Best Buy Two Day Sale: Save on iMacs, 12.9-Inch iPad Pro, 4K TVs, and More

Best Buy today launched a new two day sale that will run through tomorrow, September 30, and grants customers free shipping on orders $35 and over as well as fast one-hour in-store pickup on most items. As usual, Best Buy has a variety of Apple products discounted, including iMacs and iPad Pros from late 2015, and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Below we’ll list all of the Apple devices with markdowns in Best Buy’s sale, as well as some notable deals on other products.

iMacs From Late 2015

• 21.5-inch, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD – $949.99, down from $1,299
• 21.5-inch 4K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD – $1,099.99, down from $1,499.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD – $1,299.99, down from $1,799.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive – $1,499.99, down from $1,999.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion Drive – $1,749.99, down from $2,299.99

The only iPad models on sale are the 32GB models of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro from late 2015, which is available for $549.99, down from $799.99. The sale is for Wi-Fi only models available in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold. For the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus deal, you can get $150 off Apple’s smartphones from 2016 when buying and activating either device on a monthly installment plan. Only the (PRODUCT)RED color is available in 128GB.

Best Buy’s sale also has deals on numerous TVs, including a few 4K sets that will work with the new Apple TV 4K. There are three Samsung sets on sale, starting with the company’s 55-inch LED Curved 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $749.99, down from $899.99, then rising to the 65-inch LED Curved 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with High Dynamic Range for $1,599.99, down from $2,399.99. Brands like Sharp, Vizio, and LG all have 4K TV sets on sale today and tomorrow as well, with screen dimensions increasing to 75 inches.

Discounts ending tomorrow also encompass Bragi’s The Dash headphones, Bluetooth speakers from Sony and harmon/kardon, and more, so be sure to check out our Deals Roundup for more information before the two day sale finishes.

In other deals-related reminders, Rogue Amoeba’s 15th anniversary sale ends tomorrow, September 30; MacRumors readers can continue to get 15 percent off RAVPower’s Qi Wireless Charger on Amazon through October 15; and our exclusive $308 discount off SOUND FORGE Pro Mac 3 continues through October 13. You also still have a few hours to enter our weekly giveaway for a Pad & Quill leather case for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X, ending today at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy and may earn commissions on purchases made through these links.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Where Ideas Sing: Apple Celebrates Upcoming Chicago Riverfront Store With Two Local Artists

Apple has shared a new page for its upcoming Michigan Avenue store along the Chicago River, set to open Friday, October 20.

Apple Michigan Avenue via MacRumors reader Brad Fosler
Apple starts out with a tribute to the city:

Chicago’s creative roots run deep. It’s where house music and rock and roll first took the stage. Where world-famous architecture lives. And where contemporary art thrives. Along the Chicago riverfront where the city was founded, we’re opening Apple Michigan Avenue. A space for the next generation of creative pioneers to come together, connect, and share their talent.

Apple has partnered with Chicago rapper Saba to create a campaign centered around his new single “Where Ideas Sing” released last week.

“Where Ideas Sing” construction barrier via MacRumors reader Brad Fosler
The so-called “city anthem” was brought to life by public artist Matthew Hoffman, who created a large “Where Ideas Sing” wrapping with lyrics adorning the glass windows of the upcoming store. There’s also a message to pedestrians:

On this historic site where the city was first founded, we celebrate the opening of the all-new Apple Michigan Avenue. These lyrics are from “Where Ideas Sing,” an anthem written by hip-hop artist Saba and brought to life by public artist Matthew Hoffman. The spirit of this collaboration, like the store itself, was inspired by the vibrant energy of this great city. And here, we’re setting a new stage for creativity in Chicago, right where it started.

The store will be located at 401 North Michigan Avenue next to the Michigan Avenue Bridge in Downtown Chicago.

Apple currently has a nearby store at 679 North Michigan Avenue that opened in 2003. Read more about the new store in our earlier coverage.

(Thanks, Storeteller!)

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
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Review: Nanoleaf’s Fun $49 ‘Rhythm’ Add-On Lets Your Aurora Light Setup Respond to Music

Nanoleaf, the company behind the HomeKit-enabled Aurora smart modular lighting system, recently introduced a $49 accessory that allows the Aurora lights to respond to music, adding a whole new sound-based dimension to an already great product.

Called the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm, the add-on module is a small three-triangle accessory that snaps right in to an existing Nanoleaf setup using the same plastic connector tabs that connect the Aurora lights together.

It can be plugged in to any of the triangle-shaped lights in an Aurora setup, because all of them are able to provide power to the accessory. Setting up the Rhythm is as simple as attaching it to an Aurora setup — there are no other steps involved.

I had a little bit of an issue with the first Rhythm I tested, which killed my WiFi connection after plugging it in. I’m not sure if this was the Rhythm or a quirk of my WiFi setup, but Nanoleaf sent out a replacement Rhythm and the second version worked perfectly with no interference.

Once the Rhythm is plugged in, the Rhythm mode can be selected on the Aurora through the Nanoleaf app. Though the Aurora has HomeKit support, the Rhythm feature is not compatible and needs to be manually enabled in the app.

When activated, the Rhythm module itself has a blue light that lets you know it’s working, and the Aurora lights will begin responding to sound. With the Rhythm, the Aurora lights are in the off position until a sound is detected.

The Rhythm has a sound sensor (and a 3.5mm jack) and is able to detect all noise, whether it be a song, the television, a conversation, a cat meowing, a door slamming, or a baby crying, and when it hears a noise, it activates the attached Aurora lights in various patterns, colors, and brightness levels.

