Bleeding Edge TV 468: Ubuntu for smartphones preview

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

Did you know that Linux Ubuntu is coming to smartphones to take on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry? It's true - and we bring you a first look at the Linux Ubuntu smartphone OS in this video as we interview Canonical's Richard Collins. What do you think of the all gesture-based interface with no hardware buttons? The demo was run on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Check it out!

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel!

AT&T still playing catch-up, finally adding HD Voice later this year

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Broadband, Smartphones, Corporate News,

I have a bridge to sell you if you think AT&T's announcement had nothing to do with T-Mobile's hard push of its new HD Voice to its upcoming iPhone customers. AT&T Senior VP of Network Technology, Kris Rinne, was chatting it up at the VentureBeat Mobile Summit in Sausalito, California. She stated that the telecommunications company will support the HD Voice technology later this year in 2013. Nevermind that smartphones like the iPhone 5 have had HD Voice capabilities since October 2012.

@jason_diaz AT&T never implemented full rate AMR, much less AMR-WB, which is required for HD Voice.

— Neal Gompa (ニール・ゴンパ) (@Det_Conan_Kudo) March 27, 2013

Rollout of newer technology has historically been AT&T's Achilles Heel; it took them over a year to include Internet tethering for the iPhone 3GS, despite carriers across the globe supporting it at launch. AT&T finally included the internet tethering, only after the iPhone 4 launched, with several deal breaking caveats such as forfeiting "unlimited" data plans and exorbitant pricing for data that customers are already paying for. On the brighter side, dropped calls will soon be in HD.

Read More | AllThingsD

HTC One launches on AT&T and Sprint on April 19th

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,

The HTC One is set to officially launch on April 19th on both AT&T and Sprint, starting at $199.99 with two-year contract for the 32GB model. If you prefer the 64 GB variant, you'll have to go with the AT&T model…yup, the 64 GB HTC One is an AT&T exclusive. Despite an unforeseen delay, the HTC One is still set to beat the Samsung Galaxy S 4 to the market, and also comes in $50 cheaper. If you wanna get your pre-order on, you can put your money down with AT&T beginning on April 4, or on April 5th if you're going with the Sprint model.

Unboxing Live 108: Logitech Harmony Touch

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Videocasts,

The Logitech Harmony Touch is the follow-up to the massively popular Harmony One universal remote. The new Harmony Touch model introduces a touchscreen display front and center, with tap and gesture support for controlling the various devices in your home theater. We open up the touchscreen remote control in this episode of Unboxing Live, giving you a look at what's included in the box, along with an up-close look at the device. Once you're done watching, be sure to check out our full Logitech Harmony Touch review.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live on YouTube!

Amazon Cloud Drive now syncs between PC, Mac, Kindle, web

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Software, Storage,

Amazon has announced that it's Cloud Drive storage locker is now accessible from PC, Mac, Kindle Fire, and web browser, allowing you to sync your documents across all of your devices with the reliance of Amazon in the background. This puts the Amazon Cloud Drive, which gives users a free 5 GB of storage space, in direct competition with services like Dropbox.

64 GB HTC One is an AT&T exclusive

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

If you were hoping to pick up a the 64 GB model of the HTC One, it looks like you'll need to grab it from AT&T. AT&T has posted a video promoting the HTC One on its official YouTube account, which clearly shows that the 64 GB model is exclusive to the carrier, while the 32 GB version is not. Since the One has no internal expansion slot for a microSD card, you are stuck with what you get, and if 32 GB is just too cramped for you, the AT&T model seems to be your only hope. That's unfortunate, as exclusive handset configurations in the smartphone market don't seem to help anyone byt the vendor who has the exclusive, consumers be damned. Check out the promo video after the break.

Click to continue reading 64 GB HTC One is an AT&T exclusive

Garageband for iOS updated to version 1.4 adds AudioBus Support

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Music, App Updates, Apple, $4.99,

Apple has update Garageband for iOS for free with some new features, tweaks and fixes. The notable new features is Audiobus support within the app. Users can now add other compatible music and sound apps with the Audiobus feature, so get your creative touch music juices going and be the next Harlem Shake. GarageBand is priced $4.99 and its a universal app that works with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

What's New in Version 1.4

• Play and record music apps supported by Audiobus directly into GarageBand*
• Turn off grid snapping to get finer control over region and note editing
• Fixes an issue that resulted in feedback while connecting 3rd-party audio accessories into the headphone/microphone jack

Requires iPhone 4S, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad 2 or later. Audiobus requires a separate purchase.

Read More | App Store

Bleeding Edge TV 467: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Podcasts, Product Reviews, Videocasts, Videos,

Corning Gorilla Glass 3 was announced at CES, and we bring you a cool demo. Gorilla Glass appears in products like the iPhone, Android smartphones, and tablets. The demo shows you how Gorilla Glass 3 is thinner and lighter than the previous version from last year, while being a lot more durable and able to resist shattering under pressure and when dropped. It's already been announced that Gorilla Glass 3 will be included in the Samsung Galaxy S 4. Check it out!

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel!

Unboxing Live 107: HTC 8X Windows Phone

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Videocasts,

We got a look at the AT&T HTC 8X Windows Phone device, running Windows Phone 8, and we hit you with an unboxing of this smartphone in this episode. The 8X is HTC's flagship Windows Phone 8 device, sporting a 720p display with 1080p video recording from both the front and rear cameras. It's rare to get that high a recording resolution from a front camera, and is a nice touch that sets the 8X apart from other Windows Phone 8 devices from companies like Nokia and Samsung.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live on YouTube!

T-Mobile USA to launch iPhone 5 on April 12, LTE in 7 cities

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds,

T-Mobile, the fourth largest US carrier, has officially announced that it will carry Apple's iPhone, beginning on April 12 with the iPhone 5, 4S, and 4. T-Mobile was the the last remaining holdout of the the big four, that includes Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, to sell the iconic smartphone. The delay was due to a variety of reasons, one being the economic ramification of the iPhone potentially outselling other handsets that are heavily branded by T-Mobile, which the carrier heavily relies on. The iPhone 5 will be able to run T-Mobile's LTE which, coincidentally, finally went live today in 7 cities: Washington DC, San Jose, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Houston, and Baltimore.

The unique twist is how T-Mobile will manage to sell both the iPhone and the other handsets it carries. T-mobile will allow customers to pay the full price or pay $20 installments over 24 months with a down payment of $99 and will not be requiring a two year contract. Along with this announcement, T-Mobile will also sell the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in certain markets with HSPA+. Despite its small LTE markets, T-Mobile boasts very competitive service plans that might entice new customers to defect from other carriers. Example, $70 for unlimited calling, data and text. One perk for the switch is that T-mobile is marketing that it will be the only carrier with HD Voice deployment on the iPhone 5. Now the iPhone 5 will officially sell on an equal playing field in the US. Pre-order starts now.

Read More | T-Mobile