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Get the new Mac Pro right now, without having to wait until March
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Hot Deals, PC / Laptop,
Apple's new, redesigned Mac Pro launched in late December, and has been in short supply ever since. In fact, a few days ago shipments were pushed back to March. In other words, if you order a new Mac Pro today from Apple, you'll be waiting at least five weeks before it will be shipped to you--if by March they mean "early March." I needed one of the new models, and didn't want to wait, so instead I checked one of my other favorite tech stores on the planet: B&H Photo. Sure enough, they had the Mac Pro in stock! The other benefit of B&H Photo is that the order would be tax-free, unlike Apple, saving me about $400. I used some of that savings towards overnight shipping, and was able to order a Mac Pro right away, pay about 10% less than I would have paid to Apple, and received it the following day rather than having to wait a couple of months for it.
If you want to get your hands on the new Mac Pro without waiting, be sure to check it out at B&H Photo!
Read More 
| B&H Photo
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The Problem with Facebook [Video]
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Revenue, Social Media, Social Networks,
The problem is the only way Facebook has found to make money is by treating all entities on the site as advertisers and charging them to share their content.
This business plan backfires because 1) not all entities ARE advertisers and 2) it was the content from these people, specifically friends, family, and creators that made the site worth visiting in the first place.
Now the incentives are misaligned:
- Individuals want to see great content, but they are now seeing more paid content and organically shared content which appeals to the lowest common denominator (babies, weddings, and banal memes)
- Creators want to reach fans but their posts are being throttled to force them to pay to be seen
- Brands and advertisers have to pay once to advertise their page on Facebook, and then pay again to reach the people who have already liked their page. Plus Facebook is not a place where people generally go to buy things.
Facebook stands in contrast to other social media like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram where all content is shared with all followers.
Apple now repairing iPhone 5c displays in-store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,
If you happen to drop your iPhone 5c and break the display, it'll cost a lot less to get a replacement now that Apple is offering in-store repairs. Yesterday the company announced that it would fix iPhone 5c displays at Apple Stores for $149 a pop--sure, that's expensive, but before this is was $229, $80 more. Of course, if you're an AppleCare+ customer, this doesn't apply to you since you get the much cheaper $50 replacement option. We see way too many people out in the wild rocking smartphones with shattered displays, so hopefully moves like this where repairs get more affordable, can make it easier for consumers to get their colorful iPhones repaired.
You can pick up the iPhone 5c for $99 with tw-year contract.
Latest Gear Live Videos
Withings introduces Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS and Android
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, CES, CES 2014, Wearables, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
We were big fans of the original Withings Blood Pressure Monitor, but the new model introduced at CES 2014 is a vast improvement since it works wirelessly. No longer requiring to be tethered, the Withings Wireless Blood Pressure model works with the iPhone, as well as Android devices (the previous version only worked with older iOS device that used the 30-pin connector.) You launch the app after applying the cuff, and you get your blood pressure and heart rate, which can be archived so you can refer to the data later, and view trends. You'll be able to get it soon for $129.95.
Peep a video demo after the break.
Click to continue reading Withings introduces Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS and Android
Read More | Withings
We love this limited edition Titanfall controller for Xbox One
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Electronic Arts, Hardware, Special Editions, Xbox One,
Titanfall is one of the most anticipated games coming to the Xbox One this year, and developer Respawn Entertainment has teamed up with Microsoft on a special edition Titanfall Xbox One controller. As you can see in the image above, the Titanfall controller features custom artwork that pays homage to the game (although, to my eyes, it reminds me more of the Wipeout racing game series.)
"In a collaborative effort with the Xbox design team and the Respawn art department our goal was to create a controller that feels as if it is a piece of military spec hardware transported from the universe of Titanfall and into players hands," said Joel Emslie, lead artist at Respawn Entertainment.
To be clear, this is a standard Xbox One controller--it doesn't do anything extra that other controllers don't do--it just has the unique art styling and coloring. You can pre-order the Titanfall controller now, as well as the Titanfall game. Both will be available on March 11th.
For other special editions, check out the Xbox One I Made This edition console and controller.
Read More | Titanfall Xbox One Controller
The crazy curved LG G Flex comes to Sprint January 31 for $299
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,
Sprint is the first carrier to announce a date of availability for the LG G Flex smartphone, which features the curved, flexible OLED display. You'll be able to grab the G Flex on the Now Network on January 31st if ordering online, or if you'd rather see it up close and in person first, they'll be in Sprint stores on February 7th. The device will cost $299 with two-year contract, or if you use Sprint's Easy Pay program, it's $150 down, and $20 per month for 24 months. If you've already decided that you want one, you can pre-order one today. We're still waiting on details for the LG G Flex launch details for AT&T & T-Mobile.
Celebrating 25 years on the air, The Simpsons are now immortalized as Mr. Potato Head toys. First in the lineup, Homer Simpson, complete with delicious frosted pink donut. This should be the first in a series, so expect Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and maybe some other integral characters to make an appearance as well. You can get one of the official Homer Simpson Mr. Potato Head toys for $18 starting next month.
Him: A hilarious parody of Spike Jonze “Her” [Video]
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Videos,
Here's an amusing look at what the Spike Jonze movie Her might look like if the genders of the main characters were reversed. When a woman falls in love with her operating system, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But it turns out "Him' is no "Her."
“Her” is a touching love story that follows the budding romance between a high-waisted-jeans-loving hipster played by Joaquin Phoenix and a silky-voiced operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson (think Siri, except actually useful). “Him,” on the other hand, proves that you should never, ever trust a charming man with a British accent, because he will probably hurt you, but only after sleeping with you and telling you that you’re beautiful.
Video after the break.
Click to continue reading Him: A hilarious parody of Spike Jonze “Her” [Video]
How crazy is it that Pizza Hut sold over $1 million in pizza through the Xbox 360?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Software, Video Games,
Amazingly, Pizza Hut has announced that it's sold $1 million worth of pizzas through its Xbox 360 app in just the first four months of the app's availability. The app allows Xbox 360 users to place orders for some cheesy goodness right from their game consoles, ensuring that they wouldn't have to pick up the phone and talk to another human being to conduct the transaction.
"It's been a source of unbelievable growth for us," Pizza Hut PR head Doug Terfehr told Polygon. "Just the explosion of people who wanted to download it, experiment with it, play with it with Kinect. As soon as we did one, everyone was contacting us to do the next [one]."
Earlier this month, Pizza hut celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first online pizza order, which took place in 1994 on Pizza Hut PizzaNet. Believe it or not, the large pepperoni, muchroom, extra-cheese pizza was the first item ever ordered online--not just for pizza, but anything. Pretty crazy.
Helmet Dawg HD100 motorocycle helmet gives you the Batman look
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Wearables, Transportation,
Look, we realize that some people prefer not to wear motorcycle helmets because they'd rather not look like a doofus (although, that has the opposite effect!), but now you can cruise in style with the Dark Motorcycle Helmet from Helmet Dawg. I mean, look at it. You basically look like Batman, riding through your city in style as children stare in awe at the sight of The Dark Knight passing them by. Comfort features are built in, what with removable liners, multiple adjustable vents, and interchangeable clear and tinted visors. If that's not cool enough, the two points are even flexible as well, so you can manage just how menacing you want to look to the evil-doers around you. You can pick up the Helmet Dawg HD100 helmet now for $325. Having a woman in a cat suit riding with you is completely optional.
Read More | Helmet Dawg HD100BLK