It’s sensitive enough that it picks up most sounds nearby, and the light reaction to the sound is tied to both the volume and the duration of the sound. A quiet “hello” spoken in the vicinity of the Rhythm activates just a couple of the triangle lights because it’s a soft sound, while something like the slam of a door activates all of the lights in a crescendoing pattern with each one flaring brightly before fading out.

Though the Rhythm will respond to any noise, it’s meant to be used with music that’s playing aloud because it can detect the beat of what’s playing to match the pattern of the lights to the song. The Rhythm paired well with all of the songs that I tested, from pop and EDM to hip hop and rock, though I do wish it was better at identifying bass and treble. I liked it best with songs with a fast beat, because that’s where it really shines. There is a small delay between the music and the reaction of the Aurora, but it’s hardly noticeable.

Proper dance party going on in my office tonight with Aurora Rhythm.

A post shared by Juli C (@julipuli) on Sep 17, 2017 at 6:37pm PDT

It does well matching the beat and the tone of the music with the light accompaniment, and while it’s great even when alone, this is an amazing setup for parties. For someone who has an Aurora setup already and often does parties or get togethers where music is played, the Rhythm add-on is a no brainer because it adds such a wow factor.

In the Aurora app, there are several different light patterns to choose from that work with the Rhythm, and all of the patterns can be combined with customized user-picked colors for an endless number of options. You can create your own color palettes, pair them with patterns, choose a brightness, and save the scene for future use.

Nanoleaf also lets users upload their light creations so there are dozens of Rhythm mixes downloadable from the app.

While colors are customizable, patterns are not. Rhythm comes with eight lighting “scenes” that dictate how the lights are activated when sound is detected. Fireworks, for example, lights up a handful of tiles at a time in rapid succession with no fade, like a firework.

Meteor Shower flows from color to color in a linear pattern with the pace of the song setting the shifts between color, while Paint Splatter is more random. Pulse Pop Beats changes colors more slowly while also dimming and brightening tiles with the beat of the music, and Rhythmic Northern Lights keeps the lights on full brightness but shifts between colors rapidly. Streaking Notes, Sound Bar, and Ripple are other options, and each one is unique.

For every Rhythm mix, the brightness is customizable, a nice touch because depending on the number of panels, the ambient lighting in the room, and the song playing, it can get a little chaotic if it’s too bright.

It’s worth noting that the Rhythm is going to look different depending on the number Aurora panels you have set up and their arrangement. I have 21 panels in a kind of key/flower shape and the Rhythm looks great with this setup. I can’t pull my panels off the wall to test other configurations because they’re up there with adhesive and it’s an insane hassle to get them down, but I suspect the different Rhythm patterns look great on any Aurora configuration.

The Rhythm feature is something you’ll probably want to only turn on occasionally when listening to music, though I did find it very satisfying to watch my lights flare up when I slammed my door. I also found it fun to have on when I was having a conversation with someone.

I tried the Rhythm with TV, but in general, the color transitions and patterns were a little too chaotic. Your mileage may vary, though – it’s really based on setup and personal preference.

In the future, I’d love to see Nanoleaf do partnerships like Philips Hue has done with Syfy for Sharknado and Twelve Monkeys, pairing the lights with TV shows or movies in carefully selected patterns to enhance what you’re watching. I’d also like to have more options for customizing and creating the patterns themselves.

Bottom Line

If you’ve already invested in a Nanoleaf Aurora setup and listen to music, the $50 Rhythm add on is a fun and inexpensive way to add utility and interactivity to the Aurora lights. And if you throw parties, it’s a must.

If you don’t already have Aurora lights but do a lot of entertaining or want to spice up a room, it’s worth considering picking up a set. Aurora is not cheap at $200 for the starter pack (which comes with nine tiles) and $60 for each additional pack of three tiles, but it’s one of the neatest modular lighting systems available. The only real downsides are the cost and the fact that they stick to the wall using adhesive.

I’ve had Aurora lights in my office since the beginning of the year, and I have no complaints. I still love to set the colors to match my mood, the game I’m playing, or the show I’m watching, and they’ve worked reliably with no issues. I’ve been steadily adding to my Aurora design and I’m up to 21 panels. Aurora is hard not to love, and the Rhythm makes a good product even better.

How to Buy

The Aurora Rhythm can be purchased from the Nanoleaf website for $49.99. The Nanoleaf Aurora itself is currently on sale from Best Buy for $187.99.

Note: Nanoleaf provided MacRumors with an Aurora Rhythm for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. This post contains an affiliate link to Best Buy.

Tag: Nanoleaf
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ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom review – is it worthy of its name?

Every device has a main selling point, and the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom is all about its optical zoom capabilities, something we don’t often find in smartphones. Things have changed since the launch of the original ZenFone Zoom, though. From design to specs and features, this is a whole other beast.

At $329, the ZenFone 3 Zoom is cheaper than its predecessor too. It’s got great battery life and using it is pleasant, but the main selling point with this phone series is undoubtedly the camera. So how does it stack up? I’ve been using the ZenFone 3 Zoom as my primary device for a couple weeks, so let’s dive in; this is the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom review.

Design & build quality

With the ZenFone 3 Zoom, ASUS has changed that ugly protruding back camera area and turned this phone into something that looks like a modern smartphone. It is thin and nice to look at, but this slimmer design comes at the cost of camera quality.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom looks just like many other devices out there.

The phone’s aluminum body makes it both look and feel as good as most premium handsets out there. But because the design has been streamlined, the phone is less distinct and now looks just like many other devices out there (including the one we don’t speak of around here).

The back is adorned by antenna lines at the top and bottom, with a fingerprint reader in the upper middle section. The upper-left area houses all the camera components, which include dual cameras, a dual-LED flash and an RGB sensor for improved white balance control.

The front looks like your typical glass slab. It has a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a front-facing camera, a speaker, and the usual navigation buttons at the bottom in the bezel. The volume and power buttons are on the right side of the device. The buttons have a slight wobble to them, but provide very nice feedback and feel solid enough.

