With the relaunch of BGR over a year ago, I decided to switch comments to a more robust platform that I thought would give us more than useful sign-in options like Facebook and Twitter, but also features to help moderate comments and better reduce noise. One request we receive regularly is to do a better job at moderating the comment section. While we can’t moderate every comment all the time, I believe that discussion on BGR is incredibly important. In the early days, I couldn’t find a better place to engage with passionate people about the topics we covered. Now, a very small group of people are ruining the discussion with personal attacks on other commenters, on us, and on each other.

We’re working on a much-improved solution for commenting on BGR. In the meantime, we’ve added a feature that allows readers to turn comments off at will, and by default keep comments off until they are re-enabled.

I’m disabling comments for a bit, though. I’m tired of reading nonsense and of interacting with people that solely troll this site just to get a rise out of other commenters and start a holy war in the comments section. I’m tired of having to delete crap and I’m tired of people complaining that a few thousand people ruin it for millions.

We’re back with a huge update to our popular BGR for iPhone app and this time, in addition to redoing the app from the ground up, we’ve created an iPad version as well. We have heard your feedback and we’ve worked tirelessly alongside developer partner Sean Kovacs to improve the experience. The new app lets you access articles in their full form, optimized for a mobile device, and it also provides an enhanced gallery page that fits the iOS UI perfectly. Other notable features include the ability to view only the specific news categories you care about, and the ability to send us news tips with image attachments. We have also finally added the ability to submit and read comments within the app, in addition to a slew of other changes. We still have plans to bring an Android app to market soon but in the meantime, we’re looking forward to your feedback on the new BGR app for the iPhone and iPad — we think you’re going to love it. The updated app is in the process of populating in the App Store so it should be available any minute now.

Special thanks to our launch partner Smartcar!

Read [iTunes link]

While I don’t have a story to tell about Steve Jobs and myself, I do have a personal story. Years ago, actually almost five years ago now, I posted that I had heard from a close source of mine that Apple was set to release an “all new” MacBook, and it was most likely the ultra-portable laptop that was rumored to be in the works. I got the information from someone close to me, and he got the information from someone with first-hand knowledge of the device. Basically, Apple had requested that a popular music group at the time play at its holiday party. The group wouldn’t be paid for its performance, but every member of the band would get one of Apple’s brand new laptops the company would be introducing at MacWorld. I also reported that the laptop would be available almost immediately after its unveiling. This came true, and that laptop ended up being the groundbreaking MacBook Air. A few days after publishing the scoop, I received a phone call from my source that it went something like this:

Him: Dude.

Me: What?

Him. Dude. I…

Me: What?

Him: That Apple post about the MacBook, Steve is pissed!

Me: Ugh.

Him: You don’t get it, he is so angry.

Me: How angry?

Him: He was on vacation, and as soon as he saw the story he called an emergency meeting at Apple to figure out how this happened.

Me: He came back from vacation over this post?

Him: He got on his private jet and flew back to Cupertino.

Me: Oh shit. Anything else?

Him: He called me a big-mouthed asshole.

I didn’t leak photos of this computer. I didn’t even leak details about it. I just wrote that it would be new, announced at MacWorld, and available weeks later. The information came from someone close to the holiday event, but that’s just how serious it seemed Steve took things, even things as small as this. It’s apparent to anyone who knew even the littlest thing about Steve Jobs that the small details were often the most important details. It was his desire for perfection, among other things, that enabled him to have such an impact on the world as we know it, and while this is just one tiny example, it’s one I won’t forget.

The recently-redone BGR for iPhone app has been incredibly popular with iOS users ever since we relaunched it, but there were a few things that could have been better. There’s a new version 2.1 update of the app live in the App Store, and we’ve listened to your feedback to make some great changes to the app. Grab the update, let us know how you’re liking it, and also tell us what you’d like to see in the next version, alright?

P.S. We’re working on BGR apps for all major mobile and tablet platforms, so if you’re not an iOS user, just sit tight — they are coming soon.

Read [iTunes]

We were one of the first publications with a dedicated iPhone app years back, but since then the app has become a little… stale. Well, we’re back with a brand new BGR app for the iPhone and it’s completely redone from the ground up. For starters, you’re able to view the most important stories right on the first tab, in addition to all recent articles as well. We have full gallery viewing built-in, along with the ability to just view your favorite category so you only see the news you want. There’s also support for sharing via Twitter, Facebook and email, and best of all — push notifications for breaking news alerts. We made the app in partnership with Sourcebits, one of our favorite mobile development companies. The app is live in the App Store now as a free update for iPhone and iPod touch devices, and we’re working on an iPad version in addition to an Android app. Hit us with feedback in the comments so you can help shape the next update of BGR for iPhone; we promise the next update won’t take so long.

