Review

sEach fall we’re blessed with annual releases from some of the most popular video game series out there. In recent memory, no other franchise has enjoyed such a cult following like NBA 2K. Each year the series gets a fine tuning, along with updated rosters and varies tweaks that take the game to a new level.

NBA 2K19 hit the scene on Friday with more hype than I can recall in the last few years. Right out of the box it’s clear that 2K is set to shine again with buttery smooth gameplay and an exceptionally deep Career Mode that takes you on a journey from no-name to star. That’s not to say this year’s release isn’t without any issue as microtransactions continue to be a bother throughout. Despite that, NBA 2K19 continues to reign supreme as the best basketball simulation on the market today.

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Today it’s all about IK Multimedia’s latest analog synth hardware. IK’s lineup of music production and live sound gear is largely considered to be for those with a budget in mind or as amazing beginner rigs for aspiring producers. The new UNO synth is designed to be just that with an extremely competitive price tag and wide platform compatibility with your existing recording environment. After having the chance to put the portable analog synthesizer to the test over the last couple weeks in some electronic-based music productions and more, it’s time to see what the new IK Multimedia UNO Synth is packing.
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When I first saw the announcement for the MX Vertical from Logitech, I was intrigued. I had seen vertical mice like this from other companies on Amazon before but was never quite sure if they “really” worked.

I came from the MX Master 2S (and MX Master before that, with a few MX Anywhere mice thrown in as well.) In my mind, nothing could be as good ergonomically as the MX Master. It felt better than other mice and had tons of features. My views were completely changed after using the MX Vertical for just over a week.

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It was just earlier this year that LEGO brought the Harry Potter line of kits back from a nearly decade-long hiatus. And just a few months after the initial announcement, LEGO returned to show off its second biggest set to date, the 71043 Hogwarts Castle.

Now with the 6,000-piece set’s release right around the corner, we’re ready to get down to the nitty gritty and take a hands-on look at this year’s largest LEGO kit. So be sure to head below and see what the Wizarding World of Hogwarts has to offer.

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This morning, Ultimate Ears announced the follow-up to two of most popular Bluetooth Speakers with the BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3. The latest from UE delivers the same bright colors and in your face design, but this isn’t simply a re-branded version of the previous generation. Both speakers feature a new ‘Magic Button’ on top that allows for users to control music and instantly start pre-determined playlists. UE has also completely remodeled its iOS app to include a handful of new features.

I’ve been able to go hands-on with the latest BOOM speakers from UE over the last few weeks. Head below for a quick look and a few thoughts on today’s release.

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Working at 9to5Toys, I’ve been able to get my hands-on some pretty cool technology over the years. As trends come and go, different products will catch my eye, but perhaps none more than the slew of electric bikes that we’ve reviewed over at Electrek. In recent months, Seth, Fred and Micah have detailed just about every style of two-wheel transportation you can imagine, so long as it’s powered by electricity. In that time, I’ve been watching and waiting for the perfect chance to ride on my first eBike. That day is today.

Pure Cycles first arrived on the scene six years ago, but it wasn’t until recently when we featured a deal on 9to5Toys that I became familiar with its offerings. For the past few weeks I’ve been able to take one of its latest releases, the Volta, out for a spin. I couldn’t have picked a better ride for my first eBike experience.

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Choosing the right desktop speakers can certainly be challenging. It usually boils down to something like how much you value high-quality over how much cash you’re willing to part with. I would personally rather fork over some serious loot for a hardcore set of drivers. But I thought it was time to start taking a look at some of the extremely affordable options on the market to see what saving a thousand dollars or more sounds like.

Enter Samson’s latest MediaOne M50 Power Studio Monitors. The extremely affordable desktop speakers are set for release later this month so we thought no better time than now to see how the sub $120 monitors will hold up in a typical podcast/music production workflow.
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I was recently in a wedding, and was prepared for the usual smattering of groomsmen gifts that were destined to find their way into a drawer somewhere. Turns out, the groom had something pretty cool up his sleeve…or should I say, in his wallet.

Amongst the selection of gifts was this nifty 11-function stainless steel survival tool. At under $4 via Amazon, this is a must-have for your wallet. It’s capable of doing just about any task you might come across, and is arguably less likely to be lost than those Swiss Army knives we’ve seen around for years. Head below for a quick look.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Trying to occupy small children during the summer can be a difficult task. In my part of the country, it’s hot and humid. The only outdoor activity I want to do from June to September is something water related. My kids feel the same way. Since we don’t have a pool, we looked for options to give them something in our backyard. We used the classic Slip N Slide – $27 for a few summers, but they quickly got bored with it.

