Trevor Daugherty is the Senior Editor of 9to5Toys. Since joining in 2014, he’s specialized in product reviews, exclusive discounts and 9to5’s New Toy of the Day. Contact him direct at trevor@9to5mac.com.
Upgrade your old speaker system with this handy Bluetooth dongle from Mpow. Simply plug the USB power supply into an available port or outlet and connect your setup to the 3.5mm jack and you’re in business. The slider case hides the USB adapter, eliminating the need for a cap that can be easily lost. Rated 3.9/5 stars.
Need for Speed Most Wanted is one of my personal favorite mobile device games. The cops and robbers-style gameplay is highlighted by simple controls and solid graphics. Full description below. Rated 3.9/5 stars by nearly 40,000 gamers.
Buckle up, hit the gas and hold on tight; you’re in for the ride of your life. Outrun cops, outsmart rivals – and outdrive your friends – in the most dangerous Need for Speed yet. Do you dare to be the Most Wanted?
MAKE TROUBLE, GET WANTED
Evade a relentless police force while you clash with street racers. Race and chase hot cars like the SRT Viper GTS, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Hummer H1 Alpha, and many more. Feel the intensity of no-brakes-allowed street racing with realistic full-car damage for the first time on mobile.
LEAVE YOUR MARK
Log into Origin to check the Wanted List and find out who is the Most Wanted across platforms and among your friends. Then, challenge your friends and prove your racing skills in nonstop competition.
GO FROM ZERO TO MOST WANTED…
• Drive and customize over 40 of the world’s most exciting cars
• Race the way you want! By popular demand, you can now touch or tilt to steer
• Use Mods to enhance your car and get ahead of the pack in style
• Experience the action with mind-blowing graphics and intense full-car damage
• Earn Speed Points to unlock new cars
• Trick out your phone with an exclusive Most Wanted live wallpaper
Your rivals will do everything they can to stop you from getting to the top – but in this world, there can only be one Most Wanted.
We first introduced you to Grovemade back in the fall of 2014 when we took a look at its beautiful handmade desk collection. Since then, they’ve introduced new Apple-centric accessories and continued to expand into different product categories. Just recently, Grovemade released the new Entryway Collection that takes its classic styling and brings it to the walls of your home.
There are four different products in this collection. In classic Grovemade fashion, each is available in a walnut or maple finish. There is a mirror ($119) trimmed in hand-sanded and polished wood, as well as a matching catch-all ($129) that is padded with felt to provide a soft landing spot for your keys, wallet or device. Additionally, Grovemade has crafted a wall planter ($99) and coat hooks ($39) that use similar design cues. Full gallery below.
We first learned of Amazon’s Dash Replenishment devices about a year ago as details were just starting to leak out. Since then, Amazon launched its Dash Buttons across a handful of brands and slowly released more information on its plans for this service. Today, the first products with built-in Replenishment functionality have been released.
In case you’re not familiar, Amazon Dash Replenishment tracks the inventory of a consumable good and automatically re-orders it when levels get low. The initial example was Quirky’s Poppy Coffeemaker, but now the technology is available in a handful of other products…
Pizza aficionados rejoice! There’s a new coffee table book that has aggregated all the top restaurants into one ultimate guide. With over 1,700 pizzerias, parlors and joints featured, you’re bound to find something interesting in Where to Eat Pizza. Food critic Daniel Young shares his experiences, as well as quotes and critics from chefs and industry experts from around the world. Inside you’ll find maps to each location, insider tips on what to order and all the important details for every restaurant.
London-based food critic, Daniel Young, is on a constant quest for the next breakthrough in taste. He has shared his discoveries, as well as the passions and insights they’ve inspired, in five cookbooks, three restaurant guides, dozens of articles and myriad newspaper restaurant reviews. He has written articles about cooking, dining and travel for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Bon Appetit Magazine, Gourmet magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, Elle Decor and bloomberg.com. He was a food critic and columnist at the New York Daily News from 1985-1996 and head restaurant critic from 1996-2000.
