You’ll be able to control the new Zipp 2 and Zipp Mini 2 with Alexa or Siri

A brand new Bluetooth speaker.

Libratone has announced a followup to the Zipp and Zipp Mini wireless speakers. The new speakers, the Zipp 2 and Zipp Mini 2, will be very similar but also include Amazon’s Alexa built right in.

These speakers have 360-degree sound and will come in four possible colors: frosty gray, black, cranberry red, and pine green. Having sound in every direction gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to where you’ll place the speaker, and it’s a trend we’re seeing a lot lately with everyone from Logitech to Anker. They have a lot of connection options as well. In addition to Alexa, the speakers also support AirPlay 2 and can be controlled by Siri using Apple’s HomeKit. They have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and a USB port so you can connect just about anything and keep the music going. They also have DLNA and a 3.5mm audio jack. You can connect up to 10 of these speakers together for a multi-room audio system.

Both of these speakers will be available on Amazon in October.

Canada Deal: Amazon’s Fire TV streaming stick is $10 off for a limited time

The Basic Edition of the Fire TV Stick offers access to all the streaming services you know and love.

Amazon has reduced the price of its Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) to just $39.99. Usually $49.99, this is the best price we’ve seen for the streaming device since Prime Day.

The Fire TV Stick connects your HDTV and hooks you up to a wide selection of video content from the likes of Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and more, as well as downloadable games and web browser support — check out the full range of apps available in Canada. A dedicated remote is included for easy navigation.

Amazon also announced yesterday that it is bringing monthly pricing for Amazon Prime to Canada, so you can now get access to its speedy delivery options and Prime Video and Prime Music without paying for a year of service up front.

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

See at Amazon Canada

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lenovo Smart Display

Here are a few things you might not know about the Lenovo Smart Display!

The Lenovo Smart Display has quickly become one of our favorite smart home gadgets in a long time, mostly due to the fact that it takes everything great about the Google Home, slaps on a screen, and costs under $200.

The addition of that screen allows for a lot of neat tricks we’ve never seen before with display-less Google Assistant speakers, and after having a Lenovo Smart Display in my apartment for a few weeks, I’ve come across a lot of things I wasn’t expecting when I ordered it.

Here are 10 things you probably don’t know about the Lenovo Smart Display!

1. It can act as a Chromecast target

Just like if you had a Chromecast plugged into your TV, you can send movies and TV shows from your favorite apps to the Lenovo Smart Display to watch them on it.

Not all apps that support Chromecast work with the Smart Display quite yet (Netflix is currently the biggest omission), but it is compatible with YouTube, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, and more.

2. The speaker sounds surprisingly great

Whether you’re watching videos or listening to music, the speaker on the Lenovo Smart Display sounds much better than I was initially anticipating.

Sound comes through nice and clear, there’s a respectable bass-y punch, and I’ve not once dared to turn this thing up to max volume — it gets loud.

You’ll still find an overall better audio experience with something like a Sonos One or Google Home Max, but considering the $199 starting price and the fact that there’s a screen in addition to the speaker, Lenovo did a great job here.

3. You can make regular phone calls

It’s no surprise that you can make video calls via Google Duo with the Lenovo Smart Display, but did you know that you can also make regular, audio-only phone calls?

You can ask the Smart Display to make a call to one of your contacts just like you would with Google Home, and thanks to the display, there’s an on-screen keypad you can use during a call, too.

In other words, this just might be the most convenient way to call the customer care team for your cable or phone service provider.

4. Support for audio groups is currently missing

There’s plenty to love about the Lenovo Smart Display, but one thing I wasn’t aware of before using the gadget was a less than pleasant surprise.

While audio groups in the Google Home app can be used to simultaneously play music on multiple Google Assistant speakers at once, the Smart Display cannot be added to these groups for whatever reason.

It’s unclear if this is something that’ll be changed down the road, but for the time being, it, unfortunately, makes the Smart Display feel like a separate beast compared to other Assistant speakers when it should feel like an extension of them.

5. There’s a lot to customize with Ambient Mode

When you’re not using the Smart Display, it’ll go into something called “Ambient Mode.” There are a few different ways you can configure Ambient Mode, including:

• Photo frame — Your favorite albums from Google Photos
• Art gallery — Beautiful images and artwork
• Clock — Any Ambient Mode can show the time, but this one has a choice of clock faces
• Experimental — Try out new sources and content (currently Facebook and Flickr)

6. The camera can be hidden with a physical cover

The addition of the camera on the Lenovo Smart Display allows it to be an excellent Google Duo device for video calls, but if you’re someone that’s concerned about your privacy and don’t like the idea of another camera in your home, Lenovo’s made it easy to completely cover it up.

On the right side of the Smart Display is a physical switch that you can move up to completely hide the camera with a physical cover. When you want to make a video call, just move the cover back down and it’ll work like normal.

Well done, Lenovo.

7. Google Express lets you shop with your voice

Amazon might be the leading site for online shopping, but Google’s been steadily building up its own alternative with Google Express.

On the Lenovo Smart Display, you can say something like “buy juice” or “I need to buy paper towel” and you’ll be shown results of items you can buy on Google Express. You can tap “add to cart” on an item if you find something you like, and at any time, just say “show me my cart” to see what you’ve added.

When you tap the “checkout” button, you’ll receive a notification on your phone to complete the purchase.

The interface could use a bit of work, but even in its current form, is still a great way to quickly add things to your cart as you think about them without having to go to your phone and open an app.

8. The quick settings menu is really helpful

Although you won’t find a full settings page for the Smart Display like you will on an Android phone, there’s still a handy little bar at the bottom that can be used for controlling some simple items.

No matter what you’re looking at on the Smart Display, do a swipe up from the bottom of the screen and you’ll get a small black bar for adjusting the Smart Display’s brightness and volume. There’s also a settings cog that shows your Wi-Fi network, device info, a tab for sending feedback to Google, and a toggle for Do Not Disturb.

9. You can send recipes to it from your phone

Like we’ve already talked about before, the Lenovo Smart Display works great for finding and following recipes in the kitchen. This is never not useful, but you can also find recipes on your phone and then send them to the Smart Display.

While looking at recipes on Google Search, supported sites will show a “Send to Smart Display” button at the bottom of their cards. Tap this, say “start recipe”, and you’re ready to start cooking.

10. Weather info comes with adorable sound effects

This last one’s pretty small, but it’s something that always puts a smile on my face.

When you ask about the weather on the Smart Display, certain weather conditions come with adorable sound effects. For example, sunny days are accompanied by chirping birds and stormy days play thunder in the background while the Google Assistant reads off the forecast.

What else have you found?

If you have a Smart Display, what other little nuggets have you found while using it? Let us know in the comments below!

See at Best Buy

Soundcore by Anker announces the Flare S+, an Alexa-enabled speaker

You’re going to want one!

Anker has announced its latest Bluetooth speaker under the Soundcore branding, the Flare S+. The company has been making great smartphone accessories for years and continues to branch out and expand beyond just cables and chargers, and one area that people love is their speakers. The Flare S+ will feature the lineup’s signature 360-degree sound and is covered by a resilient cloth that houses full range drivers, dual tweeters, and bass radiators. You’re going to get some great sound out of this package.

In addition, this speaker utilizes Anker’s charging technology to allow it to provide power to other mobile devices while on the go and has a beat-synced LED at the base. As though that wasn’t enough, the Flare S+ will also have Amazon’s Alexa built-in, so when you’re speaker is connected you can use it to control your smart home devices, answer your deepest questions, and more. The speaker is IPX7, so you’ll be able to use it by the pool, at the lake, on the boat, and more without worrying about ruining it.

There is no word on pricing or availability just yet, but Anker sells its original Flare speaker for $59.99 at Amazon, where it’s received a 4.5-star rating on nearly 200 reviews. If you don’t want to wait for the new speaker to release and don’t need Alexa built-in, we’d recommend considering the original Soundcore speaker which is down to $24.99 with the on-page coupon. It has over 12,000 reviews and a killer 4.5-star rating.

