Alex | The Gadget Gurus

UP, UP, and Away

12 December, 2011 by Alex Editorial No comments

I wore my Jawbone UP for about two weeks before I took it off and forgot all about it. It’s $100 price tag had landed me a pedometer I wore on my wrist, a vibrating alarm clock with no snooze, and an app that allowed me to take photos of my meals. While there are those who enjoyed the UP’s lackluster features and bad UI, these weren’t the only things plaguing the device’s success. According to a letter from Jawbone’s CEO, Hosain Rahman, they have identified several issues relating to the band’s ability to sync and hold a charge. The letter reassures everyone that there are no safety risks related to the glitches, but what about the safety of our wallets?!

Am I supposed to just eat the $100 I threw down on this ‘movement reminder’ that may or may not work? In answer to these foreseen questions, Mr. Rahman’s letter introduced, “The UP No Questions Asked Guarantee.” Basically, Jawbone is going to send a $109.43 check (or $150 Jawbone.com credit) to anyone who purchased an UP. Users have until December 31st to sign-up for the refund at http://jawbone.com/uprefund. Rahman sweetens the deal by adding, “This is true even if you decide to keep your UP band.” At this point, Jawbone intends to continue to support and improve the app and re-release the UP band once the bugs are worked out. Though I think the UP was a dauntless blunder, Jawbone is making things right. This is why they are still a company I can trust for quality products. So I think I’ll keep my UP and put that $150 towards a Jambox.

The Gaming Gurus Ep 10 – Desensitizing the Naughty Children

9 November, 2011 by Alex Gaming, Podcasts, The Gaming Gurus 1 comment

Willie, Alex, & Ryan express their dislike for Naughty Dog’s support of an online pass, discuss the significance of a young generation of gamers, and consider the consequences of desensitization.

Direct download | iTunes (Please Rate) | RSS feed

Hunted: A Cheap Fun Thrill

8 November, 2011 by Alex Game Reviews, Gaming, Guru Inspections, Reviews No comments

Before joining the Gadget Gurus, I had reviewed Hunted: The Demon’s Forge. Though this game was simple and unpolished, its classic gameplay had Willie and I hooked from the start. Now that Hunted is under $20, it’s a “Guru Gotta Have It” for any gamer on a budget. Check out my old review to see why this could be a great addition to your gaming library.

BlueAnt Embrace Stereo Headphones Review

7 November, 2011 by Alex Accessories, Guru Inspections, Reviews No comments

BlueAnt is no stranger to high quality portable audio, though they usually deliver it via Bluetooth. This time BlueAnt has taken on the wired world with their Embrace stereo headphones. They retail for $200, and we were able to get our hands on a pair. Here are the details of the review.

Win a Copy of Spider-Man: Edge of Time!

4 November, 2011 by Alex Gaming, Giveaways 1 comment

The Gaming Gurus have some extra copies of Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Check out their latest podcast episode and leave a comment about the show to be entered in a drawing to win one!

UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners: Courtney S and Patrick V!

UP, UP, and Away

The Gaming Gurus Ep 10 – Desensitizing the Naughty Children

Hunted: A Cheap Fun Thrill

BlueAnt Embrace Stereo Headphones Review

Win a Copy of Spider-Man: Edge of Time!

The Gadget Gurus Podcast Ep 206 – Glass In The Locker Room

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Xbox Music’s DRM leading to serious issues for Windows Phone 8 users

[Updated] Outlook.com failing users with “Too Many Devices” sync error

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