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A beginners guide to buying a synth
It's no secret that there's a growing interest in synths, drum machines and other electronic music instruments. There are many reasons for that -- most obviously because electronic music is now popular music. But it's also because improved technology and manufacturing have driven the prices of such devices low enough that even the most casual musician can dabble. Plus there are a dizzying number of options for you to choose from at the entry level. So how do you get started? Should you get a portable and affordable Volca? Or that new Model:Cycles that we liked so much? And are Behringers actually any good? I know you have a lot of questions, so let's get right to it.
How to buy a compact camera in 2020
If you want better photos than a smartphone can deliver but also don't want a bulky DSLR or mirrorless camera, you may need a compact camera in your life. Good models have much bigger sensors, optics and image processors than your phone, so the photos you take are going to be sharper and richer. Once you get the hang of your camera, it'll be much easier to use, too, becoming an extension of your hands and eyes. The question, though, is which one do you need? There is a wide variety of models out there with different sized sensors, fixed, zoom and superzoom lenses and lots of manual controls (or not). So, choosing a compact camera is a very personal decision based on your needs, skill level and other factors, and that's where we come in. In this guide, we're going to lay out the different features available on each brand and model to help you choose just the right one.
How to buy a mirrorless camera in 2020
Two crucial things happened in the camera world in 2019: mirrorless cameras took over from DSLRs and the industry as a whole had its worst year in a decade. So what does that mean for you, the potential camera buyer? Manufacturers are pulling out all the stops to lure you away from your smartphone, so a lot of great new mirrorless cameras have come out in the last year. And, as Canon just announced, more exciting models are on the way.
The best portable (and affordable) USB MIDI controllers
Whether you're a musician always on the go or just tight on space, there are plenty of reasons to pick up a portable MIDI controller. I've been on the hunt for the perfect portable and affordable controller. (You don't want to lose or break something expensive while you're traveling, after all.) But honestly, there is no perfect controller. There are some very good ones out there, but none has ticked every box for me. Similarly, you'll need to figure out which one best addresses your specific needs, with the fewest trade-offs. None of these controllers rises head and shoulders above the rest to make it the clear winner. So I've laid out the strengths and weaknesses of what I think are the five best options currently on the market.
Get $100 off the Polk Command Bar right now at Amazon
The Polk Command Bar is one of our top picks for a solid mid-range soundbar. Usually listed for $299, it's currently discounted at $100 off. So for the time being, you can get it for just $199 on Amazon.
The 1TB PS4 Pro drops to $349 on Amazon
The newest playstation yet, the PS4 Pro 1TB, is currently listed for $50 off on Amazon, making it just $349. While that's not the lowest price we've ever seen it, it's a solid deal and a price that doesn't come around too often.
Best Buy’s weekend sale takes up to $200 off the pricey iPad Pro (updated)
Best Buy is running another massive 3-day weekend sale. If that sounds familiar, it's because the retailer slashed prices just a few weeks ago. This time around, Best Buy is cutting prices on the latest entry-level MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It's offering steep discounts on iPads, Surface notebooks and some of our favorite headphones. The sale runs through Sunday.
Best Buy’s weekend sale includes up to $500 off 12-inch MacBooks
Best Buy's three-day weekend sale includes a bunch of discounts on Apple and Amazon products, as well as cuts on laptops, TVs, smartwatches and smart home products. The sale runs through Sunday, and if you've been waiting to buy a new device, it's worth checking out.
Apple users: Review your iPad Pro 12.9!
According to senior mobile editor Chris Velazco, Apple's iPad Pro 12.9 is a lot of things: specifically, sleeker, faster, and more flexible than previous iterations. However, he also noted in his review that the upgraded device is expensive, that its OS is still limited and that the overall experience remains somewhat disappointing. Ultimately, the iPad Pro 12.9 garnered a good, but not great, score of 84. There's certainly plenty to love about this version of the tablet like its A12X Bionic chipset and precise Pencil input, but it doesn't quite match Apple's vision of replacing a laptop for day-to-day work.
Share your opinions about the Nintendo Switch!
When we first reviewed the Nintendo Switch back in 2017, reviewer Devindra Hardawar declared it was "unlike any system we've seen before." Indeed, the hybrid console sought to improve the Wii U's offerings with streamlined hardware, unique Joy-Con controllers, a custom NVIDIA Tegra X1 chip and a 6.2-inch 720p screen. In re-examining the Switch two years after its initial release, Devindra bumped up the console's score to 88 (from the previous score of 84) due to a much improved selection of games, durable hardware and a competitive price for the online service.
Why can’t all set-top boxes be as stylish as the Freebox Delta?
It might seem strange to do a deep-dive of an internet and TV set-top box, let alone one that you can't have in the United States. But the Freebox Delta from French carrier Free, equipped with Devialet speakers, is so strange, stylish and interesting that it merits a much closer look. And it's always good to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the Atlantic, non? It's one of the first set-top/fiber boxes to deliver high-speed internet, media-player capability, high-end sound and 4K HDR video. It has Alexa, streaming services and even a free Netflix subscription, so it can handle most AV chores with no extra devices needed. On top of that, it's chic and, like many things French, a touch political. But the biggest question is, what can it do? Let's take a look.
The best books, movies and graphic novels to give as gifts
It's cold outside! Which makes the holidays the ideal time to give the gift of indoor entertainment. We've curated a breadth of books, movies and music in our holiday gift guide to curl up to, all of them staff favorites. On the list you'll find some physical treats for film buffs, including The Matrix Trilogy 4K, the Mission Impossible series 4K Blu-ray, Stanley Kubrick's galactic masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey 4K, and animation Avatar: The Last Airbender Blu-ray collection -- due for the Netflix live-action treatment next year. Or you could nab a Crunchyroll streaming subscription for the anime fan in your life.
7 gifts for uber geeks
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Pondering the mysteries of the universe while staring out of a telescope, or coding on a noisy keyboard might sound dull to you, but there's definitely a segment of the population that'd get off on both. And if you happen to know someone that falls into either "type," then we've got some gifting selections to make your holiday shopping a breeze.Image credit: Art Directors & TRIP / Alamy
8 gifts for design nerds
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.We've all got that one "cultured" friend, family member or lover, what with their finely tuned tastes, who makes shopping for gifts somewhat of a chore. Hopefully, this round of selections will ease that burden and get their upturned noses to turn down in appreciation.Image credit: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy
7 gifts for sports fanatics
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Whether someone you know is an athlete or just one of the (many) people that loves and admires them, our gifting picks should cover all the bases.
9 gifts for the ultimate tinkerer
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Were you or someone you know the type of kid that took apart telephones, pushed pennies into (old, CRT) TV sets or mixed as many under the sink cleaning agents together to call it a potion and see what would happen? If you answered yes to any of the above, then this is the gift-giving category you're looking for.Image credit: Getty Images
9 gifts for animal lovers
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Because pets (and the people who love them) deserve presents, too.Image credit: NY Daily News via Getty Images
New in our buyer's guide: The iPhone 6s, Surface Book and much more
Sorry we haven't updated the buyers's guide in a couple months -- we've been too busy pumping out reviews of all the new devices. Now that things have finally started to slow down (fingers crossed), let's take a step back and look at all the awesome stuff we've had a chance to test this fall. For starters, there's a bunch of excellent smartphones that we absolutely need to add to our guide. Namely: the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the Nexus 6P and 5X, and the Moto X Pure. On the tablet side, we're inducting both the iPad mini 4 and the Surface Pro 4. Microsoft makes another appearance in the laptop section, where we've added the Surface Book, along with Dell's Chromebook 13. Rounding out the list, we threw in a few miscellaneous items, including the new Xbox One Elite Wireless controller, the redesigned Sonos Play:5 wireless speaker and Google's $35 Chromecast Audio.
9 naughty and nice gifts
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Not everyone's looking to find the latest gaming console, set of chef knives or wholesome [insert foreign culture here] cookbook boxed up with a bow this holiday season. For those folks that like to unwrap their presents after dark, we've got more than a few salty suggestions to get you (and them) in the spirit.Image credit: Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
7 awesome gaming gifts
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.Chances are you know someone you hold dear who just loves video games. Heck, that person might even make a living from playing them online for an audience. Whatever the case may be, there's no better way to treat the gaming enthusiast in your life this holiday season than with a fresh new console and some interactive art. Take a peek at our picks below.Image credit: SSPL via Getty Images
