Garrett Bridges
Contributing since December, 2019
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50articles
Latest Articles
Facebook Messenger Rooms brings its group-call experience to users around the world
Create rooms of up to 50 people in which to virtually party
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Video calls have become an important way to stay in touch with friends and family during this time of isolation. There's already plenty to choose from, but now Facebook is giving us something new to consider as Messenger Rooms rolls out across the globe.
128GB Galaxy Tab S5e drops to new low of $400 ($80 off)
Lovely OLED tablet at a great price
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Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S5e last year, filling a niche that Samsung seemingly made for itself. Despite that, it's reviewed extremely well with users, and maintains the quality and build we all expect of Samsung by now. If you're in the market for a tablet, the company has made a major MSRP cut for the 128GB version.The Galaxy Tab S5e has a 10.5" OLED display, a 7,040mAh battery, 4GB of RAM on models with 64GB of internal storage, and 6GB of RAM on the 128GB models. It's thin, light, snappy, and the perfect size to binge your media on; snap on a keyboard and you have a perfectly serviceable work-device as well.
Haul around a massive Rocksolar 100W Portable Power Station for only $122 ($78 off)
Power ALL the things!
If you've ever been camping and lost the power to your tunes or flashlights, experienced a protracted blackout at home, or needed to power devices outside that were out of reach of any outlets, you know how irritating that can be in today's tech-based world. Luckily, you can alleviate that frustration with a portable battery, and there's a monster on sale this week: Rocksolar's 100W Portable Power station, down to just $122 on Woot.The Rocksolar Portable Power Station comes equipped with a 222Wh battery that's self-cooling so it doesn't overheat while it's charging multiple devices at once. Despite the battery capacity, it weighs a meager 4 pounds and sports a handle for easy lugging around. It has a charge port for almost anything you can dream up: two 100W AC outputs, 3 DC ports, 3 USB Type-A ports, and 2 USB Type-C ports, including a Quick Charge 3.0 port. There's also an LED flashlight built into the unit itself.
There's a crazy Google Home sale happening, hurry to get one for under $30
Smart-up the rest of your home on the cheap this week
Google Home speakers have become common household items over the last few years, and if you're looking to replace your old one, upgrade from a Mini, or add another to a new room, this is your week: almost every retailer has them on sale for just $30, a full $70 off their regular price.
Unlock your doors from anywhere with the August Smart Lock Pro for only $140 ($140 off)
Never worry about forgetting your keys again
Smart locks are becoming a major convenience for homeowners; whether you rent out your place, have family or friends to stay while you're away, or you just forget your keys, it'll make your life much less tedious. If any of that sounds appealing to you, you're in luck: the August Smart Lock Pro is on sale for just $140 today, 50% off its standard price.
Smartwatches and wearables are everywhere; every company you've heard of — and many you haven't — are churning out devices at an impressive pace. If you've been looking for a cheap and maintenance-free way to track your exercise and vitals, today is your day: Garmin's Vívofit 4 is on sale for just $50.The Vívofit 4 tracks all the standard things we expect by now: exercises, steps, distances, and the calories you burn. What truly makes it stand out is the battery; the Vívofit 4 contains a battery that reportedly runs the device over a year without needing to be charged or swapped out.
Binging TV shows and movies has been one of the favored ways to pass the time while we're at home, and now you can do so in size and style with Anker's Nebula Mars II, on sale right now for $330 with a coupon code.The Nebula Mars II an Android-based projector that can play content from installed apps, or in some cases, media streamed from another phone/tablet. The projector also features an HDMI slot and a USB slot, so you can connect other devices directly. With its dual 10W audio drivers, 4 hours of battery life, and an auto-focus feature for your media, it's a great way to enjoy movies, TV shows, or anything else. You can read our full review of the projector here.
Add a powerful subwoofer to your Sonos setup for just $549 ($150 off)
Pair it with the Sonos Playbar for a new soundsystem
Ever feel the need to have a bone-rattling experience in sound to go with your favorite album or movie? Achieve that dream with the Sonos Sub — a wireless Subwoofer with deep bass — for only $549 today, a full $150 off the standard price.The Sonos Sub wirelessly connects to your other Sonos devices, giving you the freedom to place it where and how you like it. It can function on its base, on its side, inside cabinets, or under furniture. Sonos has even eliminated the bassy "buzz" we're all so familiar with by projecting the speaker drivers inward, making sure you never have to deal with rattling floors or equipment.
Guard your deliveries with a Nest Hello doorbell, only $180 for Costco members ($40 off, plus 6 months Nest Aware)
Ding-dong, savings calling
The Nest Hello doorbell debuted almost 2 years ago, and our review of it was a rave. If you're in the market for a new doorbell, you're in luck: Costco has the Nest Hello — including a 6-month subscription to Nest Aware — on sale for $180, $40 off the standard price.
