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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Sharp 55-inch Roku 1080p HDTV $350, Sennheiser Headphones $100, Drop Flip for iOS free, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Daily Deals: Jensen Bluetooth Stereo Speaker $18, Sharp 55-inch LED 1080p Roku HDTV $350, more
Sennheiser’s HD598 CS Closed Back Headphone returns to its Black Friday price: $100 shipped (Reg. $130+)
Go wireless this Christmas! Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones in three colors for $88 shipped (Reg. $130)
Sony’s h.ear Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: $200 shipped (Reg. $350)
App Store Free App of the Week: the colorful physics-based Drop Flip puzzler goes free for the holidays (Reg. $2)
Apple’s latest 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros w/ Touch Bar are up to $200 off at B&H, free next day delivery (Tax NY only)
Save $100 on iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi at Best Buy: prices start at $300 for 32GB, more
FREE MONEY: Gift the Apple fan in your life (including yourself) a $100 iTunes Gift Card for $85 with email delivery
Big year-end iTunes movie sale is now live w/ tons of great $5 titles, $0.99 rentals, bundle discounts & more
iOS/Mac Holiday App Sale Roundup: GO Trilogy, Tweetbot, Oceanhorn, Bastion, many more
- Tweetbot 4 for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac is now 50% off on the App Store: $5 (Reg. $10)
- Duet Display is 50% off! Turn your iPad into a secondary screen for your Mac: $10 (Reg. $20)
- You can now grab Hitman, Lara Croft and Deus Ex GO Trilogy on iOS for just $2 (up to $6 value)
- XCOM Enemy Within hits its lowest price ever on the App Store: $3 (Reg. $10+)
- Here’s how to get 3 free months of 1Password Teams ($8 value ea.)
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Last Minute Ideas – Battery/Lightning Cable, USB-C Drives, Multi-Tools, Controllers and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: The best tech accessories for any car or truck – Bluetooth adapter, USB Jump Starter, Dash Cam & more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Trevor’s Top 5 Tech Picks under $50 – smart home gear, drones, and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Justin’s Top 5 Picks for Gamers – accessories, vintage Nintendo, art/coffee table books and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for Music Makers – pocket synths, headphone accessories, DIY kits and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for the Techie Traveler – best messenger bags, Bluetooth gear, accessories and more
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Watch any movie from Amazon Video or Google Play this holiday weekend for only $0.99
- Target is taking 20% off nearly every book, movie and CD today only – use in-store pickup for gift
- Smartphone Accessories: Aukey 8-outlet Surge Protector Power Strip with 6 USB ports $22, more
- Games/Apps: Xbox One S + 1yr. Live & controller from $250, Samurai II Vengeance $1, more
- Add this best-selling and top-rated LED Desk Lamp w/ USB charger to your setup for $23
- It’s time get a high-end stainless steel/glass Cuisinart steamer while its down at $133
- This Pyrex Prepware 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set just hit its Amazon all-time low: $7.50
- DEWALT 100 Bucket Tool Organizer w/ Clear Lid $28 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $40), more
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Cut the cord w/ the help of 1byone HDTV Antennas up to 58% off, from $10 Prime shipped
eero’s mesh Wi-Fi systems just dropped to all-time lows: 2-Pack $289, 3-Pack $372
Answer your door even when you’re not home with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Massive list of discounted Gift Cards up to 20% off: JCPenney, Domino’s, Old Navy, Foot Locker + many more
Filed under: Apple
Majority of readers say ‘no big deal’ adapting to USB-C world of new MacBook Pro
A 9to5Mac poll of 2016 MacBook Pro owners revealed that the majority found it no big deal to adapt to the brave new USB-C-only world. More than 5,000 readers took part, with 56% describing it as ‘a small deal/painless.’
Filed under: Apple
Supply-chain report claims low yield rates of TSMC’s 10nm chips could delay 2017 iPad production
A supply-chain report from the variously-reliable Digitimes claims that low yield rates from the 10nm process expected to be used for the A10X chip in next year’s iPads could delay production of the tablets.
