How to Score the Best Tech Deals This Cyber Monday: A Complete Guide

Technology

The holiday season is knocking on the door, and with it comes one of the most awaited shopping events of the year for gadget freaks – Cyber Monday. Whether you are a tech aficionado looking to revamp your gear or simply browsing for that perfect gift for a tech freak, Cyber Monday offers an abundance of opportunities to score incredible deals on everything from laptops and smart gadgets to software and accessories. 

But navigating the sea of online deals can be overwhelming, and to make the most of this shopping event, you’ll need a game plan. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about Cyber Monday, when it takes place, and—most importantly—how to secure the best tech deals. Let’s go! 

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday happens every year on the Monday following Thanksgiving in the United States. While Black Friday traditionally focuses on in-store sales, Cyber Monday is all about online deals, making it the perfect opportunity for tech lovers to shop for gadgets and gear from the comfort of their homes.

This year, Cyber Monday falls on December 2, 2024. Mark your calendar because many retailers kick off their sales even earlier, sometimes extending through Cyber Week. 

Tips for snagging the best tech deals on Cyber Monday

Plan ahead and create a wishlist 

Preparation is key when it comes to Cyber Monday shopping. With thousands of deals available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Before the big day arrives, take some time to research and create a wishlist of the tech products you’re most interested in. Whether it’s a new gaming console, smartphone, or high-end headphones, having a specific list will help you stay focused and avoid impulse buys.

Checking out the retailers’ websites ahead of time for early deals and sneak peeks, bookmarking items you are interested in, and subscribing to newsletters for notifications about Cyber Monday promotions will help you create your wishlist. 

Set a budget 

It’s easy to get carried away during Cyber Monday, especially with all the “limited-time” offers and flashy discounts. To avoid overspending, establish a clear budget before you begin shopping. Prioritize the items on your wishlist and determine how much you’re willing to spend on each.

Use a VPN to score international deals 

One of the most underutilized tips is using a VPN Cyber Monday to unlock deals that may not be available in your region. By swapping your IP address to appear as though you’re shopping from another country, a VPN can help you access region-specific discounts, which can sometimes offer better deals than those available in your local market.

For instance, if a tech product is cheaper in Europe or Asia, you can use a VPN to browse that country’s version of an online store and make the purchase from there. In addition, a VPN offers an extra layer of security, protecting your financial information while you shop.

Compare prices on multiple websites 

Don’t settle for the first deal you come across – price comparison is your best friend during Cyber Monday. 

Different retailers often offer varying discounts on the same products, so it’s worth taking the time to compare prices across multiple platforms. Tools like Google Shopping or price comparison websites can help you quickly see where the best deals are.

Subscribe or sign up for retailer loyalty programs 

Many retailers offer exclusive early access to Cyber Monday deals for members of their loyalty programs. Signing up for such programs is usually free and may grant you access to special discounts, early-bird offers, and even extra reward points for future purchases.

Retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all have loyalty programs that often come with perks like free shipping or exclusive sales events, so it’s worth registering ahead of time.

Use promo codes, coupons, or cashback applications 

Take advantage of extra savings by stacking promo codes, coupons, and cashback offers. Many online retailers provide additional discounts when you enter a promo code at checkout, especially for Cyber Monday. 

Websites like RetailMeNot and Honey can help you find active promo codes, while cashback apps like Rakuten or Ibotta can help you earn back a percentage of your spending.

Follow your favorite retailers on social media 

Social media is another great resource for finding the latest Cyber Monday deals. Retailers often post flash sales, discount codes, or exclusive offers on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Following your favorite tech brands can give you an edge, as you’ll be among the first to know when new deals go live.

Make sure to turn on notifications for key accounts so you don’t miss out on time-sensitive promotions.

Watch out for bundle deals 

Many tech retailers offer bundle deals that include accessories or additional products at a discounted price. For instance, if you’re buying a gaming console, you might find bundles that include games, controllers, or subscription services at a reduced price. These offers can provide great value, especially if you’re planning to buy multiple items.

