Simon Walsh

An updated version of Bang & Olufsen earbuds have been unveiled today and the standout feature is an incredible boost in the battery department. The preceding generations of B&O E8 earbuds delivered 16 hours of battery life, a number that is trounced by 119% in the company’s third iteration. The latest E8 earbuds boast 35-hour battery life, a number that far-surpasses Apple’s gold standard of 24. Continue reading to learn more.
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Despite the fact that the market is flooded with Mac and PC peripherals, Kensington has released yet another mouse to join its ever-increasing lineup. In typical Kensington fashion, the company has produced a product with a unique twist that is bound to catch the attention of a specific market segment. It’s called Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Vertical Wireless Trackball. This ergonomic mouse bundles a vertical design with a trackball and sports nine programmable buttons. Continue reading to learn what other tricks it has up its sleeve.
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Cuisinart has joined the likes of Weber and Traeger with new two new pellet grills that wield built-in smart functionality. Both of the new Cuisinart smart grills are quite spacious with its Woodcreek 4-in-1 Pellet Grill sporting an 862-square inch surface area and Twin Oaks Pellet & Gas Grill clocking in at about 5% larger. Both Cuisinart smart grills feature built-in Bluetooth connectivity and pair with a smartphone app for food monitoring, notifications, and more.

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While LG has several pairs of headphones to choose from, you’ll have a hard time finding a pair of truly-wireless AirPod competitors. That changes today with the release of LG TONE Free. With its new headphones, LG adopts some of the headlining features found in AirPods, including “automatic ear detection” and a “semi-open design” which mimics Apple’s first design of its popular pair of headphones. Some areas are completely different though, with USB-C charging and self-cleaning technology inside the included charging case. Continue reading to learn more.

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With a whole lot of products being being shown love at CES 2020, a new smart storage container called KEEP had to fly largely under the radar. This is because it is made specifically to store cannabis, a drug that has been legalized in many states likes Washington, Michigan, Maine, and others, but has yet to receive similar treatment on a federal level. No matter where you stand on the subject, on the merits of technology alone, KEEP is a very smart cannabis storage container. Continue reading to learn about its impressive feature set.

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On the same day August debuted its new Wi-Fi Smart Lock, Yale has taken the wraps off of a new app-controlled storage lineup. Products announced include Yale Smart Delivery Box, Cabinet Lock, and Safe. Each of which joins Yale’s burgeoning smart home lineup. Of all three, the Delivery Box seems to be the most interesting as it offers a unique approach that aims to ward off porch pirates. Keep reading to learn about each of the new Yale smart storage products.
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While the v these days, there are a few brands that stand out from the crowd and August is one of them. Earlier today at CES 2020, the new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock was officially unveiled with a design that’s more compact than ever. It is described as “45% smaller in volume and 20% slimmer than the August Smart Lock Pro.” Continue reading for more details.

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AUKEY is back at it again with a fresh batch of MacBook, Nintendo Switch, and smartphone-friendly USB-C chargers at CES 2020. The new AUKEY Omnia Series is comprised of five new GaN chargers that continue the ongoing trend of shrinking power adapters. The smallest charger found in the lineup delivers 61W of power and the largest tops out at 100W. Continue reading to learn more.

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Plugable has been crafting Thunderbolt 3 accessories for many years now. Thanks to all of the company’s experience, it has now delivered one of the most powerful Thunderbolt 3 docks to date. It boasts a total of 14 ports that are powered using one Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C cable. Additionally, the dock is able to supply 100W of power to a compatible MacBook or PC.
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Today at CES 2020, the TCL Alto 9+ Soundbar has been unveiled. It features an aggressive look that houses triple-channel speakers. While TCL doesn’t get specific, it does compare its new release with options “typically reserved for high-end home theater systems.” This is due in part to its support for Dolby Atmos and RAY·DANZ technology, which beams sound towards reflector units to create “an even wider soundstage than mainstream digital signal processing.”

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Elgato 4K60 S+ has arrived, and it’s shaking up the notion that video game streaming requires a dedicated PC. It doesn’t require a computer at all. That’s because Elgato’s latest device features a built-in HEVC chip for real-time 4K60 encoding and an SD card slot for storing it all. Continue reading to learn more.