TSMC has reportedly obtained 10nm chip orders from Apple, HiSilicon and MediaTek, with volume production set to kick off in the first quarter of 2017. Nevertheless, yield rates for TSMC’s 10nm process technology are not what the foundry expected, the sources said.
TSMC is scheduled to start making Apple’s A10X chips for the next-generation iPad series slated for launch in March 2017. Unsatisfactory yields for the foundry’s 10nm process could disrupt the schedule, the sources indicated …
Filed under: Apple
Spotify for Mac app updated with Touch Bar integration, adds support for Apple AirPods auto-pause
Spotify has updated its Mac client app today featuring integration with the new MacBook Pro Touch Bar for the first time, with a similar experience to the iTunes Touch Bar interface. Spotify continues to lead in the streaming music space with 40 million paid subscribers, Apple Music currently touts 20 million customers on the $9.99/month subscription plan.
The Spotify app now shows transport, shuffle and search controls in the Touch Bar whilst the app is frontmost as well as integration with Now Playing for persistent access to playback options whilst music is playing in the background. Moreover, Spotify now supports the Apple AirPods auto-pause feature.
Filed under: Apple
Comment: There’s something really odd about Consumer Reports’ MacBook Pro battery test results
Consumer Reports said yesterday that the 2016 MacBook Pro was the first ever Apple laptop that the organization couldn’t recommend, due to battery-life issues.
That in itself didn’t strike me as too odd. Different users have definitely been reporting very variable results in times of battery life, and some of them have been well below half the ten hours that Apple claims. Our video rundown showed as much and our poll found that the largest group of readers was reporting five hours or less.
Given that Consumer Reports was seeing as little as 3.75 hours in its own tests, that would be good enough reason to withhold a recommendation. But it was the high-end results the organization reported that puzzle me …
Filed under: Apple
5 Personal Assistant Tools That Actually Make Life Easier
With the recent release of Google Home in the U.S., voice-activated devices are a big topic du jour lately. But which personal assistant tools are the most helpful? What do you need for each one? And how much do they cost?
While a simple search for “personal assistant apps” seems to yield countless results, shifting through them can be a task.
Today, consider us your digital personal assistant. We narrowed the options down to our very own top five. Read on, and discover which ones will best fit your needs.
5 Personal Assistant Tools That Actually Make Life Easier
1) Operator
- Price: Free
- Requirements: iOS
Vacations are great. Holiday parties are, too. But scheduling the former immediately after the latter? Well, it’s a prescription for stress. There are people to feed, wines to buy, and bags to pack.
But wait. There’s an app for that. With a packed work schedule, who has the time to deal with the aforementioned items, let alone to find special decorative lights? The experts at Operator — that’s who.
Once you download Operator, you’ll see a blue dialogue bubble in the lower right corner of your screen. Tap that, then choose where you need help.
From there, you’ll be asked a series of questions about what exactly you need. Here’s a chat that I had with a real person — Holly — when I needed help finding some decorative lights for that party.
Holly later went on to ask me about my price range, shipping preferences, and sent me several lighting options. And look, she even laughed at my joke.
2) Charlie
- Price: Free
- Requirements: Google Calendar, iOS
Knowing your audience is something on which we place great importance. That’s why we do things like create buyer personas and perform other user research.
That’s important in marketing — and in meetings. After all, if an important contact with whom you’re not completely familiar agrees to meet with you, it’s best to avoid walking in without any knowledge of what the person does. That’s where Charlie comes in.
Charlie connects to your calendar to see who you have meetings with over the next week. Then, it identifies the person and asks if you’d like some background information on them.
It’s not as creepy as it sounds, though. The only information it finds is what’s publicly available online, like on LinkedIn and Twitter. For example, here’s what it would look like if someone had a meeting with me:
Notice that there’s a section on “ways to start the conversation.” That contains news pieces about the person that can help you open a dialogue with the person. Plus, in case you’ve been in touch with this contact before, Charlie allows you to review any previous communication you’ve had with him or her.
