Rikka Altland

The latest installment in the Star Wars franchise has been in theaters for some time now. And while 3D and IMAX viewings have given fans an even more immersive way to experience their favorite galaxy from far, far away, they fall short of what many fans, including myself, are clamoring for. That’s where Lenovo’s latest smartphone accessory comes in, the Jedi Challenges Augmented Reality Kit.

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Throughout last year, a variety of new mesh Wi-Fi systems made their way to market from tons of companies. Some released the mesh technology in the form of entirely new routers, while others released updated versions of existing access points, touting more reliable connectivity and faster speeds. Fitting into the former category, Huawei decided it would be kicking of 2018 by throwing its hat into the ring and releasing a mesh router system of its own.

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Update 2/1: The LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle set is now on sale directly from LEGO for $69.99 shipped! 

LEGO Ideas has brought us some of our favorite sets in recent memory, but not every set submitted earns the glory of someday adorning store shelves. However as we covered way back in August, a new set would be joining the lineup of successfully-crowdfunded kits. And after teasing the release on Twitter, today LEGO has officially announced that on February 1st, Ship in a Bottle will finally be available for purchase.

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While CES is typically the time for new companies and startups to showcase up and coming releases, veteran companies take to the expo to show off new products as well. One such case is Monoprice, who today has unveiled a variety of new offerings from smart home accessories to 3D printers.

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Update: Tabs is now available for purchase directly from their site and has bypassed its Kickstarter campaign. The first batch of orders are said to be arriving in the coming weeks, so early adopters will have the new system in their hands much sooner than expected.

It seems like all of the more recent connected-DIY home security systems focus on one main thing, thwarting potential break-ins. Of course that’s all well and good, but what about parents who just want to remotely make sure their children have made it home safely from school? That’s where Tabs comes in, a home monitoring solution geared towards families.

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If you somehow haven’t noticed, CES kicked off this weekend and we’ve seen smartphone-enabled devices in just about every area of your home, from connected-vacuum cleaners to Alexa-enabled shower heads. Now, the folks over at ShadeCraft are doing the same for your patio with the official launch of its solar-powered umbrella, Sunflower.

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CES 2018 is in full swing. While we’re seeing notable launches for new products throughout the home, companies like ECOVACS are turning their attention to saving you time. ECOVACS has unveiled three new robotic helpers for around the home, with two autonomous vacuum cleaners as well as a cordless window cleaner.
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With CES having officially begun this weekend, we’re already seeing a wide range of notable new products. Turning our attention specifically to the smart home, the folks over at Elgato have kicked things off this week by unveiling 2 new HomeKit-enabled devices. Eve’s Button introduces a new way to control connected accessories and the second generation Room upgrades its predecessor with enhanced sensors and an improved E-ink display.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: Anker kicks off the new year with savings on smartphone accessories, we dive into new products ahead of CES and so much more.

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With smart home tech really breaking into the mainstream, the consolidation of sensors and other devices has led to a variety of all-in-one hubs sporting features that go way beyond just the ability to manage and control lights, smart plugs and other connected appliances. To that end, Toshiba has just announced its latest foray into the smart home space, the Symbio hub, which integrates six smart home essentials headed up by Amazon Alexa voice control.

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Amongst the rest of the blooming smart home market, security cameras are one of the most sought after devices to protect and monitor your house. And while just about everyone in the home automation game has debuted their own release, most sport the same run-of-the-mill design.

But ahead of CES, we’re seeing what may very well end up being the most well-designed camera of the year. Today the UK-based home automation company, Hive, has unveiled the View, a wireless camera boasting a wide range of features.

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GE had quite an eventful 2017 on the home automation front, and with CES 2018 right around the corner, it looks to be kicking off the year on the right foot to replicate its success. Following the announcement that HomeKit support would finally be arriving, GE has unveiled two new smart lighting accessories ahead of next week’s highly anticipated expo.

