Patrick Campanale

Razer has been expanding into new categories lately, with one of the latest being its Nommo speaker line. We reviewed the Nommo Chroma earlier this year and absolutely loved them, but today the Nommo Pro launched and are available for purchase.

The Nommo Pro speakers are similar to Nommo Chroma, but with quite a few extra bells and whistles. You’ll find THX-certification, an added subwoofer, and more on the higher-end Nommo Pro, but is this the speaker set you need? Keep reading to find out more.

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A hot topic lately in the gaming world has been cross-platform playing, and while most manufacturers support this, not everyone is on board. Sony is known for being somewhat hostile toward cross-platform gaming, most notably with Fortnite issues when it comes to those on Nintendo’s Switch.

Well, we might finally get a good resolution out of this. Bethesda, one of the world’s largest game studios, recently was interviewed by Game Informer about its upcoming title The Elder Scrolls: Legends. In the interview, the game studio said it might be looking to pressure companies into allowing cross-platform playing or face the potential of not having the latest Elder Scrolls game released for that system.

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AMD has been on a warpath to take the #1 spot from Intel when it comes to processors. With Ryzen, AMD started to rise to the top again, and Threadripper is a great contender when it comes to high-end desktops. AMD is back at it again with its second generation of Threadripper processors, and the highest-end version is available for purchase starting today.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: Sprint offers the iPhone X for just $5/month, Best Buy’s back to school event offers deep discounts on Apple products, Anker launches its biggest sale of the year, and more…

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DOOM as a game has been around since the early 1990’s and has stayed somewhat relevant throughout the years. First released for MS-DOS, then Sega, SNES, Playstation, Game Boy, Xbox, and eventually making its way to next-gen consoles and even iPhone, this unique game has yet to die throughout the years.

In 2016, it was completely rebuilt and released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Switch followed suit in 2017, and now its time for the next generation to take its flight. Doom Eternal is the sequel to the 2016 reboot and will launch for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One concurrently, and we got a glimpse of some gameplay footage today at QuakeCon 2018. Nintendo Switch was also mentioned, but we’re not 100% sure on the release date there.

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NZXT is well-known in the custom PC world for making quality cases and now motherboards. Another thing NZXT made a name for itself through was custom-themed computer cases. Well, the company is back at it again with a custom H700 to help you survive in a post-nuclear apocalyptic wasteland through the refreshing taste of Nuka-Cola.

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If you have a Thunderbolt 3-enabled device, you’ve likely looked for a Thunderbolt 3 dock. The technology is fantastic, providing insane throughput rates and giving many different options when it comes to features. You can power a device, send (or receive) display information, and have high-bandwidth devices like Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1, and more all over one cable.

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If you ask someone what noise canceling headphones are, generally, you’ll get “Bose” as the answer. The Bose QuietComfort 35 (or QC35s as most refer to them as) are one of the most well-known pairs of noise-canceling headphones in the business. Recently, Bose launched the QC35 II’s with built-in Google Assistant.

Well, today Bose released an update to its Bose Connect app that allows you to change your digital helper from Google’s Assistant to Amazon’s Alexa.

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SWAGTRON brings us another eDevice with the Cali Drift. Known for eBikes and scooters, SWAGTRON is back at it again with a new style of device that really has me intrigued.

I’ve long been someone who enjoys a scooter and skateboard, and have even tried some hybrid devices, but none have ever really caught my attention. The Cali Drift brings the joys of a skateboard with a two-wheel front design with the drifting action of a scooter by only having a single wheel in the back. Powered by a 250W motor, this could be a really fun toy for kids and adults alike.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: B&H launches a massive Back to School sale, Sprint drops the iPhone 8 to just $8 per month, upgrade to the iPhone X for just $20 per month at Best Buy, and more…

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When it comes to online shopping, two companies come to mind. Walmart and Amazon, and both have strengths and weaknesses. Amazon is the go-to for many regular purchases and is generally the best price around. Walmart is one of the best for household goods and groceries, though Amazon is trying to overtake there.

Walmart recently announced its latest venture into online grocery ordering, and it could be a game changer. Alphabot is a robot that will pick your online grocery orders and prepare them for pickup, meaning you spend less time in the shopping giant’s store and workers have to do less, well, work. But is this really the future we want to live in?

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When one thinks of a mechanical keyboard, you might remember the old bulky off-white models that you had in the classroom years ago. Or, if you’re a bit more up-to-date, you might think of the flashy RGB-style gamer-designed versions that are flooding the market as of late.

