東西 | dongxi

With the PS Vita launching in the coming week, the big question remains: is it worth it? Five years ago, a portable handheld gaming system with nearly the power of a PS3 would have easily resulted in a resounding yes. Yet today, in a world plagued with persistent next-gen iPad, iPhone, and Android rumors, the very notion of a dedicated gaming handheld calls in doubts. I’ve had the fortune of playing with a PlayStation Vita for the past two months and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a device with tons of potential. The question is, will it ever get a chance to realize it?

Upon first glance, the Vita looks very much like its predecessor, the PlayStation Portable (PSP). Of course then you notice the second analog stick and the repositioned (and smaller) buttons. The real jaw dropper happens once you turn it on. The 5-inch OLED screen does not fail in wowing viewers. It’s bright, colorful, and crisp.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Though built on Android, the Vita interface has be redone to its own unique style. It doesn’t carry anything from the PS3 XMB. Instead you have giant bubbles that open applications, games, and functions for the device. It’s not the most innovative or sexiest of UI, but it’s made fully in the mindset of taking advantage of the touchscreen. You touch, swipe, and hold down, just as you would any other smart device you find today.

Custom Vita Home Screen

Aside from gaming, the Vita has camera, music, and video functionality. While that may have been a big plus years ago, these features seem average at best. It’s hard to really see the Vita become that all-in-one device when phones offer more music options and tablets offer a better viewing experience. Most likely it won’t be replacing any of those devices. Then again, at the end of the day, those getting the Vita aren’t getting it for the multimedia options; they’re getting it for the gaming.

So how does it do as a gaming platform? It performs remarkably. It’s essentially carrying the PS3 in your pocket. The games are snappy, vibrant, and can provide the same amount of action you’d find in the home console. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom translates nearly the same experience over on the smaller screen. The only major difference I noticed is the lack of full background movement (things move, but the stage doesn’t change over the course of a battle). Uncharted: Golden Abyss still delivers an amazing roller coaster ride worthy of the Uncharted franchise name. Make no mistake, the Vita is a device made for the traditional and hardcore gamer.

PS Vita Windows

Gaming is ultimately what it all boils down to. While detractors are quick to point out that the tablets and smartphones offer tons of successful games, the iOS and Android platform has yet to build a true marketplace for hardcore games. A few minutes of Angry Birds might do the job on a quick subway ride to work, but casual games do little to satisfy a true gaming experience. I found it difficult to put down my Vita as I found myself in a world of temple ruins, mercenaries, and treasures as Nathan Drake; I haven’t been able to say the same about any of the games I’ve played (and bought) on my iOS and Android devices.

The question to whether or not to buy the Vita is tied to the type of gamer one is. If you’re into buying hit games (especially around the day of release) and would like to bring that experience on the go (because slingshotting birds at pigs just isn’t cutting it), the Vita may be for you. The problem is whether or not third party publishers will continue to support the game past launch. There’s a decent lineup now and bringing PSP compatibility adds that cherry on top, but at even at $250, it will take a lot more hits to make this a viable and worthwhile platform.

PlayStation Store

Final Verdict: If the games you see now can tie you over for the next few months and you’re looking for a “true” gaming-on-the-go experience, the Vita is definitely an option with pursuing. If you’re on the fence, it’s better to hold off and wait to see where the Vita will go.

CES once again  kicked off the year showcasing some of the hottest tech and gadgets, from TVs and tablets to cameras and printers. Oftentimes groundbreaking tech will make its way down the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, but this year’s CES seemed to focus more on product evolution, as opposed to revolution. Most of the devices and technology shown this year seemed to be updated or improved iterations of what was shown last year. Of course, that didn’t stop things from wowing and impression attendees. So what are some of the highlights from this year? Here’s some of the best from this year’s CES.

Televisions

It was all about slim. In fact, LG boasted that their new OLED TVs were slimmer than smartphones! This year marked a variety of televisions, from 3DTVs to OLED displays to smart TVs with embedded apps and programs.

LG's Booth Entrance

LG 3D OLED TV

LG Ultraslim TVs

Panasonic Booth

Smartphones

While Android phones of all shapes and sizes spanned across halls, the Nokia Numia 900 stole the show, running Windows Phone 7.

