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Avatar for Stephen Hall

Stephen Hall

stephenjhall

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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9to5Toys Last Call: LG G4 $350, LG G3 (refurb) $170, LG 34″ QHD Monitor $570, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 10:33 am 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:

Last Call Updates:

Samsung Gear S2 from $250 shipped w/ code 50OFFJAN, Gear S2 Classic from $300 shipped w/ code 50OFFJAN — If you don’t mind rebates, you can get an additional $50 off either model | Adorama

lg-g4-leather-plasic-case-leak

LG G4 w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (unlocked): $350 shipped (Reg. $600)

lg-g3-fan

LG G3 D850 32 GB unlocked (refurb) 32 GB: $170 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

lg-34um94

34-inch UltraWide Displays: LG w/ Thunderbolt $570 (Reg. $700+), Dell Curved $675 (Reg. $750)

motorola-sb6121-6141-cable-modems

It’s 2016, stop renting your cable modem: Motorola refurb DOCSIS 3.0 deals from $40 (Orig. up to $220)

9to5toys-beats-giveaway

LAST CHANCE!!! Giveaway: 1-yr. subscription to Apple Music, Beats Pill+ and Solo 2 Over-ear Headphones ($549 value)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

vizio_s3821w_c0_38_2_1_home_theater_1065018

Daily Deals: VIZIO 38-inch 2.1 Bluetooth Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer (refurb) $90, TOURO 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive $50, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

soundpeats-q9a

Quick Review: SoundPEATS’ Q9A Bluetooth earbuds offer solid value at less than $20, exclusive discount

nexus-6-product-photo

Motorola Nexus 6 factory unlocked 32GB in blue/white: $250 shipped (Reg. $330)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

lego-batman-66-set (1)

LEGO did everything right with its new 2,500-piece vintage Batman set

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/685497066211176448 align=’center’]

Here’s a first look at the logo for Google’s forthcoming Project Aura

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 9:06 am PT
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Update: The first business card for a Project Aura team member has popped up on Instagram.

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We know that Project Aura is the successor to Glass — or at least a project that’s being built by some of the same people that built Glass — but now we have our first look at the logo that Google designed for this new venture. A person familiar with the project tells us that the logo is meant to resemble a new wearable device that wraps around the head…


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All Google Glass units reportedly affected by server problem, making devices unusable

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 8:18 am PT
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glass

The number of people out there that are still using Glass Explorer Edition is getting smaller by the day, but it looks like Glass is experiencing some widespread technical difficulties this morning. As reported by many members of the Glass Explorers group on Google+, many devices have been resetting themselves, are unable to be set up, and have become simply unusable over the last several days…


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Google self-driving car lead dismissive of Tesla-like iterative autonomy approach in first public comments

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 12 2016 - 3:18 pm PT
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Google-driverless-cars

In his very first public comments, John Krafcik, chief executive of Google’s self-driving car division (which is still within Google[X] at the time of this writing), reiterated Google’s focus on achieving full autonomy in contrast to the incremental approach being taken by just about every other company pursuing the technology…


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LG sends out invites for its Mobile World Congress event on February 21st

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 12 2016 - 2:15 pm PT
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2016-01-12 15_53_08-MWC2015_001.jpg (2000×1203)

Mobile World Congress is still more than a month away, but that’s not keeping LG from sending out invitations to its upcoming press event in Barcelona. The company’s keynote is scheduled for February 21st, according to the invite, at 14:00 local time. Beyond that, though, there’s not much to learn here. The invite shows what looks to be a jack-in-the-box along with the slogan “Play begins.”…
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9to5Toys Last Call: LG G Flex 2 (unlocked) $190, USB-C cables from $8, Samsung 850 EVO SSD $290, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 12 2016 - 9:18 am 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:

Last Call Updates:

Nexus_5X.0.0

LG and Google’s Nexus 5X gets a permanent $30 price cut

lg g flex 2

LG G Flex 2 (unlocked) 4G LTE w/ curved OLED: $190 shipped (Reg. $250) | eBay

usb-c-iorange-e

Googler-approved iOrange-E USB Type-C cables from $8 Prime shipped

samsung-850-evo-2tb

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $290 shipped (Reg. $350+)

view-master-vr-headset

View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack for iPhone/Android: $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

soundpeats-q9a

Quick Review: SoundPEATS’ Q9A Bluetooth earbuds offer solid value at less than $20, exclusive discount

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

nexus-6-product-photo

Motorola Nexus 6 factory unlocked 32GB in blue/white: $250 shipped (Reg. $330)

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MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

fitbit-charge-hr-black

FitBit’s Charge HR fitness tracker available for just $110 shipped (Reg. $150)

wd-my-book-5tb

WD My Book 5TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive: $110 shipped (Reg. $140)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

sevenhugs-smart-remote

This new touchscreen Smart Remote controls your devices just by pointing at them

echo

Report: Amazon planning to launch smaller, more portable version of its Echo speaker

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/685497066211176448 align=’center’]

Deal: Googler-approved iOrange-E jacketed USB Type-C cables from $8 Prime shipped

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 11 2016 - 3:05 pm PT
1 Comment

usb c iorange-e

Update: There are now some even better prices available. You can grab the 6ft cable at $9 Prime shipped w/ code BUE2SL39, the 1ft cable at $8 Prime shipped w/ code OZIWJRGS, and the 10ft variant at just $10 Prime shipped w/ code OYDTW5TH.

If you’re on the lookout for some USB Type-C cables for your new Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X (or perhaps even a Chromebook Pixel or a 12-inch MacBook), this is a good opportunity to grab some at a great price. Amazon offers the iOrange-E USB Type-C 6.6 ft braided cable for just $10 Prime shipped w/ code NSUFTGQ3, and the same cable in its 10ft variant for $15 Prime shipped w/ code IBXAME3M. These are the lowest prices we’ve seen…


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Report: Ford planning separate autonomous car unit, intends to use Google’s self-driving software

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 11 2016 - 11:43 am PT
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google-car1

According to a report today out of The Wall Street Journal, Ford, as part of its plan to reinvent itself, is planning to create a separate business unit dedicated to its ambitions in autonomous cars for “ride-sharing and fleets.” Of course the company is seeking partnerships in this space, and it just so happens that, just as was reported by Yahoo Autos a few weeks ago, Alphabet Inc.’s Google is a big part of this move…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: View-Master VR $20, PNY 128GB MicroSDXC $35, Verizon Moto E (2015) $40, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 11 2016 - 9:29 am 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:

view-master-vr-headset

View-Master VR Starter Pack for iPhone/Android: $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

2016-01-11 11_13_30-71LUajrt58L._SL1500_.jpg - Windows Photo Viewer

PNY High Performance 128GB High Speed MicroSDXC: $35 shipped (Reg. $80) | Amazon

Motorola-Moto-E-20151

Verizon Wireless Prepaid Moto E 4G w/ 8 GB flash: $40 shipped (Reg. $70) | eBay

anker-dual-usb-accessory

Anker Tech Prime shipped: 13,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank $25, Wireless Network Camera $60, LED Desk Lamp $26, more

wd-my-book-5tb

WD My Book 5TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive: $110 shipped (Reg. $140)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

fitbitchargehrwirelessactivitywristband

FitBit’s Charge HR fitness tracker available for just $110 shipped (Reg. $150)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

aukey-bluetooth-car-charger-deal

Add Bluetooth capabilities + a dual-port USB charger to your car for $16 (Reg. $28)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

segway-robot

Segway and Intel got together to create a futuristic robot butler

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/685497066211176448 align=’center’]

Google’s Ubiquity developer summit kicks off at 10 AM PT, tune in here [Updated]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 11 2016 - 8:39 am PT
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2016-01-11 10_34_36-Ubiquity Dev Summit

Update: You can now view full video from the Ubiquity dev summit on YouTube here.

As we told you a couple of weeks ago, Google’s Ubiquity internet of things-focused dev summit is kicking off today at around 10 AM PT. Google has several technologies including Brillo and Weave that are geared for this trend in computing (which we will surely hear about), but the official schedule mentions everything from Chromecast to CloudSpin to Android Auto…
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Google’s Ubiquity dev summit schedule mysteriously mentions a product called ‘Living Room’

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 11 2016 - 8:11 am PT
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android-tv-launcher

Update: A Googler from the event says that this was a typo—someone did a find/replace and accidentally replaced the word “Android TV” with “Living Room”. There is no product called “Living Room”.

Google’s Ubiquity developer summit is scheduled to kick off later today, but the event’s schedule of events is already available for your perusing. After a quick perusal ourselves (tipped off via Reddit), we noticed that the schedule (as Google I/O schedules have in the past) reveals a Google product we haven’t yet heard about. It’s called “Living Room,” and it’s mentioned on the schedule as a consumer product alongside Chromecast…


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December’s self-driving car report from Google details rain encounters, zero new accidents

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 8 2016 - 4:07 pm PT
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google-self-driving-cars

Google has been releasing monthly reports about its self-driving car program for quite some time now, and now December’s report has hit the interwebs. This report was delayed due to the holidays (they usually hit around the 1st of the month), and it also just so happens to be one of the most bare-bones we’ve seen so far. The company does note what they’re doing to combat the rain in California (say what?), though…


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Hands-on with the new Huawei stuff: Mate 8, Honor 5X, MediaPad M2, Huawei Watch [Video]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 6 2016 - 4:20 pm PT
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Huawei announced a lot of stuff yesterday. Press day at CES 2016 started with a huge press conference from Huawei, featuring the Mate 8, MediaPad M2, the Huawei Watch, and a gold Nexus 6P, and the day ended with Huawei’s Honor brand announcing the Honor 5X and the Honor Band Z1. It’s a lot to take in, and we’re only just now starting to dig in so that we can bring you full reviews for these products over the coming weeks. We did get some hands-on time with some of these devices yesterday and today, though, and you can find that video below…


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Samsung’s CES 2016 press conference starts at 2 PM PT, tune in here [Livestream]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 5 2016 - 1:24 pm PT
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samsung-earnings

Samsung is up next for CES press day, following a very Android- and Google-heavy Huawei event. This event isn’t expected to be nearly as exciting, however, as Samsung has a wide variety of products spanning many categories to mention. Just like last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we heard about Samsung services, some connected home products, some televisions, and maybe a new variant of a smartwatch (the Gear S2 this time, likely)…
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[Liveblog] Huawei’s Mate 8 CES event kicks off at 10 AM PT, follow along here as it unfolds

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 5 2016 - 9:08 am PT
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huawei-mate-8

For Google fans, Hauwei’s press conference this morning is likely to be one of the most interesting of CES 2016. The company has boldly entered the United States market this year with the launch of the Huawei Watch and the Nexus 6P, and just about everyone — myself included — is excited to find out what the company has in store for 2017. From what we’ve heard, the company is planning to launch the Mate 8 for the United States, as well as introduce a new smartwatch (and some other things)…


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Year in Review: These were the 10 most important moves that Google made in 2015

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 1 2016 - 10:09 am PT
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google

2015 saw many announcements and developments within the Mountain View company. It was a big one. While we may not have seen as many of the flashy moonshot projects we’ve seen announced over the last few years, like Google Glass, Project Loon, Project Titan, and others, 2015 came with some big changes, upgrades, products, and services. From Google being completely restructured to be a new huge conglomerate called Alphabet to the recent launch of the company’s Nexus line, 2015 wasn’t a boring one for Google by any stretch of the imagination.

Here’s are some of Google’s most important announcements, in no particular order…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy Tab A $150, Sharp 55″ 4K UHDTV $600, Nexus 6 $300, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 29 2015 - 1:13 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:
 galaxy tab a

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7-Inch Tablet (16 GB): $150 shipped (Reg. $300) | eBay

Daily Deals: Sharp AQUOS 55-inch Smart 4K Ultra HDTV $600, Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse $79, more

nexus-6-product-photo

New Google Nexus 6 64GB by Motorola: $300 shipped (Reg. $600) | Amazon

Samsung-Gear-Fit

Refurbished Samsung Gear Fit Watch: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | eBay

samsung-850-evo-2tb

Samsung 850 EVO 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drives: 250GB $65 (Reg. $90), 500GB $140 (Reg. $150+)

write-off-week

Write-Off Week™: Last chance to write off biz expenses w/ best deals on office equipment, tech, supplies, more
starbucks-coffee-cups

Starbucks $15 gift card for $10: save 30% on your favorite drinks!

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

hp-officejet-pro-8610-wireless-all-in-one-color-inkjet-printer-a7f64a

HP Officejet Pro 8610 e-All-in-One Inkjet Printer w/ AirPrint $50 shipped (Reg. $100)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

 

macbook-air-sale

Macbook Air 11.6″ Core i5 4GB/128GB w/.edu: $700 shipped ($750 without .edu or less)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

thimble-kickstarter

Thimble’s DIY robot subscription service launches on Kickstarter to great success

amazon-prime-free-shipping

Here are the Holiday Best Sellers from Amazon’s record-breaking year

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Google Nexus 6 (64GB) $300, refurb Samsung Gear Fit $50, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 28 2015 - 12:50 pm PT
0 Comments

9to5toys-header

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-6-product-photo

New Google Nexus 6 64GB by Motorola: $300 shipped (Reg. $600) | Amazon

Samsung-Gear-Fit

Refurbished Samsung Gear Fit Watch: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | eBay

beats-solo-wireless2-headphones

Beats Headphones: Solo2 On-Ear $100 (Reg. $200), Powerbeats2 In-Ear $85 (Reg. $150)

write-off-week

Write-Off Week™: Last chance to write off biz expenses w/ best deals on office equipment, tech, supplies, more

the-lego-movie

iTunes is hosting a rare sale on HD movies, including $5 titles + heavily discounted bundles

Hundreds of iOS/Mac games & apps are on sale for the holidays, these are the best ones you can’t afford to miss

starbucks-coffee-cups

Starbucks $15 gift card for $10: save 30% on your favorite drinks!

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

macbook-air-sale

Macbook Air 11.6″ Core i5 4GB/128GB w/.edu: $750 shipped ($250 off, $700 without .edu or less)

Apple 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.2GHz/8GB/512GB: $1,440 shipped (Reg. $1,599)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

chromecast

Google Chromecast v1: $20 shipped (Orig. $35)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

shiftwear-indiegogo

ShiftWear sneakers use flexible displays to showcase custom artwork on your shoes

hamwells-eshower

The new iOS-connected Hamwells e-Shower recycles your water with eyes on saving energy

This is Google Glass: Enterprise Edition in the flesh [Gallery]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 28 2015 - 10:31 am PT
4 Comments

google glass enterprise edition

Earlier this year, we told you across several exclusive reports that new Google Glass hardware was on the way, namely a device Google has been working on for more than a year aimed at the workplace. Now, several months later (and with many interesting reports about Google’s mysterious Project Aura having surfaced since), we have our first look at the device in the flesh…


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UK Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge owners now receiving Android Marshmallow beta

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 23 2015 - 12:23 pm PT
1 Comment

galaxy-s6-edge-exquisitely-crafted-desktop

It’s been a long time coming for owners of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but Samsung is now rolling out a beta of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Samsung recently started looking for testers of the new software, and now it appears that owners of Samsung’s latest flagship S-series phones in the UK (but only those that opted in to the program, of course), are now getting the beta firmware…


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Google explains why the new colorful hockey puck Chromecast looks so different

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 22 2015 - 1:41 pm PT
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chromecast

When we first exclusively leaked the 2nd generation Chromecast, we were dumbfounded by its design. Ditching the dongle-like look of its predecessor (that many other streaming sticks have come to mimic), the new Chromecast is more like a miniature hockey puck with a long HDMI cord attached, and comes in three bright colors. Many asked why a streaming device that sits behind the TV would need three colors, and Google has come out to answer this question and many others in a new interview…


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