XBOX vs PS4

The game consoles have landed. Millions of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners are getting their first taste of what to expect from this new generation of high-powered video games.

Perhaps you weren't one of those eager fans who waited in line at midnight to get first crack at the new consoles. Perhaps there's a gamer in your family who would love to unwrap shiny new machine on Christmas morning. So you're wondering: Which console to buy?

Both are first-rate game players that bring cutting-edge computer graphics to your living room. Both come with plenty of games to choose from. Both hold the promise of delivering state-of-the-art entertainment for years.

But there are differences. The obvious distinction is price: Sony's PlayStation 4 retails for $400, $100 less than Microsoft's Xbox One.

The primary reason for that price difference is the Kinect camera and microphone that comes with every Xbox One. Microsoft wants it to be the center of everything you do in your media room, not just games where you wave your arms around a lot. The device, an update of the Kinect that was sold separately for the Xbox 360, now understands a wide range of verbal commands, so you can change cable channels, launch Skype calls and find movies and music without ever touching a controller.

It's a nifty chunk of technology, but it's not for everyone. In this age of surveillance, people might be uncomfortable with having a camera pointed at them all the time - though Microsoft assures us that it won't be snooping.

The PlayStation 4 is less ambitious. First and foremost, it's a game player, and you operate it the old-fashioned way: by pressing buttons on a controller you hold in your hands.

The PS4 doesn't skimp on non-gaming activities. You can also use it to watch movies from services as Netflix and Hulu Plus or to listen to tunes from Sony's Music Unlimited.

Although both can do much more, the PS4 and the Xbox One are ultimately video-game consoles, with the emphasis on games. The current Xbox One line-up is slightly more impressive, thanks to the presence of the stellar racing game "Forza Motorsport 5." But many games, including the latest entries in the popular ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Madden NFL’ and ‘Assassin's Creed’ franchises are available for both systems.

In a way, choosing a console now is like placing a bet on the future, especially as neither device can play software created for older systems - namely, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

                                Forza Motorsport on Xbox One

Sony has already announced new ‘Uncharted’ and ‘InFamous’ games for the PS4. Microsoft is expected to continue the "Halo" epic on the Xbox One. Microsoft also has a potential blockbuster exclusive with "Titanfall," a robot battle game from the creators of the landmark "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare."

But most games from outside publishers, including Activision, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, will be available on both systems. Whatever "Grand Theft Auto V" publisher Rockstar Games comes up with next, you can be sure it will want to make it available to as wide an audience as possible. So you'll be fine with either the PS4 or the Xbox One.

What about the Wii U, you ask? Nintendo's console beat both PS4 and Xbox One to the market, but it has stumbled through its first year. It's not a bad machine, but it doesn't deliver the visual razzle-dazzle of the PS4 or Xbox One. Its graphics are closer to what the PS3 and Xbox 360 delivered several years ago.

The Wii U's biggest drawback is its relatively scrawny software line-up, with most of 2013's best games available only on Sony or Microsoft consoles.

In the past, Nintendo has made up the difference with its roster of home grown icons - the likes of Mario, Zelda and Metroid. But in 2013, the company delivered just two marquee-worthy Wii U games, "Super Mario 3D World" and "Pikmin 3."

At $300, the Wii U is the cheapest of the three major consoles. But don't be tempted. Sure, there's a chance that Nintendo will turn around its momentum and get back to publishing good games on a regular schedule. Until then, an awful lot of Wii U’s is going to be gathering dust.

If you or someone on your holiday shopping list just wants to play state-of-the-art games, the PS4 is a fine choice. If you buy into Microsoft's vision of controlling your entire entertainment system with just the sound of your voice, the Xbox One is worth the extra $100. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

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Top 10 Gadgets of 2013

The year 2013 witnessed a slew of gadget launches. While some were better versions of existing gadgets, many showcased innovations and new possibilities.

Here's our pick of ten best gadgets of the year 2013.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The third-generation of Samsung’s popular Note range of phablet devices, Galaxy Note 3 offers a brilliant full-HD screen, a powerful Exynos Octa processor and a whopping 3GB of RAM. Its best feature though is its unique S Pen stylus that takes scribbling notes and creating other content to the next level.

The international version of the Note 3 even offers 4K video recording.

Apple iPad mini with Retina display

The first iteration of Apple’s compact 7.9-inch tablet had everything a best-seller could offer barring a low-resolution display. The year 2013 saw the Cupertino giant close the gap by bringing its Retina display (2048 x 1536 pixels) to the second-generation iPad mini, and give it brand new internals.

The iPad mini with Retina display is powered by the same 64-bit A7 chip that drives the iPhone 5S. It still retains the premium aluminium chasis.

HTC One

At a time when most flagship Android smartphones offered flimsy plastic bodies, the HTC One emerged as the answer to the iPhone with its solid aluminium frame and chamfered edges.

Its dual front stereo speakers and the first ultrapixel camera lens was among the phone’s major USPs, along with Blinkfeed that brought news and socialmedia feeds to the home screen.

Sony PlayStation 4

Sony’s much awaited new-generation gaming console got an overwhelming response selling more than 2.1 million units after less than three weeks. The PlayStation 4 is powered by an eight-core AMD Jaguar CPU and features 500GB hard drive, 8GB of unified memory, built-in Blu Ray drive and the new DualShock 4 controller.

The PlayStation 4 also features 802.11 b/g/n WiFi connectivity option, an Ethernet port, Bluetooth 2.1, and two USB 3.0 ports. It also features more entertainment and social features.

Apple iPhone 5S

In 2013 Apple launched iPhone 5S, which the company calls its most forward thinking phone. One of the first phones to be powered by a 64-bit processor, the iPhone 5S comes with a major performance boost, an improved camera, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor for authentication and better battery life. It also comes in a brand new Gold colour variant. 

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9

Amazon’s new Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 tablet features an 8.9-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels resolution and pixel density of 339ppi leaving behind the iPad Air.

Under the hood, the tablet is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM, and runs the new Fire OS 3.0 which is based on Android Jelly Bean. It also comes with Mayday, a unique button that offers a 24x7 connection to Amazon’s customer support.

Google Chromecast

One of the major USPs of Google’s new small thumb drive-like media player is its $35 price tag. The other is the ease with which it can be configured and used.

You can just plug it into a TV’s HDMI port and access internet video services such as Netflix and YouTube, and content from Google Play, beaming the content through smartphones, tablets and personal computers connected to it. The content is beamed via the internet and not mirrored unlike the Apple TV.

Google Nexus 7

Google upgraded its popular 7-inch tablet, the Nexus 7, bestowing it with a high-resolution 1920 x 1200 pixels display, and an even more compact form factor. It also got a rear-camera for casual photography. The Nexus 7(2013) is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor running at 1.5GHz and 2GB of RAM and offers great performance.

Google’s latest tablet is a complete package, with relatively good hardware, a brilliant HD screen and the promise of the latest software updates.

Nokia Lumia 1020

After bidding farewell to Symbian, Nokia decided to bring its oversampling technology first seen in the PureView 808 to Windows Phone, putting the 41MP sensor on the Lumia 1020. With lossless zoom, that lets one take a big image and crop it without compromising on the quality, the Lumia 1020’s camera is undoubtedly the best compared to the ones on other phones, available at the moment.

Other hardware specs of the Lumia 1020 include 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ Amoled display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 2,000mAh battery and 32GB internal storage.

Curved TVs

While 4K TVs are still in the process of infiltrating our drawing rooms, electronics giants LG and Samsung have already announced giant 105-inch ultra-HD TVs with curved screens.

The two launched Curved OLED TVs with full-HD resolution, earlier in the year. The companies claim that a curved display panel offers equal distance from all parts of the screen to the eyes resulting in better viewing angles, less colour distortion, consistent contrast and an immersive TV viewing experience.

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FIFA 14 Review

The next generation of gaming is here and with it, the world’s most popular sports franchise has a whole new version available for the PlayStation 4 gaming system. With FIFA 14, a whole new chapter has come up.

The new installation, however, doesn't bring much in the way of new features. So what has changed? What can you expect? Take a look.

For the last few years, the franchise has been on top of the chart due to realism, detail and gameplay. While the closest competitor, the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise, comes close due to the detail it gives to every aspect of the game, overall, FIFA has reigned supreme. This new edition has vastly upgraded graphics, a new physics engine, living world’s environments, a new precision movement system and much more.

Those long-used run-and-gun attacks up the centre of the pitch so beloved by FIFA players are met here with a steely wall of defence and a disheartening counterattack. This is a slower, more considered take on football that rewards careful build-up play.

EA has definitely put a lot of effort in making the gameplay feel more real. This has been a constant part of FIFA’s overall development over the past few years. The major difference that we could pinpoint between this franchise and Konami’s PES series is the delicate balance it maintains to keep each match grounded in realism. PES, on the other hand, has always been bogged down by slightly unrealistic gameplay. The team line-up is as expansive as ever, with even the lowest divisions being clearly detailed. Realism in terms of player details seems to range, though. While some players come with accurate facial builds, others seem to be slightly off the mark. 

Graphics

To truly be appreciated and enjoyed, the camera must be changed from the default setting to “Dynamic” or at the very least, put at an angle where the players are seen for all their glory. Clearly, the graphics of the player models are fluid, dynamic and realistic. The graphics have a sharpness that simply did not exist on the prior generation and the crowd moves fluidly to provide an authentic FIFA experience.

FIFA 14 on the new consoles features a new default camera that is angled lower and closer to the pitch to bring new 3D crowds life. The crowd is now a part of the action. Larger stadiums in the game will also feature stadium exteriors and broadcast-inspired stadium fly-overs to add more depth to the match-day experience.

FIFA 14 isn’t earth shatteringly different from the earlier installments. The tweaks in the latest installment, though, come out when you get down to playing a match. Every detail has been worked on from how the player runs, jumps, makes a pass or even the stance that individual players take on the field. 

The EA SPORTS IGNITE engine allows for greater graphical fidelity. New cloth technology ensures player kits look and react to movement just as they do in the real world. Particles of grass and dirt, and even splashes of water will be visible during matches. All of the enhanced detail helps each match tell a compelling story, on and off the pitch.

Audio

FIFA has the best audio in the sports gaming industry and that holds true in the PS4′s edition of FIFA 14. The soundtrack is impressive, but not anything new from the previous generation. The commentary is absolutely outstanding and relevant during all facets of a match, while the crowd genuinely reacts at the right time, as opposed to a collective sigh whenever there’s a strike at the goal. While the audio actually sounds about the same as it does on the previous generation’s version of this game, which does not mean it is anything other than spectacular.

Gameplay

With all of the changes brought about by the EA Sports Ignite engine, there is a lot for FIFA players to adjust to while playing the game. Even on easier modes, no longer will players just blow by unsuspecting defenders to get a 1:1 opportunity against the keeper. No longer, thanks to the improved A.I., will players simply run a formulaic triangle pass play with a through ball to create an uncontested opportunity. The game truly has changed, perhaps to the chagrin of players that enjoy a more casual “football” experience, but to the point where experienced players will totally appreciate all the subtleties that add up to big changes. The gameplay of FIFA 14 on PS4 is excellent, and while gamers might feel that this new generation is a tad on the difficult side and requires a fair amount of mental and physical re-calibration to master, it’s well worth the effort as the gameplay experience has certainly be elevated.

Pro Instincts

Players make decisions four times faster than on previous consoles. Decision-making is now based on multiple frames per second, resulting in players that are more aware of their surroundings and react accordingly. Depending on the situation, an attacking player may check his run, back into a defender or brace for an incoming tackle. During a sprint, a player may feint or leap over a sliding defender while still maintaining possession of the ball. Defenders will recognize more opportunities to support and pressure the opposition to help create balance.

Precision Movement

In FIFA 14, gameplay is built around True Player Motion and delivers a whole new feel in the game. Players will have unique step animations instead of blended run cycles, which mean that every step counts. Foot slides have been eliminated and players will use true bio-mechanics to shift their weight from one leg to the other as they run. This dramatically changes the feel, look and realism within the game as players will be more grounded as they move across the pitch.

Players will gradually gain or lose speed as they run but will still have a burst of speed available. Using it incorrectly or relying on it too much may prove costly. Momentum is preserved while sprinting, so there’s a balance to ensure each match still feels authentic. And more player personality will be visible in the way each player moves around the pitch.

Overall Impression

FIFA 14 on PlayStation 4 delivers the goods and fulfils the tremendous expectations set upon it by the gaming public. The game actually feels next generation with the new physics, graphics and artificial intelligence. It also plays markedly different than the same title plays on a PS3, and for the better, assuming gamers are long-time fans of the franchise. While there are certainly going to be a lot of growing pains for experienced gamers to basically make dramatic adjustments in hand-eye coordination as well as in-game strategy, FIFA 14 will deliver hundreds of hours of entertainment.

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