Amazon

Amazon has announced that Black Friday and Cyber Monday were officially the biggest shopping days in company history. That included the sale of more than 18 million toys and 13 million fashion listings. Safe to say, it was a big weekend. Head below for a brief look at what was most popular at Amazon over the last five days.

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We’re in the thick of Black Friday here at 9to5Toys, but Amazon is already looking forward to Cyber Monday. This morning it announced its plans for Cyber Week, including a sneak peek at what it plans to offer on Monday, November 26th. Of course, all of Amazon’s Echo and Fire TV lineup will be on sale. Head below for a brief look at Amazon Cyber Monday.

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Anker’s Black Friday week sale at Amazon has launched this morning with deals on speakers, charging gear and much more. Free shipping is available on the entire lot. Our top picks is the Motion Q Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $35.97. That’s down from the usual $45+ price tag and a match of the previous Amazon all-time low. This model is IPX7 rated with waterproofing; it includes a 16W 360-degree speaker and 10 hours of playback on a full charge. Rated 4.5/5 stars.

Other notable Anker deals include:

• eufy BodySense Smart Scale: $30 (Reg. $40)
• Nebula Prizm Projector with HDMI: $88 (Reg. $150)
  • upgraded model w/ native 1080p: $250 (Reg. $300)
    • w/ code NEBULAL2
• 6-ft. Powerline II Lightning Cable: $10 (Reg. $13)
• PowerWave 10W Qi Stand: $24 (Reg. $30)
• Roav DashCam A1: $43.50 (Reg. $56)
  • w/ code ROAVAA22
• 4-in-1 USB-C Hub: $26 (Reg. $36)
  • w/ code ANKERC832
• eufy SpaceView Baby Monitor: $130 (Reg. $180)
  • w/ code EUFYNNMM

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2018 has seen some pretty crazy advances in the world of tech. Somewhere on that list, and certainly nowhere near the top, we have Amazon’s latest connected gadget: an Alexa-enabled microwave. Having just been released, we brought the AmazonBasics Microwave into our kitchen and put it to the test. Head below to see if Amazon’s new kitchen appliance is made with the ingredients for success.

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This morning, Amazon finally unveiled its complete Black Friday gameplan, painting a picture of what we can expect next week. As Amazon’s line of in-house devices has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, its Black Friday offerings have also become more intriguing. With a full inventory of smart home accessories, Alexa-enabled speakers, and streaming media players, this is the most compelling lineup of Amazon devices we’ve seen to date.

So what are the best Amazon Black Friday deals? This year promises to deliver substantial discounts on all the products referenced above. And those deals won’t be limited to Amazon. Best Buy, B&H, Staples, and many others are all expected to jump into the madness by matching (or beating) Amazon’s entire lineup. Head below for a look what kind of discounts to expect on Black Friday.

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One of the last major Black Friday dominoes has finally fallen. Amazon officially announced its Seven Days of Black Friday deals that will feature more than 50 deals per day throughout Thanksgiving week. Starting tomorrow, November 16th, Amazon will be offering 7 days of deals across every category, including a number of all-time lows. Head below for full details.

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Before I get into my Kindle Paperwhite Review, I want to give you some backstory on where my life has been headed over the past few weeks. I’ve been pondering the role technology plays in our lives. It all started when my wife and I spent a weekend away for our anniversary, and I purposely didn’t keep my phone with me for an entire day. I knew she had her cell phone in case of an emergency with our children, so I just left it at the hotel. One of the main reasons I didn’t want it with me is because it was the day of the Georgia vs. LSU college football game, and I didn’t want to know the score until it was over. For the first time in many years, I went 12+ hours without picking up a cell phone to check e-mail, respond to a text message, or visit a website. 
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For quite some time now, companies like Amazon have offered home installation services. These are set out to help folks who do not have the time, know-how, or desire to set up new gadgets themselves. While many of us enjoy doing this ourselves, there are always bound to be areas that we find outside of our comfort zones.

