MicroBuzz

iPhone 6: What the future could hold

2013-04-08T22:42:00.002+01:00

Apple is rumoured to unveil the iPhone 5S in June but would could an iPhone 6 look like and how will Apples revolutionary phone keep ahead of the competition?

The Design

The iPhone 6 is likely to resemble the design of the iPhone 5 which will be made larger and possibly with a complete aluminium back and more durable outside band. The screen size could be 4.8 inches making it still suitable for one handed use but not as mammoth as some phablets of today with a full HD resolution and higher pixel density. The much loved (or not) home button is likely to remain but possibly at a shrunken down size or more square like design. NFC is probably unlikely as widespread adoption does't seem to be occurring quickly.

The Innards

Wether the iPhone 6 supports an A7 or A8 chip It's no doubt that it will sport a Quad Core CPU making it in line with current multi core chips. Expect to see much improved graphics chip to cope with the increased screen resolution and next-gen mobile games. It would also be about time to see a camera refresh as a larger resolution rear camera would make for some more detailed shots with better nigh time shots also to be expected. The iPhone 6 may also support 2K or 4K video capture but that isn't something we'd expect to see anytime soon.

The Software

The iPhone 6 will either run iOS 7 is released this year or iOS 8 next year. With Jonathan Ive placed as head of software design we are likely to see some changes to the UI which has remained virtually unchanged for 6 years. We expect the new iOS to debut on the new iPhone when released. It's UI is likely to ditch the real world object oriented theme e.g. a pad of paper for notes and a flip calendar for a more modern and simplistic aesthetic. Its likely to come with refreshed multitasking possibly in swipable apps, more dynamic app icons which can display info at a glance, a greatly improved maps with indoor information and more 3D buildings/ traffic info. Some more features we'd like to see include automatic app updates when charging over wifi, improved Siri integration, quick to access settings and even better iCloud integration possibly for sharing maps and saving game data.

The Price/ Release

If Apple do release the iPhone 6 this year it'll likely appear around June at WWDC 2013 Apples annul developer conference where iOS 7 will also be announced. If not then around October 2014. iPhone 6 is likely to cost the same as the iPhone 5 but may also come with a 128GB model as seen with the all new iPad (iPad 4). It may also come with a cheaper version made from plastic casing and lower res screen, slower CPU and 8MP camera or Apple may sell an 8GB iPhone 5 instead. So the iPhone 6 will be a larger improvements over previous models to stay atop in an ever more competitive market.

Google Glass: Is the future upon us?

2013-04-08T12:59:00.000+01:00

Last year Google took the wraps off its all new project glass at its I/O conference in the US and has ever since been unveiling more details and building up hype about glass. We attempt to answer all the questions about glass.

What does it do?

Glass is capable of a range of activities such as searching the web using Google now (a voice search for Google which answers questions), Taking HD videos or photos, looking up your location using maps and sharing your view with friends via a Google+ hangout. Glass can also read and send out messages and translate your speech into another language. To do these things Glass presents a timeline menu of all the things you've done recently, similar to facebook, it presents them in a card like form on screen alongside app cards. Developers will be able to add cards in the future but no app store like system yet exists.

How is it controlled?

What the view might actually look like through Glass
Terminator anyone?

Glass can be controlled by different ways depending on preference. Firstly menu actions such as swiping though cards and options can be controlled using a small trackpad on the side of Glass. Actions such as searching Google or taking a picture can be voice controlled and users can also control the specs through an Android or iPhone. The headset is activated by saying 'OK Glass'and turned on by tilting your head to a user set angle.

What is it?

Glass uses a small head-mounted pc running a modified version of Google's Android operating system. The set contains a small Cpu and RAM just like a conventional PC. Glass has a small transparent display situated just above the eye so it doesn't interfere. It has an array of connections and sensors including Wifi, blutooth and GPS although we are sure Glass will eventually come with built in 4G or as it does now just connect to smartphone via blutooth. It also has an accelerometer and Gyroscope so it knows which way your facing.

When can I get at it?

Google announced that glass will be available before the end of 2013 and will cost $1500 or less. It will be available in a range of colours and Google are experimenting with versions that fit around actual glasses.

What's not to like?

Well actually Glass does have some drawbacks. For one due to the small size it will have limited battery life. Second due to the fact Glass doesn't have built in cellular connection it relies on having a smartphone at all times. In addition the US have stated Glass may fall under the same anti texting whilst driving laws as other devices meaning it may not be able to be used whilst driving and at this point Glass is still limited by functionality until developers begin to pitch in. Not to mention some people simply wouldn't want to wear the thing and apear slightly nerdy although Google has adressed this by using models to wear Glass so it has to be cool, right?.

