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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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Hangouts hits version 6.0 on iOS with performance improvements, not much else

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 10 2015 - 8:05 am PT
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hangouts-logo

Google has kept Hangouts for iOS just slightly ahead of its Android counterpart when it comes to its version number, and today that tradition continues. Hangouts on Apple’s platform just got a not-so-big update to 6.0 (which you would think would be a major upgrade), but there only seems to be general performance improvements in this one…

Here’s the full — and very disappointing — change log:

What’s New in Version 6.0.0

• Other general notification improvements.
• Accessibility bug fixes.
• Fix for iPhone 6s sound quality.

You can head over to the App Store to grab the new version, but if you’re like me, updates to the Android app would be much more welcome. Actually, I wouldn’t be upset if we just got bug fix & performance improvements for the Android version for the next few releases. I will say, though, that the app has become much more usable in recent months.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: ASUS Chromebook Flip $219, RCA 8″ Android tablet $40, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 9 2015 - 1:16 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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ASUS Chromebook Flip 10.1-Inch 2 in 1 Touchscreen (2GB: $219, 4GB: $239 shipped)

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From the dept. of “how bad could it be”: Target offers RCA 8″ Android tablet for $40

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ULAK Cases for iPhone 6/s, iPad mini, iPod Touch and Android devices from $3 shipped (Reg. $10+)

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GameStop Black Friday ad leak: PS4/Xbox One bundles $300, new Nintendo 3DS XL $180, tons of games

Staples Black Friday Ad Revealed: iPad Air 2 from $374, mini 4 $300, Kindle $49, more

Sam’s Club Black Friday ad leak: iPad Air 2 Cellular $175 off, Google Play $100 Gift Card $80, more

Kohl’s Black Friday ad leak: more PS4/Xbox One $300 bundles, home goods, clothing, much more

Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off, PlayStation 4 $300, more

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business

eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year

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The best GoPro HERO4 action camera accessories, mounts, storage, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Beats by Dre. Powerbeats2 Wireless active collection drops to $130 after debuting less than 2 months ago for $200

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/663742798017900544 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

aukey-usb-c-to-4-port-usb-3-0-aluminum-hub-for-usb-type-c-devices-including-the-new-macbook-and-many-other-devices-e1446652248919

USB-C 4-port hubs for Chromebook Pixel by Aukey: $20 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)

amazon-echo-deal

Review: How Amazon Echo changed my life + $130 special price ($50 off) for Amazon card holder

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

luma-router-white

Is Luma’s surround Wi-Fi system the router we’ve been waiting for?

dont-panic-ipad-case-kickstarter

Don’t Panic’s latest iPad Air 2 case is an astute all-in-one solution for every angle

Facebook Messenger’s new ‘Photo Magic’ feature automates sharing shots of your friends instantly

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 9 2015 - 12:43 pm PT
1 Comment

facebook-photo-magic-hero

A new feature in Facebook Messenger is now rolling out that scans photos added to your camera roll in search of your Facebook friends, and suggests that you send them to the people it finds. It’s a pretty nifty feature, if you feel comfortable with Facebook looking at every single photo you take on your device and constantly processing data on the friends you’re hanging out with…
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Google is bringing its Cardboard Expeditions Pioneer Program to 15 new cities

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 9 2015 - 10:07 am PT
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Expeditions 1

Google is launching its Expeditions Pioneer Program in 15 new cities, according to a post on the Google for Education blog. More than 100,000 students have taken part in the Pioneer Program, Google says, and it looks like thousands more are about to have the opportunity.

Here’s the relevant tidbit:

More than 100,000 students have used Expeditions in their classes as part of the Expeditions Pioneer Program, which launched in September. Now, we’re bringing the program to new cities. In the U.S., we’ll be in Alexandria, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City and Washington DC. We’ll also be adding three new countries: Canada, where we’ll be in Toronto, as well as Denmark and Singapore.

It looks like 12 of these cities are in the United States, with three more in other countries. Specifically, the program is coming Alexandria, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Washington DC, and Toronto, with two others in Denmark and Singapore.

