Filed under: Deals

Update: The drawing has now closed -- congratulations to the winner selected by Drobo, @celatone.

TUAW and Data Robotics have teamed up for some deals that are as hot as the summer weather here in the Northern Hemisphere.

How would you like your choice of a brand-new Drobo S or Drobo FS? The Drobo S (valued at US$799) is a 5-bay storage solution featuring the Data Robotics BeyondRAID technology, with eSATA, FireWire 800, and USB 2.0 ports, The Drobo FS (valued at $699) includes 5 bays and a Gigabit Ethernet port for network sharing. One of these units can be yours if you win the giveaway.

What do you need to do to enter? Just follow this link to the Drobo giveaway page and fill out the form, and a winner will be announced on Thursday afternoon, July 29th Tuesday 7/27 via Drobo's Twitter account. [Apologies; Drobo miscommunicated the end date for the drawing.]

So far, so good. But how about doubling your chances to win a Drobo? If you're a Twitter user and tweet the following phrase:


you'll be entered in a second drawing for a 2nd generation Drobo. This sleek storage device, valued at $399, has 4 drive bays and features FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 connectivity.

But wait, there's more! As a bonus to everyone who enters, Data Robotics has put together some instant rebate coupons that will be sent to entrants on Thursday, July 29th and good through midnight on July 31st, 2010. You can save $75 on a Drobo S or FS, or $155 on a Drobo S or FS bundled with drives in the US and Canada, or €58 on a Drobo S or FS (£48.57) in the EU 27 member states plus Norway and Switzerland, just by entering the contest.

Good luck! And while you're dreaming of your new Drobo, be sure to visit the Data Robotics site to check out the complete line of BeyondRAID storage products from the company.

Disclaimer: Data Robotics, Inc. is the sole administrator of the Drobo giveaway and discount program and will determine all the conditions and requirements of participation. TUAW is not responsible for the giveaway and cannot answer questions or provide support for any hardware or applications on the Drobo device. No advertising contract or financial relationship exists between TUAW and Data Robotics, Inc.

BuzzVoice is an app that lets you listen to the Internet anywhere, by reading stories to you from over 1400 sources that are selectable right in the app. It's something like Pandora for blogs. We reviewed BuzzVoice some time ago when it was first released and liked it quite a lot. Some time later, it was released for the iPad making it easier to use. Now a new version BuzzVoice 3.0 (US$4.99 as an introductory price which will be raised to $9.99) is about to hit the app store with some significant new features.

Instead of being limited to a buzzcast running between 15-20 minutes. The new version will play story after story for as long as you want to listen, providing hours of spoken information. The number of sources has been increased by about 2,000 200, bringing over 16,000 sites available for your listening pleasure. To date, BuzzVoice has streamed over 2 million stories to people on the go.

If your actual iPad purchase hasn't drained your debit card down to the red-alert level, Amazon has your back: the web retail giant has announced that the Amazon Mobile app is now fully updated for iPad, and it's available now on the App Store. The free app gives you all your favorite functions: browse the store, add to your Wish Lists, track packages and orders, watch movie trailers and listen to song samples -- even One-Click purchasing is included, otherwise known as "The Danger Room of Online Shopping."

Point of aggravation, though: searching for music in the app only displays CDs, which seems somewhat backward. The mobile site for iPhone lets you search digital downloads, although you can't buy them (you have to add them to your wish list for later purchase); browsing in Safari on iPad is both better and worse, as it lets you get all the way to the point of buying an MP3 track before failing to download the helper app that in turn would download the track. Memo to Amazon: You probably want to fix that as soon as you can. Update: If you decline the helper app, you can actually download the MP3 track in the browser on the iPad -- but then what? Goodreader will open it, which is nice and all, but it's a bit awkward to do anything at that point except email it to yourself.

Would it be so difficult to include the option for MP3 purchase and simply email the user a download URL? Granted, there might be some hiccups for those iPad users who rarely/never sync their devices, but c'mon, it's 2010 already. Even though you can access the MP3 store via Mobile Safari, there's obviously no way to get music downloads into iTunes except through the iTunes Store or via tethered sync.

Amazon also delivers the Kindle and IMDB apps for iPad, just in case you felt like doing some reading or movie searching along with your shopping trip. All three apps are free.

I wrote about Fruit Ninja last week, and since then it's been very popular on the App Store. Creators Halfbrick Studios tell us it's sold quite well so far. The game's simple, but well-polished and a lot of pick-up-and-play fun. It's only $1, so there's no reason not to go over and get it yourself. Just in case you haven't, though, Halfbrick has sent us a few promo codes for the game to give away to five lucky TUAW commenters.

Want to win a copy of Fruit Ninja?

