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
Windows Phone 7 review round-up
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Product Reviews, Software,
Microsoft's latest foray into the mobile space, Windows Phone 7, is now for sale throughout the US. How do these new devices fare? Should you throw your iPhone or Blackberry out of the window for a brand new Windows Phone? Or is this just another device for the history books? Well, we've given you our Windows Phone 7 review (as well as a review of the HTC Surround!), but if you wanted a second opinion, here's a list of reviews to help make up your mind:
- Engadget has a very in-depth review, going point by point over every feature of the phone, along with pictures and commentaries. They refer to their initial preview, saying that "it finally has the fit and finish of a fully realized product" and "there's a lot to like or even love in WP7". At the end of their review are also links to more reviews on the individual Windows Phone devices.
- Gizmodo follows in with another slightly less extensive review, in which they conclude with their stamp of approval.
- The New York Times has a fairly short review that asks several questions such as "will these battle plans help catapult Microsoft’s latest smartphone attempt into a relevant standing in this important space" and concludes by saying that "so far the new AT&T phones seems to have everything going for them".
- Apart from the written reviews, what I typically prefer are video reviews such as this one from MobileTechReview in which they go over every feature in this very in-depth 27 mins 2-parts review. They also have videos about the individual devices.
We'd love to hear from anyone who's decided to pick up a Windows Phone 7 device - what do you think?
Gallery: Windows Phone 7 review round-up
Advertisement
Yesterday, new browser RockMelt entered a limited Mac and Windows beta with hopes of capitalizing on your favorite social networks.
In the last few years, social network after social network has popped up and each has become more and more a part of daily Internet habits. According to RockMelt co-founder Tim Howes, that is why their goal is "reinventing the browser for how people use the Web today."
Click to continue reading Social Browser RockMelt now in beta
Gallery: Social Browser RockMelt now in beta
Verizon V CAST coming to Android handsets
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Handhelds, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
According to a Verizon statement, the Droid Incredible will receive an update soon that will include the V CAST apps. Here's the statement:
"Verizon Wireless will begin pushing a software update to the DROID Incredible next week. The update includes software enhancements that will pre-install V CAST Apps on the phone. We said earlier this year that we'd be expanding V CAST Apps to the Android platform, and the DROID Incredible is the first Android phone with the store. Developers continue to submit apps, and as a reminder, V CAST Apps allows carrier billing, so customers who purchase applications through our store will see those charges on their monthly bill. For more information about the update customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/droidincrediblesupport."
It's worth noting that in the past, the Verizon apps have been unremovable, even though many users consider them to be of little use. It's too bad that such an open system like Android is being forced to host such carrier specific modifications. So look for that update hitting your device soon if you're using a Verizon Android device!
Gallery: Verizon V CAST coming to Android handsets
Google TV review
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Home Entertainment, Product Reviews, Software,
Google launched into the TV arena last month with their very own platform, Google TV. With it, they hope to compete with the likes of Apple TV, Roku, and of course, your cable connection. Unlike its competitors however, they haven't made a hardware device, but instead a platform which device makers can integrate into boxes which you connect to your TV, or into TVs themselves. This platform boosts to bring the best of the web and TV together, into a system where you can add features, search for shows and do so much more. But does this Google TV deliver?
Click to continue reading Google TV review
Gallery: Google TV review
Awkwaaaard. Looks like proper capitalization of iOS didn't make it onto the code redemption page in iTunes. All joking aside, it's just odd to see an error like this one from Apple.
Gallery: iTunes mislabels iOS
Microsoft Silverlight changes focus to Windows Phone 7
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Software,
Silverlight has been Microsoft's "Flash killer" for many years now, and as a web-centric platform, it's had very little traction. Most sites stuck with Flash, and those who didn't, moved onto HTML5, not Silverlight. Now, after neglecting the platform for a while now, Microsoft officially said that the focus for Silverlight is shifting to other areas.
In the words of Microsoft's Bob Muglia “Silverlight is our development platform for Windows Phone.” The platform is indeed the way developers are making apps for the mobile platform, but for those developers who had been building web based apps based on the technology, it may come as a bit of a cold shower. Still, this seems like the right move, as it's clear the web is moving on to the open HTML5, and away from proprietary technologies like Silverlight.
