Samsung Sale Alert: New Galaxy S10, Note 10, TV Star Deals Beat Black Friday Prices - Forbes

Samsung’s holiday sales season is hitting top speed with deals that match or better anything that came during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With this in mind, these are the deals you need to know about right now on Galaxy phones, smartwatches, tablets and TVs. Tip: bookmark this article, it is updated throughout the day.

Samsung's Galaxy S10 and Note 10 have massive reductions you can benefit from right now

Samsung

Amazon New Sale: Best Echo, Fire, Kindle, iPhone, iPad, TV Deals

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Samsung’s Best Smartphone Deals

• 12/23 - STAR DEAL - Galaxy Note 9 - Unlocked 512GB - Save up to $350 - Samsung.com - shop deal now / Amazon: $816.99 (save $420.00) / Best Buy: $699.99 (save $550)
• 12/22 STAR BUYS - Samsung Galaxy S10 Factory Unlocked Phone with 128GB - Prism Black - $599.99 (save $150.00) - shop deal now / Best Buy: $599.99 (save $200.00) - shop deal now
• 12/22 NEW - Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Plus Factory Unlocked Cell Phone with 512GB (U.S. Warranty), Aura Black/ Note10+ $999.99 (save $200) - shop deal now / Best Buy: $949.99 (save $250.00) 
• STAR DEAL - Save up to $900 on Samsung Galaxy S10 when you buy a Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+ (128GB) on Sprint / S10 and Note 10 devices on activation with AT&T (Offer valid through 12/24/19) - Membership Wireless - shop deals now
• NEW DEAL - Buy 2 Galaxy S10 or S10+ and get up to $899.99 back on T-Mobile (Offer valid through 12/24/19) - Membership Wireless - shop deals now
• Samsung Galaxy S10 / S10+ / Note 10 / Note 10+ / Note 10+5G - Unlocked - from $689.99 and receive FREE Galaxy Watch Active 2 (Bluetooth/WiFi 40 MM) (12/22 Active 2 now excluded) - Samsung.com - shop deals now
• Galaxy S10+ - Unlocked 1TB - Typically $1,599.99 - Save $200 and get a free Galaxy Tab S4 10.5-inch, 256GB, Black (Wi-Fi) with S Pen (worth $749.99) - Samsung.com - shop deal now 
• Galaxy Note 10+ 256GB (typically $1,099) - Amazon: $899.99 (save $200) / Best Buy: $849.99 (save $250)
• 12/22 - NEW STORES - Galaxy Note 9 - Unlocked 512GB - Typically $1,249.99 - from $769.99, plus free Galaxy Fit (worth $99.99) - Samsung.com - shop deal now

Samsung’s Best Tablet Deals

• 12/22 - NEW STORES - Galaxy Tab S6 - $549.99 ($100 saving) - the best Android tablet you can buy -  Amazon: $549.99 (save $100) / B&H: $549.99 (save $100) / Best Buy - $549.99 (save $100)

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S6 is the best Android tablet and it is on sale now

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Apple Christmas Sales: AirPods Pro, iPad, iPhone, New MacBook Pro Best Deals

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• 12/22 - NEW STORES - Galaxy Tab A 10.1-inch, 128GB - $199.99 (save $100) - Costco - shop deal now (members only) / Amazon: $276.95 (save $60) B&H: $279.99 / Best Buy: $279.99 /  Samsung: $279.99 (save $50) / Walmart: $284.99
• Galaxy Tab S5e 10.5-inch Wi-Fi Tablet 128GB - Black - Includes Bonus 128GB MicroSD Card - save $70 - Costco -shop deal now (members only)
• Galaxy Tab A 10.5-inch Tablet, 3GB RAM - $413.99 (save $66) - Target - shop deal now

Predictably, Galaxy Tab deals get outshone by the big Apple iPad sales but all these deals are solid and I expect stock of them to last until . 

