This case is not like other earbud-charging cases. Flip it over and it becomes a Qi charging pad for your phone!

Whew! We made it to Friday, everyone. And just a heads-up: I'm off Monday, though newsletter subscribers will receive their deal email as usual. (You do subscribe to the Cheapskate newsletter, right? If not, there's a sign-up box right at the bottom of this post!)

Today I couldn't decide on just one or two deals to share, so I'm giving you five!

Update: The Qi charging pad appears to be expired, but the other deals are still in effect!

Many modern true-wireless earbuds come inside a charging case that can recharge wirelessly, just by laying it on a Qi charging pad. The HolyHigh EA2 true-wireless earbuds come inside a case that is, itself, a Qi charging pad! It's true: Flip it over and lay your phone on it for easy on-the-go wireless charging.

So, in a way, it feels like you're buying a portable Qi power bank that just happens to have earbuds inside. And that power bank recharges via USB-C and has a Type-A USB output as well. If you use it just to keep the earbuds powered, the 5,000-mAh battery can net you a whopping 240 hours of total playtime, according to HolyHigh.

The earbuds themselves: Pipe design, noise-isolating eartips, IPX5-rated sweatproof and waterproof. I'm listening to them right now; the sound quality is decent given the price, maybe a little flat overall, lacking in detail but definitely good enough for the gym. As with all such earbuds, getting a good inner-ear seal is key.

Oh, and speaking of price: Just $33.49 when you clip the on-page $5-off coupon and then apply promo codeTYDZD2RDat checkout. That's less than what you'd pay for countless earbuds that don't have a super-versatile charging case.

In recent years, SimpliSafe has become synonymous with DIY home security. It's also known for offering one of the most affordable monitored security systems you can get.

For a limited time, it's even more affordable: This five-piece kit, originally $250, has never been priced this low. It includes the base station (with siren), a keypad, a motion sensor, an entryway sensor and a key fob. You also get a yard sign and window stickers, and you can expand the system with more sensors, a panic button, cameras and so on.

Monitoring is optional. Prices for that start at 50 cents per day.

Will Apple do away with the Lightning port someday? Perhaps -- but not yet. Until then, you might want to stock up on cables. This four-pack includes two 3-footers and two 6-footers -- the former good for car use, I think, where you don't want excessive cord cluttering up the place.

These cables are not only MFi-certified, they're also braided and covered by a lifetime warranty. What's not to like?

To get this price, apply promo code XQVDLEJW at checkout.

I'm increasingly enamored with LED light strips, whether as bias lighting for behind your TV or just to enhance your decor. Govee's 16.4-footer is ridiculously affordable, dropping to $14.53 when you clip the on-page 5%-off coupon.

The strip is controlled entirely by remote. (Some support Wi-Fi, just FYI, which allows for app and voice controls, but not this one.) With it you can adjust brightness and color, set custom scenes and so on. Definitely worth a look if you've yet to try this kind of "mood" lighting.

Here's the problem with many Qi charging pads: They don't come with wall plugs. Sure, you can use an extra one you've got lying around, but unless it's a QuickCharge (QC) plug, you won't get fast charging from the pad.

That's one reason I'm seriously liking this Seenda pad: It has an AC plug built in. What's more, it has a pair of Type-A USB ports right alongside, so you can use it to charge other devices while you're charging your phone. Handy!

The pad normally sells for $20, which is decent, but the price drops to $14 with promo code 30SEENDA57. Update: This code works only with seller ZYH Shop.

Have a great weekend, cheeps, and I'll see you back here on Tuesday!

This article was published previously. It has been updated to reflect current deals.

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskateon FacebookandTwitter. Find more great buys on theCNET Deals pageand check out ourCNET Coupons pagefor the latest promo codes fromBest Buy,Walmart,Amazon, andmore. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.

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Some deals to get you through the weekend: Headphones, home security, LED lighting and more - CNET

The issue of smart home security has once again been pushed into the spotlight with the latest incident:a hacker accessing the Ring security camerain a young girl's room.

