Keep a watch on your child at all times with Verizon’s 4G LTE GizmoWatch

Check in at any time.

In today’s era, simply sending your child to school can be worrisome. For parents who’re looking for a bit more peace of mind, Verizon is debuting its GizmoWatch later this year — the first 4G LTE watch for kids powered by Qualcomm.

The GizmoWatch is a successor to LG’s GizmoPal 2, a wearable which allowed for two-way calling with your child and the ability to view the device’s location on your smartphone. The GizmoWatch takes things a step further by implementing Verizon’s 4G LTE network to ensure your child’s calls and texts are sent successfully.

Though the original GizmoPal could only contact two selected phone numbers, the GizmoWatch is capable of calling up to ten numbers which can be set in the GizmoHub app for iOS and Android devices. If your child happens to share their number with someone whose number isn’t on that list, the call won’t go through. The app also allows you to pre-write up to 20 text messages that your child’s watch will be able to send to anyone on the list of contacts.

You’ll be able to track your child’s location using the GizmoHub app too; it can even be set up to send you notifications if your child leaves a predetermined area. The app will show the watch’s battery life and is capable of managing multiple watches too.

For the kids, there’s an integrated fitness and hopscotch tracker where they can keep track of their steps each day. A voice changer has been built-in as well that can make their voice sound like a robot and other fun characters. You’ll have the power to turn off the watch remotely via the app in case you feel like it’s taking attention away from something more important.

The watch is capable of lasting for up to four days depending on usage, and offers seven days of stand-by time. It’ll be released on October 10 to in-store and online at Verizon Wireless for $179.99, though you’ll be able to pre-order beginning on September 20. You’ll also have the option of adding it to your exisiting Verizon plan for only $5 a month (plus taxes and fees).

See at Verizon

Best SD card for the Raspberry Pi 3 B+

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We love the Raspberry Pi because it was designed as a learning tool, and it works well for hobbyists due to its low price and extensive support. We also love them for the fact that they’re easy to set up.

SanDisk is the king of flash storage, and its 32GB Ultra card is the best bang for your buck if you’re picking up a Raspberry Pi. You likely won’t need more storage than this, but if you need more, SanDisk and others offer cards with higher capacities.

The SD card for you

SanDisk Ultra 32GB

32GB is plenty for the whatever OS you install on the Raspberry Pi, with some space left over for games, programming environments, and whatever else you want to keep installed. If you intend to install a lot of games though, you may be better served with a higher capacity card.

• $9 from Amazon

A similar card

Samsung EVO Plus 32GB

If for some reason SanDisk’s card isn’t available, this one from Samsung is only a bit more. It’ll be more than fast enough for your Raspberry Pi, and it offers plenty of space for you to tinker.

• $12 from Amazon

More storage

Samsung EVO Plus 64GB

If you’re going to use your Raspberry Pi for gaming or as a desktop computer, more space is always better. This 64GB card is just as fast as the previous one, so it won’t slow your Raspberry Pi down. And it’s only a few dollars more than the 32GB version, but with twice the storage.

$18 at Amazon

Whole lotta space

SanDisk Ultra 64GB

If you’re going to use the Raspberry Pi as a desktop computer or as a game console, you’ll need as much space as you can get for programs and games. This 64GB card is only a little more expensive than the 32GB option but offers twice as much storage.

$25 at Amazon

Less storage, lower price

SanDisk Ultra 16GB

If your Raspberry Pi is being built for one specific application — as a print server, VPN, or another similar task — a 16GB card will be enough space for you. This one from SanDisk is just as fast and reliable as the higher tier models, just with less space.

$8 at Amazon

Bare minimum

Kingston Canvas Select 16GB

16GB is still a lot of space, depending on exactly what you’re using it for. If you need the bare minimum amount of storage for your Raspberry Pi and don’t want to spend any more money than you have to, this is the card for you.

$6 at Amazon

32GB isn’t a lot for our phones, but it’s more than plentiful for the Raspberry Pi 3 B+. You’ll easily have enough space to use the Raspberry Pi as a print server, a VPN, media center or even as a full desktop — so long as you only need basic programs. You CAN get a bigger card — or a smaller one — but the 32GB card is a nice sweet spot. It’s a lot of storage, but you’re not paying for an excessive amount that will just get wasted. And if you find you use your Raspberry Pi for more than the basics, this should be enough space to accommodate you.

