The American Society Of Magazine Editors Announce Finalists For 2020 National Magazine Awards

The New York Times Magazine, New York, National Geographic Top List With Most Nominations For Coveted Ellie Awards;

Annual Awards Show To Be Held At Brooklyn Steel On March 12

Former Esquire Editor-In-Chief David Granger To Receive Magazine Editors’ Hall Of Fame Award

Pamela Colloff Ties Record For Most Nominated Female Writer In Awards History

The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) today announced via Twittercast the finalists for the 2020 National Magazine Awards for Print and Digital Media. ASME will celebrate the 55th annual presentation of the Ellie Awards and honor the 112 finalists on Thursday, March 12th, at Brooklyn Steel, a music venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) logo. Provided by ASME

This year, the Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame Award will be presented by journalist Tom Junod to David Granger, former editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine. Junod previously wrote for Granger at GQ and Esquire, where his work included the cover story on Fred Rogers that inspired the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

Winners receive “Ellies,” the elephant-shaped statuettes modeled on Alexander Calder’s stabile “Walking Elephant” that give the awards their name.

The evening reception will include the presentation of the 2020 ASME Award for Fiction to The Paris Review, as well as honors for the five winners of the 2020 ASME Next Awards for Journalists Under 30. More than 500 magazine editors and publishers are expected to attend the annual event.

Other highlights in 2020 include Pamela Colloff, ProPublica senior reporter and The New York Times Magazine staff writer, receiving her seventh nomination with “False Witness.” Colloff now ties the overall record for most nominated female writer in awards history with The Atlantic’s Caitlin Flanagan.

The New York Times Magazine led the nominations with 10, the most in its history, with three nominations (General Excellence, Podcasting, Public Interest) honoring The 1619 Project, which “aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative,” according to the magazine. Rounding out top finalists were New York magazine and National Geographic with nine and eight nominations respectively.

Titles with multiple nominations also included Bon Appétit and The New Yorker with six each, and SELF and Texas Monthly with four.

Sixty-two titles were nominated in 22 categories. Twenty publications were nominated for the most prestigious honor, General Excellence. Nominees include large-circulation titles such as Cosmopolitan (which also received its seventh-consecutive nomination in Personal Service), regional titles like Atlanta, special-interest magazines like National Parks, literary journals like Oxford American and digital-first publications like The Trace.

Bon Appétit was nominated for the ninth consecutive year in General Excellence, the most consecutive nominations in that category in the history of the awards. Aperture and New York magazine received their fifth-consecutive nominations in General Excellence, while The Marshall Project received its fourth-consecutive nomination in General Excellence.

Ten media organizations were first-time finalists in any category: 1843, Catapult, the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Emergence, Gimlet, National Parks, Quanta, Stranger’s Guide, Vox, and The Washington Post Magazine for its “Prison” issue featuring the work of currently and formerly incarcerated Americans.

Taffy Brodesser-Akner received her first nomination for Feature Writing with “All That Glitters,” a piece featured in The New York Times Magazine on gender discrimination and sexual harassment at Sterling Jewelers. Jia Tolentino is also a first-time finalist in Columns and Commentary for her work in The New Yorker.

New York magazine and The Cut writer Rebecca Traister received her fourth nomination in six years for her profile of Elizabeth Warren.

“This year’s finalists for the National Magazine Awards showcase an incredible range of innovative, inspiring journalism from 62 magazines and websites,” said Sid Holt, executive director of ASME. “Columbia and ASME join me in congratulating the many writers and editors nominated today—their work underscores the power of magazine journalism to entertain and challenge readers and listeners both in print and online.”

National Magazine Awards 2020 Finalists

General Excellence, News, Sports and Entertainment

• The California Sunday Magazine
• ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Cover Story
• The Marshall Project
• New York
• The New York Times Magazine

And We Are Off!: November Retail Sales Kick Off Holiday Season With 2.1 Percent Growth Over Last Year and More Spending to Come

Thanksgiving weekend draws nearly 190 million shoppers, spending up 16 percent

Retail sales in November, and especially around the Thanksgiving/Black Friday period are some of the most important sales data in all of retail. And this year’s numbers are even more important than ever before.

Per the analysts at the National Retail Federation, retail sales in November increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted over October and were up 2.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year, marking the first half of the holiday season with billions of dollars in shopping left to be done. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

“November showed modest growth on the surface, but you have to remember that the late timing of Thanksgiving delayed the beginning of the busiest portion of the holiday season and pushed Cyber Monday’s billions of dollars of retail sales into December,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “These numbers are more about the calendar than consumer confidence. Consumer spending has been solid, and there’s still a lot of spending to be done. With strong employment and higher wages, we’re on track for a strong holiday season.”

Kleinhenz noted that the year-over-year comparison was challenging because November 2018 was up an unusually strong 4.7 percent over the year before. But December 2018 was down 0.2 percent from the year before, making it likely that next month could show a strong comparison.

In addition, many consumers began their shopping early this year, with some starting before November. NRF surveys showed that 39 percent planned to begin by Halloween, and that consumers on average had completed 52 percent of their shopping as of the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

“Whether they’re looking for something unique on Main Street, making a trip to the mall or clicking from the couch, this is when holiday shoppers shift into high gear.” – NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay

NRF’s forecast predicts that holiday retail sales during November and December will increase between 3.8 percent and 4.2 percent for a total of between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion.

November’s results build on October’s increase of 0.2 percent month-over-month and a strong 4.1 percent year-over-year. As of November, the three-month moving average was up 3.3 percent over the same period a year ago, compared with 4.2 percent in October.

NRF’s numbers are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which said today that overall November sales – including auto dealers, gas stations and restaurants – were up 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted from October and up 3.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

Specifics from key retail sectors during November include:

• Online and other non-store sales were up 7.2 percent year-over-year and up 0.8 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Sporting goods stores were up 4.3 percent year-over-year but down 0.5 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Grocery and beverage stores were up 4 percent year-over-year and up 0.3 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Furniture and home furnishings stores were up 1.4 percent year-over-year and up 0.1 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• General merchandise stores were unchanged year-over-year but up 0.1 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Building materials and garden supply stores were down 1.2 percent year-over-year but unchanged month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Electronics and appliance stores were down 1.7 percent year-over-year but up 0.7 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Health and personal care stores were also down 1.7 percent year-over-year and were down 1.1 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Clothing and clothing accessory stores were down 2.9 percent year-over-year and down 0.6 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted.

And the good news, such as it is, continued into the proceeding Thanksgiving Day weekend. A record 189.6 million U.S. consumers shopped from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, an increase of 14 percent over last year’s 165.8 million, the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics said.

“Americans continue to start their holiday shopping earlier in the year, and Thanksgiving is still a critical weekend for millions,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Whether they’re looking for something unique on Main Street, making a trip to the store or searching for the best deals from their mobile device, this is when shoppers shift into high gear. With the condensed holiday season, consumers are feeling the pressure to get their shopping done in time. Even those who typically wait until the last minute to purchase gifts turned out in record numbers all weekend long.”

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year 2020: PANTONE® 19-4052 Classic Blue

A Reassuring Presence Instilling Calm, Confidence, And Connection

Tapping into sight, sound, smell, taste, and texture Pantone makes PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue the first multi-sensory Color of the Year in the company’s history.

Pantone, provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions, today announced PANTONE 19-4052, Classic Blue, as the Pantone® Color of the Year for 2020; a timeless and enduring hue elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation from which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year 2020: PANTONE® 19-4052 Classic Blue

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Imbued with a deep resonance, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”

The Color of the Year selection process requires thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even up-coming sporting events that capture worldwide attention. For 21 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past selections for Color of the Year include:

• PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
• PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
• PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
• PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
• PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
• PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
• PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
• PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
• PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
• PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
• PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
• PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
• PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
• PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
• PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
• PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
• PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
• PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
• PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
• PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

The color selected as the Pantone Color of the Year 2020 was taken from the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System, the most widely used and recognized color standards system for fashion, textile, home, and interior design.

Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser-like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.

As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted PANTONE 19-4052, Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.

“The Pantone Color of the Year highlights the relationship between trends in color and what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time, a color that reflects what individuals feel they need that color can hope to answer.” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “As society continues to recognize color as a critical form of communication, and a way to express and affect ideas and emotions, designers and brands should feel inspired to use color to engage and connect. The Pantone Color of the Year selection provides strategic direction for the world of trend and design, reflecting the Pantone Color Institute’s year-round work doing the same for designers and brands.”

To fully bring to life the true meaning of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, Pantone has translated PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue into a multi-sensory experience. By extending the sensory reach of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, Pantone is hoping to reach a greater diversity of people to provide everyone with an opportunity to engage with the Color of the Year 2020 in their own unique way.

“As we all head into a new era, we wanted to challenge ourselves to find inspiration from new sources that not only evolve our Color of the Year platform, but also help our global audiences achieve richer and more rewarding color experiences,” added Pressman. “This desire, combined with the emotional properties of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, motivated us to expand beyond the visual, to bring the 2020 Pantone Color of the Year to life through a multi-sensory experience.”

Classic Blue in Fashion

PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a poised and self-assured blue hue elegant in its simplicity. Genderless in outlook and seasonless in endurance, this foundational anchor shade enables color mixes throughout the spectrum, as well as making a strong statement on its own. Emblematic of heritage but at the same time highly contemporary, versatile PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue takes on distinct appearances through application to different materials, finishes and textures from shimmering metallics, lustrous sheens and high-tech materials to hand crafted looks and more fragile fabrics.

Classic Blue in Beauty

In the ultimate display of personal expression, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue makes a dramatic statement for eyes, nails and hair in a variety of finishes from glittery and glam to dusty matte.

Classic Blue in Home Décor

Offering the promise of protection PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a pervasive favorite for home. Creating a stable foundation from which to build, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue injects creative confidence into interiors, transforming a space through unique color combinations and tonal statements. Easily applied across so many different materials, textures and finishes, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a dependable blue that can take you in different directions expressing tradition and elegance as well as unexpected boldness.

Classic Blue in Graphic Design and Packaging

Because of PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue’s relation to the sky at dusk, something we see every day, it maintains a perception of dependability and constancy. A color we respond to viscerally as being trustworthy, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is an ideal shade for many applications of graphic design. This is especially true for packaging where PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue conveys the message of honesty, credibility and reliability that today’s consumers are connecting to.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Week is Almost Here

More Deals of the Day and Deeper Discounts Than Ever Before on Buzzworthy Holiday Gifts Across Every Department

Kicking off this Friday, November 22, Amazon’s Black Friday deals week will offer new deals all day, every day from fashion to toys, home, electronics, Amazon Devices and more

Save up to 40% on toys from LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels and more; up to 50% on Lands’ End clothing and accessories; $40 off the Echo Show 5; deep discounts on brands including Adidas, KitchenAid, L’Oreal Paris and more; plus exclusive deals from Amazon Brands, Amazon Music, Audible and more

Amazon today shared a sneak peek of top deals for its Black Friday Deals Week, which will offer customers new deals all day, every day totaling thousands of amazing deals across every category, plus more Deals of the Day and deeper discounts than ever before. Starting this Friday, November 22 through November 29 (Black Friday), customers can shop thousands of incredible deals on this year’s most popular gifts, new and trending finds, holiday essentials, and more, across toys, electronics, fashion, beauty, kitchen, home, Amazon Devices and more. All of Amazon’s Black Friday deals can be found by visiting amazon.com/blackfriday or on the Amazon App. Customers can also shop on smile.amazon.com/blackfriday to find the same amazing deals and Amazon shopping experience, with the added bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible products to a charity of your choice.

On top of the wide selection of deals and discounts available throughout Amazon’s week of Black Friday deals, customers can also take advantage of select one-time-only, amazing deals from top-tier and most-loved brands across electronics, home, fashion, toys and more, all at jaw-dropping prices. These deals are expected to sell out, with new one-time only deals launching throughout the day on November 28 (Thanksgiving), November 29 (Black Friday) and December 2 (Cyber Monday).

Whether customers are getting a head start on their gift lists, readying their homes for family festivities or grocery shopping for holiday feasts, Amazon makes the holidays easier than ever with top deals and low prices. In fact, according to a recent Profitero study, Amazon prices were found to be 20% cheaper on average than other online retailers.

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS PREVIEW:

The deals included below – and many more – will be available on various dates and times between November 22 and November 29 (Black Friday), while supplies last, at amazon.com/blackfriday, on the Amazon App, or by simply asking “Alexa, what are my deals.”

