TheBolt

Eero is the networking device that’s changing the way we set up and use Wi-Fi in our homes. It’s been getting rave reviews from industry magazines and personal users alike, for making Wi-Fi networks easier to configure and improving signal reliability. The folks from Eero recently visited Abt, and we got the chance to sit down with company co-founder and CEO, Nick Weaver to chat about his product.  Check out the video to learn more about what makes the 2nd Generation of Eero so unique:

We’re all familiar with the Internet, which connects our computers, smartphones and tablets to others around the world—it’s how you’re reading this blog right now. But lately, you may have been hearing more about the Internet of Things, a concept that’s been steadily gaining buzz over the last few years. What is the Internet of Things? That’s what we’re here to learn today.

If the Internet connects computers to each other and you to those computers, the Internet of Things (IoT) connects, well, things. In the Internet of Things, everyday devices are upgraded with a computer chip that makes them smart and gives them internet connectivity, which lets them communicate with other smart objects and you, the user.  (more…)

A lot of things have changed since 1936, when Abt started as tiny Chicago radio shop. We’ve moved five times, began serving all of North America via Abt.com, grown from three employees to 1400, and branched into fun new areas like watches, furniture, and even candy. Of course, in all of that time, plenty has remained the same. And one of the most consistent parts of the Abt experience over the last half century has been a single man: Terry Forrest. Today, we celebrated Terry’s 50th anniversary at Abt.

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Announced earlier this year, the curious new Samsung Frame is now available at Abt. Part piece of art and part high-tech display, the Samsung Frame is a product intended for those who find that the traditional “black mirror” of a TV is a bit of an eyesore in an otherwise nicely-decorated home. TVs have gotten better looking as technology allows them to be made thinner, with smaller bezels, and out of materials like sleek aluminum or stainless steel. But at the end of the day, they’re still big chunks of glass, plastic and metal that tend to look out of place in most design schemes when they’re powered off. The aim of the Frame is to allow the TV to function as beautiful piece of art when it’s not being used as a television.

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Throughout Abt’s history, we’ve always prided ourselves on providing the best shopping experience in the industry, whether that includes product knowledge, pre-purchase customer service, or post-purchase tech support. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve been chosen as the #1 appliance store in the country by a particular consumer magazine for the last seven years in a row. However, not all of our customers know about Abt’s Low Price Guarantee. It’s pretty simple: if you find a lower price on an in-stock item, sold by an authorized dealer, we will meet or beat that price. No gimmicks or caveats, and no annual club membership fees needed to qualify. Just us giving our customers the best prices to go along with the industry’s best service, every day of the year. Click the icons below to find out more about why Abt should be your go-to source for appliances, electronics, and home goods.

If your door-in-door refrigerator could talk, what would it say? Would it complain about the various expired condiments hanging out on the top shelf? Maybe it would tell the tale of that green pepper that has been living in your veggie drawer for months. The truth of the matter is that most people struggle to keep their fridges organized. For some reason, it’s easier to throw food inside, shut the door, and forget about it. With the door-in-door feature on your fridge, though, you could be using that space to your advantage. Here are a few tips and tricks to help your fridge stay organized—whether it’s a side-by-side, French door, or door-in-door model.

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One of our favorite events of the summer will be back in Chicago next weekend. The Windy City Smokeout is a celebration of country music, BBQ cooking and beer, and it’s a rollicking good time. We’re excited to partner with Samsung and return as a sponsor for the third year running. All weekend long, fest-goers can rock out to country hits by more than thirty artists, including headliners Jake Owen, Kip Moore, and Lee Brice, at the Smokeout (560 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL).

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After much speculation and anticipation, Canon took the wraps off two new eagerly-awaited DSLRs this week. The Canon EOS 6D Mark II and Rebel SL2 bring significant updates to two of the most popular Canon DSLRs, and are likely to be among the hottest new cameras this year.

The 6D Mark II updates its predecessor on nearly every front, presenting a refined full-frame option aimed squarely at intermediate and professional users. A bump in resolution, to 26.2 megapixels, will provide more detail in photos, while an updated autofocus system—including the highly-regarded Dual Pixel phase-detect AF from the EOS 80D—will help users utilize that resolution to capture sharply-focused photos.

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The washer and dryer are the unsung heroes of home appliances. They’re important, but unlike the kitchen appliances, they usually stay hidden away, only upgraded when they finally break. If you’re looking for the opportunity to revamp your laundry room into a high-tech clothes cleaning headquarters, here’s your chance. Samsung has hooked us up with their newest laundry appliances—the FlexWash washer and FlexDry dryer—to give away to one lucky winner. Entering is easy, just click through to the Samsung FlexWash contest entry page and fill out a simple form. Make sure to learn how to earn the chance for bonus entries!

Nintendo dropped a little Monday surprise today with the announcement of the SNES Classic. Retro gaming fans undoubtedly remember the buzz of the release and sales rush of the NES Classic last year, and many are still upset by that model’s unexpected discontinuation less than six months later—leaving many hopeful fans unable to grab the uber-popular device. This time around, Nintendo has promised better availability, so hopefully there will be plenty of SNES Classics to go around come holiday season.

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