Samsung’s Best TV Deals

• Samsung’s QLED TV Mega Sale 43-inches up to 82-inches - Up to 50% off QLED 4K TVs - Samsung.com - (bargains galore, but you will have to move fast) - shop deals now

Samsung.com is having a huge TV sale right now

Samsung

• 12/21 NEW - Samsung UN43RU7100FXZA Flat 43-Inch 4K UHD 7 Series Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR and Alexa Compatibility (2019 Model) - $327.99 (save $102) - shop deal now
• 65-inches Class Q60R QLED Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $999.99 (save $800) Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 65-inches Class Q90R QLED Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $2,199.99 (save $1,300.00) Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 55-inches Class Q60R QLED Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $699.99 (save $500) - Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 55-inches Class NU6900 Smart 4K UHD TV (2018) - $349.99 (save $30) - Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 65-inches Class The Frame QLED Art Mode Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $1,599.99 (save $1,200.00 - Samsug.com - shop deal now
• 82-inches Class RU8000 Premium Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $1,799.99 (save $1,400.00) - Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 75-inches Class Q70R QLED Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) - $1,999.99 (save $1,400.00) - Samsung.com - shop deal now
• 65-inches Class Q900 QLED Smart 8K UHD TV (2019) - $3,499.99 (save $1,500.00) - Samsung.com - shop deal now

Walmart Best New Deals: AirPods, iPhones, Xbox, PS4, 4K TVs And More [Updated]

Forbes Gordon Kelly

Samsung’s Best Wearables Deals

• Galaxy Watch Active (40mm), Black (Bluetooth) - $149.90 (save $50) - Samsung.com - shop deal now
• Galaxy Fit - Black - $79.99 (save $20) - Samsung - shop deal now

Samsung Galaxy smartphones offer great value for money

Samsung

I will be extensively tracking Samsung deals and publishing the best offers daily, so be sure to bookmark my page.

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Amazon Christmas Sales: Here Are The Best Live Deals [Updated]

Apple AirPods, AirPods Pro Latest Sales: Here Are The Best Deals [Updated]

Apple Christmas Sales: AirPods Pro, iPad, iPhone, New MacBook Pro Best Deals

Walmart Christmas Sale: The Best iPhone, Galaxy, PS4, Xbox, HDTV Deals

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2019-12-24 09:40:55Z
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This flying robot vacuum overcomes the Roomba’s biggest weakness: stairs - The Verge

No matter how useful today’s robot vacuums are, they’ll always be defeated by an element common to many households: stairs. That’s why this flying robovac, built by YouTuber and engineer Peter Sripol, is so impressive. By adding a trio of ducted fans to a cheap robot vacuum, Sripol has created a gadget nerd’s dream — and a nightmare for your pets.

A flying Roomba isn’t necessarily a practical tool, though, as Sripol’s video demonstrates. The downdraft created by its fans seems to make more mess than the vacuum itself cleans up, and the flying is not autonomous — you need a human pilot to steer it where you want to go. It’s also pricey, with Sripol noting that the electronics he bought for the project total around $200, more than triple the cost of the original vacuum.

Still, it is a viable proof-of-concept, and shows that if you really want a Roomba that can navigate stairs, you can just strap some propellors to it. And at least it’s more practical than the Roomba created by YouTuber Michael Reeves that screams when it bumps into things. Now that will really encourage you to just get up and do some vacuuming yourself.

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2019-12-23 12:31:28Z
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Galaxy S11 rumors and leaks: Feb. release date, massive battery, 108 megapixels - CNET

An artist's rendition of the Galaxy S11, based on the rumors and leaks.

Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET from Concept Creator

New year, new class of phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S11. Samsung's devices made waves in 2019, from the Editor's Choice award-winning Galaxy Note 10 Plus to the unforgettable Galaxy Fold. 2020 is only destined to get better. (And that goes for Samsung's next foldable phone, too.) 

The industry is already buzzing with leaks and predictions as we approach 2020, about everything from the the Galaxy S11's official lineup and price, to the camera setup and battery (hint: it could be massive). I throw in my own educated guesses too, because Samsung often follows historical patterns and topical trends, so certain things make sense.

For example, the Galaxy S11 will be the first of Samsung's four 5G phones to deliver on the 5G promise in a meaningful way. Samsung got a start with 5G this year, with the S10 5G, Note 10 Plus 5G, Galaxy A90 5G and Fold (in the UK and South Korea), but many are variants of 4G devices that already exist. The Galaxy S11 family of phones is a mainstream handset that has the ability to help bring 5G's faster data speeds to the masses.

There are a lot more supposed specs to absorb, so here they are -- the Galaxy S11's most important rumored features so far, plus what we don't know and what we think we might get.

