Introducing: PlayStation Vita no comments
For many years, Sony kept its nose out of the handheld gaming market, allowing it to be dominated by Nintendo. The Game Boy and its many follow ups of the early 90s were hugely successful, and it took years until Sony became ready and willing to compete, culminating finally in the launch of the PlayStation Portable (or PSP) in 2004. Yet Nintendo maintained the favour of the majority of handheld players, and the PSP, although garnering a niche fan base with hard-core tech gamers, failed to match up. Since then, dedicated gaming handhelds have been growing increasingly obsolete due to the rise in popularity of casual gaming and apps on formats such as the smartphone and tablet. The time has come, however, for Sony to attempt to turn the tables in its favour, with the console originally known only as the “Next Generation Portable”. This console is the PlayStation Vita, and it is due to be released in the UK on February 22nd, 2012.
Having already launched in Japan with a strong line-up of available titles, the PS Vita proves once and for all that Sony has not been sitting idly by whilst Nintendo built their handheld empire: instead Sony has been watching Nintendo closely, especially over the past few years, and learning from its mistakes. The latest Nintendo handheld offering is the 3DS, which not only performed relatively poorly on release causing its price to be dropped dramatically only four months down the line, but has also failed to deliver many of the key titles Nintendo promised when the console was initially revealed at E3. The Vita, on the other hand, launches with strong titles from established franchises, as well as new offerings from some of the world’s top developers. Unlike the 3DS, the PS Vita is region free and built as an online system, incorporating the latest and greatest in social networking including Facebook, Twitter, and Skype, as well PlayStation’s own new social platform, Live Area. GamesTM magazine called it “a high-tech Swiss Army knife of gameplay possibilities”, and they weren’t kidding.
The PS Vita’s OLED screen displays approximately 16 million colours.
Sony have always placed importance on getting the most out of its products technically: most of those who preferred the PSP over the DS and DS Lite claimed to do so simply because of the former’s superior graphics. Here the Vita continues what the PSP began with its larger OLED touch screen, bigger than the main 3DS screen and more than double its resolution. The capacitive display responds to electrical impulses in your fingers, allowing direct multi-touch input similar to the iPad, rather than the somewhat awkward single input of the DS which works best with a stylus. Powered by the quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, the same processor as the iPad 2, gameplay and graphics should be swift and smooth. The console also features the six-axis motion sensor as used in PS3 controllers, allowing for a fully kinetic gaming experience as the console responds to your every movement.
On a more innovative note, the PS Vita also utilises something never before seen in a handheld; a rear touch pad on the back of the console which can also be used in gameplay. Along with the two analogue sticks included on either side of the screen, this makes the PS Vita one of the most immersive handhelds every developed, allowing gamers to play with multiple controls at once. However, this does run the risk of Sony encouraging all developers to shoehorn the feature into every game, even when it would perhaps benefit from its exclusion. The other Vita controls are recognisable and standard, easy for any gamer to quickly adapt to. The Vita also incorporates a unique cross-play system with the PS3, allowing you to switch from one console to another mid-game.
The rear touch pad on the Vita is an entirely new handheld innovation.
What most people are interested in when it comes to the PS Vita, though, are the games. A console is nothing without a strong games catalogue, a lesson that the 3DS has been forced to learn the hard way. Whilst Nintendo are only just catching up with their initial promises, the Vita is already way ahead of the curve. It will be released with over 20 titles available for purchase, both in physical form and via download, including Uncharted and Little Big Planet. In this the Vita is also startlingly unique – every single game released physically will also have a digital equivalent. There are also plenty of additional games available online at the Vita store including PSP titles, PSOne classics, and the range of PlayStation “Minis”, small, cheap games available on various different Sony platforms. There are is also a selection of non-gaming content on offer at the store, such as videos and digital comic books.
