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Deal of the Week | Oct. 2nd, 2015: Mobile Device Charging Station for $1.99 (reg. $49.99)

Mobile Device Charging Station on sale for $1.99 - reg. $49.99One station to join them all, and on a counter charge them. With four outlets spaced to accommodate bulky AC adapters, as well as two USB charging outputs, this six-device charger station is perfect for organizing and charging your MP3 player, cell phone, digital camera, or any other portable electronic device. Not only that, but its built-in surge protection guards your precious from wayward electrons.

Charging stations like these normally sell for 60 bucks and up. Our everyday discounted price is $49.99. So how can we possibly afford to sell it this week for a rock-bottom $1.99?

The answer to that question is to dye for. No, that wasn’t a misspelling, just a truly awful pun. You can’t really tell from the photo above, but the color of the plastic on this device is… well, it’s odd. It’s the color of those nicotine-stained doilies at your chain-smoking great Aunt Tilly’s house. A color borrowed from the palette of absinthe-induced hallucinations, of smoke-damaged ivory, of rancid sour cream. They haven’t used this color in electronics manufacturing since the late 1970’s, and even then it was an ill-advised choice.

Somebody had to have lost their job for choosing this color. Deservedly.

But tucked away on a dresser, in the back of a bookshelf, under a counter – far, far from prying eyes – it will still do the job it’s intended to do, and do it well.

And no one will be the wiser.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Skid resistant pads hold devices securely
  • Five clips for cable organization
  • Expandable device holder
  • Foldable for easy portability
  • 1080 joule surge protection
  • On/off rocker switch

This offer runs from Friday, October 2nd through Thursday, October 8th, 2015, or while supplies last. Sorry, no rainchecks.

Deal of the Week | Sept. 25th, 2015: All iPhone Cases In Stock for 99¢ each

All iPhone Cases in Stock on sale for 99 cents eachChances are pretty good you have an iPhone. And even if you don’t own one yourself, you almost certainly know someone who does. So what better time to “freshen up” your iPhone than right now, when you can choose from hundreds of different cases…and pay less than a buck for each one. (Is it too early to start thinking about stocking stuffers? We don’t think so.)

These aren’t cheap knockoff cases, either. You’ll find brand names like Incipio, Speck, UAG, and more. Prices normally start at $19.99, with some cases selling for as much as $49.99. No matter which one you choose, all you’ll pay is 99 cents each.


This offer runs from Friday, September 25th through Thursday, October 1st, 2015, or while supplies last. Sorry, no rainchecks.BANNER-DOTW_yellow_reflect_640x160

Here’s the “TL;DR” version of today’s Apple event

Here’s the “TL;DR” version of today’s Apple event

SCREENGRAB - Apple iPhone 6s promo spot 09.09.15Instead of wading through the vast seas of press and tech coverage for this morning’s Apple event in San Francisco, here’s the “Too Long; Didn’t Read” condensed version:

Apple Watch

  • Announced new version of OS for its watches, WatchOS 2, available September 16th
  • WatchOS 2 gives third party developers access to watch’s sensors, the Digital Crown, microphone, and Taptic engine, along with the ability to build more complex animations
  • Announced new Apple Watch models, including those as a result of a partnership with Hermes, and new gold-and-rose and gold-and-anodized-aluminum finishes
  • Now over 10,000 apps for Apple Watch

Apple iPad family

  • Announced iPad Pro, a much larger tablet with a 12.9-inch, 2732×2048 Retina display
  • First availability won’t be until sometime in November
  • iPad Pro comes with new A9X 64-bit processor, claimed to have twice the memory bandwidth and storage performance of previous A8 processor, and to run 22X faster than the original first-gen iPad
  • Graphics performance also drastically improved
  • iPad Pro comes with a four-speaker audio system that automatically adjusts to screen orientation from portrait to landscape
  • Announced new magnetic Smart Keyboard (doubles as a cover) for $169
  • Smart Keyboard doesn’t use Bluetooth, but connects via new magnetic triple port on iPad Pro
  • Announced new Apple Pencil pressure-sensitive stylus for $99
  • iPad Pro available in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray finishes
  • Wi-Fi-only 32GB iPad Pro is $799; 128GB is $949
  • Only the 128GB iPad Pro will be available with cellular, for $1079
  • Other iPad models shift price points around. Entry level is now the iPad mini 2 16GB for $279.