According to CNN journalistsElizabeth Wolfe and Brian Ries, thehacker proceeded to harass the child, telling her he was "Santa Claus" and encouraging her to destroy her room.

Ring responded to the incident, claiming thatthe hacker accessed the camera, not through a data breach or a Ring security flaw, but through the victimized family's weak account security.

While consumers should certainly employ security bestpractices, like choosing unique passwords and setting up two-step authentification, incidents like this one and dozenslike it represent a growing trend of smart home vulnerabilities.

Although security has often been discussed as a software problem or a consumer problem, some developers have taken extra precautions to bake security into IoT components at the silicon level.

Here are a few semiconductor companies that have recently released components with hardware security in mind.

One example of a company taking hardware security to heart isMediaTek. The semiconductor company recently announced a new IoT chipset,Rich IoT,which is designed to tackleIoT challenges related to voice recognition, display, and vision.

Rich IoT includes i300A (MT8362A) for display-oriented devices, i300B (MT8362B)for voice-enabled devices, andi500(MT8385) for AI vision devices.

MediaTek claims that hardware security was a priority since the inception of this chipset, reflected in the company's choice to build inArms TrustZone security technology.

Arm posits that TrustZone technology establishes"a device root of trust based on Platform Security Architecture (PSA) guidelines" and offers ongoing support with operating system updates and security patches.

Arm TrustZone is said to onlyexecute code that is authorized and authenticated to ensure that malicious code has not been injected into a firmware update (this is what secure boot is particularly good at).

In addition to firmware security,the Rich IoT chipset comes with a software package called the Board Support Package (BSP), which allows over-the-air security updatesfor the Linux kernel, OpenSSL, and Yocto.

This solution addresses a pressingproblem ofIoT devicesthat they often go un-updated, despitebugs that can behard to fix on the fly.

Though security is paramount at the hardware level, asoftware-update toolis also essential to ensure that IoT devices are protected from new issues, making them less vulnerable to attackers.

Recognizing the trend in hardware security,IoTeX has announced two new IoT products, Ucam and Pebble Tracker.

The company prides itself as a leading privacy-IoT platform, incorporating multiple authorizationtechnologies. Theseincludeblockchain, confidential computing, and decentralized identity.

Thisrange of productsincorporates Intel and Arm'sTrusted Execution Environment in addition toblockchain technology. This combination is said to ensurethat code executed is 1) secure from attackers and 2)authenticated.

IoTeX also factored indata management in the new chipset.

Many other companies sell user data for profit without the user'sconsent, or the company obtains"consent" using dense, difficult-to-read contracts. (Haven't we all, at some point, clicked I Agree without reading the 5,000-word terms and conditions?)

But IoTeX claims that with their product lines, users are thesole owners of their data withtheopportunity to sell or trade data to third-party services, reveal data to service providers, or keep it entirely privateeven from IoTeX or IoT manufacturers.

Silicon Labs' ERF32BG22 is anotherexample of how IoT SoCs are shifting towardhardware security. The (PDF) SoC incorporates all the typical features you would expect from an IoT SoC including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, an ArmCortex processor, clock management, and peripherals; but multiple security features are also included.

LikeMediaTek's Rich IoT platform and IoTeX's product line, Silicon Labs' new SoC includes Arm'sTrustZone to create a secure hardware environment for the main application code to run.

It also incorporates secure-boot,Root-of-Trust Secure Loader (RTSL), which can ensure the authenticity of firmware updates as well as the booting sequence. Thisensures that malicious code cannot be injected into the boot sequence.

The SoC also includes hardware cryptography, a true random number generator, and a secure debug to allow designers to safely debug devices while not leaving them potentially exposed to attackers.

When IoT devices were first introduced, many designers did not incorporate strong security features (if at all).

Now that usersare becoming aware of troubling security problems, as in the Ring security camera incident, many designers must consider at least some measure ofhardware securityto prevent attackers from accessing data.

Many designs are utilizing secure boot systems whereby only authenticated boot code can be accessed and some designs even include multistage boot load sequences. Updating devices over-the-air can be highly beneficial as it can patch potential security risks, but this may be exploitable with a rogue update.

