Simon Walsh

Up to this point, I have been adamant about using Siri as the only virtual assistant in my home. Feelings on this began to change as Siri failed my wife and I time and time again. Whether it be our iPhones not hearing us say “Hey Siri” several times in a row, or seeing them change the correct transcription of what we actually said into what it thought we said, these failures have really gotten on our nerves. For this reason and many others, I have bought several Echo Dots and am now using Alexa to control my smart home accessories.
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Electronic Express (99% positive feedback) via Rakuten is offering the TCL 43S405 43-inch 4K Roku Smart LED TV for $207.99 shipped when coupon code SAVE20 has been applied during checkout. Note: You will need to be logged in to a free Rakuten account to use this code. That’s $52 off the going rate found at retailers like Best Buy and beats the lowest price we have tracked by $22. I own several of TCL’s Roku TVs and love having features like automatically booting to a specific input and full support for HDMI-CEC. Inputs include 3 HDMI 2.0, 1 USB, 1 Ethernet, and more. Rated 4.2/5 stars.
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With CES 2019 right around the corner, plenty of hardware manufacturers are pre-announcing products that they plan to debut at the show. Unsurprisingly, LG has gear to show off, and at the very least we know it plans to add two new UltraWide monitors to its existing lineup.

The two new monitors will have the model numbers 49WL95 and 38GL950G. Based on this information alone, it is pretty clear that the sizes will be 49 and 38 inches, respectively. The 49-inch model will be targeted at business professionals while the 38-inch option packs features that are akin to gaming.
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If you fancy yourself a fan of budget headphones and prefer a fumble-free wired connection, there’s a whole lot to love about SoundMAGIC’s latest release. SoundMAGIC has named the new headset E11D, simply tacking on “D” to the end of its recently-released E11. The most notable change in the new model is the replacement of the auxiliary connection for USB-C, the de facto port for Android smartphones, MacBooks, and many other tech gear. Another perk of the E11D headphones is a built-in DAC for converting digital audio to analog.
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If you are a hardcore gamer, playing on a PC is typically the best way to go. Sure, some of the big releases like Red Dead Redemption 2 might be console-only at launch, but when games do make in onto PC, they look better than ever before. High-end graphics cards, more powerful CPUs, and large amount of RAM contribute to performance, but the monitor you’re viewing it all through is one of the most important factors. ViewSonic’s new 24-inch gaming monitor may not be the largest out there, but with built-in RGB lighting, it may be one of the most intriguing.
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This is not a joke. Ford, a car company, has spent quite a few man-hours working on a noise-cancelling dog kennel. This should not be too surprising when considering that there are certainly a few folks at the company who absolutely love their pups. Pair this with the fact that more companies are giving employees time to do extracurricular projects, and it’s not too hard to imagine how this likely came about. Regardless of the circumstances, the prototype is real and the company even released a video showing off its current state.

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If you have not spent any time using virtual reality yet, it is likely due to how cumbersome it can be to use, combined with the limited number of people who own a headset for you to try. Oculus Go is a recently-released VR headset that aims to change all of that.

Thanks to its low price tag and standalone design that does not require a smartphone or computer to run, Oculus Go is made with general consumers in mind. With today’s announcement that Sling TV is now available on Oculus Go, this provides an immersive way to catch up on the latest entertainment.
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Voice assistants from Apple, Google, and Amazon can be both delightful and frustrating to use. Sometimes I facepalm at how badly they misunderstand me, but truth be told, I am happy they exist because they do make living in a smart home much simpler. With the announcement that Anki Vector will receive an update to provide access to Alexa next week, it is quite possible that more of these little robots could find themselves a home.
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If you owned a SEGA Genesis during your childhood, there’s a good chance you’ll be ecstatic to hear that Amazon is bringing several of its classics to Fire TV devices. Popular titles include Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2, Sonic CD, Golden Axe 1-3, The Revenge of Shinobi, and many more. The total number of classics coming to Fire TV is 25, but there will be no need to buy each one individually as they will all be bundled together under the unsurprising name of SEGA Classics.
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The PC industry is struggling to remain exciting. This is largely due to the fact that we are in an era where iPads and iPhones not only look great, but they are also beginning to surpass the performance offered by many Intel and AMD-powered laptops. For this reason, we are seeing some breakthrough innovations in laptops that trim down bezel sizes and overall dimensions as a whole. With the announcement and upcoming debut of its new 14 and 17-inch gram laptops, LG is showing that it has the chops for competing with the best of them, including Apple.
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We should have known that it would only be a matter of time until Nintendo’s brilliant Joy-Con design would be copied by another company. At first you would think Sony or Microsoft may be to blame, but no, it’s Xiaomi. Following the release of the latest Black Shark gaming phone earlier this year, Xiaomi’s new Gamepad 2.0 is comprised of two controllers that slide onto the sides of the Black Shark. The controllers pair using Bluetooth, offer a joystick and D-pad on the left, a touchpad and ABXY buttons on the right, and triggers on the top of both.
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TP-Link unveiled two new Wi-Fi routers today that take on the latest 802.11ax wireless standard. The new models are referred to as Archer AX6000 and AX11000. The AX6000 focuses on supporting more devices simultaneously while the AX11000 offers the fastest connection speeds. This means that you should have a general idea of which type of performance you are looking for before handing over your hard earned cash.

