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by Kathryn Vasel   @KathrynVasel

March 21, 2018: 10:11 PM ET

The Toys “R” Us liquidation sales have arrived.

The iconic toy giant announced last week that it will shut or sell all of its 735 US stores, and the company said it expects the sales to start tomorrow.

Shoppers looking to snag a bargain should act fast.

“It will be quick,” said Chuck Tatelbaum, a director with Tripp Scott, a Florida law firm, on how quickly the shelves will empty. “No more than 60 days, closer to 30 days.”

Related: Your Toys ‘R’ Us closing questions answered

The more popular and favorite toys tend to move the fastest, and inventory is likely already slim.

“The [stores] haven’t gotten a lot of new inventory in the last month or two, so a lot of the popular things have probably already sold out,” said Tatelbaum.

Consumers with Toys “R” Us gift cards and Endless Earnings e-gift cards should also hurry. The retailer will honor these forms of payment until April 20. It will not accept coupons or other rewards starting Thursday.

Stores will accept returns on products purchased before the liquidation for the next 30 days. All purchases made during the store closing process are final sale, which means they cannot be returned or exchanged.

Related: Local toy stores are thriving as Toys “R” Us is dying

Consumers planning on going to the store for one last walk up and down the aisles to reminisce could face a different reality.

“People will go for one last time, but I am not sure it will translate into buying,” said Tatelbaum. “I think you are going to find a general malaise — not happy and joyful employees … this is going to be almost like a wake.”

The company has been posting job openings recently for temporary positions to help during the liquidation process.

But the store closings mean that around 31,000 employees will ultimately be laid off.

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Michelle Woo – Friday 4:30 PM

We hate to interrupt your mourning of the demise of Toys R Us and deep concern over whether Geoffrey will ever get back on his feet, but there is something you need to do.

Spend your gift cards. Now.

The toy store chain announced that it will honor gift cards for the next 30 days—and that includes Babies R Us gift cards. Still holding onto a $50 gift card that Aunt Poppy gave your kid for Christmas in ‘09? Go find it, and buy something at one of the hundreds of store closing sales happening right now across the country. (Store fixtures are for sale, too.)

Also, if you have a registry at Babies R Us, you’ll want to transfer it to a different store (Costco, perhaps?), as the registries will be shutting down in the next couple of weeks.

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There was a time when cable was king, reigning over everything from dramas to comedy, sports to international news—even reruns of your favorite black-and-white sitcom. Today, cable faces steep competition for entertainment options, in the form of streaming content, which ranges from traditional shows and movies to video games, music, and sports. No wonder more and more people are choosing to cut the cable cord.

I’ve broke down key considerations before you make the leap, as well as five easy steps to getting off cable.

Are You Better Off Cutting the Cable Cord? Key Questions

In a nutshell, what’s the difference between life with and without cable?

• Life with cable: channel-driven scheduled viewing
• Life without cable: app-driven on-demand viewing, usually with a streaming device or Smart TV

Sure, cable offers on-demand, and a DVR can record shows for later. But, app-driven on-demand viewing is about more than watching when you want—it’s also about watching how you want. As in, no (or fewer) commercials, an unlimited stash of content, and the freedom to binge-watch instead of waiting for episodes to roll out on a weekly basis.

Is it cheaper?
Potentially. You’ll have to get broadband Internet service—but you probably already pay for that. Individually, app subscriptions are much cheaper than cable. To avoid a hefty monthly bill, don’t sign up for too many, and pay attention to in-app purchases, such as movie rentals.

Can I still watch my favorite shows?
Generally speaking, yes. Plus, more and more content can’t be watched on cable at all, including award-winning shows like Netflix’s House of Cards.

How about live sports?
Sports may be the stickiest part of leaving cable. Game broadcasts may be subject to complications such as local blackouts. That said, many sports leagues offer their own streaming services, and the Sling TV app features sports channels. Plus, local channels will work on most TVs. For that super exclusive game you can’t find—hey, there’s always Larry’s corner bar.

What about local channels?
Local channels still offer lots of great programming and live events, not to mention the news with that hunky weatherman. In most cases, all you need is an antenna hooked up to your TV. Many network channels also offer apps.