Apple TV

  • Totally new fourth-gen box and set of features, with a 32GB model for $149 and 64GB model for $199
  • Original third-gen Apple TV will remain available, and still sell for $69
  • Only availability information for new Apple TV is “coming soon”
  • Much faster A8 processor
  • New remote has a glass multi-touch surface, volume control, and microphone for access to Siri
  • Siri allows voice command of menus, pop-up overlays, video navigation, movie and TV program selection (including suggestions), and much more
  • Remote also has motion sensitivity and a gyroscope to allow Wii-like control over games and other functions
  • Apple TV now has Bluetooth 4.0 and 801.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
  • Onscreen menu now offers access to the App Store
  • Debut of TV OS, an iOS-based operating system that is supposed to make things a lot easier for developers

Apple iPhone family

  • Apple announced two new phones: the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus. Physically, they look practically identical to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
  • But the new models’ screens come with a tougher “dual ion-exchange” glass
  • The new phones also feature pressure-sensitive touchscreens that work like the new Force Touch trackpad on the most recent MacBooks. Apple calls this “3D Touch.”
  • Both cameras have been improved, along with their flash technology
  • The back-facing iSight camera now captures 12 megapixels, and can record 4K video
  • The front-facing FaceTime HD camera now captures 5 megapixels
  • Rose Gold joins the previously available three finishes (Silver, Gold, and Space Gray)
  • A Live Photo feature has also been added, which automatically captures a few seconds of video and sound around still photos. Push firmly on a photo, and it plays the video.
  • Prices start at $199 for the 6S and $299 for the 6s Plus, with contract, for 16GB models
  • Jumping to a 64GB model adds $100, and to a 128GB model adds another $200
  • For teh first time, Apple offers off-contract pricing starting at $649 and $749, again for the 16GB models of the 6S and 6S Plus.
  • The new iPhones may be pre-ordered on September 12, and are slated to begin delivery September 25th

Miscellaneous

  • The next major upgrade to iOS, version 9, will be available next Wednesday (September 16th). Any device currently running iOS 8 will be able to upgrade to the new version.

Want to watch the live stream of Apple’s September 9th event? Here’s how.

 

Tomorrow morning (Wednesday), at 10am PDT (1pm Eastern, 6pm BST, 7pm CEST), Apple presents an invitation-only keynote, teased with the phrase seen in the graphic above: “Siri, give us a hint.”

That could be interpreted several ways, but most pundits agree Apple will, at the very least, announce new iPhone models. There are also rumors of a larger, more advanced Apple TV set-top box and new iPads, including the tantalizing possibility of a larger-screen “pro” iPad. But truth be told, outside the halls of Apple’s corporate offices, no one knows for sure exactly what the event will unveil.

But you can find out, in real time. Apple is live-streaming the presentation, which will take place in San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. And you can watch it by heading over to this link. But bear in mind, there are some requirements:

“Live streaming uses Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. HLS requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Safari on iOS 7.0 or later, a Mac with Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later, or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. Streaming via Apple TV requires a second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.”

You might also want to keep a tab or two open in your browser for one or more of these tech site’s live blogs of the shindig:

Apple Music promo video: “Music needed a home…so we built it one.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1zs0uHHoSw

Have you had a chance to check out Apple Music yet? The service, which was rolled out June 30th, has enjoyed a mostly positive reception so far. But many people don’t realize it’s much more than a music streaming app. It’s also intended to function as a social hub, helping everyone find new music and new artists – and not necessarily the “big name” stuff.

As Apple describes on their YouTube channel:

Apple Music is a place where music is treated like the art it is, with a sense of respect and discovery. It’s also a place that accommodates and supports musicians, and provides an environment for artists and fans to engage. Stream millions of songs—and discover music you’ll love with handpicked playlists and recommendations from our experts. Listen to Beats 1, our 24/7 worldwide station broadcasting the best new music direct from Los Angeles, New York, and London that’s anchored by world-class DJ Zane Lowe. And Apple Music Connect gives you a direct line to your favorite artists; where they can share demos, remixes, lyrics, photos—really anything they wish—straight to you, the fan. We’re taking all the ways you love music, and bringing them together in one complete place; one complete thought around music.

So what do you think? If you’ve had a chance to try Apple Music, what are your initial impressions?

Learn about this morning’s WWDC announcements in real time via Apple livestream, tech site liveblogs

Apple’s 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) launches with a keynote this morning. Expect big announcements about the next versions of OS X and iOS, along with developer-centric news about the Swift programming language and a Software Development Kit (SDK) for the Apple Watch. You can read some educated guesses about additional announcements over on Ars Technica.

If you’d like to experience each technological bombshell as it lands, Apple will be broadcasting the keynote live on their site – but you’ll only be able to watch it in their Safari browser, running on either a Mac or an iOS device, or on a 2nd-generation or later Apple TV.

In addition, a number of tech and business sites will be liveblogging the event: