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Latest Gear Live Videos
Google Hangouts now live, brings together Google Talk, Voice, Messenger
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google, Internet, Software,
The new Google Hangouts has arrived, bringing together Google's Talk, Hangouts, Voice, and Google+ Messenger under one app and umbrella. Google Hangouts offers unified, synchronized chat that retains history across all devices, allowing you to dig into your history wherever you are, delete messages, and check out files, photos, etc. Hangouts naturally includes the previous Google Hangouts video chat features, which allows multiple people to video chat with each other, again, from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Hangouts it now available on iOS, Android, Chrome, and within the Gmail web client. Get a look at the video promo after the break.
Click to continue reading Google Hangouts now live, brings together Google Talk, Voice, Messenger
Gallery: Google Hangouts now live, brings together Google Talk, Voice, Messenger
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1Password 4.2 released with better browser, improved search, much more
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,
1Password is one of our favorite apps here at Gear Live, and today version 4.2 for iOS was released with a slew of new features. Let's talk about some of our favorites.
On the iPad, you get a newly-optimized browser (called 1Browser) that now includes the Strong Password Generator. You can also autofill your logins if you prefer, and the browser even recognizes a URL that you have waiting in your clipboard and offers to take you there. The iPad also picks up the Go & Fill bookmark feature, that let's you bookmark your favorite sites, and when you visit, 1Password will automatically log you in.
Search has been expanded, now allowing users to search across all 1Password data fields, and you can even share password items using Messages and email--1Password offers to let you share either in plain text, or in an encrypted format.
We've got the full changelog for you after the break. You can download 1Password 4.2 now.
Click to continue reading 1Password 4.2 released with better browser, improved search, much more
Gallery: 1Password 4.2 released with better browser, improved search, much more
Google Glass XE5 update brings Google+ integration, refinements
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Wearables, Google, Software,
Google has pushed out a new update for Google Glass Explorers, the early testers and purchasers of the ambitious wearable tech. Most notable in the XE5 update is the addition of Google+ functionality in Glass, specifically allowing you to comment on, and +1 entries on Google's social network. You can also receive incoming Google Hangout invitations. Here's a full rundown of the changes:
- Change to sync policy: require power + WiFi for background uploads
- Crash reporting
- Incoming G+ notifications (direct shares, comments, +mentions), including ability to comment and +1
- Incoming Hangout notifications
- Transcription of queries & messages is now wicked-fast
- Long-press to search from anywhere in the UI (no longer just from off)
- International number dialing + SMS
- Hop animation on disallowed swipes in the UI
- New On-Head Detection calibration flow
- Show device Serial Number on Device Info card
- More reliable estimation of battery charge remaining
- New recipient-list mosaic
As you can see, Google is steadily improving the Glass experience, even as it's just in the beta Explorer stage. With a year-or-so before it hits mass market, the company has a lot of time to refine the technology to get it ready for the meanstream. They'll need to, in order to quiet the jokes.
Gallery: Google Glass XE5 update brings Google+ integration, refinements
Windows Phone finally gets a real, functional YouTube app
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Microsoft, Software,
Windows Phone users have been patiently waiting for a full-fledged YouTube app, and today it has finally arrived. Replacing the glorified mobile web version of YouTube "app," the new version brings all the native Windows Phone 8 love in parity with YouTube's standard features. You can share videos to other social networks, log in to your account to access your favorites and playlists, and even do stuff like set videos, channels, and even search queries as Live Tiles on the homescreen--something unique to Windows Phone. You can grab the new Windows Phone YouTube app right now.
Read More 
| Windows Phone Blog
Gallery: Windows Phone finally gets a real, functional YouTube app
OS X 10.9 rumored to include tabbed Finder, Siri, Maps, and more
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Rumors, Software,
Apple is set to show off OS X 10.9 at WWDC 2013 (which sold out in less than two minutes this year) and the current rumors point to the inclusion of a tabbed Finder and iOS-style multitasking that will allow background apps to pause, freeing system resources up for the apps you are using at the time. Additionally, the Mission Control complaint that users with multiple monitors have been complaining about since the release of OS X 10.7 Lion will finally be addressed--if you have multiple monitors, you'll be able to have a space open on each one.
Other rumor mill nuggets point to both Siri and Apple Maps making their OS X debuts as well. We'll know more on June 10 when WWDC kicks off!
