At CES 2012
show, the show was dominated by Windows 8 Ultrabooks, 3D OLED TVs,
Android tablets, 4G LTE and quad-core processors. A year on, things have
changed. Here's our pick of the best gadgets and tech of CES 2013.
1. Nvidia's Project Shield
Like a gamepad glued to a tablet, but in a good wayCES occasionally surprises you and Nvidia's planned entry into mobile gaming with Project Shield
has certainly raised a few (thousand) eyebrows. At first glance, it
looks suspiciously like a PC gamepad glued to a 5-inch smartphone. But
that's exactly what makes it so exciting.
This device runs the
Android OS and so it can access any game on the Google Play store.
Better still, it can stream games from any PC equipped with Nvidia's
GeForce GTX 650 or from a laptop packing a GTX 660M GPU. The multi-touch
display boasts an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, while inside
beats the 72-core heart of a new Tegra 4 SoC, which is six times
speedier than the excellent Tegra 3.
2. Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
Qualcomm's new processor has biteAnd
while we're talking mobile processors, Nvidia's Tegra 4 isn't the only
new chip on the block. Samsung pointed us at its forthcoming 8-core Exynos 5 Octa, featuring the ARM A-15; while Intel introduced Bay Trail, its next-generation, 22nm quad-core Atom tablet platform. Not to be outdone, Qualcomm unveiled its 4K-capable Snapdragon 800
chips, which feature a quartet of Krait 400 cores and an improved
Adreno 330 GPU. Thinking about buying a new phone or a tablet? We'd wait
a while if we were you.
3. Sony Xperia Z
With the Xperia Z, Sony have a serious smartphone challengerWhile
most mobile manufacturers save their big smartphone launches for Mobile
World Congress in February, Alcatel outed the 6.45mm-thick One Touch Idol Ultra, ZTE unveiled the Grand S and Huawei debuted its first Windows handset, the Ascend W1. All good phones. But not a patch on the waterproof Sony Xperia Z, which features a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 processor, a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel Reality Display and a 13MP camera.
4. Samsung Youm
It's your new flexible friend (credit: Engadget)When
Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, its icon-based OS and 3.5-inch
touchscreen revolutionised the smartphone. Five years on, we're still
waiting for the next big leap forward in mobile design. Perhaps the Samsung Youm
will enable the phones of 2014-2015 to make another leap. This OLED
display uses thin plastic instead of glass, making the screen pliable,
bendable and almost unbreakable.
5. Panasonic 56-inch 4K OLED TV
It's big and it's beautiful, a bit like whaleIf
last year's CES was all about 3D OLED, then CES 2013 is a showcase for a
new televisual fad - 4K, aka Ultra HD. Both Sony and Panasonic plugged
in beautiful 56-inch prototypes, each laying claim to the title of "world's largest 4K OLED TV".
If we had to choose a winner, we'd opt for Panasonic's stunning 3840 x
2160 pixel set. It's barely a half-inch thick, created with a special 3D
printing technology that might finally enable the mass production of
OLED TVs for sale, not just demo purposes.
6. Valve Steam Box
Steam box has the potential to upend console gamingJust
as Nvidia hopes to disrupt portable gaming with Project Shield, Valve
has ambitious plans to grab a fat slice of the console pie with a Steam
Box. The Piston
concept from Xi3 shows just what Valve has in mind - a small, quiet,
Linux-based system that plugs into your high-def telly and plays PC
titles via the Steam network. It's important to point out that this
dinky Piston box isn't Valve's official hardware. That's still in the
works.
7. FitBit Flex
The FitBit Flex will watch you even when you're asleepWearable
fitness technology isn't a new concept - you can already buy activity
trackers such as the Jawbone Up and the Nike FuelBand. The FitBit Flex
is the latest addition, a colourful wristband that monitors how many
steps you've taken, the distance you've travelled, calories burned and
your quality of sleep. Expect to see a surge in health and fitness gadgets this year, including smart watches and sensor/phone app systems.
8. Pebble Smartwatch
A kickstarter come goodVapourware? Far from it. Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky used CES to announce that the Pebble Smartwatch will be shipping to Kickstarter backers on January 23.