The C by GE line of smart home accessories already includes some of the more interesting lighting products on the market. Aside from the expected smartphone control, the lineup touts the ability to command these devices using just your voice thanks to your preferred digital assistant; Alexa, Google Assistant, and soon Siri.

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Growing up, I was never a huge fan of cars or motorcycles. That carried over into the LEGO sets I longed for, with most of my collection centered around spaceships and the like. So when it came to the Technic kits, ones primarily consisting of vehicles, they never really caught my eye.

But that changed earlier this year with the release of the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure set, the first licensed motorcycle in the lineup. And after getting my hands on it, I’ve realized everything I’ve been missing out on  with the Technic series.

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Seinfeld has unsurprisingly grown to be quite the cult classic. And in the past 20 years of comedies, dramas, and sitcoms, the show about nothing is still viewed by many as the best show ever created. And while some would like to imagine what Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer are up to today, one indie game developer is reimagining the cast in a 90’s-themed point and click adventure game.

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The year is finally winding down, with December proving to be yet another solid month for LEGO news and releases. The national release of the latest chapter in the Star Wars Saga, The Last Jedi, brought with it some fantastic new kits, the massive Technic Mack Truck saw a UK release and the BrickHeadz lineup will be expanding its cast. But what would all this news be without some new LEGO Ideas additions. Just in time for the holidays we found out that the Christmas Story house would be getting its own set. Now to wrap up this year’s coverage, we’ll be diving into December’s most notable Ideas models.

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With the delicious meals eaten, family gatherings over and the gifts unwrapped, the holiday fanfare is finally winding down. If you’re up to date with the latest technology, odds are pretty high that you found an Amazon Echo or Google Home underneath your tree. To help you get the most out of your new device, we’ll be rounding up the best smart home accessories.

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Amongst all of the smart home success we’ve seen throughout the year, Blink was front and center. And following last week’s announcement of a new video doorbell, the home security company has unveiled it will be acquired by Amazon.

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If you haven’t already noticed, Star Wars is once again dominating the news thanks to the release of its latest blockbuster, The Last Jedi. And with this year being the 40th anniversary of A New Hope’s release on top of that, Star Wars has teamed up with LEGO to create what may be the coolest minifigures released to date, 16 R2-D2 made of precious metals. So in true holiday spirit, they’ll be giving 2 lucky fans these exclusive minifigures, so much sure to head below for more details and to see how you could win!

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Drones have really taken off this past year, with the entry-level Spark really stealing the show. And while DJI brought drone photography to the masses through 2017, Fat Shark is looking to replicate some of that success on a different front with its new first-person racing kit. As a way to make drone racing more accessible, the Fat Shark 101 includes everything you’ll need to get started.

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In the past decade, alarm clocks have all but faded out of existence for many thanks to the rise of smartphones. And even though smartphones have replaced just about every household item from timers to grocery lists, the introduction of the Amazon Echo and Alexa have begun yet another shift. So in a natural turn of events, Amazon has brought Alexa voice control and a 2.5-inch screen to your nightstand with the release of its latest Echo device, the Spot. After spending some time with Spot, we’ll be diving into a hands-on review and our first impressions.

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Home automation and the IoT have had a huge year in 2017, and Wink is no exception. Today the smart home platform has announced that it will finally be adding support for one of the hottest products this holiday season, Sonos Speakers. This comes after Sonos opened up its ecosystem a couple of months ago and is sure to be a big hit with smart home owners.
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Getting in shape or pursuing a healthier life can be difficult when just about all the feedback you’re getting is in the form of numbers. Not only can raw data be overwhelming and confusing, but also be intimidating and a hinderance to progress for many. But Shapa, a new smart scale, is one of the first designed to specifically combat this by emphasizing your overall health and providing personalized feedback. 

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Wearables come in all shapes and sizes, from wrist-mounted fitness trackers, sleep-tracking smart rings, and more. But the folks over at LifeBeam have a different idea of what form-factor a smartphone-connected device should take. With its Vi Personal Trainer Headphones, the company is betting that earbuds are the optimal way to bring AI-based advice, heart rate tracking, and more to your workouts. 