Now playing: Watch this: Galaxy S11 is apparently going to be big. Very big

6:33

Three models, three sizes: Galaxy S11, S11 Plus, S11 Pro

First things first. The Galaxy S11 isn't going to be one phone, that we know. It's rumored to be three, just like last year's S10 family of 4G models. 

Some rumors name the phones as the S11E, S11 and S11 Plus, but more recent whispers, including that from frequent Twitter leaker Evan Blass, suggest S11, S11 Plus and S11 Pro, which is a lot closer to Apple's strategy with the iPhone 11, which is the base model for that line.

Screenshot by ZDNet

Here are the rumored screen sizes:

• Galaxy S11: 6.2-inch or 6.4-inch
• Galaxy S11 Plus: 6.7-inch
• Galaxy S11 Pro: 6.9-inch

Blass also stated that all the Galaxy S11 phones could have curved sides, unlike 2019's Galaxy S10E, which had a flat display that I sometimes preferred.

A peek at the Galaxy S11? We'll know soon enough.

Cashkaro

February 11 or 18 launch, later release dates

The all-important question: When do we get to see this thing for the first time? February is a given. Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy S series in late February or early March for years, sometimes at the Mobile World Congress tech show (a.k.a MWC), sometimes before, and a couple of times, even after.

This is the real Galaxy S11+ camera. On the left is the ultra-wide-angle, main camera, and periscope zoom lens. I don't know the exact distribution on the right. It is expected to include flash and ToF. pic.twitter.com/98exPMSqgf

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 16, 2019

If Samsung follows last year's model, we'll see the Galaxy S11 and its kin appear shortly before MWC. If we let the rumors guide us, Samsung will show its hand on either Tues, Feb. 11 (this is in Greek) or Tues, Feb. 18. So yeah, February seems solid.

Look for the phone to go on preorder shortly after, with units shipping a week or two after the reveal. I'll continue to update this story with fresh rumors, so come back for more.

Could like a cross between the Note 10 and Galaxy S10

The Galaxy S11 renders are out, and so are the concept designs, which I love because they can bring the rumors to life. 

So what might we get with Samsung's S11 phone? Rounded shoulders, which have become the Galaxy S trademark, but with a more squared-off look reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 10. A slim body. Curved sides for all models, unlike the Galaxy S10E's flat screen, which I actually really liked.

The camera array could become square, off to the left, and stick out from the surface, a lot like the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4. I really hope that's not the case. Cameras that stick out are more vulnerable to breaking when you drop your phone. A case is an absolute must.

5G guaranteed, but there's a catch

I mentioned 5G earlier. This is a rumored feature, but also a given. The Galaxy S11 is 99.9% likely to use the powerful Snapdragon 865 processor in it, which chipmaker Qualcomm won't make available to phone brands without the 5G modem it pairs with. Ipso facto, you get a phone with the Snapdragon 865, you get a 5G-ready phone.

The same goes for any regions that will package the Galaxy S11 with Samsung's in-house Exynos 990 5G processor, which often happens in Asia, especially Samsung's home country of South Korea. (Ice Universe says Samsung is "determined" to use Snapdragon 865 for South Korean models.)

I promised a catch and here it is. While the Galaxy S11 will be 5G-ready, not every phone may be able to access 5G. Cities and countries that are 4G-only will only be able to use 4G networks, so the 5G Galaxy S11 could very well act like a 4G phone. 

We'll see how it all shakes out, but I'd be surprised if Samsung used any chip other than Snapdragon 865. The Galaxy S series is its mainstream flagship and Samsung is the world's largest phone-maker. It will want to put its best foot forward by delivering the phone with the "best" chip.

Another artistic rendition of the Galaxy S11.

Concept Creator

108-megapixel camera, periscope lens, 5X optical zoom

Now for the fun stuff, the camera. We already talked about how rumors, leaks and renders predict a square camera array overflowing with cameras. It gets wilder.

Samsung is said to be outfitting the Galaxy S11 (or at least one variant) with a 108-megapixel main camera sensor. Is that madness? It sounds like madness. But Chinese brand Xiaomi already beat Samsung to it with the Mi CC9 Pro, which already uses a 108-megapixel camera.

