Black Friday: 5 Apps to Maximize Deals, Stay Organized During the Shopping Rush

Nearly one in four Americans -- 86 million total -- hit the stores on Black Friday after Thanksgiving last year, according to the National Retail Federation. The shopping stampede doesn't have to be stressful, thanks to some handy apps that are here to help on one of the most buzzed-about shopping days of the year.


Black Friday Survival Guide

Organization and timing are essential to success on Black Friday. The Black Friday Survival Guide gives users a quick way to browse ads in real-time and create shopping lists, so they're ready to battle through the sea of shopping carts on the big day. The free app is available for iPhones, iPads and Android devices.


Red Laser

The Red Laser app allows shoppers to scan a barcode and instantly compare prices for that item at nearby stores and online, ensuring they get the most bang for their buck. "Cannot imagine entering any store without having this app handy!" said one user, who gave the app a five-star rating. Red Laser is free and available for iPhone, Android and Windows devices.


Snip Snap

Never forget a coupon again with this free app that allows users to snap photos of their coupons, which are then digitally converted and ready to be redeemed in stores. The app kkeeps tabs on your coupons, so you don't have to. Whenever a user enters a store where they have a coupon saved or have coupons near their expiration date, Snip Snap will send a push alert as a reminder. Best of all, users can share coupons they've snapped with friends via Facebook, email and Twitter, passing on the savings. Snip Snap is available for the iPhone.


Decide

The familiar sting of buying something and seeing it on sale the next week can be minimized with Decide, an app with price-predicting powers for appliances and electronics, that advises consumers either to buy now or wait on each particular product.

"We use our patent-pending machine learning and text mining algorithms on billions of price points across millions of products, blog posts, and articles on the Web to enable shoppers to make the best buying decision possible," the developers wrote on Decide.com, another place where the price advice can be accessed. The app is available for the iPhone.


Cardstar

All of those rewards cards may add up to big savings, but they can easily take up too much space in wallets and on key fobs. Enter Cardstar, an app that allows users to lighten their wallets. Snap a picture of your card and import in a matter of minutes. When checking out in those busy Black Friday lines, simply have the cashier scan the barcode on an iPhone or Android device.

Source : http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/black-friday-smartphone-apps-christmas-shopping-best-deals/story?id=17762929

Best and worst celebrity beach bodies (okay mostly best)

Cox Fortysomething Fox
The Cougar Town star showed off her bikini body on Sunday while enjoying a Corona in Miami.

How does our favorite Friend stay in great shape? She told New Beauty magazine that she follows a light diet plan. She skips breakfast and has a coffee instead, chicken salad for lunch and meat and vegetables for dinner.

Yep that'll do it.

Click for some of Hollywood's hottest bodies, and some of the nottest.

Best: Katy Perry
The singer often shows off her figure in form-fitting dresses, so it's no surprise that she looks this good in a two-piece while on vacation in Miami.

Best: Jim Carrey 
Jim looks shockingly good considering he's over 50!

Demi and Rumer: Good
Demi Moore and daughter Rumer Willis have the kind of beach bodies Hollywood is known for.

Victoria Silvstedt: Best
The former Playpoy Playmate laughs at both Father Time, and Father Gravity while on vacation on Miami Beach.

Ali Landry: Best
The former Doritos girl sure doesn't look like she eats a lot of 'em.

Best: Doutzen Kroes
The Victoria's Secret stunner was snapped shooting a new campaign for the brand's bikini line.

Best: Doutzen Kroes
Here's another one from the same shoot.

Best: Olivia Wilde
Screen beauty Olivia Wilde looks great in movies, but she looks even better in a bikini on the beach!

Worst: Jon Favreau
Jon looked like he had a blast at the beach with his family, but that t-shirt certainly isn't doing him any favors.

Best: Brandi Glanville
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star landed on Celebuzz.com's list of their 101 Hottest Bodies.

Glanville, who famously called LeAnn Rimes out for having an affair with her then-husband Eddie Cibrian, offered advice for beachgoers saying "the smaller the bikini, the better you look."

Best: Shauna Sand
The former Playboy Playmate still looks great sans clothes. Sure her doctor has something to do with it, but no matter.

Worst: Lindsay Lohan
LiLo has a good bod, but bad hat.

Best: Elin Nordgeren
The model wears a blue bikini while vacationing in the Bahamas.

Best: Whitney Port
Her body is beach ready, but her taste in bikinis is lacking, troubling as she is a "fashion designer." At least on TV.

