PS4 comes to android phones

Sony's latest smartphones and tablets can stream PlayStation 4 video games.

Owners will be able to attach the new devices to an existing PS4 controller via a special mount to play titles powered by the console's processors.

Until now this "remote play" facility had only been offered to the firm's PlayStation Vita handheld console.

Experts said the feature should help Sony's kit stand out from Android rivals at a time when competition is intensifying.

But despite the popularity of the PS4, they added, the move was likely to have only a slight impact on sales.

The Japanese company also unveiled a new smartwatch and a fitness tracker at a press conference in Berlin, ahead of the start of the Ifa tech show.

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Microsoft Lumia, Apple's big event, Android KitKat, Samsung Galaxy Gear and more:

 

We’re here again at the end of the week, and that means it’s time for your gadget digest! And what a week it’s been, as we’ve been busy bees thanks to the massive IFA tech conference, and there’s been no shortage of top end phones and gadgets showing up from Berlin. Microsoft announced it had big plans for its phone division ahead, Google surprised all with its tasty new name for the next version of Android, Samsung showed off its hot new hardware, while Apple made its next big event official. We’ve got everything you need from this week in tech, and it’s all right here in your gadget digest.

Microsoft snaps up Nokia’s phone business

We’ve heard plenty of rumours that Microsoft has been wanting to make its own Windows Phone for months, but now it looks like its actually happening: the Redmond-based company is buying up Nokia’s devices and services divisions for a whopping $7.2 billion (£4.6bn), while the Finnish company will continue to focus on its technology, mapping and network infrastructure businesses. That means we could be seeing the Microsoft Lumia pretty soon – fancy one?

It’s a phone fiesta!

It wouldn’t be a week in tech without new phones, and we got our eyes on some all-new flagship devices over the past few days. Sony’s revealed its brand new top-of-the-range Xperia Z1 at this year’s IFA expo, which improves on the previous Xperia Z with a huge 20.7-megapixel camera and even faster internals.

Samsung also took to Berlin to announce its latest handset, and phablet fans were not disappointed. The next-gen Galaxy Note 3 is bigger and better than before, measuring up at a huge 5.7-inches, yet manages to be even slimmer and lighter. Along with improved S-Pen stylus features, Samsung’s attached a 13-megapixel camera on the back that’s even capable of shooting 4K video.

That’s not all Samsung had to show: after all the rumours and leaks, the South Korean company officially announced the Galaxy Gear, an Android-powered smartwatch that’ll keep you always connected to your Galaxy device. It’s got a 1.63-inch screen and even comes with 1.9-megapixel camera in the strap, along with plenty of apps to keep your phone in your pocket.

Taiwanese phone maker HTC also had a few new phones to shout out about, which included an all-new range of mid-range Desire devices. First up is the HTC Desire 601, a 4.5-inch Android phone that’s armed with 4G and comes with some of the software smarts of the HTC One. There’s also the HTC Desire 300, the new entry-level device, which packs in a 4.3-inch screen and a nippy dual-core 1GHz processor. HTC also fleshed out its flagship One and One Mini in a new colour: a bright vivid blue that’ll help you stand out of the crowd.

Android and iPhone massive updates officially on the way

Who would have though that Google would be naming its next Android version after a Nestle brand? That’s just what’s happened, as Google’s giving Android 4.4 the title of KitKat – named after Nestle’s famed four-finger treat. That’s not all, as there’s also a Willy Wonka-style competition that’s been woven into actual KitKat bars that could see you win a brand new Nexus 7 tablet or credit to spend in the Google Play store.

Apple, meanwhile, gone and officially made 10 September as the big day for its next event, where we expect to go eyes-on with the all-new iPhone and the rumoured goodies that are set to be on show alongside it. We’re looking forward to seeing what Apple’s got in store, and we know you are too!

IFA’s in full swing!

This year’s massive IFA tech show is currently underway in Berlin, and all sorts of top gadgets have been spilling out of the convention centre halls. Pioneer is rolling out the next-generation of satnavs, which do away with your dashboard mounted GPS unit and instead use augmented reality tech to overlay your driving directions right onto your windscreen.

Smartphone maker Alcatel meanwhile had a few new phones to show off, but what really caught our eye was its new six-inch phone that comes complete with a phone cover that doubles up as an e-reader. The cover accessory lets you read ebooks or newspapers on the go without draining any of the main phone’s battery life, which makes it ideal for the commuter who only has a few pockets spare.

