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Justin Kahn

justinkahnmusic

Justin is the Editor-in-Chief at 9to5Toys. For well-over a decade he has covered everything from video games and smart home devices to iPhone and MagSafe accessories, EDC gear, and just about everything in between. A professional audio engineer/producer, he also specializes in home recording, microphones, digital audio, and streaming gear. See something cool out there? Developing the next viral Apple gear accessory? Or just want to talk deals? Contact him directly at justin@9to5mac.com for tips, pitches, and more.

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Native Instruments launches Sounds.com subscription platform for music producers

Native Instruments has been running the music production software game in a major way for quite some time. Along with some of its more recent hardware offerings like the Kontrol series keyboards and, even more so, the Komplete software bundles, its products have become mainstays for amateur and seasoned producers. Needless to say, the German-based company has been producing some of the best virtual instruments and effects for years and it is now ready to take its content management and library system to the next level.

Today, NI is launching Sounds.com. The new platform is a subscription based service where creators can access thousands of new samples, loops, sound packs and more for a monthly subscription…
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New Monster Hunter World and Glacier White PS4 Pro consoles releasing this month

Sony has just unveiled a pair of new (for the most part) PlayStation 4 editions headed to the US market. While the standard version along with the Destiny 2 and Star Wars Battlefront 2 variants have been on store shelves for a while now, Sony’s high-end machine is getting a new face lift to celebrate a major upcoming release and is going solo with the Glacier White rendition…
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Focusrite unveils new USB-C audio interfaces for Mac ahead of NAMM 2018

With NAMM 2018 just around the corner, we are starting to see some major new music production product announcements. Arturia has been busy unveiling the next generation MiniBrute synthesizers and Universal Audio’s most affordable new Thunderbolt interface is now available for purchase. While the higher-end Universal Audio options rank among our favorites in the price range, Focusrite is also revealing its latest I/O hardware with the new Clarett USB devices
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Arturia unveils the second generation semi-modular MiniBrute 2 synthesizer

(Update 1/17 12:00pm):

French electronic music company Arturia started back in 1999 with some of the best analog emulation products on the market. The company more recently dove head first into the hardware business with its Brute line of analog synthesizers as well as some interesting digital hardware for modular users and the like. Most recently it released its massive flagship Matrix Brute for a cool $2,199, but it looks as though the company is back to focusing its attention on the more affordable and universal end off the product line.

Ahead of NAMM 2018 (kicks off later this month), Arturia has now unveiled the latest hardware product with the MiniBrute 2…
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Nintendo’s New 2DS XL Pikachu Edition handheld is releasing this month

(Update 2/13 1:05pm): The New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition is now available for $159.99 shipped at Amazon, GameStop, Target and more.

Nintendo had a record-breaking 2017 with major new hardware releases and some of the highest rated first-party titles in history. The hybrid Switch console was apparently the highest selling home video game console in U.S. history in its first 10 months on the market, and we all know how fast the SNES Classic Edition flew off store shelves. But the company’s best-in-class handheld division has been pretty busy as well. We saw the new Zelda 2DS for Black Friday, the Poké Ball Edition 2DS XL and the Super Nintendo-themed 3DS handheld, just to name a few. To sum it up, Nintendo has been on fire lately.

After some major new game announcements during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct Mini, including Super Mario Odyssey DLC, Donkey Kong on Switch and Dark Souls Remastered, we now know the New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition is coming later this month…
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Nintendo Switch Direct: Donkey Kong, Mario Odyssey DLC, Dark Souls, much more

The Japanese gaming giant released a new Nintendo Direct today via YouTube. With a shorter run-time than its usual events, today’s broadcast is referred to as a Nintendo Direct Mini. But don’t be fooled by the naming scheme, we got some major new Switch announcements including new Super Mario Odyssey and Pokemon Tournament DX content, Dark Souls: Remastered, Hyrule Warriors, Donkey Kong for Switch and more…
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Aeolus is the beer-fetching, house-cleaning robot of your dreams

Amongst the rollable prototype OLED displays, smart home hubs and live translation headphones of CES, there are always a few amazing little robot helpers. From adorable home companions to futuristic commercial fleets, you can always count on new AI bots to appear in Vegas come January.