Before buying a card, just think about how you’ll use your Raspberry Pi. If it’s only going to be used for something simple, a smaller card will be perfect. If you intend to install a bunch of games or use it as a home movie server, more storage will always be better.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s post-launch content is coming to PS4 first

Everyone’s favorite gaming practice.

Following Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s release on October 12, Activision and Treyarch are planning to support it with frequent post-launch content activities and events. According to the publisher, these free content drops will be exclusive to PlayStation 4 for the first seven days before making their way onto other platforms.

The following are just a few of the content drops that Activision will be offering after Black Ops 4’s initial release.

• Nuketown: This fan-favorite map returns in November in an all-new take.
• Specialists: The first of several new characters will debut in December.
• Blackout: Launch day is only the start; Blackout will continue to evolve after launch with regular map updates, expansions and new Blackout modes.
• Events: Seasonal, weekly, and time-limited events bringing new game modes and content to players.

Any playable content coming to Black Ops 4 is set to come to PS4 first for one week, including new specialists, maps, and seasonal events.

In addition, PlayStation announced that multiple PS4 bundles will be releasing across Europe after the game’s launch. However, the company did not provide further details. Bundles and prices will vary across regions.

See at PlayStation
See at Amazon

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Has the NVIDIA Shield TV been discontinued?

Best answer: No. The standard 16GB NVIDIA Shield TV has not been discontinued, nor has any other NVIDIA Shield TV model.

Amazon: NVIDIA Shield TV ($178)

Despite rumors, NVIDIA Shield TV has not been discontinued

Due to a lack of stock in late 2017, as well as multiple GeForce forums posts, it was believed that NVIDIA first discontinued the basic 16GB Shield, but then changed its mind and discontinued the Shield TV Pro.

While there may have been plans to discontinue the Pro (many users just connect their own NAS for storage anyway), and it may have even been out of production briefly, you can still very much buy the Pro and three other NVIDIA Shield TV models right on NVIDIA’s website, as well as from Best Buy and Amazon.

There are two NVIDIA Shield TV models to choose from

Not only is the NVIDIA Shield TV not discontinued, but you have three other configurations to choose from, depending on how you want to use it.

NVIDIA Shield TV

This is the basic Shield TV. It features 16GB of onboard storage, 4K HDR support, built-in Google Assistant, as well as all that streaming and live TV goodness.

NVIDIA Shield TV Gaming Edition

This iteration has 16GB of onboard storage and comes with a rumble feedback gaming controller, as well as access to the GeForce NOW beta, which is NVIDIA’s way of syncing gaming across Mac, PC, and your Shield TV. (Yeah, Mac gamers can play on Mac without Bootcamp!)

NVIDIA Shield TV Smart Home Edition

This has 16GB of onboard storage, all the goodies of the original, plus it comes with a SmartThings hub and a SmartThings Link, which transform your Shield TV into a Zigbee and Z-wave smart home hub. If you’re looking to build a smart home around your TV or you simply want an excellent hub, this is your buy.

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro

Despite much speculation, this version is still alive and kicking. It has all of the capabilities of the other iterations, but it has 500GB of onboard storage and the Plex Media Server built in.

Our pick

NVIDIA Shield TV

$178 at Amazon

Sometimes basic is the absolute best.

The OG NVIDIA Shield TV is the way to go if you’re just getting into things. You can just buy the gaming controller on its own or even go for third-party options. There are also many ways to build a smart home, but to enjoy all that the NVIDIA Shield TV has to offer, the basic option is more than enough.

Increase immersion with Bluetooth headphones for the Oculus Go

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We’ve spent hours looking at all the best headsets and are always excited to look for the best wireless, Bluetooth-enabled options.

VICSOME True Wireless are currently the best headphones you’re going to find for your Oculus Go. From the noise-canceling abilities to their ability to seem like they’re not even there, these are the perfect fit for the best immersive experience for your virtual reality adventures.

Quality immersion

VICSOME True Wireless Earbuds

• $60 from Amazon

For the most immersion

These earbuds come with a neat little compact that also serves as a charger to help you always keep them together. Fret not about losing your favorite pair of headphones, they’ll stay together for you!

Why the Visome headphones?

Whenever we play VR we want to feel, see, and interact with as little of the real world as we can. Visome delivers this effect by being small enough that you’ll completely forget that they’re there. Besides, the noise-canceling alone is enough to sell me. One of my biggest problems when getting into horror games in VR is always still being able to hear my roommates chatting and cutitng all that extra noise out will only let me get into the game more.