Here are the rules:

• Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
• To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us what kind of fruit you like slashing most.
• The comment must be left before midnight EST on Thursday, May 6th, 2010.
• You may enter only once.
• 5 winners will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prize: A promo code redeemable for a copy of Fruit Ninja (Value: US$0.99 )
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

A group of independent game developers have released a "Humble Indie Bundle," and if you're a Mac gamer, it's a treasure trove. For a donation of your choice (the retail value is set at $80, but you can pay what you want, and you can even specify whether your money goes to the game developers or a couple of different charities), you can pick up the indie classics World of Goo, Aquaria, Gish, Lugaru, and Penumbra Overture, all playable on Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Amazing deal, and this is about the most generous and customer-friendly way to do it. Any one of these games is well worth the purchase, and not only are you supporting developers and charities, but you're supporting the decision to release great games like this cross-platform, without DRM, and without a publisher or middleman getting in the way and taking a cut. Excellent deal -- they've already raised over $31,000, and if you play games on your Mac at all, definitely head over there and put ten or twenty dollars in the pot to support the bundle.

The good folks over at YazSoft have released version 5.2.15 of Speed Download, a nice download manager/FTP client that helps me out a lot when I'm browsing for files. This new update brings better YouTube compatibility, a fix to make sure the listed file size is correct on certain FTP servers plus tweaks to performance and compatibility.

But perhaps more importantly, they're running a promotion that drops the price by ten bucks. When you put the "iwantfast" coupon code in at checkout, you can pick up the software for $15 rather than the usual $25. That's a petty good deal on a piece of software that has come in even handier than I expected when I first picked it up.

The ever-popular MacHeist bundle, offering eight Mac apps for $20 total, closes out at midnight Pacific Time tonight. If you've been on the fence so far about whether or not to buy in this year, two bits of news may push you over the brink.

First, all the initial applications have been unlocked; both Tales of Monkey Island and RapidWeaver are fully present and accounted for. Second, there's been a last-minute addition to the roster; Tweetie for Mac (normally $20 on its own) is now part of the bundle.

If you're Macheisting this year, let us know what you think of the app selection; if not, share your reasons why. (We will accept "I'm saving up for tickets to Tron Legacy" as a valid reason.)

Sure, Apple will sell about a gajillion iPads when the device finally releases on April 3rd, but analysts are saying that's not all -- apparently 30% of the revenue from the device itself is expected to be from the sale of content read, listened to, watched, or otherwise consumed on the iPad.

Brian Marshall with Broadpoint.AmTech calls the touch tablet's media strategy "sticky," and says that the App Store is nothing compared to the kind of market for media that the iPad will create. He says that we might even see 7 million iPads sold in the first year, which is a number that's much higher than other estimates. But Marshall also says that when people actually get their hands on the device, they'll be sold -- there's a lot of "naysaying" going around that will be answered, he believes, with a hands-on test.

As I said on the talkcast, I agree -- I think the iPad's real selling point will be how it actually feels and works in your hands, and considering that very, very few people have had that experience so far, it's no wonder there's still so many doubters. I do think that content will be huge on the device, though that's a no-brainer -- even Apple has pointed out that it's basically a device designed to let you sit on your couch and consume media.

At the same time, playing with the iPad won't make it magically grow a camera or lower the price, or fix any of the other objections that people have had. Marshall's guessing big numbers, but then again, that's his job. The rest of us will have to wait and see what the usage (not to mention the actual content deal Apple gets) is actually like.

Today's deals are all generated from a friendly search-based robot courtesy DealNews. We didn't pick 'em this time, so no warranties expressed or implied. Aol uses a referral code for these deals.

• Apple Store: [iPods] Refurbished Apple iPod touch MP3 Players from $139 + free shipping
• iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Price Drops: Pocket Heart, Diner Dash, Magellan RoadMate, more
• MacUpdate Promo: [Security/Anti-Virus Software] Lockngo 4 for Mac downloads for $10
• Buy.com: [Networkable Hard Drive (NAS)] Linksys NMH300 Two-Bay Media Hub for $130 + free shipping
• eBay: [Supplies] Quartet Magnetic Dry-Erase Board for $8 + free shipping
• Buy.com: [802.11g Wireless] Zyxel 802.11g Wireless Powerline Router for $40 + free shipping
• Adorama: [Printers] Canon SELPHY ES30 Compact Dye Sublimation Printer for $50 + free shipping
• Dell Home: [40" - 42" LCD TVs] Sharp 42" 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $539 + free shipping
• Shop4Tech: [Cell Phone Accessories] Universal GPS Car Mount for $5 + free shipping
• ThingFling: [Surge Protectors] Philips 8-Outlet Home Theater System Surge Protector for $50 + $6 s&h
• Buy.com: [Mice/Trackballs] Logitech Trackman Trackball Mouse for $22 + free shipping
• 6ave: [42" And Smaller Plasma HDTVs] Panasonic VIERA 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV, Blu-ray, more for $833 + free shipping

It's refurbished Mac madness today! Today's deals via our friends at DealNews....

