Amazon’s annual fall event is just around the corner and that means new devices for the holiday season. Last year we saw an expansion of its Alexa-enabled lineup with new Echo speakers. Over the last few months Amazon has refreshed its Fire HD lineup and introduced the new Fire TV Cube as well. So what can we expect at September’s event? Head below for our predictions.
For many, the tradition of buying a Christmas tree is long-seated and can go back generations. My family, however, has always used pre-lit offerings as the cleanup is generally easier and the tree can be reused for years.
Amazon is trying to become a part of many family traditions it seems, and the latest the online shopping giant seems to be entering is the large Christmas tree business. This holiday season, you’ll be able to order a 7-foot live Fraser fir from Amazon, among other festive plants.
Pre-order!This morning Amazon has announced the latest generation of its popular Fire HD 8 tablet that features always-on access to Alexa. As its name suggests, it keeps the same eight-inch HD display that sports over one-million pixels that’s powered by a quad-core processor. A camera upgrade is one of the most notable new features we’re seeing today. Amazon is also making a handful of improvements under the hood, although battery life has taken a step backwards on today’s release. More below.
Just over a week ago we covered Amazon’s plans to halt its discounted video game pre-order pricing. The now-defunct offering gave gamers 20% off pre-orders, saving them in most cases about $12 per game since the majority of triple-A titles cost $60 at launch. The news is not all-bad though, Amazon will still offer a $10 credit for pre-orders of select titles, but customers will need to wait 35 days to get their money back and even at that point, it is an Amazon promotional credit.
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Well, you know when Amazon releases its Top 100 Toys of the Year list it likely means the summer is coming to a close. Fortunately, that also means we are just months away from the busy deal season where we see the lowest prices of the year on the hottest items out there. Amazon’s 2018 toys list is full of usuals like LEGO, Nerf, Melissa & Doug and Star Wars items, but we are also seeing some interesting STEM products from littlebits, Anki, Osmo and more.
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Sign-up!After first being announced back in May, Amazon’s Prime Book Box service is now available nationwide. This Netflix-for-books service is designed to deliver a new selection of titles to your kids every month. Its $23 price tag delivers 35% off the list price of each bundle, which includes either two hardcover books or four board books. Parents can decide which type of content is delivered each month based on their child’s interests. More below.
Amazon offers the August Third Generation Smart Lock in silver for $99.39 shipped. That’s good for a $30 discount compared to Best Buy’s sale price and is a new all-time low at Amazon. For comparison, we last saw it discounted to $135. Tired of fumbling for your keys to unlock the front door? August’s smart lock supports keyless entry and more. Rated 4.5/5 stars from nearly 100 customers.
Amazon’s Alexa is a great smart assistant for many tasks. You can use it to look up recipes, control smart home devices, and even watch movies or shows if you own a Fire TV product.
There’s also the ability to have it read stories to kids through FreeTime, and Amazon even sells a kid-friendly Echo Dot so your children can interact with Alexa without you around. FreeTime is about to get an update which could help protect children from hearing responses you’d rather not have them listen to.
from $11
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon offers up to 40% off Tiger Travel Mugs and Food Jars. The deals start at $11 with a wide range of styles to choose from. Our top pick is the 16-ounce Silver Insulated Travel Mug for $11.90, which is down from its regular $20 price tag. Rated 4.2/5 stars. Shop the entire sale for more.
AnkerDirect via Amazon offers its new ROAV HydroClean Electric Pressure Washer for $119.99 shipped when promo code ANKERXLF has been applied during checkout. Regularly $200, this model just dropped to $150 with today’s deal representing a new all-time low. Anker has been expanding its home good offerings in recent months and that now includes this pressure washer. Features include a 1800W motor that provides 2100PSI, three nozzles, and a 26-foot hose. Early reviews are positive like the rest of Anker’s ROAV lineup.
Amazon seems to be ever looking to expand its businesses. Just yesterday we reported on the potential Amazon has for acquiring Landmark Theaters, and today its rumored that Amazon is working on a device that has the ability to record live TV, letting users play content back on phones and other devices at a later time.
This rumored device will take on the likes of TiVo, and would potentially give the company a run for its money. Amazon, who produces its some of its own Prime content, could really benefit from this function.
