Latest Gear Live Videos
How Cortana made the leap from Halo to Windows Phone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Microsoft,
Curious about how Cortana made her way from assisting Master Chief in Halo over to helping you out on Windows Phone? During a sit-down with Microsoft's Marcus Ash, he spoke to us about what it took to get Cortana just right on Windows Phone and to be seen as a legitimate competitor to Apple's Siri.
First, the Cortana logo was the first thing Microsoft has to get right. Originally, they didn't want a physical representation. The thought was that people could think it was creepy if it is "too human." They also didn't want it to be like Clippy, the infamous character from Microsoft Office that was hated by many. It was also decided that Cortana couldn't be just a voice, since it wouldn't feel the same.
Initially, Microsoft tried to use the Xbox Live avatar idea, but that was odd due to everyone having the female Cortana voice. Then they started playing around with the circle. A circle can stretch, bounce, and transform. They also tried triangles, diamonds, hearts, and the ability of letter the user choose any of these. At the end of the day, the circle next to Metro on the start screen looked good, so that was what Microsoft decided on. The next issue was that a simple circle isn't iconic, and is hard to brand. That's when the Windows Phone team met with the Halo team at 343 Industries.
Click to continue reading How Cortana made the leap from Halo to Windows Phone
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10 upcoming games I can’t wait to play
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Action, Adventure, Bungie, E3, Editorial, Features, First Person Shooters, Microsoft, Nintendo, Platformers, PlayStation 4, Survival Horror, Wii U, Xbox One,
This year, E3 had one of those showing that only happens once every 8-10 years. E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the biggest video game conference in the world, and it's where game publishers show off what they're working on. E3 2014 was unique because it was the first one after the release of two major consoles--the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Developers got to show for the first time full portfolios dedicated to the new hardware, and it was glorious. There was a lot to see during both the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation media briefings, and Nintendo surprised many with game announcements of its own. I figured I'd whittle things down and share the ten games I was most excited about, in no particular order.
Click to continue reading 10 upcoming games I can’t wait to play
Bleeding Edge TV 516: Super-sized iPhone 6 5.5-inch preview!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Podcasts, Videocasts, Videos,
Recently, we gave you a look at the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, and today we have the 5.5-inch design for you! Apple will announce the iPhone 6 next month, and word on the street is that for the first time, it will announce two new sizes for its flagship smartphone, the 4.7-inch and the 5.5-inch. What do you think of this one? For me, I think it's a little too big, but we know that there are a lot of people out there who love the large phablet form factor. Are you gonna pick up the iPhone 6? If so, which size are you gonna go with? Let us know in the comments, because we're curious!
Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel--also, we are giving away awesome perks for our Patreon backers - thanks for your support!
Click to continue reading Bleeding Edge TV 516: Super-sized iPhone 6 5.5-inch preview!
Apple releases iOS 8 beta 5 build 12A4345d to developers, here’s what’s new!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Apple has just released iOS 8 beta 5, which can be found in the Developer Portal right now. iOS 8 beta 4 build 12A4345d works with supported iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, and is available as an over-the-air update to users already running a previous iOS 8 beta on their devices. If you're already running iOS 8, you can update over-the-air by going into Settings > General > Software Update. Or you can go and grab the necessary download at http://developer.apple.com. The update for the iPhone 5s comes in at 272MB in size. Apple originally showed off iOS 8, and released its first beta, at WWDC 2014. The full release will come in the fall. Apple also released OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 5 today as well.
Bleeding Edge TV 515: iPhone 6 4.7-inch preview!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Podcasts, Videocasts, Videos,
The iPhone 6 is right around the corner, and we are giving you an advance look! Apple should be announcing its next flagship smartphone in September, but thanks to a bunch of leaked images, schematics, and dummy units used by accessory makers, we have a pretty good idea of what it's gonna look like. In fact, we have an iPhone 6 dummy unit here in house, and we show it to you in this episode! We also give our thoughts on the new form factor of the device, and what we like and don't like about it, along with things we hope change in the actual, final shipping version of the iPhone 6.
Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel--also, we are giving away awesome perks for our Patreon backers - thanks for your support!
Click to continue reading Bleeding Edge TV 515: iPhone 6 4.7-inch preview!
Giveaway: Jawbone mini Jambox, UP24, Bodyguardz!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Wearables, Features, Music, Videos,
It's summertime, and we've got a few items we're giving away to bring the fun to a whole new level. Courtesy of AT&T here in Seattle, we've got a Jawbone mini Jambox, Jawbone UP24, and a Bodyguardz tempered glass protective cover for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. Here's a little more on each item and why we think they're perfect for this Summer Bundle Giveaway:
- Jawbone mini Jambox: Okay, for real, who doesn't wanna have music with them when by the pool or at the beach? A lot of us have a seemingly unlimited amount of music accessible by our smartphones and tablets, and the mini Jambox allows you to stream it over Bluetooth. At the next family BBQ, you'll be the star of the show.