One thing I don’t like is that the capacitive buttons don’t light up, and require some muscle memory when operating the phone at night. It definitely takes some getting used to, as I still haven’t been able to consistently hit them in the dark without missing a few times.

Ultimately, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom feels like a high-end smartphone. It is solid and very pleasing to the eye. I had one unexpected issue with its build quality, though. Despite never dropping or abusing the phone, I found a bend in the metal near the volume and power buttons. It’s not significant damage, but this is annoying considering I had only carried it around in my pocket.

Display & audio

The screen is nothing too fancy, but it gets the job done well enough. The 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen displays deep blacks and vibrant colors. The panel is nice and bright too (up to 500 nits). So I never had an issue viewing content in direct sunlight.

My only gripe is that since the screen has a 1920×1080 resolution, pixels are occasionally visible. It’s a good screen for the money you are paying, but if you’re after something super crispy you’ll need to look elsewhere. The screen is coated with Gorilla Glass 5 which curves gently at the edges in typical 2.5D fashion.

ASUS talks all the talk about its sound quality; but does it walk the walk? Its fancy 5-magnet speaker construction, metal voice coil and expansive sound chamber do perform pretty well. The sound is surprisingly clear, but I feel it lacks bass and volume. The device can be a little quiet if outside noise gets even a little too high. It does an alright job, though, especially at this price range.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom has SonicMaster and High-Res Audio certification, which ASUS claims will deliver a superior listening experience especially with headphones on. The built-in NXP Smart AMP supports 24-bit/192 kHz playback on compatible headphones and DTS Headphone:X 7.1 surround sound . Naturally, your audio mileage will vary depending on the quality of the headphones you’re using.

Performance

Performance is not this phone’s strength, but it can hold its own with most casual tasks. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 platform, and runs relatively smoothly. Our version of the device came with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, but there is a variant with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of on-board memory.

You won’t find yourself waiting much when checking your emails, going through social media and watching videos. It handles games mostly fine, but hiccups occasionally. If you consider yourself a power user, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom handles everyday tasks well but falters in demanding situations.

Software

The previous ZenFone Zoom launched with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and plenty of bloatware. At the time, Nougat had already been around for a while, which made the choice unfortunate, especially considering that most affordable handsets were shipping with more recent Android versions.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom launches with Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Android Oreo is only just out for some devices, so at least it’s not already totally out of date.

Unfortunately, ASUS’ ZenUI is not the cleanest manufacturer skin around. Colors are cartoonish. Icons are large. The notification area feels clogged up and animations are a bit weird. It feels like a skin from 2013. Many of you won’t need to worry too much about these software annoyances, because if they really bug you, alternate launchers are there to come to the rescue.

People debate whether an app drawer is needed or not, so ASUS puts the choice in your hands.

There is still a bunch of bloatware in here, but it’s easy to uninstall or disable apps like Zenfit. Besides some of the pointless bloat, there are actually some cool features and apps included in the skin. I liked the Laser Ruler app, which uses the device’s laser to see how far an object is. You never know, that might come in handy.

People debate whether an app drawer is needed or not, so ASUS puts the choice in your hands. There is an app drawer by default, but you can get rid of it and simply throw all your apps on your home screen if you prefer the iOS approach. ASUS also threw in a blue light filter, so you don’t have to disturb your sleeping cycle when using the smartphone at night.

There are some helpful gestures in here too. The ZenFone 3 Zoom supports both motion and touch gestures, which allow for things like flipping over the device to silence it, putting the phone up to your ear to answer, and double tapping to wake the device. All pretty standard stuff, but better to have than not.

Camera

You don’t just throw the word “Zoom” into a smartphone name without justification. So we were expecting some serious close-up power from this handset.

What makes this phone series special is optical zoom, something we very rarely find in smartphones. The original Zoom had a big bump in the back. It looked ugly, but some people were willing to live with that for its 3x optical zoom. ASUS has downgraded a bit with the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s 2.3x optical zoom. Why?

There are no annoying bumps or awkward holding positions to deal with.

The main reason is probably aesthetics. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom looks like a regular handset and a good looking one, at that. There are no annoying bumps or awkward holding positions to deal with. It’s just a dual-camera set-up hidden in the back corner. Regardless, optical zoom range seems to be about the only downgrade we can see on paper.

The newer handset comes with a couple Sony IMX362 12 MP sensors with an f/1.7 aperture and a large 1.4 µm pixel size. Other features include 4-axis optical stabilization, 3-axis digital stabilization, 4K @ 30 fps video recording, a white balance color sensor and dual-LED flash.

The front camera definitely received an upgrade too. It went from a simple 5 MP shooter in the previous generation to today’s 12 MP Sony IMX214 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and large 1.12 µm pixels.

I can tell you right off the bat that this camera set-up is cool… but I don’t know if it’s really all that.

This all sounds amazing on paper, but how does it translate to real world usage? After using the camera for a week, I have gotten pretty acquainted with it and can tell you it’s not bad. The question is whether it deserves its camera-centric name, though.

I can tell you right off the bat that this camera set-up is cool… but I don’t know if it’s really “all that”. Let’s show you some examples and go over pictures together, shall we?

We can start with this picture of my friends, but let’s not focus on the totally manly things they are doing. Pay more attention to the center of the image, which showcases poor performance of the RGB white balance sensor. Sure, the socks look white, but the image shows a purple tint around the bike’s motor and tank, an area that should otherwise look jet black.

And despite the fact that we were outdoors in the blazing sun, I see a tiny bit of motion blur in the rider’s face. This should not happen at 1/450 shutter speed.

