When I’m not working on building custom computers or fixing phones, I love to write about technology. I’m always looking out for the best deal on any tech I can get my hands on, so one day I decided, “Why not write about it?!” You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @pcamp96, though I’m way more active on Twitter. If you’ve got a tip to an awesome deal, go ahead and drop me a line at patrick@9to5mac.com!
If you’ve been wondering what to get next for your Xbox One, we’re here to help. We have experience when it comes to accessories, and are here to give you our top 5. From controllers to charging stations, we’ve got it all in today’s roundup, so keep reading to find out what our top 5 Xbox One accessories are.
I have to say, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller has to be one of my favorite controllers to date. I love the layout, feel, weight, and it has USB-C. Honestly that last part is enough to make it my favorite controller, but it’s really got a fantastic layout that I love to use. Sadly, the controller is limited to use on the Switch, well, until today…
Amazon recently announced its Echo Dot for Kids lineup, and today BANDAI NAMCO released a PAC-MAN Stories Alexa skill. This new skill will enable families to enjoy a fun, interactive experience with Alexa about the world-renowned PAC-MAN.
Amazon’s Echo lineup has taken the world by storm. Personally, I have 4 of these devices around my home (along with HomePod and Google Home devices, but we’ll ignore that for this post.) But, one thing about the Echo (or any other smart speaker) is that generally, you’re limited to one place for use.
Sure, Amazon has the Echo Tap to bring with you on trips, but it doesn’t have always listening and is fairly limited in the sound department. That’s where Nintey7 comes in. The company specializes in making battery bases for smart speakers, and they just launched the SKY Battery Base for Echo 2.
Rumor has it, Amazon Prime members will soon be receiving new perks at Whole Foods. Since the online shopping giant purchased the health food store, Amazon has been giving its Prime members more and more reasons to shop there.
The latest perks? Potentially 10% off already discounted prices, exclusive sales, and more.
RAM is essential for any computer, and RAM choice is especially important in custom gaming builds. What used to be ugly green sticks that no one wanted to look at are now beautiful designs covered with heat shields. Now, some even come in RGB flavors.
Until now, if you had RGB RAM it would take software to sync it up, and even then getting each stick in perfect synchronization was nearly impossible. HyperX changed the game with a CES 2018 announcement of its Predator DDR4 RGB RAM, which is available for purchase starting today.
Herman Miller is known for its high-end office furniture. I have one of the company’s office chairs, and will never go without one at this point. Now, Herman Miller is offering office bundles that include a full setup from chair to desk that will get you up and going in no-time flat with quality products.
Just last night we covered Amazon is raising its prices for Prime’s annual membership from $99 to $119. Well, if you want to keep that $99 price before it goes up, here’s how.
During today’s Amazon 2018 Q1 earnings call, the online shopping behemoth announced it would be raising prices of its annual Prime membership to $119 from the current $99 price point. Is the service still worth it?
The Amazon Echo has really taken the world by storm. The smart home hub is finding its way into millions of homes across the world and just today got an update that will make it even more user-friendly. Available now, Amazon is offering an Echo Dot Kids Edition alongside the launch of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited on Alexa.
Displays are ever-improving these days. Just earlier today, we reported on Samsung’s latest technology that gives massive 32-foot 4K screens for theaters to use instead of a normal projector. Well, Philips is here with its latest and greatest, bringing us the world’s first HDR1000 certified monitor.
eBikes seem to be taking the world by storm lately. We just recently reviewed a budget-focused eBike, and now it’s time to take a look at one that’s a little higher up on the price and feature scale. We covered the launch of Rad Power Bikes’ 2018 lineup, and have since had a chance to go hands-on with the 2018 RadCity.
When it comes to finding the perfect accessories for your gaming console, it can sometimes be a hassle. Being sure you get something that’s compatible, functional, and not junk without breaking the bank is never easy, but that’s where we come in!