Summing up 

Cyber Monday is an excellent opportunity to score fantastic deals on tech, but to make the most of it, you need a solid strategy. From planning ahead with a wishlist to using a VPN to unlock international offers, these tips will help you navigate the shopping frenzy and come out with the best deals possible. 

By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle Cyber Monday and land the tech gadgets you’ve been eyeing at unbeatable prices. Happy shopping!

Indian Army Boosts Rural Tourism with New Homestay in Kalapani under Operation Sadbhavna

Travel

In a significant boost to local tourism and community engagement, the Indian Army’s Panchshul Brigade inaugurated a tent-based homestay in the scenic and historically rich location of Kalapani under Operation Sadbhavna.
Brigadier SPS Chouhan, Commander of the Panchshul Brigade, led the opening ceremony, bringing to life an initiative aimed at offering tourists an authentic experience of local Kumaon culture.

The project is part of the central government’s Vibrant Village programme, which promotes sustainable tourism and community-driven development in remote border areas.

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New on Netflix Oct 26-Nov 1: our expert picks 7 shows and movies to stream this week

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Lots of the streaming world has been taken over by horror ready for Halloween, but Netflix isn’t committing to quite that extent. Fans of spooky stories will have something to enjoy but there are lots of new videos coming besides those.Every week I look through everything coming to Netflix to create a curated list of recommendations, and this week my round-up covers new additions hitting the streamer between Saturday, October 26 and Friday, November 1.There are a few horror or horrifying entries on this list, for people who want some serial killers or aliens in time for Halloween, but it’s not all spooks. We’ve got a documentary, some drama, thrills and a returning Italian legal series.So whatever you’re into, there should be something for you. Let’s find you something new on Netflix to watch this week.Time CutTime-travelling horror movie arrives on Wednesday, October 30(Image credit: Netflix)We begin the week with a Halloween addition: Time Cut is a slashers horror movie aimed at a teen audience.The movie is about a young woman whose sister was murdered in 2003. When the woman discovers a time machine, she uses it to go back in time to try and stop the murder taking place, however that just puts her in harm’s way too.The Law According to Lidia Poët season 2Italian legal drama returns on Wednesday, October 30(Image credit: Netflix)Netflix continues its Italian period drama based on a true character when The Law According to Lidia Poët returns for its second season.The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!Charting the life of the first Italian woman to practise law, the second season of TLAtLP depicts Lidia’s attempts to get her brother to run for parliament, which would let him overturn the laws on women being lawyers, while she undertakes an investigation with an old lover and meets a new potential love interest.The first season was warmly received, so this could be a great watch. Season 2 has six episodes and all will will stream from Wednesday, October 30.The Manhattan Alien AbductionAlien encounter ‘docuseries’ arrives on Wednesday, October 30(Image credit: Netflix)In November 1989 a woman called Linda Napolitano was allegedly abducted from her home in Manhattan, being plucked from the window and dangled over the city before being taken into the UFO.Whether you believe this or not depends on your belief in UFOs, but Netflix seemingly does as it’s billing the new docuseries The Manhattan Alien Abduction as a “true story”. Apparently, a filmmaker filmed the whole thing, and so this docuseries is based on his real footage.Presumably, if there was footage that proved the existence of extraterrestrials, it wouldn’t be shared for the first time in a Netflix docuseries, but you never know…MarthaMartha Stewart documentary movie arrives on Wednesday, October 30(Image credit: Netflix)Another documentary, but this time you won’t need to suspend your disbelief so much; Martha is about the life and times of businesswoman and TV personality Martha Stewart.Martha is about how Stewart went from teenage model to billionaire, with interviews from her and other people surrounding her, and judging by some news reports it won’t just be a puff piece but makes some allegations of affairs too.The Diplomat season 2Political thriller returns on Thursday, October 31(Image credit: Netflix)One of Netflix’s big hits returns this week with The Diplomat season 2 which brings back the Keri Russell thriller.Russell stars as the titular diplomat, the US’ representative in the UK. In season 2 an explosion from series 1 breaks up her team, and she has to investigate the source of the attack while managing her personal relationships.You can watch the new episodes of The Diplomat on Thursday, October 31.Don’t Come HomeThai horror series arrives on Friday, October 31Another Halloween pick, this one hailing from Thailand, and it seems to lean more on the thrills than the jump scares.Don’t Come Home is about a family which… well, comes home to their old family house. However one of them disappears and the police investigation turns up some secrets regarding the place.You can watch Don’t Come Home on Netflix from Thursday, October 31.Let GoSwedish drama movie arrives on Friday, November 1(Image credit: Netflix)Our last entry this week is the Swedish movie Let Go.Let Go is about a housewife who’s struggling with a family that’s on the verge of falling apart. When she receives a mysterious text, she decides to take the group on a trip in the hopes that it’ll pull them back together.