Reasons to buy

• Comfortable
• Noise canceling
• Almost like they’re not there
• Fast charging
• Long lasting battery life
• Built-in microphones

Reasons not to buy

• Pieces are small and could easily be lost
• Charging is a hassle if you lose the device

Why would you want Bluetooth headphones for your VR headset?

When using your VR headset, the biggest problem you’ll encounter is immersion, whether it’s hearing the world around you to accidentally bumping your knee on a coffee table. Every little thing we do to help that truly makes a difference. So, while you can move your furniture to make more room for walking around, you can also upgrade your sound options to better improve your gaming sessions.

3D sound for better immersion in VR, but still comfortable enough to use in everyday life

Outside of using these headphones for your VR sessions, they also come in handy in your everyday life as well. Bluetooth headphones are perfect for taking your morning train, plugging in to tune out, or even daily runs. The more comfortable and durable they are, the more uses you can get out of them. However, buying Bluetooth headphones can be an investment, so you want to make sure you get the best option for you.

While wireless earbuds are the most comfortable for some, others might prefer over-the-ear. Regardless of your preference, there’s a set of headphones for you. Use them with your Oculus Go, your phone, computer, and more!

Alternatives to the Visome headphones

If the Visome headphones aren’t for you, you can always check out the Mpow H5 Bluetooth Headphones or the Hussar Magicbuds. The Mpow H5 is my go-to pick for actual headphones instead of earbuds, and the Hussar Magicbuds will surely form to anyone’s budget. So, whether you have a different preference, or don’t want to spend as much, I’ve got a few options for you.

Runner-up

Mpow H5 Bluetooth Headphones

The best over-the-ear option

$50 at Amazon

Currently Amazon’s best choice, these Mpow headphones are an absolute steal. There are 3 color options and the Bluetooth options work up to 33 feet away by using Bluetooth 4.1!

These over-the-ear headphones are also noise-canceling and made of comfortable protein fibers to not only be comfortable, but durable. If you’re more of a fan of headphones instead of earbuds, these are the choice for you. I’ve even used these headphones while watching ASMR videos on YouTube while trying to sleep. Trust me, if they’re comfortable enough to sleep in they’re perfectly fine for VR games and experiences.

Value pick

Hussar Magicbuds

Save your money with a semi-wired option

$20 at Amazon

You never want to go too cheap when it comes to your tech or you run the risk of having more problems than you started out with. These Bluetooth headphones have a wire going between them (that wraps around your neck) and will be the best option you’ve got on a budget. They’re not noise-canceling or high-tech in their sound options, but they’ll definitely get the job done!

Bottom line

The VICSOME True Wireless is the best choice. The price isn’t too crazy and, for their intended purpose of VR, they’re virtually undetectable. The$60 price tag doesn’t just get you a great pair of earbuds for your Oculus Go, but also one for your everyday use. That’s really what we’re looking for when we’re getting new technology anyway, right? Making sure they have multiple uses and get us the most bang for our buck. Any of the options above would be a great choice, but earbuds will always be my number one.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Essa Kidwell is a writer for Windows Central, iMore and Android Central. She’s an avid PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Virtual Reality, and Xbox gamer. Outside of her love of technology, she runs Zombie Apocolypse LARPs (Live Action Roleplay) for Dystopia Rising by creating and running game content. You can follow her on Twitter @OriginalSluggo.

Tom Westrick is a U.S.-based freelancer. He’s been poking and prodding at Android phones since 2011, and covering various topics for Android Central since 2017. He can often be found with multiple laptops in his backpack and a cup of iced tea in his hand. Follow him on Twitter: @TomWestrick1.

Canada Daily Deals: Ring Video Doorbell bundles, countertop gardening, more

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts the Logitech MX Master mouse, Ring Video Doorbell 2 + Echo Dot bundles, countertop AeroGardens, portable SSDs, and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter Canada team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more Canadian deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter CA and follow the team on Twitter.

The Lenovo Smart Tab blends the best of Alexa and Android in one device

You wouldn’t have the Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot, or Echo Show, or whatever) without Amazon Alexa. Here’s what you need to know about the two.

