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On TV Envy: The Oprah Winfrey Show to End in 2011

Latest Video: Bleeding Edge TV 325: HP Envy 13 and Envy 15 notebook computersx

Get a look at the new HP Envy 13, Envy 15, and Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition notebooks in this episode!
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Sonos S5 unboxing gallery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment

After reporting on the existence of the , we were immediately excited to get our hands on a unit to see how it stacked up against the rest of the lineup. If you’ve followed us for any length of time, you know that we at Gear Live are huge fans, so it makes sense that our unit arrived as soon as they were available, and we had it set up within minutes. Literally.

The S5 is the easiest way to get up and running with Sonos. We had it unboxed, plugged in, and playing music in under five minutes, controlling it with an iPhone. The price is right too, something we’ve previously criticized Sonos about. The entry level into Sonos used to be $999, but with the S5 that drops down to $399. Put this one on your Christmas list, folks. We’ve snapped a bunch of images of the S5, which you can find in our Sonos S5 unboxing gallery.

Read More | Sonos S5 gallery

Gallery: Sonos S5 unboxing gallery

  • Sonos S5 shelved up close
  • Sonos S5 back
  • Sonos S5 rear ports
  • Sonos S5 volume control
  • Sonos S5 on shelf
  • Sonos S5 top

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Unboxing Live 053: DJ Hero Renegade edition

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Video Games, Videocasts

In this episode we open up the DJ Hero Renegade edition set. DJ Hero is the new turntable-based rhythm game featuring hip-hop, electronic, and rock music, and the Renegade Edition has a bunch of premium touches, and is also available just for a limited time. We show it all in this edition of Unboxing Live.

By the way, if you like music and haven’t played DJ Hero, you owe it to yourself to check it out. In our opinion, this is better than any Guitar Hero or Rock Band game that has come before it, in the way that you interact with the music, and the totally unique pairings that they throw at you. We are definitely DJ Hero believers! You can pick up DJ Hero on Amazon.

Read More | DJ Hero

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Household, Music

Sonos ZonePlayer S5

Just a heads up to any of you who want to add the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 to your current setup, or those of you who want to jump into Sonos for the first time for the lowest cost possible - the S5 is now shipping, and can be had for $399. We have one set to arrive later today, so we will hit you with a review after we play with it a bit.

Read More | Sonos ZonePlayer S5

Xbox LIVE Fall Update: We’ll be previewing Facebook, Twitter, Zune 1080p for you on Monday

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live

Zune 1080p Xbox 360

We just got word from our friends at that we’ll be getting the new Fall 2009 Dashboard Update on Monday, which means we’ll be bringing you a preview and walkthrough of all the upcoming dashboard features, including Twitter, Facebook, Zune instant-on 1080p movies, Last.fm, and more. For a look at everything we’ll be bringing you on Monday, hit the jump. Now go enjoy your weekend!

Click to continue reading Xbox LIVE Fall Update: We’ll be previewing Facebook, Twitter, Zune 1080p for you on Monday


Sonos ZonePlayer S5 wireless music system, $399

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Music, Wireless / WiFi

is looking to market to the and crowd with their new ZonePlayer S5 wireless music system. If you’re familiar with Sonos, you know that the price of entry has always been a bit high historically. The ZonePlayer S5 brings that price down to about $400. You plug it in to a router, and you are good to go with the ability to play your entire music library, as well as music from services like Rhapsody, Napster, Last.fm, and others, by using your iPhone as the remote control.

The price rises if you don’t have an Ethernet port handy for the S5, as you would then also need to buy a ZoneBridge, which allows you to connect the ZonePlayer S5 (as well as any other ZonePlayers you have) to your network wirelessly. We definitely think this is a positive step in the right direction for Sonos. By adding an all-on-one ZonePlayer/speaker to their line-up at this much lower price point, they’ve made it enticing to check them out to see what all the fuss is about. We’d pick up a ZonePlayer S5 over a Bose Sounddock any day of the week.

Read More | Sonos ZonePlayer S5 Demo

Sony DRC-BT30P Bluetooth headphone conduit

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Accessories, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi

Sony DRC-BT30P

For those who want a little wireless action for their own pair of headphones, then you might want to get in on ‘s new DRC-BT30P.  It has volume controls, a playback feature, as well as a button that allows you to take your calls. The device will connect to your audio player over Bluetooth, and you can then plug in any pair of headphones you like, for a partial wireless effect.  As you can see, it is available in black, white, pink, and blue.  No price has been announced as yet. 