Is Glass the next big thing?

Well that depends. We have already seen some companies try this concept but with the backing of a well known company like Google many others may follow suit in the future. Glass does present a unique market for wearable devices that could prove very popular but at $1500 we don't think Glass will become as common as many other devices but it may certainly mark the beginning of a new chapter for technology.

If you want to know more be sure to check out the video below of Google's SXSW 2013 speech about Glass to see how Glass works in more detail. Do you think Glass is the future? Let us know in the comments below.

The new iPhone (iPhone 5)

2012-07-15T13:25:00.000+01:00

In 2007 Apple revolutionised the phone. The iPhone has been one of the most innovative products in tech history but with new rivals and ever advancing technologies its time for Apple the push the bar once more.

The new iPhone (iPhone 5) is likely to be announced on August 7th during a keynote speech. There are many rumours about what features the iPhone will bring but Its time to bring them all together for a fully rounded prediction. We take a look at various insider and manufacturing reports to take a sneak peek at what the next iPhone will bring to the table.

The A6 chip

Many insider reports from Samsung's chip factory in the US have claimed that Apple has ordered a sample of Quad-Core A6 chips to be developed based on the 28nm process. The A6 has been in the works for some time however the 28nm process has caused Samsung's chip factories issues which could explain why the iPad 3 only used the A5X chip.

All new design

The new iPhone has been said to be longer the the 4S and sport a 4 inch display with a contrast ratio of 16:9. This comes form leaked manufacturing specifications and parts which also reveal a metal backing, smaller than usual dock connector as a replacement to the standard 30 pin connector and all new speaker design. There is also rumoured to be a camera upgrade with a 10MP rear camera with better low light sensors and a new isight front facing camera possibly 2MP.

NFC

Many elements from the iPhone have been shown in leaked parts and manufacturing specs but there are other new features the new iPhone may offer. With iOS 6 brings passbook, an app that allows users to collect passes such as cinema tickets, vouchers and NLB tickets but could the new app hint at NFC (near field communication) capability in the new iPhone. If so the new iPhone could be used with passbook to make mobile payments much like the Google Wallet system. However there has been word on NFC recently as Apple requested a patent for mobile payments. Apple may however use passbook as a completely new system and competitor to NFC.

4G LTE

With the new iPad supporting 4G cellular connections its almost certain the new iPhone will follow in suit. With the all new design its likely Apple has added a 4G wireless band to the existing array. 4G will provide the new iPhone with up to 70mbps download speeds over 4G mobile networks.

So thats all we can say for the new iPhone. Apple has always shrouded its product launches in mystery so we'll have to wait unit at least August to find out more. Until then make sure to follow MicroBuzz for any further developments.

*Update 2013

Be sure to check out our iPhone 6 concepts and rumours on the link below:
iPhone 6: What the future could hold

Sony Tablet P Hits Online Shelves, Your Wallet.

2011-11-26T19:46:00.001Z

After Sony's oh so ordinary S tablet its about time something extra ordinary came to the market.

This comes in the form of the dual screen Android tablet P. With two 5.5 inch touch-screens and a variety of classic Playstation titles to enjoy which just recently hit online shelves at a whopping £500 or $774.

Priced at considerable more than the iPad 2 its unclear as to how the tablet will sell. Will it be an iPad competitor or market flop?

iPhone 4S vs Galaxy Nexus

2011-11-26T17:24:00.001Z

The iPhone has for a long time been the most successful smartphones on the market and with Apples long overdue iPhone 4S hitting shelves last month can it stay ahead of the competition and with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus biting at its ankles, we compare the speed, style and software and pit them head to head.

Processor

It appears that from initial benchmarks show the iPhone to be the fastest on the general CPU side of things whilst the Nexus takes the edge when it comes to loading webpages.

The Nexus has a 1.2GHz Dual-Core Processor compared to the iPhone 4S 1GHz. Also the Nexus has double the RAM at an impressive 1GB alongside the iPhone's respectable 512MB. The winner here goes to the Nexus for that extra 0.2GHz

Software

The Nexus is the smartphone first to run Android's new Ice cream sandwich OS which gives slick new multitasking, face unlock and a tidy redesign. But the Nexus goes up against iOS 5, Apples new OS which features magazine viewing and iMessage as well as for the iPhone 4S Siri which we think gives the edge in this battle. Also because iOS comes with a much greater selection of apps than android and is generally easier to use.

