Fulton showcases method to charge your smartphone with your tablet, wirelessly

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, CES, CES 2013, Handhelds,

Fulton Innovation, known for its advancements in wireless power, is making yet another run at wireless power in 2013. What's in store this year: Using your tablet to wirelessly charge your smartphone. Fulton showed off its "two-way technology" at CES 2013, displaying a tablet that doubles as a wireless charing pad for other devices and Qi-compatible phones. Fulton demonstrated its two-way technology's flexibility with a printed poster of aDj console that is played by tapping elements of the poster to create sounds, all powered by its two-way tablet, as instead of powering lights it powers the speakers. The circuits of the poster are implemented in conductive inks that create the wireless power coil. Lastly, Fulton showed its multi-device power mat that allows multiple Qi-compatible devices to charge on a single surface.

Read More | The Verge

Google plans fix for Google Maps in Internet Explorer on Windows Phone

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Google, Internet, Microsoft, Software,

Maps for Windows Phone users is about to get a little better. According to Google, it is planning on fixing the issue preventing Windows Phone users from reaching the Google Maps website through Internet Explorer. The search giant had this to say:

"We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users. In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that’s why there is no redirect for those users. Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience and we are currently working to remove the redirect. We will continue to test Google Maps compatibility with other mobile browsers to ensure the best possible experience for users."

Google had previously stated that the outage was because its mobile Maps site wasn't designed with IE in mind.

Ubuntu coming to smartphones in 2014

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Software,

Canonical, makers of the open source Linux Ubuntu desktop OS, is in the process of turning Ubuntu into a mobile operating system and has sets its sights on a 2014 launch. The OS boasts an intuitive take on the lock screen, and uses gestures for navigating through the device. However, will this be enough to take on the juggernauts that iOS and Android have become? As of now, even with the power of Microsoft behind it, Windows Phone is still catering to a niche market, and RIM is still staggering to regain its footing as it revamps the BlackBerry operating system (formally QNX, now dubbed BlackBerry 10.) Will the Open Community come through and help propel Ubuntu's mobile OS?

Click to continue reading Ubuntu coming to smartphones in 2014

Read More | Ubuntu

Apple posts “Do Not Disturb TV ad amidst New Year DND bug

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Software,

Apple posted a new TV ad showcasing a feature in iOS 6 dubbed "Do Not Disturb" on New Year's day. Coincidently, users have reported that the feature didn't work as it should on the on the 1st. Some have speculated that it was a bug similar to the Daylight Savings glitch that plagued some users during the time change a few years back, albeit this issue being a year change. Apple made a statement today on its support page regarding the problem, suggesting that users manually set it until said date as a temporary remedy. The timing is perfect, sarcasm! Catch the video after the click.

Click to continue reading Apple posts “Do Not Disturb TV ad amidst New Year DND bug

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Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2012

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Video Games, Videos,

2012 is set to come to a close in just a few hours, and we are just in time with our annual top 10 list of the most-watched Gear Live video episodes. Over the past year, as expected, there was a bunch of Apple gear that made the list, and it's dominated by smartphones and tablets, with the exception of two Monster headphones, a look at the Boeing 787, and a USB 3.0 hard drive.

Oh, and if you wanna be sure to get our new video episodes as they come out in 2013, be sure to subscribe to us in iTunes, on YouTube, or in your RSS reader!

Also, you can check out the top ten videos from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007 - and when you're done, be sure to check out the top 10 most popular Gear Live stories of 2012 as well!

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2012

Top 10 most read Gear Live stories of 2012

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Wearables, Features, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Software,

Sure, we've given you a list of our top 10 most popular stories of 2012, but we figured we'd go a bit more broad than that. We also thought it would be interesting to give you a look at the top ten most read stories on this site this year, period, regardless of what year they were posted. We must say, we're just as surprised as you are at what did (and didn't) make the list! For example, you guys seem to really like Monster's Beats by Dr. Dre audio line. Here we go:

1. ColorWare now offering custom-painted Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones
2. White iPhone 4 vs. black iPhone 4 comparison
3. iPhone 3G vs iPod touch 2G in pictures: Odd that an image gallery featuring the iPhone and iPod touch from two years ago made our top ten list, but there it is!
4. Exclusive: Pink Beats by Dr. Dre Charles Hamilton customs
5. Limited Edition white Beats by Dr. Dre headphones hands-on: You can't deny that Monster has a hit on their hands with the Beats by Dr. Dre line of headphones.
6. iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S vs. Original iPhone in pictures
7. iPhone 5: White & SIlver or Black & Slate? (gallery)
8. iPhone 5 White & Silver unboxing gallery
9. Bleeding Edge TV 190: How to Replace Your iPhone Battery
10. iPod touch picks up 4-inch display, better cameras, new colors, and Siri

Any surprises? We've also compiled a list of the stories that have dropped out of the top ten between 2010 and 2011, which you can check out after the jump, and don't miss the ten most popular Gear Live videos of 2012 either!

Click to continue reading Top 10 most read Gear Live stories of 2012

Top 10 Gear Live stories of 2012

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Google, Handhelds, Mods / Hacks, Software, Videos,

We've come to the end of another year, and as we wave goodbye to 2011, we figured it was only fitting that we share the most popular stories published on Gear Live this year, as determined by our readers (we've also got the top ten most read stories regardless of publish date, as well as the ten most popular Gear Live videos of 2012!) These are the ten stories that were read the most, and when you consider that fact, it's pretty surprising to see what made the list. Let's kick it off with our most read story of the year:

iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S vs. iPhone original:
iPhone 5 certainly got a lot of attention this year, and our image gallery comparing it to previous iPhone designs served as our most popular post in all of 2012.

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live stories of 2012

LifeProof Fre Review: Doomsday Proof

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Product Reviews,

Some prefer to take it out in public naked. I seldom do, but sometimes I'm tempted to let it all out...my iPhone that is. Out of its case, of course. What were you thinking? 

I have been a LifeProof user since the iPhone 4S, and it was a pretty good case for the type of protection I got in return. So, getting the LifeProof Frē for iPhone 5 seemed like a no brainer. I'm not one of those extreme thrill seekers to whom the case is advertised for. I'm more of the dropping the phone on the sidewalk while trying to scoop up the pooches' excrement type of guy or the dropping the phone in a bowl of cereal while totally fixated by the back of the box kind of person. But I digress. You're here to find out how the LifeProof Frē performs, so read on and we'll tell you if it's good enough to protect your iPhone 5.

Click to continue reading LifeProof Fre Review: Doomsday Proof

BlackBerry 10 put to test against Windows Phone 8 and iOS in speed test videos

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Videos,

GadgetMasters has uploaded two videos to YouTube that compare HTML5 benchmark tests of a BlackBerry 10 development device with an HTC 8X Windows Phone 8 device, and of course, the iPhone 5. See who comes out on top. RIM will launch BlackBerry 10 on January 30th in New York.

Click to continue reading BlackBerry 10 put to test against Windows Phone 8 and iOS in speed test videos

Read More | BGR

AT&T pick up WCS spectrum for LTE expansion

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Broadband, Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,

The airwaves are running out, and you may've noticed it from the data diet your phone company has probably went on, or from the inability to send texts from busy areas in the city.

The FCC has approved the transfer of 608 spectrum licenses to AT&T that cover about 82 percent of the US population. Don't start streaming those 1080p movies from your data plan just yet, as the new spectrum isn't going in effect any time soon. It'll be years before any of us can take advantage of it, we're afraid.

Click to continue reading AT&T pick up WCS spectrum for LTE expansion

Read More | FCC