Nokia Lumia 900

Tablets & Laptops

There seems to be a convergence between tablets and laptops. As tablets become more powerful with the ability to offer more productivity, laptops continue to shed pounds creating the new “ultrabook” category to win back consumers from their slimmer cousins. Windows 8 showcased a promising UI that would span across tablet, laptop and hybrid devices.

HP Envy

All about ultrabooks

ASUS Transformer Prime

Windows 8

Waterproofing

Next-Gen Controls

With products like Kinect and Siri out in the market, many companies looked to build upon gesture and voice-based controls.

Kinect-like Controls

Magnetic Field-based Motion Controls

Motion Control Gaming

3D Modeling

Brain Wave TV

Home Appliances

CES 2012 continued the promise the idea of connected and smart devices including refrigerators that would know when food is about to expire, washing machines that will tweet when clothing is dry, and smarter Roomba-like vacuums.

Smart Fridge

Food Expiry

Smart Washer Dryers

Instantly chill beverages within minutes

Double doors to conserve energy use

Automotive

CES is also a big destination for those in the automotive industry. HUD displays were the hot item, overlaying useful information such as GPS, points of interest and personal messages could be highlighted while behind the wheel.

Ford

Ford Sync

Ford Interior

KIA

Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Smart Dashboard

Points of Interest

H.U.D. Overlay

Other Highlights

Other highlights at CES included Maker Bot’s Replicator, which allows users to replicate items in its entirety.

Replicating a chess piece

Finished Replica

One way to showcase cameras...

To the disappointment of many, Apple announced the upcoming release of the iPhone 4S, the next iteration of the iPhone line. It wasn’t that people didn’t want a new iPhone. It was that nearly everyone expected the iPhone 5.

Sunny Skies for Apple

Is Apple becoming a victim of its own success? The last few months and weeks have been marked by a frenzy of iPhone 5 rumors and speculations. Without a single word from Apple, the media jumped on screenshots of purported iPhone prototypes, exhibiting everything from new bevels, stretched display screens, and redesigned home buttons. There were rumors of carrier deals, including a last minute $20 billion Sprint-iPhone 5 exclusivity deal that sent blogs and analysts to a fury up until the final minutes leading up to the keynote. And like internet fan fiction, stories have circulated throughout the web on a dream iPhone 5 – replete with NFC, a larger display, and 4G functionality – none of which materialized. As Apple continues to hold the title as the leader in smartphones, the public has come to expect nothing but the very most from the Cupertino giant. It’s challenged the market with leaps and bounds with the initial iPod, iPhone, and even the iPad. Yet to expect groundbreaking changes in each yearly product iteration may be a feat too big for even Apple to tackle.

Still, despite downtrodden consumers taking to the web in protest post-announcement, Tuesday’s “disappointment” is expected to be but a blip on Apple’s continued dominance of the smartphone market. iPhone 4 owners who were hoping to upgrade will simply wait out to what will now be next year’s anticipated iPhone 5. Sprint users and those looking for a new phone will still have a solid option with the iPhone 4S. The real question is, despite the “failure” to deliver the iPhone 5, will Apple truly lose any consumers? No, in fact, their consumer base is expected to continue to grow, especially as the US smartphone penetration is only at around 33% according to a July comScore report. There’s still plenty of new fish for Apple.

So lesson of the year? Rumors are only rumors until it’s official. Despite all the speculations from every analyst, website, and blog out there, nearly all but a few of the rumors ended up true. It seemed like every website, news channel, and blog labeled yesterday as an iPhone 5 event – a pretty big miss on everyone’s part. As it turns out, Apple tends to play things rather conservatively. We saw the iPhone 3G move to the 3GS, now the 4 is followed with the 4S. So we’ll probably see the 5 next year, with some sort of 5″S” model the year after. Molly Wood of CNET actually has a pretty good theory to that pattern – it comes down to carriers. Plus Apple doesn’t need to rush – it’s got the top selling phone in the market.

And so now what? Well, my suggestion, if you have an older iPhone (not iPhone 4) and your contract is up, it might be worthwhile to look into the 4S. It’s still among the best smartphones in the market and the upgrades are still quite substantial (dual-code A5 chip, Siri voice commands, improved camera). For current iPhone 4 users, you might want to wait. It’s pretty likely the iPhone 5 will be released sometime next year, with substantial upgrades to the hardware – you don’t want to lock yourself into a two year contract at this point. And for the rest of us, enjoy the 24-48 hours of rest before the next batch of iPhone rumors start cropping up. Oh wait, too late.

