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5,748 'Google' stories January 2009 - May 2016

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Report: U.S. House blocks access to Google services amid fears of ransomware attacks

Chance Miller May 11 2016 - 6:25 pm PT

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According to a report from Reuters, the U.S. House of Representatives’ information technology team has blocked members from accessing any services hosted by Google. The move comes in an effort to prevent hacking aimed at lawmakers and their staff. Earlier this week, Yahoo Mail was blacklisted as well in fear of ransomware infiltration.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 6 to be released the week of August 15th

Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 2:40 pm PT

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Just like pretty much every other Android handset ever, we already know — or think we know — a lot of specifications and other details about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 6. Now, via Evan Blass, it looks like we have pretty solid confirmation of when the phone will be hitting shelves in the United States: the week of August 15th…

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Nest teams up w/ ARM, Qualcomm, others to open-source Thread networking protocol

Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 1:05 pm PT

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Thread, the low-power mesh network protocol that Alphabet-owned Nest built in tandem with Samsung, ARM, and other companies, is now going open-source. Since it opened membership in October of 2014, the not-completely-open “Thread Group” has grown to have over 30 products. But this OpenThread release takes things a step further in the name of openness…

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AT&T’s HTC One M8 and M9 to get Marshmallow starting tomorrow

Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 12:12 pm PT

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There’s a reason that Marshmallow is only on 7.5% of Android devices — the rollout for the “new” (that’s in parentheses because it was announced almost a year ago now, and its successor is already in developer preview) version of Google’s mobile OS has been horrendously slow. The wait for a lot of phones has finally been coming to an end as of late, however, and now it’s time for the HTC One M8 and M9 on AT&T to get M.

The word comes from good ol’ Mo Versi, VP of Product Management at HTC. He’s the source of most news on the update front for HTC’s myriad of devices. The tweet follows his other most recent update on the update, say that it would have “approval within the next couple weeks.”

And here we are:

HTC One (M8 & M9) AT&T owners! Thank you for your patience. Marshmallow OS is approved, OTA to start tomorrow!!

— Mo Versi (@moversi) May 11, 2016

The update is set to start rolling out over-the-air tomorrow, so keep an eye out for a popup on your phone. This will likely be a pretty big update, so try to have just as much patience while it’s installing as you have had waiting for it to arrive.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Nexus 5 (unlocked) $149, $40 Google Express credit for just $15, Moto 360 (refurb) $80, more

Stephen Hall May 11 2016 - 9:57 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:

New LG Nexus 5, unlocked with 32GB storage down to $149 shipped (Reg. ~$280)

New Google Express customers can grab a $40 credit for $15 with email delivery (42% savings)

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+) | eBay

Sony 128GB Class 10 UHS-1 Micro SDXC: $33.49 shipped (Reg. $47) | Amazon

iFixit 64-Bit Screwdriver Kit lets you open phones, tablets, laptops, games consoles, and more: $35 (Orig. $50, CA Tax only)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,040 (Reg. $1,299)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Dell 27-inch 1080p Curved Monitor w/ two HDMI inputs: $220 shipped (Reg. $300+)

Smartphone Accessories: OLALA 13000mAh power bank w/ built-in Lightning cable $30, more
Games/Apps: Bloodborne $20, Just Cause 3 from $34, iOS freebies, more
A/V Receivers w/ 4K + AirPlay: Harman Kardon 7.1-Ch. $269 (Orig. $800), more
Daily Deals: Pyle Mini LED Projector $43, Logitech M510 Wireless Laser Mouse $18, more
Get a head start at work: learn-to-code learning bundle $59 (Orig. $924), more
Amazon Gold Box – up to 64% off TaoTronics LED Desk Lamps from $21 (Orig. up to $40)
Keep your pet in the back seat w/ a 2-pack of Etekcity’s Dog Car Seat Belt for $6 (Reg. $12)
iPhone 5 16GB refurb with OtterBox Defender case: $100 shipped
Get Nomad’s premium Italian leather Apple Watch Strap for just $100 shipped (Reg. $150)
Get a $50 iTunes Gift Card for $40 delivered via email from PayPal (20% savings)
Camera Plus w/ AirSnap goes free for the first time in months (Reg. $2)
Call of Duty iOS titles: Strike Team $2 (Reg. $7), Zombies $1 (Reg. $5), more
Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, more
Star Wars 50% off Sale: Jedi Academy $5, KOTOR $10, more
iPad Pro (9.7-inch) Case with Auto Wake/Sleep: $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $14)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Spring cleaning: Essential products for an organized and clutter-free bathroom