This guide will give you 5 great things to buy for your PlayStation 4 in a few different categories, that way you know what’s good to get if you’re looking for a specific type of accessory. Read on for more details.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about PaMu, unique wireless earphones on Indiegogo that start at $29. Well, we were able to get our hands on a pair of PaMu’s headphones to let you know if they’re worth it, even at the $29 price point. After a week of testing, it seems PaMu could give the current truly wireless headphones out there a run for their money. Read on for our full first impressions.
$600
Best Buy has the Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch Laptop with 2.5GHz/8GB/256GB SSD and an 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti for $599.99 shipped. Normally $800, this laptop goes for around $700 at retailers like Newegg right now. This is one of the best prices we’ve tracked for a gaming laptop like this in a while. This is the perfect computer for someone who wants to get their feet wet in PC gaming without going all-in on a custom built desktop. With its 4GB GTX 1050Ti dedicated graphics card, this laptop should play most games at medium to high settings fairly well on the built-in 1080p screen. Rated 4.1/5 stars on Amazon.
Amazon and Best Buy. Two companies I shop at all the time, but two companies that I never thought would partner up. The two technology giants are teaming up to offer the Fire TV Edition, which will be a line of TVs from Toshiba and Insignia that have Fire TV and Alexa built-in. More below.
Bang & Olufsen is a well-known name when it comes to higher-end audio gear. The company’s Beoplay line is becoming vaster in its offerings and is expanding even further today with the announcement of the Beoplay P6 Bluetooth speaker.
This speaker has numerous features and is set to be a great accessory to keep with you as summer quickly approaches. From its gorgeous styling to sound that’s tried and true from years of practice at Bang & Olufsen, this speaker is designed to be the centerpiece of any event.
Amazon seems to be king of the playground when it comes to delivery services. Offering free two-day, one-day, and sometimes same-day delivery in many areas across the US for its Prime members, Amazon really is king when it comes to getting products to you on a short time-table.
Many companies are trying to figure out how to combat this, like Walmart offering free two-day shipping on many items when you spend $35 or more. Last year, Target launched a free two-day shipping program on thousands of items to try to compete with Amazon, and today Target announced its plans to offer same-day store-to-home delivery in certain markets.
From $600
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Woot via Amazon offers a number of certified refurbished HP Omen gaming computers on sale from $600. Our top pick from the sale is the HP OMEN 17.3-inch Gaming Laptop with 2.8GHz i7/12GB/1TB HDD and an 8GB Radeon RX580 GPU (17-AN012DX) for $849.99 shipped. Originally $1,200, this laptop goes for closer to $1,050 in new condition at retailers like Best Buy now. If you’ve been looking for a powerhouse of a computer in a portable form factor, this is a great option. Rated 4.6/5 stars at Best Buy. Shop the entire sale here.
When it comes to computer processors, AMD has taken second-chair to Intel for about the past decade. Last year, AMD launched its Ryzen CPU platform. Offering more cores and better performance than Intel’s CPU lineup at the time, AMD easily took the stage and came back with a vengeance.
I used to never recommend AMD personally, and Ryzen changed that. I have built countless machines with this new architecture and it never disappoints. We even user Ryzen 5 CPU in our budget gaming build that we recently completed. Today, AMD announced updated Ryzen processors with new price points that are bound to fit just about every budget.
Nanoleaf is a well-known company when it comes to specialized smart lighting for your home. Razer is also a well-known brand that makes beautiful PC accessories that also have special lighting. Why are we mentioning these two seemingly random companies in the same article? Because they recently joined forces to make your regular lighting extend away from just your desk while gaming on your PC.
Earlier this year, Razer announced its partnership with Philips Hue to extend its Razer Synapse RGB software off of your desk and around the room, giving a more immersive gaming experience. But now, Nanoleaf is joining the party, and I really like where Razer’s new direction is headed.
