News
AMD has been making waves in just about every area of computing over the past few years, making a comeback to rival Intel and NVIDIA in their respective platforms. However, the processing giant didn’t just announce new hardware that’ll shake the gaming world, but software. That’s right, the latest Radeon Adrenalin 2020 includes quite a few awesome features, but one sets it apart from the rest: the ability to play your PC games on any (yes, any) mobile device, wherever you are. Want to learn more? Head below the break to find out how to take advantage of this killer feature.
The new Grovemade Titanium Pen is the result of over 4 years of design work. The development team has “unapologetically obsessed” over creating what it considers to be the best writing tool out there. Using a combination of premium natural materials and a functionally minimalist design, the first of the company’s new pens is ready for prime time. Grovemade has even inked up a nice introductory discount too. Head below for a closer look.
Expand
Expanding
Close
While online multiplayer support has paved the way for friends to game with each other no matter where they are, it does seem to have taken some of focus away from couch co-op support in many games. Thankfully a Fortnite update has been pushed out today that hopefully signals a shift towards local split-screen support in other games too.
There are some limitations when it comes to the new feature, but it is Epic Games’ first attempt and the company has promised to continue improving it. Continue reading to find out everything we know.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Each year, Anthropologie comes out with a Perfect Present Gift Guide loaded with ideas for the holiday season. I personally love this guide because they have really unique gifts, so there will be no worry that someone else is getting the same thing. Inside this guide you will find fun ideas for your household, accessories, beauty items, clothing, and even kids gifts. Head below the jump to find all of our top picks from the Anthropologie Gift Guide with prices starting at $14.
With 2019 nearly in the books, today, we’re getting a look at yet another wave of LEGO’s upcoming creations. Headlined by hero and villain-themed mechs, Avengers builds, and various Spider-Man vehicles, nine new LEGO Marvel kits are on the horizon for 2020. Not to mention, you’ll find a collection of all-new minifigures, including Spider-Man Noir, spanning the latest wave of builds. Head below for a closer look.
Expand
Expanding
Close
A Forza battle royale is launching at full speed today on Xbox One and PC. As everyone’s favorite multiplayer mode permeates through what’s starting to seem like every other game on the market, Microsoft has now announced the new Eliminator battle royale for Forza Horizon 4. Head below for more details and a closer look at today’s announcement trailer.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Guaranteed delivery shipping windows are beginning to close at Amazon but if you order in the coming days, you can still count on your gifts by Christmas. Amazon is known for its wide selection of products, but you may be less familiar with its artisan-driven storefront. If you’re still trying to knock-off some holiday shopping, it may be worth swinging by Amazon Handmade, which delivers crafted gifts for all ages. And with Prime delivery, Amazon is still guaranteeing that many products can make it to your doorstep by the big day. Head below for all of this year’s best Amazon Handmade gifts and more.
We’re a little over a month into the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release and a few weeks ago, we got the first big update: Season 1. If you’re wanting to find out our full thoughts on the entire Modern Warfare game, Spec Ops, campaign, and all, be sure to check our in-depth review. However, this post will focus on our hands-on with Season 1’s new content.
Last year Amazon began selling fresh cut Christmas trees. Apparently it has proven to be a success with at least a couple of brands still live at the moment. In this post we’ll dive into which trees are still available for order and can still make it to your door before Christmas Day arrives with no saw or trip to the tree farm required.
Expand
Expanding
Close
The holidays are swiftly approaching and that mean’s gift giving is upon us. J.Crew’s getting you ready for the holidays with a Very Delightful Gift Guide. Inside this guide you will find cozy items such as pajamas, slippers, socks, pullovers, and more. However, you can always find suits for holiday parties, dress shirts, shoes, and sweaters. This gift guide also features an array of price points including under $25, $50 and $100. Head below the jump to find all of our top picks.
Some of my favorite things to cover this year have been EDC, or everyday carry items. Since starting in March of this year, I’ve been able to check out a few and wanted to round up some of my favorites for an end of the year EDC gift guide. For more gift ideas be sure to check out the rest which ranges from fashion, smart home essentials, and music must-haves to coffee essentials, tech-enhancing gear, and must-have cameras and accessories.
Expand
Expanding
Close
After details on the new Resident Evil 3 remake hit yesterday, we are now getting our first look at the new PlatinumGames title, Babylon’s Fall. Shrouded in mystery since it was very briefly teased at E3 2018, the debut gameplay trailer for the upcoming third-person hack n’ slash has now surfaced. While there are still loads of questions surrounding the beloved action game studio’s latest, head below to feast your eyes on the Babylon’s Fall combat system in action and more.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Denon is no doubt one of the more well-known players in the home theater space. But now the company is looking to expand its hi-fi audio products to the rest of your home, announcing a suite of three new multi-room speakers deemed Denon Home. Entering with price points starting at $249, this new collection of home audio products takes on Sonos and other smart speakers with notable features like AirPlay 2 and more. Head below for a closer look.