Before I’m instantly discounted as an Apple hater, let me preface things by saying that I’ve been a huge fan of my iPod Touch. For a while, I actually used my iPod Touch as my “computer” for my trips to New York. I was rather vocal about my love for my iPod Touch as I used it to check my emails, watch my videos, take notes, and chat online. I used it very much the way the iPad is used now.

I’m 100% sure that if the iPhone had been on Sprint, I would’ve jumped on as an iPhone user. It didn’t and since I enjoyed Sprint (and definitely wanted to avoid AT&T), I never jumped on the Apple bandwagon and eventually ended up with Android with the HTC Evo. I liked my Palm Pre but I’m loving Android, especially as my second-gen iPod Touch continues to outdate itself. I find Android as the antithesis of Apple – openness, customization – I can tweak my phone to work exactly the way I want it. I can change my SMS program so I can get instant popups (which I can answer directly on) whenever I get a text. I can upload movies/videos on any computer via a standard USB. I have one-touch widgets on my homescreen to turn on/off settings such as Bluetooth, brightness, airplane mode, and WiFi (It takes three steps to do that on iOS). You get the picture.

So why would I want to consider iOS again? For me, it’s mostly games and the third-party app support. Sure, I got Angry Birds for free on Android, but I’m still waiting on a dozen other games that have yet to be ported. I’m still amazed on how I can get a solid version of Super Street Fighter 4 on my iPod Touch. I find myself turning to my iPod all the time, playing a quick game of Civ, SF4, SimCity, Madden, Solitare, or UNO. New games come in all the time and I have no qualms spending money buying them. There’s no doubt that when it comes to gaming, Apple blows Android out of the water. I’m also a big fan of the multimedia support as well – the iPod interface is great. It’s easy to use. I’m one of those guys who actually goes through the pain of labeling everything track allowing me to find music through genre, artist, album, or any other field – iTunes and iPod allows me to navigate without issue. For some reason the tags get jumbled up on Android. While Android’s got basic functionality covered, when it comes to entertainment (which makes up a huge portion of my time), Apple takes the cake.

Sounds easy enough then. So what’s the problem? Well the one thing that’s becoming an increasingly big concern is the way Apple screws its own consumers (quite literally in one case). Yeah, the Genius Bar and customer support is great and on a day-to-day basis, Apple seems to be there for its users, but when I take a step back and look its overall policies, there’s a very different picture. Led by Steve Jobs, Apple built this whole “I’m better than you” culture. It’s certainly a feeling I get from many of their most “passionate” of fans. And yet, it’s that same attitude that’s thrown right back at them when Steve Jobs tells iPhone 4 owners that they’re holding the phone wrong. Rather than address the issue at hand, Apple shifts the blame over. We’ve seen it with the iPad lock/mute switch controversy (finally addressed in iOS 4.3 with Apple returning the option to users) as well. The latest story comes from the “screws” that Apple secretly replaces with proprietary ones, which only Apple can unscrew. It’s a blow for consumers who may want the option of getting their devices fixed at a third party vendor.

Ultimately, that’s the problem for me; Apple believes that they know best, over their consumers. They remove options whenever possible and lock users to a pricey, highly controlled path of forced upgrade and proprietary items. During CES this year, some of my iPhone friends had to carry giant battery packs to recharge their phones. All I had to do was swap the battery – an idea that Apple is looking to remove in nearly all their products. While I can transfer files via any USB cable on any computer with my phone, Apple products require you use their cable on one specific computer (when it comes to syncing or upgrading). As much as some may argue about Android fragmentation, Apple’s iOS 4.0 “upgrade” made my iPod Touch so difficult (and buggy) to use that I made sure my parents iPhone 3G was not upgraded. Apple hasn’t done too much to support older-gen devices; you’re moreorless forced to upgrade. So where is this Apple love so many people talk about?

And so I’m stuck with the decision, should I get the new iPad (2) when it comes out, supposedly in Q2? I’m sure the iPad 2 will be an amazing experience; the things Apple does, they tend to do well. It’ll continue to receive the full support of third party developers with plenty of games, apps, and programs to choose from. I’ve already invested so much in iOS as well. It’s a very tempting proposition. But as I start thinking about the lack of widgets, the dated app-only menu/UI, the lack of customization, and most importantly, the questionable care from Apple, I’m taken aback to be 50/50 in my decision. Then again, it’s still a long ways to April; who knows what stories tomorrow will bring.

