Rikka Altland is the Editor-in-Chief of 9to5Toys. Having joined the team at the beginning of 2017, over the past six years she has gone on to specialize in being a mainstay in the LEGO news and rumors scene while also reviewing the latest iPhone accessories, earbuds, and home networking gear. Contact it directly at rikka@9to5mac.com for tips and pitches.
For many, smartphones have become the main way to capture photos throughout the day. But for those looking to display their pictures, printing them out isn’t always the best way to go. That’s where the Aura Digital Picture Frame shines, with a high-density display and smart selection software, it looks to make sure captured photos always look its best.
There’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is one of the hottest gadgets currently on the market. As a result, accessory makers have been jumping on the chance to expand the capabilities of the hit new console. While other companies have focused on providing a more comfortable gaming experience, the folks over at AMDISI have made extending your gameplay time the priority in its recently unveiled PELDA cases. Launching via a Kickstarter campaign, the case is said to offer up to 6 hours of additional battery life in a compact design, along with a dock for playing on the big-screen.
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Buy NowBluetooth earbuds shine as a great option for those when on-the-go, working out or really any time where emphasizing portability is a must. Those in the market for a less expensive pair should look no further than NuForce’s latest Bluetooth earbuds. Sporting a lightweight design and backed by a solid all-around sound quality, the BE2 come in at a more affordable $49 price tag.
It may be hard to believe, but the summer is winding down, with only a few weeks left before students are back to hitting the books. To make sure you or that special scholar in your life is heading back to school prepared, we’ve rounded up the best tech, accessories and more to take your desk setup to the next level.
Digital assistants have brought improvements to many facets of our lives; although helping us become better chefs isn’t necessarily on the list. But now our Amazon Echo and Google Home should have no problem assisting the kitchen, thanks to a helping hand from the Klove Knob. Touted as being a personalized sous-chef for everyone, it looks to give you the edge you need to go from cooking novice to pro.
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Amazon offers its Prime members the Snack Sample Box with an included $9.99 credit for $9.99 shipped. This sampler comes with 10 different snack products from brands like Emerald, Kettle, Off the Eaten Path and more. Thanks to the $10 credit, this sample box is effectively free! Check out more details below.
$50/$40
Walmart offers the Nutri Ninja Fit 16-Oz. 3-speed Blender in black for $39.99 shipped. Regularly going for $50 as well as at other retailers like Best Buy, you’ll score $10 in savings. With a 4.8/5 star rating from Best Buy shoppers, this is the both the lowest offer out there and that we’ve tracked.
These days speakers are practically a dime a dozen. But if you’re looking for something more than the typical plastic form-factor, you’ll have to be willing to spend more for defining sound and a standout design. Taking this sentiment to an extreme, Bang & Olufsen’s latest BeoLab 50 floor-standing speakers sport a luxurious design with the company’s same iconic sound quality.
With streaming services having become the go-to for our music needs, practically every other standard has been left in the dust. Despite the ease of use our phones provide, many still stand by the quality of vinyl. For those that find nothing comes close to the sound of classic vinyl, Crosley Radio’s new Rocket Jukebox is sure to be the ultimate way to kickback and enjoy a record.
Whether you’re a training athlete, someone getting in shape or just looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle, having access to data helps show what’s working and what isn’t. Tracking body fat loss and muscle gain are often focal points of these fitness-based endeavors, but typical scales only offer overall weight changes. That’s where the ShapeScale & Fitness Tracker comes in, which uses 3D body scanning to provide more accurate data and visualizations of your body.
Minecraft has been one of the biggest games in recent years, with releases spanning practically every major console, including the Nintendo Switch. Back in 2015, the open-world building game received its first taste of a campaign, and to great success. Now, Telltale Games is finally bringing the first season of Minecraft Story Mode to Nintendo’s latest console, which will hit cartridges and the eShop on August 22nd.
Several months since its release, the Nintendo Switch is still hard to come by. This popularity has lead to some neat accessories like battery cases, travel docks and more. But there hasn’t been a great way to combat fatigue when playing for extended sessions, well as least, until now. With its Kickstarter Campaign well under way, the SwitchCase provides interchangeable grips to suit just about any gamer.
As we covered just the other day, many of coolest LEGO sets we’ve seen recently have been brought to us thanks to the Danish company’s Ideas program. Continuing this, LEGO today has announced not just one, but two new sets; now Voltron Defender Of The Universe and Ship In A Bottle, The Flagship Leviathan will be joining the list of crowd-sourced kits. Head below for more details.
Unicycles never really caught on as a means of transportation for the masses. But now with the recent popularity of electric vehicles, it seems like one-wheeled rides may be getting a second chance at success. That’s where the recently launched Uni Bolt Kickstarter campaign comes in, which offers all the joy of a classic unicycle but with a gyroscope-based self-balancing system and 22mph top speeds.