Protect your Moto G6 with this slim and colorful case for just $12

Want to spruce up your Moto G6 while also protecting it from regular wear and tear? Anccer’s got you covered.

Thanks to its glass back and slim profile, the Moto G6 is undoubtedly one of the better-looking budget phones you can buy right now. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, it’d be easy to confuse it for a phone that costs hundreds of dollars more.

However, as nice as the G6 looks, there are a couple areas that could be improved — its durability and the choice of available colors.

Anccer hopes to remedy these two pain points with its Colorful Series case, and for a little under $12, it’s definitely worth adding to your Moto case collection. Here’s why!

Looking good

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6

$11.99 at Amazon

An affordable way to spruce up your phone

Anccer’s case gives the Moto G6 a colorful pop and decent protection without adding any bulk.

The Good

• Keeps the Moto G6 slim
• Feels great in the hand
• Lots of available colors

The Bad

• Not as durable/protective as other similarly priced cases

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6 What I like

As a big fan of slim cases, the Anccer Colorful Series Case instantly won me over as soon as I slapped it on my Moto G6.

Virtually no extra thickness/bulk is added to the phone when the case is on, and since the power button and volume rocker are left exposed rather than having a cover over them, pressing them doesn’t require any extra force like we see with some cases.

Something else that caught my attention is the feel of the case. Anccer uses a soft-touch plastic here, and while I don’t have any complaints with the Moto G6’s glass back, the soft plastic is considerably more comfortable.

I personally opted for the stunning red color, but if that’s not your style, Anccer also sells this case in black, blue, gold, gray, green, pink, and silver.

And, as a nice bonus, Anccer also includes a free phone grip — something that’d usually cost another $10 or so on its own!

Read more: This is the first and best reason you should use a phone grip

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6 What I don’t like

Like we see with many slim cases, the Anccer Colorful Series does leave a bit to be desired from a durability point of view.

Since the top, bottom, and part of the right frame of the phone are left uncovered, there’s a good chance of these areas getting damaged in the event of a fall. Also, while there is a small lip that comes up over the front to protect the Moto G6’s screen, it’s not nearly as pronounced compared to competing cases.

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6

If the Anccer Colorful Series Case doesn’t protect the Moto G6 as well as other cases within the same price range, why are we rating it so high?

Similar to other slim cases we’ve reviewed, this isn’t a product that was designed to offer maximum protection. Instead, it was made with the sole purpose of making your phone look good while keeping it slim — the added protection you get is just a nice bonus.

4
out of 5

If you know what you’re buying with the Anccer Colorful Series Case, it’s absolutely worth a look. For just $12, it makes the Moto G6 look great, feel extra comfy in the hand, and gives you good coverage against regular wear and tear.

See at Amazon

Sony’s WH-1000XM3 are a new generation of ANC Bluetooth headphones

Packed with features.

Sony has launched a new pair of headphones called the WH-1000XM3 along with two new speakers, the SRS-XB501G and SRSXB01. The unfortunately named WH-1000XM3 are a follow-up to the WH-1000XM2, and those headphones are considered one of the best around for active noise-cancelling. They rival the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 Series II, which are currently $50 off, and the XM3 plan to improve on the formula.

Features for the new WH-1000XM3 include USB-C charging, atomic pressure optimization that can adjust for noise-cancelling at higher altitudes, a 30-hour battery life, a quick-charging feature that will give you five hours of playback after 10 minutes of charging, and multiple microphones. The Adaptive Sound Control will allow you to adjust just how much ambient noise you want to hear, especially if you’re in a case like walking down the street where you might want to hear the vehicles barreling down on you.

The new QN1 HD noise-cancelling processor is supposed to work four times faster than the XM2. The Dual Noise Sensor technology will work with the QN1 to weaken ambient noise. You can also add a DAC and amp for 32-bit audio signal processing.