Amazon Devices

• Echo Dots $27.99 off – just $22.00 or get a 3-pack for just $64.97
• All-new Echo Dot with clock is $25 off – just $34.99
• Echo Show 5 is $40 off – just $49.99
• All-new Echo is $40 off – just $59.99
• Echo Input is $20 off – just $14.99
• Get the Echo Show 5 and Amazon Smart Plug for just $54.98
• Get select Fire TV Edition Smart TVs and add an Echo Dot at no additional cost
• Get a Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote and Echo Dot for just $46.99
• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote is $20 off – just $19.99
• Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote is $25 off – just $24.99
• All-new Fire TV Cube is $30 off – just $89.99
• Ring Video Doorbell Pro is $70 off – just $179.00
• Get the Ring Video Doorbell Pro + Echo Show 5 for just $179.00
• Get the all-new Blink XT2 3 Camera Kit and an Echo Dot for just $184.99
• Get Amazon Smart Plug for just $4.99 when purchased with Echo Dot, all-new Echo Dot with Clock, all-new Echo, Echo Plus, all-new Echo Studio, Echo Show 5, all-new Echo Show 8, and Echo Show (2^nd gen)
• Get the eero mesh WiFi system for just $159.99
• All-new Echo Dot Kids Edition is $30 off – just $39.99 OR get a 3-pack for just $119.97
• Fire 7 Kids Edition is $40 off – just $59.99
• All-new Kindle Kids Edition is $30 off – just $79.99
• Fire 7 Tablet is $20 off – just $29.99

Amazon Brands

• Save up to 50% on men’s and women’s clothing from Amazon Brands, including Amazon Essentials, Goodthreads, Daily Ritual, and The Drop
• Save up to 30% on bedding & bath for the family from AmazonBasics, Stone & Beam and Rivet
• Save up to 30% on furniture from Rivet and Stone & Beam
• Save up to 30% on office furniture and supplies from AmazonBasics
• Save up to 30% on phone accessories from AmazonBasics
• Save up to 30% on kitchen electrics and housewares from AmazonBasics & Stone & Beam
• Save up to 30% on luggage and travel from AmazonBasics
• Save up to 25% on food and beverages from Amazon brands, including AmazonFresh, Happy Belly and Wickedly Prime
• Save 25% on household supplies and personal care from Solimo
• Save up to 15% on beauty, vitamins, and supplements from Amazon brands including Belei and Revly

Fashion

• Save up to 35% on Herschel backpacks, wallets, hip packs, and more
• Save up to 50% on Oakley & Ray-Ban sunglasses
• Save up to 30% on Calvin Klein underwear
• Save up to 35% on the newest Fossil smartwatches
• Save up to 35% on adidas shoes, clothing, and accessories for the family
• Save up to 40% on Levi’s for the family
• Save up to 50% on Lands’ End clothing and accessories
• Save up to 30% on Tommy Hilfiger clothing
• Save up to 50% on top watch brands including Daniel Wellington, Movado, and more
• Save up to 40% on Under Armour for the family
• Save up to 30% on men’s dress shirts
• Save up to 30% on Izod clothing
• Save up to 50% on Samsonite and American Tourister luggage
• Save 35% on 14K gold diamond stud earrings
• Electronics
• Save on Samsung, Sony, and LG TVs
• Save on Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10
• Save up to 45% on streaming devices and accessories
• Save up to 30% on select Nintendo Switch Software
• Save up to 33% on select Nintendo Joy-Con
• Save on Canon and Nikon cameras
• Save on Headphones from Bose, Sony and other top brands
• Save on Nintendo Switch Console with Digital Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Save on Xbox One
• Save on PC gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, components, and accessories
• Save up to 33% on PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB bundle
• Save on Oculus Rift S
• Save on Garmin smart watches
• Save 30% on select cell phone cases
• Save on Klipsch speakers
• Save on Jabra Elite Active 65t Earbuds
• Save up to 35% on select iOttie Car Mount Phone Holders
• Save on Garmin Forerunner 235 and DriveSmart
• Save up to 40% on Corsair gaming products and accessories
• Save up to 45% on Netgear products
• Save 40% on Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020
• Save up to 50% on Brother printers
• Save up to 60% on HP Deskjet 2622
• Save $30 on HP Sprocket 2nd Edition
• Save 30% on MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen
• Save $50 off Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019
• Save over 70% on new Norton 360 Premium
• Save on Kodak and Polaroid photo printers
• Save on SanDisk and WD
• Receive a $10 Gift Card with purchase of TurboTax Software

Toys

• Save 15% on L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco Bigger Surprise (Amazon Exclusive)
• Save 40% on the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon
• Save 40% on tricycles and the 3-in-1 Wagon from Radio Flyer
• Save 40% on the KidKraft Cinderella Royal Dream House
• Save 40% on the Little Tikes Bake n’ Grow Kitchen
• Save up to 30% on select strategy games
• Save up to 30% on Glitter Girls fashion dolls and accessories
• Save up to 30% on Barbie, Hot Wheels and more from Mattel
• Save up to 30% on select party games

Household, Kitchen and Home Furnishings

• Save up to 30% on SodaStream sparkling water makers
• Save on Hamilton Beach
• Save up to 35% on Vitamix
• Save on Nespresso
• Save on Dash Appliances
• Save up to 44% on KitchenAid
• Save on Instant Pot
• Save on Conitgo Water bottles, Food Saver and Rubbermaid food containers
• Save up to 25% on select mattresses
• Save on Ashley Mattresses
• Save up to 48% on Degrees of Comfort weighted blankets
• Save up to 15% on Bissell Lifestyle 220
• Save up to 19% on Bissell SpotClean Pro
• Save on Casper Sleep Soft and Supima Cotton Sheet
• Save up to 37% on Bissell Icon Pet Stick
• Save up to 41% on Ecovacs N79S
• Save up to 36% off Ecovacs Deebot 661
• Save up to 26% Bissell Crosswave
• Save up to 19% on Bissell SpotClean Pro
• Save up to 22% on Bissell MyAir
• Save up to 20% on Oreck Commercial XL Commercial Upright Vacuums
• Save on AIRMEGA 400S The Smarter App Ena
• Save on Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Protect Waterproof Mattress Protector
• Save up to 15% on Bissell Lifestyle 220
• Save on TEMPUR Adapt Plus Cooling Topper
• Eureka NEN110A Whirlwind Bagless Canister
• Save on Sunbeam Cordless or Corded Iron
• Save up to 50% on Simplisafe 12-Piece Security System
• Save up to 20% on Kidde products
• Save up to 30% on Hunter ceiling fans
• Save up to 30% on DeWalt tools
• Save up to 30% on select SKIL tools
• Save up to 25% on BLACK+DECKER drill kit
• Save up to 15% on Opal Countertop Nugget Icemaker
• Save 15% on NewAir Dual Zone Beverage Cooler

Smart Home

• Save on Chamberlain MyQ Garage Hub at $17.98
• Save on iRobot Roomba 960 at $399.00
• Save on iRobot Roomba 675 at $199.99
• Save on the new LG 82″ 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV at $1,699.99
• Save up to $79.90 on Arlo Technologies products
• Save on Shark IQ Robotic Vacuum at $399.99
• Save over 30% on Netgear wifi & routers
• Save $200 on Sony Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos and Wireless Subwoofer
• Save up to 39% on ecobee SmartThermostat and Switch bundle

Lawn & Garden

• Save up to 35% on holiday live plants
• Save on the Sun Joe SPX4000-PRO Pressure Washer
• Save 35% on Greenworks 80V outdoor power tools
• Save up to 30% on Keter Cool Bar & more
• Save up to 35% on fire pits and patio heaters

Audible, Music, Video & Books

• Audible: Between November 25 and 27, new members receive a bonus $15 Amazon credit and continue to save 53% on the first three months of an Audible membership at $6.95 a month. Additional offers to be announced through the holiday season.
• For a limited time, new Amazon Music Unlimited customers can get the best holiday deal in Amazon Music’s history – four months of the premium streaming tier for just $0.99, to enjoy unlimited access to more than 50 million songs, ad-free.
• With purchase of select Echo devices, new Amazon Music Unlimited customers in the US, UK, Germany and Japan will also receive four months of the premium, ad-free streaming tier for free.
• Prime Video: Between November 29 and December 5, Prime members can enjoy 50% off to rent or buy on new release movies.
• The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, Prime Video’s first foray into the holiday special space, will premiere globally on Friday, November 29. The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show will also be accompanied by an official soundtrack available on Amazon Music and other DSPs beginning November 29. Learn more at amazon.com/kaceychristmas.
• Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free – Enjoy unlimited access to over 1 million books, popular magazines and thousands of books with Audible narration. Offer valid for new subscribers only.
• Get $10 back in eBook credit when you spend $30 on eBooks (activation required).
• Save up to 80% on select Kindle best-selling books
• Save up to 50% on Popular Children Books

Pets

• Save 33% on Furbo Treat Tossing Wifi Pet Camera
• Save up 35% on Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kit
• Save up to 30% on Frontline Oral Defense Daily Dental Chews
• Save up to 15% on Nutramax products for dogs and cats
• Save 30% on PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
• Save 30% on select Greenies dog treats
• Save 30% on Temptations cat treats
• Save 30% on Cesar gourmet dog food

Sports & Outdoors

• Save up to 40% on the adidas Diablo duffel bag
• Save up to 35% on select Columbia outerwear, apparel, and shoes
• Save up to 25% on Thule backpacks and luggage
• Save more than 25% on golf training aids, including Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors
• Save up to 25% on Osprey packs & accessories
• Save up to 20% on best sellers from Coleman
• Save up to 30% on fishing gear from Abu Garcia, Berkley, Penn, Ugly Stik, and more
• Save up to 15% on stand up paddle boards from Serenelife
• Save up to 30% on hunting essentials from Plano Synergy
• Save up to 15% on Marcy exercise equipment
• Save on the Bowflex Max Trainer M7
• Save on Bushnell golf products, including rangefinders, GPS, and watches
• Save 20% or more on Segway electric scooters and personal transporters
• Save 20% on Huffy adult and kids bikes
• Save on Callaway golf balls, headwear, and golf bags
• Save on JOOLA table tennis tables and more
• Save more than 15% on select GoSports favorites, including wood premium cornhole set, giant wooden toppling tower, and more

Beauty

• Save up to 45% on Philips Sonicare appliances and brush heads
• Save up to 40% on Aquaphor, NIVEA, and Eucerin
• Save 30% on Panasonic electric razor for men
• Save 20% on L’Oreal Paris brow stylist definers
• Save up to 40% on professional and luxury beauty skin care, cosmetics, fragrance, hair and more
• Save up to 33% on select luxury beauty devices and accessories

Health and Personal Care

• Save up to 50% on 23andMe DNA tests
• Save up to $60 on select Fitbit items
• Save up to 30% on select nutrition and wellness items
• Save 15% on Body Fortress whey protein powder
• Save 30% or more on Duracell batteries
• Save $70 on AncestryHealth Core™ Health + Genetic Ethnicity Test

Automotive

• Save on Hella Sharptone Twin Horn Kits
• Save on Camco Yellow Fasten Leveling Blocks

Amazon Payments and Gift Cards

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Cardmembers and Amazon Prime Store Cardmembers with an eligible Prime membership will receive 15% Back on Electronics bestsellers on Amazon.com from now through December 22. They’ll also receive 10% Back on select Amazon devices valid November 28 to December 2 only.

• From November 15 through December 22, customers who are approved for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card will earn a $100 instant Amazon Gift Card, and customers approved for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card will earn a $60 instant Amazon Gift Card.
• Get a $10 bonus when you reload your Amazon Gift Card Balance with $100 or more. Applicable on first reload only.
• Save 20% on select gift card brands, including App Store & iTunes, Applebee’s and more. See all branded gift cards.
• Amazon Cash: Get a one-time $5 Amazon Credit when you add $20. Limited to first-time Amazon Cash customers.
• Amazon Prime members who book a car rental with Avis between November 28 and December 2 can receive up to 15% of the reservation price back in an Amazon gift card, an incentive to put towards other travel must-haves.

Small Businesses on Amazon Handmade and Amazon Launchpad

• Save 20% or more on Amazon Handmade products from around the world – shop deal and the gift guide at www.amazon.com/handmadegiftguide.
• Save up to 35% on top selling iOttie Wireless accessories
• Save on Dash appliances
• Save up to 35% on select party games for grown-ups including Exploding Kittens
• Save up to 44% on Geekee True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
• Save 15% or more on select LuminAID Solar phone chargers and lanterns

Grocery

• Save 25% or more on select Jack Link’s beef jerky
• Save up to 30% on select Victor Allen’s coffee packs
• Save 15% on select TAZO K-Cup pods
• Save 20% on select Soylent meal replacement shakes and protein bars
• Save 35% on Tea Forte tea gifts for the holiday season

Whole Foods Market

• Amazon and Whole Foods Market are offering special savings on organic and classic turkeys in celebration of Thanksgiving. All customers can choose from select organic ($3.49/lb) and classic turkeys ($2.49/lb), and Prime members will save even more on turkeys ($2.99/lb for organic and $1.99/lb for classic). The offer is valid until November 28, while supplies last. Prime members can also receive exclusive deals on organic jewel sweet potatoes ($1.29/lb), organic cranberries ($2.69/12-oz bag), and Bonafide frozen broths and soups (35% off).