From $65Best Buy is offering several BeatsX and Powerbeats3 headphones in Geek Squad Certified Refurbished condition on sale from $65. You can pick up BeatsX in black or white for $64.99 shipped. Also available in blue and gray for $69.99 shipped. Originally $150, these headphones still fetch as much at Amazon right now with this being one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen offered. Rated 3.8/5 stars from over 1,400 at Amazon.
One thing that the Xbox One has over its PlayStation counterpart is backward compatibility. Though not all games are backward compatible with the Xbox One, Microsoft is making tons of original Xbox and Xbox 360 games work on its latest Xbox One platform. April looks to be a great month for compatibility launches, so head below for more information on new titles launching this month.
Ikea is known for “some assembly required” affordable furniture, but now, the housing megastore is selling Bluetooth speakers. Ikea literally made just about everything besides speakers before. I mean, you can walk into the store and buy everything, even the kitchen sink.
I have several Ikea items in my office/studio, from the company’s Alex drawer units to Linnmon desks, I love Ikea’s affordable home solutions. The Eneby Bluetooth speaker comes in two sizes and two colors, 8×8-inches or 12×12-inches, and either white or black fabric. But, what makes these speakers something to get? Let’s take a closer look.
Displays are constantly getting higher quality panels, faster refresh rates, and it seems that they are always growing. AOC just announced its latest monitor, which features a 35-inch UltraWide screen, 1800R curve, 1440p resolution, 120Hz G-Sync, and more. Read on to find out if this should be your next battle station upgrade.
If you haven’t heard of NVMe yet, well, let me give you some great news. It’s quickly becoming the new standard for SSD storage and I’m stoked about that. NVMe is no longer SATA powered and has quite a bit more bandwidth than previous drives could utilize. Western Digital is finally taking proper advantage of this with its new WD Black NVMe SSDs the company just recently announced.
HP is a name that everyone likely knows when it comes to laptops. The company launched its x360 line a few years ago that featured both budget and high-end convertible laptops. Well, recently HP announced the next step for its x360 line: the ZBook Studio x360. With workstation specs, the ZBook Studio x360 is “the world’s most powerful convertible PC” according to HP.
Desktop speakers are generally not thought of as a “pretty” accessory. They can look good, sure, but they’re not usually the most beautiful part of a setup. However, Razer decided to change that. At CES 2018, Razer announced its Nommo line of speakers, and we have spent some time with the Chroma version to let you know what we think.
At $150, Nommo Chroma is on the higher-end of “normal” desktop speaker pricing, but with built-in RGB lighting, unique design, and fantastic sound, I cannot recommend Nommo Chroma enough. Read on for our full review.
Dell is known for owning Alienware, the gaming computer company. Alienware computers are great and powerful, though sometimes a little too flashy and expensive. Some people don’t want to drop thousands of dollars on a gaming computer, or maybe they don’t want something that looks like it just came off of a spaceship.
That’s where Dell’s new G line of laptops comes in. With the G3, G5, and G7 computers, Dell is delivering mid- to high-end performance at prices that won’t completely break the bank. With starting prices of around $750, this new series of computers should be great for someone who just wants higher-end performance without the higher-end price.
From $9Nordstrom Rack currently has a huge sale on Incase products. Our top pick is the Metallic Level iPhone 7 Case for $12.97 with free shipping in orders of $100+. Normally $50, this is one of the best prices we’ve tracked and the lowest available. Incase is well-known here at 9to5 and is often our top pick when it comes to protecting your devices. Generally, Incase products are well-rated on Amazon.
If you’ve ever hauled a trailer, then you know the pain of moving said trailer once it’s off of your vehicle. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dropped a trailer or hurt my back when moving something heavy. It’s always hard to maneuver larger trailers, too. Getting them to turn, go up a hill, or do other maneuvers is never easy.
That’s where the Trailer Valet RVR comes in. This is Trailer Valet’s first self-motorized and remote-controlled unit. The RVR is built to help you move trailers without hurting yourself, or taking forever, either.
