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
The Starbucks iTunes WiFi music store reviewed
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
As promised Apple and Starbucks started their rollout of the Starbucks WiFi Music Store in select cities. Gear Live is lucky enough to be in Seattle, the first city to get the special version of the iTunes Music Store in our Starbucks. The service allows laptops, iPhones, and the iPod Touch users to connect for free to the iTunes store while sipping lattes without having to pay for for a T-Mobile Hotspot account. Click through for our full impressions on Apple’s new partnership with the coffee mega-store Starbucks.
Click to continue reading The Starbucks iTunes WiFi music store reviewed
Gallery: The Starbucks iTunes WiFi music store reviewed
Advertisement
Bevy Protects shuffles
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Apple, Portable Audio / Video,
Protect your iPod shuffle with this original Bevy case that also allows you to wrap up your earbuds, carry your keys and, after removal of your PMP, pop the top off a brew. The Bevy was awarded the 2007 MacWorld design contest, leading us to believe that Mac people cannot do without their Heinekens (just kidding.) The gadget is temporarily out of stock, but you can pre-order for the next batch at Firebox at a price of $14.95.
(Thanks, Jennifer)
Read More 
| Firebox
Gallery: Bevy Protects shuffles
iPhone password entry in software version 1.1.1: seriously flawed
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
In a previous post, Gear Live discovered that the new iTunes WiFi Music Store has a few bugs here and there. The bug I encountered prevents some users from authenticating easily to purchase tracks. With a little sleuth work I managed to track down the problem: the password fields in the new iPhone software version 1.1.1 don’t work well with capitol letters in passwords. Click through for a full run down of the problem, and how to fix it if it affects you.
Click to continue reading iPhone password entry in software version 1.1.1: seriously flawed
Gallery: iPhone password entry in software version 1.1.1: seriously flawed
The 45 nano: Audio Cassettes Transformed into iPod nano Cases
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Apple, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,
We love it when retro tech collides with new school gadgetry, such as the Boombox Bag. Now comes the “45 nano” from Contexture. Despite its name, an audio cassette (not a “45” vinyl single) is hallowed out on one side and fitted with plastic casing, with openings for the click wheel, headphones and AC adapter/charging dock. The other side still looks like an audio tape. Currently, the 45 nano is for 1st and 2nd Gen nanos, but Contexture is currently working on a version for the newest 3rd gen iPod nano. Available for $45 USD.
Read More | 45 iPod Cases via Retro to Go
Gallery: The 45 nano: Audio Cassettes Transformed into iPod nano Cases
Apples iTunes WiFi Music Store: trouble in paradise?
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Music, Software,
Yesterday morning brought Apple‘s iPhone Update version 1.1.1 which included a bevy of new features including the slick new WiFi music store for the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The WiFi music store lets users purchase songs on-the-go using any WiFi hotspot which essentially puts the entire multi-million track library of iTunes in your pocket - perfect for a quick impulse buy from time to time.
Unfortunately not all users are able to get the shiny new storefront to work. Several of the iPhone owning editors at Gear Live were able to update their iPhone and use the WiFi music store successfully - I was not. Worse yet I don’t appear to be alone as other users have reported similar problems on the internet. Click through the jump for full details on why the iTunes WiFi music store isn’t working for us.
Click to continue reading Apples iTunes WiFi Music Store: trouble in paradise?
Gallery: Apples iTunes WiFi Music Store: trouble in paradise?
iPhone Update 1.1.1 Now Available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Portable Audio / Video, Software,
The first major iPhone software update has finally been released from Apple. iPhone Software Update 1.1.1 includes a host of bug fixes and new features. When you launch iTunes to download the update, you are warned that if you have modified your iPhone in any way, there is a chance that the update might permanently damage it. Fun! This update is a big one, weighing in at 152.3 MB in size. Here’s the lowdown on what you can expect:
- iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
- Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
- Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites or music controls
- Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
- Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
- Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
- Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
- Support for TV Out
- Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
- New Passcode lock time intervals
- Adjustable alert volume
Let us know if you find anything not listed there!
Gallery: iPhone Update 1.1.1 Now Available
Vaja iVolution Top SP Flip Holster for the iPhone reviewed
Posted by Sparky Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Design, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews,
Surrounding the release of Apple‘s iPhone there was a flurry excitement surrounding various cases to protect and showcase a consumer’s shiny new obsession. A number of cases including simple cloth slipcovers, protective rubber enclosures, and elaborate leather constructions flooded onto the market, each with different plusses and minuses.
Gear Live has previously reviewed several of the high-end leather cases by Argentinean case manufacturer Vaja, and given our extremely positive experiences in the past, we jumped at the opportunity to check out their new iVolution line of iPhone cases. The iVolution line has a number of different styles of cases and holsters, and we selected the fully-enclosed protection offered by the iVolution Top SP Holster. Click through the jump for the full in-depth review.
Click to continue reading Vaja iVolution Top SP Flip Holster for the iPhone reviewed
Gallery: Vaja iVolution Top SP Flip Holster for the iPhone reviewed
Apple Slaps Unlocked iPhone Users on the Wrist
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video,
Apple has announced that its new update will kill unlocked iPhones. Last week, Steve Jobs cried foul as he said that the warranty would be voided, which we are pretty sure most hackers, such as George Hotz, knew about when they performed the operation. Of course, the obvious solution here is to skip the update, but then those users will not get WiFi Tunes. Perhaps Apple should think of this as a quiet demonstration of folks who want to save a bit of cash rather than a direct attack on AT&T. Think amnesty, Apple.
Read More | Yahoo Tech
Gallery: Apple Slaps Unlocked iPhone Users on the Wrist
iPhone crushes HTC Touch and Nokia N95 in usability tests
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Software,
Computerworld just published its in-depth usability test of the Apple iPhone, the HTC Touch running Windows Mobile 6 Professional, and the Nokia N95 running the Symbian operating system. The tests involved a number of participants who had never used any of the three devices, and had measurable results (i.e. the time it took to accomplish various actions). Apple’s famed information architecture and interface design skills seem to have paid off as the iPhone bested it competitors by a factor of two in some of the tests.
The study praises the iPhones information architecture and consistent user experience as a strong benefit to any user be it someone new to the iPhone or a power user. At Gear Live we have noticed several inconsistencies in the user interface, for instance, the new message button being in different locations in the mail and SMS clients for instance. We do however agree with the general consensus of the study that overall the user experience with the iPhone is far more unified that it’s competitors.
Things were not entirely positive for Apple - some users found the lack of tactile feedback a little disorienting, however all users were able to finish each of the tasks with the iPhone. The also iPhone fell behind it’s competitors in the sheer count of features. The N95 managed to edge out the iPhone in this category with GPS, voice activation and the ability to record movies with it’s camera. Considering that the Nokia is $100-300 more expensive in the United States than the iPhone many users have elected to splurge for Apple’s $400 easy to use wonder device.
Read More | Computerworld
Gallery: iPhone crushes HTC Touch and Nokia N95 in usability tests
Fox Heads to iTunes Store
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Home Entertainment,
First NBC leaves Apple for AOL, and now Fox will be offering some of their fall premieres at no charge on iTunes. Programs such as “Bones,” “American Dad,” and “K-ville” are part of the package which becomes available the day after their launch dates. Check with the iTunes Store since some of the programs have already begun. We say thank you very much since we dig free stuff and not having to wait for reruns in case we missed episodes the first time around.
Read More | Fox Flash