Now, let’s take a look at this one. Though it might seem like the image is too warm, this is a good thing. The area where this image was taken is actually filled with yellow lights, making this photo look accurate to real life. I was wondering if the camera was able to recreate the lighting effect, and surprisingly it did.

This place was very dimly lit, and the phone handled things pretty well. It’s by no mean a great image, but it did well considering the lighting. This is an example of where it’s not always good having an f/1.7 aperture, because only the front of the scooter is in focus. You start losing plenty of detail once you move away from that little area in the front fender.

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about the aperture. There is a very cool manual mode that allows you to control white balance, shutter speed, ISO and more, but aperture is fixed. So you’ll just have to deal with the shallow depth of field. All you normally need to do to combat that though is just step back from the subject a bit.

But what about that zoom feature? After all, that’s what this phone is all about, right? Let’s take a look at some zoomed samples.

As you can see in the above, there’s a clear difference in how light and color were handled. The phone’s image processing system detects lighting differently when there are more variations in an image. The wider image has much more contrast, while the zoomed in version focuses on grabbing all the details it can from the shadows. Ultimately, you do get nice detailing in the zoomed in version, even if the photo is warmer and more washed out.

Better lighting clearly helps the 2.3x camera. The one thing that bugs me is that under good lighting the difference in quality is not very different when you compare optically and digitally zoomed images. Just open up the 1.0x image and zoom in as far as the 2.3x one. There is definitely a difference in detail if you really zoom in on both images, but you have to take it pretty far.

These photos were taken in a very dimly lit room. Zooming in on the 1.0x now shows a bit more of a difference when compared to the optically zoomed image. Noise levels and detail remain a bit better when using the 2.3x lens. You can especially tell this with the scooter images. Is the difference enough to justify getting this phone purely for its zoom capabilities? I wouldn’t say so, but it is cool to have.

Zooming in isn’t the only function this dual-camera setup has. Plenty of other phones with a similar system have used it to differentiate distance between objects and create a dramatic bokeh effect (otherwise known as “blurry background”). Want to see how well it works?

As you can see, this portrait mode works much better with people and objects at a farther distance. There is a clear distinction between the body and the background in the first image. Nothing seems off. Looking at the @ sign, things seem a little different. The camera thinks part of the @ sculpture is in the background and has blurred it out.

Then there is that orange part, which is a little sign in the background. Pay attention to it and you will see parts of it are blurred, while a smaller section isn’t. For some reason there is some concrete in focus in the background, right above that orange sign. It’s a total mess.

I took this selfie to show you guys how the front-facing camera works under regular conditions. This is also a high contrast image, though. I thought it would be a good chance to showcase the front-facing flash, which is just the screen throwing light at you.

The difference is quite apparent. More details appear in the image to the right, where the front-facing flash was used. Shadows are more balanced, even if the light becomes a bit over-bearing on the side where the sun hits my face. It’s a matter of preference, but it’s good to see you can light up the darkness, because the front-facing shooter does really bad in the dark.

Porcelain skin. Pitch black shadows. No details in the hair and beard. Need I say more?

Battery life

This is one of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s main highlights. In fact, I would say this is more exciting than the optical zoom! The device packs a massive 5,000 mAh battery. Factor in the mid-end specs and the lower-resolution screen and you have a device that will easily take you through a couple days on a single charge. As a primary smartphone, I was never able to kill the phone in a single day, even when using it heavily. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom is truly the king of smartphone battery life.

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom is truly the king of smartphone battery life.

Out of the many phones I have used, this would definitely be my first choice to take on a camping trip. The device has so much battery, you can even use it to charge other products! ASUS’ reverse charging will charge slowly, as it is limited to 1A, and you will need an appropriate cable but it works, which is pretty crazy.

There is one downside to this huge battery, though. It takes forever to charge! This is because the phone’s fast charging is not up to standard. It juices up at 5V/2A, which is not that impressive compared to most modern smartphones. The phone takes a long time to die, true, but you will have to wait a while for it to revive when it eventually does.

We must give props to ASUS for being able to fit such a large battery into a regular-looking phone, without turning it into a heavy brick. This handset is thin and light (170 grams) and it still has a 5,000 mAh battery. To me, battery life trumps all (as long as the general experience is acceptable), so the ZenFone 3 Zoom has quickly become one of my favorite phones.

Specifications

Screen	5.5-inch AMOLED 1920×1080
Processor	2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor
RAM	3/4 GB
Rear camera	Dual 12 MP, SONY IMX362, f/1.7 aperture
Front camera	12 MP, SONY IMX214, f/2.0 aperture
Storage	32/64 GB (with microSD support)
Dimensions	6.07 x 3.03 x 0.31 inches
Weight	5.99 ounces
Network	Dual-SIM

Price & final thoughts

Using the ASUS ZenFone 3 isn’t a bad experience. You get modest mid-range specs that can handle most tasks properly. Just don’t expect premium performance out of it.

As for the camera, it’s pretty good. Its optical zooming capabilities are not amazing, but it’s a nice feature to have. I just wouldn’t buy the phone solely for that reason. Since the phone’s focus is in large part on its camera, this is pretty disappointing. At the end of the day, it can take some nice pictures, but they won’t compare to those coming from high-end handsets. The battery is arguably the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s best feature, not its camera.

The battery is arguably the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s best feature, not its camera.

Interested? The ASUS ZenFone 3 starts at $329 from Amazon. It’s not an incredible camera phone, but if you are looking for an affordable handset that will last, this is it.

Buy ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom

Sphero Mini is a $50 remote-controlled ball that makes downsizing a good thing

Why it matters to you

If the original Sphero wasn’t your thing, the smaller Sphero Mini may very well be. It’s a motorized ball that taps your smartphone for remote control.

