The Wirecutter’s best deals: Samsung’s SmartThings Hub is 50 percent off
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends atThe Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot—some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor
Street price: $400; MSRP: $400; Deal price: $320
A big $80 drop below the street price on this more powerful pick. While we did see a $300 sale last Black Friday, we haven’t seen many worthwhile deals since. The last drop to $320 was back in March for around a day.
The Breville BFP800XL is our more powerful pick in our best food processor guide. Our staff wrote, “This is the machine you want if you plan to use it several times a week or need a tough motor when cooking for large groups. But it’s twice the price of our main pick, and it’s more powerful (and much bigger) than most people need.”
Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven
Street price: $120; MSRP: $150; Deal price: $100 with code EARLYBF
We haven’t seen this good of a sale since June, and sales on this model were somewhat rare this year. While we used to see $75 and $85 prices over a year ago, those have dried up and it’s consistently been $120 or more. Use the code EARLYBF in your cart to drop the price down to $100.
The Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven is our pick for the best toaster oven. Brendan Nystedt wrote, “For excellent toast, strong baking performance, compact size, reasonable price, and enough room to quickly heat leftovers and frozen snacks, the Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P is the best toaster oven we found. It cooked toast and other foods to an even, lovely golden-brown better than most other models we tried, and its toast shade settings were among the most accurate we tested. For a relatively low price, the FlashXpress stands out from a crowded pack of mediocre, cheap models, offering performance and features we found comparable to other models that are much larger and more expensive.”
Netgear Arlo Q Wired Security Camera 2-Pack
Street price: $400; MSRP: $400; Deal price: $280 with coupon
We haven’t seen many deals on the Arlo Q camera since we only recently made it our runner-up pick. We saw it at $330 and that was already the best price we’d seen, but within the past couple of days, Amazon added a $50 coupon which drops it to $280, the best price we’ve seen by far.
The Netgear Arlo Q is our runner-up pick in our guide to the best wireless security camera. Stewart Wolpin wrote, “If the Logi Circle is sold out or otherwise unavailable, get the Netgear Arlo Q, which offers very good A/V and still-photo quality in bright, dim, and no light, relatively easy setup, smart and welcome geofencing alerts, unique and customizable activity zones that limit where the camera will detect motion, and free seven-day video recording and storage, all of which offset its slightly higher-than-average price.”
Samsung SmartThings Hub
Street price: $100; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $50
This is a new low price for the Samsung SmartThings Hub, beating our previous deal by $25 and below the usual price by $50. We’ve seen a number of sales and bundles for this hub in the past few months, but this is an excellent deal on it in standalone form, allowing you to use your savings to pick and choose what companion tech to purchase to pair it with.
The Samsung SmartThings Hub is our pick for the best smart hub. Jon Chase wrote, “The Samsung SmartThings Hub is a polished, powerful option for tech-savvy DIYers who have a desire for an integrated smart home but lack the budget for or interest in a professionally installed system. It’s easy to set up on your home network, and pairing it with other smart devices is largely seamless.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Google goes after Pixel resellers by locking their accounts
Google has taken severe measures against Pixel buyers who violated its terms of service. Around 200 people purchased the phones via Project Fi and shipped them directly to a reseller in sales tax-free state New Hampshire, according to bargain-hunting site Dan’s Deals. The phones were then resold to others, and the small profit split with the buyers. However, Google’s terms dictate that buyers may not “commercially resell” any device and it locked their accounts, denying access to photos, emails and other personal data.
The dealer in question has been doing similar transactions since the original Nexus phone without any blowback from Google, according to Dan Eleff, the owner of Dan’s Deals. This time, however, Mountain View effectively gave users a “digital death penalty,” by issuing a straight-up ban with zero warning, he says. “I’m not defending those who violated the terms of the sale, but I do think it is heavy-handed for Google to block access to all of their services for doing so.”