3) Google Home
- Price: Allo (free), Google Home ($129)
- Requirements: Android 4.1 and higher, iOS 8 and higher (only available in English and for purchase in the U.S.)
When I asked my team for personal assistant app recommendations, HubSpot’s Web Team Tech Lead, Dmitry Shamis, immediately pointed to Google Home.
What does he love about it? Well, it does the same thing that a lot of similar devices on the market do — things like responding to hands-free voice prompts, for example — but it also incorporates many elements of Google that many we use day-to-day, including search.
“The real benefit is how it integrates into my Google life,” Shamis told me. “My trips, my calendar, my shopping list.”
Google Home is less of an app, however, and more of a device. It’s powered by Google Assistant — the technology used to answer questions in the search engine’s Allo app, which is configured to respond to search queries, set reminders, and engage in everyday chit chat. Have a look:
Imagine if I could have that entire conversation without all the typing. Sure, the Assistant technology alone is great, but the whole hands-free help thing offered by Google Home? That’s just awesome. I mean, just look at its list of features.
4) Amazon Echo
- Price: $179
- Requirements: Wi-Fi. Compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices and accessible via web browser.
Before there was Google Home, there was Amazon Echo — which Shamis tells me is what he used first. The Echo is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s voice recognition technology, which is used less for search engine capabilities, and more for instant information like sports scores, weather, and news.
Despite his happiness with Google Home, there are still some things about the Amazon Echo that Shamis misses. He’s particularly nostalgic, he told me, for the ability to quickly buy things with the Echo. For example, he told me, “Things like, ‘Alexa, buy more dog food’ were extremely helpful.”
And another key differentiator for him? Echo’s Spotify integration. “‘Alexa, play Spotify’ would pick up where I left off on my phone,” he explained. “‘Hey Google, play Spotify’ will play something completely random.”
But when I asked Shamis if he’d advise someone to get both, his answer was a resounding “no.”
“It’s one or the other,” he said, since “there’s enough overlap that you don’t need both. I think it becomes a personal preference.”
That’s not to say it’s impossible to use both, especially for one’s personal entertainment — like in this video of the two devices speaking to each other.
5) Julie Desk
- Price: Pro ($99.99 month/per user), Manager ($149.99 month/per user), Executive ($199.99 month/per user)
- Requirements: Any email client
Visit the official website for Julie Desk, and you’ll be faced with a question: “Want to get back 1 hour in your work day?”
Um, yes. That’s what Julie Desk was created to do — to save us the countless time we spent on managing our respective calendars. And admittedly, for me, that’s a lot.
But starting with that question, Julie Desk’s website is a compelling example of great user experience — which hints at its capacity to work on behalf of, well, you, the user. Have a look:
There are are few things about Julie Desk that delight us. To start, there are no downloads required, since Julie — as she’s casually called — works with your existing email client.
When you first sign up for the service, you’ll be asked for your meeting preferences, like time of day, location, and mode of transportation.
It takes about 24 hours for Julie to get you completely enrolled in the service, probably because there’s a human element — the service is constantly monitored by actual people to make sure nothing goes awry. But once you’re set up, that’s when the fun begins. Every time you receive an email requesting a meeting, just copy Julie on your reply — she’ll take it from there.
Here’s more on how it works:
Appy, Healthy, More Productive
From online human interaction, to digital voice recognition, to a virtual meeting scheduler, these apps might not cover everything, but they certainly make life easier.
Sure, it would be nice if there was a tool out there to, say, virtually clean the entire house. Until that becomes available, we’re not entirely far off. And some of these resources could at least provide information on home-cleaning-made-easy hacks — but only if you ask.
Remember when any of these tools seemed like “a thing of the future”? They’re here — and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
What are your favorite personal assistant apps? Let us know in the comments.