We’ve seen streaming media players that leverage your own personal headphones for private listening before. Roku uses a 3.5mm headphone jack that is built-in to its enhanced remote. The new Apple TV uses Bluetooth connectivity to get the job done. There are adapters on the market that can add wireless audio to nearly any setup. But beaming audio to multiple pairs of headphones for private listening is largely an untapped feature.
That’s where Blipcast is hoping to find its niche. This tiny add-on connects to any 3.5mm or optical audio source and streams sound to your iOS and Android devices via Wi-Fi connection. The idea isn’t new, but the execution is noteworthy. More below.
In addition to all the usual Monopoly accessories, this collection includes limited edition tokens from the 1930s-2000s, a vintage style board and wooden houses/hotels.
Buy, buy, buy at every location, location, location and celebrate the 80th anniversary of the classic game of monopoly! this anniversary version of the classic fast-trading property game features tokens from the 1930s all the way to the 2000s! with a retro game board and cards, the game takes you back to when it all began, but you still have to build your houses and hotels and see if you can bankrupt everyone else. You better keep an eye on your money, because you never know when the dice will land you with a massive rent bill to pay. Sometimes staying in jail can be the safest place to be, but only after your properties are primed to make you money. You’ve got to buy, sell and negotiate to win at this 80th anniversary version of Monopoly!
Sony’s STR-DN850 7.2-channel 4K A/V Receiver features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. You’ll be able to wirelessly stream your favorite music via AirPlay or directly from your phone to this receiver. Additionally, it has five HDMI inputs with 4K passthrough and is capable of providing 665 watts of power through seven speakers.
As we’ve noted, Apple is looking to drop the 3.5mm audio cable on the upcoming iPhone 7. Thus, headphone manufacturers are faced with the reality of new designs that either integrate wireless connectivity or bring Lightning ports into the fold. Phāz, a fresh face in the world of headphones, is doing just that.
The latest models from Phāz offer Bluetooth connectivity and can also charge your iPhone or Android device via a Lightning or microUSB cable.. With a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier, these headphones are worth a look as a companion for Apple’s next mobile creation. More details below.
Google Play has launched another free music promotion that delivers a full album MP3 download from a handful of major recording artists. Our top pick from the lot is The Very Best of Grateful Dead, this compilations includes 17 tracks of hit songs from the American rock band. It typically goes for around $10 as a MP3 download at Amazon.
Time to bury your Skeletons in the Closet “best-of”-this one spans the Dead’s years with Warner Bros., Grateful Dead Records and Arista! Includes Truckin’; Touch of Grey; Sugar Magnolia; Casey Jones; Box of Rain; Fire on the Mountain; U.S. Blues; Friend of the Devil; Franklin’s Tower; One More Saturday Night , and more.
There’s no shortage of surveillance cameras for your home. The same can be said for iOS and Android apps that are meant to capture life’s best moments. However, typically you’ve got to be behind the camera when it comes to recording the memorable times. Thus, Dad or Mom never make it into the home videos.
A new product called the Kiba Family Camera aims to remove the behind-the-scenes work required for capturing all your favorite memories. With a full-on cloud service and Joy Ranking Algorithm (huh?), Kiba has big plans for your next family gathering. More details below.
In celebration of 50 years since it first hit the airwaves, LEGO is releasing a commemorative Batman set this spring. The 2,500-piece Batcave-inspired collection has everything needed to recreate this popular television show. LEGO set #76052 includes each of Batman’s vehicles and all the pieces needed to recreate Wayne Manor. Just wait until you see all the Minifigs…
We’re big fans of universal remotes here at 9to5Toys. Unfortunately, the reality is that many of the options on the market struggle to live up to their full potential with questionable connectivity and design. In 2015 we saw new options from Logitech, Savant and Ray that all potentially scratch our itch. CES 2016 has brought on a new competitor: The Smart Remote by Sevenhugs. Name aside, its remote meets iPhone design has piqued our interest…
IGN has selected A Dark Room as its Free Game of the Month for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This game typically goes for $1-$2, it has only gone free a few times since it was released in February of 2014. It has collected an impressive 4.5/5 star rating from over 27,000 App Store users in that time.