Whether the Vita is enough for Sony to combat the encroaching world of apps and mobile gaming will have to be seen, but preliminary comparisons to the 3DS suggest the dominant opinion that the Vita could very well blow Nintendo out of the water in 2012. In its first week the console sold 325,000 units in Japan, a “solid if unspectacular” start according to The Guardian. More predictions will surely arise when Vita launches in the US and in Europe, but until then let’s end with a quick preview of one of Vita’s most exciting features, its cross-play with the PS3.
- Kat Humphries
Sources and further information:
Sony Playstation Vita review (Japanese edition) – engadget.com
Sony mystified by PS Vita glitch reports – guardian.co.uk
Top 3 Blackberry Phones and Spec no comments
Browsing though the range of phones on offer to us can be daunting. We see the selection and find it hard to pin down our exact needs. Some features may be completely superfluous, whereas others entirely practical. Each phone has its own set of defining attributes and none more so than the Blackberry.
In 2011 Blackberries constituted 3% of smart-phone sales worldwide.
Many buyers wouldn’t consider another type of phone due to the all round practicality of the Blackberry. It puts us in touch with our respective e-mail services as readily as texts and calls, making it a true all rounder for the kind of buyer that embraces the entire spectrum of communication. Messaging is the modern form of communication and Blackberries excel in this department. See the selection below for 3 of the best:
The Blackberry Curve 9360 is an entry level Blackberry for those who want to utilise the full functionality of a Blackberry but not pay the substantial prices. The phone is wafer thin and crammed with technology.
The RIM phone has a 5MegaPixel camera and a sharp 480×360 screen. The phone has the Blackberry instant messaging feature BBM, which makes continuous contact with friends and family far more efficient than texting. It’s equipped with an 800 MHz processor and is a good all round performer for a relatively low price. If we see the selection as a whole, this is pound for pound an excellent buy.
The Blackberry Torch 9860 is RIM’s first venture into the touch screen format. It has a 1.2 GHz processor and a big 480×800 resolution screen. It seems suited to the kind of user who enjoys media and may have possibly felt that the Blackberry wasn’t the best option. It will compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy as an all round media player and smart-phone, making the 9860 a messaging phone that performs well with multimedia.
The Blackberry Bold 9900 is one of Blackberry’s showpiece models. It has a sharp 640×480 screen and an ample 1.2 GHz processor. It combines touch screen with the QWERTY keyboard which means you can fully utilise the excellent Blackberry OS 7 interface. Blackberry has combined technologies like HD video and a 5mp camera, which means they can now challenge broader areas of the market rather than being just a functional messenger.
Round Two: 3DS Takes on 2012 no comments
2011 hasn’t been the best of starts for Nintendo’s latest handheld development, the “revolutionary” 3DS. As the first console to start utilising no-glasses 3D, hopes were high for this instalment of portable gaming, but initial sales figures were disappointing and it has taken the 3DS some time to start climbing back up to the top of the pile. Now Nintendo is not only faced with the task of competing with the smartphone and tablet gaming markets that have plagued the 3DS since its release, but must also present a viable challenge to Sony’s upcoming mean machine the PS Vita if the 3DS is to stay afloat as a respectable handheld.
The main task for Nintendo has been to learn from their initial mistakes when the console first arrived on the scene. The starting price was an issue – £269.99 was a lot to pay for a handheld console, 3D or no 3D, and that opinion was reflected in the improved sales figures the instant that Nintendo lowered the selling price to £159.99 just four months after launch. The initial run of games released was disappointing, lacking in any hard-hitting new franchises or familiar Nintendo classics – much was promised, but little delivered. Now, however, Nintendo is finally following through on these promises with the recent releases of Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario Land 3D. 3DS sales in the USA increased by a huge 325% in one week following the release of the latter, and there’s more to come with the likes of Fire Emblem, Luigi’s Mansion 2, Resident Evil Revelations and Monster Hunter hopefully on the horizon having been showcased at a press conference in September. Nintendo seem to be putting a lot of faith into a strong catalogue this year in order to bring them up to par with the Vita and their other competitors.
