The $600 Arlo Pro 5-camera security system will ensure every corner is covered

Keep your home safe and secure no matter where you are.

The Netgear Arlo Pro 5-camera 720p home security system is down to $599.99 on Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve seen on the 5-camera set since last year, and this same kit usually sells for around $760 to $800. The 6-camera kit is also on sale, down to $650 on Amazon. That’s essentially an extra camera for $50 more if you need more coverage.

The kit comes with six of the Arlo Pro cameras and the required base station that connects them all together. The cameras are wireless and weather-resistant, so they’re good to use inside or out. They have fast-charging rechargeable batteries. The system can work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and more. You get seven days of free cloud recordings, and Arlo has subscription plans for more access.

See on Amazon

Moto Z3 Play: Everything you need to know!

Motorola packs a punch for round three of the Z Play.

Motorola’s Moto Z Play line has gone through a lot of changes in the few short years it’s existed. The original Z Play was an excellent alternative to the much more expensive Moto Z and offered tremendous battery life with support to take it even further with Moto Mods.

The Z2 Play decreased the battery capacity while increasing the price by $50, and this year with the Z3 Play, we’re met with the same 3,000 mAh battery and $499 price tag of its predecessor while also getting dual cameras, a full glass back, and a new on-screen gesture system.

If your interest has been peaked by the Z3 Play, here’s everything you need to know!

The latest Moto Z3 Play news

June 21, 2018 — Pre-orders are open now!

If you want to be among the first to own the Z3 Play, you can pre-order it now from not only Motorola’s website, but at Best Buy and B&H, too.

The Z3 Play will set you back $499 at any of the above retailers, but if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can pick it up for just $449 through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program.

See at Amazon

All the big details

Check out our hands-on preview

If you want to know what it’s like to play around with the Moto Z3 Play, why not take a look at our hands-on coverage?

AC’s Daniel Bader got a chance to go up close and personal with the Z3 Play, and you can read and watch his thoughts in both written and video form ✍️📺.

Moto Z3 Play hands-on preview: Three’s company

Review the specs

If you like playing the numbers game, the Moto Z3 Play does a pretty solid job at holding its own compared to other phones in its price range. Some of the highlights include a Snapdragon 636 processor, Android 8.1, and a healthy 4GB RAM.

To learn even more about what makes the Z3 Play tick, check out our full spec rundown below.

Moto Z3 Play Specifications

See how it compares to the Z2 Play

The Moto Z3 Play might be newer and flashier than last year’s Z2 Play, but should owners of its predecessor shell out another $499 to upgrade?

You’ll find a lot of improvements with the Z3 Play, such as a newer processor and slimmer bezels, but the Z2 Play still puts up a fight in mid-2018 with a 3.5mm headphone jack (something the Z3 Play doesn’t have), a more traditional fingerprint sensor, and sturdier aluminum back.

This one’s a toss-up in a lot of ways, so be sure to give our detailed, hands-on comparison a look.

Moto Z3 Play vs. Moto Z2 Play: Should you upgrade?

Motorola’s toying with a new on-screen gesture system

Previous Moto phones have featured a unique navigation system that replaces Google’s on-screen buttons in favor of a series of swipes performed on the front-facing fingerprint sensor.

With the Z3 Play, Motorola’s evolving that idea and taking some inspiration from Android P by moving those gestures from the fingerprint sensor and making them on-screen. Swiping left goes back, Swiping right brings up your recent apps, and a single tap takes you home.

It’s unclear if Motorola will continue to offer this once Android P rolls around, but it’s a fun and unique way to make your way around the phone.

The fingerprint sensor is in a unique place

A quick glance at the Z3 Play might lead you to believe that Motorola forgot to include a fingerprint sensor, but there is one there if you know where to look.

An indented area on the right side of the phone is where the Z3 Play’s fingerprint sensor lies, and because of its position, the power/lock button has been moved to the left.

This positioning of buttons could cause for some confusion/irritation in day-to-day use, but at the very least, it’s a unique implementation we really don’t see all that often.

There are dual cameras

One of the biggest upgrades to the Z3 Play over its predecessors lies with its camera. This is the first entry in the Z Play lineup to come equipped with dual rear cameras, and on the Z3 Play, we’ve got a 12MP and 5MP combo.

Motorola’s upgraded processing should allow for improved low-light photos compared to the Z2 Play and the secondary lens allows for much better (if not the best) portrait shots.

