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November 30, 2004

CyberCar: The Driverless Automobile

An organization of 15 European research centers, have introduced the first road-ready vehicles that require no driver. While there are already airport carts that do this, they require embedded road tracers, while the CyberCar has a pre-programmed route. Coupled with a laser-sweeping the device on it's front end, it can also avoid or stop in front of obstacles. We wonder how you feel about cruising around without a human navigator at the wheel, but this could certainly be the future we're all destined for. Already the town of Antibes on the French Riviera, and other nearby areas are considering buying fleets to taxi tourists around their crowded streets. I'd like to see them pull some of the manuevers I've witnessed with the cabs in Manhattan.

Read More | Time

Posted by Hector at 01:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Blu-Ray versus HD DVD. Round 1

While we love the way competition helps to bring down prices, format wars can just bring us headaches. Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers have all announced their support for HD DVD, which was developed by Toshiba and NEC; while Blu-Ray will have Dell, Philips, Sony and Twentieth Century Fox in their corner. It's still too early to tell, but it sounds like Blu-Ray will emerge victorious, especially since the PS3 will support it out of the box, and it holds about a third more data. The downside is that unlike HD DVD, the hardware would be more expensive and incompatible with current players.

Read More | VNUnet

Posted by Hector at 06:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 29, 2004

GloThong: Lighting Up Panties Everywhere

Have you ever wanted to see glow in the dark neon panties glowing in a club? No, I haven't even thought about it either. However, GloThong is set to change that. They are the makers of the undergarment that once charged via and A/C adapter, will glow all night long while you shimmy on the dancefloor. Of course, if you are caught off guard you can also just keep the handy thong car charger in the glove compartment and you are set. Yeah, I said it. The GloThong will be available in December, but you can order it now. Time to get me mine!

Read More | GloThong

Posted by Andru at 11:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Lycos Strikes Back At Spammers

This has got to be one of the coolest things I have seen on the news scene in a while. In an effort to stop spammers, European Lycos sites are now doing a "Make Love, Not Spam" "promotion". What exactly is it? Get ready. All you need to do is drop an email to Lycos via their site, and they will send you information on downloading their screensaver. Install it, and you will help to frustrate known spammers about as much as they frustrate you. When the screensaver is active, it is constantly requesting information from spammer IP addresses. This causes a lot of uneccessary (and expensive) bandwidth usage for the spammer. Now they can choose to ignore it and pay the higher fees, or they can come out and try to take Lycos to court. However, in doing so they are then basically outing themselves as spammers and will be subject to the discipline that comes with that. Simply Genius.

Read More | Lycos UK

Posted by Andru at 11:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

iPod Mini Haters Unite?

There's a lot of anti-iPod sentiment out there, as evidenced by some of the comments I've seen lately on the internet. Are these people just "haters" or do they have a valid point? Surely the iPod features some great usability and customer support, but some argue that for the same price you can get players with better features. Gear Live wants to hear your thoughts. Is the iPod the end-all be-all? The debate continues on our message boards.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Posted by Hector at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T3 Review

Our good friends here at I4U got a chance to look at Sony's latest digital wonder, billed as the World's Thinnest 5MP Digital Camera. You can import one from Dynamism for about $599. The latest model features some subtle but valuable improvements, including better picture quality and warmer colors. You even get an English user's manual with it, plus the black model is exclusive only to Japan.

Read More | I4U

Posted by Hector at 07:24 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

November 28, 2004

ZipKord Retractable Earbuds Review

My wife always says that I’m obsessed with wrapping up my earbud phone cords when I’m done with them. What can I say? I like things tidy and neat…at least when it comes to gear, considering how expensive things can get. Imagine my curiosity when I discovered that ZipKord offers a pair of in-ear buds that, get this, auto-retracts the cord for easy storage. We here at Gear Live had to check it out.

RETRACTABILITY

The way this thing works is by the headphone cord wrapping around a spring-loaded disc. By gently pulling on both sides of the cord, and then converging your hands slowly, the cord winds itself around this disk, from both directions at once. Imagine it like a ying-yang symbol, with strings protruding on the left and right side, being pulled towards it as it spins in place. That’s basically what’s happening here.

When the cords are fully spun in (and this does take some slow guidance), you have a cute little package that’s the same size as if you had wrapped up a regular cord. The only drawback here is that you need to slide up a piece of plastic towards the two earbuds before you begin. When you’re wearing the phones this plastic piece sits where the left and right cord separates, but you slide it up when it’s time to retract so that the separation is minimal and it allows both the left and right pieces of cord to wrap around the spindle a bit. Simple, but still it’s an extra step that you have to take.

You also need to be careful to allow both ends of the unit to retract at the same time. That is, the disc spindle needs to be at the center, and you guide the earbud end and the jack end into the spinner with each of your hands. Since both ends are connected to opposite sides of the wheel, you can’t wrap one without wrapping the other, and neither can you extend one without the other also slipping out. In fact, doing so might damage the spring mechanism so I would advise against it.

CORD LENGTH

Here’s where I find the biggest problem with the entire unit, and before I get into it, let me say that this may not be an issue to you, especially if you’re of normal height. I’m 6’4 so cord length is a bigger deal for me. Quite simply, it’s not long enough for me to comfortably store my music player in my pants pocket and have it reach my head. I can see how this issue is partly a necessity of the design of the unit. For example, ff the cord were longer, the spindle would need to be bigger to accommodate it, and thus it would be a bigger and more burdensome overall package.

Still, since there’s a small metallic clip on the spindle, size wouldn’t be too much of an issue if I were to clip it out of the way, like at my belt. Again, my wife is almost a foot shorter than I am and she had less problems, though the cord was still a little on the tight side. Certainly not long enough for her to go jogging with comfortably. In my own case, I would let the spindle (with its clip) just dangle from my head in order to accommodate, and this not only looks goofy, but is likely to make the earbuds slip out your ears. Another solution is clipping it to an inside breast pocket, but you’ll need to be wearing at least a shirt or jacket that has that.

FORM AND FIT

One area that surprised me about this little package was how snugly the phones fit in my ear. The material surrounding the output is extremely soft, and flexible to the touch, so they conform pretty well, even more so than the Koss Plugs that I normally use. In fact when I popped them in, I could feel a vacuum-like seal on my ear, which does a good job of dampening out normal conversation. It still won’t eliminate everything, particularly the sound of a rumbling train in the subway—my God, New York is loud—but it does an admirable job, considering the low price. There’s no other noise-reduction technology at work here, in case you wondered.

SOUND

Music was exceptionally bass-heavy, which is actually how I like it. In fact I had to adjust my equalizer on the Rio Carbon by lowering the bass frequencies, which were set for my regular pair of buds. You will feel pretty immersed into what you’re hearing, especially considering the snug fit. Cranking the volume up didn’t create any distortion, though you will probably risk deafness. I let my wife try them on and she sang away in the kitchen, not aware of how loud she was. The sound is very enjoyable.

EXTRAS

The phones come with an extra two pairs of earbud covers, which is nice. One of the pairs is actually a bit larger, though I’m not sure how many people have bigger heads than myself. Because the cords are retractable, ZipKord probably didn’t see a need for storing this pair inside a case, but it would’ve been nice. I like to protect my gear as well as I can, and you might find some debris could slip inside the ear bud canals.

OTHER COMMENTS

The ZipKord logo sits right on the center of the wheel, and might be more obvious than some would prefer. It would’ve been nice to keep the logos limited to the buds themselves, or maybe even allow custom decals for the wheel. The problem is that the logo just isn’t that pretty and some might find issue with having it displayed as it’s clipped to your clothing.

FINAL VERDICT

These phones do an admirable job providing decent sound, with substantial bass output, and with comfortable, well-sealed connections to your head. The only drawbacks that we see are the short cord-length, and the logo design, which is less “sleek” than what I would prefer. Still, the price is pretty reasonable, and the functionality of it being retractable is the real deal. It’s a decent choice for those who want to save a little time putting away their gear. If you have a vest pocket, the cord length might even be a non-issue. Overall, this is a unique and solid pair of earbuds, with some minor issues, and an attractive price.

Price: $18.99 from ScotteVest

Company: ZipKord

Availability: Now

- Hector Martinez

Posted by Hector at 06:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 27, 2004

Target Has Everything You Need

Hey, it turns out that Target is looking to reach out to the younger crowd within the next 4-8 weeks. That's right, no more trying to search for what you want on street corners or dark alleys - just go to Target.com! I guess this is just one of the many ways the retail chain is going to try and take down the almighty WalMart. Now, let's see how long these links remain active:

Marijuana

Crack

Hooker

(Thanks damn!)

Posted by Andru at 03:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 25, 2004

Black Friday: EB Games

Okay tech heads, we know that this Friday is the kick off that starts the 2004 shopping season. Black Friday is where it's at as far as deals go and the like, but finding out about the sales in advance is always such a chore. The information is kept top secret, locked away in a safe, then shipped off to Fort Knox for safekeeping. So how are you supposed to map out your black friday 2004 route to maximize on the awesome savings? Gear Live has your hookup for all the rumored sales going on.

Time to get your game on, courtesy of EB Games.

A Series of Unfortunate Events $39.99
All Platinum hits, Player's choice, Greatest hits, GBA Videos $12.50
Buy 1 Featured Game Get 1 Free (Jeopardy, Risk, Wheel of Fortune) $19.99
Buy 1 Gamecube 2x Memory Card, Get 1 Free $9.99
Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Pre-Played Games
Buy Any MadCatz Accessory Get 2nd For 50% Off
Call of Duty $9.99
Call Of Duty Finest Hour (w/ $10 Gift Voucher) $49.99
Call of Duty United Offensive $19.99
Chronicles of Riddick $9.99
City of Heroes $29.99
Doom 3 $19.99
F-Zero GX $9.99
Finding Nemo $9.99
Full Spectrum Warrior $29.99
GameBoy Advance SP $79.99
Gameboy Advance SP Gift Box Bundle (w/ Sonic Advance) $119.97
GameCube Gift Box Bundle (w/ Super Monkey Ball) $149.97
GameCube Mario Kart Holiday Bundle $99.99
Grand Theft Auto $29.99
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas $49.99
Halo 2 $49.99
Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban $19.99
Madden 2005 $19.99
Max Payne 2 $9.99
Midway Arcade Treasures $9.99
Nintendo DS $149.99
Pokemon Channel $9.99
PS2 Gift Box Bundle (w/ Jak 2) $199.97
PS2 or Xbox Wireless Lynx Controller $19.99
PSTwo Slimline Playstation 2 $149.99
Rainbow Six 3 $9.99
Red Dead Revolver $29.99
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 $34.99
Rome Total War $29.99
Shark Tale $39.99
Spiderman 2 $19.99
Star Wars Battlefront $39.99
Thirteen $9.99
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (Console) $39.99
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (PC) $29.99
X-Men Legends $39.99
XBox Gift Box Bundle (w/ Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic) 199.97
Zelda $29.99
Zoo Tycoon 2 $34.99

Posted by Andru at 07:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 23, 2004

Black Friday: Circuit City

Okay tech heads, we know that this Friday is the kick off that starts the 2004 shopping season. Black Friday is where it's at as far as deals go and the like, but finding out about the sales in advance is always such a chore. The information is kept top secret, locked away in a safe, then shipped off to Fort Knox for safekeeping. So how are you supposed to map out your black friday 2004 route to maximize on the awesome savings? Gear Live has your hookup for all the rumored sales going on.

Circuit City is up next.

100 Watt DVD Home Theater System $67.88
27" Color Television $127.99
42" Widescreen Projection HD-Ready TV $699.99
6.5" Portable DVD Player $129.99
Aladdin, Kill Bill 2, Day After Tomorrow, Man On Fire, Punisher DVDs 11.99
Apex 20" LCD TV $499.99
Belkin Single Outlet Surge Protector $0
Belkin Wireless-G (Router?) $7.99
HP Laptop (Celeron M 1.3GHz, Combo Drive, 256MB, 40GB, 15") 499.99
HP Pentium M laptop $599.99
Kodak CX7430 4MP Digital Camera w/ Free RCA MP3 Player $199.99
Liquid Video 17" LCD Monitor $199.99
Panasonic 32" Stereo TV $229.99
Pearl White Gameboy Advance SP and Metroid Zero Mission Bundle $79.99
Philips 100-pk Spindle 52x CD-R Media $0
Philips 50-Pack Spindle DVD+R 2.4x Media $9.99
Progressive Scan DVD Player $17.99
Samsonite Camcorder Bag $0
Samsung Hi-8 Camcorder $159.99
Sandisk 128MB Compact Flash Card $12.88
Sandisk 128MB Secure Digital Card $12.88
Sandisk 256MB MP3 Player $49.99
Sandisk 512MB Secure Digital Card $29.99
Select DVD Titles $4.99
Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm Hard Drive $79.99

Posted by Andru at 11:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

JFK Reloaded Lets You Kill Kennedy All Over Again

If you have ever wanted to step into the shoes of Lee Harvey Oswald, now you can. JFK Reloaded has just stolen all the controversy that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was enjoying just a week ago. In the game, your goal is to recreate the shot fired by Mr. Oswald, assassinating John F. Kennedy while he is riding in his motorcade. Most disturbing? You can win up to $100,000.00 USD if you can accurately kill Kennedy in the same way concluded in the Warren Commission report. Thankfully, this game is only available on PC - we won't be seeing this on the any home consoles or in stores. It has recently been condemned by the Kennedy Family.

Read More | JFK Reloaded

Posted by Andru at 10:55 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Black Friday: Best Buy

Okay tech heads, we know that this Friday is the kick off that starts the 2004 shopping season. Black Friday is where it's at as far as deals go and the like, but finding out about the sales in advance is always such a chore. The information is kept top secret, locked away in a safe, then shipped off to Fort Knox for safekeeping. So how are you supposed to map out your black friday 2004 route to maximize on the awesome savings? Gear Live has your hookup for all the rumored sales going on.

First up, Best Buy.

20GB iPod and inMotion Speaker Dock w/ $15 Download Card $399.99
24 Season 1 DVD Set $12.99
256MB MP3 Player $29.99
Advent 27" HD-Ready TV $349.99
Afterglow Controller 2-pack for Gamecube $19.99
Afterglow Controller 2-pack for PS2 $19.99
Afterglow Controller 2-pack for XBox $19.99
Aladdin DVD $9.99
Allegro DVD/Hi-Fi VCR Combo $59.99
Apex 27" Television $89.99
Apex Progressive-Scan DVD Player $19.99
Belkin 802.11 b/g Wireless DSL/Cable Router $24.99
Belkin 802.11g PCI Card $14.99
Belkin 802.11g PCMCIA Card $19.99
Big Game Hunter (PS2) $9.99
Chappelle's Show Season 1 DVD $9.99
D-Link 802.11g Router and NIC Card $19.99
Dream Ticket Elton John 4 DVD Set $29.99
Dual Analog Controller (PS2) $9.99
Dynex 50-Pack DVD+R Media $2.99
Dynex MP3 CD Deck $49.99
Dynex Portable DVD Player $89.99
Elton John - Peachtree Road CD $7.99
Emachine Athlon XP 2800+ Computer w/ 15" LCD $349.99
eMachines PC (Celeron 2.66GHz, 15" LCD, 512MB, 80GB, DVD/CD-RW) 379.98
eMachines PC (Celeron 2.66GHz, 17" CRT, 512MB, 80GB, DVD/CD-RW) 199.98
HP PC (Athlon XP 3100+, 15" LCD, Printer, 512MB, 160GB, DVD+RW) 699.97
Ja Rule - R.U.L.E. CD $7.99
JVC Digital Camcorder $199.99
KLH 13" TV/DVD Combo $88.99
Kodak CX6445 4MP 4x Optical Zoom Digital Camera $149.99
Konka 20" Color TV $68.99
Koss 500W Home Theater System $99.99
Lenny Kravitz - Baptism CD $7.99
Man On Fire DVD $9.99
Maxent 42" Plasma EDTV $1699.99
Mean Girls DVD $9.99
Midway Arcade Treasures (PS2) $9.99
Multiplayer Adapter (PS2) $9.99
Nelly - Suit CD $7.99
Norcent DVD Player $17.99
PhoneMate 5.8Ghz Analog Cordless Phone $9.99
Polaroid Portable DVD Player $139.99
Prince Of Persia (PS2) $9.99
Retrocon Controller (PS2) $9.99
Samsung 512N 15" LCD Monitor $179.99
Samsung 712N 17" LCD Monitor $249.99
Sandisk Cruzer Mini 256MB Flash Drive $14.99
Sandisk Cruzer Mini 512MB Flash Drive $29.99
Select CD's (Barry White, Sublime, The Temptations, Skynyrd) $4.99
Shania Twain - Greatest Hits CD $7.99
Sony Portable CD Player $39.99
Stuntman (PS2) $9.99
Terminator 3 (PS2) $9.99
The Day After Tomorrow DVD $9.99
Toby Keith - Greatest Hits 2 CD $7.99
Toshiba Laptop (Celeron M 1.4GHz, 256MB, 40GB, DVD/CD-RW) 499.99
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb CD $7.99
Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium CD $7.99
Virgin Mobile K9 $0
Will & Grace Season 1 DVD Set $12.99

Posted by Andru at 10:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 21, 2004

Free Nintendo DS!

So, the Nintendo DS launched today to much fanfare. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to grab one, what with the insane amount of preorders the system garnered. If you saved up your cash for a Nintendo DS, but weren't able to get one, you can now put that cash to use elsewhere. OfferCentric has just launched DS4Free.com, a site that will allow you to get a Nintendo DS system completely free. All you need to do is refer 4 friends to the site, and you will soon be enjoying the dual-screened goodness that only Nintendo can provide. Click here to sign up, and we will print your referral link in this article! If you are already signed up, remember to use Gear Live QuickTrade! to finish up!

Posted by Andru at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 20, 2004

Nintendo DS Blowout!

With the release of Nintendo's newest game console this Sunday, we thought it was time to show you what all the hype was about. In just a few days, the Nintendo DS will become the proverbial talk of the videogame town. Check out images of the new console, along with a bunch of games you will soon be able to grab. It is, indeed, good to touch.

Obviously, the Nintendo DS is cool. If you don't believe me, just ask the stars of Scrubs. What's that? You can't? Well, that's only because they are too busy playing theirs. The Nintendo DS will be launching tomorrow to much fanfare. Many said it was a stupid concept and wouldn't fly - but 2 million preorders can't be wrong. The DS is going to be a success out of the gate. Here is what you have to look forward to:

Everything out of the box.

Dual-screened goodness in the palm of your hand.

The Nintendo DS Boot Screen

The DS cartridges are tiny.

The Nintendo DS Boot Screen

Metroid Prime: Hunters boots up.

And finally, what the system looks like with a game running!

Let's check out some of the upcoming games set to be released on the Nintendo DS:

Advanced Wars

Asphalt Urban GT

Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits

Madden NFL 2005

Super Mario 64 DS

Picto Chat

Metroid Prime: Hunters

Ridge Racer

Spider-Man 2

Sprung

The Urbz: Sims in the City

Yoshi Touch & Go

Tiger Woods 2005

Posted by Andru at 12:00 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 19, 2004

H2O Audio Makes the iPod Mini Waterproof

How often have you been out kayaking the wild rapids, wishing you could safely break out your iPod? It would be nice, but alas, water and MP3 players don't play nice together. At least not until H2O Audio came along. They are set to release the SV-iMini, a complete system to make your iPod mini a waterproof music machine. It is basically a waterproof housing that you put the iPod mini into. It is designed in a way that gives you complete click wheel control, along with all other standard iPod functions. The $149.95 USD product also includes a pair of waterproof headphones designed to work specifically with the waterproof casing, although all standard headphones are compatible. The product will be available in December, but you if you just can't wait to spend the cash, you can preorder yours at the H2O Audio website.

Posted by Andru at 04:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

TiVo Plans Pop-up Ads When Users Fast-Foward Commercials

Most readers already know how fond I am of my PVR device, and to so to hear this kind of news this morning, I'm just left completely disgusted. According to a report on USA Today, TiVo is planning on introducing static ad images on their players, when users skip through commercials. It's a valid concern for advertisers, without whom we would not have TV programs in the first place. But as one user already points out: "I'm already paying $12.95 a month (to avoid commercials)." Half the fun of a PVR is not putting up with ads. I simply don't watch them anymore these days, allowing me to catch a 1-hour show in about 40 minutes. First we have to put up with annoying Fanta videos before our $10.50 movies, and now this.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Posted by Hector at 06:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 18, 2004

Gear Live Playlist: Elliot Smith, Wu-Tang Clan, John Lennon, DJ Shadow

This week may have marked the passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard, but the Wu-Tang Legend lives on in their latest greatest hits release. We also take a look at the latest release from the late John Lennon. If you are looking for something truly unique, check out our review of DJ Shadow's "Endtroducing". All this and more in this weeks Playlist.

NEW RELEASES

Elliot Smith – From A Basement On The Hill

It’s tough to look objectively at a posthumous release from a recently deceased artist. I considered taking it easy on “From A Basement On The Hill” to be nice, but that would be disingenuous to an artist that had always been outside the mainstream but a critical darling. That’s not to say “From A Basement On The Hill” is a bad album, I just don’t think it is the classic that some critics seem to be making it out to be, solely because Smith recently committed suicide. This album has the same strengths and weaknesses that every one of Smith’s releases do, basically that his incredible songwriting and use of melody is lost because of his unemotional and single tone voice. Smith has always sounded like he wants to sing out but is afraid to wake the neighbors, his lyrics need to be shouted, not spoken politely. Tracks like “Memory Lane” demonstrates this duality perfectly, the melody is amazing, the lyrics are poetry, but the vocals are so reigned in and controlled. It is almost maddening to see Smith so close to emotional release, but never quite able to achieve. So Smith’s last release is a dream come true for a dyed in the wool fan, but not the classic that critics want it to be, a 7/10.

Wu-Tang Clan – Legend Of The Wu-Tang: Greatest Hits

What can you say about the Wu-Tang Clan that hasn’t already been written? Originally conceived as merely a vehicle to get each member individual record deals, Wu-Tang burst on the scene in 1994 with the classic, “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”. Each group album since has been a bit of a disappointment, consisting of mostly filler with a few solid tracks. The bright spots of the Wu-Tang legacy will always be “Enter The Wu-Tang” and the individual careers of Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and the productions of The RZA. But this greatest hits album is solely about the group, and features the greatest hits from their debut, plus tracks from “Wu Tang Forever”, “Iron Flag”, “W” as well as a few remixes and their cover of Run DMC’s “Sucker MC’s” from the 1997 compilation “In That Beginning…There Was Rap”. This truly is their greatest hits, and seeing these songs together makes you forget about the fact that “Wu Tang Forever” should be in the dictionary under the heading “Sophomore Slump”. If you don’t already have it, get “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers”, but while you are there, you might want to grab this disc too. Overall, a 9/10.

RECENT RELEASES

Various Artists – Future Soundtrack For America

Obviously, when an album is partially organized by a left wing group like MoveOn.org, there is going to be a political tone. But no matter what your political persuasion, it is tough to look past the amazing lineup brought together on this disc. The songs are a combination of new material, live cuts and remixes from some of the best young and independent artists in music today. Artists run the gamut from established acts like REM, Tom Waits and Blink 182 to up and comers Bright Eyes, Death Cab For Cutie and Ben Kweller. In the days of over priced albums with too few songs, having twenty-two tracks from artists like this on one disc is refreshing. And despite a few weak tracks, Nada Surf’s “Your Legs Grow” comes to mind, the overall quality of “Future Soundtrack Of America” is breathtaking. Blink 182’s remix of “I Miss You” is amazingly better than the original, with an electronic beat that brings the vocals to the forefront and makes the tone of the song even more somber. The only overtly political songs on the disc, Mike Doughty’s “Move On” and Ben Kweller’s “Jerry Falwell Destroyed Earth”, are extremely enjoyable if you find your political beliefs leaning to the left. The tracks by Clem Snide, Tom Waits and Bright Eyes are also incredibly strong, but easily the best track on the disc is Laura Cantrell’s cover of John Prine’s “Sam Stone”. Originally a Vietnam-era story about a soldier returning wounded to find a country that wasn’t very understanding. Never has a sadder line been sung then “There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes, Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose”. So, overall, “Future Soundtrack For America” is a definite pickup, and those leaning towards the left will find it hits home a little more.

John Lennon – Acoustic

For those of you who don’t know (and must live under a rock), John Lennon was part of the greatest pop band in the history of music, and half of its songwriting team. But this disc is a recent compilation of Lennon’s stripped down acoustic demos and live performances. For Beatles fans, this disc will serve better as a piece of history than as a great listen, mostly because a lot of the live performances and demos were recorded on some definitely outdated equipment, and the quality isn’t as high as one would hope. But this slight problem aside, “Acoustic” is definitely a relic, a must have for true music fans. The joy of “Acoustic” is istening to Lennon’s verbal notes before and after tracks, getting to hear live performances that we will never get to witness ourselves, but most of all getting a glimpse at one of the most fascination figures of the twentieth century. The big weakness on “Acoustic” is definitely the presence of Yoko Ono on tracks like “The Luck Of The Irish”, where her voice is honestly grating and tough to deal with. Making her presence on “The Luck Of The Irish” even more difficult to stomach is the otherwise flawless recording and performance on this, one of Lennon’s best protest songs. But finally, redeeming the entire disc are the versions of “Cold Turkey” and “Imagine”. “Cold Turkey” is Lennon’s amazing narration of quitting heroin and the hell that ensues. But it is “Imagine” that completes this disc, obviously Lennon’s legacy is largely based on this song and for good reason. So “Acoustic” has some disappointing parts, but is worth the purchase if you want to get a piece of rock history.

COLLECTION ESSENTIALS

DJ Shadow – Endtroducing

I’ve never been a fan of electronic music. I always thought techno was a bunch of beeps and chimes that sounded horrible, and was meant for ecstasy-taking kids at raves. I guess what my problem was I felt electronic music lacked emotion, I thought a drum machine lacked the soul that a human voice could expose. But in 1996 I read a review about a DJ from California that made his music by searching through used record bins, buying hordes of the ten for a dollar crap, the same way I used to do. I bought records to listen to, but DJ Shadow bought them to recycle, to make records out of records. So I bought his debut, “Endtroducing”, which forever changed my view on electronic music, with its dark, somber tones and absolutely flawless production, I realized that you can be a musician without playing a traditional instrument. Using turntables and a drum machine, DJ Shadow wove this complex tapestry of music that combined old funk, jazz, hip hop, rock, to come up with a new, completely original sound. “Endtroducing” is one of the few albums I have that I just listen to nonstop, from beginning to end, relishing in all the beat changes, scratches and sound effects that make this album what it is, a classic. The creepy darkness of “Stem, Long Stem” set a mood like little other music can. The amazing combination of organ and drum machine on “Organ Donor” is surprisingly natural, like the sounds were meant to be joined. The best track on the album is definitely “Midnight In A Perfect World”, which combines the drum machine, a piano loop and some ephemeral vocals from an unnamed singer to create a piece of art, a collage of sounds that fits so perfectly together. “Endtroducing” changed my view on electronic music, if I were you, I would give it the chance to do the same for you.

- Greg Norton

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MPAA to Release P2P Spyware

From the "What are they thinking?" department, it appears that the MPAA is going to release a free spyware program that will allow a person to scan a computer to see if there are peer-to-peer programs installed on it. The program is aimed at parents, to aid them in finding out what is on the PC's of their children. In addition to identifying P2P programs, the software will also identify if songs or films have been downloaded. The application will also guide the user in removing material or programs. Sounds nice, until they admit that the software does not distinguish between songs and content that have been legally downloaded and those that may be illegal. So youngsters, time to back up your iTunes collections!

Posted by Andru at 08:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 17, 2004

The DVX-Pod Unpacked

So, we received a DVX-Pod recently to review. Well, the review will be up soon, but for now, check out these images of the product. First impression: There is no better portable video player out there. This screen is beautiful. More pictures after the jump.

The DVX-Pod still in its box.

The unit includes an AC adapter, earbuds, along with some RCA cables.

The screen is 7", and has a nice, high resolution.

Posted by Andru at 04:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Best Gaming Year Ever?

We love our games as much as we love our gear, and this year has the makings of being the best one for gamers ever. There's been a huge focus on producing triple-A quality software across all platforms, and a touch of creativity in the handheld arena as well. Some standout 2004 titles: ESPN2K5, Burnout 3, Halo 2, NBA Live 2005, Doom 3, GTA: San Andreas, GT4, Prince of Persia 2, Unreal 2004, Metroid Prime 2, and Ratchet & Clank 3. On a limited budget, many gamers will have to spread the love into next year, when prices are lowered after the holiday rush. But then in early 2005 we'll have the PSP to deal with. D'oh!

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

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November 16, 2004

Introducing Gear Live: QuickTrade!

So, you have signed up for every free offer under the sun, but have yet to complete any of them. You send your referral link to all your friends, and join conga lines and it's all in vain. What else is there to do if you want to see the iPods, digital cameras, gift cards, flat screen TV's, computers and the like start pouring in like wildfire? Join Gear Live: QuickTrade!

QuickTrade! is a concept developed by Andru Edwards and Ken Harris which will enable its users to quickly and easily complete their "free whatever" offers by providing a database of users who need to complete offers for specific sites. Do you need to get that last DVRs4Free.com referral to get your brand new TiVo? Just do a search at GearLiveQT.com, and you will be shown a list of users who are willing to complete a DVRs4Free offer in exchange for you completing an offer for them which you have not yet signed up for. The result? Both parties have completed a QuickTrade!, and are now one step closer to their free gear.

Gear Live: QuickTrade! supports all free offer websites. If you find one that isn't listed, simply let us know and it will be added immediately so that you can use it to perform your next QuickTrade!. The QuickTrade! service has a one-time membership fee of just $7.50 USD. This gives you unlimited access to the QuickTrade! database. However, if you join and refer 8 others to join as well, you will get your money back.

The missing link in the free gear industry has arrived. Gear Live: QuickTrade! is here, and through it, you now have the power to complete each and every free offer you desire. Check it out at GearLiveQT.com. We're very excited and we do hope you enjoy. Now get trading!

Posted by Andru at 07:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Behind the Scenes: "The Polar Express"

Motion capture has been explained a million times on past DVD extras. The interesting thing about about "The Polar Express" was that Tom Hanks supplied the motions for four of the characters: a hobo, a boy, the conductor and Santa himself. Plus, they used 152 miniature motion capture sensors to capture facial movements as well. They've been hyping the "breakthrough" technology to publications for weeks before the release. Sure enough, the vistas and the animation has been heralded as stunning, except for a problem with unnaturally "dead-looking" eyes of the characters. We think that the box office results have been hampered by the marketing potential of the story, plus stiff competition. Last weekend, the film brought in only about half the box office results of The Incredibles, which was then running on its 2nd week.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

Read More | CNN

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November 14, 2004

HP z545 Digital Entertainment Center

The line between personal computer and home entertainment system appear to be more blurred as each day passes. This is no exception with the all new HP z545 Digital Entertainment Center. At first glance it is a normal home entertainment receiver, upon further inspection, it houses Windows XP Media Center, an Intel Pentium 4 3.0Ghz w/HT, 512MB RAM, and ATI RADEON X300 SE Graphics Card with 128MB RAM, a 200GB hard drive AND a 160GB Personal Media Drive, a Dual Layer 16x DVD-+R/RW drive. Catch your breath, and we will continue. There is also an integrated Personal Video Recorder with dual TV tuners, a 9-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, gigabit ethernet, 802.11b/g wi-fi built in, and high-definition audio with 7.1 surround sound...phew!

With all this in a stylish case designed beautifully to blend in with the rest of your components in your entertainment room, the HP z545 Digital Entertainment Center definitely seems to be at the forefront of the living room media hub race, at least here in the US.

Read More | Sparktoblog
Compare Pricing | HPshopping.com

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Comcast to Roll Out New Services Tomorrow

Comcast is finally set to begin rolling out new cable boxes with Microsoft's Foundation Edition 1.7 software beginning tomorrow to approximately 1 million subscribers in Washington state. Comcast and Microsoft inked the agreement last May, which saw Comcast grant Microsoft the rights to have their set top box software running on 5 million Comcast boxes. The new boxes will allow for much more functionality than you will find on just about any other box. For example, each one will come with a 120 GB internal hard drive and will have advanced DVR functions. This thing can do just about everything a standard TiVo can do, plus more. The dual tuner boxes will allow you to record two shows at once, and they WILL record high definition broadcasts as well. On Demand programming will also be available beginning tomorrow. As for Microsoft, they have just been itching to get into the living rooms of every American home. Along with the XBOX, and Media Center PC's, this is just another channel for them to do so. A Microsoft representative also stated that there is a possibility of having Comcast boxes and Media Center PC's communicate with each other in the future. You can check out the many features of the Foundation Edition 1.7 software by viewing this video.

Read More | Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Modded XBOX's Not Allowed on Live

Those of us, um, I mean those of you with modified XBOX's who were looking forward to fragging your friends in Halo 2, Microsoft has finally caught on. Right as Halo 2 launched, Microsoft updated the XBOX Live service to identify users who are trying to connect with a modified XBOX and block them from the service. If you try to connect, it simply won't work - even on boxes that have mod chips that can be switched off. If you go into the network troubleshooter, you will see the error that reads "Your Xbox console cannot communicate with Xbox Live because the software or hardware may have been modified". Damn.

Posted by Andru at 11:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 12, 2004

Flash Based iPod Coming in January?

Word on the street is that Apple is hard at work on finishing up design on yet another iteration of the ridiculously popular iPod. This time it will be a flash-based model, most likely in the 256 MB to 1 GB range, according to AppleInsider. While Steve Jobs had previously stated that he felt that flash drives weren't really what people wanted, they have been selling like crazy. It is understandable that Apple would want to cut into that market, especially since the iPod easily owns 92% of the hard drive based MP3 player market. Look for the announcement on this one to be made at MacWorld this January. The new iPod is expected to hit retail for less than $200 USD.

Read More | AppleInsider

Posted by Andru at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Gear Live Digests

Taking a break from our regularly scheduled tech news, I wanted to let everyone know about the different ways you can subscribe to Gear Live updates. We have three avenues that you can use at the bottom of the right-hand column, but who knows how many of you ever see them. You can use the images below to add Gear Live's feed to any of these popular digests:

You will also see that we have added a ranking feature to the site, which allows readers to rank the stories on Gear Live. This may or may not be a long term thing, depending on the popularity of the feature.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Posted by Andru at 09:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Triple XBOX 2 From Microsoft?

I would take this one with a grain of salt until we get more solid evidence, but The Inquirer is reporting that Microsoft plans to release three versions of the upcoming XBOX sequel. There has been talk lately that the big M was thinking about removing the hard drive to bring down the cost of the next system, however it seems that they may be planning to actually release three versions of the XBOX 2. The first would be the standard game console, sans the hard drive. There would also be an XBOX 2 HD, which would include the hard drive along with some PVR functionality. Apparently, these two would launch in Fall 2005. Then in 2006 (probably around the time of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution launch) Microsoft would release yet another version of the XBOX. This one is said to be a full blown PC with XBOX 2 capabilities out of the box. It would have a monitor, CD burner, and all the other PC fanfare - I am guessing this will be very close to being just a Media Center PC that plays XBOX games, and I expect it to sell similarly as well as the MCPC product line does - not very well.

Read More | The Inquirer

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November 10, 2004

Dog Eats Cellular Phone

A Turkish petrol attendant recently thought his cell phone was stolen. He did what any of us would do - call your cell phone and see if anyone answered to try and recover the phone. However, when he made the call, he could hear the phone ringing nearby. It turned out that the ring was emanating from the stomach of his dog. Apparently, the dog got a hold of the phone, and swallowed it. Eventually, through the process of elimination, he was able to get the phone back. I don't know how willing I would be to check any missed voicemails after this phones recovery.

Read More | IOL

Posted by Andru at 09:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 09, 2004

Best Buy Wants to Get Rid of Smart Shoppers

Do you like shopping around for the best deal? If something has a cash back rebate or price reduction, wouldn't you be more inclined to purchase it from the store with the sale rather than another store that sells it for the regular price? So would I. Apparently, Best Buy thinks that by doing so that this makes us "devil shoppers" and thusly they would prefer it if we didn't shop at their establishment. On the other hand, shoppers who don't care about prices or discounts are more than welcome to shop at their stores. Best Buy will even go out of their way to welcome these "angel shoppers" to make the comfortable enough to spend even more money. The funny thing is, whenever I go into Best Buy I know about 100 times more about the products I am shopping for than the salesperson trying to sell me the item. Either way, look for Best Buy to start training their staff to cater to the "angel shoppers" of the world over the next couple of years.

Read More | Wall Street Journal

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Design the Next iPod Contest Results

Okay, about a week ago we asked you to develop the next iPod because we are pretty sure our readers can out think Steve Jobs. Thanks to iSkin Incorporated, we even promised to send chosen winners a free iSkin product. We got a boatload of submissions, and were able to narrow it does to the five best. We take a look at the winners after the jump.

Okay, we looked for a mixture of creativity, originality, as well as how we thought the unit would sell. Here is the one we liked the best:

Submitted by Michael P.

This 5th Generation iPod would include integrated Bluetooth, along with a translucent front panel and color screen. The Bluetooth would allow you to sync the iPod to iTunes wirelessly, as well as download new music from the iTunes Music Store. You can also use Bluetooth enabled headphones to have a completely wireless iPod.

Submitted by Andrew

The specs on this unit:

• Up to 20 hours of music playback; up to 10 hours of slideshows with music; up to 5 hours of video
• Up to 25 minutes skip protection; up to 20 minutes for video
• 45 MB buffer
• 3.75-inch (diagonal) 65,536-color LCD with LED backlight; fully touch responsive
• Side stylus slot
• FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 through dock connector; Composite video and audio through headphone jack or line out on the iPod Photo Dock
• About 5 hours Charge Time (3-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Graphical Preview of each menu item contents
• No need for physical buttons with touch screen
• Driverless support for Windows
• Back alumninum casing is clear coated to prevent scratching

The only negative I see here is that I don't see how having to use a stylus to change tracks is a step forward instead of a step back.

Submitted by Johnathan M.

That one was pretty self explanatory. I think the screen might be a bit too small for videos, as well as gaming. If it were bigger, I can see it being good to game on - but does anyone expect the iPod to compete with the Sony PSP or Nintendo DS?

Submitted by Michael C.

Aside from the name, I like the concept of the above iPod. I think the above screen should be used for a dedicated menu instead of visualizations, but the wireless factor that allows you to listen to iPod's within a five mile radius is interesting. Of course, there should be an option to stop your iPod from broadcasting if you so choose.

Submitted by Mike P.

Now this is interesting, but Apple would never go for it. The iPod above has a slider to hide or reveal the keyboard. From the artist:

Instead of having a bulky iPod with a 40 GB hard drive in it only have like a 1 GB hard drive.

"1 GB how many songs can that hold?"
Not to many but its not how many it can hold its how many it can access

Your iPod would be connected to a satellite which is connected to a database with every song iTunes has stored on it. When you want to listen to a song you slide down the panel to reveal a key pad. You then search for a song by either song name, artist or keyword. Once you have found the song you hit listen and it will take prob about 20 sec to upload past the point were you can start listening and it will finish uploading by the time you get to the end of the song.

"Isn't that a lot of work to listen to one song?"
Yes, but thats why you can create play lists or listen to entire Cd's.

On a play list you will only have to wait about 20 seconds for the first song to upload then the server will be downloading the upcoming songs while your still listening to the previous ones. When listening to Cd's it will be the same thing.

"What if I'm 6000 feet underground and i cant access the satellite?"
Thats why there will be a 1 GB hard drive. Y

You will be able to store around 200-300 songs which is over 10 hours of music without listening to the same song twice. And in this case it will only be for a short time if you live 6000 feet underground then you should purchase the regular 40 GB iPod.

"Will there be a charge to access these songs via satellite?"
Most likely yes considering all of the database and satellite requires a lot of maintenance. But it would be a flat monthly or annual charge.

This definitely beats paying a buck a song on line. Pay a small fee monthly/ yearly to listen to all the music you desire, With this though you are not downloading the music to your iPod its just a database you can listen to like a radio so the fees will be cheap.

In conclusion you can see that this iPod is in a class of it own. Owners will be able to save money by not paying for dollar downloads off iTunes. Plus with a smaller hard drive then the other 40 GB iPod's the cost will be a bit lower and it will be bit smaller as well.

We want to thank everyone who submitted an iPod concept for the contest. Gear Live also thanks iSkin, Inc. for sponsoring the contest by donating five iSkin products for the winners.

- Andru Edwards

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November 08, 2004

Halo 2 Launches As Midnight Calls

Well, the hour has arrived. Halo 2 is now officially here - at least on the East Coast for the time being. If you want to be technical about this, the game has officially been available in New Zealand for about 20 hours now. But I digress. Your favorite video game stores will be holding special midnight launch openings, some with special guests and music, to celebrate the release of what has turned out to be this years most widely anticipated game.

RELATED:
Halo 2 Reviews

Posted by Andru at 08:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Upgrading Game: To Buy or Not to Buy

You know that itch I’m talking about. The “fresh new gear” itch. It burns a hole in your wallet, and completely diminishes your self-control. It’s that shiny new cell your best friend just showed off to you, or maybe it’s that cool new digital camera with twice the megs of your existing one, and it’s smaller to boot. Everyday we at Gear Live see new gear, and the temptation to purchase one of our review items is always present, even if the cash isn’t. Today, Gear Live asks you to think about when exactly is it time to upgrade your old gear? What are your options, and when should you actually just keep what you already have?

I've been using my Palm m515 for years. It seems, in fact, that the longer I have it, the more useful it becomes. Everyday some new software comes out for it that can either keep me more productive, organized, or entertained. And there's really nothing wrong with it. At what point then, should I upgrade? Is it wrong to just ignore all the latest innovations and save a few bucks? Well, sometimes…

WHEN YOU SHOULD REPLACE OLD GEAR
When you can’t live without it. There’s some function or benefit that an item has that is so valuable and handy that there’s no escaping a new purchase. Usually the feature is something that’s not present in any other device you own. Say it’s digital photography. Your PDA doesn’t do it, and neither does that old cell phone you bought 2 years ago. Then maybe it’s time you upgrade from that old Kodak Disc you’re using for all those special moments. This is pretty much a no-brainer right?

When it’s completely busted. I once had my cell phone get run over by a bus:

The clip that came with it was so loose that when I ran down the sidewalk it popped out and skidded into the road. For just a split second I thought about getting in front of the bus and risking my life, obsessed gear head that I am. I decided to just shake my head, and throw my hands up in the air as I heard the sickening “crack”. The wonderful folks at the nearest Circuit City told me that the insurance I bought for the phone only covered manufacturer glitches. Sound familiar? To their credit though, I was able to take off the insurance and apply it to my next Samsung. Sometimes you have no option. When it comes to cell phones in New York, there really is no discussion. A must-buy.

Or maybe you find yourself unable to hold on to the support bars on the subway because you have to constantly flip out the CD you have on your player. That’s when it’s time to break down and get that MP3 player. Besides, it’ll help drown out more of those loud school kids, along with the merchant woman selling the batteries and noisemakers. Who really buys nail clippers in a train, anyway? Sigh. Another round of “Headsprung,” here we go: Click-click…

WHEN YOU SHOULD UPGRADE GEAR
PC’S are great for this, provided you have enough slots and a compatible motherboard. One time my PC kept shutting down on me for no apparent reason. After about an hour it just kept pooping out on me. I turn it back on, and it would last another 30 minutes before giving up. One day I tried this too many times and something in the back end of the case exploded, leaving tendrils of smoke climbing out the back of the desk.

Turned out the power supply fan wasn’t working and it kept heating up my PC, causing it to shut down as a form of protection. But I had friends in high places. For a mere $20, I was able to buy a new power supply and bring the whole system back from the dead, almost a full year later. The key is this: If it’s only partially broken you can get away with saving a little cash.

It's not as hard as you think to upgrade PC's. Sometimes, the most efficient upgrades are the easiest. Installing more RAM, for instance, would be of great benefit to those 3D games we all love. All it takes is a quick phone call to the manufacturer to find out which type you need, and a few bucks. Pop it in to the available slot and (considering you've opened up your PC beforehand to check) and you're in.

Upgrading a video card is also relatively easy. Find the drivers online before you begin, pop open the case, unscrew the existing card, and pop in the new one. Finally, install the drivers, and enjoy some Unreal 2004 sweetness. Halo2 who? Again, it helps to have a friend or a family member who is more familiar with this process, just to be on the safe side. Treating them to lunch as a token of your appreciation is nice, and hey, it's still cheaper than buying a new PC. Many forms of gear are upgradeable. Explore your options thoroughly before giving in.

If it makes sense financially. I like the rule they have for upgrading PC’s. If it costs more than half the price of a new PC to repair/upgrade the old one, just buy a new one. I would apply that to all gear as well, generally speaking. If your unit is damaged or useless enough that upgrading would cost half of a new one’s price, get the new one…especially if it has a few more features you can make use of.

WHEN YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR OLD GEAR
If it’s still functional, and a new product is overly expensive. Like I said in the beginning. I still lug around my old Palm m515. I could upgrade to a newer PDA, but really there’s nothing wrong with my current one and it does everything I need. Besides, it cost me $400 when I first got it, so I want to extend that value for as long as I can. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I wish it would break so it would give me more of a reason to run to something new and shiny. Still, if it treats you good, and it does what you need it to do, you don’t have to succumb to the temptation.

OPTIONS FOR OLD GEAR
Hand-me-downs. If you have a friend who isn’t into high tech, then you can introduce them to some cool and still-useful gear that you don’t use anymore. It may not be new to you anymore, but it is to them.

You can also keep an old piece of gear for backup. Hey, you never know when your new phone/PDA/camera is going to blow up to smithereens. Then what will you use? Yeah you had the data on your PC anyway, but what will you do while you get your unit repaired?

Charitable Organizations. There are some great charities out there that will go so far as pick up your used gear right from your house if you make appointments. Those of you living outside of NYC (read: with cars) should be able to drive to a nearby one without too much hassle. The point is that you can help somewhat less fortunate than yourself, and create some space in your home as a bonus, by donating.

Sell at a discount. There’s nothing wrong with a making a buck off those less fortunate either. If you sell your digital camera for about half what you paid for it, it will take a little sting out of buying your new one. I try to insert gear talk in all my conversations so that I can find the next sucker--umm, person in need.

Hide old gear to avoid embarrassment. Peer pressure is a force to be reckoned with. If you must keep old gear around you, don’t let anyone see you with it. The other day I noticed someone rocking his head back to some music with some earbud phones. Sure enough, they were the white iPod cords that everyone has these days. I didn’t give it too much thought until he pulled out the actual music device, which turned out to be a (gasp!!) regular CD player! He had to pick the Apple ones, out of all the earplugs in the world. To me that smacks of peer pressure; wanting to fit in with the rest of the digital crowd. Oh well, he did what he could.

CONCLUSION

Knowing when to upgrade, and doing so in a smart manner, can end up saving you a lot over time. I know things do get annoying when others are flashing their new iPod Photos in your face, but you have to think about your alternatives. Maybe you have a device that already handles everything you need, or maybe you can swap out a component that'll make things smoother for you. If you think it through, you can get by for a while before forking out hundreds.

Posted by Hector at 03:38 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

November 07, 2004

Free Cash. You Read That Right.

So, we have been pretty high on OfferCentric lately. After all, this network of incentive based sites has hit the internet hard and garnered itself a solid userbase due to their member-friendly attitude. In an attempt to continue the trend, OfferCentric is now allowing members to choose from cash cards or Paypal payments in lieu of a free gift.

For example, if you sign up at DVRs4Free.com you are able to earn yourself a free TiVo Series 2 or ReplayTV. If you don't want either of those, then you can opt to get a $275 USD Paypal payment or a Visa gift card in the same amount. You can do the same at Cameras4Free.com, and choose a $325 cash prize instead of a digital camera. It is safe to assume that any future OfferCentric sites will also offer cash payments as well, just in time for the holidays. Sign up using one of the links above, and we will add your referal link to this story.

Edit: Not to be outdone, it looks like PrizeCube is doing the same thing. In fact, if you sign up for a free portable video player you can get a $500 gift card instead.

Posted by Andru at 09:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

AOL Attempts to Lure Customers with AOL PC

If you thought Dell computers were crap, wait until you see what AOL has up their sleeve. The AOL Optimized PC is the latest attempt at AOL trying to increase its userbase, offering the new PC for $299 USD to anyone who makes a one year commitment to the AOL service. The PC is actually built by Systemax and includes the PC, monitor, keyboard, printer, accessories and pre-loaded software. What software would AOL preload on an AOL branded computer? AOL 9.0 Optimized of course - along with an AOL branded office suite, appropriately dubbed "AOL Office". That would be a cheap Microsoft Office knock-off. While all that might sound humorous, this has got to be the best part:

Is this a high-performance system?
Yes. It features an Intel® 2.0 GHz Celeron® processor, 256MB of RAM, a 56K modem, 40GB hard drive, 10/100MB Ethernet and comes with Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition pre-loaded.

Yeah. Real high performance.

Read More | AOL PC

Posted by Andru at 09:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Halo 2 Reviews

Halo 2 reviews are starting to come in and so far the game seems to be living up to the massive hype created. With several national chains holding midnight openings for the games release on November 9, and some even booking entertainment to add to the party atmosphere, this game is sure to be one of the biggest selling games of all time. Halo 2 includes a stellar single player experience, along with a new online play feature. As most know, the original Halo lacked online multiplayer, and yet maintained a very high replayablity level. Since you come to Gear Live for news on technology, including videogames, we are sure that if you have an XBOX, you already have preordered this game. You are also happy to see the reviews being so positive for what some are calling one of the biggest game of the year, if not all time.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | Slashdot

Posted by Andru at 08:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 05, 2004

Motorola Razr V3 Sort Of Reviewed

We know that a large number of readers are clamoring for the uber-cool Motorola Razr V3. The 1/2-inch thick chassis is visually smooth as silk, and is dead gorgeous. PC Magazine recently reviewed a prototype of the final version, and while there are still a few kinks to work out before the final product is released, they have determined that this is the best looking cell phone out there.

Read More | PC Mag

Posted by Andru at 11:43 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 04, 2004

Cameras4Free Offering High Quality Digital Cameras

The newest site from OfferCentric is Cameras4Free.com. Taking a different approach to the incentive marketing angle, Cameras4Free.com is actually offering high quality, top of the line digital cameras for free. You know the drill by now - sign up at the site, complete an offer, and refer a few friends to do the same. Complete the necessary steps, and you walk away with your choice of a Canon Powershot A95, Powershot S1 IS, Sony DSC P100 CyberShot, or a Sony DSC-W1 CyberShot. And yes, a couple of those are 5 megapixel digital cameras. With a little extra work, you can also grab a 512 MB memory card. Click here to join.

RELATED:
Interview with OfferCentric
Cameras4Free.com Referal Thread

Posted by Andru at 11:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Gear Live Playlist: Eminem, Leonard Cohen, Say Anything, The Future Heads, Pink Floyd

With some big upcoming and recent releases, this week Playlist takes a look at the next major release from Eminem which is slated to go platinum almost immediately. If taking it retro is more your style, check out our look back at Pink Floyd's classic Dark Side of the Moon. We have that, and everything in between in this weeks Playlist.

NEW RELEASES

Eminem - Encore

What does Eminem do after selling a ton of CDs and pissing off every politician, rapper, celebrity and gay rights group in America? Well, he releases "Encore", his angriest, most political and best album yet. Early on, you realize that "Encore" is the sound of a more mature Eminem. On the track "Like Toy Soldiers", Eminem explains his side of the Benzino & Ja Rule feuds, attempting to put an end to the ridiculous spat. Putting it all into perspective, Eminem rhymes "I'm not going to let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience". The production on "Encore" is amazing, the beats are better than ever, especially on "My 1st Single". Sporting a futuristic, rapid style that would have been right at home on Outkast's "Stankonia", “My 1st Single” is a milestone for Eminem. The maturity continues on his controversial and bitter George Bush diatribe "Mosh". Referring to the President, Eminem spits lyrics like "Strap him with and AK-47, let him go fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way", and the more direct "F**k Bush".. In case you were worried, the juvenile Eminem is back, with songs like the horrid single "Just Lost It" and the sophomoric "Puke". Once again, Eminem confuses me with flashes of brilliance and moments of complete immaturity. Finally, the guest stars on this disc are great, fom 50 Cent and Nate Dogg on "Never Enough" to Obie Trice's amazing lines on "Spend Some Time". Overall, "Encore" is Eminem's best work, simply because the best side of Eminem, the angry, quick rhyming master, is featured on this cd. Hopefully, on his next disc, the juvenile side will show up even less. All in all, the best rap album of the year so far, a rating of 9/10.

Leonard Cohen - Dear Heather

A singer/songwriter with a forty year career, Cohen is woefully under appreciated in the pop music world. The writer of "Hallelujah", a song covered by Jeff Buckley and every other male singer/songwriter in the last twenty years, Cohen has consistently put out great albums year in and year out. On "Dear Heather", Cohen's familiar deep voice and introspective lyrics shine through to make this album one of his best. The almost spoken word "To A Teacher" is amazing, and this track falls into a theme on this disc, female duet partners, talking-style singing and electronic background music. “Dear Heather is definitely a departure for Cohen, but a successful one, showcasing the poetry of his lyrics instead of the overproduction that is the pitfall of so many artists. Overall, if you are a Leonard Cohen fan, grab this album, if you haven't heard one of his discs, this is a good choice, an 8/10.

RECENT RELEASES

Say Anything - Say Anything Is A Real Boy

The debut album from angry pop-punkers Say Anything, this disc is pretty refreshing and hopefully indicative of the direction of emo-rock. Sounding influenced by Bright Eyes & Jimmy Eat World, Say Anything uses call and response and hooks a-plenty to craft clever songs with intriguing lyrics. The track "Woe" is a good sample of this entire album, featuring piano, group background lyrics and thoughtful lyrics. Other highlights include "Yellow Cat/Red Cat" and "The Futile", and even when Say Anything fails like in "TheWrithing South" it is fun. One of the better rock albums of the year, "Say Anything Is A Real Boy" shows a bright future for Say Anything.

The Future Heads - The FutureHeads

The Futureheads continue the decades old trend of British rock bands attempting to cross the Atlantic to find success. The closest American equivalent to The Futureheads would have to be The Strokes, with both bands sharing the garage sound and the too cool to care attitude. For another comparison, if you are a fan of Franz Ferdinand, you will not be disappointed by The Futureheads. On "The Futureheads" the English accents are thick and so is the use of multi part harmonies, which is used a bit too much, and tends to get old quickly. Being that this disc is their debut, The Futureheads have a bright future, and songs like “A To B” and “Danger Of The Water” bear that out. On “The City Is Here For You To Use” the guitar work is exceptional, but throughout the disc the vocals are definitely the focal point, with solid hooks and vocalization. Not to be repetitive, but “Futureheads” is a very good rock disc that lays the groundwork for a very bright future.

COLLECTION ESSENTIALS

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon

Although it is tough to pin down which Pink Floyd album is their best, mostly because their greatest music was created live, "Dark Side Of The Moon" is a tough choice to argue. The tempo and mood of "Dark Side Of The Moon" is amazing, so calm that it is almost thoughtful. Not one moment on this album feels rushed, with sonic perfection long before the days of digital splicing where you can the best guitar lick from this take and the best vocal from that track. There are classic songs like "Us and Them", taking shots at the concept of good and evil, right and wrong, capitalist and communist, them and us. The piano intro to "Great Gig In The Sky" is perfection, as is the cash register/guitar intro to "Money". The Pink Floyd classics "Money", "Time" and "Breathe" are on "Dark Side Of The Moon", but so are under appreciated tracks like "Brain damage" and the instrumental "Any Colour You Like". All in all, any and every Pink Floyd album belongs in your collection, but if you’re to pick just one, you can't go wrong with "Dark Side Of The Moon".

- Greg Norton

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Ask The Gear Chick

With all the email we get at Gear Live regarding technology, opinions on what people should buy, and the like, we figured it was time to start a mailbag column. It soon became obvious. We needed a Gear Chick. Is there anything better than a woman who loves tech? They are a rare breed, and it took a while for us to find that one woman who fit the bill - but we did it. Send all your tech related questions to her gearchick@gearlive.com.

People always want to know what gear I would get if I could get anything I wanted. Well, here are the top three gadgets on my wish list, and why I think they should be on yours too...

Number one on my wish list has to be the Panasonic VDRM70 DVD Camcorder. Along with its 4" 1-megapixel CCD, you can capture up to 120 minutes of digital video. Still images are taken with 1280 x 960 pixel resolution and pictures and scenes can easily be found, edited and deleted with its removable 3-inch DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. It also includes 18x optical zoom, 240x digital zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD, and can be used with a SD memory card. Weighing only 5 lbs, it can be taken pretty much anywhere.

In college, you pretty much need a Franklin Speaking 11th Collegiate Dictionary. Instead of lugging around a huge hardcovered book, this little gadget fits right into your pocket or bag. The database includes 260,000 words and 500,000 definitions as well as a 500,000 word thesaurus. ClariSpeech® technology reads every word and definition out loud for you. A built-in headphone jack, ebook compatibility and interactive games make it even better.

Finally, I admit it. I’m a bit nosey. And that’s why I would love to have the James Bond Stealth Camera. Its best feature has to be the surveillance mode. You can set it up to take still pictures at specific intervals for up to 19 days! That means, constant observation of your home, kids, neighbors, anything really. (Plus its just fun to spy on people.) Files can even be password protected. You can record video clips with sound as well as use it as a still digital camera. It stores over 300 digital pictures which can easily be transferred right onto your hard drive.

I want to hear from you. Let me know what gadgets are on your list this year. And don't forget to send your questions in!

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Laserpod Review from I4U

I4U recently received a Laserpod for review:

"Laserpod's PR agency calls the Laserpod the modern-day equivalent of the seventies Lava Lamp. As the name suggests the Laserpod utilizes a laser to create random light effects. It can be used with electroplated diffuser domes to make the laser paint moving effects on them. There is also a blue light that creates an Aurora Borealis light effect inside the domes giving the lamp a spatial depth. With the dome removed the laser paints the effects onto the ceiling or wall. Basically it creates my own little laser show."

Read More | I4U News

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Microsoft and Intel: In Your Living Room

Get ready for an extensive advertising blitz from these two powerhouses this holiday season. In an effort to promote their new Media Center PC's, the two companies will be launching a new site, digitaljoy.com, which demonstrates how a PC can be the hub of an entertainment center. Part of the plan is a $1,400 PC that looks like a DVD player and a device that beams digital photos, video and music through the home over radio waves. It may not catch on fully this year, one analyst observes, but it's a first step in letting consumers know what's possible.

Read More | Seattle Times

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November 03, 2004

Intel Launches New EE Pentium Chips

If you're wondering, the EE stands for "Extreme Edition." (How totally 90's.) In any case, it's always interesting to see advances in chip technology, especially when you're holding out on buying a new PC until prices drop. Intel's latest chip runs at 3.46GHz and incorporates 2MB of cache. Companies that have employed previous "Extreme Editions" in their rigs include Alienware, Falcon Northwest and Hewlett-Packard. Chip prices are expected to be around $999.

Read More | Cnet

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November 02, 2004

iPod mini-colored Earbuds

Japan always gets the cool stuff, huh? Well, I guess that's true if you can consider earbuds that have a slight hint of color which match those of the Apple iPod mini line a cool item. Seriously, what is taking for long to someone to release something like this stateside? These babies are available in Japan from Audio Technica.

Read More | Audio Technica

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Interview with Steven Holmes, OfferCentric Co-Owner

Ever wonder what goes on in the minds of those who run companies that just give free electronics away? How do they do it? Where is the industry going in the future? What free stuff can you get next? Recently, OfferCentric burst on the scene with three websites offering expensive electronic gadgets for free. Unlike Gratis Networks, OfferCentric didn't leave members waiting for their gear for months after they have earned it. We were able to chat with Steven Holmes, Co-Owner of OfferCentric. Steve talks to us about what goes on behind the scenes at OfferCentric, new offers coming up, and a few new ideas they have up their sleeve.

Steven, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions. For the readers who are unfamiliar with you, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your position within OfferCentric?

Sure, I'm one of the owners of OfferCentric and handle most of the customer support and less technical aspects of the company. I've played various roles in the affiliate marketing industry for over 4 years and have some experience with basic web development.

When did the company start, and what was the motivation behind it?

We started about 6 months ago, planning, doing research and coming up with our business plan. The actual company formed only a little over a month ago and our sites went live on the 16th of October so we're very new in that respect.

Our motivation was mainly that it's a great business model if done properly. Also we saw plenty of room for innovation and evolution. We've got a lot of ideas for new forms of incentive site and new twists to add. We plan on doing much more than throwing up a hundred cookie cutter sites with different gifts, this is only the beginning.

Q. What do you say to those who think you are running a scam, or who just think you are a "Gratis Ripoff"?

As far as being a scam, I think the fact that we've only been in business for several weeks and with our next order, have shipped out over 70 items, proves we are not a scam. There are many forums and guide sites providing user testimonials and photos of the gifts they have received. We want to run a legit business with long term potential, not scam a few people and be on the run, there's just no sense to that.

Being called a "Gratis Ripoff" doesn't bother us, we know quite well that Gratis was far from the first to do incentive sites, point based or referral based. This business model has been widely used for quite some time and isn't for any one company to claim as their own. While we do many things in a similar fashion we also do many things differently. We didn't just throw a copy cat site up in a weekend, we refined the process and will continue to add new features.

We're sure others will copy our ideas and we have no problem with that. You can't succeed by coming up with a couple of ideas and betting all your chips on them. You have to stay dynamic and come up with new ways to evolve your business or someone else will.

How has your company been doing so far? Have the profits been decent enough to this time that you will be able to stay in good business?

It's still very early but we expect that we'll be doing quite well as things pick up. So far we're still running off our startup capital but we expect to be profitable very soon. We don't see any reason why we won't be in business for a long time.

What kind of growth did you expect, and how is that number in comparison to the reality?

We were surprised at how fast it grew that first weekend we launched. We weren't exactly sure what to expect, we thought it would probably ramp up slowly and grow faster and faster. What actually happened was it grew very fast, then smoothed out to a nice steady growth which worked out great for us. We didn't want to grow to fast and be in the position where we have users on back order for months or go a week without replying to their emails. We're working hard on streamlining the sites and our customer service tools to keep orders shipping and email turnaround times at a minimum.

Approximately how many items have you shipped to your members thus far?

With the next order going out tomorrow we'll be up over 60 orders and about 70 items total.

You seem to have differentiated yourselves from other sites by offering different brands of products and giving your members a choice, as well as offering "bonus" items. Have you seen a large margin of members who qualify for the bonus?

We wanted to offer users a choice and plan to offer more choices. We
listen to what users suggest very carefully, we know that our sites are nothing without users and with the growing number of other incentive sites, it's important to offer what the users want. The bonus items have been successful to different degrees across the three sites we currently have up. So far many of the people who have gotten their free primary gift and went for the bonus gift got them both.

OfferCentric currently has three successful websites running. We are coming up on another holiday season, and product releases are the norm this time of year. With the iPod Photo, Nintendo DS, the myriad of digital cameras, and the soon to come PSP, does OfferCentric plan on offering any of these items in the near future?

We will be doing the Nintendo DS as soon as we can be sure that we won't have people on back order for too long as recent articles suggest that it will be a hard item to come by for a while. The iPod Photo we'll also be doing very soon on the PVPs4Free site as was suggested by a user of ours [Editors Note - The iPod Photo has been added to PVPs4Free.com as of press time]. We'll also do the PSP just as soon as it comes out.

We've got a good range of sites planned which we hope will appeal to gadget lovers and more mainstream users. We want to mix it up a bit, we've been reading various forums and have been keeping tabs on what users ask for the most and I think they'll be happy with our choices.

Could you let us in on what the next OfferCentric site scheduled to go live will be?

On the record is fine. We've got two new sites coming out this week and another possibly next week. We've got a new type of incentive site planned which is a unique business model and we hope will prove to be as popular as the traditional referral based sites.

Where do you see the future of the incentive web sites going forward? It seems that all of the sites have the same offers on them. Do you have different offers you plan to make available, or will your members soon be out of options?

We're always looking for new offers and add them as soon as we find them, we already offer about twice what other sites do and plan to offer as many as we can.

I think that there will always be incentive sites in some form. They've been around for quite some time and they constantly evolve. As I mentioned before we're doing our best to keep thing fresh and interesting. As long as there are advertisers who allow incentive sites to run their offers, I don't see sites like ours going away. This is an issue though, as more and more incentive sites pop up, advertisers will see more and more false leads due to users
trying to defraud the sites. This will lead to more and more advertisers disallowing their offers on incentive sites and could create problems for the industry as a whole.

We do want to look out for the advertisers as well as our own business to keep a balance and allow sites like ours to stay for the long term. This is one reason why we are strict on fraud and don't offer instant offer credits.

Do you have anything else you wish to address with the readers?

I'd like to address some of the questions that we saw in the forums on Gear Live that didn't get asked to clear up some issues that we get a lot of emails about:

1) Instant credit offers:

We get asked about why we don't do this like Gratis does. There are two reasons...

First, not all offers support this feature so to keep thing simple we treat all of them the same.

Second and most importantly, some of these offers can take a week or more to report to us, by this time we might have to either approve and ship the item(s) and hope that we get credit or make the user wait on hold until all of the offers report which seemed like more of a hassle for everyone involved. Also, this can lead to more users defrauding the advertiser as well since they can turn right around and cancel their accounts, etc. This not only creates issues for us but
for incentive sites in general as the advertisers will stop allowing their offers on incentive sites if they get too many false leads, this hurts everyone.

2) Canadian user support:

This is still in the works and there is no solid date for this to go live. Shipping items is not an issue but finding enough good offers that allow Canadian users is but we are sticking with it.

3) Why does it take so long to get offer credit:

Since we don't do instant credits, we have to wait for the advertiser to report to us. Some have a 1-3 business day turnaround and some like Netflix take 2 weeks. Some advertisers do overlook user credits and we have put in place a form that users can fill out for this. We take the info from this form and consolidate it into a file which is sent to the advertisers to review.

4) Do we really not spam people?:

As it states on our sites, we don't sell or share any personal info with anyone except to ship your gift(s). We don't believe squeezing a few extra dollars out of our users is worth betraying their trust and causing them grief. We don't like getting spam and have no intention of contributing to this problem. We've seen other sites like PrizeCube taking up this approach as well, hopefully this will become the standard as other sites stop selling user info as this gives incentive
sites in general a bad rep.

Thanks to Gear Live and all of our users who participated in contributing questions. We really do appreciate the opportunity to get in and answer your questions and hopefully our users are happy with the job we're doing so far. We're always open to new suggestions, ideas or criticism and we'll be putting user polls in place soon to
make it easy to gather that information. We do want to be the best incentive site network there is and we need lots of user feedback to make that happen.

Gear Live thanks Steven Holmes of OfferCentric for his time.

- Andru Edwards

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Free iPod Photo From Gratis

The iPod Photo was announced about a week ago, and already Gratis Internet has put up a site offering them for free. FreePhotoiPods.com was launched earlier today. This time, you will need to complete an offer, and refer 10 friends to do the same. Once you have completed these requirements, your free iPod Photo will be on its way. Click here to sign up for FreePhotoiPods.com, then leave a comment with your referal link and we will host it for you here!

Posted by Andru at 02:52 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 01, 2004

Design The Next iPod, Win An iSkin

Okay Gear Live readers, it's contest time! I know we haven't had one in a while, so this time we will have multiple winners. What's the prize? Well, iSkin, Inc. has decided to partner up with us and offer the selected winners a free iSkin. Sounds great, right? Not so fast...this one will require you to put your thinking cap on.

Recently, Apple announced the iPod Photo. It's nice and all, but I think the Gear Live readers can do even better than the almighty Steve Jobs. It's your chance to prove me right. Send us your ideas on what you think the next iPod should be like. Send in your mockups, renders, and drawings. Send in your detailed descriptions. Whatever you think it will take to be chosen as a winner, email it to us. There will be more than one winner if we get a bunch of great entries. I am gonna have to cap the number of winners to five though.

The contest ends on Monday, November 8 at 12 AM PST, so you have one week to wow us.

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Hot Christmas Item: The Hover Copter

I saw this bad boy at the local toy store, and I immediately knew this was going to be a huge hit this holiday season. Essentially, it's a levitating frisbee with a remote for the fan that resides underneath. The analog fan control allows you to make the disc float in mid-air, or shoot skyward for up to 30 feet. You can also toss it for a mid-air launch. How cool is that? The remote uses a 9-volt battery, although some iterations come with a charging-like docking station. You can find it for about $20.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards.

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