Many users on Dan’s Deals’ forums weren’t very sympathetic to buyers, arguing that Google was within its rights to ban them. However, the move might put a chill down Google users’ spines when they realize how easily they could be cut off from their data. As Eleff points out, buyers could lose access to things like “gift cards, bills, travel confirmations and work documents,” throwing their lives into disarray.
I’m not defending those who violated the terms of the sale, but I do think it is heavy-handed for Google to block access to all of their services for doing so.
Other companies, including Amazon and Ubisoft have also banned users (for returning too many items and exploiting shoddy code), but most aren’t as big a part of people’s lives as Google. Mountain View has reportedly cancelled around 500 orders, but as yet, hasn’t restored the functionality of any users’ accounts. The dealer in question (who hasn’t been named) says he’s willing to return all the phones if Google agrees to give buyers their data back.
The lesson here, says Eleff, is “don’t mess with Google,” but another teaching moment might be about backups. As many forum users point out, you can use Google’s Takeout service to get a local backup of all your data, in case, God forbid, it shuts the door on you. We’ve reached out to Google for more information about the matter.
Via: The Guardian
Source: Dan’s Deals
In-Store Pickup Now Available for MacBook Pro With Touch Bar
Starting today, Apple has made in-store pickup available for the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar in the United States, allowing customers to check stock at their local store and reserve a machine online.
The MacBook Pro first started popping up in retail stores on Tuesday, but because there was no in-store pickup option, there was no way to tell which stores had stock and which didn’t. It’s now much easier to see which locations have MacBook Pro models available for immediate purchase.
Many stores around the country are listing December 30 pickup dates for the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro model and the two 15-inch models, but there are some locations where the new MacBook Pros are currently in stock. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar appears to be much more widely available than other machines.
A MacBook Pro with Touch Bar ordered from the Apple online store today won’t ship for approximately four to five weeks, so checking local stock on a daily basis is a good way to get a model with a standard configuration much more quickly.
Prices on the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar start at $1,799 for the 13-inch model and go up to $2,799 for the 15-inch model, with additional processor, storage, and GPU boosts available for additional fees.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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2016 Holiday Gift Guide
2016 Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for the best gifts for the best people in your life? We can help! We’ve spent the year testing a lot of great (and some not-so-great) products to figuring out our absolute favorite tech of 2016. And we’ve brought it all here, together, in one easy wish list, just for you!
Google Pixel
The Google Pixel is the best Android Phone you can buy today. Whether it’s the straight-from-Google Android software, top-notch performance or best-in-class camera, the Pixel — in either size — does it all. Buy unlocked from Google or from Verizon.
from $649 Buy Now
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
With the Note 7 out of the picture, the Galaxy S7 edge is Samsung’s top-end offering. It gives you gorgeous hardware, a great camera, long battery life and piles of features you can’t find anywhere else.
$769 Buy Now
OnePlus 3T
The OnePlus 3T gives you almost everything you expect in a flagship phone, but does it at a dramatically lower price. You get all of the top-end specs, great features and slick software for just $439 — that’s a fantastic combination.
$439 Buy Now
Moto Z Play
The cheapest of the Moto Z line is no slouch, with a big, vibrant screen, ample performance and support for Motorola’s excellent Moto Mods line. But the real selling feature for this $450 phone is its two-day battery life!
$450 Buy Now
Pixel C
A tablet that covers every need. The Pixel C does everything you would want a tablet to do. YouTube or anything else on the web is great on the gorgeous screen, and all the apps you love work well, especially on Android Nougat.
$499 Buy Now
Lenovo Yoga Book
An innovative take on the traditional Android tablet, its incredibly versatile hinge allows for its rear touch panel to double as a keyboard or a pen-friendly writing surface, while Lenovo’s software makes Android feel more like a desktop OS.
$499 Buy Now
ASUS Chromebook Flip
One of the best Android tablets is actually this small ASUS Chromebook convertible. The same apps that run on a proper tablet run very well on the Chromebook Flip, and the laptop-grade internals have more than enough power to run multiple things at once, each in their own window.
