On Gear Live: Circuit Breaker: The Tech Newsletter that Elevates Your Gadget Game

  • STICKY POST

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

In this video I show you how to set up the Sonos Play:1 wireless speaker. We unboxed the Sonos Play:1 in our last episode, and setting it up after taking it out of the box is simple when using the free Sonos app for your smartphone or tablet.

As we covered previously, Sonos connects to your wired or wireless Wi-Fi network, allowing Sonos components to talk to each other in different rooms. It's a fantastic system, and thanks to the free Sonos app, it is simple to control. Watch as we set it up in this episode.

You can get the Sonos Play:1 now!

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for the latest videos, and to be automatically entered into our gadget giveaways!

Gallery: How to set up the Sonos Play:1 wireless speaker


Advertisement

HP Elitebook Folio G1 review

Back when we brought you our first-look at the HP Elitebook Folio 1020 G1, many pointed out just how amazing this enterprise-level notebook looked. Obviously, this line of thinking is referring to the fact that business laptops in the past have been plain, mostly matte black affairs that lack any sort of desirability from a consumer perspective. Sure, IT departments get excited about the security features and how cheap they are, but the accompanying bulk, weight, and poor battery life leave much to be desired. HP is aiming to change that with the Elitebook Folio 1020 G1, fancifying what a business laptop can be. Is it worth your attention? Follow along in our HP Elitebook Folio 1020 G1 review for the answer.

Click to continue reading HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 review

Gallery: HP EliteBook Folio 1020 G1 review


Microsoft Surface Pro 3

With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has switched up its strategy on its tablet PC, aiming to make it the best Windows laptop for the average consumer. This is the third attempt from the company at reinventing the laptop, bringing tablet parity into the product that runs on a full-on Intel Core i5 processor. It’s a large tablet. It’s a thin laptop. It’s a powerful 2 in 1. Is it the one for you, though?

Click to continue reading Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review


wii u super smash bros giveaway

Today in the Gear Live Deals Shop you can enter our Wii U + Super Smash Bros. giveaway! If you're looking for a fun way to pass the time, Super Smash Bros. is it--it's cliche, but this is one that's easy to pick up and play, but difficult to truly master. It's also one of the first games to support Nintendo's amiibo figures.

Here's how this is gonna go down: Aside from the Wii U game console and Super Smash Bros., we're also throwing in a couple of extra controllers as well, so your friends can get it on the action. Ready to enter? Go get it:

Enter our Wii U + Super Smash Bros. giveaway

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.

Gallery: Wii U + Super Smash Bros. giveaway!


HP EliteDesk 800 G1 mini giveaway

We're ready to hit you with our next giveaway, this time focusing on the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini PC. This thing is small in stature, but big on performance with plenty of expansion options. This is marketed by HP as a business PC, but that doesn't mean you can't roll with this at home or school. HP has provided us with a unit to give away to one lucky Gear Live fan It takes up barely any room, and is super portable as well.

Cool, right? Ready to enter? Simply use the widget below to keep track of your entries! If you're a Gear Live Patreon backer at any level, you get an extra 25 entries in this giveaway! We've got a lot of ways for you to enter even if you aren't, but don't check off any that you don't actually perform. If you do, you'll be eliminated:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The contest is open to those residing in North America, as this is a North American SKU from HP. Winner is responsible for any applicable taxes and fees. Contest ends on February 22 - good luck!

Click to continue reading Giveaway: HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini

Gallery: Giveaway: HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini


The sun will set on 2014 in just a few hours, and we are just in time with our annual top 10 list of the most-watched Gear Live video episodes. Over the past year, as expected, there was a bunch of gear that made the list, with the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The launch of the WWE Network was also groundbreaking, and our walkthrough proved to be the second most popular video of the year. Other items, like a tutorial on upgrading Xbox One controllers, a look at the Fitbit Force, and a how-to on installing the Nest Protect also proved popular as well.

Oh, and if you wanna be sure to get our new video episodes as they come out in 2015, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube, in iTunes, or in your RSS reader!

Also, you can check out the top ten videos from 20132012201120102009, 2008, and 2007 - and when you're done, be sure to check out the top 10 most popular Gear Live stories of 2013 as well!

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2014

Gallery: Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2014


VellVett performing at the 2014 Gear Live Holiday Bash

A few weeks ago, Gear Live threw down and kicked off the holiday season with the 2014 Gear Live Holiday Bash, and now we've got the pictures to prove it. At the event, I presented my picks for the best holiday gadgets, along with help from my friends Jess Estrada (of FreshJess), GeekWire, Drew Morrison, and New Tech Seattle. We had Seattle's VellVett perform, as well as "Kid Sensation" Xola Malik. Blitz, the mascot for the current Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, made an appearance as well. It was a great night full of food, music, and gadgets giveaways.

We've got to give a warm shout-out to the sponsors who helped make the 2014 Gear Live Holiday Bash possible, and sending the attendees home with awesome gifts: Monster, AT&T Seattle, and Rhapsody.

Click on over to check out the full 2014 Gear Live Holiday Bash photo gallery.

Gallery: The 2014 Gear Live Holiday Bash, in pictures!


Christmas 2011

It's Christmas morning, and it's a Thursday, which means you have the whole day to play with your new toys (barring any crazy family functions that aim to pry you away!) while taking a day off. We just wanna know one thing--what'd you get? Anything that was listed on our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide? Anything obscure? Any straight up ridiculous gifts that seemingly came out of left field? We wanna hear it all! Lay it on us in the comments!

Gallery: So, what’d you get?


sphero ollie giveaway

It's time for our next holiday giveaway, and today we've got two! We're giving away an Orbotix Sphero 2.0, along with the brand new Orbotix Ollie. These two little robots are controlled over Bluetooth using your smartphone or tablet, and are fun for people of any age. While Sphero 2.0 lets you play, learn, and explore, Ollie is the robot driven by adrenaline, engineered for speed.

Here's how this is gonna go down: First place gets the new Ollie, and the runner up walks away with Sphero 2.0. Ready to enter? Go get it:

Enter our Ollie & Sphero giveaway

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.

Gallery: Orbotix Ollie & Sphero 2.0 giveaway!


This is an entry from our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. Check it out for suggestions on what to buy your loved, liked, and hated ones this holiday season!

Apple TV

iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch will be big holiday gifts this year, make no mistake about it. The Apple TV is actually a fantastic complement to Apple's handhelds, worthy of being featured in our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. A nice little device in its own right, the Apple TV gives you access to Apple's iTunes Store entertainment content right on your television. In addition, you get Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, sports networks, and plenty of other entertainment options. Connect it to your iTunes Home Share, and you can use your iOS devices as remote controls for the Apple TV. The best part, though, is AirPlay. You can beam audio and video content right to the Apple TV with ease from your iOS device, or your Mac. You can also mirror the display of these devices as well, all wireless over your home network.

You can pick up the Apple TV for $99, or $94.95 on Amazon.

Honorable Mention: Roku 3 Streaming Player

Read More | Apple TV

Gallery: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Apple TV


Advertisement