WaterField has been running an interesting crowdsourced design process which has its most passionate customers participating to some degree in the design and development of new products. As part of its Gear Case Month, the first of three new products born out of the program is now ready for prime time.
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Back in 2015, the original June Oven was revealed to much excitement. Primarily because of its impressive roster of designers that included a handful of Apple alumni. At the time, June was an expensive luxury kitchen accessory that was arguably ahead of its time.
Fast forward to today, and the smart home industry has grown by leaps and bounds. While the original $1,500 price tag was entirely too expensive for most folks, the second generation model being released today comes in at a fraction of the cost. Pair that with an overall attitude shift in consumers willing to spend more on smart home tech, and the new June Oven may be more viable than ever before.
SWAGTRON brings us another eDevice with the Cali Drift. Known for eBikes and scooters, SWAGTRON is back at it again with a new style of device that really has me intrigued.
I’ve long been someone who enjoys a scooter and skateboard, and have even tried some hybrid devices, but none have ever really caught my attention. The Cali Drift brings the joys of a skateboard with a two-wheel front design with the drifting action of a scooter by only having a single wheel in the back. Powered by a 250W motor, this could be a really fun toy for kids and adults alike.
If you enjoy showing off your love for character’s from your favorite movies, TV shows, and video games, then you have probably come across some Funko-branded gear. From its iconic large-headed, small-bodied Pop figures to shirts, Funko has the gear needed to prove just how big of a fan you truly are. If you found yourself enjoying Avengers: Infinity War in theaters since its release, then you’ll be happy to hear that five new Pop figures will be released later this year based solely on the popular film.
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Nerf is teaming up with Blizzard Entertainment to create a line of replica blasters modeled after in-game weapons from the company’s popular team-based FPS, Overwatch. The popular hero shooter has amassed a giant and extremely dedicated fan base that are sure to appreciate the new Nerf blasters.
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Fresh off of last week’s announcement of new themed Gamecube controllers for the Switch, Hori is back with yet another new accessory. This time around though, the company’s emphasis is on enhancing the out-of-the-box controls for the Switch rather than completely swapping it out. Wrapped in sleek Mario and Zelda-themed designs, Hori’s new controller brings the D-Pad back to Nintendo’s hybrid console.
Bentley is known as one of the most iconic automotive brands in the history of the industry. Having been founded in 1919, we’re rapidly approaching its 100 year anniversary. In celebration, Bentley Motors and Opus are collaborating to create the limited edition Best in Class anniversary collector’s book.
As you’d expect, it’s littered with gorgeous images and interesting facts dating back to Bentley’s inception. My personal favorite feature is the massive fold-out pages that unwrap to the size of a full-size Bentayga. More details below, including how you can come to own one yourself.
When it comes to online shopping, two companies come to mind. Walmart and Amazon, and both have strengths and weaknesses. Amazon is the go-to for many regular purchases and is generally the best price around. Walmart is one of the best for household goods and groceries, though Amazon is trying to overtake there.
Walmart recently announced its latest venture into online grocery ordering, and it could be a game changer. Alphabot is a robot that will pick your online grocery orders and prepare them for pickup, meaning you spend less time in the shopping giant’s store and workers have to do less, well, work. But is this really the future we want to live in?
It’s time to look at this month’s best console releases. August does tend to be a slow one but we are seeing some major releases across all the big platforms here. Switch gamers will be getting their first taste of some Monster Hunter with Generations Ultimate while story-driven cult classic Shenmue makes a triumphant return to PS4 and Xbox One. This year’s Madden NFL hits next week and you’ll find all the rest of August’s best console releases down below.
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LEGO’s Harry Potter line of kits is finally back after a near decade hiatus. Over the first half of 2018 we’ve seen a variety of releases get added to the lineup and while there’s no beating the new 6,000 piece Hogwarts castle, the most popular of the new releases are LEGO’s BrickHeadz figures for the wizards. Today we’re going hands-on with the new figures, so be sure to hit the jump for an in-depth look.
