Latest Gear Live Videos
Is Verizon encouraging AT&T users to partake in Operation Chokehold?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
My pal Matt Hickey from over at Crave has seemingly connected a few dots as it pertains to the battle between AT&T and Verizon, and this whole Fake Steve Jobs “Operation Chokehold” stunt aimed at taking down the AT&T Wireless data network this Friday afternoon. In case you are unfamiliar, Fake Steve proposed that AT&T customers load up bandwidth-intensive apps on Friday at noon, all at the same time, to saturate the AT&T network to a point of failure as a way of expressing they they are fed up with the horrible performance of the network. Thing is, one of my other pals, John Czwartacki, who just happens to be a contributor to the Verizon Policy Blog and a prolific Verizon personality on Twitter, linked to the movement via a tweet. Some are seeing this as a Verizon official condoning, or possibly even encouraging, the whole “Operation Chokehold” act.
Personally? We think that this is more of a finger pointing statement. It’s John saying “Haha - look at AT&T - their users are so fed up that they want to crush the service that they pay for! Tee hee! Verizon customers wouldn’t do that to us!” What do you think? Was John, and thusly Verizon, out of line here? Either way, we can stomach the rivalry that is happening in the television commercials…but let’s keep the battle outside of our Twitter streams, okay guys?
Edit: John Czwartacki just hit me with an email, pointing out that he certainly doesn’t condone this behavior at all, and even said as much in a few tweets that followed. He was simply linking to industry news, as he normally does. He thinks that if customers are fed up with AT&T, they should vote with their wallets. We agree.
Read More 
| Crave
Advertisement
IDW Releases Paranormal Activity Comic on iPhone
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: IDW Publishing,
For movie-goers who were still intrigued at the end of Paranormal Activity, IDW has offered up a comic book intended to provide some answers as to what happened after the film.
Titled Paranormal Activity: The Search For Katie, A Case Study by Dr. Johann Averys DMN, you won’t be able to get this comic at your local shop—IDW released the story exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This marks the first comic that IDW has published exclusively via digital means.
(Spoilers after the jump)
Click to continue reading IDW Releases Paranormal Activity Comic on iPhone
Monoprice iPhone backup battery pack triples your power for $15
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Handhelds,
Okay guys, as much as we like our Mophie Juice Packs for keeping the iPhone juiced on the go, it’d be downright irresponsible of us not to bring this fantastic iPhone backup batery from Monoprice to your attention. The same company that brings you stupid-cheap HDMI cables is now selling a 2200mAh iPhone and iPod battery that’ll recharge your iPhone almost twice from near death, and the cost is only $15.23 - and it’s even less if you buy more than one. Sure, it’s fugly and nowhere near as sleek as a Mophie Juice Pack or Juice Pack Air, but it’s cheap! Sometimes that’s all that matters.
Read More | Monoprice
SquareUp iPhone payment service launched by Twitter co-founder
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Handhelds, Software,
New iPhone credit card payment service SquareUp has finally been unveiled, and we’ve gotta say, it’s got our attention. The brainchild of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, SquareUp aims to be a simple, sleek, inexpensive, and charitable credit card payment processing service. It works on the iPhone and iPod touch, in conjunction with a credit card reader that plugs in to the audio jack. You get payer verification, receipts that can be sent via email or text message, and receipt signing using your finger. Even cooler, in our opinion, is that Square will donate one penny of every transaction to a charity of the seller’s choice.
If Square plays their cards right, they will be a force to reckon with in the small business arena. The service is in limited beta right now, but Square says it’ll be fully open in 2010. We’ll see if we can’t get a beta account to give you a better look at how it all works.
Read More | SquareUp
AT&T boosts Seattle-area 3G coverage with 850 MHz spectrum
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
This morning AT&T announced that they’ve done a “substantial upgrade” of its 3G coverage in the Seattle area, having deployed additional wireless spectrum using the 850 MHz band. According to AT&T, the upgrade should mean that customers in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Renton, Auburn, and King County should all have better 3G connectivity, performance, and the signal should be much stronger when indoors as well. The move should also increase overall network capacity, which AT&T is hoping will support subscriber growth.
Since Gear Live HQ is located smack-dab in the middle of the enhanced coverage area, we’ll be giving things a try, and we will let you know if the use of 850 MHz spectrum truly helps the dire situation that is AT&T coverage. Seattle iPhone 3GS and 3G users, give it your best!
Read More | AT&T News Room
The gloves are off: Verizon iPhone attack commercials go full swing
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Videos,
Oh man, you’ve got to love how Verizon Wireless has gotten so bold now that they’ve finally got a killer device in the Motorola DROID to brag about. You’ve also got to love how Apple is getting a taste of their own medicine, after running the “I’m a Mac” ads for years now. Verizon is aiming to highlight their phone offerings, as well as their huge 3G network, in their holiday commercials that dump on the iPhone and AT&T. There are three so far, and we must admit, they’re pretty clever. You can watch all three commercials, one of which sees the iPhone banished to the Land of Misfit Toys, after the break.
Click to continue reading The gloves are off: Verizon iPhone attack commercials go full swing
Sonos ZonePlayer S5 now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Smart Home, Music,
Just a heads up to any of you who want to add the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 to your current Sonos setup, or those of you who want to jump into Sonos for the first time for the lowest cost possible - the S5 is now shipping, and can be had for $399. We have one set to arrive later today, so we will hit you with a review after we play with it a bit.
Read More | Sonos ZonePlayer S5
Marvel Comics on Your iPhone
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Marvel Comics,
Those folks over at Apple don’t stop at catering to people’s needs. This time, they’re impressing comic book fans, as the iPhone now carries an array of Marvel comics you’ve probably been meaning to catch up on.
Marvel has now made both new and classic issues available via Comixology, iVerse, and Panelfly. Whether it’s the first 25 issues of Stan Lee’s Amazing Spider-Man, Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men, or Robert Kirkman‘s Marvel Zombies, finding something you’ll want to read is guaranteed. The best part of this whole deal is the fact that Panelfly, which has the most comics in its library (84), sells their comics for $0.99 (others generally charge $1.99).
Despite this more cost-effective comic book venture, nothing quite beats the sensation of walking into your local shop, digging through those boxes to find that treasured issue you so desperately want to get your fingers on. What’s a couple dollars or so when you’ve still got that?
Let’s hope the sacred Wednesday tradition of new issues stays intact as well, considering the iPhone doesn’t have that… yet.
Read More | MTV
Video: Google Maps Navigation feature walkthrough
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, GPS, Handhelds, Software,
One of the nicest features in Android 2.0 is Google Maps Navigation. In a nutshell, it’s Google Maps with turn-by-turn GPS navigation, and voice guidance. Google has put together a video that introduces Google Maps Navigation, which we’ve embedded above, but there are some of the features that stand out to us:
- Live traffic: Since Google Maps can show you traffic info, it’s obviously built-in to Google Maps Navigation, at no extra cost.
- Routes always current: When you search for directions, Google Maps Navigation searches the cloud, and gives you the best current route based on the most recent data
- Layers: You can overlay different types on data over your maps, like restaurants, gas stations, and more.
- Live street view: This is just awesome. You can use the Google Street View feature to get a fantastic visual of your surroundings while driving
- FREE!: Google Maps Navigation is free. That includes the GPS, the live traffic data, and the always updated maps. That is a big deal.
The first handset to ship with Android 2.0, and thusly Google Maps Navigation, will be the Motorola Droid.
Show us your Pwned Face and win a Limited Edition Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 console!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Smartphones, Video Games,
We love the holidays. Why? Because it puts us in a giving mood, and we know how much you guys like receiving from us. That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at shoot it! to bring you this awesome promotion. If you’re a gamer, you probably know that Microsoft is set to release a limited edition Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 console. It hits stores on November 10th, and we’ve pre-ordered one that we’re giving away to one of you. In case you’re unfamiliar with the console, here’s what’s in the box:
- Limited edition Xbox 360 Console with exclusive design
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Standard Edition.
- 250GB HD
- 2 black wireless controllers
- 1 black Xbox 360 wired headset
- 1 Ethernet cable
- 1 Standard Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable
Yeah, did you see that? A 250GB hard drive. That is more than twice the size of any other Xbox 360 hard drive that you’ll find. This is a serious piece of kit! So, how do you win? Simple. We want to see your “pwned face.” This is where shoot it! comes in. We want you to take a pictures of the face you make when you just pwned a n00b straight out of existence - but we also wanna see the sad pwned face you make when you get straight-up schooled by an 6-year old Halo prodigy. Entertain us, make us laugh, and strike fear into our hearts. We’ve got a few ways that you can enter the contest:
- If you don’t have the shoot it! app: You can register for the shoot it! app and they’ll email you a link to download the app for either your BlackBerry 8900, Bold, Tour, or iPhone. They’ll also add 3 FREE postcard credits to your account. All you need to do is snap your photos and send them off using shoot it! to the Gear Live mailing address listed below.
- If you already have the shoot it! app on your phone: Enter the promo code “gearlive” to receive the 3 FREE postcard credits. All you need to do is snap your photos and send them off using shoot it! to the Gear Live mailing address listed below.
- If you don’t have any of the shoot it! compatible phones: Take a photos of your pwned face, send them to the Gear Live mailing address listed below.
- On Twitter, send the following message:
“Hey @gearlive - I’m sending you my #pwnedface with @shootitmobile. That Xbox 360 is mine! http://bit.ly/pwnedface”
(Click here to tweet this now)
You should be following the Gear Live Twitter account. Be sure you put your email address and Twitter handle that you used to enter in the message area so that when we get your shoot it! postcard, we can contact you if you win! We will be picking a winner on Monday, November 30th. You can enter as many times as you like, so if you wanna send us fifty different shoot it! images, go for it. The more, the merrier. Here’s the address:
Gear Live
PMB 443
914 164th St SE Ste B12
Mill Creek, WA 98012
Of course, there are always rules to keep things legal. In this case, you’ve gotta be 16 years old or older as of November 1, 2009 to qualify, and you’ve gotta be a US resident. Good luck to all!
Read More | Gear Live shoot it! Xbox 360 giveaway
