Apple has quietly made a subtle change to the Apple TV movie experience. Previously, you were able to rent standard definition and high definition movies through Apple TV, and obviously, those rentals would expire if left unwatched for 30 days, or within 24 hours of you starting the movie. However, people have been asking for movie downloads since Apple TV Take 2 launched. Well, all that has changed, as Apple has come to an agreement with movie studios that will see new movies available for purchase and download on the same day that they are released on DVD.

The downside to all this? Well, for starters, you can’t buy the HD versions of these movies, despite the fact that you can rent them in HD. If you have an HDTV, we are guessing that you prefer your movies in HD. Also, for a similar price, you could just buy the movie on disc, and get all the extra special feature videos that are lacking on the iTunes download. Oh well, I guess we should just be happy that we are seeing progress.

Dulaney also mentioned that the 3G version of the iPhone may use an OLED screen, which would result in an improvement in battery life. Hey, if Apple went with EDGE for the current iPhone due to battery issues, it would make sense that in their leap to 3G, they’d try and conserve as much battery life as possible, right?

While we won’t know for sure when we will see a 3G model of the iPhone, I personally believe it is a safe bet that we will be seeing one within the next few months. The iPhone is nine months old, and while it is still a marvel, 9 months is a long time to go in the cell phone industry without seeing an upgrade. Apple also knows that 3G is a glaring omission from the current model. After all, there was a collective groan heard around the tech world when it was introduced back at MacWorld 2007 due to it’s lack of 3G. Even 14 months ago it was a huge letdown. Too much time has passed since then.

Bottom line, if you are in the market for an iPhone, but aren’t in the “need to have it now” mindset, you may want to wait a while.

Read More | iPod Observer via MacRumors

We’ve been expecting an updated Airport Express from Apple for a few days now, after an image was leaked out of Switzerland. As it turns out, the new Airport Express with 802.11n support is now on sale in the US Apple Store. Yeah, on a Monday no less. In case you don’t know, the Airport Express is a small wireless router that supports up to 10 clients at a time, and also features printer sharing and AirTunes. That means you can stream your iTunes content to the device, and have it play through a connected speaker system. With 802.11n support, this is now the perfect travel companion, as long as you don’t mind not have a directly wired Ethernet connection to your computer.Or, if you already have an 802.11n network set up, you can now pick up a refurbished Airport Express model and use it to set up a secondary G network. The Airport Express will cost you $99, while refurbs are $79.

We have the full press release after the break.

Read More | Airport Express product page ]]> 2008-03-17T17:59:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q108-apple-tv-take-2-finally-released/ Apple, Broadband, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Software

If you are like me, you’ve been waiting for Apple TV Take 2 to hit for just about a month now. When it was delayed two weeks ago, I stared at my Apple TV in disgust. In it’s current form, it was nothing more than a YouTube viewer, and sometimes, a nice picture screensaver. However, the wait is no more. As part of today’s Tuesday updates, Apple has finally released the Apple TV Take 2 software, and it is available now for download. Aside from a freatly enhanced UI, here are some of the features:

• Movie rentals in both high definition and standard definition
• Flickr photo browsing and slideshows
• .Mac photo gallery browsing and slideshows
• Purchasing of items from iTunes Store from Apple TV
• Browse and view podcasts in iTunes Podcast directory on Apple TV

If you have an Apple TV, fire up Software Update on the device to get the new hotness, and let us know what you think.

Read More | Apple TV Take 2 Guided Tour ]]> 2008-02-12T18:59:02-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q108-follow-up-verizon-makes-good-on-our-fios-privacy-woes/ Broadband, Editorial, Features, Internet

A little under two weeks ago, we made a long-standing issue that we had with Verizon public. The fact that they had ignored our request to fix a huge oversight that resulted in our private FiOS account info to fall into the wrong hands for over 8 months was starting to upset us just a tad. We knew that if we shared it with you, our readers, that Verizon would have no choice but to respond quickly. At least, that was the hope.

Well, sure enough, after the story was picked up on The Consumerist as well as made it to the front page of Digg, we received a phone call. Then an email. Then another phone call. Then a couple more emails. Verizon Damage Control had stepped in.

Seeing as we’ve been experiencing a ton of customer service issues with our Verizon FiOS service for the past 8 months, we figured it was time to put out a warning to you guys. After all, we typically hear that the FiOS Internet service is remarkably amazing, and people have been dumping cable in droves when FiOS becomes available in their area. Hey, there is good reason to. Where we are at, right outside Seattle, our choices are slow DSL, Comcast at 8.0 down and 768k up, or FiOS with a max speed of 30.0 down and 15.0 up (which is the plan we are on.)

Now let’s be clear here, we love the FiOS service. It works fantastically, it has never gone down in the 8 months we’ve been using it, and it’s, well, fast.

So what is the problem? To put it bluntly, Verizon has shown that they don’t care - at all - about protecting their users private, confidential information. Now, why would we make a statement like that? Check it.

Available now for $50 with a 2 year contract, or for $299 without a commitment to AT&T.

