New Technology News

Amazon suspends sales of SimCity video game

2013-03-08T03:01:00.001-08:00

Ongoing problems with the latest version of SimCity led Amazon to briefly stop selling the game.

The web retailer stopped sales late on 7 March as players reported continued problems with the city building title.

The latest version of SimCity was launched on 5 March and, like many current games, demand players stay online as they play.

EA has also taken steps to fix login delays by turning off some features to lighten the load on game servers.

Prior to this latest release, SimCity was a stand-alone game, but EA has added the online element to infuse the title with more realism.

Now player cities exist as part of online regions and share some characteristics of those virtual environments such as pollution, crime and essential resources.

The online requirement is also seen as an attempt to curb piracy of the title as a web connection is required even if a player shuns the chance to connect their cities to others.

However, the requirement for all players of the game to be connected has led some to wait 30 minutes or more to play. The server problems have led to sluggish response times, crashes and other bugs.

Amazon's sales suspension of the downloadable PC version of the game only lasted a few hours, but it has put a warning note on the product page about the "issues" with the game. These have contributed to the one-star score purchasers have given SimCity on Amazon.

In official discussion forums and on its Twitter feed EA has apologised for the trouble players have had.

In one of its latest messages, an EA spokeswoman said it had added server capacity and rolled out a quick fix to SimCity servers to speed up game play and get more people into the game.

To lighten the load on its back-end servers, EA turned off some features including leader boards and achievements. It has also removed the option to run the game at its fastest setting, known as "cheetah speed". Instead, all cities will now run at the lower "llama speed".

In a message posted to the official EA discussion forums, SimCity's senior producer Kip Katsarelis said the launch week had been "challenging" for the company.

'Growing pains'

However, he added, there was a positive side to the delays.

"What we saw was that players were having such a good time they didn't want to leave the game, which kept our servers packed and made it difficult for new players to join," he wrote.

Games journalist Nathan Grayson, writing on the Rock Paper Shotgun website, praised EA for keeping players informed through Facebook, Twitter and discussion forums about the problems. However, he wondered why games firms were still so unprepared for the launch day deluge of players.

Games makers may laud the always online requirement as the future, he said, but so far no studio had got it right or used that permanent link to do more with a game.

"I haven't seen a single one of these things stick their initial landings or catapult a pre-existing series to new heights," he said. "I have quite a bit of trouble declaring these things 'growing pains' when I barely see any, you know, growth."

Google begins another round of layoffs at Motorola Mobility

2013-03-08T02:54:00.002-08:00

Google is cutting back at Motorola Mobility again, with plans to layoff 1,200 employees, about 10 percent of the division's work force.

Employees were notified of the cuts this week via an e-mail that said "while we're very optimistic about the new products in our pipeline, we still face challenges," according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the cuts.

Focusing on costs, the email added "we're operating in markets where we're not competitive and we're losing money." The cuts are expected to workers in the U.S., China and India.

Motorola confirmed the jobs cuts in a statement this evening.

"These cuts are a continuation of the reductions we announced last summer," the company said. "It's obviously very hard for the employees concerned, and we are committed to helping them through this difficult transition."

Google bought Motorola Mobility for $12.4 billion last May, motivated largely by having access to Motorola's valuable patent portfolio, which it has employed in its legal defense of the Android operating system. Google freely admitted paying a premium for such access, but since then, the company has been looking to cut costs.

Google sold the Motorola Home set-top business -- which it inherited as part of its acquisition -- to the Arris Group last December for $2.35 billion in cash and stock. The Web giant had apparently been shopping the business for several months.

The staff reduction comes a little more than six months after Motorola laid off 4,000 employees, about 20 percent of its work force. The reorganization announced last August included the closure of a third of the company's 94 offices, as well as a wireless strategy revamp that included exiting unprofitable markets and trimming the number of handsets it produces.

Apple marketing chief jabs Android security on Twitter

2013-03-08T02:51:00.002-08:00

Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has been a semi-regular Twitter user since 2008, though mostly tweets about things like music, movies and sports.

But that changed earlier today with a post linking to F-Secure Labs' latest quarterly Mobile Threat report, with a casual mention to "be safe out there."

The 29-page report's (PDF) key finding is that malware on Google's Android is getting worse, in part because of the platform's brisk growth and a new variant of malware that spread using SMS.

"Android malware has been strengthening its position in the mobile threat scene," the report's executive summary said. "In the fourth quarter alone, 96 new families and variants of Android threats were discovered, which almost doubles the number recorded in the previous quarter."

Apple's iOS, Blackberry and Windows Mobile were also targets for malware threats, but were typically a part of broader, multi-platform attacks, the report said.

iOS has not been immune to security attacks, including recent exploits that allowed access to certain personal data through a secured lockscreen password. However it's been less prone to malware than rivals because there is no out of the box option to install software without going through Apple's App Store. Software that is submitted to Apple is scanned and goes through a human review before it goes live, a system designed to weed out malware.

That system is not perfect though. Last June, security firm Kaspersky Lab discovered an app called "Find & Call," that turned out to be a trojan that uploaded a user's contact list to its servers. The app was yanked from both Apple and Google's digital stores, but not before some users downloaded it.

Before the Find & Call incident, security researcher Charlie Miller published a proof of concept app that could grab unsigned code from third-party servers and add it to an app even after it was approved by Apple. Miller managed to slip it by Apple's security checks, though the move resulted in him getting his developer credentials revoked for a year.

Schiller is not the only Apple exec to take to Twitter, an unusual habit for the very secretive company. He's joined by iTunes, iCloud and App Store boss Eddy Cue, who has published 33 tweets since early 2007. Apple's former iOS software chief Scott Forstall meanwhile has not tweeted once since joining the service in mid-2010, and continues to follow only one other user -- comedian Conan O'Brien.

Google Maps facing ban in Germany as trial advances

2013-03-08T02:49:00.001-08:00

Judge Dr. Matthias Zigann of the Munich I Regional Court just told Google and its Motorola Mobility subsidiary in no uncertain terms that his court is at this point (prior to counsel's argument on claim construction, infringement and validity) inclined to hold Google Inc., its subsidiary Motorola Mobility LLC and MMI's German subsidiary liable for infringement of a key Microsoft patent, EP0845124 on a "computer system for identifying local resources and method therefor", which is the European equivalent of U.S. Patent No. 6,240,360

A patent battle between Google and Microsoft could see Google Maps banned in Germany.

Florian Mueller, of FOSS Patents, reported from court in Munich today, where he said the tide is shifting against Google:

It's important to note that Mueller has consulted for Microsoft in the past. But it's clear that a Microsoft win would mean a big headache for Google, which could have to block Google Maps on the web and in its apps.

A Google spokesman declined to comment on the suit, but said: "We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court."

