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MFi - Made for iPhone, iPad, and iPod

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MFi is short for Made for iPhone, iPad, and iPod and is Apple’s licensing program for developers and manufacturers. The MFi process spans hardware components, tools, documentation, technical support, and certification logos needed to create AirPlay audio accessories and electronic accessories that connect to iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

Made for iPhone hearing aids can now pair with Mac; customized audio, too

Made for iPhone hearing aids Mac compatibility

As part of a flurry of new accessibility improvements announced by Apple today, the company says that Made for iPhone hearing aids can pair directly with Macs for the first time. Previously, pairing was only available with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

Compatible products already support pairing with more than one Apple device, so this move should make it much easier for people who use both Macs and iOS devices …

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MFi USB-C Lightning cables

Anker unveils MFi USB-C to Lightning cables slated for March, Kickstarter-backed alternative promised for April

Last year we learned that Apple would be opening up its MFi program to USB-C/Lightning cables so third-parties can expand the options on the market (and offer cheaper alternatives). After seeing a preview of Belkin’s upcoming cables, Anker is out today with details about its options that will be arriving in March. Also, a lesser-known brand has just successfully met its funding goal on Kickstarter for a line of durable, braided nylon USB-C to Lightning cables and is promising to ship them by April.


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Apple-certified USB-C to Lightning cables could launch earlier than expected in 2019

According to documentation by Chinese battery website ChargerLAB, Apple is planning on shipping the necessary Lightning components required to assemble USB-C to Lightning cables to hardware manufactures in as soon as six weeks. This news is in contrast to a previous report which said these cables wouldn’t be launching until mid-2019.


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Apple adds specs for USB-C port on Made-for-iPhone accessories, Lightning to 3.5mm audio out cable

Accessory makers in Apple’s Made-for-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) licensing program now have the ability to create new types of products as the company adds specs for a Lightning to 3.5mm output cable and USB-C ports. The new specs were detailed in Apple’s recently updated materials for manufacturers in the MFi program, according to sources.


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A more accessible future: AirPods, hearing aids, and the audio technology to make it possible

Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly stated his belief that technology should be accessible to everyone. For decades, Apple products have shipped with accessibility features, proof that these values are deeply rooted in the company. Apple even launched a dedicated accessibility website in 2016, showcasing the stories of several individuals and how their lives have benefited from accessible products.

One branch of accessibility that’s received an increasing amount of attention is hearing. While iOS has supported hearing aids in some capacity for years, deep integration with the iPhone first became possible when Apple expanded its Made for iPhone (MFi) licensing program to cover hearing devices. Advancements in Bluetooth Low Energy technology in concert with a proprietary audio transmission protocol have been essential in enabling a steady stream of iPhone-compatible hearing aids and cochlear implants to be released.

At the same time, Apple developed an audio product of its own – AirPods. The wireless headphones include advanced low energy technology themselves, powered by the Apple-designed W1 chip. Between the company’s work in both accessibility and audio, Apple finds itself in a unique position to dramatically transform the market of hearing augmentation.


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Hands-on with Nomad’s Horween leather wallets with integrated battery and Lightning cable [Video]

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I’ve always liked the idea of using a battery case, but with a phone like the iPhone 7 Plus, a lack of battery life isn’t a problem that I encounter regularly enough to warrant the extra bulk. I also like the idea of a wallet case to help keep up with my driver’s license and credit cards, but with a phone as large as the iPhone 7 Plus, I find such a setup to be a tad unwieldy.

The folks over at Nomad have come up with a solution that seems to address both of my issues, and depending on your needs, it might be a worthwhile solution for you as well.

The company’s Bi-fold and Slim Leather Wallet give you a place to keep all of your credit cards, identification, and other necessary items in a standalone form factor. In other words, it’s a traditional wallet setup that’s completely independent of your iPhone. But the kicker here is that the Nomad wallets feature an integrated portable battery with a hideaway Lightning cable for charging your iPhone on the fly when you happen to need it.
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Gamevice launches new iPhone 7 MFi game controller w/ headphone jack & Lightning charging, new iPad controllers

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Gamevice is one of the more popular options for Apple-certified, Made-for-iPhone (and iPad) game controllers. Today the company is introducing a new version of the controller specifically designed for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with a built-in headphone jack and a Lightning port for charging. It also has second-generation controllers launching today and later this month for iPads.


