Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
Latest Gear Live Videos
Kid’s Corner brings guest account sandbox to Windows Phone 8
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software,
Parents--how many times have you handed your smartphone to your little one, only to find apps moved around, deleted emails, and text message gobbledygook sent to your boss? Windows Phone 8 is set to eliminate these fears with the introduction of Kid's Corner. From the lock screen, rather than swiping up, you swipe to the right to enter the Kid's Corner interface. This area only allows guest users to access the specific apps, games, music, and videos on your phone that you allow. Quite honestly, we are left scratching our heads wondering why something this smart has yet to appear on iOS or Android.
Gallery: Kid’s Corner brings guest account sandbox to Windows Phone 8
Advertisement
Windows Phone 8 users will get 1 year of commercial-free Pandora One
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Music,
Microsoft is touting a bunch of the new apps that will be coming to Windows Phone 8, and one it's really excited about is Pandora. You're in for a little bit of a wait for the app, as it won't appear for Windows Phone 8 users until early 2013, but when it does, it will offer ad-free listening for the first year. That's basically free 12-month subscription to Pandora One from Microsoft for users of its new smartphones. Pretty nice.
Gallery: Windows Phone 8 users will get 1 year of commercial-free Pandora One
Windows Phone 8 lock screen customizable with Live Apps
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft is introducing a new lock screen on Windows Phone 8 that can be customized thanks to the Live App infrastructure. What does this mean for you? Well, your lock screen just became a lot more useful, as you can have it display things like recent photos, sports scores, Facebook updates from close friends, and more. Not the most groundbreaking feature in the world, but it's another way that Windows Phone 8 allows you to customize your phone in a personal way, bringing real-time updates to the first screen you see when your turn on your phone.
Gallery: Windows Phone 8 lock screen customizable with Live Apps
Why there is no 16GB Microsoft Surface option
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Storage,
When Microsoft announced Surface pre-orders, many consumers were puzzled by the lack of a 16GB option for the tablet. We got a lot of emails from readers wondering what was up, and it looks like we've got our answer. The Surface starts at 32GB of storage, and as it turns out, the user is left with 20GB of usable storage space on that model. That means that Windows RT and the pre-installed Office RT apps use up 12GB of space. In other words, if there were a 16GB model, the user would be left with just 4GB of space for their own documents, apps, and anything else. That would just make for a bad user experience, so Microsoft decided to start with 32GB of storage so that Surface users would still have a substantial amount of free space to use as they see fit. By comparison, a 32GB iPad leaves the user with about 31GB of free space, since iOS and built-in apps take up just 1GB of storage.
Have you pre-ordered a Surface tablet? Let us know in the comments!
Read More 
| Reddit
Gallery: Why there is no 16GB Microsoft Surface option
Surface tablet shipping times slip to 3 weeks without Touch Cover
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,
Looks like the Surface with Windows RT has slipped to a 3 week shipping time for those who want to order one without one of the black Touch Cover accessories. The 32 GB tablet will now be delivered by November 8 for those who took their time to decide if they really wanted one or not. Pre-orders for the 32 GB and 64 GB models with black Touch Cover are still on track to be delivered on October 26th. If you were hoping to get a Microsoft Surface tablet on launch day without a Touch Cover, then it looks like you're gonna have to head to your local Microsoft Store or Best Buy.
Gallery: Surface tablet shipping times slip to 3 weeks without Touch Cover
Microsoft Surface RT starts at $499, Touch Cover sold separately
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds, Microsoft,
Microsoft's Surface RT tablet is set to go on sale in just 10 days, and the company is finally ready to reveal price details and tech specs. It's official: Surface RT will sell for $499 for the 32 GB model, $599 for 32 GB with black Touch Cover, and $699 for 64 GB with black touch cover. Pre-orders begin today at 9:00am PT.
What about all those colorful Touch Covers that the company showed off at the Surface unveiling? Those will be sold separately for $120 each. If you prefer the Type Cover, which features mechanical keys, you're looking at $130. Many were speculating that Microsoft would bring Surface to market at an incredibly low $199, but obviously, that extremem measure of cost-cutting just isn't possible. Wanna pre-order one now? Head on over to the Surface page to do so.
Read More | Microsoft
Gallery: Microsoft Surface RT starts at $499, Touch Cover sold separately
You can now pre-order Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 PCs
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
Microsoft has just announced that, starting today, you can now pre-order Windows 8 Pro. The normal price for the disc is $199.99, but during the upgrade promotion period, the package will cost $69.99, a $120 savings. Upgrade pricing will be in effect through January 31, 2013. It's nice, but it's still a far cry from the $20 OS X Mountain Lion. If you want to get in on the upgrade pricing, head over to Amazon--you'll receive it on October 26th, the same day it is released publicly. If you'd rather to go a brick-and-mortar location, you'll also find similar offers at the Microsoft Store, Best Buy, Office Depot, and more.
In addition, you can now pre-order Windows 8 PCs from companies like Acer, HP, Sony, Samsung, and others.
Read More | Windows 8 Pro
Gallery: You can now pre-order Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 PCs
Leaked Windows 8 video ads show off touch features
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Microsoft, Software, Videos,
Microsoft's marketing department couldn't keep a lock on these four Windows 8 promo videos that have turned up on YouTube. One of the ads shows off the Microsoft Surface tablet, set to be released on October 26th. Get to stepping and get your Windows geek on--we've got all four videos after the jump!
Click to continue reading Leaked Windows 8 video ads show off touch features
Gallery: Leaked Windows 8 video ads show off touch features
Microsoft Office coming to iOS and Android in March 2013?
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Rumors, Software,
Seems the rumor reported about a native port of Microsoft Office to iPad is alive and kicking. On the eve of 2012, The Daily reported that it was present for a demo of a working version of Office for iPad but the rumor was somewhat shot down by Microsoft PR with a non-denial, saying that the leaked photos were not a real Microsoft software product. However, Microsoft didn't go as far as to deny that the iOS Office suite ever existed. Almost a full year later, IHNED has reported that Peter Bobek, a Microsoft Product Manager, has spilled the beans during a press event in Czech Republic.
Allegedly, Mr. Bobek has affirmed that Office for iOS and Android will be released around March 2013. There's also some noise about Office Web Apps, but nobody seems to care about those. So, if you're an Office user, but your preferred mobile platform is iOS or Android, don't get your hopes up just yet. If the past is any indicator, this latest rumor might not become a reality. Until then, iWork and Google Docs are not a bad alternative. Now, if you're the daring type, you may want to jump platforms altogether and go with the Microsoft Surface tablets and Windows Phone 8 to get your Office fix.
Read More | IHNED via The Verge
Gallery: Microsoft Office coming to iOS and Android in March 2013?
Nokia Lumia 810 a T-Mobile exclusive in the US
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft,
T-Mobile has announced that it will be the exclusive United States carrier of the Nokia Lumia 810 smartphone. The Lumia 810 runs Windows Phone 8 and sports a 4.3-inch OLED WVGA Clear Black screen, 8 megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera (Skype HD-certified!) It sounds awfully close to the Lumia 820, although from the image we were given, doesn't look anywhere near as slick. As lame as it sounds, T-Mobile has not announced pricing or availability, other than to say that the Lumia 810 will be available "in the coming weeks."