Wired w/ digital access + Popular Science magazine bundle for $8 shipped (Reg. $25+ value)
Keep your wine fresh w/ this 4-pack of bottle stoppers for $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)
Taste the Rainbow! 30-Pack Skittles/Starburst Box for $18 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $30)
Anker 3-ft reinforced Lightning cable (multiple colors): $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $10)
Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more
FREE ebook: ‘Mobile Security: How to Secure, Privatize, and Recover Your Devices’ ($27 value)
iMac 17-inch Core 2 Duo Computer (Refurb) $110 shipped (Reg. $200)
Green Deals: Solar 8000mAh Battery Pack $11, Philips 65W LED Flood Light $5, more
Home: NuWave’s best selling convection oven $93 (Reg. $120), more
Sports/Fitness: Tackle Tek Nomad Lighted Backpack $117 (Reg. $140+), more
Nike extra 20% off clearance: Free 5.0 Running Shoes (five colors) $64 (Reg. $80), more
Golfsmith gift cards 20% off: $50 for $40, $100 for $80 with free email delivery
Burt’s Bees Basic 3-item Face Care Kit for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $24)
Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)
Fashion: Sperry surprise 30% off sale- Men’s shoes starting at $28 shipped, much more
Amazon Prime Member Exclusive: free 4-month subscription for top print magazines
Here’s our first look at the new Battlefield 1 gameplay
Green Deals: Tegu Natural Magnetic Block Sets from $9 Prime shipped, more
How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation
Mackie CR4 50W Creative Reference Monitor Speakers for $115 shipped (Reg. $150)
Hamilton Beach 800-watt Big Mouth Juice Extractor w/ 20 oz pitcher $41 (Reg. $59)
iPhone 6/s/Plus, 5/s/SE & Android case sale in a variety of colors/styles from $2 shipped
OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Plus Symmetry Series Phone Case (Various Colors): $12 shipped
LifeProof iPhone 6/s FRĒ waterproof case (multiple colors): $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
RAVPower 3000mAh 2A MFi Battery Case for $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

The Thin Ice wearable cools your body in hopes of burning an additional 1,000 calories per day

This Hybrid Tube Amp system for Raspberry Pi is ideal for DIY Audiophiles
Vans and Nintendo team up for epic new line of NES-themed sneakers
NERF’s upcoming Terrascout RC Drone Blaster is going to be a menace in your home
Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful
Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker
Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty

Google to ban ads for ‘payday loans’ and other lending at extortionate interest-rates

Ben Lovejoy May 11 2016 - 6:44 am PT

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Google Adwords will be banning ads for so-called ‘payday loans’ and other lending at very high interest rates. As of July 13th, Google will no longer accept ads for loans that have to be repaid within 60 days, or any loan with an APR exceeding 36%.

The change was announced on Google’s Public Policy Blog.

When reviewing our policies, research has shown that these loans can result in unaffordable payment and high default rates […] This change is designed to protect our users from deceptive or harmful financial products.

Google also shared a stat on action taken against harmful ads in general …

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This is Google’s proposal to address emoji gender inequality

Edoardo Maggio May 11 2016 - 4:35 am PT

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As messaging becomes an increasingly more important part of our daily lives, so do the particular languages that we use to communicate on our digital platforms — and few “particular” things have become as influential as emojis.