The court's decision is not expected until June, and both parties will be filing new briefs in the meantime. For more on the case, check out FOSS Patents.

With new design, Facebook takes a bite out of Twitter

2013-03-08T02:44:00.001-08:00

Today, Facebook promised to put the news back in its News Feed.

At a press event at headquarters, Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly used the phrase "personalized newspaper" to describe the direction of the site's core feature. And the Feed's new features arguably make Facebook a better way to stay on top of current events than ever before.

With a dedicated tab for everyone you're following and a renewed focus on photos, Facebook is aiming to create the kind of real-time information network that has made Twitter the top destination for news junkies.

That hasn't been possible before, not least because of Facebook's opaque, algorithmic way of showing you stories. As Nick Bilton detailed this week in The New York Times, reaching followers has become more difficult in recent months as Facebook has started encouraging publishers to pay to "promote" their posts. The result is that anyone who follows a publisher likeCNET might not see the majority of its posts, even though they've asked to.

Contrast that with Twitter, which displays every tweet from everyone a user follows. That can make the stream difficult to keep up with, particularly if you follow more than a couple hundred people. But at least a user can trust that tweets will appear in the stream as they are written -- and not after an algorithm decides they are worthy of being delivered.

And so the biggest change Facebook announced today, from the perspective of publishers and the people who want to read them on Facebook, is the "following" tab. According to executives at the event, the tab will show "every single post" from the people and publishers you subscribe to. If true, that will go a long way toward building trust in Facebook as a home for breaking news.

Meanwhile, news should look better on Facebook than it ever has, thanks to larger photos, expanded snippets of text from the articles that are shared, and their more prominent presentation on the page. Publishers have suffered through Facebook's algorithmic changes because the site can still drive significant traffic to their pages -- far more than the average post on Twitter or other social networks. If Facebook's changes make it easier for them to reach their fans, they may develop a new appreciation for what the network can offer.

But competitors are gunning for their attention, too. Facebook's changes come as Twitter has moved to make its own stream more visual. Tweets have transformed from a simple string of 140 characters to "envelopes" for all sorts of things, including photos, music, and article snippets.

And while it far lags both of them in mind share, Google+ continues to polish its design in a way that puts photos at the forefront. Yesterday, the company rolled out a new look that includes larger cover photos, enhanced profiles, and a new tab of its own (for place reviews). During the CNET live blog today, many readers remarked on the updated News Feed's resemblance to Google+, which also features a narrow left rail with big icons and huge photos in the central feed.

So yes, Facebook is trying to become "the best personalized newspaper." But it's not the only one. News is a major pillar of all the main social networks, and its role on each of them is only expanding. Facebook, Twitter, and Google started their social networks for very different reasons. But as the months go on, they're looking more and more alike.

The real-life consequences of a Facebook unfriending

2013-02-04T12:32:00.002-08:00

(Credit: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

Which came first? The unfriend or the unfriending?

This is the disturbingly scientific thought that wracks my sinews on hearing of a devastating piece of research performed by the University of Colorado Denver.

You might have thought that the virtual world is just that, that Facebook is merely a collection of make-believe friends who make believe that they're interesting -- and interested in you.

Allegedly not.

This research insists that if someone unfriends you on Facebook, it alters your behavior -- yes, your real-world behavior.

A fulsome and neurotic 40 percent of people admitted that if someone defriended them on Facebook, they would do everything they could to ensure that they would never be seen with that person in the real world.

Women were, apparently, more inclined to execute avoidance procedures than were men.

You might wonder what could possibly make people behave so radically with respect to what might be a virtual snub, but might also be a slip of the finger or a temporary chilling of the brain.

This research concluded that the most important factor in deciding whether one should instigate avoidance tactics was whether the defriender had talked about the defriending to others.

Yes, perhaps even in real life.

The mere thought that, gosh, someone else knows -- thus making the defriending, well, real -- would drive people to go 10 miles out of the way to eat at Wendy's, instead of wafting into their local Outback Steakhouse.

You might wonder why people defriend others in the first place, though. Could it be because they don't like a new profile picture or because the person has posted too many videos of cats trying to have animated relations with inanimate objects?

Fortunately, the author of this study, a doctoral student in the Computer Science and Information Systems program called Christopher Sibona, performed another feat of research to delve into these depths.

Indeed, you're most likely to be defriended for offering too many dull posts, for too much extremity about politics or religion, for sexism and racism, for too many posts about your kids and your dinner or for changing your status from "single" to "it's complicated" more than three times a week.

Actually, I made that last one up. But the summation of this is surely that you're most likely to be defriended for being virtually annoying.

Some might see a certain absurdity, though, in this research.

Let's assume for a moment that your Facebook friends aren't quite as important to you as your real friends.

Why would you be concerned if one of your Facebook friends cut you off?

Might it really be because the number of friends you have would be reduced by one, there for all to see?

Soon, you fear getting messages from Facebook friends saying: "Oh, I see your numbers are down today. You're just not as popular anymore, huh?"

There is nothing worse than when your (virtual) personal stock goes down, is there?

This easy hack adds wireless charging to Samsung Galaxy S3

2013-02-04T12:30:00.001-08:00

Although wireless charging is creeping into the market (and already evolving), the technology is still absent in some of the most popular phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S3.(Credit: Photo by Sharon Vaknin/CNET)

Initially, Samsung did mention a wireless charging kit that would be released following the launch of its flagship phone. But promises, promises -- Samsung's aftermarket kit never came to fruition.

Alas, the Internet has moved on, tech blogs are abuzz with rumors of wireless charging comingfor the much-anticipated Galaxy S4.

Well, if you have an S3, and you're tired of waiting for the unicorn charging kit, there is a decent and probably much cheaper alternative for you, ready to be snatched up.

With just a few supplies, and about 10 minutes, you can add wireless charging to your S3 for an easy $25. The hack is thanks to a member of the XDA Developers forums and Palm's wireless charging kit for the now-retired Palm Pixi.

Google's JAM with Chrome lets users play in virtual rock bands

2012-11-09T01:17:00.006-08:00

Google is trying an experiment: it's letting armchair musicians shred virtual guitars and bang animated keyboards with a new interactive Web app called JAM, which is on its Chrome browser.

"If you ever dreamed of playing in a band, now's your chance to be a rock star," Google Creative Lab's marketing manager Emma Turpin wrote in a blog post today. "No matter what your level of talent -- from daydreaming air guitarist to music pro -- you can JAM together in real time over the web."

The way JAM works is it lets users invite friends anywhere in the world join them to play music online within the Chrome browser. The program gives users 19 different instruments to choose from, including bass guitars, drums, and keyboards.

"In the default 'easy mode' you can experiment by clicking individual strings, drum pads or keys, or you can play around with the four different autoplay functions and let the machines do the work," Turpin wrote. "Switch to "pro mode" to play any instrument using your keyboard."

Google has been upping its music profile over the past few months. It announced last month that it would soon be rolling out its scan-and-match feature for the company's music service in Europe and in the U.S. shortly after. Scan-and-match is a feature that lets users store music on computer servers of a host service. The service can then stream songs over the Internet to the user's choice of Web-connected music players.

Navy SEALs leak classified info to EA for combat game -- report

2012-11-09T01:14:00.002-08:00

The SEALs were consulting for EA's Medal of Honor: Warfighters.

(Credit: Electronic Arts)

A handful of U.S. Navy SEALS have been reprimanded for leaking military secrets to video-game maker Electronic Arts while working as paid consultants on the game Medal of Honor: Warfighters, according to a report.

Seven of the SEALs have been disciplined, including one who was involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and four others are being investigated, according to CBS News.

Medal of Honor: Warfighters is a military combat shooting game that prides itself on being as realistic as possible. Players are involved in real-world scenarios, such as battles in Afghanistan and attacks on Somali pirates.

On its Web site, EA says the game creates "a visual representation of human action in combat that takes authenticity to a new level." To develop this level of authenticity in making the game, EA enlisted the help of military men to give advice on its accuracy.

Typically, soldiers have to get government authorization to work on projects involving military tactics and strategies; however, according to the Los Angeles Times, the SEALs consulting for Medal of Honor: Warfighters didn't get approval.

When CNET contacted EA for comment, PR director Peter Nguyen said, "We do not know if the veterans who consulted on the game were in contact with the Department of Defense."

It's unclear exactly what sensitive information the SEALs revealed to EA. However, according to CBS News, classified material from the Navy was indeed used in the game's development.

The game was released October 23. According to CBS News, the seven SEALs who consulted for EA have been punished by losing their ability for military promotion and by forfeiting half their pay for two months.

by Dara Kerr

Apple adds raw suport for Nikon D600, other Photokina models

2012-10-25T00:59:00.005-07:00

The Nikon D600, a hot camera at Photokina, pushed the price of Nikon's full-frame SLR cameras down to $2,100.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET )

An update means iPhoto, Aperture, and other software can handle Nikon's hot full-frame SLR and three new Canon PowerShot models that arrived at the Photokina show. Apple now supports raw photos from 283 cameras.

Apple issued an OS X update today that lets iPhoto, Aperture, and other Mac software use raw photos taken by the Nikon D600 and several other cameras that arrived last month at thePhotokina trade show in September.

The Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 4.01 enables use of raw photos from the following cameras:

• Canon EOS M

• Canon PowerShot G15

• Canon PowerShot S110

• Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

• Nikon D600

• Nikon 1 J2

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G5

• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7

• Sony Alpha NEX-F3

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

Supporting new cameras is a constant effort for software makers such as Apple and Adobe Systems, since each new camera comes with a new proprietary format. There's a race to support each new camera, too, so new customers can make use of raw images as soon as possible.

In that race, Apple beat Adobe for support of three interesting Canon PowerShot models, the higher-end G15, the compact S110, and the ultrazoom SX50 HS. Canon previously hadn't had raw support for its ultrazoom line, but added it because of popular demand, reflecting the increasing attention that photo enthusiasts are putting on raw imagery.

But with a raw update in Lightroom 4.2 three weeks ago, Adobe edged out Apple with support for some other cameras, including the Canon EOS M and the Nikon 1 J2, two compact mirrorless models that accommodate interchangeable lenses. Neither Apple nor Adobe yet supports a hot new full-frame SLR, the Canon 6D, and Adobe's Nikon D600 support is preliminary.

Raw images offer better flexibility and image quality than JPEGs, but file sizes are larger and viewing them is much less convenient.

Keeping up with raw formats requires a lot of effort. Lightroom and Photoshop today support 408 camera formats, and Apple supports 283.

To ease some of the pains of handling raw images, Adobe is pushing its Digital Negative (DNG) format by adding new features and attempting to make it a neutral, international standard.

Apple launches for 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro

2012-10-25T00:56:00.003-07:00

The 13.3-inch Retina Macbook Pro is 3.57 pounds and 0.75 inches thick, 20 percent thinner than the prior-generation MBP.

(Credit: Apple )

Want to get a better look at all of the gorgeous angles of Apple's new 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro? A new Apple "Colors" ad does just that.

With "for the pro in all of us" as the tagline for the ad, it appeared during ABC's "Modern Family," as well as other shows earlier.

In the ad, Apple does a 90-degree pan and seems keen on showing the display from all angles to underscore the wide viewing-angle attributes of its IPS tech.

As a quick refresher, the just-announced 13.3-inch MBP has a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display. That yields 227 pixels per inch.

And can scale to a resolution of 1,680-by-1,050.

By comparison, the 15.4-inch Retina MBP announced back in June boasts a pixel density of 2,880-by-1,800, which translates to 220 pixels per inch.

It can scale to a resolution of 1,920-by-1,200.

Both come with latest Intel Ivy Bridge processors, 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L memory and solid-state drives -- though the 13.3-inch model is not offered with a quad-core processor and discrete Nvidia graphics, like the 15.4-inch model.

The 13-inch MBP starts at $1,699 with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor that can turbo boost up to 3.1GHz.

HP prices Envy x2, its alternative to Microsoft Surface, iPad

2012-10-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

Hewlett-Packard has priced its Envy x2 laptop-tablet hybrid at $849.99 -- a small tablet-laptop hybrid that runs the full version of Windows 8.

That price may be high for consumers, but HP is pushing it as a high-quality, high-end "hybrid PC" that effectively straddles both the laptop and tablet paradigms.

It comes with many of the ports found on a PC -- USB, HDMI, SD card slot -- a top-notch IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a large trackpad (what HP calls an Imagepad) for Windows 8 gestures, and a touch display that detaches to become a standalone 11.6-inch Windows 8 tablet.

And the 3.2-pound, all-aluminum device runs Windows 8 on top of Intel's latest power-efficient system-on-a-chip, the Z2760.

That means, of course, that it can run the traditional Microsoft Office suite as well as the millions of older Windows applications. Something, ironically, Microsoft's Surface RT tablet can't do.

HP CEO Meg Whitman, in fact, had some unflattering words for Surface today when speaking at a Gartner conference.

Surface "doesn't function like a laptop" and "lacks a keyboard you can do real work on," according to Whitman.

Competition for the Envy x2 includes Dell's $649 Latitude 10 -- sold only as a Windows 8 Pro tablet, without a keyboard dock. And Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet 2, also priced at $649.

Other Envy x2 features include Beats Audio, an HD Webcam, and an 8-megapixel camera, as well as near field communication (NFC) technology.

It is expected to be available in the United States on November 14.

See HP's press release for pricing and availabilty on all of HP's Windows 8 systems.

New iPod Nano not so easy to fix, finds iFixit

2012-10-17T09:21:00.003-07:00

Apple's latest iPod Nano would pose challenges to anyone who never needs to repair one.

Roaming around the innards of the new Nano, iFixit discovered that the battery, Lightning connector, button cable, and headphone jack are all soldered to the logic board. The battery is also attached to the back of the display assembly using a strong adhesive. All of that means a fair amount of work for anyone who needs to replace one of those components.

On the plus side, iFixit found the case easy to pop open by loosening two standard Phillips screws and using a handy plastic opening tool. The LCD and the digitizer glass aren't fused together, so either one can be removed without affecting the other.

Overall, the new iPad Nano received a repairability rating of 5 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to repair. Of course, Apple specifically designs its products so that people can't even replace the battery, let alone tinker around inside. So the low rating from iFixit isn't surprising.

What else did iFixit uncover on its inside tour of the Nano?

The battery is rated at 0.8Wh (watt hours), more than twice that of the previous Nano. Spotted on the logic board were an Apple branded chip, a Broadcom Bluetooth + FM Radio chip, NAND flash memory from Toshiba, and a touchscreen controller from Texas Instruments.

A teardown of the new iPod Touch by iFixitalso found repair challenges. But the Touch received an even lower repairability rating of only 3 out of 10.

Apple bumped up the size of its 7th-generation iPod Nano, changing it from a small, square device to a taller, thinner product offering a 2.5-inch touch screen.

EA's headache: Free games for all, thanks to Reddit

2012-10-15T13:10:00.002-07:00

Vouchers, coupons, and discounts are often a good tool to entice new customers or promote a product. However, if discount codes are not secured properly, forums and social networking can become a real headache for the company involved.

That is exactly what happened to Electronic Arts over the weekend.

A single post on a gaming forum that included a discount code for $20 worth of software from EA's online store sparked a downloading spree, much to the delight ofReddit users after the code made its way to the popular link aggregation site. Not only could the code be used multiple times by multiple users, but due to its $20 tag, 44 games priced $19.99 or lower could be downloaded for free.

The code was originally a reward for customers who completed an online survey. Based on Redditors, it seems the code worked for about 18 hours before EA noticed the free gaming spree and cancelled it at 1:28 AM PT today. The late move didn't dampen the spirits of Reddit users -- who then changed the thread to post their hauls in delight.

Game downloads included Mass Effect 1, Dragon Age, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, and FIFA Soccer 12.

The code was valid for the U.S. and Canadian customers. However, this didn't stop everyone -- as a workaround is possible by breaching the firm's terms of service and using a fake U.S. address on the billing page. It is not known how many games were downloaded in the window, but hundreds of Reddit comments later, you can imagine how many thrifty customers took advantage.

The aftermath for such promotion abuse is likely to pain not only EA, but also the customers who actually completed the survey and looked forward to using the coupon until its expiration date on October 21.

New Mac minis said to join rumored iPad mini debut

2012-10-15T13:08:00.004-07:00

Apple's current Mac mini

(Credit: Apple )

Next week's iPad mini event, which remains a rumor at this point, may be bring another mini product along for the ride.

Apple will also update its iPad mini desktop computers, says Apple blog 9to5mac. The publication says Apple will stick with its existing lineup of two machines aimed at consumers and a server model. Those devices will be available "immediately" after the event the blog says.

Apple's iPad mini was last updated in July 2011with a bump to Intel's Sandy Bridge platform, the addition of Thunderbolt I/O, and the removal of optical disc drives across the line.

The unveiling event for that product, along with an iPad mini and now a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display are all rumored for next Tuesday, October 23. All of those products are expected to be released before the holidays, in time for what is typically a busy shopping season.

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro due with iPad Mini, report claims

2012-10-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

The iPad Mini isn't the only thing reportedly slated for an event later this month. Pencil in a new Retina MacBook Pro, too -- so a report is claiming.

Apple will unveil a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display alongside the iPad Mini, areport at 9to5Mac says, citing a "consistently reliable source" at a "high-profile U.S. retailer."

That would support a CNET report last week that said production of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is on track.

This wouldn't be Apple's first MacBook with a Retina display, of course. In June, Apple rolled out the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with a 2,880-by-1,800 pixel density display.

NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim has been telling CNET that Apple's 13.3-incher will get a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display.

The 13-inch MBP Retina is also expected to be more consumer-friendly, with a price tag below the $2,199 entry point for the 15.4-inch model.

iPad Mini: What we don't know

2012-10-12T14:24:00.003-07:00

The so-called "iPad Mini" is the Sasquatch of the gadget world. Rumored for years, the smaller iPad looms ever closer to reality, with rumors of an imminent announcement and release ramping up nearly every day.

The gadget blogosphere, bolstered by a recent flurry of leaked photos and specs, seems to be taking the existence of the iPad Mini as an inevitability. But even assuming that the Mini is real -- and that it's coming soon -- there are some key unknowns. Here are the biggest and most important ones.

How much will it cost? There's a price war going on among cheap tablets. Between theGoogle Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire HD, and Barnes & Noble's forthcoming Nook HD tablets, $199 can get you an astonishing amount of power in a 7-inch tablet. Closer to Thanksgiving, we'll get the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD ($299 and up) and 9-inch Nook HD+ for an incredible $269. Meanwhile, the new iPod Touch (think of it as an "iPad Nano") is $299 with 32GB of storage. And Last year's iPad 2 is $399. That's a lot of amazing products in the $199 to $399 price range -- where will the iPad Mini fit in?

What is the name? Is it really the iPad Mini...or would it be, as some are saying, iPad Air? Or could it be something else?

(Credit: 9to5Mac )

What's the screen resolution? Rumors saythat the iPad Mini won't have a Retina Display like the 2012 iPad, but does that mean it will have the same 1,024 x 768 resolution as the iPad 2? On a 7.85-inch display -- the rumored iPad Mini screen size -- pixel density would be higher than thelarger iPad 2, even at the same resolution. Or, could the Mini have a new, unique screen resolution?

What's the storage capacity? The full-sized iPad has 16, 32 and 64GB variants, but a lot of the budget tablet space features 7-inch devices with 16GB or even less, down to 8GB for the entry-level $199 Nexus 7. The logical capacities for a smaller iPad would be 16, 32 and 64GB, but would that make this newer iPad a more tempting purchase than the existing larger iPad?

What gets left out? Will the iPad Mini make any compromises to hit its (presumably lower) price range? No 3G or 4G wireless, perhaps, or maybe a downgraded camera. Maybe the onboard processor remains an A5, instead of an A5X or A6. Or, could the iPad Mini be just as full-featured?

Will there be candy colors? Early photos of what claim to be the iPad Mini show an anodized aluminum design that's very similar to the new iPod Touch. Those iPods now come in bright colors. Could the new iPad take a similar path? It's hardly an essential question, but color iPads could add a whole new "stocking stuffer" angle, and lead to accessory options.

Could there be a killer accessory? Much like the Smart Cover for the iPad 2, maybe the newest iPad will have a special case, cover, or clever add-on that makes the product more appealing. Think a next-gen Smart Cover -- maybe one with a keyboard.

Stay tuned.

What's next for Windows 8?

2012-10-12T14:19:00.003-07:00

We've seen a flurry of Windows 8 PC announcements over the last week or two, most recently with Microsoft opening the gates to Windows 8 preorders this morning. The calendar still has a few big Windows 8-related events on it, though, so here's what you can look forward to over the next few weeks.

October 12: Microsoft begins taking preorders for the standalone retail version of its new operating system, Windows 8 Pro. Preorders for full Windows 8 PCs also begin from Acer, Dell, HP, Sony, and other major system vendors.

October 21: Windows Phone 8 devices available for preorder. You can put your name down forthe Nokia Lumia 920, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, as well as the Windows RT-equippedSamsung Ativ Smart PC tablet, and the Asus Vivo Tab RT.

October 25: Microsoft hosts its Windows 8 launch event in New York. With little left for Microsoft to announce about Windows 8, the tone of the day should be more coming-out party than news event.

October 26: Windows 8 is officially available to consumers. Customers should begin receiving preordered units, Windows 8 upgrade and full OS downloads go live, and retail stores, including30 Microsoft-run pop-up outlets, can finally take the wraps off of Windows 8 PCs.

October 29: Launch event for Windows Phone 8. Microsoft kicks off its new mobile OS with a San Francisco launch event. In terms of exact availability, the wireless carriers have only specified "November" for the first batch of phones.

How important is PC processor speed, really?

2012-10-12T14:18:00.002-07:00

(Credit: Intel )

In the old days, choosing a computer was easy: You bought the one with the fastest processor you could afford. And you knew which processor was fastest (more or less) by its numerical clock-speed rating.

These days it's a lot trickier. Only hardcore techies (and those with the patience to Google) know the difference between, say, an AMD A4-3305M and an Intel Core i3-2350M.

And even then, does it really matter? There's a strong argument to be made that processor performance, even in low-cost, entry-level PCs, has reached a level that's "good enough" for most users -- folks who use their machines mostly for word processing, e-mail, and Web stuff.

Of course, more and more users are turning to tablets for those activities, but that's another topic entirely.

Obviously some people need all the processing power they can get -- though usually that's for graphics-intensive tasks like games, video editing, and Photoshop. And that's where you need a desktop with a decent video card or a laptop with decent discrete graphics. Dual-core versus quad-core versus Core-this-or-that is less of a factor.

There's another factor that can contribute to overall PC performance, one that can actually trump the hardware you have. See, I own a fairly state-of-the-art Core i7 machine with 8GB of RAM, a 750GB hard drive, discrete graphics, and the like. It's barely two years old. And you know what? It's a slowpoke compared to the cheap, dual-core laptop I bought less than a year ago. It takes several minutes to boot and often just seems to bog down for no reason.

Know why? Windows. Even a system with top-tier hardware can turn to molasses when Windows' arteries get clogged, which in my experience tends to happen 12-18 months in. Granted, I install and uninstall a lot of software on my primary system, and the aforementioned cheapie laptop has little more than Thunderbird and Kingsoft Office.

In other words, it runs lean, which is how it's able to stay speedy even when supposedly faster hardware bogs down.

But that just proves my point: Even a "slow" PC can get the job done, especially if you stick with basic computing tasks.

What are your thoughts on this? Is the processor still a key consideration when you buy a new PC? Or do you agree it's not a big deal anymore?

Windows 8 launch: 21 days and counting

2012-10-06T04:31:00.001-07:00

Invites to the ball have arrived. October 25 will be a busy day for Microsoft watchers (as will the 26th, when launched products, including Surface RT devices, go on sale commercially).

The Redmondians are continuing to torture us Microsoft watchers with a slow flow of information about the company's bet-its-business launch.

We already knew Microsoft planned to launch Windows 8 and its ARM-based Surface RT devices in New York City on October 25, thanks to a save-the-date invitation we got a while back. We knew those products would become available commercially the following day, and we found out this week that Microsoft would be opening 30-plus holiday pop-up stores in the U.S. and Canada on October 26 as well.

As of October 4, we now know that the launch is going to be a lengthy affair -- from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

Here's what I just got in my in-box:

Will there also be, as some are reporting, some kind of "midnight madness" event here in New York to coincide with Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs, tablets -- and Microsoft's own Surface RTs -- going on sale as of October 26? No word on that yet. (I asked.) But I'd be surprised if there wasn't. Microsoft officials have said its Surface devices will be sold only through its own brick-and-mortar stores, as well as "select" Microsoft online stores. Those without a Microsoft Store nearby will only be able to purchase online, unless Microsoft modifies its previously stated plan.

Microsoft still has not released pricing or a full and complete spec list for its Surface RT tablets/PCs. It has not yet made them available for preorder. The Intel-based Surface Pro versions are not due out until three months, give or take, after the Windows RT launch.

If you'll be in/around New York City on October 25 and 26, stay tuned for information about a meetup/tweetup that a few of us Microsoft bloggers, including my Windows Weekly cohost and Windows SuperSite editor, Paul Thurrott, are planning. More details on that to come soon via Twitter. Hope you can join us.

Motorola wins German patent case against Microsoft

2012-10-06T04:23:00.003-07:00

Mobile phone maker Motorola has achieved a rare victory against software giant Microsoft in a patent case before a German court.

The verdict, announced today, is the latest in a wave of patent lawsuits by technology firms fighting over market share.

The regional court in Mannheim ruled that Motorola Mobility, part of Google, did not infringe a Microsoft patent which enables applications to work on different handsets.

This allows application developers to avoid writing separate codes for each handset saving time and development costs.

Germany has become a major battleground in the global patent war between makers of mobile phones, tablet computer devices and their operating software because court actions there have proved relatively cheap and quicker than in other jurisdictions.

Microsoft has won three patent cases against Motorola in Germany. As a result of these rulings, smartphones with the disputed technology are no longer available on the German market.

This decision does not impact multiple injunctions Microsoft has already been awarded and has enforced against Motorola products in Germany," said David Howard, associate general counsel at Microsoft.

Google bought lossmaking Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion last year, in its largest acquisition ever, aiming to use the company's patents to fend off legal challenges against its Android mobile platform and expand beyond its software business.

Other technology companies have also invested billions of dollars in buying up patent portfolios that they can use against rivals.

Motorola could not immediately be reached for comment.

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920: By the numbers

2012-10-04T13:42:00.001-07:00

Update: This story was originally published 09/12/2012 and updated on 9/18/2012 to reflect our full iPhone 5 review, and on 10/2/2012 to add more Lumia 920 launch details. We will update the story again after we review the Nokia Lumia 920.

This holiday season, smartphone shoppers have a tough decision to make. The Apple iPhone 5,Samsung Galaxy S3, and Nokia Lumia 920 are all titans in their space, and competition is fierce. We'll help you break down each phone's strengths and weaknesses to help you make your choice.

Keep in mind that since the Lumia 920 isn't yet available, we're limited to educated speculation, rather than to the side-by-side, in-the-flesh evaluation. However, we have now fully reviewed the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3. We'll still have to save the final showdown of the three for later, when we have all devices in-house. Until then, we offer up our winners so far for each major category. You don't have to agree with us, and we certainly reserve our right to change our minds when we see the phones in full, but going on the specs, here's how we feel.

	Apple iPhone 5	Samsung Galaxy 3	Nokia Lumia 920
Operating system	iOS 6	Android 4.0	Windows Phone 8
Display	4-inch IPS LCD; 1,136x640 pixels, 326 ppi	4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED; 1,280x720 pixels, 306 ppi	4.5-inch PureMotion+ (IPS LCD); 1,280x768 pixels, 332 ppi
Price	$199.99, $299.99, $399.99	$199.99-$329.99, depending on carrier	Unannounced
Carrier	Sept. 21: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon	Now: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon	November: AT&T
4G LTE	Yes	Yes	Yes
Camera	8-megapixel, 720p front-facing	8-megapixel, 1.9-megapixel front-facing	8.7-megapixel, 1.2-megapixel front-facing
Processor	Proprietary A6 CPU	1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4	1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
Memory	16GB, 32GB, 64GB	16GB or 32GB; 2GB RAM	32GB; 1GB RAM
Expandable memory	No	Up to 64GB	No
Battery	Capacity TBA (Talk time up to 8 hours on 3G); embedded	2,100 mAh, removable	2,000 mAh, embedded
NFC	No	Yes	Yes
Weight and thickness	3.95 ounces, 0.3 inches	4.7 ounces, 0.34 inches	6.5 ounces, 0.42 inches
Colors	Black, white	White, blue, red (AT&T); Also, globally: black, brown, gray	Black, white, yellow, red, gray

Design and build
Apple's aluminum-and-glass iPhone 5 retains its super-industrial aesthetic, metal buttons and all. Its new, all-metal backing still looks luxe, even more so than the iPhone 4S thanks to its two-toned design, but with much less glass on its back surface, the iPhone 5 will survive far more drops without shattering. Still, for absolute assurance, we'd recommend a case.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the Nokia Lumia 920, whose yellow, red, white, black, or gray polycarbonate body and rounded edges produce a punch of pop sensibility in an otherwise staid design world. It's a good look for the phone, and a smart one that really helps Nokia stand out; however, distinctiveness and the nevertheless plastic body aren't everyone's cup of tea.

We find the GS3's design appealing, but shiny, glossy plastic doesn't scream "quality." That isn't to say that the GS3 is more prone to breaking or shattering than the other two; in fact, plastic has the benefit of scuffing rather than shattering. However, we do really love the GS3's in-hand feel, which is comfortable despite its much larger size.

Our winner so far: Based on looks alone, we're digging the iPhone 5's familiarly crisp, yet elegant lines most, but we also love the Lumia 920's colorful unibody statement.

Screen size and clarity
The iPhone 5's 1,136x640 pixels on its 4-inch screen still yields 326 pixels per inch and gives the phone a 16:9 aspect ratio, wider than the iPhone 4S. However, Apple boasts that its sRGB display delivers 44 percent more color saturation and cuts down on glare. It certainly looked terrific during CNET's weeklong tests, but we'll need the Lumia 920 in-house to test them side-by-side.

Samsung's Galaxy S3 has the largest screen of the three, an 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED, which yields a 1,280x720-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 306 pixels per inch. Its size offers the most expansive real estate for watching videos, reading, and composing messages, but there are three minor drawbacks: the lowest pixel density of the trio, high reflection, and a dimmer maximum brightness than the iPhone 4S and the HTC One X.

Nokia's Lumia 920 has a 4.5-inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ display, which is a fancy name to describe its LCD screen technology. Its WXGA resolution (1,280x768 pixels) is a little higher than the standard HD (1,280x720 pixels). Combined with the screen size and the 332 pixels per inch, resolution could be tighter than on the GS3 and iPhone 5.

Nokia has also brought its ClearBlack Display filter to the Lumia 920; it definitely cut down glare on the Lumia 900, and Nokia claims that this version is even better.

Our winner so far: The GS3 offer the largest screen, but in terms of clarity, the Nokia Lumia 920 theoretically takes this round for its high pixel density and antiglare properties, followed by the iPhone 5, which we already know is excellent.

Camera prowess
This is a tough call since all three phones bring their A-game here. The iPhone has set the benchmark in terms of camera phone performance for quite a while and the improvements to the iPhone 5's imaging system will no doubt cement its lead agains the Lumia 920 and the GS3. These include improved low-light performance and a new panorama shooting mode that catches up to Android.

Of course, Android devices in many cases surpass the iPhone. Samsung's Galaxy S3 has a sensor that offers the same 8-megapixel resolution as the iPhone 5, plus it features tons of fancy shooting modes like panorama and multishot burst mode. Apple's new iPhone lets you take photos while you're shooting video, a feature Google introduced in Android 4.0 9 months back.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the real dark horse in the smartphone camera race. On paper, its 8.7-megapixel camera and PureView technology challenges the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 with sharper photo resolution and processing. It also will be able to run special apps within the camera application itself, allowing you to upgrade its functionality greatly over time -- at least that's the theory.

Our winner so far: We've seen the iPhone 5's camera in action, but we still haven't had a chance to compare its camera to either of the other two phones. The automatically-adjusting low-light capabilities of the iPhone 5 especially trumped those of the iPhone 4S, which was already the industry standard. We have yet to see how they all perform in different lighting scenarios. Yet if previous shoot-outs are any indication, each phone will persevere over the others depending on the category. Because Nokia's Lumia 920 is still unproven and the Lumia 900's camera wasn't awe-inspiring, we're tempering our hopes with doubts.

LTE and network promise
A this point, LTE on the iPhone 5 was an inevitability, and a feature that's been in the hopper for some time. Verizon has already sworn that all its new smartphones will have LTE, and AT&T and Sprint are expanding their respective networks.

Our winner so far: Samsung phones have long been LTE-capable and the Nokia Lumia 920 will be Espoo's second LTE phone. Apple is just now catching up.

Battery life
Nokia plans to equip its Lumia 920 with a 2,000 mAh battery, which should provide a good amount of run time, especially considering that Windows Phone has traditionally been a very economical operating system. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with a slightly larger 2,100 mAh battery that lasted for well over 9 hours playing video. Apple is coy on the iPhone 5's capacity, but promises that its will offer 10 hours of video playback and 8 hours of Web surfing over LTE.

Of course, if you're constantly using battery-draining features like S-Voice on the Galaxy S3, or streaming video, no phone will last as long as you'd like.

Our winner so far: It's hard to say since we haven't put the Lumia 920 to the test, but the Galaxy S3 is a sure bet for most, plus it offers a removable battery. So far, the iPhone 5 has also lasted a full day on a single charge. We'll conduct formal battery drain tests on the iPhone 5 soon.

NFC
Apple's iPhone 5 needed a few features to shore up some weak spots: a larger screen, LTE, and, to a lesser extent, NFC. It got the first two, but Apple didn't mention anything about NFC for the iPhone 5.

NFC, which makes it possible to share content across phones and pay for purchases, might not be a big deal to you, but it is an entire category of software capability that's closed on the iPhone 5.

Our winner so far: Samsung, which was the first to market with file-sharing over NFC, and has been aggressively marketing its S Beam feature.

Voice assistant
Siri in the iPhone 4S and Google's Voice Actions are evenly matched, but Samsung is standing behind its own S Voice assistant, which falls far behind. (We haven't been able to test Siri on the iPhone 5 yet, due to our NDA.)

Nokia phones stick with Microsoft's integrated, much more subtle voice command software, TellMe, but in Windows Phone 8, Microsoft will let third-party app-makers work in their own commands, so you can bark at individual apps like Audible, to read aloud, pause, or stop.

Our winner so far: Among these three phones, Siri takes the voice command cake.

Final verdict
If we had to recommend just one handset of the three right now, based on these specs and experience we would (narrowly) choose the iPhone 5 as an all-around phone.

Here's why: Out of these three phones, the iPhone 5 isn't the most innovative, but it is a reliable, intuitive package that earns top points for software and hardware reliability. Solid, strong, beautiful design, LTE speeds, and a proven camera that just gets better and better meets iTunes and app store robustness and the new iOS with turn-by-turn voice navigation and 3D flyovers. It lacks NFC, yes, but the hardware feature isn't yet ubiquitous; the majority of casual users won't notice, or even register, its absence.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has a ton of really neat, innovative new features, but it also has far more trip-ups, which make for a less smooth experience overall. We still love the GS3, but the rich, highly customizable Android 4.0 interface is too much for some users, and many of Samsung's innovations, especially in content-sharing, are more complicated to use and not very universal.

We're also very excited to review the Lumia 920, which offers NFC, wireless charging, and promises of a gorgeous display. However, we're less enamored of Nokia maps, getting multimedia still isn't as robust as iOS or Android, and there's a question hanging over the camera, a major selling point for us. We'd also like to see how well wireless charging works; a stumble here would be a major stumble indeed.

The original Lumia 900 camera fell short of expectations, so until we see the Lumia 920's 8.7-megapixel PureView lens in action, we're much less certain about its real-life performance. Nokia's recent camera kerfuffle certainly doesn't instill unquestioning confidence.

This isn't by any means a blow-away verdict, and the results will be very much up for debate when the Lumia 920 comes into our offices for scrutiny and we can get all three phones in our hands at once.

The iPhone 5 is an excellent, proficient, and stylish smartphone with few stumbles, yet it faces its stiffest competition yet. If you're at all on the fence about the iPhone 5, it's worth waiting for the Nokia Lumia 920, or weighing the characteristics you value most against the Samsung Galaxy S3. If you're already leaning toward the iPhone 5, do yourself the favor and buy it.

Which phone do you back, and why? Share with us in the comments.

Windows tablets from Samsung, Asus head to AT&T

2012-10-04T13:35:00.003-07:00

AT&T said today it would sell two Windows tablets, Samsung's ATIV Smart PC and Asus's VivoTab RT.

The tablets are just the latest mobile devices to be unveiled by AT&T in the last few days. Both products, which run on Windows RT, will be available for the holiday season, although the company didn't specify when or at what price.

While the iPad has been a runaway success, few other tablets, particularly ones connected to a cellular network, have been successful. AT&T is hoping for a change with the introduction of Windows RT, part of the Windows 8 family from Microsoft.

The ATIV, part of Samsung's Windows lineup of smartphones and tablets, comes with an 11.6-inch high-definition PLS display, an Intel Clover Trail 1.5-gigahertz dual-core processor, and 64 gigabytes of internal storage. It also comes with a trial version ofMicrosoft Office 2013, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

The device has a detachable keyboard-docking system allowing it to switch between a notebook PC and tablet PC.

The VivoTab RT has a 10.1-inch multi-touch Super IPS display, 32GB of storage and Nvidia's Tegra 3 TE quad-core processor. The device comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview Edition.

AT&T is hoping for a pick-up in sales of tablets with the introduction of family data plans.

Ultraslim PC Shipments to Hit 65 Million by 2015, Researcher Says

2012-10-04T13:34:00.002-07:00

The ultraslim PC market, which includes ultrabooks and the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina display, is set for explosive growth in the coming years, according to one researcher.

Last year, just 3.4 million ultraslim PCs were shipped worldwide. By 2015, that figure will grow to 65 million, according to new data from NPD DisplaySearch. By then, ultraslim PCs will account for a quarter of all mobile PC shipments.

As NPD DisplaySearch notes, ultraslim PC adoption has been quite slow. According to the researchers, that has been due to high prices across the line and "a lack of differentiation from standard notebooks." However, NPD DisplaySearch expects prices to continue to gradually come down, and innovation to rise.

So far, ultrabook sales, especially, have been disappointing. Earlier this week, another research firm, IHS iSuppli, revealed thatultrabook shipments are only expected to hit 10.3 million this year, down from a previous forecast of 22 million units.

"There once was a time when everyone knew the 'Dude you're getting a Dell' slogan," IHS analyst Craig Stice said in a statement. "Nowadays no one can remember a tag line for a new PC product, including for any single ultrabook. So far, the PC industry has failed to create the kind of buzz and excitement among consumers that is required to propel ultrabooks into the mainstream."

Meanwhile, tablets are performing exceedingly well. In fact, NPD DisplaySearch said today that it expects tablet shipments to exceed notebooks by 2016. The company made a similar prediction back in July, when it said that it expects tablet shipments to hit 416 million in 2017, compared to 393 million notebook units shipped.