One such bot that caught our attention is Aeolus. The large wheeled robot can bring you a drink, sweep the floor, liaison with Amazon’s Alexa and much more…
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Ingestible smart sensors: body/immune system data from the inside out

From smartwatches and basic tracking bands to smart rings and head-mounted gear, wearables are everywhere this year at CES. It seems as though companies are trying to cram smart tech and sensors in to just about anything they can think of these days. But one particular avenue of this kind of technology yet to make its way to the masses is smart, connected “ingestibles”…
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Brilliant controls all your smart home gear from one touchscreen hub + more

These days it can be difficult to get into smart home products with so many different standards and brands out there. Anytime we see universal gear that attempts to bring the whole thing together, regardless of how you have invested your cash already, it’s worth investigating. Brilliant showed up at CES 2018 with what it describes as “the world’s smartest light switch” and so far, it has our attention…
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Coros intros new Omni iOS-connected smart bike helmet w/ bone-conduction audio at CES

Alexa and other virtual assistant technology are certainly all the rage at CES 2018 this year. But we have also seen some interesting wearable technology, not the least of which is the Motiv fitness tracker ring and some of the intersting VR gear that has surfaced. In the midst of all the new product announcements, Coros Wearables is introducing its new Omni smart bike helmet at CES 2018 in a major way…
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Cauldryn battery-equipped travel mug can boil water on-the-go and much more

CES 2018 has been an exciting one this year with crazy new displays, Alexa sound bars, connected luggage and headphones made of illegal gun metal. Another interesting product we spotted this year is the Cauldryn heated travel mug. Cauldryn has been on the scene with its battery laden portable water/coffee system since mid last year and is now ready to expand its next generation tumbler through 2018 with new accessories and add-ons.
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Yevo’s new wireless earbuds are made from illegal firearm metal known as Humanium

CES 2018

We have already seen our fair share of new headphone designs from CES 2018. Sennheiser’s new BeatsX competitors, SOL’s very first foray into the world of over-ear Bluetooth and Mymanu’s Click+ live translation headphones are just some of the interesting headsets to come out of Vegas so far this year. While it might be a while until we see the Eagle head-mounted home theater come to fruition, we are quite excited about the new Audio-Technica QuietPoint over-ears.

One thing we expected to see even more of by now is truly wireless earbuds. But the folks over at Yevo have got us covered with its new headset made of a very special metal known as Humanium.
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Satechi’s customizable Dual Charging Station for iPhone, Apple Watch/Pencil, more

Straight from CES 2018 in Las Vegas, Satechi is revealing its new Smart Dual Charging Station for Apple gear. Satechi has become well-known for quality accessories at a somewhat affordable price tag and its new charging solution is no exception. While it might not be as groundbreaking as we would have hoped for, the sleek looking dual charger is ready for prime time this year and its semi-modular design can accommodate iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple Pencil and more…
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Corsair’s new hybrid mouse pad Qi charger powers up your iPhone wirelessly, more

The Consumer Electronics Show isn’t just about 8K TVs and this magical rollable OLED, it’s also about personal home theaters for your head, fitness tracking rings and new gaming peripherals. Corsair is well known for its hardcore gaming keyboards, mouse pads, mice, headsets and more. The company has showed up at CES 2018 with a few new devices including a wireless gaming keyboard and the interesting new hybrid mouse pad/Qi charger…
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Motiv’s fitness tracking ring gets even smarter with Apple Health & Android support

The Motiv fitness tracking ring is an interesting concept. The small, yet, at least to some, attractive ring can handle much of the same tasks your Fitbit, Apple Watch or other devices of that nature usually take care of. Described as one of the smallest fitness trackers out there, it’s worth looking into for anyone that doesn’t like the wrist-mounted options.

While we have got a good look at the small fitness ring in the past, Motiv has brought some very interesting new features and updates to CES 2018, along with deeper support for Apple Health and Android users.
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LG’s new rollable 65-inch OLED is on display at CES 2018

Well CES has always been the time for the major players in the game to show off the next greatest thing in home theater gear. There’s always that crazy prototype or something along those lines that gives us a quick glimpse into the future. And while LG’s insanely large 88-inch 8K screen has already made headlines, this rollable OLED display is a whole other story…
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TCL showcases first soundbar w/ Roku voice assistant, metal-framed displays, more

TCL has now unveiled new gear for 2018 at CES. We are getting a good look at its new home theater audio solutions as well as the new 5 and 6-series Roku TVs. After getting an early look at Roku’s new virtual assistant and audio tech last week ahead of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, we expected to see at least a few new product announcements make use of the integrated smart technology. TCL is first out of the gate with its new assistant laden Alto Soundbar and metal-framed displays…
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Green Deals: 6-Pack LE Vintage Dimmable Edison LED Bulbs $20, more

$20

Neon Mart (100% positive in the last 12 months from 17,989 ratings) via Amazon is offering a 6-Pack of LE Vintage 4-watt Dimmable Edison LED Bulbs for $20.25 with code 4XCW68UQ. Shipping is free for Prime members or in orders over $25.  That’s around $5 under the going rate and the best we can find. Along with a money-saving 50,000 hour life, these soft white bulbs are rated at 350 lumens of brightness. Rated 4+ stars from over 1,500 Amazon customers.

Other notable Green Deals today include:


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Anker intros a lighter portable PowerHouse battery for $200 less at CES 2018

By now, most 9to5Toys readers are likely familiar with Anker’s PowerHouse 434Wh portable generator/battery. We have featured the device several times and it remains one of our favorites in the product category. The off-grid power supply is a fantastic companion to have for the technologist on-the-go or just simply as a back-up power supply during power outages and potential emergency situations. However, its $500 price tag is still a little too steep for some. Enter the new PowerHouse 200. A smaller, more affordable version of its larger predecessor that has just been announced for CES 2018
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SOL debuts its very first over-ear Bluetooth headphones at CES + much more

SOL Republic is one of those companies that has capitalized on the popularity Beats headphones have carved out over the years. It has successfully created similarly fashionable products while maintaining a big enough price gap from Apple’s flagship drivers to remain competitive. It has been quite a while since we got refreshed cans from the company, but it looks like it is now ready to unveil its latest and greatest for CES 2018
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Ring unveils new home security cams, sensors, outdoor lighting and more at CES 2018

Ring is quickly becoming one of the premiere brands in home security/automation. The company’s doorbell products have been a very popular choice for a while now and were the recipients of deep deals over the Black Friday holiday. With CES in full swing and the recent acquisition of Mr. Beams, Ring is readying a completely refreshed lineup of home security and connected outdoor lighting products for 2018…
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The new Pico Eagle wearable home theater hits CES w/ Lightning OLED Microdisplays

CES coverage is usually dominated by insanely massive TVs, home router systems and just about every kind of smartphone accessory you could imagine. One thing that certainly won’t get as much attention is the Kopin and Pico wearable theater. Yes, you heard that right. You may have seen similar head-mounted home theaters in the past, but this Pico design in combination with Kopin’s new Lightning OLED Microdisplays is looking to take things up a notch…
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Mymanu’s Click+ truly wireless headphones offer live translations for up to 37 languages

There are loads of truly wireless headphones out there that promise the best sound quality with the best fit and a completely wire-free experience. But there aren’t as many that will also offer up live language translations. Google and Bragi both have products that claim to offer up this kind of technology, but it looks as though competition from Mymanu is finally ready for the marketplace…
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Kano makes CES debut with brand new STEM camera kit + more