Unlike typical price drops, you can’t just grab this freebie from within the App Store. You’ll need to do the following:
We saw plenty of nifty gadgets and fresh technology at CES 2016 this week. Perhaps, none more intriguing than Segway’s new Robot butler. Having partnered with Intel, Segway is leveraging its experience with two-wheeled vehicles in a collaboration that delivers a product bound to interest any technology geek…
Google Play is offering a free MP3 download of Elvis Presley’s 30 #1 Hits. This collection offers 32 tracks total, including two newly mixed songs. It typically goes for $10 at Amazon as a digital download. You’ll find all of The King’s top hits like: Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, All Shook Up, and Jailhouse Rock, amongst many others.
Action cameras have surged onto the scene in the last few years. GoPro has set the standard with top-of-the-line features and a whole slew of options for nearly every product category. One area that remains a concern is battery life. As cameras have become Wi-Fi-enabled and are now shooting at higher resolutions, recording time has suffered along the way. The best options on the market top out at around 90 minutes to two hours.
That’s where the Activeon Solar X comes in. While the built-in battery provides a standard two hours of run-time, the add-on X Station solar panels can provide an additional four hours of recording. Need more than six hours? There is an answer for that as well…
Who doesn’t love Reddit’s AMA sessions? From Chris Rock to President Obama, Bill Gates and Spike Lee, Reddit has had some of the world’s most influential people come on its site for an Ask Me Anything session. Now, you can own some of the most popular threads in a 400-page limited edition coffee table book.
Ask Me Anything: Volume One has been compiled by Reddit’s editorial team and has just popped up on Amazon. You can buy it as a digital Kindle version for $5 or as a coffee table book for $35. Aside from some of the most legendary AMAs, there is also original artwork and an introduction from the redditors.
If you’re interested, don’t wait long. Reddit has only published 10,000 copies. The proceeds are set to go to a charity “of the mods choosing.”
Bang & Olufsen has announced a new soundbar home theater system at CES 2016 that is slated for release in mid-April. In typical B&O fashion, it has a beautiful design with an outrageous price tag. The new BeoSound 35 has an aluminum base and casing. Unlike typical soundbars on the market, Bang & Olufsen is quick to demonstrate on the product page that it works as a standalone speaker mounted on a wall or free-standing in a corner. Expand Expanding Close
Following in the footsteps of Kodak, classic camera manufacturer Polaroid has revealed a new version of one of its most popular products at CES 2016. The updated Polaroid Snap+ instant print camera improves on the previous design that was released this fall by adding a new 3.5-inch touchscreen display. While the original Snap has been subject to mixed reviews from customers, Polaroid hopes this updated version will cure some of those ills with a few fixes…
While CES 2016 has been dominated thus far by buzzwords like HDR, 4K and multi-room audio, Kodak is going back to its roots. The iconic brand is aiming to bring back the popular medium, Super 8, from the 1970’s with a fresh batch of hardware. Kodak is preparing to release two different versions of the camera this fall in conjunction with a new service that processes, scans and delivers all of your footage. Initial mockups of the device look great. The question is, will consumers buy-in? Head below for more information and a gallery of images.
Sony held its CES 2016 press conference yesterday, taking the opportunity to announce a slew of new products. Sony President Michael Fasulo introduced new 4K BRAVIA Ultra HDTVs, fresh multi-room speakers and a sweet hi-res turntable. Details were also released on a new streaming service from Sony Pictures that will bring “new and classic titles” from its library of films directly to the just-announced televisions. More below.
Today, Super Hexagon for iPhone and iPad has gone free, down from its usual price of $3. This is just the second time that we’ve seen this “minimal action game” available for free since it was released back in 2012 (the other instance was within the Apple Store App). Super Hexagon was the runner-up for App Store Game of the Year back in 2012. It has collected a 4.5/5 star rating by over 9,000 gamers.
Head below for a full description and a look at gameplay.
