Bleeding Edge TV 507: HTC One (M8) vs. HTC One (M7)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Podcasts, Product Reviews, Videocasts, Videos,

In this episode I give you a comparison review of the HTC One (M8) vs. the original HTC One. Last year, I named the HTC One as my favorite Android smartphone, and this year the HTC One M8 has a great chance at claiming the title again. We've received a bunch of questions from readers asking about the differences between the two devices, and if it is worth upgrading from the 2013 model to the new HTC One M8.

I go through each major change and upgrade (and, in one case, a downgrade) to give you a thorough look at what's new and what's changed!

Pick up your own HTC One M8:

• Amazon
• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel--also, we are giving away awesome perks for our Patreon backers - thanks for your support!

Click to continue reading Bleeding Edge TV 507: HTC One (M8) vs. HTC One (M7)

Unboxing Live 141: Nest Protect

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Household, Videocasts,

In this episode we open up the Nest Protect. Nest Protect is a smoke & carbon monoxide detector from the makers of the Nest Smart Thermostat. It will let you know in plain English that there is a problem in the home, and will also tell you which room it's in. False alarms are easily silenced with a wave. If you have multiple Protect units in your home, they will talk to each other, and they'll even use motion sensor data to alert the Nest Thermostat that there is someone home, so that it knows to keep the temperature to where you like it to be.

We will follow-up with a setup video, and an installation video of the Nest Protect as well, following this unboxing!

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel, and don't forget--we are giving away awesome perks for our Patreon backers - thanks for your support!

Click to continue reading Unboxing Live 141: Nest Protect

LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 brings the magic of the carnival home

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Toys,

LEGO has announced one of its most impressive Creator sets yet in the Fairground Mixer 10244. Focused on recapturing the magic of the traveling carnival, where kids would ride on rickety, precarious contraptions while other would walk around carrying stuffed prized, popcorn, and cotton candy, the set succeeds in its goal.

LEGO unveiled the set this past weekend at the Sydney Brickshow in Sydney, Australia, bringing with it the nostalgia of days gone past. If you were around during the traveling carnival heyday, you know that it all begins with the trucks. That's how all those rides get moved from town to town, and that's how the LEGO Fairground Mixer 10244 operates as well. The entire set of attractions (and characters!) neatly tucks away into the LEGO trucks. Here's a look at what's in the set:

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Gallery:

WWE Network now available on Xbox One

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Video Games,

The WWE Network app is now available for download on the Xbox One console, completing its availability on all announced video game platforms. Prior to today, the WWE Network was available on the Playstation 3, Playstation 4, and Xbox 360, with the Xbox One launch scheduled to come later "this summer." Obviously, the app was completed here in early spring, and made its way to the Xbox Live Marketplace without so much as an announcement from WWE or Microsoft.

We played with the app for a few minutes, and found it to be much easier to navigate than the other game console offerings. In fact, we'd place the Xbox One version just behind that of the Apple TV when it comes to connected devices. Having already used the WWE Network on the Xbox 360, after downloading it to the Xbox One, I was able to navigate around and watch content without having to log in again, thanks to my credentials syncing over Microsoft's cloud.

Streaming quality looks great, with no initial lag or stutter. You can download the WWE Network app now.

Apple updates MacBook Air with faster processor, cheaper price

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

As we reported yesterday, Apple has released an updated MacBook Air lineup today. While we expected the slightly faster processors to be included, we were pleasantly surprised to see that Apple cut the price of all MacBook Air models by $100 as well. That means that the starting price of the MacBook Air is now $899.

"With MacBook Air starting at $899, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Macs have never been more popular, and today we've boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook."

So, what's changed? Both the 11- and 13-inch models now sport a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Haswell processor and 4GB RAM. The base model configurations of each size include 128GB PCIe-based flash storage, which can be doubled to 256GB for $200. Build-to-order options allow you to add things like a 1.7GHz processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB PCIe storage.

Additionally, the new models get better battery life for iTunes movie playback, with the 11-inch model going from 8 hours to 9 hours, and the 13-incher going from 10 hours to 12 hours.

You can pick up the new MacBook Air now.

Ultra Street Fighter 4 trailer shows off new characters, features, stages, and more

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CAPCOM, Fighting, PC, PlayStation 3, Trailers, Xbox 360,

Curious about what, exactly, the "ultra" in Ultra Street Fighter 4 is supposed to imply? Capcom has released a new trailer detailing all the new characters, stages, game modes, gameplay balancing tweaks, and other features that are set to make this the biggest and best incarnation of Street Fighter 4 yet. If it's not enough for you, then you're gonna have to tell us what Capcom forgot to include, because we're having a hard time finding it.

Ultra Street Fighter 4 will launch this summer (you can pre-order USF4 now!) and will be available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. You can peep the trailer after the jump.

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Read More | Ultra Street Fighter 4

Apple expected to release new MacBook Air tomorrow

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Rumors,

Apple is expected to release its new line of MacBook Air notebooks as soon as tomorrow, multiple sources are reporting. The word is that shipments of the new MacBook Airs have already started arriving at Apple Stores in advance of the announcement, which will allow buyers to pick up the new models right away.

This won't be the redesigned fanless MacBook Air with 12-inch Retina display and buttonless trackpad that has been rumored for a few months. Instead, this update should bring the newer Intel Haswell processor to the Air, offering speed and battery life increases. Once we get word on an announcement, we'll let you know.

Read More | MacBook Air product page

Glamour Red HTC One (M8) heading to Verizon

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Design, Handhelds,

For all you Verizon customers waiting on the Glamour Red HTC One (M8) to arrive, it looks like your wait won't be that much longer. The folks over at @evleaks got their hands on a render of the red HTC flagship device, which means that it's likely primed for release, sporting the same 5-inch, 1080p, KitKat goodness that the other three hues (Gunmetal gray, Arctic silver, and Rose gold) are packing.

So specific date has been announced just yet, but it's looking mighty fine, no? As soon as an announcement is made on availability, we'll let you know--or, you can check Verizon's HTC One (M8) page for yourself. In the meantime, check out our HTC One (M8) unboxing video after the jump.

Click to continue reading Glamour Red HTC One (M8) heading to Verizon

Apple TV surpasses 20 million units sold, no longer a “hobby”

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Home Entertainment,

Apple CEO announced that Apple TV sales have now surpassed 20 million during today's Q2 2014 earnings call. As such, the company recently stopped referring to the Apple TV business as a "hobby," as it's done for the past seven years or so.

"I'm feeling good about this business and where it could go," Tim Cook said, further revealing that the company stopped calling the product segment a hobby once it pulled in $1 billion in revenue in 2013. "it didn’t feel right to me to refer to something that brought in a billion dollars as a 'hobby,'"

Now, the Apple TV is an "area of intense interest"--no longer a hobby, indeed. The last major Apple TV hardware release came in 2012. Since then, the company has added many new channels of content over time. Rumors continue to persist that Apple will release a new Apple TV set-top box with expanded functionality, while others say that the company is set to reveal a full-on 4K Ultra High Definition television set of its own.

You can pick up the current Apple TV at a discount on Amazon.

60% of iPhone 5c & iPhone 4s buyers are switching from Android

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,

During today's Apple earnings call, CEO Tim Cook announced that 62% of current iPhone 4S buyers, and 60% of current iPhone 5c buyers are switching over from Android devices. The iPhone 4s is currently free with two-year contract, while the iPhone 5c is $99 (sometimes less) with the same term agreement (see our iPhone 5c review.) These numbers bring new light to the question that many ask, wondering why Apple keeps the iPhone 4s around, or why it made the iPhone 5c in the first place. They provide an inexpensive entry point with powerful hardware for users who just want to get started in the iOS ecosystem, without having to spend on a higher-priced flagship Apple device. By that tune, it would appear that the iPhone 5c is a success after all.