Computer Accessories

When it comes to SSDs, Samsung sells some of the best options on the market. As one of the big players in tech, it is the company’s job to always be on the lookout for how it can push technical boundaries and make a better product year-over-year. With the announcement of its 970 EVO Plus, Samsung is keeping its competitors on their toes.

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the 970 EVO, by providing significant improvements write speeds and more while also keeping its foot on the brakes when it comes to price.
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It was only a matter of time before Swedish musical instrument company Elektron hit us with this year’s new gear for NAMM, and the Model:Samples is now here. The all-in-one groove box continues the company’s work in the stand alone synthesizers/drum machine space and carries one of the most affordable prices we have seen from Elektron yet.
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IK Multimedia has just unveiled the new iRig Micro Amp. This announcement comes on the heels of the new AXE I/O audio interface we got last week and continues IK’s push for solid guitar player-focused tech at this year’s NAMM. Head below for all the details.
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Well known audio company JBL is introducing its new One Series 104 reference monitors. Some two weeks ahead of NAMM 2019, all of the major companies are coming out of the woodwork with the latest and greatest technology in audio recording. Set for release in the first quarter of this year, head below for everything you need to know about the new multi-discipline JBL desktop speakers.
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Ahead of NAMM 2019 later this month, IK Multimedia has now unveiled its new AXE I/O audio interface. The guitar player-focused box brings all of the usual high resolution recording possibilities to your Mac setup along with a series of specialized features for guitar players. More details below.
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Just ahead of this year’s NAMM show, Korg has now unveiled the new minilogue XD synth. The combo analog-digital hybrid comes alongside new entries to the company’s modular-friendly Volca lineup and more. Head below for all the details.
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Adding a MacBook or MacBook Pro stand to your setup is a great way to organize, declutter and maximize any workspace. Perhaps most importantly it can help reduce neck strain by elevating your MacBook to eye-level. The good news is that there are plenty of MacBook stands out there for any budget and style. The bad news? It’s almost overwhelming to wade through all of the options. Head below for the best MacBook stands for 2019 to date.

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Pad & Quill launched its new Techfolio cord organizer solution last March, and today it is expanding the lineup. Two new models are being added for both larger setups and those of us lugging around adapters and cables on the road. Both the existing option and the new variants are now available to order with a nice 15% off promo code below as well.
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Blue is coming to the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 with a brand new microphone. Known for its affordable plug-and-play USB options, the new Blue Ember brings professional XLR connectivity to the start-up podcast level market with a price to match.
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In a world of storage manufacturers like Western Digital, SanDisk, and Samsung, ADATA is a brand that seems like relatively new player. Despite the fact that it has been only been around since 2001, the company has earned its place in the market by becoming the second largest DRAM manufacturer back in 2017. ADATA is constantly releasing competitive products in the storage market, and with its upcoming SE800 external SSD, the company clearly has no intentions of slowing its pace.
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Tomtoc is offering its 360° Protection Premium Laptop Sleeve for an extra 15% off. Regularly $69.99, you can pick one up now for $31.44 on Amazon when applying code 9TO5MAC15 at checkout. That’s good for a 60% discount off the original price tag and the best offer available. More details below.

Tomtoc 360° Protection Premium Laptop Sleeve $31.44 (Reg. $70)

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Starting today, Hyper offers 30% off sitewide as a limited time Cyber Monday sale including its best-selling USB-C hubs for MacBooks, iPads and more. It also has doorbuster deals at even bigger discounts including its popular HyperDrive DUO for $39.99 (Reg. $100). No coupon codes are required, just hit the links below to check out the sale:

Get 30% off + free US shipping at Hyper for a limited time sitewide:

• USB-C Hubs for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
• Hubs for iPad Pro
• USB Hubs for all devices including Mac/PC/Android
• Wireless Chargers
• Battery Packs

Our selection: HyperDrive DUO for $39.99 (Reg. $100) and other plug-in USB-C hubs for MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air. Check our hands-on from 9to5Mac with some of Hyper’s other USB hubs below:
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HP offers up to 57% off for its Black Friday event including up to $500 in instant savings on a range of displays, printers, accessories, PCs and more. That includes many of its popular 4K, widescreen and curved displays, and also a large number of more affordable options starting at just $99.

