Author

Stephen Hall

Stephen is Growth Director at 9to5. You can find his current work at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google 9to5Toys, Electrek, and more. If you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter. Or, email at stephen (at) 9to5mac (dot) com, or an encrypted email at hallstephenj (at) protonmail (dot) com.

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Picture of a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ dummy unit leaks out

Stephen Hall Jul 17 2015 - 7:01 am PT

1 Comment

galaxy-s6-edge-plus-vs-galaxy-note-41-716x666

If you’ve been following the Samsung rumor mill, you know that the Korean company is getting ready to launch at least a couple of new phones later this year. The Galaxy Note 5 is definitely one of the more anticipated Samsung handsets of the year, but it seems pretty clear that the company wants to release at least one variant of the Galaxy S6 line as well. Now we have even more evidence of that, with a photo of a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ dummy unit…

The photo (via AllAboutSamsung) is not anything remarkable, but it is the first time we’ve seen the Galaxy S6 Edge+ branding in the flesh. Other than that though, as you might guess, the S6 Edge+ doesn’t look to be anything more than a big version of the S6 Edge. If recent rumors are correct, Samsung is going with an Exynos 7420 and 3 GB RAM. SamMobile claims that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ will be unveiled on August 12th.

Google announces Q2 2015 earnings: $17.7 billion revenue, $3.93 billion net income

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 1:19 pm PT

0 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G9GtvZBqkM

Google today has posted its earnings for Q2 2015. The company reports revenue of $17.7 billion, which is up 11% or $15.9 billion year over year. Net income for Q2 2015 was $3.93 billion.
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Gear Fit (refurb) $60, Brother Wireless Printer $80, Goat Simulator $1, more

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 12:39 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

$_12

Samsung refurbished Gear Fit Fitness watch: $60 shipped (Reg. $150) | eBay

brother-mfc-j870dw-wireless-color-inkjet-printer-with-scanner-copier-and-fax

Daily Deals: Brother color inkjet wireless printer $80, D-Link pan/tilt day/night IP camera $60, more

Goat Simulator on sale for just $1 for iOS and Android (Reg. $5)

HTC_One_M9+_PerBack_Gold

Refurb HTC One M9 32GB flash 4G LTE (AT&T unlocked): $400 shipped (Reg. $500+) | eBay

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Motorola Moto X 2nd generation (unlocked) 16GB: $290 shipped (Reg. $500) | Amazon

$_12

Refurb Moto X Verizon 16GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200+) | eBay

Nexus 5

FreedomPop LG Nexus 5 refurb w/ 500 SMS, 200 min, 500MB data: $150 shipped (Reg. $500) | Sam’s Club

soundpeats-qy7-9to5toys

SoundPEATS Qy7 Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless In-Ear Headphones: $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

web-hacker-pay-what-you-want

Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)

sonso-play1-limited-edition-speaker

SONOS announces new limited edition solid color PLAY:1 speakers

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

sandisk-ultra-200gb-microsdxc

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

a-lamp-design-giveaway

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

anker-astro-e7-battery-pack

Charge a NExus 6 on the road w/ this Anker 25600mAh 3-port Battery: $50 shipped (Reg. $80), more

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: $70 shipped (Orig. $130)
Games/Apps: The Room Two $1 (Reg. $3), Toy Defense HD $2 (Reg. $5), iOS freebies
PayPal email gift cards $15 off $100: PlayStation Store, Xbox, Cabela’s, more
Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac $16 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
Acer 11-inch Chromebook 2.16GHz/2GB/16GB (refurb): $110 shipped (Orig. $200)

More deals still alive:

Aukey 40W/8A 5-Port USB Desktop Charger: $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)

LifeProof iPad Mini Frē Case in white/gray $30 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband $118 shipped (Reg. $150)
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)
RAVPower 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
Belkin’s MFi Lightning Keyboard for iPad is on sale for $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Aukey deals w/ Prime shipping: 12,000mAh power bank $15 (Orig. $25), more
Boost Mobile launches its first Wi-Fi Hotspot No-Contract plans as low as $25 a month
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