If it wasn’t already obvious, CES 2018 is now in full swing with product announcements coming from every direction. The new Roav Viva Bluetooth Alexa assistant for your vehicle surfaced this morning, not to mention huge announcements from LG, Roku, Netgear, TiVo and the gorgeous Alexa-enabled Verdera Mirror. When it comes to the world of STEM, we expected to get some announcements courtesy of Kano and that we are..
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Anker brings Alexa and PowerIQ charging to any vehicle with the new Roav Viva

$50

It is CES 2018 week here at 9to5Toys. We have folks on the ground in Vegas bringing you the best-of-the-best from the world’s biggest electronics show. We have already seen some amazing new gear including Kohler’s gorgeous Alexa-enabled Verdera Mirror, Mophie’s 22000mAh powerstation AC, LG’s new 88-inch 8K OLED display and so much more. And now we are looking at Anker’s new Alexa-enabled Bluetooth smart charger for your vehicle…
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XYZ takes 3D printing to the next level at CES 2018: Pen Cool, Nano, more

As more and more CES 2018 announcements surface, we are now getting a look at what XYZPrinting will be showcasing this year. The company is well-known for its 3D printing products and most notably, the affordable price tags that come along with them.

XYZPrinting certainly isn’t going to change the game in 2018, but it does have a refreshed lineup of products that are sure to bring even more users into the world of 3D printing. We are essentially getting 3 updated versions of already existing products starting at under $45 for the company’s new 3D printing pen…
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Today’s Best Game Deals: Overwatch GOTY $28, Call of Duty WWII $38, more

In today’s best game deals, Newegg is offering Overwatch Game of the Year Edition on Xbox One and PS4 for $27.99 shipped. Simply use code EMCPEPU49 at checkout. It currently goes for over $38 on Amazon and this is the best we can find.

Walmart is still offering the Microsoft Xbox One S Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels Console Bundle with Call of Duty Infinite Warfare and Call of Duty WWII for $199 shipped. Regular $280 for the Hot Wheels console alone, this is the current best price we can find on an Xbox One S bundle.

More game/console deals:

ICYMI: Here’s Amazon’s best-selling games of 2017, and the Nintendo Switch is now the fastest selling home console in U.S. history.

Down below you’ll find more console game deals and new products. Your daily iOS/Mac app sales are on the way!
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The LifeProof FRE protective case for iPhone X is now available for purchase

Most of our favorite iPhone X cases and accessories were released late last year, including options from Pad & Quill, Twelve South and more. However, we were still waiting on the entire lineup of new protective cases from LifeProof. The company’s highly protective covers have been keeping our expensive iPhones safe from the elements for years and now the new LifeProof FRĒ for Apple’s high-end handset is available for purchase.
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Nintendo Switch is now the fastest selling home console in U.S. history, more

Switch Online

Last year was a big one for the folks at Nintendo. The massively successful launch of the Switch along with the SNES Classic Edition and some of the best first party titles in history helped propel the company to new heights after the somewhat disappointing Wii U era. Today, Nintendo announced that its latest hardware is now the fastest selling console in U.S. history.
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Netgear extends your Wi-Fi to the backyard w/ the new Orbi Outdoor Satellite

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is just around the corner now. We are already seeing some major announcements from some of the biggest players in the tech world including LG’s massive 88-inch OLED display, GE’s new Siri-enabled smart home gear, Mophie’s high-end powerstation and this year’s fleet of Honda robots. CES brings out the best and brightest in the world of tech with some of the most exciting announcements of the year and you’ll find everything right here on 9to5Toys.

Ahead of this year’s show, Netgear is looking to expand your Wi-Fi across your entire property with the latest addition to its Orbi home networking lineup…
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Fan project adds 80 new levels to New Super Mario Bros, available now

New Super Mario Bros. was released back in 2006 for the Nintendo DS. While being somewhat criticized for its overall simplicity and similarities to previous titles, the game went on to sell nearly 31 million copies, firmly placing it on the best-selling games of all-time list. Like with most Mario titles, fans just couldn’t get enough of the original DS action and have taken it upon themselves to create a bunch of new levels and worlds for the game…
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