$259 Buy Now
Chromecast Audio
Plug it into any pair of speakers on an audio receiver and you can cast your music from most any source using your phone, Chromebook or any computer using the Chrome browser. The Chromecast Audio is easy to use and sounds great.
$35 Buy Now
UE Boom 2
A tough and compact Bluetooth speaker that’s even waterproof. The UE Boom 2 also has excellent battery life and delivers incredible sound. You can also pair two of them together to fill an entire room with music.
$155 Buy Now
Sonos Play:1
Sonos products deliver premium sound and are easy to set up. The Sonos Play:1 is no exception. Use it by itself or with a bridge as part of a whole-house audio system and you’ll love how great it sounds and how easy it is to get started.
$199 Buy Now
Ricoh Theta S
The Ricoh Theta S is not only a delightful device, it’s also a great introduction into 360-degree content-making. The Theta S is compact, stylish, easy to use, and it produces some worthy panoramic photo and video you can share across social media.
$346 Buy Now
Moto Z Hasselblad Moto Mod
The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod snaps on to the back of any Moto Z, Z Play, or Z Force and turns either of those devices into a point-and-shoot camera with 10x optical zoom. It’s extremely useful if you’re into shooting landscape shots with your smartphone.
$300 Buy Now
ROCK LED Selfie Light
Selfie takers, don’t let nightfall stop you from your front-facing camera game. The ROCK LED ring light slides on to any Android phone of any size so that you don’t have to buy a particular case to tack on extra lighting. Best of all, the ring light is adjustable so that you’re not blasting your face with LEDs.
$20 Buy Now
Aukey Ora Lenses
With an Aukey Ora Lens, you can tack on a 140-degree wide-angle lens or a 10X macro lens. it’s the easiest, cheapest way to get a little more out of your smartphone photography. It’s also universal, so you can hold on to it until your next phone purchase!
$25 Buy Now
Chromecast Ultra
If using with a TV that has a 4K display or can playback HDR content and want to stream media at UHD, the Chromecast Ultra is for you.
$70 Buy Now
Roku Premiere+
The Roku Premiere+ is compatible with 4K televisions and includes a lot of really awesome features, such as an included Wi-Fi remote control with a headphone jack, so you can watch your favorite shows without disturbing anyone else in the room.
$99 Buy Now
Xiaomi Mi Box
The Xiaomi Mi Box is the best Android TV box you can buy right now, which gives you access to a great Google ecosystem experience on your TV. It’s also got plenty of power to play the Android games adapted for the big screen.
$69Buy Now
Google Home
For a Google/Android fan, Google Home is a no-brainer. It’s got all the makings of Alexa, in the proper ecosystem, with the full force of Google behind it.
$120 Buy Now
Amazon Echo Dot
A smaller Echo, the Dot is easy to set up around the house — and because they’re significantly cheaper, you can get a few and pepper them around the house. A great gift, in packs of one, or six!
$49 Buy Now
Philips Hue Starter Kit
Philips is the leader in connected light bulbs for a good reason: everything just works. The Android app is great, and lets you control the lights from anywhere, and the Starter Kit is affordable enough to be a great gift.
$179 Buy Now
Nest Outdoor Cam
The best way to keep tabs on what’s going on outside your house, the Nest Outdoor Cam not only captures great video, but Nest’s improved Nest Aware feature makes it super easy to scroll through the last few hours to see what’s interesting going on outside.
$186 Buy Now
Huawei Watch
If you want all of Android Wear with some style, you want a Huawei Watch. It looks nice, performs well, and comes in Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, Gold, and Rose Gold.
$246 Buy Now
Moto 360 (2015)
This is a great watch, but the killer feature is personalization. There is no other experience like MotoMaker for building a smartwatch based on your personal look and feel.
