Samsung Galaxy Alpha, Sony PlayStation TV, Alienware Alpha, Skully smart helmet

 

 

This week has seen some brilliantly cool gadgets, including the latest all-metal Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone. Throw in a couple of phablets, a smart motorcycle helmet and a Pi-powered camera, and there’s lots to catch up on. So read on for our weekly roundup, where we’re looking at the biggest and best stories of the week!

Super-smart Smartphones!

Samsung smartphones have always walked the walk when it comes to features, but they’ve generally lagged behind the very best when it comes to premium materials. Not so the Galaxy Alpha, which is the first Galaxy blower to feature a full metal jacket. It’s great to see a Samsung device finally take on the HTC One (M8) and Apple iPhone 5s in the style stakes!

We also spotted some incredibly cool ways to jazz up your Android smartphone this week, with the InkCase Plus promising to change the way you read notifications and e-books on the move forever. The compact case packs in an e-ink screen, letting you access a whole world of content without even having to unlock your phone!

If the Galaxy Alpha doesn’t do it for you, and you’re on a much more extreme budget, then Nokia may have the perfect handset for you. The new Nokia 130 crams video and music playback capabilities into a handset costing just £15 – could this be the ideal second phone for festivals or holidays?

High-end and low-end Phablets

In other Samsung news, the Galaxy Note 4 popped up on an Indonesian website this week, leaking out the specs we’ve been dying to know more about. How does a Quad HD screen and the latest Snapdragon processor grab you, for starters? It could turn Samsung into the king of phablets once again!

Games galore

With gadgets like the Nvidia Shield promising to stream games to the big screen from your PC, traditional consoles like the PlayStation 4 have a tough fight on their hands. Which is why Sony announced at Gamescom earlier this week that its own micro console – the PlayStation TV – will be on the way in November and packs in the ability to beam down games from PlayStation Now, along with streaming PS4 games via Remote Play – all for around £85. Not bad, eh?

That wasn’t the only gaming device to make an appearance this week though, with the Alienware Alpha also popping up. The Alpha was originally set to debut under Valve’s delayed Steam Machines initiative, but Alienware has decided to launch sooner, packing in some serious PC gaming punch into a tiny console, but you’ll be able to get your hands on one a lot sooner!

And in other news…

There have also been loads of fun gadgets popping up over the internet in the past few days, with the SnapPiCam a fantastic example. Wondering what to do with your Raspberry Pi? SnapPiCam helps you to turn it into a 5-megapixel camera! We were also particularly impressed with the Skully smart helmet, which crams in a heads-up display and rear-view camera to potentially save you from accidents. All the better for not needing its more protective qualities!

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Oculus Rift: Five reasons this VR headset will change gaming

 

Forget Google Glass, Oculus Rift is the only tech headwear gamers need to know about.

The Kickstarter sensation from start-up Oculus VR isn’t on sale yet, but it is in the hands – and on the faces – of intrepid developers already, who are hard at work wrangling its virtual reality potential to transport you to another world: here are five reasons it’s going to change gaming for good.

You can jump out of a plane. No, really.

Skydiving is an incredible thrill, but if you’re not one for heights, there’s an Oculus Rift game for you that will let you experience the adrenaline rush from the comfort of your own home. NDreams’ experimental demo called skyDIEving lets you jump out of a plane, splat against the ground and repeat it all over again – plus there’s multiplayer too. The demo is currently in its early stages of development, but it’s already shaping up to be something special.

Open world exploration takes on a new meaning

Imagine traversing the world of vast world of the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on foot, with your head panning the camera, watching dragons breath fire across the landscape. Imagine no more, as it’s now possible thanks to the combination of the Oculus Rift headset and the Omni treadmill that successfully hit its Kickstarter goal last month. The 360 degree treadmill lets you walk through Tamriel, and explore its dungeons on foot, and even break a sweat when fleeing from trolls. The Omni works with other games too, including Valve’s hilarious Team Fortress 2 multiplayer fragfest, letting you duck and dive out of the way of enemy fire.

John Carmack of id Software has joined Oculus VR

Legendary programmer John Carmack, the brains behind Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake fame is one of the most renowned names in the gaming industry, and he’s just joined Oculus as the new chief technology officer. Having one of the pioneers of 3D gaming onboard at the company that’s leading the charge for VR headwear can only mean good things: imagine first person Doom, with no TV or PC screen between you and the monsters. Scary stuff.

