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by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:21- Categories:
- Apple iPad
With a production cost of $188 per unit and an RRP of $329, the odd cynic among us may well consider the iPad Mini just a tad overpriced.
The estimated figures, which were revealed this week by HIS iSuppli analysts, indicate that Apple stands to make a 43 per cent profit on each tablet sold.
To put that into perspective, iSuppli found that Google’s 8GB Nexus 7 has a build cost of around $151.75 and a retail price of $200, therefore yielding a gross margin of 24 per cent on each sale.
Apple’s iPad Mini came in for further criticism recently, after US comedian and chat show host Conan O’Brien questioned the need for yet another Apple product
http://store.apple.com/uk/buy/home/s...mily/ipad_mini ...by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:12- Categories:
- Retro Consoles/Translation News
The 1980s cult classic could be getting a new sequel if famed UK developer David Braben’s Kickstarter project is a success.
Elite: Dangerous is seeking an ambitious £1.25m, of which it has currently raised £75,439 from 1,436 backers.
“The original Elite fitted into around 22K of memory, out of a total of 32K on the BBC Micro Model B computer on which it was launched (8K was needed for the screen, 2K for the system),” Braben wrote in the pitch.
“This is less than a single typical email today. In it were eight galaxies each with 256 star systems. Each planet in those systems had its own legal system, economy and so on. Clearly some magic had to happen to fit it into 22K, and that magic was procedural generation.
“Imagine what is now possible, squeezing the last drop of performance from modern computers in the way Eliteand Frontier did in their days? It is not just a question of raw performance (though of course these elements will make it look gorgeous), but we can push the way the networking works too – something very few people had access to in the days of Frontier.
“Elite: Dangerous is the game I have wanted Frontier to make for a very long time. The next game in the Elite series – an amazing space epic with stunning visuals, incredible gameplay and breath-taking scope, but this time you can play with your friends too.
“We’re using Kickstarter both as a means of test-marketing the concept to verify there is still interest in such a game that extends beyond the individuals who regularly contact me about the game, and raising the funds to do so.”
Although best known for co-writing Elite in the earlier 1980s, more recent project of Braben’s is the Raspberry Pi – a credit card sized personal PC aimed at teaching basic computer science in schools.
There’s still 59 days to go and plenty of pledges to get involved in, check out the Elite: Dangerous Kickstarter page for more information.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ngerous/029540
...by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:10- Categories:
- PC News
We all know that exposés of poor computer repairs by consumer campaigners lower customer confidence and damage reputations. But what can or should be done about it?
PCR reported last month that TV programme Watchdoginvestigated a computer repair outfit following a series of customer complaints.
Since then, it's become clear that the effects of that show have hit some businesses very hard.
Consider that many computing firms have similar names.
Ronald Bannister of Click4 Computers has had several enquiries on his Facebook page from customers wondering if his was the firm exposed (it’s not).
ONE MAN'S STORY
Bannister told PCR: “Yes I have been affected by it. Recently I started trying to advertise online. I started to get a few calls through Google Adwords, and it seemed to be working well.
"But then Watchdog featured the companies Click4 PC and Click Computers, and unfortunately the name I am trading as is similar, so when people headed onto the internet searching for the company, they found me.
"People then started posting questions on my Facebook page. I left the first one on there, asking if I was the company on Watchdog, to which I replied stating I wasn't and listing how my business practices are different.
"I also noticed a large increase in clicks on my Google Adwords ad, which rapidly decreased my advertising credit. Then I started to receive a number of prank calls.
"I contacted Watchdog regarding this, and they said there was nothing they could do. In the end they just offered to send me a letter to show to customers confirming it was not me.
"But I don't know what damage has been done long term to my business. I have many happy customers, and some of them have taken business cards from me to hand out to people. But now I don't know if they might have called me, but won't now after seeing Watchdog and incorrectly assuming my business was the one they featured.
"Prank calls seem to have stopped for the moment, but the long term damage can’t be assessed yet.”
RESEARCH IS A NECESSITY
It's can't be easy, working all hours to build a business, only to see something outside of your control damage your reputation.
But why are consumers attracted to these businesses that are being exposed in the first place?
“It never ceases to amaze me how customers will spend more time researching a plumber to fix their shower than a computer store who is going to work on something where photos, bank details and other sensitive data are stored," said Jason Eccles from SimplyFixIT.
"Customers should spend a bit of time looking for a reputable company to do their computer repairs."
WHICH? FOUND FAILINGS TOO
Watchdog isn't the only consumer campaigner on the case. The magazine Which? sent out 24 laptops for repair, including six to independents, but only half were successful and yet all of them charged. The independents were all Brigantia members.
MOVING ON: EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATION
In light of the report, which it is taking very seriously, Brigantia said that it was working on rolling out an educational programme for members of its National National Laptop Repair scheme.
Education and accreditation must be the way forward.
CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux commented: “Consumers can be confident of their computer and IT services providers if they look for suppliers that have earned industry-supported business credentials, such as the CompTIA Trustmarks and Accredit UK.”
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...pairers/029543 ...by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:08- Categories:
- Android News
The latest Kaspersky Lab research shows that Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread was the most popular target for cybercriminals in Q3, closely followed by the latest version Ice Cream Sandwich.
The rapid growth in the number of new mobile malicious programs for Android continued in the third quarter, prompting Kaspersky Lab to identify the platform versions most frequently targeted by cybercriminals.
Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread accounted for 28 per cent of all blocked attempts to install malware, while the second most commonly attacked version was the new 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, which accounted for 22 per cent of attempts.
“Although Gingerbread was released back in September 2011, due to the segmentation of the Android device market it still remains one of the most popular versions, which, in turn, attracts increased interest from cybercriminals,” commented Yuri Namestnikov, senior malware analyst at Kaspersky Lab.
“The popularity of the most recent version of the Android OS – Ice Cream Sandwich – among virus writers can be explained by the fact that the devices running the latest versions of the OS are more suitable for online activities. Unfortunately, users actively surfing the web often end up on malicious sites.”
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...malware/029542 ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 22:13- Categories:
- PC News,
- Android News,
- Apple iPad
Three months is a long time in tablet-land, it seems. Since we last brought you a buyer's guide, a few things have changed. In fact, this is probably the biggest shake-up yet, with not only the long-rumored iPad mini making an appearance, but also new offerings from two other big guns -- Microsoft and Google. Oh, and that means there's a whole new species of device altogether. With Windows RT finally shipping, there's new hardware to go with it, and we expect to see more popping up on the list in the months to come. This is all good news for you prospective tablet owners, as more competition can only mean more choice. With more options, though, comes more confusion. That's where we come in, armed with a few notable picks. Read on to find out what made the cut this season.
10-inch tablets
No, it's not the new iPad. It's the newest iPad. Or, to avoid any confusion, the fourth-generation iPad. Whatever you want to call it, it was a pleasant -- and wholly unexpected -- surprise to see the still relatively young Retina tablet get a refresh. What's new? Well, mainly that A6X processor, which blew our socks off when we tested it, but there's also an improved front-facing camera, and that tiny littleLightning 2 port. Battery life is longer than before, to boot. Fortunately, this fourth-gen iPad costs the same as the previous iteration. That's great news -- unless you just bought the old "new iPad," that is.
When Microsoft announced the Surface for Windows RT tablet, Windows fans took a collective gasp of excitement. In addition to this version of Windows, tailored for ARM-powered devices, prospective buyers will enjoy a minimum of 32GB of storage, an optically bonded, 10.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display and some solid in / out options (full USB, SD card reader, HD video out). The apps available might not reach the same levels of the competition just yet, but with most of Microsoft's big hitters (Word, Excel,SkyDrive, Internet Explorer) pre-installed, and with more and more big titles coming to the platform every week, this won't be an issue for long. In fact, if you're already on board with Surface for Windows RT, the biggest problem is likely what color Touch Cover keyboard you might want to treat yourself to.
The third big name to launch a new slate in almost as many weeks? That'd be our friends at Mountain View. If there is a tablet-making rulebook, please don't ever send one to Google. What does the new Nexus 10 have to say for itself? New OS? Check, 1.7GHz processor? Yup. Mind-melting 2,560 x 1,600 resolution -- oh lordy. It's real, and it's here. Well, almost. You'll have to wait just a few more days until the official November 13th release, but once that date rolls around, you can get yourself a whole lotta tablet for a not-unreasonable amount of money.
ASUS clearly created a winning formula with its Transformer Pad series of dockable tablets, with at least one making an appearance in every tablet buyer's guide we've published. The TF700 stands on the shoulders of its predecessor, jacking up all the key specs. The quad-core Tegra 3 chip now purrs along at 1.6GHz (and up to 1.7GHz with single-core performance); the resolution jumps from 1,280 x 800 to 1,920 x 1,200; and a little design tweaking promises to sidestep any antenna issues. So, good news all-round? Definitely. So much so that it remains one of the top Android slates out there.
7-inch tablets
When Google rolls into tablet town, you know the rest of the market takes a collective inward-breath. The Nexus 7 made a splashy debut at the company's opening I/O keynote, setting nerds' hearts aflutter the world over. The Nexus 7 has been a huge success, and the family continues to grow. With the 8GB version banished, you can snap up this 32GB varient for the same price as the original 16GB edition. With a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chip, 1GB of RAM and that 32GB of storage, this isn't all that different from some of its larger and more expensive competitors. Add in the latest version of Jelly Bean with all its buttery-smooth performance and Google Now goodness, and you've got one formidable package.
Apple was a long time coming to the 7-inch(ish) party, that's for sure. However, when it finally showed up, naturally it did so in its own inimitable style. That means an extra 0.9 inches on the screen size of its peers, front and rear cameras (a relative rarity on tablets this price) and 16- 3- and 64GB storage options. That 7.9-inch display has a 1,024 x 768 resolution and, while the chipset isn't quad-core as on the Nexus 7, that dual-core A5 SoC still delivers smooth performance. A new size also means a new price point and, as you might expect, it's not the cheapest in its class. But if you fancy iOS, or just don't need any additional screen real estate, you can get in on the game from $329.
Barnes & Noble lost its place in the 7-inch tablet section when certain other big players entered the market, but new hardware means another bite of the cherry. The Nook HD is definitely new, and in almost every regard. Taking a quick tour of its feature list, you'll find a new design, a 1,440 x 900 ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 22:09- Categories:
- Apple iPad
Double whammy attack by the wi-fi versions of iPad 4 and iPad mini.
The wi-fi only versions of the iPad 4 and iPad mini hit stores on Friday (November 2nd), and Apple says the devices have already notched up three million sales between them.
Comparatively, the figure doubles the 1.5m wi-fi only iPad 3 units sold over three days back in March.
Tim Cook, CEO, said: "Customers around the world love the new iPad mini and fourth generation iPad.
"We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis. We're working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand."
Demand for iPad mini exceeded initial supply and some pre-order customers will have to wait until later this month to receive their shiny 7.9-inch tablets.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-MC7...eywords=ipad+4 ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 22:06- Categories:
- PC News
RIM’s 3G version of its BlackBerry PlayBook has launched in the UK, with a whopping £420 price tag.
With a 1.5GHz processor, 7-inch screen and 32GB of space, the PlayBook has a 5MP rear-facing camera and a 3MP front facing one.
The tablet’s price is not far off Apple’s 32GB 4G LTE-enabled iPad Mini, making this 3G only device quite pricey. The fact that it is almost £200 more expensive than a 32GB 3G Google Nexus 7 doesn’t help matters either.
