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Latest Gear Live Videos
iPhone 4S giveaway!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Announcements, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds,
As we've been teasing on the Gear Live Twitter and Facebook pages, we are teaming up with Monster Cable this week to give away an iPhone 4S as part of Monster's 8X iPhone 4S Sweepstakes. We've got two prizes that you can win this week - one is an iPhone 4S with a Monster Accessory Pack included, but we're also giving away a second Monster Accessory Pack as well. The Accessory Pack is a $260 value and includes:
- Turbine In-Ear Monitors ($179 value)
- Monster iCable 800 ($19.95 value)
- Monster Mobile PowerPlug Dual USB 700 ($34.95 value)
- CleanTouch Pen ($24.95 value)
So, how do you enter to win all this good stuff? To enter to win the iPhone 4S with Accessory Pack, head on over to Monster's giveaway page on Facebook. You can enter there each week for another chance at walking away with Apple's latest smartphone. In addition, since we're also giving away a second Monster Accessory Pack here on the site, you can enter using our widget below. We've got just one requirement for entry, but we are also offering you guys a bunch of extra ways to score bonus entries:
Follow the Gear Live Twitter account and post this tweet: “Hey @gearlive hook me up with that iPhone 4S! http://gear.lv/e-monster-iphone” (Click here to tweet this now)
Let us know you did that, and grab your bonus entries, using the widget below!
Gallery: iPhone 4S giveaway!
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2011 Holiday Gift Guide: 11-inch MacBook Air
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Hot Deals, PC / Laptop, Women, Men, Techies,
Apple's smallest notebook is the MacBook Air, and all signs are pointing to this being the best-selling Mac this holiday season, so we had to include it in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide. The 11-inch MacBook Air packs in speedy flash memory that is soldered directly onto the motherboard, resulting is lightning-fast performance. It also means no moving parts, so you get five hours of battery life from the tiny little wonder, and it even sports a full-sized keyboard, which we feel is a must (and is one of our main complaints with other netbooks.) The price starts at $999 from Apple, but hey, if you go with Amazon then its $994 with free shipping, and MacMall has them starting at $799--a full $200 off! Not bad for the most portable Mac out there.
Gallery: 2011 Holiday Gift Guide: 11-inch MacBook Air
2011 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway: Shenzhen 6-inch White Ceramic Chef’s Knife
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Smart Home, Women, Men, Under $100, Under $25, Under $250, Under $50, Under $500,
We're giving away this next item featured in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide, and it's a product that we weren't even sure we'd like at first, Take a look at the Shenzhen Knives White Ceramic 6-inch Chef's Knife. When we first looked at it, we thought it was gonna be a cheap, dull knife unworthy of any further attention. We were very, very wrong. In fact, it's become my daily go-to kitchen knife. The sharpness of the blade is more than capable of handling meats, hard fruits and vegetables, as well as softer items as well. Since it's ceramic, it stays sharper than a steel knife, and holds its edge longer. It also won't rust, and is resistant to acids, germs, and oils. The best part, though, is that they aren't even that expensive. You can get this knife on Amazon for $25.
Seriously, I've been using this knife almost exclusively for all my cooking over the past couple of weeks, and it has yet to let me down.
Okay, now on to the details of the giveaway. We've got a Shenzhen 6-inch White Ceramic Chef's Knife to give away,
To enter, use our contest widget:
The contest will run through November 29th, and is open to US residents. A winner will be chosen randomly from all eligible entrants.
Gallery: 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway: Shenzhen 6-inch White Ceramic Chef’s Knife
Introducing Ask Andru: Apple’s iMessage, explained
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds,
I'm a big fan of GeekWire, so when one of my Twitter followers suggested that I start a regular Q&A column for the site, focusing on consumer electronics and gadgets, I figured "Why not?" I talked with the crew, and the result is Ask Andru. In case you're curious about what qualifies me to answer your nagging questions about the devices that have become such an integrated part of our lives, well, I've been running Gear Live for over seven years now. If you're unfamiliar, Gear Live is one of the top gadget news and review sites in the world, and I absolutely love what I do. If you've got a question you'd like me to answer, drop me a line at askandru@gmail.com, and I'll throw it in the queue.
Our very first question deals with iMessage, a new feature introduced to iOS devices with the release of iOS 5:
After upgrading to iOS 5, sometimes I see an iMessage reference in my text-messaging app, and sometimes not, and it doesn't seem to be correlated to whether or not I'm on WiFi or 3G. I also see different colors. I know the idea is to be able to send text messages without going over the wireless carrier's network, but how the heck does this work and what's actually going on?
Click to continue reading Introducing Ask Andru: Apple’s iMessage, explained
Gallery: Introducing Ask Andru: Apple’s iMessage, explained
8 rules to get the best deals on Black Friday
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Features, Hot Deals,
With the sheer number of sales and offers being flung around during Black Friday weekend, there's a chance that you may encounter an item you're interested in that doesn't appear in any ad. Although you can easily price compare offers from competing stores, how can you be certain that it's actually the best deal you can get? Below, we've detailed a few steps that you should take to ensure that your purchase is a wise one. And though you may feel pressure to move quickly on Black Friday — with extremely limited-time offers and deals selling out — a few moments spent researching will make you much less likely to regret your purchases later.
1. Know the Price History for the Item: Many people don't realize that there's an option on dealnews that allows you to view expired deals. This info is useful when assessing the dealworthiness of a current price for a specific item. If the model you're considering was offered for less a few weeks or months ago, it's probably a pretty weak Black Friday deal. We've noticed a few such offerings in the ads already, so be on the lookout.
2. Consider Other Colors: If you're not particular about the color of your item, it's worth doing a quick check to see if a less-mainstream colorway is seeing stronger discounts. For example, some of the deepest cuts on items like Vibram FiveFingers shoes tend to be brightly-colored styles. When searching for additional options, keep in mind that sometimes the model number integrates color information. (Cameras and camcorders frequently do this.) Simplify the model number to broaden your search, and you may find a blue camera for less than the standard black or silver model you were originally considering.
Click to continue reading 8 rules to get the best deals on Black Friday
Gallery: 8 rules to get the best deals on Black Friday
Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich first impression review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews, Software,
This is a huge deal. Ice Cream Sandwich is the biggest upgrade to Google's Android OS since Android 2.2 hit in May 2010, and possibly the most important update ever. From what I've seen so far in a day with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone, Android users should be demanding their share of Ice Cream—and it should absolutely make a difference in your phone purchases.
Google lent me an international developer unit of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first ICS phone. This isn't the LTE device that Verizon Wireless will be selling in the U.S., but it's roughly the same size and shape with very similar capabilities, so it's a good way to judge what ICS will be like when it hits the USA.
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich first impression review
The Amazon Kindle Fire is the first small tablet that average users can pick up and immediately use, with a simple, clear interface. Then there's the price: Android along with amazing specs for just $199. It's open enough to attract geeks, too. While the user interface occasionally gets sluggish, we're willing to have a bit of patience to get a first-rate tablet for half of what most competitors charge, thus the Kindle Fire is our first Editors' Choice for small tablets.
Design
A solid little brick at 7.5 by 4.7 by .45 inches and 14.6 ounces, the Kindle Fire looks and feels a lot like the BlackBerry PlayBook, but the Fire is smaller in all dimensions. There are no slots or tabs; both the memory and battery are sealed in, and the only interruptions in its smooth, black form are the headphone jack, Power button, MicroUSB jack, and dual stereo speakers. There's no camera, but I've never been sold on the value of tablet cameras anyway. It uses 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi networks to get online; there's no cellular radio or Bluetooth connectivity.
Turn the Fire on and the 7-inch 1024-by-600 IPS LCD screen lights up. This display is very sharp and clear, but it's also rather reflective. Just like on the Apple iPad 2, you may have trouble reading in bright light because of the screen's sometimes mirror-like gloss. While this is par for the course with tablets, I expected more given the Kindle name. This isn't a dedicated e-reader by any means.
Click to continue reading Amazon Kindle Fire review
Gallery: Amazon Kindle Fire review
5 things you should know about iTunes Match
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Music, Storage,
The first member of Apple's iCloud family that requires separate payment is here: the $24.99-a-year iTunes Match. The service will store any and all music in your computer's iTunes library up to Apple's servers and make it accessible to any of your iOS devices or computers running iTunes.
Though the free iTunes in the Cloud has existed since the launch of iOS 5 on Oct. 12, that service only covers music you've bought through the iTunes Store.
Apple's iTunes Match examines your song collection and determines whether Apple's servers contain a copy of each tune, in which case no upload on your part is required, and you can download a high-quality 256 Kbps AAC iTunes Plus version of the songs onto any device or computer you've signed into using the same Apple ID.
But for those who still have lingering questions about iTunes Match, here are a few more details:
Click to continue reading 5 things you should know about iTunes Match
Gallery: 5 things you should know about iTunes Match
2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Zeo Mobile Sleep Manager
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Smart Home, Science, Techies, Under $100, Under $250, Under $500,
The Zeo Mobile Sleep Manager safely and easily measures your sleep patterns right from home, resulting in a more restful and restorative sleep. It's a cool way to educate yourself about how well you sleep, and teaches you new ways that may help you get a better night's rest, so we're including it in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide. It uses three main components--a comfortable wireless headband, your iOS or ANdroid device running the Zeo app, and the MyZeo.com companion website. They all work together to show you which habits and behaviors may help or hinder your sleep, and create personalized strategies just for you. A cool and unique item for anyone, and hey, who doesn't wanna feel rested in the morning? For those without an iOS or Android device, you can pick up the Zeo Personal Sleep Manager, which does all the same stuff without the need for a smartphone, and provides an alarm clock with sleep pattern display that captures your data onto DS card. You can get the Zeo Mobile Sleep Manager for $99 on Amazon.
Gallery: 2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Zeo Mobile Sleep Manager
2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 digital camera
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Features, Family, Women, Men, Under $500,
If you've got someone on your gift list that needs a new point-and-shoot camera that also takes great video, we'd like to recommend checking out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. This is the point-and-shoot that we've been using for the past 8 months or so, and the quality is great. Video recordings look superb in high definition, recorded in AVCHD Lite. You've got a 25mm ultra wide-angle lens with 16x wide-angle optical zoom, facial recognition, and other bells and whistles. What we love about this camera, though, is that it has GPS built-in to geotag your photos and videos automatically, on the fly, as you take them. The ZS8 retails for $279.99, but Amazon is currently selling them for just $194.99 - a savings of $85!
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| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