Top Pick: OMEN X by HP 35 Curved Display for $799 (Reg. $1,299) – As one of HP’s doorbuster deal, it’s offering a huge $500 in savings on one of its top-of-the-line 35-inch curved widescreen displays with the OMEN X (pictured above, left). This display includes a 3440 x 1440 WQHD panel in a 21:9 display widescreen format. The Omen X offers a notable 100Hz refresh rate with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. It also includes a height adjustable screen and ambient lighting, making it a great option for gamers and at $799 one of the best deals available with these specs.

A few of our other selections from the sale are below:

• HP ENVY 27 4K UHD 27-inch Display for $449 (Reg. $499)
• HP ENVY 34 34-inch Widescreen Display for $699 (Reg. $899)
• HP 22er 21.5-inch Monitor for just $99 (Reg. $149)

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This weekend is your last chance to preorder the HyperJuice USB-C Battery Pack for $159 before the price increases to $299 at retail.

HyperJuice is made to be the world’s most powerful USB-C portable battery pack yet and it does so with some quite impressive specs. At 550 grams and just 7.5 x 3-inches and an inch thick, the HyperJuice has a massive 27000mAh capacity. It also includes dual USB-C ports with 100W and 60W power delivery. That means you can, for example, double the battery life of a 15-inch MacBook Pro using HyperJuice. You’ll also find an 18W USB-A Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port for quick charging iPhones, Android smartphones, and other supported devices. And with 100W input, you can charge the HyperJuice itself in just one hour!

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Today we are getting a new ROLI Beatmaker kit. The company is one of new leaders in 5D touch hardware and these beat maker kits it releases are some of the best options for those looking to jump in. The latest model brings together some of its expressive hardware instruments along with an impressive bundle of companion software to get you going.
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Apogee Jam+ is the latest USB interface from the world renown audio company. Designed as the company’s next generation mobile recording solution, it also provides professional quality inputs and outputs for your Mac/PC as well. The latest version comes with updated features and will be available starting today from the Apple Store and authorized Apogee dealers.
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Razer has become a household name when it comes to PC gaming. From keyboards and mice to gaming laptops, phones, and eGPUs, I thought Razer was in just about every category it wanted to be in. But,recently it announced that it was entering the Wi-Fi game with the Razor Sila wireless router.

You’ll get a slim build on Sila, and this router prioritizes applications so your online game is never interrupted. There are multiple new technologies used here, and some are proprietary engines build by Razer itself. The Razor Sila Wireless Router is designed to give you reliable and high-performance networking for gaming, but what all does it do that normal routers don’t provide? Keep reading to find out more.

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We have seen loads of rumors pointing at a major release coming down the pipeline down in Asheville, North Carolina, and now the Moog One is here. While there doesn’t appear to have been an official announcement just yet, a blog post and pre-order listing over at Sweetwater have unveiled the new, absolute beast of a poly synth.
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This morning LG has announced its newest 4K 32UK550-B monitor, a 31.5-inch display that packs HDR and more. It’s priced at $500 which puts it right in the mid-range of 4K alternatives on the market. LG has been slow to roll out HDR monitors, so today’s news is a welcome announcement. In fact, its their first priced below $500. Head below for more.

