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Kinja Deals

Friday's Best Deals: Universal Remote, Saw Gold Box, Smart Scale, and More

By
Erica Offutt

Happy Friday! Find deals on a universal remote, a saw Gold Box, a smart scale and much more.

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TOP TECH DEALS

The Logitech Harmony Ultimate has just about every feature you could ever ask for in a universal remote, and then some, and Amazon’s offering it up for an all-time low $140 today, about $80-$100 less than usual.

The Harmony Ultimate can control 15 of your favorite devices (from a database of 270,000), including ones hiding behind cabinet doors. Its touchscreen gives you quick access to your favorite settings, and it can even control smart home devices like your Philips Hue lights, meaning you can create a “Movie” mode that turns on your TV and Blu-ray player, switches your TV to the right input, and dims the lights, all with one push of a button.

The sneaky-great reason to buy this though is the included Harmony Hub. The hub is the thing that actually controls all of your devices, and it doesn’t just work with your remote: It works with your smartphone and Alexa too. That means if you can’t find the remote, or can’t be bothered to get off the couch, you can still control your TV with just your voice. The hub by itself usually sells for about $90, so this bundle adds a powerful remote for only $50.

Power strips with USB ports are nothing new, but most are designed for a home theater or an office desk, while this compact model is better-suited for a nightstand. Three AC outlets and three USB ports might be all you need in that environment.

There will come a day that all USB ports are USB-C ports, but until then, you’re gonna need some dongles. This USB-C hub features three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, an SD card reader, and a 100W USB-C passthrough port for power.

Jackery makes some of the most popular battery packs around, but the Jackery Jewel is unlike anything else they make.

Really, the Jewel isn’t so much a battery pack as it is a Lightning cable with a battery bulge in the middle. That 450mAh battery is only good for a ~15-20% charge on most iPhones, but that can be the difference between finishing the night with a working smartphone or an inert slab of glass. It could also work as an emergency power reserve for lower-draw devices like AirPods or a Magic Mouse.

When it’s plugged into a charger or computer, the Jewel also acts as a standard Lightning cable, except that while it’s refueling your phone or syncing data, it’s also recharging its built-in battery. Considering $10 isn’t all that expensive for a regular Lighting cable (hell, Apple charges $19 for theirs), this is a hell of a deal.

If you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone X arriving in the near future, you’re going to want to keep that screen looking pristine. If you missed the deal earlier this week, Anker’s once again marked down their 2-pack of screen protectors. Get them for $6 with promo code KARAP113.

SONOS pioneered the multi-room audio category, and now Alexa can do it too, but Aukey’s solution looks like a great, affordable alternative.

These AudioLink speakers connect to each other over a 5.8Ghz Wi-Fi connection for multi-room audio, meaning you won’t have to connect them to your home network or fiddle with a bunch of settings.

Each one features dual 10W drivers and two passive subwoofers, so they should be plenty loud. They’re also IPX5 water resistant, meaning you could probably keep one outside. The real kicker though compared to other multi-room setups? They can run off a built-in battery for over seven hours on a charge, so you can rearrange them at will if you’re throwing a party.

Do instant film cameras make any practical sense in the age of smartphones? Not really, but neither do vinyl records or Star Trek TV shows, and they’ve both made strong comebacks.

Today only, $55 (down from $70) gets you a Fujifilm Instax Mini camera, plus some film to get started, in the color of your choice. Just make sure you take pictures of your pictures, and put them on Instagram so everyone can enjoy them.

Amazon usually sells certified refurbished Echo Dots for $5 less than new models, but for now at least, that discount has increased to $15. Refurbished Dots still carry the same warranty as new ones, so there’s really no downside to going this route if you want to sprinkle these around your home on a budget.

Working at a coffee shop or in an economy airplane seat doesn’t usually come with the expectation of privacy, but that’s exactly what the Moose laptop bag gives you, and then some.