Etekcity (99% positive feedback from 221,000) via Amazon offers a four-pack of its Voltson Wi-Fi Smart Plugs for $33.69 shipped when promo code SV3WH9WY is applied during checkout. Regularly selling for around $40, today’s deal is a match of our previous mention and the best available. This is a great way to easily control outlets and make schedules for lights and more in your home. Rated 3.9/5 stars by over 1,300 Amazon customers.
from $259
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon offers various Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Beds from $259 shipped. You can save up to 30% in this sale with many of the deals at all-time low prices. These mattresses feature a 12-inch base, memory foam and are made in the USA with a 20-year warranty. Rated 4.1/5 stars by over 4,100 Amazon reviewers.
In its latest move to bring the two brands closer together, Amazon has announced that it is now offering 30-minute grocery pickup at select Whole Foods locations. Starting in just two cities for now, this service made popular by other groceries will be expanding to additional regions throughout 2018. Head below for more details on this new service.
Anker has launched arguably its biggest sale in recent memory, taking 20% off some of its most popular Apple-friendly products with promo code ANKERBTS. This offer delivers deals on our favorite iPhone X cases, Lightning cables and much more. Seriously, don’t miss this one. The usual Prime shipping requirements are in play here at Amazon. Head below for all of the best deals. Anker is known as one of the most well-rated brands on Amazon.
In a somewhat surprising move, Comcast, one of the nation’s largest cable TV providers, has announced that it will be partnering with Amazon later this year to bring Prime Video to its X1 cable boxes. Comcast has offered its own streaming service, Xfinity On-Demand, for many years and while there is quite a bit of content available for free, access is limited based on your subscription tier. Also, many of the most popular shows and movies are locked behind a rental paywall. Amazon’s Prime Video will give Comcast subscribers another catalog to access with additional Prime Original content like Goliath, Sneaky Pete, and more, all without the need to switch their TV input. Users will have to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to take advantage of the new feature.
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Amazon has launched yet another feature for its ever-growing virtual assistant. With the arrival of Alexa Cast, Amazon has created a foundation to compete with Apple’s AirPlay and Google’s Cast. The new feature allows users to ‘cast’ what they are listening to on their smartphone to nearby Alexa devices. While functionality is quite limited at launch, its capabilities will likely grow over time.
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We’re just a week past Prime Day 2018, where we saw Amazon’s Echo Dot hold down the spot as one of the most popular deals worldwide. Now, leaks are popping up with details on the follow-up third generation device that sports a refined design and a potentially smaller footprint. New reports from AFTNews and French publication FrAndroid detail what could be the next big Echo release from Amazon, which would fall in-line with its annual September release cycle.
Amazon’s line of Echo products are known as being the most popular voice-activated speakers around. And rightfully so, as they’re continually some of the best-selling devices on the market. Voice is after all, a natural way for many to interact with Alexa, but for others, that isn’t so much the case.
Today, Amazon has announced a new piece of functionality geared towards making some of its devices more accessible that will be joining the Echo Show’s suite of other unique features made possible by its touchscreen. Deemed Tap to Alexa, the latest addition brings touch controls into the mix for summoning Amazon’s digital assistant.
As per its annual tradition, Amazon is taking its Prime Day victory lap this morning sharing out which deals were the most popular across its two-day shopping event. As expected, this was the biggest Prime Day to date as Amazon stretched its summer shopping bonanza across 36-hours this year. Much like Black Friday 2017, shoppers went for the home goods category more than any other over the last two days. Full details below.
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.
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 8Â and it offers one of the best ways to experience Alexa on the big screen, in my opinion.
In case you haven’t heard, Prime Day is just around the corner. The deals are slated to kick-off on Monday at 3PM EST with a day-and-a-half of crazy savings. This morning, Amazon has detailed its upcoming offers for Prime Student members. Aside from the usual smattering of Amazon’s in-house devices, we’re also seeing markdowns on popular SanDisk storage, TVs and more. Head below for a quick look.
Amazon is offering the 16-piece Pyrex Simply Store Nesting Storage Set for $26.96 shipped. Matched at Home Depot. That’s within about $1 of the Amazon all-time low and the best we can find. It regularly sells for between $29 and $34 on Amazon where it carries a 4+ star rating from over 200 customers.
