Product Reviews Net |
- Motorola Xoom: UK Price Confirmed – 3G and WiFi Models
- Battlefield 3: PC Graphics better than Xbox 360, PS3 – Does it Matter
- Mortal Kombat 2011: Xbox 360 Exclusive Content Isn’t as good as PS3
- ClubWorld: New Real-Time Simulation Game for iOS
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo: UK Suffers Release Date Delay
- Learn Yoga Poses with Free iPhone Apps
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Update Rolled Out by Verizon – Changelog
- SOCOM 4 Buyers Get Resistance 3 Beta
- BlackBerry Torch 2 Early Specs and Photos (Shows OS 6.1)
- Mass Effect 3: New Details Unveiled – Excludes Multiplayer
- Verizon iPad 2: Owners complaining of 3G issues
- Burn the Rope iOS Game Receives New ‘Puzzle of the Day’ Feature
- Google Chrome 10, Extensions for Facebook Users
- Acer Iconia Tab A500: US Pricing and release date
- Dirt 3 Collector’s Edition Unveiled: Priced up at $300
- Samsung Bada 2 Release Date July 2011?
- Disgaea 4 US Release Date Confirmed for September
- Panasonic 2011 Viera TV: BBC iPlayer added to line-up
- Harvest Moon Game Heading to Nintendo DS / 3DS
- Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary: Sega Teases New Game
| Motorola Xoom: UK Price Confirmed – 3G and WiFi Models Posted: 09 Apr 2011 01:46 AM PDT We have some good news for those of you in the UK that have been patiently waiting to get your hands on the Motorola Xoom tablet. Motorola has just confirmed pricing for both the WiFi and 3G versions of the device. As expected, the Xoom won’t come cheap in the UK, as the cheapest version available is the WiFi-only model for £480. If you want to buy the 3G version instead, you’ll have to fork out an extra £100 since it will be available online and from retailers in-store for £580, as reported from Engadget. Confirmed retailers in the UK so far are Carphone Warehouse and PC World, but you can expect to find it at a lot of other places as well, such as Currys, Staples and direct from network operators as well. In our opinion, £480 is not too bad for a device which features top of the range specs such as a 1Ghz Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, a 2MP front camera, 5MP rear camera, 1GB of RAM and much more. Futhermore, the device is available to pre-order now so you won’t have to wait much longer to get your hands on one in the UK. What are your thoughts on the pricing? Is £480 acceptable for you or not? You can view more information on the Motorola Xoom product page here. For more coverage:
      |
| Battlefield 3: PC Graphics better than Xbox 360, PS3 – Does it Matter Posted: 09 Apr 2011 12:36 AM PDT We have some major news for those of you planning to pick up Battlefield 3 in November this year, as EA DICE has seemingly confirmed that the PC version of the game will take full advantage of the Frostbite 2.0 engine, resulting in higher quality graphics than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. The comments have come from EA DICE executive producer Patrick Bach, when he was speaking in a recent interview with VideoGamer. Below are the key parts of his statement about the PC version. ”What we’re showing on PC might look better than on console. The higher resolution, the higher framerate, the anti-aliasing, the motion blur, stuff like that. We can’t have it to the same quality on the console.” However, Bach was keen to point out that the console versions of Battlefield 3 will still be of the highest quality, even going as far to say that it will ‘probably’ be the best looking game out on console period. As an Xbox 360 or PS3 owner reading his comments though, what are your thoughts? Will you still pick up a console version of the game, or will you now get it on PC to get the best graphics possible. We all saw EA’s mind blowing gameplay trailers for Battlefield 3, and if the console versions look significantly worse, it might persuade a few owners to get the PC version instead. Hopefully we see some console gameplay soon so we can get a better idea of what EA DICE are planning. For more coverage:
   |
| Mortal Kombat 2011: Xbox 360 Exclusive Content Isn’t as good as PS3 Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:20 PM PDT Thinking of getting the PS3 version of Mortal Kombat because you feel you have no choice? Hold on just a second as it looks as if the Xbox 360 will be getting some exclusive content after all. If reports are true, Xbox 360 owners won’t be getting an exclusive console character, but they will be getting a sizeable amount of content. This hasn’t been confirmed by NetherRealm Studios yet, but a report over at Game Informer has listed the content that Xbox 360 owners will be getting with the game. Assuming the details are true, you’ll be able to download the Scarlet (Lady in Red) DLC character for free for a limited time on Xbox Live – that’s not too bad actually if PS3 owners have to pay for the same content. Aside from that, you’ll get The Pit 360 stage, which is a remake of the Pit III level from Mortal Kombat 3, avatar goodies for King of the Hill and other modes, and also a full mode called Puzzle Kombat which is apparently exclusive on the Xbox 360. Obviously, it’s no Kratos but it’s not too bad for Xbox 360 owners. Ed Boon has even been commenting on the content leak on Twitter by classing it as ‘rumor’ only. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s confirmed officially though. Are you happy with the content Xbox 360 owners, or do you still want an exclusive console character? For more coverage:
   |
| ClubWorld: New Real-Time Simulation Game for iOS Posted: 08 Apr 2011 02:46 PM PDT A couple of weeks back we brought you details on a brand new nightclub management game for iOS devices called Nightclub Story, which enables players to create and manage their very own nightclub. Well now it appears that a similar game has just hit the Apple App Store. The game we are talking about is ClubWorld, which was created by the award-winning developer Tapulous. This brand new real-time simulation game for iOS devices does pretty much the same as the Nightclub Story app, in the fact that it allows users to design and operate their very own club. Players can keep the music going all night, using tracks from their iTunes playlists. They can even deck out their nightclubs with the loudest speakers, the comfiest seating and the coolest dance floors. However, they've also got to remember to keep the bar well stocked. The ClubWorld app, which is fully optimized for the Retina Display, also enables players to make new friends via a music matchmaking system, visit their friends' nightclubs by visiting the ClubWorld Strip and check out clubs from special guest artists such as David Guetta and Tiesto. As noted over on the itunes.apple.com website, the app is compatible with the iPhone, ipod Touch and iPad, as long as they are running iOS 3.0 or above. Do you like the sound of this new real-time simulation game? For more coverage:
   |
| Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo: UK Suffers Release Date Delay Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:38 PM PDT A few days ago we announced that the much-awaited Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo smartphone – which runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread – would be released on April 19th in the UK. However, that doesn't appear to be the case now, as the UK release date has unfortunately suffered a delay. According to a recent article over on the blog.clove.co.uk website, Sony Ericsson has now confirmed that the Xperia Neo will not be arriving in the UK until sometime in July. The delay is due to a disruption in the supply chain resulting from the devastating events in Japan last month. Sony Ericsson stated that although they are currently working on finding an alternative supply solution, July is the earliest date that they can give for release at this stage. The company said they have taken this action to improve the supply rather than launching the device with low stock. It isn't just the Xperia Neo that has been affected by the supply issue either. Sony Ericsson said that both the Xperia Play and Arc will also be affected and stock will no doubt be in very short supply over the next few weeks. We'll keep you updated if we hear news of another launch date. Were you hoping to pick up the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo on April 19th? For more coverage:
   |
| Learn Yoga Poses with Free iPhone Apps Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:11 PM PDT Millions of people across the world look to yoga and the benefits it can give to health and well being. With technology today there are more ways for people who want to learn yoga to get help, and mobile applications are a great way to learn yoga poses. Yoga Free for iPad is currently being used by over a million people worldwide, and comes with 200 poses which have detailed photos and instructions. Users can create and edit their own yoga routine quickly and easily. There is also a readymade routine, and a training mode will help beginners. Capital Yoga is another free application which has been designed by Jamine Ackert who teaches yoga to other teachers. The app includes parts of the Jamine's Beginning Yoga class. Each pose is accompanied with photos and both audio and written instructions. Users can even choose their own music while using the app. This is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Yoga with Tania Lite is a preview for other applications, but it still has ten yoga poses with pictures, with written and verbal guidance. There are also two guided warm-up sequences, and is suitable for levels of skill. Owners of iOS Devices can enjoy this application. Use the links provided to find out more and to download. For more coverage:
   |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Update Rolled Out by Verizon – Changelog Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:48 AM PDT If you own the Samsung Galaxy Tab and use Verizon Wireless for data access we have some great news for you today, an update has been rolled out by the carrier and some of the changes will be welcomed by many. In terms of web browsing and data access there are two major improvements, on the whole browser performance and speed should be much better also battery life should not drain whilst searching for WiFi hotspots, as for messaging and email there are six major changes including support for 5MB attachments (videos), support for Word 2000-2003 attached documents and access to hyperlinks within emails. You can see a PDF document showing all of the changes here, some less-noticeable changes include bug fixes for the alarm clock and calendar, also Adobe Flash Player has been updated to 10.1.95.2. Full download and installation instructions have been supplied by Verizon and can be seen here (PDF file), the download is 34MB in size and the installation process looks pretty simple, as a precaution we recommend that you back up important data just in case. We would love to hear if you have successfully installed this update, let us know if you have in the comments section below, be sure to mention any other nice changes you have noticed. For more coverage:
   |
| SOCOM 4 Buyers Get Resistance 3 Beta Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT With SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs being released this month some of you maybe wondering whether or not to buy the PS3 exclusive, well we may have some information which will help you make your decision. According to a recent article posted on IGN every copy of SOCOM 4 Full Deployment Edition will come with a code for beta access to the Resistance 3 beta, however you will have to check the packaging for the Resistance 3 logo if you are purchasing the standard version of the game. At the end of this post we have embedded an image showing the box art with the Resistance 3 logo showing, this may result in more in-store purchases as buying online will not ensure that you will get the beta access, which will obviously be frustrating for those of you who have already pre-ordered the the standard edition of SOCOM 4. For once in-store purchases are being rewarded as most of the time online retailers offer such bonuses, the question is: Will this be enough for you to buy SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs in-store on its release date (April 19 North America)? For more coverage:
   |
| BlackBerry Torch 2 Early Specs and Photos (Shows OS 6.1) Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:38 AM PDT Lots of people bought BlackBerry smartphones in 2010 therefore RIM will be keen to build on this success in 2011, however some wonder if RIM can compete with high-end Windows Phone 7 and Google Android handsets this year. Recently the BlackBerry Torch 2 showed up on BGR, could this be RIM’s flagship high-end smartphone this year? Nothing has been officially confirmed by Research in Motion, however BGR claim that the Torch 2 features a 1.2GHz processor, a display resolution of 640 x 480 and OS 6.1. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 ran OS 6.0, featured a 624 MHz processor and a resolution of 480 x 360. As you can see you have roughly double the processing power and a much clearer display. BGR also say that the Torch 2 is exactly the same size and shape as the last Torch, this may be a disappointment to some, however if you check out these photos you will see that the design does not look dated, also the screens hint at quite a lot of new and improved features in OS 6.1. One of the screens shows us BlackBerry PlayBook pairing via Bluetooth, another shows some sort of GPS location calibration. We can’t wait to see just how snappy OS 6.1 runs with a 1.2GHz processor, when we come across a hands-on video we will keep you posted, do you like the sound of the Torch 2? We have embedded a photo of it below. For more coverage:
   |
| Mass Effect 3: New Details Unveiled – Excludes Multiplayer Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:30 AM PDT Up until now we haven't really had much information on the much-anticipated Mass Effect 3 game, other than the fact that it will be released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. However, the latest issue of Game Informer appears to have unveiled a few new details. According to a recent article by Robert Purchese over on the eurogamer.net website, the developer BioWare has apparently revealed that although there won't be any multiplayer modes in the Mass Effect 3 game, they will consider it for any future games and spin-offs. The role-playing elements of the Mass Effect series are being expanded for the Mass Effect 3 title. Not only will powers be able to evolve several times, but skill trees will also be larger than before. Weapon mods will also be making a return in the third installment. All weapons will now be able to be used by all of the classes, although it's only the soldier that is able to pack all of the options at one time. Many characters will be making a return in Mass Effect 3 including Kaidan Alenko, Ashley Williams, Liara Tsoni, Wrex and Legion. You can read what other features you can look forward to via the eurogamer.net website. Are you eager to play the Mass Effect 3 game? For more coverage:
   |
| Verizon iPad 2: Owners complaining of 3G issues Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT Since Verizon Wireless first got the CDMA iPhone it has managed to chalk up some good sales volumes. Buy not everything is all rosy over at the Verizon network, as reports are coming in that some iPad 2 owners are complaining of connection problems using 3G. Cnets John Scott Lewinski is reporting that owners are complaining that they have to reboot their iPads if they want to use 3G, after switching it off before. An Apple discussions thread is growing longer by the minute with users complaining about the issue. The Wi-Fi connections seem to be ok, but when trying to use 3G it can take several minutes to connect if at all. Once users deactivate the 3G they can't switch it back on without rebooting, and switching the iPad in and out of airplane mode makes no difference. Owners have spent hours phoning Apple Customer Service or made trips to the Genius Bar, and not solved the problem. Some have had their iPad 2s replaced but still got the same problem, and a few users have said they are thinking of returning to AT&T because of the problems. This issue seems to be down to a problem on the Verizon Wireless network, and must be really frustrating for owners. Have you had any problems with your iPad 2 3G connection? For more coverage:
   |
| Burn the Rope iOS Game Receives New ‘Puzzle of the Day’ Feature Posted: 08 Apr 2011 08:31 AM PDT Back in February Big Blue Bubble's popular Burn the Rope iOS game received an update, bringing with it the much-awaited support for the iPhone 4's Retina Display. Now we have more great news for Burn the Rope fans, as the app has just received another update. According to Anthony Usher at pocketgamer.co.uk, the developer has updated both the paid and lite version of the popular iOS game with a new 'Puzzle of the Day' feature. As you can tell by the name, the new feature provides users with a brand new puzzle to download every day. All the new levels are designed by other Burn the Rope players. The Burn the Rope lite version has also received a new 'Unlocking System' feature, which enables players to unlock all the levels from the paid version of the puzzle game for nothing. You can only do this by downloading and opening one of the numerous other free games suggested by the application. The Burn the Rope game – which is a Pocket Gamer Bronze Award winner – features more than 112 levels, Game Center support and tilt and turn controls. Do you already have the Burn the Rope app downloaded on your iOS device? If not, would you consider downloading it with the new update? For more coverage:
   |
| Google Chrome 10, Extensions for Facebook Users Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT Recently I set up my friends computer who pretty much uses his home computer for a bit of gaming but mainly Facebook, I thought I would install a couple of Chrome extensions for him and I must say that he was very impressed with two of them, therefore I thought I would share these with you. Firstly to use these extensions you must have Google Chrome installed, some people are unsure whether or not to install an alternative to Internet Explorer or Safari, however it in my opinion is faster, more secure and more intuitive than Microsoft’s and Apple’s attempts. You can download and install Google Chrome here, it won’t bite! (If you do not like Chrome you can easily uninstall it). If you are unfamiliar with what extensions do they are basically small apps which integrate with your web browser, today we will introduce you to two Google Chrome extensions which are great if you use Facebook on a regular basis, these are: Facebook Photo Zoom and Facebook for Google Chrome. Facebook Photo Zoom can be installed here, it is a simple extensions which allows you to hover over image thumbnails on photos, this means you can easily see full-sized images without clicking on the thumbnail. If for some reason you want to temporarily turn of this extenionsion you can toggle it on and off via a button which shows up in the bottom right of the page. Another extension which impressed me was Facebook for Google Chrome, you can install this here, it adds a button to the top right-hand corner of Chrome, simply press this to post status updates, view the news feed, see your Facebook wall, access messages and check your notifications. Once installed you can access Facebook easier than ever. Give these extensions a try and let us know if they impressed you in the comments section. Know of a better Facebook-related Google Chrome Extensions, leave us a comment and we may feature it in a future post. For more coverage:
   |
| Acer Iconia Tab A500: US Pricing and release date Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:37 AM PDT While most of the tablet PC talk of late has been about the iPad 2, there is still some worthy devices becoming available. Acer has announced today the US pricing and release date for its Android based Iconia Tab A500. The tablet which will run Androids 3.0 Honeycomb OS has just been released for Preorders at Best Buy, with in-store pre-ordering beginning on April 14. It will actually go on sale on April 24 according to a report by Damon Poeter of PCMAG. Priced at $500 the Wi-Fi enabled tablet PC is powered by Nvidia’s 1-GHz Tegra 250 Cortex A9 dual-core chip. It has 16 GB of storage and 1 GB of memory. Acer has stated the tablet will come preloaded with a couple of neat games, Let's Golf and Need for Speed: Shift. Owners will also get Google Books, eReading apps for eBooks, LumiRead, and Zinio reader for digital magazines. The new Acer tablet weighs only 1.69 pounds, and is only half of an inch in width. It also has a 5-megapixel camera round the back, with a 2-megapixel shooter on the front. There is the ability for sharing HD video with other devices via its HDMI port, and Acer says the device can achieve an impressive ten hours from the battery if it is used just for web browsing. The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is an impressive looking device, but can it compete with the iPad? For more coverage:
   |
| Dirt 3 Collector’s Edition Unveiled: Priced up at $300 Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:09 AM PDT Although Limited/Collector's Editions of video games can sometimes cost a considerable amount more than the standard edition, I don't think we've ever heard of one that costs as much as $300. That is until now anyway, as there does appear to be a Collector's Edition priced up at $300. According to David Collins over at gamefocus.ca, the Dirt 3 Collector's Edition has recently appeared on the GameStop website, with a price tag of $299.99. I expect there are a lot of gamers out there right now that are wondering what exactly you get for that kind of money!! Apart from a copy of the upcoming rally game, the Collector's Edition also includes a functional remote control car. We're not talking about any old RC car either. The RC car that's included in the bundle is a Model 7309 Traxxas Ken Block Gymkhana Fiesta that's fully assembled and ready to race. The Ken Block Gymkhana Fiesta comes with a TQ 2.4GHz high output AM radio system with Traxxas Link, officially licensed Volk Racing TE37 wheels, 7.2 volt NiMH battery and charger, an impact absorbing foam front bumper and a ProGraphix painted body. Would you buy the Collector's Edition of Dirt 3 for $300? For more coverage:
   |
| Samsung Bada 2 Release Date July 2011? Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:00 AM PDT Last year Samsung released the Samsung Wave S8500, this smartphone was pretty unique as it was the first-ever bada-based handset to hit the shelves, now we are hearing that bada 2.0 could be on its way. Nothing has been officially confirmed, however a recent article posted on SamsungHub (who sourced their information from Financial Express) suggests that bada 2.0 could arrive in July. We don’t doubt this as developers released the bada 2 alpha back in February. Most recent Samsung smartphones have either ran Android or Windows Phone 7, therefore many thought that the bada operating system’s days were numbered, however sales in India are said to be pretty impressive. You can see a video here which appears to show the Samsung Wave II running bada 2.0, on the whole the OS looks pretty good, however you can tell that it is in its early stages. Comments on YouTube suggest that bada 2.0 may be compatible with the original Wave, however we cannot officially confirm this just yet. With release information finally being revealed we would love to hear what you expect from bada 2.0, we must confess we have no hands-on time with any bada-based devices, however hands-on videos look pretty neat. What features and improvements would you like to see when Samsung release bada 2.0? For more coverage:
   |