We’re not sure if this is genius or just plain bizarre, but Philips has announced a brand new male grooming trimmer that comes complete with a laser to keep your beard in check right to the millimetre. The Beard Trimmer 9000 is the first laser-guided trimmer in the world, and helps you line up the perfect cut so you’ll be able to craft the ideal five o’clock shadow each and every time.

Amazon and Spotify up your entertainment options

 

Amazon’s Kindles are still going strong, and the online retailer’s aiming to continue its dominance with the brand new Kindle Paperwhite that has an even brighter screen and is even faster than before. The Kindle software has also been given a sprucing up, with upgrades including a new scrubbing mode to let you check other pages, as well as a new children’s mode.

If music’s more your thing than reading, then Spotify’s latest addition will definitely be up your street. There’s already plenty of different ways to stream your music through the house, thanks to likes of Sonos, Pure’s Jongo line and Apple’s AirPlay, but now Spotify’s getting in on the wireless action with Spotify Connect which lets you stream down music from the cloud straight to compatible networked speakers. As everything’s in the cloud, you’ll also be able to pick up where you left off on any of your Spotify devices, so you can come straight home off the train and hit play on your iPad to continue exactly where you left off. Think you’ll give this a spin?

Dead Rising 3 preview

If you’re wanting some undead action in your next-gen gaming, take a look at this preview for the third outing of Dead Rising, exclusively on Xbox One.

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PS4 launch date revealed! Mark November 29 in your diary

 

PS4 launch date revealed! Mark November 29 in your diary

The PS4 has a release date! You’ll be able to buy the console on 29 November – that’s two weeks after our American cousins get their hands on it.

Sony announced the release date at games industry conference Gamescom 2013 in Germany.

The next-gen console war is hotting up, with Microsoft announcing its launch line-up for the Xbox One. Both consoles will offer some of the same titles, including Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, and Watchdogs.

If you pre-order an Xbox One before Christmas, you’ll get a free copy of FIFA 14, too. Though Microsoft’s console will be more expensive than Sony’s – £429 compared to £349. Critics point out that buying a PS4 and paying full price for a copy of FIFA 14 would still be cheaper than the Xbox deal.The Xbox One comes with a Kinect camera, which is thought to have bumped up the price.

You can pre-order both consoles now. Sony has warned that that won’t guarantee you a PS4, as it’s expecting shortages come launch day. You can always get yourself down to whichever shops open at midnight to pick up the console.

Are you looking forward to the PS4? Or is your money on the Xbox One? Let us know in the comments.

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Sony working on 4K discs: Time to bin your Blu-rays?

 

Just re-purchased your favourite movies on Blu-ray so you can see them in HD? We’ve got good and bad news for you today if so: Sony and Panasonic have teamed up to develop a next-generation optical disc that can store up to 300GB – that’s six times bigger than a dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray at the moment, potentially making way for 4K films you can buy in the shops. Is it time to replace all your box sets once again?

While you can already stream Sony films in super sharp 4K over the web, the Japanese gadget giant hasn’t forgotten about physical media: it’s teamed up with it rival and pledged to create a next-gen disc with a huge 300GB capacity by 2015.

Although Sony doesn’t specifically state the disc will be used for 4K films, with a resolution four times that of full HD Blu-rays, they’d be the perfect fit for it: while you might be beaming down most of your flicks from the web via Netflix or rival services, discs still have their place for storing content long-term, especially since it’s not clear that UK broadband speeds are going to prove a match for data-packed 4K video streaming.

Are you looking forward to the next-gen Blu-ray successor or are you perfectly happy with your current HD collection? Or do you stream down your high-def flicks? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Sony SmartWatch 2 unveiled: Tick tock, Apple!

 

Alongside the gigantic Xperia Z Ultra, Sony had one more surprise for us this morning: the Sony SmartWatch 2, the second intelligent timepiece for Android phones from the company. Is it time to finally retire the Rolex or kick out the Casio?

Like its Xperia siblings, the Sony SmartWatch 2 is water resistant and carries the same angular design, and it carries many of their smarts under the bonnets too. You can pair it with your Android phone easily with one tap via NFC, and use the 1.6-inch touchscreen to read notifications from supported apps and even Facebook.

It does much more than deliver notifications this time round though: there’s an on-screen battery indicator to show when you’re running low on juice, and an on-screen user interface that looks just like Android to make navigation easy. You can use the watch to do everything from field calls to taking photos remotely with your phone, controlling presentations and even pulling up a map on a bike ride. Don’t like the strap? You can swap it out for any other 24mm band that you like.