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When it comes to action cameras, none have the brand recognition of GoPro. That’s because the company has been working on exceptionally well-built products since the company’s inception in 2002. We’ve seen the company roll out accessories before, but the announcement of three new HERO8 Black modular accessories at once, including GoPro Light Mod, signals that the release of official add-ons may become standard behavior going forward. Continue reading to learn what we know about GoPro’s Light, Media, and Display mods. 
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When it comes to 3D printers, Creality is certainly a staple in the industry. While many of its models can be quite primitive in their design, the company’s new resin 3D printer looks fantastic. On top of that, it offers a respectably-sized build volume and is priced competitively. Continue reading to learn more.

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Just one week after bringing split-screen support to Fortnite, Epic Games has launched Winterfest. During the Fortnite Winterfest event, players will be able to unwrap free presents each day to obtain items like gliders, skins, and emotes. The new feature seems to fall in line with what you’d expect during the gift-giving season.

Fortnite Winterfest isn’t the only new thing found in the latest update. Players will also find a new mode called Battle Lab. This allows gamers to choose their own rules and create unique combat scenarios. Continue reading to find out more.
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I’ll admit it. The only reason I go to the grocery stores these days tend to be for, well, groceries. Everything else mostly falls into the online shopping bucket and Amazon is by far the majority winner of my spending. As you would expect, this trend continues throughout the holidays when shopping for gifts becomes common. With so many packages being delivered, it’s very easy for someone to open a box with a gift before they should and spoil the surprise. Thankfully, a bundle of new and existing Amazon delivery options are here to save the day. Continue reading to see what Amazon offers.
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From Ring cameras to keyboards, the amount of products powered by light is constantly growing. With REFLECT Eternal, JBL is unleashing its plan for a crowdfunded pair of solar-powered headphones. Development is still in the early stages, but based on what’s been accomplished to date, JBL REFLECT Eternal set out to eliminate traditional charging while offering unlimited listening to wearers. Continue reading to learn more.

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Believe it or not, PlayStation 4 has been around for more than six years. Over its lifetime more than 100 million units have been sold. If you’re even faintly familiar of PC gaming, you know that six years is a very long time to go without upgrading components. Thankfully PlayStation 5 is just around the corner. This fact have never been more apparent than now, with the first PlayStation 5 game, Godfall, having been announced less than 24 hours ago. Continue reading to see Godfall’s trailer and learn what we know so far.
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While online multiplayer support has paved the way for friends to game with each other no matter where they are, it does seem to have taken some of focus away from couch co-op support in many games. Thankfully a Fortnite update has been pushed out today that hopefully signals a shift towards local split-screen support in other games too.

There are some limitations when it comes to the new feature, but it is Epic Games’ first attempt and the company has promised to continue improving it. Continue reading to find out everything we know.
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Last year Amazon began selling fresh cut Christmas trees. Apparently it has proven to be a success with at least a couple of brands still live at the moment. In this post we’ll dive into which trees are still available for order and can still make it to your door before Christmas Day arrives with no saw or trip to the tree farm required.
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With smart home ecosystems largely funneling down to HomeKit, Alexa, and Assistant, it’s always good to see new products that natively support as many as possible. The new ConnectSense In-Wall Outlet thankfully supports all three, solidifying itself as a solid contender in the smart home space.

Unlike typical smart plugs, this unit replaces existing outlets. Going this route yields a clean look while also delivering desirable smart home functionality. “Ultra-precise power monitoring” is also a notable feature, delivering measurements that ConnectSense touts as accurate within a 0.1% margin of error.
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IOGEAR has added yet another USB-C dock to its ever-growing lineup. In addition to support for desktop, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, IOGEAR Dock Pro shakes things up by giving a lot of love to Nintendo Switch. Thanks to what the company calls Game+ mode, users will more easily be able to hook the Switch up to a big screen and even play select titles with a keyboard and mouse.

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Here at 9to5Toys we annually create a series of gift guides that showcase our favorite gear in an attempt to make your holiday shopping a bit easier. This time around, I’ll be recommending items that have seriously enhanced the common tech that I already owned. So sit back, relax, and scroll down to find favorite tech gift recommendations that set out to make ordinary electronics better.
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With more and more home appliances smartening up, Weber is here with SmokeFire. The company’s first-ever pellet smart grill that’s got enough sensors to notify a smartphone when your dish is cooked and ready eat. Weber’s new smart grill sports easy temperature adjustments and a wide range that can vary from 200- to 600-degrees.

