Apple owns 6% of the global smart speaker market, according to Strategy Analytics. The research firm says Apple sold about 600,000 HomePods during the first quarter of 2018. Of course, that’s only an estimate because Apple doesn’t share sales HomePod figures. Considering Amazon holds 43.6% of the smart speaker market, and Google has 26.5% with far more than a single quarter’s sales, it’ll be interesting to see how many people say this proves HomePod is a failure. It’s possible HomePod is a flop, or it’ll own the market. Either way, a single quarter’s sales isn’t enough to make a definitive conclusion.
Portable USB-C Power Adapter and 6-Port Hub: $49
We have a deal on the CASA Hub PDC601 USB-C Power Adapter, a USB-C power adapter for your MacBook that also has 6 ports, including: USB Type-C PD port, three USB 3.1 Type-A ports, SD Card slot, and a microSD Card slot. It’s small, too, at 3.6″ x 1.6″ x 0.7″, and 100 grams. It’s $49 through us, 16% off retail.
About Twitter's API Stupidity
I was going to write a rant—OK, another rant—about how stupid Twitter is being its APIs and third party apps. The company announced a change that will effectively render third party clients useless without change—this after the company killed its own Mac client. Twitter has confused its ^#%$ desire for me to use its service on a browser with my desire to do so. Because I do not want to. At all. Anyhoo, enter John Gruber, who already wrote the rant. It’s a good one.
To me this is like finding out you’re now required to access email entirely through a web browser. Sure, lots of people already do it that way and either prefer it or think it’s eh, just fine, who cares — but a lot of others hate it and find it completely disruptive to longstanding workflows.
CINEMOOD Portable Movie Projector: $349
We have a deal on the CINEMOOD portable movie projector, a 3-inch device that streams Netflix and YouTube content. You can also download Netflix content for offline projecting. It’s $349 through our deal, 12% off retail.
Apple Wants $1 Billion from Samsung for iPhone Patent Infringement
Apple and Samsung are back in court for the next round in their years-long legal fight over copying the iPhone’s design. This new trial is to determine how much money Samsung owes Apple for patent infringement. Apple is pushing for US$1 billion in damages, and of course Samsung is balking. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out considering Apple was originally awarded over $1 billion, but that was cut back dramatically over the years in the ongoing legal fight. Maybe now Apple can get that number pushed back up. Bloomberg has more about the new damages trial.
TREBLAB X11 Earphones: $32.99
We have a deal on a pair of TREBLAB X11 earphones. These wireless earphones use Bluetooth 4.1 CSR, and are designed for active people. They features 6 hours of play time with a charge time of 2 hours. They’re $32.99 through us.
https://vimeo.com/210447417
Ruling Invalidating Personal Audio's Podcast Patent Stands, Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal
Personal Audio’s fight to use a patent to force podcasters to pay royalties is finally at an end. The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear PA’s appeal in a ruling that invalidated its patent, which means the EFF won its legal fight. That’s great news because now PA can’t claim all podcasters have to pay royalties. It’s also an example of something going right in our painfully broken patent system. You can read more about the ruling at Ars Technica.
Robots, Emotions, Empathy & Lies
Should our modern robots have emotions? If not, should they at least be able to detect and respond to human emotions? If they do, how can/will we, in turn, treat them? What happens when a Boston Dynamics Atlas inherits the abilities of Google’s Duplex? Should robots on the phone divulge who they are? Should we permit them to lie? More questions than answers, but the awesome Particle Debris readers are, as always, up to the challenge.
ZinCable Ultra-Strong MFi-Certified Lightning Cable: $19.95
We have a deal today on a ZinCable Ultra-Strong MFi-Certified Lightning cable. It features scratch-resistant connectors made from a zinc alloy, with reinforced stress points and a strain-resistant core. It’s $19.95 through us, 20% off retail.
37 Sensors Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi (Pi 3B Included): $129.99
We have a great deal on a Raspberry Pi starter kit that includes 37 sensors and a Raspberry Pi 3B. Check out the full list of sensors on the deal page’s Specs tab. It comes with Raspbian system and Dragit programming language pre-installed, too.
Qi-Compatible Wireless Portable Charger with 10,000mAh Battery: $24.99
We’ve got a deal for you today on Powerup, a portable charger with a built-in Qi wireless charger. That’s pretty clever, to be sure, but you can also use the two USB 2.1 amp charging ports for charging cables, and the battery has a 10,000mAh capacity. It’s $24.99 through us, 64% off retail.