We liked the idea of Sony’s original SmartWatch, but in practice it simply wasn’t reliable enough to justify the price: with any luck, Sony’s fixed those problems this time round. The Sony SmartWatch 2 goes on sale in September, price still TBC – your move, Apple.

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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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The 10 most disappointing gadgets of 2012

We’ve looked at the best gadgets of the year that was: now it’s time to look at the most disappointing ones. Read on for our list of the gear we’re most bitter about from the last twelve months. Do you agree? Now it’s worth pointing out that these aren’t necessarily the worst gadgets of 2012. They’re just the ones that didn’t live up to their potential. Without further ado, here’s our list of biggest offenders: Amazon Kindle Fire HD It took Amazon more than a year to bring one of its Kindle tablets to the UK, and when it finally did, it was too late. The similarly priced and sized, faster Google Nexus 7 from Asus was already on sale, with more apps and absolutely no adverts getting up in your grill. If you’re going to tweak Android, Amazon, at least make it better than what Google has to offer to start with. Sony PS Vita Sony’s hoping for a long tail success with its turbo-charged gaming handheld, in the same way the Nintendo 3DS is now enjoying. But right now, it’s just lacking the top notch games to tempt us – threatening to lock it into a terrible death spiral of no customers – no games – no customers. Nokia Lumia 900 Nokia was supposed to blow the doors off with this monster-sized Windows Phone, but the poor screen and lack of apps meant it just couldn’t compete against the Samsung Galaxy S3 which arrived at the same time. To cap things off, it went on sale just a few months before Windows Phone 8 was announced – and it’ll never, ever taste it because an update isn’t possible. PS3 Super Slim Even after a few months of use, we still don’t see the point of the new look 500GB Sony PS3. It’s not really any quieter, it’s barely any smaller, and the lack of slot-loading tray for discs is just plain fiddly. Why bother? Luckily, the 12GB version now brings the Sony PS3 under £150 for the first time ever, making it a much more tempting offer if you can cope without the storage space. Nintendo Wii Mini At least the new PS3 super slim doesn’t strip any features out from Sony’s current PlayStation. The Nintendo Wii Mini does: inexplicably, it lacks Wi-FI and internet of any form. That means no multiplayer Mario Kart, no Netflix movie streaming, no software updates, and no Virtual Console for retro gaming. Way to cripple the world’s most popular console, Nintendo. Thankfully, it’s only on sale in Canada for the moment. iPod nano 7G Don’t get us wrong. As a gym accessory, the new iPod nano is cheap, beautiful and easy to use device, and it’s nice to have the option to watch video on it once more with the seventh generation model. But as we said in our review, Apple could do so much more with the iPod nano. Why doesn’t it have Wi-Fi? Why doesn’t it connect to your iPhone? Why doesn’t it read your emails to you? With iPhone sales on the up, and iPod sales on the down, it feels like a missed opportunity, and more of the same. Orange San Diego The chances are, the computer you own is powered by an Intel processor. But the silicon giant’s been a non-player in the smartphone explosion. The Android-powered Orange San Diego was supposed to prove that it could play with the big boys of mobile hardware, but with a weird screen resolution and out of date OS, it was as tepid an entry as they come. Luckily, the Intel-powered Motorola RAZR i that followed was much more promising. BlackBerry Curve 9320 What’s this? Another low end BlackBerry with the same software and design of the three year old Curve 8520? Yawn. Microsoft Surface It looked gorgeous in press pictures and promised to be a true iPad killer. But the Microsoft Surface is deceptively large, thick and long, and Windows RT is more than a tad confusing: why is there even a desktop mode on it at all when you can only use it for Office? It’s just weird. Here’s hoping Microsoft can fix things for a follow up as it still has lots of potential – not to mention an amazing keyboard cover. iOS 6 The new version of Apple’s software for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is unquestionably the most poorly received of any update in iOS history. Sure, it’s still bleeding fast, and Siri is smarter than ever. But Apple Maps remains a disaster – it’s shouldn’t come as a surprise that iOS software boss Scott Forstall and the man in charge of the Google Maps replacement was pushed out of Apple just a few months after the release and bad headlines. And in the meantime, Google has raced ahead with Android “Jelly Bean” – only Jony Ive can fix things for Cupertino. What were your most disappointing gadgets of 2012? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below! www.tell-me-first.com

Smartphone stocking fillers: Five amazing phones for under £100

 

Hard to believe how time flies, isn’t it? Yep, Christmas is on us once again, and to help you find the perfect presents for all your family, we’ll be running regular gadget gift guides – with a twist. Kicking things off, we’ve got the best smartphones that cost £100 or less – check out how much power you can get for under a ton right here.