Alexa seems to be inserting itself everywhere into our lives. You can use an Echo device to change your thermostat, start your car, order an Uber, or turn lights on and off. There are so many things you can do with Alexa, and it’s only expanding.
Today, Amazon announced expansions to its Video API and partnerships with many major TV companies. Soon, you’ll be able to say “Alexa, record Mythbusters” and the show will automatically be set to record on your DVR. Read on for more information.
RED is a well-known brand when it comes to high-end cameras. Well, it’s well-known if you’re into cameras, that is. Recently, RED released a new camera and sensor combo, the EPIC-W with a GEMINI 5K sensor. This sensor is designed to have dual-sensitivity for its ISO so it can capture both low-light and well-lit environments for crispy photos. Read below for more info.
Monopoly has been around for years and years. I’ve played it almost my entire life, and it’s a game that can be played by just about any age. The premise of the game is fairly simple, go around the board and buy properties to make others pay rent when they land on them. Oh, avoid going to jail too.
Though there isn’t much to be improved upon with base gameplay here, as messing with the function of Monopoly would be a cardinal sin, one area that can be changed is design. Recently, Hasbro released a Mario Kart version of Monopoly, and I’ve gotta have it. But, Hasbro did change a little more than just design here. Read below for more details.
Update 3/28: Nintendo recently released an update to its Switch OS, 5.0.1, which has “General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.” While Nintendo doesn’t specifically state that this update fixes the accessory compatibility issues, we’ve seen reports that some end users are no longer having issues with third-party accessories. Until Nintendo makes an official statement regarding third-party power accessories, we still hold to our position that you should only use first-party power accessories for the time being.
One of the best parts about Nintendo’s Switch console is its USB-C port. With this universal port, you can charge it, send the display to a TV, and more. It’s a data input, output, and power input port all in one. Because of this, many people own third-party accessories to use with their switch. Things like a third-party dock to avoid paying over $70 for the official one, or maybe using an external battery to extend gaming sessions while on the go.
I’ve even used external batteries with my own Switch when traveling and it’s a beautiful feature. But, it looks like after Nintendo released the 5.0 version of its Switch OS, some of these third-party accessories could be bricking units. Read on for more information on how you can keep your Switch from dying.
eBikes are awesome. I recently got one and love riding it. Having an electric motor on your bike can really help, whether you’ve worn yourself out or just need a little extra help getting up a hill, that motor and battery are irreplaceable. One thing about most eBikes, however, is that they generally don’t come with large motors or big batteries.
Most motors are between 250-500-Watts, which is good enough for most people, but those who like to go off-roading (in mud, snow, etc.) need a bit more power. That’s where the Ridge Warrior comes in. With a powerful 1000-Watt motor, up to 29 miles of range without pedaling, and a top speed of 30 MPH, this eBike is set to be the king of the road (and dirt).
The truly wireless headphones product style seems to be a popular trend. The latest company to join in on this phenomenon is PaMu with its new in-ear sports headphones. Offering IPX5 water resistance, touch controls, and the ability to be used independently, at its Indiegogo price of $29, it’s truly a no-brainer to pick these headphones up. Read on for more information.
$249Amazon offers the Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones for $249 shipped in matte black, blue, red, and white. Also at Best Buy in matte black, blue, red, and white. Normally $349, this is one of the lowest that we’ve tracked and the best available. If you’ve been holding off on Beats’ high-end headphones for a good sale, this is about as good as you’ll get. Rated 4.1/5 stars.
If you own a Nintendo Switch, you’ve likely wondered why a proper D-Pad wasn’t included on either Joy Con. Well, popular accessory maker Hori is here to fix that. It looks like this coming July, Hori is set to release a redesigned left Joy Con that will feature a proper D-Pad, though other characteristics common to normal Joy Cons will be missing.