When it’s closed, the Moose looks like pretty much any compact laptop bag, albeit a very attractive one. Once you open it up though, two panels can fold out and snap to the side of the bag, creating, effectively, a private nook for your laptop with tons of storage space and pockets for accessories. It may look a little silly, but if you don’t want your seat mate peeking at your screen, it’ll definitely get the job done.

My favorite little touch is the Moose’s USB charging port. Stick a USB battery pack into the pocket at the back of the bag and plug in the built-in USB cord, and it’ll pass the power through to a USB port on left flap. It’s not completely necessary, but it is really cool.

A few early bird preorders are available for $109, after which preorders will go up to $140 (sorry, we didn’t get the sample until yesterday evening). It’s expected to retail for $199 when it comes out early next year though, so you’re getting a solid deal either way by preordering.

Anker’s original SoundBuds were our readers’ favorite affordable Bluetooth headphones, but they’ve since spawned an entire line of earbuds to fit every budget and lifestyle.

The SoundBuds Curve are the newest addition to the family, and are designed with active users in mind. Their ear wings ensure they stay put while you exercise, and an internal hydrophobic coating means your sweat won’t fry them. Their best spec though? 12.5 hours of battery life, which is fantastic for Bluetooth earbuds. They normally sell for $36, but you can get them for an all-time low $26 right now, no code necessary.

If you’re one of the <squints at tech blogs and Apple Twitter> 18 or so people who are getting an iPhone X this Friday, or if you already own a phone with Qi charging, Anker’s offering our readers an exclusive discount on their PowerPort 5 charging pad. Just use promo code KINJA556 at checkout to get it for $14.

In addition to our exclusive Qi charging pad discount, Anker’s also marking down a few of their Karapax cases for the iPhone X, including one with a built-in kickstand.

VPNs are in the news these days, and with good reason. So if you’re curious to sign up and start protecting your browsing history and personal data (or, you know, getting around websites’geoblocks), NordVPN charges less per month than a typical trip to Starbucks.

NordVPN has long been one of the most popular and reliable VPN providers out there, and if you sign up for a one-year membership, promo code VIP70 will drop your annual price from $69 to $48. If you’re sure you want to commit, use this link instead to get a special two year plan for $79 with code 2YSpecial2017. Lifehacker has recommended Nord in some previous guides, but if you have any firsthand experience with the service, sound off in the comments!

TOP HOME DEALS

The Cabeau Evolution was your favorite travel pillow (by a long shot), and you can save 20% on yours today, the first deal we’ve seen since August.

Unlike cheaper travel pillows that you have to inflate with air, the Evolution is made of memory foam, and wraps all the way around your neck to provide support no matter what direction your head falls when you nod off. You won’t win any fashion awards while you’re using it, but you won’t care, because you’ll be asleep.

These pillows almost never go on sale, so if you have any holiday travel plans on the horizon, you won’t want to miss out on this one.

Before you head out on your next adventure, be sure to pick up this $100 Airbnb gift card for just $92. If you use the service with any regularity, that’s basically free money. And even if you’re a hotel dweller yourself, this would obviously be a great gift for the more adventurous members of your family.

You have a lot of options when it comes to airtight food storage containers, but Progressive’s Prepworks models are unique in that they each include a special tool designed for a specific purpose. For example, the flour container has a built-in leveling bar, and the brown sugar container has a terra cotta disc built into the lid to keep your sugar from drying out.

Today, you can get a complete set of six containers (flour, brown sugar, powdered sugar, coffee, and two mini containers) for $36, an all-time low by a full $9.

While the Nest would beat it in a beauty contest, this Sensi thermostat has most of the same smart features in a more traditional body, and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.

One of the most notable of those smart features is Alexa support; if there’s an Amazon Echo in range, you can change your home’s temperature with nothing but your voice. For a limited time, you can get the Sensi and an Echo Dot for just $108, which is $71 less than buying them separately, and somewhat incredibly, $21 less than buying the thermostat by itself.

It’s decorative gourd copper string light season, and we are here for it. Get a 20' strand with 60 LEDs and a remote to control it for just $7 with code BXJWREBN.