CES 2011 had plenty of tablets, TVs, and phones; but what were some of the showstoppers? Below are some of the top picks of this year’s CES.

Motorola Atrix 4G

What makes this smartphone unique is its ability to dock into a lightweight laptop/desktop computer. Once docked, a desktop UI interface loads while being powered solely by the phone. The phone itself is gorgeous as well with a 960×540 display as it ran on Froyo. No release date was announced though the phone will be supported on AT&T.

Motorola Atrix

Laptop Docked Atrix

Desktop Atrix

Angry Birds on Atrix

Razer Switchblade

As gaming has shifted to portable devices, hardcore PC gamers still find themselves locked down by high spec requirements and heavy gaming units. Razer’s new concept not only brings PC gaming into a light and portable device, the keyboard, somewhat reminiscent of the Optimus keyboard, shifts the key-specific LCD displays accordingly to the game (or program).

Razer Switchblade gets WoW'ed

Razer Switchblade

RIM Blackberry Playbook

The makers behind the popular Blackberry franchise came out in full force with the Playbook. While much smaller than the iPad, the Playbook still packs quite the punch. Not only did it handle multitasking smoothly (running video, webpages, gaming without a pause), the UI was easy to use.

Blackberry Playbook

Qi Wireless Charging

Fulton Innovation showed a wide range of practical applications for wireless charging. From recharging (Tesla) electric cars to heating soups to cereals and toys animated on store shelves, this new technology may bring about change from your desk to the store.

Tesla getting charged from mat below

Inductive Wireless Charging

Wireless Soup Heating

Box-front Integration

Motorola Xoom

CNET’s Best of CES 2011 went to the Motorola Xoom. The first tablet to use Android’s 3.0 Honeycomb. Honeycomb is made specifically for the tablet experience. Though limited to pre-recorded video, Motorola showcased their tablet, highlighting revised interfaces for Google Books, YouTube, and browsing.

Motorola Xoom

LG Glasses-free TV

3-D continued to reign supreme on the floors of CES. With the consumer backlash against the need for glasses, several companies revealed glasses-free technology. While these new TVs were still limited around three ideal viewing apots, it’s at least a small step in the right direction.

Glasses-Free TV

Rejoice, Blackberry enthusiasts! Boy Genius Report has posted a 10 minute video of the Blackberry Playbook in action. Though the tablet was announced by RIM earlier this year, there was no live demo of the unit. The video shows a fair amount, including multitasking, application (Music, Video, etc.), and the virtual keyboard.

There’s still no update on the final price or release date. Still, it’s good to see another take on the tablet.

With the holiday shopping season descending upon the nation, news outlets and blogs alike have been set ablaze with the latest deals. What’s worth getting though? Here’s a few tidbits, tips, and thoughts for this year’s holiday!

Should I get an iPad?

- Short answer, no. If you’ve waited this long to get one, chances are you can wait a little bit longer. Given Apple’s yearly refresh cycles for their products, it’s near certain that we’ll see an updated iPad (and a price drop for the existing model) by April, with an announcement as early as January. Features of this new iPad are still anyone’s guess, but some top predictions include a front-facing camera and a sharper display.

Should I buy a 3-D TV?

- 3-D is getting forced upon the market, whether we like it or not. Fortunately the costs of a 3-D set aren’t significantly higher than a regular TV. We’re still a year or two off from seeing 3-D really hit the mainstream market. Still, if you are on the market for a new TV regardless and have a little extra to spend, 3-D might be worth looking into.

Is it a good time to buy an HDTV?

- Yes. In anticipation of slower sales this year, TVs have dropped in price. Check out the Panasonic 32″ 1080p Viera LCD for $380. You can’t really go wrong with any of the major brands. Most of the discounted TVs are the 60Hz models. Is it really worth the extra dough for a 120Hz or 240Hz model? You’ll notice differences as you move up, especially from the 60Hz to the 120Hz. Unless you have the extra cash and want the latest in your entertainment system, the lower options work just as well.  Also, don’t be fooled by those upsells of “premium” cables! They may claim to work better on 120Hz or 1080p, but countless tests have shown that all these cables work the same. The big box retailers tend to sell the most expensive of cables. Do your cable shopping online – HDMI cables (or any cables for that matter) should not cost over $10.