Will I experience infomercial withdrawal?
If you experience this within the next 10 minutes, I’ll throw in nostalgia for your favorite childhood show, absolutely free.

How to Get Rid of Cable in 5 Easy Steps
Decided to go for it? I’ll make it simple:

1) Cancel Your Cable Service
For many, this is the hardest step. Be strong! Here are two failproof strategies:

• Give a reason that can’t be argued. Such as, you’re marrying a lesser-known member of the royal family, and will therefore be moving out of the country.
• Get someone else to do it for you. For a small fee, services like AirPaper will cancel your cable for you.

2) Decide What You Want to Watch
Make a list of must-have content, and search for an app that offers it. Some content will be easier to find than others:

Widely Available  

• Network shows, such as NBC’s Saturday Night Live
• Last season’s shows
• Classic shows (from Seinfeld to Gilmore Girls to Reading Rainbow)
• Movies and stand-up comedy
• Tougher (but Not Impossible!) to Find
• Current cable-channel programs, like AMC’s The Walking DeadLive sports and broadcasts, such as awards shows

Tougher (but Not Impossible!) to Find

• Current cable-channel programs, like AMC’s The Walking Dead
• Live sports and broadcasts, such as awards shows

3) Research Top Apps
Popular streaming apps include Netflix and Hulu Plus, as well as Sling TV, which gives you access to cable favorites such as ESPN and HBO. Many paid apps offer a free trial—be sure to take advantage.

Free apps include ad-free choices, such as PBS, and those with commercials, such as Hulu and Crackle.

4) Choose a Media-Streaming Device
If you want to watch streaming content on your TV, the easiest way to do so is with the aid of a media-streaming device, which can occupy one of your HDTV’s HDMI ports. If you have a Smart TV, check that it offers the apps you want, and consider a streamer if not.

5) Start Simple and Build from There
Start by subscribing to one or two apps. Between Netflix and Hulu Plus, for example, you’ll be able to enjoy thousands of hours of TV shows and movies. Add or subtract to build your ideal entertainment library: most app subscriptions are monthly, so you can finesse your selections as you go without waiting for a contract to end.

By Mark Jansen — Posted on February 2, 2018 6:51 am

All eyes may be on the upcoming MWC 2018 announcement for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, but that doesn’t mean that Samsung doesn’t have other devices in the wings waiting for their time to shine.

Diligent work by the folks over at XDA Developers has revealed a large list of model names that supposedly showcase the new smartphones and tablets Samsung is currently working on. It’s definitely worth taking the findings with a pinch of salt, as a lot of the devices are educated guesses and come with varying degrees of plausibility. And while XDA identified a few model numbers on the list, there are still plenty of others we’re not sure about.

XDA Developers

Some are fairly easy to work out — we’ve known “star” was the working model name for the Galaxy S9 since The Bell revealed it back in May 2017, so it’s safe to assume “star” and “star2” are the Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus. “astarqlte” at the top of the list is more interesting — clearly an S9 variant with “star” in the name, XDA has taken the additional “q” to stand for Qualcomm — it will be equipped with a Snapdragon processor — while the “a” likely denotes an entry in the Galaxy Active-series of rugged smartphones. Since Samsung has released an Active version of its flagship S-range since the Galaxy S4 Active, it’s fair to assume a Galaxy S9 Active is in the works.

Another of the obvious entries is “crown” — again revealed by The Bell (via The Investor) as the model name for the Galaxy Note 9. It gets more interesting with a mention of a “jackpot” model name. There are four slightly different versions of “jackpot” on the list, with the additional “2” likely denoting a Plus version, and “q” again likely to denote a Qualcomm-powered device, implying variations of the device alternately powered by Snapdragon and Exynos processors. It’s entirely possible this code name depicts the long-rumored Samsung Galaxy X with a foldable display.