How about a sociable social network?

You could use the Oculus Rift for more than just gaming. Remember PlayStation Home, the wide open, massively multiplayer chat room that Sony developed for the PlayStation 3? Picture jumping into a similar virtual world with the Oculus Rift, and heading into a virtual cinema. You’ll be able to watch films in the cinema, interact with digital friends in the virtual area, and you might even be able to interact with the movies too – all without the annoying teenagers giggling away in the back seats. Who needs 3D glasses at the cinema, when you’ve got Oculus Rift?

Training for the real world 2.0

F1 drivers and airline pilots can practice their skills on simulators, but what if other professions could too? The sense of reality that the Oculus Rift provides could prove to be a boon for training people in some professions, as well as making it far cheaper to provide. The medical world could also see the Oculus Rift being used, as surgeons could potentially refine their skills on the virtual playing field, using their own heads to see what’s going in the operating theatre and on the table. And hey, if some of these simulators are fun for hobbyists to play too, even better. Train Driver for Oculus Rift, anyone?

Will you be joining the Oculus Rift revolution? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Play virtual reality Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift!

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The Android smartwatch, Xbox 720, DIY media streamers and more:

 

The week is almost over, but the tech news just keeps on coming. New phones, new TVs, even whole new categories of gadgets – and we wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t been able to keep up with it all. Read on for all the biggest headlines of the week in one place: it’s your Gadget Digest.

Tick tock: Android smartwatches are coming

It’s not just Apple that’s working on an iWatch. This week, two of the tech titans also revealed that they were working on smartwatches, which will pair with your smartphone and serve you up all your important notifications for you at a glance. Samsung’s mobile boss went on the record to confirm its plans, while a report from a source revealed Google’s own Android-powered timepiece intentions. Will anybody crack the Dick Tracy smartwatch?

Next-gen gaming tech

Good and bads news from the bleeding edge of gaming tech this week. On the one hand, it’s looking more and more likely that Microsoft’s next Xbox will not let you play used games. On the other, the incredible Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles are starting to get some real traction, with Valve throwing its weight behind it and adding support in Team Fortress 2 – check out our guide on the next-gen goggles to find out more.

Fitness bands cometh

It’s the new trend in gadgetry: wearable fitness tech. This week, Jawbone finally brought its Up wrist band to the UK, but it’s got a lot of competition. We took a look at all the smart, slick pedometer wrist straps on sale right now to find out which one is for you.

Something for the weekend…

Here’s a slightly different project for you to try this weekend: make your own super-cheap HD media streamer. With just a Raspberry Pi and a few pieces of free software, you can give your old TV brand new smart TV skills, streaming music and video from your computer to your living room, and even pulling down on-demand movies and TV from the web. Have a go, and let us know how you get on.

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The PlayStation 4 unleashed, HTC One arrives and more:

 

Weeks like this come along only a few times every generation – console generation, that is. Sony whipped the covers off the Sony PlayStation 4 at long last, but that wasn’t all that happened this week – and when it comes to gizmo news, February’s barely even started. Read on for everything you missed this week.

The Sony PlayStation 4 revealed – sort of

At long last, it arrived – sort of. Sony execs took the stage in New York to reveal the next-generation PS4’s incredible hardware under the bonnet – and we where there live. While the gaming giant was happy to show off lots of new gamers for the system – see them all here – it was less keen to reveal the design of the machine itself, choosing instead to focus on its impressive network skills and instant streaming abilities. Expect plenty more to come from the company in the next few months.

Is the HTC One the one?

Just a day before Sony’s big announcement, HTC had one of its own to share: its new flagship smartphone for 2013, the HTC One. It’s packing some impressive hardware, from a HD screen to a stunning new camera – even the ability to act as your TV remote. Has it got what it takes to compete with Samsung this year?

Google gets the style

Google’s not exactly known for design flair – more its engineering prowess. That looks to be changing this week. First, we got word that it’s teamed up with some seriously stylish sunglass designers to create a pair of Google Glass specs that you’ll actually want to be seen wearing. Then it followed up by unleashing the stunning Chromebook Pixel, a super-charged Chrome OS laptop that’s as beautiful as it is expensive. Is it too much for what’s essentially a web browser?

More on the way

Though we’ve seen two massive tech launches this week, February’s far from over. Next week, the giant smartphone expo Mobile World Congress returns to Barcelona. We’re expecting phones and tablets and more phones – Orange has jumped the gun and shown off its new 4G blower already – and Nokia’s press conference on Monday morning promises to be the highlight of the show, so tune in then for all the news.

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Sony PS4: The new PlayStation is coming this month!

 

Hold on to your DualShock controllers people: the Sony PS4 is coming this month. Sony’s teasing fans to come see the “future” at an event on 20 February, and one newspaper in the US has already confirm it’ll be the next PlayStation on show. Read on for a glimpse in the teaser video.

Sony itself hasn’t said much, but it’s published a teaser video (which you can see below): in between all the shapes and colours, there appears to be the outline of a console, and if we’re not mistaken, it’s got of a PS2 vibe about it.

The Wall Street Journal meanwhile has already confirmed with its sources that the Sony PS4 will be unveiled at the event, and better still, that it’ll go on sale this year. The PS4 will still use a disk drive, and will reportedly focus on “social gaming aspects”, suggesting you’ll be able to connect with friends better while you play.

Are you excited? We’ve gone over what we want from a PS3 successor before, so now it’s over to you. Are you eager to play the PlayStation 4? Hit the comments below and tell us

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Xbox 720: New name, turbo specs and a tablet revealed!

 

 

UPDATE: Sorry guys, it’s a hoax. Pocket-lint’s source was actually an anonymous tipster. That said, more reliable publications have confirmed from multiple sources that Microsoft is indeed working on an Xbox gaming tablet, so don’t get too down.

Forget Xbox 720: it looks like Microsoft is going back in time for the name of its next-gen console, simply dubbing it ‘Xbox’ according to a new report. And that’s not all: alongside the brand new games machine, Microsoft is prepping a brand new Xbox gaming tablet too! Read on to find out all about it.

Pocket-lint claims that Microsoft’s next console will serve as a central hub to a number of devices, one of which will be called X-Surface – a tablet we’ve previously heard rumours about. It won’t run Windows 8 or Windows RT, but instead, it will be a standalone portable gaming system that can access the games, music and video hubs of the new Xbox, but won’t have any apps of its own.

At the moment, the specs of the new X-Surface are currently unknown, but it’s reportedly been spotted running Unreal Engine 3 demos at a solid, high frame rate, meaning that it’s much more beefy than your standard run-of-the-mill tablet.

The new Xbox, meanwhile will pack some major processing power with an 8-core CPU from AMD that sounds like it can run everything thrown at it – including the visually stunning Watch Dogs demo from last year’s E3. The OS onboard will have a similar look to Windows 8, but it won’t be the same software.

There’s no news on a brand new gamepad just yet, but developers have been using a current generation Xbox controller, meaning the new one may well use the same, if not, a similar layout – unlike Sony, which is believed to be working on a new gamepad with a built-in touchscreen.

We still don’t know when Microsoft will launch brand new Xbox, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do. Are you looking forward to the next-generation of gaming? Let us know in the comments

2012: The 10 greatest games of the year

 

For gamers, 2012 has been a big’un. With the Wii U, it’s marked the start of a whole new generation of consoles, but it’s also seen a glut of A grade games hit stores, both physical and digital. Join us as we look back at the ten best games of last year. Are there any we’re missing?

Assassin’s Creed 3

Ubisoft’s stealth franchise jumps to early America – and doesn’t skip a beat despite the change of scenery. This gripping adventure ratchets up the action even higher: we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Dishonored

It’s always a gamble for a studio to spend millions on a new game in a new setting, but it paid off big time here: stealthy dystopian adventure game Dishonored was the surprise hit of the year.

New Super Mario Bros U

Unquestionably the Wii U’s finest launch game. It may not pack any surprises, but Nintendo knows can spot when something that isn’t broken doesn’t need tampering with.

Halo 4

The first big non-Bungie Halo 4 game shocked fans and critics alike with its moving story, gameplay that harks back to the original, and perfectly balanced, addictive multiplayer. This is how you do a sequel.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Yeah, yeah, Call of Duty is getting a bit same-ish these days. But this year’s story is superb, the multiplayer engaging, and with built in broadcasting tech so others can watch your kill streaks, it’s surprisingly innovative too.

Forza Horizon

It’s rare that a driving game really stands out: make-car-go-fast-press-button is a mechanic developers mastered years ago. But Horizon is worth your time because it takes things off the track: exploring the open world scenery on four wheels is fun like you’d never expect.

Max Payne 3

Max Payne’s been away for nearly a decade, but Rockstar put to rest any doubts that the series had gone stale in the meantime. This solid noire adventure is as gripping as it is brutally violent.

Mass Effect 3

We know, we know: lots of you didn’t like the ending to Mass Effect 3. But BioWare loves you guys so much, it changed it for you with some DLC. And there’s no faulting the gameplay, a superb mix of RPG and run-and-gun shooter.

Kid Icarus: Uprising

It may have been twenty years in the making, but the third Kid Icarus game more than made up for the wait with its flying combat, perfectly suited to the Nintendo 3DS’ control.

Far Cry 3

A latecomer, but the newly released Far Cry 3 deserves a spot on the list: the paradise island setting is lush – until the inhabitants try to kill you. After that, things simply don’t let up.

Have we missed any instant classics? Let us know what made your top 10 in the comments below!

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Nintendo Wii Mini fatal flaws: No internet, no UK release date

 

The surprise reveal of the Nintendo Wii Mini got us hot under the gadget collar yesterday, promising all the fun of Nintendo’s back catalogue with a handy Netflix and BBC iPlayer streamer for a rock bottom price. But Nintendo’s since made the little console official, and we’re afraid it’s got some fatal flaws…

The Nintendo Wii Mini, sporting a $99.99 (£62) price tag and new red hue, will play all the games the current Wii can muster – but right now, it’s only available in Canada. We asked a representative if it’ll be coming to our shores, simply to be told “No announcements have been made regarding other regions”.

Now, if you’re thinking “Why would Nintendo go to the trouble of shrinking down its console for just one country?”, you’re not alone. We’d be very surprised if the Japanese gaming giant doesn’t roll this out globally at some point, but even if it did, there’s another problem: there’s no internet.

That’s right: unlike both generations of the Nintendo Wii, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so you can’t play online, watch videos or download updates. And worst of all, it means no access to Nintendo’s Virtual Console store packed with so many amazing retro games.

Unless the Nintendo Wii Mini ships to the UK with a drastically reduced pricetag (New Wiis can be had for £90 with a game), this looks like one to avoid – we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, let us know in the comments: would you ever buy a console without internet access?

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Mobile payments to hit $1 trillion by 2017?

We are all use to playing games on our phone, angry birds itself is the biggest selling game for mobile devices, but over the past year we have seen an acceleration of what’s being dubbed m-commerce. M-commerce is when someone actually buys a product or services through a phone or tablet.
IDC Financial Insights has issued a new report on the future of mobile payments & the future is bright. According to the report Mobile Payment volume over mobile devices will exceed $1 trillion by the year 2017

But according to Aaron McPherson, practice director for Worldwide Payment Strategies at IDC, that's just a drop in the overall transaction bucket.

"Even at a trillion dollars that's a big sexy number in the grand scheme it's not that much," McPherson said in a call with Mobile Payments Today. "It's clear that (mobile payments has) a long ways to go," he said.

McPherson said the total mobile payments market will represent only a small fraction, just 2.5 percent, of the total transaction volume that mobile payments could, at least theoretically, address. He said that number, which includes cash, check, ACH and cards, is closer to $50 trillion.

Even with that caveat, however, McPherson said mobile payments growth will continue to accelerate.

McPherson also noted that a couple of results from his research surprised him a little. "One of the things that jumped out at me was just how big (m-commerce) is," he said. He explained that most of the money being attributed to "mobile payments" is actually money being spent through m-commerce, meaning consumers shopping from a mobile device instead of online or in a store. "It's a much higher percentage of the total than I was expecting," he said.


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Nintendo Wii U out December 21 claims Amazon Germany

 

Following an apparent pricing mix-up by Amazon UK, Nintendo’s Wii U console has been priced again. This time by Amazon Germany. The online store has listed the Wii U for €399, this time with a date of December 21. Is this the final date and price for Nintendo’s new console?


Just last week Amazon.co.uk listed the Wii U at £199. That is, despite Nintendo not officially confirming a price, or release date. Amazon UK swiftly removed the pricing from the store, cancelled orders, and apologised to its customers. From the looks of things, we may be set for a repeat. This time from Germany.

Amazon cancels Wii U £199 pre-orders

Only this time Amazon.de has taken things further by predicting a December 21 release date. Nintendo has already confirmed the Wii U will arrive in time for Christmas, but a 21 December release would leave little time to make the most of the annual Christmas rush. It’s unlikely Nintendo would release the console so close to Christmas Day.

And then there’s the price. Roughly converted, €399.99 translates to around £322 – significantly more than the £199 earlier predicted by Amazon UK. We would of course ask readers to take the listings with a pinch of salt.

It can’t be long before Nintendo officially confirms a price and release date, so we suggest holding on before putting any pre-order in. We’ll let you know as soon as Nintendo does just that.

Nintendo’s Wii U marks a changing shift in Nintendo’s strategy. Unlike its predecessor the Wii, Nintendo hopes the Wii U will cater to both those who’ve never played games and the ‘core’ gamers who’ve played all their life, with games such as Assassin’s Creed 3, Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 confirmed, or tipped for the console.

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“Xbox 720” documents reportedly reveal $299 price, new Kinect, specs and more

 

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A “leaked” document reportedly reveals Microsoft’s upcoming plans for the new Xbox console through to 2015, mentioning “Xbox 720” by name, listing a $299 price for the console, confirming Blu-ray playback, and referencing the Microsoft Glass augmented reality technology shown at this year’s E3. The documents have since been taken off the internet at the request of Microsoft’s lawyers, lending the leak more credibility. Is this the Xbox 720?



Microsoft has of course yet to publicly confirm or deny the leak, but asking for the documents to be taken off the web has got commentators believing the above details could be the real deal.

Xbox 720 rumoured for 2013 said to be six times more powerful

The 56-page document that first appeared on Scribd, made mention of an “Xbox 720” for a 2013 release, and says that the new console will be four times more powerful than the Xbox 360, and cost $299.

Blu-ray is also included, as is USB 3.0, HDMI and augmented reality gaming. There’s also a mention of the next generation of Microsoft Kinect, designed to work better in smaller spaces. Microsoft Kinect’s biggest problem is its inability to work accurately in tight areas. Microsoft Kinect 2 will seemingly solve this problem with better tracking.

Since the document’s details have yet to be confirmed, all of the above has to be taken with a pinch of salt, but nevertheless, the details remain intriguing, not least of all that $299 price tag, given that an existing Microsoft Kinect sensor costs around £99.00 with a game included.

Xbox 720 rumours are of course nothing new. The next generation of Xbox has previously been rumoured for a 2013 release, with Blu-ray playback on board. And this year’s E3 2012 saw Microsoft dedicate a lot of time to services, without showing as many new titles as expected.

Microsoft will also not be attending this year’s Gamescom show in Germany – an annual event for showcasing new games. It is thought that with little new software to show for the current Xbox, Microsoft is saving it for next year. Or in other words, for the Xbox 720.

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Amazon lists £199 Wii U, page vanishes as customers left in limbo

 

Nintendo may not have officially confirmed a price for the Nintendo Wii U but it appears online store Amazon did it for them, by listing the Nintendo Wii U up for pre-order for £199. This pre-order page has now been taken down, as Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton labels price talk as “speculation.”

Prior to the pre-order page being taken down, visitors were able to pre-order the Nintendo Wii U at £199. A default landing page now appears encouraging visitors to sign up to be notified the item becomes available.

Nintendo had yet to actually confirm a price, but that wouldn’t have stopped customers pre-ordering the console. It’s likely that many customers will have received pre-order confirmation emails, and may be left disappointed when, or if Amazon fails to honour those orders.

That is, should the price be incorrect. Nintendo’s UK boss David Yarnton confirmed to VideoGamer that Nintendo has yet to discuss pricing with retail, and that current price talk is nothing but guesswork.

“People can only speculate. We haven’t discussed pricing with retail either so whatever they do is off their own back. It’s only speculation.”

It appears that Nintendo cannot yet confirm a Wi U price, although according to Yarnton, current guesstimates have been wide off the mark. On current price listings he commented: “I’ve seen some prices in the past that have been so astronomically out of the ball park that they just put it there and sort it out later.”

