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Apple Arcade: New video game service for iOS and Mac
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Video Games,
During today's It's Show Time Apple Event, Apple showed off its new video game service - Apple Arcade. Apple Arcade is a game subscription service that provides users with access to over 100 games that are exclusive to the service - that's right, the entire catalogue is not only exclusive to iOS and macOS, but exclusive to the Apple Arcade service itself. Rather than another game streaming service like Google Stadia, Apple Arcade users install their games through the App Store, so that they can be played anywhere without the need for an Internet connection.
Apple showed various games which include familiar franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, and mentioned that we will see original titles from Will Wright, SEGA, Cartoon Network, Konami, LEGO, and more. More than just selecting games for the service, Apple is also helping with the development costs of the games as well.
Apple Arcade will launch this fall in over 150 countries, with pricing to be announced later (we assume at Apple's annual September event.)
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Apple Card: Apple announces its own credit card with a focus on privacy
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,
During today's It's Show Time Apple Event, the company announced Apple Card, a brand new credit card that promises to change the way consumers work with credit cards. Apple says it is focusing on simple, instant applications, no fees ever, lower interest rates, and better rewards. In order to sign up, users use the Apple Wallet app in the iPhone, and instantly upon approval they get a digital card that is ready to use in their wallet. You'll be able to track purchases, check balances, make payments, and more right from the app.
As for bonuses, Apple is introducing Daily Cash. You get 3% cash back when buying from Apple (including Apple Store, App Store, etc.,) 2% cash back when you use your Apple Card through Apple Pay, and 1% cash back when you use your physical card (and by the way, the physical Apple Card is forged from titanium!) Daily Cash is instantly accessible to be used for whatever you'd like - pay your balance, buy apps, send the cash to friends, spend it, etc.
Focusing on privacy, “Apple doesn’t know what you bought, where you bought it, and how much you paid for it,” says Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay. All the spending tracking and other information is stored directly on the device, not Apple’s servers. Apple also says “Goldman Sachs will never sell your data to third parties for marketing and advertising,” either.
Apple News+: Unlimited access to magazines and newspapers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Videos,
During today's It's Show Time Apple Event, the company unveiled Apple News+, an all-you-can-eat subscription news service that gives you unlimited access to newspapers and magazines. Apple News+ is found within the Apple News app itself, which ships on all iOS and macOS devices. Some of the notable inclusions in Apple News+ are the LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired magazine, Bazaar, InStyle, Sports Illustrated, and more. In all, there are over 300 magazines that will be available with a single subscription.
As Apple noted on stage, none of the publications get your personal information. Privacy is paramount, and even Apple doesn't know which magazines or articles you choose to read.
Apple News+ will cost $9.99 per month, and in a great move, it is available for families for no extra charge which means that same $10 allows you and up to 5 other family members to access the service. You can access Apple News+ starting today, and the first month is free.
What do you think? Will you be giving Apple News+ a shot?
Latest Gear Live Videos
Geared Up: Apple’s big week of hardware releases, and Google’s vision for the future of gaming
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Wearables, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games,
This week Apple announced a slew of new hardware products with the return of the iPad Air, an update to the iPad mini, new AirPods, and spec bumps for the iMac. In addition, Google revealed their vision for the future of gaming - it's cloud-based, and it's called Stadia.
Listen to the episode in the player below or subscribe to Geared Up in your favorite podcast app to listen on the go:
Listen to this episode of the Geared Up podcast for analysis of the latest from Apple and Google.
Serena Shades review for Smart Homes & Apple’s New Video Service
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smart Home, Videos,
Check out my Serena Shades by Lutron review - these are smart shades for smart homes that have been installed here in my home, and in this episode of Geared Up I bring you my thoughts. I use Serena Shades HomeKit integration for controlling them in my home, but there is also Serena Shades Alexa integration, along with Google Assistant, making them very versatile. Head to 16:15 in the video for the full rundown!
Subscribe to the Geared Up podcast for free:
Also, Apple is getting ready to launch new services - a video streaming service that will compete with Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO Now, and Hulu is one, and the other is a news subscription service that will give you access to a bunch of newspapers and magazines for one monthly fee. The Apple event takes place on March 25th, and we talk about what we expect to see and how it'll change the industry.