The new DJI Phantom 3 Standard Drone is designed with beginner pilots in mind. It has an “intelligent flight system” that automatically keeps the drone in the air. DJI has built-in a 2.7K camera that is capable of taking HD videos and 12MP still photos. The iOS and Android app provide a live 720p HD video feed giving the user a real-time view of what the cameras is capturing. Rated 4.2/5 stars. More details can be found here in our announcement coverage.
Digital camera darling Nikon is throwing its hat into a new product category this year. For the first time, Nikon will be manufacturing an action camera. Upon first glance, it’s obvious that this isn’t a typical GoPro competitor. The Keymission 360 Action Camera has two lenses and is capable of shooting 4K video. Nikon must feel that there is a market for not only action cameras, but one that can shoot 360-degrees of footage. So where does it fit in an already crowded product category filled with haves and have nots?
CES 2016 will bring plenty of new 4K UHDTV options this year. We expect many of the new models to feature OLED and HDR capabilities. Just yesterday, Roku announced plans to expand its subsidized line-up of 4K HDR sets. Now, LG has introduced eight new OLED UHDTVs. This new lineup is loaded with high-end features packed into flat and curved designs. Head below to see how LG’s latest stack up.
Today at CES 2016 Harman Kardon has announced a new batch of “True HD Audio” multi-room speakers. The OMNI+ line-up is Wi-Fi-enabled with access to a wide variety of audio sources. Additionally, HK touts the ability to playback true lossless definition audio and a mix of indoor and outdoor speakers for a versatile setup. Head below for more information on Harman’s latest release.
Microsoft is announcing a couple of new Xbox One bundles for the new year that offer greater flexibility in what games come with a new console. First up is the Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege 1TB Bundle that includes a copy of the new game plus digital downloads of Six Vegas and Vegas 2. The last two coming way of backwards compatibility. Microsoft has priced the Tom Clancy bundle at $399 with availability beginning today.
Next, Microsoft has a new 500GB Name Your Game Bundle that allows shoppers to choose one of four titles as a digital download. Those options include Forza Motorsport 6, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Rare Replay. To maximize your value, you’ll want to choose Forza or Tomb Raider as the other two games typically go for around $25 or less. The Name Your Game Bundle will carry a $349 price tag and is slated to be available on January 12.
CES 2016 kicked off yesterday with a bang across a variety of product categories. Established drone manufacturer DJI announced a new consumer-focused 4K option that increases the availability of ultra-high resolution video to even more users. Late last night, Parrot lifted the veil on a new prototype with a modern take on a classic look.
While quadcopters have largely dominated this space for years, Parrot is using a fixed-wing look with its new DISCO prototype. The throwback design is notable but standout features like 50MPH speeds and 45 minutes of flight time are eye-popping specs. More below.
Bluetooth headphones continue to evolve and manufacturers are leaning more heavily on the standard than ever before. Wired headphones still have a place in the heart of consumers, but as active lifestyles and connected devices like Apple Watch have risen in interest, wireless has become the rage.
Many retailers are now focusing on features to stand apart within the crowded Bluetooth headphone category. Altec Lansing has announced a new set of “truly wireless” earbuds at CES that still offer many of the standard features that we’ve come to expect. The audio accessory-maker is touting the inclusion of GPS as just one of the reasons you should pay attention to the new Freedom True Wireless Earbuds. Unfortunately, the design isn’t actually…appealing.
DJI today announced that it would be expanding its line-up of popular Phantom 3 and high-end Inspire drones. The most noteworthy addition comes way of the Phantom 3 4K which brings the higher resolution to its lowest price yet from DJI. While 4K video was previously only available on the more expensive Phantom 3 Professional, this new model is more in-line with the drone-maker’s other consumer-focused offerings. Full details below.
As CES 2016 gets underway out in Las Vegas, we’re beginning to see a steady stream of product announcements this morning. One of the early darlings of the event is Samsung’s new Family Hub refrigerator that sports a notable 21.5-inch 1080p display. While full details have yet to be released here in the United States, we’ve got our hands on as much information that is available at this time. Head below for more.