Vans and the Van Gogh Museum are collaborating for a unique collection of sneakers, jackets and accessories just in time for back to school. Even better, the Van Gogh Museum will dedicate a portion of its profits from this project to the preservation of Vincent van Gogh’s legacy and collection of his art. This means keeping it accessible for future generations to learn about his legendary pieces. The Vans x Van Gogh Museum is centered around four specific pieces from the artist including: Skull, Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, Self-Portrait as a Painter, Old Vineyard with Peasant Woman as well as letters he wrote his brother, Theo. Each of the pieces in the collection range from $40 to 140. Keep scrolling to find out more about this unique collection.
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.
Choosing your preferred smart home system can be confusing enough, but thinking about what gear you may want to adopt later on makes starting out even more difficult. Lighting is one of the cornerstones of any smart home, and due to the wide range of options on the market, can be one of the trickiest areas of your home to outfit. Some systems shine as perfect entry-level buys, while others require you going all-in to reap the benefits. But fear not! We’ve rounded up our top picks for smart lighting down below.
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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For many heading off to college, it can seem stressful to try and fit all of your everyday essentials into such a small space. Most dorm rooms or first apartments are small and you are also probably sharing whatever space you do have with at least one roommate. That’s why today we are sharing tips and tricks to help make the most out of your dorm room and organize the space you do have.
These days our iPhones provide some of the best and most convenient ways to capture special moments on video. While they will surely get the job done for your casual videographer, including live location audio from the subjects in the shot in combination with the ambient noise of the setting isn’t always that simple. Whether it’s wind noise or just a busy public area, picking up high quality voices and things of that nature with basic iPhone videos can be a chore at best.
Clearly, some kind of mic system is needed to ensure you get high quality voices and there are some options out there for that specifically tailored to mobile recording environments. But the new Sennheiser Memory Mic looks to bring a level of simplicity to the whole process, but does the functionality here justify the somewhat steep price tag?
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Back in May, Nintendo announced that it would be bringing back its much-beloved NES Classic after the console was constantly sold out back in 2016 during its initial run. Turns out, the decision to revive the retro reboot was a good one. Last night, we got word that the NES Classic was the best-selling console on the market in 2018. That’s more than Xbox, PlayStation and Switch. A good move by Nintendo, indeed. More below.
When playing sports or performing outdoor activities you want your vision to be sharp and clear. And not only is sunscreen important but it’s also critical to keep the sun’s rays out of your eyes, too. Durable frames, shatterproof lenses, and polarized technology will ensure that you stay at the top of your game on the field, trail or on the green. Today we are rounding up the best five sunglasses for sports and outdoor activities and they’re all under $50.
If you are one of the many consumers who own a VIZIO Smartcast television set, then today there’s a free update waiting for you. Unlike many software updates, this one actually packs more than some bug fixes and security improvements. Today’s update brings a new streaming television service powered by Pluto TV called WatchFree. It packs 100 live and linear channels, and as the name implies, you can use the service free of charge.
JAM Audio is a well-known brand when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. They’re best known for the Symphony Wi-Fi speaker system that has Alexa built-in, but the company recently completely rebranded itself with new products, a new logo, and more.
With its new brand, JAM Audio is launching not just a few new products, but over 10 new items ranging from waterproof speakers to Bluetooth headphones. One stand-out feature from JAM’s latest speakers is that they will feature 100-ft. range over Bluetooth, which is up from the regular 30-ft. range.
Today we are taking a look at a hilarious indie game about being a raccoon that makes giant holes to steal things from people. Donut County is an odd and yet interesting looking physics-based experience that is set for release later month on iOS, Mac/PC and PS4.
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Coffeemakers are a dime a dozen these days, as is the number of ways that you brew a cup of joe. But to go above and beyond the average Keurig experience will take some creativity, and some cash. Enter Bubble Lab’s new Drip coffeemaker. This sleek and minimal brewer looks more Apple than Mr. Coffee with its sensor-laden aluminum design.