With LTE now available in the UK, those interested in getting their hands on a PlayBook may decide to hold out until RIM’s 4G LTE version makes it’s way across the pond.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ry+PlayBook+3G ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 21:53- Categories:
- PC News
The Command & Conquer beta will begin during the first half of 2013, EA has announced.It will be the longest-running beta in Command & Conquer history, C&C global community manager EA_CIRE wrote on the Command & Conquer blog."Now, we know you have a lot more questions about the new Command & Conquer and you may be wondering why we are so silent about it," he said."We've decided to actually let the game speak for itself, instead of starting the typical marketing noise you normally would expect. That being said, it might be a few more months before we reveal more information - we don't just want to tell you about the game, we want to show you."The new Command & Conquer, in development at BioWare Victory, has divided the series' loyal fanbase. It began life as Generals 2 but was changed to free-to-play, and is described by EA as a platform and service for PC. The Generals universe represents "the first of many free offerings" within the franchise planned to launch with C&C.EA_CIRE acknowledged the negativity around free-to-play and singled out Command & Conquer 4 as being a game in the series that didn't live up to expectations."The team here and I know that previous Command & Conquer titles had issues - some less, some more. C&C4 (yes, I just named it!) was especially far below the expectations and standards a lot of us had for C&C games. So we know how you guys feel - and I am talking a lot with our design team to discuss the game mechanics, features and meta-game of our new Command & Conquer in development."We all have the big picture in our mind where we want to go with this new Command & Conquer, making a great RTS game that can wear the C&C logo with pride. Yes, the direction is new and many probably would say that this is not a 'true' C&C, just as many did when the original Generals came out."For me, Command & Conquer isn't just about Tiberium, Kane and the crazy Yuri. It's been more about fun to play, engaging, and high quality RTS experiences. And that's what we're aiming to deliver, just in a different way."So looking at where we are right now with our game and the ongoing service that comes with Free 2 Play games actually makes me believe that this game can become a great Command & Conquer. And we will be working together with you - The Fans - to make it better and better. "...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...t-half-of-2013by Published on November 5th, 2012 21:51- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
The Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has leaked onto the internet a week ahead of release.The game appeared on the usual websites for these things last night eight days before its 13th November release.Now, YouTube is packed with gameplay videos, most of the new expanded Zombies mode.SPOILER WARNING: One of these is below.Streams have also emerged. Responding, Treyarch design director David Vonderhaar took to Twitter to say: "If you are going to live-stream the game early, which I don't remotely recommend, you could at least be good at it. :P"Then, "I'm really glad people are excited for the game. Legit streams coming up later this week and early next. Watch this space."The news comes a week after reports claimed Black Ops 2 was sold early in Slovakia, although the Xbox 360 leak is thought to have originated from the US. Halo 4, out midnight tonight, leaked nearly a month before release.Activision declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer this morning....
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ead-of-releaseby Published on November 5th, 2012 21:30- Categories:
- Wii U News
The first Wii U game reviews have been published in the latest issue of GamesMaster, which is with subscribers now and on sale officially from Tuesday, November 6.
The magazine offers verdicts on bothNintendo Land (86%) and New Super Mario Bros. U (82%).On Nintendo Land GM says there's "a heck of a lot more to it" than merely showing off the new GamePad. It calls the Lugi's Mansion, Mario Chase and Animal Crossing games in particular "some of the most innovative, raucous and party-fuelling fun we've ever had with a console."
While the single-player content might not be as memorable, GamesMaster says Nintendo Land is ultimately "an essential purchase for party lovers".
On New Super Mario Bros. U GM says it was "surprised" by the amount of innovation on show in its later levels, and despite being an easier franchise entry concludes that NSMBU "bodes well for Mario's future Wii U outings".
The verdicts are part of a monster Wii special in GamesMaster 258, which you can buy online now and have delivered to your door, or purchase digitally via iOS and Android.
Nintendo has confirmed a Wii U release date of November 18 in the US, and a Wii U release date of November 30 in Europe.
The company has set the US Wii U price at $299 for the basic model, while the UK Wii U pricestarts at £230.
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Catherine: Full Body’s English translation for the Vita