You’ll also find features such as 4K video recording at 30 FPS and a built-in cinemagraph tool.

It’s compatible with all existing Moto Mods

Motorola promised its lineup of Moto Mods would work on Moto Z phones for three full years, and it’s keeping that promise with the Z3 Play.

This is the last Z Play phone that’ll work with all existing Moto Mods, and in mid-2018, you have a lot of them to choose from.

Motorola’s done a great job at building up its library of Mods over the years, with some of the highlights including a Nintendo Switch-like gamepad, external speaker, an assortment of battery packs, and much more.

Here’s every Moto Mod you can buy for the Moto Z series

You’ll pay $499 to own the Z3 Play

If you’re interested in picking up the Moto Z3 Play, Motorola’s charging $499 for it.

For comparison’s sake, the Moto G6 offers a vastly similar experience for around $260 less and the OnePlus 6 costs $30 more while offering a much more capable processor, better cameras, and a headphone jack.

The Z3 Play certainly isn’t a bad phone, but unless you plan on making full use of the Moto Mod ecosystem, don’t be afraid to broaden your horizon’s and see what else is out there.

See at Motorola

Deals: $15 Off $75+ Orders at eBay, 10% Off at Gazelle, Beats Studio3 for $205, and More

eBay today launched its latest sitewide coupon code, offering customers the chance to save $15 on orders that reach or exceed $75. The code isn’t as enticing as eBay’s previous sitewide sales, but could still give shoppers the chance to save money on a variety of items, excluding video game consoles, laptops and netbooks, coins and paper money, gift cards and coupons, and real estate.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Otherwise, those interested can shop throughout eBay, add items to their cart until it reaches $75, and checkout with the coupon code PSUPERSUMMER before 7:00 p.m. PT tonight, June 21. The code can only be used once and within a single transaction, and only eBay users registered with an address located in the United States, Canada, Latin America or the Caribbean can take part in the sale. Head to eBay’s Daily Deals page and home page to start browsing before the sale ends in a few hours.

Gazelle has also kicked off a sitewide sale this week, allowing shoppers to take 10 percent off items across the site through June 24. Gazelle’s storefront offers discounts on used iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and more, all inspected by the company and ensured to be working properly and backed by a 30 day return policy. Those interested can start shopping on Gazelle today and simply add any item into their shopping cart to see the 10 percent savings automatically applied during checkout.

In other deals, there are a few Beats discounts happening this week on Amazon. The company’s official Amazon store has the BeatsX in Black for $89.99, down from $149.99, which has been a frequent sale price for the in-ear headphones.

More notable is a nice discount on the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, marked down to $204.95 from $349.99 in Matte Black, White, and Blue. Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart have knocked down prices on the Studio3 Headphones to around $205-$220 in recent weeks, but Amazon’s price is one of the lowest currently available online for the high-end headphones.

Below you can also find a few of the latest charging accessory promo code discounts offered by Anker and Choetech on Amazon:

Anker

• 5-in-1 USB C Hub (HDMI, 1-Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 3.0 Ports) – $44.99 with code ANKER833, down from $60.99 (exp. 6/23)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable (10ft, all colors) – $12.59 with code ANKER823, down from $17.99 (exp. 6/30)

• USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter (Gray and Silver) – $7.49 with code ANKER875, down from $9.99 (exp. 6/30)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable 6ft Without Pouch (Gray, Red) – $9.79 with code ANKER985, down from $13.99 (exp. 6/30)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable 3ft Without Pouch (Gray, Red) – $8.39 with code ANKER985, down from $11.99 (exp. 6/30)

• ZOLO Halo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Smart Speaker – $29.99 with code ZOLOHALO, down from $49.99 (exp. 6/30)

Choetech

• Qi-Certified Wireless Charger (Black) – $7.99 with promo code DT2XNIU7, down from $12.95
• 6-pack of USB-C to USB-A cables – $7.99 with code 9ARQ5ZD6, down from $12.99

For more details about this week’s best discounts and offers, be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Switching to AT&T? We break down the carrier’s new unlimited and prepaid plans

AT&T finally did it. The wireless carrier has joined Sprint and T-Mobile in offering unlimited talk, text, and data. But even with the switch, the carrier’s plans remain the most expensive, and some of its plan options are odd. If you live in an area where Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint don’t work, AT&T is likely your only option. That said, it offers some solid options for subscribers.

