Rikka Altland

Earlier this year, I detailed all of the plans for my Ubiquiti setup in one of the more recent logs in my UniFi Diary series. At the top of my list was to finally replace the USG that’s been in my setup for ages, and after the better part of the year so far, I’ve finally made the upgrade to the UniFi Dream Machine. So was it worth it? Not to spoil too much, but absolutely. So for the full scoop, you’ll want to head below for my thoughts on the upgrading experience, getting things configured, and some final thoughts now that I’ve made the switch to the UniFi Dream Machine Pro.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• iPhone 11/Pro/Max models are now up to $589 off in this cert. refurb sale from $480
• Latest Anker sale discounts Life Q35 ANC headphones to $110, USB-C gear, more from $9
• Save $299 when you bundle the new DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo with a Smart Controller

After being rumored for quite some time, the very first lineup of collection Marvel minifigures has arrived. Delivering 12 exciting new characters inspired by the recent Disney+ series, the new minifigs assemble exclusive designs of classics like Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch to newer additions to the MCU like Sylvie, White Vision, Monica Rambeau, and more. Head below for a closer look at all 12 of the upcoming collectible Marvel minifigures from LEGO.

After launching a new floor lamp to close out the week, meross is now expanding its stable of popular smart home devices with yet another HomeKit-enabled offering. Arriving with yet another lamp form-factor, this time around you’re looking at a new desktop-friendly offering complete with an adjustable design, tunable white lighting, and all of the Siri control as well as automations you’d expect. Head below for all of the details on the meross HomeKit Desk Lamp.

Apple’s MagSafe wallet entered last year as one of the more exciting iPhone 12 accessories, but was of course paired with a premium price tag to match. The folks at CASETiFY are now looking to deliver much of the same form factor but with a faux leather build that doesn’t skimp out on the quality. Now we’re taking a hands-on look at the new accessory to see if the trade-offs are worth the more affordable price tag. Head below for all of the details on the CASETiFY MagSafe Wallet in our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review.

After launching earlier in the year, the latest in augmented reality-enabled LEGO themes, VIDIYO, has had a tough time catching on amongst builders young and old. Now, a new report suggests that the theme may not even survive the year, as the LEGO Group is reportedly putting the theme on hiatus before potentially abandoning it altogether. Is all hope lost on the music video-making creations? Head below for all of the details on whether LEGO VIDIYO is canceled or not.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Best Buy Black Friday in July sale goes live with deep Apple discounts and more
• iPhone 12 mini sees up to $129 refurb discounts at new lows from $580
• Go on, give Apple’s official MagSafe Charger a try now that its down to $30 (Reg. $39)

Today, Nomad is launching its latest Apple accessory, bringing its usual leather stylings and premium materials to the recently released MagSafe Battery Pack. Arriving with a Horween leather build, the new add-on aims to elevate the look of the accessory while also making it more comfortable to wield. Head below for all of the details on the new Nomad Leather MagSafe Battery Pack cover.

After seeing DSM 7 launch at the end of last month with a collection of new features, Synology is now rolling out another notable update to its lineup of popular NAS. Expanding its C2 storage program, the new Synology Password manager arrives with cloud sync, file sharing, and more. Head below for all of the details.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Best Buy clears out nearly all of Apple’s prev-gen. iPad Pro models at $199 off
• HomePod mini sees rare discounts for first time in months at $90
• Save $129 on a cellular Apple Watch Series 6 at a new Amazon all-time low of $370

While LEGO fans have plenty to look forward to come August thanks to a massive collection of new creations. But even before the latest hit store shelves, we’ve received a report detailing the next gift with purchase set which will be giving builders some additional incentives to pick up all-new creations come next month. Entering as the latest fan-voted LEGO Ideas promotional set, the upcoming Dream Holiday Sailboat will be setting sail come August. Head below for all of the details.