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Cirrus Logic announces dev kit for building Apple’s MFi Lightning headphones ahead of iPhone 7

Cirrus Logic MFi

Cirrus Logic today announced a new development kit that makes it easy for companies to develop headphones using Apple’s Lightning connector. The announcement comes ahead of Apple’s next-generation iPhone 7 this fall which is expected to remove the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack for the first time.


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Review: Tt eSports Contour Made-for-iPhone/iPad/Apple TV game controller

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on the state of iPhone and iPad controllers, but I have seen some improvements since we first covered some of the shortcomings with the early batch of game controllers that came out under Apple’s Made-for-iPhone licensing program. Today I’m taking a look at the new Tt eSports Contour MFi controller, a new $65 option that includes a classic Xbox-style design and a built-in stand to hold your iPhone and turn it into a true handheld game console.


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Apple asks FCC to recognize Made For iPhone hearing aids to encourage accessibility innovation

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Apple recently has filed a new document with the Federal Communications Commission in which it argues that Made for iPhone, or MFi, accessories should be acknowledged by the organization as alternatives for hearing aid compatibility compliance. Recently, the FCC has proposed that all phones and consumer wireless devices must be compatible with hearing aids.


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iRig Keys Review: A mini MIDI Piano Keyboard for iPhone and iPad with big music potential

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The iRig Keys Mini is an electronic MIDI music keyboard that connects to iPhone and iPad with a Lightning cable. Although it isn’t regularly advertised, iPhones and iPads have had great support for MIDI input instruments and other devices for a long time. Since iOS 4 in fact, Apple gave the developers the ability to interact with MIDI peripherals. Simultaneously, the App Store has bloomed a wide ecosystem of sophisticated music creation and audio production apps. This makes for a perfect storm of capability and functionality: not only are MIDI accessories possible, they can really be used to make music on iPhone and iPad.

Read on for my full review of the iRig Keys Mini piano keyboard for iOS ($79.99).


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9to5Toys Last Call: Brother Laser Printer $40, Nomad Apple Watch Stand $41, Samsung 48″ 4K UHDTV $500, more

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call updates:

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Giveaway: SanDisk USB flash drives for iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices

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Brother compact Laser printer: small enough to hide, ink lasts forever: $40 shipped

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Grab Nomad’s gorgeous aluminum Apple Watch Stand at its best price ever: $41 shipped (Reg. $60)

samsung-48-inch-4k-uhdtv4K Smart UHDTVs: Samsung 48-inch 60Hz $500 (Reg. $700+), LG 55-inch 120Hz $698 (Reg. $800+), more

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MFi Apple-Certified Accessories: Spigen 3-ft. Lightning Cable $4 (Reg. $10), Inateck Dual-USB Car Charger $14, more

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Mounts for the new Apple TV (4th gen) keep your HDTV setup looking super clean

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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GoPro HERO4 Session Action Camera w/ free mount + 32GB microSD card: $200 shipped (~$325 value)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

awkward-turtle-the-adult-party-gameHost a Christmas party that doesn’t suck with these rowdy adult board games

Monument Valley-Free App of the Week

App Store Free App of the Week: Monument Valley goes free (Reg. $4)

TextExpander 5 for Mac, award-winning productivity app now $22 (Orig. $45)

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Apple 12″ 256GB MacBook $1,100 (Reg. $1,299)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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Anova Culinary updates its sous vide Precision Cooker w/ Wi-Fi  for cooking away from home

Nomad debuts Wallet for iPhone, hiding a 2400mAh Lightning battery in a traditional bifold wallet

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With thousands of generic battery packs now on the market, it takes something special to make a new option stand out, and Nomad’s new Wallet for iPhone certainly succeeds. Shaped like a standard bifold wallet, the Wallet hides a 2,400mAh battery pack in its spine, as well as a 3″ Made for iPhone-certified Lightning cable.

Nomad notes that the goal was to produce a wallet that wasn’t any thicker than what “guys are already sitting on.” Made from Saffiano leather and measuring 4.7″ by 3.5″ by 0.75″ when closed, Wallet can hold six cards and a bunch of cash, in addition to providing at least a full recharge for pre-iPhone 6 models of the iPhone, and around 100% for the just-released iPhone 6s. Wallet for iPhone is available for preorder now for $79, and shipping on November 16; the price will go up to $99 for all orders placed after November 15. A gallery of images is below…


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9to5Toys Last Call: 256GB Retina MacBook Pro $1,280, A Dark Room iOS game free, GoPro HERO4 Black $360, more

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

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OLALA 6,000mAh Ultra Slim Power Bank w/ built-in MFi Lightning Cable $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

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Apple’s 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,280 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

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A Dark Room — the best-selling iPhone/iPad RPG is now available for free (Reg. $1)

Freebies: Learn Guitar Theory for iOS + Shape magazine + Rise of the Tomb Raider DLC + More!