There’s no contract, and you have to pay the full, unsubsidized price for each smartphone on your plan. You’ll pay for each device in installments, which typically range between $20 and $30 a month per phone. You can also add your own phone to your plan instead of buying a new one.

In the table below, we break down the costs for you for the company’s Unlimited Choice and Unlimited Plus plans. Which one you pick is up to you, but choose wisely: All lines are either one or the other, and you can’t mix and match.

AT&T Unlimited Plans

People
Unlimited Choice Enhanced

Total
Unlimited Plus Enhanced

Total

1
$65
$65
$80
$80

2
$65 + $55
$120
$80 + $70
$150

3
$65 + $55 + $20
$140
$80 + $70 + $20
$170

4
$65 + $55 + $20 + $20
$160
$80 + $70 + $20 + $20
$190

AT&T’s Unlimited Choice single line plan is actually fairly competitive, but any of the other unlimited options are higher than every other carrier. Which one you choose depends on your mobile data usage. The Unlimited Choice plan offers standard definition video (480p), 4G LTE speed, and roaming in/calling to Mexico and Canada.

Stepping up to the Plus plan upgrades your SD streaming to HD, 15GB of tethering, and a $15 credit to DirecTV or DirecTV now. You also must use autopay to get $5 off the above listed rates, as well as paperless billing.

AT&T Unlimited &More Plans

A new option following AT&T’s merger with Time-Warner, the Unlimited &More packages offer much the same as AT&T’s standard packages, but also offer a WatchTV subscription to 30-plus channels, and the option for a free subscription to one of several premium services.

The &More services will be available in two packages — AT&T Unlimited &More Premium, and AT&T Unlimited &More. Any &More Premium subscriber will also get free access to Pandora Premium from June 26, as part of their package, in addition to the benefits offered by the standard Unlimited Plus Enhanced plan. Also, &More subscribers will get the same benefits you would expect from the Unlimited Choice Enhanced package.

The pricing is as follows:

People
AT&T Unlimited &More
Total
Unlimited &More Premium
Total

1
$70
$70
$80
$80

2
$70 + $60
$130
$80 + $70
$150

3
$70 + $60 + $25
$155
$80 + $70 + $20
$170

4
$65 + $55 + $20 + $20
$160
$80 + $70 + $20 + $20
$190

WatchTV lineup

At this moment, you can expect to find the following channels on the WatchTV service offered by AT&T:

• A&E
• AMC
• Animal Planet
• Audience
• BBC World News
• BBC America
• Boomerang
• Cartoon Network
• CNN
• Discovery
• Food Network
• FYI
• Hallmark
• Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
• HGTV
• History
• HLN
• IFC
• ID
• Lifetime
• Lifetime Movies
• Own
• Sundance TV
• TBS
• TCM
• TLC
• TNT
• Trutv
• Velocity
• Viceland
• We TV

The following channels will become available on WatchTV soon:

• BET
• Comedy Central
• MTV 2
• Nick Toons
• Teen Nick
• VH1

Recommendations:

• If you’re single and have DirecTV, go with AT&T. The Unlimited Plus option will give you a much better network than Sprint’s, although it is more expensive.
• Families are better served looking at other carriers, unless AT&T runs promotions to lower the costs.

The perks of AT&T plans:

• Strong coverage in both rural and urban areas.
• Big phone selection.
• Unlimited data is back.

The downsides of AT&T plans:

• All but one of its plan combinations are pricey.
• International coverage costs extra.

AT&T prepaid plans

AT&T also offers decent prepaid plans for those who want to go month by month. These are deals for people who are looking to save some money. For each line, you get unlimited talk and text, as well as unlimited messaging to more than 100 countries. You also have three data options: One to purchase it on an “as needed” basis every 250MB; another with unlimited data, but throttled after 6GB; and finally, another unlimited plan that throttles at the same amount of data post-paid plans do (22GB).

Recently, AT&T added a $50 plan that includes 8GB of data, HD video streaming, mobile hotspot, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, along with unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. In addition, the $85 unlimited plan now includes 10GB of mobile hotspot for use in the U.S. — which slows down to 128 Kbps after 10GB.

There aren’t any overages, either. Here is a chart of what you get at every price point.