DaisyDisk for Mac: $6.99
We have a deal on DaisyDisk for Mac. DaisyDisk scans your disks to see all of your files and folders in a visual, interactive map. From there you can find unusually large files, preview their contents, and delete them if you don’t need them anymore. It’s $6.99 through us. Check out the promo video for the app:
Aura Premium Lifetime Subscription: $79.99
We have a deal on a lifetime subscription to Aura Premium, from the Aura Health app. This mobile app is designed to relieve stress and anxiety by providing short mindfulness meditation exercises every day. It’s $79.99 through our deal, a 79% discount.
Picbot Motorized iPhone Mount Tracks Faces, Time-Lapsed Panos, More: $112.99
Check out Picbot, another device I would have features as a Cool Stuff Found if we weren’t running a deal on it. It’s a motorized mount for your iPhone that can move as it tracks your face via the Picbot app. It will also do motorized panoramas and timelapse movies. It can swivel a full 360 degrees, too. It’s $112.99 through us, a 43% discount off retail.
360 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound Earbuds: $72
We have a deal on a pair of 360 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound Earbuds. I haven’t tested them, but you can check out the 4 minute video for an in-depth look at their features. They come with a carrying case and three sets of silicone ear tips. They’re $72 through us.
Going Camping? Take LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger: $34.99
Today I have one of those devices I’d have features in Cool Stuff Found if we didn’t have a deal on it. It’s called the LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger, and it’s great for camping. It’s part lantern and part iPhone charger. It works with Android devices, too, if that’s your thing. It can recharge via a built-in solar panel, or through a USB connection. It’s waterproof and it floats, so come on, thats cool! Check out the promo video below. It’s $34.99 through us, 30% off retail.
Qi Wireless Home Charging Kit for iPhone: $45
We have a deal for you today on the Qi Wireless Home Charging Kit for iPhone. The kit includes a small, magnetic charging pad that can be used to mount your phone on the wall or other surfaces, and a sleek, minimalist, snap-on magnetic case. It’s $45 through us.
Dashlane Password Manager Premium Subscription: $17.98 with Coupon Code
We have a deal on a subscription to Dashlane Password Manager, an online password storage system. Features include password generation, support for two-factor authentication systems, access from a variety of devices, and more. A one year subscription is $19.98 though us, but coupon code DASHLANE10 takes another 10% off, bringing it to $17.98. That coupon code works on the three and five year subscription options, too.
Amazon's Obsession With Our Personal Lives
Page 2 of Particle Debris takes a look at all the ways Amazon is trying to insert itself into and learn about our personal lives. Customers are continually manipulated into choosing convenience and neglecting standards for privacy. Now, an Amazon family robot looms.
Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle: $34
If you want to learn how make a Raspberry Pi do some really cool stuff, but don’t know where to start, check out today’s deal:The Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle. The collection of eight courses teach you how to make your hardware projects with a Raspberry Pi, how to automate your home, how to use a Raspberry Pi for robotics, and more. The bundle is regularly priced at US$895, but right now it’s available with a crazy 96% discount for only $34 through our deal.
iPM 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad Charges iPhone and Apple Watch
Check out the iPM 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad. It’s a Qi wireless charging pad for iPhone 8, iPhone 8Plus, and iPhone X, and it’s also compatible with Apple Watch. Plus, it’s wide enough to charge both devices at once. It will work with Qi-enabled Android devices, too, if that’s your thing. It’s $39.99 through our deal, 60% off retail.
Setapp 1-Year Subscription: $69
Our friends at Stack Commerce put together a great deal for us on Setapp from MacPaw. With one subscription, you get access to more than 60 curated apps all in a single, easily navigable library. One year is normally $119, but it’s $69 through our deal.
AVANCA Minim True Wireless Earbuds: $54.99
We have a deal on a pair of AVANCA Minim True Wireless Earbuds. Winners of a Red Dot Design Award, these earbuds are powered by CSR Bluetooth 4.2 chipset. They feature touch controls, and are priced at $54.99, 65% off retail through us.
Facebook Wants to Build Hardware; What Could Go Wrong?
According to a Bloomberg Technology report, Facebook Inc. is building a team to design its own semiconductors. Just what this new hardware will be used for is not known for sure, but one surmise is for artificial intelligence applications on its servers. But the hardware could also extend to personal electronics. Like Han Solo, I have a bad feeling about this.