Simon Walsh

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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With blockbuster releases like Fortnite hitting the App Store and Google Play, mobile gaming is bigger than ever. Sometimes it is hard to believe that we live in a world where the powerful smartphones in our pockets are capable of providing the level of immersive experiences that just a decade ago was only possible by large, dedicated pieces of hardware. With Razer Phone 2 pre-orders kicking off at 12:01AM PST morning, it is clear that we can expect the future of gaming on mobile to only get better from here. If that is not enough, Razer announced yesterday that it is releasing its own mobile gaming controller, called Raiju Mobile, that is made to work with flagship Android phones.
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It’s finally happening. Companies that offer traditional TV services are working towards a world where streaming is the de facto method for catching up on the latest movies and shows. In an attempt to migrate in this direction, WarnerMedia CEO, John Stankey announced that the AT&T/Time Warner merger is allowing the company to pursue a “compelling and competitive” streaming product.

While it would be hard for anyone to argue that the migration from conventional TV to streaming has not been a slow, painful process thus far, Stankey’s statement today shows that progress is certainly being made.
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If you recall reading our coverage of Devialet’s Phantom and Phantom Gold releases, you will likely remember that these are not your average speakers. Much like Bang & Olufsen’s Edge, Devialet’s speakers are meant to not only offer a stellar sound experience, but to also make a fashion statement. With Devialet’s announcement of its upcoming Phantom Reactor speakers, it is clear that the company still has this goal in mind.
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Not too long ago the popularity of over- and on-ear headphones began to significantly increase. More and more people began taking notice of the more immersive audio experience that these designs offer. One could argue that Beats’ headphones significantly contributed to this by bringing stylish options to market that consumers have enjoyed showing off. With a plethora of offerings on the market, it can be hard for brands to make a convincing argument why their new pair of headphones is better than the rest. That doesn’t appear to faze Microsoft though, as the company announced a pair of Surface-branded headphones last week and provided a release date for the headset earlier today.
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BuyDig is offering the LG SK10Y 5.1.2-Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar w/ Subwoofer for $479 shipped when code SAVE400 has been applied during checkout. That’s $400+ off the going rate found at retailers like Best Buy and beats the lowest price we have tracked by $1. With Dolby Atmos, 4K Passthrough, Bluetooth, and more, the SK10Y is among the best sound bars that LG offers. Rated 4/5 stars. With the release of tvOS 12, Apple TV now fully supports Dolby Atmos.
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With wireless headphones and earbuds becoming increasingly popular, it can be easy to forget just how much better audio can sound when you have high-end equipment. While many consumers can’t tell the difference between high-end gear and some average solutions like Apple’s AirPods or RHA’s soon-to-be released TrueConnect earbuds, there are quite a few folks out there that know exactly what they are giving up. With the release of Elegia by Focal, it’s clear that there are companies working to make gear that provides better experiences for those of us that may that deem the tradeoff of some conveniences worthwhile.
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Ever since Apple released its AirPods, loads of alternatives from competitors have been pushed out in an attempt to grab marketshare. Companies like Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, Jabra, and even Anker have shipped what they think consumers are looking for. Up to this point, none of the options have seemed to garner the amount of interest that AirPods have experienced. With today’s announcement of the TrueConnect earbuds from RHA, folks who are not in the Apple ecosystem or find the fit of the AirPods to be uncomfortable may finally have a viable alternative to consider.
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There seems to be a growing focus these days on having rich, booming sound with us wherever we go. Lets face it, our smartphones simply do not have enough room left over to pack the internals necessary for stellar audio. For this reason, I typically opt to carry a Bluetooth speaker along with me when I need higher volume or just want better quality. Recently, Marshall announced its new Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker and we’ve been testing it out for a few weeks. Head below for more.
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If you have grown weary of the similar gameplay styles across popular video games, you may find some enjoyment delving into the plethora of indie games that are out there. These types of games can often provide unique game mechanics that the big developers choose not to take a risk on. Let’s face it, the big games are popular for a reason, but it can be delightful to play a game like Sokpop’s Llama Villa where the premise is simply to shower, feed, and build a home for your llamas. Just like its games’ unique experiences, the Sokpop Collective is setting out to shake up how consumers pay for games with an inexpensive subscription that comes with a promise of two new games each month.