As it does each year, Amazon has announced Christmas Day shipping windows, detailing your last chance at guaranteed delivery by December 25th. With the advent of one-day delivery for Prime members across the United States, shoppers can order later than ever and still ensure that their gifts will be under the tree by Christmas. Additionally, Amazon is introducing two-hour delivery in more areas than ever before, rolling out various cities in time for delivery on December 24th. That’s on top of the rollout of various Amazon Locker locations over the last few months. Head below for a full look at Amazon holiday shipping windows and more.
It’s that time of the year again, the time where we all share our must-haves for every area. Whether you’re in the market for new fashion and beauty tips, coffee essentials, smart home gear, tech-enhancing products, or music creation, we’ve got it all for you. However, this year I’m focusing on a slightly different area: cameras. If you’re someone who loves to take photos, or it’s something you’re wanting to get into, this photography gift guide is for you. From camera bodies to tripods, storage, and more, we’ve got it all in our photography gift guide.
When I was asked in July if I wanted to check out the budget minded Momentum Meri smart thermostat, I didn’t think that it would almost five months until I posted the review. But, because of some issues with the original firmware and a new update that I wanted to test before posting, here we are. Check out the video for more on my time with this $100 budget-minded smart thermostat.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Order Now!With smart home ecosystems largely funneling down to HomeKit, Alexa, and Assistant, it’s always good to see new products that natively support as many as possible. The new ConnectSense In-Wall Outlet thankfully supports all three, solidifying itself as a solid contender in the smart home space.
Unlike typical smart plugs, this unit replaces existing outlets. Going this route yields a clean look while also delivering desirable smart home functionality. “Ultra-precise power monitoring” is also a notable feature, delivering measurements that ConnectSense touts as accurate within a 0.1% margin of error.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Needing a gift idea? Cologne is always a great gift option during the holiday season for the men in your life. Plus, loads of brands release new fragrances during the end of the year. You can find new fragrances from Vince Camuto, Jimmy Choo, Tom Ford, and many more. So be sure to keep scrolling to find all of our favorite options for holiday gifting.
Throughout 2019, Ubiquiti has been ramping up its home security efforts with continual enhances to the UniFi Protect product line. As of now, most of these upgrades have been software-focused, though it looks like there will be plenty in store on the hardware front from the company come 2020. Today we’re getting the first official look the upcoming Ubiquiti UniFi Protect Video Doorbell thanks to an FCC filing. Head below for a closer look.
The highly-anticipated Resident Evil 3 remake has now been made official. After leaks for the upcoming remake surfaced recently, Sony and Capcom have now dropped the debut trailer, an official release date, and a series of details about the return of Nemesis. You can get a closer look down below.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Western Digital held out on entering the SSD market for quite some time, but the company has been spinning up with new products quite often. First, we had the WD Black NVMe SSD back in April of 2018, then the WD Black SN750 in January of this year. Then, we had the Blue SN500 a few months later, and now we’ve got the Blue SN550. Confused? Don’t be, keep reading and we’ll break down the difference of all drives below.
While Ring is well-known in the smart home security space thanks to its alarm system, floodlights, spotlights, doorbell, and indoor cameras, one area the company hasn’t yet ventured is to replaceable bulbs. Amazon bought Ring early last year and has since introduced several new products for home security. The latest FCC filing by Amazon under Ring, however, shows that the company might venture into an entirely new area.
IOGEAR has added yet another USB-C dock to its ever-growing lineup. In addition to support for desktop, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, IOGEAR Dock Pro shakes things up by giving a lot of love to Nintendo Switch. Thanks to what the company calls Game+ mode, users will more easily be able to hook the Switch up to a big screen and even play select titles with a keyboard and mouse.
We’ve already started rolling out our holiday gift guides here at 9to5Toys, having detailed everything from fashion and smart home essentials, to music must-haves and tech-enhancing gear. Now, it’s time to turn our attention to the coffee bean. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have a pension for sharing my latest brew and my rapidly expanding mug collection. I’ve shared my custom coffee bar setup here on 9to5Toys, but now wanted to give a broader glimpse into some java must-haves for the holiday season. Below you’ll find five different gifts, at different price points, to take someone’s coffee setup to the next level. Without further ado, here’s my coffee essentials gift guide for 2019.
