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Latest Gear Live Videos
It’s Official: Mac OS X Leopard arrives Oct. 26
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Software,
That’s right peeps, after a huge delay five months ago, we are happy to share that Apple has finally stamped a date on the release of Mac OS X Leopard. The launch is happening in just ten days, on October 26, 2007. Leopard will be available in two flavors - the single-user version, which sells for $129 USD, or the Family Pack, which can be installed on up to five computer in one home for $199. Apple is currently taking pre-orders on their online store, guaranteeing delivery on October 26th, so if you want to avoid the lines at your local Apple Store, we recommend the online purchase. Just be sure you can hang with the required specs - you’ll need, at the minimum, an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 processor that’s at least 867MHz, and 512MB RAM. And please note, we said minumum.
Gallery: It’s Official: Mac OS X Leopard arrives Oct. 26
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Sharing a 3G internet connection with the iPhone
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Broadband, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,
Pyrofers has posted a how-to on turning a Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 6 phone with 3G access into a high-speed modem for the iPhone. The whole process seems a little extreme given that you would have to pay for, carry, and keep active a 2nd device at all times, but might be useful if you have a spare Windows Mobile device hanging around and if you can convince your work to pay for an unlimited data account for it. Fair warning - the hack involves registry editing on your Windows Mobile device so proceed at your own risk. As for us, we will likely just wait it out for the iPhone 2.0 (iPhone Extreme?) to come out with 3G internet access built in.
Read More 
| Pyrofers Projects
Gallery: Sharing a 3G internet connection with the iPhone
Colorware now painting iMac, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod touch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Design, PC / Laptop,
We recently clued you in to the fact that Colorware was offering custom iPhone paint jobs, but Lars just let us know that they are now offering customization on the new iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod touch lines. If that wasn’t enough, they are even taking order for paint jobs on the new aluminum iMac as well. Colorware already does the Mac mini, so it would seem the only thing left out would be the Mac Pro. It’s probably for the best. In any event, you can head over to Colorware now if you want to get your paint on. They’ll allow you to send in your device to be painted, or you can purchase a brand new one directly from them. Of course, this all comes at a premium.
Read More | Colorware
Gallery: Colorware now painting iMac, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod touch
Will the iStone Rock Your World?
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Apple, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,
If you’re looking for a unique iPod dock but the bed, grill or toilet paper holder didn’t strike your fancy, how about the iStone? Available in two versions – the Wabi and the Sabi – each weighs approximately 5.5 pounds, supports USB 2.0 and is even equipped with audio and video outputs. A definite conversation-starter, and it’s perfect for that geologist-who-has-everything. And yes, they’re real stones. Pricing information is currently unavailable, so stay tuned…
Read More | Brand Incubator
Gallery: Will the iStone Rock Your World?
Zune 2: What Microsoft got right
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
While Microsoft’s first generation Zune hardly put up a fight against Apple’s iPod juggernaut the soon to be released Zune 2 seems to have a much better chance of gaining a foothold in the market. Last 100 has posted their take on the top 5 things the new Zune got right - we agree with them for the most part, although they do seem to underscore the challenge Microsoft faces with the iPod Touch, iPhone, and the rest of the iPhone line.
The new flash based Zunes do help widen their appeal, but Apple has anDAP available in $50 price increments from $79 all the way up to $400 - something to fit everyone’s budget and needs. Apple has also beat Microsoft to the punch on mobile song purchase, but the new improvements to the Zune store shows that Microsoft is gaining momentum to catch them on features.
All in all, the Zune 2 has a chance with it’s bevy of new features. With the goal of helping the brand Microsoft is also smartly planning to release a firmware update for the 1st generation Zune that will include all of the new features. Now might be a good time to pick up a Zune on the cheap if you don’t mind slightly older hardware but are interested in the new store or social networking features.
Read More | Last 100
Gallery: Zune 2: What Microsoft got right
We’ve been hearing rumors of Apple doing away with the Mac mini for quite a while now, and we were even surprised when the line received a refresh a couple of months ago. Now rumors are churning again that Apple might finally kill off the Mac mini, in favor of a new, slim Mac nano. As you can see in the image above, the Mac looks similar to an Apple TV, and includes an IR receiver. The question is - is this the Mac nano? As we all know, Leopard launches at the end of this month. We are expecting a few Apple announcements surrounding that - possibly an updated Apple TV, HD movies in iTunes, and some changes in the Mac line.
[Thanks, Jake!]
Read More | XYHD
Gallery: Is this the Mac nano?
Don’t Forget: We are giving away Skitch invites!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Apple, Software,
We just wanted to throw out a friendly reminder for all of our readers using OS X. We are running a contest where we will be giving away two invitations to the amazingly fantastic Skitch Beta. If you missed it, check out our Skitch review to see what all the fuss is about, and hit our Skitch discussion thread to make your entry. All we want to know is what you’d Skitch. The contest ends on October 10th, so get in quick!
Read More | Skitch Giveaway Contest
Gallery: Don’t Forget: We are giving away Skitch invites!
The definitive iTunes WiFi Music Store review
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Internet, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
After a couple of frustrating days fighting with a flaw in password entry fields in the newly released iPhone software version 1.1.1, Gear Live has finally gotten the chance to probe the inner depths of the iTunes WiFi Music Store. The new WiFi Music Store brings mobile media impulse buys to the millions of iPhone users all packaged up in the typical Apple fashion: sexy, easy to use, and slick as glass. While my experiences with the WiFi Music Store were not 100% positive it’s definitely off to a stunning start and has great potential. Click through the jump to continue reading the review to learn more about the plusses and minuses of our adventuresome journey through Apple‘s mobile media e-commerce wonder.
Click to continue reading The definitive iTunes WiFi Music Store review
Gallery: The definitive iTunes WiFi Music Store review
Skitch: review of OS X’s hottest new information sharing tool
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Internet, Misc. Tech, Product Reviews, Software,
The concept of screen capture has been around almost as long as the graphical user interface, but only recently has it truly evolved. OS X has featured the Grab utility for a while which made capturing a screenshot, selection, or single window easy, but once you have the capture, what do you do with it? Plasq solves this problem with Skitch, the evolution (or perhaps revolution) of screen capture to the Mac. The program blew us away when we first got our hands on it, we even wrote a quick post of our Skitch impressions after five minutes of use. Now we have an in-depth review of the Skitch beta, and a chance for you to win one of two Skitch beta invites Gear Live has to offer.
Click to continue reading Skitch: review of OS X’s hottest new information sharing tool
Read More | Skitch by Plasq
Gallery: Skitch: review of OS X’s hottest new information sharing tool
V-Moda Vibe Duos updated with call answer/hang-up button
Posted by Sparky Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
We recently reviewed the V-Moda Vibe Duo headset for the Apple’s iPhone and were quite impressed. Aside from a faulty pair of earbuds our biggest complaint was the lack of a button on the microphone to enable answering of calls and pausing of music. It sounds like V-Moda has listened and they just announced the 2nd generation Vibe Duo which will feature the same button as Apple’s stock iPhone earbuds. The 2nd generation Vibe Duos promise the same spectacular sound quality, luxurious cloth wrapped cables, and comfortable design.
It looks like the new version will drop at the same $99 price tag. If you have been considering a pair of these fabulous earbuds it might be worth it to wait a few weeks for the new ones to show up in stores.
Read More | V-Moda press release
