Rikka Altland

Having been out for just two months, Nintendo’s recent cardboard-based endeavor, Labo, has been off to a great start. While fan reception has been solid across the board, at E3, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé went on the record saying that Labo met the company’s expectations and would definitely be something Nintendo is “going to continue to support well into the future.”

Many thought that we wouldn’t be seeing any significant updates to the DIY accessory platform until the end of the year at least, but last night Nintendo announced that Labo and Mario would be teaming up. Soon you’ll be able to pair your cardboard motorbike creation with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and try to tackle the Mushroom Cup in style.

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Building a top-notch battlestation is a task many pride themselves on. I, alongside many of the other writers here at 9to5 have spent a considerable amount of time either creating custom PCs to handle our workloads, playing with different monitor layouts and experimenting with tons of peripheral devices. The folks over at Cemtrex have debuted their latest product, which tries simplify the process of crafting an impressive desk setup with the launch of its new SmartDesk.

Opting for an all-in-one workstation design, SmartDesk packs many of the essential elements of an over-the-top setup like three touchscreen monitors, built-in scanner and more into a minimalistic form-factor. That is, as minimal as something so overblown can be. Hit the jump for the full details.

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Throughout the year, LEGO has slowly been debuting new BrickHeadz figures, with many of the recent kits centering around a galaxy far, far away thanks to the recent launch of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Today we’re getting yet another new brick-built figure release, this time featuring the lovable Groot alongside a miniature Rocket Racoon figure.

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Earlier this year in the build up to New York Toy Fair, LEGO announced that after nearly a decade, it would be bringing back the fan-favorite line of Harry Potter kits. While we only got a glimpse at a single set back at the convention, today LEGO has officially announced the next two sets hailing from the wizarding world.

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Whether looking at massive new hard drives or even faster and energy-efficient SSDs, storage technology has made significant leaps as of late. And yesterday one of the world’s leading manufacturers in memory and storage, Samsung, has announced its latest high-capacity solid state drive. The new NVMe NF1 SSD manages to pack a massive 8TB of storage into a compact form-factor boasting state-of-the-art performance with optimizations that make the new drive ideal for enterprise customers and data centers.

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With the wide range of smart home platforms currently on the market, opting to center your home’s automation around Z-Wave may not be your first thought. But adopting Z-Wave over alternatives like HomeKit and Alexa has some serious perks that are worth considering for anyone contemplating a more in-depth smart home. 

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Yesterday LEGO announced the first of its San Diego Comic-Con exclusive kits centering around a galaxy far, far away. While the new Millennium Falcon Cockpit set may already be enticing enough for fans making the trek to California, today we’re getting a look LEGO’s second limited-edition kit.

This time around, LEGO has taken to its Twitter to announce its all-new DC-themed Comic-Con set. In the past we’ve seen Superman and other heroes featured, but this year Aquaman himself will be front and center.

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Companies have long been cashing in on the retro gaming craze that’s returned in full force in recent years. We’ve seen products that look to breathe new life into formerly abandoned consoles, a wide range of emulators and even extremely popular releases from Nintendo. And while E3 focused on the titles we’re looking forward to play in the future, a new console was announced that aims its focus on games of the past. Based around a module design, the Polymega can play everything from NES, SNES and Genesis games to PS1 and TurboGrafx-16 titles.

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With July right around the corner, that means San Diego Comic-Con will be here in no time. In anticipation of the upcoming convention, LEGO has debuted the first of its SDCC-exclusive sets; a recreation of the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Complete with young Han and Chewie Minifigures, this kit is going to be a must-have for many collectors. Head below for more details.

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For many of us, assembling the first computers we could call our own was a right of passage to the freedoms that came with owning them. The same can’t be said for those growing up today, as often times the first device many receive is a hand-me-down smartphone, tablet and laptop.

Kano, one of the better-known companies in the STEAM and educational market, has a new kit in which kids, or really anyone for that matter, can assemble their very own portable computer and experiment with coding thanks to a variety of interactive tutorials.

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While HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are some of the most adopted smart home platforms on the market, home automation pros more often than not choose to outfit their abodes with Z-Wave-enabled accessories. GE, one of the more notable Z-Wave accessory makers, had teased its latest dimmer switch back at the beginning of the year with CES, and now it is finally available for purchase.