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Elago is one of those companies that knows exactly how to make products that create a nostalgia for the products that we once could not bear to live without, but are no longer used in our day-to-day lives. Its latest Apple Watch stand is no exception. The W5 resembles the original Game Boy, an iconic portable game console that paved the way to where we are today with Nintendo’s 2DS, 3DS, and Switch.
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Whether you are a Star Wars fan or not, you would have a hard time denying that the costumes worn in the iconic films are anything, if not mesmerizing. The attention to detail and unique approach to apparel were far beyond most outfits worn in the sci-fi films of that era.

Like many costume and fashion designers, John Mollo kept his drawings in sketchbooks and hung onto them over the years. By doing this, Mollo has left collector’s with an exhilarating compilation of artwork spread across several sketchbooks that are estimated to sell for over $100,000 each.
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Playing older games has become quite a popular hobby over the last few years. For this reason it has become very common practice for game developers to not only re-release once-popular games, but sometimes even give them a facelift. If Crash Team Racing is one of the games that you have found yourself longing to play again, you will be relieved, and perhaps even ecstatic, to hear that a remaster is likely to be announced in the near future.

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Wearable manufacturer Huami has launched the latest addition to its smartwatch lineup. The new wearable is called Amazfit Verge and some of its notable features include GPS, smart home integration, AI voice assistance, 5-day battery life, and the ability to place phone calls. While many of these features are quite common in big name smartwatches, the price point at which they are offered in the Amazfit Verge is significantly less than what you’d spend on something like a new Apple or Samsung wearable.

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Analogue has launched a limited edition of its Super Nt. The company worked with record label Ghostly International and came up with a beautiful, nearly all-white design that without a question rivals many of the other styles offered in the Super Nt lineup. Analogue is taking the term limited edition seriously by vowing to only manufacture 1,000 units of its latest release. Just like the standard Super Nt, the new design will rely on users to have SNES cartridges on-hand to play their favorite classics on the console.

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Now that Christmas is under one month away, it’s time to start bringing your gift shopping to a close. If you’re anything like me, the people last on your list are often the ones that can be the hardest to shop for. Whether your interests differ widely or the person in mind simply buys everything they want when they see it, this gift guide is focused on banishing tech clutter in our lives.

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With Black Friday right around the corner, now the best time of the year to upgrade or add gear around your home for shockingly low prices. Here at 9to5Toys we’ve posted a plethora of Black Friday guides to give you quick access to ads, tips, and our top picks.

This guide aims to help you cut through all of the marketing and get straight to the best TV deals out there. So whether you’re looking to give an aging panel an upgrade, pick one up for another room, or simply bump up to a larger size, this is a great place to quickly and easily spot the perfect option for you.

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Whether it be for over-the-ear headphones, wireless earbuds, sound bars, or smart speakers, tech companies have spent loads of money on R&D for audio equipment. This focus has made consumers notice, perhaps more than ever before, how good (or bad) audio can sound.

Months after announcing its Roku TV Wireless Speakers, Roku has clarified a release date. The company’s new speakers set out to make upgrading a Roku TV’s audio a straight-forward and approachable task for anyone. Features offered by the new speaker set include wireless pairing, automatic volume leveling, and quite a bit more.
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Wired headphones are becoming a relic of the past. Wireless alternatives are overtaking the need for wired options thanks to significant improvements in battery life, audio quality, and more. Additionally these options are much easier for customers to wear since cords are no longer getting in the way.

With its release of BassFit Wireless Headphones, V-MODA is taking a different approach than many other companies that have begun shipping shameless copies of Apple AirPods. Instead of focusing on truly wireless earbuds, V-MODA’s BassFit Wireless Headphones focus heavily on durability and performance for “the most rigorous of workouts.”

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It’s hard to be a lover of both antiques and technology these days. This is due in part to the majority of consumers that expect tech companies to ship futuristic looking devices that get thinner and more minimalist in each iteration. While this isn’t likely to bother too many of us, there are still quite a few who truly enjoy retro styling accompanied by the latest and greatest tech.

If having Alexa in an antique phone is something that you’ve always dreamed of, Grain Design may have just what you have been looking for. The company is producing what it calls Alexaphones. These devices are composed of real antique telephones with an Echo Dot connected directly to the receiver.
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For quite some time now, companies like Amazon have offered home installation services. These are set out to help folks who do not have the time, know-how, or desire to set up new gadgets themselves. While many of us enjoy doing this ourselves, there are always bound to be areas that we find outside of our comfort zones.

Earlier today, eBay announced that it too will offer professional installation services directly to customers. This move has been made possible by partnering with three companies: Handy, Porch and InstallerNet.
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The world of virtual reality has been abuzz the past few years. With Oculus’ standalone Go headset, HTC’s Vive Focus, and PlayStation VR, plenty of companies are taking their own stab at making a mass market headset.

Shadow Creator, a Chinese company, is throwing their hat in the ring next week with its own Shadow VR headset. It will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor and offer a resolution of 2560 x 1440.

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Doorbells are one of many types of smart home devices that offer a significant amount of convenience to consumers. They allow us to know if someone is at our home whether we are there or not. If the latter is true, built-in microphones and speakers allow for two-way communication from anywhere.

Well-known connected camera brand Arlo announced in July that it would be releasing its own smart Audio Doorbell and Chime accessory to complement its robust home security lineup. We covered the announcement with the information we knew then, so today’s post is focusing on what potential customers should know before they buy.

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There has never been a better time to purchase a smart door lock for your home. As competition heats up in the market, prices will continue to drop and devices will get even more integrations with voice assistants and smart home platforms. Schlage made news today by announcing an updated Connect door lock that offers compatibility with Amazon Key.

The new Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt can be purchased individually or in a bundle that includes an Amazon Cloud Cam. As we have come to expect from Schlage, its latest iteration comes in a variety of styles, giving consumers a few options to pick from. Head after the jump for more on this latest release.

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As smartphones become more and more like full-fledged cameras, it only makes sense for cameras to become more like smartphones. We see bits of this when newer cameras offer better software experiences, but so far the mass market has deemed smartphones good enough that it is not worth the headache of carrying dedicated cameras.

Samsung’s Galaxy Camera gave us a glimpse of how user-friendly cameras can be when putting full-blown Android on them, but it still fell short in many areas. Chinese company Yongnuo has announced that it is making its own Android-powered camera, and unlike the Galaxy Camera, this one will support interchangeable lenses.

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With the launch of Apple’s refreshed iPad Pro lineup and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S4, there is no question that the tablet market is hotter than it has ever been. Along with the innovation and excitement that these tablets bring, however, are higher prices. With Barnes & Noble’s unexpected announcement of its new NOOK 10.1″, the company sends a clear message that consumers need not spend an arm and a leg to get a new tablet.
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This time of year the Black Friday ads just keep coming. Here at 9to5Toys we’ve got yet another one for you to peruse. This time it is from Belk and it certainly has some notable deals worth setting aside some funds for. Categories include popular tech, brand-name home goods, and even some toys for the kids. Continue reading to find out more about the Belk Black Friday ad.

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I have three smart outlets in my home. They make my bedroom fan and lamps a cinch to toggle on/off. An associated smartphone app even provides usage metrics so I know how much energy I am burning through. Having this information at my fingertips is certainly a neat feature, but at the end of the day, I don’t really know how helpful it actually is. A startup company called Currant has set out to help with this by offering its own Smart Outlet. What makes its offering unique is that it features an AI that provides easy-to-implement suggestions about how to save energy.
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If you watched Apple’s event yesterday, you are likely drooling over the new iPad Pros just as much I am. With streamlined bezels, a switch from Touch to Face ID, lack of a physical home button, and ditching Lightning for USB-C, Apple’s latest iPad Pros offer an entirely new form factor. To accommodate these changes, well-known tech-accessory manufacturer Moshi is in the process of crafting updated gear for the new tablets.