- Jawbone UP24: Fitness wearables are all the rage these days, and if you like tracking your stats or are looking for a motivational tool, then it's easy to see why. With the UP24, you can monitor your fitness throughout the day, and even track your calories and water intake. At night, it'll even keep track of how well you are sleeping, which is probably not well if you're out camping in a tent. The device connects to your smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth LE, so the battery lasts a full week, and there's no plugging anything in to sync.
- Bodyguardz Screenguardz Pure: I always thought it was kind of silly for people to protect their smartphone screens with a thin plastic film. The Screenguardz Pure is a super-thin piece of tempered glass that can actually take a real beating, and exceeds the hardness of steel. That's protection.
So, are you ready to enter to win some of that goodness? Simply use the widget below to keep track of your entries! Remember, 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:
Click to continue reading Giveaway: Jawbone mini Jambox, UP24, Bodyguardz!
Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Bryan Singer Dropped
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Legal Issues, Rumors,
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A sexual abuse lawsuit against Bryan Singer has been dropped.
The X-Men: Days of Future Past director was accused by an anonymous British actor - identified only as John Doe No. 117 - of abusing him as a teenager but while Gary Goddard, a Broadway producer, remains a defendant, Bryan is no longer involved.
According to the New York Daily News, a voluntary dismissal was filed on Friday in Los Angeles. Singer's lawyer Marty Singer previously insisted there is no legal basis for the lawsuit and said it was filed improperly. The filmmaker was also seeking $300,000 from the plaintiff to cover the costs of his legal fees, which are said to be "exorbitant."
The unidentified British actor's lawyer Jeffrey Herman filed a lawsuit in May against both Singer, 48, and entertainment industry executive Gary, who filed a similar motion to dismiss in June.
Click to continue reading Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Bryan Singer Dropped
Kendra Wilkinson “Done with Marriage”
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Television, Divorce, Rumors,
Kendra Wilkinson is "done" with her marriage.
The 29-year-old reality TV star was left devastated after claims her husband Hank Baskett cheated on her with a transgender model while she was pregnant with their second child and friends close to her say she has no interest in reconciliation.
"Hank and Kendra are on speaking terms, but she's still so mortified by the situation. [The cheating] happened before, but she's done [with the marriage]. It's more about the kids and the finances now. She's an optimistic person and wants people to know she's doing better," a source said.
Although the fallout from the affair claims is set to air on her reality TV show Kendra On Top, Kendra is said to be unhappy about it. "They're contractually obligated and are in the middle of filming. But she doesn't want people talking about it for the rest of her life. She just wants to move forward," the insider added.
5 kitchen gadgets to up your cooking game
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Design, Features, Smart Home,
When most people think about gadgets in the home, they focus on the living room. The thing is, while that 4K UHD TV may look great, there is a lot of fun you can have in the kitchen with the right high-tech tools. I wanted to bring you a look at a few kitchen gadgets that I'm a fan of that will add a flair of fashionable tech to this often-neglected room. Be forewarned--just like other gadgets, kitchen appliances can have a hefty price tag!
Click to continue reading 5 kitchen gadgets to up your cooking game
“Crazy In Love” Was the “Perfect Fit” for ‘50 Shades’ Trailer
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: FOCUS, Adaptation, Drama, Romance, Trailers, Upcoming Releases, Videos,
Boots says Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" was the perfect fit for the 50 Shades Of Grey trailer.
The producer - who created the trailer's soundtrack (seen after the jump) - chose to rework the singer's hi-tempo anthem into a slower, more sultry tune and says it was the best choice for the S&M movie.
"It just fits. I like to think of myself as more than just a producer. I look at what we did for the trailer and this version of the song is, very much in my opinion, a score. It was something that I consciously scored. Whenever it comes to the stuff that Bey and I do, I'll never speak for her, but I think that she killed it. She just absolutely killed it. The acapellas that she did gives me chills, so it's really dope," he said.
Boots also believes Beyonce's song is the perfect accompaniment to the raunchy movie which tells the story of how virginal Anastasia Steele falls for bondage-loving billionaire Christian Grey: "I think falling in love can make you do crazy s**t. That was the spirit of the original song in the first place, we flipped it and it kind of became a whole thing. This is the first time I've ever worked on a trailer."
Click to continue reading “Crazy In Love” Was the “Perfect Fit” for ‘50 Shades’ Trailer
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