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Amazon offers the Netgear AC750 802.11ac Wi-Fi Range Extender for $29.99 shipped when clipping the on-page coupon. That’s good for a $10 discount from the going rate, matches our previous mention and is the lowest it has sold for this year. If you’re not ready to upgrade your network with a mesh system, this is a great enhancement to your setup. Over 27,000 shoppers have left a 3.9/5 star rating. Â
$26.50
Trusted seller Tacklife Official StoreUS (100% positive lifetime feedback) via Amazon offers its Advanced Multi-functional Rotary Tool Kit with 80 Accessories and 4 Attachments for $26.58 shipped when code B6QQHBBB is used at checkout. Regularly around $40, this is the lowest we’ve tracked this year and is the best available. Rated 4.5/5 stars.
Amazon offers the La Crosse Technology Digital Weather Station for $34.07 shipped. Also available at Walmart. That’s good for a $28 discount from the going rate at Home Depot and Staples and is the lowest we’ve seen it sell for at Amazon. This weather station packs a color display and is a great way to check on your home’s temperature as you try to beat the summer heat. As a #1 best-seller, over 1,700 shoppers have left a 3.9/5 star rating.Â
Potensic (98% positive all-time feedback from 3,100+) via Amazon offers its A20 RC Nano Quadcopter for $19.99 when code 30GNPNMZ has been applied at checkout. That’s good for a nearly 30% discount from the going rate and scores you a savings of $8. Today’s price drop is a new all-time low at Amazon. Over 175 pilots have left a 4.4/5 star rating. Â
Amazon offers the Corsair K66 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $49.99 shipped. Typically selling in the ballpark of $75 at Newegg, that’s good for a 33% discount and is the lowest we’ve tracked at Amazon. This keyboard packs Cherry MX keys, a full number pad and a sleek design. Rated 4.4/5 stars from over 200 typists. Head below for more details.
Amazon is offering the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush in black or white (HX6810/50) for $29.95 shipped. Simply clip the $10 on-page coupon. This model is matched at Target and Walmart, however you can drop it down slightly more with a $12 mail-in-rebate. Either way, it goes for $48 at Best Buy and this is the lowest we can find. Rated 4+ stars.
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Amazon offers the Neato Botvac D80 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner for $348.95 shipped. That’s good for a $100 discount from the going rate at Walmartand is a new all-time low at Amazon. For comparison, Best Buy has it on sale for $3 more and this is the second lowest offer we’ve seen all-time. Rated 4.3/5 stars from over 200 shoppers.
$1
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon offers its Prime members a huge selection of Dash Buttons for $0.99. Regularly $5, this offer is sweetened even further by Amazon including a $5 credit after your first press. This is a great way to try out Dash Buttons and get a little free credit along the way. Shop the entire sale here.
from $37
Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon offers its Prime members Pelican cases and luggage from $37.50 shipped. There’s a wide-range of options here to fit just about any need. Pelican cases are a great way to keep your gear safe while out on the road. Our top pick is the Pelican 1510 Case with Padded Dividers for $149.62, which is good for 25% off and the best we’ve seen at Amazon this year. Rated 4.7/5 stars. Shop the entire sale for more.
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In case you haven’t heard, Prime Day 2018 is exactly one week away. To celebrate, we’re giving away a $100 Amazon gift card to one lucky 9to5Toys reader. Head below to find out how you can win.
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.
Buy Now!This week, Anker has announced its new USB-C PD-equipped Wall Charger that spits out an impressive 60W of power. Anker’s been aggressively expanding its USB-C power offerings in 2018 and this new release promises to be a popular buy for Apple, Android and Nintendo Switch fans. More details below.
Learn moreAfter much speculation, Amazon has officially announced that Prime Day is coming on July 16th and is slated to run through the 17th. As expected, we’ll see a rotating cast of deals over the 36-hour window. This marks the fourth year in a row that Amazon will offer exclusive deals to its Prime members, and this round promises to be the biggest yet. More details below.
OLEBR Direct (98% positive all-time feedback) via Amazon offers its Apple Watch and iPhone charging stand for $9.90 when checking out with code WDLFPQPJ. Prime members will score free shipping, which is available on orders over $25 as well. That’s good for an $8 discount from the going rate, beats our previous mention by $5 and is the lowest we’ve seen it sell for. Rated 4+ stars from over 60% of shoppers.