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When it comes to car infotainment systems, stock units are rarely good. For years, you had regular knobs, buttons, and small screens to show you what radio station or CD track you were listening to. Fast forward to today and companies are building GPS into car radios, though the interface is never pretty, and they often feel difficult to navigate.

Alpine, an industry leader, has always produced solid car receivers, and recently has been stepping its game up with better interfaces, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and more with its offerings. The latest head unit from Alpine, dubbed the iLX-F309 HALO9, is one of the nicest I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, with a capacitive 9-inch touchscreen, built-in light sensor for dimming, dedicated GPS antenna, and more. This car radio has it all.

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As of late, there have been a variety of miniature projectors that have made their way to market. The latest of these is from 1byone, a company that has taken to Indiegogo to raise funds to release its new GoSho Mini Projector.

GoSho takes the form-factor of a hand-held cube with metal accents. Alongside its miniature casing, it sports four-hour battery life, the ability to project up to a 200-inch screen, and built-in speakers among a variety of smart features.

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Earlier this week Nintendo announced that it would be pairing its newly-released cardboard accessories with the fan-favorite Switch title Mario Kart 8. While we took a look at what the team-up would mean for the hit racing game in our announcement coverage, we figured only a hands-on could really show if Labo’s first shot at mainstream use is worthy of the star treatment or if cardboard should stick to being a pizza box. So head below to see us put Labo’s cardboard motorbike accessory to the test.

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A few years back when the original 12-inch MacBook came out in 2015, people were clamoring for a monitor that could not only send video, but also audio, and power to the notebook all over a single USB-C cable.

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At the beginning of the month, Amazon announced the new $119 Fire TV Cube, a hybrid Echo device and streaming media player that promises a glimpse into the future of content consumption. As set-top boxes from Apple, Roku and now Amazon have grown in popularity over the last few years, two key issues have repeatedly popped up for viewers. How to best manage an overflowing chest of content and the headache that comes with multiple remotes.

Fire TV Cube looks to cure that with an all-in-one solution centered around its Alexa voice platform. In our hands-on testing, it delivered as a means for sorting through content but fell short as an intuitive hub for home theaters. The potential is there, but don’t count on it changing the game just yet.

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For many of us, assembling the first computers we could call our own was a right of passage to the freedoms that came with owning them. The same can’t be said for those growing up today, as often times the first device many receive is a hand-me-down smartphone, tablet and laptop.

Kano, one of the better-known companies in the STEAM and educational market, has a new kit in which kids, or really anyone for that matter, can assemble their very own portable computer and experiment with coding thanks to a variety of interactive tutorials.

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This morning, Nomad unveiled its new Battery Cable designed for iPhone. Fans of Nomad’s lineup will recognize this as an upgraded version of the original model. The new Battery Cable sports that familiar rugged design that we’ve come to love with the added bonus of an integrated 2800mAh power supply inside. iPhone X and 7/8 users will be able to fully charge their devices one time with that integrated battery pack, adding an extra level of peace of mind. More details and a quick hands-on are below.

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Audioengine has been cranking high-quality speakers and audio equipment for sometime out of its Texas-based headquarters. Recently, they introduced the new A5+ Wireless, a revamped version of the previous generation that fits between its HD3 (review) and HD6 (review) offerings.

The A5+ are touted as “an exciting evolution” to Audioengine’s lineup with eyes on bridging the ever-expanding gap between wireless convenience and sound quality. At a time when every major player in tech is introducing a new speaker, Audioengine looks to go above the fray with its $499 A5+. Full hands-on and impressions below.

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Distil Union is back with its latest Wally Case, this time for iPhone X. While there are lots of wallet-style options on the market, Wally Case and Wally Stick-On stand out as two of the most slim and refined ways to protect your iPhone and discreetly carry your wallet essentials. Follow along for a hands-on look.

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I was first introduced to the world of robotic vacuums with the ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 nearly a year and a half ago. And while it was perfect for apartment life, upon moving home I figured it was time to upgrade to something more high-tech. Don’t get me wrong, the N79 is great, but its smartphone control is more basic and seemed out-of-place amongst the other Wi-Fi-enabled devices scattered around my smart home. 

Enter the DEEBOT 901, the latest in ECOVAC’s diverse lineup of robotic vacuums. Over the past week, I’ve been putting it to the test and have been incredibly impressed how much tech has managed to be packed into a relatively small form-factor.