With the holidays swiftly approaching its time to make some time for yourself with one of December’s new book releases. This month you will find an array of thrillers, romance novels, and history books. Keep scrolling to discover all of the best titles hitting shelves this December, and don’t forget to check out November’s Reading List, too.
A remastered version of Bayonetta for PS4 will be a reality soon as SEGA has just announced an upcoming re-release of sorts. Some ten years after initially hitting store shelves, the original Bayonetta and the game Vanquish are being bundled together in a new 10th Anniversary Bundle. Head below for more details and today’s announcement trailer.
Expand
Expanding
Close
To close out the year, LEGO is following up its Black Friday festivities by kicking off two new promotions. The first gives Star Wars fans yet another minifigure to collect in the form of a 20th Anniversary LEGO Obi-Wan. You’ll also be able to score a nearly 500-piece gingerbread house miniature creation. Head below for a closer look and to find out how you can add them to your collection.
Razer’s latest additions to their line-up of popular mice are wireless variants of the FPS focused Basilisk. The Basilisk X Hyperspeed features wireless functionality with a long battery life while the Basilisk Ultimate packs all of Razer’s latest tech along with Chroma and a charging dock into an ergonomic gaming mouse. Head below for more details on the latest from Razer.
Expand
Expanding
Close
The holidays are right around the corner and that means the shopping for loved ones has begun. Woman can be hard to buy for and that’s why today we are making your shopping easier with a convenient gift guide. Whether you’re looking for your mother, wife, girlfriend, sister, or friend, this list will help you get your shopping taken care of. Below you will find items from cozy essentials to hair tools that will make their everyday routine a breeze. So keep scrolling for some chic and affordable ideas in this fashion gift and who knows, you might even find something for yourself.
Alongside massive Star Wars vehicles, festive creations, and other fan favorite models, each year LEGO treats builders to a single modular city building kit. In year’s past, these kits took the form of the Corner Garage, a Downtown Diner, and more. Now for 2019, LEGO is finally giving us a first look at its latest Creator Expert set, the new modular Bookshop. This 2,500-piece edifice stands over 11-inches high, includes five minifigures, and is packed with the usual impressive techniques. Buy the LEGO Creator Expert Bookshop here or head below for a closer look and to learn when you’ll be able to add this one to your collection.
Most of what you see is shot here in my studio where I don’t need to carry anything around. But I do a fair bit of other freelance shooting and travel with equipment for events, so I wanted to take you through what’s in my camera backpack on some of these trips. Head below and check out the video for even more details.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Here at 9to5Toys we annually create a series of gift guides that showcase our favorite gear in an attempt to make your holiday shopping a bit easier. This time around, I’ll be recommending items that have seriously enhanced the common tech that I already owned. So sit back, relax, and scroll down to find favorite tech gift recommendations that set out to make ordinary electronics better.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Buying gifts for loved ones and co-workers can be about as rewarding as it is frustrating. And there’s no one more picky or hard to buy for than musicians and home music producers. This year’s musicians gift guide will provide you with some great ideas across all price ranges and for just about any kind of producer or instrumentalist. From guitar tools to build-it-yourself synthesizer kits and everything in between, head below for 2019’s best gifts for musicians.
Expand
Expanding
Close
I have pretty fond memories of playing shooter games at the Arcade. House of the Dead was one of my favorites, and I even had it for my Xbox. So when PDP reached out about checking out their new Mars Lightcon Starter Pack for Xbox One and PS4, I was excited to see how they perform. Check out the video below to see some more of my thoughts.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Each year here at 9to5Toys we debut a series of annual gift guides, and this year I’m focusing on the best smart home essentials. Gear for Alexa, Assistant, and Siri setups have already proven to be a massive hit throughout 2019. And if Black Friday has shown us one thing, it’s that more homes than ever are going to be welcoming a smart speaker come the holidays. So this year we’re diving into must-have accessories for those just getting started, as well as our favorites for other tech enthusiasts. So you’ll want to head below to check out our top recommendations for essential smart home gifts.
Wyze is both a fan and writer favorite here at 9to5. Originally launching with just a security camera, the company now has pan-and-tilt models, sensors, bulbs, smart plugs, and…now a smart lock! The latest announcement from the company is the Wyze Lock, and it brings quite a few interesting features to the table. Coming in at $89.99 plus shipping, it’s one of the more budget-friendly offerings out there. But, there’s one stand-out feature that sets it apart from the rest.
It’s been a huge weekend of deals with Black Friday kicking off earlier than ever before, and Cyber Monday followed up beautifully today with a number of new all-time lows. But the sun is setting on Cyber Monday 2019 and deals are starting to go out of stock. So if you’re trying to find the best offers still out there, then our roundup of the top ten Cyber Monday deals still available is for you. Head below for all of the best offers still available as of 5PM.