A hugely popular franchise in Japan, the release of Monster Hunter Tri G on the 3DS shows publisher Capcom’s continued loyalty to Nintendo.
However, focusing on the games alone won’t be enough for the 3DS to compete with the high functioning internet capabilities of smartphones and the gaming controls of the Vita. In an attempt to remain level, Nintendo’s system updates for the console have introduced the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Video, with an upcoming update set to include a 3D Video Recorder that might keep players interested, for a while at least. As for gaming capability, the “Slide Pad” accessory has already been released in Japan but to general player scorn. This plastic sheath slides onto the 3DS, adding a second analogue control stick on the right hand side to assist with certain upcoming titles such as Resident Evil. Unfortunately this accessory just looks way too much like an attempt to compete with the Vita, which already has two built in analogue sticks, one on either side of the console.
The Slide Pad has already received criticism for its tacky quality and need for an AAA battery.
The future of the 3DS still seems questionable at this point in spite of a surge in sales and an improved catalogue of upcoming titles. With the Vita already released in Japan and coming to the US and Europe in February, we’ll just have to wait and see if Nintendo’s handheld can continue to hold its own. It would be a terrible shame for Nintendo to fade from the handheld map, considering that for many years its Gameboy and subsequent follow ups dominated the entire market. For now, let’s just be glad that some truly classic Nintendo titles are finally available on the platform: take a look at the Super Mario 3D Land trailer below.
- Kat Humphries
Sources and further information:
Nintendo 3DS Slide Pad Official And Arriving In December – geeky-gadgets.com
Nintendo 3DS sales up 260 percent, future looking brighter – inquisitr.com
Nintendo conference points to a bright future for 3DS – officialnintendomagazine.co.uk
Zelda: Skyward Sword And Super Mario 3D Land Sales Soar in U.S. – siliconera.com
Nintendo 3DS: Monster Hunter Tri G To Be Released Fall 2012 In Europe – wiiordie.com
Epics of Cinema Come to Blu-ray no comments
Culminating in the recent release of the ultimate Harry Potter box set, almost all of the “must-see” series of films of the past few decades are now available in HD thanks to the proliferation of the Blu-ray format. Since Blu-ray first became available, many new releases and timeless classics have been released on home media with the highest possible quality of picture and sound. The Alien Anthology set the benchmark when it was released in 2010, paving the way for The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions (June 2011) and Star Wars: The Complete Saga (September 2011). Major series of films such as these have always lent themselves to being released in collective editions, often re-released over and over again as new formats and features become available. When the Harry Potter series was concluded earlier this year with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, a complete Harry Potter box set was finally made possible, and the 8-disc Blu-ray collection was released on November 11th.
When Blu-ray first came on the scene, consumers were sceptical about how much difference HD could possibly make to the viewing experience, especially when it came to older films. However, over time the sales of Blu-ray discs have increased. Whilst originally new releases were made available in separate DVD and Blu-ray formats, it is becoming increasingly common for a film to be released in one edition, often with a disc included for both the standard and enhanced versions. It is a possibility that just as films eventually stopped being released on VHS and only came out on DVD, in the near future DVD may fade into the background as well. Producers and distributors are likely to embrace this idea because of the many financial benefits that Blu-ray re-releases present; they can repeatedly add more and more high quality features in order to encourage consumers who may already own the films themselves to buy yet another enhanced edition. Star Wars is the best example of this phenomenon, with George Lucas under scrutiny for his constant “tinkering” with the original films. The Blu-ray box set of The Complete Saga is loaded with special features, including several never-before-seen deleted and alternative scenes and exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives.
Over 9 discs, the Complete Saga box set features all 6 films and over 30 hours of special features.
