I’ve been testing out JBL’s Pulse 3 Bluetooth Speaker for the last couple weeks which features a cool 360-degree lightshow, waterproof design, nice sound quality, and good battery life. Keep reading after the break for our full review of this fun and functional portable speaker.
After recently acquiring the Atomos Sumo Studio Monitor/Recorder (hands-on coming soon), I was looking for a way to connect two HDMI camera sources to the unit without having to unplug one cable to plug in another. The Sumo features a single HDMI input, so unless I wanted to convert from SDI to HDMI, a switcher was my best bet.
I opted for this sub-$12 DotStone HDMI Switcher 2 Ports Bi-direction Manual Switch. It may not sound like much on the surface, but I’ve been extremely satisfied with the unit’s performance. It allows me to easily switch between HDMI camera inputs with a single button press. Best of all, it requires no power adapter. Watch our brief hands-on video for more details.
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For the last few weeks I’ve been trying out BenQ’s PD2710QC 27-inch monitor as my daily driver. With an integrated USB-C dock, slim bezels, and a fair price, this monitor is worth checking out, particularly if you have Apple’s newer MacBook or MacBook Pro.
Panasonic’s 12-35mm f/2.8 is my go-to native GH5 lens for every day shooting. It features a 35mm equivalent range of 24-70mm, and is fast enough to provide nice bokeh when needed. Yet, sometimes you need an even faster option, and for those cases, the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster f/0.95 25mm prime is an excellent budget lens.
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Logitech has taken full advantage of the last few months, unveiling a number of new Mac and PC accessories in its Craft, MX and G lineups. That includes the much anticipated Craft keyboard as well as the return of the trackball with its new Ergo mouse. All told, five new products were introduced and I’ve spent the last few weeks tinkering with each. Head below for a brief hands-on look with each of Logitech’s new accessories.
Buy NowThe versatile Bosch drill system, which has been available in Europe for some time, is finally here! The Bosch 12V Max Flexiclick 5-in-1 Drill/Driver System is officially being released in the US today!
Buy nowLEGO’s line of Architecture kits are known for being exciting, detail-packed builds and even better display pieces. In the past few years we’ve seen iconic buildings like the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and more. But now LEGO has extended its collection of French monuments with the recently unveiled Arc De Triomphe. Today we’ll be taking a hands-on look at the brick-built rendition of the famous 17th century landmark.
I’ve been a gamer since as far back as I can remember. I bought my first Nintendo back in the mid-80’s and was hooked from there. I’m no longer as big of a gamer as I once was, but I remain a fan of Nintendo to this day.
Hence, it’s no surprise that both the NES and SNES Classic Edition consoles resonated with me. The SNES Classic Edition in particular, since the original is my favorite gaming console of all-time. Unboxing this little guy brought back a wave of nostalgic memories in an instant, and I couldn’t help but smile as I held the miniature SNES in my hand.
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About 18 months ago we started a new daily roundup of the best green and alternative energy deals, focusing on outdoor equipment, solar power and the like. In that time our sister site Electrek has grown in leaps and bounds as interest in this category has taken off. Curious what all the fuss was about, I’ve spent the last few weeks toying around with GreenWorks’ 60V lineup that includes a mower, leaf blower and string trimmer.
As someone that isn’t particularly well-versed in outdoor tools, I was anxious to see if this alternative to my inventory of gas equipment would fit the bill. Spoiler, it did and in my case, it’s far superior.
Ever since getting my first Fitbit way back in 2013 I’ve been addicted to tracking as much data about myself as I can. Over the years I’ve used a variety of gadgets, but haven’t found a smart scale I’ve really loved. After Qardio unveiled its new QardioBase 2 smart scale I was hesitant to give it a shot. But after going hands-on I just might have found the ideal weight and measurement tracking scale.
Buy NowCleaning debris from a camera lens isn’t a glamorous task, but it’s something that you’ll want to do on a regular basis to keep your photos and videos looking sharp. Dust and debris are bound to make their way to your camera lens, and even the sensor for interchangeable lens cameras. That’s where Giottos’ Rocket Air Blaster comes it. It’s a simple, effective, and inexpensive tool for quickly maintaining your expensive camera equipment. Have a look at our brief, hands-on video walkthrough for more details.
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Having a reliable backpack is just as important as the gear we stow in them. And now that the school year is back in full swing for many, you may have realized that last year’s bag just isn’t cutting it anymore. If you haven’t been sure which bag is worthy of being your daily driver, Speck’s new Ruck backpack is absolutely worth a look. Head below for our hands-on review to see why.
Buy NowIf you’ve seen any of our desks here at 9to5, whether it be from videos or reviews, you know that we often have bobbleheads or other trinkets laying around. Well, this week I added a few more to my workspace and gaming setup. PDP’s Pixel Pals lineup takes classic characters, such as Mario or Zelda, and puts it in a miniature 8-bit light-up form.