Read [iTunes link]

There has been quite a bit of noise recently about a quarterly, morning meeting for Apple retail employees scheduled for this Sunday, February 27th. Apple retail staffers have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement — not a standard procedure for such meetings — sparking speculation about Macbook Pro, iPad, and other hardware-related unveilings. BGR has learned that the topic in question is a new, retail-based service being called Joint Venture. First rumored back in March of last year, Joint Venture is an extension of Apple’s current Genius Bar services aimed at small businesses and prosumers. Subscribers of the new service will be able to speak with a store-based Apple technician — lovingly referred to as Geniuses — over the phone for one-on-one consultation and troubleshooting, or they can request an on-site visit. Currently, Apple’s Geniuses are not allowed to provide support remotely via the phone or in-person outside of Apple’s retail locations. A source has confirmed that Apple will reveal these plans to retail employees this Sunday, explaining how to properly position, explain, and sell the new offering. Not quite as sexy as new hardware or software, but it’s something, right?

Our friends over at RadioShack sent us a quick note letting us know that they recently sold their one-millionth BlackBerry device. How should The Shack celebrate such a milestone, you ask? By giving away BlackBerry 1,000,001 to a BGR reader of course! Alright… maybe this isn’t BlackBerry one-million-and-one, but we’re pretty sure that doesn’t matter all that much.

As most of you know, the Torch is RIM’s first touchscreen BlackBerry to also have a full-QWERTY keyboard — not to mention the first handset to be officially blessed with BlackBerry 6. So, how do you win yourself this BlackBerry Torch? Simple:

• To enter, drop a comment below letting us know why you want need this device.
• The giveaway will run until November 18th at 11:59PM ET.
• You must be a U.S. resident and be 18 years of age or older.
• Please comment once and only once. Multiple comments will result in an instant disqualification.

Good luck! And thanks again to RadioShack!

UPDATE: Congrats to our winner M.P.A.!

It has been four years since the launch of Boy Genius Report and I can easily say that I have enjoyed every single day while working on growing, expanding, and continuing to break the biggest stories in the mobile category. Today, Boy Genius Report is growing up. We are finally switching over to the www.bgr.com domain (though www.bgr.com will still continue to work as a redirect) and the first phase of our expansion is underway. We have hired more full-time writers in the past 4 months than we have had in the past four years and we are definitely not stopping. Today, I’m super excited to introduce the new redesign for BGR that has been in the works for several months. It encompasses everything the brand is — authentic, cleanly designed, relatable, and of course, that indescribable edge that it won’t ever lose.

Every segment of the site has been redone and reworked. From our Featured Articles and Top Stories area at the top of the page which will enable us to feature a wide variety of content, a brand new gallery which enables our photos and albums to be consumed even faster, to a new commenting system (finally!) which will promote an even higher level of communication between our readers. It also includes informational resources like BGR Analysis, places to meet the editors of BGR and to check out our thoughts, predictions, commentaries, and much, much more. The new BGR is everything that I have envisioned it to be for a long time.

Thank you guys for making us the number 1 mobile site (and the number 4 tech site in the world, according to Technorati!). We are plugging away harder and harder every day to continue delivering the highest quality breaking news, original content, and of course, that original BGR voice that you love. There are many more exciting things in the works, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Of course, drop those comments in — we want to know what you think of the new design!

Hi there HTC Android fans, we have another present for you! We’ve just been sent in a handful of images of a new, unseen HTC handset that is destined for Verizon Wireless. This sleek, all-black, full-QWERTY Android 2.2 handset has all the makings of a flagship handset, including a 5 megapixel camera, micro-SD card slot, and SIM card for global roaming capabilities. The device has the model name ADR6325 and looks like it will be keeping the DROID 2 World Edition company in Verizon’s lineup. Kind of like we said back in August. What are you waiting for?! You know the other twelve images are beckoning you.

Click on over to our HTC ADR6325 Gallery!

Hot off the wire: MMC, the parent company of BGR has announced a strategic transaction with the United Internet Group — Europe’s largest Internet company. With a name like Mail.com and more than 14 million registered users, you can see why the Germans see tremendous potential to expand the offering internationally. As part of the transaction, MMC will transition the Mail.com email services over to United Internet AG while MMC will be the primary provider of original digital content to the Mail.com portal. Additionally, look for MMC to rebrand itself in the coming weeks. It’s really exciting news, especially for a site like BGR… you’ll just have to stay tuned. Hit the link below for the full press release!

MMC ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC TRANSACTION WITH EUROPE’S LARGEST INTERNET COMPANY

LOS ANGELES, CA. September 20th, 2010 – MMC, the leading publisher and digital media company that owns content properties such as OnCars.com, Deadline.com, HollywoodLife.com, Movieline.com, BGR.com, YHAwards.com, HollyBaby.com, Fan.com, India.com and others, today announced a strategic transaction related to its Mail.com asset with Europe’s largest Internet company, United Internet Group. The Germany based United Internet, a multi-billion dollar publicly listed communications leader, plans to leverage their pioneering e-mail subsidiary GMX to continue the success that Mail.com experienced under the MMC umbrella, while dramatically building the email service internationally.

Under the terms of the agreement, the United Internet Group has acquired the Mail.com e-mail business from MMC, but MMC will remain the primary global content provider for the Mail.com portal. MMC will also be partnering with United Internet to launch properties and distribute online content across various international markets, initially targeting Germany and India. Jay Penske, Founder and CEO of MMC remarked, “This extraordinary transaction further enhances MMC’s position as a global leader in publishing original digital content. Additionally, we are thrilled to embark on this partnership with United Internet and know that they will continue to expand the Mail.com brand internationally. We have tremendous respect for United Internet and the business they have built, and look forward to launching digital properties with them for years to come.”

Over the course of the transition, the current Mail.com e-mail service will be migrated, with every user receiving the award-winning e-mail platform and interface from United Internet’s primary e- mail brand, GMX. ―With Mail.com, we are looking forward to being able to combine the best international domain for e-mail with our globally successful e-mail product, says GMX General Manager Jan Oetjen. “The specific strength of Mail.com is its unique character: You can easily memorize the name @mail.com; it is attractive and, at the same time, a neutral alternative to provider- oriented address endings such as Hotmail, Yahoo or Google Mail globally. And furthermore Mail.com offers consumers a choice of over 300 additional e-mail addresses. On the highly competitive international e-mail market, we perceive Mail.com as a unique opportunity for differentiation which cannot be copied.”

In connection to the acquisition of Mail.com, United Internet and MMC have also agreed on strategic collaboration for MMC’s significant joint venture in the website India.com, which is also part of the MMC portfolio. This website will also take advantage of custom GMX-powered e-mail products. This strategic alliance also means a forthcoming rebrand for the holding company MMC. “In the coming weeks we look forward to sharing a new corporate identity which characterizes the strength and excellence of the collective brands in our portfolio and the content they create. Although the branding of MMC will be changing, all aspects of our corporate vision, strategy, business operations, events, and content properties remain unchanged—now with an even greater focus on expanding the portfolio of published content properties,” said Jay Penske.

Read

Saddleback Leather Co., a San Antonio based purveyor of leather products, has sent us a few items to give away to you, our beloved readers. The company sent us over a large gadget pouch (retail $55), which is designed to fit Apple’s iPad but will fit any gizmo of similar proportions, as well as a small gadget pouch (retail $31) that is perfect for the mobile device of your choosing. The raw-hide pouches are made of thick, high-quality leather, very unique, and come with the following warranty:

All of our products are fully warranted against all defects in materials and workmanship for 100 years. If you or one of your descendants should have a problem, send it back to me or one of my descendants and we’ll repair or replace it for free or we’ll give you a credit on the website (be sure to mention the warranty in your will).

To enter the giveaway:

• Drop a comment below and specify whether you are interested in the small pouch, large pouch, or if it doesn’t matter.
• Multiple entries will disqualify you and the devices are not included in the giveaway.
• The contest will run from now until Monday, September 13 at 11:59 PM ET.

Good luck.

Winners: Congratulations to our two winners: Jonny and Jarrod.

If you live and breathe gadgets and tech, and love writing about them, then we might have something for you. We’re currently expanding faster than ever and are looking for talented, dedicated, hardworking individuals to help grow BGR. Professional writing experience is not required, though it will most certainly help. Some of these are full time gigs — salary and benefits — and some are location-specific. Here are the positions we’re currently looking to fill:

• East Coast contributor (preferably NYC)
• West Coast contributor (preferably San Francisco or Seattle)
• Weekend contributor
• European Correspondent
• Business editor
• Gaming editor
• Mobile editor

Think you’ve got what it takes to rock out in a fast-paced constant cycle of tech news? Well, if you do, we’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to apply, please send an email to jobs at bgr dot com. Please include the following:

• Some information about yourself. Name, where you live, what you like to do, your passion for all things tech, etc.
• College and work-related background information
• Your top 4 favorite gadgets or pieces of tech of all time. Phones, TVs, gaming systems — whatever!
• What position you’d be most interested in, how much time you’d be able to contribute to the job, and how flexible you are with timing.
• Three sample posts written in the BGR flavor. Be comfortable with the writing, keep it professional, and write things you think would appear on the site, written by one of us.

Please include all of this information in the main body of the email, and put the position you’re most interested in the email subject. Please don’t send attachments, we won’t look at them. Unfortunately we won’t be able to respond to everyone, but you’ll hear from us if we’re interested!

Who thinks they can come up with the best captions for this photo we took of the Motorola DROID X announcement event? From left to right, Andy Rubin, VP of Engineering at Google, Sanjay Jha, CEO of Mobile Devices, Home Business at Motorola, and John Stratton, EVP and CMO of Verizon Wireless. So what do you win for having the best caption? We’ll send you some BGR swag. Plus you earn respect. Total respects. Ours is up above! Let’s hear ‘em, guys…

Yes, it’s that time… time to announce the winner of the Apple iPhone 4! We’ve finally picked who will receive the “magical” device, and it’s commenter Julian. Thanks so much to everyone that entered, and hey, there’s always next time, ok?

We’ve sort of done some light podcasting, a couple radio-themed segments, and all, but we’re interested to know if you want a weekly no bull news recap / opinion-influenced podcast with the BGR staff. If you do, we’ll do it. See how much power you have right there with that computer mouse?