Amazon introduces payment plan for Kindle Fire HDX
Amazon really wants you to buy one of their Kindle Fire HDX tablets. When I purchased my PlayStation 4 from them, for example, they offered a pretty good discount off of the tablet. Then came all of the discounts during Black Friday/Cyber Monday to help drive sales for the formidable alternative to the iPad. The company hasn't released sales figures of their tablet, only noting that the new model has brought in very successful numbers since its release.
T0 make the decision even easier for potential Kindle Fire HDX customers, Amazon has introduced an interest-free payment plan for the tablet. For the normal Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon is offering three separate payments of $57.25 on top of an initial payment. The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" version will go for $94.75 per payment. Each payment will be due every 90 days; however, Amazon can block access to its content if you miss a payment, which is fair.
Amazon has full details on the payment program here for potential buyers. Does the offer sweeten the pot for any of you?
Remember The Skee Ball Machine?
Nowadays, everything is digital, and that seems to be a majority of the way people entertain themselves. Whether it's computers or video games, many have become accustomed to always having these two particular machines in their lives. There was a time, believe it or not, that people didn't have access to both and had to travel to arcades or carnivals to play games and enjoy themselves.
Back in the day, they had this arcade machine that I used to play called the skee ball machine. There wasn't much to it, and it was really a simple way to collect more tickets so you could trade them in for the perfect prize. Well now, Restoration Hardware has brought the Classic Skee Ball Machine back, and it can be yours for around $7,000. It has the vintage look and feel of the original skee ball machines you or your Dad grew up with, so if you're interested, head on over to Restoration Hardware here.
[Via Restoration Hardware]
Listen To Your Vinyl With The Orbit Turntable
There was a time when people used to listen to their favorite music on vinyl, and there are still people like myself that still do. There's just something about listening to a record that's different than a digital download because the sound is better and truly the way the artist intended you to hear it. It also becomes a ritual when you put the needle to the record and just vibe out to your favorite jams. If you haven't gotten a record player yet, the Orbit Turntable is something you should take a look at. With a price range between $180-$280, you'll get a turntable with a fully-manual belt drive, a two-speed pulley, a 24-volt synchronous motor, and vibration damping feet that provide a great music experience. There are two options available, either the basic or plus turntables, so you'll have your choice of features to choose from.
[Via U-Turn Audio]
PlayStation 4 outsold Xbox One in November
The official numbers are in, and it appears that the PlayStation 4 has outsold the Xbox One in North America last month. After more than a resounding 1 million units were sold in its first 24 hours, the PS4 ended up selling 2.1 million consoles last month across North America, Europe, and some Asian countries. Its highly successful launch netted Sony the largest console launch in history. On the same note, the PS4 was also the go-to console for software as the majority of November's top-selling games were for the system.
However, while the PS4 sold the most consoles last month, Microsoft's Xbox One was the fastest selling console in history, selling its 2 million units in eight days across the world, 900K of those units in North America. With a huge release in the Middle East this week, staggered releases across Asia over the next few weeks, and a final huge release in Japan in February, the PlayStation 4 is due for yet another big upswing in sales.
Which side have you chosen for this generation of gaming?
[via Engadget]
[Video] Instagram bites Snapchat, announces Instagram Direct
A few months ago, Instagram took a bite out of Vine by introducing Instagram Videos over the summer. While the feature hasn't caught as well or virally as Vine has, it was a definite response to the growing popularity surrounding Vine and its creatively hilarious six second format. Now, it appears Instagram is taking a swipe at both Twitter and Snapchat with this morning's announcement of Instagram Direct.
Similar to Snapchat, Instagram users can now send private photos and videos to individual friends or a group of friends. Upon receipt, it will let the sender know when the recipient has seen the media, again, the way Snapchat works. However, unlike Snapchat, the media doesn't disappear, taking away from Snapchat's voyeuristic flashes of time. Furthermore, Instagram Direct media only works for mutual followers or requires approval from people you don't follower, which is similar to Twitter's DM system. In fact, Instagram's announcement comes off the heels of Twitter's announcement yesterday that allows adding photos to DMs.
Personally, I see no use for Instagram Direct. If you want to send a photo or video to specific friends, why not just text it to them instead of going through a third-party application? Sure, there might be some followers whose numbers you might not have, but if it's something that serious, why not just get those digits anyways? Instagram Direct honestly feels like nothing more than a direct reaction to the growing awareness and popularity of Snapchat. Will it be enough for you to delete Snapchat?
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[via Instagram]
Take The Portable Soundmatters Dash7 Speaker Anywhere
Whenever you travel, you have little options when it comes to listening to your music, having to rely on your headphones or the speakers on your laptop or smartphone. Speakers are always nice to have when you want to listen to your tunes when you're outdoors or getting ready in the morning. Unfortunately, the speakers on your smartphone or laptop just don't provide that good sound that many want, but there really hasn't been a good portable option until now. The Soundmatters Dash7 Speaker is slim, weighing in at 7.1 oz and only 3/4" in height, making it a nice portable speaker to take with you when traveling. It offers deep bass, a battery that lasts 12 hours, and can be used as a speakerphone for conferencing. The Soundmatters Dash7 Speaker costs $219 and is a nice speaker to have for people on the go. For more, visit Soundmatters here.
[Via Soundmatters]
No More Speeding Tickets With The Cobra iRadar
It's never fun when you get a speeding ticket, and it's worse for those who can't talk their way out of one. With the Cobra iRadar 900 Atom Radar Detector, you can be aware of what's around you when you're on the road. For around $200, the Cobra iRadar is able to detect all radar and laser guns in use with an easy to use iOS app. Also, you're able to pull up information straight to your phone from other users in the iRadar community so you can be aware of unexpected speed traps. Some other features that the Cobra iRadar has is that it also plots traffic and those pesky red light cameras that everyone loves. There's a lot of benefits to owning a Cobra iRadar, but it doesn't mean you have to be irresponsible when you're on the road.
[Via Cobra iRadar]
[Video] PA1 Wall Speaker System with Dual Stereo Pairing
Brought to you by design boutique comes the PA1 Wall Speaker System with a dual stereo pairing that is wireless running via Bluetooth. The speaker can be mounted to the wall without the messy wiring or can fit on a stand. It also works as an individual speaker or can be paired together to fit your musical needs. To turn it on, all you simply have to do is press one button and you're connected to your device, with access up to five devices. The PA1 Wall Speaker System is currently running a Kickstarter campaign. You can learn more about the PA1 here.
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[Via StudioProper]