The folks at Bubble lab have been working on the Drip coffeemaker for some time, looking to blend robotics and modern-day brewers. What it came up with takes all the guesswork out of your next cup of joe. And it does so in style.
These days, getting kids interested in STEM and programming has become easier and easier thanks to companies like littleBits and Kano, who partner with some of the most beloved and recognizable franchises out there to make it ass accessible as possible. Looking to not be left in the dust by last week’s Kano Harry Potter Wand kit, today littleBits is debuting its Marvel-themed Avengers Hero Inventor Kit.
Strava, the popular activity app for tracking workouts and competing with other athletes has launched an all new paid tier today. Replacing Stava Premium is “Summit” and it offers the option to buy individual upgrade packs at a lower price or subscribe to a bundle.
Destiny is a beloved gaming franchise from Bungie that people play on every platform. I’ve been a huge fan of the series from the first game on my original Xbox One, and now own Destiny 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Destiny 2 was great at the beginning, but quickly flittered out and I lost interested like with the original game.
This is something that Destiny is known for, launching with a fairly decent game that’s fun for a while, but not really becoming a must-play until a few updates later. Well, we’re at those updates, and Destiny 2: Forsaken is just around the corner, promising the “most transformative moment in Destiny 2.”
Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons, however, dressing appropriately can be tricky when the weather in your area still feels like summer. Replacing your sandals in favor of socks and boots can be a hard thing to do. That’s why today we are rounding up the best transitional shoe options that you can wear now and into the cooler months. Whether you’re looking for a casual sneaker or versatile boot, we are sharing options that everyone can enjoy. Even better, all of our top picks are priced at under $50.
Just when you think you have the TV situation figured out in your home, Sony has announced four new UHDTVs that all pack quite a punch. The company wasn’t shy about this release, touting that the new sets were developed with the focus of bringing its ‘long history and expertise developing professional cameras and monitors’ to televisions. Aside from brand, these sets stand out from the competition with features like a Netflix Calibrated Mode, compatibility with CalMAN’s professional-grade display calibration software, a built-in 3.2 channel sound system, and more. With the name MASTER Series, Sony paints a very clear picture that it plans for this tech to lead the charge in its TV product line-up.
July has been an exciting month in the LEGO world, with the debut of the new 6,000-piece Hogwarts Castle, the release of the 007 Aston Martin DB5 , SDCC kits and more. The latest fan-made kit from LEGO Ideas, Voltron, is only a week or so away from getting its wide-scale release as well, but today we’ll be turning our attention to other builds from the crowd-funding campaign that are still vying to become real kits.
Nintendo has an incredibly successful console generation with the Switch. The console has smashed records all over the place and is nearing 20 million in total sales. All of that sounds pretty impressive but the numbers have started to slide over the last quarter or so. After reporting 2.93 million and 7.23 million units sold in the previous two quarters, sales have slowed down to 1.88 million in the most recent three-month period. That number is still quite high, especially considering it’s the slowest time of year for console sales and the company hasn’t been cranking out as many big-time titles. However, Nintendo is going need an amazing holiday this year in order to meet its sales projections.
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Pre-orderWhile smartphone cameras continue to improve with every annual iteration, there’s still a place for traditional point-and-shoot models. This morning Canon has introduced its latest PowerShot camera with a handful of upgrades over the previous generation. Headlining its list of features is 4K functionality at 30fps, a notable addition for one of the brand’s smallest cameras. Head below for more details.
One of the big perks that come with being a smart home owner is monetary savings stemming from scheduling your internet-connected thermostat alongside energy efficiency of smart lighting and more. Today ecobee, maker of one of the more popular HomeKit-enabled thermostats currently on the market, is eyeing up the former by debuting a new feature called Peak Relief. Focusing on automating your home’s heating and cooling based on electricity rate fluctuations, the new functionality looks to help cut down on electric bills.