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Just when you thought you had seen all the possible audio hardware configurations out there, Quirky releases a modular speaker that can seamless convert from one into as many as five. The modular speaker is held together using magnets, making both separating and rejoining a breeze to do.

The fact that Quirky has brought such a neat product to market is not very surprising. This is because the company has made a name for itself when it comes to releasing unique products that few, if any, companies end up competing with. Continue reading to find out more about Quirky’s new modular speaker.

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Over the last year, we’ve seen competition heat up in the home audio space. This means that Black Friday speaker deals are abundant with home theater and smart solutions ripe for the picking. In this guide we cover some of the most notable deals we’ve seen to date, making it easy for you to plan ahead and increase the likelihood that you score exactly what you had in mind.

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As the holiday season rapidly closes in, discounted Black Friday TVs are one of the first pieces of tech that many think of scoring big savings on. Thankfully the some of the prices we are seeing are absolutely incredible, making Black Friday 2019 a great time to upgrade the big screens throughout your home.

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When it comes to immersive audio, there are all sorts of solutions out there. From AirPods to XM3s and Sonos One to Echo Studio, each product has its own intended use cases. Is a wearable speaker justifiable? Bose and JBL have thought so for a while, and Sony appears to think so too with its own SRS-WS1 offering slated to debut in the United States.

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Microsoft announced many things at X019 yesterday. From xCloud to Game Pass, we covered quite a bit of it. One juicy tidbit that has flown largely under the radar is the official gameplay reveal for Age of Empire 4. Until now, nobody really knew what to expect and just the thought of a new, full-blown Age of Empires was enough to excite fans (myself included). Thanks to stunning gameplay footage, I (and likely many others) are more ecstatic than ever.
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The grocery space is becoming quite competitive these days. Walmart has launched InHome, Amazon Fresh is now free for Prime members, and we’re supposed to see the first Amazon grocery store come to fruition in 2020. Target today announced that it’s getting in on the action by prominently offering same-day delivery in its smartphone app. Even better, Target delivery will be free of charge Sunday, November 17 through Tuesday, November 26.
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After years of selling smartphone cleaners, PhoneSoap has announced an entirely new product design that’s aimed at all sorts gear, including iPad Pro. It’s called HomeSoap and is large enough to hold game controllers, a Nintendo Switch, and more. Much like the devices that proceeded it, HomeSoap is able to charge devices while they are cleaned thanks to the inclusion of USB Type-C and Type-A ports.
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These days, internal and external storage manufacturer’s are being pushed to cut costs or deliver next generation performance. Seagate dropped two new offerings today, both of which focus on the latter. Both products fall underneath Seagate’s FireCuda branding, one of which is a blazing-fast NVMe SSD that supports PCIe Gen4 and the other is a Thunderbolt 3 dock with 4TB of internal storage. Continue reading to learn more.
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It’s well-known that Amazon and Walmart are in fierce competition. Despite this, there aren’t many times when Amazon seems to be the underdog. Some recent moves by the online retail giant reveal a growing level of heat between it and Walmart, specifically when it comes to groceries.

Examples of this include its decision to make Amazon Fresh free for Prime members, and now the official announcement of an upcoming grocery store that will be separate from Amazon Go and Whole Foods Market.
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The QooCam 8K camera is the latest offering from KanDao and it is impressive. As its name implies, this camera one-ups UHD by delivering incredible 8K resolution video. Like Insta360, GoPro, and some of Ricoh’s offerings, this 8K camera shoots 360-degree video, ensuring nothing escapes your line of sight. Putting 8K and 360-degree capabilities aside, its most interesting feature by far is its extremely compact form-factor.
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Leica has unveiled a follow-up to its SL camera. It has been predictably named SL2 and spec-wise seems to be worthy successor. With 47.3 megapixels, it practically doubles the photo resolution found in its predecessor. Other standout features include an upgrades to its processor, electronic viewfinder, and video shooting capabilities. Not only can it record 4K60 with flying colors, it takes things a step further with 5K video support.
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Lots of companies make universal remotes. In fact, they’ve become so ubiquitous that a large variety of options exist for $10 or less. Logitech’s Harmony lineup has been the gold standard for quite some time, but with the Neeo Smart Home Remote, it and others may need to step up their game.

