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Tested: Acer Aspire Vero 15 packs a premium Windows laptop in an eco-conscious design

an open laptop computer sitting on top of a wooden table

Acer today unveiled its latest eco-friendly laptop in the Acer Aspire Vero 15, coming soon for $700, with high-end specs and a recycled plastic body, and we’ve had a chance to spend some time with it ahead of the full launch.

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Where to pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 and get the best deal

Samsung’s foldable smartphones are a bit less pricey than earlier iterations, but they’re still expensive smartphones. Thankfully, Samsung and its partners offer some of the best deals on pre-orders in the business – here’s where to pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.

Samsung will fix your Galaxy smartphone’s cracked screen for just $50 this month

We’ve all broken a screen at some point or another, and it’s not a particularly cheap fix. For a limited time, though, Samsung will repair a cracked screen on a Galaxy smartphone for just $50.

Samsung will give you $1,200 & a Galaxy Watch 4 for your cracked phone if you get a Galaxy Z Fold 3 [U]

Even though the Fold 4 is right around the corner, Samsung is currently offering up a bonus for anyone interested in buying a Galaxy Z Fold 3, with enhanced trade-in credits of up to $1,200 and a free smartwatch.

Hisense’s new Android TVs start at $499, include the first ‘OLED-level’ Dual Cell TV coming to the US

During the Joel McHale-hosted, best tech event of all time today, Hisense unveiled its 2021 lineup of ULED TVs, most of which are running on top of Google’s Android TV platform. Here’s what you need to know.

Stadia Premiere Edition w/ controller, Chromecast gets $40 discount ahead of FIFA 21

Google Stadia works on the hardware you already own, but the experience is best with a Stadia Controller and a Chromecast Ultra. Now, just in time for the debut of EA’s FIFA 21 on the platform, Stadia Premiere Edition is getting a $40 discount.

Stadia’s $10 coupon expires tonight as holiday sale slashes prices storewide [U]

Google has pushed out quite a few freebies on Stadia in an effort to get players on the service, one of the most notable being a $10 coupon for anyone who tried the platform. That $10 Stadia coupon is set to expire next week on January 1, but luckily, anyone who hasn’t used it now has a great reason to take advantage of the discount.

Samsung’s new Smart Monitors offer native apps, Apple AirPlay from $229

Samsung has just debuted a new set of monitors that go beyond just displaying a connected device. Samsung’s new Smart Monitors offer native apps such as Netflix and YouTube along with support for Apple AirPlay and Microsoft Office.

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Fitbit Sense debuts w/ ECG, advanced health tracking, Google Assistant for $329

While Google’s acquisition of Fitbit sits in limbo, Fitbit is today launching three new pieces of hardware. The Fitbit Sense is the company’s latest flagship smartwatch and it packs some seriously impressive health hardware to rival the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.

[Update: Back again] Spotify Premium subscribers can get a free Google Home Mini

Over the past year, there have been a few promotions to get a free Google Home Mini from Spotify, and now that offer is back on the table. New Spotify subscribers can once again pick up a free Google Home Mini for a limited time.

Hands-on: Razer Blade Stealth (2019) offers desktop power in a compact package

Razer is best known as a gaming company, but its products have more extensive use than that. Over the past few years, the company’s Windows laptops have proved not just some of the best gaming laptops, but also some of the best devices for content creators. Lately, I’ve been using the new Razer Blade Stealth (2019) – a 13-inch laptop with a powerful GPU inside, and I’ve got a few thoughts to share.

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Microsoft prepares public preview of its Google Stadia competitor, Project xCloud

Game streaming is poised to make some big changes to the industry over the next few years, and Google Stadia is helping to lead the charge. Now, Microsoft’s “Project xCloud” is accepting sign-ups for a public preview of the platform.

Behind the Screens: Peak Design’s 45L Travel Backpack is my new favorite travel solution after a CES trip

The new year is here, and that means we’re kicking things off yet again with CES. This is my fourth year attending the show, and I’ve had the pleasure of testing out some great new gear on my trip. Here’s how the Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack helped me manage the insanity of the show floor.

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LG’s 2019 TV lineup brings Google Assistant, new chipsets, HDR, OLED, and up to 8K resolution

Ahead of CES 2019, LG is revealing more of its upcoming products for the new year. Following some soundbars earlier this week, we’re now getting a look at the company’s new TVs equipped with Google Assistant.

Hands-on: Huawei Matebook X Pro is one of the best laptops to buy this Black Friday

$150 $1,349

There are a ton of great options out there for an excellent laptop nowadays, and plenty of them will be on sale this week for Black Friday. Over the past several months I’ve been using Huawei’s Matebook X Pro as my primary laptop. Here are a few reasons why it’s one of the best laptops you can buy for Black Friday.

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YouTube officially lands on Nintendo Switch today, available for download now

The Nintendo Switch has been a smashing success, but where games are landing left and right, video apps are a rarity. After Hulu’s debut last year, an official YouTube Nintendo Switch app has just been unveiled and it’s already available for download.

Get a free Google Home Mini w/ Nvidia Shield TV this month ($49 value)

Android TV’s current flagship device is still the Nvidia Shield TV, and the popular set-top box adds a lot through its Google Assistant integration. Now, Nvidia is tossing in a special treat for new Shield TV buyers – a free Google Home Mini.

TP-Link’s new Kasa smart power strip lets you control each plug w/ Alexa or Assistant for $79

With smart speakers such an Amazon Echo or a Google Home, controlling your smartphone is one of the handiest ways to use it. Today, TP-Link has announced a new smart power strip for home control, and it’s pretty awesome…

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Hands-on w/ the gorgeous Spider-Man Limited Edition PS4 Pro and where to buy it [Gallery]

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One of this year’s most hyped up games has been Insomniac’s Spider-Man and today, the game has officially gone on sale. To celebrate the launch, Sony has created a limited edition version of the PS4 Pro, so let’s take a little hands-on look…

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Lenovo’s Smart Home Essentials lineup works with Alexa & Assistant, starts at $29

IFA 2018 is in full swing and today, Lenovo has a ton of new products to unveil. Included in the company’s lineup is a new collection of smart home accessories which start at just $30.

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Sony’s latest noise-canceling headphones will take aim at Bose w/ Assistant + USB-C charging

I love using noise-canceling headphones to block out the world around me, and over the past several months, Sony’s WH-1000XM2 has been my go-to option. Now, Sony is revamping those with the WH-1000XM3 — and they pack some big upgrades.

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Marc Jacobs launches minimalist ‘Riley’ Wear OS smartwatch, shipping now for $295

Wear OS is still in a bit of a rut as far as hardware goes, but plenty of fashion brands have been releasing new devices from time to time. Now, with its first touchscreen smartwatch, Marc Jacobs is jumping into the Wear OS market.

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Polk Assist is a new Google Assistant smart speaker ‘built for the love of music’

The selection of Google Assistant speakers has grown massively over the past year, with a speaker available for any setup. Now, Polk Audio is jumping into the ring with its new Polk Assist speaker…

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Sony Xperia Ear Duo launches on May 25th in the US for $279

Back at CES, Sony showed off a few new phones, but what really caught my attention were the company’s new Xperia Ear Duo concept headphones. Today, the company has officially announced pricing and availability details for these new headphones.

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Mobvoi TicPods Free are truly wireless earbuds w/ touch gestures and a $129 price tag

Truly wireless earbuds have been hitting the market left and right for the past couple of years, and most agree that the best are Apple’s AirPods. Today, Chinese wearable maker Mobvoi, the company behind the Ticwatch family, is taking a stab at it with the new TicPods Free.

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Behind the Screens: Ben Schoon’s custom PC blogging and video workspace

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Behind the Screens is a weekly 9to5Toys series that takes you through our writers’ setups, be it mobile, desktop, gaming or home theater. Next up is Ben Schoon, a 9to5Google writer.

My workspace has evolved a lot over the years, but now that I’ve recently moved to a larger home, I finally have the flexibility I’ve always wanted for producing content on 9to5Google.

Unlike many of my colleagues here at the 9to5 network, my setup is based around a desktop computer powered by *gasp* Windows 10. While none of them agree with me on OS preference, it has long been the core of my daily work, and has ended up inspiring a lot of my setup as a result.

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Valve’s ‘Bridge Constructor Portal’ hits PC/mobile December 20 – Switch, more early 2018

Portal is a beloved gaming franchise for many, and while fans still want a proper sequel to the game’s last release, it’s probably not happening anytime soon. Luckily, Portal is making a return, but by means of Bridge Constructor.

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Bose QuietComfort 35 II go official with Google Assistant built-in, available today for $349

Some of the most popular noise-canceling headphones on the market for the past year or so have been the Bose QuietComfort 35. Today, the company is refreshing that product with a new button and integration with Google Assistant.

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Review: Nyko’s ChargeBlocks keep your Nintendo Switch controllers ready for action

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One of my favorite things about the Nintendo Switch is the versatility it offers. With the system, you aren’t limited to just one method of control, but rather have several different options for playing your favorite games. However, you’ll still need to keep everything charged. Thanks to Nyko, it’s incredibly easy to do just that.

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Fluance AB40 SoundBase Review: Bass you won’t believe

For most of us, the TV is where we spend more time than anywhere else when it comes to entertainment, and a huge part of the experience with your favorite movies, video games, and especially music comes down to the audio.

There are two ends of a spectrum when it comes to your TV audio experience. On one hand, there’s the speaker built into your TV, and on the other, expensive surround sound systems. Sound bars have proven to be a great middle ground, but Fluance’s SoundBase takes that idea to a whole new level.

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Sony’s Google Assistant smart speaker looks just like Apple’s HomePod, but for $199

Following Google Assistant’s hardware SDK from earlier this year, third-parties are finally stepping into the smart speaker game with their own hardware. Today at IFA 2017, Sony has announced its first smart speaker, and it has some, familiar attributes.

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Hands-on with Colorware’s custom controllers for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4

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Making a console your own isn’t something all that difficult. You could get a skin to customize it, but at the end of the day that doesn’t feel quite as natural, especially with a controller. You might lose grip or even some of the shape that the controller once came with. Thanks to Colorware, though, there’s a better way…

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Schlage smart locks now work with Android devices, available from $200

$30 $200

Smart home tech is rapidly growing in popularity, and there’s also a ton of new options hitting the market. Schlage has had its Sense smart home locks on the market for a couple of years now, and today it finally adds compatibility with Android devices.

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Google offering up to 60% off select Daydream VR games this week, from $2

From 9to5Google:

Daydream VR is easily at the top of the list when it comes to mobile VR, and the content library for Google’s platform continues to expand. Now, Google is offering a Summer Sale which gives a handful of Daydream titles discounts of up to 60% off.

Motorola’s Gamepad Moto Mod costs $80, available for pre-order now at Verizon

Launching alongside the Moto Z2 Force is Motorola’s new Gamepad Moto Mod. Unveiled back at MWC, this Mod attaches to your phone and enables a set of physical gaming controls. Unlike a Bluetooth controller, this method ditches all of the lag, and also gives the phone a few extra hours of power thanks to the embedded battery.

It’s probably not a good idea to buy that $230 Nexus 6 today, but here are some alternatives

Of Google’s various Nexus phones, one of my favorites was 2014’s Nexus 6. The “shamu” that it was, it turned out to be a pretty spectacular phone, and one that is still in use in my family. However, today’s Amazon Gold Box deal that cuts the price to $230 isn’t the best idea. Here’s why.

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Hands-on: Incase’s camera bags are perfect for summer photography, drone and all

$149

Summer is in full swing and with it, some awesome opportunities for photography. For those of us looking to get that perfect shot, it usually requires taking a camera or two, our favorite assortment of lenses, some spare batteries, and maybe even a drone.

That’s not exactly an easy group of things to carry on a hike, not without the right backpack, that is. Recently I’ve been testing out Incase’s new DSLR Pro Pack and Capture Sling Pack, two bags that are ideal companions to your camera and even your drone.

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Fandango offering $3 off any movie ticket with Android Pay checkout

Google regularly works with partners to offer up deals for Android Pay users and its latest deal works with Fandango to celebrate the addition of Android Pay checkout to the service’s Android application.

Huawei Matebook X Review: a sleek and powerful Windows ultrabook [Video]

Huawei has proven it is a very capable company when it comes to smartphones, but few of the company’s other products have ever taken off. Its tablets have never been super popular, and its first Windows device, the Huawei Matebook, wasn’t exactly impressive.

I can honestly say that when it came to a Windows machine, Huawei was the last place I expected to find something I could enjoy using day to day. That is, until Huawei announced its second generation of Windows devices. Over the past month I’ve been using the “flagship” of that collection, the Huawei Matebook X, and it’s been one of the best Windows experiences I’ve ever had…

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Google Play hosting storewide sale with $1 movie rentals, up to 80% off some content

Up to 80%

Google Play is trying out something new this year — a storewide Summer sale starting today with deals across all of Google Play’s content. That includes movies, music, games, apps, subscriptions, and more all running through the middle of this month.

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Colorware now offers a gorgeous special edition ‘Joy Con Classic’ for your Nintendo Switch

$199

Nintendo has a long history of designs that stand the test of time and the company’s retro design especially hold a soft spot in the eyes of gaming fans. Today Colorware has revealed a new custom set of Joy Cons for the Switch designed to the tune of a classic Nintendo console and they’re absolutely gorgeous.

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Nyko announces the first portable HDMI dock for Nintendo Switch w/ new chargers and cases

Nintendo is kicking off its presence at E3 this morning with a bunch of new games for its console, but Nyko has quietly made some big announcements for the console as well in the form of several new accessories. While chargers, cases, and controllers are all included here, Nyko’s biggest reveal is the first portable HDMI dock for the Switch, and it all releases in the coming weeks.

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Samsung offering Galaxy S8 BOGO deal that doesn’t involve annoying monthly credits

The Galaxy S8 is the best phone Samsung has ever made, and it’s easily one of the best Android devices ever made. However, that comes at a cost. For the base Galaxy S8, you’ll need to fork over at least $750, which is no small number for any phone, and that only gets worse when you’re buying a couple within a family. Now, Samsung is making it easier to pick up its latest flagship with an excellent deal on its website.

Mophie’s new Galaxy S8/S8+ cases add up to 3,300mAh of extra power for $99, available now

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are two of the best phones you can buy today, but they don’t pack the best battery life, especially in the case of the smaller S8. Both should get most people through a day, but that’s about it. Thankfully, Mophie has a solution with its new battery cases for both phones.

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Review: Colorware’s painted JoyCons add a unique and personal touch to Nintendo Switch [Video]

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The Nintendo Switch is the toy I’ve been playing with non-stop from the day I bought it. If I’m not writing about the latest in Android over at 9to5Google, I’m obsessively looking for shrines in Breath of the Wild or making my way through a Grand Prix in MarioKart 8: Deluxe.

When I picked up my Nintendo Switch, all that was available was the standard looking gray option. It works, but it’s pretty generic. Then, I decided to pick up a set of neon JoyCons to give the console a bit of color, since skins just don’t work with it. However, neon just didn’t feel like me, I wanted something more personal. That’s when Colorware announced that it was extending its services to the Switch. Needless to say, I got pretty excited and now, I’ve got a set of custom JoyCons that are exactly what I wanted with the Switch.

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VIZIO’s wireless soundbar packs Chromecast built-in for $250, Google Assistant compatibility

VIZIO is no stranger to the world of Google Cast, with the company offering multiple speakers and TVs with the functionality built-in. Now, VIZIO is back at it with a new soundbar that offers up Chromecast built-in for an affordable price, along with Google Assistant compatibility.

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Nvidia hosting Spring Sale for Shield devices, offering up to 66% off select games

Nvidia’s collection of Android-powered hardware offers up a gaming experience you can’t get on any other Android device, but games are obviously the biggest part of making that successful. Until April 16th, Nvidia Shield users have a chance to pick up some sweet deals on various games for their Shield tablets, handhelds, or set-top boxes.

Review: Waterfield Designs CitySlicker case for Nintendo Switch

Without a doubt the best aspect of the Nintendo Switch is the ability to bring it along with you wherever you go. However, since the entire device is a bit scratch-prone, you’ll probably want to carry it around in a case. If you’re looking for something premium, or just gorgeous, look no further than the CitySlicker case from Waterfield Designs.

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