In addition, the Snapdragon 865 chip we talked about above can support a 200-megapixel camera. You may not be using all 108 pixels all the time, but having that extra resolution can be helpful for zooming in and cropping. If you like the sound of all that, thank the chipmaker for making it happen.

Here's what else you could get with the S11 camera (at least on some models), according to Ice Universe and 91Mobiles:

Suggested renders for the Galaxy S11 and "S11E".

Pricebaba

Screen: 120Hz AMOLED display

We talked about phone screens earlier, but here's what else we're likely to get: the ability to turn on a 120Hz screen refresh rate. That will make animations and scrolling a whole lot smoother than the standard 60Hz refresh rate w\we have now. 

While a 120Hz refresh rate is great for gaming and other quick transitions (even 90Hz like on the OnePlus 7T), it's a battery hog. The Galaxy S11 could put the power in your hands with settings to switch between 60Hz to preserve battery life and 120Hz if you want to rev up animations.

This is pretty much a done deal since both the Snapdragon 865 and Exynos 990 5G support 210Hz screens.

Now playing: Watch this: Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 865 processor

3:46

A whopping 5,000mAh battery?

Different size phones get different size batteries, and another rumor from the prolific Ice Universe dials in the Galaxy S11 "Plus" battery at 5,000mAh, which is ridonculous. 

Keep in mind that the "Plus" could also be the "Pro" (e.g., the highest-end model of the trio), which makes far more sense to me than the middle phone getting a battery that size. For reference, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus battery is 4,300mAh and battery life is outstanding.

There have been some phones with ultra-large batteries before, so 5,000mAh fits my expectations. For instance, the Asus ROG Phone II has a 6,000mAh battery, which makes it a gaming beast.

In-screen fingerprint reader

I loved the concept of an in-screen fingerprint reader, until I used it in the Galaxy S10. The accuracy, speed and convenience never quite lived up to the promise for me. 

My best-case scenario would be to the Galaxy S11 return to some form of secure face unlock, combined with the in-screen reader. Samsung already knows how to do this well. Remember, the series got iris scanning in the S7, but dropped it for the S10. Google has now done it better, with the Pixel 4's gesture tracking lending a hand.

We could at least see a more robust form of in-screen biometric scanner, if Samsung decides to take advantage of the Snapdragon 865's support for two-finger scanning, which is meant to improve the technology on all fronts. I sure hope it does.

In One UI 2, right, app folders open lower on the screen so that it's easier for you to interact with them one-handed.

Samsung

Android 10 and Samsung One UI 2

There's little doubt that every Samsung phone in 2020 will run on Android 10 and the company's own One UI 2, which was announced in October and is now available in beta.

I'm much more excited about Android 10, which brings systemwide dark mode to phones, gesture navigation, some seriously impressive live captioning and new privacy settings. One UI 2 aims to push icons and screen controls toward the bottom of the phone so they're easier to reach one-handed. 

Galaxy S11 series: Price will break $1,000

Now for the question on everyone's mind: How much is the Galaxy S11 going to cost me? As always, it will depend on which model you buy. 

Let's start with the Galaxy S10 prices for the base storage configuration:

• Galaxy S10E: $749, £669, AU$1,199
• Galaxy S10: $899, £799, AU$1,349
• Galaxy S10 Plus: $999, £899, AU$1,499
• Galaxy S10 5G: $1,300, £1,099, AU$2,950

5G costs the phone-makers more to buy and integrate, so we could see a price bump right off the bat. You'll also spend more if you opt for a model with greater storage, say 512GB, assuming Samsung offers it and begins storage at 128GB.

If the largest version ("Pro" or "Plus", depending on the remuros) lines up with the S10 Plus pricing, it'll start at $1,000. With the 5G component and more camera tech, I wouldn't be surprised to see that rise to $1,100, a price that matches the Galaxy Note 10 Plus today.

Originally published earlier this week.

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2019-12-23 12:30:00Z
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Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite details leak - Circuit Breaker

Specs for Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite have coalesced ahead of its imminent European launch. WinFuture.de posted details based upon a data sheet they’ve seen that match up nicely with previous rumors and FCC filings.