Boulder, Colorado-based Sphero rose to prominence with Disney-licensed, remote-controlled merchandise like Ultimate Lightning McQueen, BB-8, BB-9E, and R2D2, But back in 2011, Sphero’s co-founders won over investors with a simple premise: A motorized ball that taps your smartphone for remote control. The first attempt was a little bulkier and pricier than originally envisioned, but now, after years of development, Sphero has come full circle, so to speak, with the Mini.

The Sphero Mini, which is available now starting at $50, is a lighter, slimmer version of the Sphero Sprk+ and eponymous Sphero. It’s roughly the width and height (0.04 inches) of a golf ball, and it packs multicolored diodes that illuminate the innards of its transparent plastic casing. Inside the case, which splits in two, is a micro USB port — unlike the full-sized Sphero, the Sphero Mini charges via USB, rather than wireless induction.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

It’s more complicated than it looks. All of the Mini’s components are custom-built by Sphero’s supply chain partners, Adam Wilson, a Sphero co-founder and the company’s chief scientist, told Digital Trends. “It’s a manufacturing process that we’ve been developing since [our first product],” Wilson said. “It’s always been a matter of shrinking down the components. It just wasn’t possible [in 2011].”

The laundry list of hardware includes a self-stabilizing gyroscope and accelerometer, a Bluetooth radio that pairs to a smartphone, and a battery that lasts for up to an hour of play — and takes an hour to charge. “[The Mini] has basically what you’d find in any smartphone,” Wilson said.

But that’s only half of the Mini’s magic. The other half lies in the little ball’s companion app for iOS and Android devices. A joystick-based Driving mode lets you accelerate, decelerate, and turn the Mini on its axes, and Tilt mode taps your phone’s orientation sensors to move the Mini forward when you tilt upward, backward when you tilt downward, and sideways when you pitch rightward or leftward.

“We designed it to be straightforward,” Wilson said, “even if you’ve never driven [a Sphero] before.”

Perhaps the most intuitive way to drive the Mini is in Face Drive mode, which uses the phone’s front camera feed and a facial-recognition algorithm to move the Mini forward and backward. Smile, and the Mini accelerates toward you; frown, and the Mini rockets away.

Wilson said a feature like Face Drive, a product of Sphero’s internal accelerator program, wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. “Smartphone cameras weren’t good enough,” he said. “Now that we can do [facial recognition], we wanted to have a little fun with it.”

If the Mini app’s freestyle modes don’t suit your fancy, the games might. In Slingshot, the Mini is represented by a colored blob at the center of the phone’s screen; pulling back on it builds up the Mini’s speed, and releasing it launches it forward.

It’s meant to be used with the Mini’s in-the-box accessories — three mini plastic traffic cones and six mini bowling pins. The idea’s to set up a tiny obstacle course for the Mini to navigate, which is trickier than it sounds — we had trouble knocking over pins on a table. “It takes practice,” Wilson said.

Alternatively, the Mini’s app lets you flip the script and control your smartphone with the little light-up ball. You use the Mini as a game motion controller in any of three games: Exile II, which tasks you with moving a spaceship with the Mini’s motion sensors; Lightspeed Drifter, which puts you in the driver’s seat of a futuristic spaceship; and Round Trip, Sphero’s take on Brick Breaker.

“You might see more in the future,” Wilson said. “We’re constantly tweaking things.”

Wilson sees the Sphero Mini’s $50 asking price as one of its strongest selling points — he thinks it could be a boon for schools. The Mini is fully compatible with Sphero’s Edu app, which lets curious young programmers build custom games and routines for the Mini using JavaScript.

There’s potential for expansion, too. In the coming months, Sphero plans to roll out custom cases for the Mini in new colors and designs. You might see licensed cases based on Pokémon (a Poké Ball) or Star Wars (a tiny BB-8), eventually.

“We think they’ll be really popular,” said Wilson. “We’re really confident in our product lineup heading into the holiday season.”

Sphero Mini is a $50 remote-controlled ball that makes downsizing a good thing

Why it matters to you

If the original Sphero wasn’t your thing, the smaller Sphero Mini may very well be. It’s a motorized ball that taps your smartphone for remote control.

Boulder, Colorado-based Sphero rose to prominence with Disney-licensed, remote-controlled merchandise like Ultimate Lightning McQueen, BB-8, BB-9E, and R2D2, But back in 2011, Sphero’s co-founders won over investors with a simple premise: A motorized ball that taps your smartphone for remote control. The first attempt was a little bulkier and pricier than originally envisioned, but now, after years of development, Sphero has come full circle, so to speak, with the Mini.

The Sphero Mini, which is available now starting at $50, is a lighter, slimmer version of the Sphero Sprk+ and eponymous Sphero. It’s roughly the width and height (0.04 inches) of a golf ball, and it packs multicolored diodes that illuminate the innards of its transparent plastic casing. Inside the case, which splits in two, is a micro USB port — unlike the full-sized Sphero, the Sphero Mini charges via USB, rather than wireless induction.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

It’s more complicated than it looks. All of the Mini’s components are custom-built by Sphero’s supply chain partners, Adam Wilson, a Sphero co-founder and the company’s chief scientist, told Digital Trends. “It’s a manufacturing process that we’ve been developing since [our first product],” Wilson said. “It’s always been a matter of shrinking down the components. It just wasn’t possible [in 2011].”

The laundry list of hardware includes a self-stabilizing gyroscope and accelerometer, a Bluetooth radio that pairs to a smartphone, and a battery that lasts for up to an hour of play — and takes an hour to charge. “[The Mini] has basically what you’d find in any smartphone,” Wilson said.

But that’s only half of the Mini’s magic. The other half lies in the little ball’s companion app for iOS and Android devices. A joystick-based Driving mode lets you accelerate, decelerate, and turn the Mini on its axes, and Tilt mode taps your phone’s orientation sensors to move the Mini forward when you tilt upward, backward when you tilt downward, and sideways when you pitch rightward or leftward.

