The world’s first 3D handheld games console is here. Can the 3DS rule the world of handheld gaming?
By Sergio Terrasini

The UK release of the Nintendo 3DS on 25 March 2011 saw Europe welcome the latest offering from arguably the most innovative company in the gaming world.
Nintendo is responsible for iconic household names like Super Mario, SNES and Gameboy all of which have made a massive contribution to how we play today.
But the Japanese company has also been busy redefining the modern medium with its most recognised bit of kit – the Wii, dragging everyone from nine year old girls to 79-year-old grandaddys around the TV to wave a white remote in the air.

Nintendo’s current handheld line – the Nintendo DS – has had a similar amount of pull on the public, creating a world where everyone’s a gamer. You might be Brain Training on the bus or leaping over spike pits at lunch, either way you’re a part of a video game boom (at least in terms of awareness) that’s never been seen before, and that’s largely thanks to Nintendo.
After such success you might forgive Nintendo for resting on its laurels and, indeed, since the UK release of the first DS back in 2004, the progression of the portable has been something of a slow evolution.
Sticking a couple of extra letters on the end of each edition, with devices like the DS Lite, the DSi and the DSi XL Nintendo made the common alterations; making things bigger/smaller/lighter, adding a camera here and a bit more power there.

The core of the DS remained the same though; a book-like, dual-screen handheld with the touch functionality that augments the gaming experience with an extra dimension of interactivity that spawned the DS success in the beginning.
But now, with the release of the Nintendo 3DS, Ninty is having a punt at revolutionising video games for a third time and ‘extra dimension’ is the key phrase again.
The 3DS originally launched for well over £200 – closing in on £300 in many stores. But after poor sales, Nintendo has slashed the price drastically, and the console can now be picked up for a little over £110.

At first glance it looks like a shinier, sleeker version of its brothers and it still has the same dual-screen, touch sensitive set up. This time, however, the top screen boasts the ability to beam your gaming experience in full auto-stereoscopic 3D – that’s 3D without the need for a pair of 3D specs.

Ok, so the likes of Avatar have already reignited the 3D interest for cinema and Sony’s pushing 3D gaming on the PS3 – pricey TVs and cumbersome glasses included – but unassisted, palm of your hand 3D is a completely different and massively exciting prospect.
The Nintendo 3DS has the potential to be a massive stride forward from its predecessors and another landmark product that Nintendo can lay claim to. If it works, that is.

As with the PS2, a few of the older PS3 models are backwards compatible. You will want to double check to make sure that the model you select is backwards compatible if you plan to play any of your old PlayStation games. With more than 700 PS3 game-title releases in its lifetime, only the Nintendo Wii eclipses the PS3 in terms of average monthly game releases. However, with more than 1,000 PlayStation and PS2 titles to choose from as well, the PS3′s game options greatly outnumber the competition.

The PS3 game console utilizes IEEE 802.11
wireless and Bluetooth technologies to achieve connectivity. With faster CPU and GPU capabilities, along with increased memory and expanded storage, the PS3 offers exceptional speeds and reliability for online game play, video downloads, game rentals and web browsing. Sony has expanded its PlayStation Network by providing a video site that enables users to download videos, films and TV shows from Sony Pictures and several other major production studios directly to their hard drives. Netflix, Facebook and other online features are also available through the PlayStation Network.

The PS3 also offers compatibility with Sony’s handheld video game console, the PSP. The PSP can be used as an additional controller, while the PS3 can be used to download and transfer original PlayStation games to the PSP, either directly or remotely.

Sony has been very proactive in developing wireless headsets, controllers, USB and Bluetooth keyboards, network adapters and even a web camera in the form of the PlayStation Eye. All of these gaming console accessories help cut down on the mess and give users an increased range of play and function.

Performance    

The PS3 stands apart for its multimedia capabilities. Functioning equally well as both a video game console and a web browser, the PS3 also makes a strong argument as a central entertainment fixture by functioning as a CD, DVD and Blu-ray player, while offering full compatibility with several audio file formats. The PS3 is the only video game console that can play the Blu-ray format, which gives Sony a huge head start when Blu-ray Discs become the standard media for movies and games.

Although the PS3 still lacks the video output rates and features of the Xbox 360, its development and emphasis on shader technologies has helped boost the graphic and video quality while providing a rich and unique picture. Despite some of the obvious disadvantages, the PS3′s superior installed video memory does help make up for some of the differences in video output and video and graphic generation between the two consoles. One of the major advantages with this game console is the superior manufacturing that goes into all of Sony’s electronics. Over the years, few people have needed to replace their PS3, which is a huge breath of fresh air in a world of short-lived electronics.