One thing that generally doesn’t come to mind is a Mac-style keyboard, especially with the way Apple has treated the keys of its latest flagship MacBook Pro with barely any travel at all. In comes the Vinpok Taptek, though an odd name, the keyboard itself looks fantastic with Cherry-style switches and the ability to be used both wired or wirelessly.

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JAM Audio is a well-known brand when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. They’re best known for the Symphony Wi-Fi speaker system that has Alexa built-in, but the company recently completely rebranded itself with new products, a new logo, and more.

With its new brand, JAM Audio is launching not just a few new products, but over 10 new items ranging from waterproof speakers to Bluetooth headphones. One stand-out feature from JAM’s latest speakers is that they will feature 100-ft. range over Bluetooth, which is up from the regular 30-ft. range.

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Destiny is a beloved gaming franchise from Bungie that people play on every platform. I’ve been a huge fan of the series from the first game on my original Xbox One, and now own Destiny 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Destiny 2 was great at the beginning, but quickly flittered out and I lost interested like with the original game.

This is something that Destiny is known for, launching with a fairly decent game that’s fun for a while, but not really becoming a must-play until a few updates later. Well, we’re at those updates, and Destiny 2: Forsaken is just around the corner, promising the “most transformative moment in Destiny 2.”

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The Nintendo Switch is one of the company’s most iconic consoles in years. The last release that people were excited about in a similar fashion could arguably be the Wii, but I’d liken it back to the launch of the GameCube. The GameCube holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first “next-generation” consoles I ever owned. Before I had a PS2, Xbox, or anything else, I had a GameCube.

The controller was most iconic, especially for games like Super Smash Bros. which will be coming out soon on Switch. Nintendo knows this, as do many third-party manufacturers, which is why everyone is launching a GameCube controller for the Switch. PDP is the latest to announce a GameCube-style controller for Switch, and I can’t wait for the release.

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When you hear Pirelli, either you instantly know the company or you’ve never heard of them. I’ve always been a fan, but that’s because I’m big into muscle cars. Pirelli, for those who don’t know, is a tire manufacturer whose products are often used on high-end sports and race cars. When I think of Pirelli, I think of tires…not the company’s latest product.

Pirelli partnered with IXOOST to make a P ZERO Bluetooth speaker. Yes, a Bluetooth speaker from a tire company. The design is what you’d expect, one of Pirelli’s iconic racing wheels used by Formula 1 teams in wind tunnels for scale-sized testing. But a speaker from a tire company? This could become a new trend among companies, and I am totally OK with that.

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I love that everything is getting smart. We have smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs, and even smart speakers. What about when you’re away from home and the pets are left all by their lonesome? Well, that’s where the company gosh! comes in.

The easyPlay is a new-style product that lets you bond with a pet while away from home. It can keep dogs and cats engaged and help keep them preoccupied so no chewing on objects occurs. With cameras, the ability to give treats, and more, easyPlay could be a home-run in the smart pet accessory game.

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Video doorbells have taken home security by storm and have popped up seemingly everywhere. One area that seemingly no one has innovated yet is in powering these doorbells.

Currently, you have to use rechargeable batteries or swap out regular batteries on a constant basis (every several months) to keep the doorbell powered. This isn’t a huge hassle, but should the batteries die while you’re away from home, it could be disastrous. In comes Soliom, a truly wireless doorbell that is powered by the sun so you never have to worry about changing batteries again.

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TP-Link is a household name when it comes to networking technologies. From routers and switches to its latest Kasa smarthome line, the company is well-known in just about every field it takes part in. The Kasa Cam was announced back in September of last year and was a great entry into the smart camera market. Though it was for indoor use only, many people love it and it’s a great value when looking for an all-in-one security camera for your home.

Now, TP-Link has announced its Kasa Cam Outdoor which features an IP65 waterproof rating, 1080p capturing, free two-day cloud storage, and more. This camera could become one of the next big names in smart home security systems with its plethora of features, especially since it’s compatible with both Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant.

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Peak Design is well-known when it comes to photography bags. I have the Everyday Backpack and the Everyday Messenger personally, and carried the Backpack with me every day of CES 2018 while on the floor, in meetings, and traveling between buildings.

The Everyday Backpack I have is the 30L model and fits just about everything I need it to, though it gets quite heavy packed as full as I had it. Part of the reason was I had it overstuffed most of the time, and could really lay everything I needed with me on an average CES day out in that bag well. That’s where Peak Design’s latest Kickstarter for its new Travel Line comes in, bringing a bag that can hold up to 45L and organize everything you need in a much more convenient way.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: You can save $160 on a refurbished iPhone X, Apple’s 27-inch 5K Retina iMac gets $250 discount at B&H, the previous generation 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar 256GB is $400 off, more…

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UltraWide is the new 16×9 when it comes to monitors, but some companies take it to the extreme. Both Samsung and Philips offer a 32:9 49-inch monitor (behemoth, insanity, call it whatever you like), and that’s just too wide. While I love my 21:9 35-inch UltraWide monitor, I’ve been wanting something slightly larger, but not quite as large as the Samsung or Philips 49-inch offering.