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Nanoleaf’s Aurora lighting panels are a fan-favorite throughout the tech community. And as they’ve grown in popularity over the past year, Nanoleaf has bolstered the unique smart home product with additional accessories. Last year they announced a new 12-sided HomeKit remote, and now we’ve gotten our hands on Nanoleaf’s latest.

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Cardboard. It keeps our purchases safe during their commutes from Amazon warehouses, and lets you turn your smartphone into an affordable VR headset, among other practical uses throughout day-to-day life. And now it lets anyone build new controllers and accessories for their gaming consoles; well, at least that’s the way Nintendo sees it. Last Friday, Nintendo finally launched its Labo cardboard construction kits, and after a weekend of building and putting them to the test, we’ll be seeing if the company’s latest is a flop or a look into the future of console accessories and STEM-oriented toys.

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eBikes seem to be taking the world by storm lately. We just recently reviewed a budget-focused eBike, and now it’s time to take a look at one that’s a little higher up on the price and feature scale. We covered the launch of Rad Power Bikes’ 2018 lineup, and have since had a chance to go hands-on with the 2018 RadCity.

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A few weeks ago, we wrote about PaMu, unique wireless earphones on Indiegogo that start at $29. Well, we were able to get our hands on a pair of PaMu’s headphones to let you know if they’re worth it, even at the $29 price point. After a week of testing, it seems PaMu could give the current truly wireless headphones out there a run for their money. Read on for our full first impressions.

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Desktop speakers are generally not thought of as a “pretty” accessory. They can look good, sure, but they’re not usually the most beautiful part of a setup. However, Razer decided to change that. At CES 2018, Razer announced its Nommo line of speakers, and we have spent some time with the Chroma version to let you know what we think.

At $150, Nommo Chroma is on the higher-end of “normal” desktop speaker pricing, but with built-in RGB lighting, unique design, and fantastic sound, I cannot recommend Nommo Chroma enough. Read on for our full review.

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Based out of Toronto, Canada, Miix is a new modular shoe brand launching today with the first in its mix-and-match lineup of sneakers now available to preorder.

Think of it sort of like NIKEiD meets LEGO. At launch, Miix will have a selection of base options that users can customize with their choice of insole/midsole components​, heel​s, tongues​, heel patches​, straps​ and laces​ in a variety of colors and styles. The company’s tagline is “one shoe. 7+ million possibilities.”

I’ve had some hands and feet-on time with the shoes for the last few weeks, read on for my full review….

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LEGO has really been pushing BrickHeadz since the series’ debut back in 2017. While the company kicked off the lineup with some popular characters at first, LEGO has begun branching out into new areas like creating their figures own for holidays. Now with the Go Brick Me kit, builders will be able to create and customize their very own BrickHeadz figures. The kit will be hitting store shelves come April 1st, but be sure to hit the jump for our first impressions and hands-on review.

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This month, I decided to finally graduate from the backpack I’ve been using since starting college. As I was considering what my needs really are now that college is mostly out of the way, I decided to look for something that would accommodate a laptop as its primary purpose. But I really didn’t need much more than that. One of a few options I landed on was the Muzetto Leather from Waterfield…

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Amazon Link/ Code: AZBF7HCC at checkout $585.19+$10 <week ground shipping

I know a high-end ebike when I see one and this Ancheer 250W is absolutely not high-end. In fact, it would probably be a bit of a stretch to call this a mid-tier electric bike. Ancheer, a Chinese company that also sells USB peripherals, Fitness equipment and other knickknacks, took a bunch of base level components and put them on a Huffy-level all aluminum bike frame and out of this concoction got a good sub-$600 ebike. So how good/bad is it? Let me tell you…

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Today, Clockwork Synergy has announced a selection of five new Apple Watch bands made of carbon fiber. Each one comes with a unique design and colorful stitching to help your Watch stand apart from the usual sport and leather bands that manufacturers are flooding the market with these days.

Made from 100% carbon fiber here in the United States, Clockwork’s latest release is set to retail for $30. Of course, with our exclusive discount you can save an extra 25% off. More details and a few hands-on thoughts below.

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Today we are taking a look at KORG Gadget for Mac, and more specifically the sizable Gadget Plug-in Collection that comes with it. The folks at KORG were nice enough to give us a complete license in order to give the full suite of instruments a run for their money inside of Logic Pro X.
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I may not have the nicest car on the block, but that doesn’t mean from time to time that I don’t worry about accidents. Even so, I’ve never been sold on dash cams and it wasn’t even until last week when I picked up an iPhone-enabled one from VAVA that I considered mounting one in my car. With a list of compelling features packed into a unique and stylish design, VAVA has made me question why I didn’t think to get one sooner.