9. Oculus Rift
Bring the game right to your face...Remember virtual reality? Strap the chunky Oculus Rift
to your face and you can get up close and personal with two 640 x 800
LCDs, which combine into a high-def 1280 x 800 pixel display. It looks a
lot like Nintendo's ill-fated Virtual Boy and brings back hazy memories
of the 1990s, when VR gaming was an oddity, ultimately abandoned
because of poor graphics, expensive hardware and joy-destroying lag. The
Oculus Rift spearheads the rebirth of an old and enticing technology.
And it seems to work...
10. Panasonic 4K tablet
Not for the likes of us, but pretty as anythingBucking the trend for compact 7-inch tablets like the Nexus 7 and iPad mini, Panasonic's prototype Windows 8 tablet
boasts a 20-inch, 4K Ultra HD display with 10-point multi-touch. The
good news? Thanks to a specification that includes a 1.8GHz Intel i5
3427U vPro processor, 4GB of RAM and Nvidia GeForce graphics,
performance is zippier than many Windows tablets. The bad news? It
weighs 2.5Kg, has a two-hour battery life and probably won't be aimed at
consumers like us. Still, we can dream.
So what can we take away from this year's show?
4K is the new 3D
Better phones will be launched at Mobile World Congress
New mobile processors will lead to super-smartphones
You'll soon be wearing (or using) a digital health gadget
Virtual reality is back, baby
Portable gaming is poised for a revolution
Valve's Steam Box will challenge next-gen consoles
Steam's quest to take over your living room game experience is gaining momentum. After launching "Big Picture" mode last month to help games play better on a big screen, the company has its sights set on PCs specially designed for connecting to your television.
Talking to Kotaku at the VGA awards, Valve boss Gabe Newell claimed that he expects lots of companies to begin selling computer packages specifically designed for the living room from next year.
These PC packages will come with Steam ready to run, and take advantage of the Big Picture mode to allow for an immersive PC gaming experience in the lounge room.
Entering the hardware game
According to Newell, Valve will also sell its own hardware to connect Steam to your flat panel television.
The Valve hardware, however, will be a lot more locked down than a traditional PC.
Of course, PC gaming fans who want to tinker with the internal components will be catered for by third party manufacturers, according to Newell.
The launch of Steam PCs for the living room will put even more pressure on the next generation of gaming consoles, opening up the market in a big way.
ARCHOS has announced the price and release date of its new GamePad device that brings physical controls to Android gaming. That price is €149.99 (US$196) and that release date is now – provided you live in Europe. Mobile gamers in North America will need to wait until early 2013.
As revealed in August, theARCHOS GamePadboasts a 7-inch 1024 x 600 pixel display and is powered by a quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU paired with a 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU. There’s 8 GB of internal memory, with a microSD slot to provide up to 64 GB of additional space. The device runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
While the display is a five point capacitive touchscreen, the GamePad features dual analog thumb-sticks, two shoulder buttons and 12 facial buttons. The device comes loaded with control profiles for the most popular games, but any game’s virtual controls can be mapped to the physical buttons using the ARCHOS Game Mapping Tool.
Although the device is focused on games, it also functions as a tablet with the ability to process 1080p video and full access to Google Play.
The device itself is a svelte 10 mm thick and weighs 330 g (0.7 lb). It also sports front-facing stereo speakers and a mini-HDMI port for outputting video to a bigger display. A 3.5 mm audio jack, USB port and volume rocker sit alongside the mini-HDMI port on the top side of the device.
The ARCHOS GamePad is available now in Europe for €149.99 (US$196), with a North American release set for early in the first quarter of 2013.
Video of the ARCHOS Game Mapping Tool can be viewed below.
In the wake of last week’s launch of the Wii U, Nintendo has announced a redesigned version of its predecessor. After several rumors of a "Wii Mini" leaked online, the company has now confirmed that a more compact Wiiwill be launching this year. Set to hit store shelves in Canada in time for the holidays, the Wii Mini boasts a smaller size, lower price, and sturdier design, but also sees a couple of Wii features omitted.
Aside from the reduced size, the Wii Mini sports a matte black and red case and comes packaged with a matching red Wii MotionPlus controller and Nunchuk. The new system will also be compatible with any previous Wii accessories, like other Wii-motes, theWiiFit Balance Board, or the Classic Controller. The redesign features a manual top-loading disc tray, as opposed to the automatic disc slot on the original model, which means the console cannot be placed on its side.