At around $15 each, this is a must-have for any gamer. Head below for a quick hands-on.
Buy Now!Jaybird has today unveiled the newest addition to its lineup of sports-focused headphones, taking its first shot at a truly wireless experience in the process. The new Run in-ears feature all of the active lifestyle features that one expects from Jaybird, including a sweatproof and water-resistant design. But in an already crowded market, will it will find a place dominated by AirPods and other major players?
I was able to get an early run with Jaybird’s latest over the last few weeks. Taken from an Apple-geared perspective, here are my thoughts on the new $180 Jaybird Run truly wireless headphones.
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One of my favorite things about the Nintendo Switch is the versatility it offers. With the system, you aren’t limited to just one method of control, but rather have several different options for playing your favorite games. However, you’ll still need to keep everything charged. Thanks to Nyko, it’s incredibly easy to do just that.
For most of us, the TV is where we spend more time than anywhere else when it comes to entertainment, and a huge part of the experience with your favorite movies, video games, and especially music comes down to the audio.
There are two ends of a spectrum when it comes to your TV audio experience. On one hand, there’s the speaker built into your TV, and on the other, expensive surround sound systems. Sound bars have proven to be a great middle ground, but Fluance’s SoundBase takes that idea to a whole new level.
The Classicbot Classic is an adorable little desktop figure designed after vintage Mac computers. It looked like the perfect mascot to any Mac-fan’s office set-up when we first caught a glimpse of it. Much to our surprise (and delight!), we recently had one show up in the mail so we could get up, close and personal with the cute little guy.
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When it comes to smart homes and IoT devices, the majority of products on the market are for the inside of your home. While there are many smart home/HomeKit devices that can add convenience and some fun to your life, I hadn’t heard of anything that can free up hours of your time, until I learned more about autonomous mowers.
With the release of the new iPad Pro back in June, Apple unveiled fresh accessories like the iPad Pro Leather Sleeve and the Apple Pencil Case. Both of these accessories focused on storing the Apple Pencil, something that had been somewhat overlooked with the first generation iPad Pro.
As expected, third parties have stepped up to the plate to offer alternative options. One such accessory maker, DODOcase, provides several iPad Pro-centric accessories that we’ve covered in previous posts. In addition, the San Fransisco-based company also makes a sleeve solely dedicated to the Apple Pencil.
In this brief video walkthrough, we take a hands-on look at DODOcase’s Leather Apple Pencil Sleeve. Is this $34.95 accessory worth considering?
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Buy NowBack in 2015 with the release of The Force Awakens, a new fan favorite character emerged in the form of the lovable BB-8. Now with the second film in the trilogy coming to theaters in just a few months, LEGO has decided to give the droid the star treatment with a fully brick-built model. With over 1,100 pieces and a few noteworthy play features, the LEGO BB-8 is great for collectors and all-around fans alike.
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onHaving a reliable way to charge your devices when on-the-go has become a necessity for many. While the market is filled with various power packs all sporting different specs and features, RAVPower has entered with a versatile 15000mAh Solar Charger. With a rugged design, impressive battery capacity and the ability to recharge itself in sunlight, you’ll want to head below to see how the RAVPower Charger stacks up.
The DJI Phantom 3 Standard doesn’t feature the ease of use of the Spark, the portability of the Mavic Pro, or the professional level features of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, but it provides a stellar bang for the buck at refurb pricing.
This drone is especially nice for those who may just be starting out, as am I. After mostly-avoiding the quadcopter craze over the past few years, the DJI Phantom 3 Standard is my first real experience with a drone; now that I’ve tried it I have to admit I’m hooked.
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Buy Now!A few weeks back, Anker unveiled its new Genie Smart Speaker under its Eufy sub-brand. Without stepping on Amazon’s toes too much, it promised the full voice-assistant experience at a lower-price point than the in-house Echo Dot. Already priced at $20 less than the obviously comparable Dot, Eufy Genie sports many of the same features in a similar but unique form factor.
I’ve been testing out Anker’s latest creation for a while now and it’s time to deliver a verdict. It just so happens, the Genie Smart Speaker is also getting its first notable discount today, too. So at the deal price of $30, is the Eufy Genie a worthwhile investment?
Buy NowThroughout these last few weeks of the summer I’ve had the opportunity to try out a unique smart home device. Air conditioning costs truly add up, and there’s nothing I needed more than something to help me avoid excess fees.
Sensibo is a tiny device that connects your average wall/window air conditioner unit to the internet. It can be used with any model that has a remote control, including many brands like Frigidaire, LG, TCL, and much more. It started out as an Indiegogo campaign and collected over 200% of its needed funds to take off.