For many years,hardware engineers only incorporated simple security features such as IP protection. But now that attackers are increasingly hacking hardware, we should continue to develop ways toprevent our smart home devices from becoming gateways to places we never intended.

Read more here:
Three Recent IoT Platforms That Show Smart Home Security Isn't Just a Software Problem - News - All About Circuits

Wake Up Call Segment Host/Producer MK Mendoza takes a look at the introduction of 5G Technology and how it stands to potentially transform life as we know it. Some historians predict it will cause a revolution more drastic than that experienced by the industrial revolution. Starting with complaints from community activists about its unprecedented potential environmental and health effects to the legal implication of it acting as the transport system to usher in the latest in smart technology-communities are speaking out. Harvard Professor and Author Shoshana Zuboff calls the new business model it will mainstream Surveillance Capitalism. She argues that this new mode of business uses our personal data as its new raw material, to be exploited and mined to predict human behavior. When combined with things like facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence, this raw material becomes a profitable item, so profitable many companies are now turning to it to make more money from the data they collect than the products they sell. Once the data hits the secondary market, there is zero accountability for how that data may be used-where it can end up in the hands of totalitarian governments like that of China where it can be used as a means of gaining social control over not just their own population, but even to subjugate certain populations like that of the Uyghurs who many compare to the modern day jews of the Holocaust. Hi-Tech companies, like Google and Facebook have hidden their means of attaining this information in the internet of things smart technology with products marketed as providing "greater convenience" and "home security". It brings a new irony to the words "personal security system" especially when these items are those used for the surveillance that collects our personal data and where opting out of this surveillance capitalist model seems near impossible, leaving many finding themselves waking up into world that might have only been previously imagined in sci-fi movies and wondering if Big Brother has already arrived. MK Mendoza speaks with local activists and legal experts to weigh in on action that can be taken on a local level to ensure greater accountability from Hi-Tech companies and more protections for consumers in terms of their concerns over their personal data and safety.

Part One (A look at Community Activist Concerns over Environmental and Health Concerns)-An Interview with Kathleen Dudley

Part Two (A Look at the New Economy-Surveillance Capitalism)-How Local Governments Can Keep Industry Accountable

(Extended Interview with Julian Gresser)

To find out more on Kathleen Dudley, email: seasidereflexology@protonmail.com, or call 575.666.2529

To find out more about Julian Gresser, see link below:

https://resiliencemultiplier.com/author/julian/

More here:
5G Technology: No Ordinary Upgrade-Critics Say May Change Life as We Know It (Part One and Two) - KSFR

Securing and making your business premises safe is critical for guarding your valuable assets. Its premises could be inventory, cash, confidential data and documents, housing computers, and more, relying upon the nature of your business.

And effective, reliable security systems can aid in reducing the risk of crime-related activities and give you peace of mind. For a little help, heres how you can protect and secure your business premises from damage or theft. Read on to know more!

Identify Hazards and Risks Factors

Take note that every property is distinct and unique. Perhaps your business will have dissimilar points of entry compared to other buildings, different security options. Also, the location can differ wildly. Moreover, the property type of your business has an influence or effect on its security. For instance, office blocks are more difficult to secure or guard compared to retail stores within a shopping mall. Initially, you need to identify the hazards and risk factors presented by your business. It is wise to perform a risk assessment analysis to know what things will affect your security. Do consider your security budget, any clear weaknesses of your business premises, valuables you want to secure, people who have property access other than you, existing security systems and access points, and crime rates of the common types of crime in the area. Risk assessment helps you identify and determine the core issues of your security, and thus, give you ideas to resolve the problems.

Have an Alarm System

Against any kind of crime, alarm systems act as the first line of defense. Professionally installed and monitored systems inform or alerts a monitoring station and then notify the authorities in case of serious emergencies.

The most advanced and sophisticated security systems function via Wifi and make use of cloud storage. In this way, alerts and notifications can be checked or overseen through mobile devices.

Thus, minimizing the extra work caused by false alarms. Also, you need to make sure that a professionally installed security system is calibrated or serviced periodically. Additionally, it is wise to post a few signages in prominent places as it can help deter would-be intruders or thieves.