Earlier today, eBay announced that it too will offer professional installation services directly to customers. This move has been made possible by partnering with three companies: Handy, Porch and InstallerNet.
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While everyone is focused in on its upcoming Black Friday 2018 offers, we now have the Amazon Best Books of 2018 List. Back in June, the major online retailer dropped a a list of the tentative best books of the year(so far), but now we have the official collection of the top reads on Amazon for 2018.
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Amazon has had an interesting history with Apple products. It stopped selling the Apple TV for some time and only started offering it again as the Prime Video tvOS app launched this past December. Now, a new deal between Apple and Amazon will bring its products directly to consumers.
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Doorbells are one of many types of smart home devices that offer a significant amount of convenience to consumers. They allow us to know if someone is at our home whether we are there or not. If the latter is true, built-in microphones and speakers allow for two-way communication from anywhere.

Well-known connected camera brand Arlo announced in July that it would be releasing its own smart Audio Doorbell and Chime accessory to complement its robust home security lineup. We covered the announcement with the information we knew then, so today’s post is focusing on what potential customers should know before they buy.

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There has never been a better time to purchase a smart door lock for your home. As competition heats up in the market, prices will continue to drop and devices will get even more integrations with voice assistants and smart home platforms. Schlage made news today by announcing an updated Connect door lock that offers compatibility with Amazon Key.

The new Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt can be purchased individually or in a bundle that includes an Amazon Cloud Cam. As we have come to expect from Schlage, its latest iteration comes in a variety of styles, giving consumers a few options to pick from. Head after the jump for more on this latest release.

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Amazon has had a big start to the month in the lead up to Black Friday. Just this morning it announced that it would be forgoing a free shipping minimum in favor of no-cost delivery for all shoppers. Now, we’re getting an in-depth look at what the retailer plans to offer on Black Friday. Head below for a detailed list of which deals on Amazon in-house devices and other popular tech will be available throughout November.

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In the past, Toys R Us would prepare shoppers for the holiday season with the release of its yearly toy catalog. But with Geoffrey’s demise and the nationwide closing of Toys R Us, the annual book is nowhere insight for 2018. Fortunately, Amazon is stepping up to fill the void with the release of its own catalog. The Amazon 2018 Toy Book arrives with an updated take on but in the same print format that shoppers have come to know and love. Head below for an in-depth look.

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The last few Black Friday shopping seasons have resulted in Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others rolling out aggressive free shipping offers to compete with Amazon. Well, this time around, it may not help. In a surprise move, this morning Amazon has announced free shipping for all this holiday shopping season.

While Prime members will still get two-day expedited shipping, along with other perks, Amazon is doing away with the usual $25 minimum order requirement starting today. This is a big move that is sure to shake-up Black Friday unlike ever before. More below.

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If you’re like me, then you likely have multiple Amazon packages coming to your house every week. Ok, hopefully, you’re not like me. But, in case you are, sometimes it’s a little crazy to get packages every day (or every other day) from the online shopping giant.

With the holidays coming up, you might want to make sure that you’re home when important things come. Amazon’s new program can help with this. It’s called “Amazon Day”, and it lets you pick a specific day for your packages to be delivered.

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Amazon has officially opened the doors on its latest “4-star” retail location in Denver, Colorado. This week’s unveiling comes just over a month after Amazon opened its first storefront in SoHo. It’s been a busy 2018 for the online giant as it’s increased its presence in the brick and mortar retail space after years focused solely on e-commerce.

While more brands are moving away from costly storefronts, Amazon is continuing to make a significant investment in this space: first with its acquisition of Whole Foods, and now its expanding 4-star and Go locations. So what exactly is Amazon up to? Head below for more.

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It’s finally November and the Black Friday shopping season is upon us. This morning Amazon has officially unveiled its Countdown to Black Friday 2018 storefront. As always, this will be Amazon’s one-stop location for all of the season’s hottest deals along with various gift guides curated and top picks for the holiday season.