Like Harmony Elite, the Neeo Smart Home Remote tackles more than just home theater. It takes on smart home gear, allowing users to adjust lighting, alter the thermostat, and more. It runs Control4’s Smart Home OS and wields a gorgeous design that easily one-ups Logitech’s high-end remote.
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Not long after eufyCam 2 made its rounds, yet another Anker security camera has debuted. As with its name, eufyCam 2C shares many similarities with Anker’s recent release, but thankfully price is not one of them. This specific offering is sold in a two-camera bundle that’s paired with a HomeBase Station intended to keep recordings secure, on-site, and private. Continue reading for further details and to see how you can shave $40 off its list price.

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We’re only a few days into November and Black Friday ads are continuously rolling in. This morning we’ve already covered CVS, Petco, and Office Depot. The latest to show up is the Kmart Black Friday ad, and it has several notable deals worth scoping out here and potentially hitting up once the sales begin. This year’s Kmart Black Friday ad reveals that stores will open at 6 am on Thanksgiving day and hundreds of doorbusters will be cycled throughout both Thursday and Friday. Continue reading to find out what else Kmart has in store for Black Friday shoppers.
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Amazon has dropped several gift guides alongside its Countdown to Black Friday which we’ve broken down in detail here. In this post we’ll be covering the Amazon Active Lifestyle Gift Guide and why it’s beneficial. Continue reading to find our top picks and many helpful details.
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With lots of new technology being pushed out during the Fall, Verizon has some of the most exciting products available come holiday season. This can make Verizon one of the most exciting places to shop during Black Friday, especially if your current smartphone, tablet or smartwatch is starting to show its age. Continue reading to see what our expectations are for Verizon Black Friday.
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Barnes & Noble Black Friday sales are bound to be exciting if the company chooses to follow in last year’s footsteps. Lots of product categories received generous discounts, including toys, games, NOOK tablets, and more. It should go without saying, but traditional books are certain to see price cuts too, helping ensure that Barnes & Noble makes it on the Black Friday shopping list this year. Continue reading for a breakdown of what we expect to see in 2019.
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Most would agree that when it comes to online shopping, Amazon is king. One area that the company has lagged behind its competitors though is grocery delivery. While there are probably loads of reasons why it has been difficult to pull this off, pressure from Walmart and other competitors is likely part of why the company has ditched its previously-required $15 monthly subscription fee for Prime members.

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While BuyDig may not be the first retailer that comes to mind for Black Friday, it has been known to deliver incredible savings on big name products. In this guide we’ll break down when BuyDig is likely to kick off festivities, if it’s likely to drop a Black Friday ad, whether or not it will price match competitors, and more. We’ll even mention some of what we’ve seen in the past. Continue reading for a preview of what we expect at BuyDig.
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With big retailers like Walmart and Amazon setting out to dominate Black Friday, it can be very easy to miss out on incredible discounts at lesser-known, yet reputable storefronts like Rakuten. Here at 9to5Toys we’ve been surprised throughout 2019 with brand new products like Google Nest Home Hub Max and PowerBeats Pro receiving first discounts at Rakuten before anywhere else.

For those unfamiliar, Rakuten has everything from electronics to home goods and every bit of it is sold much like eBay with storefronts such as BuyDig, Monoprice, and Dyson being the actual merchant of the product in question. This results in a large amount of product types along with a reliable service experience.
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With rumors swirling about an in-ear AirPods design, a pair of foam tips dubbed Comply SoftCONNECT has landed to help address potential fit issues. These EarPod and AirPods tips combine soft foam with a silicone sleeve that slides over the top of Apple’s earbuds.

Given the nature of foam, these are focused primarily on fit and do not aim to offer any sort of noise cancellation. Comply touts that its new AirPods tips are able to be easily inserted and removed thanks to a soft design that strays from what it typically uses in its other products.

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When it comes to screen size, there’s no doubt that projectors tend to offer the best bang for your buck when compared with TVs. This further compounds when opting for Anker’s value-conscious Nebula projectors and even more so when jumping in on the company’s Kickstarter campaigns. The latest of which includes Nebula Cosmos and Cosmos Max, 1080p, and 4K HDR10 offerings that both run Android, opening them up to a whole slew of apps.
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