Get AppleCare for your new Mac at a discount

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

If you picked up the new MacBook Pro with Retina display, or one of the refreshed MacBook Pro or MacBook Air Apple notebooks, it's always a good thing to consider AppleCare. You get an extended 3-year warranty, but the trick is that you should never buy AppleCare directly from Apple! Instead, buy it from Amazon, and you get it for up to 30% less. What's also nice is that when you resell your Mac, the AppleCare Protection Plan is transferable, and therefore you can charge more. Here's a list of the different AppleCare Protection Plans:

Apple Mobile Devices:

• AppleCare Protection Plan for iPad
• AppleCare Protection Plan for all versions of iPhone
• AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod touch/classic
• AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod nano and iPod shuffle

Apple Mac Computers:

• AppleCare Protection Plan - Mac Laptops 13-inches and below
• AppleCare Protection Plan - Mac Laptops 15-inches and above
• AppleCare Protection Plan - iMac
• AppleCare Protection Plan - Mac Pro
• AppleCare Protection Plan - Mac Mini

Google Fiber to launch in Kansas City on July 26

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Google, Internet, Videos,

It's been a long road since the time that the ambitious Google Fiber initiative was announced, but a little over two years later, and the product is ready to launch. This morning Google announced that Kansas City will be set to go live with super-fast Gigabit Internet speeds on July 26th, and we are very green with envy.

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Read More | Google Fiber

Giveaway: Google Nexus 7 tablet

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Google, Handhelds,

The Google Nexus 7 tablet was announced recently at Google I/O 2012, and the reviews are calling it the first fantastic Android tablet. It's also the first device to ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Want one? Good, because we have one to give away! We've teamed up with TRENDOY!, the daily gadget newsletter to give away a 16 GB Nexus 7 tablet, worth $249. All you need to do to enter is head on over to our TRENDOY! page and subscribe! We'll choose a winner of the Nexus 7 from our subscribers in a week. Good luck!

iPhone 3GS to get Shared Photo Stream and VIP Email in iOS 6

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

iPhone 3GS users are set to be on the receiving end of a little more love with the release of iOS 6 later this fall. How so? Well, the latest iOS 6 beta 3 that was released yesterday includes both Shared Photo Streams and the new VIP Email feature. That means that 3GS owners will get pretty much all of the new major iOS 6 features, with the exception of FaceTime over Cellular (no front camera,) Offline Reading Lists, 3D Maps, and Siri, which is relegated only to the iPhone 4S and new third-generation iPad. Not too shabby for a smartphone that was released three years ago.

Read More | MacRumors

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5, DMC-FZ200, DMC-LX7 detailed early

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Rumors,

The Telegraph briefly had a story up this morning that made mention of new updates to Panasonic digital cameras, the star of which was the Lumix DMC-G5. Boasting a 16-megapixel Venus Engine VII sensor, 3-inch display, and a redesigned shell, the DMC-G5 will shoot full 1080p high definition video and sell for about $940 as an entry-level kit, or $1,375 with extras.

The DMC-FZ200 was also detailed as having a 25-600mm lens that can stay locked at a f/2.8 aperture, as well as the DMC-LX7 compact camera that has full manual controls. We should hear more officially tomorrow, and we will let you know when we do.

Read More | The Telegraph

WSJ: Next iPhone to incorporate in-cell technology for thinner display

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

This morning The Wall Street Journal published a story focusing on the screen of the upcoming next-generation iPhone. According to sources, Apple will be switching to "in-cell technology," using panels from LG, Display Inc., and Sharp. The advantage of in-cell displays over the current capacitive touchscreens is that it removes the top touch layer that you find on the device, making them thinner and lighter. This can result in a display that is half a millimeter thinner. Apple is notoriously picky about the thinness of its products, and anything that can help shave off a bit of width is likely something the company would at least consider.

Read More | WSJ

AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is double-dipping consumer robbery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,

With the release of iOS 6 beta 3 yesterday, a disturbing "feature" was uncovered. Some users on with AT&T iPhones are reporting that, when they attempt to enable FaceTime over Cellular, a prompt pops up that tells the user to contact AT&T in order to enable the feature. Many are assuming that this means that AT&T will be looking to charge a premium for customers to use FaceTime over its data connection, and if that is the case, it is straight up consumer robbery.

Click to continue reading AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is double-dipping consumer robbery

1Password update brings Retina display support

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

We love 1Password here at Gear Live, and with today's update that brings Retina display support, we're loving it a little bit more. 1Password is the popular password management application from developer AgileBits. The update 130 newly-optimized images, and is a free update to all 3.x users. 1Password is available on the Mac App Store.

Read More | 1Password

Ask Andru: How do I prepare my Mac for Mountain Lion?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, PC / Laptop, Software,

Apple is set to release it's next major operating system update, known os OS X Mountain Lion, later this month. In this edition of Ask Andru, Tracy writes in and asks if there is anything she should do to prepare her Mac computers for the Mountain Lion installation. I share some tips on what we can all do to ensure a smooth upgrade experience to Mac OS 10.8.

Question: I hear that Apple will be releasing a new version of OS X shortly. Is there anything I need to do in order to prepare for it to ensure that I can run it? Will it be expensive?

You're correct! Apple announced OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion just five months ago, and it will be available in under two weeks. Mountain Lion will sell exclusively on the Mac App Store for $19.99 (so, not expensive at all!) and will include some nice features, including AirPlay Mirroring from your Mac, tighter iCloud integration, Twitter and Facebook built-in at the system level, Reminders, Notes, Game Center, a new Messages app that will let you send and receive iMessages from the Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. In total, there are over 200 new features that Apple is introducing in Mountain Lion.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: How do I prepare my Mac for Mountain Lion?

THQ announces WWE ‘13 Austin 3:16 Collector’s Edition

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Fighting, Hot Deals, PlayStation 3, THQ, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360,

THQ has announced WWE '13 "Austin 3:16" Collector's Edition. Set to launch alongside the standard WWE '13 title, the limited set includes some extras that you won't find in the version that has C.M. Punk gracing its cover. The Austin 3:16 edition will feature a foil-embossed skull cover, bonus DVD with a bunch of Attitude Era Steve Austin content, exclusive in-game content (like Austin's ATV,) Mike Tyson as a playable character, and a hand-signed photograph from Stone Cold himself. Check out the full trailer after the break.

Click to continue reading THQ announces WWE ‘13 Austin 3:16 Collector’s Edition