World News | Book Investigates Fate of Tamil Minority in Sri Lanka Due to Prabhakaran’s Reign of Terror

Arts & Culture, Books

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) A new book looks at the violent period in Sri Lanka’s history from the early 1980s till late 2000s when LTTE founder Velupillai Prabhakaran’s terror made international headlines and investigates how he played a major role in the plight of the Tamil minority that he had vowed to emancipate. In what journalist-author M R Narayan Swamy calls “the insurgent leader’s autopsy”, “The Rout of Prabhakaran” explores Prabhakaran’s journey from starting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1976 to leading an armed campaign for an independent State called Tamil Eelam that ended on a bloody note in May 2009. Also Read | EAM S Jaishankar Hails Military and Diplomacy for India-China LAC Patrolling Agreement. Since founding the LTTE, Prabhakaran remained a largely unknown figure for almost a decade, even though he robbed banks, attacked members of the security forces as well as Tamils who he deemed traitors for siding with the government. “…when Prabhakaran got caught, for the first and last time by authorities anywhere, after a shootout with a compatriot in May 1982 in Madras, as the Tamil Nadu capital was then known, one Indian publication wrongly labelled him a bicycle thief!” Swamy writes in the book. Also Read | Sydney Plane Crash: 3 Dead After 2 Light Planes Collide Mid-Air in Australia (See Pic). A year later, in July 1983, Prabhakaran led the massacre of 13 Sri Lankan soldiers who were all Sinhalese, the majority community in the country, triggering an “anti-Tamil orgy” that permanently altered the destiny of the country. The book notes that for years literary and academic works both within and outside Sri Lanka made it known that “Colombo was majorly if not solely to blame for much of the suffering the Tamil community” underwent in the island nation. However, Swamy argues that “much of the blame for dragging the community through three decades of a horrific war” lies with Prabhakaran. “…for a pipedream that was Eelam, a war that yielded no solutions, and which ended with his own death alongside the carnage of Tamil civilians and the demise of the LTTE,” he notes. The intensity of his violence increased multifold as Prabhakaran continued to violently massacre all and sundry who stood against him and his cause including those he doubted of betraying him. “As years passed, he became a totalitarian, convinced that he was some kind of a demi-god who could do no wrong and who alone had the best interests of the Tamils at heart…Nothing else could have induced him to assassinate leaders like Rajiv Gandhi and Ranasinghe Premadasa,” the book reads. Through the testimonies of former LTTE guerrillas and other associates of Prabhakaran, the author records a larger sentiment against their leader and his policies that did more harm than good to the Tamil community of Sri Lanka. “What did a quarter century of brutal violence unleashed by the LTTE against all and sundry achieve for the Tamils?” asks the author, who earlier penned the 2010 book“The Tiger Vanquished: LTTE’s Story”. “The answers, brutally frank, are a clear testimony against the kind of nihilistic politics Prabhakaran preached and practised until his dramatic demise.” A Tamil nationalist, who was with Prabhakaran until early 2009, told Swamy that Prabhakaran’s reign “set the community back by decades in every sense of the term”. “Apart from creating conditions for a mammoth number of Sri Lanka Tamils to find their feet in new homes in the West, the LTTE campaign led to nothing tangible for the Tamil community,” he said, as told to the author. A woman LTTE guerrilla told Swamy soon after his death in 2009 that it was because of Prabhakaran’s campaign that Tamils were now forced to leave the country and seek shelter in the West. “In 1983, we Tamils were at least standing on our own feet. After a quarter century of bloodshed, today we are on our bended knees. We had our self-respect intact then even if the Sinhalese did not respect us; today, nothing remains. “We said we want liberation to the Tamil community; today, for our own liberation, we are running away from Sri Lanka and trying to see if someone in some Western country will give us a space to spend the rest of our lives,” the woman Tiger said, as written by Swamy. In this “stark assessment of Prabhakaran and his politics”, Swamy presents the case that apart from “the short-sighted politicians in Colombo” it was Prabhakaran and the LTTE’s conduct that “inflicted unimaginable torment and torture on the Tamil community”. The book, published by Konark Publishers, is available on online and offline stores for Rs 895.(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Approves Key Four-Lane Lakhnadon-Raipur Highway Project, Boosting Jabalpur’s Economic & Tourism Potential