However, up to this point, most of them have been designed with generally male-like physiognomies, and to address this issue, Google has proposed that Unicode add up to thirteen new emojis to the existing characters to “highlight the diversity of women’s careers”…

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Google Hangouts on the web now has a dense mode without the clutter

Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 1:03 pm PT

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You may know that you can access Hangouts via classic Google+ and Gmail, but did you know it also has a standalone web client over at hangouts.google.com? Now, Google has announced that you can show the list of conversations at all three sites in a new denser view.

This might be particularly enticing if you were a long-time GChat user, as it ditches the profiles images and frills to provide an experience that’s straightforward and simple…

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto 360 (refurb) $80, Sony 128GB Micro SD $33, Logitech Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $25, more

Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 10:39 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:

Motorola Moto 360 (refurb) smartwatch in various styles: $80 shipped (Reg. $200+)

Sony 128GB Class 10 UHS-1 Micro SDXC: $33.49 shipped (Reg. $47)

Amazon Gold Box – Logitech keyboards & mice up to 50% off: Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $25, more

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/730068269982429184 align=’center’]

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Headphones + $30 Vudu Credit & 3-mo. Rhapsody Service: $50 shipped (~$93 value)

Inateck Ultra Slim 4-Port Portable Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub $5 Prime shipped (Orig. $13)
LG 27-inch 1080p IPS LED Monitor w/ HDMI input: $179 shipped, more
Wired w/ digital access + Popular Science magazine bundle for $8 shipped (Reg. $25+ value)
DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Quadcopter Drone w/ 2.7K HD Camera: $599 shipped (Reg. $799)
Daily Deals: Car Jump Starter and Power Bank $45, 2-pack USB Desk Lamps $15, more
Games/Apps: Terraria $12, free Minecraft skins, iOS freebies, more
Keep your wine fresh w/ this 4-pack of bottle stoppers for $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)
Taste the Rainbow! 30-Pack Skittles/Starburst Box for $18 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $30)
iPhone 6/s/Plus, 5/s/SE & Android case sale in a variety of colors/styles from $2 shipped
OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Plus Symmetry Series Phone Case (Various Colors): $12 shipped
Smartphone Accessories: 1byone 3100mAh Battery Case for iPhone 6/s $16 Prime shipped
Protect your MacBook with these highly-rated felt cases/sleeves from $4 Prime shipped
Get a $50 iTunes Gift Card for $40 delivered via email from PayPal (20% savings)
Camera Plus w/ AirSnap goes free for the first time in months (Reg. $2)
Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, more
Star Wars Mac Games 50% off Sale: Jedi Academy $5, KOTOR $10, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more

Nike extra 20% off clearance: Free 5.0 Running Shoes (five colors) $64 (Reg. $80), more
Golfsmith gift cards 20% off: $50 for $40, $100 for $80 with free email delivery
Burt’s Bees Basic 3-item Face Care Kit for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $24)
Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)
Fashion: Sperry surprise 30% off sale- Men’s shoes starting at $28 shipped, much more
Amazon Prime Member Exclusive: free 4-month subscription for top print magazines
Here’s our first look at the new Battlefield 1 gameplay
Green Deals: Tegu Natural Magnetic Block Sets from $9 Prime shipped, more
How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation
Mackie CR4 50W Creative Reference Monitor Speakers for $115 shipped (Reg. $150)
Hamilton Beach 800-watt Big Mouth Juice Extractor w/ 20 oz pitcher $41 (Reg. $59)
Green Deals: Sun Joe 9A Electric Tiller & Cultivator $139 (Reg. $165+), more
Spring Cleaning: the storage products you need for a perfectly organized closet
Green Deals: TaoTronics six-pack of A19 LED Light Bulbs $20 (Reg. $25), more
Poweradd Pilot P2 Compact 10000mAh Power Bank $10 (Reg. $22), more
Pay what you want for 9 courses on pentesting and ethical hacking
LG G5 Smartphone w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)
Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)
One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, UE’s Roll, is down to $50 shipped (Orig. $100)
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Refurb) $59 shipped (Orig. $400)
Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Suitcase connects to your iOS device for $319 (Reg. $400)
Green Deals: WORX 32V 12-inch Cordless Electric Trimmer/Edger $100 (Reg. $125), more
This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)
LifeProof iPhone 6/s FRĒ waterproof case: $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
RAVPower 3000mAh 2A MFi Battery Case for $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
Anker 3-ft reinforced Lightning cable (multiple colors): $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $10)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

