inc
Europe's largest urban shopping mall will get an Olympic makeover using the London 2012 brand and logo.
Its Australian owners hope the exclusive marketing rights will give the development a boost when it opens next Tuesday.
In return, Games organiser Locog has secured floorspace in the 1.9million sq ft centre which forms a gateway to the Olympic Park. An official merchandise store will open next month and will be crucial to London 2012 reaching its target of raising £80 million through sales of licensed products.
Locog, which will employ 200,000 people at next summer's peak, will also use the mall as an operational and logistics hub by taking over the 3,000-space car park and setting up temporary offices. The mall will also host the official hospitality zone for Team GB.
Westfield has handed over cash for part of the deal but the largest part is believed to be "value-in-kind" use of the shopping centre.
Games chiefs commonly sign licensing deals with retail chains but it is thought to be the first time a shopping centre has bought official Olympic status.
Three quarters of Olympic spectators will be routed through the mall, passing along the tree-lined Chestnut Plaza before entering security checks.
Separate to the deal, Locog has taken the 600-plus rooms in Stratford City's three hotels, the Holiday Inn, Premier Inn and Stalybridge Rooms. The deal with Westfield takes Locog to its £700million domestic sponsorship target with revenues going towards the £2billion-plus cost of the Games.
Locog chief executive Paul Deighton said: "With Westfield Stratford City on the doorstep of the Olympic Park and set to be a major destination for athletes and spectators alike at Games-time, it is an obvious and perfect fit."
Michael Gutman, managing director for Westfield UK/Europe and New Markets, said: "We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Locog."
In the UK and within the EU, people can apply for tickets online between 9am on 9 September and 6pm on 26 September 2011.
Approximately two million tickets will go on sale to the public between now and Games time, with 1.5 million being available in this first phase.
A third of tickets are priced at £5, half of tickets priced at £10 or less and three quarters of tickets are £20 or less. As with Olympic Games tickets, the system is not first come, first served and there is no advantage to applying earlier in the process.
Tickets for oversubscribed sessions will be allocated via a ballot. Payment will be taken by 31 October 2011 with notification of whether applications have been successful sent by 18 November 2011.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), commented: 'The Paralympic Games are coming home in 2012 and I’m confident that the whole country will get behind them. People will have the chance to see sport like never before, with world class athletes who challenge the notion of 'disability'; it’s a huge opportunity for Paralympic sport to become part of the nation’s consciousness and finally, it will be a moment of extraordinary pride.'
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, said: 'Those who buy tickets for London 2012 will see sport like never before, featuring incredible athletes participating in incredible sport. These Games are an opportunity to drive societal change and create a legacy for this country that was first started in 1948 at Stoke Mandeville.'
Different types of tickets
In total there will be over 300 sessions across the 20 Paralympic sports at 20 venues. Day passes will be available exclusively for the Paralympic Games, enabling spectators to see a range of sports taking place in the Olympic Park, ExCeL or The Royal Artillery Barracks on that day on a general admission basis.
A Group Organiser scheme has also been created which will see large groups receive additional tickets at no extra charge.
Truly accessible Games
LOCOG is also committed to making sure that the London 2012 Games will be the most accessible possible and that everyone has the opportunity to be involved. A variety of schemes have been announced including the ‘Ticketcare’ scheme, which will enable any successful ticket applicant with high dependency care needs to apply for an additional ticket for their carer or Personal Assistant.
Tickets for the London 2012 Paralympic Games are now on sale around the world.
South Africa's women's team will not leave anything to chance when they play Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in the second leg of the Olympic Games qualifier,according to coach Joseph Mkhonza.
Banyana Banyana have a 3-0 cushion from the first leg and all they need to qualify for the games is a draw or a narrow margin defeat.
But Mkhonza says they are not ready to repeat the mistake that cost them place in this year's World Cup.
''We lost in the semi-final of the Africa Women's Championship, which was only a game away from qualifying for the World Cup,'' he told BBC Sport.
''This time round we will do our job to make sure we qualify,'' he added.
Despite taking part in the on-going All Africa Games in Maputo, South Africa are sending the best team to Ethiopia, as qualification for the Olympic is their priority. ''The Olympics to me and to the squad is second to the World Cup, and we must make sure we are there,'' said the coach.
''We have a bigger pool of players such that in one position we have more than three or four players, which is good for the country.''
Former African Women's Footballer of the Year Noko Matlou, who scored a hat trick in the first leg, and captain Amanda Dlamini are back with fresh experiences, after participating in the recent World Students' Games in China.
But the team will miss the services of US-based Kylie-Ann Louw, who the coach says was released too late by her club.
''She has to travel for more than 17 hours and when she arrives we will have left. We don't depend on individual players, we are a team'' said Mkhonza.
The other African spot at the Olympics will be decided between Nigeria and Cameroon, with the Nigerians leading 2-1 from the first leg.
It has been agreed that the second leg be postponed to 22 October to allow the Cameroonians to play at the All Africa Games.
Many of us were caught out by the huge demand for tickets for next year’s London Olympics events. The good news is that from today, you can apply for tickets to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This takes place immediately after the main Olympics in the same venues, so you’ll be able to enjoy the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime event at the same iconic London 2012 arenas and Olympic venues.
Applications for tickets to the Paralympic Games 2012 are open from today until 6pm on 26 September. Tickets will be allocated on a lottery basis. Successful applications will be notified and payment taken by 31 October.
To apply, you need to create a London 2012 Ticketing account at http://www.tickets.london2012.com/.com. In order to be able to apply via the UK ticketing service you need to be at least 16 years of age and have a valid Visa card with which to pay for your tickets. The Visa card must be valid until at least 31 October 2011 so payments can be processed. You also need to be resident in the UK or one of the designated European Union countries listed at http://www.tickets.london2012.com/eligibility_p2.html
Assuming you are eligible to apply for tickets via the London 2012 Tickets website, press the ‘Click to get started’. Read through the details of eligibility before pressing the Apply Now lozenge. Note that you’ll be able to choose between a general access day pass or for seats to a specific Paralympic Games event. Tickets for some events also include day pass access to the Olympic site.
Fill out the registration information requested and submit your application. A temporary password will be generated. Once you’ve received this by email, use it to log in to the site and change the password to something more memorable. The current status of your applications will be shown.
Select a date and session that suits, then scroll down to specify the number of tickets you’d like and the price band. Click Select to add them to your account. You can add further ticket applications now or at a later date, but you will only be able to submit one application using your London 2012 Ticketing account. Paper applications are also accepted, but instead not in addition to the online application. You can apply for Paralympics Games tickets at any point from today until 6pm on 26 September. As with applications for the main London 2012 Olympics tickets, applications for oversubscribed events will be subject to a ballot (lottery).
5:07 AM
Shweta Pandey