Uber explains why app appears to continue tracking your location; other apps affected too
Following reports that the Uber app appears to be tracking customer locations days or even weeks after their last ride, the company has issued an explanation. That statement also explains who some users were seeing the behavior while others weren’t.
The company says that it is not the app which is accessing location data, but rather the iOS Maps extension that some have chosen to activate …
Filed under: Apple
Advanced Blogging: How to Make Your Blog Serve Your Business
Do you have a blog? Want to supercharge your content and increase email subscribers? To explore advanced techniques for improving blog content, collecting more email addresses, and promoting products and events, I interview Darren Rowse. More About This Show The Social Media Marketing podcast is an on-demand talk radio show from Social Media Examiner. It’s […]
This post Advanced Blogging: How to Make Your Blog Serve Your Business first appeared on .
– Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
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via socialmediaexaminer
Leaked files show just how much data Cellebrite’s smartphone cracking tool is capable of accessing
Cellebrite has garnered attention over recent years for its specialization skills in cracking cellphone encryption and accessing data stored on devices. The company was originally believed to have been behind the unlocking method used by the FBI in the San Bernardino iPhone 5c, though later reports refuted that.
This evening, ZDNet has published a new report showing just how powerful Cellebrite’s tool is and just how important it is to protect yourself.
Filed under: Apple
Hands-on: Glyph’s Atom SSD is a good choice for MacBook and MacBook Pro-owning creatives [Video]
As a full time Final Cut Pro X user, I’m always on the lookout for things that can make my editing workflow easier. One such product that fits that description is the Atom SSD from Glyph.
The USB-C-enabled 1TB Atom SSD lends ample storage space to the MacBook Pro in a small, portable form factor. More importantly, the unit is plenty fast for transferring the large files that are common to video editing workflows.
Thanks to its portable size and fast transfer rates, it’s a solid way to add additional storage to the 12-inch MacBook or the MacBook Pro, especially while away from your home or office. Have a look at our hands-on video walkthrough as we take the Atom SSD for a spin.
Filed under: Apple Tagged: MacBook, MacBook Pro, USB-C
The 2016 MacBook Pro is the first MacBook to not receive a recommendation from Consumer Reports
Apple’s long-awaited MacBook Pro refresh has been met with some criticism thus far, primarily due to battery life concerns. Now, however, Consumer Reports is out with its look at the new MacBook Pro laptops, and it’s not good.
Consumer Reports says that the 2016 MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not to receive recommended ratings from the organization.
Filed under: Apple
New Apple Watch Series 2 ‘Go Swim’ promo highlights water-resistant design
Jimmy Iovine & Larry Jackson discuss Apple Music’s artistic relationships, pirating music, and Taylor Swift’s treadmill fall
In an new interview released today, Jimmy Iovine and Larry Jackson delve deeper into some of the finer points of their artistic relationships on the Apple Music platform. The pair go into details on why hip-hop and R&B artists have seen a surge in streaming, how they maintain their relationships with artists despite labels, and the impact of Apple Music’s platform on piracy.
Filed under: Apple
The best made-for-iPhone, iPad, & Apple TV game controllers
There have been a lot of changes since Apple first introduced specs for its Made-for-iPhone (and iPad and Apple TV) game controllers. Controllers have come down in price, more games support gamepads, and the 4th-gen Apple TV introduced an App Store with multi-controller support giving Apple its first real living room gaming machine. Below we put them to the test (all of them!) to find out which one is best overall and the best for each of Apple’s platforms.
Filed under: Apple
Comment: AirPods emphasize the need for better Apple Music syncing, podcast playback with Apple Watch
AirPods are finally here and early customers who can find stock seem to be largely happy with the purchase. Setup is nearly instant, sound quality is better than expected, and totally wireless earbuds that switch between all your devices is super convenient.
Apple’s new W1 chip makes setup and switching so easy that a lot of Apple Watch wearers are probably pairing earphones to the watch for the first time. It happens automatically over iCloud after you pair with another device using your account so some people may not even realize it’s happening.