From $349 Buy Now
Pebble 2
The latest in watches that don’t offer a ton of flash and color, but offer battery life for days and a solid fitness feature set and great notification handling. Pebble’s upgrades here are significant, and proof that you don’t need a chrome bezel to make a watch great.
$130 Buy Now
Samsung Gear S3
Samsung’s new smartwatch comes in two distinct styles, offering longer battery life, new software features and a distinctive rotating bezel. There isn’t deep app integration like on Android Wear, but as a notification mirror and standalone device the Gear S3 is great.
$350 Buy Now
DJI Phantom 3 Advanced
Take to the skies with the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced. Sure this isn’t the latest and greatest professional drone from DJI, the Phantom 4, but it’s still a fantastic, fun option that lets you control the camera and record HD video to your phone — all for well under $1000.
$698 Buy Now
Sphero Star Wars BB-8 Droid
Bring BB-8 home with this super cool rolling drone that you can control with your phone. It’s the perfect gift for the Star Wars fans in your life.
$130 Buy Now
Acer Chromebook R13
The Acer Chromebook R13 is the best $399 computer you can buy. It’s well-built, has a great screen and can run over 1 million Android apps on top of all the things Chrome can do. When you want to step up from an entry-level laptop but don’t want to break the bank, the Acer Chromebook R13 is where you should look first.
$399 Buy Now
Dell Chromebook 13
The Dell Chromebook 13 is the best premium pick when it comes to Chromebooks. It’s not cheap — configurations start at over $450 — but it’s rugged and beautiful. You also get the same hardware as a high-end Windows Laptop at that price. The Dell Chromebook 13 is the Chromebook for folks who use a Chromebook as their main computing platform and want the best.
$450 Buy Now
ASUS Chromebook Flip
Ultra-protable, the ASUS Chromebook Flip is a great convertible for students or anyone else who is on the move every day. This 10-inch Chromebook is speedy and inexpensive, and support for Google Play make it one of the best Android tablets you can buy, too.
$259 Buy Now
Aukey 16000 mAh Power Bank
This beastly powerbank will should get you at least three full recharges, even on the most demanding high-end Android phones. Meanwhile, support for both regular 5V/2.4A output and Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 via dual-port setup gives you plenty of options for both phones and tablets. And if you get stuck in the dark, there’s even an LED torch built in.
$27 Buy Now
Anker PowerCore Speed 10000 QC
This Anker battery pack is one of the most compact 10,000mAh power banks around. Not only does it support Quick Charge 3.0 for phones that support it, but it comes with a travel pouch if you want to stick it in your bag for emergencies. An awesome deal for $25.
From $24 Buy Now
SanDisk 256GB microSD
A microSD card is one of the easiest ways to add extra storage for photos, music or videos, and SanDisk’s high-capacity offering gives you an enormous amount of space. Even better, it’s incredibly speedy, with data transfer speeds of up to 90MB/s. The card is bundled with a full-sized SD card adapter for easy use with a PC or camera.
$70 Buy Now
Sennheiser PCX550
Sennheiser’s wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones are a fabulous Bluetooth option in their own right, but it’s the 30-hour battery life, smart song pausing, and multitouch controls which elevate these headphones into an excellent holiday gift for the wireless audio geek in your life.
$400 Buy Now
LG Tone Platinum
LG’s high-end Bluetooth earbuds pack around 10 hours of playback into a sleek, slimline aluminum body. LG G5 owners can also benefit from 24-bit high-resolution audio from these earbuds. But even if you’re using them with a non-LG phone, you’ll get exceptionally clear sound quality and booming bass — along with a microphone for taking calls.
$130 Buy Now
Samsung LevelOn
Samsung’s wired (or wireless) earphones balance aesthetics, comfort and sound quality masterfully. They support NFC paring, and boast 11 hours of playback with noise cancellation turned on. Samsung’s Level app for Android phones also lets you control and customize these headphones.