Read More 
| TechCrunch
Gallery: Microsoft Silverlight changes focus to Windows Phone 7
30 reasons to jailbreak your iPhone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Mods / Hacks, Software,
So, you've heard all about this iPhone jailbreak stuff, but haven't ever taken the plunge? The folks over at ReadWriteWeb have put together 30 reasons why you might wanna consider it. While the team "jailbreak" might sound a bit scary, what you are basically doing by jailbreaking your device is enabling the ability to install apps that aren't in the App Store because Apple wouldn't accept them for one reason or another. In the video above, for example, you get a look at FolderEnhancer, a tweak that allows you to put as many apps into a folder as you'd like, swipe between pages in a folder, and even put folders inside of other folders.
Another of our personal favorites, BiteSMS, makes the list as well, and it's basically SMS the way Apple should have implemented it in the first place. You can reply directly from the notification, send an SMS from anywhere (without having to go into the actual Messaging app,) and much more. There are other tweaks that enable things like FaceTime over 3G (removing the Wi-Fi-only restriction,) and the fantastic SBSettings, which gives you access to toggle a bunch of buried iPhone features off and on from anywhere.
Head on over to ReadWriteWeb for the full list.
Read More | ReadWriteWeb
Gallery: 30 reasons to jailbreak your iPhone
Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Microsoft, Product Reviews, Software,
Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac ships tomorrow, and AppleInsider's got the scoop on how it performs. From their review:
If you’re an Office user already, the new Office 2011 is a no-brainer upgrade. It’s wildly faster, looks and feels much better, and delivers strong advancements in every app, particularly the vastly improved experience of the new Outlook over the pitiful Entourage.If you’re shopping around for a productivity suite on the Mac, the new Office 2011 delivers a much nicer experience than the rather quirky but free OpenOffice, and offers the advantages of a real desktop app over a web based suite like Google Docs.At around $120 retail for the Outlook-free individual version (you can install on one machine) or $150 for the family pack (which can be installed on up to three machines), the “Home and Student” Office 2001 for Mac suite is now affordable enough to compete against weaker free alternatives, and might attract some users eyeing Apple’s cheaper iWork package.However, Office 2011 for Mac—despite a sharp discount over previous editions—is still about the same price as Apple’s “Box Set” deal that includes a copy of Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife together with the full version of iWork.
Read More | AppleInsider
Gallery: Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac review
Beyond the iPhone: Why Paying Attention to the Diverse Mobile Devices and Channels Pays Dividends
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Software,
With more than 45 million smartphone and tablet users nationwide and ABI Research predicting that 6 billion mobile applications will be downloaded this year alone, businesses, especially those looking to reach consumers, have been frenzied about launching mobile offerings. In the past several years, much of the buzz surrounding the mobile space has been about the iPhone. With the debut of the iPhone 4 earlier this year, many businesses continue to focus their mobile strategy resources solely on this much-hyped operating system. In fact, a recent Kony Solutions survey of Fortune 500 corporations found that a staggering 85% of respondents ranked the iPhone as their top priority device for mobile support.
However, the current mobile landscape is quite fragmented - given the sheer number of handsets available to consumers - and the market isn’t necessarily dominated by the iPhone. A 2010 Gartner report estimated that the iPhone holds just 2.7% of the mobile market share. Notably, Android has surpassed Apple’s iOS, and comScore recently reported that RIM actually continues to capture the most smartphone market share (although Apple just announced that they've surpassed RIM for Q4 2010.) As such, the true market share of the iPhone doesn’t warrant the resources and strategy being dedicated solely to this device by Fortune 500 corporations, and companies in this position stand to lose more than 97% of mobile customers.
Gallery: Beyond the iPhone: Why Paying Attention to the Diverse Mobile Devices and Channels Pays Dividends
Windows 7 sells 240 million its first year
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft is celebrating the first year anniversary of Windows 7 by doing a celebratory dance around the numbers - 240 million numbers to be exact.
“I think Windows 7 has exceeded expectations,” said Gavriella Schuster, the general manager of Windows Product Management.
The 240 million licenses sold makes up a 17% market share for the year-old OS, and 93% of new consumer PCs are running Windows 7, while 90% of companies have either made the transition, or are making it, to Windows 7.
Read More | Microsoft