When you do realize you can play content directly from the Apple Watch to AirPods without relying on your iPhone, finding something to play and knowing how to play it can be rather cumbersome. AirPods really emphasize the Apple Watch’s need to improve at the basics like syncing Apple Music, podcasts, and other audio…
Filed under: Apple
Pokémon Go lands on the Apple Watch with Activity and Workout integration
PSA: The original RollerCoaster Tycoon is now available for iOS
9to5Toys Lunch Break: UE MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker $180, Tweetbot 4 $5, Aukey USB-C Hubs from $8, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
UE’s MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker falls to its Amazon all-time low just before Christmas: $180 shipped (Reg. $250)
Tweetbot 4 for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is now 50% off on the App Store: $5 (Reg. $10)
Smartphone Accessories: Aukey USB-C Hub with 4 USB 3.0 Ports $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $15), more
Add four USB ports, HDMI and more to your Mac or PC w/ the Sabrent Universal Docking Station for $63 shipped (Reg. $90)
Last call for Prime members! Get your orders in today to receive last-minute gifts by Christmas
Apple’s latest 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros w/ Touch Bar are up to $200 off at B&H, free next day delivery (Tax NY only)
Save $100 on iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi at Best Buy: prices start at $300 for 32GB, more
FREE MONEY: Gift the Apple fan in your life (including yourself) a $100 iTunes Gift Card for $85 with email delivery
Big year-end iTunes movie sale is now live w/ tons of great $5 titles, $0.99 rentals, bundle discounts & more
iOS/Mac Holiday App Sale Roundup: GO Trilogy, Tweetbot, Oceanhorn, Bastion, Final Fantasy, The Room, many more
- Duet Display is 50% off! Turn your iPad into a secondary screen for your Mac: $10 (Reg. $20)
- You can now grab Hitman, Lara Croft and Deus Ex GO Trilogy on iOS for just $2 (up to $6 value)
- XCOM Enemy Within hits its lowest price ever on the App Store: $3 (Reg. $10+)
- Here’s how to get 3 free months of 1Password Teams ($8 value ea.)
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Last Minute Ideas – Battery/Lightning Cable, USB-C Drives, Multi-Tools, Controllers and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: The best tech accessories for any car or truck – Bluetooth adapter, USB Jump Starter, Dash Cam & more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Trevor’s Top 5 Tech Picks under $50 – smart home gear, drones, and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Justin’s Top 5 Picks for Gamers – accessories, vintage Nintendo, art/coffee table books and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for Music Makers – pocket synths, headphone accessories, DIY kits and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for the Techie Traveler – best messenger bags, Bluetooth gear, accessories and more
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
NETGEAR ReadyNAS 2-Bay Network Attached Storage w/ PLEX and Dual Gigabit Ethernet: $210 shipped (Reg. $300)
- Logitech’s M705 Wireless Mousew/ insane 3-year battery life: $20 (Reg. $30+)
- Free Money! Buy a $60 Netflix Gift Card and get a free $5 Best Buy Gift Card today
- AOC 23″ 1080p Monitor $90, SanDisk 256GB lash Drive $38, more
- Games/Apps: Day One from $3, AC Ezio Collection from $28, iOS freebies, more
- Grab the Dremel 39-Piece Rotary Tool Kit $59 shipped (Reg. up to $80)
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Cut the cord w/ the help of 1byone HDTV Antennas up to 58% off, from $10 Prime shipped
Go wireless this Christmas! Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones in three colors for $88 shipped (Reg. $130)
Sony’s h.ear Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: $200 shipped (Reg. $350)
eero’s mesh Wi-Fi systems just dropped to all-time lows: 2-Pack $289, 3-Pack $372
Answer your door even when you’re not home with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Massive list of discounted Gift Cards up to 20% off: JCPenney, Domino’s, Old Navy, Foot Locker + many more
Filed under: Apple