Latest News

September 20, 2018 — The Lenovo Smart Tab blends the best of Alexa and Android in one device

Per a press release that was shared on its website, Lenovo announced that it’s working on a new device called the Lenovo Smart Tab. We don’t have any specs on the Smart Tab or even know what it looks like, but Lenovo says it features Amazon Alexa and has a “Show Mode” that “will offer more visual Alexa experiences to enhance the way users interact with their music, control smart home devices, and more.”

We also know that the Smart Tab will feature Lenovo’s “versatile and beautifully designed Android tablet technology”, but aside from that, this gadget is still mostly a mystery.

Lenovo will be sharing more details on the Smart Tab later this year, so stay tuned!

September 20, 2018 — Amazon announces whisper mode, offline smart home control, and more at fall event

Amazon just wrapped up its big fall event at its HQ in Seattle, and as expected, a lot of new Alexa goodies were announced.

The first thing Amazon unveiled is a new whisper mode for Alexa. Alexa can now detect when you’re whispering to it and then whisper a response back in return. According to Amazon, the functionality will be “rolling out soon.”

Also new is offline support for controlling smart home devices. For example, if you say “Alexa, turn off the lights”, your command will still go through even if there’s no active internet connection.

If home security is important to you, Alexa Guard will probably become one of your new favorite features. Alexa Guard connects to any home security systems you’ve got set up, so if you say something such as “Alexa, I’m leaving”, Alexa Guard will trigger all of your devices to lock down your home even if you’re using stuff from other brands. To get things started, Amazon’s partnering with Ring and ADT to kickstart the platform.

On a similar note, the newly announced Alexa Doorbell API will allow you to have two-way interaction on an Echo Show and Echo Spot when someone rings a connected doorbell. Anyone can tap into this, meaning it won’t be tied to just specific partners Amazon okays.

Lastly, in an attempt to make everything a smart gadget, Amazon’s launching the Alexa Connect Kit.

Alexa Connect Kit is a new developer kit that features various radios and a real-time OS that devs can integrate into appliances and make them “smart.” Brands like Hamilton Beach, P&G, and others are already using it.

July 26, 2018 — Alexa Cast launches as a way to cast Amazon Music from your phone to Alexa speakers

If you own an Alexa-powered speaker, there’s a good chance you subscribe to Amazon Music. Amazon Music is a great service for using your voice to listen to tunes on your Alexa device, and today with a new update that’s rolling out to the app, you can finally use Amazon Music on your phone to cast music to your Alexa speakers.

Aptly called “Alexa Cast”, this works just like we’ve seen from Google with Chromecast for years. When listening to a song in Amazon Music on your phone, tap the Alexa Cast button, choose the speaker you want to send your tunes to, and it’ll automatically switch to it from your phone.

You can start using Alexa Cast after updating the Amazon Music app on your Android or iOS device.

April 18, 2018 — A new Call of Duty skill delivers personalized coaching, tips on objectives to complete, and more

We don’t blame you if you never thought of pairing Alexa with Activision’s Call of Duty: WWII, but someone apparently did and made a skill just for that.

The new Call of Duty Alexa Skill can connect to your Call of Duty account, and after doing so, you can ask your Echo about how to improve your game based on the last match you just played, get updates on new Contracts you should complete, see which friends are playing, and more. Activision says the skill allows for personalized responses to over 2,500 questions and can dish out 250,000 responses using a custom “solider” voice.

Although it’s still in beta, you can start using the skill right now by enabling it and then saying “Alexa, Ask Call of Duty ___”

April 4, 2018 – Hands-free Alexa comes to more Fire tablets, music now available with Routines, and Canadian users can use Alexa in the Amazon Music mobile app

Whew, what a day! Amazon announced a heap of Alexa goodies on April 4, and without further ado, let’s run through what’s new.

First off, the online shopping giant has now allowed you to turn the Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets into hands-free Alexa speakers. This is a feature that was previously reserved for just the Fire HD 10, and it allows you to say “Alexa” and have the tablets respond just like an Echo. The tablets will need to have their screens on or be plugged into a power source in order for this to work, but even so, it’s a nice way to get Alexa listening to you no matter where you go.

Moving over to Alexa Routines, you can now add music to these. Alexa Routines enable you to perform a variety of actions with one single command, and up until now, playing music wasn’t an option when creating a new Routine. With this update, however, you can play your favorite album, artist, podcast, etc. from Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, and TuneIn.

Last but not least, users in Canada can now talk to Alexa inside the Amazon Music app for Android and iOS.