Amazon is continuing its annual tradition of offering Prime members early access to Lightning deals and more through Cyber Monday. There’s also expected to be a number of Alexa-only offers, too. You’ll want to bookmark the Countdown to Black Friday 2018 storefront, as it will be the best place to keep track of Amazon’s hottest deals over the next month. Head below for more details.

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It’s time for a fresh batch of Anker deals at Amazon this morning. Headlining is the new Anker USB-C PowerPort II 49.5W Wall Charger for $29.59 when promo code ANKERB23 is applied during checkout. It just recently hit Amazon with a $37 price tag; today’s deal is a new Amazon all-time low. With new USB-C-equipped iPads expected tomorrow, this is a great way to quickly power up all of Apple’s latest devices. Still using a legacy port? It also has a USB-A port and ships with an additional adapter. Anker’s USB-C lineup has stellar ratings across the board.

More Anker deals at Amazon:

• eufy Security SpaceView Baby Monitor: $120 (Reg. $170)
  • w/ code EUFYMM88
• Nebula Mars II Portable Projector: $370 (Reg. $500)
  • w/ code BESTMARS
• PowerDrive Duo 30W USB-C Car Charger: $22 (Reg. $26)
  • w/ code ANKERB27
• Quick Charge 3.0 60W 6-Port USB Wall Charger: $26 (Reg. $33)
  • w/ code ANKERB26
• 2-pack iPhone Xs Max Screen Protectors: $8.50 (Reg. $10)
• 2-pack iPhone XR Screen Protectors: $8.50 (Reg. $10)
• 10-ft. MFi Lightning Cable in various colors: $9.75 (Reg. $13)
  • w/ code ANKER392

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After being acquired by Amazon last year, Whole Foods quickly moved to offer a variety of Prime member perks. This ramped up during Black Friday as Amazon began placing its Alexa devices in Whole Foods locations. To further sweeten it, you could take advantage of Black Friday pricing in-store throughout Thanksgiving week. With a full year under their belt, we’re expecting Amazon and Whole Foods to once again partner up for some notable discounts come this Thanksgiving week. Head below for a quick roundup of everything we know to date about the Whole Foods Black Friday plan this year.

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Amazon recently became the official retailer of Shark Tank-backed products. When you visit Amazon LaunchPad, you’ll find over 70 items that have been featured on the hit ABC reality show, with more being added every week.

If you’re anything like me, you often wonder if the products that Sharks choose to throw their money at are any good, let alone successful. There’s no doubt that just being featured on Shark Tank provides plenty of exposure for budding businesses and entrepreneurs. But out of the inventions the Sharks themselves like enough to invest in, which ones do the consumers prefer? Below, we’ve rounded up five of the best-rated products with over 900 reviews in Amazon Launch Pad’s Shark Tank Collection.

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We are now on the eve of one of the most anticipated game releases in recent memory. Yes, we are all stoked for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Fallout 76, but it’s been 8 long years in the making for Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2. If you haven’t yet pre-ordered the game, there are loads of great deals out there today on console bundles from just about all major retailers, as well some great offers on just the game itself. Head below for everything you need to know to get the best value on your late Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order.
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Earlier this week we detailed the best Black Friday rewards programs out there to enhance your holiday shopping experience. While these programs, which are mostly free deliver some notable perks, there are some other ways to save if you’re willing to go to the next-level this holiday season. Amazon’s in-house credit cards offer substantial rewards and cash back, which can be particularly enticing during Black Friday. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card includes 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases along with added perks at Whole Foods and other retailers. Head below for a full breakdown.

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Following last month’s Amazon Go opening in Chicago, the online giant is back again with another autonomous grocery store. This time around, it’s in San Francisco. Today’s news completes predictions from analysts back in May that detailed Amazon’s plans to expand its cashierless locations across the United States. The sixth Go grocery store location sits on a pricey bit of real estate at 300 California Street in San Francisco, which is right in the middle of the financial district.

Along with today’s Go grocery expansion, Amazon is also rolling out grocery delivery and pickup for Prime members in an additional six cities. As its partnership with Whole Foods continues to grow, this popular perk is finding its way to more locations around the country. Head below for more.