DISCOVER THE SEASON’S HOTTEST GIFTS

Customers can also shop Amazon’s biggest-ever selection of curated gift guides and exclusive storefronts this year, which offer gifting inspiration and more:

• Holiday Toy List: amazon.com/holidaytoylist
• Amazon Fashion Gift Guide: amazon.com/fashiongiftguide
• Home Holiday Guide: amazon.com/HomeHolidayGuide
• Electronics Gift Guide: amazon.com/egg
• Luxury Beauty Gift Guide: amazon.com/LuxuryBeautyGiftGuide
• Active Lifestyle Gift Guide: amazon.com/active
• Small Business Gift Guide: amazon.com/smallbusinessgiftguide
• Amazon Launchpad Gift Guide: amazon.com/launchpadgifts
• Oprah’s Favorite Things 2019: www.amazon.com/oprah
• Mariah’s Must Haves: New this year, Amazon teamed up with award-winning singer & songwriter Mariah Carey to give fans a sneak peek into how she celebrates the holidays: amazon.com/mariahcarey.
• Interesting Finds curates some of the most interesting and fun products that customers are sure to love. You are able to “like” certain products and will be shown similar items in the future. Explore even more curated collections of Stocking Stuffers and White Elephant gifts.
• Gift Cards: Customers can opt for even more convenience and have presents gift wrapped and sent directly to loved ones without hassle, or choose from a variety of festively-designed gift cards to Amazon, other retailers, restaurants, Audible, and more. You can even get a one-time $15 Amazon credit when you purchase $50 or more in Amazon Gift cards (limited to first-time gift card customers).

MORE WAYS TO SHOP

In addition to amazon.com/blackfriday, customers can shop Amazon’s week of Black Friday deals in the following ways:

Amazon.com in Spanish: Customers can visit Amazon.com/espanol or use the Amazon App to shop, browse and search for millions of products, view their carts, and place orders in Spanish.

• Amazon App: The Amazon App allows customers to conveniently shop for their holiday needs – anytime and anywhere – and never miss a great deal. Customers can use the Watch a Deal feature to “Watch a Lightning Deal” and receive a notification on their mobile phone when the deal is about to start. Additionally, first time app users have an opportunity to save big this holiday. New customers will receive $10 the first time they sign-in to the Amazon App and an additional $15 when they make their first purchase on the app.
• Alexa Shopping: Customers can add to their Amazon wish list with Alexa by saying, “Alexa, add headphones to my wish list” and track packages and confirm your delivery date with Alexa by saying, “Alexa, where’s my stuff?”
• Amazon Business: Save big when shopping for work with deals on everything you need for your business. Find deals on supplies for the office holiday party, employee and client gifts, and items for community donation drives. Stock up for the new year with savings on the business essentials you need. Visit amazon.com/holidayforbusiness, For more information and to sign up for a free business account, visit amazon.com/business.
• Amazon Books: Whether customers want to discover a new book for the holidays, test-drive a device, or purchase Amazon Gift Cards, Amazon Books offers gifts for everyone. To find the store nearest you visit: www.amazon.com/stores.
• Amazon 4-star: Designed around Amazon.com customers, Amazon 4-star stores feature products that are 4 stars and above, top sellers, new and trending, and most popular from top categories including devices, consumer electronics, toys, games, books, kitchen, and home. To find the store nearest you visit: www.amazon.com/stores.
• Amazon Live: Watch Amazon Live’s shoppable Black Friday livestream throughout the day on November 29 for demonstrations on top deal products and cameo appearances from celebrities you love. Tune in starting at 4am PST by visiting www.amazon.com/live.
• Treasure Truck: Discover great gifts you never thought of on Treasure Truck. Opt-in by texting ‘TRUCK’ to 24193 and receive notifications for same-day offers – order the item and pick up at the truck the same day. This Black Friday, gift givers who act fast will find an incredible deal on a holiday-must-have tech item on the truck in select cities, while supplies last.
• Whole Foods Market: Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market have access to a number of benefits year-round, like deep discounts on dozens of select popular products each week and an additional 10 percent off hundreds of in-store items. Additionally, Prime members in thousands of cities and towns can shop their local Whole Foods Market store using Amazon.com or the Amazon App.
• Woot! offers daily deals on customers’ favorite brands and free shipping for Prime members. Visit woot.com from November 24 through November 29 or download the Woot! App for great deals.

GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, AND BEYOND

Amazon is committed to making holiday giving and giving back easier than ever.

• AmazonSmile: To jump right into holiday shopping and support your favorite charitable organization at the same time, simply visit smile.amazon.com/blackfriday. By starting with smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the same Amazon experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible products to a charity of your choice.
• Charity Lists: Charity Lists give charitable organizations an easy way to create wish lists of products needed, while providing a convenient way for customers to donate these essential items directly to the causes. Customers are able to contribute items that are truly critical, to charities they care about, no matter how big or small. Customers can shop thousands of Charity Lists by visiting smile.amazon.com/charitylists, with new charities joining all the time.
• ( RED) Shopathon: For the third year, Amazon is teaming up with (RED), the charitable organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, to fight AIDS. Amazon is providing customers a single destination to shop more than 150 (RED) products, including the exclusive (RED) edition of the all-new Echo, which will be available for a limited time. For every all-new Echo (RED) edition sold, Amazon will donate $10 to the Global Fund. Plus, customers interested in donating to support (RED)’s fight can do so on any Echo device by simply asking, “Alexa, donate to (RED).” (RED) products will be available starting today at amazon.com/red.

HOLIDAY DELIVERY MADE EASY

In addition to free delivery on more than 100 million items for all Amazon customers, Amazon has expanded its fast, free, and convenient delivery options for Prime members and customers this holiday season:

• Fast and Reliable One-Day and Same-Day Delivery. Throughout the season, Prime members in the U.S. can shop a selection of over 10 million items for Prime Free One-Day Delivery and millions of items available for Same-Day Delivery in 46 major metropolitan areas. Not a Prime member yet? Join Prime or start a 30-day free trial at www.amazon.com/prime.
• Ultrafast and FREE grocery delivery: Now Prime members get free and fast grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Selection includes a variety of products for all your holiday needs, from meat to seafood, produce, snacks, and household essentials, with options for fast one- and two-hour delivery windows. Prime members who live in one of the more than 2,000 cities and towns where grocery delivery is available can request an invitation to shop Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market delivery. Learn more at amazon.com/grocery.
• Pickup and delivery on your terms: This holiday season, customers can pick up their packages at a number of Amazon Hub locations including thousands of in-store staffed Counter pickup points across the U.S. within Rite Aid, GNC and Stage stores, as well as at Health Mart independent pharmacies. Additionally, tens of millions of products can be easily and conveniently delivered to 900 cities and towns across the country via Locker or Locker+. To find an Amazon Hub location, visit amazon.com/Hub. In addition, Prime members in 50 U.S. cities and surrounding areas can also enjoy secure, convenient package delivery with Key by Amazon (amazon.com/key).

Profitero Study Methodology

Each day, Profitero monitors prices and other data on more than 450 million product pages at more than 8,000 online retailers. For this study, Profitero analyzed daily prices collected from July 8, 2019 to September 30, 2019 across 19 leading online retailers. Categories analyzed included Appliances, Baby, Beauty, Electronics, Grocery, Home Furniture, Household Supplies, Music & CDs, Office Supplies, Pet Supplies, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Home Improvement, Toys & Games, and Video Games. The study only compares prices collected on the same day, with both retailers in-stock. Amazon prices reflect 1P only on Amazon.com, exclusive of Fresh and Prime Now. The other retailer online prices studied could reflect promoted prices, but exclude coupons, other discounts that require additional shopper action, or special prices available through retailer-specific programs such as Target REDcard.

Score Incredible Deals With Macy’s 2019 Black Friday and Cyber Week Specials

Get a head start on select savings with Macy’s Black Friday Preview beginning in stores and online on Thursday, Nov. 21

Doorbusters begin on Wednesday, Nov. 27 with Black Friday deals continuing through Saturday, Nov. 30 in-store and on macys.com

Plus, find the best Cyber Monday savings in-store and online from Sunday, Dec. 1 to Monday, Dec. 2 with Daily Deals continuing through Saturday, Dec. 7

Win the holidays this year with Macy’s and the best Black Friday and Cyber Week specials on the hottest items of the season. From buzz-worthy gifts for everyone on the list to amazing deals on fashion for the whole family, fine jewelry, tech, beauty and home, the ultimate one-stop shop for holiday gifting has everyone covered.

With a broad assortment of offers across favorite brands, these limited-time deals will begin in stores and online on Thursday, Nov. 21 with a special Black Friday preview and carry through Cyber Week (Sunday, Dec. 1 to Saturday, Dec. 7). Be sure not to miss the unbelievable selection of doorbuster items, with major savings or free after mail-in rebate.*

“Black Friday and Cyber Week mark the true start of holiday shopping for many of our customers,” said John Harper, Macy’s chief stores officer. “Macy’s is pleased to offer the very best gifts and holiday entertaining must-haves at unbelievable prices with multiple days to save. Our curated assortment of deals, both in-store and online, are sure to help shoppers find the perfect gift at the best price this season.”

Find amazing deals for the whole family this Black Friday at Macy’s; Charter Club Cashmere Sweaters For Her, $39.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

Black Friday Preview

For shoppers looking to get a head start on saving, Macy’s Black Friday preview will offer a selection of Black Friday Doorbusters from Thursday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 26 including:

Find amazing deals for the whole family this Black Friday at Macy’s; Sealy Posturpedic Lawson Queen Mattress, $747.00. (Photo: Business Wire)

• 50 to 60 percent off outerwear for the family
• 65 percent off Effy jewelry
• 60 to 65 percent off select Damask and Hotel Collection for the home
• $39.99 women’s Charter Club cashmere sweaters
• $19.99 women’s boots
• 60 percent off Carter’s and First Impressions

Find amazing deals for the whole family this Black Friday at Macy’s; Diesel Little Daddy Watches For Him, $199.00. (Photo: Business Wire)

Black Friday Specials

Begin the savings with doorbusters on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and kick off Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving Day with most stores open at 5 p.m. through 2 a.m., Friday, Nov. 29 from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. Store hours vary by location. Go to macys.com and click on stores to find local information. Customers can shop online all day from the comfort of their couch at macys.com and on Macy’s mobile app. For more information on Black Friday and Cyber Week deals, store hours and shipping, visit www.macys.com/blackfriday.

Find amazing deals for the whole family this Black Friday at Macy’s; Dyson Big Ball Multi-Floor Vacuum, $229.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the great deals available on Black Friday, while supplies last:

For Him, Her and Home

• $29.99 diamond earrings with any purchase of $50 or more
• 30 percent off select dresses
• 50 percent off select designer brands
• $19.99 and under Family Pajamas
• $7.99 small kitchen appliances after $12 mail-in rebate
• $99.99 select suits, sport coats and overcoats for him
• $39.99 Charter Club cashmere sweaters
• 60 percent off select women’s designer coats
• 40 percent off select boots and shoes for her
• 50 percent off select men’s loungewear
• 50 percent off select designer handbags
• 60 percent off select kids’ styles
• $15.99 select kids’ puffer jackets
• 60 percent off select diamond studs and earrings
• $15 select MAC lipsticks
• Extra $100-$200 off select Dyson vacuums
• $15 men’s or women’s five-piece fragrance box
• $10 beauty products from brands like Clinique, Too Faced, Benefit, Urban Decay, and more
• $124.99 Nespresso bundle machines
• 65 percent off select barware and dinnerware
• $29.99 select Created for Macy’s 1200-thread count sheet sets in queen or king size
• 60 to 65 percent off select luggage

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Nintendo Switch Bundle With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Highlights Nintendo’s Black Friday Offers

Offers on Nintendo Switch, Games and Accessories are a Great Value for Families

As the holiday season approaches, families are looking for ways to spend more time together – shared experiences that create long-lasting memories. This Black Friday, Nintendo is offering a bundle that will provide those memories right out of the box! Starting on Nov. 28, select retailers will offer the bundle, which includes a Nintendo Switch system and a download code for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game, at a suggested retail price of only $299.99*. That’s the price of a Nintendo Switch system with a game for no extra cost!

With the multiplayer fun of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and two Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch system, families can open the bundle and start playing together right away.

Starting on Nov. 28, select retailers will offer a bundle, which includes a Nintendo Switch system and a download code for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game, at a suggested retail price of only $299.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

In addition to the bundle, several Nintendo Switch games will be available at a suggested retail price of only $39.99 each – that’s $20 off their regular suggested price. This software offer begins on Nov. 27 at participating retailers. Players looking to explore fantastic worlds or engage in some friendly competition with family and friends can take advantage of the $20 discount on games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Party, Splatoon 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Tennis Aces and Kirby Star Allies, among others.

“With Nintendo Switch, parents are not just giving a gift to their kids – they are providing fun for the whole family who loves to play together,” said Nick Chavez, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Families who have been waiting to pick up a Nintendo Switch system have the perfect opportunity on Black Friday to take advantage of one of our many offers and add some Nintendo fun to their holiday plans.”