Network

The Nexus comes with an all important extra feature, LTE better known as 4G although most consumers wont get to enjoy the 40Mbps connection just yet as different countries must first establish the network, its nice to know the Nexus is future proof in this respect. The 4S on the other hand comes with HSPA+ which allows you to enjoy faster 3G (Existing) Networks. This means the 4S is in the lead for now but in future the Nexus will win out. Its important to know that the iPhone also has more networks to choose from.

Camera

Both phones pack an 8MP camera capable of shooting full HD video however the iPhone has a high end 5 lens system and increased apature alongside some nifty video stabilisation so the winner here is the 4S.

Price

Since the iPhone 4S has a cheaper entry model (16GB) and also 32 & 64GB options compared to the Nexus' 16 & 32GB then the iPhone is surprisingly more affordable.

Verdict

In conclusion it seems that the phones are very close but with the price, software and camera standing out on the iPhone (and Siri!) it just takes the edge over the Nexus but only by the smallest of amounts. However it seems Samsung is fast closing in on the iPhone, it could only be a matter of time!

Battle of the browsers: Appearance and Usability

2011-07-09T00:10:00.000+01:00

Google Chrome's Web Apps

We previously published an article on the speed of browsers but when it comes down to it. Speed isn't everything.

Browsers have become more than just tools to browse the web but some like chrome have ambitious goals to take all of the tasks that we do on the computer and put them on the web. Google chrome was put in the spotlight when it released chrome web store. A place that allows users to download extensions and apps that are displayed in a home screen type fashion.

Firefox's main appealing feature has been it's customisability. It's range wide range of extensions a themes make firefox an appealing choice although it has a much wider selection of add-ons than any other browser we found Chrome's to be genrally faster and more user friendly. However Chrome does not support web toolbars where browsers such as Firefox, Safari and IE do.

Firefox's extreme customisability

When it comes to choice however IE and Safari loose out to the others with their minimal choice of add-ons and lack of themes making them un-customisable. Having said that both Safari and IE are both very stable and easy to use.

Firefox in general feels like the most cluttered browser while the new IE , Chrome and Safari are very simplistic and easy to use. Opera sits in the middle of the two can be cluttered but mostly feels easy to use.

So who wins this round. In our opinion it's a joint finish between IE and Safari (For ease of use), Firefox (For customisation) and Chrome (for a bit of Both). With Opera sadly loosing out.

You can check out the other parts of our investigation here:

Speed: http://goo.gl/OQqkS
Security: Coming Soon

Quick Update: Apple App Store hits 15 Billion downloads

2011-07-08T23:31:00.000+01:00

Apples App Store has proved extremely popular for downloading applications on iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches. Apple announced that its 15 Billionth app has just been sold.

With a collection of 425,000 apps, Apples app store is without doubt the largest app store in the portable device market. But how many really is 15 Billion? To put it into context its about 2.1 apps for every person on earth.

More evidence for iPad 3 retina display

2011-06-15T16:53:00.000+01:00

Apple has pioneered its high res displays on the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch but isn't it about time the iPad sported it too. Well recent software notes suggest that the new iPad 3 will pack in a whopping 1535 x 2048 pixel display.

The resolution was discovered in the new beta of iOS Apples upcoming software for iDevices. But this isn't the first set of rumours suggesting that the iPad 3 will have a retina display. One hollywood insider claimed that the iPad 3 would also have a 3D display but knowing Apple well that seems very unlikely. Some sources suggest the iPad 3 will be launched later this year but a release date of early 2012 seems most probable.

Nokia vs Apple legal dispute settled

2011-06-14T20:46:00.000+01:00

A technology licensing agreement has been made between Nokia and Apple after a long running legal fude.

Nokia sued Apple in September 2009 and extended legal action in December 2010 following after a range of claimed patent infringements. Apple then hit back claiming that Nokia copied its own patents. Although after a long 2 year trail Apple has finally agreed to settle with a loss and a one off payment to Nokia. Nokias chief executive was happy with the result and tentions between the two companies have been calmed.

Nokias examples of Apples patent intrusions included 3G & Wifi connections, touch screens and more. The companies simply said that now the legal battle is over they could "get back to business". And as the agreement means the two companies can infringe upon some of each others patents resulting in much less clashes in the future.

iCloud to feature web based interface?

