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We’ve spent a few days with the Amazon Kindle 2, which has been the talk of the gadget world this week. We know some of you are wondering if you should pick one up, so we are here to give you our thoughts on the latest iteration of Amazon’s e-book reader. If you’re like us, you already know that the Kindle 2 is available for purchase now, and you likely have one in your hands - but for the rest of you, join us for our full review of the Kindle 2 (and if you missed it, check out our Kindle 2 gallery.)
Okay, so while we were working on the review, we sent a couple of questions out to some of our Twitter peeps asking what they thought of the device, and Lisa from EllisLab hit us back with so much info, that we are using her feedback to break this down for you. Sometimes you need the point of view of a “real world” user anyway, as opposed to one of us gadget fiends. So what we will do is give some of our thoughts on the Kindle 2, and then bring in Lisa’s thoughts as well.
The Kindle 2 was announced on February 9th, and just started shipping on February 24th. The announcement came with the promise of a 25% improvement in battery life, 20% faster page turns, a better screen that supports up to 16 shades of gray (as opposed to 4 shades with the original,) and a much thinner design.
Click to continue reading Amazon Kindle 2 review
Gallery: Amazon Kindle 2 review
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iLife ‘09 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews, Software,
When Apple announced the new iLife ‘09 suite during the MacWorld 2009 Keynote last month, we were immediately intrigued by the seemingly powerful features included in iPhoto and iMovie. If you happened to catch it, you know what I am talking about. Faces and Places in iPhoto had the ability to change the way we use the program, and image stabilization in iMovie would be amazing for any amateur videographer or video hobbyist. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on the software, and now that we have been able to give it a good few days of playing with, we are ready to report back with our thoughts. Should you purchase iLife ‘09 for $79? Hit the jump for our thoughts.
Click to continue reading iLife ‘09 review
Gallery: iLife ‘09 review
Top 20 Gear Live stories of 2008
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews, Science, Software,
We welcome the coming
already-here year of 2009 with open arms, but we thought it would definitely be appropriate to take a look back at the stories that made 2008 a memorable one. We’ve compiled the 20 stories from 2008 that were read more than any other, and the fact of the matter is that you guys (like us) are iPhone junkies, who also appreciate our giveaways, and reviews. So without any further delay, away we go:
20 most read Gear Live posts of 2008:
- Flash on iPhone is just around the corner
- Apple beta testing iPhone 2.1 firmware, adding more GPS features
- What do you want to see us cover at E3 2008?
- Our Verizon FiOS customer service nightmare: Why won’t they protect my private customer information?
- iPhone 3G: The details
- Why is Apple stalling Flash on the iPhone?
- HP Magic Giveaway: Enter our contest to win over $6,000 in electronics!
- How to tether your iPhone 3G to your laptop
- iPhone 1.1.4 Firmware Update now available, already jailbroken
- iPhone Dev Team jailbreaks and unlocks iPhone 2.0
- iPhone 1.1.3 Q&A: Batch Two
- Get the Mac OS X Update for MobileMe right now
- T-Mobile G1 details
- iPhone 1.1.3 Jailbreak app for OS X now available
- Venus, Jupiter and Crescent Moon In Alignment Tonight
- iPhone Pwnage Tool 2.0.3 now available
- iPod nano updated, elongated, and nano-chromatic
- Apple Time Capsule vs. Airport Extreme size comparison
- iPhone firmware 2.1 detailed
- MacBook Air SSD review
So, how does that look to you? You feel like anything was missed? Was there a particular Gear Live article that you enjoyed, but didn’t make the cut? Sound off in the comments, peeps. Oh, and have a fantastic New Year!
Gallery: Top 20 Gear Live stories of 2008
Mophie Juice Pack review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
Okay, we’re mobile warriors here at Gear Live, and the battery life is the only negative for me when it comes to my iPhone 3G. The Mophie Juice Pack 3G aims to fix that problem, and so we took it to task. Now, mind you, not everyone uses up their battery as quick as I do - I have two email accounts that are on push data, and I also push calendars and contacts as well. That’s a lot of constant connectivity going on. If I’m not careful, my iPhone 3G battery will be dead within 9 hours on a typical day.
That’s where the Mophie Juice Pack steps in, aiming to provide that extra battery goodness. Read on to find out why it earned a spot in our Holiday Gift Guide.
Click to continue reading Mophie Juice Pack review
Gallery: Mophie Juice Pack review
Motorola MOTOAURA gets pictured and reviewed
Posted by Aaron Zollo Categories: Smartphones, Design, Product Reviews,
Not many people have the luxury of spending $2000 on a mobile phone. The MOTOAURA is a new luxury phone from Motorola which incorporates an 240x320-pixel display enclosed behind an A-grade 62-carat Sapphire lens, giving it expense and a scratch-proof cover. The enclosure is almost all metal except at the bottom where there is a small piece of plastic for the internal antenna. The back of the MOTOAURA has a watch-like quality in that it allows you to see the workings of its switchblade-style opening mechanism. The rest of the MOTOAURA is your normal cell phone, incorporating a keypad and screen. Mobile-Review has plenty of pictures, a full review and a video showing how scratch-resistive the screen is. It’s hard to see people spend this kind of money on such a simple device, but if you need that premium device that is out of reach for most of the population, then the MOTOAURA is just what you have been looking for.
Read More 
| Motorola via Mobile-Review
Gallery: Motorola MOTOAURA gets pictured and reviewed
Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 High-Speed Digital Camera Review
Posted by Nate True Categories: Cameras, Features, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews, Videos,
We’ve all marveled at super slow-motion footage on shows like MythBusters or on sites like CSU’s slow-motion archive, and longed to shoot slow-motion footage of our own. Until earlier this year, however, the equipment to do so was horrendously expensive. Fortunately, Casio announced a revolutionary new consumer camera at the 2008 CES in January called the Exilim Pro EX-F1. It boasts video capture of up to 1200 frames per second (where normal video is around 30 frames per second) and at resolutions up to 1080i HD (though not at the same time).
We recently got our hands on an EX-F1 and we must say, we are impressed. Read on for the full in-depth review, including sample pictures and videos.
Click to continue reading Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 High-Speed Digital Camera Review
Gallery: Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 High-Speed Digital Camera Review
HP iPaq 914 Business Messenger review
Posted by Sparky Categories: Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Microsoft, Product Reviews, Wireless / WiFi,
While at the Connecting Your World event in Berlin Germany, HP we were able to get our hands on one of the new HP iPaq 914 Business Messenger Windows Mobile 6.1 QWERTY phones. We’ve already created a full iPaq 914 unboxing gallery for you to enjoy, but we also wanted to be sure to hit you with a full review of the phone. After a day or so of use, it’s easy to be impressed with this business-centric communications device.
As a phone with iPaq 914 performs admirably, offering great voice quality, and the well implemented Windows Mobile 6 dialer interface. Having quad-band GSM support means the iPaq 914 works virtually anywhere in the globe making it ideal for globe trotters and others needing to keep in touch while on the go.
Featuring HSDPA, EDGE, UMTS, WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, the iPaq 914 is well equipped for all sorts of wireless communications. The HSDPA chipset is quick and responsive and loads data quickly.
Click through Gear Live’s full review of the HP iPaq 914.
Click to continue reading HP iPaq 914 Business Messenger review
Gallery: HP iPaq 914 Business Messenger review
HP Mini-Note 2133 review
Posted by Sparky Categories: Design, Features, PC / Laptop, Product Reviews,
Amidst a flurry of small and seemingly underpowered netbooks, HP has taken a slightly different tact in their release of the surprisingly capable HP Mini-Note device. While its up-to-$850 price tag places it in a significantly different category than the Eee PC and other cheap sub-notebooks, it easily makes up for this price difference with functionality and power approaching that of its larger siblings: full sized laptops.
We’ve got an HP Mini-Note unboxing gallery for you to check out if you want to see how the thing looks from all angles, and of course, you can click through for Gear Live’s in-depth review of the HP Mini-Note 2133’s features, capabilities, and user experience, below.
Click to continue reading HP Mini-Note 2133 review
Gallery: HP Mini-Note 2133 review
Review: Virtual Villagers 3: The Secret City
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Product Reviews, Video Games, Videos,
LDW (Last Day of Work) has finally released the latest in their Virtual Villagers series. This time around, VV3: The Secret City goes back to the island of Isola, or rather another side of it with a combination of simulation, adventure, and virtual inhabitants . While this game plays pretty much like its predecessors, such as being able to adjust level of difficulty and speed, there are plenty of new features. Our highlights of VV3 and additional screenshots after the jump.
Click to continue reading Review: Virtual Villagers 3: The Secret City
Read More | LDW
Gallery: Review: Virtual Villagers 3: The Secret City
HP Mini-Note 2133 first impressions
Posted by Sparky Categories: Design, PC / Laptop, Peripherals, Product Reviews,
I just got my hands on one of the HP Mini-Note 2133 ultra-portable notebook (netbook?) computers. A few first impressions are below, a taste of our upcoming HP 2133 vs. Eee PC 900 Battle Royale:
HP Mini-Note 2133 wins:
- 2133 has a much nicer keyboard
- 2133 has a cleaner design
- 2133 has a faster processor (1.6Ghz vs. 900Mhz)
- 2133 has more RAM (2GB vs. 1GB)
Eee PC 900 wins:
- Eee PC is cheaper ($550 vs. $729-819)
- Eee PC is slimmer and lighter (2133 battery protrudes downward)
- Eee PC has more USB 2.0 ports (3 vs. 2)
- Eee PC is easier to dual boot with Ubuntu
Obviously the HP 2133 has a lot going for it, however it’s significantly more expensive. Stay tuned for more in-depth information about these trendy new netbooks and how they compare for power, usability, and value.
Gallery: HP Mini-Note 2133 first impressions
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