What is Alexa?

Amazon Echo. Or Alexa. They’re one and the same, really. That is, an Amazon Echo without Alexa really isn’t any more than just a speaker. And Alexa without a speaker is just … Well, nothing.

Confused yet. I don’t blame you. Let’s explain the difference this way:

Echo is hardware, Alexa is software

Amazon Echo — and all of its permutations — is hardware. Alexa is software. She (and I have zero problem if you refer to Alexa as a she) is the brains behind the Echo, and all the things you can do with it. And because she’s software, she’s available on more than just Amazon’s own devices.

Anyone can put Alexa on anything. You can make your own Alexa speaker for just a few bucks and a little bit of nerdy know-how. There are third-party Alexa speakers that look like Amazon’s own Echo Dot. There are third-party Alexa speakers that look like speakers. You can get Alexa baked into a smart thermostat. She’s built into the HTC U11 smartphone.

The point is, Alexa can be built into pretty much anything these days.

But that’s just half of the story.

It’s all about the Alexa Skills, baby …

Alexa starts out by knowing what Amazon tells it. She already knows how to tell the time, and set alarms and timers, or answer general questions and read headlines. But Alexa also has the ability to learn more. A lot more.

Or, more precisely, you have the ability to teach Alexa new things.

See all of Amazon’s Skills here

Amazon calls these things “Skills,” and there are hundreds of them.

Want to teach Alexa to turn on your smart lights, or open your garage door, or do anything she doesn’t already know how to do? You need a Skill. That’s where developers come in. Amazon has made it so that anyone can write an Alexa Skill, and companies and their developers have been doing so for years now.

Think about the things you do every day. Listen to satellite radio? There’s a Skill for that. Lock your house after you’re already at work? It’s a little daunting, actually. There are hundreds and hundreds of Skills, of varying degrees of usefulness. (Dog facts, uh, OK.)

How to enable and disable Alexa Skills

Support for Sonos speakers

Amazon Echo speakers are pretty decent, but Sonos speakers are better! The latest version of the Sonos One speaker has Alexa built right in, making it arguably the best sounding Alexa speaker you can buy.

If you’ve already got a bunch of Sonos speakers set up around your home, don’t fear — simply use the Sonos Skill and you’ll be able to control all the different speakers around your home. It’s not the greatest experience with some very mixed reviews from users, but it’s still the best way to connect your high-end smart speakers with Alexa.

Alexa Routines makes life easier — now with music!

One of the coolest parts of smart speakers is the ability to get the latest news, play music, and control your connected smart home devices all with your voice. With Alexa and your Amazon Echo products, you have the option to do so on an individual basis or group actions together using Routines.

Routines are built right into the Alexa app and are entirely customizable. You can create your own Alexa Routines right in the app which can be triggered by a phrase you say (ex: “Alexa, good morning”) or at a scheduled time.

Each Routine can trigger a combination of up to seven different action types, which are each customizable to some extent depending on what you need Alexa to do:

• Alexa Says: Mostly silly stuff. You can set Alexa to say a specific greeting, wish you a happy birthday, sing a song, or tell a story or joke.
• Music: The latest feature to be added to Routines, you can use an Alexa Routine to trigger music. For example, saying “Alexa, it’s party time” could automatically play your favorite party playlist on Spotify.
• News: Adding this to a routine will trigger Alexa to read out the latest Flash Briefing news reports.
• Smart Home: Get Alexa to toggle or control your connected smart home products. For example, I have a routine set up for when I say “Alexa, I’m leaving” that turns off all the smart lights in my house.
• Traffic: To add traffic updates to an Alexa routine, you’ll first need to dive into the Alexa settings and enter location information for your daily commute.
• Volume: You can set a routine to automatically adjust Alexa’s volume. For example, if you’re a really heavy sleeper you can have Alexa crank the volume when you say “good night”.
• Weather: Adds a weather update to your custom routine.

How to set up Routines on your Amazon Echo

Alexa calling and messaging

All of that connected home stuff is great, and it’s important. But one of the more exciting avenues of potential lies in Alexa Calling and Messaging. As the name implies, it’s the ability to make calls and leave messages through Alexa. From the outset, it works with Echo devices and the Alexa app on phones and tablets. If you have an original Echo or Echo Dot, you can make voice calls. If you have an Echo Show, you can make video calls, or even “drop in” on a close acquaintance (they have to approve you first) without them having to hit a single button.