The new SRS-XB501G speaker will be a followup to Sony’s successful SRS-XB41. It will include an integrated Google Assistant, Sony’s Extra Bass feature, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, water and dust resistance, USB-C charging, and a 16-hour battery life.

The SRS-XB01 speaker will be the budget version, retailing for just $34.99 instead of $299.99. Much like the XB501G, it will have Extra Bass and Live Sound, which is meant to replicate “festival vibes” according to Sony. It will also have a built-in mic for hands-free phone calls, a six hour battery life, and water resistance. The only ways to connect to this one will be Bluetooth or the manual headphone jack.

See on Amazon

Which Limited Edition PS4 Pro should you buy?

Best answer: You’ll want to get the best limited edition PlayStation Pro, and that means you want the one that’s the top of the line right now, the Star Wars edition. You can find this gem on Amazon for $568.

Amazon: Star Wars limited edition console ($568)

Why go for a customized console?

Just about everyone has the base edition of the PlayStation Pro console. The plain black design certainly makes it easier to match the styles of your other devices on your entertainment center, but what if you’re looking for a little more spice for your gaming station? Most of the time, when a popular new title is released, a brand new limited PlayStation will come out as well so you can show off your collection like trophies. If you’re the type that already has the custom skins and limited edition sets for your other consoles it’s always good to keep coming back to see if you’ve got more to match.

Why the Star Wars edition?

Right now the Star Wars edition is the most popular release that hasn’t been discontinued, and it’s got its own console designed for die-hard fans. After checking out the killer design, I’d say it’s worth every penny to see it displayed beautifully in your entertainment center. Especially if you’ve already got a decent amount of Star Wars memorabilia decorated around the house!

Plus, it comes with your own copy of Battlefront 2. So if you’re new to the PlayStation family and a fan of Star Wars this console isn’t just something that looks pretty on a nightstand. You’ll get your first game with it as well. Considering that you can find Battlefront 2 on Amazon for about $40, that means this entire bundle is only an extra $10 for the limited edition console!

What other kinds of limited-edition consoles have come out?

There have been quite a few limited-edition PlayStation Pro consoles to release with major games, but they aren’t something that happens all the time. The value of the limited edition consoles isn’t just with the unique designs, but the collectors’ value of it as well. If for every massive title there was a console to match then the limited editions would start losing that sparkle-eyed effects they have on their buyers. While most of the limited edition consoles have now been discontinued, you might still be able to find them from a private seller on websites like Amazon or Ebay.

If you want to check out every limited edition console that’s ever come out click here to see the magic.

Our pick

Star Wars limited edition console

$568 at Amazon

Add some decoration to your collection

With 1TB of memory and a beautiful console to represent your love of Star Wars, this is the right console for you. For about $50 more than the standard edition of the PlayStation, you could be rocking a customized one instead!

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

Apple Pay’s New Promotion Offers Free Postmates Delivery for First Orders From New Customers

Apple is again partnering with Postmates for this week’s Apple Pay promotion, which offers a free delivery from the app when using Apple Pay for your first Postmates delivery. This means that the offer is valid only to new customers who have not previously made an order on the Postmates app before.

If you qualify and are 18 years or older, the promotion will run through September 5, 2018. You can check if Postmates is in your area by downloading the app [Direct Link], and if it is you can then place an order for food, groceries, or many other items. Choose Apple Pay during checkout, and you’ll get the first delivery for free. No promo code is required.

This week’s Apple Pay promotion is themed around the weekend, and Apple encourages customers to “pick up supplies quicker at your favorite places” and pay with Apple Pay, including Baskin-Robbins, Jamba Juice, and Trader Joe’s.

Apple offered the same promotion with Postmates back in May, and previously partnered with the delivery app in one of the first Apple Pay promotions last November. Other recent promotions include partnerships with StubHub, TGI Fridays, Adidas, Instacart, Fandango, and more.

Tags: Postmates, Apple Pay promo
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Eve Systems Announces New Light Strip, Power Strip and Light Switch

Eve Systems, formerly Elgato, today announced several new additions to its popular HomeKit product lineup, including a power strip, a light strip, and a new light switch for use in Europe.