If you don’t mind getting a refurbished machine, you can get an upgrade of our readers’ favorite blender, an 8-cup food processor, and three to-go smoothie cups for $160.

The blender features Auto-iQ technology which combines pulsing, blending, and pausing to make the ideal smoothie texture. Plus, you can make 2 pounds of cookie dough in the bowl attachment. This set normally sells for $200, so today’s $160 is a great deal.

Give your knives a little T.L.C. and get them ready for holiday cooking with this $14 knife sharpener. It has over 2,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, works on both straight and serrated knives, and is $6 less than usual.

$18 is an all-time low price on this SOG tomahawk, if you need to, uh, tomahawk stuff? Just don’t swing that thing around me.

These silk screen-printed patent posters would make awesome gifts. With about 50+ posters to check out, they have something for everyone - like a Batmobile, a Gameboy, guitars, and cameras, all available in chalkboard, blue grid, and white grid. At just $15 a piece, it’s hard to not get more than one.

The best time to do tree maintenance is after their branches are stripped clean of leaves for the winter, and today’s Amazon Gold Box will ensure you’re properly equipped for all of your sawing needs. Inside, eight different chainsaws and pole saws are marked down to great low prices, including both gas, battery, and extension cord-powered models. Just please, please, please be careful with them.

Whether you’re standing for long periods of time in the kitchen, over a workbench, or at your standing desk, a good anti-fatigue mat can make a world of difference for your feet and ankles. This is a two-pack of 3/4-inch-thick mats, which is the minimum you should consider, so spread a couple of these throughout your house. Normally selling for $70, today’s price is an all-time low.

You spend a third of your life using a bed pillow, so it’s worth finding one that you really like. This one uses shredded memory foam which is great for side sleepers, and you can always take some of the foam out or add more in to fit your preferences. Plus, it’s only $22, so your wallet can rest as easy as you do.

Whether you’re shoveling your driveway, or shoveling your car out of a snowbank, this $15 shovel breaks down to fit into your trunk, so you’ll be prepared for just about anything winter throws your way.

The newly-minted-readers’-favorite cutting board brand, Boos Block, is selling one their edge-grain maple boards for $60, which is only about half as much as the same-sized boards made of other woods.

If taken care of, wood cutting boards can last forever and dull your knives less than most plastic boards, so consider this an investment for your home. Plus, they make nice serving platters.

You have to buy laundry detergent anyway, so you might as well buy it on sale. Amazon has a few really good coupons running now on various Tide products. You’ll have to use Subscribe & Save to get the savings, but you can always cancel after your first shipment.

We’ve posted a lot of deals lately on these coccyx seat cushions, but $15 is one of the best prices we’ve seen to date. These will improve posture and ease back pain in any chair where you spend a lot of time, from the office to the car to a long flight.

While it’s certainly not as fast as the coin-operated air compressor at a gas station, this glove box-friendly compressor can save your bacon if you have to change a tire, or just can’t be bothered to find a bunch of quarters. One reviewer describes it as slighlty larger than two decks of playing cards, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding somewhere to hide it.

TOP LIFESTYLE DEALS

Sephora isn’t known for their discounts and deals like other retailers, but they’re trying something new this year with their Weekly Wow deals. Every Thursday, Sephora will drop a bunch of deals and offers for one week only. This week features:

Whitening strips are fairly expensive for what they are, so why not pick up this discounted LED whitening kit for just $30? Yes, you’ll look like an idiot, but in 30 minutes, you’ll look like an idiot with white teeth.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, $160 after $30 coupon

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean attempts to fix the biggest problem with every other electric toothbrush: The person operating it.

I know people are skeptical about Bluetooth-connected apps for devices that have existed without them for decades, but the Sonicare app is actually really cool. From Shane’s Gear review:

It’s good then the app is amazing, and changes the toothbrushing game if you actually use it. The Connected app tracks where you’re brushing (and not brushing), how long you brush for, where you’re using too much force, and more. The app will also keep track of when you need to replace brush heads, and your dentist can even use the app to view your brushing data and make notes of where you need to make changes.

