On Gear Live: iPhone 16e Review: Apple Just Killed the Budget iPhone

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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!

iTunes gift card sale

Head up, iTunes and App Store addicts! eBay is selling $100 iTunes gift cards for just $75 today, while supplies last. That's basically like getting $25 in free iTunes credit, which you can use towards buying music, movies, TV shows, iOS apps, Mac apps, and books. Hurry if you want to get in on the action, and know that there's a limit of two per customer.

Read More | eBay

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Squa(red) Reader

Square is joining in the fight against AIDS with a new, red version of the Square Reader. You can pick up the new device, affectionately referred to as Squa(red), right now for $10. 97.25% of the purchase price will go to the Red charity, and is enough to cover "more than 24 days of life-saving medicine for someone living with HIV." Even more interesting, when a card is swiped through the Squa(red) device, buyers will get a link on their email receipts that allows them to donate directly to the Red charity and the global fund to fight AIDS.

Read More | SQAU(RED) Reader

Loot Crate console wars giveaway

If you love tech and geeky goodness and haven't heard of Loot Crate, where have you been?! We are big fans of the subscription box, which delivers a bunch of cool, geeky gear and nerdy swag that happens to fit our lifestyle perfectly. Each box contains 6-8 new items, all within a common theme, kept secret until they're delivered. The theme we are giving away this time is CONSOLE WARS. What's in the box? Take a look:

  • Console Wars II - Shirt Woot
  • Grip-It Control Protectors - Grip-It
  • Tintastic Creative Activity Set - Funko
  • Energems - NRG Innovations
  • Bravest Wars Sticker - Mike Vasquez
  • Split Personality Wristband - Loot Crate Labs
  • Legends Never Die Magnet - Loot Crate Labs
  • Shirt Woot coupon
  • Energems coupon
  • A candy cane

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

Oh, and if you wanna get in on all this awesomeness, use this link to get $3 off a Loot Crate subscription!

Click to continue reading Giveaway: Loot Crate Console Wars box!


Latest Gear Live Videos

iPhone 5s Touch ID

We're back for another installment of Ask Andru, where I take your burning tech questions and give you practical answers! This time, we have a two-parter as it pertains to securing your iPhone 5s (see our iPhone 5s review) and iPad, as well as making Touch ID work as well as expected. Here we go, these questions were sent in by Mike:

I have two questions,

  1. I have a two part question, what is the best security app for the iPad mini with Retina display & the iPhone 5s?

  2. Since I picked up my new iPhone 5s from the AT&T Store-Lynwood this past October and two exchanges for two new replacement phones from the Apple Store @ Alderwood Mall, the Touch ID still has not worked for me. Have other users had problems with the Touch ID? In regards to exchanging my 5s for a 5c or a Droid phone, I have been informed that it is past their respective fourteen day warranty period to facilitate an exchange because their operating systems will not allow this transaction to take place. So thus, AT&T and Apple have left me with a defective product.

Regards,
Mike

Let's start with that first one. When most people talk about security apps, I think they're asking about something that will protect them from viruses and malware getting installed on their mobile devices. For Android, for example, you might want to have something installed due to the rampant malware that can be found in the Google Play store. However, Apple sandboxes each app, and as such, none get full access to take over your device, no matter how hard they try. Apple also has a vetting process for each app as well, so there are no antivirus or anti-malware apps that you'll need. Yet, one app that I do love for security and protection is called 1Password. Let me explain.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: How to improve Touch ID and secure your iPhone


Yes - we're giving away a Jawbone Mini Jambox, Otterbox Defender for iPhone 5 and 5s, and a Sonix Heart to Heart Inlay for iPhone 5c for Valentine's Day! Seriously, February is the month of red, and we've got the perfect smartphone accessories for you to match, thanks to our friends at AT&T.

So, how do you enter to win the Mini Jambox giveaway package? Simply use the widget below to keep track of your entries! We've got a lot of ways for you to enter, but don't check off any that you don't actually perform. If you do, you'll be eliminated:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, if you wanna pick up any of these items on your own, you can find them all at AT&T:


iPhone 6 leak front

Is this the iPhone 6? It's February, and that means that like clockwork, it's time for the next iPhone leaks to start dropping. The only thing we know is that Apple is working on its next flagship device, and that the iPhone 6 should launch this fall. We've ben hearing reports that Apple will release two larger-sized variants this time around: a 4.7-inch model, alongside a 5.5-inch version.

As you can see in the pictures (which, to be clear, have not been verified to be real), the displays here are larger than those found on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, and also takes on the design language of the iPad Air and iPad mini. Neither are too far-fetched, and for our tastes, we think it looks great. Also, check out that bezel-less display, another rumored feature of the iPhone 6. Of course, even if these are real, Apple tests multiple designs, and this could be one of a few different ideas that the company is playing with.

We've got two more pictures of the device after the jump. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

EDIT: Forum posters at MacRumors have taken a closer look at the images and have determined that they're rendered fakes. Reasons include textures that repeat and the usage of an out-of-date font.

Click to continue reading Is this our first look at the iPhone 6?


We open up the new Sonos Play:1 in this episode, the entry-level wireless speaker from Sonos that costs $199. You're now able to get into the Sonos ecosystem at a lower cost, streaming your music from iTunes, Rdio, Spotify, Pandora, radio, and more! Check out the new hotness in this episode of Unboxing Live.

You can pick up the Sonos Play:1 now from Amazon.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel!

 
Here's how to get the show:
[Download] - iPod-formatted H.264
[Download] - 720p HD
[Download] - 1080p MP4

Click to continue reading Unboxing Live 132: Sonos Play:1


Titanfall Beta

If you can't wait to get in on the Titanfall action, you might wanna rush over and apply for the Titanfall beta. Available on both Xbox One and PC, the beta will allow you to play near-final code prior to the launch of the game next month. If you are selected, you'll receive an email from RA with instructions on how to access the game by noon on February 17th. Good luck!

You can pre-order Titanfall now.

Read More | Titanfall Beta Application

Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter

The delay of the first major Xbox One dashboard update isn't the only big news out of Microsoft today. The company has also announced a couple of new accessories: the Xbox One Stereo Headset, and the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter.

First, let's talk about the Xbox One Stereo Headset. As any Xbox One owner knows, the console does include a pretty flimsy mono headset in the package. Now the company is prepping to launch a full-on over-ear stereo headset that features premium, full-range sound with a unidirectional microphone. The headset includes the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter, which allows you to balance game audio and chat audio volumes, master volume, and mute your microphone. No batteries are required here, as the headset pulls power direct from the Xbox One controller that it's plugged into. These will sell for $79.99.

The aforementioned Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter will also be made available for purchase on its own, allowing you to use whatever pair of compatible headphones you'd like with your Xbox One. The Adapter itself will cost $24.99.

Both products will go on sale in early March.


Mac Pro delay

If you're looking to order the new Mac Pro, you should be aware that shipping estimates from Apple have just slipped to April worldwide. This comes approximately three weeks after shipping estimates slipped from February to March. While this doesn't necessarily mean that supply is getting worse, it does seem to show that Apple is having a hard time catching up with the demand on the most powerful Mac it has ever made.

Of course, as we mentioned recently, you can order the Mac Pro from B&H Photo and get it shipped much, much sooner (and tax free as well in most areas!) Go to the Mac Pro page and choose to be notified when they are in stock - B&H seems to get models in a couple times per week.

If you're wondering if the cost is worth it, be sure to check out our full Mac Pro review.

Read More | Mac Pro at B&H

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