There are also a large amount of J-range devices on the list, with Samsung seemingly experimenting with expanding its budget and midrange offerings in the Galaxy J-range, including the J2, J4, J6, and J8. Quite where these would fall in Samsung’s current catalog isn’t clear, but the Galaxy A-range is conspicuously absent from the list. Could Samsung be planning on replacing the A-range with an expanded J-range? It’s unclear, but it does seem like the C-range will be returning, with the Galaxy C10 and C10 Plus on the list.

Some Samsung tablets are seemingly present on the list as well, with the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2018, Galaxy Tab E 2018, and Tab S4 all identifiable. However, a large amount of similar-looking model names are present, and could imply Samsung is looking to expand the Galaxy Tab range in 2018.

Millions of Android users may need to purchase a new phone in order to protect themselves against the major chip vulnerability affecting a huge number of devices.

Google has updated its products and systems to defend users against the issues, which could allow hackers to steal people’s private information.

However, a significant proportion of Android smartphones and tablets made by the likes of Samsung and LG are – and will always be – stuck on older, unsupported versions of the operating system, and could therefore remain at risk.

Google has said that Android smartphones and tablets that have the latest security updates installed are protected from the security issues affecting Intel, AMD and ARM chips.

Unfortunately, this implies that any Android smartphones and tablets that are running unsupported versions of the operating system will not be protected.

If this is indeed the case, that would mean that millions of users stuck on older versions of Android will only be able to ensure their safety by replacing their handsets with newer models running current versions of Android.

The Independent has approached Google for comment, and this article will be updated with the company’s response.

Android is notoriously fragmented, because it’s used on a wide range of devices made by different manufacturers.

These companies often make tweaks to the operating system, in order to promote their own products and services. Because of this, it can take a long time for them to release software updates to consumers.

Google phones, like the Pixel and Nexus, on the other hand, run pure versions of Android, which means they receive updates as soon as they’re available.

As of 11 December 2017, more than 20 per cent of Android users were stuck on versions of the operating system that are no longer receiving security patches from Google.

These include KitKat, Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread, all of which were released more than four years ago.

Google revealed that there were more than two billion active Android devices in use as of May 2017.

That suggests that potentially hundreds of millions of smartphones and tablets could remain exposed to hackers, and may need to be replaced by their owners if they’re to stay safe.

By Keith Nelson Jr. — Posted on December 14, 2017 8:11 am

Mickey Mouse and Wolverine are about to play nice, in a way. Today, December 14, the Walt Disney Co. and Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox have agreed to a $52.4 billion deal in which Disney will acquire many valuable assets from the Fox empire.

As part of the deal, Disney will acquire Fox’s movie and TV production company, popular channel Star India, as well as a 39-percent stake in European broadcaster Sky. Disney also now owns a number of Fox’s pay-TV channels including FX, and National Geographic. Disney is not getting all that Fox has to offer, however, as Murdoch will still run the Fox News channel, the Fox broadcast network in the U.S., and the FS1 Sports network, as part of a new company spun off from 21st Century Fox.

This deal also means Disney now has a majority stake in Hulu, a coup for the 94-year old media conglomerate as it prepares to launch a few of its own streaming services dedicated to its growing library of content. In November, Disney began pulling its movies from Netflix in preparation for its own streaming service expected to launch in 2019. This deal means movies from 21st Century Fox franchises such as X-Men could be exclusively featured on Disney’s upcoming streaming service, and the Marvel superhero properties previously owned by Fox — including X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four — could be integrated into Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe.

This deal will also make Disney one of the biggest players in sports television. The company already owns ESPN, and it announced in November plans to launch a stand-alone streaming service for the sports network –named ESPN Plus— in spring 2018. With the acquisition of Fox’s broadcast networks, Disney now also owns numerous local Fox networks which air local baseball and basketball games.

As historic as this deal is, it’s not done, yet.

The Justice Department will need to give the deal a regulatory review, which could reportedly take a year to complete, but may take longer given the department’s recent involvement in big media company mergers. The Justice Department sued to block the $85 billion merger of AT&T and Time Warner a year after the two companies agreed on the deal. The Department lodged the lawsuit on its belief AT&T would use Time Warner’s popular programming to drive up prices for customers.