Unfortunately, the more portable size also means a few features from the Wii will not be making their way to the Wii Mini. While Nintendo promises all 1,400+ titles for the Wii will be playable on the new system, the disc tray will no longer read Gamecube games and, more importantly, all internet connectivity has been removed. Without an online connection, users won't be able to play games online, download titles from the Wii Shop, or stream video through Netflix and Hulu, among many other functions.
To be fair, the Wii was never known for its online features and Gamecube titles are mostly confined to used game shops these days, but dropping these features still essentially reduces the smaller console to a bare bones Wii disc reader.
Nintendo is launching the Wii Mini exclusively in Canada on December 7 and has stated it has no information on if it will be released in other countries in the future. Some retailers, like Best Buy, are already taking pre-orders, with a price set at US$99.99.
The long-awaited Nintendo Wii U console is now on sale in the United States, following a midnight launch on Sunday.
Crowds of eager gamers descended upon on the Nintendo World store in New York City, where Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Amie excitedly counted down to the launch.
The midnight launch at some stores angered GameStop customers who'd pre-ordered the device, only to realise that the chain would not be opening stores early.
Tight supplies of the console are already leading to sold-out signs appearing across the U.S, echoing the demand for the original Wii console back in 2007.
eBay rush begins
Forbes is reporting that over 2,500 consoles have already appeared on eBay and are selling for $500, (UK£314, AUD$483), which is up to 66 per cent higher than the base price for the 8GB console.
Although gamers in the US can now gleefully enjoy their next generation console, gamers in the UK, Europe and Australia will have to wait until November 30 to get their hands on the device.
We're blasting through all the best Black Friday deals (GameStop:Wikimedia Commons)
No matter where you live, you are probably aware that the day after the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. is dubbed Black Friday. Prices are slashed, early alarms are set, and it's a full day of shopping insanity. What you may not know is that retailers spend the previous week "accidentally" leaking their deals. Let's take a look at some of the biggest and best Black Friday deals of 2012.
Halo 4at Walmart (Xbox 360 - $25)
Walmart lets you save US$35 on Halo 4. You'll need to start Black Friday early though: this sale begins at 8 pm on Thanksgiving evening.
iPad 4 w/$60 gift card at Target ($500)
If you snag the latest iPad at Target, they'll throw in a $60 gift card. You can use it to add a Smart Cover, an iTunes card, or anything else from Target.
This is also an early bird sale. It begins at 9 pm on Thanksgiving.
Batman: Arkham City GOTY Edition at GameStop (Xbox 360, PS3 - $20)
If you skipped 2011's Batman: Arkham City, you're in for a treat. GameStop lets you grab the excellent action game for your Xbox 360 or PS3 for a mere $20.
The Game of the Year edition includes all downloadable and bonus content, including Harley Quinn's Revenge.
13" MacBook Air at Best Buy ($1,025)
At Best Buy, you can save almost $200 on the latest MacBook Air.
Skyrim at Walmart (Xbox 360, PS3 - $10)
The iconic Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is only $10 at Walmart. The deal starts at 8 pm on Thanksgiving, so you can potentially avoid Friday's insanity.
Max Payne 3 at GameStop (Xbox 360, PS3 - $20)
GameStop is selling Max Payne 3 for a mere $20. If you passed on Rockstar's latest epic, this is a good time to pick up a copy.
Kindle Fire HD w/$30 gift card at Best Buy ($200)
If you pick up a Kindle Fire HD from Best Buy, they'll throw in a $30 in-store gift card. But there's one big caveat: ordering from Amazon will probably void sales tax, so it almost balances out.
Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle at Target ($200)
If you can live with a measly 4GB hard drive, you can pick up a new Xbox 360 with Kinect for $200. The bundle includes Kinect Adventures andKinect Disneyland Adventures.
Nook Simple Touch at Target ($49)
If you get to Target at 9PM on Thursday, you can pick up a Nook Simple Touch for a mere $49.
PS3 160GB Bundle at Walmart ($200)
Walmart will reportedly have the 160GB PS3 bundle for $200. It isn't yet clear which games this bundle includes, so keep your eyes open. The deal starts at 8PM on Thanksgiving.
Note that deals are based on leaks, and aren't guaranteed or endorsed by Gizmag.
The Wii U's bread and butter is its GamePad. Nintendo thrives on unique novelties, and the tablet-like controller fits the bill. One of its biggest perks is that it lets you play your games without a TV. If you were hoping to do that with your old Wii games, though, think again.
The Wii U is backwards compatible with the Wii, but those old games will be tied to your TV. "Wii Mode" will only work with the original system's controllers and accessories. So if you want to play Super Mario Galaxy, you'll need the classic WiiMote and Nunchuk.
Not worth the trouble
Until Nintendo releases a sequel for the Wii U, you won't see Mario Galaxyon the GamePad
This makes sense, even if it frustrates early adopters. Most Wii games used motion controls. Remapping those controls to the GamePad's accelerometer (its version of motion control) and touch screen would be a pain. In many cases, it wouldn't even make sense.
There could be some consolation. Nintendo says it will be releasing a Wii U Virtual Console, Nintendo's emulator for older games. There weren't any more details, though, so you won't likely see that at launch.
Does this sway your Wii U buying decision? Sound off in the comments.
When opening gifts, there's nothing quite like receiving a gaming
system. After peeling back the wrapping, visions of epic battles, bouncy
plumbers, and buzzer-beating shots dance through your head. If you want
to create that exhilaration this year, you have a couple of familiar
options, and several new ones. Let's take a look at the top game
consoles for the 2012 shopping season.
We included the obvious (both home and portable gaming systems) and one not-so-obvious choice:
Microsoft Xbox 360
Sony PlayStation 3 (SuperSlim)
Nintendo Wii U
Nintendo 3DS XL
Sony PlayStation Vita
Apple iPad mini
The iPad mini isn't a dedicated gaming system, but mobile devices are
invading their territory. We could have easily included the Nexus 7,
Kindle Fire HD, or iPod touch. But we chose the iPad mini because 1) it
will sell like crazy this holiday season, and 2) it offers the iPad's
terrific gaming library in a more affordable and portable package.
There are some omissions. The original Wii, 3DS, and PSP are all
still on sale. Since they're overshadowed by their successors, we left
them on the sidelines.
Ready for the 2012 Game Console showdown? Read on.
Dimensions
It's a bit silly to compare the physical dimensions of home and
portable consoles. A home console needs to fit comfortably under your
TV, while mobile devices need to fit comfortably in your hands. Perhaps
this section is best viewed as two separate sub-categories.
Sony shrunk down the PS3 with its latest iteration, and it's
considerably smaller than the Xbox 360. The new Wii U, however, is much
smaller than both older systems.
Among portable systems, the 3DS XL shuns its name with the smallest surface area. The iPad mini is easily the thinnest.
Weight
Weight isn't much of a concern for home consoles, but the Wii U takes
that prize. The Vita is the lightest of the mobile devices.
Display
This category only applies to portables, but we also included the Wii
U's GamePad controller. Its screen size falls in between the 5-inch
Vita and 3DS XL, and the larger iPad mini.
The Vita's display should provide the sharpest visuals, as it has the highest pixel density.
Processor
One of the reasons we lumped home and portable systems together is
because mobile devices' processing power is catching up. The
next-generation offerings from Sony and Microsoft will widen that gap
again, but since mobile devices are updated more frequently, they'll
stay hot on their heels.
Graphics
It isn't easy to compare GPUs in an easy-to-digest visual. In terms
of polygons per second, the Xbox 360 is still King (unless the
mysterious Wii U dethrones it).
The iPad mini outdoes the dedicated portables, but remember that this
metric is an imperfect and non-definitive measurement of graphical
performance.
RAM
These statistics can also be a bit misleading. The PS3 has separate
RAM for system and video, while the Xbox 360 combines them. And despite
the Wii U's 2 GB of RAM being split in two, with 1 GB for games and 1 GB
for system software, Nintendo's new console is an easy winner in this
category.
Storage
The Xbox 360 and PS3 handily win this round. Their hard drives allow
you to backup full games, and download new titles from Xbox Live and the
PlayStation Network.
Though Wii U and 3DS storage doesn't look good, it can be expanded
with SD cards. The Vita also requires external storage, but it's limited
to Sony's (expensive) Vita Memory Cards.
Controllers
The Xbox 360 and PS3 use classic gaming controllers, while the 3DS and Vita have similar controls built-in.