Additional Black Friday offers include a pair of Joy-Con controllers (Gray or Neon Red & Neon Blue) at a suggested retail price of $59.99 ($20 off), and the Poké Ball Plus accessory to use with the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! games (sold separately) at a suggested retail price of only $19.99 ($30 off). The Joy-Con offer starts on Nov. 27, with the Poké Ball Plus promotion beginning on Nov. 28 at participating retailers. For a full list of offers and participating retailers, visit https://happyholidays.nintendo.com/deals/.

Best Buy’s Black Friday Ad Is Here! Hundreds of Deals, Including Apple Doorbusters, Available Now

Every Day From Nov. 11-20, One Doorbuster From The Ad Will Be Available Early, For One Day Only

For The 6th Consecutive Year, Best Buy Stores Will Open At 5 P.M. Local Time On Thanksgiving Day

Black Friday starts now. Best Buy’s Black Friday ad is here, full of thousands of deals on the hottest tech, and this year there are even more opportunities than ever to get your hands on these deals and doorbusters before Thanksgiving Day.

Hundreds of deals from the ad – including Apple doorbusters – are available now through Sunday, Nov. 10.

And the savings don’t freeze there. Starting Monday, Nov. 11, Best Buy will kick off Daily Doorbusters, where shoppers can get access to 10 of the ad’s “doorbusters” (the very best deals in the ad) early. Each day between Nov. 11 and Nov. 20, a new doorbuster from the ad will be unveiled. The first Daily Doorbuster, which will go live on Nov. 11 is an LG 55-inch 4K Smart TV with HDR for just $299.99.

Worried about being left out in the cold? Sign up on www.BestBuy.com for daily text alerts to remind you of each doorbuster. 1

(Texts are automated and consent is optional, not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. Get a message for each day you select. Terms and Privacy Policy at www.BestBuy.com/mobilefaqs apply. For help, text HELP to 22891. To opt out, text STOP to 22891. If you opt in again after replying STOP to 22891, you’ll receive the new days you select plus the days you selected in previous opt-ins.)

Some of Best Buy’s Hottest Black Friday Deals – and Available Now! – include:

• Save $350 on 75-inch Samsung 4K UHD Smart TV with HDR (sale price: $749.99)
• Save $70 on 65-inch Samsung 4K UHD Smart TV with HDR (sale price: $479.99)
• Save up to $500 on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro (with qualified activation and Trade-In)
• Save up to $300 on select models of MacBook Pro
• Save up to $300 on Apple Watch Series 4
• Save $200 on latest models of iMac or MacBook Air
• Save $360 on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 with Type Cover (sale price: $599)
• Save $100 on Samsung 11.6-inch Chromebook (sale price: $89)
• Save $250 on Dell 15.6-inch Laptop (sale price: $349.99)
• Save $200 on Dyson Cyclone V10 models (Only available at Best Buy)
• Save $270 on KitchenAid Professional 500 Series Stand Mixer (sale price: $229.99)
• Save $70 on Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Google Assistant (sale price: $279.99)

Stamp with text big holiday sale inside, vector illustration

Even More Black Friday Deals Available On Thanksgiving:

• 58-inch Insignia 4K UHD Smart TV with HDR Fire TV Edition with free Amazon Echo Dot for $199.99 (save $280)
• Save $350 on 70-inch Samsung 4K UHD Smart TV with HDR (sale price: $549.99)
• Save up to $250 on iPad Pro
• Save up to $100 on iPad 10.2”
• Save $400-$500 on the Note 10 Series (with qualified activation)
• 20% off haircare for My Best Buy® members
• Save $80 on Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell (sale price: $149.99)
• Save $1,000 on Hydrow Connected Rower (sale price: $1199)

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Laptop Black Friday Deals (2019)

A Review Of The Best Early Black Friday Laptop Deals For 2019, Featuring The Top Macbook, Surface Pro, Hp Laptop, Gaming Laptop & Chromebook Sales

Searching for the top laptop deals for Black Friday 2019? Deal reviewers at Saver Trends have published their list of the best early Apple, HP, Microsoft & Lenovo laptop deals for 2019. Find their updated list of links to deals below.

Cyber Monday and Black Friday are ideal times to pick up a laptop especially from Amazon and Walmart. For those who prefer MacOS, Apple has super thin laptops with solid specs. HP and Lenovo have the best models for Windows work computers. Microsoft Surface laptops are fine for low-intensity gaming but it’s better to buy an actual gaming laptop instead.

Why do people call it Black Friday? Black Friday is informally named for putting retailers figures ‘into the black’, as the large discounts and high volume of shoppers during this period typically combine into increased sales and profits.

Best Laptop deals:
● Save up to $400 on top-rated gaming laptops at HP.com – experience the convenience of power and portability with HP’s OMEN series featuring an Intel Core processor and discrete graphics

● Save up to 62% off on HP laptops, desktops, monitors and tablets at HP.com – including sales on the top-rated Spectre x360 convertible laptop, Omen gaming series, HP Envy, Pavilion & Chromebooks

● Save up to 61% off on a wide range of laptops at Amazon – find deals on laptops for gaming, school, work, travel or high performance with offers on top-rated brands like Apple, HP, Lenovo, Acer and Microsoft

● Save up to $839 on Apple MacBook, MacBook Air & MacBook Pro laptops at Amazon – check live prices on top-rated 2019 Apple MacBook models

● Save up to $80 on HP Chromebooks at HP.com – Chromebooks include access to 2 years of 100GB storage on Google Drive

● Save up to 36% off on Microsoft Surface computers, laptops and PCs at Amazon – check deals available on top rated models including the Surface Pro 6, Pro 7 and Pro X, the Surface Go, the Surface book 2 and Surface laptop 3

● Save on select Apple, Lenovo, Acer and Microsoft laptops at Walmart.com

● Get 20% off sitewide on Acer laptops at Acer.com – when you use the code NOV20 (valid until 11/6)

● Save up to $500 on select Surface laptops and computers at the Microsoft Store early Black Friday sale – most deals are available on 11/28

Black Friday deals are time sensitive. For thousands more live deals visit the Amazon Black Friday page and Walmart Deal Drop page. Saver Trends earns commissions from purchases made using the links provided.

2016 Black Friday Report: Walmart Delivers Deals, Availability and Simplicity on Black Friday

Walmart issued the following statement on how the company delivered on its Black Friday plans for customers. The retailer also unveiled top products purchased on Black Friday and how customers shopped that day in stores and online.

“This Black Friday, we promised customers great deals, more availability of those items, an integrated offering with Walmart.com and the simple shopping experience our customers have come to expect from Walmart. I am proud to say that we’ve delivered on all fronts,” said Steve Bratspies, Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart U.S. “Our customers were particularly excited about the new technologies we offered this year. In addition to picking up Black Friday favorites like televisions and toys, they flocked to our stores for drones, virtual reality products and hoverboards.”

Happy Walmart customer reacts to receiving a Hatchimal, one of the season’s hottest toys. (Photo: Business Wire)

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fun Facts and Stats:

• The week kicked off with customers visiting stores in the days leading up to Thanksgiving to grocery shop. This Thanksgiving, Walmart sold 150 million pounds of turkey and ham. Throughout the month of November, the retailer also sold more than six pies per second with the most popular pies being pumpkin and the Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie.
• Black Friday is about offering great deals in stores and online. At midnight ET on Thanksgiving Day, customers started shopping on Walmart.com and the Walmart app. Thanksgiving Day was once again one of the top online shopping days of the year.
• Then, at 6 p.m. the retailer kicked off the company’s Black Friday event in stores across the country. Millions of customers went home with the items they wanted. Top sellers included televisions, cookware, video games and systems, drones, toys and pajamas for the whole family.
• More than 70 percent of traffic to Walmart.com during the retailer’s Black Friday event was driven by mobile.
  

  (Image courtesy of Walmart)

  

  (Image courtesy of Walmart)

  

  (Image courtesy of Walmart)

It is not over. Walmart’s Cyber Week began at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 25, and will continue with thousands of online specials every day throughout the week.

“We will continue to focus on offering great prices on great products across the whole store and on Walmart.com for the rest of the holiday season,” Bratspies added.

Three, Two, One…Holiday! Amazon.com Launches Black Friday Deals Store and Curated Holiday Gift Guides

This Holiday Season, Customers Can Enjoy More Deals Than Ever Before On Everything From Hd Tvs To Stylish Kitchen Staples To Some Of The Most Popular Toys Of The Year

To Help Customers Find The Perfect Gift For Everyone On Their Shopping List, Amazon Offers Curated Holiday Gift Guides For Electronics, Home, Handmade, And Other Categories

Alexa, What Are Your Deals? New This Year, Prime Members Can Use Alexa Voice Shopping To Shop For Almost Anything, Including Exclusive Deals For Customers With An Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, Amazon Fire Tv, Or Fire Tablet

Amazon.com has announced the launch of its Black Friday Deals Store and more than a dozen curated holiday gift guides, officially marking the start of the holiday countdown. Customers can enjoy tens of thousands of deals this holiday season on Amazon.com, with new deals as often as every five minutes on everything from HD TVs to stylish kitchen staples to some of the most popular toys of the year. In addition, Amazon offers curated holiday gift guides to help take the guesswork out of shopping for loved ones and make it easier for customers to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list.

“Customers love discovering the best deals on the most sought-after products, and our Black Friday Deals Store and curated Holiday Gift Guides offer them a place to do just that – plus enjoy the most convenient shopping experience with tons of super-fast shipping options,” said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. “This holiday season, we’re offering more deals than ever before and – for the first time ever – giving Prime members an opportunity to use Alexa voice shopping for purchasing their holiday gifts hands-free. They can make purchases simply by asking Alexa-enabled devices, like the new Echo Dot, while relaxing at home with family and friends.”

Black Friday Deals Store

Available at www.amazon.com/blackfriday, the Black Friday Deals Store is the leading deals destination for customers with tens of thousands of deals, and new deals as often as every five minutes, now through December 22. Customers can enjoy more deals than ever before this holiday season, including low prices on top gifts such as electronics, toys, clothing, jewelry, kitchen items, and more. In fact, Amazon is offering up to 20 compelling Deals of the Day in a single day. Some examples of the great deals Amazon customers can take advantage of this holiday season include: $20 off the Kindle Paperwhite, savings on an LG 55” 1080p Curved Smart OLED TV, and up to 40% off select Magformers toys.

Electronics Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/electronicsgiftguide, the 2016 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide features more than 500 of this year’s hottest technology products all in one convenient location. Enthusiasts can explore new releases such as 360-degree cameras and buzz-worthy gifts like virtual reality headsets and 3D printers. The Electronics Gift Guide also features innovations from up-and-coming startups in the Amazon Launchpad program. Customers can browse more than 10 categories, including smart home, home entertainment, music, wearables, photography, gaming, gadgets and gizmos, and more. The Electronics Gift Guide also includes expert reviews and product demonstration videos to help customers find the perfect gift. And shoppers looking for budget-friendly gift ideas can find top gifts under $100.

Home Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/homegiftguide, the 2016 Amazon Home Gift Guide is a curated list of more than a thousand of this season’s must-have products for the home. Filled with gift ideas for indoors and outdoors, customers can easily discover presents for everyone on their list, including cooks, bakers, home decorators, arts and crafters, smart home tech lovers, pets, backyard enthusiasts, kids and more, curated by experts in the industry such as Smitten Kitchen and Design*Sponge. Holiday decorators and party planners will find everything they need to set a festive scene at home. Customers can also shop the latest trends in the Home Gift Guide, including copper appliances, rose gold cutlery, and handmade ceramics, as well as browse products that are new this holiday season, including the KitchenAid Mini, NEST Fragrances Classic Candle (Hearth), Petcube Play Wi-Fi Pet Camera, and Bissell 1650A Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum.

Handmade at Amazon Holiday Gift Guide

Available at www.amazon.com/handmade, the Handmade at Amazon Holiday Gift Guide offers customers curated lists of genuinely handcrafted items sold directly by artisans. Featuring products for her, for him, and for kids, as well as handcrafted stocking stuffers for friends and family, the Gift Guide makes finding the perfect holiday present easier than ever. Heading into this holiday season, Amazon customers visiting the Handmade at Amazon store will see hundreds of thousands more handcrafted items, thousands of which are eligible for Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime. For shoppers looking for a personal touch, over half of the items listed on Handmade have options for customer personalization. With handcrafted items in categories from toys and games, to home décor, handbags and accessories and kitchen and dining, Handmade at Amazon is a one-stop-shop for artisan-crafted gifts this holiday season.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Find the Joy of Giving This Holiday Season With Magnificent Gifts From Macy’s

From Fashion And Tech To Home Goods And Stocking Stuffers, Macy’s Wide Assortment Makes Holiday Shopping A Breeze.

Plus Extra Help Is Always Available From The Gift Specialists At My Stylist@Macy’s

The holiday season is a celebration of happiness that brings loved ones together, and Macy’s has the perfect gifts to make family, friends, and all those near-and-dear feel special. Whether it’s the runway show-obsessed fashionista, the diehard athlete, the tech fanatic, or the master chef, Macy’s has an abundance of items at every price point sure to warm the hearts of those who mean the most.