Online Community    

The PlayStation Network, despite the most recent attacks, has proved highly successful, offering unique user IDs, rankings, trophies, avatars, video chat, audio chat and full messenger integration, all while providing online play that intuitively matches users according to skill set, age, language, region and other custom preferences. PlayStation Network accounts offer advanced parental controls by enabling a master account that can control a variety of maturity and time-management options. Because of the recent hacking incident, many users have withdrawn from the PlayStation Network. However, Sony has done everything in its power to ensure the security of its users’ personal information, and it has greatly improved its network security.

Technical Support    

Sony offers a variety of options for help and support, ranging from telephone, email and online chat assistance. The company’s official website also offers detailed information about how and where to obtain repair services, including status repair updates. Best of all, Sony offers a dedicated customer service department to respond to customer concerns, as well as downloadable user manuals and tutorials. Sony knows how the world of electronics works and employs a staff of knowledgeable technical experts to help you with any problems you may have along the way.

The PS3 stands apart from other game consoles when it comes to multimedia functionality and overall game quality. Sony is, has been and always will be a company focused on providing the best possible quality in all of its products. The use of Blu-ray Discs and several audio file formats help give it an edge when it comes to future growth and more in-depth gaming. Sony’s online service is free, but it does lack some of the extras you will find on other online communities. The PS3 focuses more on action or mature game types, which works perfectly for some and not so well for others. Overall, the PS3 offers hardcore gamers the most intense and mature gaming experience around.

New iPad 3 review
Sharper screen, faster innards – but is it worth the update?
By Sergio Terrasini  5th March 2012

The new iPad, the iPad 3, the new iPad 3… call it what you want, but it’s a device that from the outside looks remarkably like the iPad 2 but with an overhaul on the innards.
The question most people ask us when it comes to the new iPad is: what’s different from the old one?
Well, in this case it’s pretty easy: there’s a Retina Display that makes everything looks superbly crisp, an updated A5X processor bringing quad-core graphics and a 5MP camera on the rear with a VGA sensor on the front.
Oh, and the iPad 3 is also the device that brings iOS 5.1 to the masses (well, it’s also on the likes of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 as well, but hey, we’re not reviewing those today, and you don’t really care unless it’s a new iPad.)

The design of the new iPad 3 isn’t really anything different from the original duo from Apple’s tablet range. Actually, while we’re thinking about it, it looks almost identical to the iPad 2 – to the point you’d struggle to tell them apart when turned off.

However, in the hand, there’s a little bit of a difference, especially when it comes to the weight. The new iPad is nearly 60g heavier than the previous iteration, and while it’s not terrible, it does add a little arm strain during a marathon movie session.

Retina Display

Before we get onto all the normal insight over the frame of the new iPad, it’s worth talking about the main feature: the Retina Display.
Apple has packed a huge amount more pixels into the 9.7-inch screen – 1536 x 2048 to be exact. However, despite the fact that the Cupertino brand makes a big thing about the 330 PPI density of the iPhone 4, we’re looking at a screen that’s technically a lot less sharp than its smartphone brethren – around 264PPI.

Apple has got around this fact by stating that the screen is meant to be held at 15 inches from the face, rather than the 10 inches the iPhone is supposed to from your eyes, and as such the sharpness is the same.
Given the fact the term ‘Retina Display’ really isn’t a legally binding term, we don’t care. What matters is the effect – and it’s one of the most impressive we’ve seen on a tablet to date. If someone took an iPad, printed out a really hi-res image of an iOS system and stuck it on the front, we’d struggle to tell the difference – it’s superb, and even squinting up close you’ll be hard pushed to notice any pixelation.
The colour reproduction will also appeal to many, as it’s pretty close to reality – it lacks the punch of the Super AMOLED HD screens seen on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note for instance, but it will depend on personal preference as to whether that’s a good thing.

We like the vivid colours of Samsung’s screens, but we know plenty of people that loathe them too.
The main thing is things like internet browsing; photo viewing and movie sessions are all much, much improved over the iPad 2, and is one of the main reasons to pick up the new iPad.

Design

The new iPad, as we said, is only marginally thicker and a little heavier than the iPad 2, and if you pick it up with no knowledge of the former, you’ll likely be mighty impressed.
The rest of the design is premium too – given you can be paying nearly £700 for a top end model, it needs to seem like a worthwhile investment, and it does.

The curved edges, the oleophobic scratch-proof glass and the aluminium chassis are all the kind of thing that some Android tablets have tried to ape and failed. Of course, many will prefer the feather-light frames of some of the Samsung models but, like the screen, it really comes down to personal preference.
The buttonry on the new iPad is pretty sparse though – we’re talking four buttons and that’s your lot.

The iconic home button is back once again, despite rumours of its demise, and is easy to reach and hit within the thick bezel.

The rest of the buttons are all clustered tightly together in the top left-hand corner of the new iPad, with the rocker/volume key, the mute/orientation switch and power/lock key all within an inch of one another.
As you can see, Apple has been pretty efficient with the button placement, with all of them performing more than one function. And they say the iPad can’t multi-task… tsk.

Xbox 360 review
The Xbox 360 Slim is an all-new console with the latest update
By Sergio Terrasini December 8th 2011

The Xbox 360 has changed since its launch in 2005.
That much is transparently clear from the updated version that debuted in 2010.
The Xbox 360 S is smaller, sleeker and quieter than the previous model and designed to banish the infamous ‘Red Ring of Death’ hardware failure that forced Microsoft to extend its warranty on the system.
Likewise the arrival of Kinect, which has gone on to sell over 10 million units, has transformed the machine from solely the preserve of hardcore gamers to a casual gamer friendly environment.
While some of the novelty of Kinect may have worn off, if anything the games are improving – finding new ways to take advantage of what is still fascinating technology.
But Microsoft is and always has been a software company first and foremost and, fittingly, that’s where the Xbox 360 has changed the most. The NXE update of 2008 binned the old ‘blades’ system for an interface that was more welcoming to multimedia content and 2011 has seen another major update to the console’s operating system. One so substantial, we’ve felt it necessary to update this review to reflect what a different machine it is.
Whether it’s the old model or the new one, the Xbox 360 has now comprehensively changed from a machine primarily about playing games, with a modest selection of online content attached, to a fully featured entertainment and media hub.

The majority of forms of digital entertainment are catered for, there are extensive social networking features available and a new TV tab aims to replace traditional digital boxes with IPTV and catch up services.
The new dashboard, based around the Metro design language that also features in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7, is a far busier interface, but it’s reflective of the huge amounts of content now available within the walled garden of Xbox Live.
Getting to it all has always been the challenge and Microsoft has made admirable steps towards making that a straightforward process.

By Sergio Terrasini November 28th 2011

The iPhone 4S caught many by surprise, with Apple expected to release the iPhone 5 – but instead we got an iPhone 4 with overhauled innards.
While the masses were initially disappointed, the iPhone 4S features a glut of top-end tech that is designed to put it on a par with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S2 – but does it manage to do that?
The changes to the iPhone 4S are easy to document – the camera has been upgraded to 8MP (with an improved aperture ratio), the CPU is now the same dual-core A5 processor as seen in the iPad 2, and a seven time increase in graphical processing power.Also we’ve got Siri, Apple’s voice recognition service – will this be a game changer for mobile phones or will it be nothing more than a gimmick?

As we’ve mentioned, the iPhone 4S is almost identical in outward design to the iPhone 4, which might irk those that like to show that they’ve got the most up to date device from Apple when out and about with friends.
However, the flip side of this is that things like the plethora of iPhone 4 covers on the market at the moment will still fit.

Apple has slightly changed the design of the iPhone 4S somewhat though, by changing to a dual-band aerial design, making sure it doesn’t encounter an embarrassing repeat of antenna-gate we had to endure with the iPhone 4.
For all those that haven’t seen the older version of the phone, we’ll take you on a tour of the new handset: the top of the iPhone 4S houses the power/lock button, as well as the headphone jack, plus a microphone for noise cancellation.
The right-hand side of the phone is devoid of any buttons, but holds the slot for the micro SIM card, which pops out using the included tool (or a paperclip).

The bottom of the phone is pretty standard, with the Apple connector and dual speakers which pump out the (actually quite decent) sound.
The left-hand side of the phone sees the rounded volume keys, with the top one of these also acting as the camera shutter button to make it easy to snap with the new iPhone. We’ve also got the silencer switch too, which has been slightly moved upwards from the previous iteration.

As you can see, Apple has altered its antenna band technology to move the gaps that plagued the iPhone 4′s reception to a less-touchable location.

Enjoy a makeover and get amazing protection for your iPad 2. This gel case perfectly encapsulates the subtle contours and sleek lines of your device while delivering a sizzling display of high-gloss colour and stylish fashion. The case is crafted from a flexible gel-like material that will help resist impacts, abrasions and tears making it an ideal bodyguard for your device. Functional design gives you full access to your touch-screen and other pertinent controls.

ITEM COMPATIBILITY: IPAD 2

ITEM FEATURES:
Eye-catching design and colours enhance the aesthetics of your device
Full access to controls
Shields against impact from accidental drops

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Silicone Cases

This black li-ion rechargeable battery pack is fit for Nintendo 3DS. It is a great replacement battery for your old or damaged 3DS battery. Large capacity battery is also a useful backup battery for your game playing. A small screwdriver is included for repair or installation.

Features

- Larger capacity battery for Nintendo 3DS.
- Black li-ion rechargeable battery pack.
- Small screwdriver included.
1 * Replacement Battery Pack Rechargeable Battery with Screwdriver for Nintendo 3DS (Black)