The message is clear: don’t believe a price until it has been officially confirmed. A release date for Wii U has also yet to be announced, although we already know it will be arriving some time before Christmas

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Diablo III the fastest selling PC game of all time, despite 'Error 37'

 

PC game Diablo III has set a new all-time record for the fastest-selling PC game ever, with over 3.5 million copies registered within 24 hours of going on sale last week, going on to reach top 6.3 million at present. Such was its demand, that thousands of gamers were unable to play the game due to the infamously embarrassing ‘Error 37’ issue that has plagued the game.

Not that Diablo III’s success will come as too much of a surprise for gaming fans, and PC gaming fans in particular.

Diablo 3 has been one of the most eagerly-awaited games of recent times, even eclipsing the excitement of recent Star Wars online game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which itself suffered from overloaded servers, and queues of players trying to register.

“We’re definitely thrilled that so many people around the world were excited to pick up their copy of Diablo III and jump in the moment it went live,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, admitting “regret” that “preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so”.

Thankfully efforts are being made to ensure a better Diablo 3 experience. If you’re one of the many players to experience the infamous ‘Error 37’ upon attempting to sign up and own an Android smartphone, download the Diablo 3 Server Checker app from Google Play.

The app was made available this week, and is free to download. It provides real-time server status updates to let fans know when server conditions are at their optimum to help plan your playing time. Despite Diablo 3’s success, Max Payne 3 for Xbox 360 and PS3 still topped the UK top ten gaming charts. Diablo 3 came in second place, with just 8,000 copies between the two. 



Goodbye ‘Error 37’ courtesy of free Android app

But don’t let the above put you off Diablo 3. We’ve reviewed the game for ourselves, and loved it. Click on the link below for the full lowdown. Hint: we thoroughly recommend it.

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Max Payne 3 takes gaming top spot from Diablo 3

 

Max Payne 3 from Rockstar Games has shot to the top of the UK charts in its first week on sale, beating fellow new release Diablo 3, and pushing last week’s number one Sniper Elite V2 down the charts. Read on to check out the most popular games in the UK this past week. 


Max Payne 3 beat Diablo 3 to the top by just 8,000 copies. The second-placed Diablo 3 became the 12th fastest-selling PC game in the UK ever, outselling the previous two Football Manager games. The majority of Max Payne 3 sales went to Xbox 360 (58 per cent compared to 42 per cent for PS3).

Former number one FIFA Street finds itself at four, followed by Prototype 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at position seven. Modern Warfare 3 enjoyed a 21 per cent increase in sales on last week, possibly due to the after effect of the recently unveiled Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 trailer. It appears gamers are getting excited about Call of Duty all over again. 
 


The rest of the top ten has a familiar look to it, with Battlefield 3, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Mario & Sonic London 2012 Olympic Games propping up the chart. 



Next week’s top ten is likely to see a few changes, with Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma, Codemaster’s DiRT Showdown and THQ’s WWE ’12 Wrestlemania Edition all out in stores this Friday.

The current UK top ten game are as follows:

1. Max Payne 3

2. Diablo 3

3. FIFA Street

4. Sniper Elite V2

5. FIFA 12

6. Prototype 2

7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

8. Battlefield 3

9. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

10. Mario & Sonic London 2012 Olympic Games

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Skype for PS Vita brings in-game video calls!

 

Following its arrival on the Windows Phone Marketplace, Skype has now landed on the PS Vita as a free app letting owners make and receive video and voice calls over 3G and Wi-Fi connections even during gameplay. 


Skype for PS Vita works using the PS Vita’s on-board microphone and cameras to make video calls possible. The feature owners can most look forward to is the exciting and very useful new ‘background’ mode.

During gameplay the mode lets you take Skype calls even during gameplay by pressing the PS button on the console. A pop-up notification alerts gamers when a call is coming in so that you won’t miss a call, and can easily chat about the games you’re playing with fellow PS Vita-owning Skype buddies.

Skype promises to it will continue updating and upgrading the app after its arrival, to deliver forth new features in future. 


“A lot of account functionality is not yet enabled,” Manrique Brenes, senior director, consumer electronics group at Skype told games site Polygon. “We will continue to enable features,” Brenes says, adding that Skype plans to introduce the service to as many platforms as possible.