“No [other] time of [the] year inspires the sentiments of love, caring and generosity quite like the holiday season,” said Kathy Hilt, Senior Vice President of My Stylist@Macy’s. “This year, we’ve truly topped ourselves with the most unique assortment of gifts for every person on your list. Plus, if you need a little help, Macy’s dedicated gift specialists at My Stylist@Macy’s make picking the perfect present easier than ever.”

The Gift of Style

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com; I.N.C. International Concepts Slippers, $39.50. (Photo: Business Wire)

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With a roster of top brands and celebrated designers, Macy’s is the ultimate destination for items to elevate that special someone’s wardrobe this holiday season. For her, handbags, shoes, jewelry and always-on-trend athleisure items will inspire pure joy. Jewel-embellished slip-ons from MICHAEL Michael Kors are chic, sporty and rendered in luxe velvet, applying the must-have fabric of the season in a unique and unexpected way. A signature Mickey Mouse wristlet in a bright hue from Coach is whimsical, practical and stylish, while a funnel neck hoodie and tights from Nike, or Calvin Klein Performance logo joggers and sweaters can take her from yoga to brunch with flair. Give her the gift of both comfort and glamour with a pair of fabulous faux fur-trimmed glitter moccasins from I.N.C. International Concepts.

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com; Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallets, $48 each. (Photo: Business Wire)

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For him, a velvet sport coat from Alfani immediately adds panache to any look. Pair the coat with bar III slim trousers and a tie for a more formal approach, or layer with jeans and loafers or boots for a look that is relaxed, yet polished and urbane. Polarized aviators from Ray-Ban are a classic, but undeniably sleek and stylish way to protect his eyes from the sun, and a zipper slim billfold wallet from Kenneth Cole Reaction is an excellent way to update a staple he uses every day.

Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season at Macy’s stores and on macys.com: YSL mon paris parfum spray, $122

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Beauty and grooming are the finishing touches, and Macy’s has a wide array of fabulous products that are sure to delight. The Impulse Beauty artistry palette and 9-piece brush set allows her to experiment with countless looks in an awe-inspiring number of colors and shades. For him, Kiehl’s 4-piece Hydration Hits set gives the oft-coveted gift of smooth and healthy skin.

“Sword Art Online The Movie – Ordinal Scale” Coming to Movie Theaters in Spring of 2017 for Nationwide First-run Release

“Sword Art Online The Movie – Ordinal Scale” Key Visual

Sword Art Online, the mega anime hit that has sold 16.7 million copies worldwide, will come back as an animated feature with a brand new original story by author, Reki Kawahara. Based on the wildly popular light novels published in Kadokawa’s Dengeki Bunko, Sword Art Online The Movie – Ordinal Scale is set to be released nationwide in spring of 2017. Since the first volume of the novel was published in April 2009, the series has proved extremely popular, spawning two TV anime adaptations, video games, comic books, and merchandise.

Preview still Image from “Sword Art Online The Movie – Ordinal Scale” Coming to Movie Theaters in Spring of 2017

The series takes place in the near-future and focuses on various virtual reality MMORPG worlds. In 2022, a Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online (SAO) is released. With the NerveGear, a helmet that stimulates the user’s five senses via their brain, players can experience and control their in-game characters with their minds. On November 6, 10,000 players log into the SAO’s mainframe cyberspace for the first time and discover that they are unable to log-out. They quickly discover from Akihiko Kayaba, the creator of SAO and NerveGear, they must reach the 100th floor of the game’s castle and defeat the final boss if they wish to be free. Those who suffer in-game destruction or remove the NerveGear out-of-game will result in their real-life deaths.

One of the players, Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya, is one of the 1,000 beta testers in the game’s previous closed beta. With the advantage of previous VR gaming experience and a drive to protect other beta testers from discrimination he isolates himself from the greater group and plays the game alone, bearing the mantle of “beater”, or “beta cheater”. As the players progress through the game Kirito eventually befriends a young girl named Asuna Yūki, forming a relationship with and later marrying her in-game. After the duo discover the identity of Kayaba’s program Heathcliff in SAO, who was discovered to be the leader of the guild Asuna joined in, they confront and destroy him, freeing themselves and the other players from the game.

In the real world, Kirito discovers that 300 SAO players, including Asuna, remain trapped in their NerveGear. Several months later, he is informed by Agil, another SAO survivor, that a figure similar to Asuna was spotted on a giant tree (known as “The World Tree”) in another VRMMORPG cyberspace called Alfheim Online (ALO). Assisted in-game by his cousin Suguha “Leafa” Kirigaya and Yui, a navigation pixie, he quickly learns that the trapped players in ALO are part of an evil plan conceived by Nobuyuki Sugō to perform illegal experiments on their minds. The ultimate goal is to perfect mind-control for financial gain and to subjugate Asuna, whom he intends to marry in the real world, to assume control of her family’s corporation. Kirito eventually stops the experiment and rescues the remaining 300 SAO players, foiling Sugō’s plans. Before leaving ALO to see Asuna, Kayaba, who has uploaded his mind to the Internet using an experimental and destructively high-power version of NerveGear at the cost of his life, entrusts Kirito with The Seed – a package program designed to create virtual worlds. Kirito eventually reunites with Asuna in the real world and The Seed is released onto the Internet, reviving the VRMMO industry.

Soon after, at the prompting of a government official investigating strange occurrences in VR, Kirito takes on a job to investigate a series of murders involving another VRMMORPG called Gun Gale Online (GGO), the AmuSphere (the successor of the NerveGear), and a player called Death Gun. Aided by a female player named Shino “Sinon” Asada, he participates in a gunfight tournament called the Bullet of Bullets (BoB) and discovers the truth behind the murders, which originated with a player who participated in player-killing in SAO. Through his and Sinon’s efforts, two suspects are captured, though the third suspect, Johnny Black, escapes.

Kirito is later recruited to assist in testing an experimental FullDive machine, Soul Translator (STL), which has an interface that is far more realistic and complex than the previous machine he had played to help develop an artificial intelligence for the Ministry of Defense (MOD) named A.L.I.C.E. He tests the STL by entering a Virtual Reality cyberspace created with The Seed package, named UnderWorld (UW). In the UW, the flow of time proceeds a thousand times faster than in the real world, and Kirito’s memories of what happens inside are restricted. However, Black critically injures Kirito with suxamethonium chloride but the MOD recovers Kirito and places him back into the STL to preserve his mind while attempts are made to save him.

More than Two Dozen Policymakers, Regulators To Speak at CES 2016

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™, formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, announced that 27 international, federal, state and local government officials will speak at CES 2016®. Among the policymakers delivering remarks or speaking on panels: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta, every member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Michelle Lee, Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Mark Warner (D-VA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and France’s Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, Emmanuel Macron. In total, more than 160 top policymakers, regulators and staff are expected to attend. Owned and produced by CTA, CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology.

“CES has become a must-attend event for government officials who sit at the intersection of public policy and  technology,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association. “CES is the ideal gathering place for policymakers and regulators to engage with the tech companies and entrepreneurs driving innovation and the global economy. As an industry, the tech sector understands the importance of showing government officials how emerging and disruptive technologies are improving our world and changing the way we live and work. And we understand the need to explain that pro-innovation policies allow for the next generation of tech breakthroughs.”

A full listing of all government officials speaking at CES 2016 conference sessions follows:

Tuesday, January 5

Hyperdata and the Mobile Future
Peter Marx, CTO, City of Los Angeles

Roadmap to FDA Approval: What You Need to Know

Bakul Patel, associate director for digital health, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA

Wednesday, January 6

FAA Press Conference featuring CTA, 3D Robotics, DJI and Google

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta

SuperSession: Insights with the FTC and FCC 

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler

SuperSession: An Inside Look: Industry Innovators and Government Join Forces

Tom Kalil, deputy director for policy, White House OSTP

U.S. CTO Megan Smith, White House OSTP

Internet of Things: Myriad Benefits and New Challenges 

U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV)

Alan Davidson, director of digital economy and senior advisor to the secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce

FTC Commissioner Julie Brill

Germany’s State Secretary for Justice and Consumer Protection Gerd Billen

When Bad Things Happen to Good Companies

Ann Barron Di Camillo, director of US-CERT, Department of Homeland Security
2016 Preview: FTC and FCC Commissioner Roundtable 

FTC Commissioner Julie Brill

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny

FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel

Cyber Security Starts at the Top

Suzanne Spaulding, under secretary, Department of Homeland Security

Thursday, January 7

Beyond Smart Cities: The Future of Urban Mobility 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx

Innovating Privacy: New Frameworks for Changing Technology

FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen

SuperSession: Global Innovation

France’s Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, Emmanuel Macron

U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

Rules for Drones: Best Policies and Practices

Marke “Hoot” Gibson, senior advisor, UAS Integration, FAA

Managing Low-Altitude Airspace for Safety and Privacy

Parimal Kopardekar, Ph.D., principal investigator, Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management (UTM), NASA Ames Research Center

LIT Reception and Dinner

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval

Friday, January 8

What’s Next for Patents? Promoting Innovation and Preventing Abuse

U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) 

Michelle Lee, Under Secretary, U.S. PTO

CES 2016: A Star-Studded Show

Celebrity Guests To Promote Latest Innovations And Trends At Global Stage For Innovation

CES® 2016 will feature Hollywood stars, professional athletes, TV personalities and celebrity chefs discussing and promoting technology that is revolutionizing the way consumers live, work and play. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ – formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® – CES 2016 is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, and will run January 6-9, 2016, in Las Vegas, NV.

YouTube vloggers turned entrepreneurial powerhouses, Justine Ezarik, aka iJustine, and Joey Graceffa, will serve as Ambassadors for the Entertainment Matters Program at CES. Presented by Variety, Entertainment Matters is the CES program designed to help the Hollywood community navigate the most influential technology show in the world.

TV/ radio host, producer and entrepreneur Ryan Seacrest will participate in a headliner conversation with Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia during the Entertainment Summit, presented by Variety, on Thursday, January 7, from 2:15-2:45 PM in the LVCC, North Hall, Room N258.

The C Space Storyteller conference track features actor, entrepreneur and radio/ TV personality Nick Cannon and celebrity Chef Morimoto. Morimoto will share his story on Tuesday, January 5, from 2:45-3:15 PM, while Cannon returns to CES on Wednesday, January 6 from 4-4:30 PM to reveal how digital media has influenced his brand and enabled career-changing opportunities. Both events will take place in ARIA, Level 1, Pinyon 5.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and studio analyst for Turner Sports Shaquille O’Neal, will participate in the Tech Investing in Sports conference as part of the Sports Business Forum, presented by Turner Sports. The session will be moderated by CNN news anchor Brooke Baldwin on Thursday, January 7, from 11:30 AM-12:10 PM in Venetian, Level 2, Hall D. O’Neal will also participate in the NBA on TNT Live Broadcast with host Ernie Johnson, and fellow analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. The broadcast will take place on Thursday, January 7, from 4-5 PM in Venetian, Level 2, Hall D and is open to all CES attendees.
 
The Sports Business Forum also will host The Commissioner’s Panel on Sports and Technology. Robert Manfred, commissioner of the MLB, and Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, will participate in a discussion moderated by Turner Sports studio host Ernie Johnson on Thursday, January 7, from 9-9:40 AM in Venetian, Level 2, Hall D.

Under Armour will host a plethora of athletes and Olympians at their booth (Sands, Hall C, #74316) including: Tony Romo, Michael Phelps, Buster Posey, Cal Ripken Jr., Georges St-Pierre, Deion Sanders, Nastia Liukin, Jake Dalton and Brandon Wynn.

The founder of The Chopra Foundation, Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D., will participate in Harnessing the Power: Precision Medicine and Genomics, part of the Digital Health Summit, presented by Living in Digital Times. The session runs Thursday, January 7, from 1:45-2:45 in Venetian, Level 4, Lando 4303.

ABC’s Shark Tank and CEO, FUBU and Shark Branding Daymond John is among the panelists in the Making Disney Magic: Connecting Digital and Physical Worlds SuperSession, presented by the Consumer Technology Association, on Thursday, January 7, from 1-2 PM in LVCC, North Hall, Room N257.

Actress and singer Christina Milian will be at Monster’s booth (LVCC, Central Hall, #9405) on Friday, January 8, from 12-3 PM to discuss her relationship with Monster and her latest endeavors.
 
Retired NBA players Larry Johnson and Larry Nance, and retired Vincentian-American NBA player Adonal Foyle will all make appearances at ZTE’s booth (LVCC, South Hall 3, #31706) between Wednesday, January 6 and Friday, January 8.  The NBA National Championship trophy will also be on display at ZTE’s booth all day Thursday, January 7.

Celebrity magician Penn Jillette is partnering with Withings to discuss his recent weight loss – not with any of his famed magic tricks but with a strict diet, exercise and use of several smart, connected devices from Withings. Jillette will reveal his secrets at Withings’ booth (Sands, Hall C, #74300) on Thursday, January 7, at 11 AM.