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With the year on its way out and 2018 just over the horizon, some of the most anticipated offerings from LEGO won’t be massive kits or from a widely-popular series, but a more recent addition. Instead our attention is aimed at the latest from the BrickHeadz series, which LEGO has announced it will be expanding with 6 new figures spanning next year’s major holidays. 

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Back in the 1980’s one of the most advanced pieces of smart home tech was the Clapper. And while the iconic sound-activated device pales in comparison to the internet-connected outlets of today, it was a sign of what was to come from home automation. Now, fast forward to 2017 and the folks at Astrohaus have launched Clapboss, which was designed to rejuvenate the 30-year-old device with internet connection and more.

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As the year comes to a close, it’s safe to say that smart home tech was one of the more emphasized new product categories of 2017. But with all the recently unveiled gadgets, wanting the latest and greatest for your smart home may mean keeping track of more internet-connected gear than you’d like. That’s where Zōn comes in, streamlining voice assistant speakers and smart plugs for new and old smart home owners alike. 

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With the holidays just around the corner, odds are you’ve already picked out the perfect gifts for just about all your friends and family. But for the tech enthusiast in your life that seemingly already has it all, crossing their name off your list may be proving harder than it needs to be. To help you out, I’ve picked out my favorite smart home gadgets that are sure to delight. 

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With 2017 on the way out, we’ve recently turned our attention to the most noteworthy games from the past year. And as the next year rolls around, gamers will have a new networking device from the likes of Razer to look forward to. Normally focused on keyboards and other peripherals, Razer will be applying its expertise to what it calls a gaming-grade Wi-Fi Router named Portal.

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For many Pokémon fans, the idea of having Pikachu lend you a helping hand with charging your smartphone seems like a dream. Make that a dream come true, as that’s exactly what the latest in wireless charging has to offer. Announced earlier today, this new Pikachu charger will finally give iPhone users the ability to power their devices with the adorable Pokemon.

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In the lead up to next week’s premiere of The Last Jedi, we’ve seen awesome new collectibles, apparel, phone accessories and more to hold Star Wars fans over. Now the famous watch maker Nixon is getting in on the hype to offer a new series of stylish Star Wars-inspired timepieces.

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In the past year or so, collectible figures like Funko POP! have become more and more popular. Looking to jump in on the demand, LEGO has since launched its own line of figures deemed BrickHeadz. We’ve seen some pretty iconic characters join the ranks from Marvel, Disney, and DC. More recently, LEGO announced that it would be filling out the Star Wars lineup just in time for the latest addition to the film franchise. Finn and Phasma were the first two publicly released figures, follow along for our hands on.

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If this morning’s coverage of the new Mack Anthem truck wasn’t enough to slake your thirst for LEGO, the company took to Twitter today to announce a new line of LEGO Batman Movie Minifigures. Series 2 will introduce hilarious new inclusions to your minifigure collection like Mermaid Batman, a Tropical Joker and Soccer Mom Batgirl, but you’ll want to head below to see the whole cast of figures.

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In the later half of 2017, LEGO has been firing on all cylinders to showcase some of the most impressive and must-have sets. But if new Star Wars, Architecture and City kits just weren’t doing it for you, then LEGO’s latest release may just get you revved up. As an expansion to its Technic line of sets, the new 2-in-1 Mack truck stacks up to one of the most impressive kits we’ve seen.

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Monoprice is back with another sale on select Z-Wave smart home devices by up to 30% starting at $17.50 shipped. That’s good for up to $10 off the going rate based on which accessories you opt for and today’s discounted prices return to the lowest we’ve tracked for many of the items in the sale. If you’ve been waiting on the perfect time to get started or expand the capabilities of your smart home, it’s now. Ratings vary, but are very solid across the board.

