Surface RT buyers in the U.S. now get a free cover

Microsoft is trying to drum up sales of its Surface RT tablet by kicking in a free cover.

For a limited time starting May 31, Microsoft will throw in a free Touch Cover, Touch Cover Limited Edition, or Type Cover to folks in the U.S. and Canada who buy a Surface RT tablet. Adding a Touch Cover to the purchase normally brings the overall price up by $100, while the cover itself costs $119 separately. The Touch Cover Limited Edition and Type Cover each costs $129 on their own.

The Touch Cover is available in cyan, red, magenta, white, … Read more

Get a Kindle Fire HD 8.9 tablet for $239

I would argue that Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is already a steal at $269. Thus, today's deal practically amounts to theft.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Staples has the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 with Special Offers tablet for $239 shipped (plus sales tax). That's after applying coupon code 46097 at checkout.

But wait, there's more. Staples is offering a $40 gift card by mail when you purchase this model. It's not quite as good as a check or debit card, but I suspect you could burn through $40 at … Read more

HTC nixes plans for 12-inch Windows RT tablet, report says

Remember late last year when there was a rumor that HTC would be getting into the Windows RT tablet game with 7- and 12-inch versions? Well, Bloomberg is reporting that the 12-inch slate has been scrapped.

Bloomberg's source disclosed that the tablet would have cost HTC too much and the weak demand for RT tablets meant that the company had to be more selective about the products it brings to the market.

Instead, the focus will be on two 7-inch tablets -- one running RT, and the other Android. Both devices will be launched at the same time in … Read more

Android poised to overtake Apple in tablets, ABI says

Apple's iPad has dominated the tablet market since it first launched, but that's going to change.

Apple exited the first quarter of the year with 50 percent share of all tablet shipments, but Android is poised to overtake iOS in tablets, ABI Research said Thursday. The tech research firm didn't provide a timeline for the shift but said the big variable for Android is China.

The country is "passionate about the Apple brand," ABI said, but smaller, 7-inch Android tablets grown in popularity. A push for low-cost tablets, generally less than $200, keeps Android relevant … Read more

New cases hint at iPad 5 with thinner bezel

Apple's next iPad has been rumored for months, and leaks about possible cases suggest some design changes are coming.

Vietnamese site Tinhte today posted a video showing what it claims is a case designed for the next iPad. The case's height is slightly shorter and its width is notably thinner when compared to the current, big-screen iPad.

The case design lends credence to reports that the company's next big-screen slate will have a much thinner bezel. Apple's iPad Mini, which reports suggest the next large iPad's design will be based on, comes with a thin … Read more

FCC tips Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with support for AT&T

AT&T may soon offer a 4G LTE variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, if recent FCC documents are to be believed.

Engadget spied the 8.0-inch SGH-I467 tablet wandering the virtual halls of the FCC with support for 850/1900 GSM and LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, and 17. In other words, all the necessary radios to work with AT&T's burgeoning 4G LTE network.

No new details were provided for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, so it's assumed everything else remains the same as the Wi-Fi model. As a reminder, the … Read more

Get a Lenovo convertible laptop for $463.50 shipped

For those of you who might be new to the Cheapskate blog, allow me to refer you to the Cheapskate FAQ, which answers a lot of common questions -- like "why I sent you an e-mail for a deal that was already sold out." (Spoiler: It wasn't sold out when I sent it.)

I mention that example because today's deal may also sell out quickly. (At this writing, Lenovo shows 498 units still in stock.) For a limited time, and while supplies last, Lenovo has the ThinkPad Twist S230u convertible laptop for $463.50 shipped. (Sales … Read more

Play Skee-Ball using Chrome on a computer, mobile device

Remember when Google demoed the Racer game at Google I/O a few weeks back? Well, apparently Racer was just the beginning of showing interactive games using nothing more than Chrome.

As you can see from this Google+ post, Google has released yet another Chrome game. This time it comes in the form of the arcade classic of Skee-Ball, with the game being called Roll It.

Instead of relying on only mobile devices as the Racer game did, Roll It requires you to have a computer and mobile device, both with Chrome installed.

The mobile device, be it an Android … Read more

Use Google Now to send text messages, e-mail

During Google I/O Google announced some improvements to its Google Now service. One of those improvements -- as we have already covered -- was the ability to create reminders within the app. One other feature we haven't discussed yet is the ability to send a text message or e-mail using Google Now.

Similar to the way Siri works, you're able to give a voice command to Google Now and have a message composed, complete with the recipient of your choosing (so long as they are in your contacts). After Now has filled in all of the required … Read more