With the upcoming launch of Apple’s 4K-enabled Apple TV, and the current existence of 4K devices like the Chromecast Ultra, I’ve recently been interested in the benefits of higher resolution projectors like Optoma’s UHD60.
The most notable thing about the Optoma UHD60 is that it’s among the first projectors to use Texas Instrument’s DLP660TE 4K UHD chip. This chip features a micromirror array size of 2716 x 1528, and when paired with the right pixel shifting optical system, it can display true 4K UHD resolution, which according to specs, means 8.3m pixels on screen. Granted, since pixel shifting is involved, those pixels are larger than the pixels of a setup with a micromirror array size of 3840 x 2160, but this projector is still meets 4K UHD specs, which lends Optoma the ability to correctly label it as a 4K UHD projector.
In this initial post, we provide an unboxing and first impressions of Optoma’s $1,999 UHD60. It’s the consumer version of Optoma’s 4K-enhanced line of projectors that includes the UHD65. The UHD60, with its brighter output, is more apt for entertainment purposes (read: living rooms), where the UHD65, with its better color saturation, is geared more towards dedicated home theater setups with light control. Watch our hands-on video inside for more details.
IK Multimedia unleashed its brand new Syntronik software synth to the masses recently. The new AU/VST instrument is certainly one of the more impressive offerings from the company in terms of virtual sound sources, so there was no way we weren’t going to give this one a spin.
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Last week we brought you a hands-on look at the new Dodocase bookbound case for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and this week we’d like to introduce you to another accessory from Dodocase, the Durables Sleeve.
In typical Dodocase fashion, the Durables Sleeve is a fashionable accessory that will help project your iPad Pro from the elements. It features a wax canvas exterior, leather accent, and a cotton twill interior. The sleeve also features a hidden feature inside that Apple Pencil owners will no doubt find handy. Have a look at our video walkthrough for a brief hands-on.
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Making a console your own isn’t something all that difficult. You could get a skin to customize it, but at the end of the day that doesn’t feel quite as natural, especially with a controller. You might lose grip or even some of the shape that the controller once came with. Thanks to Colorware, though, there’s a better way…
Power banks are a dime a dozen these days, so when one pops up with a unique design or features, we’re quick to take a look. Lenovo isn’t known for its on-the-go power solutions but its new Bizer 10000mAh power bank caught our eye. It’s pricier than some options on the market from brands like Aukey or Kmashi, but you’re getting an upgraded design that certainly looks nicer than the competition. Hit the jump for a few quick thoughts.
Buy NowBluetooth earbuds shine as a great option for those when on-the-go, working out or really any time where emphasizing portability is a must. Those in the market for a less expensive pair should look no further than NuForce’s latest Bluetooth earbuds. Sporting a lightweight design and backed by a solid all-around sound quality, the BE2 come in at a more affordable $49 price tag.
$329Long before the AirPods hit the market, Bragi hit the ground running with their true wireless earphones on Kickstarter. Three years later the company has released an upgrade on their original Dash. The Dash Pro brings improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, microphone quality, and a new live language translation ability.
Having spent a full month using the Dash Pro over my AirPods, I’ve dissected as much as I could out of these wireless earphones. The original Dash didn’t raise praise from us before, but could the Dash Pro be Bragi’s comeback kid story?
Aukey is well known for producing a wide range of solid electronics at affordable prices. From USB-C adapters to action cameras, Bluetooth headphones to home speaker solutions.
Recently I’ve been using two of the company’s Bluetooth speakers: Eclipse and Bass Station. Eclipse is a straight forward portable Bluetooth speaker coming in at reasonable $50. Bass Station is a dual-function home speaker system and portable Bluetooth speaker in one coming in at $80 and we’ve also got a coupon code just for 9to5 readers making these even more affordable.
IK Multimedia is well-known in the mobile recording space with a plethora of different devices available for tech savvy musicians. The company recently released the latest addition to its lineup of portable audio recording interfaces known as the iRig Pro I/O. The new interface supports just about any kind of connectivity a musician or producer could need along with compatibility for all major platforms from iOS and Android to Mac and more.
Head below to find out more about what the new iRig has to offer over the already available options and more in our hands-on review.
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Lofree is back with another new hardware accessory on Kickstarter. This time, they’re bringing their nostalgic design chops to a category we’re all familiar with: Bluetooth speakers. The new Lofree Poison packs a punch for its size and we got to go hands-on before its official debut.
I like new tools. In particular, tools that make doing a job faster or easier, which is why I was so excited when I got the Bosch Professional GL 100 G laser level. No more fooling around with a box level in one hand and a pencil in the other, trying desperately to create a line as close to vertical or horizontal as possible.