Peak Design is a fan-favorite just as much as it is a writer-favorite here at 9to5Toys. I’ve used their bags for years, taking them to CES, Israel, and everywhere in-between. The company just announced an updated Everyday Line V2 that packs multiple new designs and enhancements across the board. I’ve spent the last week or so with the brand-new Everyday Backpack V2 and Everyday Sling to bring you some first impressions, along with news on the rest of Peak Design’s Everyday Line updates.
We’re not even to Black Friday yet, but Amazon is already talking about Cyber Monday. Today the online giant announced a preview of its Cyber Monday deals, promising a “special day when customers can find incredible deals in every department, all day long.” So basically, a typical day here at 9to5Toys. Amazon will be running back some of its most-anticipated deals from Black Friday on Echo speakers, Fire TV streamers, and more. But there will also be expansive markdowns on home theater audio and TVs, alongside deals on Google Pixel, Adobe software, and SanDisk storage. You can find the full details on this year’s Amazon Cyber Monday event down below.
When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was announced earlier this year, I have to say…I was extremely excited. Surely, you were too, which is why we’re giving away a few copies of the game, so keep scrolling to find out how to enter. The Modern Warfare series was a favorite of mine many years ago, and to see it brought back in its former glory made me super excited. Through many hours of gameplay over the past few weeks, I’ve dove deep into the campaign and online game modes. In our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare review that you’ll find below, there are some huge wins in my book, but also…a few ways that Activision and Infinity Ward need to improve if they want to see the player base for this game continue to grow instead of shrink.
Today we are taking a closer look at the new iRig Keys 2 from IK Multimedia. Known for its affordable music production gear, its recently released controller works with all of your favorite devices and has a few interesting tricks up its sleeve. Head below for our full iRig Keys 2 review.
With more and more home appliances smartening up, Weber is here with SmokeFire. The company’s first-ever pellet smart grill that’s got enough sensors to notify a smartphone when your dish is cooked and ready eat. Weber’s new smart grill sports easy temperature adjustments and a wide range that can vary from 200- to 600-degrees.
Throughout this week we’ve offered up our comprehensive coverage of the best Black Friday deals with guides covering just about every product category. So if you’re looking for Apple gear, Android phones, TVs, or smart home accessories, we have you covered. But now it’s time to turn our attention to Black Friday as a whole. Below you find the top 10 Black Friday deals for 2019 that we know of so far.
It’s almost the time to start opening daily advent calendars and the beauty options this year are incredible. Inside these advent calendars you can find lipsticks, perfume, lotions, and much more. These calendars would also make a wonderful early gift to any beauty lover. So skip the chocolate this year and treat yourself to a little pampering. Head below the jump to find our top picks this year in beauty advent calendars.
On top of getting a first look at a new wave of creations from just about every popular LEGO theme earlier in the week, today brings two new models from the Architecture world. Come 2020, LEGO will be expanding its popular micro-scale collection of builds with two new kits that fit into the Skyline series, Tokyo and Dubai. Packed with the usual high attention to detail and delightful part usage that we’ve come to expect, you’ll definitely want to head below for a closer look at LEGO’s new Tokyo and Dubai Skyline Architecture sets.
Update 3/23: Valve has officially released Half-Life Alyx on Steam. Download it here.
Half-Life 3 is finally here…sorta. If you’ve hung around the internet any length fo time, and you’re any sort of gamer, then you know the stigma that surrounds the Half-Life series. Gamers have been pressuring Valve to release a Half-Life 3 for as long as I can remember, and they’ve finally done it in the most Valve way possible. Half-Life: Alyx takes place between Half-Life and Half-Life 2, making it kinda a Half-Life 1.5? Half-Life 2.5? I digress, but now, let’s take a look at everything we know about Half-Life: Alyx, who’s “humanity’s only chance for survival.”
Recently we took a look at the Mini Soccer and Mini Activity Kit from Sphero. These fun programmable robots are a lot of fun and open a secure door to get into coding. So when Sphero reached out about taking a look at the larger, more capable and expandable robot, the RVR, we were excited to take it for a spin. Check out the video to see how easy it is to make a block program.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Just when you thought you had seen all the possible audio hardware configurations out there, Quirky releases a modular speaker that can seamless convert from one into as many as five. The modular speaker is held together using magnets, making both separating and rejoining a breeze to do.
The fact that Quirky has brought such a neat product to market is not very surprising. This is because the company has made a name for itself when it comes to releasing unique products that few, if any, companies end up competing with. Continue reading to find out more about Quirky’s new modular speaker.