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While many would agree that we are headed to a world filled with devices that charge via USB-C, we are not quite there yet. Since this is the case, most of us with tech and tools around the house have a plethora of devices that use different inputs for charging. Tools tend to be proprietary, but thankfully tech typically resorts to a few of the usual suspects. If you’re like me and loathe having an abundance of cables out for everyone to see, head below for some suggestions regarding how to set up a clutter-free charging station for all your gadgets. 
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Walmart-owned Jet has teamed up with Blue Apron to sell meal kits to Jet shoppers. In order to keep food options unique, Jet will offer a rotating selection of two-serving recipes. Prior to the new partnership, Blue Apron sold directly to consumers, outside of beginning to offer its meals at some Costco locations earlier this year.
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What do you get when you mix an Amazon Echo Dot with Apple’s HomePod? The answer appears to be Huawei’s new AI speaker. The company announced the upcoming speaker during its Mate 20 series event. Like many of Huawei’s products, the AI speaker borrows designs from other tech companies. Its shape along with a single power cord that stems out of the back is reminiscent of HomePod, while the top of the device looks like an Amazon Echo Dot with Huawei’s name in the center. The new speaker has six microphones that allow users to interact with “Xiaoyi”, Huawei’s very-own virtual assistant.
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Leica has released its latest camera today, the M10-D. Following in the footsteps of its recently-released M10-P, the M10-D shares a very similar appearance aside from the immediately obvious omission of a screen. A deliberate move by Leica to help photographers focus on the moment happening in front of them instead of viewing it on a display. Even though Leica’s latest camera ditches some digital features for a nostalgic and analog feel, the company attempts to make up for this by shipping a new companion smartphone app for interacting with it.
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While Rakuten may not be the first retailer that comes to mind for your Black Friday shopping, it has been known to sell electronics, home goods, beauty products and more for some of the best pricing on the web. Considering that Rakuten is an online retailer, opting to shop there means that you do not need to physically stand in line to save money. Even so, learning what to expect ahead of time is a fantastic way to help you catch the best deals offered before they sell out.
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Intellivision Entertainment has announced that it is working on a new console nearly 40 years after its release of the original Intellivision. The new system is called Amico and is heavily focused on being an option that “parents want to buy”. Although the console is in the very early stages of development, the company has provided a plethora of details about features that the new system will offer. Standouts include 8 player connectivity, Qi controller charging, and a promise that all games will go through a strict approval process that prioritizes quality over quantity.
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eBay has announced a new program for listing smartphones that takes away much of the headache typically associated with using its services. Speaking from experience, listing an iPhone on eBay can leave you feeling like you’re on pins and needles. From the anticipation of hoping that your device sells for a high amount to dealing with potentially sketchy buyers, eBay’s new Instant Selling program takes aim at bypassing these hurdles while offering consumers a better value than many competing trade-in services.
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If you’re an avid wood worker or even weekend warrior, you probably know that making precise cuts is easier said than done. You can draw lines and try to follow them, but hitting a knot in a slab of wood can very easily take your saw off-course. With the upcoming release of the Shaper Origin power cutter, there may be a futuristic solution on the horizon. The tool uses augmented reality to “scan a surface and generate a map” of where cuts need to be made. In order for the Origin to identify where the user wants to cut, they simply use what the company refers to as, “Shaper tape.”

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Sam’s Club announced earlier today that it will soon offer grocery delivery at over half of its stores. In its press release, the company touted that the timing of its rollout will be great for consumers this holiday season. While this is clearly a significant undertaking, the company said that it will be able to pull all of this off by the end of October. This is largely due to the fact that it has partnered with Instacart to carry out customer deliveries.

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If you’ve been on the fence about giving your child a smartphone, let alone an additional Apple Watch, Verizon may have a compelling option for you. Following up to its GizmoGadget, the wireless carrier is now offering the GizmoWatch. The new wearable from Verizon is aimed at children between the ages of 3-11 years old, offers LTE connectivity, and packs a faster processor than its predecessor.

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With Nintendo’s launch of NES and SNES classic consoles plus Sony’s original Playstation reboot, companies have been working harder than ever to bring old games back to life. These systems store games directly on the console and let you play them without the need for additional hardware. While this is likely the preferred method for most, it certainly comes with its own set of problems. One of the major ones being that the games you want to play may not be available.

To solve this problem, third-party companies like Analogue are fully embracing the retro experience by offering consoles that accept original game cartridges. Analogue’s latest offering, the Mega Sg, was announced by the company earlier today and will play over 2,000 original cartridges made for Sega Genesis, Mega Drive, and Master System.
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Perhaps one of the things that Nintendo is best-known for is its ability to cash in on nostalgia. If this was not evident before, the company’s NES and SNES classic console releases over the past couple of years have certainly highlighted it. With rumors floating around that Nintendo is working on an N64 classic release, it seems that the level of success that the company has seen may be partially responsible for Playstation making its own classic console. Whatever the case may be, today’s news is that Nintendo will be offering a special edition Diablo III-branded Switch console in a few weeks.
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Earlier today, Amazon announced on its developer blog that it is providing new ways for Echo devices to communicate with smart doorbells and cameras. More specifically, developers now have access to three new APIs called Doorbell Event Source, Motion Sensor, and Alexa.RTCSessionController. It’s a move that is not too surprising considering that Amazon bought Ring, a pillar of the smart doorbell industry, earlier this year for around a billion dollars.

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