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During the lead up to Black Friday 2018 we’ve been sharing tips and tricks on all of the most popular retailers to help you save money next month. While discounts will be running rampant throughout Thanksgiving week and beyond, there are plenty of other ways to lock in additional savings. Many retailers offer rewards programs that are free to sign-up for that deliver extra savings, free shipping and the like. Signing up for these perks now can help make Black Friday shopping all the easier. Head below for a quick guide.

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We’re just over a month away from Black Friday 2018 and the year’s biggest shopping event. Things are starting to heat up this evening with the official release of the Amazon Holiday Electronics Gift Guide. This annual announcement details the hottest tech at Amazon, giving us our first glimpse into the retailer’s plans for the holiday shopping season.

This year’s Amazon Holiday Electronics Gift Guide is highlighted by the usual selection of smart home gear, TVs, audio and budget-focused buys under $100. Head below for an in-depth look at what Amazon expects to be the hottest gifts of the year.

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This morning, Amazon has announced its newest Kindle E-reader, the next generation of its popular Paperwhite handheld. Long known as Amazon’s most popular device in its E-ink lineup, the new Paperwhite arrives on the scene today with a thinner and lighter design along with a waterproof case. Amazon is also sweetening the pot with six free months of Kindle Unlimited with purchase. The new Kindle Paperwhite is set to arrive on November 7th just before the holiday shopping season. Bundling the added subscription service is sure to make it a hit with Black Friday shoppers. More below.

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ABC’s hit show Shark Tank is now in its 10th season and funding more projects than ever before. Now Amazon is becoming the official Shark Tank retailer, making it the first place you’ll find official releases from the show. Along with this news, Amazon will also be offering a $15,000 credit to its cloud computing services for Shark Tank entrepreneurs to help get their storefront off the ground.

Amazon and Shark Tank have been intertwined for sometime. The reality show famously passed on funding DoorBot, the smart home doorbell which later went on to become Ring. Amazon purchased the brand earlier this year and its CEO has since become a regular guest on the show. Head below for more details on today’s announcement.

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Today we’re getting our first look at the Amazon Top 100 Toys List for 2018. This annual tradition delivers insight into what the online giant expects to be its best-sellers throughout the holiday season. With Black Friday 2018 just over five weeks away, it’s no surprise that Amazon is gearing up for the busiest shopping window of the year.

The Amazon Top 100 Toys List is filled with all of the usual big names, including LEGO, Melissa & Doug, NERF and many more along with various newcomers. Head below for more and our top picks.

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Earlier today, Amazon announced on its developer blog that it is providing new ways for Echo devices to communicate with smart doorbells and cameras. More specifically, developers now have access to three new APIs called Doorbell Event Source, Motion Sensor, and Alexa.RTCSessionController. It’s a move that is not too surprising considering that Amazon bought Ring, a pillar of the smart doorbell industry, earlier this year for around a billion dollars.

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Black Friday 2018 is rapidly approaching and some retailers are already divulging ads and shopping guides. Amazon is one of the most popular destinations for Black Friday shopping, so it’s imperative that you’re ready to go on the big day. Head below to find out how to prepare for Amazon Black Friday.

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This morning Amazon has announced that Whole Foods delivery and pickup is expanding in more cities around the United States. Today’s news brings this service to Annapolis, Cleveland, Louisville, North and Central New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Amazon is also rolling out additional coverage in the San Francisco bay area. More below.

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Amazon’s New World MMO RPG has been in development for a while now. But a new leak is giving us our first look at what is to come. While Amazon’s gaming endeavor has been a little bit underwhelming thus far, the early footage looks fairly promising.
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Update 10/4: LEGO’s new Darth Vader’s Castle is now available for preorder over at Amazon and will be shipping on November 26th.

Fresh off of debuting its newest line of sets, LEGO is back with another release. This time making the jump into the Hyperspace towards a galaxy far, far away, we’re getting a new Star Wars set just in time for the holidays. The new Amazon-exclusive set, Darth Vader’s Castle, stacks up to over 1,000 pieces and showcases the Sith Lord’s base of operations on Mustafar. Head below for more info and to find out how you can get your hands on the upcoming kit.

