Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
Latest Gear Live Videos
How to watch the live stream of Apple’s music event today
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Internet, Rumors, Software,
In just a few minutes, Apple will be live-streaming one of their own events for the first time, and we wanted to make sure you had the details on how to tune in. All you need to do is head to the Apple website at 10:00AM PDT today, and it should come right up—provided you’ve got the right hardware. According to Apple:
Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. PDT on September 1, 2010 at www.apple.com.
The fall music event is expected to bring news of an updated iPod touch with Retina Display and dual cameras with FaceTime functionality, a super-small touchscreen iPod nano, and a new take on the Apple TV. We’re guessing that this whole live streaming this is because Apple wants to show off their streaming technology, since it will likely be a big part of their Apple TV and iTunes initiative this morning. We’re also hoping to hear about that white iPhone 4 and iOS 4 on the iPad.
Read More 
| Apple Event Live Stream
Gallery: How to watch the live stream of Apple’s music event today
Advertisement
The Samsung Epic 4G is the second phone from Sprint to take advantage of their speedier 4G service, the original being the EVO 4G. The Epic 4G is part of Samsung’s Galaxy S line of Android smartphones, although visually it’s a departure from others like the Samsung Captivate, Fascinate, and Vibrant from other carriers. You do still get the TouchWiz 3.0 interface, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and the 4-inch Super AMOLED display. So what’s different, aside from the phone being able to access Sprint’s 4G network? Well, it’s a Galaxy S phone with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. So, is it worth your time—and more importantly—your money? We’ve got our full review for you, so click on through.
Click to continue reading Epic 4G review
Gallery: Epic 4G review
Win a copy of Make My Day for iPhone and iPad!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
We’re giving away ten copies of Make My Day for iPhone and iPad, which just hit the App Store this morning. The easiest way to describe the app is to have you think about those old-school Choose Your Own Adventure books. Remember those? Turn to page 4 to turn the key, or turn to page 27 to run away crying? Yeah, those. Well, instead of reading, the Make My Day app is a live-action choose your own adventure movie. You choose the paths that the characters will take as you are watching. It’s got 26 different scenes and 13 different endings, depending on which story branches you choose.
Here’s how to enter:
- Follow the Gear Live Twitter account
- On Twitter, post this tweet about our contest: “Hey @gearlive hook me up with Make My Day for iPhone and iPad! http://gear.lv/e-make-my-day” (Click here to tweet this now)
That’s it! We’ll send out the download codes on Twitter over DM, so be sure you follow the Gear Live account, otherwise we won’t be able to get it to you. For more info on the app, you can check out Make My Day on the App Store.
Gallery: Win a copy of Make My Day for iPhone and iPad!
Kindle Lighted Leather Cover gallery
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Handhelds,
Alongside the new Kindle (see our Kindle 3 review,) Amazon has released the Lighted Leather Cover. Available in multiple colors like black, orange, pink, blue, green, and red, the Lighted Leather Cover protects the Kindle 3 and provides a Kindle-powered light source. That means there are no batteries required to power the built-in, retractable LED light that slides out of the back cover. It’s got a leather exterior and a gray microfiber interior to protect the device. You can pick up the Lighted Leather Cover from Amazon now for $59.
Read More | Kindle Lighted Leather Cover
Gallery: Kindle Lighted Leather Cover gallery
Amazon Kindle 3 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Handhelds, Product Reviews, Wireless / WiFi,
With the release of the iPad, many started writing off dedicated eBook readers like the Kindle and the nook, saying there was no place for devices that were dedicated to doing just one task when there are more powerful devices that can do the task just as well, while also meeting a myriad of other needs. Sure, in theory, that sounds about right; but you have have to take things like price into account. With the third generation Kindle, Amazon decided they’d rethink the price structure for the Kindle eBook reader, while also revamping the design a bit. Rather than going full color like many were hoping for, Amazon instead made the decision to try and make the best eBook reader on the market, and to sell it at an extremely competitive price. They announced the third gen Kindle a month ago, and it has finally started arriving on the doorsteps of eager buyer. So, how’d they do? Read on for our full review.