LEGO continues to release stellar kits that pack tons of detail and even more pieces. While most of these sets stem from the minds of LEGO’s masterbuilders, more and more have LEGO Ideas to thank. Unfortunately, there’s no telling when or if these potential sets will be available for purchase. We’ll be rounding up the coolest kits we saw in July, from insects, spacecraft and more.
Fans of LEGO’s Creator line of kits will know that it’s full of brick-built iconic vehicles models like the classic Volkswagen Beetle or the newer Mini Cooper. Now LEGO continues this with the release of the famous London Double-decker Bus, which is finally available for purchase for $139.99. With over 1,600 pieces and London-themed iconography, the kit is packed with details worthy of any collection.
The digital assistant wars are in full swing, with Siri, Alexa and Google Now competing for market-share. But if you’ve been holding out for something a little more well, terrifying, a newly launched Kickstarter campaign reimagines the typical smart speaker as the infamous T-800 Terminator. Complete with Alexa support, high-def serenity camera and more, this speaker looks to be the best way for sci-fi fans to listen to music and control their homes.
In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: We have notable discounts on Apple gear from the MacBook Pro w/ Touchbar to Apple TV bundle, tons of discounted smart home gear and how to buy the recently discontinued iPod shuffle and nano. Head below to catch up on all this and more.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers have been on the market for some time now. But if you haven’t climbed aboard the wearable train yet, Skagen’s latest Signatur Hybrid smartwatch sports a simplistic, all-metal enclosure complemented by a plethora of features, so it just might be exactly the smartwatch you’ve been holding out for.
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While BuzzFeed may be known for quizzes, pop-culture lists, recipe videos and more, the media company is now journeying into the smartphone accessory business with its new Tasty One Top Bluetooth-enabled cooker. While smartphone-connected cookers are nothing new, the One Top looks to mix it up by combining an expansive catalog of recipes with its ‘easy to use’ smart cooking device.
$70/$35
Adorama offers the Samson C01UCW USB Condenser Microphone $34.99 shipped. That takes 50% off the regular going rate and is one of the best offers we’ve tracked. For comparison, it goes for up to $90 at other retailers like Amazon. It’s rated 4.2/5 stars from Amazon shoppers.
At some point in your life, you’ve probably opened your home to some form of aquatic creatures, whether it was that fish you won at the fair or an entire tank of undersea pets. But if you’ve ever felt these more traditional home aquatic setups were lacking, or if you’re just a huge fan of Jellyfish, then the recently unveiled Pulse 160 Jellyfish tank is just exotic enough for you.
Buy NowWith the release of Pokken Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch is still a few months away, today Hori has unveiled an officially licensed Pro Controller for the hit fighting game. Now available for preorder for $24.99, the controller will be released alongside Pokken Tournament DX (Prime member pre-order for $48) on September 22nd.
Whole-home Wi-Fi coverage has been the primary emphasis of practically every wireless router released recently. While some offer smart home integrations or other differentiating features, Asus has now officially entered the mesh network market with its new Lyra Home Wi-Fi system.
$50/$45
Amazon is offering the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance BR30 60W Smart LED Flood Lamp for $44.99 shipped. You’ll also find the same discounted price at Best Buy and Home Depot. That takes $5 off the regular going rate and drops the price to within $0.01 of the Amazon all-time low. If you’ve been looking to add some new bulbs to your smart home setup, now is a great time to get them at a reduced price. Rated 4/5 stars.
If your summer is filled with rooftop parties with friends or romantic evenings alone with that special someone, then Tivoli Audo’s recently unveiled Bluetooth speaker is supposedly just what you’re looking for. The new PAL BT GLO speaker is packed with LED lights to help set the mood as a perfect addition to your summer’s fun.
$150/$106
Amazon offers the NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1750 802.11ac Wi-Fi Router and Cable DOCSIS 3.0 Modem combo for $105.94 shipped. You’ll save over $45 off the regular going rate for the two items separately. Today’s deal beats our previous mention by $4 and drops to the lowest price we’ve tracked at Amazon. Rated 4.2/5 stars from over 4,200 shoppers.
For many, using voice commands has become one of the go-to ways to control your home and set the perfect temperature. Now Microsoft has teamed up with Johnson Controls to create GLAS, one of the first Cortana-enabled smart thermostats. With a translucent touchscreen display and presence detection sensors, you’ll want to head below to see how it stacks up against other IoT thermostats.
High-tech digital picture frames aren’t exactly new, as we’ve seen a few different models popup in the past few months. Samsung’s The Frame is geared towards casual use, while the Depict Frame better suits art aficionados and enthusiasts. The Merual Canvas on the other hand, is a more modest approach which positions itself in between these two sides of the digital canvas spectrum. So rather than dominate an entire wall, it looks to enhance an existing area; be it by complementing family photos or displaying favorite artists’ work in your study.
Amazon is now offering its Prime Members the Dog Food and Treats Sample Box for $11.99 shipped. The latest sample offering from Amazon comes with 7 various meals and snacks for your pup to try out. The best part, each box includes a $12 credit off your next pet product purchase, making it effectively free.