Specs include a 6.7-inch Infinity-O hole-punch display with 2400 x 1080 pixels and 20:9 aspect ratio, a Snapdragon (not Exynos) 855 chipset, 8GB RAM, and 128GB of storage with microSD slot for expansion. There’s a 48 megapixel (f/2.0) main camera with optical image stabilization dubbed “tilt-OIS,” flanked by a 12 megapixel (f/2.2) ultra-wide and 5 megapixel (f/2.4) macro. Up front is a 32 megapixel (f/2.2) shooter. Inside the 8.1-mm thick chassis you’ll find a beefy 4,500mAh battery with 45W fast-charging support.

The S10 Lite will be available in Europe soon, priced at €680, according to WinFuture, in choice of black, white, or blue. Otherwise, wait and see what Samsung has planned for the Galaxy S11 series launch in February.

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2019-12-23 11:19:21Z
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Pixel 4 gets improved Face Unlock and other surprise updates - Engadget

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Earlier this month, Google announced that instead of regular Android updates, Pixel 4 devices would get a "Pixel Feature Drop" to show off splashy new features. That update has now arrived, and on top of expected changes like robocall screening and Duo call centering, there are a few welcome surprises, as spotted by XDA Developers and Android Police.

First off, Face Unlock can now account for changes to your look like a new hair style or beard. "When it's on, face unlock images are occasionally used to create improved face models," Google's update states. "This helps recognize you better over time." The update also points out that these models are stored on the Pixel 4's secure Titan chip and never online.

As expected, the update also brings T-Mobile eSim support to Pixel 4 devices. That means you can activate your device immediately without waiting for the physical delivery of a SIM card, and also use the eSim in conjunction with a physical SIM to receive calls and texts from two numbers. Finally, the Pixel 4 now supports dual-frequency GNSS so it can track two satellite signals at once, either from GPS or Galileo satellites. That in turn will deliver more accurate location tracking.

You can likely expect more such improvements via future Pixel 4 drops. With the new update stream, Google is clearly trying to differentiate its flagship devices from others in the Android ecosystem.

Via: XDA Developers

Source: Google

In this article: dual-frequency GNSS, eSim, Face Unlock, gear, google, mobile, Pixel Drop, Pixel4, T-Mobile, Update

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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2019-12-23 08:29:54Z
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Pixel 4 gets improved Face Unlock and other surprise updates - Engadget

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Earlier this month, Google announced that instead of regular Android updates, Pixel 4 devices would get a "Pixel Feature Drop" to show off splashy new features. That update has now arrived, and on top of expected changes like robocall screening and Duo call centering, there are a few welcome surprises, as spotted by XDA Developers and Android Police.

First off, Face Unlock can now account for changes to your look like a new hair style or beard. "When it's on, face unlock images are occasionally used to create improved face models," Google's update states. "This helps recognize you better over time." The update also points out that these models are stored on the Pixel 4's secure Titan chip and never online.

As expected, the update also brings T-Mobile eSim support to Pixel 4 devices. That means you can activate your device immediately without waiting for the physical delivery of a SIM card, and also use the eSim in conjunction with a physical SIM to receive calls and texts from two numbers. Finally, the Pixel 4 now supports dual-frequency GNSS so it can track two satellite signals at once, either from GPS or Galileo satellites. That in turn will deliver more accurate location tracking.

You can likely expect more such improvements via future Pixel 4 drops. With the new update stream, Google is clearly trying to differentiate its flagship devices from others in the Android ecosystem.

Via: XDA Developers

Source: Google

In this article: dual-frequency GNSS, eSim, Face Unlock, gear, google, mobile, Pixel Drop, Pixel4, T-Mobile, Update

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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2019-12-23 07:34:15Z
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Move Over, Santa! Kids Are Asking Alexa to Bring Them Presents - msnNOW

© Ryan Inzana

Zibby Owens was in therapy a few months ago when her phone started buzzing with notifications. They were texts from Amazon confirming that several “Paw Patrol” toys were en route to her house.

“It was one after another,” said Ms. Owens, a New York-based podcast host.

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She said she had allowed her son, then 4, to use her iPad while she was getting ready that morning. It had an Amazon.com shopping app on it. Her little boy figured out how to touch the microphone icon in the search bar in the Amazon app and say “Paw Patrol.” Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, obeyed, bringing up numerous toys from the popular children’s show. The little boy managed to add more than a dozen items to the cart and tap “buy.”

Ordering items from Amazon has never been easier. There are now more than 100 million Alexa-enabled devices around the world used by tens of millions of customers each month—in kitchens, bathrooms, even cars. People can place orders from just about anywhere.

