Latest Gear Live Videos
Skype for Windows Phone now out of beta
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Microsoft, Software,
It’s been long in the making and long-awaited by many (ever since Microsoft bought Skype,) and now Skype is officially available for Windows Phone. The beta version of Skype has been around since February, but wasn't functional on all Windows Phone devices, according to Skype. However, with its official release, no such warnings exist. You can download Skype from the Windows Phone Marketplace now.
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| Skype
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Pink Nokia Lumia 900 set for May release?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Microsoft,
The Lumia 900 launched in the US with black and cyan as your color choices. Two weeks later, a white model appeared on the scene, looking gorgeous. Now, a magenta model may be on the way, according to Engadget. This one was spotted at Finland retailer Gigantti. Looks like it should be available sometime in May. Who's in? If you're unsure, take a look at our Lumia 900 review.
Halo 4 release date: November 6
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Action, First Person Shooters, Microsoft, Release Dates, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Halo 4 is going to be one of the biggest video game releases this year, and gamers across the world have been waiting for confirmation of the release date. We can now tell you that Halo 4 will hit stores on November 6, according to Microsoft.
"We are beginning a new saga with Halo 4 and embarking on a journey that will encompass the next decade of Halo games and experiences," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. "Millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to step back into the boots of Master Chief, and, with Halo 4 leading the charge, we're confident 2012 will be the most successful year in Xbox history."
Halo 4 is the first in the series to not be made by Bungie. Instead, the game is being developed by 343 Industries, a Microsoft studio that actually works out of the old Bungie Studios building in Kirkland, Washington. Halo 4 takes place four years after the conclusion of Halo 3.
For more Halo 4 goodness, check out details on Halo 4 multiplayer, as well as a Halo 4 first-look video.
Nokia Lumia 900 unboxing gallery
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Features, Galleries, Handhelds,
AT&T, Microsoft, and Nokia are all making a big bet on the Lumia 900 Windows Phone, which launched on April 8 for $99 with two-year contract. That's a great deal, being that this is one of the first AT&T LTE devices, and the first major mainstream Nokia Windows Phone device to hit the US. Those who pre-order through Walmart get it at half price ($49 with contract,) and new AT&T customer walk away with the Nokia Lumia 900 for free. We got our Lumia 900 in a bit early, and we're working on getting our final review up. In the meantime, though, we've put together a Lumia 900 unboxing gallery showing off the hardware. Go ahead and take a look--it's a gorgeous device! When you're done with that, then head over and get a peek at our insanely thorough Lumia 900 review!
Gallery:
Windows 8 Metro Testbed on iPad thanks to Splashtop
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software,
If you've been patiently awaiting the arrival of Windows 8 tablets while staring at your iPad with evil eyes, listen up. Now you can test apps in, and play with, the Microsoft Metro interface right on your iPad. While that may sound awkwards--dirty, even--it's perfectly easy to do using the Win8 Metro Testbed app from Splashtop. With it, you can swipe to switch between apps, access the Charms menu, and all the other stuff you'll be able to do within the confines of a Windows 8 tablet Metro interface. You can find the app in the iTunes App Store, where it costs $24.99 for a limited time. Afterwards, it'll be bumped up to $49.99, doubling in price. You need a PC running the Windows 8 beta for the app to work. Check out a video demo after the break.
Click to continue reading Windows 8 Metro Testbed on iPad thanks to Splashtop
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Microsoft, Product Reviews,
With the Lumia 900, three companies are hoping for a runaway success. You've got the carrier, AT&T, launching the first LTE Windows Phone device (and one of the first AT&T LTE smartphones, period.) You've got Nokia, the manufacturer, hoping that the device leads to a revitalization and resurgence of the popularity that it once commanded just a few years ago. Then, you've got Microsoft, the software provider, which is in a position that's much the same as what Nokia's in. A behemoth that had the crown, got cocky, and due to its inability to be nimble in a quickly-changing mobile landscape, got surpassed. The Lumia 900 represents hope for all three of these companies.
What you get in the Lumia 900 is the perfect mixture of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 (or, really, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango,) Nokia's incredible hardware design, and AT&T's (late) entrance into the LTE realm with a smartphone that people are paying attention to. Even better? You get it all at a $99 price point with contract. In the smartphone world, we'd call this one a steal.
With all of that said, the question still remains: is the Nokia Lumia 900 worth your time? Can it really stand in firm in place of popular iOS and Android devices, giving them a run for their money? These are the questions we aim to tackle in our Lumia 900 review.
Click to continue reading Nokia Lumia 900 review
Netflix updates Xbox 360 app with contrast controls, better episode navigation
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Movies, Software,
For all those that use their Xbox 360 to stream Netflix, an update has been issued today to solve some (but definitely not all!) annoying issues and improve user experience.
You're now able to skip forward and backwards during play, allowing users to quickly change between movies and TV episodes. Users now will be able to zoom during play, turning letterboxed displays into full screen, and there are now contrast settings that allow you to tweak things to make colors more vivid, and blacks purer. For users outside the States, you’ll now have expanded and improved Facebook functionality connected via Facebook. The social functionality allows others to see what you watched and how you rated the shows.
If you’re wondering how to get the update, signing into your Xbox Live account and fire up your current Netflix app. You should get a notification that an update is available right away. If you’re not a Netflix user, when you decide the time is right to try Netflix, the most up-to-date software will be downloaded when you sign-up. Keep in mind in order to access Netflix through the Xbox 360, you need an Xbox Live Gold Account, broadband Internet, and an active Netflix membership.
Read More | Netflix
Halo 4 Multiplayer Details Leak
Posted by John Ball Categories: Action, First Person Shooters, Microsoft, Rumors, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Buckle yourselves in Halo fans because we have a lot of news to cover. On the 7th of this month a currently anonymous person, who we assume works at the ever popular magazine Game Informer, released for the viewing pleasure of the public the entire Halo 4 cover article. This article goes into great detail about the games multiplayer features and what we can expect at the games launch. Reactions are currently mixed, as no one knows what to make of all of this information. Neither 343 Industries nor Game Informer have made any comment about the leak.
Spartan Ops, Forerunner Vision, and Regicide are a few of the highlights posted in the leaked article. Let's break these all down. Spartan Ops, think Special Ops from Call of Duty but instead of all missions available immediately, we will most likely see Spartan Ops missions released as updates or DLC for the game. By the final Spartan Ops mission release, the entire length of the Ops is said to be comparable to the Halo 4 campaign itself. This is a tactic to keep players invested in the game over time and looks to be very promising. Forerunner Vision has many Halo fans up in arms, as this ability allows the player to see through walls. This could be used to locate enemy positions on the map easier, possibly eliminating camping. Finally there is Regicide, a free-for-all game type similar to VIP. In Regicide, the player with the most kills becomes the “King” and every kill that they get after that adds to points that another player can get after killing the “King.”
That is all we would like to share with you for now but if you would like to read the full list of Multiplayer additions and changes or you want to see a full gallery from the magazine, hit the link below.
Read More | GamePur
Nokia Lumia 800 and Monster Purity Headphones giveaway!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Smartphones, Features, Music,
If you've been checking out the Gear Live Twitter and Facebook pages, then you've likely been looking forward to our next giveaway, featuring the Nokia Lumia 800 and Monster Purity Headphones. Well, the time is now!
The Nokia Lumia 800 is a super-sexy Windows Phone device for AT&T that features a 3.7-inch 800x480 ClearBlack AMOLED display, 1.4 GHz processor, Carl Zeiss 8 megapixel wide angle lens with dual LED flash, and a seamless, curved glass one-piece body design.
The Purity HD stereo headphones from Monster feature Windows Phone playback controls, as well as ControlTalk Universal. This means you can control both your media and phone calls hands-free. It's also got a tangle-resistant cable, and comes with a hard shell carrying case. The best part? The headphone color matches the color of your Lumia 800!
Microsoft only sells the Lumia 800 as part of an $899 bundle here in the US, but we're giving you the opportunity to win the smartphone and Purity HD headphones right here, for free! Here's how to enter:
- Follow the Gear Live Twitter account and post this exact tweet: “Hey @gearlive hook me up with that @Nokia Lumia 800! #PuritybyMonster http://gear.lv/e-lumia800” (Click here to tweet this now)
- Use the hashtag #PuritybyMonster in your tweets over the next week
Do that, and you're in! Now here is the fun part - you can enter as many times as you'd like by including the hashtag #PuritybyMonster in your tweets next seven days. At the end, we will pick a winner randomly from all valid entries. If you use Twitter regularly, just throw #PuritybyMonster into your tweets over the next week, and you could walk away with this awesome prize. The winner must be over 18, and must have a mailing address within the US to be eligible. Contest ends at 12:00am on April 12th!
Nokia Lumia 900 now available for pre-order, free to new AT&T customers!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Hot Deals, Microsoft,
We've talked at length about how great we think Windows Phone 7 is, but regardless of how good it is, it hasn't translated into amazing sales. Microsoft hopes that changes on April 8th, as the company, along with Nokia and AT&T, are making a colossal bet on the Nokia Lumia 900 being the breakout device for Windows Phone. In fact, the phone just went on sale for pre-order today, and there are some great deals out there. First of all, the Lumia 900 is selling for $99 with two-year contract, which in and of itself is amazing. Further, if you pre-order from Walmart, you can get the device for $49.99 with two-year contract (online only.) Finally, if you're a new AT&T customer, you get a $100 rebate, making the phone free.
Customers who pre-order will have their Lumia 900 smartphones by April 6th, a full two days before they hit store shelves for the masses. Oh, and this is for the black and cyan models. The white Lumia 900 launches April 22. You just don't see deals like this right out of the gate for high-quality 4G LTE smartphones with 4.3-inch AMOLED displays and 8 megapixel auto-focus cameras with dual LED flash! If you're in the market for a new smartphone, you'll wanna take a long, hard look at this one. Pre-order at AT&T or Walmart.