Huawei Ascend G300

For bang on £100 on Pay As You Go with Vodafone, you can pick up one astonishing bit of kit: the Huawei Ascend G300 squeezes in a 1GHz processor and even a four-inch screen – the same size as the iPhone 5’s, for a quarter of the price. Best of all, it’s been recently updated to the faster, smarter Android 4.0. Best for: your nephew or cousin who’s deep into mobile, but can’t afford a monthly contract just yet.

Sony Xperia Miro

It may pack a slightly smaller 3.5-inch screen than the Huawei Ascend G300, but the Sony Xperia Miro is a polished affair nonetheless, with a more sturdy build quality, and Android 4.0 out of the box, and access to all the hundreds of thousands of apps on the Google Play store. It’s available for £100 on Vodafone Pay As You Go for a limited time so don’t hang about. Best for: your Sony loving, iPhone hating brother.

Nokia Lumia 610

We love Android, but its open ended nature isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Out of the box, Windows Phone is easier to use, and Nokia’s build quality is legendary. That makes the Nokia Lumia 610 for £99.95 at Carphone Warehouse on every network except Three a spectacular deal. Its beautiful live tile homescreen is easy to use, and integrates Facebook and Twitter beautifully. Best for: your child or niece/nephew’s first smartphone.

Huawei Blaze

There are a surprising amount of Android phones with tiny screens and tiny prices knocking about these days, but make no mistake, this one is by far the best. Its 3.2-inch display is responsive, and despite the aging 600MHz processor, it’s surprisingly fast. And though it runs an older version of Android, 2.3, it still provides all the core Google services, including free satellite navigation with turn by turn directions. For under £40, this really is an impulse purchase. Best for: that uncle who’s been asking which is the best satnav/phone/anything to buy.

BlackBerry Curve 9320

A full on BlackBerry, with a solid keyboard, blazing 3G speeds and BlackBerry Messenger for instant chat with all your mates on the go, for under £100? Orange has one, this year’s impressive BlackBerry Curve 9320. Don’t expect stocks to last though, or complain when BlackBerry 10 rolls around in January. Best for: The hopeless BBM addict in your life.

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Sony updates PS Vita firmware: Takes aim at Gmail on mobiles

 

Sony updates PS Vita firmware: Takes aim at Gmail on mobiles

Sony has just released a software update for the PS Vita that brings a host of improvements to the gaming handheld.

These include support for PlayStation Plus (so you can buy discounted games online, store your data in the cloud, and schedule games with other players), improvements to the web browser, and an email app that rivals those found on smartphones.

The email client is probably the biggest addition. You can get your Gmail or Yahoo Mail through it, and you can add more than one account as well, which you can’t do with Gmail on the iPhone. It’s not all good news though.

Some basic features are missing, so you can’t see past conversations or archive old messages. It also won’t push emails to your PS Vita, so you’ll have to set it to check every 15 minutes. Not a deal-breaker, admittedly, but annoying if you’re waiting for an important email.

The browser is a lot slicker than before, and you can use it without closing the game you’re playing, which is handy if you want to look something up quickly.

Sony PS4: Five next-gen features we want to see!

 

Last week, a new report revealed some of the specs inside the long awaited Sony PS4. The Japanese gaming giant has yet to announce the fabled PlayStation 4, but it appears to be working with developers on it right now. With that in mind, we thought we’d dream up a wishlist of what we’re hoping to see in it: are your must-have features in here?

Launch day game streaming

Earlier this year, Sony snaffled up Gaikai, a service that lets you stream high end 3D games from the cloud. It’s clear Sony has plans for it inside PlayStation, but right now, an OnLive-like subscription service probably wouldn’t cut it. Even in Britain, broadband speeds aren’t up to delivering a smooth experience. But what if Sony just used Gaikai’s tech to stream games on launch day, so if you’d pre-ordered the disc, you could start the game at midnight on the day of the release by streaming it until the postman rocked up?