Disney beat out Comcast and Sony Pictures in the bidding war for the prized Fox assets. If all goes well with the Justice Department, the entire entertainment landscape is set to change in 2018, and beyond.

The two companies end talks after failing to hammer out an agreement.

Sprint and T-Mobile have nixed their merger.

In a brief joint statement Saturday, the companies said they were “unable to find mutually agreeable terms.”

The move wasn’t a surprise. A Monday report by Japanese publication Nikkei said Sprint’s parent company, Japan-based carrier SoftBank, planned to break off merger talks because of a dispute over ownership of the combined company.

The report said SoftBank and T-Mobile‘s parent company, German carrier Deutsche Telekom, had reached a broad pact but hadn’t agreed who would control the merged entity. Deutsche Telekom reportedly had insisted on a controlling stake, something SoftBank initially was open to but then reconsidered, Nikkei said. Deutsche Telekom declined to comment on that report, and SoftBank didn’t respond to a request for comment.

A possible merger between T-Mobile and Sprint has been rumored for years but has failed to materialize. The two companies lag behind their bigger rivals, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, when it comes to the US market. Combining would give them an advantage, but critics fear having three players would reduce competition and hurt consumers.

Sprint and T-Mobile both said Saturday that they had no additional comment to make about the end of the merger talks.

Of course there are strings attached

Hot on the heels of Sprint’s iPhone X deal, Verizon has unveiled its own discounts for the iPhone X. The carrier is offering up to $300 toward the new phone, assuming you meet a fairly specific set of conditions.

To qualify, you’ll have to be either a current subscriber to Verizon’s “Go Unlimited” or “Beyond Unlimited” plans, be eligible for a device upgrade, or be a new subscriber to one of those plans.

Next, you’ll need to purchase an iPhone X through Verizon, which costs $41.66 per month. (If you’re an existing Verizon customer who is upgrading, don’t forget to tack on a $30 upgrade fee, too.)

Lastly, you’ll need a recent smartphone to trade in; the discount you get will be dependent on what phone you trade in:

• For $300 off: iPhone 6S or 6S Plus, iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, Google Pixel XL, LG G6, Moto Z2 Force, Galaxy S7 or Edge, Galaxy S8, or S8 Plus
• For $200 off: iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, iPhone SE, Google Pixel, LG G5, LG V20, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Droid, Moto Z2 Play, Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, or Galaxy Note 5
• For $100: iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, HTC 10, Moto Z Play, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Note 4

Lastly, assuming you’ve done all that, the discount itself is paid out over 24 months, so you’ll need to stick with the iPhone X for two full years. If you decide that you want to pay up the full balance of the phone or switch off the unlimited plan, you’ll stop getting your money back.

But assuming you meet all those qualifications, and are planning on buying an iPhone X through Verizon, $300 off might help ease the sting of Apple’s $1,000-plus price tag.

Every technophile knows that buying the latest and greatest tech gadgets is no cheap hobby. With new products coming out seemingly every day, I’m looking out for your bottom line by keeping all the best tech deals and coupons right here in one place.

When to Shop for Electronics Deals

Black Friday, along with the rest of the holiday shopping season, is known for electronics deals, especially televisions. But there are still great deals to be had during the rest of the year. Digital cameras and other small consumer electronics often see price drops in March and April, since new models are typically released at the end or beginning of the year. Prices on small electronics tend to drop during Labor Day sales, as well. For new computers and tablets, check out mid-summer and back to school sales. Additionally, if you’re looking for the latest tech gadget deals, like Google Home deals or Amazon Echo deals, you may want to wait for a new model to be released. You’ll likely find deep discounts on the older model a few months after the new release.

Who Has the Best Tech Deals?

The best place to buy is going to depend on what you’re buying, but for most electronics, especially computers, tablets and TVs, you can’t go wrong with Amazon or Best Buy, especially with Best Buy’s price matching policy. Costco often has great prices on televisions, while B&H is a great site for digital cameras and accessories. If you’re in the market for computer components, Newegg or Fry’s often have affordable prices. Whatever you’re buying, be sure to sign up for the store email or newsletter whenever possible to get exclusive deals and discounts sent right to your inbox.