Hell’s Kitchen Season 10 finalist Chef Dana Cohen will present a cooking demonstration at Haier America’s booth(LVCC, Central Hall, #12814) every hour from 10 AM-4 PM Wednesday, January 6–Friday, January 8.

NFL legend and FitStar personal trainer Tony Gonzalez will be at FitBit’s booth (Sands, Halls C, #74108) for photo opportunities on Wednesday, January 6 from 1:30-2:30 PM.

Actress, best-selling author and activist Jenny McCarthy will conduct a live broadcast of her Sirius XM show followed by an autograph session at FCA’s Uconnect booth (LVCC, North Hall, #3534) on Thursday, January 7, from 1-3:30 PM.
 

CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for almost 50 years—the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. And because it is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM – formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® – the technology trade association representing the $285 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, it attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industry’s most relevant issues are addressed.

Meet the 2015 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellows

(All Portrait Images courtesy of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today announced the Class of 2015 MacArthur Fellows and it’s a list rich with diversity and achievement. The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. There are three criteria for selection of Fellows: exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.

The MacArthur Fellows Program is intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations. In keeping with this purpose, the Foundation awards fellowships directly to individuals rather than through institutions. Recipients may be writers, scientists, artists, social scientists, humanists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or those in other fields, with or without institutional affiliations. They may use their fellowship to advance their expertise, engage in bold new work, or, if they wish, to change fields or alter the direction of their careers.

Although nominees are reviewed for their achievements, the fellowship is not a reward for past accomplishment, but rather an investment in a person’s originality, insight, and potential. Indeed, the purpose of the MacArthur Fellows Program is to enable recipients to exercise their own creative instincts for the benefit of human society.

The Foundation does not require or expect specific products or reports from MacArthur Fellows, and does not evaluate recipients’ creativity during the term of the fellowship. The MacArthur Fellowship is a “no strings attached” award in support of people, not projects. Each fellowship comes with a stipend of $625,000 to the recipient, paid out in equal quarterly installments over five years.

How Fellows are Chosen

Each year, the MacArthur Fellows Program invites new nominators on the basis of their expertise, accomplishments, and breadth of experience. They are encouraged to nominate the most creative people they know within their field and beyond. Nominators are chosen from as broad a range of fields and areas of interest as possible. At any given time, there are usually more than one hundred active nominators.

Nominations are evaluated by an independent Selection Committee composed of about a dozen leaders in the arts, sciences, humanities professions, and for-profit and nonprofit communities. Each nomination is considered with respect to the program’s selection criteria, based on the nomination letter along with original works of the nominee and evaluations from other experts collected by the program staff.

After a thorough, multi-step review, the Selection Committee makes its recommendations to the President and board of directors of the MacArthur Foundation. Announcement of the annual list is usually made in September. While there are no quotas or limits, typically 20 to 30 Fellows are selected each year. Between June of 1981 and September of 2013, 897 Fellows have been named.

Nominators, evaluators, and selectors all serve anonymously and their correspondence is kept confidential. This policy enables participants to provide their honest impressions independent of outside influence. The Fellows Program does not accept applications or unsolicited nominations.

Eligibility

There are no restrictions on becoming a Fellow, except that nominees must be either residents or citizens of the United States.

“These 24 delightfully diverse MacArthur Fellows are shedding light and making progress on critical issues, pushing the boundaries of their fields, and improving our world in imaginative, unexpected ways,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. “Their work, their commitment, and their creativity inspire us all.”

And the 2015 MacArthur Fellows are:

CEO of the Ashesi University College Patrick Awuah. On the day of September 17th 2015 at Brekuso in the Eastern Region of Ghana. (Credit: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. )

Patrick Awuah, Education Entrepreneur, Founder and President

Ashesi University College, Accra, Ghana

Age: 50

www.macfound.org/fellows/929/

Patrick Awuah is an educator and entrepreneur building a new model for higher education in Ghana. Ashesi University, which Awuah founded in 2002, is a four-year private institution that offers a core curriculum grounded in liberal arts, ethical principles, and skills for contemporary African needs and opportunities. Awuah, a native of Ghana, was educated at American universities and began a successful career as a Microsoft engineer, but a vision for better higher education in Ghana drew him home. He saw a stark contrast between his college experience, which stressed critical thinking and problem solving, and the rote learning common in Ghana’s educational system. He was also convinced that a focus on ethical leadership in the next generation of Ghana’s leaders was the best means for combating pervasive corruption.

Students at Ashesi choose among degree programs in business management, computer science, management information systems, and engineering. All students participate in a four-year leadership seminar on ethics, collaboration, and entrepreneurship that concludes with a service-learning component. Fostering ethical leadership is central to the university’s ethos, and in 2008, students established an honor code holding themselves responsible for ethical behavior, the first of its kind in African universities. In addition, Awuah places an emphasis on ethnic, economic, and gender diversity in the Ashesi community, and the recently opened school of engineering will focus on gender parity in its admissions.

In a little over a decade, Ashesi is already firmly established as one of Ghana’s premier universities. Every one of its graduates has found quality employment, and almost all remain in Africa, where many have started much-needed information technology businesses. Awuah’s innovation in higher education is not only empowering individual students; it also has the potential to transform political and civil society in Ghana and other African nations by developing a new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

Patrick Awuah received B.S. and B.A. degrees (1989) from Swarthmore College and an M.B.A. (1999) from the University of California at Berkeley. He was an engineer and program manager at Microsoft (1989­–1997) prior to founding Ashesi University in 2002 in Accra, Ghana. In addition to serving as president of Ashesi, he is also a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

Kartik Chandran Associate Professor, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, New York,NY. Photographed at Columbia University and by the Hudson river. on September 19, 2015 in New York, NY.

Kartik Chandran, Environmental Engineer

Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering

Columbia University, New York, New York

Age: 41

www.macfound.org/fellows/930/

Kartik Chandran is an environmental engineer integrating microbial ecology, molecular biology, and engineering to transform wastewater from a troublesome pollutant to a valuable resource. Traditional facilities for biologically treating wastewater remove pathogens, organic carbon, and nutrients (where necessary) through decades-old technology that requires vast amounts of energy and resources, releases harmful gases into the atmosphere, and leaves behind material that must be discarded. Chandran approaches wastewater treatment with the goal of producing useful resources such as fertilizers, chemicals, and energy sources, in addition to clean water, in a way that takes into account the climate, energy, and nutrient challenges we face today.

VTech’s InnoTab® MAX Gives Kids an Edge in Learning as They Head Back to School

Award-Winning Tablet Offers Best of Both Learning Worlds, Combining VTech®’s Extensive Expert-Supported Library with Android Learning Content

As kids head back to school and the focus naturally shifts from summer fun to education, parents are looking for ways to help their children succeed and give them a learning advantage. VTech®, a pioneer in children’s learning tablets, offers a powerful and versatile 7″ tablet that can supplement children’s learning: its award-winning InnoTab® MAX (Ages 3-9 years, $99.99).

The InnoTab MAX features a powerful dual-core CPU with up to six times the processing power of previous generations, High resolution 7″ multi-touch screen, a built-in rechargeable Lithium battery and VTech Kid Connect, which allows children and parents to exchange voice and text messages, photos, drawings and fun stickers in real time between the tablet and a smartphone. Additional features include apps such as My Magic Beanstalk, Movie Maker, Art Studio and Wonder Cam MAX; a huge existing library of age-appropriate apps plus hand-picked Android learning games, progressive learning content that adapts to a child’s skill level, Kid-safe Wi-Fi and Web Browser so kids can explore online games, videos, and websites that have been pre-selected by Vtech, Parental Controls which allow parents to manage their child’s apps, web access and tablet time and a progress log so parents can follow their child’s learning development.

“InnoTab MAX exceeds the expectations parents have when selecting a learning tablet for their child,” said William To, President, VTech Electronics North America. “Our research shows that parents look for a tablet that is durable and can meet their child’s needs for several years, as well as offer a variety of educational software and apps at the best value, and InnoTab MAX delivers all these features and more.“

Because VTech knows parents also value educational content to complement classroom learning, consumers will receive a free educational bundle containing 8 apps, along with one free Toca Boca app, after they register their tablet on the Learning Lodge® app store. Parents can choose a bundle that focuses on a single subject area such as Language Arts or choose a bundle that covers a variety of skills appropriate for their child’s grade level.

Consumers also have access to more than 850 educator-supported VTech and Android apps, including hand-picked Android learning games and age-appropriate learning software and content through the Learning Lodge. The apps, featuring a well-rounded curriculum of language arts and reading, math, science, social studies, problem solving and creativity, have been reviewed by VTech’s Expert Panel, made up of top educators from key knowledge areas, so parents know their child is getting learning content that is kid-friendly and educator-approved.

National Geographic Studios Presents ‘ROBOTS 3D’ Narrated by Simon Pegg as ‘RoboThespian’

New Giant Screen Film Looks at World’s Most Awe-Inspiring Humanoid Robots

There are millions of astonishing robots in existence — and innovators at the forefront of the robot revolution are taking robotics to the next level with the new generation of these awe-inspiring machines: humanoid robots that can work like us, play like us, learn and even look like us. This summer, a new giant screen film experience from National Geographic Studios will give audiences an inside look at how hard it is to mimic what we humans can do as well as what it means to be a humanoid. ROBOTS 3D (a 40-minute large-format film that explores the latest in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, humanoid cognition and human-robot interaction as well as exciting developments in cloud robotics) premieres in giant screen, IMAX® and digital 3D cinemas around the United States and worldwide beginning June 5, 2015.

ROBOTS 3D gives audiences a fascinating and exciting look at what makes us human, how far machines must go to look and act like us and how humanoids are already changing our world. Addressing technological and philosophical questions with clarity and humor, the film provides a glimpse into a future in which man and machine forge an increasingly sophisticated relationship.

In ROBOTS 3D, host and narrator RoboThespian — an android voiced by actor, comedian and filmmaker Simon Pegg (“Star Trek”; “Shaun of the Dead”) — takes audiences on a lively tour of the world to meet a dozen of the most remarkable robots in Europe, Japan and the United States. From Robonaut, the first space robot handyman, to robot butlers and home-helper humanoids to eerily human-looking androids to search-and-rescue robots, the film showcases the latest cutting-edge efforts — as well as the challenges — driving roboticists, engineers and scientists around the globe to new breakthroughs.

With RoboThespian as a guide, the film highlights the featured aptitudes of each robot. Among the humanoids that ROBOTS 3D introduces to audiences are:

• “HRP-2”: Designed to study locomotion, this bipedal bot can crawl and walk.
• “ASIMO”: Honda’s famed humanoid can jump and run up to 5 mph.
• “ATLAS”: This 6-foot, 330-pound, search-and-rescue robot navigates rough terrain.
• “COMAN”: Just try to knock down this small headless wonder with the flexible joints.
• “HERB THE BUTLER”: Thanks to this helper, we may never have to clear the table or do dishes again.
• “ROBONAUT”: NASA’s space handyman helps astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
• “CHIMP”: This humanoid “sees” by using laser light and sending out pulses that bounce back, like a bat uses echolocation.
• “JUSTIN”: You will definitely want this robot on your team. It has a 90 percent accuracy rate for catching balls.
• “iCUB”: This adorable robot is designed to look like a child and to learn like one.
• “PR-2”: This robot could tie shoes and fold laundry because of its ability to recognize shapes and manipulate soft and flexible materials.
• ANDROIDS: The human face has over 40 muscles to express emotions like fear, anger, surprise, happiness — and these androids seem capable of these emotions, too.
• “NAO”: This small humanoid used for education is a huge favorite with kids everywhere.

Directed by Mike Slee (“Flight of the Butterflies”; “Bugs!”) and produced by Jini Dürr (“Mysteries of the Unseen World”; “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure”), ROBOTS 3D provides rare access to labs where researchers are putting robots through their paces, striving to replicate human capabilities such as mobility, locomotion and dexterity, using sensory data and visual perception. Getting a machine to move or think like a human, or to sense, plan and act, is no easy feat. Given the complexities and capabilities of the human brain, hands, feet and face alone — not to mention the number of muscles and joints — robot researchers have their work cut out for them in developing humanoids that won’t just achieve human potential, but could one day surpass it.

“This film will really open people’s eyes and make them think about how amazing these machines are, how amazing human beings are and how complicated it is to make a machine that can do what we do,” said Slee.

“ROBOTS 3D not only gives remarkable insight into what is currently going on in
robotics labs around the world and the extraordinary leaps that have been made in the field, but also highlights the complexities of human ability,” added Dürr.

“ROBOTS 3D will captivate on every level,” said Brooke Runnette, president of National Geographic Studios. “Dazzling visuals and a tremendously entertaining story filled with real scientific adventure and technological innovation are all wrapped up in the eye-popping giant screen package.”

ROBOTS 3D also travels to the DARPA Robotics Challenge, the intense two-day competition to test how robots might deal with disasters, staged by the U.S. government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as a response to Japan’s 2011 Fukushima earthquake. The competition tested rival all-purpose rescue robots’ abilities to perform tasks such as driving, walking on rough terrain, clearing debris, opening doors, using a power tool and turning a safety valve, all during catastrophic conditions.