Travel

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has approved a pivotal project to link Jabalpur with the four-lane Lakhnadon-Raipur highway. This decision is set to be transformative for Jabalpur and the entire Mahakaushal region, creating new avenues for economic growth and connectivity. Expressing gratitude for this crucial approval, Madhya Pradesh Public Works Minister, Rakesh Singh, shared that the project will connect the four-lane Lakhnadon-Raipur road to Jabalpur via a linkage point near Mandla. According to information, this enhanced connectivity between Jabalpur and Raipur will significantly ease travel, facilitating faster movement for businesses, tourists, and local communities. Minister Rakesh Singh noted that this connection is expected to reduce travel time, making it especially advantageous for Jabalpur’s residents and traders. Not only will business logistics improve, but the project is also likely to fuel growth in tourism and cultural exchange.The Public Works Minister emphasized that the project will provide a much-needed boost to Mahakaushal tourism sector, increasing accessibility to historical and cultural landmarks across the region. With greater tourist footfall, local businesses and employment opportunities will likely rise, infusing fresh energy into the area’s economy.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav Meets Consul General of France Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet To Discuss Investment In Trade & Tourism

Travel

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met Consul General of France Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and discussed possibilities of investment by the European country in trade, industry and tourism sectors. The consul general called on the chief minister at the latter’s residence on Friday evening, and principal secretary to the chief minister, Sanjay Shukla, was also present on the occasion, an official said on Saturday.Séré-Charlet first met officials of the state tourism board and discussed the possibilities of promoting exchange in the cultural and tourism sector between France and Madhya Pradesh, he said.Madhya Pradesh is known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. Bhedaghat, Sanchi, Bhimbetka and Khajuraho are popular among French tourists.

“The state is set to strengthen its tourism ties with France. The French embassy and Madhya Pradesh tourism board will work together to promote culture and tourism,” the official said.
During an interaction with the tourism board’s additional managing director, Bidisha Mukherjee, the French delegation led by Séré-Charlet discussed the possibility of promoting exchange in the cultural and tourism sector.The director of the French Institute in India and counsellor for education, science and culture, Gregor Trumel and coordinator of the Alliance Française’s Network in India, Emilie Jacament, were part of the delegation, the official said.Points such as publicising tourist destinations of India, making tour guides proficient in the French language and giving opportunity to French artists to perform in cultural events of the state were discussed during the interaction, she said. Mukherjee said tour guides in Madhya Pradesh will be trained in the French language with the help of the French Embassy so that they can easily guide French tourists and make their journey easier.She said the tourism board has trained 19 guides in the French language training. Now, front office executives, receptionists and other beneficiaries working in hotels and resorts of the tourism department will also be made proficient in the language.Mukherjee also invited French film producers and directors to shoot in Madhya Pradesh and added that artists from France would be invited to major events organised in Madhya Pradesh, and artists from the state would also be a part of the cultural programmes in France.

Lisbon’s unrest goes viral, ‘threatens tourism’

Travel

Saturday another day of heightened concerns, with two rival protests The scourge of violence affecting Lisbon since the killing of Odair Moniz by PSP police has reached the attention of international media, with a number of outlets predictably ‘warning tourists visiting Portugal’. As tourism operators admit, the fact that violence on the streets has been…