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GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Action Camera: $360 shipped (Reg. $500)

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The best accessories for the new Apple TV: MFi game controllers, keyboards, cables, more

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Giveaway: Polk Audio’s Omni Whole Home Music System – Soundbar w/ subwoofer and S2 Speaker ($880 value)

More new gear from today:

Amazon Gold Box – Audio-Technica M-Series Headphones over 40% off: ATH-M30x $49 shipped (Reg. $69), more

More deals still alive:

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Fitbit Charge HR Activity Tracker $115 shipped (Reg. $150), Fitbit Surge $195 (Reg. $245)

New products & more:

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The eora 3D scanner uses your iPhone to create 360-degree models of anything

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Belkin’s new lightweight QODE Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2 is now available

Hands-on: SteelSeries’ Nimbus is the first Made For Apple TV game controller, but should you care?

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For the moment, the new Apple TV’s accessory compatibility can fairly be described as “confusing.” It’s confirmed that Bluetooth speakers and headphones — previously unsupported by older Apple TVs — work with the new model. On the other hand, Bluetooth keyboards, which previously worked with Apple TVs, do not. And Bluetooth game controllers… well, if they were Made For iPhone (or iPad), they work with the new Apple TV. But contrary to some erroneous early reports, if they were made for other devices (say, the PlayStation 4), they don’t.

So even though SteelSeries’ Nimbus ($50) has been pitched as the first “gamepad controller for Apple TV,” it’s kinda not. The company’s earlier Stratus (now only $40 refurbished) works with the Apple TV, as do Mad Catz’ nicer C.T.R.L.i and Micro C.T.R.L.i controllers. However, Nimbus is launching with newer technology at a not-insane price point. It has a Lightning connector built in for recharging an integrated 40-hour battery, a Bluetooth 4.1 wireless chip, and a design that was apparently — despite obvious similarities to many other controllers — co-developed by Apple itself. It also is the first accessory to ship with Apple’s new “Made for Apple TV” logo on the box. Here are some early thoughts on the Nimbus based on my hands-on experiences…


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9to5Toys Last Call: OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Case $20, USB Solar Panel $50, Bluetooth audio adapter $16, more

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

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App Store Free App of the Week: Sky Gamblers Air Supremacy goes free for the first time ($1 value)

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Anker iPhone 6s/Plus cases in multiple styles and colors from $2 Prime shipped

Anker MFi Lightning Cables: 3-ft $4, 9-ft $7 (Prime shipped), more

iPhone 6s Wallet Case $3 Prime shipped (Orig. $20)

OtterBox SYMMETRY Series iPhone 6/6s Case $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

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Daily Deals: Anker Charger w/ 2-Port USB Solar Panel $50, Misfit Shine Activity and Sleep Monitor $50more

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Turn your old system into a Bluetooth speaker with the Mpow Streambot for $16 Prime shipped (Orig. $36)

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Apple’s new 4K & 5K iMacs already seeing the first price cuts and tax-free options

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Apple Watch 42mm Stainless Steel Case w/ Black Sport Band: $520 shipped (Orig. $599)

Cost-Effective Apple Watch Bands: Deals from $12 Prime shipped on leather, milanese loop, more

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Apple 12-inch MacBook 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB from $1,190 or $1,150 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299), more

More new gear from today:

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Amazon and Toys R Us give a peek at this year’s must-have holiday gifts

More deals still alive:

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Storage: Samsung 500GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $150 (Reg. $170), WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable HDD $70 (Reg. $85)

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Apple is dishing out free downloads of the award-winning puzzle game Shadowmatic

1Password secure password manager for Mac: $30 (Reg. $50)

App Store Free App of the Week: Wake Alarm Clock ($4 value)

The Executive for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)

Tweetbot for Mac drops to $10 (Reg. $13)

New products & more:

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Electric Jukebox doesn’t want to be Spotify or Chromecast, so what is it?