| Disgaea 4 US Release Date Confirmed for September Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:33 AM PDT If you are a fan of the Disgaea video games we have some great news for you, release date information has finally been revealed for Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten. According to a recent article posted on VG247 the PlayStation 3 game will arrive in North America sometime in September this year. Apparently it should also be released in Europe sometime this year, however no detailed information has been given. The turned based game has sold pretty will in Japan and reviews have been pretty complimentary, the last Disgaea game hit the US in mid-2008 therefore a new release is long overdue. Imperfections with the last game included dated graphics and poor camera control, it will be interesting to see if Nippon Ichi Software has listened to critics this time around. Hopefully we will hear a more accurate release date soon, when we do we will keep you posted, will you buy Disgaea 4 on its release date? Let us know in the comments section below. For more coverage:
   |
| Panasonic 2011 Viera TV: BBC iPlayer added to line-up Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:02 AM PDT Panasonic are about to be using the addition of the BBC iPlayer with their internet connected 2011 Viera Television line up. But the older TV sets are not included. Be aware it's just the twenty four new flat-panel Panasonic 2011 Viera TVs coming out this year that will only be compliant, which is Plasma and LCD models in sizes ranging from 65-inches down to 32-inches. Some older internet ready Viera models will unfortunately not be able to access the BBC iPlayer service, according to Kate Solomon from TechRadar. With a large amount of set top boxes available there's no need to worry, having one of these will gain you entry to the iPlayer services. You can also use certain gaming consoles like the PS3, and the Wii from Nintendo will give you access. Viera Connect, the newly titled Panasonic cloud-based connected TV service will make the iPlayer part of its service. This gives you Twitter apps, Picasa, Skype, and access to YouTube as well as the iPlayer. Could Panasonic adding the iPlayer to 2011 Viera Television give you a reason to invest in a new TV? For more coverage:
   |
| Harvest Moon Game Heading to Nintendo DS / 3DS Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:41 AM PDT When the Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns farming simulation game was first released for the Nintendo DS back in July 2010, it was only available in Japan. However, Natsume has just confirmed that the game is now heading to the Nintendo DS and 3DS in the US this summer. According to a recent article by Mike Jackson over at computerandvideogames.com, the Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns game tells the story of two towns – who were friendly neighbors at one point – that are locked in a battle over which town has the better food. Players will of course have to choose which town they want to live in: the European-style BlueBell Town or the Eastern-influenced Konohaha. One they have made their choice, players must then join in the usual farming activities that you can expect from the Harvest Moon series. Hiro Mackawa – CEO of Natsume – has promised gamers that the Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns game features exciting new gameplay mechanics, a new cast of characters and fun festivals. You can view the Japanese launch trailer via the computerandvideogames.com website. Have you ever played any of the previous Harvest Moon games? If you have, will you be buying the latest instalment? For more coverage:
   |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary: Sega Teases New Game Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:19 AM PDT Sega's famous mascot Sonic the Hedgehog turns 20 this year and as a way of celebrating the character's 20th anniversary, the company has been teasing a brand new Sonic-themed game. Not only has it been hinted about on Facebook and Twitter, but has also received its own teaser trailer. As Kevin McGuire over at examiner.com recently noted, the newly released trailer unfortunately does not reveal a title for the upcoming game. However, a recent discovery of domain names obtained by Sega suggests that the new game could possibly be called Sonic Generations. The trailer begins with Sonic the Hedgehog running through a landscape resembling that of a more traditional side-scrolling Sonic adventure. He is then seen side-by-side with another Sonic, which looks more like the Sonic the Hedgehog character from older style Sonic games. Although it doesn't give a specific release date, the trailer – which appears to have created quite a buzz among Sonic fans – ends with the message 'Coming 2011.' It also shows that the new game will be available for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. You can view the trailer below this post. Could the two separate Sonic characters in the video be a hint of co-op gameplay perhaps? What do you think of the new teaser trailer? For more coverage:
   |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Product Reviews: To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment