News

Update: The Hogwarts Castle is now available for purchase for LEGO VIP members (it’s free to sign up).

Move over UCS Millennium Falcon, there’s a new contender for the most-coveted LEGO kit in town. Today LEGO has announced the latest addition to its lineup of Harry Potter sets, the Hogwarts Castle. Comprised of over 6,000 pieces, the new model looks to be every bit as impressive and magical as its appearances on the silver screen. LEGO has packed a major amount of detail into its latest recreation, so be sure to check it out below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Video doorbells have taken home security by storm and have popped up seemingly everywhere. One area that seemingly no one has innovated yet is in powering these doorbells.

Currently, you have to use rechargeable batteries or swap out regular batteries on a constant basis (every several months) to keep the doorbell powered. This isn’t a huge hassle, but should the batteries die while you’re away from home, it could be disastrous. In comes Soliom, a truly wireless doorbell that is powered by the sun so you never have to worry about changing batteries again.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Before getting in a workout, we often count on our gym bags to tote around all of our essentials. We all want our gym bags to be water-resistant, feature breathable material, and be easy to clean while remaining lightweight and durable. However, you don’t need to break the bank to grab a functional and stylish gym bag. That’s why today we are rounding up the best summer gym bags that are under $25. Even better, all of the gym bags listed below are from top brands such as adidas, Oakley, PUMA and more.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Last week, Microsoft announced that it would unveiling next generation hardware and accessories at gamescom come August. While there’s basically no chance of this being the new Xbox, it is likely we could see an updated Elite Xbox controller along with some special bundles. However, some new leaks have pointed at interesting details regarding the currently in development next generation Xbox console hardware.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Kano has emerged as one of the leaders in the STEAM space thanks to its accessible and technically impressive programming kits. For its latest release, Kano will be bringing the same high quality of educational content, but with a bit of a twist thanks to its newest partnership. Having journeyed to the wizarding world of Hogwarts, today Kano is debuting its new Harry Potter Coding Kit. This time around you’ll be able to assemble your very own wand which will guide you through iconic locations from the films in your pursuit to learning programming skills and coding fundamentals.

Expand
Expanding
Close

We first caught wind of the C64 Mini back in September as the classic 1980’s Commodore console was first detailed as the next gaming system up for a retro-redux. Details were somewhat thin when we first covered last fall, but this morning we’re getting an official release date and more. Full details below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

TP-Link is a household name when it comes to networking technologies. From routers and switches to its latest Kasa smarthome line, the company is well-known in just about every field it takes part in. The Kasa Cam was announced back in September of last year and was a great entry into the smart camera market. Though it was for indoor use only, many people love it and it’s a great value when looking for an all-in-one security camera for your home.

Now, TP-Link has announced its Kasa Cam Outdoor which features an IP65 waterproof rating, 1080p capturing, free two-day cloud storage, and more. This camera could become one of the next big names in smart home security systems with its plethora of features, especially since it’s compatible with both Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Peak Design is well-known when it comes to photography bags. I have the Everyday Backpack and the Everyday Messenger personally, and carried the Backpack with me every day of CES 2018 while on the floor, in meetings, and traveling between buildings.

The Everyday Backpack I have is the 30L model and fits just about everything I need it to, though it gets quite heavy packed as full as I had it. Part of the reason was I had it overstuffed most of the time, and could really lay everything I needed with me on an average CES day out in that bag well. That’s where Peak Design’s latest Kickstarter for its new Travel Line comes in, bringing a bag that can hold up to 45L and organize everything you need in a much more convenient way.

Expand
Expanding
Close

I think back to when I was growing up, and my Dad knew how to fix everything. I feel like there was a home repair class I was supposed to take but never got information about. I was talking to my Dad recently about this, and he had two things to say:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Japanese audio/electronics company Roland is once again teaming up with the folks at PUMA for an exclusive new sneaker design. Earlier this year, the two brands linked up for the RS-0 which brought vintage elements from PUMA’s early silhouettes together with Roland’s iconic TR-808 drum machine. And now, the two have joined forces once again on the new PUMA RS-100 Roland.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon’s line of Echo products are known as being the most popular voice-activated speakers around. And rightfully so, as they’re continually some of the best-selling devices on the market. Voice is after all, a natural way for many to interact with Alexa, but for others, that isn’t so much the case.

