Simon Walsh

It’s been a busy year for Amazon-owned IMDb TV. Debuting less than nine months ago as Freedive, in just a short while its name has been changed, catalog size tripled, and now, mobile streaming is on the way. With IMDb TV on mobile, this business venture is very likely to receive its biggest boost yet, but a lack of transparency surrounding the current number of users makes it unclear if its actually eating any of Netflix or Hulu’s lunch.
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I gave up routine grocery shopping several months ago once I could opt for pickup, and it has been delightful. The next best thing would be delivery, which is a service that is not quite available in my neck of the woods. Despite this disappointment, news of increased AmazonFresh availability boosts my hopes of grocery delivery extending its reach to rural locations over the next several years.
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When it comes to modern home security systems, SimpliSafe goes head-to-head with big players like Ring. With loads of companies jumping on the smart lock bandwagon, today’s announcement of the SimpliSafe Smart Lock isn’t too much of a shock.

The SimpliSafe Smart Lock differentiates itself from the competition by being the ‘thinnest on the market’, while still managing to have physical buttons. Thanks to a competitive price point and acceptable feature set, this lock aims to be the obvious solution for existing SimpliSafe Security System users.

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The launch of AirPods created a booming market for truly wireless earbuds. While Beats’ on- and over-ear headphones have taken a page or two out of AirPods’ playbook with the inclusion of Apple’s in-house wireless chip, none have tried to ditch the band. There is now more pressure than ever with the release of Human Headphones which are ‘the first true wireless over-ear headphones’.

Not only do they ditch the headband, they also can be turned into a ‘powerful Bluetooth speaker’ when both headphones are snapped together. Ambient sound can be configured by tapping the outside of an earpiece, allowing users to choose how much exterior noise makes it in.
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The Dell-owned Alienware brand is known for delivering hardware focused on bringing top-notch gaming gear to those who want it. With a new Alienware 4K OLED monitor with incredible specifications on the way, the brand is lifting gamer’s expectations to even greater heights.

This 55-inch beast was originally announced earlier this year at CES, but today at Gamescom 2019, even more information regarding the specifications, release, and pricing of the new Alienware 4K OLED monitor was shared. Alongside quite a bit of I/O, it will be able to handle 4K at 120Hz, a notable achievement that will pave the way for better refresh rates than what is typically seen in UHD gaming.
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Roughly ten months after the original Instinct was announced, Garmin is back at it again with an option that delivers even more functionality. Garmin Instinct Tactical Edition is in many ways a blending of the Instinct and tactix lineups. As you would expect with a product given the name Tactical Edition, this watch adds military-like features including night vision compatibility, dual-position GPS formatting, and Jumpmaster, an ability to provide skydivers with speed of descent and altitude measurements.

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Bluetooth speakers have become overwhelmingly common. To stand out from competition, companies have had to shake things up with unique features and form-factors that come in all shapes and sizes. The new SOUNDBOKS Bluetooth speaker focuses primarily on the latter while delivering ‘an unmatched sound experience’ paired with the ‘longest battery life of any portable bluetooth speaker’.
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With several successful products under its belt, Oru Kayak is back at it again with its most compact and easy-to-tote option yet. Dubbed Oru Kayak Inlet, the company’s latest model heavily prioritizes portability, weight, and foldability. On top of that, it’s ready to support up to 275 pounds of weight and kayakers up to six foot, two inches tall.

Oru Kayak Inlet weighs under twenty pounds, folds down to 42 by 19-inch dimensions, and can easily be hauled to the water without needing a traditional roof rack. Given the materials used and small size, it can even be checked on planes, making it a great option for folks that travel frequently.

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OWC has taken the wraps off of a new USB-C Hub today. The OWC Travel Dock is a follow-up to the company’s first generation offering and for the most part, is largely the same. For those using USB-C devices like iPad Pro and modern MacBooks, this handy hub will offer provide connectivity for HDMI, SD, and USB-A. It also supports passthrough charging with 100 watt passthrough capabilities, which happens to be a main differentiator between it and its predecessor.

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Despite CarPlay and Android Auto becoming quite popular in newer vehicles, there are many of us that don’t plan on buying a new car anytime soon. Thankfully many companies have stepped up to the plate to deliver aftermarket solutions to consumers. Today’s release is far from Sony’s first attempt to bring aftermarket support for CarPlay and Android Auto to legacy vehicles, but it is however the biggest Sony CarPlay receiver has released to date.
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Back in January, Panasonic HomeHawk FLOOR was an uncertain product. The company launched an Indiegogo campaign which narrowly beat its goal, sliding past by a mere 4%. While the campaign wasn’t a runaway success, the Panasonic HomeHawk FLOOR has officially made it and is readily available to the masses.