All in one catch up TV

Sony’s done a good job of getting all the major video services on the PS3, from Netflix to BBC iPlayer. But Microsoft’s done a better job since of streamlining all the different apps to follow a similar design on Xbox Live: on the PS3, they’re all a bit of a mess. Sony’s got a real opportunity to amend this with the PS4. What if it rolled all the catch-up services into one easy to use EPG, just like YouView on the fantastic new Humax set top box we checked out just last week. Why not even support YouView while you’re at it?

Microsoft’s Kinect motion and voice sensor is useful way to boss your Xbox about with no hands, but it’s an expensive add-on that demands extra space on your TV stand. Sony could dispense with the motion cameras that make you look like a wally, and just build voice controls into the Sony PS4 – think Siri for games and TV.

Universal PS Vita streaming

Much like the Wii U and its tablet controller, you can currently stream a select few games from your PS3 to your PS Vita, including Ico: Shadow Of The Colossus. You can even play them on the go, streaming the game to your handheld over 3G. But it’s a piecemeal solution, and up to the developers to turn the feature on for their games. With the Sony PS4, Sony could start over with Remote Play, and make streaming of your new games to PS Vita (or even your smartphone) native to the system.

Cross game chat

It’s a simple little thing, and something Xbox 360 owners take for granted. But due to the way the PS3 was designed, it’s simply not possible to talk to your mates via headset while they’re playing a different game to you. Fans have begged and begged for the option, but it just can’t be done. Luckily, all the signs are there that it will be. The Sony PS Vita already supports cross game chat, so if Sony’s 2012 handheld can manage it, you can bet the Sony PS4 will.

What else would you like to see inside the Sony PS4? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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Gadget Digest: iPad 4G, the world’s smartest smart TV and the Sony PS3 returns

It’s been another busy week in gadget gossip. We’ve seen all sorts of new gizmos roll off the factory line and onto our wishlists – so many, we wouldn’t blame you if you struggled to keep count. Luckily, we’re here to break them down for you into easy to swallow tech titbits: read on for this week’s Gadget Digest.

Android happenings

The iPhone 5 is out and clearing house, but the Google Android-powered rivals keep coming through thick and fast still. The rumours of an LG Nexus 4 super phone are reaching a crescendo, and there’s even talk of a release date this month. Meanwhile, Samsung outed the Galaxy S3 Mini, a smaller version of its Android phone, while HTC’s mid-range rival, the Desire X, hit shops shelves.

Smart TVs get smarter

Smart TVs got a few more IQ points this week courtesy of a couple of new launches. Spotify’s unlimited music streaming service arrived on Samsung TVs, complete with a free month’s trial worth a tenner, while Bang & Olufsen hit back once more with the world’s slickest, and perhaps also priciest, internet telly.

Tablet attack

Lots of tasty tablet gossip hit this week too. While the iPad Mini failed to show, we did get word that the next iPad will work on UK 4G super speed networks, while on the Android side of things, a new report suggested a £60 Google Nexus tablet is on the way.

Sony strikes back

We’re still waiting on that elusive PlayStation 4, but in the meantime, Sony’s seen fit to bless us with a newer, slimmer PS3, and this week, we set loose our full review of the console. Be sure to check it out if you’re still sitting on the console fence: while the software is ace, it’s not quite the cost cutting exercise we were hoping for.

Behind the scenes with Prometheus

Last but not least, the biggest film of the year for gadget fiends, Prometheus, hit Blu-ray. We went behind the scenes to find out more about the making of it: does the plot make any more sense now?

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Sony PS3 Super Slim review

 

 

 

The basics

Say hello to the Sony PS3 Super Slim, Sony’s third generation model of its hit PS3 games console. There’s absolutely no change to the software: it’s still a games machine with smart TV skills and a 3D Blu-ray drive. But this time round it’s smaller and lighter: it clocks in at just 2.1kg, a huge drop down from the 4.7kg of the very first PlayStation 3. Is that enough to stay relevant with a PS4 around the corner?

The good

Sony’s kept some of the best bits about the PS3 - like the easy to reach USB ports and swappable hard drive (Although 500GB will be enough for all but the biggest video hoarders) and trimmed everything down.

Measuring 290 x 230 x 60mm, the new PS3 Super Slim is as wide as its predecessor, but several inches less deep, and slightly thinner. It’s impressive that Sony’s managed to whittle it down so much, although we do wonder how much smaller still it could get if Sony moved the power brick from inside to the cable, like Microsoft does with the Xbox 360.