2011-06-14T20:22:00.001+01:00

Apple announced the death of MobileMe at WWDC 2011 to be replaced by the online syncing service iCloud but is turns out that iCloud may have a dedicated web service as well.

It makes sense that as Apple recently payed out $4.5 Million for the iCloud.com domain name they will be including a web based service similar to that of MobileMe so that users can access calender and mail online. There is some evidence behind the claim as a reader of macrumours yesterday discovered an iCloud email error page highlighting the fact that the online mail services like those from MobileMe will return.

However Apple claim that "The web suite will cease to exist" seemingly denying any rumours. Apple did say that the existing web services of MobileMe will run until mid 2012 before they go for good so it is still possible that Apple will announce a successor to the web based services or not.

No gingerbread for HTC Desire users

2011-06-14T19:49:00.000+01:00

HTC has been working for a long time to update the HTC Desire to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but after multiple setbacks HTC has given up leaving users stuck on Android 2.2 forever. The comment section where HTC announced the move was filled with comments from disappointed customers who will have to purchase a new handset or hack their existing one to be able to get future updates.

Google did previously encounter problems updating the Nexus 1 because it simply didn't have the computing power. Although HTC did promise the update some time ago but deciding that it just didn't run smoothly with its UI they have given up on ever updating the Desire again.

Google announces search by voice and image

2011-06-14T19:28:00.000+01:00

Google just announced at its inside search event that Google voice search will be available for desktop as well as being able to search by images.

Searching by voice has been one of the best features of google search for mobile devices so it was about time when Google announced it would be coming to desktop browsers too. The other interesting new way to search is by uploading a photo and Google intelligently compares it to other similar images from across the web ending up with images taken from the same place or event, very convient. You can also copy an image url and match that image too.

Both the new features will be available in the next few days and will require a Chrome or Firefox extension to work. However it will only be a matter of time before the features are supported by other browsers such as Internet Explorer. Its clear that as most of us Google stuff all the time then simply sending in a picture and finding out where it is will be a very useful feature.

Facebook ignores claims of lost users

2011-06-14T18:55:00.001+01:00

A recent study found that social networking giant Facebook has been using thousands of users has been denied by Facebook who say they are "Pleased with the growth".

The study concluded that although Facebook gained users as a whole it still lost 6 Million US users and 100,000 in the UK. Facebook seemed far from worried about the losses claiming that they had been pleased that the service had gained users from other countries. It is however unclear as to why the worlds most popular social network suddenly stopped gaining users in the US and UK.

We believe that a likely reason for some of the loss is the exam season, where most students will be putting their phones and PCs down and switching to revision instead. The figures from inside Facebook also highlight that 1.5 Million Canadians left the service in May. Although when you compare that to the 500 Million overall users it seems minuscule.

Facebook however claims that the tools used in Facebook that the numbers came from where not meant to build up a summary of how many users the service is gaining or loosing. So, are millions of users boring of Facebook or will they be back after the exams? only time can tell this one.

Toshiba Thrive available for pre order

2011-06-13T18:08:00.000+01:00

The Thrive is a 10.6inch tablet running Android 3.1 and as guaranteed Toshiba has started taking pre orders.

Thrive runs on an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor making multitasking a snap along with 1GB of RAM. The 10.6inch LCD display sports a typical tablet resolution of 1280x800. The tablet has two cameras, a rear facing 5MP camera capable of shooting HD video and a front facing camera for video calling. The Thrive has a nice set of ports that don't usually apear on a tablet. These include a HDMi port, one USB 2.0 port and an SD card slot providing a range of connectivity options.

HTC Salsa goes social

2011-06-13T15:11:00.000+01:00

HTC has taken a step to being more social with the dedicated Facebook button. A feature thats included in the HTC Salsa a 3.4inch LED smartphone that makes updating your status all that easier.

Its no doubt that if your a Facebook zombie or a "I cant wait to tell my friends what cereal I just ate" kind of person then HTC has the solution for you. The Salsa includes a dedicated Facebook button that allows you to update your status at the touch of a button literally, making sharing photos and talking to friends much easier. When you take a photo you can simply press the button and its shared right to your wall.

Jokes aside. The HTC Salsa sports a 3.6inch LED display which although clear it doesn't compare to the sharpness and clarity of the AMOLED displays on Samsung smartphones. It has an 800Mhz processor which isn't the fastest but should be good enough for web browsing and general tasks. However the processor means that there will be no chance of flash support in the browser.