• Ending today, ExperCom offers the Apple iMac Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz 21.5" Desktop, model no. MB950LL/A, upgraded to 8GB RAM and bundled with three years of AppleCare for $1,399.
• The Apple Store again has six factory-refurbished Apple Mac Pro workstations on sale in its Special Deals section, with prices starting at $2,149.
• B&H Photo-Video offers the Apple iMac 24" Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz 24" Desktop, model no. MB419LL/A, upgraded with the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse for $1,299.95 with free shipping.
• The Apple Store has stock of four factory-refurbished previous- and current-generation Apple Aluminum iMac Desktops in its Special Deals section.

Welcome to a all-mobile edition of the Daily Deals, brought to you by our friends at DealNews (but curated by yours truly).

Some people actually like using a stylus on their iPhone, and in some cases it may be preferable to a frozen sausage. Try out this retractable "universal" stylus at Overstock for just a couple of bucks.

How about a "traveling kit" for the iPhone 3G? Kit includes an FM transmitter, car charger, screen protector, and skin case. Under $12 with coupon code 'EFWS030125' (it expires March 7).

Some app news too:

Eco Punk, an action game for iPhone/iPod touch featuring deadly skateboarding rabbits with guns is free today.

Several iPhone and iPod touch applications available from the App Store have recently dropped in price. Each is the best deal we've seen on that title.

• Aqua Forest for 99 cents ($7 off): an accelerometer-based puzzle game
• 'stachetastic for 99 cents ($1 off): Moustache applicator
• Spending Tracer for 99 cents ($1 off): Finance management
• Hand of Greed for 99 cents ($2 off): Puzzle game
• WorldCard Contacts for $1.99 ($4 off): Contact management

See all of those deals here.

Finally, if you're looking for a iPod touch knockoff, the V-Touch 16GB Touchscreen Expandable Portable Media Player, model no. VL-885-16GB-BLK, for $79.99 with free shipping. Adorably worthy of a KIRF moniker.

We wrote about blog app Blogo a while back and now it's on sale for $12.95. If you're in the market for a Mac-based blogging tool, give it a try.

If you missed Macworld then you missed Sennheiser selling their headphones for 50% off. But these Sennheiser PXC-310 noise-cancelling headphones for $179 (with free shipping) may ease the pain.

Earlier today we wrote about an iPod dock with a "bed shaker," but these Memorex Minimove iPod dock speakers won't likely shake you out of bed. Still, for under $30 it's a good deal if you're looking for a cheap dock to put in a spare room.

Those are all the deals for today, courtesy our friends at DealNews.

All Dr. Seuss apps, such as The Cat in the Hat, are just $.99 today in honor of the good Doctor's birthday and Read Across America Day. Enjoy!

Note: Deal of the Day is brought to you by our friends at DealNews.

Battle of Puppets fell through the cracks here when it was first released, and that was unfortunate -- it's a 2D real-time strategy game for the iPhone with a distinctive art style and a plethora of cool features that definitely deserves a look. The team has been updating the app often, and the latest update not only adds in achievements and leaderboards via the OpenFeint platform, but also has dropped the price to just 99 cents for a limited time.

The game has a surprising amount of strategic depth -- more than you'd expect for an iPhone title. There are five different armies (each one representing an "opera" theme), each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and the little unit battles play out over 22 different theaters, where various environmental changes can actually affect the strategy of the game. And in addition to commanding your puppet troops, you can "cast spells" on the screen with gesture input, which will also affect the flow of battle. It's almost too much to handle on the iPhone's small screen, but the developers have added in a tutorial that should help you figure it out.

At 99 cents, Battle of Puppets is a steal. More casual game players might get a little dragged down by the complexity, but those looking for strategy will find it underneath the cutout art designs. And if they continue to update the app at the rate they have so far, there'll be even more coming in the future.

If you are joining us at Macworld this week, you know that deals abound on the show floor -- every company usually has some sort of show discount or sale going on. And sometimes, even if you're not here at the show, you can still take advantage of the sales back at home. Here's a few we've seen even before the show officially starts tomorrow.

• Tropical Software is offering $10 off its normally $39.95 purchase of notekeeping app TopXNotes.
• Unmarked Software has a Macworld 2010 promotion going on, with a 20% discount on TextSoap 6, an application that will "scrub up your text" and clean out unwanted garbage and characters.
• This isn't specifically Macworld-related, but SmileOnMyMac is here, and they just added their iPhone app TextExpander touch functionality to a number of other apps, so it's on sale for $1.99 right now.

Stay tuned all week long for more deals and discounts from the show floor. If you're looking for a full rundown of show events, parties and activities, be sure to check out the Hess Memorial List.