For children too young to spell, Alexa has opened a magical world that rivals the North Pole. For parents with such precocious youngsters, muzzling Alexa is a must.

By the time Ms. Owens reviewed all the orders, it was too late to cancel them. “Boxes and boxes arrived. He was jumping up and down with excitement that he had ordered all this stuff,” she said.

Ms. Owens let her son keep a board game and she saved some items to use as birthday gifts for other children. She shipped back the rest, which led to many tears. She also deleted the shopping app from her iPad.

Resourceful kids have found success—or at least partial success—using only their voice, no app required.

Josue Sierra came home from work one day and found a package from Amazon containing Tesla-branded running pants. When he asked his wife if she had ordered them, his then 5-year-old son walked in and said, “That’s not what I ordered. I wanted a Tesla.”

His son had placed the order with Alexa on the family’s Echo.

“We thought it was funny and sent the pants back,” said Mr. Sierra, a digital marketing executive in Elkton, Md. “I immediately went into the app on my phone and activated the voice PIN.”

Parents can have Alexa devices set a PIN that needs to be spoken before making a purchase. Parents can also turn off voice purchasing from Amazon. When a parent enables FreeTime (including Amazon’s parental controls) on an Echo device, or uses the Echo Dot Kids Edition, all voice purchasing is automatically disabled.

Parents can passcode-protect Fire tablets and disable shopping entirely, or require a confirmation code that Alexa will prompt users to say when they want to place an order from Amazon. Alexa doesn’t work in FreeTime on any Fire tablets.

Parents who use the Amazon shopping app on Apple and Android devices can disable the 1-Click order setting to prevent children from bypassing the shopping cart and placing an order automatically. On Apple devices, parents can go into the Login & Security section of their Amazon shopping app’s account settings and choose to require fingerprint login or facial recognition to access the app, which could be a pain for frequent Amazon shoppers. The other option, of course, is to keep the app off devices that the kids frequently use.

Brendan Dickinson nearly ended up with 100 boxes of dead-fish and spoiled-milk Jelly Bellys. Mr. Dickinson was making pancakes one morning last summer when his then 3- and 6-year-olds were playing the gross-out jelly-bean game BeanBoozled. When he left the room momentarily, he heard one of his kids say to the Echo Show device, “Alexa, buy 100 BeanBoozled.” He checked his Amazon app and canceled the order right away.

“We had a conversation about what this all means and it never happened again,” said Mr. Dickinson, a partner at a venture-capital firm in New York. “I did tell them it’s totally cool that they ask Alexa what the weather is.”

Joe Ross was riding the train home from work one evening a couple of years ago when he got an email notification that an American Girl doll was on its way. He figured his wife had ordered it for their then-5-year-old daughter for Christmas. But then he got another notification for the same doll, and then another.

Mr. Ross, an economist who was living in New Jersey at the time, thought his Amazon account had been hacked, so he called the company and was told the orders had been placed through Alexa on his Sonos speaker. It turned out his daughter had repeatedly said something like, “Alexa, buy me the best American Girl doll.”

Mr. Ross was able to cancel the orders before they shipped, and he added a passcode to his account.

Sometimes, just sometimes, the ploy works.

Allison Slater Tate’s daughter, Lucy, won a Fire tablet in a kindergarten raffle two years ago. The day she brought it home, Ms. Slater Tate and her husband were leaving for a college reunion out of town and didn’t even think to set up parental controls. “I thought she would read books and play games,” she said. “I didn’t think she’d end up on Amazon.”

But when she was at her reunion, Ms. Slater Tate began receiving numerous notifications about purchases. One was a large play grocery set. Lucy had ordered some $300 worth of toys. By the time Ms. Slater Tate, a freelance writer near Orlando, Fla., called home and talked to the babysitter about what had happened, the items had shipped. Ms. Slater Tate suspects Lucy had searched for one toy and then saw dozens of other suggested items.

Ms. Slater Tate said her husband wanted to send everything back but she said the thought of returning it all was too much, so she kept everything and doled out the toys throughout the year.

“I thought everything was free and I could buy whatever I wanted,” said Lucy, now 7.

Write to Julie Jargon at julie.jargon@wsj.com

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2019-12-22 02:20:00Z
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