Today, Amazon has announced a new piece of functionality geared towards making some of its devices more accessible that will be joining the Echo Show’s suite of other unique features made possible by its touchscreen. Deemed Tap to Alexa, the latest addition brings touch controls into the mix for summoning Amazon’s digital assistant.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Do you enjoy trying different kinds of drinks but don’t like making them yourself? If so, then a new product called Barsys, may be just the thing for you. Barsys is an automated cocktail maker controlled via your smartphone. It comes pre-loaded with over 2,000 recipes, giving you and your guests an immense variety of drinks to choose from.
Expand
Expanding
Close

A personalized gift can make a lasting impression to anyone who is special in your life. If you’re on the hunt for a perfect gift, the more personal it is, the better. That’s why today we are picking out our favorite personalized gifts that are all under $100. Whether you’re looking to find a gift for a newlywed couple, your father’s birthday or a housewarming gift, there’s something on the list for everyone to enjoy.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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.
Expand
Expanding
Close

This morning, Netgear announced that its Arlo sub-brand is going to add a new smart doorbell to its expansive lineup of home security products. Today’s news comes on the heels of Apple’s decision to remove the entire smart doorbell category from its HomeKit accessories list for the time being. Netgear’s consumer-focused security lineup has enjoyed great success in recent years as it has expanded to include a wider range of competitively priced products.

Officially called the Arlo Audio Doorbell, Netgear is skipping the video-conferencing features made popular by Ring in favor of a slimmer design and improved battery life. As expected, you’ll be able to speak directly via your smartphone device to anyone at the door. More details below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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?

Expand
Expanding
Close

Nintendo has been getting a lot of love ever since the debut of its overwhelmingly-successful Switch console. With official partnerships being struck with lots of companies, including Anker, it is clear that Nintendo has the marketshare to be remain relevant for quite some time. Although it’s latest partnership with stationary and bag manufacturer, Moleskine, is one that I do not think many were predicting, I do anticipate that the new Mario-inspired notebooks, backpack, and phone case will be quite successful.
Expand
Expanding
Close

littleBits is one of our favorite company’s in the STEAM space, and has been shaking up the industry by pairing top-notch coding and electronics kits with eye-catching and interesting themes. One of their newest releases took tinkerers to a galaxy far, far away to build and program their very own astromech droid. Today we’ll be taking a hands-on look at the littleBits Droid Inventor kit to see if it stacks up to be a prized robotic companion or a bucket of bolts.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Now until July 24th, Wayfair is having its Black Friday in July Sale with incredible prices on furniture, decor, lighting, rugs and more. You can also save up to 70% off big-ticket items that you’ve been waiting to update. Head below to find all of our top picks from the sale.

Expand
Expanding
Close

About a month ago, Incase formally introduced its latest MacBook sleeves and a new nylon accessory organizer. While working at home has its perks, it’s not ideal for testing out travel gear. I was luckily able to change that last week and fully go hands-on with the latest Incase releases. A few thoughts and a quick look below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may not have been the completely new, refreshed cart racing title Switch fans were hoping for when Nintendo’s latest console dropped, but it has been a great addition to the library nonetheless. It’s hard to imagine a new Nintendo console without an updated Mario Kart game to play on it, so it’s easy to see why Nintendo opted for a re-release of sorts while it toils with the next generation Mushroom Kingdom racer.

However, that’s not going to stop Nintendo from introducing new content to the game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting a free Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild update that will see the titular character in his latest iteration enter the fray.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Update 9/6 @ 4:50 PM: GameStop currently has this limited edition bundle in stock for pre-orders (release 9/7) at $399.99 shipped or picked up in-store.

Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro is a fantastic console. I bought mine late last year and play it almost daily (when I’m not rebuilding my entire entertainment center…) Well, Sony being Sony, the company is releasing a special edition Spider-Man PlayStation 4 Pro in celebration of the upcoming release of the game. Costing no more than the regular PS4 Pro, this is a must-have for die-hard Spider-Man and Marvel fans alike.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Fujifilm has announced its latest compact camera today, the XF10. The new camera serves as a replacement to the Fujifilm X70 and it does not disappoint when comparing specifications between the two. The Fujifilm XF10 boasts 24.2 megapixels thanks to fitting a large APS-C sensor into a slender form-factor.
Expand
Expanding
Close

For children, bath time is all about having fun. It also makes it easier on parents if you can distract your kids while giving them a bath. That’s why today we are rounding up the best accessories for bath time. From babies to toddlers, there are an abundance of bath toys on the market that are fun and educational. We even are sharing options for you to store toys too! Keep scrolling to find the best bath toys that will make a serious splash of fun.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Retro gaming may arguably be at one of its most popular points in history, with everyone from third-party companies to Nintendo themselves cashing in on the fad’s latest peak. And while playing your favorite classic titles is a blast, giving up the modern comforts like wireless controllers takes away from the nostalgic fun. At least that’s the thought process behind 8BitDo’s latest retro release, which offers gamers the ability to convert their beloved classic controllers into fully wireless versions.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Fornite has enjoyed unrivaled success in 2018 as revenues have soared thanks to its availability across various platforms. With so much demand, it’s only natural that the brand would start to expand into spin-offs to further cash-on on this success. Well, fan-favorite accessory-maker Funko Pop has announced this morning that it’s entering into a partnership with Fortnite on a new line of accessories modeled after its popular characters. Full details below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In a world that has become packed with smart home products like thermostats, lightbulbs, power outlets, and more, it is only natural for the trend to hit new product categories and for more companies to join in and capitalize on the ever-growing interest in home automation. GE’s new microwave oven is the company’s latest addition to its smart home platform, referred to as WiFi Connect. Noteworthy features include Alexa integration and scan-to-cook technology, offering users the ability to scan barcodes on food products and have cooking instructions sent directly to the microwave.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale will go live for non-card holders on July 20th and it’s one of the best sales to date. During this sale, brand new fall merchandise from amazing designers such as Patagonia, Tory Burch and more are all marked down to really low prices. This is the perfect opportunity to buy any big-ticket items you’ve been wanting to get your hands on or items you’re wanting for this fall and winter. That’s why today we are rounding up our top picks from the sale for both men and women.

Expand
Expanding
Close

If you have fond memories of piecing together model kits from when you were a kid, it might be time to dust off your tools. Bandai, in partnership with Star Wars and LucasFilm, has unveiled two new model kits from a galaxy far, far away centering around 1/12-scale astromech droids. While a version of the lovable R2-D2 is the star of the show, we’re also getting a new R4-I9 kit as well. So be sure to hit the jump for all the details. 

Expand
Expanding
Close

Microsoft had a surprisingly notable E3 showing this year. After it appeared as though it might not have much to show when it hit the stage, it proceeded to bombard us with 50 games including 18 exclusives and 15 world premieres. So yeah, things turned out alright. After all, we awarded the Cyberpunk 2077 trailer shown off during the Xbox presser one of our Game of Show awards this year.

Since then, we have seen some notable official price drops and even a pair of new Xbox One bundles as we continue through summer 2018, but it looks like the Xbox announcements and product unveils are just starting to heat up.
Expand
Expanding
Close

As per its annual tradition, Amazon is taking its Prime Day victory lap this morning sharing out which deals were the most popular across its two-day shopping event. As expected, this was the biggest Prime Day to date as Amazon stretched its summer shopping bonanza across 36-hours this year. Much like Black Friday 2017, shoppers went for the home goods category more than any other over the last two days. Full details below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

While many of the large recreations of iconic vehicles from LEGO as of late have been additions to the company’s lineup of Technic sets, today LEGO will be reaching back into its tub of bricks to debut its new spy-themed sports car. In partnership with Aston Martin, LEGO is bringing 007’s famous ride into a nearly 1,300-piece Creator Expert set.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Wyze Cam has become a fan-favorite around here. With prices starting at $26 shipped from Amazon, local storage, free cloud storage, and the latest model featuring both pan and tilt functions, these are must-haves for anyone building a smart home on a budget.

