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Ever wish that you could have packages delivered to your garage, safe from thieves and waiting for your return home? Amazon is already on it with today's launch of Key for Garage, a system that allows Prime members to let deliverymen into, you guessed it, their garages. On the surface, this seems like a good idea, and it requires a special kit from Amazon.With the Key Smart Garage Kit, all you need do is select "In-Garage delivery" when you're checking out. The kit lets you remotely check the status of your garage, even allowing you to open and close it when you're away. Key for Garage works with myQ, so if you already have a myQ-connected door, just link Amazon to it. If not, you have a choice between a smart garage hub that attaches to your existing door or a Chamberlain or LiftMaster Wi-Fi door opener. Both kits support Amazon's Cloud Cam (Key Edition).Right now, you can get a myQ Smart Garage Hub for $49.99, or get it bundled with a Cloud Cam for $124.99. Bear in mind that this is only available in certain cities, so check here to see if you live in an eligible area.
Today is another day for phone deals. Right now, you can pick up a Sony Xperia XZ2 from either Amazon or Best for $449.99, a savings of $50. That's a really decent price for a Snapdragon 845 device.Besides last year's top-end SoC, the XZ2 features 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, a microSD slot, a 19MP rear camera that can capture slow-mo video at 960fps, and a 5.7" 18:9 1080p HDR display.
Only the Liquid Black model is on sale for the $449.99, but the pink version is a tad more on Amazon at $467.58, if you'd rather have a more interesting color option. Best Buy, meanwhile, is offering the silver for $474.99, if you'd rather have a phone that isn't black or pink. Sadly, the green isn't on sale at either retailer.Buy: Amazon, Best Buy
It seems like Amazon is trying to clear out stock, because the Moto G6 is on sale yet again. Both Prime Exclusive variants are on very good sales — you can grab a 32GB/3GB for just $139.99 or a 64GB/4GB variant for $159.99.I feel like a broken record sometimes, especially when it comes to talking about the Moto G6. So in the interest of brevity, here's the link to the review. And here's my usual spiel: the Moto G6 isn't a powerhouse by any means, but it's got enough strength to do all of the basics and do them well. It has serviceable cameras, a decent 1080p display, a 3,000mAh battery, and so on.
Remember, these are the Prime Exclusive versions, so you'll have all of the Amazon apps pre-installed. For some of you, that's not that big of a deal since you likely do that when you get a new phone anyway. Both buy links will be below, though I think the extra $20 for another 1GB of RAM and double the storage is worth it.Buy: Amazon (32GB), (64GB)
Last year, Google announced a points-based reward system for the Play Store, but it was limited to Japan. That same program now includes South Korea. In case you've forgotten, the Play Store Points system rewards you for shopping and spending money.
We're nearing the end of April already, if you can believe it. And since it's Monday, I have a new list of app sales for you all, which includes some notable goodies like the Sleep as Android Unlock app and Bridge Constructor: Portal.
When I think of "smart home," one of the first brands that comes to mind is Nest. Renowned for its smart thermostat, the Google-owned company has ventured out into other product categories. Some haven't done so well, but one of the better ones is the Nest Hello, a doorbell camera. And right now, you can get one for yourself over on Rakuten for $165.74 with a coupon code, down from the usual $229 we see elsewhere.
With OnePlus, it's easy to get caught up in the Open Beta program, since that's where new features drop first. But in all that excitement and hype, it seems that the stable branch is often left to languish, which some people are quick to point out. Starting today, however, both the OnePlus 6 and 6T are set to receive a new OTA update to OxygenOS 9.0.5 and 9.0.13, respectively, complete with a very modest and small changelog.
We've come to the end of another week, so here's a final list of app sales for you. Keeping it short today.
Even though truly wireless ones are all the rage these days, traditional Bluetooth earphones are still an excellent choice if you need something small and convenient. Tonight, we have a deal for you over on Amazon where you can get a pair of Aukey's B60 earbuds for $44.99 or B80 for $52.49, a savings of $15 and $17.50, respectively.
Sometimes, when you come home from work or a day out, you just want to plop down on the couch and turn on the TV. If you're in the middle of a series or YouTube happens to recommend something decent, you're fine. Other times, however, selecting a show to watch is a pain. Luckily, Netflix appears to be working on a solution for that.
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- Following the above news, BlackBerry is opening BBM Enterprise (BBMe) to all end users with an Android app available now. Service will be free for the first year, then $2.49 for six months.
The end of an era approaches — the consumer-facing version of the once esteemed BlackBerry Messenger will be shutting down on May 31, 2019. This announcement came from a short blog post from Emtek (who handles BBM), with the title "Time to Say Goodbye." Somber news, indeed.
Another Pie update this week, praise be. This time, it's for the U.S. Moto G6 Play. Though this phone has had the newest Android version in Brazil for a little while now, it hitting the U.S. version is defintely newsworthy.
Amazfit's popular, inexpensive, and fitness-focused Verge smartwatch now offers Alexa integration for voice commands. Whether you want a quick news briefing, the weather forecast, what's on your calendar, or to turn on the lights, all you need to do is just talk to your watch.Here's a list of possibilities thanks to this integration:
The day has finally come. Rejoice, OnePlus 3/3T owners, for Pie is now available for your phone via a Community Beta. OnePlus is asking for feedback and help getting this ready for the prime time (aka stable branch), which means that you can download and install it on your device right now and try it out.
The week keeps chugging along, which means it's time for another round of app sales. You might find something you like in the list below, but regardless, be sure to check back on Friday for more.
Some Chromebook deals are really interesting, like this one. Best Buy is currently offering HP's 14" 2-in-1 Chromebook x360 for $399.99, a very nice $200 off the MSRP. All in all, it seems like a solid laptop for that price.
If you're still in the rooting and custom ROM scene, then you've probably already heard that the Team Win Recovery Project, better known as TWRP, just released v3.3 for most supported devices. There is a nice list of improvements, including a change to how TWRP is installed on some devices. Check it out below.
One of the biggest problems with getting into the smart home game is how expensive individual pieces can be. Even light bulbs, at least from the more well-known brands, can be quite costly. For this reason, deals like this one are definitely worth noting. Best Buy is currently offering a Hue White Ambiance bulb and dimmer switch bundle for a mere $29.99, a savings of $20.
It's been quite some time since we've seen a OnePlus Open Beta worth writing about. That's not to say that the last few haven't been important, mind you, but they mostly addressed some bugs and optimizations. However, the 6/6T and 5/5T both got a new update that, while not major, have some interesting elements.
Probably one of the least liked days in the U.S., Tax Day 2019 is here, so I hope you're squared away. In other news, we have a new round of app sales for the week to get you started.