Read More | Akihabara News

Zune 4.0 software now live - go get it!

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Music, Software

Zune 4.0 install

It is now September 15th, and that means that you are now able to go and grab the 4.0 update. Go ahead and do it, if you love music. The Zune.net site is still undergoing maintenance, but if you have the old version of the Zune player, just launch it and have it check for updates, and you’re golden.


Zune.net now streams entire Zune music catalog in the browser (even on Macs!)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Music, Software

One of the main gripes we’ve had with Microsoft as it pertains to the platform is that they have stubbornly decided to keep it to a PC-only experience, leaving those of us who live in out in the cold. Well, starting today, that changes. Kind of.

You see, the Zune Marketplace is now a part of Zune.net. Aside from having the largest audio and video podcast streaming directory, Zune now allows you to log in and listen to music from the Marketplace in any browser that supports 3. Technically, Microsoft says that this experience is officially supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, but we will have to give it a shot in Safari. Anyhow, the caveat here is that you can log in as a Zune Pass subscriber and stream music. This doesn’t solve the problem that those on a Mac have where they can’t sync their Zune hardware or download music. Still, though, it’s a step in the right direction, and a nice bonus for Zune Pass subscribers to be able to access and stream music, including Smart DJ playlists, on the fly. This basically turns any computer running IE or Firefox into a terminal for you to log in and crank those Zune tunes, and we like it.

For those wondering, any activities you do with Zune.net stream will also be reflected in your Zune account and Zune Card. How cool is that?


Zune 4.0: The Complete Feature List Rundown

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Software

Zune 4.0 software

The wait for the big refresh that a lot of us have been clamoring for is finally over. Today, the launches, available from the Microsoft online store, Amazon, Best Buy, and others. Alongside that launch comes a much-improved Zune software and services package. That’s right, Zune 4.0 is here, and there’s lots to cover. Let’s dive in and take a look at all the major new features in Zune 4.0, as well as some of the smaller pieces of fit and finish that make this release shine, including the Zune Marketplace, Zune PC software, Zune on Xbox Live, and Zune.net.

ZUNE 4.0
From everything we’ve seen as it pertains to the Zune 4.0 software, this update is all about making music more enjoyable to listen to, easier to discover, and easier to manage. In addition, you get movies in the Zune Marketplace now (both rental and purchase,) Xbox Live integration, and a bunch of other features that make Zune 4.0 one of the best pieces of media management software that we’ve used to date.


QUICKPLAY

Zune Quickplay

One of the first things you’ll notice about Zune 4.0 is the Quickplay screen. Similar to the Quickplay area on the new Zune HD, the Zune desktop software gets similar treatment. Here you’ll be able to pin specific content to the area, get a look at new content you’ve recently added to your library, pull up recently played content, and also get direct access to your Smart DJ mixes. Smart DJ, you say? Yes, read on.

Click to continue reading Zune 4.0: The Complete Feature List Rundown


Microsoft’s take on today’s Apple announcements

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Software

Zune logo

One things we’ve been wondering today, admidst all of the Apple event news, is how Microsoft was feeling, especially as it pertains to their business, which is set for a major overhaul in six days. We got in contact with a Microsoft spokesperson, and asked them about what they thought of the new iPod and iTunes announcements. Here’s what they had to say:

Since our debut, Zune has offered a different kind of end-to-end digital entertainment experience that includes wireless MP3 players, a robust online store, music community and innovative software features that help users easily find the music and videos they love.

The entertainment experience for consumers hasn’t changed that much after Apple’s announcement today.  Our point of view has always been that people want to be entertained, and they want a better way to watch and listen to the digital entertainment they love.  We’re interested in getting you your content where you want it in rich, exciting ways.  We look forward to sharing more on September 15th.

Okay, so Zune is all about music and videos - not games, video recording, and all that other stuff. We get it, and we like the focus. What we don’t like, though, is how Microsoft allowed Apple to steal their thunder by announcing the new line-up way after Microsoft announced the , followed up by Apple launching the new iPods a week before the Zune HD hits stores.

In the meantime, if you’re a music fan looking for a new music player, we say wait until the fifteenth. What you see come out of the Zune camp may surprise you. All of you. I’ve already said too much.


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