You won’t notice any major speed improvements over previous generations, but the PS3 Super Slim is blessedly quiet compared to the first generation PS3, which sounded like a Harrier Jump Jet taking off, even in the middle of a noisy shoot’em up.

Did we mention it’s a PS3? We won’t go into much detail about the software and games here since Sony has changed nothing on that front. The PS3 Super Slim has access to thousands of blockbuster games, and just about every video demand service under the sun. By now you’ve probably made your allegiance though, and the new PS3 Super Slim won’t change that.

The bad

The PS3 Super Slim is lighter, yes, and smaller, just. But, well, that’s about it. It’s slightly quieter than the second generation PS3, but otherwise identical. You get two USB ports on the front, but no support for PS2 games like you did with the first PS3 models. And with the glossy black plastic, it looks a lot cheaper.

Worse still, the disc tray is a real let down. This isn’t a slot-loading one that sucks in and spits out discs correctly. It’s a cheap old do-it-yourself job, with a slide-off tray. So that eject button on your PS3 remote control? Yeah, that doesn’t work anymore. And you can now hear the disc reading noises since it’s all going on much closer to the surface.

We’ve also come to expect a nice big price cut with every refinement of this generation’s consoles, but, well, that hasn’t really happened here. You can pick up the 500GB PS3 Super Slim for £249, but the second generation model with a still hearty 320GB of storage now goes for £199.99 on Amazon. It’s a tough sell against that, and the £140 4GB Xbox 360.

The bottom line

While we love the Sony PS3, and how it’s evolved to become so much more than a games machine, we’re not too impressed with this model, which is cheaper without Sony really passing on the savings.

There’s absolutely no reason to upgrade from the second generation PS3 slim to this, but owners of the 2006 classic chunkster console might relish the lack of turbine noise in their living room. Come back when you’ve got something as small as the PS2 Slim next time please Sony.

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Samsung Galaxy v Apple iPhone - the smartphone duopoly

 

The excitement has been mounting for weeks. Fans have speculated about the precise specifications of the device, the company behind it has been doing everything it can to preserve the mystery and build up the anticipation. Yes, Samsung has learned quite a lot from Apple about the art of hype.

I've been to several major gadget launches - the original iPhone, Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox Kinect - and last night's unveiling of the Galaxy S3 smartphone in London's Earl's Court may well have been the most over the top and extravagant yet. In the cavernous halls where everyone from Pink Floyd to Madonna has strutted their stuff, thousands gathered to see a rectangular slab of plastic and metal.

Why? Because only one smartphone has challenged - perhaps surpassed - the iPhone in terms of sales, technology and consumer appeal. And the latest version will undoubtedly set the standard for Apple and the rest of the industry to try to match.

For all the extravagant talk of a device which allows you to "live the life extraordinary", the latest Galaxy looks at first sight like any other modern touchscreen phone. It does have a bigger sharper screen than its predecessor, and some clever touches. There's a voice recognition function which seemed in the demo to do everything that Apple's Siri does and more, there's eye-tracking technology which means that the phone goes to sleep when you stop looking at it, and there's NFC (Near Field Communication) built in, allowing users to simply tap each other's phones to share content.

But at its heart is the latest Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Android operating system - and that's on plenty of other impressive phones from the likes of HTC, LG and Sony. Why the new Galaxy matters is that the previous models have established it in consumer minds as the number one Android phone - and in this business, it's increasingly apparent that the winner takes all.

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Five iPad alternatives for non-Apple fans

Have just gone to the dark side with my first (and last) apple product here are some alternatives for the resistance……..

The new iPad from Apple went on sale last week. Got one? Good for you. But if you’re one of the many gadget fans thinking of laying down cash for a tablet without having to set foot in an Apple store, read on. Here are five non-Apple new iPad alternatives to check out now, or new ones worth waiting for.

Asus EeePad Transformer Prime

For around £450 (cheaper than a 16GB Wi-Fi & 4G new iPad) the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a tablet that, with a keyboard dock can transform into a fully-functional laptop. It might not have a Retina Display (it has a 1280×800 pixel resolution) but it is the first Android tablet to have a quad-core processor. It’s very quick.

Of course if you want to wait a little longer, a new TF700 model will be available this summer with updated specs, a 1920×1200 resolution and the latest Android 4.0 operating system.

 See our Asus EeePad Transformer Prime review Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 at MWC 2012 last month. Look online and you’ll be able to find one for around the £490 mark. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch comes running with the latest Android 4.0 operating system, and a 1GHz dual-core processor, and is available as a 16GB or 32GB version. Samsung has released some capable tablets in the past, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch is a worthy new iPad alternative.

Asus Padfone

The Asus Padfone isn’t in stores till April, but it could be worth waiting for. The full package includes a handset and a dock. Hear us out. Insert the phone into a detachable dock, and the Asus Padfone transforms into a 10.1-inch tablet with Android 4.0 and up to 64GB of storage. A price has yet to be confirmed, so be sure to keep a lookout when the Asus Padfone does arrive.

Motorola Xoom 2

The latest Motorola Xoom tablet is lighter and thinner than the previous model and has a 1.2GHz dual core processor. It might not be as sexy as the new iPad but with the Android operating system on board, you’ll have access to thousands of apps and games, and USB and HDMI connectivity to view full HD 1080p video. Check out our Motorola Xoom review

Sony Tablet S

If you really need your tablets to be as sexy as Apple’s try the Sony Tablet S. It’s a gorgeous 9.4-inch tablet with 1GB RAM and up to 32GB of storage and Android caked in. A built-in infra-red remote control will even control your other Sony products, acting like a Universal Remote. The Sony Tablet S even won a Best of Innovations award at CES 2012. That’s some serious kudos. Models start from just £229. Bargain. Check out our Sony Tablet S review

MWC 2012: Top 5 smartphones we love so far! by

 

MWC 2012: Top 5 smartphones we love so far!

The MWC 2012 mobile convention has brought us some cracking smartphone announcements and a first glimpse of the mobile tech we’ll soon be seeing in stores stores. There was so many great smartphones on show, that we couldn’t decide which excited us the most, so here are five of best.

From Asus to Nokia – we’ve picked out five smartphones from five different phone-makers, each offering something different. Take a look. You’re bound to find something you like.

Nokia 808 PureView

The Nokia 808 PureView is by far the most advanced camera phone we’ve ever seen, outgunning its own Nokia N8 as the company’s best camera phone. It uses Nokia’s own PureView technology to produce stunning photos filled with detail even when zoomed in. The Nokia 808 PureView also shoots full HD video with “CD-quality” sound.

Huawei Ascend D quad

Huawei claims that the Ascend D quad is the “world’s fastest” smartphone. It’s able to produce such blistering feats thanks to Huawei’s own K3V2 processor that runs at at 1.5GHz. The Huawei Ascend D quad can also boast a 4.5-inch display, the latest Android 4.0 operating system and some clever graphics processors. Games will look great on this thing. An 8 megapixel camera with full HD recording and Dolby audio technology round-up just a few of the reasons we love already love the Huawei Ascend D quad. Its name is not one of them.

HTC One X

The HTC One X takes our own title as one of the most gorgeous phones of MWC 2012. Underneath the polycarbonate chassis it’s even more impressive. At launch it will have the latest Android 4.0 operating system, a 4.7-inch screen with a Super LCD 2 display, 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor and 32GB of storage. We’re also talking an 8-megapixel camera with full HD video shooting, and HD video chats.

Sony Xperia U

The Sony’s Xperia may not be the most powerful phone around, but we love the look of this midrange device that’ll soon be available in a range of colours. The Xperia U features a 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera and recordS HD video. It may not come shipped with the latest Android operating system, but that update will come later this year.

Asus Padfone


There’s a lot more to the Asus Padfone than meets the eye. Sure, it’s a trendy looking bit of kit with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, dual core processor, 8-megapixel camera and up to 64GB of memory – but did you know that it can take on the form of a 10.1-inch tablet. It does this by docking into one of the many tablet attachments that you can purchase separately. Some even have a keyboard – letting you transform the Asus Padfone into a laptop.

Top 5 smartphone launches we're excited about

Is the smartphone in your hand starting to look a little dated, a little slow and frankly a little 2011? Well, there are some pretty amazing smartphones set to launch and here we take a look in the crystal ball and predict when we’ll see them on the high-street.

If 2011 was all about the battle between Android versus Apple (expect to see a repeat some time this year as the Apple iPhone 5 rumours kick start again), 2012 is all about size as three of our favourite smartphones for 2012 all turn up sporting an over-sized jacket. Check out our top 5 smartphone launches for 2012 we’re excited about.

LG Prada 3.0
The LG Prada Phone 3.0 itself has a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz dual-coreprocessor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage for photos, videos, apps and more. An 8-megapixel rear camera for photos and 1.3-megapixel camera for video calls, and the aforementioned Android operating system round up the features. Delayed from December, expect the Prada 3.0 to hit in February.