Google revealed the Expeditions Pioneer Program at Google I/O earlier this year, which hopes to give students the opportunity to travel to distant lands in virtual reality and learn in new ways. Teachers have a library of 100+ virtual trips to places like Mars and the Great Barrier Reef to choose from.

How to: Train your Nexus 5X/6P to recognize your finger even when you miss [Video]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 9 2015 - 8:03 am PT
1 Comment

Using Nexus Imprint with other parts of your finger - YouTube 2015-11-09 09-37-14

I’ve had a Nexus 5X for just a few days, and one of the biggest things I love about this phone is the addition of Nexus Imprint. I like to keep my phone secure, but I really don’t like having to type a password every time I unlock (because, well, I unlock my phone dozens if not hundreds of times per day). But something I quickly noticed with Nexus Imprint on the 5X — especially since I have fingers big enough for a 6P — is that I simply miss the sensor far too often. I commonly find myself overshooting, sometimes even tapping on the camera since that’s about the distance my finger naturally lands.

So how did I fix this? Well, it turns out that it’s actually pretty simple. Thanks to the fact that you can register up to five different fingerprints in the Nexus Imprint settings, you can make your sensor almost impossible to miss. Instead of adding five different fingers, I decided to try adding five different parts of my right index finger…
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Google’s OnHub gets its first OTA software update w/ minor improvements

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 8 2015 - 4:56 pm PT
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onhub-google-wi-fi-router

Google’s OnHub launched a few months ago, and now the expensive router is getting its first software update. It’s not clear at this point if the update is also rolling out to the newer ASUS model quite yet, but the original TP-LINK router is definitely getting it as has been confirmed by one owner on Google+.

There doesn’t seem to be anything groundbreaking here, as many of the things listed on the change log are just improvements to what’s already there. There is “improved client device naming,” optimizations for the antenna, “expanded use of 5GHz channels,” and more.

Interestingly, as noted by Android Police, the update seems to have been able to install itself on the router without requiring a reboot. As those who own pretty much any desktop OS, a Chromecast, or an Android phone will know, this is a really nice feature to have.

Here’s the full change log, as can be found on Google’s website.

Some highlights of this software update include:

  • Improved client device naming
  • Antenna optimizations
  • Expanded use of 5GHz channels
  • Improved port forwarding performance
  • General stability improvements

9to5Toys Last Call: New HTC One M9 (unlocked) $300, Bluetooth earbud deals, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 6 2015 - 2:05 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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Open-box HTC One M9 32 GB 4G LTE (unlocked): $300 shipped (Reg. $500+) | eBay

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Bluetooth Earbuds: Powerbeats2 (open-box) $80 (Reg. $150+), QY8 Sweatproof $19, more

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FreedomPop 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 WiFi + Cellular Tablet – 100% Free 4G LTE Wireless Internet: $60 shipped (Reg. $140+) | Sam’s Club

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Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 16GB GSM/LTE unlocked black: $200 shipped (Reg. $250) | Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Unlocked: $300 shipped (Reg. $400+) | eBay

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LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $150+) | eBay

amazon-echo-deal

Review: How Amazon Echo changed my life + $130 special price ($50 off) for Amazon card holders

sams-club-holiday-savings-celebration

Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off, PlayStation 4 $300, more

Meijer Black Friday ad: Xbox One/PS4 bundles $300 w/ $50 credit, much more

eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business

Everything we know so far about this year’s best Black Friday deals and promotions

More new gear from today:

inateck-bluetooth-speaker

Bluetooth Speakers: Inateck Aluminum $30 (Reg. $43), SOL Republic Deck $40 (Reg. $50+)

More deals still alive:

acer-cb5-311-t7nn-chromebook

Acer 13-inch Chromebook 2.1GHz/2GB/16GB SSD: $209 shipped (Reg. $249)

New products & more:

dont-panic-ipad-case-kickstarter

Don’t Panic’s latest iPad Air 2 case is an astute all-in-one solution for every angle

fallout-4-release-trailer-copy

New Fallout 4 launch trailer hits with a fresh look at gameplay and more

 

Google has finally added holiday hours to Google Maps

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 6 2015 - 12:58 pm PT
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XmasEve

After many years of people trusting Google Maps far too much and accidentally driving across town to a store that ended up being closed, Google has finally added the ability for companies to designate holiday hours on Google Maps. Whenever you open up the Maps app and click that little drop-down to see hours for the week, you’ll now see a designated section for these special hours. And if a company hasn’t provided these, you’ll see a warning suggesting that the normal hours might not be right…
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ASUS ZenFone 2 Deluxe ‘Special Edition’ arrives in the US at $399 w/ 128 GB of storage

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 6 2015 - 12:17 pm PT
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ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML US Version 128GB ZE551ML-23-4G128G-SE B&H 2015-11-06 14-17-11

We already heard about the ZenFone 2 Deluxe when it was announced for India a few months ago, but now the phone is available in the United States in the form of a “Special Edition” model. It’s not all too different from the standard ZenFone 2 (which is actually a pretty decent phone for the money), but it adds to the package a couple of fancified back covers and 128 GB of flash storage.

Its specs are pretty much identical to the ZenFone 2. There’s an HD IPS 5.5-inch display, 13-megapixel/5-megapixel rear and front cameras, respectively, and a 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom processor with 4 GB RAM and 4G LTE. The Special Edition inherits dual-SIM capabilities, and sadly, you’ll probably be stuck with Android 5.0 Lollipop for a while with this phone.

We’ve found the phone for $399 at Amazon, Newegg, and B&H Photo Video, but it doesn’t seem to available quite yet at the time of this writing.

Samsung’s enormous Galaxy View now available at several online retailers

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 6 2015 - 11:29 am PT
1 Comment

Galaxy-view

Samsung’s enormous Galaxy View tablet miniature television was made official a couple of weeks ago, and now it’s starting to appear at a variety of retailers across the web. If for some reason your home needs one of these behemoths, you can now grab the View at Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Best Buy, as well as Samsung’s site, all starting at its $599 MSRP.

With the View, you’ll get an  18.4-inch full HD 1080p display, the Exynos 7580 octa-core 1.6 GHz processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, which can be expanded an extra 128GB via microSD. There’s also a 5,700mAh battery, stereo speakers, Bluetooth 4.1, and a 2.1-megapixel front facing camera. The Galaxy View runs Android Lollipop out of the box, sadly.

 

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy Tab 3 w/ FreedomPop service (pre-owned) $60, Bluetooth receiver $10, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 1:33 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:

0071046542948_C

FreedomPop 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 WiFi + Cellular Tablet – 100% Free 4G LTE Wireless Internet: $60 shipped (Reg. $140+) | Sam’s Club

aukey-bluetooth-streaming-dongle

Add Bluetooth to your speakers or car w/ Aukey’s Wireless Receiver: $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)

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Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 16GB GSM/LTE unlocked black: $200 shipped (Reg. $250) | Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Unlocked: $300 shipped (Reg. $400+) | eBay

1121006_sd

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $150+) | eBay

amazon-echo-deal

Review: How Amazon Echo changed my life + $130 special price ($50 off) for Amazon card holders

sams-club-holiday-savings-celebration

Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off, PlayStation 4 $300, more

eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business

Everything we know so far about this year’s best Black Friday deals and promotions

More new gear from today:

lg-34um95-wqhd-monitor

Displays: LG 34″ UltraWide $585 (Reg. $699+), Acer 34″ Curved QHD $866 (Reg. $1,050), plus 4K UHDTVs

More deals still alive:

acer-cb5-311-t7nn-chromebook

Acer 13-inch Chromebook 2.1GHz/2GB/16GB SSD: $209 shipped (Reg. $249)

ath-m50x-sale-02

Audio-Technica’s best selling ATH-M50x headphones in black: $119 shipped (Orig. $170), more

sling-tv-chromecast-deal

Sling TV is giving away a 2nd generation Chromecast when you pre-pay for three months ($35 value)