“We designed it to be straightforward,” Wilson said, “even if you’ve never driven [a Sphero] before.”

Perhaps the most intuitive way to drive the Mini is in Face Drive mode, which uses the phone’s front camera feed and a facial-recognition algorithm to move the Mini forward and backward. Smile, and the Mini accelerates toward you; frown, and the Mini rockets away.

Wilson said a feature like Face Drive, a product of Sphero’s internal accelerator program, wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. “Smartphone cameras weren’t good enough,” he said. “Now that we can do [facial recognition], we wanted to have a little fun with it.”

If the Mini app’s freestyle modes don’t suit your fancy, the games might. In Slingshot, the Mini is represented by a colored blob at the center of the phone’s screen; pulling back on it builds up the Mini’s speed, and releasing it launches it forward.

It’s meant to be used with the Mini’s in-the-box accessories — three mini plastic traffic cones and six mini bowling pins. The idea’s to set up a tiny obstacle course for the Mini to navigate, which is trickier than it sounds — we had trouble knocking over pins on a table. “It takes practice,” Wilson said.

Alternatively, the Mini’s app lets you flip the script and control your smartphone with the little light-up ball. You use the Mini as a game motion controller in any of three games: Exile II, which tasks you with moving a spaceship with the Mini’s motion sensors; Lightspeed Drifter, which puts you in the driver’s seat of a futuristic spaceship; and Round Trip, Sphero’s take on Brick Breaker.

“You might see more in the future,” Wilson said. “We’re constantly tweaking things.”

Wilson sees the Sphero Mini’s $50 asking price as one of its strongest selling points — he thinks it could be a boon for schools. The Mini is fully compatible with Sphero’s Edu app, which lets curious young programmers build custom games and routines for the Mini using JavaScript.

There’s potential for expansion, too. In the coming months, Sphero plans to roll out custom cases for the Mini in new colors and designs. You might see licensed cases based on Pokémon (a Poké Ball) or Star Wars (a tiny BB-8), eventually.

“We think they’ll be really popular,” said Wilson. “We’re really confident in our product lineup heading into the holiday season.”

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Fitnet Live Coach

Fitnet is a personal trainer for everyone. Exercise by yourself or add a boost to your goal by connecting with a live certified personal trainer.

Available on:

iOS

Wonder Notes

Need to make a to-do list? Capture ideas at a board meeting? Plan next week’s blog post? With Wonder Notes you can do it all quickly, easily, and powerfully. Simply create as many notes as you want by populating them with text, pictures, maps, and URLs.

Available on:

iOS

Recapify

If you’re in the sales industry, this could be the app for you. Recapify helps sales reps communicate meeting results faster through integrations with Salesforce and Evernote.

Available on:

iOS

Universal Doctor Speaker

Universal Doctor Speaker is a multilingual app providing key medical phrases translated across 17 languages, with audios to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare professionals who don’t share a common language.

Available on:

iOS

SlopeTours

Take easy-to-follow, animated, self-guided, skiing and snowboarding tours of the most popular ski resorts based on your ability level, conditions, and fun.

Available on:

iOS

Edge Music

View the top artists from major music labels side by side with emerging indie artists, all in one place. Edge Music is your source for an unrestricted music video experience.

Available on:

iOS

Here are the best Apple accessory deals for the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch

It’s expensive being an Apple fanboy (or fangirl). Not only do you typically pay a premium for the Cupertino, California giant’s latest hardware — as the iPhone X proves — but Apple’s accessories can often cause sticker shock as well. Fortunately, when it comes to shopping for accessories, the Apple Store isn’t your only source.

Whether you’re looking to pair your newly minted iPhone with wireless headphones or simply need to restock on a few Lightning cables, we’ve rounded up some awesome Apple accessory deals from Amazon and the DT Shop for everything from your iPhone to your MacBook. We will periodically update these deals in the future, so be sure to act quickly if you want to get the best prices.

Walcase steel mesh Apple Watch band

If you’ve jumped on the Apple Watch bandwagon, then getting a new strap is the perfect way to express your style. The Walcase iWatch bands are made from a durable stainless steel mesh and come in a wide variety of colors, with gold, black, and silver metals to match your watch case. They are available for both 38mm and 42mm Apple Watches, and are a good option if you want a stylish and water-resistant strap but don’t care for the look or feel of rubber. Normally $33, a 73-percent discount brings the Walcase Apple Watch band down to $9 on Amazon.

$9 on Amazon

Ounne shockproof and waterproof iPhone 7 & 8 case

Fall has finally come, so if you find yourself heading outside with your iPhone 7 or new iPhone 8 to enjoy the cooler weather, it might be a good idea to get a shock-resistant and waterproof case to protect your tech. This one from Ounne, available for just $20 from Amazon after a $40 discount, is a tough and durable case for your iPhone 7 Plus that doesn’t look or feel too bulky and awkward. The shock-proof case fits around your phone and completely seals it against dirt, snow, and water without affecting touchscreen functionality. If you have the larger iPhone 7 or 8 Plus, you can grab a matching Ounne shockproof case here for $20 as well. Also be sure to check out our recent roundup of iPhone 8 case deals.

$20 on Amazon

Joy Factory Pinpoint X-Spring precision stylus

Your iPad isn’t just another tablet, so it deserves more than just another stylus. The attractive Joy Factory X-Spring precision stylus allows you to work on any iPad or iPhone touchscreen with precision, and helps expand the versatility of multitouch. Unlike many styluses with chunky nibs, the Pinpoint X-Spring features a unique rotating fine tip that can make contact with the screen at angles of up to 180 degrees for extra comfort and precision when drawing and writing. Need to jot something down on paper? Just flip the stylus around and use the other end as a trational ballpoint pen. A $20 discount lets you score the Joy Factory Pinpoint precision stylus for $15 from the DT Shop.