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It has been 10 years since the folks at Korg originally introduced its nano lineup of MIDI controllers. The family of products were then refreshed some years ago with the nanoPAD2, nanoKontrol2 and nanoKEY2 models. All three of the small footprint controllers are great for both Mac and iOS DAW setups providing hardware controls for your transport, mixer and more. They are easily some of the best portable options out there, providing you don’t require wireless transmission, and today Korg has announced a new limited edition run.
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Native Instruments is one of the biggest names in the music production game these days. It produces some of the best software instruments and sound libraries for producers and sound designers along with a fleet of great hardware including everything from Traktor DJ controllers to the KOMPLETE keyboards and its drum pad oriented Maschine gear. All three of those product lineups are getting refreshed hardware today, but NI is also introducing completely overhauled versions of some of its most popular and groundbreaking instrument software as well as its behemoth KOMPLETE bundle.
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Choosing the right desktop speakers can certainly be challenging. It usually boils down to something like how much you value high-quality over how much cash you’re willing to part with. I would personally rather fork over some serious loot for a hardcore set of drivers. But I thought it was time to start taking a look at some of the extremely affordable options on the market to see what saving a thousand dollars or more sounds like.

Enter Samson’s latest MediaOne M50 Power Studio Monitors. The extremely affordable desktop speakers are set for release later this month so we thought no better time than now to see how the sub $120 monitors will hold up in a typical podcast/music production workflow.
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Earlier today, Dell announced two new gaming monitors that will soon join its line-up that will be referred to as 2419HGF and 2719DGF. Its new offerings are sized at 24- and 27-inches, providing consumers two sizes to consider for their next display. If you were expecting size to be the only differentiator, you would be wrong. The 27-inch monitor packs a higher resolution in addition to faster refresh rates. Each display packs connectivity options that include HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB, but the number and specifications of ports vary between models.

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If you find yourself preferring mechanical keyboards and are a fan of the Resident Evil franchise, Capcom may have just the product for you. The company has announced an official Resident Evil 2 mechanical keyboard based on the game’s Lexington typewriter. In addition to its standout-design, the keyboard packs Bluetooth and works on both Windows and macOS.
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When one thinks of a mechanical keyboard, you might remember the old bulky off-white models that you had in the classroom years ago. Or, if you’re a bit more up-to-date, you might think of the flashy RGB-style gamer-designed versions that are flooding the market as of late.

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

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Elgato has introduced a new version of its popular $150 Stream Deck Live. Dubbed the ‘Stream Deck Mini‘, its latest release gets a $50 price reduction but loses nine buttons as a trade-off. Although originally designed for gamers, the Stream Deck has found a home amongst Mac power users as a means for quickly calling up apps and various functions.

The latest version may be short on buttons in comparison, but its more attractive price tag is sure to appeal to a larger audience. More below.

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Kensington has announced a new product aimed squarely at making your computing experience more comfortable. Its new CoolView Wellness Monitor Stand sports a built-in fan that can be replaced with its upcoming heater or air purifier releases. Swapping the fan out is made possible thanks to the stand’s modular design. This is a feature that is sure to help it stick out in an already-crowded market, stuffed with alternatives from beloved companies like Twelve South.
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PreSonus is one of those music production gear companies that offers up some great gear at very affordable price tags. It just recently debuted the latest version of its FaderPort controllers and has now issued a new podcasting/home recording bundle. The new package brings together just about everything one might need to get their YouTube media empire off the ground for under $300.
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UltraWide is the new 16×9 when it comes to monitors, but some companies take it to the extreme. Both Samsung and Philips offer a 32:9 49-inch monitor (behemoth, insanity, call it whatever you like), and that’s just too wide. While I love my 21:9 35-inch UltraWide monitor, I’ve been wanting something slightly larger, but not quite as large as the Samsung or Philips 49-inch offering.