The Salsa has a rear facing 5MP camera so shooting good pictures and a VGA res front facing camera for video calls. A sim free version of the phone should cost around £320-£350 and around $450 in the US. All in all the HTC Salsa is a great middle budget smartphone for anyone who loves to use social networking sites.

iPhone 5 due out September, May keep the camera

2011-06-13T14:37:00.000+01:00

Apple has been known for releasing iPhones annually every June but this year it looks like Apple fans will have to wait till September to get their hands on the iPhone 5.

Sources have claimed that the new iPhone will release this September and that it will not be very different to the iPhone 4. The 5MP camera may stay on the next gen iPhone they claim. The same sources have said that the iPhone 5 is in final testing stages and is being carried around by Apple execs. Lets hope they don't leave it at the bar like last time. However the 5MP camera is only a rumour and many have been hinting that the iPhone 5 will use an 8MP snapper provided by Sony.

iOS 5 may also have speech control although it was not mentioned at Apples WWDC 2011 conference Apple recently purchased a company that works on speech recognition technologies hinting that it will apear some time in the future. The future for the iPhone 5 is unclear for now and we won't know anything for sure until at least august.

Windows 8 to integrate with Xbox Live

2011-06-13T14:10:00.000+01:00

Microsoft recently unveiled the new tiled interface for the upcoming version of the worlds most popular desktop software Windows 8 and now they have announced that it will bring its popular gaming service Xbox Live to the PC.

Microsofts plan is that Xbox Live will be the go to place for movies, games, music and downloads on the PC acting as a sort of media hub and as tablets will run Windows 8 and Windos Phone 7 already has Xbox Live then all devices will be unified by one service. Xbox Live in un-doubtably one of the best things that Microsoft has ever created so it doesn't come as a surprise that they want to push it across all devices and with Windows running on hundreds of millions of machines its the biggest market of all time.

The tile based preview of Windows 8 also bears resemblance to the current Xbox dashboard in which information is displayed in a similar way and with the tiled interface on Windows Phone 7, Microsoft seems to be on an effort to unify all devices similar to what Apple is trying to achieve.

Sky to offer live tv streaming to iOS devices

2011-06-13T13:30:00.000+01:00

Sky in the UK has promised to take yet another step to prevent its customers ever missing an episode by announcing that next month it will offer free tv streaming to all iOS devices.

The new service named Sky Go will be available free to all Sky tv subscribers or at a monthly charge of £15 up to £40 for non subscribes. The service will allow viewers to ponder over a range of channels on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac and PC although iPod Touch first gen is excluded. Some of the channels that will support the new devices are Sky sports, Sky movies, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Nat Geo and more but these are only on PC and Mac for now.

Mobile devices will support Sky News and Sky Sports and so far that is all that's been confirmed. However Sky did state that "More will be added over time". My opinion is that the service has great potential but at this moment in time there simply isn't enough channels for mobile devices and certainly not enough to justify the high monthly charge.

Apple to update Macbook Air range soon?

2011-06-12T22:49:00.001+01:00

Sources suggest that Apple plans to launch a new Macbook Air range concluded from the fact that Apple is holding an Apple store meeting on Tuesday possibly to announce a new product.

A twitter user named chronic who has been known for leaking new Apple products in the past has claimed that the new Macbook Airs are 100% certain to be released this week. This collaborates with an Apple Retail Store meeting that day in which employees are usually informed on new products before they go on sale.

The new Macbook Airs are expected to ditch the intel Core 2 Duo processors in favour of the much newer Core i3, i5 and i7 Processors. They are also expected to sport a Facetime HD camera and Apples new Thunderbolt port. However it seems odd that Apple would update the Macbook Air so fast as the last refresh was only in October 2011.

Sources in China also suggest that Apple has ordered many units of a new product which is currently in mass production. Although nobody will know for sure, it seems likely that a refresh is imminent.

Hackers target uk game developer Codemasters

2011-06-12T22:06:00.001+01:00

In a sting of attacks by hackers UK game development company Codemasters has become the next victim with thousands of users personal data stolen.

The company has described that a 'significant' amount of its users personal details had been stolen. These include phone numbers, adresses and dates of birth, all of which were stolen by hackers on the 3rd June. The firm reassured that payment details were not taken during the breach.