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After unveiling a seemingly endless amount of new hardware last month, Amazon has this morning announced a new streaming stick. The Fire TV Stick 4K arrives on the scene as a replacement for the older (and pricier) Fire TV 4K. It’s the first streaming stick to fully support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Today’s news comes just a week after Roku introduced its competitively priced Premiere 4K streamer. Amazon’s new device will retail for $10 more, but offers a handful of additional features plus a new Alexa-enabled remote. More below.

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Amazon seems to make everything with its AmazonBasics brand these days. You have charging cables, an Alexa-powered microwave, bed sheets, backpacks, and more made by Amazon’s in-house brand. Recently, Amazon expanded its product lineup to include memory foam mattresses, ranging from twin 8-inch beds to California king 12-inch offerings. They start at $130 shipped.

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Today, Amazon is opening its latest brick and mortar storefront. This time around, it’s in New York City in the SoHo neighborhood. Amazon’s latest physical location will exclusively feature goods with 4+ star ratings from its online storefront. Inventory will also be shaped by local shopping habits based on previous purchases in the area on Amazon.

Given that Amazon recently expanded its autonomous Go grocery stores, it’s no surprise that Amazon is moving towards additional locations. Today’s opening departs from previous bookstore locations with a wider-range of products. More details below.

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Amazon is currently offering a four-pack of second-generation Tile Bluetooth Item Finders for $27.99 shipped. Having just dropped from closer to $45, that’s good for a nearly 40% discount and the lowest we’ve seen it sell for at Amazon. These trackers pair to your smartphone and are perfect for adding to your keychain, backpack, luggage, or anything else you want to keep track of. A creative way to put these to use is adhering one to your TV remote, so locating it is just a few taps away. Nearly 7,900 shoppers have left a 3.9/5 star rating.

More smartphone accessories:

• AmazonBasics Coiled Lightning Car Charger: $9 (Reg. $12) | Amazon
• Huge SanDisk deals at Amazon from $27: Lightning drives, SD cards, SSD, more
• AUKEY 60W USB-C Wall Charger: $38 (Reg. $50) | Amazon
  • w/ code AUKEYD72  
• Pokémon Pikachu 5W Qi Charger: $20 (Reg. $40) | GameStop
• Protect your iPhone X/S with Amazon’s Leather Wallet Case in various colors from $7
• Kaiess 9-in-1 iPhone Camera Lens Kit: $8.50 (Reg. $17) | Amazon
  • w/ code PTEEYU77
• Epicka Universal 5-USB Travel Power Adapter: $15 (Reg. $22) | Amazon
  • w/ code L6QDF3YA
• Score two of Belkin’s Wemo Mini HomeKit Smart Plugs for $37 (Refurb, Orig. $70)
• RAVPower 10W Qi Charger: $20 (Reg. $30) | Amazon
  • w/ code GoWirels

Deals still live from yesterday:

• 9to5Toys readers can pick up Elevation Lab’s iPhone CordDock for $28 w/ this exclusive code
• Wrap your new iPhone XS in the OtterBox Defender Series Case for $22 (Reg. $35+)
• Lumsing 20W Quick Charge 2-Port Wall Charger: $5 (Reg. $11) | Amazon
  • w/ code DD654945
• Dodocool Wireless Transmitter Receiver: $11 (Reg. $20) | Amazon
  • w/ code 2SZVGGQE
• Caseology Parallax iPhone XS Case: $3 (Reg. $14) | Amazon
  • w/ code 80PDJATL
• Caseology Wavelength iPhone XR Case: $3 (Reg. $14) | Amazon
  • w/ code 80PDJATL

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This afternoon, Amazon took the stage at its Seattle headquarters to unveil a host of new hardware. Amazon is utilizing its new Spheres location for the first time in this regard. Today’s event includes a refreshed lineup of Echo speakers along with new auto accessories and more. Head below for additional details.

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