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Tech spotlight on Nokia Health and the ThinkPad X1

On our Geared Up podcast, we cover all the breaking tech and gadget news of the week. But on this episode, we take a step back and put the spotlight on two technologies that Co-hosts Andru Edwards and Todd Bishop have been trying out in their day-to-day lives.

Andru has been using two devices from Nokia Health, the Nokia Steel HR smart watch and the Nokia Body smart scale. He says the devices themselves are just fine, but they show just how much an impact smart health devices can have on our behavior.

Todd has been spending a lot of time with his new Lenovo ThinkPad X1, which is his first Windows computer in a decade. He tells us how the device lured him back into the Microsoft world after a long stint as a dedicated MacBook Pro user.

Watch a video of the podcast above, listen to the full episode below or subscribe in your favorite podcast player to hear every episode of Geared Up.

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Editor's note:†Nokia's technology comes from its acquisition of Withings. After this episode was recorded, Nokia announced it is selling its health division back to Withings co-founder†…ric Carreel.


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Is Oculus Go the future of VR? Plus: T-Mobile, Sprint and Trump - Geared Up!

Oculus Go, a new VR headset from the Facebook-owned company, sprang onto shelves in a surprise launch Tuesday. It's lower-powered than existing headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but is portable and costs just $199. Is it the future of virtual reality? We debate on this episode of Geared Up.

Plus, T-Mobile and Sprint are finally tieing the knot with a huge merger. It will give the combined company (still called T-Mobile) a shot at competing with Verizon and AT&T as long as they can convince the Trump Administration to let the deal go through.

And in more huge news, Apple reported record-breaking iPhone sales in the first months of 2018, squashing rumors that the iPhone 10 has been struggling. Hear all that and more on this weekís episode of Geared Up, hosted by GeekWire Editor Todd Bishop and Gear Live's Andru Edwards. Watch the behind-the-scenes video above, listen in the player below, or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app.

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Samsung Onyx: A premium 4K HDR movie theater experience

Samsung Onyx Cinema Screen

Earlier this week, Samsung invited me to spend a day in Vegas to attend CinemaCon, where the company was announcing it’s line of Samsung Onyx 4K LED movie theater displays. CinemaCon is the largest gathering of movie theater owners in the world, where seemingly anyone who’s anyone in the movie industry can be found, making this the perfect place to show off trailers and extended previews of upcoming movies, as well as movie theater tech. This made CinemaCon the perfect place for Samsung to debut the Onyx.

Formerly known as Samsung LED Cinema Displays, the easiest way to describe the rebranded Samsung Onyx is to liken it to the high-end flagship 4K HDR displays that you can buy for your home, but on a much grander scale. What this means is you get a crisp 4K picture, you get the insane dynamic range from the HDR luminance, and you get the high contrast thanks to the True Black capabilities.

Click to continue reading Samsung Onyx: A premium 4K HDR movie theater experience


HomePod bust and how Xbox’s backward compatibility gamble is still paying off - Geared Up!

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Microsoft, Music, Video Games, Videos,

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker is struggling in the competitive smart home market, according to a new report. What led to its demise, and what can Apple do to get back into the smart speaker game?

Plus, Amazon reveals how it assigns the preferred “Amazon’s Choice” label to products; Apple is rumored to be creating a subscription version of Apple News after its acquisition of digital magazine company Texture; and we look at how Xbox’s backward compatibility has become the console’s saving grace.

Click to continue reading HomePod bust and how Xbox’s backward compatibility gamble is still paying off - Geared Up!


Tidal Force Wave 5 headphones review

Tidal Force has jumped into the headphone arena with a pair of planar magnetic headphones, aimed at providing better sound than typical driver-based models which follow the loudspeaker model of projecting sound.

If you’re unfamiliar, planar magnetic headphones use a very thin, light diaphragm in order to reproduce sound - this is instead of the traditional driver. The diaphragm is “driven” by a neodymium magnetic system consisting of a matrix double pole which ends up moving its surface evenly back and forth. The Tidal Force Wave 5 features a 56mm diaphragm, which in turn is able to produce notes between 16Hz and 50kHz. Are they worth your attention though? Let’s find out.