Grado’s new Heritage Series headphones are made from native Brooklyn trees

The Lumos Helmet provides the technology needed to bike safely
This transforming Optimus Prime LEGO build might be one of the most impressive yet
Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder
This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs
Limited edition Street Fighter II Arcade Soundtrack comes to vinyl
Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition is sold out, you can still show your love w/ this quirky Fallout gear
Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighte
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package

Xiaomi’s Hugo Barra talks Apple copycat ‘melodrama,’ Android, U.S. expansion plans [Video]

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 12:16 pm PT

0 Comments

Xiaomi's Hugo Barra Responds to Apple Copycat 'Melodrama' - YouTube 2015-07-16 14-05-37

As smartphones grow in popularity in emerging markets, Hugo Barra has very publicly spoken for Xiaomi, the Chinese-based technology company that he left Google to join as Vice President of International in September 2013. Today, he sat down with Bloomberg to talk about many things, including accusations that the Chinese company has stolen Apple’s design, Android as one of the best decisions Google ever made, and Xiaomi’s eventual plan to bring its devices stateside…
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Google’s ‘Safe Browsing’ alerts to become more prominent as deceptive software detection improves

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 9:25 am PT

1 Comment

uws

If you’ve ever been browsing the web and seen the above warning, you’ve probably done one of two things. You either quickly click the “Back to safety” button, or you navigate into the “Details” section to tell Chrome that it’s being a helicopter mom — and go about your “dangerous” browsing. Although I haven’t encountered this page too many times, I definitely fall into the latter category when I do.

Today, Google announced that as its detection of unwanted software on the web has improved, these alerts are going to become more common in your web browsing experience. Specifically, in the coming weeks, you’ll see “more warnings than ever before”…
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HBO NOW comes to Android and Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick soon

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 7:35 am PT

0 Comments

hbonow_logo_2x

Update: The app is now available on the Play Store. Link below.

At long last, HBO is bringing HBO NOW, which first launched first on the Apple TV, to Android.

Additionally, Amazon has today announced that the online-only service is now available on the company’s line of Fire tablets, and that NOW will be making its way to the Amazon Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick very soon.

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Motorola invites you to find your ‘perfect Moto match’ at July 28th event

Stephen Hall Jul 16 2015 - 6:14 am PT

0 Comments

unnamed

Motorola has announced today that it is holding an event on July 28th. And yes, this all but surely means that we’ll be seeing the much-rumored 2015 Moto X and 2015 Moto G, and maybe even the next Moto 360 as well…
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The more-efficient Snapdragon 810 v2.1 is already shipping aboard the HTC One M9

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 1:51 pm PT

0 Comments

HTC One M9_Gunmetal_Back

OnePlus came out not long ago to say that the upcoming OnePlus 2 will sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. This obviously caused a bit of concern in the community considering the system-on-a-chip’s mixed history with heat problems, but the company reassured us that it was going with some kind of updated “version 2.1” of the chip that didn’t have as many problems — and they said they were optimizing it themselves, too.

The company touted this as some kind of selling point for the device over the year’s other Snapdragon 810 handsets, most notably the HTC One M9 and the LG G Flex 2. AnandTech even tested the v2.1 chip to make sure that the company’s claims were legitimate, and it turned out they were. But what the company didn’t say was that v2.1 is already (today!) being built into other handsets. And that includes the HTC One M9…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: HTC One M9 (unlocked) $400, 2nd gen Moto X (unlocked), $290, Prime Day deals, more

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 12:35 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

HTC_One_M9+_PerBack_Gold

Refurb HTC One M9 32GB flash 4G LTE (AT&T unlocked): $400 shipped (Reg. $500+) | eBay

81ktOguwUDL._SL1500_

Motorola Moto X 2nd generation (unlocked) 16GB: $290 shipped (Reg. $500) | Amazon

amazon-prime-day

Amazon Prime Day hub: all of the best deals from Amazon’s huge 20th Birthday sale