Don't forget, you can join the TechSquad for exclusive bonuses!
Geared Up: FaceTime eavesdropping bug, minimalist phones, and rumored Apple gaming subscription service
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Displays, Home Entertainment,
In this episode of Geared Up, Andru Edwards and Starla Sampaco discuss the FaceTime bug that allowed iPhone users to eavesdrop on the person they called, reports of a new gaming subscription service from Apple, the minimalist phone trend, signs of new iPads and a seventh-generation iPod touch, and a foldable phone from Samsung. Plus, if you're doing some last-minute TV shopping ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, Andru has some recommendations for you.
Listen to the episode in the player below or subscribe to Geared Up in your favorite podcast app to listen on the go:
Panasonic Lumix S1, Harley-Davidson LiveWire and more from Panasonic’s CES 2019 booth!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, Design, Smart Home, Transportation,
As part of CES 2019, I spent a lot of time with Panasonic (they were one of our sponsors this year,) checking out a bunch of their current and future tech innovations. We shot a video that teased the top 5 tech that we were going to be exploring in the booth, (don't miss the Harley Davidson electric motorcycle!) Here's the breakdown:
- Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
- Panasonic Projection Mapping and Real-Time Tracking
- Panasonic CIRRUS Intelligent Transportation Solution
- Human Characteristic Sensing and AI
- SPACe_C eMobility Concept 48v ePowertrain platform
- ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System (bonus!)
Venom and The Equalizer 2 dropping on Blu-ray and DVD in time for the holidays
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Movies,
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ManCaveMovieNight #CollectiveBias
Simply hover over the image above to click-through to purchase either movie!
If you're looking for a couple of great movies to put under the tree or into a stocking this holiday season, Sony Pictures is releasing two of its most recent blockbusters on Blu-ray and DVD just in time. You can pick up The Equalizer 2, which sees Denzel Washington reprise one of his signature roles (and acting in the first sequel he's ever done!) right now at Walmart, while Venom will be released on December 18th, one week before Christmas (but you can pre-order it at Walmart as well!)
I'm a big fan of movies that are centered around comic book characters, and when Sony sent over copies of each, I fired up Venom right away for a fun movie night with the fam. If you haven't heard, Venom is the story of journalist Eddie Brock and his attempt to bring down Carlton Drake. Drake is the mastermind behind the Life Foundation, which Brock discovers is using symbiotic lifeforms that require oxygen-breathing hosts to survive and thrive. Brock accidentally comes into contact with a symbiote, and thus begins his transformation into the superhuman title character, Venom, who tries to control Brock's new abilities.
Vizio E-Series 2018 4K TV review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, Home Entertainment, Product Reviews,
The Vizio E-Series is a budget-priced television set, but don’t let the great price fool you. The E-Series has one of the displays in terms of image quality that you’ll find for the money, thanks in large part to the local dimming (which you typically have to pay a lot more money for.) Let’s dive into the features and design of the Vizio E-Series to see if it’s worth your attention.
Click to continue reading Vizio E-Series 2018 4K TV review
Spin Master’s Air Hogs Supernova: The flying orb with motion controls
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Product Reviews, Toys,
There've been a lot of options for toy drones over the years, and you may think that they're all pretty much the same. At first glance, that's understandable since they typically lack the premium features you find on more prosumer level drones, like 4K cameras. That's why I appreciate what Spin Master is doing with the new Air Hogs Supernova. I've covered Spin Master products in the past, and usually come away impressed - this time is no different. Spin Master sent over the Air Hogs Supernova for me to test out, and it actually took away some of my uneasiness about using more expensive drones that I’ve acquired in the past.
The Supernova is Spin Master's first motion-controlled drone. Don't expect it to be as feature-rich as the DJI Mavic Air, but do expect to be able to pull off some pretty impressive tricks with hardware that's responsive and kid-friendly to boot.
Click to continue reading Spin Master’s Air Hogs Supernova: The flying orb with motion controls
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