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Latest Gear Live Videos
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.
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Update: Dealing with Chevy for resolution on faulty Volt that put me in harm’s way
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Features, Transportation,
In case you missed it, earlier this week we detailed how the Chevy Volt malfunctioned and nearly caused a high-speed collission while we were driving it. We've had plenty of readers writing in to ask for an update on the Chevy Volt fisaco that we've found ourselves embroiled in. We definitely planned on hitting you guys with an update on how Chevrolet and General Motors address the situation that we're facing once all was said and done, but since it's taking a bit longer than we'd hoped, and since there have been a couple of new developments, we figured we'd do an interim report.
Before we get into some of the good, we've gotta say right up front that dealing with Chevy/GM as a corporate entity has been frustrating. It seems that it's goal is to tell us that there is nothing they can do, with the hope that this will just go away, rather than doing whatever it can to ease the concerns of a customer who's done nothing but praise it's flagship product all the way up until it put us in harms way. More on that later.
Gallery: Update: Dealing with Chevy for resolution on faulty Volt that put me in harm’s way
How my Chevy Volt almost got me seriously injured (or killed)
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Product Reviews, Transportation,
Update 1: We're trying to deal with Chevy to get resolution that both us and the dealer believes to be the best option. GM would rather us forget about everything, it seems.
We've been keeping tabs on the Chevy Volt ever since the electric vehicle was unveiled in September 2008. We covered the 230 MPG announcement, and were on-hand for the introduction of the OnStar Mobile Integration announcement which showed how you would be able to send commands from your smartphone directly to your Volt (and other OnStar-equipped vehicles) remotely. While there were other pure EVs out there, the maximum range would leave some stranded without any other option but getting towed while the Volt had a gas tank that could run a generator to continue creating electric power even when the pure electric battery ran out. The Volt, in our minds, was the car of the near-future. Until EV range is bumped high enough to never cause charge anxiety, Chevy's flagship EV provided the best trade-off. So we leased one. That's where things started to go very wrong.
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Samsung Galaxy S III review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
The Samsung Galaxy S III is more than just another Android device launch. Arguably, this is the first phone of 2012 that has the right mix of hardware and software that make it a worthy upgrade from any other device. For Samsung, it's the new company flagship device for the year, much more so than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (which is a fantastic phone in its own right.)
This is the device that Samsung has always wanted to make. Based on the latest publicly-available version of Android, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (yeah, we know 4.1 Jelly Bean is right around the corner,) Samsung has built its own custom Android apps to run on the device to bring exlusive features to its handset. We're talking about S Voice, S Beam, S Memo, Direct Call, Smart Stay, and more. Purchasers in the US and Canada even get 50 GB of Dropbox storage for free (Verizon and AT&T buyers not included, sadly.)
That's a lot to take in, and ultimately the question is, does the Galaxy S III live up to the hype? Join us in our full Samsung Galaxy S III review as we answer that very question.
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Western Digital My Net N900 HD router review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Features, Product Reviews,
We've been testing the recently-released Western Digital My Net N900, a router released by the company most known for its hard drives. This isn't just any router though--it's supposed to make QoS setup quick and easy for the every man. With a few clicks, Western Digital says that you'll have an optimized home network that'll make sure the important data doesn't get hindered by background tasks that aren't as high on the totem pole of priority. Does the My Net N900 live up to that promise? Join us after the break for our full My Net N900 review to find out.
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Ask Andru: Is Wii U really a next-generation console?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Features, Video Games,
Today we received a question about Nintendo's upcoming console release, Wii U, with GeekWire reader Alex wondering why the company continues to release new peripherals for a console that's seen better days.
Question: What's up with the Wii U? Why is Nintendo releasing yet another expensive peripheral for the aging Wii?
Nintendo originally announced Wii U in June 2011 in a vague manner, leaving much of the pertinent details left to the imagination. Because of this, many assumed that Wii U was the name of the new tablet-esque controller, and that it would interface with the Wii console that originally hit stores in November 2006. Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth.
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MacBook Pro with Retina display review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews,
Last week Apple revealed it's next-generation MacBook Pro with Retina display during the WWDC 2012 keynote. The new model bucks the trend of the MacBook Pro line, eliminating a bunch of techniques that Apple considers to be "on the way out," while adding in newer technologies that, while expensive, are certainly what the industry is moving towards. We got our hands on the new MacBook Pro with Retina display, and we've collected our thoughts. Is this the notebook for you? Is the Retina display as striking as Apple says? Join us as we answer these questions, and more, in our MacBook Pro with Retina display review.
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iPad Smart Case photo gallery
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Features, Handhelds,
We just hit you with our full Apple iPad Smart Case review, and you should really check that out if you're considering picking up Apple's first full case for its popular tablet. In addition to the written review, we've put together a gallery of images showing off the good and the bad--and there's a lot of bad in our mind. As you'll see, ports don't line up with the holes in the case, and there's an odd lip all around the perimeter that just makes it awkward to hold. Go and judge for yourself in our iPad Smart Case gallery, and let us know what you think.
Gallery: iPad Smart Case photo gallery
iPad Smart Case review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Features, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
This week Apple released the iPad Smart Case, a polyurethane product that covers and protects both the front and back of the the iPad shell. Compatible with both the iPad 2 and the new third-generation iPad, this is the first full case that Apple has offered for its popular tablet, and it's being sold for $49. The Smart Case seems to make a lot of sense in theory, but how does it fare in practice? Read on as we answer that question in our iPad Smart Case review.
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Monster Diesel VEKTR headphones giveaway!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Announcements, Features, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
We're giving away a pair of the long-awaited Monster Diesel VEKTR headphones, and we're making it super-easy for you to enter and win. The Diesel VEKTR on-ear cans bring premium fashion alongside premium sound, co-developed by Monster Products and the Noise Division of the Diesel clothing line. The design features strong lines in a diamond cut, definitely unorthodox for a headphone. Wanna win them? Here's how to enter:
- Subscribe to the free Gear Live newsletter
- Follow the Gear Live Twitter account and post this exact tweet: “Hey @gearlive hook me up with those @MonsterProducts Diesel headphones! http://gear.lv/e-vektr” (Click here to tweet this now)
That's it! One of our newsletter subscribers will walk away with a pair of Monster Diesel VEKTR headphones for free. The contest is open through Friday June 15th at 11:59 PDT, and you must be a US resident to win.
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