AT&T Prepaid

 Service

 $35/month

 $50/month
$65/month
 $85/month

With AutoPay discount
$30/month
$40/month
$55/month
$75/month

 Data
1GB
 8GB
Unlimited
Unlimited

Stream HD video
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Mobile hotspot
Yes
Yes
No
Up to 10GB

 Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
 No
 Yes
Yes
 Yes

 Unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada
 No
 Yes
Yes
 Yes

For plans that stream HD video, AT&T will turn the Stream Saver function — which is a manually activated video throttle that reduces video quality to SD — for you. In theory, this should help you conserve some of your data allotment, but you can turn it off at any time you’d like.

You get a $5 discount if you sign up for AutoPay under the $35 and $45 plans. For the $50, $65, and $85 plan, you receive $10 off. The plans are also eligible for multi-line discounts, so if you start adding lots of lines to your plan, you can get some money back. AT&T has made recent changes to these discounts — for the second line you now get a $10 discount instead of the previous $5 discount. With line four, the discount has increased to $20 from the $14 it was before. As for line three and five, you’ll receive $10 and $20 off respectively.

Recommendations: 

• AT&T Prepaid is best for individuals without heavy data needs.
• If you’re a family, you can get similar service for less elsewhere.

The perks of AT&T Prepaid:

• Strong coverage in both rural and urban areas.
• Big phone selection.
• No data overages anymore; speeds slow to 2G after you hit your limit.
• No credit check or contract.
• You’ll pay less than you would on AT&T’s other plans.

The downsides of AT&T Prepaid:

• Still pricey for a prepaid plan.

Top phones at AT&T

Phones
Down payment
Price/month x 24

iPhone X

iPhone 8

iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone SE

$0
$33.34 x 30 = $1000.20

$23.34 x 30 = $700.20

$26.67 x 30 = $800.10

$11.67 x 30 = $350.10

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

$0

$26.34 x 30 = $790.20

$30.50 x 30 = $915

LG V35 ThinQ

LG V30

$0
$30.00 x 30 = $900

$26.67 x 30 = $800.10

AT&T has plenty of great phones, along with a few cool exclusives on new devices. There are no more two-year contracts, though, so you do have to pay full price for your phone. You can do so in monthly installments, which AT&T tacks on to your bill. High-end phones tend to go for somewhere between $20 and $30 a month, while cheaper ones can be had for as little as $5 a month.

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Assistant’s Continued Conversation feature lets you drop all the ‘Hey, Googles’

We first learned that Google would be bringing a Continued Conversation feature to Assistant at Google I/O, when the tech giant unveiled a whole host of exciting new features that would make the smart helper more useful than ever. And now, Continued Conversation has been launched, and promises to make your interactions with Assistant more natural. In essence, it allows you to chat with the A.I. tool without constantly starting your sentences with “Hey Google.” After all, it’s not how you would speak to a fellow human, so Google thinks it’s not how you should speak to Assistant either.

“For the Google Assistant to have a natural conversation, it should be able to understand when it’s being spoken to and should be capable of responding to several requests during an interaction,” Google noted in an announcement. So rather than saying “Hey Google” multiple times, you now only have to say it once — from then on out, if you ask follow-up questions, you can just ask them as though you were asking anyone else.

The feature is rolling out today, June 21, on Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home Max. You’ll be able to turn on Continued Conversations by going to Settings, then Preferences, and then toggling on the Continued Conversation option.

Once you’ve activated the feature, then when you ask Assistant something (which does still need to be cued by saying, “Hey Google,”) you can keep the rhythm going by asking a follow-up, setting a reminder, or adding something to your shopping list. Once you’re finished with your conversation, simply say “thank you” or “stop.” Or, Google says, Assistant will end the conversation herself “once [she] detects that you’re no longer talking to the Assistant.” With the new setting, Assistant should stay active long enough for you to say everything you need to say at once (plus, you can also now give Assistant multiple commands — up to three, to be exact). Google notes that Assistant will stay active for eight seconds tops if it does not detect any speech. The LED lights at the top of your Google Home device will stay illuminated while the helper is listening.

So moving forward, your interactions with Google could look something like this: “Hey Google, what’s the weather today?” … “And what about tomorrow?” … “Can you add a rain jacket to my shopping list” … “And remind me to bring an umbrella tomorrow morning” … “Thank you!”