Quick Review: OLALA Apple-Certified MFi 6000mAh battery is a convenient iPhone charger for $24

 

41LljVcUXyL._SL1000_We’ve been using the Apple-Certified OLALA MFi iPhone/iPad charger for almost a month. It is an iPhone-sized battery with a built-in Apple Certified Lightning cable which can be extracted from the battery. The plug is at a 90-degree angle which allows for easy charging in a bag or pocket.

The specs to know on this one are:

  • 5V 2.4A  (12W) output meaning the charge is about as fast as can be taken by an iPhone or iPad
  • 6000mAh Capacity  meaning it has enough battery to last up to 2 full iPhone charges (or 1 iPad Mini)
  • It also has a second USB port to charge a second phone or any other device that charges via USB
  • It charges via Micro-USB cable- included.
  • 4 LEDs indicate power level
  • Dimensions: 127.5×63.5x14mm Weight: 146g
  • Comes with 30-day money back guarantee, and 1 full year warranty

Without attempting to be anti-climactic, OLALA does what it says. It always has an iPhone’s worth of charge ready for you when you need it. That Mifi Lightning cable being built in sure does come in handy and the L-shaped retractable tip makes charging super-simple.

Use 9to5mac‘s exclusive $6 off coupon code BL3UY33F to purchase one at $23.99 with free shipping at Amazon. If you don’t have free Prime shipping, you need to pad your order to over $35 otherwise you’ll get tagged with your $6 back in shipping.



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9to5Toys Last Call: MFi Lightning cable $5, Sony Bluetooth headphones $135, Wake Alarm Clock goes free, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

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Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,550 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

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Monoprice MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cables in black or white w/ free shipping: 3-ft. $5, 6-ft. $6

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Over-Ear Headphones: Sony Bluetooth/NFC $135 (Reg. $199), Beyerdynamic from $170 (Reg. up to $270), more

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App Store Free App of the Week: Wake Alarm Clock ($4 value)

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13″ Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB: $1,280 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

13″ Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,080 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

trinity-headphones-giveaway

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

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Games/Apps: Bloodborne from $25, Kirby Rainbow Curse $32, Shades Puzzle Game free, more iOS freebies

More deals still alive:

UNCHARTED- The Nathan Drake Collection PS4 Bundle-sale-01

Sony announces official PlayStation 4 price drop, bundles now start at just $349

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Mac Bundle: 14 Mac Apps incl. RapidWeaver, Voila Screencapture, Kinemac 3D, more: $18

New products & more:

dji-osmo-remote-control

DJI’s new Osmo 4K camera is one expensive selfie stick

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The latest littleBits DIY electronics kit turns any kid into an inventor

MFi Apple Watch straps closer to launch as Apple starts selling official lug attachments

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After announcing an official program for accessory makers interested in making Apple Watch bands back in May, Apple has now delivered on its promise of providing Apple-made watch lugs that third-party manufacturers can use to make straps. That’s the first sign that official third-party watch bands will soon be hitting the market through Apple’s Made for iPhone program (MFi). Companies enrolled in the MFi program can now order the parts (pictured above) through Apple’s supplier (via MR).
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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air Wi-FI + LTE $300, iPhone 6 Battery Case $29, UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker $90, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

tengami-ios-mac-sale-01

App Store Gorgeous Games for $1 Sale: Tengami, Superbrothers, KAMI, Icebreaker, Out There, many more

apple-ipad-air-mf029lla

Apple iPad Air 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (AT&T or Verizon) for $300 shipped (Reg. $529)

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi: 16GB $380 shipped (Reg. $499), 64GB $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

lenmar-maven-iphone-6-3000mah-mfi-apple-certified-battery-case-sale-021

Lenmar MAVEN iPhone 6 MFi Apple-Certified 3,000mAh Battery Case $29 shipped (Orig. $100), more

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UE ROLL 360 Bluetooth Speaker (all colors): $90 shipped (Reg. $100)

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Get a no-contract iPhone 6s from Boost Mobile for just $450 shipped (Orig. $649)

More new gear from today:

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Daily Deals: FitDesk v2.0 Exercise Bike w/ Massage Bar $205, SanDisk Ultra 32GB Micro USB/USB 3.0 Flash Drive $11, more

More deals still alive:

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Free PS Plus Games for October: Super Meat Boy, Broken Age, Kickbeat, more

Free Xbox Live Gold Games for October: Valiant Hearts, The Walking Dead, more

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Networking: ZyXEL AV500 Powerline $25 shipped (Reg. $50+), travel routers, more

New products & more

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TiVo makes the DVR sexy with 4K content, AirPlay and one-click commercial skipping