That’s where these $50 Echo Dots really make a lot of sense. Now Amazon has a means for you to communicate not just on that little Dot, but also on your phone. It’s two birds with one stone, and it’s really just the start of things. And it makes up for where Amazon failed in trying to make its own phone. Folks didn’t want a Fire Phone, but they do want an Echo — especially an inexpensive on — and in buying one they have to put the Alexa app on their phone.

It’s not quite a benevolent Trojan Horse, but it’s close.

Read: Amazon is getting close to being the king of all messaging

Update May 2018: Added sections on Sonos speaker support and Routines.

Amazon Alexa

• Which Amazon Echo should you buy?
• Get more Alexa Skills
• How to enable and disable Alexa Skills
• How to customize Flash Briefing
• How to get sports updates
• How to sync your calendar with Alexa
• How to shop with Alexa
• Send voice messages with Alexa

See more at Amazon

How to Use Instant Tuning in iOS 12 and Change Notification Behavior on the Fly

As part of its digital health initiative in iOS 12, Apple has introduced some improvements to the way app notifications can be managed, enabling users to more easily reduce the number of daily distractions their iPhone or iPad throws their way.

One of these new features is called Instant Tuning, which allows you to quickly adjust the future behavior of app notifications whenever they appear in the Lock Screen or the Notifications Center. Here’s how to make the most of it.

How to Use Instant Tuning in iOS 12

Next time an alert appears in your device’s Notifications Center or on the Lock Screen, swipe left on it, then tap Manage. Alternatively, if your device supports 3D Touch, hard press on the alert and then tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the expanded notification.

A Manage Notifications pop-up will appear on the screen featuring two blue button options. Deliver Quietly ensures future alerts from this app only appear in the Notification Center (accessed by swiping down from the top of your device’s screen).

Note that selecting this option means alerts will no longer show in the Lock Screen and you won’t see any banner notifications on any other screens. Deliver Quietly also turns off any sound or vibration alerts set for the associated app.

If you tap Deliver Quietly and then decide you’d rather not stick with the setting, open the Manage Notifications pop-up again in the same way and tap the Deliver Prominently button to reinstate the previous settings.

The second option, Turn Off…, completely disables all notifications for the related app. Tap this button and you will be prompted to confirm it’s what you want.

Below the two large blue buttons is a less prominent Settings button that takes you to the individual app’s various notification options, usually accessed via the main Settings app.

From here you can adjust where alerts should appear (if at all), enable or disable sounds and badges, select alert preview options (Always, When Unlocked, Never) and choose how notifications should be grouped (Automatic, By App, Off).

Related Roundup: iOS 12
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Amazon Reveals New Alexa-Compatible Echo Speakers, Subwoofer, Amplifiers, Microwave, Wall Clock, and More

Amazon held a big hardware event today at The Seattle Spheres, located at Amazon’s headquarters campus in Washington state. The event was notable for Amazon, with senior vice president of Amazon Devices Dave Limp stating that it marked the largest number of devices and features that Amazon has ever debuted in one day.

The first product unveiling was a new and upgraded Echo Dot, which includes a brand new mic array for better performance. The company says the driver is much larger — increasing from 1.1″ to a 1.6″ driver — resulting in more powerful sound with lower distortion, enhanced bass reproduction, and increased overall max volume.

Echo Dot
Through all of the upgrades, Echo Dot’s footprint still hasn’t increased and the price will remain at $49.99, just like previous generations. The new Echo Dot ships in October, and pre-orders go up today.

There’s also a new mainline Echo device, the new Echo Plus. This generation has more powerful sound with stronger bass and clearer playback. There’s a new equalizer feature that lets you use your voice to adjust the bass and treble through Alexa, a built-in smart home hub so you can set up devices by stating “Alexa, discover my devices,” and an integrated temperature sensor so you can trigger routines based on how cool or hot the room is.

Image via The Verge
Echo Plus will cost $149.99 and is up for pre-order today before its October launch.

A new Echo Show has been completely redesigned with a larger screen, included smart home hub, and improved sound quality. There are dual, side-firing 2″ Neodymium drivers, a passive bass radiator and Dolby processing for stereo sound; a 10-inch HD display that’s twice the display area of the original Echo Show; and an 8-mic array. The new Echo Show will cost $229.99, and can be pre-ordered today to arrive next month.