Nexus 5

FreedomPop LG Nexus 5 refurb w/ 500 SMS, 200 min, 500MB data: $150 shipped (Reg. $500) | Sam’s Club

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

a-lamp-design-giveaway

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

61uq-qu10l-_sl1001_

Aukey 40W/8A 5-Port USB Desktop Charger $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)

Apple TV 1080p Streaming Media Player (newest version): $60 shipped (Reg. $69)
LifeProof iPad Mini Frē Case in white/gray $30 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)
Daily Deals: XYZprinting daVinci 1.0 3D Printer $300, D-Link 802.11ac Gaming Router (refurb) $30, more

More deals still alive:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)

RAVPower 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Aukey deals w/ Prime shipping: 12,000mAh power bank $15 (Orig. $25), more
Boost Mobile launches its first Wi-Fi Hotspot No-Contract plans as low as $25 a month
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
3rd party Apple Watch bands prices are dropping
NEwhere Elite Vaporizer kit w/ USB wall charger $20 shipped (Reg. $30) + 35% off e-liquids
App Store Free App of the Week: Card Wars – Adventure Time goes free ($4 value)
Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (refurb): $128 shipped (Orig. $300)
Urge Basics Cuatro Bluetooth Speaker $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30+)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

lumos-helmet-kickstarter

The Lumos Helmet provides the technology needed to bike safely

optimus-prime-transformer-lego-02

This transforming Optimus Prime LEGO build might be one of the most impressive yet

Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder
This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs
Limited edition Street Fighter II Arcade Soundtrack comes to vinyl
Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition is sold out, you can still show your love w/ this quirky Fallout gear
Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted
Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger
Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game
GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more

Google’s default Clock app gets new ‘more neutral’ color scheme

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 11:17 am PT

0 Comments

: Old

: New

It wasn’t that long ago that Google opened up its Clock app to be downloaded on just about any Android device, and now a very minor update released today has refreshed the app’s color scheme. While the previous version sported a pink-and-blue look that was reminiscent of cotton candy, the app now looks a lot more like a patriotic red, white, and blue.

Those who weren’t avid users of the previous version might not notice the difference, because in the grand scheme of things it’s definitely not a huge change. But if you were a fan of the light-hearted and unique colors of the app, you might be disappointed that Google has now gone with something more “neutral” in version 4.0.2. The update also packs a few bug fixes.

You can get the latest version of the Clock app over at APKMirror right now, or you should see it rolling out via the Play Store any minute now.

That ‘Commodore’ phone isn’t a Commodore at all — it’s the Orgtec WaPhone

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 10:51 am PT

5 Comments

nexus2cee_commoderp_thumb

As discovered by a commenter over at Android Police, the “Commodore” handset that went viral yesterday — largely due to nostalgia — is actually the Orgtec WaPhone, a device that is completely and utterly boring and not notable at all. We knew that this was probably the case considering Commodore’s history, but it wasn’t until now that we found the exact phone that the “Commodore PET” is based off of. And by “based off of,” we mean “an exact replica of.”
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Some in public housing to get free Google Fiber connections through the ConnectHome initiative

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2015 - 7:27 am PT

1 Comment

google-fiber

Google announced today that it is launching a program to bring completely free internet access to public and affordable housing residents in four of its Google Fiber markets. The initiative is part of President Barack Obama’s ConnectHome initiative, which hopes to bring broadband connections to low-income households in communities across the United States…

The web is where we go to connect with people, learn new subjects, and find opportunities for personal and economic growth. But not everyone benefits from all the web has to offer. As many as 26% of households earning less than $30,000 per year don’t access the Internet, compared to just 3% of adults with annual incomes over $75,000. Google Fiber is working to change that. Today, in all of our Google Fiber markets, we’re launching a program to connect residents in select public and affordable housing properties for $0/month with no installation fee.