Today, Hasbro is expanding its Star Wars Black Series and Vintage Collection figures with a series of new releases. Straight out of the fan-favorite 2D Clone Wars series, there are a handful of 6- and 3.75-inch collectibles, ranging from iconic Clone Trooper variants to Jedi knights and more. Head below for all of the details on six of the upcoming Hasbro 2D Clone Wars figures and our first look at three additional releases coming later on in the future.

After launching its latest Thunderbolt 4 dock last month, Anker is back today with the debut of its most recent addition to the PowerExpand lineup. Arriving with a 9-in-1 design, the latest USB-C offering from Anker arrives to retrofit your workstation with a bevy of ports alongside 60W charging output to Macs and other devices alike. Head below for all of the details on the new Anker PowerWave 9-in-1 USB-C Dock.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos AirPlay 2 Sound Bar sees rare discount at $50 off, plus Move hits $349
• DJI Mavic Mini Combo drops to $399 just in time for summer aerial photography (Save $100)
• Save on nearly all of Apple’s official iPhone 11/Pro/Max cases from $23

After seeing a several of Apple’s iPhone 12 mini MagSafe covers go on sale earlier this week, Amazon is now back to carry over those discounts to a number of official iPhone 11/Pro/Max cases starting at $23. You’ll enjoy free shipping across the board as a Prime member or in orders over $25. Headlining the collection is the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Leather Folio for $57.99 in the black style, or $2 more for some other colorways which rarely go on sale. Down from the usual $129 going rate, you’re looking at 55% in savings while matching our previous mention for one of the best prices to date. Also available for iPhone 11 Pro Max at the same price.

Apple’s Folio case wraps your handset in finished European leather that “fits snugly” around your iPhone with machined aluminum buttons to complement the design. There’s also two card slots, so you can store your ID, credit cards and more. Plus, the case will wake up your iPhone when opening the folio. Get a closer look in our hands-on review, which also covers many of the other cases on sale today. Head below for all of the other deals.

Today, Sony is launching its latest home theater upgrades, following up the folks at Klipsch who just unveiled its first Dolby Atmos offerings. Arriving as the new A7000 Sound Bar, Sony is also filling out its stable of home audio products with an even more immersive speaker system that delivers a new 360 spatial sound mapping technology. Head below for all of the details.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple’s new 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro delivers a Liquid Retina XDR display at $100 off
• Save $199 on Apple’s 13-inch M1 MacBook Air at a new low from $800
• Samsung’s 32-inch M7 4K Smart Monitor has built-in AirPlay 2, Netflix, more at $350

Today, we’re getting the first official look at the upcoming Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro SE, which expands the UniFi ecosystem with its latest router, NVP, and gateway. With added perks of 2.5Gb Ethernet, four PoE ports, and an internal 128GB solid-state drive, this arrives as Ubiquiti’s most versatile offering yet. Head below for all of the details so far.

After announcing a new wave of Nintendo-themed creations launching next month headlined by the brick-built debut of Luigi, the LEGO Group seems to have yet another notable Mario set in the reserves. Due out this fall, the latest direct-to-consumer set will be assembling an icon of Mushroom Kingdom, finally depicting Peach’s Castle as a microscale build. Head below for everything we know about the upcoming LEGO Nintendo Peach’s Castle set.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Save up to $110 on Apple’s latest iPad Air models at new all-time lows from $500
• Anker Gold Box goes live with up to 35% off Qi chargers, Lightning cables, more from $12
• Nomad launches 30% off summer sale with iPhone 12 MagSafe gear, AirTags cases, more

Today, Klipsch is out with two new sound bars, entering at some of the higher tiers of its stable of home theater audio offerings. The new flagship Klipsch Cinema 1200 is joined by the slightly lower-end Cinema 800 to bring Dolby Atmos into your setup complete with wireless subwoofers and up to 5.1.4-channel packages. With home theaters having more value than ever, we’re taking a hands-on look at the new Cinema 1200 to see just how good of a movie night experience Klipsch can deliver with its latest sound bar. Head below for all of the details.