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This is Ground has long been known for its exceptional handmade leather accessories, covering just about every product category from iPad to Nintendo Switch. We’re big fans of its Mod carrying case which is now on the third-generation.
Based out of Los Angeles, many of This is Ground’s accessories are made here in the United States from top-grade materials. That includes the Tech Dopp Kit 2, a unique 21st century take on an old-school travel necessity. Head below for a few quick thoughts, a gallery and more.
Buy NowBack in March, Philips unveiled its latest 40-inch 4K display with a curved design and a bevy of inputs. Well, except for USB-C. Since then I’ve been tinkering with it as a second monitor for my 27-inch 5K iMac and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
I just had to try out this massive display that is bigger than the first flatscreen TV I ever owned by about 25%. My experience with Philips’ 40-inch display has left me with more than a few opinions on the viability of this monster. Head below for more.
$149Summer is in full swing and with it, some awesome opportunities for photography. For those of us looking to get that perfect shot, it usually requires taking a camera or two, our favorite assortment of lenses, some spare batteries, and maybe even a drone.
That’s not exactly an easy group of things to carry on a hike, not without the right backpack, that is. Recently I’ve been testing out Incase’s new DSLR Pro Pack and Capture Sling Pack, two bags that are ideal companions to your camera and even your drone.
Last week we unboxed Acer’s Predator 21 X, a rare super-laptop with a $9,000 price tag to match. While the unboxing discussed some of the particulars related to the initial boarding process, we wanted to take another opportunity to go a bit more in-depth with this unique offering. In the following hands-on video, we discuss 10 features that make the Predator 21 X the outrageously-special beast that it is.
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When it comes to your Apple Watch, the world of accessories seems endless. Bands, cases and docks frequently appear on 9to5Toys as our reader’s favorite deals and today we’re highlighting a new one. iPM has a range of Apple Watch add-ons including its sleek Charging Dock. Alongside its metal design and integrated MFi charging puck is a pair of USB charging ports. Head below for a quick overview and an exclusive deal for 9to5Toys readers.
For the last few weeks I’ve been using the Flip 4 Bluetooth Speaker by JBL, which features a waterproof design, great sound quality, and solid battery life.
The Flip 4 sits in JBL’s lineup of portable Bluetooth speakers as larger than the Clip 2 and smaller than the Charge 3. Keep reading after the jump for our full review of this $99 full-featured speaker.
We rely on our smartphones and other mobile devices too much these days to have accessories that only get us an extra few hours of battery. While you may already have an external battery pack lying around, iClever’s new BoostCell Eco Power Pack sports a 15,000mAh battery to keep all your gadgets charged.
If you’re in search of a quick way to read the contents of a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drive, then StarTech has a desktop dock offering that may meet your needs. The unit, a top-loading dual-bay desktop dock that connects to your computer via USB 3.1 Gen 2, affords fast access to the contents of up to two SATA drives in a convenient package.
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Last fall, Nomad unveiled its Silicone Strap for Apple Watch and we called it “the Sport Band that should’ve come from Cupertino.” Fast forward to this week, and they are back again with a new silicone Sport Strap that blends the same soft materials with bright colors. We jumped at the chance to go hands-on following our experience last go-around. Head below for a quick look at the new $50 Sport Strap for Apple Watch from Nomad.
There are some strange unique accessories out there for Amazon’s Echo Dot. From owl, penguin and rubix cube stands to hanging outlet mounts and decal skins, there are a lot of loud choices.
But what if you’re looking for a more refined and subtle option that will complement your home? Enter Kaizen Woodworks, a company making affordable handmade Echo Dot stands that also offers custom engraving. Follow along after the break for a hands-on look.
As we covered back in March, a new product called the Hideez Key was looking to change how passwords and personal information were stored. After spending some time putting it to the test, we’ll see how the Hideez Key holds up when faced with the rigors of every day life.
Huawei has proven it is a very capable company when it comes to smartphones, but few of the company’s other products have ever taken off. Its tablets have never been super popular, and its first Windows device, the Huawei Matebook, wasn’t exactly impressive.
I can honestly say that when it came to a Windows machine, Huawei was the last place I expected to find something I could enjoy using day to day. That is, until Huawei announced its second generation of Windows devices. Over the past month I’ve been using the “flagship” of that collection, the Huawei Matebook X, and it’s been one of the best Windows experiences I’ve ever had…
Acer sent us one of its limited edition Predator 21 X laptops, which afforded us the opportunity to go hands-on with it via an unboxing. The term “laptop” should be used loosely in this case, as the unit weighs over 19 pounds, features a 21-inch curved display, dual GTX 1080 GPUs in SLI, and 64GB of RAM. Have a look at our hands-on unboxing inside for a look at what to expect from this $9,000 beast.
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