"Tablet PCs have offered consumers what they have been requesting from the notebook market for years, instant-on activation, long battery life, and sleeker designs," Richard Shim, Senior Analyst with NPD DisplaySearch, said today in a statement. "These attributes are the basis for enabling greater and easier accessibility to content and services. Ultra-slim PCs are the notebook market's response to tablets and aim to balance performance and convenience."

Here's why the iPhone 5 is the best gaming phone

2012-10-02T13:24:00.002-07:00

Back before the iPhone 5 was a known quantity, back before we even knew it was definitely going to have a larger screen, the iPhone was already a great gaming handheld. Millions of people know that. Gamers may hate to admit it, because the iPhone lacks physical buttons. It doesn't matter.

What the iPhone did to mobile gaming has reverberated across the industry, forcing the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita into catch-up mode, battling for second and third place. Free-to-play and the very concept of redownloadable gaming apps -- not to mention the rebirth of indie development -- can all be traced to Apple's App Store and this little handheld device.

That's not to say the iPhone doesn't have a few issues. Its lack of physical buttons and that smaller screen began to feel cramped compared with the latest handhelds from Nintendo and Sony. Physical buttons or no, the screen of many iPhone games can become riddled with virtual, cluttered button dashboards. Some elegant games bypass this, but many don't.

How does the iPhone 5 compare as a gaming handheld? It's the best Apple's ever had, but it may be the best any phone maker's ever made, too.

Screen: size and shape
The iPhone 5 has a big thing going for it: a larger, longer screen. Sure, it's not Android big. However, it's the length that matters. That 16:9 new screen finally matches the aspect ratio of an HDTV, and that means that games in landscape mode finally look right.

It also means that your thumbs do, indeed, have more room. When playing games like FIFA 13 and Galaxy on Fire 2, both of which use a lot of onscreen buttons, those controls get pushed off more to the sides, leaving a bigger chunk of screen real estate uncluttered. It's unnerving at first; if you've played a lot of iPhone games like I have, your thumbs will freak out at the extra room. You won't have a clear sense of where the edges are.

But, once you get used to it, the controls seem even more instinctive. In FIFA 13, I found myself making shots and passing efficiently, even without physical buttons to feel for. That might be because the edges of the screen are pushed out, making it harder for your thumbs to accidentally slide off and hit off-screen.

Galaxy on Fire 2 had similar advantages. The extra room in the middle that isn't obstructed by your fingers isn't as massive as you'd think, but that extra half-inch or so amounts to a more normal-feeling field of view in virtual button-happy games.

For more-minimal interfaces like in the game Lili, the impact's even stronger. Other games, like platformers or endless runners, offer more visibility (see Jetpack Joyride, above).

The iPhone 5's 4-inch screen isn't as large as the screen on the PlayStation Vita (5 inches), but it finally feels like a real gaming handheld versus a phone you're playing games on. It's not as big as most typical Android phones, either, but it's more compact to hold.

Going vertical
Vertically, the iPhone 5 isn't quite as ideal for games. Titles like Spelltower now have more rows of tiles, but one-handed games are a little harder to play with only a thumb; spanning the iPhone 5's screen is possible, but it's not quite as easy as it was before. I don't think the extra screen height makes a huge difference in vertical games, unless you're playing something like Tetris.

Still, adding a row or two of extra letter tiles in Spelltower or residential floors in Tiny Tower (above) isn't anything to sneeze at. Certain games will find clever ways of taking advantage of an extra-long vertical screen; others will just use it as a way of horning in extra banner ads.

What do I think this means? I expect a lot more iPhone 5 games in landscape mode, taking full advantage of the extra space for virtual buttons or expanded screen view.

Graphics, speed
That's just screen size: obviously, the faster A6 processor and graphics soup up the load time and graphic polish on games, too. It's hard to judge how games perform thus far, but titles that seemed to push the limits of the iPhone 4S have no problem whatsoever on the iPhone 5. FIFA 13 is far smoother on the 5. I'm looking forward to the next generation of iPhone games that take further advantage of the graphics possibilities.

Lili is one of the few games specifically timed to the release of the iPhone 5; it stands as one of the showcase graphical experiences right now, alongside FIFA 13, which performs better but isn't quite as easy to appreciate from a casual distance. Games load faster by a matter of a couple of seconds, and resuming a game left open on the app dock happens more seamlessly than on my iPhone 4S.

Better grip, lighter device
Were previous iPhones too hand-cramping in landscape mode? Is a longer, lighter iPhone a better handheld gaming experience comfort-wise? I think this is hard to tell, but the longer iPhone 5 definitely keeps your fingers from crowding the device as much as they did previously. The reduced weight and thickness make for a more compact hand feel, and I preferred it over the iPhone 4 and 4S in two-handed landscape-mode gaming.

There is one caveat: games that aren't iPhone 5-optimized still work reasonably well, but the pillarboxing that occurs on the sides (the black bars) in landscape mode makes searching for controls a little more difficult, especially if you've been adjusting to your longer-screened iPhone over a period of weeks. Seen above, Infinity Blade II (which still has black bars). It's something that's not hard to adjust to, and most games will be iPhone 5-optimized sooner than later.

A superior online experience
Of course, the best part of the iPhone-as-game-console remains its social connectivity. Both its always-on design and the wide variety of online social networks the iPhone 5 connects to (Facebook, Game Center, OpenFeint, others). Game Center may be largely an afterthought, but if you're a socially-networked mobile gamer, you're making your home on the iPhone. The library of titles and sheer selection is staggering.

That massive App Store
Android has lots of games, and many developers are piling on. It still can't touch the breadth and depth of what the App Store offers iOS users, especially in terms of games. Ever since Infinity Blade, there are a growing number of "graphics showcase" titles that continue to push the frontier. Meanwhile, plenty of cheap, compelling indie games are available every week. It can get numbing to keep track of, and the App Store doesn't help much on the discovery front. Then again, the price of admission is often so low that it's not much of a risk to just buy a game and see how it is. iPhone 5-optimized games are growing at a steady rate, although there isn't a clear search filter to find them. Still, you can easily make the argument that iPhone games are the new frontier for handheld games, no matter what quality titles emerge on the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS.

The new iPod Touch
The iPhone 5 isn't the only iOS device that has a larger screen. The fifth-generation iPod Touch, available in October, has the same extended display, but it's a Frankenstein-esque combination of the iPhone 4S and 5 internally, with an A5 instead of an A6 processor. The clean design and hand strap could be a plus for lots of people, but the types of games that emerge on the new Touch may not be quite as impressive, graphically speaking, because of the different processor. Starting at $299 for a 32GB model, it's also not any less expensive than a subsidized iPhone 5.

Ever since I bought an iPad, the amount of iPhone gaming I've done has settled down to a few casual puzzlers, mainly because of the smaller screen. The new iPhone makes enough important adjustments that I've swung back again. And I may finally be more accepting of virtual buttons, even though I still wish there was a universal control pad case.