In terms of the brush itself, you get basically every feature under the sun—this is the top-of-the-line in the Sonicare family, after all—including that awesome wireless charging cup.

Today’s $190 price tag is the best Amazon’s ever listed, but a $30 coupon on the page brings it down even lower. $160 is still a lot to spend on a toothbrush, yes, but it may just be worth it.

We’re getting close to the point where Bluetooth-enabled smart bathroom scales cost about the same as their “dumb” brethren. This one’s $23 in today’s Amazon Gold Box, and its app even ties into Apple HealthKit, so you can keep all of your health data in one place.

Amazon is discounting a bunch of athletic clothes today, but one caveat, not every color and size are actually on sale. See our post to find the best prices for each item.

If you’re enough of a daredevil to give yourself a haircut, Remington’s Shortcut Pro makes the process as simple as possible.

For $38, the Shortcut Pro can run for 40 minutes on its built-in lithium-ion battery, and includes nine different length combs to customize your look. And unlike most electric trimmers, it’s shaped like a puck, rather than a wand, which makes it much easier to maneuver around the back of your own head.I still think you’d have to be a lunatic to use this thing, but it’s proven to be extremely popular with our readers.

Sorel is one of your favorite winter boot brands, and the Tofino was the one to beat. But if you were looking for something a little different from Sorel, this Pre-Black Friday sale is for you. Take up to 60% off some of the top selling boot styles, plus some really nice looking outerwear, with promo code SORNOV60.

Patagonia’s Web Specials section is always full of amazing discounts on gear you’ll actually want to use. For their huge Summer Sale, they’re taking to 50% off those Web Specials and past season products. If you were waiting to pick up winter gear until it was discounted, now is your chance.

Everyone needs a big duffle bag for weekend trips. These Gonex duffle bags are water and tear resistant, come in a rainbow of colors, and extra discounted today. Make sure you note the different promo codes.

Typically selling for $11, Amazon’s best-selling 12-piece manicure/pedicure kit is just $9 today. I don’t think these tools are at professional-level of quality, but based on the 4.4-star rating, I think they’d get the job done. Plus, this would make a great stocking stuffer or gift.

First Aid Beauty is the solution to pairing down your skin care, and right now, everything is 20% off with the code FABFF. Their Ultra Repair Cream is at the top of a lot of Best Beauty lists and half my friends use their Coconut Skin Smoothie Primer. Plus, a lot of what they carry is safe for sensitive skin, which is especially important in the summer.

It’s been a stressful year, so if a little self-care is in order, a couple of cordless massaging products are on sale today.

For your shoulders, neck, and back, Mynt’s shiatsu massager with heat is down to $53 with promo code BEST2240. You can make the experience as light or as deep as you want just by pulling on the straps, and since it can run off a built-in battery for up to 90 minutes, you can find your moment of zen wherever you want.

For a more portable massaging experience, you can also score a cordless pillow for $30 with promo code BEST2340. This only has four massage nodes, compared to the larger model’s eight, but it still does heat, and you can take it with you anywhere.

Even if you already have products like these yourself, they’d make great gift ideas for the holidays - who doesn’t like a massage, after all?

Privé Revaux already made some terrific sunglasses for affordable prices, but their new ICON collection raises the bar without raising the price, and they’re offering our readers and exclusive chance to save 25% with promo code GIZMODO25.

Compared to the original styles, Privé’s ICON collection make greater use of acetate plastic (which is derived from renewable sources, rather than petroleum), and have better screws, higher quality lenses, and a proprietary metal alloy. They sent us a few samples, and they do in fact feel sturdier and nicer than our original pairs, and again, they still only cost $30.

And if that low price isn’t enough to entice you, promo code GIZMODO25 will take 25% off a single pair of glasses from the ICON collection when you purchase from Privé Revaux’s site, for a limited time. All orders ship free, but just note that this code is only valid on a single pair of glasses per customer.