Read More | AT&T ]]> 2007-11-15T21:59:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q307-sharing-a-3g-internet-connection-with-the-iphone/ Apple, Broadband, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi

Pyrofers has posted a how-to on turning a Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 6 phone with 3G access into a high-speed modem for the iPhone. The whole process seems a little extreme given that you would have to pay for, carry, and keep active a 2nd device at all times, but might be useful if you have a spare Windows Mobile device hanging around and if you can convince your work to pay for an unlimited data account for it. Fair warning - the hack involves registry editing on your Windows Mobile device so proceed at your own risk. As for us, we will likely just wait it out for the iPhone 2.0 (iPhone Extreme?) to come out with 3G internet access built in.

Read More | Pyrofers Projects ]]> 2007-10-11T22:32:01-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q307-apple-airport-extreme-receives-gigabit-treatment/ Apple, Broadband, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi

When Apple released the new Airport Extreme back in January, we complained about the lack of gigabit Ethernet ports. After all, if you are gonna call the thing “Extreme”, you should make sure that the title fits, right? Well, fast forward to seven months later, Apple has finally updated their Airport Extreme 802.11n Base Station with gigabit ports. Here at Gear Live HQ, we have wired gigabit running through the place, so this is a very welcome change from our perspective. The price of the Airport Extreme remains at $179 USD.

Read More | Airport Extreme 802.11n Base Station ]]> 2007-08-08T20:15:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q207-vonage-changing-our-e-911-settings-incorrect-address/ Broadband, Corporate News, Editorial, Features, Household Vonage E-911 isn’t helping us at all in our home. For some reason, despite inputting the correct address over and over, Vonage automatically changes it to a completely different address. One that isn’t even in the same city, in fact. At first, it was an annoyance. You see, when we signed up for Vonage, we gave them our address and thought that was that. A couple weeks later, we got a confirmation email saying that the address we submitted was accepted - however, in the email, it listed an address we had never seen before. Odd, we thought. We changed it back, and went along on our way...until a couple weeks later we got the same email. Our change has been accepted, but...again, Vonage changed our submission to that same address in a city that is ten minutes from where we have service. We changed it back, and dropped Vonage a support email. We never heard back from Vonage on support. However, two days ago we needed to call an ambulance to rush our 3-year old to the hospital in what was a life-threatening situation. Fortunately, the 911 operator has our correct address come up on her screen - something that when you are in the midst of an emergency, you don’t want to take the time to have to recite.

However, the day AFTER that frantic 911 call, guess what we found in our email inbox…

AT&T has just launched their new Option GT Max 3.6 Express mobile broadband HSDPA ExpressCard. We have been waiting for something like this to come down the Cingular/AT&T pike for quite a while now, especially since Verizon has been rocking a 3G card in the V640 ExpressCard since late last year. Still, better late than never, right?  The Option GT MAx 3.6 Express is being touted by AT&T as a Windows-only device, despite the fact that Option has released Mac drivers for the card. Details about the Sierra Wireless 875U USB HSDPA modem were also released, and that too is showing as being Windows only, despite Mac drivers being available. Our guess? AT&T just won’t help you troubleshoot issues in OS X, but we think it will work just fine.

You can pick up the GT Max 3.6 Express now for $49.99 with two-year contract after $100 rebate, while the Sierra Wireless 875U price is being left in the dark for now. At least we know what will be available in May.

Read More | AT&T Option GT Max 3.6 Express ]]> 2007-04-25T19:59:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q207-vonage-cant-get-around-verizon-patent/ Broadband, Corporate News, Internet So, it looks like things are going from bad to worse for VOIP phone company Vonage. Last week, a judge ruled in favor of Verizon citing that Vonage was infringing upon Verizon’s patented Internet phone technology, which lays out methods for getting calls to go between the Internet and conventional phone networks. The ruling was that Vonage was banned from signing up new customers, while existing customers were unaffected. Vonage asked for, and received, an emergency stay which allows them to conduct business as usual for the time being. They went so far as to tell investors not to worry, because a “workaround” was currently under development.

Unfortunately, today Vonage has changed their tune, and they are now saying that they have no workaround that would moot the need for a stay. Uh oh. We don’t know how much longer Vonage will be around in it’s current form, but for a company that loses 2.5% of it’s customers per month, if they can’t bring in new customers to replace lost ones, it’s fairly obvious what will happen.

Read More | USA Today ]]> 2007-04-16T18:35:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q107-apple-wwan-support-update-10-released/ Apple, Broadband, PC / Laptop, Software, Wireless / WiFi, USB As I was Twittering, Software Update popped up and notified me that there is a WWAN Support Update available. What does this mean? Since I am posting from a MacBook Pro, it means that Apple is adding support in OS X for even more cards for hopping online. Included are a bunch of Novatel products, like the Novatel Merlin XU870 ExpressCard (HSDPA) for Cingular, and the V740 ExpressCard for Verizon that supports EVDO Rev. A. The full message is below:

The WWAN Support Update v1.0 provides SW support for the following WWAN products:

Available on the Cingular network:

• Novatel Merlin XU870 ExpressCard (HSDPA)

• Novatel Wireless Merlin EX720 Express Card (EVDO Rev. A)
• Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 USB Modem (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A)

• Novatel XV620 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. 0)
• Novatel V740 ExpressCard (EVDO Rev. A)
• Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 (USB Adapter, EVDO Rev. A)

If you’re on a Mac notebook, rev up Software Update for the download.