Sporting a capacitive touch panel alongside the typical perks of the Z-Wave Plus standard, GE’s latest enters as a more premium smart home dimmer switch.

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Before being overshadowed by the announcement of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this week, one of the more interesting releases from Nintendo this year centered around the launch of its cardboard accessory kits deemed Labo. And while the DIY STEAM-inspired sets have only been out for a few months, we’re now starting to see the first third-party variants rolling out.

It was only a matter of time before Switch accessory makers began getting in on the cardboard action, with the folks over at Nyko debuting their new Retro Acrade Kit this past week at E3.

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Whether you typically rely on voice assistants, smartphone control or preset automations, it seems like there always comes a time when reaching into your pocket or barking commands across the room just isn’t ideal. To help you get the most out of your smart home, we’ve rounded up our favorite remotes and controllers.

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Whether you choose to game on the Switch, PS4 or Xbox One, the folks at 8Bitdo have got you covered with their unique line of retro-themed Bluetooth gamepads and controllers. And with E3 wrapping up this week, the company has decided to get in on the fanfare by expanding its lineup of offerings and debuting several new controllers.

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On the heels of last month’s new Star Wars Original Trilogy BrickHeadz, LEGO is back at it with another round of figures. This time though, instead of more fearsome imperial brick-built characters, we’re getting an assortment of figures centered around The Empire Strikes Back.

Today, LEGO took to Twitter to announce three new BrickHeadz headlined by an all-new Luke Skywalker alongside Leia and the galaxy’s favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett.

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E3 is officially in full swing. Following Square-Enix, Ubisoft just finished up its showcase where it unveiled nine new titles alongside upcoming DLC and more. Be sure to head below and get caught up on the latest trailers, release dates, preorders and more.

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This past weekend, Microsoft and Bethesda kicked off Los Angeles’ highly anticipated E3 2018 event. Today Square-Enix has taken the stage, detailing some of its new releases as well as unveiling a slew of all-new titles. We’ve got the full scope of today’s announcements alongside trailers, preorders and more, which you’ll all find below.

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Augmented reality is quickly becoming more and more popular, with companies like Apple and Google offering new platforms. Promising to offer a radically new paradigm for interacting with software and the world around us, many have gotten a taste of AR thanks Apple’s ARKit. The folks over at Lightform are taking these ideas head-on, and have now debuted their first AR accessory, the LF1, that allows anyone to create and display “theme park-level special effects”.

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The Switch has been an absolute hit thanks to its roster of system-selling titles and the ability to play your favorite games on the big screen or even on-the-go. And when it comes to getting the most out of the console during your time spent out and about, outfitting the Switch with a mobile power pack has been a common solution. That was the case, until third-party charging accessories began bricking consoles.

While that’s apparently fixed, today Anker, in partnership with Nintendo, is debuting a new pair of power banks geared specifically for Nintendo’s latest console. Coming in two different-sized configurations, Anker’s new offerings will be perfect accessories for both casual and more hardcore Switch gamers. Be sure to hit the jump for the full details.

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The smartwatch boom has nearly all but fizzled out as flagship devices from Apple, Fitbit and other companies have begun solidifying their market share. New wearables have continued hitting the market recently, but have gained little traction compared to big players like the Apple Watch. Recently Asus has announced an all-new smartwatch with a different focus than many of its competitors as a way to carve out its own market share.

Rather than sporting a shiny full-color touchscreen display or aesthetically pleasing metal casing, Asus has opted to fill its new VivoWatch BP with a litany of sensors backed by AI-based data analysis. Head below for the full scope.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: We’ve spotted plenty of Apple deals, Bose, LEGO and Wyze unveil their latest offerings, upcoming video games begin leaking before E3 and more…

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I was first introduced to the world of robotic vacuums with the ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 nearly a year and a half ago. And while it was perfect for apartment life, upon moving home I figured it was time to upgrade to something more high-tech. Don’t get me wrong, the N79 is great, but its smartphone control is more basic and seemed out-of-place amongst the other Wi-Fi-enabled devices scattered around my smart home. 