“With the launch of Skype for PS Vita, we are taking another step towards our ultimate goal of making Skype video calling available on every platform, all over the world, and meeting the demands of existing PlayStation users to offer video on a gaming console.”

Skype for PS Vita is available for free right now. Simply head to the playStation Store to download the app that pretty much turns the PS Vita into the closest thing to a new PlayStation Phone. Have you tried it yet? Let us know what you think so far.

Valve working on “wearable computing” for gamers

 

Following Google’s Project Glass, video game developer Valve has revealed that it too is working on technology that we can wear. Speaking of “wearable computing” Michael Abrash of Valve spoke of technology where “both computer-generated graphics and the real world are seamlessly overlaid in your view.” Think “Terminator vision” vision, says Valve. More exciting glimpses into the future this way. 


Michael Abrash, a video game developer at Valve has written a blog post in which he reveals that “wearable computing” could be a viable future concept. It is just one of the things he and his studio is working on. He states that following developments in desktop, laptop and tablet computing, wearable computers could be part of the next platform shift.

“The logical endpoint is computing everywhere, all the time – that is, wearable computing…” Abrash says. “I have no doubt that 20 years from now that will be standard, probably through glasses or contacts, but for all I know through some kind of more direct neural connection. And I’m pretty confident that platform shift will happen a lot sooner than 20 years – almost certainly within 10, but quite likely as little as 3-5, because the key areas – input, processing/power/size, and output – that need to evolve to enable wearable computing are shaping up nicely, although there’s a lot still to be figured out.”

Such as? How software will work with any wearable tech, how it would look, how does one interact with it and how does the computer know what a user is looking at. These are all challenges facing Valve right now.

However, Abrash did want to make one thing clear. There should be no rumours of robotic gaming glasses at this point in time. “To be clear, this is R&D – it doesn’t in any way involve a product at this point, and won’t for a long while, if ever – so please, no rumors about Steam glasses being announced at E3.

“It’s an initial investigation into a very interesting and promising space, and falls more under the heading of research than development.”

It’s fascinating stuff from the gaming developer. If there is something to take out of it all, if not E3 rumours, it is that, as Google has already shown, augmented reality lifestyles using computer-aided vision could be part of our daily routine closer than we might have first thought.

Still trying to get your head over it all? Then check out Google’s Project Glass vision here. If Google’s plans are anything to go by we’ll all be wearing futuristic headsets giving us built-in sat-navs and smartphone capabilities simply by wearing a pair of glasses. Scary or exciting? Let us know what you think.

Joystick developed for smartphone gaming!

 

The latest touchscreen smartphones have proven to be excellent portable gaming devices, but the one thing they truly lack are proper gaming controls. However, one team of developers think they’ve cracked the ultimate gaming challenge with a 3-Axis analog joystick, read on to find out more.

Let’s face it, touchscreen controls can be rubbish for all but the most basic of games. To solve the problem a team at Keio University has come up with a 3-Axis analog joystick that pairs with the front-facing camera of your phone to transform it into a gaming handheld.

To make it work, the inventors have assembled an elastic device that features small markers that are detected by the front-facing camera, as of the team explains in this video . 


“By tracking how the markers move as the elastic device deforms, this system enables a variety of inputs. When you press the device the markers move further apart or they move horizontally or vertically, or they get skewed.”

By being able to move in different directions, the joystick allows freedom of movement, which in turn would give game developers the chance to add complex controls to games.

Fighting games such as Street Fighter that have been ported from console to mobile phone have traditionally been very poor. A joystick such as this would deliver a more authentic experience than is possible using touchscreen controls.

Another upside is being able to play without obstructing the screen with your fingers, also preventing the display to become oily. So you can ditch the screen wipes. Proper gaming controls on our smartphone? Yes please

Gadget Digest: Nokia 808 PureView 41-megapixel smartphone, iPad 3 next week, Assassin’s Creed 3 and more

 

With the MWC 2012 mobile convention having taken place, this week has been one of 2012’s most exciting gadget fans. Lots of new phones and tablets have been the order of the last seven days. Away from MWC 2012, things were just as exciting. Here’s one clue: iPad 3. Read on for a catchup of five stories that made this week.

 

Nokia began the week by unveiling the Nokia 808 PureView – a phone with a massive 41-megapixel sensor. Incredible.

 

Assassin’s Creed 3 American setting confirmed

Assassin’s Creed 3 is coming on October 30th. Before this week we knew little about. We can now confirm that it’ll be set during the American revolution. Excited yet?

 

Apple invites confirm new iPad launch

Ahead of a new product launch Apple loves sending out invites. Its latest is the biggest clue yet that next week we will see a new iPad. The invite reads: The invite reads “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

 

Budget Apple iPad 2 set to launch

As well as the anticipated launch of the iPad 3 comes word that Apple may also launch a smaller, cheaper iPad. If true, Apple could have the tablet market sewn up, we reckon.

 

MWC 2012 story roundup

Don’t head out just yet. Here’s a roundup of all the MWC 2012 stories we covered this week. Hit the link for the low down on all the most important mobile announcements that took place this week.

No new Xbox in 2012 says Microsoft

 

Claims and rumours of there being a new Xbox and PlayStation console announcement in 2012 has seen excitement go through the roof. Xbox fans can now at least tone down their excitement, after Microsoft France revealed that we will not see a new Xbox in 2012.
It was originally rumoured that a new Xbox reveal of sorts would happen at CES 2012, but with that date having come and gone, the rumours turned to E3, which Microsoft France at least has now denied outright. 



In an interview with LePoint.Fr Cedrik Delmas, marketing director of Microsoft France said that there is still plenty of life in the Xbox 360, before hinting heavily that we will not see a new console in 2012, let alone at E3 2012, this June.


“Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year. E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there’ll be nothing new in 2012.”
Nintendo has already confirmed that its new console – the Nintendo Wii U – will be launching at the end of the year. Delmas brushed off the idea of competing with Nintendo with a new console.


“We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers. Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, they’re advancing at their own pace.” So for now at least, it’s looking like the Nintendo Wii U will be the only major new console shown off at E3 2012.
But how long before you think Sony and Microsoft will follow? How long do you think there is left in the current console cycle? Send us your thoughts below.

Top 5 party console games for Christmas 2011

The current crop of games consoles have shattered the notion that gaming is anti-social once and for all. Today’s consoles are all about entertainment, movement and fun – in other words, they’re perfect for a party. Join us as we look at five top titles to get the party started this Christmas.
This time of year is party season, but instead of dishing up the same old combo of snacks, tunes and small talk, why not spice the occasion up with some party games to get everyone involved? With all three major consoles now featuring motion control add-ons, gaming is more active and immersive than ever before, so let’s check out the top party games on the shelves right now.

Just Dance 3 (all platforms)There are loads of dance titles out there, but we’ve selected Just Dance 3 because not only is it one of the best of the breed, but it’s also available on all three platforms and is one of the newest titles on the scene. Up to four players can dance together (or eight on the Wii) and you can even create your own dance routine for your fellow players to try and emulate.
We Sing Rock (Wii)We Sing was the first karaoke game to appear on the Wii, and the franchise has now gone on to sell more than a million copies worldwide. The latest release is focused around rock music, but features the same well-designed formula of fun and interactivity that has made the series so successful. Checking out your mates doing their best Alice Cooper or Motorhead impressions should be worth a few laughs this Christmas!

Wii Party (Wii)The Wii’s rival consoles have come a long way since Wii Party first surfaced more than a year ago now, but it remains a great example of what made Nintendo’s console such a favourite in the first place. Just about useless for a solo player, Wii Party cranks up the fun for two to four players with a series of games designed to raise a smile and get everyone involved.

Michael Jackson: The Experience (all platforms)The King of Pop had a style all his own, and now you can showcase your own dancing and singing talents against the backdrop of nearly all of MJ’s best-known hits. Perfect your signature dance moves and you’ll unlock achievements, plus of course you’ll earn the adoration of thousands of fans. A treat for Jackson fans, and good fun for everyone else, The Experience is well worth considering.

Mario & Sonic at the London Olympic Games (Wii)For some unashamedly simple multi-player gaming giggles, surely the Mario and Sonic mashup to mark London’s hosting of the Olympic Games next year delivers a gold medal performance. It’s comprehensive enough that there’s something for everyone, but doesn’t take itself so seriously that things become overly competitive. A solid choice for any party.