Which e-book reader should I get?

- Between the Kindle, Nook, and iPad, e-books have become one of the big items for 2010. The Amazon Kindle is your best bet. Amazon has the largest collection of books, clearly beating out the competition. It’s also the most versatile, as the Kindle app is also available on iPhone, Android, PC, etc. It is the most limited among the readers out there, using black/white e-ink while the Nook and iPad offer robust color displays. If you do have a child, the iPad might be worth considering, for both color books and interactive children’s apps/games. *Note: On Black Friday (11/26), Amazon is offering the older model for $89! Amazon Facebook

Should I get a Kinect/Move?

- No. In both cases, it’s simply way too early to tell if there’ll be enough support from third party developers. The Playstation Move follows the footsteps of the Wii, offering wireless controllers that track your movement. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but the 1:1 tracking looks promising for gaming. The Kinect has become the new Wii, as the latest item to get your parents, aunts, and younger siblings dancing, swinging, and jumping to some family friendly games. There doesn’t seem to be much for the hardcore gamer, but it’s definitely a new experience for everyone. Then again, that was said about the Wii which now is slowly collecting dust on the shelf.

Should I get a PS3 or an Xbox 360?

- There’s a few factors to consider if you’re deciding on which console to get. For the most part, most major games can be found on both platforms, so unless you have to get the latest Halo or Gran Turismo, the gaming library isn’t as much of a factor as it used to be. If you’re a fan of multiplayer, however, definitely look to where your friends are as there isn’t cross-platform multiplayer. If you’re a big entertainment enthusiast, the PS3 is the better choice with Blu-ray, Hulu Plus, and Neflix streaming (at 1080p and 5.1 surround sound) support.

Top Shopping Apps

- Here’s a few links to some lists of apps for all your shopping needs. Personally, I’m a big fan of CNET’s Scan & Shop (for Android), which in a recent field test did a better job finding the lowest price compared to Google’s Shopper app (which is still a solid app nonetheless).

CNET’s Top Shopping Apps

Gizmodo’s Top Android Shopping Apps

Gizmodo’s Top iPhone Shopping Apps

In yesterday’s developer’s conference, RIM revealed their tablet, named the “Playbook.”

Specs-wise, the Playbook has a 7 inch LCD capacitive touchscreen. With only 0.4″ in thickness, the device weighs under a pound. It uses a 1GHz dual-core chip and has 1GB of built-in RAM. The tablet features a front and back-facing camera, 1080p video playback, (micro) USB 2.0 and support for Flash 10.1. While the Playbook will support WiFi, the initial model, according to CNET, will not have a 3G nor 4G antenna. Users will need to pair the tablet to their Blackberry phones (via Bluetooth).

While’s it’s easy to quickly draw comparisons to other tablet devices, especially the iPad, RIM’s device is clearly aimed at the enterprise market. The device will work to sync with Blackberry phones while testing has already begun with developers and certain corporate “customers.” The USB port can potentially be a useful addition, allowing users to transfer files between the Playbook and other devices. RIM is looking to expand their app store as well, providing new tools (and ad-support) to developers. While there might actually be a chance of getting (a non-texted based parody of) Angry Birds for Blackberry, don’t expect anything close to the Apple App Store, at least not yet.

There’s no word on pricing or exact release date. Currently it’s slated for early 2011. For most consumers, the Blackberry PlayBook probably won’t be the ideal tablet device, but if you’re a heavy Blackberry user (or need your fix of BBM on the road), you may want to keep close watch.

Here’s the preview video from RIM:

Finding iTunes to sluggish and slow on your computer? Check out CNET’s “How To” guide below on how to install iTunes without all the extra (and unnecessary) bloatware.

As an iPod Touch owner, I’m often left to the mercy of WiFi hotspots when I’m out and about; sometimes the connection works great, but in a crowded spot, connecting could get pretty tough.  If you’re a heavy iPod Touch user, you may want to consider Sprint’s upcoming 3G-case. Essentially a MiFi-like device, the case allows you to connect to Sprint’s 3G network. Another plus is that you’re not limited to just the iPod Touch; you can connect your other devices as well.

No word yet on pricing or release date. Still, if you’re finding yourself limited without an internet connection on your iPod Touch, this may be something to consider.

[Ars Technica]