This Hybrid Tube Amp system for Raspberry Pi is ideal for DIY Audiophiles

Vans and Nintendo team up for epic new line of NES-themed sneakers

NERF’s upcoming Terrascout RC Drone Blaster is going to be a menace in your home
Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful
Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker
Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone

This woman is basically using Google’s logo to run for U.S. Congress

Stephen Hall May 10 2016 - 8:50 am PT

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I have to admit, when I first saw Sue Googe’s name in this font, I thought her name was Sue Google. That made me think at first that maybe this had something to do with the ongoing Oracle dispute. But it’s not, and it has nothing to do with Oracle. Her name is just Sue Googe, she’s running for North Carolina’s 4th District seat in the U.S. Congress, and she’s pretty much using Google’s logo to do it…

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G4 (unlocked) $275, Retina MacBook Pro 256GB $1,200, Solar Bluetooth Speaker $40, more

Stephen Hall May 9 2016 - 10:21 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:

LG G4 smartphone w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $275 shipped (Orig. $575)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest version) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Amazon Gold Box – Eton Rugged solar-powered Bluetooth charging speaker: $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $77)

Smartphone Accessories: Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones $45, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more

Games/Apps: KAMI iOS puzzler drops to $1, Mario Classic amiibo $9, iOS freebies, more
Daily Deals: HP Bluetooth Smart Laser Mouse $20, more
Go from 0 to stocked with this Black + Decker 66 piece tool set: $60 shipped
Nike extra 20% off clearance: Free 5.0 Running Shoes (five colors) $64 (Reg. $80), more
Golfsmith gift cards 20% off: $50 for $40, $100 for $80 with free email delivery
Burt’s Bees Basic 3-item Face Care Kit for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $24)
Get a $50 iTunes Gift Card for $40 delivered via email from PayPal (20% savings)
App Store Free App of the Week: Camera Plus goes free for the first time in months (Reg. $2)
Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, more
Star Wars Mac Games 50% off Sale: Jedi Academy $5, KOTOR $10, more
LifeProof iPhone 6/s FRĒ waterproof case (multiple colors): $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/729699932920229888 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)

Fashion: Sperry surprise 30% off sale- Men’s shoes starting at $28 shipped, much more
Amazon Prime Member Exclusive: free 4-month subscription for top print magazines
Here’s our first look at the new Battlefield 1 gameplay
Green Deals: Tegu Natural Magnetic Block Sets from $9 Prime shipped, more
How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation
Mackie CR4 50W Creative Reference Monitor Speakers for $115 shipped (Reg. $150)
Hamilton Beach 800-watt Big Mouth Juice Extractor w/ 20 oz pitcher $41 (Reg. $59)
Green Deals: Sun Joe 9A Electric Tiller & Cultivator $139 (Reg. $165+), more
Spring Cleaning: the storage products you need for a perfectly organized closet
Green Deals: TaoTronics six-pack of A19 LED Light Bulbs $20 (Reg. $25), more
Poweradd Pilot P2 Compact 10000mAh Power Bank $10 (Reg. $22), more
Pay what you want for 9 courses on pentesting and ethical hacking
LG G5 Smartphone w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)
Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)
One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, UE’s Roll, is down to $50 shipped (Orig. $100)
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Refurb) $59 shipped (Orig. $400)
Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Suitcase connects to your iOS device for $319 (Reg. $400)
Green Deals: WORX 32V 12-inch Cordless Electric Trimmer/Edger $100 (Reg. $125), more
This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)
RAVPower 3000mAh 2A MFi Battery Case for $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
Anker 3-ft reinforced Lightning cable (multiple colors): $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $10)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

NERF’s upcoming Terrascout RC Drone Blaster is going to be a menace in your home

Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful
Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker
Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone

Google Opinion Rewards expands to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

Stephen Hall May 6 2016 - 1:15 pm PT

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If you’re fond of purchasing new apps, movies and music on your Android smartphone, you might be interested in a less-than-well-known app from Google called Opinion Rewards. You’re obviously not going to get rich quick, but it’s a great way to earn small amounts of Google Play Credit a quarter at a time by answering quick 2-5 question surveys. Today, Google has expanded the app to three new countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden…

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9to5Toys Last Call: Samsung Galaxy S7 (unlocked) $530, Nextbit Robin $299, more

Stephen Hall May 6 2016 - 9:55 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:

Huawei Google Nexus 6P (refurb) w/ 32GB storage: $350 shipped (Reg. $400+)

Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB (unlocked) for $530 shipped (Reg. $695)

Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)

LG G5 Smartphone w/ 32GB flash (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)

Apple MacBook 12-Inch Laptop (Newest Version) with Retina Display Rose Gold: $1,199 shipped ($100 off, tax in NY)

Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (latest version) for $700 shipped (Reg. $899)

Apple 12-inch MacBook (Early 2015) 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB $930 shipped (Orig. $1,299)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Sony’s powerful 154W AirPlay and Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $500+)

Daily Deals: Yamaha All-Weather Speakers $100, Amazon Echo Smart Speaker $160, more
The LEGO Architect details how to recreate famous buildings and structures: $10 (Reg. $15)
Fashion: Sperry surprise 30% off sale- Men’s shoes starting at $28 shipped, much more
Amazon Prime Member Exclusive: free 4-month subscription for top print magazines
Celebrate the premiere of Captain America: Civil War with a free month of comics ($10 value)
2-pack RAVPower MFi Lightning Cables $7, 12000mAh Car Jump Starter $43, more
Anker 3-ft reinforced Lightning cable (multiple colors): $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $10)
Charge your iPhone 6/s w/ this RAVPower Battery Case for $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
App Store Free App of the Week: Camera Plus w/ AirSnap goes free
Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, more
$100 off iPad mini 4, up to $100 off Apple Watch & $25 off Apple TV
Games/Apps: Brave Guardians TD Free, Star Walk 2 $1, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Take to the skies w/ DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399 (Reg. $499), Professional $779 (Reg. $999)

How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation
Mackie CR4 50W Creative Reference Monitor Speakers for $115 shipped (Reg. $150)
Hamilton Beach 800-watt Big Mouth Juice Extractor w/ 20 oz pitcher $41 (Reg. $59)
Green Deals: Sun Joe 9A Electric Tiller & Cultivator $139 (Reg. $165+), more
Spring Cleaning: the storage products you need for a perfectly organized closet
‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ $1 HD Digital Rental (Reg. $5)
Green Deals: TaoTronics six-pack of A19 LED Light Bulbs $20 (Reg. $25), more
Poweradd Pilot P2 Compact 10000mAh Power Bank $10 (Reg. $22), more
Pay what you want for 9 courses on pentesting and ethical hacking
Take to the skies w/ DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399 (Reg. $499)
One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, UE’s Roll, is down to $50 shipped (Orig. $100)
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Refurb) $59 shipped (Orig. $400)
Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Suitcase connects to your iOS device for $319 (Reg. $400)
Kindle eBook Deals: Star Wars Darth Vader Stories $2, more
Green Deals: WORX 32V 12-inch Cordless Electric Trimmer/Edger $100 (Reg. $125), more
Amazon is giving away $5 credits when you download select free Android apps
Unlocked AT&T BlackBerry PRIV down to $389 + free shipping (Reg. $649)
Save up to $150 on Huawei Watch for iOS/Android, prices start at $250: Mesh Band $300, more
This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful

Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker
Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone

Google I/O invites are still being sent out last-minute

Edoardo Maggio May 6 2016 - 5:56 am PT

0 Comments

Google‘s upcoming I/O event gathers a lot of anticipation from developers all over the world. Likewise, Android enthusiasts that are not directly involved in coding still very much look forward to the event.

That means — despite their relatively hefty price tag — when tickets become available, they generally sell out in minutes. However, as an Android Police tipster shows, it looks like Google is still pushing out last-minute invites to some lucky applicants…

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HTC reportedly sold only 251 HTC 10 units in China so far, plans to spin off its VR division

Stephen Hall May 5 2016 - 2:11 pm PT

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And it seems as if HTC’s downward spiral continues. The latest in its seemingly never-ending doomsday news cycle comes today in the form of a pair of reports from Focus Taiwan, with the former suggesting that the lower-specced HTC 10 has been an absolute flop in China and the latter saying that the company has formed a completely separate company for its VR ambitions…

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Idea Cellular subscribers in India can now pay for Google Play content using their carrier bill

Stephen Hall May 5 2016 - 8:40 am PT

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Google has announced today that direct carrier billing, or DCB for short, is coming to India. In collaboration with Idea Cellular, the feature allows people to pay for content in Google Play by way of their phone bill, removing the need for a credit card…

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April’s Google self-driving car report details 2 minor accidents, one test driver’s story

Stephen Hall May 4 2016 - 3:20 pm PT

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In case you’re unaware, Google publishes a sometimes interesting but usually mundane report on its self-driving car project every month. Last month the company detailed its mapping system and a minor accident in Austin, and this month the April report describes the experience of one of its test drivers as well as two more accidents — neither of which were Google’s fault.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G5 (unlocked) $575, Samsung Gear VR $80, PowerBeats2 Wireless $120, more

Stephen Hall May 4 2016 - 9:57 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:

LG G5 w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)

Samsung Gear VR Virtual Reality Headset: $80 shipped (Reg. $100) | eBay

Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless In-ear Active Collection Headphones $120 shipped (Reg. $140+), more

Daily Deals: Samsung 28-inch 4K Ultra High Definition Monitor (Refurb) $305, Targus Drifter II 17-inch Laptop Backpack $30, more

These are the best Android phones you can buy in May 2016

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Upgrade your Mac w/ a speedy Crucial 500GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive for $130 shipped (Reg. $150+), more

Poweradd Pilot P2 Compact 10000mAh Power Bank $10 (Reg. $22), more
Games/Apps: Star Wars Battlefront $30, Metal Gear Solid V $30, iOS freebies, more
Pay what you want for 9 courses on pentesting and ethical hacking
Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)
Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
Shoes: Steve Madden Reachr $27 (Reg. $57), ASICS Unisex X-Caliber $30 (Reg. $45), more
Amazon Gold Box- Jewelry for Mom starting at $10 w/ free 1-day shipping, more
Apple 12-inch MacBook (Early 2015) 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB $930 shipped (Orig. $1,299)
App Store Free App of the Week: Dragon Hills goes free for the very first time ($2 value)
Star Wars Mac Games 50% off Sale: Jedi Academy $5, KOTOR $10, more
Star Wars Pinball for iOS goes free for the first time in nearly a year (Reg. $2)
Star Wars KOTOR for iOS now matching its lowest price ever: $3 (Reg. $10)
Best Buy’s latest Apple sale takes $100 off iPad mini 4
Grab a free download of Camera Plus w/ AirSnap for iPhone (Reg. $1)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Take to the skies w/ DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399 (Reg. $499)

One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, UE’s Roll, is down to $50 shipped (Orig. $100)
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Refurb) $59 shipped (Orig. $400)
Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Suitcase connects to your iOS device for $319 (Reg. $400)
Kindle eBook Deals: Star Wars Darth Vader Stories $2, more
Green Deals: WORX 32V 12-inch Cordless Electric Trimmer/Edger $100 (Reg. $125), more
Amazon is giving away $5 credits when you download select free Android apps
Unlocked AT&T BlackBerry PRIV down to $389 + free shipping (Reg. $649)
Save up to $150 on Huawei Watch for iOS/Android, prices start at $250: Mesh Band $300, more
This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)
Smartphone Accessories: GOOLOO Jump Starter Power Bank $30, more
Here’s our first official look at the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer [Video]
Add this highly-rated LED Headlamp w/ Motion Sensor to your tool box for $10 (Reg. $15)
Amazon’s already insanely low-priced 7-inch Fire tablet is now just $40 Prime shipped
PureVPN is the world’s fastest VPN: $59 (Orig. $286)
Kindle First eBook freebies for May: The Butterfly Garden, About the Night, more
Green Deals: 4-Pack of BR30 9W 4000K LED Flood Lights $24 (Reg. $33), more
Magicfly Tens Unit and Pulse Massager: $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)
OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups w/ Magnetic Snaps $15 (Reg. $20)
Super-inexpensive 1080P HDTVs at Walmart: Vizio 24″ Smart (refurb): $90, more
Samsung 55-inch 4K 3D 240CMR Smart LED UHDTV: $998 (Reg. $1,500+), more
LG Google Nexus 5X 16GB 5.2-Inch LTE Unlocked Smartphone: $240 shipped