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

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Arturia has been one of our favorite music gear makers over the last few years. Its affordable analog Brute-series synths and drum machines provide that classic sound to those that may have otherwise been left dreaming about having that MiniMoog one day. While personally I like to have a balance between pricey analog sound sources and interesting software options, Arturia is unveiling the latest member in its analog Brute family and we are stoked about it.
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We feature our fair share of interesting gear and instruments for Mac/iOS musicians and producers around here. Just last week Elektron debuted the new Analog Heat external FX processor just after the fully-loaded Synth One iPad Synthesizer hit the App Store for free. A couple of months back Moog brought us the new Grandmother semi-modular analog synth, but today we are looking at the brand new SKULPT from British designer Modal.
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Elektron is one of our favorite audio production companies out there. It may not have a long-standing history like some of the more well-known brands like Moog, Korg and others, but it has been producing some of the more interesting hardware instruments in the game for a number of years from analog drum machines, effects boxes and synths, to digital beat machines and more. We have been lucky enough to go hands on with some of its gear in the past and we’re excited to hear about the launch of the new Analog Heat MKII.
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Founded in the mid 1920’s, Beyerdynamic has been producing high-quality audio gear out of Germany for many years. As of late, it is best known for its over-ear studio headphones that easily rank among our favorites in the price range. But today the company is introducing a new product in an audio category the it is not normally associated with.
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The SD Association recently published a white paper describing new technologies that boost the potential of SD cards in terms of speed and storage capacity. With the announcement of SD Ultra Capacity and SD Express, the ceiling for storage capacity has been lifted from 2TB to a jaw-dropping 128TB and speeds can now reach nearly 1GB/s clocking in at a maximum of 985MB/s.
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A few years back when the original 12-inch MacBook came out in 2015, people were clamoring for a monitor that could not only send video, but also audio, and power to the notebook all over a single USB-C cable.

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This time around, WaterField is setting its sights on the business professional with its newest product. The company today has announced the release of its new Pro Executive Backpack and Folio.
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LifeProof has been a well-known brand name for a quite a while now. Alongside companies like Otterbox, it provides some of the toughest and robust smartphone cases on the market to keep your precious gear safe in the most rugged locales.

While the brand already offers other options like apparel, charging solutions, cables and more, today it is bringing its legacy in protective gear to the new active backpack lineup.
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National Teacher day is coming up on May 8th, and schools celebrate Teacher Appreciation week from May 7th–11th. I have many teachers who made a positive difference in my life, and I am sure you did as well. If you want to surprise your child’s teacher with a few tech-related gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week, here are some things I recommend from personal experience in the classroom.

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IK Multimedia has created some of the best and most affordable audio production gear out there for years. Whether it’s a MIDI controller keyboard with a built-in interface, guitar rigs or high-quality iOS recording solutions, the company offers just about everything. It most recently launched (and has continued to support) its Syntronik Software Instrument collection, of which you can check out our review right here. Now, the company is stepping into the hardware synthesizer space for the first time.
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Moshi offers 9to5 readers an exclusive 20% off its Urban Safari and Tego collections of backpacks with the promo codes below. Free standard shipping is available on all United States orders.

The four products included in the sale (pictured above) include:

• Helios – $104 (Reg. $130) w/ code 9to5ToysMoshiSafari: A compact and lightweight designer backpack crafted with vegan leather. Despite its slim frame, it can carry a 13″ laptop (MacBook Pro 13-inch 2016-2017) or tablet, with leftover space for your sunglasses case and wallet. A front pocked is designed for easy access and to hold valuables.
• Lula – $96 (Reg. $120) w/ code 9to5ToysMoshiSafari: A sleek crossbody nano bag with adjustable straps, available in black, pink, and blue twill and features stylish golden accents. The main compartment is large enough for an iPad mini while a zippered RFID pocket protects your personal data from theft.
• Tego Backpack – $136 (Reg. $170) w/ code 9to5GoogleMoshi: Crafted from a lightweight and durable fabric, the Tego backpack sports a futuristic design while maintaining modern functionality. Conveniently charge your phone on the move with a pass-through USB port (fast charging 2.4 A) that attaches to a portable battery (optional) stored inside your bag.
• Tego Slingpack –$96 (Reg. $120) w/ code 9to5ToysMoshiSafari: The crossbody Tego Slingpack is cut-proof and weather-resistant to keep your belongings safe and dry. The compact interior includes several compartments for smartphones and other small devices. It also features an anti-theft rear zippers.

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