2011 has been a surprisingly good year for Blu-ray, despite a sluggish start early on when the future of the format was in question. Sales predictions from 2010 have been greatly surpassed, with global sales of Blu-ray discs increasing from 161 million units to 234 million. This may be due to consumers becoming more used to the idea of Blu-ray and therefore more likely to instinctively buy films in this format; whilst for some time DVD has remained the norm and Blu-ray has been a sort of “special” edition, the gap in price between the two has now decreased somewhat, meaning that people are more likely to pay a few extra pounds for what is generally considered a “superior” version of whatever they are purchasing. Some of this year’s most successful films are now high up on the list of best-selling Blu-ray discs, including titles such as Thor, Captain America, and Cars 2. Like the box sets and collections mentioned above, many classic films have also proved popular when re-released on Blu-ray: The Lion King, for example, is currently at number 5 in the official Blu-ray chart.
However, the constant re-release of many popular titles has strongly affected consumer inclination to keep on purchasing each new edition. Why bother buying a Blu-ray edition of a film, for example, if it is likely to be re-released in a few months’ time with added special features? Or even, possibly, in 3D? Many fans of popular films and film series have become increasingly frustrated with the constant re-releases of their favourite titles. Take the Alien franchise, for example – as the first film began to expand into a series, collections started to form. 1992 saw the first with the VHS Alien Triple Pack which contained the first two films and a preview of the theatrical release of Alien 3. A year later, after the third film had officially joined the series, the Alien Trilogy was released, also on VHS. Alien Legacy in 1999 was the first collection to be released on DVD as well as VHS, and featured all four films including Alien Resurrection. The Alien Quadrilogy was released in 2003 as one of the most exhaustive box sets of the era, with huge amounts of special features as well as all four films over nine separate discs. Finally, the Blu-ray Alien Anthology was released in 2010, although little was added in terms of special features and additional content. Some brand new film releases are already being launched in 3D, so it is only a matter of time before 3D collections start to appear, replacing those Blu-ray box sets that have only just been released.
How long before all films are being released in 3D?
The Blu-ray format has already won one battle in its time: it beat out its rival format, the HD DVD, when the two came into direct competition in the early 2000’s. Since then cinematic developments and innovations have meant that visual quality is increasingly important; films such as Avatar and Inception rely heavily on the quality of visual effects and therefore may be worth buying on Blu-ray rather than standard DVD in order to fully appreciate the superiority of their imagery. One of 2011’s major box office hits is coming out this week in glorious HD: Rise of the Planet of the Apes is out on DVD and Blu-ray December 13th and perfectly exemplifies the height of visual excellence in cinema today. Check out the trailer below!
- Kat Humphries
Sources and further information:
Blu-ray Disc Sales Increase 35% in 2011 – blu-ray.com
On Sale Now: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Extended Edition Blu-Ray Box Set – firstshowing.net
Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray – geekalerts.com
Harry Potter (film series) – harrypotter.wikia.com
Blu-ray Top 40 – theofficialcharts.com
‘Star Wars: The Complete Saga’ Blu-ray Release Date & Full Details – screenrant.com
Star Wars Blu-ray UK release date confirmed September 16 – t3.com
Best Selling iPhone Apps no comments
On January 22nd 2011, the 10 billionth app was downloaded from the apple app store and with the store containing a catalogue of more than 400,000 apps which increases daily, it can be difficult to sift the good from the bad. There are however clear favourites for apple users, and this is a list of the top 10 bestselling iPhone apps that if you haven’t already, you should probably download. Please note that this list is the top 10 paid for apps that are available for use on the iPhone.
10. Blobster: A platforming adventure game that sees you fling the blobby protagonist through levels.
9. Zombie Gunship. Taking control of an AC130 Gunship, you destroy any trace of zombies you can find, whilst protecting survivors, all from the safety of a heavily armed aircraft.
8. Angry Birds Rio. The 1st of 3 Angry birds titles in the top 10. Angry birds Rio is a simple expansion to the extremely popular title Angry Birds.
7. Angry Birds Seasons. Another Angry Birds title, again, same principle as the others.
6. Boob Job: As the title suggests, the main, and only use of this app is for the digital enhancement of certain aspects of a woman, or man’s, figure, with apparently “unbelievably realistic results”.
5. Tower Defence: Lost Earth: A popular Tower Defence game that has you place and upgrade towers to prevent waves of aliens from reaching your base.
4. Fruit Ninja: An intuitive use of the touch screen that has users use their fingers to slice open various fruits, whilst dodging unsavoury objects such as bombs.
3. Stickman BMX: The sequel to the popular ‘Stickman Skater’. You guide stickman on a BMX through various levels, culminating in cycling through ‘living hell’.
2. Free Music Download: The second most paid for app for the iPhone. It apparently offers you hundreds of thousands of songs for free, judging by the reviews, it might be lying.
1. Angry Birds: The most downloaded app for the iPhone of all time. Selling over 12 million copies and receiving universal praise. Necessary for any iPhone user looking to kill some time.
Top 3 HTC Smartphones no comments
Apple may seem to be at the top of the smartphone tree at the moment but according to a recent survey it is HTC that is actually monopolising the best selling smartphone rankings in the UK. According to uSwitch the top three HTC phones are the HTC desire, HTC Desire HD and Wildfire. So what is about these phones that makes them so popular?
HTC Desire
The HTC Desire is probably one of the most powerful Android’s ever. What you get with the desire is a huge screen and really speedy processor.
The phone comes with a 1GHz snapdragon processor as well as Android 2.1 so is really fast and up to date with the latest Android technology.
It also boasts a a 94mm (3.7-inch) screen with a 480×800-pixel resolution. And unlike the iPhone the Desire plays Flash in the wed browser. It also supports 3GP, 3G2, MP4 and WMV video files.
HTC Desire HD
The HTC Desire HD is the Desire’s big brother. The Desire HD is bigger than its predecessor – so much so it is even bordering on tablet territory when it comes to the size of the phone.
The screen has been increased to 4.3 inches but like the Desire still has 480×800-pixel resolution. However, the extra size doesn’t make the text look blurry at all.
If you can’t ever be without the internet then the Desire HD is a good option for you as it fast processor and huge screen make browsing the web a doddle.
It also comes with the latest version of Android (Android 2.2) and a super fast processor.
HTC Wildfire
The HTC Wildfire and later the Wildfire S are basically a cut down Desire but that isn’t a bad thing because where the Wildfire excels is the price. For a reasonable price for a smartphone you can get quite a lot of good features.
You don’t get the same size screen or resolution but you do get an Android processor. In fact it runs a lot of the same feaures as a Desire only at a cheaper price.
If you want the best HTC phone deals visit Dialaphone to find a good deal today.
Gold is the Language no comments
Let’s take a short break from checking out some of the latest gadget and so something else. In this article, I’m going to take you to see some of the world’s most expensive gold plated gadgets available for the super-riches and millionaires. Prepare to be blown away by some of the most luxurious gadgets available.
The first on our list this time is Frank Lampard’s Signature Gold iPod Touch, featuring all iPod Touch’s amenities with a gorgeous looking gold back plate. You can still listen to your favorite tunes, use iPod Touch compatible applications, and of course play iPod Touch games on it, but you will look a lot cooler using Frank Lampard’s version of Apple signature music player.
If a mobile phone is what you are looking for, then diamond version of Motorola Aura is the right gadget for you. With superb mixture of diamonds and 24-karat gold, the cell phone looks amazing. Prepare for some added attention when using this phone since everyone will be looking at you for sure. Surprisingly, this phone costs a ‘mere’ £3500, quite moderate for such a luxury gadget.
There is nothing better in life than being able to play games with luxury, and the ultimate way to do that is by getting Stuart Hughes’s golden Wii console. The gaming console features 2,500 grams of solid 22ct gold and 0.25 carat diamonds for its buttons. The cost of this gaming extraordinaire? No less than £300,000. Like I said in the title, gold is the language for the riches.
EnTourage EDGe Dualbook no comments
I have to say, the world of digital eBook readers are getting more and more exciting. After Amazon released their Kindle DX, along with Sony’s and Asus’s latest products, it gets more and more interesting to see what kind of advancements will be brought to this particular market segment. We all need to convert to digital books sooner or later for ecological purposes, and enTourage eDGe Dualbook might be interesting enough to make most avid readers convert.
EnTourage eDGe Dualbook introduces one of a kind — two of a kind to be exact — dual-screen concept to the world of eBook readers. It is definitely the first publicly sold eBook reader that uses two different screens. It features a 9.7-inch eInk Technology screen that makes reading books as comfortable as it can get. Spending hours reading your favorite novel or the latest newspaper will be more than just enjoyable since you can also add notes and scribbles directly to the digital book you are reading.
The second display you will find on enTourage eDGe Dualbook is a 10.1-inch touchscreen LCD display. This second display, along with enTourage eDGe Dualbook’s built-in CPU, can be used to browse the web via its Wi-Fi connection as well as to view media files, including the latest DivX videos and audio.
The enTourage eDGe is not just an eBook reader but also a notepad, net book and a media player. This gadget will be available later on in March, with sub-$500 retail price that makes this product looks even more appealing to wider users.
Apple Unveils the IPad: Is It That Good? no comments
Apple finally unveils their first tablet, only it is not exactly a full featured tablet at all. Meet iPad, Apple’s latest creation produced to fill the gap between iPhone and laptops. Can this particular gadget really meet all of fans’ expectations?
CEO Steve Jobs claims that iPad is “the most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device,” but a lot of critiques are showing disappointments. The device features superb 9.7-inch high-definition, LED-backlit capacity touchscreen display, far better than iPhone’s screen in terms of clarity and size. The user interface is unique, resembling iPhone’s GUI in several ways.
IPad also features a custom 1GHz Apple A4 chipset with low power consumption, allowing this gadget to withstand 10 hours of heavy operations without hassle. This is a feature I know anyone would enjoy, especially because iPad is indeed designed to be a portable device. Other than Apple’s signature music system, you can use iPad as eBook reader with popular books available through iTunes Store.
Now, let’s check out the cons. According to die-hard Apple fans, iPad is not the best eBook readers there is, with Kindle and Sony’s eBook reader being more comfortable to the eyes as well as have better battery performance — Kindle’s one week battery life time is spectacular indeed. BlueTooth, WiFi, and optional 3G, with no USB or HDMI port, may not impress anyone as well. The biggest turndown would be the lack of multitasking.
All in all, iPad is good enough for some basic users, but Apple would have to upgrade some of this gadget’s features — or at least add multitasking support — before die-hard fans will be satisfied.
Nokia X6 16GB Edition no comments
It is obvious that cell phone makers are working extra hard to produce the next best touchscreen based mobile phone. Nokia is no different, releasing their latest Nokia X6 16GB Edition model to fans and tech enthusiasts around the world. The original Nokia X6 used 32GB internal memory, causing the device to cost more. I guess Nokia X6 16GB Edition is Nokia’s attempt to make this particular gadget a lot more affordable to customers.
Other than the difference in internal storage space, Nokia X6 16GB Edition is no different than its 32GB counterpart. It features 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display with superb clarity and amazing user interface that will make accessing different menu and features a lot easier to do. You will also appreciate the clear and crisp display when you are using the gadget to view high quality video footages.
The Nokia X6 16GB Edition also features 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics plus additional dual LED flash. Expect amazing pictures with great clarity when you use this handset to take pictures in different situations, including when you are taking pictures under low light condition. I was literally blown away when I tested this device’s noise reduction capabilities; pictures taken at night with no additional light were more than just amazing.
The device also features Nokia’s signature OVI applications, including the latest version of OVI Maps. The only downside is the lack of proprietary music transfer software, so you would have to transfer and manage tunes manually from your computer with this device in memory card mode.