$130 Buy Now
Google Daydream View
Perfect for on-the-go VR with your Google Pixel, and a huge step forward in smartphone-based VR. Google has big plans for this new virtual world, but even as it is right now the headset is pretty great.
$79 Buy Now
Gear VR
If you have a Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, or Note 5, this VR headset is like taking your whole entertinament center with you when you leave the house.
$99 Buy Now
HTC Vive
Hands down the best VR system you can buy today, but it requires a lot of space and a really great PC to power the experience. If you what what it required, the end result is pretty special.
$799 Buy Now
Anki Cozmo
Cozmo learns from you as you play with it, developing a unique personality that can start a series of games with you. Connect your phone to Cozmo for new games and new AI experiences, or just to drive it around.
$180 Buy Now
View Master VR
Kid-friendly VR is about offering a safe experience and making sure the games and apps are fun for every age. View-Master VR includes discovery apps for space and the headset itself offers the classic View-Finder look and feel.
$30 Buy Now
Samsung Gear Fit2
Samsung made a great product better with its Tizen-powered Gear Fit2. A high-resolution AMOLED display pairs with a GPS and plenty of smarts to deliver notifications from your Android phone. Battery is an excellent two days, too.
$148 Buy Now
UE Healthbox
Under Armour paired with HTC for the UE Healthbox, a collection of fitness focused tools that include a connected wrist tracker, smart scale, and optional chest strap. Together they work to help meet fitness goals, and paired to the UE Record app, there are plenty of smarts — and synergy.
From $350 Buy Now
Fitbit Charge 2
The best Fitbit ever is also one of the most well-rounded fitness trackers on the market. Though it lacks GPS, it has almost everything else, including phone notifications, and one of the best social networks for people wanting to stay accountable.
$150 Buy Now
Samsung Gear IconX
Samsung’s Gear IconX are smart earbuds or smart fitness gear, but whatever they are, they’re pretty darn good. Each bud goes separately in the ear, and use a heart rate monitor to keep track of workouts, while an external microphone picks up ambient noise if you want to keep track of what’s going on.
$185 Buy Now
Every Daydream app you can install right now, and a look at what comes next
Just go ahead and install all of them. You know, for fun.
Google’s first Daydream headset is finally shipping to people who purchased the first Daydream phone, and are quickly finding it’s not easy to locate the whole list of Daydream apps from the Play Store. While we’ve been having a lot of fun showing you the best free Daydream apps and the Daydream games everyone should have installed, the act of browsing for apps and then waiting for them to install while in VR isn’t a good time.
To make it a little easier, we’ve tracked down the first wave of Google Daydream apps that are available to install now, so you can load up your Pixel with VR goodness and see what this new experience is all about.
Read more at VR Heads!
Everyone is talking about Google’s AI-powered game that guesses what you’re doodling
Can a neural network learn to recognize doodles? Google intends to find out.
Google has always had a vested interest in developing and exposing people to the growing power of machine learning technologies. Their most entertaining way of doing this is through their A.I. experiments, which invite the public to explore machine learning by playing with pictures, music and language.
Their latest experiment, Quick, Draw! lets you play a virtual game of pictionary against a neutral network that will try and guess what you’re doodling in under 20 seconds. You’ll be given six words to draw. Once you start drawing, the A.I. instantly starts trying to guess what you’re drawing — meaning the first guess is typically ‘a line’.
It’s a fun little time waster for us, but a valuable learning tool for Google’s machine learning development. Once you’ve completed your drawing, you can go in and click your drawing to see the logic behind the scenes that the A.I. used to guess your doodle. You can then scroll down a bit further and see what other people drew for that word. Reviewing the other doodles, it becomes pretty clear which were drawn with a mouse, and which were drawn with a laptop touchpad.
The game has taken the world by storm, being shared far beyond the typical tech experiment. That’s probably because it’s actually really fun — especially if you’re a terrible doodler, like a lot of us!