There are a lot of high-quality, effective, and reliable security systems available today. And among them is the Night Owl Security System. This alarm system offers Google Assistant integration, self-monitoring, and DIY installation.

Whats more, the Night Owl Security System is one of the inexpensive, budget-friendly options for securing your business premises. You will love the one TB hard drive, storing all of your photos and video footage from your surveillance cameras.

Another thing, the system comes with four Night Owl 1080p Wired Bullet Cameras. These cameras can work both outdoors and indoors, have 1080p HD video, and 140 field-of-view. Do read a Night Owl security system review in many online sites to see if this product meets your needs.

Install Security Cameras

Criminals, burglars, intruders, and thieves deemed CCTV cameras as the number one obstacle or hindrance against any crime. The presence of these cameras alone is more than enough to deter most thieves since many of them are usually opportunistic. The possible evidence or proof gained from clear-cut video recordings merely presents or gives them high risk. Its particularly true when intruders have no idea of what valuables are within your business premises. That said, they are unaware that the pay-off may be worth the time and effort or not. Even for thieves who plan and carry out calculated robberies, security cameras still provide an impediment most burglars seek to avoid.

Smart Locks

The advancement of technology over the years has produced many methods of securing homes or business premises, from voice-controlled locks to advanced biometrics. With all of these sophisticated security options, businesses now have a lot of ways to protect and safeguard their building. Before, locks and keys were common. But remember that locks can be picked, and keys can be stolen. The good news is that today you can have security solutions beyond the common locks and keys. Now, you can monitor whoever enters your building through digital tracking, limit access to certain people, and use thumbprints to access buildings. Undoubtedly, smart locks are the present of business security, not the future. Any business premises can incorporate technology that increases the difficulty of acquiring unauthorized access.

Takeaway

Small businesses are more likely to be targets of burglaries compared to homes. As a matter of fact, the FBI 2016 crime statistics state that there were 412,743 reported burglaries in business establishments, which includes stores and offices. Keep in mind that no business is not liable or susceptible to intruders. For this reason, its critical to keep your business premises safe and secure. It should be your number one priority as a business owner. The steps mentioned above can help you cut down the risk of a burglary taking place.

Authors Bio:

Tyler Pack is a content marketing specialist for seven years. His target audiences include property sellers, realtors, and buyers, as well as homeowners and parents. He attended several home security seminars and relevant training like those under the Electronic Security Association (ESA).

Read more from the original source:
Effective Ways to Secure Your Business Premises - FinSMEs

This year at CES, we had the opportunity to talk with the Ooma team about their new products that offer security and peace of mind for both businesses and consumers. In addition to home security and monitoring, the company had the Ooma Telo 4G on display.

The Ooma Telo 4G connects to the internet through a 4G LTE adapter and includes a backup battery, providing service, including 911 access when you need it most, during internet and power outages.This is a great solution for cord cutters who have also opted not to use a landline at home.

The hardware for the Telo 4G has a one time cost of $129.99, which includes a base station, wireless adapter, and 10 hour battery backup. Youll need a base subscription of $11.99/month for service through the nationwide Sprint 4G LTE network. The system delivers all the benefits of internet-based home phoneservice without worrying about power failures or losing 911 access in emergency situations.

Oomais dedicated to bringing peace of mind to families when it comes to staying connected with their homes and having a reliable way to reach first responders during emergencies, said Thad White, vice president of residential product development atOoma. We aim forOomaTelo4G, along with theOomaKeypad andOomaProfessional Monitoring forOomaSmart Security, to give our customers more choices and more control in protecting their homes.

Oomas new home security products and services include the Ooma Smart Security Keypad for $59.99 and Ooma Professional Monitoring for $14.99/month. The affordabledo-it-yourselfsystem offeringawiderange of sensors for detecting motion,the opening of doors and windows, water leaks, and the opening of garage doors. Optional premium features include multi-user geofencing to automatically control the system as family members arrive and leave the home, and remote calling to local 911 operators through theOomaSmart Security mobile app.

Did you know we now have aFREE appfor iOS, Android,and Amazon Fire? Click HERE todownload our app.