Well, Samsung now makes a 32:10 43-inch curved monitor and that seems slightly more manageable. Though the previous Samsung 49-inch was locked at a 1080p resolution, this new 43-inch offering has a slightly higher pixel density with a 3840×1200 resolution. With this higher resolution, a built-in KVM switch, a 120Hz refresh rate, and more, could Samsung’s 43-inch C43J89 be my next monitor?

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Update 9/6 @ 4:50 PM: GameStop currently has this limited edition bundle in stock for pre-orders (release 9/7) at $399.99 shipped or picked up in-store.

Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro is a fantastic console. I bought mine late last year and play it almost daily (when I’m not rebuilding my entire entertainment center…) Well, Sony being Sony, the company is releasing a special edition Spider-Man PlayStation 4 Pro in celebration of the upcoming release of the game. Costing no more than the regular PS4 Pro, this is a must-have for die-hard Spider-Man and Marvel fans alike.

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Microsoft’s Surface Studio is a high-end, high-priced all-in-one computer that has an absolutely beautiful design. But, for those who don’t want to spring for the high-priced Surface Studio, there’s always the Surface Pro. Being a portable tablet, this device features similar styling to the Surface Studio but at a fraction of the cost, though it’s a tablet and not desktop.

Kensington, a long-trusted accessory manufacturer, recently released the SD7000 Dual 4K Surface Pro Docking Station that essentially makes your Surface Pro into a Surface Studio when at your desk. With multiple port options like USB, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, and more, this is a great all-in-one docking solution for your Surface Pro when at a desk.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: Best Buy takes $150 off latest 2018 MacBook Pro for students, Logitech’s Base charging stand for iPad Pro gets discounted to $70, T-Mobile launches BOGO iPhone/Samsung/LG deals for back-to-school, more…

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Wyze Cam has become a fan-favorite around here. With prices starting at $26 shipped from Amazon, local storage, free cloud storage, and the latest model featuring both pan and tilt functions, these are must-haves for anyone building a smart home on a budget.

One area that Wyze lacked in was smart assistant connectivity. Be it HomeKit, Assistant, or Amazon’s Alexa, there was no tie-in for Wyze at all. That is, until now. Announced today, Wyze Cams will now work flawlessly with Amazon’s Alexa service.

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Amazon’s Echo Show and Echo Spot have garnered mixed reviews, from people not sure if they want to put an all-knowing camera in their home to those who absolutely loved it because it gave them their beloved Echo with a built-in display. The Echo Show, however, is somewhat limited (and normally expensive).

Until now, the Echo Show or Spot have been the only way to get Alexa on a screen (besides using Fire TV). However, Amazon recently released the Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 8 and it offers one of the best ways to experience Alexa on the big screen, in my opinion.

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T-Mobile is currently offering a large sale on smartphones for back-to-school. Headlined by buy-one-get-one FREE iPhone X/8/7/Plus when porting in a new line of service and trading in a device, you can save up to $700 with this offer. Starting next week, T-Mobile will also be discounting the iPhone 6S to under $100 (with a total discount of over $300), but specific pricing is yet-to-be-announced.

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As display technology has progressed, our streaming devices have been playing catch-up. Nintendo still doesn’t support 4K, and the Xbox One S/Xbox One X has only supported HDR10 so far, with no Dolby Vision support in sight…until now.

In an upcoming update to the Xbox One software, Dolby Vision will finally be released. As it stands right now, no major gaming console supports Dolby Vision, as the PS4 Pro still only supports HDR10.

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Air quality is a big deal in many cities. The air we breath can be full of contaminants, dust-born particles, or might just be a poor temperature for an activity we’re performing (productivity, sleep, etc.) Awair launched in late 2016 with its Glow product that featured the ability to provide live air quality monitoring in a standalone package.

The latest product from Awair doesn’t have any fancy name and is just called the “Awair 2nd Edition”. This new air quality monitor packs a ton of features into a uniquely designed small cabinet to deliver everything on a dot-style display, bringing both function and acting as a great desk accessory.

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SWAGTRON has launched several awesome looking electronic bikes and scooters. Its latest release, the EB1 Electric Bike, is a compact aluminum offering that features a powerful 250 Watt motor and can reach speeds of over 12 MPH.

