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Help Us Out: The TechBlog Blog-X Awards
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Internet,
As you may have noticed, we at Gear Live can use all the help we can get. That being the case, if you want to help us out, you can do so in a big way by nominating us for a Blog-X TechBlog award. Now, this award is specifically for independent blogs - those run by one person or a couple of people with no major company or machine behind them. It sure would be cool to see our flagship site in the running - plus, November is my birthday month, so how could you not?
Do you read tech blogs? We’re looking for you to tell us which are the best of the best. Right now, it’s your chance to nominate your favorite independent tech blogs.
What kinds of tech blogs are eligible?
All blogs that cover technology and are published independently of a major publishing company are eligible.
Read More 
| Nominate Us
Much has been made of the going ons over at SmashMyiPod. For those of you not in the know, it was a scheme whereby readers contributed money in order for the site owner to purchase a new iPod with the intent to smash it. Some folks claim that this was a scam in order to score a free iPod from some suckers online. Others decried this as just another example of American extravagance. People have pointed out that with all of the natural diasters that have plagued the world recently, the money for this endeavor would have been better spent on helping those in need and no destroying a consumer electronics device. I can’t say that I disagree with that sentiment, but it isn’t the worst thing to come of this…
Click to continue reading Thoughts on SmashMyiPod
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If you are on a Mac, check Software Update for the latest OS upgrade, 10.4.3:
The 10.4.3 Update delivers overall improved reliability and compatibility for Mac OS X v10.4 and is recommended for all users.
It includes fixes for:
- AFP, SMB/CIFS, NFS and FTP network file services
- AirPort and Bluetooth wireless access
- Core Graphics, Core Audio, Core Image, and RAW camera support
- disc recording when creating and burning media
- .Mac sync services
- Spotlight indexing and searching
- Dashboard widgets: Dictionary, Flight Tracker, Stickies, and Unit Converter
- Address Book, AppleScript, Automator, Dictionary, Font Book, iCal, iSync, Mail, and Safari applications
- Disk Utility, Keychain Access, Migration Assistant, and Software Update
- compatibility with third party applications and devices
- previous standalone security updatesFor detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n301984
The update weighs in at 97.0 MB.
Latest Gear Live Videos
My dog Cisco had a bad habit of bolting for it whenever he saw the front door or rear gate opened. This once resulted in my (then 400-pound) father chasing him in the pouring rain down to the canal, waiting for him to stop and subsequently tripping and tackling the dog in a large blaze of glory (and mud), knocking wind out of both dog and man. Thirty minutes before his flight was to leave. Ever since that sordid afternoon, I’ve wondered where Cisco would go if he had free reign and moreover, exactly how long it’d take for him to get killed on the nearby major streets. Now, the GPS PRO Dog collar will let me explore these possibilities with dogs and toddlers alike. Using a SIM card linked to an active GSM account, the location of your dog (or wayward baby) is just a text message away. Call the collar and seconds later, the coordinates are texted back to you. It will run you roughly $1,100, but aren’t the possibilities it presents worth it?
Read More | Environmental Studies via Gizmodo
Did you know that if you wanted to, you could call up Amazon or eBay customer service rather than waiting for an email reply? Or, how about the fact that a lot of the specs listed on electronics today can be totally useless, and are just there for “show?” PC World has a greta article up which lists twenty things that consumer electronics manufacturers don’t want you to know. While we knew about just about all of them, it is a great read for some of the more casual buyers out there. Seriously, if you know what to (and what not to) look for, you can save yourself some cash.
Read More | PC World
So Xbox.com is now allowing people to create their Gamer Profiles along with their Gamer Cards in preparation for the Xbox 360 launch. One thing to note is the Gamer Zones you are able to choose from. They are as follows:
Recreation
It’s not whether you win or lose, but that everyone enjoys the game.
Motto: “Kick back, relax, be considerate, and have fun.”Pro
You aren’t going to settle for anything less than first place, but you respect the game and your competitors.
Motto: “Play clean, play hard, play to win.”Family
You want a zone you and your kids can enjoy. No mature language, no trash talk, no super-competitive egos.
Motto: “Fun for the whole family!”Underground
If you aren’t afraid of trash talk, the Underground is for you. Not for the faint of heart.
Motto: “Take no prisoners!”
Being the babies that we are, we chose Pro, fearing that the Underground community would devour us alive leaving us crying for Mommy. Nonetheless, the zone you choose when you set up your account will be part of the system used to match you up with other gamers on Xbox Live, so choose wisely. To grab a peek at our Gamer card, check out our profile. Oh, and if you see us online, be gentle.
Read More | Xbox Profiles
You know, silly USB thumbdrives come and go, but this one is just off the hook. What you see before you is a 256 MB USB thumbdrive disguised as a bottle of sake. This thing will set you back about 5,250 Yen - $45 is US dollars. Certainly not too high a price to pay to garner the stares of strange passer-byes looking at the tiny green bottle protruding from the side of your laptop.
Read More | Akihabara
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: First Impressions
Posted by Benjamin VanWinkle Categories: Features, PC, Reviews, Strategy,
Civilization IV is the latest version of a classic turn-based strategy game (originally released in 1991) by game icon Sid Meier. As a player you command a primordial Civilization through thousands of years of history to become the supreme Civilization of the world. You have to carefully balance exploration, expansion, development and conquest in order to accomplish this. Place too little emphasis on any of these and you will fail.
Click to continue reading Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: First Impressions
TiVo, trying to maintain their self-professed hip image, has jumped on the blog bandwagon with the launch of “TiVo Blog.” The blogger’s name is Nova, and she went from TiVo user to official TiVo blogger at their corporate headquarters. They did put in RSS, RSS 2.0, and Atom feeds despite the fact that nowadays having all three is not necessary, and they also stick in a huge disclaimer which will be on seemingly every post regarding commenting:
Guidelines for Posting on TiVo Blog:
By submitting my comments and by participating in the TiVo Blog, I agree to allow TiVo Inc. to use my name and comments in whole or in part for publicity purposes on the TiVo Website or other promotional materials without further permission or compensation. I understand that my submitted comments becomes property of TiVo Inc. and will not be returned, and that I release all rights and claims to the content submitted for the TiVo Blog. I also state that the content submitted is of my own original creation and style and acknowledge that my comments will be subject to review by TiVo and edited in whole or in part by TiVo prior to publication.
Sheez - that doesn’t look too welcoming.
Read More | TiVo Blog
Looks like Apple has just released a small upgrade for their new OS 10.4 version Backup 3.0 software:
Backup 3.0.1 addresses file restoration and other issues and is highly recommended for all users of Backup 3.0. Significant areas addressed are:
Restoring files to alternate location
Accuracy of iDisk progress bar when uploading files
For more information about Backup 3, visit the .Mac website at: http://www.mac.comFor Backup 3 support information, visit http://www.apple.com/support/dotmac/backup/