Roku is continuing its expansion in the world of HDTVs as it licenses its technology to manufacturers. After announcing the first 4K sets last year at CES, it is kicking of the 2016 show with news of increased expansion and fresh TCL UHDTVs. All told, Roku plans to release some sixty new models with its built-in OS system in 2016. Brands like TCL, HiSense and Insignia have seen steady growth since introducing its partnership with Roku. According to Roku’s press release, over one million units have shipped.
Head below for more details on upcoming 4K UHDTV releases, plus Roku’s plan for a Reference Series line of products and a deal on the previous generation 48-inch 1080p model.
The newest lot of Kindle First Books for Prime members has arrived. January’s list includes six new titles across a variety of genres. In case you’re not familiar: this program allows subscribers to Amazon’s two-day shipping service early access to new upcoming Kindle books ahead of their release date for free (Reg. $6). The books that are a part of this sale come from Amazon’s in-house publishing company, more details below.
Head over to the Kindle First page to view the six new titles for January. Prime subscribers can download one of the six titles to a Kindle device or to the free iOS/Android app. If you don’t have Prime, you can subscribe to a free trial or still download one of the books for a special introductory price of $1.99. Whether you subscribe or not, Kindle First books become a permanent piece of your library.
CES 2016 is just around the corner and we’ll have a full crew on-site delivering the latest news on fresh products coming out of Las Vegas. LG has kicked off the event early, quietly releasing details on a new Smart Home Hub that is eerily similar to Amazon Echo. The SmartThinQ Hub has a familiar design with a handful of features and an eye on knocking off established names in this category.
Sony has announced its selection of free PlayStation Plus Games for January. If you were able to gift a PS4 during the holidays, this is a great start to building your library. Head below for the full lot of titles for PlayStation 4, 3 and Vita.
Chances are, you’ve heard something about hoverboards this year. Lexus kind of made one. There were hundreds of models put up for sale on Amazon. Many of which were not actual hoverboards and caught on fire. Turns out, just before the year comes to a close, we may finally get a real hoverboard.
ArcaSpace, a private space company (whatever that means), has released a new $19,900 product dubbed the ArcaBoard. With substantial amounts of power and thrust from an electric propulsion system, this hoverboard does actually fly.
We’ve seen a rush of DIY robotic and computing kits for kids as popularity has risen over the last year. Companies like littleBits and Kano have introduced a handful products that put the power of computing into the hands of everyone. A new subscription service called Thimble recently launched on Kickstarter with eyes on delivering a project each month. Based on the reception its received, there is plenty of interest from campaign backers.
It’s no secret that the sneaker industry has blown up over the last ten years. Estimates show that Michael Jordan’s brand brings in well over two billion dollars per year. LeBron James just inked a lifetime contract with Nike that “easily surpasses Kevin Durant’s 10-year 300 million dollar deal.” While shoes have continually evolved as Nike has rose to prominence over the last 30 years, we haven’t seen much in the way of smartphone connectivity. While we can easily track our running data with a simple app, technology integration hasn’t gone much further.
A very successful Indiegogo campaign is ready to change that. After raising over $750,000, ShiftWear is ready to hit the market with its “adaptable shoes” that have a built-in display controlled by your smartphone. You have to see it to fully understand the potential here.
Update (12/29 3:30pm): Microsoft has kicked off week two of the Xbox Store’s digital sale. Notable titles include: Fallout 4, Gears of War Ultimate Edition and Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain. You’ll find well over 50 deals for Xbox One and another handful of title for Xbox 360. View the entire sale here. Discounts are set to be available until January 7th.
Microsoft has launched the Xbox Store’s “biggest sale ever”. The Countdown is set to run for 17 days will deals on “hundreds of games, movies, TV shows and apps.” The sale kicked off today with a set of deals which will be refreshed periodically through the end of the year. Additionally, there will be daily specials that offer greater discounts along the way and extra savings for Gold Members.