Today, Anker is expanding its stable of charging stations with a new 3-in-1 offering that can refuel all of the gear in your Apple setup. Entering with a desktop- and nightstand-friendly form-factor, the new Anker PowerWave Go delivers a unique design that lets you go from refueling gear at home to charging on-the-go thanks to a convertible 10,000mAh power bank with integrated Qi charger to go alongside the dock itself. Now we’re taking a hands-on look at the latest charger, so head below for all of the details and our thoughts.

Earlier this year, the LEGO Group released the latest version of the galaxy’s most lovable droid, R2D2, as the more detailed recreation yet. Now we’re finally getting to take a hands-on look, to see just how authentic the most recent iteration is. Complete with over 2,300 pieces, the build packs in plenty of details alongside some working features. Head below for a closer look and all of our thoughts on the new LEGO R2-D2.

Today is the launch date of the latest Zelda title on Switch, with Nintendo bringing the contentious Skyward Sword to its hybrid console for the first time. Even more interestingly for many Hyrule fans, Nintendo also took today as an opportunity to launch a pair of all-new Skyward Sword Joy-Cons, complete with a unique color scheme and plenty of details straight out of the series. We’re now taking a hands-on look at the latest Switch controllers, which you’ll find all of the details on down below.

Today, Goal Zero is expanding its lineup of portable power stations with an all-new Yeti offering. Arriving as one of the more capable offerings from the brand, the new Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Core delivers 1200W of power alongside a rugged design and several ports to keep all of your gear charged while camping or tailgating. Head below for all of the details.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple refurb event goes live at Woot with iPhone 11, AirPods Pro, Apple Watch, more from $70
• Apple’s MagSafe Duo Charger is finally more affordable at $80 (Open-box, Orig. $129)
• Anker’s new weekend sale discounts iPhone and Android essentials, more from $16

Today, the LEGO Group is announcing its latest BrickHeadz figure, this time unveiling yet another seasonal character. This time around, builders will be able to assemble La Catrina, the icon of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Complete with the same blocky design we’ve come to know and love from BrickHeadz, this set includes plenty of new printed pieces and a vibrant design to really match the theme. Head below for all of the details in the LEGO BrickHeadz La Catrina.

Today, ElevationLab is launching its latest Apple accessory, this time focusing its sights on the official MagSafe charger. In what is a seemingly simplistic add-on, the new MagBase arrives to tackle one of the more irritating parts of Apple’s in-house magnetic charger. Gripping to a desk or nightstand, the new ElevationLab MagBase allows you to take advantage of MagSafe refueling while still being able to remove your iPhone 12 from the charger with just one hand. More details below.

Last month, the folks at Arcade1Up unleashed a new collection of scale arcade cabinets, bringing various classics into its lineup for the first time. Amongst those recent unveils, Turtles in Time was one of the machines that particularly caught our eye. And now for retro gamers who have the same soft spot for TMNT, pre-orders have gone live for those looking to bring it to their collections alongside yet another one of the brand’s popular cabinets. Head below for all of the details on the Arcade1Up pre-orders for both 4-player Turtles in Time and X-Men cabinets.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple’s 24-inch M1 iMac can now be yours with up to $130 in savings attached
• mophie’s 1-day sitewide sale takes 25% off new MagSafe power bank, chargers, more
• Hisense 2021 4K 55-inch ULED 120Hz Android TVs on sale for the first time at $100 off

It’s been 17 months since first being announced, but the wait for the LEGO UCS Republic Gunship is now over. Today, the LEGO Group is officially taking the wraps off of the new creation, which stacks up to nearly 3,300 pieces in order to assemble the iconic ship from a galaxy far, far away. Complete with authentic details, the massive model pairs with two minifigures and all of the display-worthy features you’d expect. Head below for all of the details on the all-new Clone Wars creation.