An original production from Day’s End Pictures for National Geographic Studios, ROBOTS 3D was produced in partnership with Lockheed Martin. Symantec is an educational outreach partner, while the National 4-H Council and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are promotional partners for the film. Executive producers are Brooke Runnette and Lisa Truitt. Sean MacLeod Phillips is director of photography.

The National Geographic Studios is the video and film production division of the National Geographic Society, a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. From television series and specials to giant screen, from mobile video to digital news and educational content, National Geographic Studios’ productions embody the Society’s long-standing reputation for stunning visuals and captivating storytelling and has received nearly 150 Emmy Awards and almost 1,000 other industry accolades, including recognition from the Peabody Awards, DuPont Columbia Awards, multiple film and museum industry awards and the highest honors from natural history film festivals. National Geographic Studios also produces and distributes giant screen and digital 3D films for the museum cinema industry.

For more information on ROBOTS 3D, including theater listings, links to the trailer and behind-the-scenes videos, visit robotsfilm.com or movies.nationalgeographic.com.

THE ACADEMY LAUNCHES “ACES” AS GLOBAL DIGITAL PRODUCTION AND ARCHIVING STANDARD

Color management and image interchange system targets production, mastering and long-term archiving of motion pictures. ACES Logo Program encourages industry-wide adoption.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the launch of the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), a free, open, device-independent color management and image interchange system that offers a critically needed global industry standard for motion picture and television production.

From image capture through editing, VFX, mastering, public presentation, archiving and future remastering, ACES enables a consistent color experience that preserves the filmmaker’s creative vision.  It addresses and solves a number of significant production, post-production and archiving problems that have arisen with the increasing variety of digital cameras and formats in use, along with the surge in the number of productions that rely on worldwide collaboration using shared digital image files.

ACES Logo. Image courtesy of the Academy

 

“A decade ago, the Academy recognized the need for a new set of infrastructure standards as the industry moved from film to digital,” said Richard Edlund, Academy governor and founding member of the Academy’s Science and Technology Council.  “We made a deep commitment to the effort – coordinating hundreds of top industry scientists, engineers and filmmakers on years of research, testing and field trials – so we’re both proud and excited to launch ACES 1.0 as the first production-ready release of the system.”

The Academy is simultaneously launching the ACES Logo Program to encourage consistent, high-quality implementations of ACES concepts and technical specifications throughout the industry.  Initially focused on production and post-production equipment such as cameras, color correctors, displays and visual effects and animation software, the Logo Program is the first step toward enabling facilities and productions to take full advantage of ACES benefits.  There are 22 leading companies already in the Logo Program: ARRI, Assimilate, Autodesk, Canon U.S.A., Codex, Colorfront, Deluxe Media Creative Services, Digital Vision, Dolby Laboratories, FilmLight, FotoKem, The Foundry, FUJIFILM North America, Light Illusion, MTI Film, Panasonic, Pomfort, Quantel, RED Digital Cinema, SGO, Shotgun Digital and Sony Electronics.

ACES has been used on scores of film and television productions to date, including such features as “Chappie,” “The Lego Movie,” “Big Eyes,” “Elysium,” “Oblivion” and “Chasing Mavericks.”

As part of the ACES launch, the Academy will be exhibiting at the 2015 NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show, April 13–16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in booth C9132.  The Academy also will make two ACES presentations: the first as part of the Technology Summit on Cinema, and the second in conjunction with NAB’s Creative Master Series.  Science and Technology Council Managing Director Andy Maltz will make the Summit presentation “The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES): A Digital Production Infrastructure Standard,” covering the science, engineering and practical application of ACES, on Saturday, April 11, at 4:15 p.m.  The panel session “Coming to You Live: ACES 1.0,” with top industry professionals discussing how ACES helped them successfully manage complex cinematography, visual effects and color correction issues on a variety of motion picture and television projects, will take place on Tuesday, April 14, at 3 p.m. For more information about ACES or the ACES Logo Program, visit Oscars.org/ACES.

2015 CES Mobile Keynote To Feature Top Executives from Electrolux, General Motors, Philips and Qualcomm

Startups Set To Shift to the Next Gear at 2015 International CES

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) ^® announced that executives from Electrolux, General Motors, Philips and Qualcomm will take part in a panel discussion regarding How Mobile is Fundamentally Changing Our World at the 2015 International CES®. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2015 CES, the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, will run January 6-9, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2015 CES will feature more than 3,500 exhibitors unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across the entire ecosystem of consumer technologies.

The mobile keynote panel — scheduled for 1 PM Tuesday, January 6 in the Westgate  (formerly Las Vegas Hilton) Theater — will feature top executives including Jan Brockmann, CTO and SVP, Electrolux, Phil Abram, Chief Infotainment Officer, General Motors, Jeroen Tas, CEO, Healthcare Informatics, Solutions and Services, Philips and Steve Mollenkopf, CEO, Qualcomm Inc. The panel discussion, moderated by CNBC’s co-host of “Squawk Alley” Jon Fortt, will explore how mobile will fundamentally change our definitions of categories like smart home, wearables, automotive and healthcare. The panel will also examine how innovators like Qualcomm, GM, Philips and Electrolux are at the forefront of these disruptive changes.

“Wireless and mobile devices are changing how we live, play and work as global ownership and usage of smartphones and tablets continues to grow,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “We are thrilled to have these top leaders with us to discuss how mobile is disrupting and changing the way we live our lives.”

Jan Brockmann, CTO and SVP, Electrolux. Brockmann is responsible for product related functions including research and development, design and sustainability. With more than 3,000 people at R&D and design centers worldwide, the organization is spearheading innovation in areas like modularization, energy efficiency and connectivity. Brockmann previously held a number of senior management positions within the Volkswagen Group from 2001-2010. He then joined Electrolux as Head of R&D Major Appliances, and was appointed Group Chief Technology Officer in 2011. His earlier career includes management positions within Valeo Group, 1994–1999, and a position as Project Manager in Roland Berger Strategy Consultants GmbH, 2000–2001.

Phil Abram, Chief Infotainment Officer, General Motors. Abram is responsible for setting and implementing a global infotainment strategy for Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, OnStar, Opel, Vauxhaul and Holden. Abram joined GM in January 2012, after serving as president and chief operating officer for Sonos, Inc., a wireless music system for homes. At Sonos, Abram headed up product management, worldwide sales and marketing, inventory, logistics and sales operations. From 1996 to 2007, Abram held a number of positions in business development, product management and engineering.  From 2005 to 2007, he was vice president and senior general manager, marketing for Sony Electronics, responsible for Sony’s television business in the US. Prior to that, he held a number of positions at Sharp Electronics and Eastman Kodak.

Jeroen Tas, CEO, Healthcare Informatics, Solutions and Services, Philips. Jeroen Tas has over 30 years of global experience as an entrepreneur and senior executive in information technology. Previously he was the Group CIO of Royal Philips, leading IT worldwide to become a fundamental enabler of growth for Philips as a real-time, connected company through internet enabled services like the recently announced HealthSuite digital platform and device cloud services for third parties. He co-founded and served as President, COO and vice-chairman of the Board for MphasiS, an IT and Business Processing Outsourcing company. In the mid-nineties he led Citibank’s Tech Lab, Transaction technology Inc.

Steve Mollenkopf, CEO, Qualcomm Inc. Mollenkopf began his career at Qualcomm as an engineer and for more than 20 years, has helped define and implement Qualcomm’s strategy and technologies. He also serves on the company’s board of directors. Mollenkopf has held a variety of leadership positions including President & COO and President of QCT. As the leader of the Company’s chipset business, Mollenkopf launched the Companies 4G/LTE systems; and drove Qualcomm’s technology leadership position in smartphones.

Jon Fortt, Co-host, Squawk Alley, CNBC.  Fortt is co-host of CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” and an on-air editor based at CNBC’s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC’s Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry. He also contributes to CNBC.com.

This keynote panel is part of the 2015 International CES keynote lineup. Other keynoters will include CBS Corp. president and CEO, Leslie Moonves, Ford Motor Co. president and CEO Mark Fields, Samsung Electronics’ president and CEO, Boo-Keun Yoon, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche and Intel CEO, Brian Krzanich. Additional details are available at CESweb.org/Keynotes.

The 2015 International CES^® will also spotlight startup entrepreneurs and innovation across the technology spectrum in an expanded Eureka Park Marketplace at CES Tech West. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® today also announced new areas and events at CES dedicated to the startup community, including the Startup Stage. Owned and produced by the CEA, the 2015 CES will run January 6-9, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

An anchor for the startup community at CES, the 2015 Eureka Park Marketplace will feature more than 375 exhibitors, 59 percent more than the 2014 CES. Presented by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and UP Global, Eureka Park provides a platform for new companies to introduce their innovations to venture capitalists, media and buyers. Eureka Park also features concentrated exhibits from startups originating in France and Israel, as well as exclusive exhibits from Indiegogo and TechCrunch’s Hardware Battlefield finalists.

“CES is becoming known as the key event for innovative startups to increase their exposure and become successful,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA.” No other event provides the breadth and depth of exposure to potential customers, investors and media as CES. The growth of Eureka Park is testament to the fact that CES is the ultimate providing ground for companies of all sizes and the place to network and expand your business.”

The Startup Stage, presented by UP Global, in partnership with Magna, will showcase the startup community via four days of programming at CES. The Startup Stage will feature panels with entrepreneurs, VCs, media and other young companies. This destination in Eureka Park also features office hours, pitching and networking. View the full schedule at CESweb.org/StartupStage.

Watch ten of the most innovative startups in the world compete live on stage in the Extreme Tech Challenge at CES for the opportunity of a lifetime: to pitch Sir Richard Branson on his private Necker Island. CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro will lead the all-star judging panel on Thursday, January 8.

TechCrunch is bringing the premiere startup launch competition, Hardware Battlefield, to CES on Thursday, January 8. Sixteen startups will reveal a brand-new product for the first time to a panel of industry experts and investors while competing for $50,000 and the coveted Metal Man trophy. The must-see competition can be watched live at the LVCC, Central Plaza, within TechCrunch’s broadcast tent.

ABC’s “Shark Tank” will host an open call on January 8 at CES for entrepreneurs who wish for the chance to appear on the television show. The open call will be held in section J of the Venetian Ballroom at The Venetian starting at 8 AM. Floored within Eureka Park, the University Innovations Marketplace showcases technologies that stem from colleges, universities, and academic research centers. Along with startups in the beginning stages of development, Eureka Park also will host more established, mid-stage startup companies looking to expand their growth.

For more information on the 2015 CES, visit CESweb.org.

G-Technology’s Popular G-DRIVE® and G-DRIVE mobile External Storage Solutions Now Feature Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 for Flexible High-Speed Storage for Professional Digital Workflows and Quick Backups

G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced that it is shipping its new G-DRIVE with Thunderbolt and G-DRIVE mobile with Thunderbolt external storage solutions. Supporting the growing base of Thunderbolt-enabled Mac® and PC computers, the two new drives set the standard for consumers and professionals looking for one of the fastest desktop or mobile Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 storage solutions on the market. Both drives incorporate a high-performance 7,200 RPM hard drive, come with a sleek, durable aluminum enclosure, and are plug-and-play on Mac but can be easily reformatted for Windows®.

“G-Technology is dedicated to giving today’s consumers and creative professionals storage solutions that can keep up with their demanding workflows and fast-paced lives,” said Mike Williams, vice president and general manager, G-Technology. “Complementing our current G-DOCK ev™, G-DRIVE PRO and G-RAID™ with Thunderbolt solutions, G-Technology now offers a family of solutions – from RAID solutions to single-drive desktop and mobile solutions – that fit virtually any storage or creative workflow need.”

The new 4TB G-DRIVE with Thunderbolt is a high-performance storage solution featuring ultra-fast Thunderbolt and a USB 3.0 interface in a solid all-aluminium enclosure. Using the Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 interface, the drive delivers up to 165 MB/s sustained data transfer rates. It also features an integrated heat-sink that enables a cool and quiet operation, making it the ideal solution for storage-intensive applications like audio/video editing or digital photography. For a quick and easy setup, Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 cables are included. The G-DRIVE with Thunderbolt is now available. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $399.95 for the 4TB and $299.95 for 3TB.

The G-DRIVE mobile with Thunderbolt is a sleek, high-performance portable storage solution for on-the-go users. The G-DRIVE mobile with Thunderbolt offers up to 1TB capacity and is bus-powered, so laptop users do not need to weigh down their gear bags with an external AC power supply. The drive delivers up to 136 MB/s sustained data transfer rates using Thunderbolt or USB 3.0.  It comes with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 cables, and is Time Machine® compatible for quick backups of documents, music, digital video and photos. Now shipping, the 1TB G-DRIVE mobile with Thunderbolt has an MSRP of $219.95.