One area that Wyze lacked in was smart assistant connectivity. Be it HomeKit, Assistant, or Amazon’s Alexa, there was no tie-in for Wyze at all. That is, until now. Announced today, Wyze Cams will now work flawlessly with Amazon’s Alexa service.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Hurom, a company based in South Korea, has released its latest juicer. The new H-AI Slow Juicer is the first of its kind to be released in the United States with a self-feeding feature that chops and pushes ingredients down on its own. The company claims that its newest juicer mimics the motion of hand squeezing due to a slow speed of just 60 revolutions per minute, allowing you to enjoy fresher juice with a more authentic taste.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon’s Echo Show and Echo Spot have garnered mixed reviews, from people not sure if they want to put an all-knowing camera in their home to those who absolutely loved it because it gave them their beloved Echo with a built-in display. The Echo Show, however, is somewhat limited (and normally expensive).

Until now, the Echo Show or Spot have been the only way to get Alexa on a screen (besides using Fire TV). However, Amazon recently released the Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 8 and it offers one of the best ways to experience Alexa on the big screen, in my opinion.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Ready to read a great book with your toes in the sand? Today we are sharing new summer books that will have you on the edge of your seat. Whether you’re looking for a war story, romantic novel or a thriller we have a book for everyone this summer. Keep scrolling to find our top picks.

Expand
Expanding
Close

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.
Expand
Expanding
Close

As expected, Target has now announced that it will be going toe-to-toe with Amazon on Tuesday, July 17th for Prime Day. Also to no surprise, Target is touting its ‘epic’ sale as being available for everyone, further pushing Amazon’s Prime membership requirement into the light. This time around the big red retailer is promising discounts on a wide range of home goods, electronics toys and more.

Target will also be offering a special bonus for REDcard members and those that spend over $100 on Tuesday. More details below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

As display technology has progressed, our streaming devices have been playing catch-up. Nintendo still doesn’t support 4K, and the Xbox One S/Xbox One X has only supported HDR10 so far, with no Dolby Vision support in sight…until now.

In an upcoming update to the Xbox One software, Dolby Vision will finally be released. As it stands right now, no major gaming console supports Dolby Vision, as the PS4 Pro still only supports HDR10.

Expand
Expanding
Close

With summer well underway, enjoy a sunny day while hiking, biking, at the beach or out in your backyard with apparel that will help keep your skin protected. The market for UPF apparel has grown so much in the last couple of years with top brands joining the band wagon including J.Crew, L.L. Bean, Athleta and more. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor that means how effectively fabrics shield you from the sun. The good news is you don’t have to break the bank to get your hands on this apparel. That’s why today we are sharing out favorite pieces that are under $20.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In a world inundated with smartwatches, a new company called iBeat has stepped up to the plate. Instead of trying to compete on every level with showstoppers like Apple Watch or Samsung Gear, iBeat’s Heart Watch is marketed as a health device with a large focus on saving lives through continuous monitoring of heart rate and blood flow. In the event that Heart Watch detects what the iBeat’s algorithms consider to be unsafe, it will automatically notify you, selected emergency contacts, and the iBeat’s response team.

Expand
Expanding
Close

We have seen some interesting innovations for guitar players over the last few years like the IK app-connected stomp boxes. Even Fender released it’s own iOS/Android powered amps in mid-2017, but today BOSS is announcing the availability of “the world’s first totally wireless guitar amplifier”.
Expand
Expanding
Close