Enter the DEEBOT 901, the latest in ECOVAC’s diverse lineup of robotic vacuums. Over the past week, I’ve been putting it to the test and have been incredibly impressed how much tech has managed to be packed into a relatively small form-factor.

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Over the past few years, some of the most notable LEGO releases have been from the Technic line of sets. Aside from a few outliers like the UCS Millennium Falcon and the Taj Mahal, if you’ve been looking to pick up the most massive kits you can, odds are you’d opt for one of the many Technic vehicles.

Back at the end of January, LEGO teased the eventual release of its latest Technic kit, the Bugatti Chiron, and now we’ve finally gotten the full scope. Stacking up to just under 3,600 pieces, the massive brick-built recreation of the famous super sports a slick blue exterior and plenty of details.

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With May on the way out and with summer on the horizon, this past month has been packed with significant LEGO releases and announcements. With new BrickHeadz, smartphone-enabled kits and the latest Ideas set from this morning, LEGO has certainly been on a roll throughout May. And for fans looking for a chance to have their creations adapted by LEGO, this past month has seen plenty of potential new kits landing on LEGO Ideas.

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At the beginning of May, we took a look at the next ten potential LEGO Ideas kits. And while it’ll still be until later this fall before any of these builds gain the company’s approval, today LEGO did announce its third round of results from Ideas kits submitted last year.

Of the seven builds that managed to lock in 10,000 supporters in the third part of 2017, only one was inevitably chosen to hit store shelves as a bona-fide LEGO kit; the fan-favorite Pop-Up Book.

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Amongst this year’s wide lineup of set releases, LEGO has really been pushing its new BrickHeadz series. With notable announcements centering around Star Wars, Avengers, Back to the Future and even custom characters, today we’re seeing two more must-have figures; Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper.

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Back when Amazon purchased Whole Foods, we knew it was only a matter of time before they’d start offering shopping benefits to Prime members. A few weeks ago we reported that Whole Foods would begin offering Prime users exclusive discounts alongside an additional 10% off across hundreds of the store’s items.

Sadly, not every Whole Foods shopper was able to lock in the benefits, as only locations in Florida were privy to the deals and rewards. Today, Amazon will be changing that, expanding the Whole Foods Prime members to 12 additional states, encompassing 365 total stores.

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Update: Pre-orders are now live at Best Buy and Amazon, more details below.

Last night, The Pokémon Company International in partnership with Nintendo announced the three latest titles in the Pokémon franchise, all of which will be making their way to the Switch. While one is a more casual, mobile-friendly game, the two new standouts, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, pack everything we’ve come to love about Kanto, but with a few twists that make it shine as the series’ first title to debut on the Switch.

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Since AirPods’ release back at the end of 2016, we’ve seen a variety of accessories hit the market to bring more functionality to Apple’s extremely popular truly-wireless earphones. One of the more notable veteran accessory makers out there, Elago, has released everything from cases to charging docks and more for AirPods. But today the company has announced an all-new accessory meant to help you keep track of your earbuds, deemed the Wrist Fit.

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Amazon offers the second generation Rachio Wi-Fi 8-Zone Lawn Sprinkler Controller with Amazon Alexa support for $135.99 shipped. Normally selling for around $180, that’s good for a $44 price cut and is the lowest we’ve seen it go at Amazon. Today’s offer beats our previous mention by $14 and is the best out there. For comparison, it’s still on sale for $150 at The Home Depot. As a #1 best-seller, it carries a 4.6/5 star rating from over 2,500 home owners. 

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Pro Electronics via Rakuten offers the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $182.71 shipped when code SAVE15 has been applied at checkout and you’re signed into your free Rakuten account. Normally selling for $250 at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, that’s good for a $67 discount and is the lowest we’re currently seeing. Over 11,000 shoppers have left a 4/5 star rating at Amazon.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: Best Buy kicks off its massive Memorial Day Sale, the Series 3 Apple Watch gets a $50 price cut starting at $279, the Nintendo 64 could be making a return and more…

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For outfitting your smart home with HomeKit-enabled devices, Elgato has been producing some of the most reliable options on the market. Its lineup of Eve devices range from the typical smart plugs and light switches to motion, temperature and other sensors. Now, the company has announced it will be extending its accessories with a new portable LED lamp deemed Eve Flare.

