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
Pangea puts their iPhone Apps on sale

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Software, Video Games,

Well, here’s something we could get used to. Pangea, maker of popular App Store titles like Cro-Mag Rally and Enigmo, have put their entire line of apps on sale. This is obviously just going to be for a limited time only, but we can’t seem to find the end date of the promotion anywhere. In the meantime, just know that for now, the prices on Pangea App Store software is as follows:
- Enigmo: $4.99, down from $9.99
- Cro-Mag Ralley: $1.99, down from $5.99
- Billy Frontier: $3.99, down from $5.99
- Beer Bounce: $1.99, down from $2.99
- Pangea VR Pro: $14.99, down from $19.99
A couple of these are fantastic for the money (we’re looking at you, Enigmo and Cro-Mag). Head on over to the App Store to start shopping. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of App Store sales.
Read More | App Store
Gallery: Pangea puts their iPhone Apps on sale
Advertisement
iPhone firmware 2.1 detailed

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Software,
During this morning’s Apple event, Steve Jobs let us in on a few of the details of the upcoming iPhone 2.1 software update. In giving the details, Steve also admitted to the faults that have been pointed out consistently since the iPhone 2.0 software launched. What can we look forward to when 2.1 is released this Friday for the iPhone? How does fewer dropped calls, major improvements in battery life, faster backups, and no crashing apps sound? Yeah, we thought so. Now to wait for Friday to see if the promises prove to be true. Fingers crossed!
EDIT: iPhone 2.1 has been released!
Gallery: iPhone firmware 2.1 detailed
iTunes 8 now available, HD TV shows, NBC is back, Genius recommendations

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

iTunes 8 was announced this morning as part of the whole Let’s Rock Apple announcement festivities, and there were a few nice pieces of news. First, NBC is back on iTunes with shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and Ballestar Galactics. What’s more, though, is that iTunes will now be selling TV shows in high definition. Aside from the feeling that I know my wallet is about to be drained, this is a very welcome addition. My only hope is that they allow those of us who have purchased shows in SD to “upgrade” to the HD versions at a discount. It’s only fair, right?
In other news, Apple has added “Genius” to iTunes - that being a recommendation engine that looks at the track you are listening to, and recommends other tracks in the iTunes store that it believes you would like. In addition, Genius can also create truly customized playlists on the fly, again, just by sampling what you are listening to. It will pull other songs from your iTunes library that it believes would complement your selection, without any work to be done on your part. We must admit, it looks slick. Speaking of which, they’ve also included a new visualizer, which is just off the hook. You’ve gotta see it to believe it.
iTunes 8 is available now.
Read More | iTunes
Gallery: iTunes 8 now available, HD TV shows, NBC is back, Genius recommendations
StellarWindow Software - Astronomy on Your Computer

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: PC / Laptop, Science, Software, USB,
Stargazers will soon have a new device to help them out. StellarWindow works with a USB dongle and has built-in tilt 3-axis accelerator sensor and electric compass. After installation, the dongle finds your location and will point out what you can see. The software has voice recognition if you are looking for a particular planet, constellation, or other astral body. Built by Japanese students who formed Fairy Devices, they are hoping to release StellarWindow this year for ¥26,250 (~$244.00.)
Read More | Fairy Devices (translated)
Gallery: StellarWindow Software - Astronomy on Your Computer


People with crows feet, get excited. Casio will soon be releasing its two new Exilim Zoom EX-Z300 and Z250 Cameras with a “makeup function” with Exilim Engine 3.0. It optimizes focus and exposure up to 12 levels, makes skin look smoother, and less blotchy or dull. It also softens shadows on the face with image processing tech and can smooth out wrinkles.
The EX-Z300 has a 1/2.3inch CCD image sensor, a 4x optical zoom, a pixel count of 10.1Mp, and should be available tomorrow. The Z250 has a count of 9.1Mp, a 1/2.5-inch CCD image sensor, a 4x optical zoom, and should launch within the next few weeks, depending on the chassis color.
Read More | Tech-On
Gallery: Casio Exilim EX-Z300 and Z250 Cameras
iPhone Pwnage Tool 2.0.3 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Mods / Hacks, Software,

