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
iPod classic not dead, bumped up to 160GB
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
The rumors were heavy that Apple would be axing the iPod classic since it’s the iPod that moves the least number of units across the product line. If that happened, it would have truly been the end of an era, but thankfully, the iPod classic remains alive and well. Not only that, but Apple has increase the storage on the classic from 120GB to 160GB while maintaining the same thin profile. Very nice.
You can pick up the 160GB iPod classic for $249.
Read More 
| iPod classic
Gallery: iPod classic not dead, bumped up to 160GB
Advertisement
iPod touch 3rd gen: $199 8GB, $299 32GB, $399 64GB
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Apple has just announced the third generation of the iPod touch at their “It’s only Rock and Roll” event this morning. The first order of business is that the 8GB iPod touch is now just $199. In addition, the 32GB model will now sell for $299, and the newly announced 64GB model (which I am drooling over) will sell for $399. The iPod touch has hit that magical $199 price point, and based on that, we think Apple can expect sales to shoot even higher.
The new touches also have iPhone 3GS innards, since they support OpenGL 2.0, which means games will look and perform even better.
The negative? No camera. That is the one thing we were hoping to see added to the touch, and it didn’t happen. Oh well, there’s always next year.
Gallery: iPod touch 3rd gen: $199 8GB, $299 32GB, $399 64GB
iTunes 9: iTunes LP, App Arrangement, Redesigned Store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Software,
iTunes 9 details have slipped out just a tad bit early, and we’ve got the details for you. The main attraction here seems to be a completely redesigned and optimized iTunes Store. Navigation has been made a heck of a lot easier, and there is even a new full window display that allows you to browse the iTunes Store in full screen. Seems silly, but hey, why not?
There are also new preview mechanisms that let you preview content from anywhere, just by rolling over it with your mouse.
iTunes LP is a new addition to the iTunes experience, which Apple describes as a “gorgeous, immersive digital version of select albums.” Basically, while listening to an album, you can also get animated lyrics, liner notes, performance videos, photos, and more. We have to see it in action, but it sounds an awful lot like the Zune Now Playing feature.
There are now iTunes Extras. When you rent a digital movie, you get the movie, plus extras. Typically, you would only get to view special features on a DVD. Now iTunes brings you cast interviews, deleted scenes, photo galleries, and more.
Aside from these new features, iTunes also picks up some nice syncing enhancements. You can now arrange how you want apps to appear on your iPhone and iPod touch right in iTunes, and sync those right over. There is also a much more powerful syncing mechanism for all the other content (like, sync just these Faces for photos, sync all of this artist, etc.)
There’s also a new feature called Home Sharing, which lets you actually move content around from up to 5 computers in your home, rather than just being able to stream between them. iTunes 9 will be available very shortly.
Gallery: iTunes 9: iTunes LP, App Arrangement, Redesigned Store
Beats Solo comes to Beats by Dr. Dre line: Smaller, Lighter, $219
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Hot on the heels of the Heartbeats by Lady Gaga headphone news, we now have word on another new line in the Beats by Dr. Dre line - the Beats Solo. As you can see from the image, the Beats Solo is a smaller, lighter, and sleeker take on the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones. Monster Cable aimed to make these headphones a lot more portable, while maintaining the great sound that the Studio edition is known for. Since we haven’t gotten our hands on these, we can’t confirm that, but we do know that the price is a lot more palatable for the masses. The Beats Solo will be available in November in black and white, and will cost $219.95. That’s $80 less than the larger Studio model.
We’ve got an image of the black version for you after the jump.
Click to continue reading Beats Solo comes to Beats by Dr. Dre line: Smaller, Lighter, $219
Gallery: Beats Solo comes to Beats by Dr. Dre line: Smaller, Lighter, $219
Heartbeats by Lady Gaga added to Beats by Dr. Dre line
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
We’ve known for a while now that a Lady Gaga edition of the Beats by Dr. Dre headphone line was on the way (heck, the Beats Studio Edition appears in every single one of her music videos,) but we must admit, we didn’t know it would be it’s own standalone product! However, that is exactly what Monster Cable is giving us with the Heartbeats by Lady Gaga in-ear headphones. I’ve confirmed with Monster Cable that they aren’t just a rebranded version of the Beats by Dr. Dre Tour Edition, and they they have a sound and style all their own. Apparently, Lady Gaga helped with the design, and we can believe it, just by looking at the product. Other features include multiple eartips to suit all sizes of ear canal, a travel case, and a flat cable design that eliminates wire tangling.
The Heartbeats by Lady Gaga will hit stores in October, with prices ranging from $99 to $149.
Read More | Heartbeats by Lady Gaga
Gallery: Heartbeats by Lady Gaga added to Beats by Dr. Dre line
Nokia has just announced two new additions to its XpressMusic line with the the X6 and X3. The X6 has 32MB of internal storage, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, and a 5-megapixel camera. It also sports a TV-out and Comes with Music unlimited copy-rotected downloads.
As for the X3, it’s the first Series-40 phone to ship with the Ovi Store, has a 2.2-inch non-touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, and FM radio. You’ll need to use MicroSD cards for storage on this one. The X3 will cost 115 Euros ($160,) while the X6 will run for 459 Euros ($650.)
Read More | Nokia
Gallery: Nokia XpressMusic X6 and X3 announced
DJ Mouse MP3 mixer makes you the life of the party
Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Music, Peripherals, Software,
Clearly, there is a whole world of DJing that I am really not down with. Fortunately, my geek self is in love with this little DJ Mouse, guaranteed to turn me into DJ TechBlogger, yo!
With a jog wheel and scratch knob (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,) you’ll easily have crowds pumping. This is a full MP3 mixing software kit, and it’s compatible with Windows and OS X. You get the DJ Mouse, scratch mat, and software, all for $79.
Read More | DJ-Tech
Gallery: DJ Mouse MP3 mixer makes you the life of the party
Samsung’s YP-R1 Yepp ships next month
Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Samsung‘s YP-R1 has been on our gadget radar for some time now, and finally the latest Yepp DAP is ready for release in Europe next month. You have to like the features. A 2.6-inch touchscreeen, DivX compatibility, 8.9 millimeters thin, and something they like to refer to as the TouchWiz interface, which includes a Beat DJ feature which allows the user to “add in their own crackly voice and space-themed sound effects to songs.” It should be available for a price of $180 when it hits Europe, with Russia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan coming soon after.
Read More | Newswire Daily
Gallery: Samsung’s YP-R1 Yepp ships next month
Apple confirms September 9th rock and roll themed music and iPod event
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Software,
Yup, we’ve suspected that September 9th was going to be the day that we’d see a bunch of new hotness from Apple as it pertains to music, namely iTunes and iPod-related announcements. Well, it’s been confirmed, as Apple has started sending out invitations to a rock and roll themed event on the 9th, to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. Expect the entire iPod line to be refreshed, with the exception of the shuffle, and with the focus being on the iPod touch and iTunes 9.
What do you hope we see next Wednesday?
Gallery: Apple confirms September 9th rock and roll themed music and iPod event
Sony Walkman S Series and E Series Walkmans set for release
Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Sony has finally revealed the S Series Walkman, which supports JPGs, MP3/WMA/AAC audio, and H.264/MP4/WMV video at 30fps. It also has an FM tuner with time-shifting, stereo speakers, a 2.4-inch screen, and a Lithium-Ion battery that’ll provide you with 42 hours of audio, or 6.4 hours of video playback.
That’s not all, though. Sony is also introducing the E Series Walkman, which is similar to the S Series, but forgoes the speakers, and has a 2-inch QVGA screen. It also doesn’t support H.264 video.
The S and E Series come in many colors, at varying prices. The S-Series is $110 for the 8GB, and the $130 for the 16GB. The E-Series is $80 for the 8GB, and the 16GB version is $100.
Read More | PR Newswire