The ZiPhone II USB Telephone from Simple Simon has been drawing a lot of attention this past week, due to the money-saving features and call recording capabilities that is boasts. Even more, we see the hacker / designer aspect of the phone with it’s programmer’s development kit and sample code as well. The phone connects to a PC over a USB connection and utilizes VoIP for communications on that end. It doesn’t stop there though, as it can also connect to a standard land line as well as analog PBX connections as well. What’s fantastic is that it can be managed through any Windows-based VoIP SoftPhone or virtual PBX system on the market. The ZiPhone II runs for $199.95 USD.

[Thanks, sightandsound!]

Read More | Simple Simon ]]> 2007-02-16T22:45:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/bleeding-edge-078-slingcatcher-preview/ Accessories, Broadband, CES, CES 2007, Features, Home Entertainment, Movies, PC / Laptop, Storage, Videocasts, Videos Here's how to get the show:
Subscribe: iTunes iPod / H.264 | iTunes MPEG-4 | RSS H.264 Feed | RSS MPEG-4 Feed

|Download| - iPod-formatted H.264
|Download| - Apple TV High Resolution
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|Download| - Windows Media


Tags: dave mathews (T), home entertainment (T), interviews (T), sling media (T), slingcatcher (T), videos (T)

Read More | The Bleeding Edge ]]> 2007-01-13T02:37:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/bleeding-edge-077-ojo-videophones/ Accessories, Broadband, Cameras, CES, CES 2007, Features, Household, Videocasts, Videos Here's how to get the show:
Subscribe: iTunes iPod / H.264 | iTunes MPEG-4 | RSS H.264 Feed | RSS MPEG-4 Feed

|Download| - iPod-formatted H.264
|Download| - Apple TV High Resolution
|Download| - DivX
|Download| - MPEG-4
|Download| - Windows Media


Tags: interviews (T), ojo (T), video phones (T), videophones (T)

Read More | The Bleeding Edge ]]> 2007-01-10T16:15:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/unboxing-belkin-n1-router-notebook-card-1130/ Broadband, Features, PC / Laptop, Videos, Wireless / WiFi

Over at Unboxing, we just did a video showing the unboxing of a Belkin N1 networking set. The set includes the N1 802.11n-draft router along with N1 Wireless Notebook card. We were impressed with the way Belkin packaged the internals, so figured we would put the video up here as well. Enjoy - and head on over to Unboxing for more photos, videos, and the like.

Read More | Unboxing ]]> 2006-11-30T22:49:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/verizon-v640-evdo-expresscard-review-810527/ Accessories, Apple, Broadband, Features, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews, Wireless / WiFi

For anyone that has picked up a MacBook Pro, or any other laptop computer that has replaced the PCMCIA card with the newer ExpressCard format, you will be happy to hear that a couple of options have become available for getting on the Internet while on the go. New ExpressCards from both Dell and Verizon have surfaced, giving anyone with an ExpressCard slot the ability to resume their mobile tech lifestyle. We got one of the new Verizon V640 ExpressCards and have set it up and tested it, and we are here to report back with our results. Check out the full review of the WWAN V640 after the jump.

“We remain highly focused on our key points of differentiation between TiVo and generic DVRs. Those points of differentiation are becoming hugely significant and form the basis of being able to market TiVo’s many benefits as a world apart from simply having a hard drive in a cable or satellite box,” said Rogers.

With 30,000 new TiVo subscriptions, the recently launched KidZone, its new Series 3 unit, and sugar plum thoughts of the Christmas season to come, it’s easy to assume that the only direction TiVo will be traveling is up.

Read More | Tivo Press Release ]]> 2006-09-04T00:45:00-08:00 http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/samsung-shows-off-4g-wireless-internet-08311255/ Broadband, Cell Phones, Internet, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi

Today in South Korea, Samsung Electronics demonstrated new 4G wireless technology to the press.  Samsung showed 4G technology could carry speeds of 100Mbps over the air.  That’s more bandwidth than most current broadband providers can even harness. The demo took place on a bus while traveling across the city.  Samsung reps demonstrated high speed access through HDTV streaming as well as data access. According to Samsung, this type of performance should be attainable whether standing still or traveling at over 70mph on the highway. 

The speeds demonstrated by Samsung best the WiMAX standard that is currently being used to supply wireless network access city-wide to customers at speeds of up to only 20Mbps.  Samsung also did some demonstration showing that the 4G technology could potentially even hit speeds of up to 1Gbps! 1Gbps wireless...the best I can get is Comcast’s ultimate connection at a rockin 6Mbps. Go figure.

Read More | EE Times ]]> 2006-09-01T03:10:00-08:00