8 technology items that you can get for free or cheap.
Netflix and HBO probably aren’t thrilled about the prospect of your sharing an account with distant friends and family members, but they’re not too worked up about it either. HBO CEO said that account sharing “has no impact on the business” and is a “terrific marketing vehicle for the next generation of viewers.”
If you’re an Apple user, then starting today, you’ve got access to a feature called Family Sharing through the new iOS 8. With the new system, up to six people will be able to share purchases from iTunes, iBook and the App Store without having to share a single account.
There are a number of services out there that offer free ebooks readable from your tablet or Web browser. There’s the non-profit Open Library, which offers millions of texts in various formats, as well as Project Gutenberg, which boasts over 45,000 downloadable ebooks. For audiobooks, there’s LibriVox, which offers around 8,000 free recordings. Your local library may also offer a selection of ebooks that you can access wirelessly.
If you know you’re going to be spending most of your time in places with Wi-Fi, you can save big by ditching your mobile phone plan and routing calls to your old number through Skype or Google Voice. You can also take advantage of Wi-Fi calling by signing up with upstart carrier Republic Wireless, which keeps costs low by sending data over Wi-Fi whenever a network is available.
Free music, movies and magazines on your phone (for two months, anyhow). Sign up for Hulu Plus, Spotify Premium and digital magazine distributor Zinio through Best Buy’s website and you get two months of each for free.
You can often save big by going to the “Open Box” section of large retailers like Best Buy. That’s where stores stock items that were opened but barely used before being returned, meaning it’s possible to find discounts of around 25% on products that work just like new.
Overstock, which launched back in 1999, gives retailers a way to sell their excess inventory through the Web. That means you can snag closeout-level savings on a wide variety of items, from electronics to bedding to exercise equipment. The site even offers free shipping on orders over $50.
Thinking of switching your cable provider? Sign up for certain plans from Comcast or DISH Network and you’ll land a free iPad Mini for your troubles.
source: CNN.com