Panasonic’s new floor lamp joins the fairly expansive HomeHawk lineup which covers both indoor and outdoor camera solutions. It is easily distinguishable from its competitors thanks to a hybrid design that discreetly wields a built-in camera.
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With the release of two new Marantz AV Receivers, it’s clear that the company has every intention of delivering an option for various sized home theaters. New models arrive on the scene at around the same time the company unveiled an AirPlay 2-equipped stereo receiver. Both models have a total of eight HDMI inputs, providing enough headroom for loads of consoles and streamers. With support for this many devices, both of these swiftly kick inexpensive switches to the curb.
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Apple created a huge market for dongles and hubs when it debuted MacBook Pros that went all-in on USB-C. While many of us have embraced it and moved on, there are quite a few still resistant to the thought of giving up some of their favorite ports. With the latest VAIO, consumers have proof that it is possible to make light and portable laptops with less hardware compromises than what Apple’s current MacBooks have.

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Amazon Prime has become a staple of my household. Our reliance on the service has been bolstered further thanks to Amazon rolling out free one-day shipping for many of its products. This is no small undertaking and the company is betting on Amazon Scout to automate delivery of some packages.

We covered the debut of Amazon Scout back in January and at that time the launch of a mere six units in Snohomish County, Washington made it seem as though the company was taking it slow. With news that Amazon is bringing Scout to Southern California beginning today, a large rollout make come sooner than we initially thought.
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Ever since Apple went all-in on USB-C with its modern MacBooks, many consumers have found themselves missing the wide range of connectivity that used to be available in its older offerings. This has lead many of us to buy various dongles over the years and, much like backpacks, to always be on the lookout for an upgrade. With a sturdy connection and svelte design, the recently-released AUKEY USB-C Hub goes to great lengths to be the ideal dongle for most.
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I bought AirPods immediately after they were released. This was despite the high price tag and questionable style at the time. Fast forward more than two years later and there is an enormous market for truly wireless earbuds. Many sport in-ear designs like the AUKEY Key Series that I reviewed about two months ago.

Unlike others, Happy Plugs Air go head-to-head with AirPods thanks to an extremely similar style. At $90, they cost nearly half the price and at first glance, look identical to Apple’s iconic earbuds. For this reason, this review will pit Happy Plugs Air directly against Apple AirPods.
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Having over 65 years in the high-end audio business, Marantz has become a well-respected brand. With AirPlay 2 functionality often being aimed at the high-end market, it should come as no surprise that the upcoming Marantz stereo receiver supports Apple’s wireless streaming protocol.

The new Marantz stereo receiver has been given a model number of NR1200, and joins a crowded lineup of the company’s other offerings. These new offering sports a moderate price tag that customers will have a hard time undercutting unless they opt for slightly older models that offer less performance.

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When I first ordered my 3D printer, I didn’t know what I’d end up building with it. Like many, I began by downloading projects made by others, but building my own 3D print designs was my ultimate goal. Until I found proper hardware and easy-to-use modeling software, there were several times over the first month or two that I occasionally felt a bit of buyer’s remorse. This feeling quickly disappeared once I started making custom 3D print designs to fix issues lurking around the house. In this guide I’ll cover what I’ve designed recently and how long it took to make.
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After Sony announced that it had shipped 3.2 million PlayStation 4 consoles between April and the end of June, it took just a short while for analyst Daniel Ahmed to identify that it had surpassed the 100 million shipment milestone. When comparing PS4 sales with other consoles that have reached the 100 million mark, PlayStation 4 has managed to reach this goal faster than any other console to date.
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Even if you don’t snore now, many of us worry about picking up this undesirable and unhealthy habit. Luckily Tempur Sealy announced a new product aimed squarely at helping alleviate this problem. Dubbed the TEMPUR-Ergo Smart Base, Tempur Sealy’s latest invention aims to mitigate snoring by automatically sensing and tending to sleepers’ needs throughout the night.

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One of the things that I appreciate most about Amazon’s smart home ecosystem is Alexa routines. For those familiar with HomeKit, these are basically the same thing as automations. Unlike HomeKit, Alexa routines do not require a HomePod, iPad, or Apple TV to run them. Any Echo device, even the most inexpensive ones, can control other devices based on a plethora of parameters. In this guide, I’ll dive into the ways that Alexa routines can be triggered and how I am using them.
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With an ever-increasing number of mirrorless cameras entering the market, it can be easy to overlook the compact superzoom  category. The new Sony RX100 VII continues to showcase incredible capabilities despite wielding such a small form-factor. This new release comes just a year after the previous generation, yet still manages to offer several impressive improvements.