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Update 5/25 @ 2PM: Amazon has now matched many of the Hue discounts in Best Buy’s sale, head below for our top picks.

Best Buy has now officially kicked off its full Memorial Day Sale and is offering 15% off its entire lineup of Philips Hue smart lighting accessories. Regardless of if you’re just diving into smart lighting and need to pick up a HomeKit-enabled Color Starter Kit for $170 shipped, or just want to expand your current setup with some additional bulbs, you’ll save up to $30 in today’s sale. Be sure to shop the entire selection of Hue discounts here as well as the rest of the Memorial Day sale.

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Nanoleaf’s Aurora lighting panels are a fan-favorite throughout the tech community. And as they’ve grown in popularity over the past year, Nanoleaf has bolstered the unique smart home product with additional accessories. Last year they announced a new 12-sided HomeKit remote, and now we’ve gotten our hands on Nanoleaf’s latest.

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To coincide with the launch of the latest film in the Star Wars’ franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Hollywood Memorabilia has teamed up with Disney and Lucas Arts to give fans their latest chance at bringing a piece of the movies home. Today they’ve announced that it would be putting screen-used production pieces of the infamous Death Star up for auction.

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Beeebo-us (98% positive feedback) via Amazon offers the dodocool MFi-Certified foldable Apple Watch Stand for $21.77 when code W4YHEPAZ has been applied at checkout. Prime members will score free shipping, which is also available on orders over $25. That’s good for an $11 discount, beats our previous mention by $6 and is the best we’ve seen. For comparison, that’s less than buying just the charging cable straight from Apple. This Apple Watch stand is great option to add to your nightstand. Rated 4.3/5 stars from over 100 shoppers.

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While most of us are fine popping in a pair of earbuds and listening to our favorite jams from our smartphones, audiophiles and other music enthusiasts are always looking for new ways to enjoy their media. Today FiiO has brought a new high-end audio player to market, which packs USB-C among other high-end features sure to draw in those looking for an elevated music experience.

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Sonos is the cornerstone of many people’s home audio systems. With multi-room audio, stereo support and a robust list of other features, Sonos covers a wide range of use cases making the speakers ideal for adding high-quality sound to just your dorm room or even a whole-home setup. Today the company has debuted a variety of speaker sets that make it easier and more affordable to kickstart your audio configuration.

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Earlier this month, LG unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the G7 ThinQ, and this Friday you’ll be able to pre-order the new device over at T-Mobile. The LG G7 ThinQ retails for $750, but taking advantage of T-Mobile’s installment plan will score you the Android smartphone for just $30 down and $30 a month. What’s even better is that those who purchase a G7 ThinQ will get another on the house. Pre-ordering from T-Mobile also offers additional perks like an exclusive Raspberry Rose colorway. The smartphone officially goes up for pre-order on May 25th at 5:00am PT and you can learn more about LG’s latest by checking out our launch coverage.

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Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa can control nearly every aspect of our homes, from lighting to our thermostat and more. Today, that list of connected devices expands yet again, as TiVo has announced that it will finally be bringing highly anticipated voice-control features to several models of its DVR boxes.

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One of the hottest devices to hit both digital and physical store shelves in the recent past has been Nintendo’s NES and SNES Classic consoles. The vintage-inspired gaming machines bring all the charm from their original counterparts in a smaller, more bite-sized form-factor packed with a variety of hit games. Now, Nintendo is debuting another version of the NES Classic, this time sporting a fancy gold finish and an all-new roster of games.

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For managing your home media library, Plex has long been one of the best options on the market. While it originally focused on taming your extensive collection of movies and tv shows, Plex has more recently shifted to cover your music library as well. And just yesterday, announced several new features and enhancements to managing and playing your tunes a little more convenient.

Headlining the new release are several new features, including updated Sonos playback, Android Auto support, new music discovery methods and more.

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As of late, more and more audiophile-grade headphones have opted for planar magnetic drivers rather than traditional ones. And while they do boast rich audio output, these headphones often require an additional amp to work with our smartphones and computers. Audeze, a veteran in the high-end audio space, is looking to tackle this problem with its latest pair of headphones. Sporting a sleek design and crisp sound playback, the LCD-4z headphones also carry an equally impressive price tag.

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