Google says that the program aims to bring Internet to children and families living in homes under the assistance of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This currently includes 27 communities, four of which are Google Fiber markets where the Mountain View company will be able to contribute: Atlanta, Durham, Nashville and Kansas City. Google says it’s coming to future Fiber markets as well.

ZTE officially unveils the Axon Phone, its high-powered flagship competitor

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 2:12 pm PT

0 Comments

ZTE-Axon-Phone-side-back-640x188

ZTE isn’t exactly known for premium smartphones, but now the Chinese company is taking a stab at delivering something that’s a bit on the higher-end. It doesn’t exactly set any records, but it’s definitely a decent piece of hardware — and its internals are about on par with that of this year’s Samsung, LG, and HTC headliners…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 2nd generation Moto X (unlocked) $290, Fitbit Flex $75, Nexus 5 refurb $150, more

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 12:44 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

81ktOguwUDL._SL1500_

Motorola Moto X 2nd generation (unlocked) 16GB: $290 shipped (Reg. $500) | Amazon

flex-four-colours1

Daily Deals: Fitbit Flex activity tracker $75, Sony Bluetooth Wireless Microphone System $89, more

Nexus 5

FreedomPop LG Nexus 5 refurb w/ 500 SMS, 200 min, 500MB data: $150 shipped (Reg. $500) | Sam’s Club

Amazon Gold Box – SanDisk Flash Storage up to 50% off: 128GB microSD $60, 32GB Ultra Fit Flash Drive $11, more

amazon-prime-day

Amazon Prime Day Hub, monster sales announced: Fire Stick $24, 32-inch TV $75, and 40-inch TV $115, more

Walmart CEO blasts Amazon’s Prime Day, promises a week-long sales event with “some special atomic deals”

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

sandisk-ultra-200gb-microsdxc

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

a-lamp-design-giveaway

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

beats-powerbeats2-wireless

Beats by Dre 1-Day Sale: Powerbeats2 Bluetooth Headphones, Pill 2.0 Portable Speaker $130 ea (Reg. $200)

ravpower-9t5otoys-deals

RAVPower Portable 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

Games/Apps: Shadow of Mordor $15, Dragon Age Inquisition $20, more
R.B.I. Baseball 15 for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5), more
Headphones: Philips over-ears $50 (Reg. $70), JBL Synchros S500 $63 (Reg. $169)
Amazon Fire TV Stick + Mohu Leaf 30 OTA Antenna $50 shipped ($74 value)
PNY Turbo Plus 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $10 shipped (Orig. $35)
Microsoft’s $99 Universal Foldable Keyboard is now available
Daily Deals: Fitbit Flex activity tracker $75, more

More deals still alive:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)

Monoprice iPhone 5/s/c case sale w/ prices starting at $2 shipped
Belkin’s MFi Lightning Keyboard for iPad is on sale for $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
GameStop offers $100 trade-in credit towards New Nintendo 3DS
ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
Newegg 10% off sitewide for students and faculty
3rd party Apple Watch bands prices are dropping
NEwhere Elite Vaporizer kit w/ USB wall charger $20 shipped (Reg. $30) + 35% off e-liquids
App Store Free App of the Week: Card Wars – Adventure Time goes free ($4 value)
Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (refurb): $128 shipped (Orig. $300)
Urge Basics Cuatro Bluetooth Speaker $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30+)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

lumenati-cs1-kickstarter

The Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder for an “upgraded” filming experience

musicmachine-3-tie-fighter

This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs

Pixar tech director is building his own desktop robot companion with emotional intelligence
The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty
JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted
Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger
Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game
GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more

Nat & Lo are using their 20% time to take us behind the scenes at Google (Video)

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 12:24 pm PT

0 Comments

Google Street View (Minus The Car) - #NatAndLo Ep 1 - YouTube 2015-07-14 14-19-15

Googlers use their 20% in many different ways, and usually that means building a product or service they hope will someday see some amount of wider adoption. Gmail and AdSense were both built in 20% time, and now they’re two of Google’s biggest services.

Nat & Lo are going to do something a bit different. Since most people don’t ever get a chance to really see how Google ticks behind the scenes, Nat & Lo thought they would use their 20% time to show us — and they’re doing so via a newly-launched YouTube channel.
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Ingress updated, lets you hack portals from your Android Wear smartwatch

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 8:54 am PT

0 Comments

P_20150714_110214

Google said back in February that Android Wear support would be coming to Ingress sometime “soon” (with some assuming March), but it looks like the app missed that launch date by, well, a lot. As of today, version 1.81.0 of Ingress is starting to roll out on the Play Store, and with it comes Android Wear support as well as the usual bug fixes…
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Leak suggests that Motorola will be bringing the 2015 Moto G to Moto Maker

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 7:27 am PT

0 Comments

CJ2vWzbVEAAHqSt

According to a tweet early this morning from evleaks, Motorola seemingly might be planning to bring the company’s upcoming 2015 Moto G handset to the famed Moto Maker phone customization tool.
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Refurb Nexus 5 $150, Ooma VoIP $99, SanDisk 200GB microSD giveaway more

Stephen Hall Jul 13 2015 - 12:47 pm PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Nexus 5

FreedomPop LG Nexus 5 refurb w/ 500 SMS, 200 min, 500MB data: $150 shipped (Reg. $500) | Sam’s Club

ooma-voip-telo

Daily Deals: Ooma VoIP home phone system $99, Toshiba Canvio Connect 2TB Portable USB 3.0 HDD $75, more

sandisk-ultra-200gb-microsdxc

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

walmart-blog-prime-day

Walmart CEO blasts Amazon’s Prime Day, promises a week-long sales event with “some special atomic deals”

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

Amazon is now treating its Prime members to extra savings on new/upcoming video game

It’s now possible to 3D print customized video game characters right from Amazon

a-lamp-design-giveaway

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

hotline-miami-mac

Games/Apps: Mac Game Store Indie Sale up to 85% off, Mortal Kombat X $40 (Reg. $60), iOS freebies, more

Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband (black): $120 shipped (Reg. $150)
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)

More deals still alive:

amex-express-checkout

American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it out

newegg-edu-email-deal

Newegg 10% off sitewide w/ .edu email: VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart UHDTV $538 (Reg. $598), more

3rd party Apple Watch bands prices are dropping
WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive $70 shipped (Orig. $100)
GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera $350 (Reg. $400)
App Store Free App of the Week: Card Wars – Adventure Time goes free ($4 value)
Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (refurb): $128 shipped (Orig. $300)
Urge Basics Cuatro Bluetooth Speaker $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30+)
Two D-Link Day/Night Network Wireless Surveillance Cameras: $80 shipped (Orig. $280)
SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive: 32GB $40 (Reg. $80), 64GB $55 (Reg. $120)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
Sony PlayStation 4 Last of Us Bundle: $366 or w/ extra controller & 3 mos. PS Plus $400
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
TaoTronics Bluetooth Car Adapter with dual USB charger $19 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

call-of-duty-black-ops-3-juggernog-edition-sale-02

The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty

JoyDrone is a dongle for your Chromecast that supplies wireless audio to any speakers
The original NES Battletoads soundtrack has been immortalized in this epic new vinyl LP
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted
Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger
Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game
GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more
Palette puts Adobe in the palm of your hands with its new modular control surface
Ubisoft unveils the debut trailer for its new Rayman Adventures mobile game
You’re never (ever) going to want to get out of this hot tub hammock
Sony announces new Limited Edition Destiny: The Taken King-inspired PS4 bundle

Android 5.1 Lollipop landing on Sprint’s Galaxy Note Edge

Stephen Hall Jul 13 2015 - 12:18 pm PT

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Samsung's Galaxy Note Edge

The Galaxy Note Edge wasn’t exactly the most popular smartphone that Samsung ever sold, but it was the prototype to what would become the hugely popular Galaxy S6 Edge. If you’re still rocking the Note Edge on Sprint, though, you might be happy to hear that the device is receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop as of… right now.