Free TrialIt can be tough in 2018 to manage your child’s access to screen-time with devices, be it an iPad, Fire Tablet or gaming console, at just about every turn these days. Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited service looks to curb those parental worries with curated content and a robust dashboard that helps mange your child’s time in front of a screen each day. Not familiar with FreeTime Unlimited? We’ll explain it all below and detail how you can get a free trial.
This morning, Amazon quietly introduced two new pieces of hardware within its Fire tablet lineup. Its Show Mode Charging Dock turns Amazon’s Fire HD into an Echo Show-like device, displaying pertinent information and serving as a stand for watching content. We’re also getting a new Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablet as well that sports the largest display in Amazon’s child-friendly line. More details below.
Fortnite has taken the world by storm. As of a couple of weeks ago it was made available on Nintendo Switch, putting it on all three major consoles, iOS, PC and Mac. Many players may be surprised to know that before the Fortnite became a wild success, it was also available as a physical disc. With the game now having over 125 million players, physical copies are being deemed as collectibles and are listed on Amazon for up to $1,000.
When it comes to gaming on consoles, one thing that people always complain about is storage space. Whether you bought a 500GB Xbox One or 2TB, there’s just never enough space for games. I have a 1TB Xbox One X and 1TB PS4 Pro and both are almost always at max capacity.
Fantom Drives has long made external storage devices for Xbox, but the company’s latest release will give you a massive 5TB of additional game space along with three extra USB 3.0 ports. This gives you room for up to an additional 125 games at 50GB a piece, and has no wires, cables, or ugly drives to hide.
Even though it’s not even July yet, Amazon is looking forward to another school year with its new Back to School and Off to College stores. Designed as a way for students, both young and old, to save cash, this new Amazon venture piggybacks on its previous education-focused Prime initiatives.
Inside each storefront you’ll find the usual smattering of clothing, school supplies and more. There’s also special partnerships with brands like Crayola, Bic, GoPro and others specifically for this new collection. Amazon is also making both storefronts available for voice-shoppers on compatible Echo devices. More below.
Amazon has announced that it is rolling out full Prime member benefits at Whole Foods nationwide starting Wednesday, June 27th. Today’s news comes just a few weeks after the program was expanded to an additional 10 states. In late May, we first caught wind of Amazon’s plan to roll out aggressive offers and new perks for its members, which include a full 10% off some of the most popular items found at Whole Foods locations. Today, we’re learning more about how Prime members are being wooed.
At the beginning of the month, Amazon announced the new $119 Fire TV Cube, a hybrid Echo device and streaming media player that promises a glimpse into the future of content consumption. As set-top boxes from Apple, Roku and now Amazon have grown in popularity over the last few years, two key issues have repeatedly popped up for viewers. How to best manage an overflowing chest of content and the headache that comes with multiple remotes.
Fire TV Cube looks to cure that with an all-in-one solution centered around its Alexa voice platform. In our hands-on testing, it delivered as a means for sorting through content but fell short as an intuitive hub for home theaters. The potential is there, but don’t count on it changing the game just yet.
$28
Update 6/21: Aptoyu (98% positive feedback lifetime) via Amazon offers its Bluetooth Speaker with 7-hours of Playback for $13.99 Prime shipped when code TF3J5IBF is used at checkout (Reg. $25). Rated 4/5 stars.
Aukey Direct via Amazon offers its 16W Bluetooth Stereo Speaker w/ Enhanced Bass and 10 Hours of Playtime for $28.15 shipped when code AUKEYS01 is used at checkout. Normally closer to $45, this is just $3 above its all-time low and the best available. AUKEY’s Bluetooth speaker features 10-hours of battery life and MaxxBass technology for quality sound. Rated 4.3/5 stars.
We’ve been prepping you for Prime Day 2018 over the last few weeks, detailing ways you can prepare and our own predictions for the big day. While Amazon has yet to announce its plans officially, we’re heard through our sources that Prime Day is going to happen on Tuesday, July 17th. We’re expecting the deals to start rolling in the night before with Prime member-exclusive offers kicking off up to a week in advance.
HBO’s Westworld TV series is starting to spread its wings and move into new content areas. Yesterday we got the official release date and additional gameplay details on the upcoming mobile title and now HBO and Amazon are ready to unveil the new Westworld Alexa game.
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