Samsung's Good Lock is a massively popular app that lets you customize your Galaxy device, and was recently updated to support Android 10 and One UI 2.0. Samsung has now released Home Up, a module for Good Lock that allows the user to extensively fine-tune their homescreen folders, including their appearances and backgrounds.
Nab a Facebook Portal Mini for just $80 ($50 off) for simple video calling with friends and family
Video calls with grandma made easier
When Facebook announced it was releasing the Portal series of devices for video calls, skepticism abounded. Development on the devices continued unabated though, and they've been extremely well-reviewed. Facebook has come out with several variants in the past two years, including 10" and 15" models; today, its 8" variant, the Facebook Portal Mini, is on sale for just .The Portal Mini has an 8" touch screen housed in a sleek black or white frame that also functions as a smart home hub. You can video chat with friends and family through Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, and like the Google Nest Hub, the camera will keep its focus by panning and zooming on whoever is talking. When not in use, the frame can turn into a picture display for your Facebook, Instagram, or phone's camera gallery, much like other smart hubs.
You can save up to $500 on Sony's premium 4K TVs right now
Movie theater quality for movie theater prices
4K TVs have almost completed their takeover to become the de facto standard resolution being sold, and you don't have to pay a king's ransom for them anymore. If you want to a more high-end experience though, right now is the time to bite — many's of Sony's premium 4K sets are on sale right now for up to $500 off.Sony's X series of televisions boast its X1 Extreme Processor, promising extra controlled contrast and a wider range of brightness. They support Alexa and Google Home integration, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to stream smart home camera feeds directly to the set. We've compiled a list of the variants and their savings for you below.Sony X900F:
Google Opinion Rewards expands to Hong Kong and Malaysia
The move follows expansion to Chile, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates earlier this year
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Google Opinion Rewards had a rocky ending to 2019, with many users' credits expiring without warning or explanation. That was soon rectified by placing an expiration date beneath your balance, though the explanation for the whole debacle was too little, too late. Moving past the controversy, Google's forging ahead in the new decade by making Opinion Rewards available in Chile, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Garmin's Vívoactive 4 and 4S are on sale for just $270 right now ($80 off)
Track ALL the things
Garmin's line of wearables are some of the more fitness-oriented watches available, designed not only to help you with every kind of workout but to function as a fully-featured smartwatch. Today, Garmin has placed its Vívoactive 4 and 4s watches on sale for just $270, a full $80 off the standard retail price.
Google Phone app now available on Play Store for some non-Pixel phones
You're out of luck if you're on a Samsung or OnePlus device, unfortunately
The Google Phone app has been a constantly-evolving piece of software that many users prefer over third-party dialers. Unfortunately, Google has always restricted the app's use to Pixel, Android One, and other stock-ish Android phones, something that has led to multiple modded APKs and workarounds for other types of phones. Thankfully, the Phone app is now available on the Play Store for a bevy of non-Google-branded devices.
Instagram Live broadcasts can now be watched on the web
Watch your favorite social media superstar live-mix their next drink
Instagram Live has become one of the largest platforms for personal streaming, but broadcasts were only viewable from the mobile app, which can be a drag for longer streams. Fortunately, Instagram has now added support for watching Live content from the web, so you can watch homebound celebrities from the comfort of a large screen.
Grab TCL's 4K Roku-enabled 55-inch TV for just $450 ($80 off)
That's $30 less than the last time we saw it on sale
Streaming has become the dominant form of entertainment — especially as of late — and having all your options available in one easy-to-access place is becoming a luxury we can all afford. Today, Amazon has TCL's 55-inch Roku-enabled Smart TV for just $450, giving you 4K capabilities and streaming services in a decently-priced packaged.TCL's 6-Series televisions feature crisp 4K HDR, Dolby Vision enhancements, and the Roku smart system, giving you access to almost every streaming app you could want: Netflix, HBO, Disney+, Plex, and Hulu, to name just a select few. Along with an enhanced remote you can control with your voice, this set offers a nice way to kick-start your home entertainment setup or an inexpensive means to add another great TV to your home.
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In the last year, Google Maps began a wide roll-out of visible speed limits during navigation in dozens of countries. Since its release, there's been a wide range of upgrades, downgrades, and, in some cases, the feature disappearing altogether. Following an earlier disappearance, it seems users in the UK may finally have their speed limits back.
Samsung's Galaxy A50 is a perfect example of a midrange phone that doesn't heavily compromise on specs. Between the giant 4,000 mAh battery, triple cameras, and an in-display fingerprint reader, it packs a lot of premium features into a lower-cost device. If that sounds like a good deal to you, you can grab an open-box unit on eBay right now for the very affordable price of $200.
The Galaxy Watch Active2 has enjoyed rave reviews and the general consensus is that it's the best Android-compatible watches right now. If you've been looking for an excuse to dip in, it's a good day for it: the 44mm variant of the Active2 is just $190 on eBay, a full $110 off the standard price.