According to Sprint’s website (via Android Police), the OS upgrade comes with a bump to Android 5.1, as well as “various bug fixes and enhancements.” The OTA should be rolling out over the next couple of days. The version number is N915PVPU4COFE, and you should be prompted to install the update at some point soon, after which your phone will walk you through the process.

Google planning to distribute Glass ‘Enterprise Edition’ exclusively through Glass for Work partners

Stephen Hall Jul 13 2015 - 8:45 am PT

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google-glass

We told you earlier this month that Google is internally referring to the next iteration of its Glass hardware as “Enterprise Edition,” and rightfully so — the Explorer Edition is long gone, and people close to Google have said that the company is planning to go full-force with its wearable computer in the workplace. But how are they going to do that? People familiar with the company’s plans have told 9to5Google that Google is currently planning to distribute the device exclusively through its certified set of Glass for Work partners…
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PSA: Camp Google kicks off today, starting with a live dive in the Atlantic Ocean

Stephen Hall Jul 13 2015 - 7:45 am PT

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Google’s summer “camp” program focused on online project-based science lessons has officially launched today, as we told you would happen last week. The first week of the program is called Ocean Week, and it’s getting started later today with National Geographic diver Erika Bergman taking kids on a live dive in the Atlantic Ocean at 12 p.m. PT. You can tune in at the Camp Google website.

Today at 12 p.m. PT, National Geographic diver Erika Bergman and I will take kids on the first adventure—a live dive in the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll head to the northernmost part of Florida Reef Tract, the most extensive living coral reef system in North America. Whether it be the Hammerhead Reef or shipwrecks like the Jay Scutti, it will be exciting to see what we’ll find down there!

There are already a bunch of activities to do on Google’s site, including one about buoyancy and how things float in the ocean, one about building a sonar system, and more. Kids will complete these projects, and as they go, they’ll “earn camp badges to celebrate the new skills they learned.” Next week, Google is kicking off “Space Week” in collaboration with a NASA astronaut and VSauce.

Deal Alert: Grab a refurb LG G Watch for just $75 from Woot

Stephen Hall Jul 12 2015 - 6:08 pm PT

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4557854_LG Watch

Woot offers the LG G Watch Android Wear smartwatch in black for $69.99 with $5 shipping, which is well below its list price of $229. This model was initially surpassed by the LG G Watch R and, more recently, by the top-of-the-line LG Watch Urbane — which ships at prices above $300. So if you’re not completely sure about jumping into the smartwatch world, the G Watch for just $75 might be a good option.
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G4 (unlocked) $500, Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch $100, 32GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive $30, more

Stephen Hall Jul 10 2015 - 12:40 pm PT

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

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LG G4 brand new smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7 - Best Buy 2015-02-19 11-54-02

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200) | GameStop

sandisk-connect-wireless-flash-drive

SanDisk Connect 32GB Wireless iOS/Android Flash Drive $30 shipped (Orig. $60)

SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive: 32GB $40 (Reg. $80), 64GB $55 (Reg. $120)

ASUS-ZenWatch-03

Asus ZenWatch Android Wear (Silver / Rose Gold / Brown): $150 shipped (Reg. $200) | Newegg

motorola-moto-360-champagne

Champagne Motorola Moto 360 18mm Android Wear: $230 shipped (Reg. $330) | Best Buy

ravpower-car-jump-starter

RAVPower Portable Car Jump Starter w/ Dual USB Charging Ports: $60 shipped (Reg. $75)

newegg-edu-email-deal

Newegg 10% off sitewide w/ .edu email: VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart UHDTV $538 (Reg. $598), more

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American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it out

amazon-prime-day

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

Amazon is now treating its Prime members to extra savings on new/upcoming video game

It’s now possible to 3D print customized video game characters right from Amazon

More new gear from today:

logitech-z506-deal

Logitech Z506 75W 5.1-channel Surround Sound System: $40 shipped (refurb) (Orig. $100)

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The Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition comes with a mini fridge to keep you frosty

Games/Apps: Witcher 3 Wild Hunt $45, Batman Arkham Knight $45, more
Daily Deals: Logitech K410 Wireless Keyboard $20, Aukey 4-Port USB Car Charger $10
TP-LINK RE200 AC750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender $40 shipped (Orig. $60)
X-Men and the Wolverine Collection on Blu-ray $22 Prime shipped
The new Mamma Nessie Colander Spoon has been sighted

More deals still alive:

wd-elements-2tb

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive $70 shipped (Orig. $100)

Beats Headphones: Solo HD Drenched on-ears $100 (Reg. $139+), Studio wireless $250 (Reg. $300), more

Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones (multiple colors): $140 shipped (Reg. $200)

iTunes gift cards 10% off w/ email delivery: $50 for $45, $100 for $90, more
GoPro HERO4 Action Cameras: Silver $350 (Reg. $400), Black $399 (Reg. $500)
Buy select 2015 Samsung 4K UHDTVs & receive a free matching soundbar ($298 value)
Sony PlayStation 4 Last of Us Bundle: $366 or w/ extra controller & 3 mos. PS Plus $400
Mosiso 7800mAh deluxe power bank $9 Prime shipped (Reg. $15)
Belkin WeMo Smart Light Switch $31 (Orig. $50), more
1-month access to over 17,000 digital Marvel comics for $0.01 (Reg. $10)
Anki DRIVE Starter Kit: iOS-controlled robot battle racing game $100 shipped (Reg. $150)
TaoTronics Bluetooth Car Adapter with dual USB charger $19 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)
Extendable Pole for GoPro Pro Edition selfie stick: $28 Shipped (Orig. $50, CA Tax Only)
Xbox Live Ultimate Sale up to 75% off: DA Inquisition $30, Borderlands Handsome $35
Kmashi 15,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $15 shipped (Reg. $20)
Apple is giving away free downloads of iOS cooking app Green Kitchen ($5 value)
Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more
Striker Spy HD-Camera Drone: $70 Shipped (Orig. $170, CA Tax Only)
Casetify custom Apple Watch bands: $70 credit for $50

New products & more:

Become the Knight Rider with the K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger

microsoft-hololens-case-western

Microsoft HoloLens partners with Case Western to make medical school like a video game

GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera
Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package
Watch this remote controlled flying R2-D2 drone take its first flight
Rory Mcllroy’s PGA TOUR lets you play golf on Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map
Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match
Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full
Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights
Disney unveils the first official Star Wars mobile app w/ lightsaber training, more
Palette puts Adobe in the palm of your hands with its new modular control surface
Ubisoft unveils the debut trailer for its new Rayman Adventures mobile game
You’re never (ever) going to want to get out of this hot tub hammock
Sony announces new Limited Edition Destiny: The Taken King-inspired PS4 bundle
Must-have gear to take on summer concerts and festivals like a pro
Samsung takes the wraps off a pair of monstrous 2TB internal solid-state drives
Mega Man series creator takes another blue bomber inspired game to Kickstarter
Here’s the first trailer for the new Telltale Minecraft Story Mode game

Review: Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Active is capable & rugged, trades fingerprint sensor for better battery

Stephen Hall Jul 10 2015 - 9:50 am PT

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Samsung Galaxy S6 Active Review! - YouTube 2015-07-10 11-33-34

If you’ve been following our thoughts on this year’s flagship smartphones, you know that we think that Samsung’s offerings are some of the best. The Korean company really stepped up their game with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, introducing a much more premium build, a cleaned up version of TouchWiz, and internals that are worthy of 2015. In that vein, the Galaxy S6 Active is pretty much identical. It has a really nice hard plastic body, the same less-horrible TouchWiz, and the exact same internal specifications as its standard S6 brethren. But it’s not perfect, and there are always going to be compromises. Maybe fewer compromises than ever before, but compromises nonetheless…
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