Pottery Barn Kids is known for its on-trend and classy furniture and accessories for kids’ rooms, and now the retailer is offerings a new line called “Pottery Barn Modern Baby”. After recently launching West Elm x Pottery Barn Kids collection, this new line of baby furniture and decor features a wide range of new pieces to update your baby’s room. With prices ranging from just $24 to $999, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a modern crib or a new stroller, keep scrolling to find our top picks from this modern collection.
HyperX has added a Pro version of the well-rated Pulsefire FPS gaming mouse to its product line-up. As you would expect, the Pulsefire FPS Pro gets some upgrades from the standard model. Some major differences are an upgraded Pixart 3389 sensor, which provides up to 16,000 DPI tracking and onboard memory for storing custom profiles directly on the mouse, making it easy to switch things up while on-the-go.
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About two months ago, Anker announced that it was teaming up with Nintendo to release a line of Switch-compatible battery packs. After reports surfaced earlier this year that some power supplies were bricking Nintendo’s portable console, consumers have needed to show greater caution when powering their systems. Fast forward to today and Anker’s official USB-C battery packs are up for pre-order.
I’ve been able to spend a few days with these new battery packs and put them through some testing. For Anker, having an official partnership with Nintendo is a big deal. Just a few years ago, the company was only beginning to roll out its Amazon store and now it’s partnered with the one of the biggest gaming brands in the world. A few thoughts and a quick hands-on below with the 13400mAh model.
The Nintendo Switch is one of the company’s most iconic consoles in years. The last release that people were excited about in a similar fashion could arguably be the Wii, but I’d liken it back to the launch of the GameCube. The GameCube holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first “next-generation” consoles I ever owned. Before I had a PS2, Xbox, or anything else, I had a GameCube.
The controller was most iconic, especially for games like Super Smash Bros. which will be coming out soon on Switch. Nintendo knows this, as do many third-party manufacturers, which is why everyone is launching a GameCube controller for the Switch. PDP is the latest to announce a GameCube-style controller for Switch, and I can’t wait for the release.
With lots of smart security cameras flooding the market, it’s hard to know which one is the best. In many instances you need to buy multiple cameras so you can see from more than one angle. With the release of its 360-Degree Outdoor/Indoor All-in-One HD Camera that was originally announced at CES 2018, Guardzilla has provided a simple security camera solution that allows you to see from all angles with just one device.
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Are you heading on a camping adventure? Sleeping under the stars and being outdoors may sound like a blast to some, however, others may need a few more necessities to have a good time. One of the top priorities is having access to a shower and restroom while outdoors. However, some just miss the luxury of morning coffee. That’s why today we are rounding up a few of our favorite items that will make camping more enjoyable and luxurious.
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Hello Neighbor is developed by Dynamic Pixels and was later picked up by publisher tinyBuild for release on Xbox One and PC. It is a unique stealth experience with interesting AI that will see players sneaking into a neighbor’s house to discover its secrets. Today the game is set for release on both iOS and Android devices along with Nintendo Switch and PS4.
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Nintendo kicked off 2018 with its surprising new line of Labo cardboard construction sets geared towards letting Switch owners build their own accessories and teaching them how to code at the same time. At launch only two kits were available, but now Nintendo has debuted its third addition to the series of Labo kits, this time centered around various vehicles. Hit the jump for the full scoop.
Airstream has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as interest in traveling across all ages has increased significantly. The travel-trailer life isn’t just for retired folks anymore, as millennials have found joy in seeing the country, or world for that matter, at their own pace.
Looking to cash in on those trends, Airstream has expanded its offerings, even making the move to drop its iconic aluminum design in recent months. This week it has announced its latest release, a revamped version of its slimline Basecamp that’s design for “extreme adventures”. Starting at under $40,000, the newest member of the Airstream family is sure to appeal to a broad spectrum of travelers.
When you hear Pirelli, either you instantly know the company or you’ve never heard of them. I’ve always been a fan, but that’s because I’m big into muscle cars. Pirelli, for those who don’t know, is a tire manufacturer whose products are often used on high-end sports and race cars. When I think of Pirelli, I think of tires…not the company’s latest product.
Pirelli partnered with IXOOST to make a P ZERO Bluetooth speaker. Yes, a Bluetooth speaker from a tire company. The design is what you’d expect, one of Pirelli’s iconic racing wheels used by Formula 1 teams in wind tunnels for scale-sized testing. But a speaker from a tire company? This could become a new trend among companies, and I am totally OK with that.
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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Synthesizers in general, especially hardware variants, can seem daunting at first to your average musician. Modular synthesis adds another level (or two) of complexity on to the formula making it even more out of reach for up and coming producers, sound designers and audio programmers. Another thing to keep in mind is that synthesizers are inherently expensive and modular setups can get pretty crazy with the need for external power supplies, cases for each unit, cables and more.
There are certainly companies out there looking to offer up interesting products to ease musicians into the world of modular synthesis and synthesizers in general, but the new desktop modular boxes from Hungry Robot certainly caught our eye.
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Victoria Beckham is known for her exclusive collaborations and she has just revealed her new collection with the sportwear line Reebok. The new collection features laid back pieces such as t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, and socks for a comfortable and sporty look. This collection is also all unisex, so it can be worn by both men and women. The colors of all of the items are classic with a black and white scheme with an occasional pop of red. Also, each piece features Shaquille O’neal’s number or logo and has a 90’s look to celebrate his history in basketball. The prices range from $50 to $200. Keep scrolling to find out more about the pieces.
Continuing the Switch’s path of domination as it shakes up the video game industry, earlier this year Nintendo announced it would be bringing the fan-favorite title Super Smash Bros. to the hit hybrid console. Now as a timely follow up, one of the more well-known gaming accessory makers, Hori, has announced it will be releasing a new wave of Gamecube controllers for the system. Available in three new designs, the gamepads sport Mario, Pikachu and Zelda-themed colorways and decals.
Mid-century modern design has seen a rebirth in recent years as trends of clean lines, mixed materials and retro vibes have come back into style. Along with that, we’re seeing more and more American-based furniture manufacturers pop-up on the scene with unique builds that really standout from the usual offerings at West Elm and the like.
One of those designers is Sitskie out of Detroit, Michigan. It’s small line of products is highlighted by those very characteristics that have given mid-century modern design a re-birth in the 2010s. One of its latest products is the Open 45 Credenza that features gorgeous lines and puts your vinyl collection on full display. Head below for more details.
In the past few years of LEGO releases, the company’s lineup has been defined by a two-fold focus: releasing larger, more part-intensive kits packed with eye-catching details alongside expanding its lineup of offerings by bringing in as many partnerships with existing IPs as possible. LEGO’s most recent release just so happens to fit into both categories, with the all-new Aston Martin DB5 packing many iconic features and details from the James Bond franchise, the first LEGO kit to tie in with the famous spy flicks.
As we reported last week, LEGO debuted its most recent kit in partnership with the British luxury sports car manufacturer, Aston Martin. Stacking up to just under 1,300 pieces, the 007-themed DB5 is sure to be one of this year’s must-have sets. Luckily we got our hands on it prior to widespread release and will be diving in to see if the brick-built recreation of the iconic ride stacks up to a gadget worthy of the famous secret agent or if Q should have just left this one in the shop.
If you ever take photos at night, you know how much of a negative impact the darkness can have on the quality of your photos. The end result produces a lot of noise, less of the environment is visible, and to top it all off, in many cases the camera flash turns on and ends up making photos look even more unrealistic. A new company called SiOnyx aims to change all of that with its new Aurora Night Vision Camera.
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