$15 on DT Shop

Anker Folio iPad keyboard case

Anker makes a wide lineup of great accessories, and if you’ve been craving a physical keyboard for your iPad, this is your new best friend. The Anker Folio keyboard case features Bluetooth connectivity and iPad shortcut keys, allowing you to remain productive no matter where you are. The case also offers two ergonomic viewing angles for both typing and handheld use. The synthetic leather exterior provides an attractive cover for your iPad, and the Anker Folio automatically engages the tablet’s wake and sleep modes when opened and closed.

$32 on Amazon

Beats Solo3 wireless headphones

Now that the iPhone has gone headphone jack-less, you’re more in need of wireless headphones than ever. And if earbuds just aren’t your cup of tea, then maybe Dr. Dre’s Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones will do the trick. These headphones feature a wireless range of 30 feet and a battery that offers up to 40 hours of use before needing a charge. The fine-tuned acoustics offer crystal-clear audio and deep, rich bass response. The Beats Solo3 wireless headphones are normally priced at $300, but Amazon is now offering them at a $100 discount, which drops these over-ear cans down to $200.

$200 on Amazon

Anker PowerLine 3-foot Lightning cable 3-pack

Lightning cables are a must-have item for any Apple household. The Anker PowerLine cables are some of our favorites for charging up Apple gadgets, and Amazon has this 3-pack of MFi-certified Lightning to USB cables that can be used to keep your iPhone or iPad fully juiced. MFi certification, originally made for iPod, ensures that these cables now work with other Apple devices as well. Each cable measures three feet, and the Anker PowerLine 3-pack costs only $22 on Amazon after a 27 percent savings.

$22 on Amazon

Mbeat PowerTime Apple Watch dock

The $79 Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock is an add-on accessory that proudly displays your Apple Watch as it charges. However, if you don’t feel like dropping $79 on a dock designed to charge just one gadget, Mbeat’s PowerTime Apple Watch charging dock costs $35 and provides three additional USB ports that let you charge any USB-compatible gadgets in addition to your Apple Watch. Like Apple’s dock, it displays your Apple Watch as it is charging so you can still use it as your alarm clock. It’s currently 28 percent off its list price from the DT Shop.

$35 on DT Shop

Oittm 5-port USB recharging dock

The Oittm 5-port USB recharging dock puts your iPhone, iPad Mini, iPod (remember those?), or Apple Watch on display while they charge. The attractive and sturdy aluminum and ABS plastic dock features five ports — two on top for a Lightning cable and Apple Watch charger along with three USB connections in the back — for charging up to five devices simultaneously. The top is also removable to allow you to place your power cables inside the dock’s housing for easy cord management. At just $38 after a $62 discount, the Oittm 5-port dock is a solid and affordable all-in-one desktop charging station for all of your Apple gear.

$38 on Amazon

Just Mobile Hover Dock

The low-profile Just Mobile HoverDock charging podium gives your iPhone the illusion that it’s hovering while docked. The aluminum base features a rubber bottom to prevent sliding, and also features retractable cable storage that keeps your wires neatly out of sight while charging your device. The unit was designed to work with most iPhone cases and can also be used to prop up your iPhone while you FaceTime. It’s currently available for just $28 from our DT Shop.

$28 on DT Shop

Hussar Magicbuds Bluetooth headphones

Wireless headphones are the future of the iPhone, but not everyone can afford to spend $159 on Apple’s AirPods. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable alternatives. Ideal for the gym, the ergonomic Hussar Magicbuds Bluetooth headphones are a highly rated and affordable option if you like the look of Dre Powerbeats but not their hefty price tag. The rechargeable battery offers up to nine hours of play time, and the Magicbuds can be paired with any Bluetooth-enabled device, which makes them ideal for current and older iPhones and iPads. Hussar’s in-ear headphones are currently just $27 from Amazon.

$27 on Amazon

Maxboost iPhone 7 & 8 3,200mAh battery case

Maxboost is no stranger to the market of affordable and high-quality batteries and portable chargers, so it should be no surprise to see its iPhone battery case on our roundup. Apple devices generally offer very good battery life, but even the best batteries can unexpectedly die while you’re on the go. For those dreaded moments, the Maxboost battery case for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 has your back: The slim case houses a 3,200mAh battery that can increase the lifespan of your iPhone by up to 18 hours. The extended battery case doesn’t add much bulk to your iPhone and is currently just $27 on Amazon, saving you $43 off its normal price.

$27 on Amazon

Inateck 13-inch MacBook sleeve

Today’s 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops are smaller and thinner than ever, so why not protect them with a water- and bump-resistant sleeve? The Inateck 13-inch sleeve offers just that type of protection and is designed to fit the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air. It includes a small separate pouch for storing a mouse, and its magnetic closure prevents your MacBook from being scratched while sliding in and out of the sleeve. For a limited time, you can buy Inateck’s sleeve for just $14 at Amazon.

$14 on Amazon

MORE DEALS

• The top 7 Bluetooth speaker deals will help you keep the party going
• 9 Wi-Fi router deals to boost your internet speeds and save you up to $100
• 8 hot deals on smart home devices that automate, control, and protect your home

Looking for more great Apple accessory deals and discounts on other electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite tech.

Update: Added the Walcase Apple Watch strap, Ounne iPhone case, Joy Factory stylus, Anker Lightning cables, Oittm USB dock, and Maxboost battery case. Removed expired offers and updated prices.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com. Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Which new Amazon Echo are you going to buy?

Six new products. But only so much money in the wallet. Which one will get you to crack yours open?

Amazon announced all sorts of stuff this past week. An all-new Amazon Echo. A souped-up Echo Plus. A cute little Echo Spot. Echo Connect, which’ll let you make phone calls over an existing landline. A new Fire TV that’ll dangle off the back of your set in 4K. And Echo Buttons, which will let you buzz in on games and other things that need buzzing in on. (This is going to make family meetings so much more fun.)

The real — albeit hardly easy to answer — question, though: Which one stands out to you?

Choose wisely.

Which new Amazon Echo tickles your fancy?

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon

Best ways to secure and unlock your Galaxy Note 8

Any method that keeps your Note 8 locked is a good way, but some are better than others.

We’ve said it a million times (and we really mean it): your personal information, financial details, address book, photos and all the rest of the “stuff” on your phone should only be seen by people you want to see it. That means you should pay attention to the things apps you install want to do with all of it, but more importantly, it means you need to keep your phone locked when you’re not using it.

70 million phones are lost each year. Yours could be one of them.

For starters, you need to have a screen lock set up to use mobile payments from both Samsung and Google. If you don’t use your phone to pay for things, it’s still worth making sure some random person can’t rifle through everything if they find or steal your phone. A study for Lookout (by IDG Research) says that 1 out of 10 people are victims of phone theft, and Kensington has said that 70 million smartphones are lost each year, with only 7% recovered.

When someone finds or steals your phone, they’ll shut it off, pull out the SIM card, then turn it on to see if it’s locked. If so, they just try to wipe it and sell it. If not, it’s time to look through your photos, read your texts and social DMs, then see what they can find in your email. Losing your phone sucks, no matter how it happens. Losing your phone, then having someone steal your identity on Facebook and charge stuff on your credit cards sucks way more. A simple lock screen is a must nowadays.

We’ve looked at all the ways you can lock your Galaxy Note 8, and sorted them from best to worst — but even the “worst” isn’t bad, it’s just not as good as the best! We factored in a few different things to build our list: security, convenience, and ease-of-use. And here it is!

Fingerprint sensor: Best

Yes, the placement of the fingerprint sensor on the Note 8 is terrible compared to the way things used to be. And being a bit taller than even the Galaxy S8+ doesn’t help. But it’s still the best way to keep your screen locked. It’s easy to set up, accurate, and once you get used to reaching for it it’s easy to use. Of all the ways you can lock your Note 8, the fingerprint sensor is still the best.

Pattern lock: Good, but slower

Did you know the Android pattern lock is more secure than a four-digit PIN? Crunch the numbers — there are more possible combinations in the pattern lock than there are in four digits, and that means someone is less likely to make the right guess before the phone shuts them out.

Pattern lock is secure and easy — exactly what we want to see in a screen locking method!

That aside, a pattern lock is easy to use and after a few days, you’ll be able to do it without looking. The one drawback is that greasy fingers can leave a trail on the screen, so wipe it down every now and then. Especially after eating some greasy finger food.

A PIN or passphrase: An oldie but a goodie

This can be the most secure method to lock your phone. It can also be the least secure. It depends on you! Don’t use a PIN like 0000 or your birthday digits. Use something that nobody will guess on the first few tries but you’ll still remember it. Nobody can unlock your phone but you if you have a PIN or password to get in, but it’s just not as convenient as the first two entries on our list.

Iris scanning: Secure and unreliable

The Iris scanning on your Samsung phone is secure. It can’t be fooled unless someone goes to great lengths and has a high-resolution photo of your eyes looking directly into the camera.

If someone has that, you have bigger things to worry about. It’s easy to set up (and kind of cool, we admit) but you also need to position your phone in the right spot and at the correct angle to get a good reading and unlock it. Some people find that easy, others not so much. You should give it a try because if you’re someone who can get things lined up naturally and easily, this will be number one on your list.

Face recognition: Fast and loose

Samsung has improved the standard Android facial recognition software and it can scan your face faster and look at more areas at once.

Samsung improved Face Recognition but still tells you it isn’t secure.

But this is easy to fool with a good photo of your face, and even Samsung doesn’t claim face recognition is secure. It is convenient and easy to use though. Decide if you need a little extra security (only you know the answer to this) and if you do, don’t rely on face recognition.

Everything you need to know about using facial recognition on your phone

Trusted Location/Device/Voice: Built-in goodness

This goes at the bottom of our list. It’s easy to set up (you’ll need a secondary Bluetooth device for Trusted Device unlocking) and easy to use. Really, you don’t “use” it at all. Under certain conditions, your phone stays unlocked. Like when your phone is in a certain place, connected to a certain Bluetooth device, or hears you say the passphrase. When the person at Starbucks calls your name and you leave your phone on the counter, it’s unlocked for anyone to pick up. Setting your phone on the coffee table at home in front of your snoopy roommate keeps it unlocked. Any system that allows your phone to be unlocked when you’re not holding it and looking at it is not a secure system.

If you use any Trusted Unlocking method, make sure you have remote wipe and find my phone set up through both Samsung and Google.

How to track your missing Android phone

The important thing is that you use a secure lock screen.

As mentioned at the top of this article, even the worst method on our list is a lot better than nothing. We’re picking nits here to choose the best way, but if one works well for you and you use it all the time, it’s a good one. once you get used to having a secured lock screen, you’ll not have any problems unlocking your phone when you need it. And when you don’t need it, you’ll know someone can’t just pick it up and peek into your private life.

Your turn

What locking method do you use on your phone? If you’re getting the Note 8 or already have one, what are you using, and why? Your feedback is important! It helps everyone make a better decision and nothing is better than helping each other.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 review
• Complete Galaxy Note 8 specs
• Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5
• Which Note 8 color is best?
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

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