Microsoft Surface RT to get stripped down version of Office 2013 RT

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Software,

The Microsoft Surface tablet is nearing launch, and as such, the company is releasing more information as it pertains to what consumers should expect. Office 2013 RT edition will ship on the lower-end model, but it will have a bunch of features stripped from the software in order to ensure a smooth tablet experience. Oh, and also it'll be a preview version rather than the full, final version that's set to arrive in early 2013.

Expect Office 2013 RT to be missing features like macros, third-party add-ons, and VBA support. A few other "small features" will also be cut, with Microsoft pointing to battery life and reliability as the culprits.

Read More | The Verge

iOS 6 can scale to 1136 x 640, the expected display resolution of the next iPhone

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors, Software,

We've been covering the rumors of what the next-generation iPhone 5 will look like since the iPhone 4S launched. At this point we're pretty certain that users can expect a redesigned iPhone with a longer display based on leaked hardware components. Today, we also have further proof stemming from the software side of things. 9to5Mac took the latest iOS 6 beta and was able to run it in the iOS Simulator software at 1136 x 640 resolution. The result? iOS 6 automatically added a fifth row of app icons to the home screen.

Click to continue reading iOS 6 can scale to 1136 x 640, the expected display resolution of the next iPhone

Read More | 9to5Mac

Samsung Galaxy S III Jelly Bean update coming late Q3 / early Q4

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,

Owners of the new-ish Samsung Galaxy S III have been asking the question "What about Jelly Bean?" ever since the latest Android OS was revealed shortly after the launch of the smartphone. Well, according to SamMobile, the wait shouldn't be too much longer. Word on the street is that Samsung has finalized its internal testing of Android 4.1 for the Galaxy S III, and has moved on to getting it ready for public release. Once that's done and Google gives the okay, the latest Samsung flagship will have the update pushed out. SamMobile estimates that users can expect the update in late Q3 or early Q4, but that isn't an official statement from Samsung itself.

Read More | SamMobile

NASA releases color footage of Curiosity rover descent onto Mars

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Science, Videos,

NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars yesterday morning, and today we get a detailed look at the descent. Comprised of 297 thumbnail images, this stop-motion video gives us a look at the two-and-a-half minutes it took for Curiosity to touch down on the red planet. Curiosity landed in the Gale Crater, and you can get a look at the video after the break.

Click to continue reading NASA releases color footage of Curiosity rover descent onto Mars

Read More | NASA

Sprint slashes price of iPhone 4S by $50, now starts at $149

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Hot Deals,

If you just can't wait until September 21 to get your hands on the new iPhone 5, Sprint just cut the price of the iPhone 4S by $50. You can now get a 16GB iPhone 4S for $149.00, 32GB model for $249.99, and the 64GB version for $349.99 with two-year contract. You've gotta get it directly from Sprint, though, as ordering directly from Apple won't give you the discount. Sprint is also still selling the iPhone 4, but the price on that one is still $99 for an 8GB version with no price cut to be seen. This is obviously in reaction to the news that Apple is set to introduce the next iPhone on September 12, which is set to go on sale on September 21.

Read More | Sprint

Here’s how to stay on top of all the Gear Live news!

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Features,

We know we push out a lot of content here on Gear Live, but it's actually prtty easy to stay on top of everything, even if you don't have the chance to visit the site every day. How? Like this:

• Gear Live newsletter: Our free daily newsletter that brings you a wrap-up of all the tops news of the day. We also launch exclusive contests in the newsletter that you might not find on the site itself!
• YouTube: We have a pretty active YouTube channel with almost 500 pieces of content for your viewing pleasure. You can even subscribe and get notified of new videos.
• Twitter: Gear Live in 140 characters or less.
• FaceBook: We know a lot of you spend hours here, and we've got our Facebook page set up to deliver tech news right into your feed.
• Google+: Yep, some of you hand out here, and we're there too.
• RSS: Old-fashioned RSS is still available for all you grizzled tech veterans out there.

See? Told you it was easy!

Windows Phone 8 Lumia line to debut in September at Nokia World

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Rumors,

If you though that Apple had the exclusive on announcing a major smartphone in September, think again. Word is coming out that Nokia is also looking to announce its next-generation Windows Phone 8 smartphones in September at Nokia World. Bloomberg reports that someone "with knowledge of the matter" has said that the unveiling of the new line of Windows 8 Nokia Lumia smartphones will happen on September 5, one week before Apple is scheduled to show off the new iPhone 5. Pretty smart, if you ask us.

Read More | Bloomberg

Apple removing YouTube from iOS 6, Google working on standalone app

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google, Software,

Apple released iOS 6 beta 4 this morning to developers, and one change that was immediately apparent is that the YouTube app has been removed. YouTube was revealed as the final, 12th built-in app for the original iPhone shortly before its launch, and has been a part of iOS (nee iPhone OS) since the very beginning. Of course, Apple is looking to get away from relying on Google products in its operating system as evidenced by the removing of Google Maps from the mapping app.

We've received word that Google is currently working on a standalone, official YouTube app that users will be able to download from the App Store for free. All in all, we don't find this to be much of a big deal. There are plenty of Google apps that can be found in the App Store, and putting YouTube there as well makes perfect sense.

AT&T to launch Mobile Share data plans on August 23

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,

Mobile carriers in the U.S. are finally jumping on board with shared data plans, allowing customers with multiple devices to draw from the same data bucket. Unfortunately, for most of these, it's a horrible deal financially. Still, there are some who'd appreciate this kind of thing, and as such we want to let you know that AT&T will be launching it's shared data plans beginning on August 23rd. You can set up all your devices like smartphones, tablets, gaming devices (like the Playstation Vita,) mobile hotspots, and more to all draw from one bucket of data beginning on that date. AT&T has set up a page where you can calculate what it would cost to add all your devices to a single plan.

Read More | AT&T

Apple to update all iOS devices, including the iPad, with new dock connector next month

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Rumors,

Last month iMore reported that Apple was set to unveil the next-generation iPhone and smaller 7.85-inch iPad during a media event to be held on September 12. Now, the site is also reporting that we will likely see a refresh of the entire iOS line at the event.

The report goes on to say that the reason for the mass refresh is to bring the new, smaller dock connector to all iOS devices. This would include the new iPhone 5, updated iPod touch, new iPod nano, the 7.85-inch iPad mini, and even an updated version of the third-generation iPad.

If true, this would mark the first time that Apple has deviated from the spring release and refresh date for the iPad, however, with the introduction of a new dock connector, we can see a minor update reflecting that change in order to bring on fast adoption of the updated standard.

Read More | iMore