For those of you out there who can’t live without a jailbroken iPhone, we venture to guess that you’ll be happy to hear that PwnageTool 2.0.3 is now available, thanks to the continuing hard work of the iPhone Dev Team. This new version features a few new features:
- Updated Installer.app to beta 6
- Support for iPhone and iPod touch firmware 2.0.2 5C1
- Adds .de localization for those who read German
If you are already running an older version, you can update right from within PwnageTool, otherwise hit the link below to download the latest version.
Read More | PwnageTool 2.0.3
Gallery: iPhone Pwnage Tool 2.0.3 now available
Apple grants all MobileMe subscribers a 60-day extension

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Internet, Software,

We know that Apple‘s MobileMe service has been off to a rocky start, but we are just glad that the company realizes it as well. Since the launch, people have had trouble with syncing, have lost email, and have discovered that this whole “push” thing wasn’t really as “pushy” as Apple made it out to be when they gave us a look at the product back at MacWorld.
Originally, Apple gave all subscribers a 30-day extension to compensate for all the issues, as well as a written apology. Since then, things have gotten a little better, but are still in no way seamless. Because of this, Apple has just decided to grant another extension, and this one is twice as long as the original. If you were a MobileMe subscriber as of 12:00 AM PDT on August 19, you get an additional 60 days tacked on to the end of your subscription. Even better, if you were taking a free trial of the service as of that time, you get 60 days added on to your trial. Apparently, Apple doesn’t want you to not sign up due to the kinks they are trying to work out. Good for them.
Hit the Read link below for the full details on the extension, and the eligibility requirements around it.
Read More | MobileMe extension details
Gallery: Apple grants all MobileMe subscribers a 60-day extension
iPhone firmware 2.0.2 ready to kill some bugs

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

Just two weeks after Apple released iPhone 2.0.1 firmware, we just got word via iTunes that firmware 2.0.2 is now available, and it, too, is all about killing bugs. The update is a little over 248 MB in size, and will be waiting for you when you next go to sync your iPhone. We’ve already gone ahead and done the installation, and we feel so much more bug-free already. Let’s just hope this ends our countless frozen Apple logo issues that have us doing a complete restore of the iPhone 3G almost daily.
Gallery: iPhone firmware 2.0.2 ready to kill some bugs
Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!

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

Okay, Apple, we know that you’ve had some trouble getting your act together since the iPhone 3G launch, but when you list two different prices in different areas of iTunes for the same app, that is when it is just getting ridiculous. Case in point, Dashbuster. I downloaded the free version from the App Store about a week ago, as it sounded fantastic to be able to manage my Netflix queue from the iPhone. The app, however, was missing a couple of features that I wanted - namely, the ability to add movies to the queue, select the format of the disc, etc. That was to come in the pad version.
Well, due to the fact that Apple has been unable to push updates out in a timely fashion, the paid version was finished, but I had to wait about a week for it to hit the App Store. I searched for the app, saw it was available for $5, and proceeded to download it. I then saw that there was a bug in the app, where it wouldn’t show my queue at all. I emailed the developer, and he responded (almost immediately) offering help. He also mentioned that the app should have been $3.99, not $4.99 like I paid.
Click to continue reading Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!
Read More | Gallery: Dashbuster pricing screwed up
Gallery: Apple lists different prices for same Dashbuster iPhone app!
iArthouse Launches Streaming Video

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Internet, Movies, Software,
Now that Netflix has cut back on Indy cinema, this might be a good time to check out iArthouse. They have over 800 international and arthouse films and plan thousands by the end of the year. They offer ad-supported free streaming video, subscription, and download-to-burn options. Download their free StreamBurner software and start shopping from film companies such as Vanguard Cinema and Arts Alliance America. We really dig that they offer online free screenings of such classics as “M,” Hitchcock’s “39 Steps,” and “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”
(Thanks, Kristin)
Read More | iArthouse