The Eve Light Strip follows the Eve Flare, a HomeKit-connected mood lamp that was released in May. The Eve Flare was limited to countries in Europe and is not available in the U.S., but the Light Strip will see a wider release.

The LED light strip works with a selection of pre-installed lighting scenes and allows users to set their own colors. According to Eve, the Light Strip provides up to 1800 lumens across its two meter length thanks to triple-diode architecture. Eve Light Strip can be extended to a total length of 10m with additional light strip purchases.

Unlike most Eve products, which connect to HomeKit over Bluetooth, the Light Strip connects using a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. It does not, however, require a bridge and works on a standalone basis.

The Eve Power Strip is a triple-socket power strip that adds separate HomeKit-based controls to three devices that are plugged into it. It features a black housing that’s framed in aluminum, with built-in surge protection safeguards.

With the Eve app, the Eve Power Strip is able to measure power consumption and provide energy cost projections, allowing users to keep track of power usage for the devices that are plugged in. Like the Eve Light Strip, Eve Power Strip connects to a HomeKit setup using a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection.

The third product Eve is announcing today is a new Eve Light Switch, which is designed to replace common European switches. Eve already has a Light Switch compatible with U.S. setups, and this new version expands the light switch to Europe.

With HomeKit integration, all Eve accessories can be controlled via Siri voice commands, through the Home app, or through the dedicated Eve app. Eve accessories can also be integrated into HomeKit scenes and automations alongside other HomeKit products.

Eve Light Strip, the new Eve Light Switch, and the Eve Power Strip will be available at a later date from the Eve website and from retailers like Amazon. The Light Switch will be priced at 99.95 euros, while the Light Strip will be priced at $79.95. Pricing for the Power Strip has yet to be announced.

Tags: HomeKit, Eve
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Apple Recently Visited With Taiwanese Makers of Thinner and Brighter MicroLED and MiniLED Displays

Apple representatives attended the Touch Taiwan display industry convention in Taipei this week, holding private meetings with Taiwanese display makers AU Optronics and Epistar, according to the Economic Daily News.

The report claims Apple held the meetings to learn more about each company’s development of next-generation display technologies MicroLED and MiniLED, suitable for future generations of iPhones and Apple Watches. As those names suggest, both technologies utilize arrays of very tiny LEDs.

In May, AU Optronics received a Best in Show award at the Display Week 2018 convention in Los Angeles for its multiple advanced display technologies, including the “world’s highest resolution and full color TFT driven 8-inch micro LED display technology,” according to the company’s press release.

Apple is said to be most interested in MicroLED, as MiniLED is described as more of a transitionary technology that it may skip.

Apple has been exploring MicroLED displays since at least 2014, when it acquired MicroLED display maker LuxVue. In 2015, Apple reportedly opened a secretive laboratory in Taoyuan, Taiwan to research the technology, but has since shifted the efforts to Santa Clara, California, near its headquarters.

In addition to AU Optronics and Epistar, Apple has reportedly collaborated with its contract manufacturer TSMC to develop methods of mass producing MicroLED panels. Apple also reportedly held talks with another Taiwanese company PlayNitrite, which has developed its own MicroLED solution PixeLED.

MicroLED displays have many of the same advantages as OLED displays have over LCDs, including improved color accuracy, improved contrast ratio, faster response times, and true blacks given both have self-lit pixels, but they are even thinner, much brighter, and more energy efficient than OLED panels.

Image Credit: TrendForce
MiniLED displays also have benefits such as improved brightness and contrast ratio, but they have a backlight like LCDs.

As with OLED, Apple’s use of MicroLED would likely start small, with the Apple Watch, followed by the iPhone. A recent report said Apple may use MicroLED for its widely rumored augmented reality glasses as well.

All in all, the transition to MicroLED should lead to even better displays and longer battery life on future Apple devices.

Tags: Micro-LED, AU Optronics, Epistar, Mini-LED
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