The firm took said it took its website offline as soon as the attacks were detected. This kind of data theft is no new phenomenon as Sony's Playstation Network service was recently targeted resulting in the loss of millions of users details being freely circulated around the web and sold by hackers. Sony points the finger at members of the hacking collection Anomalous though the company refused such participation as a whole it said some of its members may have been behind it. It may aslo be possible that some of the same individuals were behing this attack too.

The attacks have made cyber threats seem all too real with many services now requiring greater protection and left the general public questioning, is it too risky to keep personal details o the internet anymore?

Playstation 3D TV stops your buddy spying at your screen

2011-06-12T21:55:00.001+01:00

Sony announced many things at e3 this year but one of them we didn't expect was a 24inch 3D tv with a difference.

Many people become frustrated by playing split screen games on the PS3 as it gives the ability to look at the screen of the other player. However Sony hopes that its new tv can combat this by allowing a different image to be seen on screen at the same time. Sony does this by using its own 3D shutter glasses that can add a visible image over the tv invisible to any other pairs of glasses meaning that no-one can look at your game anymore.

The tv has a refresh rate of 240hz and delivers a crisp 3D picture at 60 frames per second. The tv is fantastic for gaming especially in 3D although game developers will have to add the ability to have a dual screen view so it may be some time before we see a variety of games supporting the feature. The pricing has not been confirmed yet but knowing Sony it may be a very affordable choice for a 3D tv and with some great features too.

Apple sued over 'iCloud' trademark

2011-06-12T21:38:00.001+01:00

Apple has yet again ended up in another legal brawl over its product names. This time its newly announced iCloud service has come understandably under attack from iCloud communications.

iCloud communications is a company based in Arizona that provides VoiP services but also claims to be a cloud computing company. The company said that they had been using the term iCloud for its services since 2005. The company demanded the court to destroy all of Apples marketing campaign and to make Apples recently purchased iCloud trademark invalid.

However its very unlikely that such a ruling will be given by the court and its more than likely that a cash payment by Apple will silence iCloud communications as Apple will have no plans to drop its iCloud branding.

NGP rebranded as Playstation Vita

2011-06-09T20:46:00.001+01:00

At e3 this week Sony announced that its next generation portable system would be renamed as 'Playstation Vita'.

The system that sport 2 cameras, a 5inch OLED touchscreen and a Quad-Core mobile processor and touch sensitive back panel has received a new name which will likely be shortened to PSV. As well as the name change Sony also confirmed that the Vita will not support video output.

More importantly Sony confirmed that all PSV games will be region free so it won't matter where you get games from. It also means that games banned in certain regions will play too, good news if you enjoy playing international games.

The Vita is due for release this holiday season and will come in two models. One Wifi and one Wifi+3G

Halo 4 Unveiled as 1st game of new trilogy

2011-06-09T20:15:00.001+01:00

Halo has been one of the most popular game series of all time with nobody expecting a sequel it came at surprise when microsoft announced a new trilogy at e3 this week.

This will be the fist game produced by Microsofts own 343 game industry after Bungie declined to make further games and allowed Microsoft to continue. As created by Microsoft it comes as no surprise that the game is an Xbox and PC exclusive. But the company also confirmed that Halo 4 would be part of an all new trilogy of Halo games.

Not much is known of the game so far except that it has been slated for a release date of holiday season 2012 so anticipating gamers will have to wait a while to get their hands on it.

Microsoft also showed off a teaser trailer for the game which you can see below.

Wii U takes a different approach to gaming

2011-06-09T19:50:00.000+01:00

This week at e3 Nintendo announced the much anticipated sequel to its popular gaming console the wii dubbed the Wii U the console is vastly different to the likes of the Xbox and PS3.

The console comes with one set up box that has internal storage, optical drive and HDMI output. But it also comes with a controller that sports a 6inch touchscreen and a front facing camera in addition to a button layout similar to the PS3 or Xbox with two analogue sticks.

The touchscreen is used by a stylus similar to that which you'd find on the 3DS allowing for many interactions with games which have not been tried before such as flicking an object at the tv. The stylus may also come in handy for drawing games and the screen can aslo act to display stats of the game your playing whilst in game.

Not much is known about the mysterious box except that unlike the last Wii this one can output HD graphics. A feature that joined with the controller Nintendo hopes it can draw hardcore gamers back in with instead of the console being pure family based.

The front facing camera allows you to video chat to your buds although not in game to put you off. The controller also takes in precies motion tracking allowing for some motion based games similar to that of the original Wii to return. Nintendo have been known for making their consoles stand out from the norm but can they pull it off this time?