Click to continue reading Amazon Kindle 3 review
Gallery: Amazon Kindle 3 review
Mili PowerSpring 4 doubles your iPhone 4 battery life
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,
Since the iPhone 4 has a completely different shape than the iPhone 3G/3GS, all those older cases don’t fit the new device. Unfortunately, this also includes external battery cases like the Mophie Juice Pack. We’ve been waiting for an announcement from Mophie since Apple made the iPhont 4 public, but there really hasn’t been any noise from them as to when we can expect an updated battery for the iPhone 4. That’s where the Mili PowerSpring 4 comes in. It shouses a 1600 mAh battery which basically doubles the battery life of your iPhone 4. It’s available now for £54.99 (or $85 on Amazon.)
Gallery: Mili PowerSpring 4 doubles your iPhone 4 battery life
Are smartphones dumbing us down?
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds, Internet, PC / Laptop, Science,
The term ‘smartphone’ may be a tad misleading according to the recently published New York Times article, “Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime”. This is to say that frequent use of digital media can disrupt your brain’s downtime - a necessary component of internalizing information. Without this downtime, the brain has no chance to process information previously learned, resulting in cluttered, inattentive minds.
Chances are there are more than a few of you reading this article while accomplishing some cardio riding your local gym’s indoor bike, or while in class when you really should be listening to your professor’s first lecture of the semester (but don’t stop reading now on account of that!). While having a digital device handy is excellent for spicing up mundane moments, or for capturing your mind away from the tedium of exercising, it does come at a price.
Click to continue reading Are smartphones dumbing us down?
Read More | New York Times
Gallery: Are smartphones dumbing us down?
Samsung Epic 4G ad with Master Chief?
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Video Games, Videos,
If you’ve seen the new Samsung Epic 4G commercial then you might have been fooled into watching the whole thing thinking it was a new Halo: Reach commercial (raises hand). The similarities are probably not a coincidence considering Halo: Reach is set to be the biggest game of the year, and all eyes are on it right now. Knowing this, Samsung could have purposely chosen to borrow the money making look of Master Chief.
The start of the ad depicts a character bearing a strong resemblance to Halo’s Master Chief. The pseudo Chief is then chased by an alien space craft which bombards the Spartan-like clone with some heavy missile fire. Unmasking himself, the Samsung’s Spartan hops into his own aircraft, epic chase ensues. The terrain containing the massive battle is then revealed to take place in the palm of your hand - the slogan for the theater-like experience promised by the Samsung Galaxy S. All Halo inspired themes aside, it’s a pretty cool commercial, though you have no clue what it’s about until the very end. Microsoft states that “the commercial in question is not sanctioned by Microsoft.” However, whether or not Microsoft will want to have the look alike Master Chief hero pulled from the air is not known at this point.
Check out the ad for yourself below.
Gallery: Samsung Epic 4G ad with Master Chief?
Apple music event scheduled for September 1 - bring on the new iPods
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Music, Rumors,
Well hey, looks like the annual Apple music-related event is happening right on time, if not a bit early this year. A week from now, Apple will be taking over the Internet to tell us all about their new products. We are sure we will see the iPod line get a total refresh, highlighted by a Retina Display-packing iPod touch. There’s also the rumored Apple TV-to-iTV refresh, and you’ve just gotta believe that we will get word on the release of iOS 4 for the iPad…we are in need of folders on ours in a major way. We will have all the action for you as it unfolds next week.
Gallery: Apple music event scheduled for September 1 - bring on the new iPods
Okay, we knew that the Samsung Galaxy Tab was real, but it’s been pretty much shrouded in secrecy, until now. Samsung has unleashed an official teaser video, giving us mere glimpses of the Galaxy Tab, er, tablet device. What do we now know? Well, for starters, it’s got a 7-inch display (same as the rumored upcoming miniaturized iPad,) Android 2.2 Froyo, video calling (implying a front-facing camera,) Swype, HD movie playback, built-in ebook reader, GPS, and Flash support. The full reveal comes on September 2nd, which is nine days away. Seriously, we can’t wait.