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds

SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone
Ilumi extends its line of Bluetooth-connected smart lightbulbs to outdoor spaces
SanDisk’s new iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone & iPad sports a fresh design and speed boost
Bang & Olufsen’s new A1 Bluetooth speaker brings 24-hour playback and USB-C charging
Edelkrone wants to replace your tripod with its slick new camera stand

The best Android phones you can buy [May 2016]

Stephen Hall May 3 2016 - 3:03 pm PT

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We’re nearing the end of the first half of 2016, and that means a lot of new Android smartphones have been announced. Starting off the year was the Huawei Mate 8 and Honor 5X at CES in January, of course followed later by Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge as well as the LG G5 in February at Mobile World Congress. But which ones are the best buys? Keep reading to find out…

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Google and Chrysler have confirmed a partnership for 100 self-driving electric minivans

Fred Lambert May 3 2016 - 2:07 pm PT

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Following a report this morning from Bloomberg suggesting that Google and Chrysler were about to announce a deal that would see Google’s self-driving technology being implemented in Chrysler’s upcoming new Pacifica minivan, the CEOs of both companies have now confirmed an agreement albeit not exactly what was being discussed earlier today.

While this morning’s report suggested a plan to work on a few “dozens of self-driving prototypes” in order to later bring the technology to the production version of the Pacifica, instead the deal would now see Google buying about 100 Pacifica minivans from Chrysler to use as prototypes, but no exactly like it does with its current Lexus SUVs, and the Mountain View company will provide a “technological crash course” in self-driving technology to Chrysler though the new partnership.

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Bloomberg: Google’s self-driving technology will be in Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans from next year

Cam Bunton May 3 2016 - 7:40 am PT

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Four months ago, Chrysler unveiled its 2017 Pacifica minivan range at the Detroit Auto Show. If a report from Bloomberg is anything to go by, this Pacifica Hybrid range could feature Google’s self-driving technology, bringing weeks/months of rumors to fruition. The deal could be signed by Tuesday…

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Support for Android Pay is coming to Uber next week, replacing Google Wallet

Edoardo Maggio May 3 2016 - 6:44 am PT

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With the mass distribution of NFC chips (and even fingerprint readers) in most phones, mobile payments are becoming increasingly popular.

Google‘s own Android Pay — as well as a series of other services, like Samsung‘s — has been live for some time in the US, and it looks like Uber is now sending emails out to customers regarding their own implementation of the payments service…

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Huawei Watch from $250, 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro $1,600, more

Stephen Hall May 2 2016 - 10:25 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:

Save up to $150 on Huawei Watch for iOS/Android, prices start at $250 shipped: Mesh Band $300 (Reg. $400), more

Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (Newest Version) 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

Amazon Gold Box – Anker SoundCore Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

Anker’s new 60W USB-C/A 5-port charger can quickly refuel your Android phones, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Amazon’s already insanely low-priced 7-inch Fire tablet gets a fresh 20% discount, now just $40 Prime shipped