Please follow us onFacebookandTwitterfor more news, tips, and reviews.Need cord cutting tech support? Join ourCord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Groupfor help.

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Ooma Improves on Phone and Home Security with New Products for Cord Cutters - Cord Cutters News, LLC

Internet service provider Spectrum has announced that it is no longer offering its Home Security plan to new customers and that it will drop its existing security subscribers in early February. The news is an unwelcome surprise for customers who paid out hefty amounts for proprietary home security equipment that cant be used with any other platforms.

Spectrum is best known for offering Internet service in a number of states, but it also offered customers the option of adding on its Spectrum Home Security, a plan that included various home security equipment like cameras and door sensors. Customers were given the option of adding on a larger package of security gear, including a wireless smoke detector, glass break detector, lamp module, motion detectors, and more.

According to a note recently spied on the Spectrum website, it will stop offering its Home Security service to existing customers on February 5, at which point it will also end support for their equipment. This hardware cant be used with other existing smart home platforms, meaning all of the gear will be completely useless by the start of next month.

Spectrum, for those unaware, is the result of the Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks merger it is owned by Charter Communications and is a major service provider in the US. The company claimed to Gizmodo that only a small percentage of its customers would be impacted by this change in service and that it was working to offer them a smooth transition.

The nature of Internet service in the United States means that many customers live in a region where Spectrum is their only option for Internet service. This essentially leaves the customers without any recourse at least one claimed to news agency KSBY that Spectrum refused to apply a credit for the cost of the home security equipment to his account, leaving him with around $900 of essentially worthless hardware.

Instead of offering customers a credit for their equipment, Spectrum says it will give them a deal on transitioning to Rings home security products instead of paying $340 for a 7-piece Ring security kit, they can get it for free of they pay for a year of monitoring instead.

Read more:
Spectrum will make its home security gear useless in early February - SlashGear

Home > News > Spectrum Leaves Home Security Subscribers In The Cold

Homeowners like to think that investing inhome security alongside their telecommunications provider might be the bestsolution. However, as Charter-owned cable provider Spectrum has shown, thismight not always be the best scenario. The company intends to shut down itshome security division, with subscribers now left having to seek another optionfor their needs. On February 5th, when the system shuts down completely, remoteaccess to devices and the monitoring service will no longer be available,although individual devices will still work. Customers will not be gettingmonetary settlements for their service termination. However, the company willoffer them deals on Abode or Ring devices, although without a discount on thesubscription for those devices.

The response the company has given tocustomers regarding covering their security needs is unsatisfactory, at best.Some homeowners have spent several times over the cost of a single one of thosenew devices in outfitting their homes with security cameras, confident inSpectrums promise to deliver on service. Now, those customers will be leftwith glaring holes in their security architecture that the company will nolonger be responsible for. While technically, under consumer protection laws,the companys termination of services is legal, it is not fair to thoseindividuals who bought into Spectrums marketing and installed their securitysystems with the intention of long-term coverage.

If anything, Spectrums shutdown has warnedusers that investing a security system, even with their trusted telecomprovider, doesnt guarantee the service will remain operational indefinitely.Consumers should take it as a sign that managed home security and devices carrythe threat of a shutdown with them, especially if those devices arebrand-specific. Dedicated home security devices may offer a better alternativeto homeowners looking for a long-term solution thats slightly more resilientto security brand closures.

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Spectrum Leaves Home Security Subscribers In The Cold - CloudWedge

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MILWAUKEE -- Mayor Tom Barrett along with the Milwaukee Police Department on Friday, Jan. 17 held a news conference to provide a security "footprint" for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. To get reimbursed for the DNC's public safety costs, the city has prepared its $50 million grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This is not the entire unveiling of the security plan, this is the first step. This is to announce the security footprint, following this there will be more refinements as we get closer to the convention," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "There will be changes."

Mayor Tom Barrett said the Secret Service and Milwaukee police have spent the past six months working collaboratively to ensure a very safe convention.

"I am pleased to say no businesses have been asked to close. We want to make sure people are aware of the security footprint and know that they will be able to go about their normal day-to-day activities," Barrett said. "My biggest priorities are to make sure the events are safe for everyone and that the convention is a success. We are a city -- and that means we will be in full operation at the same time as the convention. So I'm advocating to make sure any security measure is reasonable for the people who live and work here."

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the security zone boundaries will be as follows:

"We want to ensure our plan provides maximum security to the convention and minimum impact on residents of the City of Milwaukee," said Special Agent Robert Pacsi, DNC Security Coordinator.

"Within the security footprint, no business is going to be asked to close. Every resident will have access to their home -- and the rest of the city will receive the same level of service that they would receive on any given day," said Chief Morales.

The Democratic National Convention and more than 1,000-related events will bring an estimated 50,000 people to Milwaukee, bringing added emphasis to the importance of Wisconsin in the presidential race.

"We remain very, very excited as a community. This is the first time in the history of the City of Milwaukee, this is the first time in the history of the state of Wisconsin where we are hosting a major political party convention. That means we are in unprecedented territory -- there are a lot of new things that are occurring," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

If you have questions about security plans, you are welcome to email the Milwaukee Police Department at DNCMPD@milwaukee.gov. In the meantime, visit demconvention.com for more information.

CLICK HERE to read a letter to Milwaukee residents and business owners within the "security footprint"

43.045080-87.917386

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Officials reveal security footprint for 2020 DNC: Every resident will have access to their home - WITI FOX 6 Milwaukee

Update: Now down to $109.24 shipped at Amazon.

Amazon is currently offering theSimpliSafe 5-Piece Wireless Home Security System for $112.44 shipped. Usually selling for $225, todays price cut is good for a 50% discount, beats the prior Amazon low by $16, and is well under our previous mention of $175.Included in this bundle is everything youll need to get started with the popular home security system. Centered around the base station, youll receive a keypad, motion sensor, entry detector, and a keyfob.SimpliSafes home security system doesnt lock you into a contract, pairs with both Alexa as well as Google Assistant, and works with a companion smartphone app for viewing alerts. Rated 3.8/5 stars from over 235 customers.

If keeping an eye on your property is at the top of the list of a security systems functionality, consider theBlink Indoor Camera kit instead. Not only will you pocket some extra cash thanks to a $90 price tag, but the systems camera sports 2-year battery life, a built-in motion detector, and HD recording. Plus, it comes backed by a 4/5 star rating from over 6,400 shoppers.

Though if youre set onSimpliSafes system, its worth noting how solid of a value youre getting compared to competing offerings. For instance, the 5-piece Ring Alarm kit sells for $199 at Amazon right now and is tailored to Alexa, rather than being voice assistant agnostic.

Ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the base station, place your sensors, and start protecting your home in minutes. No tools required.Optional 24/7 professional monitoring with police, fire & medical dispatch starting at 50c/day No contracts. Pioneering signal burst technology that is powerful enough to cover homes of every size, with up to 1000 ft. range no extender needed.

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Save over 50% on SimpliSafes 5-Piece Security System at an Amazon low of $109 - 9to5Toys

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A west Charlotte neighbor said he's thankful his home security cameras were rolling when a man he didnt know showed up at his home with what he believes was an intent to be a burglar.

It was around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when the homeowner said he was alerted by his Ring doorbell camera that someone was knocking at his front door.

He was not home at the time.

After the suspect got no answer, security cameras in the backyard caught a glimpse of him creeping around out back.

At one point, the homeowner says the suspect threw a landscaping brick through the sliding glass door then ran away.

Because the alarm went off when the glass broke Im thinking maybe he left thinking he doesnt have time to do that, the neighbor said.

More than $500 worth of damage was done to the glass door, but thankfully the suspect didnt get a chance to get inside the home to steal anything.

Now, this neighbor just wants to spread the word to others so they are aware of a possible burglar on the run.

This person is in the neighborhood or the area and they could possibly be a threat," he said. "Be on the lookout."

Police are asking anyone who is able to identify the suspect in the video to give investigators a call.

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Watch: Home cameras catch suspected burglar in the act - WCNC.com