Click to continue reading Tidal Force Wave 5 headphones review


Shuffle readies PrivateLine app to aid in user privacy & battle robocalls

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News,

T-Mobile robocalls

A few weeks ago, I produced a video giving you a look at Shuffle and both its Shuffle app and upcoming Shuffle PrivateLine app (embedded below) while outlining the massive privacy implications of using various 2nd phone number apps, which feeds into the current robocall epidemic we’re experiencing here in the US. Now, Shuffle is back with the results of even more custom research on this topic, and it’s eye-opening. If you feel like you’ve been getting nonstop robocalls lately, you’re not alone.

In fact, there were over 30.5 billion robocalls placed in the United States in 2017, an increase over the 29.3 billion in 2016. This isn’t something that’s slowing down, either, as December 2017 saw a massive 2.8 billion unsolicited (at best) or illegal (at worst) calls - that’s an average of 89.6 million every day, or 8.6 calls for every person.

Click to continue reading Shuffle readies PrivateLine app to aid in user privacy & battle robocalls


Mega Smartphone Giveaway: Win an iPhone X, Pixel 2, or Galaxy Note 8!

The Mega Smartphone Giveaway!

Welcome to our MEGA Smartphone Giveaway! We are giving away three of the best smartphones of 2017 to celebrate the end of the year, and this is your opportunity to walk away with an iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and Google Pixel 2! Here is how it will work:

  • The first place winner gets to choose their pick from the 3 smartphones - iPhone X, Note 8, and Pixel 2
  • The second place winner gets to choose between the 2 that are left
  • The third place winner gets the remaining smartphone (The winner that chooses the iPhone may substitute an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus instead of the iPhone X if they prefer)

Big shout out to Erica Griffin and David Cogen (The Unlockr) for teaming up with me on this giveaway! Good luck to all! Which phone would you pick if you won? Do the Pixel 2 cameras call your name? Are you all about Face ID with the iPhone X? The stylus of the Galaxy Note 8? Let me know!


Technology Access Foundation Students Visit Capital One to Talk Tech Careers

Shortly after arriving at Capital One’s downtown Seattle offices, the TAF students were led on a workspace tour by local associates including Mike Bailey (foreground), Natalie Griffin (fourth from right), Perris Davis (third from right) and Alison Wyllie (second from right.)

As I waited in the lobby at Capital One in Seattle, a group of well-dressed, inquisitive 13-year-olds arrived - joking, laughing, all while keeping their voices down in order to mind their manners. I eavesdropped a bit to get a sense for what they were feeling, and it was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They were here at Capital One to learn about what it takes to succeed in a career in the fast-growing world of tech.

Click to continue reading Technology Access Foundation Students Visit Capital One to Talk Tech Careers


LG OLED TV C7 Review + Best TV Deals on OLED!

Here's the first piece of the new home theater setup video I am working on - the TV I am using is the LG OLED C7. Also, since a few people asked, here are the best Black Friday 2017 TV deals on LG OLEDs, separated by size - 55", 65", and 77":

55-INCHES
55" LG OLED TV B7A
55" LG OLED TV C7
55: LG OLED TV E7

65-INCHES
65" LG OLED TV B7A
65" LG OLED TV C7
65" LG OLED TV E7
65" LG OLED TV G7
65" LG OLED TV W7

77-INCHES
77" LG OLED TV G7
77" LG OLED TV W7: Out of Stock

I have videos on the receiver I am using, and the Dolby Atmos surround sound setup coming as well! Don't forget to sign up for Earny for automatic refunds on anything you buy if the price drops later!


ZTE Tempo X Smartphone Giveaway!

ZTE Tempo X Giveaway!

ZTE just launched the new Tempo X smartphone on Boost Mobile, and we've got one to give away to a lucky winner! If you're unaware, the ZTE Tempo X sports some great features without breaking the bank - in fact, it sells for just $59.99 currently! The Tempo X boasts a 1.1GHz quad-core processor alongside Android Nougat, a 5-inch FXVGA display, and even a microSD card slot that supports expansion up to 32GB. The phone will even work if you head to Mexico, with built-in roaming capabilities. You also get a 5 megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel front camera, and the Tempo X can even act as a mobile hotspot. Not bad at all for a budget device!

Use the widget above to enter the giveaway and manage your entries - good luck!


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