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If you are anything like me, you have accumulated quite a few battery packs over the years. With all of the new power sources that have been cranked out over the last decade, varying options like AC, USB-A, USB-C, and Qi have pushed us to always be on the lookout for the best on-the-go power bank. I think that all of us are ready to throw in the towel if we can’t find one power bank that gives us all the ports that we could possibility need so we only have to keep one in our bag. If this is how you feel, then Goal Zero’s new Sherpa 100AC power bank may very well be the best solution out there.
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With Apple’s long-awaited AirPower charging mat potentially being scrapped, other companies are being given a chance to sell similar devices to those of us that are sick of waiting. There are quite a few products already on Amazon that set out to let you charge three devices wirelessly, but most of them have quirky designs, few reviews or are being manufactured by unknown brands. Those factors make placing your $1,000 iPhone on top of them questionable, at best. With the unveiling of Nomad’s Base Station: Hub Edition, we are given an option from a reputable brand that is well-designed, can charge two devices wirelessly, and two more via 7.5W USB-A and 18W USB-C Power Delivery-enabled ports.
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Ever since consumers began cutting the cord, companies have been scrambling to come up with all kinds of devices that make it simple to stream content on your TV. Roku is one of the most popular, offering a range of devices like its Express, Streaming Stick, Ultra, and more recently TVs with Roku built-in. Building TVs with smart technology is something that is not new though, considering that companies like Samsung, Sony, and LG have been doing it for quite some time. These companies typically use their own proprietary software which can quite often lead to a frustrating user experience due to a lack of polish that makes navigation feel far from simple. With Logitech’s upcoming K600 TV Keyboard, the company aims to provide consumers with a better user experience.
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With Jet.com firing shots in Amazon’s direction just last week, Jeff Bezos’ company today introduced a new way to highlight small to medium-sized businesses that are owned and operated in the United States. The new portion of the online retail giant’s site is called Amazon Storefronts and offers over a million products provided by nearly 20,000 businesses from all 50 states. With categories such as Back to School, Pet Supplies, Kitchen, and more, Amazon Storefronts offers products that will appeal to many consumers. 
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While you may not have heard of a keytar before, there is a good chance that you may have seen them in use before. In fact, if you’ve played Rock Band 3 back in the day, you may have jammed using the game’s Wireless Keyboard which is in fact the same kind of instrument. With instruments like the Yamaha SHS-10 having been around since the 1980s, keytars have been used for quite some time but have been called various names like ‘shoulder’ or ‘strap-on’ keyboards. Then there was a shift to adopt the keytar name a few years back when Alesis released its Vortex controller. With the unveiling of AX-Edge Keytar, Roland shows off its beautiful, high-end 49-key guitar/keyboard hybrid.
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Ever since Amazon launched its Prime service back in 2005, it has been wreaking havoc on brick-and-mortar stores. With the ability to quickly find items, check reviews, and have most products delivered in two days or less, it is really not much of a surprise that Prime has surpassed 100 million subscribers. While many stores have tried to compete by launching better websites and offering free shipping on orders that exceed a certain threshold, Amazon is still king when it comes to online shopping. With Walmart’s acquisition of Jet.com back in 2016 and its major site refresh today, the company has shown that it is far from conceding to the online shopping giant.
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If you have any smart cameras in your home, you are probably aware of how wonderful and also how annoying motion alerts can be. While there are quite a few cases that you find yourself wanting alerts, the majority of the time a constant stream of notifications can be more distracting than the feature is worth. With the launch of SmartCam N1 and N2, Wisenet has set out to reduce the amount of notifications delivered to your smartphone by letting users limit notifications to only faces that they have not identified.
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In just the past few weeks LG has announced its upcoming 21:9 UltraGear gaming monitors and Samsung opened pre-orders for its new Thunderbolt 3 UltraWide offering. With new monitor releases coming out left and right, it can be hard to stay up-to-date and be sure that you have found the right fit for your setup. While all of the options can be overwhelming, hefty competition tends to lead to better pricing and typically means that more features tend to come standard. In this fierce climate, AOC has announced four new gaming monitors that pack a punch while also being fairly affordable.
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