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42 'Anker' stories October 2013 - April 2015
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9to5Toys Last Call: 13000mAh Power Bank $24, Samsung 500GB SSD $180, Logitech Bluetooth KB $40, more

Avatar for Apr 10 2015 - 9:36 am PT
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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:

Last Call Updates:

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Keep your iPhone/iPad charged all day: Anker Astro E4 13000mAh Power Bank $24 Prime shipped (20% off)

Samsung 2.5″ Internal SSDs: 850 EVO 500GB $180 (Reg. $200+), 850 PRO 256GB $120 (Reg. $180)

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Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard & iPad/iPhone stand $40 (19% savings)

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iTunes Free App of the Week: Twisty Hollow ($3 value)

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Small States Review: This is Ground’s Mod 2 is the ultimate on-the-go iPad companion, giveaway worth $310

More new gear from today:

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Motorola’s Moto 360 Smartwatch is on sale for $179 or $155 w/ .edu (Reg. $250)

More deals still alive:

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Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem + TP-LINK Archer C7 802.11ac $130 shipped ($185+ value)

New products & more:

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Moleskine puts Batman on the cover with its new limited edition Gotham inspired notebooks

Review: Anker’s Jump Starter Portable Charger brings cars and iPhones back to life in emergencies

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Apr 3 2015 - 8:45 am PT
1 Comment

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Anker specializes in accessories that deliver uncommon value. Like gigantic batteries that cost as little as small ones. Six-port USB chargers that are less expensive than two Apple one-port chargers. And iPhone battery cases that outperform rivals sold for twice the price. So it’s only natural that the company would leverage its power expertise to go beyond resuscitating little Apple devices and assist with real emergencies. With roughly the same footprint as its Astro E7 — a battery capable of fully recharging any iPad Air twice — the same-priced Jump Starter Portable Charger ($80) goes in a slightly different direction. You still get a pretty big 10,000mAh battery that can charge two Apple devices at once, but instead of E7’s third USB port, Anker includes jumper cables that can bring dead cars back to life.

Like all of the Anker products I’ve covered, Jump Starter is thoughtfully designed, efficiently packaged, and aggressively priced relative to competing products. Moreover, unlike some of the cobbled-together 3-in-1 accessories I’ve tested, its feature set actually addresses a related collection of problems a driver may have. But it’s not as much of an iPad-charging powerhouse as Astro E7; it’s best-suited to iPhone users. So is it the right battery pack for you? Read on…


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9to5Toys Last Call: 49-inch LG 4K Smart UHDTV $660, 2K iOS game sale, discounted Xbox Live/PS Plus, more

Avatar for Mar 25 2015 - 9:11 am PT
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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:

Last Call Updates:

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2K’s best iOS games are on sale from $3 ea: BioShock, XCOM, Civilization Revolution 2, NBA 2K15, more

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The ultimate lifeline: this $60 power bank can jump start your car and charge your iPhone

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Xbox Live Gold $36 (Reg. $60), PlayStation Plus $40 (Reg. $50)

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iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi in all colors: 16GB $400 (Reg. $499), 128GB $600 (Reg. $699)

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JBL Spark Bluetooth Speaker $35 shipped (Reg. $130)

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The software used by Pixar to create visual effects for movies like Toy Story, Up, and WALL-E is now free

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Small States Review: Grado’s GR10e in-ear headphones hit every note, $299 giveaway

More new gear from today:

More deals still alive:

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GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Action Cam $399 shipped ($100 off)

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Free money! Save up to 20% on gift cards from Staples, Lowe’s, Applebee’s, Facebook, more

New products & more:

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InfiniteUSB cables offer an endless supply of USB ports for your laptop

Review: Anker’s 60W 6-Port USB Charger is ready for your family’s iPads, iPhones, and Watches

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Mar 15 2015 - 10:05 am PT
10 Comments

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USB chargers aren’t sexy, but they’re critically important to iOS users — so vital that every iPhone and iPad arrives with a basic one-port charger in the box. Without USB recharging assistance, these devices would literally be dead after one day of active use. And the more Apple devices you (or your family) use every day, the more valuable a multi-device charging hub becomes. When I travel with my wife and kids, I can’t leave the house without a charging solution for everyone’s iPads and iPhones.

Up until two or three years ago, few families had five or six Apple devices. Moreover, early multi-device chargers were expensive: Griffin charged $100 for an early five-port charging station, and Bluelounge charged $100 for a four-port version. But that’s changing. iPads are cheaper than ever, iPhones are more ubiquitous than ever, and Apple Watches are about to add “one more thing” to the list of Apple devices requiring a daily charge. Thankfully, great multi-device chargers have become affordable; RAVPower’s Bolt 6-Port USB Wall Charger impressed me last year for $27, and a slightly less powerful version now sells for $25. Over the past week, I’ve been testing something even better: the most powerful home and travel charging hub I’ve ever seen.

Correctly billed as “family-sized,” Anker’s 60W 6-Port Desktop USB Charger ($36) features an intelligent power management system that lets any of its ports recharge any iPad, iPhone, iPod, or other USB accessory at its top possible speed, sharing 60 watts of power across them. You can recharge six iPad Airs or iPad minis at peak 10W speeds, or five older, power-hungrier third- and fourth-generation iPads at their peak 12W speeds. There’s no need to confirm that you’re using the right type of port for your device, as all of Anker’s ports self-regulate power up to 12W as appropriate. Read on for more details…


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Review: Anker’s Ultra Slim Battery Case for iPhone 6 offers a surprising mix of thinness, power, and low pricing

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Mar 13 2015 - 7:45 am PT
14 Comments

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I’ve learned over the years that there’s no such thing as an Apple accessory that’s perfect for every user. A design optimized for budget-conscious users will often turn off people who are ready to spend more for something fancier, and vice-versa. The best a company can do is to design, execute, and price products well for a particular segment of the population. Anker specializes in this — it focuses on creating very good to great accessories for value-focused users.

Its new Ultra Slim Battery Case for iPhone 6 ($40-$60 on Amazon) is another example of that formula. Unfancy but more polished than similarly budget-priced rivals such as uNu’s DX-6, it’s not the most powerful or beautiful iPhone 6 battery case I’ve tested, but it does precisely what most users want: it more than doubles the iPhone 6’s power, doesn’t add much bulk to the device, and costs very little relative to most battery cases. Anker’s regular $60 price tag would be competitive for an Apple-certified case on its own, but it frequently sells for only $40, the best overall value I’ve seen for iPhone 6 users, hands-down.


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9to5toys Last Call: 5-port USB car charger $14, microSD cards 64GB/128GB $26/$80, much more

Avatar for Mar 4 2015 - 9:00 am PT
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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:

Last Call Updates:

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Charge up to 5 iPhones, iPads and other USB devices at once in your car for $14 Prime shipped

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Put a 128GB microSD card in your Android phone/tablet, GoPro, MacBook + more for $80 shipped, 64GB for $26 Prime shipped

SanDisk’s groundbreaking microSD card will stuff an extra 200GB in your MacBook, GoPro, more

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Groupon 10% off: Xbox One bundles $315, Lenmar iPhone battery case $18, more

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Small States Review – Bolt Briefcase from WaterField Designs is an ideal work and travel companion, $249 giveaway

More new gear from today:

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Best Buy cuts Gamers Club Unlocked to $30 starting March 8, 20% off new games and amiibo

More deals still alive:

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PNY Turbo 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive: $70 shipped (Orig. $130)

New products & more:

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Sony’s new BSP60 voice-controlled smart Bluetooth speaker is a virtual assistant on wheels

Review: Anker’s Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2 brings reasonable pricing and smart design to Bluetooth typing folios

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Mar 3 2015 - 9:52 am PT
1 Comment
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I’ve tested almost every major iPad keyboard case since the first iPad was released five years ago, and still recall when companies charged $100 for greasy vinyl folios with terrible, squishy rubber keys. Thankfully, a lot has changed since then. If you’re willing to spend $100, you can get a much nicer iPad-holding case attached to a nearly great keyboard. Drop $130-$150 (or go nuts for $170), and you can get a metal keyboard that partially resembles a MacBook Air. Personally, $100 is the ceiling I’d ever be willing to pay for an iPad keyboard case, and I’d rather pay less. But unless you count discontinued models for prior-generation iPads, there aren’t many great options.

Anker is changing that. Its new Bluetooth Folio Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2 sells for a stunningly low $40, and just like the 25,600mAh Anker iPad battery pack I previously reviewed, it delivers remarkable value for its price point. As the product of strategic compromises, it winds up giving up only one thing I typically prefer — a complete iPad-holding frame — in order to offer an excellent typing experience for the same cost as a typical iPad case without a keyboard. Read on for the reasons why I’d recommend this over options costing three times the price.


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Review: Anker’s 2nd Gen Astro E7 triples any iPad Air’s run time with an insane 25,600mAh of power

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Mar 2 2015 - 7:20 am PT
4 Comments
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There are hundreds of external battery packs out there, and most of them are highly similar to one another: cosmetics aside, their capacities, features, and pricing tend to be predictable. Anker’s 2nd Gen Astro E7 ($80) is a complete outlier. It has the highest capacity of any external battery pack I’ve ever tested, yet it’s priced competitively with products that deliver half as much juice.

If you have an iPad or plan to carry your iPhone around without access to wall power, Astro E7 is as close to a must-have battery as I’ve seen. Delivered in efficiently designed, eco-friendly packaging, it quickly earned a place in my personal travel bag, for reasons I’ll explain below.


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The Best iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6s Plus Battery Cases

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Jan 28 2015 - 7:45 am PT
18 Comments

It’s a great time to buy an iPhone 6 battery case. Last year, there were zero Apple-certified options, but today, there are a handful of good to great choices at various price points. They may look similar to each other in the picture above, but the sea of black shells masks some important differences in iPhone protection, battery recharging capabilities, and pricing. We now have two top picks for the iPhone 6, as well as two completely different top picks for the iPhone 6 Plus. Note that the iPhone 6 versions typically work with the newer iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 6 Plus versions work with the iPhone 6s Plus; both of the “s” models have slightly smaller batteries than their predecessors.

Which battery case should you buy? The most recent update to this piece on October 6, 2015 added another new option! Read on for all the details…


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Chance’s holiday gift guide: the products I use everyday

Avatar for Chance Miller Dec 5 2014 - 10:30 am PT
7 Comments
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I’ve already broken down the best gifts for students this holiday season, but now it’s time to talk about the best gifts for all the Apple lovers in your life. These are most of the products that I use on a daily basis. Whether I use them on-the-go, while working, or pretty much 24/7, these are some of the best products that have earned a coveted spot in my daily routine.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iOttie iPhone 6 car mount $18, Anker 15000mAh power bank $33, iMac up to $220 off w/ .edu, more

Avatar for Sep 26 2014 - 9:01 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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iOttie Easy One Touch 2 smartphone car mount (works w/ iPhone 6/6 Plus): $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

anker-astro-e5-power-bankAnker Astro 15000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger $33 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)

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iMac current gen. lineup $120 off or $220 off w/ .edu email, 21-inch as low as $880 shipped (Reg. 1,099)

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Roundup: the best ultra tough Lightning cables for your new iPhone 6/6 Plus

Small States: The jamstik wireless MIDI guitar controller for iPad, iPhone and Mac, $560 worth of giveaways

Other new deals:


More deals still alive:

More iPhone 6/6 Plus deals, accessories, and trade offers:

New products/ongoing promos:

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Charge your iPhone 6/Plus twice as quick with these 2.1A USB Car/Chargers/Batteries/Surge protectors

Avatar for 9to5 Staff Sep 23 2014 - 5:49 am PT
5 Comments

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Yesterday, it was revealed that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus could be charged faster (in some cases as fast as 2 hours to full) using a 2.1A AC charger like the one that comes with the iPad. Curiously, Apple has only included the same 5W 1A iPhone charger that it traditionally has with its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus meaning that your iPhone charge times coming from much smaller iPhones are going to go through the roof.

Not to worry! The 9to5Toys team will get you updated to 2.1A USB ports across the board with the best gear/deals we could find for a wide range of 2.1A USB needs…

 

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The no fuss move is to just get a 12W Apple iPad AC adapter (above). They are at Amazon for $19 Prime shipped. You can’t go wrong appearance and reliability-wise there but perhaps your $20 can be better spent?

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Anker makes a product we love called the Anker® 25W 5-Port Desktop USB Charger with PowerIQ™ Technology which sells for $15.99 Prime shipped. That will charge your iPhone 6/Plus fast but gives you 4 more USB outlets and 13 more watts for charging other devices (Tablets, Androids, Cameras, Batteries and more). If you want to step up to a 40W model, you are only at $21.99 Prime shipped. That’s only a few bucks more than Apple’s 1-port option.

Speaking of batteries…

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You can also upgrade your external USB batteries with a 2.1 A version that will charge your iPhone faster. A best best is the $20 Omaker Brilliant 10000mAh(2.1Amp+2.1Amp Output) Dual USB Portable Charger External Battery Pack Power bank with 1W Flashlight. I have one of these and it works well all around and feels well made (OK the flashlight isn’t the brightest). It charges via included MicroUSB cable and has DUAL 2.1A outputs for iPhones iPads and anything else you want to throw at it (expect at least 3-4 full iPhone charges). I also favorably reviewed the Lumsing Harmonica ($20) and huge RavPower Xtreme 23000mAh which might be better options depending on your needs.

Want popular brand immediately? Head over to your local Best Buy and grab a Mophie 4000mAh Juice Pack. The Product (Red) version is half price at $39.99 shipped or for pickup.

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omaker-3-port-car-chargerDon’t forget your car. Typical car USB ports and chargers are only 1A. Step up to more with PowerGen 2×2.4A Charger for $8.99 Prime Shipped. That will provide plenty of juice for 2 iPhone 6s or even add a Tablet instead. Need moar portz!? We LOVE this Omaker 3-port 26W Car charger (pictured above) in all of your favorite iPhone colors (at once) for just $9.99 with free Prime shipping.

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You are also going to need an AC travel charger too, right? We love Belkin’s SurgePlus dual 2.1A Travel Charger (we won’t tell if you use this at home all the time too) for $19.99 shipped. Grab a 6 outlet dual 2.1A Belkin version for $22.87 . Monoprice has a similar 3 outlet option for only $13.50 with some shipping.

However, if you just want to charge at 2.1A and get out as cheap as possible, jump on the MonoPrice 2.1A AC wall charger for $5.73 plus a few bucks for shipping.

Apple shipping a slow charger for the iPhone 6 is a mystery but solving it is easy and very inexpensive if you know where to look. Follow 9to5toys.com for all the best gear and deals.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: iPad Air Bluetooth keyboard cases from $20, AKG K44 headphones $20, Ooma VoIP $85, more

Avatar for Apr 10 2014 - 9:52 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed,Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

 

iPad Air Bluetooth Keyboard Cases: New Trent Airbender 2.0 $20 (Reg. $40), Anker Ultra-thin $24 (Reg. $40)

akg-k44-sale-discountAKG K44 over-the-ear studio headphones or Ultimate Ears 500vm for phones: $20 shipped ($60 off)

ooma-phone-voipOoma Telo VoIP Home Phone System (Refurb.) $85 shipped (Reg. $150 new)

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Apps:


Other deals from today:

More deals still alive:

New products/useful info:

 

Review: Anker IQ 40W 5-port smart USB adapter is the last power source you’ll ever need

Avatar for Seth Weintraub Feb 15 2014 - 2:26 pm PT
27 Comments
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As our families grow, so do our device charging needs. Where we just used to need 2 USB ports to charge our iPhones, we now have iPads, cameras, Bluetooth speakers, portable flashlight/batteries and even a few Android devices laying around that constantly need to be chargers. Our excellent 2-port ZaggSparq just couldn’t handle all of the stuff anymore. Time to step up to something more substantial.

Anker-reviewsWe’d heard great things about the new Anker IQ 40W 5V / 8A 5-Port Family-Size USB power supply. In fact, at Amazon where it can be nabbed on sale for $26, it gets almost exclusive 4 and 5 star ratings.

Anker hooked me up with a unit to test out at CES and I’ve relied on it since to keep our house full of devices charged. What’s particularly impressive about this one is that it has 40W of power to distribute through the 5 USB ports (a 25W one is a few bucks less). Anker’s new IQ does one better by recognizing high power requirements in devices like iPads, other tablets and even HPs new Chromebook and giving those devices the full 2-3 Amps of power they need to get charged quickly. Anker explains it thusly:

Not all USB ports are equal. Where past USB ports were hard-wired to exclusively charge iOS OR Android, we’re introducing Smart Port technology to create a truly universal charger. Dynamically adjusting to any device’s unique maximum charging speed, the Smart Port takes the brainwork out of compatibility.Just plug in and it’ll do the rest.

Were the reviews right? Was this the end to my USB charging woes?


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9to5Toys Last Call: $150 off Macs, Anker iPad Air keyboard case $20, V-Day 20% off clothing/jewelry, more

Avatar for Feb 12 2014 - 10:17 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals: 

Last Call updates:

 

imac-best-buy-dealTake $150 off MacBooks and iMacs at Best Buy with .edu email

anker-ipad-air-bluetooth-caseAnker iPad Air Magnetic Bluetooth Keyboard Case: $20 shipped

amazon-fashion-20-dealValentine’s Day Bailout: Amazon free 1-day shipping and 20% off jewelry/clothing/shoes


Other great deals from today:


More great deals still alive:

New products:

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9to5Toys Last Call: Anker 5-port USB charger $16, JBL 6-piece home theater system $280, Logitech Skype TV cam $100, SSDs, more

Avatar for Jan 27 2014 - 9:59 am PT
0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals: 

Last Call updates:

anker-5-port-usb-saleAnker 5-port Family iPad/tablet/iPhone USB charger: $16 shipped

jbl-home-theater-speaker-dealJBL High-Performance 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System $280 shipped (Reg. $1,199)

logitech-skype-cam-dealLogitech TV Cam HD with built-in Skype software $100 shipped (Reg. $200)

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Other great deals from today:

More great deals still alive:

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9to5Toys Last Call: MacMall Black Friday sale live, iMac $200 off, iPod Touch $50 off, iPad mini Bamboo case giveaway, Macworld Mag $7, more

Avatar for Nov 27 2013 - 10:09 am PT
0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

macmall-black-fridayBlack Friday Begins Now at MacMall: MacBook Airs $100 off, iPads $40 off, more

best-buy-black-friday-earlyBest Buy Black Friday Early Access: iMac $200 off, iPod Touch (5th gen) 32GB $50 off, more

primovisto-2Giveaway: Primovisto handmade iPad mini Bamboo case ($54 value)

macworld-mag-deal1-year subscription to Macworld w/ digital access: $6.50 (Reg. $84)

1password-deal-ios-appApps/games:

Anker Black Friday/Cyber Monday: A4 13000mAh power bank $35, 25W 5-Port USB charger $16, more

logitech-harmony-remote-deal-amazonLogitech Harmony smart control w/ iOS integration and simple remote $90 shipped (Reg. $130)


Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

Black Friday:

New product announcements & reviews:

  • Xbox One midnight launch info, reviews from around the web
  • PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web
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9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech/ZAGG iPad keyboards from $20, Anker 5-port USB charger $16, Logitech Mac trackpad $30, more

Avatar for Oct 28 2013 - 3:00 pm PT
0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s can’t miss deals:


iPad Bluetooth Keyboards refurbished w/ free shipping: Logitech Ultrathin $30, ZAGGkeys Mini 7 $20

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Anker 5-port Family iPad/tablet/iPhone USB Charger: $16 shipped

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Logitech rechargeable multi-touch trackpad for Mac $30 shipped (Reg. $60)


Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

Mac software bundles:

  • The SuperStacked Mac Bundle: Over $3,000 Worth Of Premium Developer & Designer Tools – $48 today, but price increases everyday it’s on sale.

New product announcements & reviews: