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What to get when you've got an amateur photographer in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for the budding photog in the fam? Then consider this: Sony's compact RX100 III is the perfect fit for when you want more than what a smartphone camera can offer without the steep cost and bulk of a DSLR. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Apple email touts Black Friday gift ideas
Black Friday, the retailer's dream date, is coming up on November 28, 2014, and Apple is tempting the wallets of shoppers with an email full of holiday gift ideas. Playing on the theme that "From one gift come many", Apple shows how its products are really the gifts that keep on giving. The company's new iPad Air 2 receives top billing, with Apple reminding buyers that the one device can be used for tasks as varied as exploring the North Pole (virtually), going caroling with a songbook, or organizing a food drive. Apple also highlights the venerable Photo Gifts, printed items like calendars, photo books, and cards that can be shipped directly to recipients. The company is also reminding people that photo books can be ordered with free standard shipping through December 12, or with express shipping (at an extra cost) through December 17. The Apple TV gets some notice, but the Mac's ability to edit video, view photos, and compose music and the iPhone's ability to shoot photos and videos are touted much more. If you'd like to avoid the crowds and still get a lot of holiday shopping done in advance of December, be sure to look for the Apple email in your Mail inbox and then get that credit card warmed up.
Daily Deals for November 18, 2014
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own handpicked iOS and OS X selections. All prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly. TUAW is not responsible for third-party deals and cannot guarantee availability or quality of any particular product at a specific price. TUAW's Daily Deals LithiumCard AIR: The Wallet Sized HyperCharging Power Bank (iOS) [On sale for $39.99, down from $60] The LithiumCard AIR Portable HyperCharger has all the cables you need, generates the power of a wall charger, and at only 5 credit cards thick, will fit in most wallets with its luxurious billet aluminum housing. Using HyperCharging technology, the LithiumCard pumps up to 2 amps of power to charge your device FAST, at up to 1% of battery life per minute. 15 minutes of charging equals a 15% increase in battery life. It's that quick and easy! The intuitive design features all-inclusive cables which flip out when you need them, giving you a smooth feeling power unit that can be stored and used at a moments notice. Save 33% on the LithiumCard AIR: The Wallet Sized HyperCharging Power Bank (iOS) at TUAW Deals. The NES30 Bluetooth Controller: A Gaming Classic, Reinvented [On sale for $29.99, down from $40] The NES30 Bluetooth gamepad gives you everything you need to relive the glory days of gaming without the bulky console and stacks of dusty cartridges. Every detail of the NES30, right down to the graphics printed on the front, is meant to mimic the original NES gamepad design. The only difference here is Bluetooth or USB connectivity, 2 additional action buttons and 2 shoulder buttons which help to make this controller compatible with games from a variety of systems. While the NES30 works well with iOS and Android games that are compatible with physical inputs, it is also a great asset for fans of retro emulators, plus it works with the Nintendo Wii. Save 25% on the NES30 Bluetooth Controller: A Gaming Classic, Reinvented at TUAW Deals. Dealnews Deals AppsGoneMad: [Mac Software] 6-App Bundle for Mac for $10 Best Buy: [Routers] Refurb Apple AirPort 802.11ac Base Station for $120 + free shipping Other World Computing: [Computer Accessories] OWC Garage Sale: Discounts on RAM, PCs, more Rakuten Shopping: [Batteries] 24 Panasonic eneloop Rechargeable Batteries for $40 + free shipping MacMall: [External Hard Drives] Refurb LaCie 6TB USB 3.0 Thunderbolt HDD for $340 + free shipping Samsung: [TVs] Samsung 50" 4K WiFi LED LCD HDTV for $800 + free shipping MegaMacs: [MacBook] Refurb Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13" Laptop for $250 + free shipping Best Buy: [TVs] Sony 40" 1080p LED LCD HDTV for $300 + free shipping CowBoom: [Electronics] Pre-Cyber Week Sale at CowBoom: $10 off w/ $100 + free shipping eBay: [Camera Accessories] 8.2x10-Foot Studio Photography Backdrop Stand for $45 + free shipping GearXS: [Headphones] iHip Noise-Isolating Zipper Earphones for $4 + free shipping mwave: [Wireless Networking] Premiertek 24dBi High-Gain WiFi Antenna for $43 + free shipping iOS Software Discounts Crowman & Wolfboy [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Crowman & Wolfboy are an unlikely pair of shadow creatures on a bizarre journey to escape their own nature and find the mysterious "humans". Bubble Browser for Evernote [iPad; Now free, down from $4.99] Bubble Browser is a clean, visual (and fun!) way to explore your Evernote memories. Earhoof [iPad; On sale for $0.99, down from $3.99] Earhoof is a futuristic virtual instrument which turns your iPad into a rhythmic gradient of sound. FINAL FANTASY [iPhone; On sale for $3.99, down from $8.99] Initially released in Japan in 1987, the original FINAL FANTASY amazed audiences with its rich story and stunning graphics. FINAL FANTASY II [iPhone; On sale for $3.99, down from $8.99] FINAL FANTASY II is highly anticipated follow-up to the original FINAL FANTASY, released in Japan in 1988. FINAL FANTASY III [iPhone; On sale for $7.99, down from $15.99] First released in 1990, Final Fantasy III was the first title in the Final Fantasy series to become a million-seller. FINAL FANTASY III for iPad [iPad; On sale for $7.99, down from $16.99] First released in 1990, Final Fantasy III was the first title in the Final Fantasy series to become a million-seller. FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS [iOS Universal; On sale for $7.99, down from $15.99] With a full 3-D remake, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS can now be played as never before. FINAL FANTASY V [iOS Universal; On sale for $7.99, down from $15.99] Return to the classic medieval tale of magic, monsters and friendship with FINAL FANTASY V! FINAL FANTASY VI [iOS Universal; On sale for $10.99, down from $15.99] FINAL FANTASY VI first debuted in 1994 as the sixth installment in the iconic FINAL FANTASY series. iA Writer Pro [iOS Universal; On sale for $4.99, down from $9.99] The Writing Machine. iA Writer [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] INNOVATIVE WRITING TECHNOLOGY. Momento (Diary/Journal) [iPhone; Now free, down from $2.99] Momento helps you privately capture your daily activities, thoughts, ideas and photos, and combines them with your activity from social networks. Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel HD (Full) [iPad; Now free, down from $6.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel (Full) [iPhone; Now free, down from $4.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Funds. [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Funds helps you create a budget by simplifying the process and eliminating complicated steps. Stopwatch & Timer [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Stopwatch & Timer turns your iPhone/iPod touch or iPad into a precise stopwatch and five running simultaneously timers. Metronome 9th [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Metronome 9th is the most precise and stable metronome on the app store. Monster Dash [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Welcome to the new evolution of Monster Dash, part of the legendary Barry Steakfries Trilogy along with Jetpack Joyride and Age of Zombies! Apple's App of the Week. OS X Software Discounts Two Dollar Tuesday [OS X; Category: Various; $1.99] Two Dollar Tuesday is offering three OS X apps for $1.99 each. Titles include Magic Window- Yosemite Edition, Themes for Keynote and Yoink. Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel (Full) [OS X; Now free, down from $6.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Toucan tasks [OS X; Now free, down from $3.99] Toucan tasks is a super easy to use app that integrates: calendar + todo + notes + project management.
Olloclip 4-In-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 6/6 Plus
Olloclip was one of the first vendors to come out with accessory lenses for the iPhone, so it's no surprise that the company has turned the design and manufacturing of its high-quality lenses into an art. The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus version of the 4-In-1 Photo Lens is now available for pre-order from the company for US$79.99 in a number of finishes to accentuate your big new iPhone. TUAW had an opportunity to test the latest Olloclip, so keep reading to see how we liked it. Specifications Lenses included: Fisheye, Wide Angle, Macro 10X, Macro 15X Includes: Adapters for both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, three carrying clips (black, green, blue), and a lanyard Works with: Both front- and rear-facing cameras Weight: 0.9 ounces (25.5 grams) including both fisheye and wide angle lens, but no lens caps. Lens caps add 0.2 ounces (5.67 grams). Finishes: Silver lens/White clip, Silver lens/Black clip, Gold lens/White clip, Red lens/Black clip, Space Gray lens/Black clip Design Olloclip keeps changing its design, and that's a good thing. The new design features a way to use the lenses with both the forward-facing and rear-facing cameras, meaning that you can do fisheye selfies if that's your desire. For carrying and using the fisheye and wide angle lenses, the aluminum and glass lenses are screwed onto the 15X and 10X macro lenses respectively. For macro photography, just unscrew the appropriate lens and use the lenses that are built into the lens clip. The lens clip comes with an iPhone 6 spacer installed. For use with the iPhone 6 Plus, simply pop out the iPhone 6 spacer and put the iPhone 6 Plus spacer in. The lens clip snaps into any one of the three carrying clips included with the Olloclip kit. The carrying clips come with a lanyard if you'd like to carry the lenses around your neck, and there's an extra "key ring" that can be used if you'd prefer to clip it to a backpack, belt loop, or even a keychain. Functionality As usual, Olloclip provides the iPhone photographer with an excellent selection of macro, wide angle and fisheye lenses. With my other iPhones, I've always used the wide angle lens for really expansive landscape shots, the fisheye on those rare occasions when you really want to capture a 180° field of view in one shot, and the macro lenses for grabbing extreme closeups. Fisheye, 10X macro, and 15X images taken with the Olloclip are in the following slideshow: The lenses are typical Olloclip - high quality and well worth the price. With the iPhone 6/6 Plus lens set, I found that the accessories - lanyard, interchangeable carrying clips, and lens caps - were just what I needed to make me carry the lenses everywhere I go. No, I'm not going to have a lanyard around my neck 24/7, but the lenses and clip work beautifully attached to a zipper on the jacket that I wear when hiking. To capture a quick shot with one of the lenses, I just need to pop the lens kit out of the clip and place it on the iPhone 6 Plus. Olloclip is in the unenviable position of needing to design a new lens kit each time Apple changes the design of the iPhone, but the company has done an impressive job of coming out with the iPhone 6/6 Plus lens in record time and ultimately making it the best Olloclip so far. Rating: 4 out of 4 stars possible
Want a Mac under the Christmas tree this year? Better order now
Online shoppers placing orders for the new Retina iMac on Apple's digital store are seeing notifications of "unexpected delays" as we make our way closer to the biggest gift-giving day of the year. MacNN is reporting that delays of up to two weeks are pushing orders originally slated for November deliveries back into December, with no specific reason offered for the delays. So if you were planning on gifting a new Mac to a loved one this year -- or maybe even picking one up as a present for yourself -- you should probably fill that virtual shipping cart soon, or you'll risk some serious disappointment.
Daily Deals for November 17, 2014, featuring the best audio gear for the holidays
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own handpicked iOS and OS X selections. All prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly. TUAW is not responsible for third-party deals and cannot guarantee availability or quality of any particular product at a specific price. TUAW's Daily Deals TMA-1 Headphones: Rocked By The World's Best DJs [On sale for $159, down from $250]{C}{C}{C} The TMA-1 DJ Headphones bring professional-quality performance and finish it up with stunning modern appeal. Proven on stage and in the studio by the world's most demanding DJs, the TMA-1 has been made in collaboration with 25 professional and renowned DJ's (James Murphy, A- Trak, Seth Troxler, Madlib, amongst others). These headphones have been tuned to perfection, giving you the sensitivity for a loud club, commute to work or just sitting around. With clear bass, rhythmic guitar and percussion, and no washed out vocals, you're getting the cream of the crop in audio performance while still looking fresh with its Matte finished aesthetic. Tested in studios and on tours all over the world, this specialized piece of equipment is for the hard working musician, audiophile and everyone else who enjoys music the way it is supposed to be heard. Save 36% on the TMA-1 Headphones: Rocked By The World's Best DJs at TUAW Deals. Active Wrap Headphones: No Wires. No Noise. Just Music [On sale for $24, down from $49] The SPBEAT9 Active Wrap Headphones are here to free you of those ugly wires and hated knots. With no delicate parts getting in the way, you won't have any issue with pieces breaking or shorting out! The comfortable, lightweight design allows for you to run, jump and workout with no obstruction or annoying snags. With a lithium ion battery powering your tunes, you can also be rocking out for 8 non-stop hours. The Active Wrap Headphones also come with built-in noise-canceling technology to keep interfering background noises from invading the excellent sound quality you need. Save 51% on Active Wrap Headphones: No Wires. No Noise. Just Music at TUAW Deals. Grain Audio PWS Bluetooth Speaker [On sale for $199, down from $249] Ditch your plastic wireless speaker – it's time you upgrade to the warm, rich sound of wood. The Grain Audio PWS is one Bluetooth speaker that truly sounds as good as it looks. With a sleek walnut enclosure, a sound processor developed by Grammy® award-winning technicians, and a patented bass isolation system – this speaker emits a full, natural sound – the way the artists intended. Save 20% on Grain Audio PWS Bluetooth Speaker at TUAW Deals. The Pocket Kick Speaker: Huge Sound In A Tiny Package [On sale for $74.99, down from $99] Everything is better with a soundtrack, so why not take all your favorite music with you everywhere you go? Start living life out loud with the ultra-portable Pocket Kick by Soundfreaq. The Pocket Kick was meticulously engineered to produce refreshingly full and powerful sound. It features a pair of custom-engineered drivers and a passive radiator which is set between two full-metal, open air grills to optimize airflow and project full-frequency sound with lower frequencies kicked out the back. Aside from its astounding sound, the design of the Pocket Kick has been tuned to portable perfection. It has smooth and soft angles making it a breeze to slip in and out of your pocket or bag. It also features a super-juiced battery that allows for 10+ hours of playback time and can be quickly recharged using any USB port. Save 24% on The Pocket Kick Speaker: Huge Sound In A Tiny Package at TUAW Deals. Dealnews Deals Best Buy: [Routers] Refurb Apple AirPort 802.11ac Base Station for $120 + free shipping Other World Computing: [Computer Accessories] OWC Garage Sale: Discounts on RAM, PCs, more AppsGoneMad: [Mac Software] 6-App Bundle for Mac for $10 AppsGoneMad: [Mac Software] Arise for Mac or Portrait Painter for Mac for free Samsung: [TVs] Samsung 50" 4K WiFi LED LCD HDTV for $800 + free shipping Best Buy: [TVs] Sony 40" 1080p LED LCD HDTV for $300 + free shipping CowBoom: [Electronics] Pre-Cyber Week Sale at CowBoom: $10 off w/ $100 + free shipping eBay: [Camera Accessories] 8.2x10-Foot Studio Photography Backdrop Stand for $45 + free shipping Best Buy: [MacBook Pro] MacBook Pro i5 13" Retina Laptop w/ 512GB SSD for $1,360 + free shipping GearXS: [Headphones] iHip Noise-Isolating Zipper Earphones for $4 + free shipping mwave: [Wireless Networking] Premiertek 24dBi High-Gain WiFi Antenna for $43 + free shipping Adorama: [Laser Printers] Ricoh SP 112 Desktop Laser Printer for $35 + free shipping iOS Software Discounts iA Writer Pro [iOS Universal; On sale for $4.99, down from $9.99] The Writing Machine. iA Writer [iOS Universal; On sale for $0.99, down from $4.99] INNOVATIVE WRITING TECHNOLOGY. Momento (Diary/Journal) [iPhone; Now free, down from $2.99] Momento helps you privately capture your daily activities, thoughts, ideas and photos, and combines them with your activity from social networks. Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel HD (Full) [iPad; Now free, down from $6.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel (Full) [iPhone; Now free, down from $4.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Translate Photo - Camera Scanner, PDF, OCR Document Grabber & Translator [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $4.99] TranslatePhoto app extracts texts from any printed sources: documents, books, signs, instructions or announcements and allows to immediately translate them to any of 70 languages. Dodo Master Pocket [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] In Dodo Master you will help an imprisoned Dodo escape from her mysterious captors and reclaim her stolen eggs. Funds. [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Funds helps you create a budget by simplifying the process and eliminating complicated steps. Stopwatch & Timer [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Stopwatch & Timer turns your iPhone/iPod touch or iPad into a precise stopwatch and five running simultaneously timers. Metronome 9th [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Metronome 9th is the most precise and stable metronome on the app store. Runtastic Sit Ups Trainer PRO [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Flatten your stomach and get those ab muscles to start showing with runtastic SitUps PRO app! Monster Dash [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Welcome to the new evolution of Monster Dash, part of the legendary Barry Steakfries Trilogy along with Jetpack Joyride and Age of Zombies! Apple's App of the Week. OS X Software Discounts Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel (Full) [OS X; Now free, down from $6.99] Unravel the secrets of the Templars and an ancient Egyptian cult in this thrilling adventure! Toucan tasks [OS X; Now free, down from $3.99] Toucan tasks is a super easy to use app that integrates: calendar + todo + notes + project management. My Net - Network Scanner [OS X; Now free, down from $1.99] The fastest and most through WiFi LAN Scanner available!
Check out the first holiday widget for iOS
I guess it had to happen -- a widget with a holiday theme, and one that gives you some useful information. I'm talking about SNOWidget, from developer Johnny Ixe who gave us the handy and useful DataMan app. Download the free SNOWidget app, and then load it from your pull-down Today notifications. You'll see a nice animated snowfall, and a quick reminder of how many days are remaining until Christmas. The app allows you to set the size of the widget, the font, and it can measure days or hours until Christmas. What more could you want? SNOWidget requires iOS 8 or later. It's optimized for both the iPhone 5 and 6 series. It's whimsical. It's free. Go get it.
Drop Kitchen Connected Scale drops just in time for your holiday baking
So, you've got to bake a few dozen Christmas cookies for your little girl's robotics club, but you have absolutely no idea how to cook ... or even how to measure ingredients. Never fear -- the Drop Kitchen Connected Scale (US$99.99) and its associated free recipe app are going to turn you into a baking pro. As you can see from the snappy video above, the idea behind Drop is to turn anyone -- with an iPad running iOS 8.0 or later and some common kitchen tools -- into an expert baker. Drop can weigh anything from 6 kg down to less than a single gram, and uses interactive recipes to help you have success in the kitchen. You just pour ingredients into a bowl on the scale until you reach the correct amount, stir or blend, pour into a cake or loaf pan, then let the app tell you when to take the masterpiece out of the oven. What if you don't have enough flour or you've run out of milk? Not a problem, as the app can help you find substitutions that will work and can also scale the other ingredients so that you can still make at least part of a batch of cookies out of that remaining flour. The recipes are designed to be mixed in a single bowl for less cleanup, and there's even a social sharing aspect to the app for bragging about your latest kitchen success. Drop uses Bluetooth LE to talk to your iPad or iPad mini, and the battery should last up to a year of normal use. Drop is available for ordering online today, but the device will be available soon at Apple Stores in the US, Canada, and the UK. You can also purchase Drop online from Apple.com, Brit+Co, Food52, and Harvey Norman stores in Ireland.
Daily Deals for November 14, 2014, featuring the Best Gear For Traveling This Holiday Season
It's time to save some of that hard-earned cash with our Daily Deals, featuring exclusive TUAW Deals, a handy list from Dealnews and our own handpicked iOS and OS X selections. All prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly. TUAW is not responsible for third-party deals and cannot guarantee availability or quality of any particular product at a specific price. TUAW's Daily Deals The Bluetooth Shower Speaker: Shower Yourself In High-Quality Sound [On sale for $34.99, down from $99] This takes singing in the shower to the next level. Get your tunes blasting and make your shower time an even better part of your day. The speaker is water-resistant and features a handy suction cup that allows you to secure it to the shower wall. Its user-friendly design lets you control it with ease with play/pause and forward and rewind buttons in back. The speaker comes with everything you need to enjoy it right away and it features a built-in rechargeable battery so you don't have to worry about running for new batteries. Save 64% on the Bluetooth Shower Speaker:at TUAW Deals. Wireless Feather Buds: The Lightweight, Crystal Clear Bluetooth Headphones (International) [On sale for $24.99, down from $60] The TOCCs Feather Buds are the perfect mix of comfort, convenience, and high-quality sound. These bluetooth headphones are packed with awesome features that will make your other standard headphones obsolete. With a noise canceling outer shell, you will be able to isolate the sounds you want to hear, leaving other sounds out and your favorite songs jammin' in your ears. The Feather Buds are lightweight and tangle free, so you never feel like you ears are weighed down with extra tech and you're never left frustratingly untangling wires for what seems like hours. The bluetooth transmission is crystal clear and works at a range up to 30ft, so you can be working around the house or working out and moving around freely without being hindered by wires or a clunky device. Save 58% on Wireless Feather Buds: The Lightweight, Crystal Clear Bluetooth Headphones (International) at TUAW Deals. Analyze & Troubleshoot Your Wi-Fi Network w/ NetSpot Pro [On sale for $19, down from $149] NetSpot Pro is a simple and accessible wireless survey tool, which allows for collecting, visualizing and analyzing Wi-Fi data using any MacBook. This app actually allows you to visualize your wireless network by building a visual Wi-Fi map. You can now see dead zones without coverage and place hotspots correctly. With a couple of clicks you can load your area map, point your location on the map and NetSpot starts collecting Wi-Fi data around you. Save 87% on NetSpot Pro at TUAW Deals. The Smart Travel Router: A Globally Compatible Router + Charger [On sale for $34.99, down from $50] Staying productive and keeping your electronics up and running during international travel can be pretty tricky. Between inconsistent wi-fi access, varying power socket configurations and other unforeseen complications, you might find yourself wanting to pull out your eyebrows. However, if you toss the highly portable Smart Travel Router into your backpack, you won't need to give any of these issues so much as a second thought. Save 30% on The Smart Travel Router: A Globally Compatible Router + Charger at TUAW Deals. Dealnews Deals AppsGoneMad: [Mac Software] 6-App Bundle for Mac for $10 AppsGoneMad: [Mac Software] Arise for Mac or Portrait Painter for Mac for free GearXS: [Headphones] iHip Noise-Isolating Zipper Earphones for $4 + free shipping mwave: [Wireless Networking] Premiertek 24dBi High-Gain WiFi Antenna for $43 + free shipping Adorama: [Laser Printers] Ricoh SP 112 Desktop Laser Printer for $35 + free shipping eBay: [MacBook Air] Refurb MacBook Air i5 Dual 128GB SSD 12" Laptop for $550 + free shipping eBay: [iPhone Cases] TPU Rubber Bumper Case for Apple iPhone 6 Plus for $3 + free shipping eBay: [Monitors] LG 34" 21:9 UltraWide IPS LED LCD Display for $850 + free shipping Verizon Broadband: [Computer Services] Verizon FiOS 50/50 w/ Local Channels, HBO, Showtime, Netflix for $60/month Best Buy: [MacBook Pro] Apple MacBook Pro Haswell i7 15" Retina Laptop for $1,800 + free shipping Lenovo: [Headphones] Lenovo W770 Wireless Headset for $20 + free shipping B&H Photo Video: [Internal Hard Drives] Toshiba Q Series 512GB SATA 6Gbps Internal SSD for $199 + free shipping iOS Software Discounts Numerical: Calculator Without Equal [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Whether you're doing simple math, advanced brackets or need a running history, Numerical has the answer! Motocross Elite [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Have the ride of your life in the popular and exciting racing game Motocross Elite! Toca Hair Salon Me [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Give your friends and family a totally new look! Reckless Racing 3 [iOS Universal; On sale for $2.99, down from $4.99] Reckless Racing is back with dirtier racetracks, more epic power slides, eye-popping graphics and the largest selection of cars and trucks to date. Scanbot · Document Scanner & QR Reader with Cloud Drive Upload and Sync, OCR, PDF Editing, Signing, Receipt, Whiteboard, Invoice and Pro Features [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Scanbot is your premium mobile scanner app for documents and QR codes. Create high-quality PDF or JPG scans. Fealty [iOS Universal; On sale for $1.99, down from $4.99] This app is a full implementation of Asmadi Games' strategy title, Fealty. Monster Dash [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Welcome to the new evolution of Monster Dash, part of the legendary Barry Steakfries Trilogy along with Jetpack Joyride and Age of Zombies! Apple's App of the Week. OS X Software Discounts Tetri3D [OS X; Now free, down from $0.99] Tetri3D is a powerful 3D Tetris game. Total Manager – Files Archiver, Photo and Video Viewer [OS X; Now free, down from $9.99] Total Manager is a powerful file manager with a classic double-window and multi-tab interface. Coinverter [OS X; On sale for $1.99, down from $3.99] Coinverter is a powerful yet simple currency rates converter that lets you calculate currency exchange rates easily. Snapheal [OS X; On sale for $16.99, down from $19.99] Easily Fix Imperfections on Your Images with Snapheal. Sound Forge 2 [OS X; On sale for $79.99, down from $99.99] Sound Forge 2 is perfect for recording, editing, processing, and rendering high-resolution, broadcast-quality audio master files.
Presenting Engadget's 2014 Holiday Gift Guide
Smartphones, tablets and laptops are standard fare in 2014, but living in an always-on world isn't just about the essentials. So this year, we looked beyond the gadgets that fit in your backpack or briefcase to compile our Holiday Gift Guide. We've collected a veritable feast of devices to cater to everyone from the amateur bartender to the DIY tinkerer, and made sure to offer a wide-ranging menu that hits every price point. We don't advise eating your gadgets, but playing with what's on your plate is a must. So grab a bib and dig in!
The year in reviews: 2013's best and worst gadgets scored and scrutinized
Fun fact: Engadget reviewed 176 products in 2013, and that's not even counting the umpteen times we got hands-on with stuff at tradeshows and press events. In general, we try to review just the top-tier gadgets, but even then, some of it ends up being forgettable. (Can you name-check everything we tested from memory? We can't.) So, as the year draws to a close, we're taking a look back at the last 12 months of reviews, and this time, we're including only the products you'd have no trouble remembering. Across every category, we've noted the flagships everyone coveted -- along with the duds that could've been so much better. Oh, and you might notice that we included some numbered scores throughout. That's right; Engadget is bringing back numerical ratings, and they'll follow the same format as the critic score gdgt has already been using for years. Which is to say, each rating takes into account various criteria for a given product category -- things like battery life and portability. Wanna see how your favorite gadgets did? Meet us after the break for a walk down memory lane.
The biggest stories of 2013: Console wars, Bitcoin's boom and the NSA's very bad year
2013 was a bust! Or so we've been told. Whether you follow that line of thinking or reflect on the last 363 days in a more optimistic light, it's clear the year wasn't all big breakthroughs and great triumphs. This was the year of government surveillance revelations, fallen giants and lackluster product releases. But it was also the year Netflix took on the studios, patent reform became a real priority in DC and two new game consoles hit the scene. No, we won't be riding our hoverboards into the sunset at the close of 2013, but the stories that rocked the industry had a profound impact not only on technology, but also on society as a whole. So let's raise those half-empty glasses and make a toast as we recap the year that was: Here's to the glassholes!
Tech's biggest misfires of 2013
You can't win 'em all. The adage certainly holds in the fast-paced world of technology, where one small slip can put a damper on your entire year. Every year, among all of the celebrations of top gadgets and big news stories, we like to take a moment to acknowledge the other side of things. This time out, it's a pretty diverse list, from flubbed Kickstarter launches to massive governmental privacy breaches and yet another really lousy year for one smartphone manufacturer. But don't worry everyone; the year 2013 is nearly over.
You have a week left to enter our holiday giveaway with prizes from Sony!
End-of-the-year festivities are just around the corner, so here's hoping your holiday shopping is squared away. If not, our guides are here for some last-minute reference, and in any case you owe it to yourself to enter the giveaways. Sony's supplied some pretty awesome gear, from its acclaimed RX100 II camera to the convertible VAIO Flip PC. Simply head to the bottom of each of our 11 guides and enter the raffle -- we're accepting entries until 11:59PM, EST on December 31st. Good luck!
On The Gadget Table: the products that defined 2013
The snow is falling, the trees are all lit up and servers everywhere are beginning to groan under the strain of last-minute shopping sprees. It's beginning to look a lot like Gadget Table time. To celebrate the season -- and put one last ribbon on the year that was -- we're bringing back an old Engadget Show favorite. We've dusted off the table and filled it full of some of the best and most memorable gadgets of 2013. Tablets, smartphones, video game consoles, tablets, wearables and even the occasional dongle -- all are fair game. Join Brian and Dana after the break, as they take you through the year in gadgets.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: For the Geek who has everything
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides. We all know at least one of them: that borderline-annoying person who always seems to have the latest gadgets the moment they're announced. The Nexus 5 isn't going to cut it for such people; you'll need to think outside the box if you want to really impress them. Consider the ideas below -- from 3D-printing pens to a stunning e-motorcycle, these (probably) haven't found a place in your friends' lives just yet.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Home Theater
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. For many of us, "home entertainment" systems can be tucked in backpacks or propped up on an airline tray table. For diehard media fanatics, however, such lightweight solutions won't do. If you or someone you love knows their LCD from their plasma -- and you have the money to spend -- the TVs below are sure to please. The days of 4K may still be early, but, hey, nothing makes watching Planet Earth more social than a giant, brilliant set. Even if your wallet isn't fat, you can upgrade a living room with our favorite set-top boxes and TVs.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Audio
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Like cameras, audio gadgets are the kind of gifts you want to start using fresh out of the box at this year's holiday parties. Okay, it's probably not a good idea to ditch the festivities to test out that new pair of over-ears, but the speakers and services listed below should guarantee that your party playlists are taken care of.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Peripherals
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Peripherals sound about as exciting as a trip to the dentist, but trust us: Companion devices have plenty to offer, and some even have a wow factor. Just take the Pebble smartwatch, for example; it lets you view notifications (as well as the current time) directly from your wrist. Especially well-heeled types can shell out for a VR headset or 3D printer, but we're sure your loved ones will be thankful for a cutting-edge hard drive all the same.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Gaming
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. This is an especially good year for gamers: With major consoles from Microsoft and Sony debuting just in time for the holidays, there are some pretty obvious items to add to the wish list. If hand-held gaming is more your thing, don't fret; we've got you covered, too.