G-Technology also announced today that the G-DRIVE PRO with Thunderbolt is now shipping. Based on            G-Technology’s high-quality G-DRIVE design, the G-DRIVE PRO is empowering today’s independent professionals and other small production studios with a more cost-effective, efficient storage solution for supporting 2K and 4K digital cinema, 2K DLSR/photography and other digital content creation workflows. Delivering data transfer rates of up to 480 MB/s, the new G-DRIVE PRO with Thunderbolt is a performance leader in the desktop, external hard drive category. It is easily transportable for editing in the field or in the studio, and has dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy-chaining with other Thunderbolt-enabled devices. The            G-DRIVE PRO is available with 4TB for a MSRP of $849.95, or with 2TB for a MSRP of $699.95.

G-Technology’s roots are deeply ingrained in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the professional content creation market. From storing, transferring, editing and distributing content, G-Technology makes the workflow simpler, better and faster. G-Technology’s high-performance portable and desktop drives, flexible transfer/edit solutions and fast RAID systems are all built for professional content creation environments where performance and reliability are paramount. Because G-Technology holds itself to the highest standards, its products can be found in premier production and post-production facilities worldwide.

Grammy® Winner Alicia Keys To Introduce New Interactive Storytelling App “Mookey” At The 111th American International Toy Fair

Keys Combines Music with Imaginative Play in The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee’s Latest Series App

Grammy Award-winning artist Alicia Keys attended the 111th American International Toy Fair on Sunday, February 16th, 2014 to cut the ceremonial ribbon and take part in a press conference following the opening ceremony.  The press conference included a question and answer session and introduced the new interactive storytelling app “Mookey,” the latest extension of her magical children’s property The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee.

Singer/songwriter/producer, entrepreneur, humanitarian and app co-creator Alicia Keys, along with Jessica Walton, have teamed up with Bento Box Interactive to develop a series of storytelling app experiences for tablet and mobile devices under the The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee franchise. The apps engage children 4+ on an interactive journey through stories, journaling, games and beautiful, original music scored by Keys instilling important values for the target audience.

Mama Mae, voiced by Della Reese, is a grandmother who guides her granddaughter LeeLee through each vibrantly illustrated story.  Through the strength of her personality, Mama Mae and her stories inspire and enlighten children of all ages.  The important and special bond between grandparents and their little loved ones is emphasized in this family oriented app.

“Mookey” is the newest installment in the Mama Mae series, and this particular story touches on self-acceptance and bullying in a meaningful way.  In the story, children will be introduced to Bali, an imaginative boy, his not-so-imaginary-friend, Mookey and his pushy cousin, Ankita. As they follow along, children will learn about courage, acceptance, and forgiveness in the face of bullying.  The app has the ability to facilitate conversation on the issue among families, children, as well as teachers. Thought-provoking and empowering, the Mookey” app is a tool that uses creative play to help youth positively express themselves through a range of interactive activities. 

The Tiffen Company to Feature Its Iconic Brands at CES 2014

Ahead of the Curve Product Innovations Will Thrill GoPro Users and Inspire Image Makers Everywhere

The action-packed Steadicam CURVE for GoPro HERO camera stabilizer and the stylish new Domke Next Generation camera bags headline Tiffen’s major product launches

The Tiffen Company, a leading manufacturer of award-winning imaging accessories, today announced its new product lineup for the 2014 International CES exhibition held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 7 – 10 (booth C9143).

Taking center stage in the Tiffen booth, located next to GoPro®, is the new Steadicam® CURVE™ for GoPro® HERO® cameras. A groundbreaking camera stabilization product from the legendary Steadicam brand, CURVE’s compact form factor gives GoPro users the freedom to shoot shake-free video using Steadicam’s stabilization technology. The CURVE handle can be locked for use as a handgrip for capturing the wildest of shoots, or folded up to fit in a back pocket for maximum portability. “With the release of CURVE, we are putting Steadicam Hollywood stabilization technology into the hands of the GoPro HERO user, and the response from the community has been outstanding. Like GoPro, Steadicam CURVE is a product that we will see used for all sorts of action sports – from a snowboarder capturing his or her latest trick to a skateboarder capturing every action-packed moment of a competition,” states Steve Tiffen, President and CEO, The Tiffen Company.

Also making its CES debut is Tiffen’s Domke Next Generation camera bag collection. Keeping with the core Domke DNA and personality, Domke Next Generation is a stylish new camera bag lineup featuring a patent-pending GearProtex™ insert and PocketFlex™ storage component system. Steve Tiffen elaborates on the camera bag launch saying, “We have spent a number of years on research and field testing to perfect Domke Next Generation, and the stylish product line is nothing short of exceptional. In keeping with the core Domke makeup photographers have trusted for over three decades, we are rolling out a camera bag collection that tops the charts in both style and versatility.”

The Full Tiffen Product Lineup at CES 2014

CES press and attendees are invited to stop by the Tiffen booth (C9143) for a look at new Tiffen products and a chance to win one of many Tiffen giveaways.

• Steadicam CURVE, Smoothee and SOLO: In addition to the new Steadicam CURVE for GoPro® HERO® cameras, Tiffen will have on display Steadicam Smoothee camera stabilizers for the Apple® iPod touch, iPhone 3/4/4s, iPhone 5/5s, Drift® and GoPro HERO cameras, as well as the new hybrid Steadicam SOLO stabilizer/monopod solution.
• Domke Next Generation Camera Bags and Gear: Tiffen’s Domke Next Generation camera bag lineup includes the new Journalist, Metropolitan, Adventurer and Viewfinder series with PocketFlex™ and GearProtex™ technology for the ultimate in customizable bags.
• Lowel Lighting: Lowel Light demonstrations at CES include the new portable Lowel GL-1 Power LED Light, Blender 3-Light Kit, Ego and Prime series.
• Tiffen ND 3.0 and Variable ND Optical Filters: The company will showcase the new 10-stop ND 3.0 Tiffen Filter as well as the highly popular Variable ND filter that integrates seven Neutral Density filters in one, with eight true stops.
• Tiffen Dfx 3.0: Simulating 2,000+ popular award-winning Tiffen glass filters, the Tiffen Dfx digital filter suite is the definitive set of digital optical filters for both amateur and professional photographers and video enthusiasts worldwide.
• Davis & Sanford Tripods: The Davis & Sanford tripod lineup will feature two brand new tripods: the Attaras 4M tripod/monopod combination from the Vista line and the new Magnum P336 tripod and ball head.
• Listec Teleprompters: Shown at CES 2013, Listec PromptWare PW-04 and PW-10 are mini teleprompter products that turn smartphones, iPod touch, tablets and similar devices into professional teleprompters.

Domke Next Generation Camera Bags and Gear

Tiffen has been a leading manufacturer of photographic filters, lens accessories, software, and camera accessories for the consumer/professional imaging and the motion picture and broadcast television industries for 75 years. The company has a rich history of innovative product design, superior optical consistency, and unparalleled quality. Today, the company offers a wide range of products, which include: Tiffen® filters, Steadicam® camera stabilizing systems, Lowel® light, Listec® teleprompters, Tiffen Dfx® digital imaging software, Domke® bags, Davis & Sanford® tripods, Genustech® camera accessories, Zing® camera covers, Stroboframe® flash brackets, Saunders® professional trimmers, and Kodak Wratten® filters.

The company has been recognized for its product and engineering excellence, earning a Technical Achievement Award and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as multiple Emmy® Awards. Tiffen continues to enhance its reputation as a leading imaging accessory manufacturer through aggressive growth in the image-making accessory industry. For more information on Tiffen, please visit: http://www.tiffen.com.

The International CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years—the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace and will run Tuesday, January 7-Friday, January 10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LG To Introduce World’s First All-In-One Chromebase At CES 2014

LG Electronics will unveil the first-ever LG Chromebase, an all-in-one computer powered by the Google Chrome operating system, at next month’s 2014 International CES®.

The LG Chromebase (Model 22CV241) offers the highly efficient Chrome operating system for a fast, simple, secure and affordable computing experience. Along with the unique operating system, a 21.5-inch widescreen Full HD IPS display and a raft of advanced features, this innovative new desktop computer comes packaged in a chic, space-saving design.

The LG Chromebase all-in-one computer is underpinned by a simple yet powerful architecture and comes with several outstanding Google applications. It also serves as a gateway to tens of thousands of web apps in the Chrome Web Store, many of which work just as well offline as they do online. It allows users to write emails and documents, read the latest news and Ebooks, edit videos and photos and play entertaining games. The streamlined platform makes almost any task effortless and is the perfect device for taking advantage of Google products such as Gmail, Drive, Search, Maps, YouTube, Play or Google+ Hangouts.

The LG Chromebase also offers robust built-in security, employing multiple layers of protection to help keep users’ information safe. Moreover, with automatic built-in updates, Chrome OS reduces the hassle of manually having to update the computer.

“Simple to operate for all types of users, the LG Chromebase computer represents the successful combination of simplicity, power and great design,” said Hyoung-sei Park, head of the IT Business Division at LG Electronics. “LG Chromebase is the wave of the future for desktops, which we hope to be widely adopted not only at home, but especially in schools, hotels, call centers and other business settings.”

With excellent hardware in a minimalistic package, the LG Chromebase reflects the power and simplicity of the Chrome operating system. Ideal for both personal and business use, the versatile computer features a 21.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display that delivers accurate color reproduction, stunning contrast and impressive wide viewing angles.

The processing power of the fourth-generation Intel(®) CPU enables the LG Chromebase to handle web apps, games and graphics with ease. The versatile computer also incorporates a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a microphone for easy video calling. What’s more, this AIO computer delivers clear and powerful sound and music through a pair of built-in 5W speakers.

“LG’s Chromebase is an exciting new form factor that expands the options available to customers who want a fast, simple and secure computing experience for the home, school or office,” said Caesar Sengupta, vice president of product management, Google. “LG makes great devices that customers love, and we’re glad to welcome them to the Chrome family.”

Visitors to LG’s booth at CES 2014 (Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall #8204) will have the opportunity to see this unique product for themselves from Tuesday, January 7 through Friday, January 10.

LaCie Announces Fastest Mobile Product Ever: Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series

Among the many cool (and absolutely necessary) computer storage devices on view at the LaCie booth at 2013 PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo, the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt hard drive is the coolest, especially for the consumer. The award-winning Rugged hard drive is the first storage solution to feature both Thunderbolt™ and USB 3.0 technology on a high-performance Solid State Drive. These cutting-edge technologies make the new LaCie Rugged the fastest bus-powered* solution on the market.

According to my new best friend, Kristin MacRostie, of LaCie, it’s “the hot new on-the-go product on the market and has the fastest, latest connection for your PC or MAC. It doesn’t require outside power and is shock-protection proof.”

The LaCie Rugged brings two industry leading technologies, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt together so users can experience the fastest transfer speeds available on PC or Mac. The LaCie Rugged SSD delivers record-breaking speeds up to 380MB/s – making it the fastest bus-powered product ever. Respectively, the hard disk version performs up to 110MB/s, a 35 percent improvement over FireWire 800. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or power user, the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt can move 10GB in a few seconds** and ensure zero lag-time when accessing files, viewing photos, or editing videos.

The LaCie Rugged ensures projects don’t get derailed due to external drive or computer incompatibility. With both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt interfaces, the LaCie Rugged is guaranteed to work on any PC or Mac. And because USB 3.0 is backwards compatible, the user can connect it to any standard computer on the planet. The LaCie Rugged is also fully bus-powered through the included USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt cables, so professionals will be up and running right out of the box. Its portability and ensured connectivity make the LaCie Rugged an ideal sidekick to a new Mac or Ultrabook™.

“Since LaCie introduced the Rugged, it has been a favorite of creative professionals,” said Philippe Spruch, CEO, LaCie. “It’s trusted and always with them through the content creation process. Today, LaCie gives the ultimate solution to those professionals. The most impressive speeds I’ve seen to revolutionize their productivity.”

Traveling from desktop to mountaintop, the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt can protect data against any threat. It is MIL-compliant for superior data protection from accidental drops up to 1.2 meters (4 feet). And thanks to SSD technology, it can resist intense vibration and shock. The LaCie Rugged is tough enough to be shipped for reliable delivery to colleagues, clients or partners and includes AES 256-bit encryption software to protect files from prying eyes or theft.

Watch the LaCie Rugged in action as a busy photographer makes a mad dash to meet an important deadline and see how speed, universal connectivity and ruggedness help save the day – http://bit.ly/KxuyhD.

The Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series, design by Neil Poulton, comes in a 1TB HDD model and 120GB SSD model. It is available through Apple® Retail, as well as the LaCie Online Store and LaCie Resellers starting at $199.99. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.

With operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of storage devices for PC, Apple, and Linux. LaCie has differentiated itself through sleek design and remarkable technical performance. Find out more about our products at www.lacie.com.

* Electrical Thunderbolt cables only. Optical cables do not permit bus powering.
** These transfer rates were achieved using a 120GB Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series via USB 3.0 by Blackmagic Speed Test using a 17″ Macbook Pro running OS X 10.7. Transfer rates vary from one computer to another and may vary slightly from one drive to another.