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How to use Android Messages on the web

Google is rolling out the latest version of its messaging app to Android users starting this week. The new version of the Android Messages app boasts a number of new features angled at making it more competitive with Facebook’s Messenger app and Apple’s rival iMessages app for iOS. One of the headline features of the new version of the Messages app is the ability login from the web. You’ll be able to send and receive all your text messages right from any browser window. Here’s how to get yourself all set up with the new system.

Update your Android Messages app

First step, you’re going to want to update your Android Messages app. To do that, just open the Google Play store, hit the icon in the top left of the screen, three lines stacked on top of each other — affectionately referred to as the ‘hamburger.’ Then go to My Apps & Games at the very top there. Now you’ll see a list of the apps and games installed on your Android device. Just hit update at the top here, an wait for Messages to download and install the update.

Enable Android Messages on the web

Once it finishes installing, fire it up! You’re going to want to do two things here. First, let’s open a web browser on the computer you want to receive your Android messages on. Head over to messages.android.com and you’ll see that the instructions are very straightforward. In your Android Messages app on your Android device, click the three-dot icon on the top right of the screen, then click Messages for web, on the next menu just scan the QR code at messages.android.com and you’re good to go!

To be fair, Google is still rolling this feature out over the next couple weeks so there’s a chance you might not see the option to enable Android Messages on the web. In that case, just keep an eye on your updates and keep checking that three-dot icon for the Messages for web option.

Now what

It’s up to you to decide if Google’s latest attempt at creating a messaging app will be successful. Given the news that Facebook Messenger will now be showing advertisements in your private, personal messages, Google’s latest stab at creating a unified messaging app comes at the perfect time for anyone looking for alternatives.

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How to use Android Messages on the web

Google is rolling out the latest version of its messaging app to Android users starting this week. The new version of the Android Messages app boasts a number of new features angled at making it more competitive with Facebook’s Messenger app and Apple’s rival iMessages app for iOS. One of the headline features of the new version of the Messages app is the ability login from the web. You’ll be able to send and receive all your text messages right from any browser window. Here’s how to get yourself all set up with the new system.

Update your Android Messages app

First step, you’re going to want to update your Android Messages app. To do that, just open the Google Play store, hit the icon in the top left of the screen, three lines stacked on top of each other — affectionately referred to as the ‘hamburger.’ Then go to My Apps & Games at the very top there. Now you’ll see a list of the apps and games installed on your Android device. Just hit update at the top here, an wait for Messages to download and install the update.

Enable Android Messages on the web

Once it finishes installing, fire it up! You’re going to want to do two things here. First, let’s open a web browser on the computer you want to receive your Android messages on. Head over to messages.android.com and you’ll see that the instructions are very straightforward. In your Android Messages app on your Android device, click the three-dot icon on the top right of the screen, then click Messages for web, on the next menu just scan the QR code at messages.android.com and you’re good to go!

To be fair, Google is still rolling this feature out over the next couple weeks so there’s a chance you might not see the option to enable Android Messages on the web. In that case, just keep an eye on your updates and keep checking that three-dot icon for the Messages for web option.

Now what

It’s up to you to decide if Google’s latest attempt at creating a messaging app will be successful. Given the news that Facebook Messenger will now be showing advertisements in your private, personal messages, Google’s latest stab at creating a unified messaging app comes at the perfect time for anyone looking for alternatives.

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Intel CEO Brian Krzanich resigns over a past interoffice affair

Intel CEO, Brian Krzanich Intel

Intel said on Thursday that Brian Krzanich stepped down as the company’s CEO and is no longer on the board of directors. The reason for the immediate departure is a “consensual” relationship with an employee, violating Intel’s policy of keeping your hands to yourself. Filling his shoes for the interim will be chief financial officer Robert Swan. 

“Intel was recently informed that Mr. Krzanich had a past consensual relationship with an Intel employee,” the company said. “An ongoing investigation by internal and external counsel has confirmed a violation of Intel’s non-fraternization policy, which applies to all managers. Given the expectation that all employees will respect Intel’s values and adhere to the company’s code of conduct, the board has accepted Mr. Krzanich’s resignation.” 

While the board hires an executive search firm to find a proper replacement, Swan will take the Intel wheel by working closely with the senior leadership team to manage operations. His past experience includes serving as CEO of Webvan Group Inc., nine years as CFO at eBay, CFO of Electronic Data Systems, and more. His current CFO role at Intel — aside from filling Krzanich’s shoes — includes leading the company’s global finance, IT, and corporate strategy organizations. 