Quite a few of the upgrades have been inspired by Sony’s a9, which is a much bulkier camera. While several stand out, bringing 0.02 second autofocus acquisition time to the Sony RX100 VII is something that every user will immediately appreciate.

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Home security has come a long way in the last few years. There’s no shortage of security systems available on the market, some of which are quite affordable and provide free cloud storage. As prices plummet, groundbreaking features are reserved for high-end offerings, which is what the upcoming Fujifilm SX800 is likely to be.

Thanks to its built-in lens, the Fujifilm SX800 will have 40x optical zoom paired with a 1.25x digital zoom that allows users to read a license plate from up to a kilometer away. The company made a video showing off its zoom capabilities. Continue reading to see it for yourself.
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Following the launch of its iPad Pro USB-C hub a month ago, Kanex is back at it again with three new offerings made with the MacBook lineup in mind. Whether you own a modern MacBook Air, Pro, or the recently discontinued 12-inch offering, there’s a Kanex iAdapt USB-C hub that’s ready to bring ports of old back to your Mac.
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A few months back we wrote about Amazon’s rumored Alexa robot, but details were quite light. According to a report published by Bloomberg, the project seems to be ramping up and we now have additional insight about what to expect.

Given a code name of ‘Vesta’, Amazon’s current iteration of the Alexa robot is able to navigate using wheels, differentiating itself from some preceding products that have relied on tracks. It can be controlled with voice and stands at roughly waist-height.
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Hot on the heels of Leica’s new V-Lux 5, the Sigma fp has been announced and is being touted as the ‘world’s smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera’. Other headlining features include a body that is both dust and splash-proof, providing safety in various kinds of shooting environments.
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Just three months after the Q2 debuted, Leica is back at it again with a new, well-rounded model that is versatile enough to appeal to both amateur and prosumer photographers. The new Leica V-Lux 5 sports an integrated superzoom lens with a range equivalent to 25-400mm. A large 1-inch sensor capable of snapping 20-megapixel photos aims to deliver “outstanding imaging performance throughout the entire zoom range.”
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At CES 2019, ARRIS showed off its take on Wi-Fi 6. We covered it, but release details were light, a problem that the company has addressed today by providing additional information about its new and impressive Wi-Fi systems. For starters, ARRIS SURFboard mAX will debut with two systems dubbed Plus and Pro, the latter of which (unsurprisingly) will be the most powerful and pricey of the two.
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After solidifying itself as “makers of the world’s #1 growler“, GrowlerWerks is back at it again with the uKeg Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The new contraption aims to let coffee lovers create their own high-end nitro-infused cold brews, without needing to venture out or spend much money making it.

Not only is uKeg Nitro capable of making nitro cold brew coffee, its design looks flat-cool to boot. This is because GrowlerWerks has shared its slick growler design with uKeg Nitro. Outfitted with vacuum insulated stainless steel, GrowlerWerks’ new release is an all-in-one brewing solution that can keep coffee cold for an entire day.

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Despite the fact that movie theater subscriptions has been a highly-competitive and cut-throat market, there looks to be another player prepping to enter the space. Rumors of a Regal Cinemas subscription service have begun ramping up and it appears there will be a variety of pricing tiers, all of which offer unlimited tickets.
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In a world that relies on smartphone cameras more than ever, Canon continues to create new products that can do things or go places that iPhones typically cannot. While smartphones like Google Pixel and iPhone continue to close the gap between Canon’s DSLR and mirrorless camera lineup, the company has been hard at work making products like Canon IVY REC.

Touted as a ‘clippable, outdoor camera’, Canon IVY REC pitches itself as a device that’s to be taken on risky adventures that could potentially render your $1,000 iPhone useless. Canon’s new camera sports wireless tech that makes photo and video transfers a simple, straight-forward experience.
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Summer is finally here. With it comes a heatwave that can be significantly alleviated with the help of a pool or air conditioner. Last year GE unveiled its first HomeKit air conditioner which let users control their home’s climate using Siri via Apple’s Home app.

Since then, GE has unveiled several other units which look like they will be replaced with a new HomeKit air conditioner lineup that sports geolocation capabilities. This feature aims to detect when homeowners leave and also when they’re on their way back home.
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I’ve been a happy Apple product user since 2007. Not only does Apple gear tend to offer a cleaner UI than the competition, the company’s commitment to safeguarding user data is at a level that most companies cannot come close to matching. That being said, many would agree that Apple has gone nuts with pricing over the last few years. This is the primary reason I initially tried to replace Apple TV with Fire TV Stick 4K, and overall I’ve been quite surprised by just how feature-packed of a product it has been.