The Wii U's GamePad bridges the two worlds. It controls the Wii U
console, but also lets you stream Wii U games over your home network.
The GamePad also allows developers to use the screen for novel gameplay.
Think quick access to maps and inventory, and "asymmetrical gameplay,"
where one player sees something his friends don't.
The Wii U only ships with one GamePad, and other players will use a controller that's similar to the Xbox 360's.
All of the mobile systems – including the GamePad – feature touch
screens, but there's a gap in quality. The GamePad and 3DS XL sport
resistive screens, which have a cheaper "bendy" feel. They also only
support single-touch input. The Vita's and iPad mini's touch screens are
capacitive (think solid glass) and multitouch.
As the iPad mini is limited to touch controls, many customers will
rule it out. Touchscreen gaming has its drawbacks, but the mini's size,
weight, and design might make it better for gaming than any other
smartphone or tablet.
Motion control
The original Wii changed everything, as every system now offers some
kind of motion control. The big daddy is Microsoft's Kinect, which
offers hands-free control. Sony's PS Move is its answer to the classic
Wii controls, which still work with the Wii U.
The mobile devices all feature built-in accelerometers and
gyroscopes, so you can use tilt controls for racing (and other) games.
Wireless
Home consoles have no need for mobile data, so they're Wi-Fi only.
The 3DS XL, which could potentially use mobile data, has none.
Cameras
All of the portable devices – including the Wii U GamePad – have
front-facing cameras. The 3DS, Vita, and iPad mini all add rear cameras,
but only the iPad mini's will take quality shots.
Battery
These are manufacturer estimates, so take them with grains of salt.
Also note that the iPad mini's estimated 10 hours is for web browsing,
so intensive 3D gaming will likely drop it down closer to the others'
uptimes.
Backwards compatibility
If you're upgrading from an older system, it's nice if you can
continue playing your old games. Everything offers some form of
backwards compatibility. Recent PS3s don't offer PS2 compatibility, but
they still support the original PlayStation (Metal Gear Solid, anyone?).
It's worth noting, though, that systems only support select titles.
The Vita's PSP support is also limited to digital downloads
(re-purchases) of old games, as it doesn't support physical UMDs.
It's a stretch to say that iPhone games are "backwards compatible"
for the iPad, but it runs all of them nonetheless (albeit in ugly
upscaled fashion).
Exclusives
Hardware is fine and dandy, but you're buying these systems for the games. Which titles can only be bought on each console?
Xbox has several exclusive franchises (Fable and Gears of War), but the biggest is Halo. Microsoft is counting on extra sales this holiday season, with the release of must-buy Halo 4.
Sony may trail Microsoft in sales, but it has a slew of great exclusives. God of War and LittleBigPlanet are huge franchises, but we're highlighting Naughty Dog's Uncharted series. There are now three Nathan Drake adventures available for the PS3, and all are worth your time.
For any Nintendo console, this is a no-brainer. Despite the excellence of Zelda titles, it's all about Mario. The 3DS has two marquee Mario games, in Mario 3D Land and New Super Mario Bros. 2. The Wii U launches with New Super Mario Bros. U, and is compatible with the two phenomenal Mario Galaxy titles from the Wii.
The Vita also has an Uncharted game, but it also plays a great new version of LittleBigPlanet.
Media Molecule's franchise is the best thing to happen to 2D
platforming since Mario. Its "Play, Create, Share" approach lets you
create your own levels, and download a nearly endless supply of new
content from the community.
When you think of iPad gaming, you probably picture casual games like Angry Birds and Cut the Rope. But iOS has a hardcore gaming franchise of its own in Infinity Blade. Its gameplay leans heavily on the classic Punch-Out, but adds breathtaking visuals and a fantasy setting.
Summing up
There's still a big difference between home and mobile consoles, but
that's slowly changing. Mobile's rapid release cycles present a big
problem for the console makers. According to AnandTech,
the 4th-gen iPad has a GPU more powerful than the (less than a year
old) Vita. Sony was shooting for a 10-year life cycle for the Vita. If
that happens, it's in big trouble.
The Wii U is the first system that tries to blend the best of both
worlds. Will customers find Nintendo's case to be compelling, or will
they stick with their Galaxy S IIIs and iPads? The success of the Wii U
may say a lot about the future of the dedicated game system. Sony and
Microsoft will be watching closely.