Best: Brooke Burke 
The TV host makes playing on the beach with your family look sexy.

Best: Maria Menounous
The sexy tv host obviously has enough free time to sneak in some beach time, and some workout time too!

Worst: Val Kilmer
Finally a worst! Is that a park ranger, or former guy who played Jim Morrison?

Best: Shemar Moore
The actor shows off his ridiculously defined abs on the beach!

Ashley Tisdale: Best
The young actress celebrated her birthday with boyfriend Scott Speer, sharing a kiss and playing in the ocean at her Malibu Birthday party.

Ramona Singer: Worst
The "Real Housewives of New York" star should have done a few extra crunches before donning her itsy bitsy bikini. (They do make something called a "one piece.")

Kelly Brook: Best
Kelly Brook and Cannes: a good combination.

Ivana Trump: Worst
After a certain age, one should opt for bathing suits with more fabric.

Michelle Rodriguez: Best
The former "Lost" star looks hot in a nude-colored bikini.

Candice Swanepoel: Best
The model looks like she's posing for a magazine cover.

Russell Simmons: Worst
Is this Russ' way of going incognito on the beach?

Kim Kardashian: Best
Everyone always talks about Kim's backside, but the front ain't so bad either.

Julianne Hough: Best
The actress sure does have a dancer's body.

Katie Homes: Best
Suri may have forgotten her bathing suit, but luckily Katie had hers.

David Hasselhoff: Worst
Eek. Those late night cheeseburgers are beginning to show.

Lindsay Lohan: Best
LiLo looks like she's on the verge of a wardrobe malfunction - and nobody is complaining.

Courtney Cox: Best
It's hard to believe that the former "Friends" star is almost 50!

Holly Madison: Best
It's no secret why she caught Hugh Hefner's eye.

Coco: Best
Ice-T is one lucky man.

Jordana Brewster: Best
The actress makes some great eye candy on the beach.

Cameron Diaz: Best
The sports-loving actress shows that a bit of sweat does the body good.

Nicole Richie: Best
Moms everywhere wish they could bounce back this quickly after two kids.

Eva Longoria: Best
Now we know how the petite actress has such perfectly bronzed skin.

Mario Lopez: Best
AC Slater's body seems to be getting better with age.

Britney Spears: Best
Britney needn't wear a bikini to flaunt her flawless physique. On stage she leaves even less to the imagination.

Kirsten Dunst: Best
The actress  isn't one to spend much time in the sun, but with a body like that, she really should.

Janice Dickinson: Worst
There comes a certain point where women should give up their two-piece bathing suits. For Janice, that point was ten years ago.

Deena Cortese: Worst
The "Jersey Shore" gal should consider trading in all those fruity cocktails for some Muscle Milk.

Serena Williams: Best
The tennis star looks hot in a bikini that looks like lingerie.

Kathy Griffin: Worst
Kathy should not leave the house without clothes on. Period.

Kristen Bell: Best
The "Hit and Run" star is a perfect example of how being a vegetarian does wonders for your body.

Cheryl Burke: Best
The dancer brings her love of fringe to the beach.

Keira Knightly: Best
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star looks red hot in her string bikini.

Christina Aguilera's fuller figure at AMA awards prompts Twitter fire

Christina Aguilera at 2012 AMAs (left) and 2002 VMAs.
Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera were blonde bombshells at the AMA Awards on Sunday night. Minaj's hair was busy and full of volume and she sported a neon strapless gown to accept her first award. Aguilera wore a blonde bob in a purple dress that matched her eyeshadow.

Aguilera also performed a medley of material from her new album and joined Pitbull onstage.

But it wasn't her performance, or her hair, that had tongues wagging -- it was Aguilera's much fuller figure. Here are a few representative tweets from AMA viewers:

"Carrie Underwood is what Christina Aguilera thinks she looks like right now. And no one has the heart to tell her "NAWL.""

"Christina Aguilera looks like Snooki. No wait, that's an insult to Snooki."

"Did Christina Aguilera eat one of Willy Wonka's blueberries?"

But Aguilera was not without her Twitter defenders.

"Christina Aguilera looked gorgeous last night. I love this dress and the diva attitude she is serving!"

"Anyone who says Christina Aguilera isnt amazing can leave nearest exit to the left thanks.'

"New hairstyle and looking gorgeous! Christina Aguilera aka Legendtina Godulara!"

Source : http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/11/19/christina-aguilera-fuller-figure-at-ama-awards-prompts-twitter-fire/