This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)
Smartphone Accessories: GOOLOO Jump Starter Power Bank $30, more
Daily Deals: Insignia Soundbar w/ Bluetooth $50, more
Games/Apps: Tom Clancy’s The Division $50, Yoshi’s World $40, iOS freebies, more
Here’s our first official look at the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer [Video]
Crayola products 40% off: Adult coloring books w/ colored pencils $15 (Reg. $25), more
Add this highly-rated LED Headlamp w/ Motion Sensor to your tool box for $10 (Reg. $15)
App Store Free App of the Week: Dragon Hills goes free for the very first time ($2 value)
Mos Speedrun 2 for iOS goes free for the first time (Reg. $2)
Star Wars Pinball for iOS goes free for the first time in nearly a year (Reg. $2)
Star Wars KOTOR for iOS now matching its lowest price ever: $3 (Reg. $10)
Air Display 3 for iOS gets its first price drop to $10 (Reg. $15)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

LG Google Nexus 5X 16GB 5.2-Inch LTE Unlocked Smartphone: $240 shipped

Super-inexpensive 1080P HDTVs at Walmart: Vizio 24″ Smart (refurb): $90, more
Samsung 55-inch 4K 3D 240CMR Smart LED UHDTV: $998 (Reg. $1,500+), more
Games/Apps: Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack from $30, iOS freebies, more
Super-inexpensive 1080P HDTVs at Walmart: Vizio 24″ Smart (refurb): $90, more
Samsung 55-inch 4K 3D 240CMR Smart LED UHDTV: $998 (Reg. $1,500+), more
Games/Apps: Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack from $30, iOS freebies, more
LG Google Nexus 5X 16GB 5.2-Inch LTE Unlocked Smartphone: $240 shipped
Take $5 off your next $100 purchase at ebay with this email giftcard from Paypal
Green Deals: KMASHI 8000mAh/400A Car Jump Starter/Power Bank $33 (Reg. $40), more
Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB (unlocked) for $560 shipped (Reg. $695)
Scoring a solid smartphone w/year plan phone starts at $60 from Freedompop
OXO Good Grips Deals: Complete Grate & Slice Set $22 (Reg. $30), more
Home: Gorilla Garden Dump Cart $99 (Reg. $130), more
Treat your Apple Watch with Nomad accessories: Nomad Pod battery pack $34 (Orig. $60)
Networking: D-Link 802.11ac Wireless Router $25 (Reg. $30+), more
Transcend storage upgrades: 512GB Thunderbolt SSD $284, 256GB Expansion Card $170, more
iHome SmartPlug with HomeKit, Alexa and Nest support: $25 w/ in-store pickup (Reg. $40)
Spring Cleaning: storage solutions you need for a perfectly organized garage
Grab Kaskade’s Automatic as a free MP3 download + $1 albums from Ed Sheeran, more
Keysmart provides multi-tool-style storage for your keys: $16 (Orig. $22)
Add five remote control outlets to your setup w/ Etekcity’s best-selling kit: $21 (Reg. $30)
Green Deals: Ryobi Cordless String Trimmer + Blower $80 (Reg. $130), more
Motorola Arris SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (Refurb) $30 (Orig. up to $100)
iOttie’s latest Easy One Touch Mini Car Mounts for iPhone/Android: $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look

New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone

Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone
Ilumi extends its line of Bluetooth-connected smart lightbulbs to outdoor spaces
SanDisk’s new iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone & iPad sports a fresh design and speed boost
Bang & Olufsen’s new A1 Bluetooth speaker brings 24-hour playback and USB-C charging
Edelkrone wants to replace your tripod with its slick new camera stand

Opinion: CyanogenMod improves the Honor 5X enough to make it my daily driver [Video]

Stephen Hall May 2 2016 - 9:25 am PT

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After Chinese company Huawei introduced the phone for the US in January of this year, I gave the Honor 5X a full review. But maybe you can’t even call it that. More than a review, it was mostly just some thoughts on the phone that I had pent up after an exhausting week at CES. Basically, the gist was this (although I recommend you read the whole thing): You get a lot for your money ($200) on the hardware side of things with the Honor 5X, but the software leaves a lot (and, really, I mean a lot) to be desired. After that, the phone sat in my drawer and I hadn’t touched it since.

Until yesterday…

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