If you’re looking for more fun A.I. experiments to play around with, you can find them all right here, including other experimental apps for Chrome and Android found from the dropdown menu.
Grab a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S7, or S7 edge case for just $7
The folks at Caseology are currently offering a variety of cases for the Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S7, or S7 edge for just $7 at Amazon with a coupon code. Whether you are looking for something clear or something protective, there is likely a case here that will meet your needs. Each case has its own coupon code that you will need to be sure to use depending which one you end up wishing to purchase.
You will need to make sure that you are picking the option that is fulfilled by merchant and not fulfilled by Amazon. If the coupons don’t work for you the first time, be sure to check your seller option and they should work. Quantities here are limited on each coupon code, so if you are interested in one of them you will want to act quickly.
Galaxy S7
- Parallax Series – Black/Black – $6.99 with coupon code 7KWQMPCL
- Wavelength Series – Pink – $6.99 with coupon code 477JW9WF
- Vault Series – Rose Gold – $6.99 with coupon code GV6CXAZU
- Skyfall Series – Gold – $6.99 with coupon code GV6CXAZU
Galaxy S7 edge
- Parallax Series – Black/Black – $6.99 with coupon code 7KWQMPCL
- Envoy Series – Carbon Fiber Black – $6.99 with coupon code JYL35QNW
- Wavelength Series – Mint Green – $6.99 with coupon code OW93PPJY
- Skyfall Series – Gold – $6.99 with coupon code 7KWQMPCL
Galaxy S6
- Wavelength Series – Pink – $6.99 with coupon code OW93PPJY
Galaxy S6 edge
- Wavelength Series – Navy Blue – $6.99 with coupon code JYL35QNW
Galaxy S6 edge+
- Wavelength Series – Pink – $6.99 with coupon code 7KWQMPCL
- Envoy Series – Carbon Fiber Black – $6.99 with coupon code OW93PPJY
This deal won’t last long, so be sure to grab the one that you are interested as soon as you can. If you were able to grab one, drop a comment and let us know which one you picked up!
AT&T subscribers can now send text messages through Amazon Echo
Alexa, text Mom: I need money to buy an Echo.
AT&T is the first carrier to launch a “skill” on Amazon’s Echo platform, allowing its subscribers to dictate text messages through the always-listening assistant.
While in theory this is fraught with trolling potential, AT&T says that there are steps in place to prevent abuse. Users will have to input specific contacts into the Alexa backend, with a limit of 10 subs numbers per account.
The other news is that AT&T will officially begin selling the $179 Echo and $49 Echo Dot through its website and retail stores, giving the popular living room accessory another huge distribution opportunity through AT&T’s 133 million customers.
The service goes live November 18, with more information available through AT&T’s portal. No word on whether other American carriers will follow suit.
Echo owners, is this something you’re interested in using?
Password manager Enpass now working seamlessly on Chromebooks, including browser autofill
Keeping your passwords safe and synced is just as important on a Chromebook.
Password manager Enpass has just released an update to include complete support for Chromebooks, following a couple of initial teasers as the Google Play Store started rolling out to Chrome OS. With the latest update you can install Enpass on your Chromebook and have access to all of your secure passwords and information, and of course any changes or additions you make will be synced back to your other devices.
Importantly, the new version of Enpass also offers browser autofill for your logins and passwords, saving you from the extra steps of copying and pasting the information every time you want to log in. In order to get autofill to work you’ll need both the full Enpass app installed on your Chromebook and also the “Chromebook Connector” Chrome extension to bridge the gap.
Enpass is one of our favorite password managers because it’s simple, powerful and offers clients for every type of device, and with Chromebook support it’s now even more valuable. The latest update with Chromebook support comes at no additional cost and works with your existing account.
Chromebooks
- The best Chromebooks
- Should you buy a Chromebook?
- Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
- Acer Chromebook 14 review
- Join our Chromebook forums
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