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Well I have to admit, I’m a little late to the party when it comes to robot vacuums. My extended family and friends have been adopting them into their homes for a while now, so it’s time I did the same. My personal requirements aren’t overly exhaustive and I wanted to try something that wasn’t too expensive for my first go around. ECOVACS has been making a good name for itself in the space with its affordable products, so the new DEEBOT N79S Robot Vacuum Cleaner seemed like a great candidate.
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Over the last few weeks I’ve been testing out Lifeproof’s most robust iPhone X case, the FRĒ. With a slim and sleek design this case provides great protection without comprising the iPhone X’s form factor. Read on for our full review.

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We’re finally starting to see more and more third-party smart speakers using platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. One of those smart speakers is made by British company KitSound, called the Voice One. I’ve spent the past week or so with this premium Alexa speaker running it through its paces, so let’s dive into our full review.

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The desire to keep tabs on our homes while away seems to have been on everyone’s minds throughout last year, with DIY home monitoring and security systems growing to fill the demand. Just about all of the solutions on the market are geared towards smart home owners, tinkerers and just all-around tech-savvy folks. But as we covered at the beginning of the January, Tabs is a new security solution with simplicity at the forefront of its design.

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It’s hard to imagine how a company could bring innovation to a product like sunglasses, yet Distil Union was able to deliver just that with its new MagLock Sunglasses. As the name suggests, these shades feature magnets in the temples for a useful clipping feature to prevent drops and loss. But more than just a cool new feature, I’ve found these sunglasses to be really comfortable and functional. Read on for all the details.

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When it comes to protecting our devices, a case is generally seen as the easiest way to do so. What brand, however, is always a hard decision. I’ve used Urban Armor Gear cases for years, and even have one on my iPad Pro right now. Putting a Urban Armor Gear case on my iPhone X was a no brainer, but they offer several styles, so which should you choose?

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The Millennium Falcon may just be the most well-known vehicle in all of science fiction and beyond. Making its big-screen debut in A New Hope just over 40 years ago, the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy has solidified itself as a cultural icon. And over the past few decades, has been commemorated through tons pop-culture references, collector’s items and even LEGO kits.

In fact, just about all of LEGO’s largest and display-worthy sets have come from a galaxy far, far away. So when it came time for LEGO to pay tribute to Star War’s 40th anniversary, it only made sense to recreate the iconic starship in what is the largest kit ever produced. With over 7,500 pieces, 10 Minifigures and 4 feet of details, LEGO’s UCS Millennium Falcon stacks up to be one of the most complex, well-designed and impressive sets ever released.

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All electronics look the same. You and a friend might have the same phone, laptop, or even gaming console. Sure, there are sometimes different variations within devices, be it black or white, or maybe Xbox One X compared to the normal Xbox One S.

No matter what, though, the stylings of the units will always look the same. Similarly, gaming consoles, in particular, stand out when they are on an entertainment center, which can sometimes be the goal, and other times be the exact opposite of what you want. Head below to read our full thoughts from installation to final product on Toast for the Xbox One X.

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Apogee has been one of the top names in digital audio in the music production world for years. It successfully jumped into the mobile game with its iOS friendly interfaces among other things a few years back, and recently launched the second generation MiC+ USB/Lightning Microphone. Apogee rarely opts for affordability over quality, but we had to give it a run for its money anyway.

We have now had a chance to go hands-on with the company’s latest portable mic over the last little while. Apogee has certainly stepped its game up here, but is it still worth the world-class price tag? Head below for our full review…
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Mophie kicked off 2018 with the release of its new powerstation AC external battery pack. This on-the-go power supply caught the eye of Mac users with its impressive 22000mAh capacity, USB-C PD support and the added bonus of an AC outlet. As the ultimate review test, I took Mophie’s latest release to Las Vegas in my CES backpack as the lone power supply for my MacBook and Nintendo Switch.

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The latest installment in the Star Wars franchise has been in theaters for some time now. And while 3D and IMAX viewings have given fans an even more immersive way to experience their favorite galaxy from far, far away, they fall short of what many fans, including myself, are clamoring for. That’s where Lenovo’s latest smartphone accessory comes in, the Jedi Challenges Augmented Reality Kit.

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There are tons of Bluetooth speakers on the market. You’ve got budget options and super high-end options. There are also a few in the middle, and sometimes it’s hard to decide what speaker you should buy.

If you’re just looking to listen with a few friends, then most budget options will work great for you. Rugged? There’s an option for that as well. JBL has a speaker, the Boombox, that falls somewhere in the middle and if you’re looking for great sound, plenty of features, and a fairly decent price for it all, read on.

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