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Latest Gear Live Videos
Microsoft Xbox 360 E3 2012 Media Briefing Live Coverage
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Microsoft, Video Games,
Microsoft's E3 2012 Xbox 360 Media Briefing kicks off this morning at 9:30 AM PDT, and we're here to bring you the news as it happens. Keep it locked here for our live coverage of the event, which is set to kick off with Halo 4, with a new Gears of War title to debut, and the secretive SmartGlass feature as well!
Click to continue reading Microsoft Xbox 360 E3 2012 Media Briefing Live Coverage
Gallery: Microsoft Xbox 360 E3 2012 Media Briefing Live Coverage
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Amazon Instant Video now on Xbox 360
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Movies,
If you're an Amazon Prime member who also owns an Xbox 360, listen up! Amazon has just announced the launch of its Instant Video platform for the Xbox 360 for those who are both Xbox Live Gold members and also belong to Amazon Prime. The Amazon Xbox 360 app gives users access to the 17,000 movies and television episodes available on the service, and even those who aren't Prime members can still access the video-on-demand purchase and rental service. The Amazon app also includes support for Kinect. If you're in the US, you can download it now. Check out a video of how it all works after the break.
Click to continue reading Amazon Instant Video now on Xbox 360
Gallery: Amazon Instant Video now on Xbox 360
Today’s top tech deals: Dell Inspiron 14z, Halo 4, and more
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Video Games,
We're back with our list of the top tech deals of the day, with the highlight being on the 14-inch Dell Inspiron 14z. It's a Core i3 notebook with 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB hard drive that typically sells for $600, but today you can get it for $450 with free shipping. Check out the rest of the deals after the jump!
Click to continue reading Today’s top tech deals: Dell Inspiron 14z, Halo 4, and more
Gallery: Today’s top tech deals: Dell Inspiron 14z, Halo 4, and more
Windows 8 picks up new UI, waves goodbye to Aero Glass
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft has just revealed some major changes as it pertains to the user interface of Windows 8. Gone is the popular Aero Glass theme that shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. It's being replaced with a flatter design that seems to match the boxy shapes that we've been seeing on the Xbox 360, Windows Phone, and the Windows RT Metro UI. It does seem to make sense, although we always thought that Aero Glass was certainly visually appealing. Microsoft says it's confident that users will find the new UI less distracting.
Within the same announcement, the company takes you back in time with a tour through various Windows interfaces, starting with the original Windows 1. Good stuff.
Read More 
| Building Windows 8
Gallery: Windows 8 picks up new UI, waves goodbye to Aero Glass
Microsoft brings back ‘buy a PC, get free Xbox 360’ deal for students
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Video Games,
Once again, Microsoft is going to be offering a free Xbox 360 for students who buy a qualifying PC. The computers start at $699, and when purchased at certain retailers, a 4 GB Xbox 360 will be thrown in gratis beginning on May 18. Up in Canada, students are welcome to the same deal, and the PCs start at $599. Participating retailers include Dell, Best Buy, Newegg (see our Newegg promo code thread,) Fry's Electronics, Staples, Future Shop, the Microsoft Store, and more.
Wanna save even more cash? Wait to make the purchase until June 2, when the Windows 8 upgrade program is set to launch, allowing PC buyers to upgrade to Windows 8 for just $15.
Read More | Windows Team Blog
Gallery: Microsoft brings back ‘buy a PC, get free Xbox 360’ deal for students
Samsung Focus 2 LTE Windows Phone coming to AT&T on May 20 for $49
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft,
AT&T is preparing to add a third LTE Windows Phone to its lineup with the addition of the Samsung Focus 2. This one is for the budget-minded among you, as the device will sell for just $49.99 with two-year contract--half the price of the Nokia Lumia 900 (see our Lumia 900 review.) As far as features go, the Focus 2 sports a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, five megapixel camera on back that can record 720p video, and a VGA-quality camera up front. Want one? You can scoop it up from AT&T when it goes on sale on May 20th.
Read More | Windows Phone Blog
Gallery: Samsung Focus 2 LTE Windows Phone coming to AT&T on May 20 for $49
Skype for Windows Phone now out of beta
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Microsoft, Software,
It’s been long in the making and long-awaited by many (ever since Microsoft bought Skype,) and now Skype is officially available for Windows Phone. The beta version of Skype has been around since February, but wasn't functional on all Windows Phone devices, according to Skype. However, with its official release, no such warnings exist. You can download Skype from the Windows Phone Marketplace now.
Read More | Skype
Gallery: Skype for Windows Phone now out of beta
Pink Nokia Lumia 900 set for May release?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Microsoft,
The Lumia 900 launched in the US with black and cyan as your color choices. Two weeks later, a white model appeared on the scene, looking gorgeous. Now, a magenta model may be on the way, according to Engadget. This one was spotted at Finland retailer Gigantti. Looks like it should be available sometime in May. Who's in? If you're unsure, take a look at our Lumia 900 review.
Gallery: Pink Nokia Lumia 900 set for May release?
Windows 8 Metro Testbed on iPad thanks to Splashtop
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software,
If you've been patiently awaiting the arrival of Windows 8 tablets while staring at your iPad with evil eyes, listen up. Now you can test apps in, and play with, the Microsoft Metro interface right on your iPad. While that may sound awkwards--dirty, even--it's perfectly easy to do using the Win8 Metro Testbed app from Splashtop. With it, you can swipe to switch between apps, access the Charms menu, and all the other stuff you'll be able to do within the confines of a Windows 8 tablet Metro interface. You can find the app in the iTunes App Store, where it costs $24.99 for a limited time. Afterwards, it'll be bumped up to $49.99, doubling in price. You need a PC running the Windows 8 beta for the app to work. Check out a video demo after the break.
Click to continue reading Windows 8 Metro Testbed on iPad thanks to Splashtop
Gallery: Windows 8 Metro Testbed on iPad thanks to Splashtop
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Microsoft, Product Reviews,
With the Lumia 900, three companies are hoping for a runaway success. You've got the carrier, AT&T, launching the first LTE Windows Phone device (and one of the first AT&T LTE smartphones, period.) You've got Nokia, the manufacturer, hoping that the device leads to a revitalization and resurgence of the popularity that it once commanded just a few years ago. Then, you've got Microsoft, the software provider, which is in a position that's much the same as what Nokia's in. A behemoth that had the crown, got cocky, and due to its inability to be nimble in a quickly-changing mobile landscape, got surpassed. The Lumia 900 represents hope for all three of these companies.
What you get in the Lumia 900 is the perfect mixture of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 (or, really, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango,) Nokia's incredible hardware design, and AT&T's (late) entrance into the LTE realm with a smartphone that people are paying attention to. Even better? You get it all at a $99 price point with contract. In the smartphone world, we'd call this one a steal.
With all of that said, the question still remains: is the Nokia Lumia 900 worth your time? Can it really stand in firm in place of popular iOS and Android devices, giving them a run for their money? These are the questions we aim to tackle in our Lumia 900 review.
Click to continue reading Nokia Lumia 900 review