While some of the prices are not as strong as the deals we see on physical discs in our daily games roundup, if you’re in the market for a digital copy this sale is your best bet. Another notable piece is the inclusion of many discounted add-ons and DLCs for popular titles like Destiny, Batman: Arkham Knight, Forza and more. Head below for our top pick-picks from this event.
Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate offers an upgraded feature set in comparison to your typical universal remote. It has a touchscreen display, can control up to 15 devices and works with the free Harmony iOS and Android app. The included hub offers RF control over devices that are hidden behind a cabinet. Logitech has a library of over 270,000 devices that are compatible with this remote. Rated 3.9/5 stars by over 725 Amazon customers.
Low-flow shower heads are not a new phenomenon. They’ve been around for some time, with varying degrees of annoyance for many years. The idea of saving water while enjoying a long, hot shower has been discussed and executed in many different ways. A new $3,000 shower that recycles (and purifies) our shower water was announced earlier this month with eyes on “revolutionizing” the industry. The Hamwells e-Shower is iOS-connected and re-uses every drop of water seven times. It’s goal is to significantly reduce our water and energy usage. The question is, will consumers buy-in?
While we haven’t even hit Christmas yet, Microsoft has already announced its free Games with Gold for Xbox gamers in January. All together, there will be four titles made available. If you’re lucky enough to snag an Xbox One this Christmas, this will be a great place to start. Every game is added to your digital collection for free to keep after you download. Head below for more details.
Chromecast and Sling TV have partnered to offer an extended two month free trial of the online streaming service ($40 value). First time Sling customers with a Chromecast have until December 28th to grab a 60-day free peak at the Best of Live TV package. Simply visit this page to begin your trial. You’ll want to cancel the service before the two months is up, otherwise you’ll be charged $20 for the next month.
Typically, Sling only offers a 7-day trial, so if you’ve been holding out on trying this service, now is your best bet to give it a run. Offer does not include any extras or HBO service. Full terms and condition can be found below.
Sling TV launched last January to much fanfare as an alternative to pricey cable and satellite services. It offers popular channels like ESPN/2, AMC, TBS, TNT, HGTV and others. Additionally, it has a number of add-on packages for those interested in premium channels like HBO. Packages start at $20 with more channels available for as little as $5.
Crowdfunding campaigns can be a tricky proposition for both backers and entrepreneurs. Kickstarter and Indiegogo have taken steps to streamline and provide a safety net. However, issues with manufacturing or suppliers can run a project off course. This was the case with Hult’s Pavilion Series speakers. These gorgeous products use copper and concrete to create a stunning one-of-a-kind look.
Unfortunately, Hult’s first run on Kickstarter wasn’t so beautiful. The company got in over its head with manufacturing and had to pull the plug. Now, Hult is back with a new plan to bring its unique 360-degree Bluetooth speaker back to the market…
Retro gaming has made a serious comeback in recent years as iOS and Android have both seen re-dos of popular titles, as well as Nintendo’s massive throwback library on Wii U. It’s no surprise that classics like Space Invaders, Pong, and Asteroids have stood the test of time. These games were a genius mix of fun and ingenuity when they were released and still have a loyal following today.
A child of the 80’s by the name of Ken Burns (no not that one), recently launched one of the coolest retro gaming projects that we have seen on Kickstarter. But instead of using a television set or PC, he has shruken an arcade cabinet down to the size of your fingertips. Tiny Arcade brings takes all the joy of coin-operated gaming and transforms it into a modern day portable toy. Head below for more.
Sprint is getting in the holiday spirit by offering one of the most unique cellular deals that we’ve seen. The mobile carrier is giving away a free 32-inch Samsung HDTV, worth roughly $200, when you open a new line of service or upgrade an existing account with an eligible Samsung Galaxy smartphone. This offer launches on December 18th and runs through the 24th. Customers can finance their new device through Sprint’s Lease or Easy Pay plans, as well as traditional two-year contracts or by paying in full. Complete terms and conditions below.
Additionally, shoppers switching to Sprint can save up to 50% off qualifying Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile plans. Sprint will also pay up to $650 in fees associated with switching via an American Express gift card.