Echo Show
Next, the company announced the Echo Input, which is the first Echo device without a speaker. Echo Input adds Alexa voice controls to another Bluetooth speaker via a 3.5mm audio cable or Bluetooth. The device has a four-microphone array, support Alexa commands, and is just 12.5mm tall. Echo Input will launch later this year for $34.99.

Echo Sub
Amazon also revealed the Echo Sub (via The Verge), which is aimed at adding deep bass to an existing Echo device ecosystem through stereo pairing. The 100W subwoofer can be paired with two compatible Echo devices (to get a 2.1 stereo system) and will be controlled via the Alexa mobile app or your voice. Echo Sub is up for pre-order today and will ship later this month for $129.99.

To add even more controls to an Amazon ecosystem, the Echo Link is designed to connect to a receiver or amplifier and includes multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs. This ensures compatibility with existing stereo equipment, allowing you to control music selection, volume, and multi-room playback on your stereo with your Echo or the Alexa app. Echo Link costs $199.99 and will launch later in the year.

Echo Link
Amazon debuted another stereo amplifier called the Echo Link Amp, and this one has a built-in 60W 2-channel amplifier, multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs for connectivity with existing equipment, and the expected music playback controls. The Echo Link Amp will cost $299.99 and also launches later this year. It’s important to note that neither the Echo Link or Echo Link Amp include onboard microphones for Alexa controls, since they’re designed to connect to other Echo speakers for that functionality.

Amazon Smart Plug
The company revealed its first foray into the smart plug category with the Amazon Smart Plug, which is the first device to ship with Amazon’s new Wi-Fi Simple Setup feature that was also announced today. Like existing smart plugs, you can use the Amazon Smart Plug to turn older devices (with basic on/off settings) into smart home gadgets that can be controlled from your smartphone or through a smart assistant. Amazon’s option will be $24.99 and is up for pre-order today ahead of an October launch.

AmazonBasics Microwave
Expanding further into smart home appliances, Amazon revealed the AmazonBasics Microwave, which includes dozens of quick-cook voice presets so that you can cook food by talking to Alexa. There’s a built-in Ask Alexa button, so that you can press it and give a cooking command like “two minutes and 30 seconds on medium” to start the microwave. The AmazonBasics Microwave will cost $59.99 and launch later in the year.

Echo Wall Clock
Amazon has also now placed Alexa in a wall clock with the Echo Wall Clock, which performs all of the expected Alexa and Echo tasks, while also telling the time. The Echo Wall Clock costs $29.99 and will ship later this year.

For the vehicle market, Amazon revealed the Echo Auto, a small device that has an eight-microphone array that can pick up Alexa commands through noisy car environments. Echo Auto isn’t a full infotainment system in itself, but instead acts as a sort of dongle that you can plug into an existing system to gain Alexa skills in your car.

Image via TechCrunch
Amazon announced as many as 70 total devices, updates, and features today, so we’ve quickly rounded up some of these below:

• New Ring Stick Up Cam with wired and battery options coming later in 2018 for $179.99
• Alexa is becoming more opinionated and personal, with improved short term memory
• Routines for Kids: Alexa Routines that let parents easily build Routines for their family, like “Alexa, good night” so Alexa will turn off lights, start sleep sounds, etc.
• Alexa Multi-Room Music will let you sync your Amazon Music across speakers from multiple device makers
• New Alexa music controls: now you can say “Alexa, I want to follow Imagine Dragons” and the assistant will alert you when they have a new album
• Local voice control for smart home devices: cloud-based NLU and ASR are now local to the Echo Plus, so you can still control your smart home devices when the internet is down
• Wi-Fi Simple Setup for super simple Wi-Fi setup on new devices
• Broadcasting capabilities on Echo, Fire TV, and Alexa app later this year
• Alexa now has “hunches,” so if you say “Alexa, good night” but your front door is still unlocked, Alexa will warn you
• New v4 smart home API and Alexa Connect Kit entering public preview today, lets developers make any device work with Alexa
• Alexa Guard helps you protect your home when you’re away, with smart alerts, audio clips, and more, using Echo devices to listen and watch your house
• Away Lighting to intelligently turn smart lights on and off in natural patterns when you’re away
• Doorbell support and doorbell chime announcements coming to Echo Show and Echo Spot
• Alexa can give step-by-step cooking instructions
• Fire TV Recast: new companion DVR to watch and record free OTA programming to any Fire TV or Echo Show

If you’re interested, all of the products up for pre-order today should begin appearing on Amazon’s Echo and Alexa page soon.