New products & more:

alo-long

Unboxing and Review: Halo 5 Xbox One Limited Edition Console Bundle [Video]

bosch-bonirob

Bosch made a robo-farmer that looks straight out of a galaxy far, far away

Pebble Time Round available at Best Buy, Target, and online retailers on November 8th

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 12:56 pm PT
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Meet the Lightest & Thinnest Smartwatch: Pebble Time Round - YouTube 2015-09-23 12-16-48

The Pebble Time Round was announced in September, and now — just a bit over a month later — it’s about to finally be available at stores across the United States. Pebble says that the watch will be available at Best Buy and Target stores in the US on November 8th, and will also be available online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Target.com, and Pebble.com on the same day…
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One month on, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is running on just 0.3% of Android devices

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 12:08 pm PT
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A Brief History Of Android Easter Eggs - #NatAndLo Ep 8 - YouTube 2015-10-05 10-38-42

It’s been about a month now since Android Marshmallow started rolling out to a variety of Android devices (mostly just the Nexus line), and according to this month’s distribution numbers, only 0.3% of Android phones are running the latest version. That’s just plain depressing.

And what’s worse is that the other numbers across the board haven’t really improved all the much since last month, either. Last month, 23.5% of Android users were running last year’s OS, Lollipop, and now 25.6% have managed to go to a build of either 5.0 or 5.1. An amazing 37.8% of Android users are still on KitKat…
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Chromecast 2nd gen. and Chromecast Audio now available via Spain Google Store

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 9:00 am PT
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The second generation Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio were announced at the end of September, and the Google Store is one of many outlets where you can acquire these devices. Now, a couple months after being introduced in North America and other regions, those who are in Spain can grab the new Chromecasts from the Google Store.

You can head over to the Google Store now, where the Chromecast (2nd gen.) is available in three colors, and the Chromecast Audio is available in black.

Fallout 4 companion app ‘Pip-Boy’ now available for Android and iOS

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 6:56 am PT
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The much-anticipated Fallout 4 from Bethesda is just around the corner (it’s scheduled to hit stores on November 10), and of course a companion app chock full of mini games and cross-platform interaction with the full game is now available. Even though the majority of the app’s functionality doesn’t even work without the full game (which, obviously, isn’t out yet), this app is already pulling almost unanimous positive reviews on the Play Store.

With Fallout Pip-Boy, your Android or iPhone (yes, it’s also available on Apple’s platform),can interact with Fallout 4 on your Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or PC. Even when you aren’t near your game system, Pip-Boy keeps track of your character’s status on the go. Among other things, the app lets you see your stats, inventory, map, and radio. There’s also a bunch of mini games (your holotape games) that are at your disposal, that you can play right from within the app.

The app is free on the Google Play Store, and you can grab it on the iOS App Store as well. Oh, and if you’re in the fewer than 1% of mobile phone users that rocks Windows Mobile, there’s surprisingly an app available for you too (although it doesn’t seem to be available yet)

There are a couple more Fallout 4-related apps available on the Play Store, as well, including the C.H.A.T. app that you we told you about earlier this week and the Fallout Shelter mobile game.

Makers of ‘Zero Reflex’ offering $10k to the first person to complete it

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 6:34 am PT
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Screenshot_20151105-081624

A new game called Zero Flex, a “psychedelic evader,” has hit the Google Play Store — which, alone, might not be newsworthy. There are hundreds of games that come out on the Play Store every day. But what’s different about this one is that its developers are claiming that the first person to legitimately complete the game will receive $10,000. That’s one way to promote your new game in an overcrowded sea of mediocre games.

I downloaded the game, and I can’t get more than 15 seconds in. This reminds me a lot of Super Hexagon, but far harder. Without in-app purchases (which, yes, the app does offer), I can’t see how this would be possible for even the most hard-core of gamers.

Considering the not-so-walled garden of Android and the possibility that an iPhone might be jailbroken, Exordium Games has made it clear in the contest rules that you must complete the game legitimately without any hacks. The game has 60 challenges, and if you manage to get through them, you’ll be given the option to contact Adminde.