GoPro is probably a name that everyone knows by now. The company makes action cameras, and basically everyone loves them. GoPro recently struck a deal with its sensor maker, Jabil, for a multi-year agreement on licensing GoPro’s reference design and IP. What does this mean though? Well, read on to find out more.
When it comes to PC gaming, most people think it’s an unattainable dream. Some think that building even a budget gaming system will still run $2,000 or more. Well, that’s not true at all. We set out to build a affordable gaming and productivity computer for right around $1,000 and did just that.
HTC just announced the availability and opened pre-orders for its Vive Pro. The Vive Pro is an upgrade from the original Vive with dual OLED displays with a combined 2880×1600 resolution, which is an increase in resolution of over 75%. One of the biggest, and most welcomed changes to the Vive Pro is the fact that it has built-in high-performance headphones. Continue reading for more information on the Vive Pro, availability, and what HTC plans to do with its original Vive.
Under Armour is known for its fitness clothing and accessories. Recently, one area that Under Armour has started to break into is the shoe market. When buying running shoes, there are a number of aspects to look at: comfort, breathability, support, etc. Well, one area I feel that will become a staple of running shoes soon is smart connectivity, and Under Armour is doing just that.
Hovr is a new type of running shoe that has Bluetooth connectivity built-in to interface with your phone. These days, everything seems to be connecting to smartphones. We have smart watches, smart assistants, self-driving cars, and it feels like every other day something else is becoming “connected”. I absolutely love this trend and am excited to see it branch out to connected running shoes.
Bang and Olufsen is a well-known brand when it comes to high-end audio products. Recently, the company announced its spring and summer 2018 collection, with highlights from portable speakers, wireless headphones, and more.
One of my favorite 2018 releases highlighted here is the Beoplay H4. This over-ear headphone set uses Bluetooth, has up to 19 hours of battery life, and looks fantastic. For more details on the Beoplay H4 and other 2018 releases, head below.
On the heels of Amazon recalling over 250,000 portable battery packs, it might be hard to know which ones you can trust and what you can’t. Well, we’re here to help you make that decision.
When it comes to choosing a portable battery to keep your phone, tablet, or laptop powered while on-the-go, there are many things to think of. Sometimes it can be hard to know whether the battery you’re looking at will suit your specific needs, or whether it will be reliable. Read below for our top picks of what portable battery to keep in your backpacks when your devices are running low.
Since Amazon’s acquisition of Twitch, the online retail giant has been giving its Prime members unique benefits for the game streaming website. If you’re a Prime member, you get one free channel subscription (which normally costs a monthly fee), and now Amazon is offering Prime members free games every month through Twitch.
These, so far, aren’t any major AAA titles like DOOM, Call of Duty, or Battlefield, but they should all be fun games none-the-less. And who doesn’t enjoy something free, either? From a peek at the first two months, it looks like Amazon will be providing 5 free games to its Prime subscribers every month, but more on this new promotion below.
Monitors have been growing, and I really like the trend. I recently went from a dual 27-inch 16:9 1440p monitor setup to a single 34-inch 21:9 1440p monitor, and there’s no turning back for me. The benefits of UltraWide vastly outweigh any downsides in my opinion.
A trend that Samsung started last year, however, shows even more promise I think. Samsung launched a 49-inch 32:9 monitor with a resolution of 3840×1080. This is nice, but honestly, I was waiting for a higher-resolution monitor to come out because I just can’t downgrade from 1440p to 1080p again. Thankfully, Philips has finally announced the answer to my dilemma.
It seems that Alexa is making its way into just about everything. There are tons of smart speakers out with it, some car manufacturers are including it, and it even made its way into a few phones. Now, however, Alexa is making its way into a classic, the HAL 9000 computer.
Master Replicas Group recently announced the creation of the HAL 9000 Computer Interface which uses Alexa’s technology to control your home, as well as includes some must-have commands that the original HAL 9000 included.