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EON, makers of the GCHD (GameCube HDMI Adapter), are back at it again with a new attachment that breathes new life into the iconic Nintendo 64. Dubbed Super N64, the new adapter connects to Nintendo 64’s Multi-Out port and produces HDMI connectivity.

Not only does the new adapter modernize the Nintendo 64’s aging connectivity, it also is capable of smoothing out pixelated edges for a bit cleaner of a look. Even with said capabilities, Super N64 does not require an additional power source, providing an extremely simple way to get your N64 connected to a modern TV.

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Amazon Prime Day has become a big deal. Not only have companies like eBay, Target, and Dell tried to cash in with sales of their own, Walmart has thrown its hat in the ring with a couple of notable differences that give it a leg up on Amazon.

Thousands of Walmart rollbacks and special buys will grace a sale that one-ups Amazon by starting a day earlier and lasting a total of three days. While no official Walmart rollbacks or other promotions have been publicized, customers should expect top-tier products to make an appearance in an attempt to distract from what Amazon has in store.
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Less than one year after the release of the C64 Mini, Retro Games has unveiled a larger version of the iconic 80’s home computer. Equipped with 64 classic games, THEC64 is similar in many ways to its smaller sibling, but does sport some differences that help justify its existence.

One of the clearest differentiators of the new C64 is a size that is true to the original Commodore 64. Additionally, it features a fully-functional keyboard, an attribute that the smaller form-factor could apparently not afford. These two features alone bring it much closer to being a replica of the Commodore 64 than the C64 Mini could ever be.

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When it comes to purchasing Mac accessories, OWC is one of the most-respected and well-known brands out there. For several decades the company has offered top-tier aftermarket upgrades to Apple hardware. We’ve reviewed several OWC products over the years and tend to walk away impressed.

The new OWC Envoy Pro EX brings yet another ultra-fast external storage solution to market. It’s fully compatible with Mac and PC hardware alike and delivers top speeds of up to 980MB/s. This is achievable thanks to the use of an NVMe SSD instead of many common alternatives that sport a 2.5-inch form-factor.
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I have a tendency to use a piece of technology for a while, sell it, and then buy another. This cycle has been on repeat for several years. Back when I sold my stainless steel Apple Watch Series 3, I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to invest my money in next. Once the thought of buying a 3D printer struck, there was very little convincing left to do.

The idea of building my own custom gear was as exhilarating then as it is now. After roughly six months, I’ve built 87 objects and used over 825 meters of filament. In this guide I’ll cover some of what I’ve built, the software I use, and the hardware that has made designing my own gear much easier.
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With over five years of developing photography gear for Apple, DJI, and GoPro under its belt, SANDMARC has now released a new lens for iPhone. Made with filmmaking in mind, the SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens captures ultra-wide video with lens flare effects to produce video similar to what’s seen in high-end productions.
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Back in February Garmin officially agreed to purchase the cycling fitness company called Tacx. Based in the Netherlands, Tacx has been in business since 1957 and has evolved in the technology sector to deliver indoor bicycle training equipment. With ownership being finalized back in April, the last couple of months has lead us to today’s official release of new Garmin Tacx indoor cycling trainers.
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We’re living through a remarkable time when smartphones paired with respectable cameras and advanced algorithms can in some instances deliver similar performance thanks to features like Portrait Mode. As smartphones continue to close the gap between high-end cameras, the pressure is on manufacturers to compete not only in quality, but also in price. The new Hasselblad X1D II 50C exists to reduce cost while also delivering remarkable medium format quality.
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Not too long ago we reviewed the Polk Audio Command Sound Bar. Audio quality was solid, but its headlining feature was Alexa voice control which had been baked right in. This forged a path which allowed users to ditch the remote and control settings for volume, bass, and treble using voice only. Two upcoming alternatives will allow customers to purchase a Yamaha Alexa sound bar with or without a subwoofer.
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Earlier this year, Amazon and IMDb launched Freedive. It was a streaming video service that brought select TV shows and movies to the masses by offering it free of charge. Roughly six months after its debut, Amazon is changing the name to IMDb TV and tripling the size of its catalog.

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When I first saw the new AUKEY Key Series True Wireless Earbuds, I found the number of features at such a low price point to be quite jarring. With Qi charging built-in, these earbuds are in direct competition with Apple’s recent top-tier release and yet they still manage to clock in at around half of the price.

Being an AirPods owner, I thought it would be interesting to write up a review that pits both Apple and AUKEY’s earbuds head-to-head. If you’re on the fence about buying AirPods, continue reading to see if the new AUKEY Key Series earbuds are a worthy alternative.
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