BlackBerry Bold 9790
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 will feature the latest BlackBerry 7 operating system, and have a 1GHz processor, which should make for a fast, yet smooth performance. You’ll be able to make the most of the high-resolution 2.45-inch touchscreen display with BlackBerry’s optical trackpad and QWERTY keyboard. Expected to hit in April


Sony Xperia S
The Sony Xperia S looks like it will be one of the must-have devices of 2012. Rocking up with a 4.3-inch screen, something we’ll see a lot of this year, you’ll also feel all David Bailey with its huge 12.1MP camera that gives perfect photos, while the 1.5GHz dual-core processor means this Android smartphone is as fast as it is lean. No official launch date yet but we’re thinking March would be a good launch time.


Nokia Lumia 900
Nokia is making a great deal of noise with its Windows Phone range and while the Nokia Lumia 900 has only been announced for the US to-date, we’re pretty sure the Finns will be bringing it to the UK too. This 4.3-inch monster has the looks and style of the smaller Lumia 800, but you’ll find a front-facing camera and all the extras we’ve come to expect from Nokia, such as great maps, music and camera. Pundits have put this down as a June launch for the big Windows Phone.

Access your iTunes collection with the Sony G Series

More and more people may be opting for iPod docks over traditional stereos, but that hasn’t stopped Sony from releasing the G Series – the Japanese company’s latest micro Hi-Fi. Designed to take full advantage of digital music – including the ability to stream music from your iPhone, iPad and computer – it offers everything you need to stay entertained.

In a world of cheap iPod docks, where plastic often rules the roost, the Sony G Series makes a nice change. Knowing Sony, it’ll still be semi-affordable, yet the casing is made from aluminium, giving a classy design and top-notch build quality.

Out of all the G Series’ features, it’s the inclusion of AirPlay on the Sony G2BNiP that impresses the most. This lets you play back your iTunes collection from iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, along with music from your computer, via Wi-Fi, without the need for any cables. The display can also show song information, letting you know the artist, album name and more.

Relative technophobes will still be able to connect regular MP3 players, iPods and memory sticks via USB port, and other digital sources include a DAB radio. If all that’s too high tech for you, you’ll be able to resort to the G Series’ integrated CD player.

Sony has yet to announce prices for the G Series, but if it sounds half as good as it looks we really want one.

Sony introduces PlayStation Pass system to its gaming network

It’s been a difficult time for Sony and users of the Sony PlayStation Network recently, but now the service is back online the Japanese company has been looking at ways to change the way online games are played. With an online pass system in the offing, gamers may not be happy with the changes.
We’ve already seen online pass systems implemented by games developers, including EA Sports, but now Sony has introduced its own system – the PlayStation Pass. You’ll basically get a code when you buy a new game – the first to feature PlayStation pass technology being Resistance 3 – unlocking online gaming when you sign into your PlayStation account.

This works well enough when you’re buying a new title, but consumers look likely to get the rough end of the stick when they’re buying second-hand games, as the PlayStation Pass system means a game is only playable with the account it’s activated with.

As such, if you buy second-hand games, it’s looking increasingly likely that you’ll have to buy an additional code if you want to play multi-player games online.
At present, Resistance 3 is the only title to take advantage of the PlayStation Pass, but it seems like only a matter of time before others follow suit.

PlayStation 4 possible 2012 launch - integrated motion controls

It looks like Sony might be the third company to enter into 2012's now epic looking console battle, with rumours pointing to a PlayStation 4 release next year alongside the Wii U and new Xbox.

playstation 4

According to a report by digitimes, the new console will feature integrated motion controls along the same lines of the Xbox 360 Kinect. Rumours suggest Foxconn and Pegatron will be building the console.

Whilst details surrounding the new console are incredibly thin, it does look like Sony plans on entering the console market in a big way with the PS4. Initial shipments are said to total no less than 20 million, a massive number given only 51 million PS3s have been shifted since launch.

Speculation had pointed to a much later release for the new Sony console, with it hitting stores shelves in 2013 at the earliest. It looks like the fierce competition from the Wii U and yet to materialise new Xbox has forced Sony to accelerate its development in order to get things ready.

Expect motion controls to be talk of the console town in 2012, with the Wii U trying to take on the hardcore gamer whilst appeasing the newly founded family gaming market

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