If you aren’t yet a Uniqlo HEATTECH convert, $10 tees, turtlenecks, leggings, and more, for both men and women, may do the trick. They will keep you warm throughout the winter and looking like more like an adult who knows how to dress for the weather, rather than Ralphie’s brother in A Christmas Story.

Strapo Wallet

I like small, front pocket wallets. I also like to carry a lot of cards, plus some cash. These two desires are usually in conflict, but the Strapo wallet (currently on Kickstarter) can satisfy both.

The front of Strapo features two quick-access slots for your most used cards, and the back has a sturdy elastic strap to hold cash, keys, and even coins without fear of them falling out. The star of the show here though is the top, which opens up to hold the rest of your cards. They say it can hold six, but I crammed 10 into the top of my demo unit. I definitely wouldn’t recommend more than that, but I’m a credit card hoarder, so I think most of you should be fine.

But how do you get those cards out, if they’re tucked all the way inside the wallet? With the strap(o), of course. Just pull on the little elastic tab at the top of the wallet, and the entire pile of cards pops out for you to grab.

For a limited time, you can preorder a Strapo for $23, or two for $39 (with some higher reward tiers available as well), with expected delivery in December.

TOP MEDIA DEALS

Amazon’s running a Marvel digital comic sale that’s bigger than any Avengers movie today, with literally thousands of titles marked down to just a few bucks, in most cases. You’ll find everything from the Guardians of the Galaxy to Darth Vader to Deadpool to Captain America in there, and every hero in between, so there’s never been a better time to stock your digital shelves.

The selection is overwhelming (400 Amazon pages, or over 25,000 titles!), so we dropped a few highlights in this post, but definitely leave your own suggestions in the comments.

If you ever use iTunes to buy apps, movies, music, TV shows, iCloud storage space, or anything else, this discounted $50 gift card from Amazon is basically free money. 15% is about as good as iTunes discounts get these days, so stock up.

For better or worse, our lives exist largely in the cloud these days, and that shows no signs of changing. So if you want to understand how it works, and maybe even find gainful employment managing those massive server racks, Humble’s latest book bundle is here to help.

Pay what you want to download DRM-free ebooks that teach you about Azure, AWS, and more. You can get get all 16 titles for as little as $15, or fewer books at two lower price tiers.

TOP GAMING DEALS

Update: Back in stock, if you missed it yesterday!

We thought the days of $40 PlayStation Plus sales were behind us, but lo, here it is at GameStop. If your membership is due to expire soon, or hell, even if it isn’t, you’ll want to take advantage of this.

The Humble Monthly subscription plan delivers you a selection of new games (to keep!) every month, gives you 10% off everything in the Humble Store, and donates 5% of each month’s proceeds to charity.

This month, they’re kicking things off with H1Z1, plus some free loot boxes, in addition to whatever indie games they roll out throughout the month. These gamesare yours to keep with any level membership, even if you cancel it later, so there’s not much downside here.

If yesterday’s family-friendly board game sale wasn’t to your liking, now Amazon’s offering a buy two, get one free discount on a bunch of other games, including several which are more geared towards adults than the likes of Mouse Trap and Sorry!

Strangely enough, we couldn’t find a single link on Amazon that included the B2G1 games, and only the B2G1 games, so we’re including all of the titles we know in this post. If you see any we missed, let us know, and we’ll be sure to add it. Just note that the least expensive game of the three that you choose will become free at checkout, but it’ll only work if all of your selections are shipped and sold by Amazon directly.

Start your own rebellion with this LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, down to just $35. With 24 different gifts, like Rey’s speeder, an At-ST, a TIE Striker, Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle, and more. Even reenact The Force Awakens with the Jakku playmat (brooding Luke Skywalker on a cliff, not included). They also somehow made BB-8 even more adorable, by giving him a snowboard and hat, which is reason enough to buy this.

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