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In recent years, the fitness tracking movement has really grown in popularity, with Apple Watch and other smart devices offering insight into everything from our sleeping habits to physical activity. One of the lesser known players in the health tracking space was Oura, whose smart ring excelled at sleep monitoring. Now the company is back with a second generation of its ring that can tell you way more than just how well you slept last night.

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Ambient mood lighting systems have been at the forefront of smart home tech adoption, with Philips Hue, Nanoleaf and LIFX leading the pack. These products may seem over the top for some, but Italian design firm Digital Habits has taken things one step further for those who really value the perfectly lit environment. This endeavor has resulted in Color Swing, a lamp that instantly changes lighting based on its surroundings.

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The turkeys have been eaten, gifts are beginning to be purchased and we’re finally entering the holiday season. For many, the lead up to the winter holidays just isn’t enough on its own, with advent calendars being the go-to way for counting down to the Christmas festivities. While we’ve covered our favorite calendars to help you celebrate in the past, LEGO’s annual releases are always one of the most notable and a huge hit with fans.
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November has been one of the biggest months this year for LEGO, with major releases from themes for all brick-building fans. We’ve seen a new lineup of Star Wars sets for the upcoming film, the massive Taj Mahal and a 1950’s Downtown Diner. The LEGO Ideas program played a helping hand this month as well, as it just recently announced the upcoming Tron Light Cycle. Now as a continuation of our previous coverage, we’ll be looking at November’s most noteworthy Ideas models.

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For many, Destiny 2 was one of 2017’s most anticipated game releases. And while fans have been enjoying the sci-fi adventure game for several months now, players will soon have a new way of interacting with the popular MMO. Now thanks to a new Alexa skill, you’ll be able to command your in-game Ghost assistant using just your voice.

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This year’s latest iPhone releases brought the much-anticipated feature of Qi wireless charging to Apple’s smartphone roster. And while we’ve covered our top charging pad picks in the past, Apple’s own AirPower option still seems to be what many are holding out for. A new Kickstarter campaign aims to change that by offering a budget friendly wireless charger for your Apple Watch and iPhone 8/Plus/X at under $30.

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This past year has been one for the books in terms of noteworthy LEGO releases, with many of the most-desired sets coming from the crowd-funded Ideas program. And with 2017 coming to a close, it looks like LEGO still has some interesting mentions. Following this year’s second round of LEGO Ideas review, we’re getting a look at the latest set to hit store shelves; the Tron Legacy Light Cycle.

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Walmart is offering the LEGO Classic Creative Box (10704) for $19.99. You’ll score free shipping on orders over $35 or you can opt for in-store pickup where available. That’s good for $20 and 50% off the regular going rate, matches our mention from Black Friday and is the lowest we’re seeing once again on the set. With 900 assorted bricks, this is a great way to get someone into LEGO or just expand their catalog of pieces.

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Monoprice is offering its 32-inch 4K HDR Slim Desktop Monitor in Gun Metal for $379.99 shipped. That saves you an extra $20 from its Black Friday price, is a new all-time low and good for $70 off the regular going rate. Ratings are light on this monitor, but other models in Monoprice’s lineup are highly-rated.

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The day that shoppers across the nation have been waiting for is almost here, with less than 48 hours until all those Black Friday 2017 deals finally hit. Nomad, one of our favorite Apple accessory makers, is getting in on the discounts as well, offering up to 65% off iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and other gear. The sale ends on November 27th and shipping is an additional $5 on all items. Head below to see what discounts you can score on Nomad’s Apple accessories.

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In the lead up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we’ve seen a quite a few sets trickle in to further excite fans. But with less than a month before the next continuation of the Star Wars saga, LEGO is showcasing a few more kits to build out the lineup.

In this release we’re getting 9 new kits, most of which are directly centered around the new film and include Porgs, microfighters, First Order troops and more. As we get closer to the holidays, these sets will be must-have additions to any LEGO or Star Wars fan’s collection and will make perfect gifts.

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