Get a 3-month Google Play Music subscription for $3
That's the best deal to date for Google's unlimited-music service. What happens after three months? Let June worry about that.
Remember back in December when Spotify offered that three-month subscription for 99 cents? Mine ran out just a few days ago, so this is some seriously serendipitous timing.
For a limited time, you can get a three-month Google Play Music subscription for $3. That works out to just a buck per month (math win!) for unlimited ad-free listening. When that sweet, sweet stretch comes to an end, you can continue for $9.99 per month, or just cancel.
Let me note straight away that I've had difficulty actually navigating to this offer page. If you're not already signed into your Google account, for example, you'll have to do so -- after which you may end up at your music library. If you click Shop from there, you should land at a page that has the deal banner -- but for me it disappeared when I returned to that page a little later. Weird. I also tried going right to the Google Play store and clicking Music. Sometimes the banner was there, sometimes it wasn't. YMMV.
Update: I'm also getting a "server error" when I try to sign up, undoubtedly because this offer is melting the Internet. I'll keep trying throughout the day, and suggest you do likewise. Apparently even Google can't handle a global crush of cheapskates!
Google Play Music, of course, is Google's answer to Rhapsody, Spotify and the like. It lets you stream and download from a massive library, offers mood- and activity-oriented stations (a la Songza) and supports up to 10 devices per account -- though only one at a time can actually play tunes. That's a fairly disappointing limitation, if you ask me.
Even so, back in November, when I asked readers the name their favorite music streaming service, Google Play Music was definitely among the favorites. (This surprised me a bit, as I find the mobile app really unintuitive, and borderline user-hostile in places.)
These gripes aside, it's hard to argue with this kind of pricing. If you've never tried a music streaming service or simply haven't tried Google's, three bucks for three months is a no-brainer. I'm in!
Bonus deal: Got a spare wall lying around? Nothing, but nothing, beats pointing a projector at it for giant-screen games and movies. For a limited time (and deals often expire quickly and without notice here), Amazon has the Epson Home Cinema 2000 1080p 3D projector for $549.99, shipped. Regular price: $749.99.
That's a killer deal on a 1080p projector, especially one that can rock 3D if you pair it with a PlayStation or 3D-capable Blu-ray player. Plus, it has two HDMI ports instead of the usual one, and even a built-in speaker for easier anywhere-there's-a-wall viewing. Best of all, the user reviews are overwhelmingly positive.