Category: Amazon

Today’s Deal – Nextbit Robin in Mint Down to $149

Over at Amazon you can still pick up the Nextbit Robin for $149.   I reviewed the Robin a few months ago and at the time I said it was a pretty good deal at $299.  At $149, it is one of the best deals on a phone with these specs out there right now.  Over the holidays the phone was $169 on Amazon so this price drop makes it the lowest price the phone has ever been available.

For those that don’t recall, the Nextbit Robin has some great features and offers a unique device-meets-cloud storage solution.  It has 32GB of onboard storage merged with 100 GB online storage, so you always have the space you need. Robin seamlessly backs up your apps and photos, intelligently archives the stuff you’re not using, and easily restores items when you need them.  The idea is that you never run out of space.  Those less used apps are backed up into the cloud but then are instantly available when you want them.  You’ll know an app has been backed up into the cloud as it will be grey on your Robin.  You can read my review of the Robin to see all my thoughts on this great little phone.  I also think it is perhaps one of the most underrated phones of 2016.

Today’s Deal – Acer Chromebook 14 Down to $270

Today over at Amazon you can pick up a great deal on the Acer Chromebook 14.  Right now this all aluminum chassis Chromebook is available with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for $270.  That price is good on either the aluminum or the gold aluminum finish and is eligible for Prime shipping for members.

This Acer Chromebook is powered by a Intel Celeron N3160 processor running at 1.6GHz and the display renders at 1920 x 1080 full HD.  As mentioned already, it has 4GB of RAM which is really handy on a Chromebook and has 32GB of storage for those things (like Android apps) that you need to store locally.  It also has a built-in battery that is rated to give 12 hours of life between charges.  Overall it is a great package and one of the higher rated Chromebooks out there right now.

Huawei Mate 9 Update Brings Amazon Alexa Support

Starting today, the Huawei Mate 9 will have Amazon Alexa on the device.  The flagship phablet is receiving an OTA update that brings Amazon’s personal assistant to the device.  Once you have the update and initiate Alexa, there are a wide range of things you can do from your phone with it.  According to the Press Release, this includes things such as:

  • Home Automation: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa makes it possible to manage your smart home even when you’re on-the-go by controlling lights, thermostats, locks, fans, sprinklers and more.
  • Games/Trivia: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa can make every trip more entertaining with games like Jeopardy, Magic Door and Twenty Questions.
  • Shopping: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa makes it easy to get more done using just your voice — Quickly create lists, order items to be sent to your home, get food delivered or have your favorite coffee ready with Amazon voice shopping, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Dominos, Amazon Prime restaurants, and more.
  • Fitness/Health: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa helps travelers stay fit with access to skills like 7-Minute Workout, FitBit and Stop, Breathe & Think.
  • News: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa is a convenient way to stay informed with access to news anytime via Flash Briefings from NPR, CNBC, Reuters, Fox News, The Skimm, WSJ, AP, BBC, CNN, and many more.
  • Entertainment: Mate 9 with Amazon Alexa puts entertainment in reach with access to a wide array of podcasts and Audible content.

Huawei announced at CES in January that Alexa would be coming to the phone as the assistant battles between Google, Amazon and even Microsoft heat up.

Today’s Deal – Choetech Dual-Port Car Charger for $7.99

Today’s Deal is on the Choetech Dual-Port Car Charger.  Today you can pick up one of these great little accessories for either $7.99 in black or $5.99 in white.  Choetech makes a wide range of accessories for Android and iOS devices and this Car Charger is one that I personally use in my car and when I travel.  It features two USB-A ports, one of which sports Quick Charge 2.0 technology.  If you have a compatible device, it will charge at up to 5v for minimal charging time but the adapter also includes over-charging technology to prevent damage to your device.

The second port in the charger is designed for any device and has auto detection technology to charge that device with maximum efficency.

Today’s Deal – Samsung Chromebook Plus Down to $420 at Amazon

Another deal today is on the all new Samsung Chromebook Plus.  The 12.3″ convertible normally sells for $450 but is down to $420 right now on Amazon.  That will get you one of the latest Chromebooks available and it will run Android apps natively right out of the box.

The Chromebook Plus has a 12.3″ display rendering at 2400 x 1600.  It is also a touchscreen which makes using the included stylus or your finger for apps easier.  It has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of Storage and you can expand that storage thanks to the MicroSD slot.  It has dual-microphones, a 720p Webcam and, of course, Wi-Fi.  It only ways 2.4 lbs so it is designed for portability and with it being able to be be used as a laptop or a slate, you have a lot of flexibility in where and how you use this Chromebook.

Today’s Deal – The New BLU Life One X2 Mini for $180

Today’s Deal is on the all new BLU Life One X2 Mini.  This new 5″ phone was announced on Friday and for a phone priced at $180, it is reasonably well appointed.  BLU has made a name for themselves for offering good spec’d phones at a reasonable price and the X2 Mini is another example of this go-to-market strategy.  The 5″ X2 Mini has a curved Full HD display that renders at 1080 x 1920.  That gives you roughly 435 ppi for excellent color and detail while being easy on the eyes.  The display is protected by Gorilla glass 3 while the chassis of the phone itself is made of solid aluminium construction.

Internally, the phone is powered by the Octa-Core Snapdragon 430 processor running at 1.4GHz.  It is coupled with 4GB of RAM and has 64GB of internal storage.  That storage can be expanded a further 64GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.  The phone is sold unlocked at a Dual-SIM configuration that supports a wide range of GSM and LTE bands here in the United States.  You should be able to run this phone on the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile and Cricket to name a few.  Unfortunately for Verizon and Sprint customers, this phone is not compatible with your service.  Here are the frequencies

BLU Life One X2 Mini

BLU Life One X2 Mini

and bands that the X2 Mini supports:

  • 4G LTE, (2/4/7/12/17)
  • 4G HSPA+ (850/1700/1900/2100)

Powering all of this is a 2,300mAh battery that recharges via a MicroUSB cable.  The phone supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology for rapid charging.  For security, the X2 Mini has a fingerprint scanner

Rounding out the specs of the BLU Life One X2 Mini is a solid camera configuration.  The main camera is a 13MP shooter with PDAF (Phase-Detection Auto Focus) while the front facing selfie camera is an 8MP shooter with a wide-angel and a flash.  Front flashes are a bit rare still so it’s nice to see it pop up on a budget friendly device like this one.

If there is one knock on the X2 Mini it likely will be that it ships with Android Marshmallow and not Nougat.  Even for a budget phone this is a bit of a head scratcher.

Currently the X2 Mini is available for $179.99 in Gold, Rose Gold and Grey.  If you are an Amazon Prime customer, shipping is free and all three colors at the time of this post were in stock.  To get more details & to order, head over to Amazon.

Today’s Deal – Anker PowerCore Slim 5000 Battery Pack for $19

Today’s Deal is on another great accessory from Anker.  The PowerCore Slim 5000 is a 5000mAh battery pack that, as the name suggests, is a slim design that is actually smaller than most phones.  Right now this battery pack is down to $19 on Amazon, 62% off the regular price of $31.  The pack has one USB port to connect your Android phone or iPhone to for charging and is rated to give a full charge to a Samsung Galaxy and iPhone 7 Plus one full charge while smaller devices such as the Nexus 5X or iPhone 7 could get two charges out of it.  The pack comes with Anker’s PowerIQ

Anker PowerCore Slim 5000

Anker PowerCore Slim 5000

technology to give a smooth, consistent charge to your devices, making it both save and efficient in the charging process.

Anker designed this pack to be held in your hand along with your phone so if you are on the go, you can still hold your phone and work as the pack doesn’t make everything feel big and bulky.  The pack is also coated in silicone so it won’t scratch up your devices and gives it a smooth feel that is easier to grip than aluminum designed packs.  There are LED indicators to let you know when your phone is charging and when you are done, it easily slips into a pocket or handbag.

Like all Anker products, the PowerCore Slim 5000 comes with an 18-month warranty against any defects and issues and, since this deal is through Amazon, you have a 30 day hassle free refund policy (which is now extended through the holidays).

Head over to Amazon to get more details and to order yours.  It is Amazon Prime eligible for members.

Today’s Deal – SanDisk Ultra Fit 64GB USB 3.0 Drive for $18

Today’s Deal is on the low profile USB Flash Drives from SanDisk.  Over at Amazon you can pick up the SanDisk Ultra Fit 64GB drive for $18 with other sizes available.  The Ultra Fit series are designed to fit into the USB 3.0 port of your PC, Mac or Chromebook and not protrude like a normal Flash Drive.  Indeed, the idea is that you can leave it in your computer without ever having to take it out when you slip it into a bag or backpack.

The sale is on the 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions of the Ultra Fit.  All three are have a zippy read speed of 150MB/s so while they are too slow to run apps from, they are perfect for data, photos and videos.  The drives also come with SanDisk’s SecureAccess software to encrypt the drives should they ever be lost or stolen (although you can use MacOS and BitLocker encryption should you choose to do so instead).

I personally use one of these Ultra Fit drives in my Chromebook for additional storage.  They are fast and reliable and because of their size, they do not protrude from the side of my device significantly.  I’ve had one for the past 3 months now and have no problem recommending them to readers who are looking for additional storage for their laptop.

SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 Flash Drive

SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Regardless of the size of drive you pick up, they are all eligible for Amazon Prime free shipping.

Head on over to Amazon to check out the details on these great drives from SanDisk.

SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB USB 3.0:$10.75

SanDisk Ultra Fit 64GB USB 3.0: $17.99

SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB USB 3.0: $31.89

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