You can read the full rules of the contest over at Exordium Games’ website, and yes, it’s also available on the iPhone via the App Store, as well as on PC via Steam.

 

You can now get last year’s Nexus Player for just $38 shipped (Reg. $100)

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 4 2015 - 3:12 pm PT
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player-grid2-1600.jpg (1400×1078) 2015-09-09 18-17-41

The Nexus Player is perhaps a great Chromecast alternative if nothing else, and now it looks like you can grab one for about the same price as the recently-announced 2nd generation Chromecast. Groupon is currently offering the device for just $39.99 — down to $37.99 with coupon code VISA5 —  which is a steal for the set top box and the lowest price we’ve seen for a new unit.

We reviewed the Nexus Player last year, and had mostly positive things to say. That said, it’s clear that the Android TV platform is losing out to the Chromecast, which is less capable in terms of features but available for just $35 outright and has been much better advertised by Google. It doesn’t help that the Nvidia Shield is leaps and bounds better than Google’s offering.

You might want to act quick, because these Groupon deals tend to go fast.

Google Nexus Media Streaming Player by ASUS | Groupon 2015-11-04 17-10-56

Today’s Android for Work Live event is now available for replay [Video]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 4 2015 - 2:27 pm PT
0 Comments

Android for Work Live - YouTube 2015-11-04 16-26-20

We told you last month that the first Android for Work Live conference was happening today, and well… today is here. In case you missed the event, you can now head over to YouTube and watch an archived copy. Of course there weren’t any groundbreaking announcements at the event, but some of the talks will serve well anyone who’s looking to transform their business with Android and Google’s services. Here it is:

 

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Sony Xperia M4 (unlocked) $200, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones $119, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 4 2015 - 12:47 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:

71Dro+5MLHL._SL1500_

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 16GB GSM/LTE unlocked black: $200 shipped (Reg. $250) | Amazon

ath-m50x-sale-02

Audio-Technica’s best selling ATH-M50x headphones in black: $119 shipped (Orig. $170), more

acer-cb5-311-t7nn-chromebook

Acer 13-inch Chromebook 2.1GHz/2GB/16GB SSD: $209 shipped (Reg. $249)

aukey-4-port-usb-c-hub

USB-C 4-port hubs for Chromebooks by Aukey: $20 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)

amazon-echo-deal

Review: How Amazon Echo changed my life + $130 special price ($50 off) for Amazon card holders

pebble-time-smartwatch-sale

Pebble Time Smartwatch for iOS and Android (multiple colors): $150 shipped (Reg. $200)

sling-tv-chromecast-deal

Sling TV is giving away a 2nd generation Chromecast when you pre-pay for three months ($35 value)

s5

Samsung Galaxy S5 Unlocked: $300 shipped (Reg. $400+) | eBay

1121006_sd

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $150+) | eBay

More new gear from today:

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Daily Deals: Vizio 43″ 120Hz 1080p LCD HDTV + $100 Dell GC $300, LYTRO Light Field Camera $400, more

sams-club-holiday-savings-celebration

Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off, PlayStation 4 $300, more

eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business

Everything we know so far about this year’s best Black Friday deals and promotions

More deals still alive:

tp-link-pocket-router-deal

This 802.11n pocket wireless router from TP-LINK is a must-have for avid travelers: $10 shipped (Orig. $40)

powerbeats2-by-dre-white

Buy a pair of PowerBeats 2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones, get a $50 Target gift card: $144 shipped (Orig. $200)

Beats by Dr. Dre Pill 2.0 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (multiple colors) $120 shipped (Orig. $200)

New products & more:

mellow-drive-electric-skateboard

Mellow Boards makes any skateboard electric and looks good doing it

 

Despite driving 100k miles, Google’s self-driving cars haven’t seen an accident in over 2 months

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 4 2015 - 11:45 am PT
0 Comments

google-self-driving-car

Up to June of this year, Google’s self-driving cars had yet to be at fault in any accidents, and it seems that record has held true over the last few months. Of the dozen or so accidents up to that point, the majority had happened when the self-driving car wasn’t even moving, and the rest occurred when Google’s safety drivers were in control of the vehicles.

Unfortunately, in the months after Google released the first report, Google’s cars continued to see a couple of accidents per month. But that trend has come to an interesting halt recently. As we’ve learned thanks to Google’s recently-published October report, the self-driving cars have now gone more than two months without a single accident…
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Googler takes to Amazon to slam bad USB Type-C cables, commend good ones

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 4 2015 - 7:59 am PT
0 Comments

nexus-6p-usb-type-c

A Google engineer by the name of Benson Leung is one of the many proponents of USB Type-C at the Mountain View company, and he’s now doing us the kind service of reviewing dozens of third-party Type-C cables on Amazon. Why? Because some of the cables coming from a variety of manufacturers could be “dangerous,” according to Leung, and are likely less-than-functional…
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Google VP of Finance Jason Wheeler joins Tesla as CFO

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 3 2015 - 2:55 pm PT
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tesla-google-driverless-car-1

Tesla has a new CFO, and he’s coming to the electric car maker from Google. Jason Wheeler is currently VP of Finance at the Mountain View company, and he’s joining Tesla next month via a transition with current CEO Deepak Ahuja overseeing. This comes five months after Ahuja confirmed at Tesla’s 2015 Annual Shareholders Meeting that he would be retiring…

Tesla just released its Q3 earnings report, and the company’s stock is up around 10% in after-hours trading. Google is one of Tesla’s biggest competitors in regards to future autonomous vehicle prospects, but it’s clear that the motor company has been a bold poacher of other large Silicon Valley companies’ employees. It appears that Google isn’t excluded.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: 1st gen. Moto 360 $143, Acer 13-inch Chromebook $209, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 3 2015 - 1:16 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:

moto-360-head

Motorola Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch: $143 shipped (Reg. $250) | Amazon

acer-cb5-311-t7nn-chromebook

Acer 13-inch Chromebook 2.1GHz/2GB/16GB SSD: $209 shipped (Reg. $249)

sling-tv-chromecast-deal

Sling TV is giving away a 2nd generation Chromecast when you pre-pay for three months ($35 value)

pebble-time-smartwatch-sale

Pebble Time Smartwatch for iOS and Android (multiple colors): $150 shipped (Reg. $200)

s5

Samsung Galaxy S5 Unlocked: $300 shipped (Reg. $400+) | eBay

1121006_sd

LG G Pad V410 AT&T GSM Unlocked 7-Inch 4G LTE 16GB Tablet: $80 shipped (Reg. $150+) | eBay

tp-link-pocket-router-deal

This 802.11n pocket wireless router from TP-LINK is a must-have for avid travelers: $10 shipped (Orig. $40)

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eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business

Everything we know so far about this year’s best Black Friday deals and promotions

More new gear from today:

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Fashion: 20% off at Amazon – Kenneth Cole Down Jacket $90 (Reg. $113), shoes, accessories, more

More deals still alive:

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Buy a pair of PowerBeats 2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones, get a $50 Target gift card: $144 shipped (Orig. $200)

Beats by Dr. Dre Pill 2.0 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (multiple colors) $120 shipped (Orig. $200)

New products & more:

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Mogees iPhone-connected sensor turns any object into a playable instrument

Chrome extension ‘Fav Forever’ brings Twitter’s stars back just hours after they disappeared

Avatar for Stephen Hall Nov 3 2015 - 11:03 am PT
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Earlier today, Twitter ditched favoriting tweets in favor of liking them, and in turn replaced the social network’s beloved star icon with an adorable heart. This change is of course — as with every change that comes to pretty much every social network, ever — very controversial, with many arguing that it’s simply a lazy move. Many say that it’s simply more evidence of Twitter’s problems in a world where its main competitor is now moving beyond likes to reactions that are more complex.

But if you use Google Chrome, and statistics says that you probably do, favorites don’t have to be completely dead quite yet. Thanks to a new Chrome extension called “Fav Forever,” you can keep those stars around as long as you want…
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