Today, Ubiquiti is expanding its stable of networking gear with one of its most capable switches yet, the new Switch Flex XG. This high-end expansion to your network arrives with all of the same prosumer features we’ve come to expect from the brand, alongside the notable inclusion of 10GbE support. Head below for all of the details.

Last fall, the LEGO Group released one of its usually Comic-Con exclusive sets to the general public, with the limited-edition Black Widow Taskmaster’s Ambush set arriving as a unique creation from the film. Now that the latest addition to the MCU has finally landed in theaters, we’re circling back on the set to see if it’s worth adding to your collection.

Today, elago is launching its latest Apple accessory, this time looking to outfit your new Siri Remote for the Apple TV with item finding capabilities. Protecting the remote in a soft silicone material, it has an even more unique feature of letting you place one of Apple’s new AirTags inside for making lost remotes a thing of the past. Head below for all of the details on the new elago R5 Locator Case.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Apple’s new 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro sees first Amazon discount at $100 off, more
• Get in the M1 game at an Amazon low while Apple’s latest MacBook Pro is $199 off
• Belkin’s new MagSafe Chargers have dropped to Amazon all-time lows starting at $25

Back at the beginning of the year, Amazon rolled out a new Built It program to give shoppers a chance to vote on new products launched from its incubator. Now today in the same vein, Amazon is rolling out three new Echo Dot speaker designs as part of a similar crowdfunding opportunity in partnership with esteemed fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. Now available for pre-order, you can get all of the details on the new Amazon Echo Dot Day 1 Edition styles down below.

With temporary working from home beginning to turn into a long-term hybrid schedule, the need for a good webcam has presented itself as yet another issue to address for out-of-office work. As some of the worst offenders of that, Apple’s lineup of Macs have long been scrutinized for their less-than-stellar internal webcams. But that’s where Anker’s new PowerConf C300 enters the mix.

Today, Anker is expanding its popular lineup of portable power stations with a new, more entry-level model. Entering as the most affordable addition to its Powerhouse II series, the new 300 version arrives with the same versatile selection of ports and a travel-friendly design. Head below for all of the details on this notable addition to Anker’s collection of off-grid power stations.

Today, the LEGO Group is expanding its collection of brick-built vehicles with yet another blast from the past. This time, it’s offering the iconic Volkswagen T2 Camper Van out of over 2,200 pieces complete with a retro coat of paint and plenty of fitting accessories. Head below for a closer look and all of the details on how to add this one to your collection.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Prev-gen. Apple TV 4K deliver deep discounts at some of the best prices yet from $120
• Google Pixel 4 falls to a new Amazon all-time low at $400 (Save $399)
• Grab a Nike-style Apple Watch Sport Band at under $7 (Save 24%, All-time low)

Earlier today, the LEGO Group launched its latest double VIP points promotion, which also happened to overlap with a pair of notable gift with purchase freebies. As if those savings weren’t enough, the promotion covers a collection of upcoming creations that just recently went up for pre-order. Ranging from the latest sets from the Star Wars universe to the most recent additions to the Nintendo collection and more, now makes for a perfect time to pre-order. Head below for all of the details on how to get the most out of picking up the latest summer LEGO pre-orders.

Failed startups like Theranos and Juicero have gained something of a cult following over the years after just how spectacularly the companies failed. Joining the ranks of other infamous hardware releases like Jibo and the Coolest Cooler, the folks at MSCHF are back with their latest collectible release today, which looks to actually ship miniature versions of the products that the brands couldn’t. Head below for all of the details on the new MSCHF failed startup toys collection.

Listen to a recap of the best deals and news from 9to5Toys each day at noon. 9to5Toys Daily is available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed. New episodes of 9to5Toys Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

• Bring Apple Silicon to the desktop with $149 off the latest Mac mini at new all-time low
• Save up to 33% on Google Nest bundles: Nest Hub 2nd Gen, Audio, Mini, more from $100
• DJI Osmo Mobile 3 smartphone gimbal returns to 2021 low starting at $79