Read More | 9to5Mac
Gallery: OS X 10.9 rumored to include tabbed Finder, Siri, Maps, and more
Twitter for Mac 2.2 released with Retina display support, improved photo sharing
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: PC / Laptop, Software,
Twitter has updated the official Twitter for Mac app for the first time since June 2011, surprising many Mac users in the process, many of whom thought the app was essentially dead. Instead, along with the listed new features and improvements, Twitter's Ben Sandofsky has also announced that the will be working on Twitter for Mac full-time, and that there are more cool updates to come.
P.S. I'm taking a break from iOS to work on Twitter for Mac full time.
— Ben Sandofsky (@sandofsky) April 25, 2013
Here are the changes you'll find in todays Twitter for Mac 2.2 release:
- Photos: It’s easier than ever to share photos. Simply click the camera icon in the lower-left corner of the Tweet compose box, and choose a photo to share. If you prefer, you can still drag and drop photos from the desktop.
- Retina display support: Now Twitter is even more vibrant and detailed on the highest resolution Mac notebooks. With this update, Tweets will be clearer and sharper, creating a more vivid experience.
- 14 more languages: In addition to English, Twitter for Mac now supports Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Turkish.
You can get the update now in the Mac App Store.
Read More | Twitter for Mac
Gallery: Twitter for Mac 2.2 released with Retina display support, improved photo sharing
Apple WWDC 2013 takes place June 10-14 in San Francisco
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Software,
Apple has confirmed that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place June 10-14th at Moscone West in San Francisco. During yesterday's Q2 2013 Apple earnings call, Tim Cook made sure to set expectations by indicating that the company looks forward to releasing new hardware, software, and services this fall, and throughout 2014. In other words, don't expect any new iPhone or iPad to be announced at the summer blockbuster event. That said, Phil Shiller says that its "developers have had the most prolific and profitable year ever, and we're excited to show them the latest advances in software technologies and developer tools to help them create innovative new apps," adding, "we can't wait to get new versions of iOS and OS X into their hands at WWDC." So there you have it--WWDC will see the unveiling of Mac OS X 10.9, and iOS 7, both of which should be made available to developers on June 10 in preview form. Tickets for WWDC go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM PDT.
Gallery: Apple WWDC 2013 takes place June 10-14 in San Francisco
Apple seeds OS X 10.8.4 build 12E36 to developers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
Just before today's Apple Q2 2013 earnings call, the company released a new beta version of OS X 10.8.4 Mountain Lion to developers. Build 12E36 is now available to download through the Mac App Store if you're a developer, with focus areas on Wi-Fi, graphics drivers, and Safari.
Gallery: Apple seeds OS X 10.8.4 build 12E36 to developers
Microsoft to bring back Start button in Windows 8.1
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Rumors, Software,
It looks like Microsoft is set to bring back the Start button in Windows 8.1, a mainstay of the Windows OS that was removed in Windows 8. According to a report from The Verge, the new Windows 8.1 Start button will not include the traditional Start button functionality, but will rather be a method of taking you back to the Start screen. In addition to the Start button making a reappearance (in name, at least,) Microsoft is also said to be including a feature that will allow users to boot directly to the desktop, bypassing the Start screen altogether.
Read More | The Verge
Gallery: Microsoft to bring back Start button in Windows 8.1
Twitter #Music service launches on web and iPhone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Internet, Music, Software,
The rumored Twitter Music service has become a reality, launching this morning. Twitter #music seems to be a natural step for the service, which sees hundreds of millions of users regularly discussing music on the service, as well as a bunch of popular musicians as well. Twitter #music aims to help you find music you'll like, based on your Twitter activity. You can access #music through a web browser, and there's also a new dedicated #music iOS app that lets you easily view and listen to music that's popular and trending on Twitter, undiscovered artists, music that it knows you like, and a #NowPlaying area that shows what others are listening to.
One important note here is that Twitter #music isn't a streaming music service. Instead, it's a layer that allows you to access your Rdio, Spotify, and iTunes tracks, using Twitter #music as your navigation mechanism. You simply connect your accounts to #music, and you are all set. The iOS app is slick, and we hear the Android version will be on its way soon. You can download Twitter #music for iPhone now.
Read More | Twitter #Music