Intel’s board says it has “a robust succession planning process in place” and will seek out a new, permanent CEO from candidates within and outside the company. 

Krzanich, 58, joined Intel as an engineer in 1982. By January 2012, he moved to the role of chief operating officer and helped bring Intel’s products to China. Then in May 2013 he was promoted once again to the role of CEO where he led the company on different paths outside its main processor focus, such as wearables, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. 

Krzanich came under fire earlier this year for dumping around $11 million worth of Intel stock prior to revealing the Spectre and Meltdown flaws in its processors. He made the sale in November as Intel and manufacturers worked to create patches before the problems were publicly exposed. Defending Krzanich, Intel indicated the sale was unrelated to the Spectre and Meltdown announcement despite share value taking a hit after Krzanich revealed the flaws. 

The sudden resignation is surprising and likely a jolt to the company. Non-fraternization policies are common in businesses, as employers dictate that you can’t mix business with pleasure. But Krzanich’s resignation is a prime example that even the CEO of a company can’t avoid a non-fraternization policy — at least, not at Intel. Speculation indicates that Intel’s board didn’t look the other way due to not wanting additional drama outside the ongoing Spectre/Meltdown fiasco. 

The resignation arrives as longtime Intel partner Microsoft cozies up with Qualcomm with “always connected” Windows 10 PCs. These devices rely on Windows on ARM powered by Qualcomm’s mobile-centric Snapdragon chips. They include 4G LTE connectivity for a constant internet connection and a battery promising more than 20 hours on a single charge. 

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Amazon may have spilled the beans for Prime Day 2018

The cat’s out of the bag, and it’s all the owner’s fault. On Thursday, online retail giant Amazon may have accidentally let slip when its perennially popular Amazon Prime Day would be in 2018. Mark your calendars, friends, because as per the banner Amazon posted to its U.K. website on Thursday, Prime Day will be July 16. That is less than four weeks from now, so you may want to start taking inventory of what you may need (or realistically, want).

Prime Day has been a huge hit for Amazon ever since it launched in 2015 and it boasts more deals (and better ones) than Black Friday, the largest commerce day in the United States. TechRadar initially noticed the teaser banner, but when contacted for a response to the apparent spillage of the beans, Amazon did not reply.

Another interesting tidbit lies in the report that Prime Day will supposedly last for more than 24 hours, as it will get its start around midday on July 16, and continue through the next day. If we get 36 hours of Prime Day, it will be the longest one yet. In 2017, the sales extravaganza went on for a little more than 24 hours.

2017 was the most successful Prime Day to date, with sales increasing more than 60 percent from 2016, according to Amazon. The day apparently also brought “tens of millions” of new Prime members to Amazon, which represents quite a bit of extra revenue for the company.

It’s likely that it’s not just Amazon that will be holding massive sales come mid-July. Prime Day has sparked off something of a bidding war among various retailers, as stores vie for shoppers’ attention. As CNBC notes, last year, Target began its back-to-school sale the same week as Prime Day, and J.C. Penney hosted its own  “Penney Palooza” sale online.

While Amazon’s best-sellers during Prime Day are generally their own devices, like the Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV Stick, this year could be a bit different. After all, Amazon has been doing more and more with Whole Foods, and other apparel brands like Nike and Calvin Klein are also now available on the site.

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States can now force you to pay online sales tax

In other words, you might have to start paying tax on B&H orders.

On Thursday, June 21, the Supreme Court voted in favor (5-4) of allowing states to require online buyers pay sales tax no matter what site they’re shopping at.

In 1992, it was ruled that consumers didn’t have to pay sales tax on an item if it was being shipped from a store that didn’t have a physical presence in the state of the buyer. However, following this recent decision from the Supreme Court, that’s no longer the case.

According to The Hill —

Delivering the opinion of the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the physical presence rule in that former case, known as Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, is unsound and incorrect.

For readers of our site, one of the biggest implications this ruling will have is on B&H. B&H doesn’t require that buyers pay sales tax if they place orders outside of New York or New Jersey, and while you’re supposed to later pay those uncollected funds when tax time comes around, the vast majority of people don’t.

From here on out, states can now force shoppers to pay the sales tax upfront no matter where you’re buying from.

Do you agree or disagree with how the Supreme Court ruled in this case?

I want to start seeing more crazy beautiful finishes on flagship phones