Tags: Amazon, Amazon Echo
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Review: Rain Design’s mBar Pro is a Portable Aluminum Stand for Your MacBook

Rain Design, a maker of accessories for Apple products, released three laptop stands made of anodized aluminum to match Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro models earlier this year: the mBar, mBar Pro, and mBar Pro+. The mBar is a minimalist MacBook stand with fixed arms that’s not meant to be portable, and the mBar Pro and Pro+ have folding arms for easy portability.

A laptop stand can be a critical accessory for a home or office workstation to elevate your laptop to a more comfortable and ergonomic position for extended use. But a portable laptop stand is more of an option than a necessity, and size and weight are crucial factors in determining if it’s worthy of adding to your bag.

I received the mBar Pro to review and tested it with a 15-inch MacBook Pro. I’ve personally owned several Rain Design stands, including the iLap, mStand, and iLevel (which is a permanent fixture at my treadmill desk at home).

Design and Materials

All three mBar models are made of anodized aluminum and come in silver or space gray. All have rubber strips on all contact points to protect your laptop, as well as rubber feet for stability.

The mBar Pro folds up into a rectangle with two nubs that stick out on one side. It measures 9.6 inches (243 mm) wide, 3.6 inches (91mm) tall, and 1/2 inch (12.4 mm) thick when folded. The nubs are on the extendable legs and prevent your laptop from sliding off. It folds up tightly though it takes a little trial and error to figure out which leg flips out which way to set it up.

When the legs are extended, it measures 9.6 inches from front to back and it and raises the rear of a MacBook Pro by 3 inches. It feels solid yet light, weighing in at 4.6 ounces (130 grams). I found that my MacBook Pro felt stable and didn’t wobble at all while on it.

Overall, the mBar Pro feels solid and well-designed. It’s definitely an attractive accessory that complements Apple’s laptop line.

Usage

It’s compact when folded and is light enough to not be noticeable as extra weight in my laptop bag. While retail units come with a protective carrying sleeve, the review unit I received did not include one, and this was the source of my initial misgivings about adding the mBar Pro to my laptop bag. It doesn’t have any sharp edges, but I feel like it could mark my laptop if placed next to it in the laptop bag I use the most. In the weeks that I’ve been using the mBar Pro, this was the biggest reason that I skipped adding it to my laptop bag, or removed it. With the included carrying case—or if you use a protective sleeve with your laptop—this won’t be an issue for you, of course.

I used the mBar while working at coffee shop tables and standing at kitchen counters. General ergonomic principles for laptop use dictate that you should keep your wrists in as neutral a position as possible. Depending on your height or chair position, the height of the table or counter, the mBar may or may not help with that. When standing at a counter, I tend to rest my wrists right on my laptop below the keyboard and have to focus on keeping them neutral while using the mBar Pro.

When sitting at a table, the mBar Pro raises my MacBook Pro to a level that allows me to keep my neck in a more neutral position. If you’ve heard about “text neck,” which is neck strain that results from looking down at a phone (or your favorite electronic device), the mBar Pro can definitely help avoid this, at least while you’re using your laptop. As an avid iPhone user, I definitely want to avoid neck strain as much as possible and I’m all for a product that helps me with that.

The height of the mBar Pro isn’t adjustable, so if that’s a feature you need, you’ll need to look elsewhere (or use magazines, books, or other impromptu items on hand to add some height).

An added benefit of the mBar Pro’s minimalist design allows for excellent air flow around your laptop. If you’re doing processor-intensive work, it can help keep your MacBook Pro a little cooler since heat can dissipate more quickly.

Bottom Line

The mBar Pro is a lightweight, attractive, and functional portable laptop stand that aesthetically matches Apple’s MacBook line. It can help relieve neck strain, though without any height adjustments, its ability to help will vary based on the furniture you use and your own habits.

However, it’s not cheap at just under $55. At this price point, I can’t recommend it as a must-buy but if you have the cash and need a light, easy solution to elevate your MacBook Pro, it’s one of the nicest portable stands I’ve seen.

How to Buy

The mBar Pro can be purchased directly from Rain Design or from Amazon.

Note: Rain Design provided MacRumors with an mBar Pro for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Tag: Rain Design
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