$250/$200
B&H offers the Huawei Honor 6x 32GB Unlocked Android Smartphone for $199.99 shipped. That saves you $50 off the regular going rate as well as other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy and drops the price to match the Amazon all-time low. Today’s deal is also the best offer currently available. Rated 4.3/5 stars from Amazon shoppers. Residents outside of NY and NJ won’t be charged for tax at time of purchase.
When you think of an electric vehicle, odds are that being comprised of wooden elements isn’t one of the defining characteristics that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what makes the recently unveiled Avionics V1 Electric Bike stand out, which incorporates wooden components into its design alongside a flexible steel frame.
Part of the fun of hiking and camping is being disconnected from our devices. But if you get lost when exploring or need to contact someone in your group, a lack of cell service can really get in the way. That’s where the goTele, brought to us courtesy of Indiegogo, steps in to help tackle the outdoors with its off-the-grid location tracking and texting capabilities.
Mastering your short game on the Golf course is just as crucial as perfecting those long drives when teeing off. So whether your skills are thrown off by poor form or muscle spasms, you could probably use some help. That’s where a new golf training system named the TYCHE T1 comes in, which should have you on your way to becoming a putting pro in no time.
Amazon offers its Prime members the Moto G 4th Gen. 32GB Unlocked Android Smartphone with lockscreen ads for $129.99 shipped. That takes $20 off the regular going rate at Amazon and saves you $50 compared Best Buy’s ad-free model. Today’s deal is also the lowest offer we’ve tracked at Amazon. It carries a 4.3/5 star rating from over 1,100 Best Buy shoppers.
If you find yourself traveling a lot, odds are you’ve faced anxiety over your luggage being sent to the wrong destination or disappearing. Tumi’s latest travel accessory, the Global Locator, aims to put your mind at ease by providing real-time location information on your bag regardless of which country it may end up in.
Customers of the British telecom company EE will soon be able to score six months of Apple Music for free. Starting July 19th, EE pay monthly handset and SIM only customers will be able to lock in the extended free trial. Even better, any music you enjoy over 4G won’t count towards your monthly data allowance, so you can stream all the songs you want without hesitation. After six months, you’ll need to cancel your subscription if you want to avoid the £9.99 monthly fee.
$50/$35
Home Depot is offering the Wink Connected Smart Home Hub for $34.97 shipped. That takes $15 off the regular going rate, beats the Amazon all-time low by $5 and is the lowest offer we’ve tracked. Rated 4.1/5 stars.
Yesterday’s 30-hour Prime Day extravaganza not only saved shoppers hundreds of millions of dollars on discounted items, but it was also the biggest sales day in Amazon’s history. Having grown by more than 60 percent over last year, Amazon’s day of deals touted record sales for many of its own products, as well as other items.
Amazon is offering its Prime Members the Household Cleaning Essentials Sample Box for $14.99 shipped. Each box comes with an assortment of 15 home care items and better yet, includes a $15 credit off your next household purchase, making the box essentially free.
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, the folks at Lithium Cycles are now introducing two new electric motorbikes to the company’s lineup. This time around, the Super 73 Scout and Rose Ave. sport the same rugged style and form-factor as their predecessor, but in a more affordable package.
$470/$428
Walmart offers Hisense 55H6D 55-inch Smart 4K UHDTV for $428 shipped. That takes $40 off the regular going rate and is not only the best offer currently available, but the lowest price we’ve tracked. This UHDTV carries a 4.8/5 star rating.
We rely on our smartphones and other mobile devices too much these days to have accessories that only get us an extra few hours of battery. While you may already have an external battery pack lying around, iClever’s new BoostCell Eco Power Pack sports a 15,000mAh battery to keep all your gadgets charged.
There’s something extremely satisfying about merging the past designs with modern-day functionality. Vintage Electric’s new Café eBike is a fantastic example of this sentiment, which perfectly embodies the 1950’s aesthetic, thanks to its a bright red color scheme, leather accenting and cream-colored tires.
$85/$50
Adorama offers the Samson G-Track USB Recording Supercardioid Microphone for $49.99 shipped. That takes 40% off the regular going rate and saves you over $30 compared to other retailers like Amazon and B&H. Today’s deal is the lowest offer we’ve tracked. Rated 4.3/5 stars from over 100 Amazon shoppers.
The smart speaker and digital assistant wars have really begun heating up. With Amazon, Apple and Google already in the midst of it, an unlikely contender has now entered the fray. Known as one of the world’s largest retailers, Alibaba has now detailed its own voice-enabled smart speaker named the Tmall Genie.
Daily Burn is offering a 3-Month Premium Membership for free. That matches previous deals we’ve seen for this subscription and saves over $80.85 from the typical 3 month rate for the service. Daily Burn lets you stream unlimited workout videos so you can start getting in shape with the help of over 800 fitness programs.
The GeoOrbital Wheel was designed to transform practically any existing bicycle into a eBike. The best part? It takes under 60 seconds, meaning in less than a minute you can go from a classic pedal-powered bicycle to a full-fledged eBike sporting a top speed of 20mph.