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Gaming chairs have started to take the PC gaming world by storm. With car racing inspired design, these chairs can both vary in price, function, and feature set. Most gaming chairs are around $250-500 and are seen as a higher-end option to regular chairs, but lower-priced options compared to buying something like a Herman Miller.

High-end office furniture is never cheap, and some office chairs, like Herman Miller, can go for upwards of $1,000 or more. What if you’re on more of a budget and still want to get good lumbar support, fully adjustable armrests, and comfort for long gaming sessions? That’s where Respawn comes in. Its latest RSP-300 gaming chair is a reclining option with a fully mesh back and seat, plus tons of other feature you’d generally only find on higher-end models.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: Apple’s AirPods drop to $140 shipped, the iPad Pro 10.5-inch 512GB gets a major discount, Amazon officially announced Prime Day, more…

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Using a stylus with your smart device, be it iPhone, iPad, Android, or even touch screen laptop, is one of the best ways to get accurate touch input. Apple has its official Apple Pencil for the iPad, and Google has its Pixel Pen for the Pixel Book, but if you don’t have either of those devices, then a standard stylus is your best bet.

Adonit announced its Snap 2 Fine Point Bluetooth Stylus today and it comes with a unique button that could be handy for users: a remote shutter. This will let you trigger the camera of your smartphone or tablet, giving you an easy way to capture a picture without physically touching your device.

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The Xbox One July Update just started rolling out today, and along with it come several very welcomed additions. FastStart and grouping are both included in this new update, with the former being my favorite addition.

We all have a horror story of day 1 updates to games or picking up our favorite title from a massive sale and being hit with a massive download size, only to realize it’ll be hours before you can start playing. FastStart can help remedy this on select titles, with that list growing as the exclusive-to-Xbox service gets more popular.

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Seagate has long been a go-to company when it comes to computer storage. A storage company for over 30 years, Seagate has produced some of the world’s most-used hard drives. The company hasn’t had a consumer-focued solid state drive in years, but that changes today.

Generally if you buy a Seagate drive it’s a regular platter-based hard drive or an SSHD hybrid drive that combines regular platters with a smaller portion of solid state storage to give you the best of both worlds. With its recently-announced BarraCuda Solid State Drives, however, Seagate is finally back in the SSD game and enters with fairly competitive pricing.

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T-Mobile is currently running a promotion that lets you get an Apple Watch Series 3 at 50% off after buying one at full price. This discount will save you $200 off of a 38mm Apple Watch and $215 off of a 42mm. Though not the best deal we’ve tracked historically, it’s currently the lowest available for an Apple Watch. Your discount will come in the form of 24 monthly bill credits and you must activate qualifying service to be eligible for the discount.

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Nerf was one of my favorite pastimes as a child. Running around the yard with blasters and pockets full of darts while wearing vests that they stuck to will forever be ingrained in my mind as wonderful memories. Another great experience I had as a kid was laser tag. Though systems were generally too pricey to use at home, I always enjoyed outings that allowed me to play that wonderful game.

Nerf has now combined the two system, as it’s done before, but this time using smartphone-based gameplay and even giving users a single player mode, something that most laser tag sets lacked. There’s not always other person to play with, so a single player mode is really welcomed here. Dubbed the Laser Ops Pro line, Nerf’s new system could help children create great memories like mine once again.

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In this week’s Best of 9to5Toys: We take a look at 1byone’s GoSho Mini HD projector, showcase some great summer game night ideas for the entire family, Spigen’s Classic iPhone X case hits its lowest price on Amazon ever, more…

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When it comes to car infotainment systems, stock units are rarely good. For years, you had regular knobs, buttons, and small screens to show you what radio station or CD track you were listening to. Fast forward to today and companies are building GPS into car radios, though the interface is never pretty, and they often feel difficult to navigate.

Alpine, an industry leader, has always produced solid car receivers, and recently has been stepping its game up with better interfaces, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and more with its offerings. The latest head unit from Alpine, dubbed the iLX-F309 HALO9, is one of the nicest I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, with a capacitive 9-inch touchscreen, built-in light sensor for dimming, dedicated GPS antenna, and more. This car radio has it all.

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Razer is becoming one of the larger gaming peripheral brands, and also gaming computer brands, on the market. With its recent upgrading of the Razer Blade 15, the company has poised itself to dominate the PC gaming market in 2018.

I have long used Razer gaming peripherals for price, quality, and feature set. Razer Synapse, the company’s computer-based controller software for its peripherals, is one of the better programs on the market when it comes to configuring RGB, macro, and other keyboard, mice, and peripheral features. Razer today announced its latest keyboard line, which is the first Opto-Mechanical offering, dubbed the Huntsman and Huntsman Elite.

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