The new iPad review

*This video contains footage from games from the App Store*

                Well, it is official, the new iPad is the most popular iPad yet; Apple sold 3 million units in the first weekend, which is an iPad’s best launch yet.  Many people have criticized this device for having very few changes.  I sort of agree with these critics, but it is not a bad thing.

                The first thing you will notice is that the screen is better, well; actually you won’t notice the screen at first.  You do not realize how good the screen is until you look at an iPad 2 and notice the differences.  The colors are richer, brighter, and clearer.  It was a joy to watch movie trailers and play games on the new iPad.  The screen is the exact same size as the past iPads.

                The camera was another part to get updated and it is way better than the iPad 2’s camera.  Even though I don’t think people will carry around their iPad to take pictures, it is a light enough device that it is easy to pull out and snap a photo.  The new camera was able to take regular pictures much clearer and even photographed different writings and fonts extremely well.  iOS 5.1 makes taking photos easier with the shutter button moved to the center of the right side of the screen.  The front camera did not have an update; it is the same VGA camera from the iPad 2.

                The sound quality of the device is a tiny bit better.  I’m glad to hear that Apple knew its speakers were not that great in past devices. 

                The graphics were not much different from before, since no apps are currently using the quad-core graphics.  The device was slightly faster than before though.  Apps launched faster than I could even imagine.

                Some issues I have are that the back panel is more curved than the iPad 2.  This makes the device a little awkward to hold.  Also, it was a little difficult for me to press the power button as you have to reach behind the top of the device to hit the button.  The new iPad is slightly heavier than the iPad 2, but that is not an issue, just something I noticed.

                I was unable to test the 4G models, but tests performed by Cnet.com showed that AT&T’s 4G network was faster than Verizon’s. 

                In all, this is still a fun and cool tablet.  If you already have an iPad 2, there is no use in upgrading.  If you have an original iPad I still wouldn’t upgrade, unless you really want that new camera.  For non tablet owners, this is a good investment.  I give the new iPad a 9.5.

                The question of the week is, “What would you like me to review?” Send your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu , comment at vsuspectator.com, or http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/.

Apple announces new iPad sans Siri

This week we have some Verizon phone leaks, a possible console coming from Steam, and the iPad 3.

Verizon accidently let slip the release dates of two unannounced phones, the LG Cayman and Droid Fighter.  There were no specs with this story, but these phones will be on store shelves at the end of March and the beginning of April.

If you read last week’s issue talking about the Nokia 808 PureView with an amazing 41-megapixle camera, I am sad to report that it will be available in most countries, but not the United States.

This is not all bad news though, as vice president of Nokia, Jo Harlow, said “The 808 PureView’s 41-megapixle camera sensor is on its way to Windows Phones, and it will not take very long.” 

April 5 may be the day to get a new phone with Verizon, as a rumored $199 version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will release.

This phone will have all of the same specs as the $299 phone, except it will have only 16GB of data.

This amount of data is only concerning because there is no MicroSD card slot, but if you do not store lots of music on your phone; this will be a great alternative to other phones. 

Samsung has told us that they will reveal a successor to the Samsung Galaxy II in the first half of the year.  Website ZDNet Korea has stated that the Galaxy III, what it is most likely to be called, will debut in April.

Samsung has denied this release date, but that could be the case.  The company stated that they would announce it when it is closer to commercial availability.

Google may be working on a voice assistant like the iPhone 4s’ Siri.  Now remember that Android has had a voice assistant for some time now, even before Siri.

The new voice software is known as “Assistant” and will help users with completing tasks with just their voice.  Google will allow for third-party developers to use this system for their apps.  It may be released by the end of this year. 

Google may also have the names for their next two operating systems!

Android 5.0: Jelly Bean is expected to release this year on tablets and would also allow this to run on Windows 8 tablets to dual run operating systems.

The next version would be Android: Jelly Bean.  Reports are unsure if this would be Android 6.0 or a different version of Android 5.0. 

Sony is holding a webcast for the PlayStation Vita on Friday called, “PlayStation Vita Game Heaven.”

This event will announce more games, talk about upcoming releases, and more Vita services.

Sony will also be giving away 20 Vitas, both 3G and Wi-Fi, but it seems like it will only be in Japan. 

Valve may be developing a home console system, dubbed the Steam Box.  Reports say that it will be revealed at either the Game Developers Conference or at this summer’s E3.

The console would ship with a controller, but would have swappable components with real-time feedback.  The console would work with any computer or TV display.

Of course the heart of this console would be connecting online and with Steam.  Reports say this will shake the industry because Steam is run with all digital games with frequent sales, so all of the games are cheaper than traditional console rivals.

I think it would be interesting to come out, but I would be worried because systems like the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 rely on software sales.  If Valve wishes to make lots of money, their console may cost more than current consoles. 

The next iPad was announced; there is no new name, so it is called “The new iPad.”  It now has a retina display, which has 264 pixels per inch and a new quad-core A5X processor.  Both cameras have been updated.  The back camera is a 5 megapixel camera with the same tech that is in the iPhone 4S.  You can also record 1080p HD video.
The keyboard will have “voice dictation,” not Siri.  It can be used to type your voice instead of using the keyboard. The new iPad will surprisingly have 4G LTE on both AT&T and Verizon!  The battery life is the same as the iPad 2.  Amazingly though, it will get nine hours on 4G.  The prices are the same as they are now.
You can pick up this new iPad on March 16; pre-orders start today.  A 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad 2 is now on sale for $399 as well.

The question of the week is, “What do you think of the new iPad. Is it worth it or has Apple doomed itself to minor upgrades to the device in the future?”

You can email me at smsetser@valdosta.edu!

Please have a wonderful and safe spring break!

A Galaxy of Gingerbread screens

Welcome to the first day of March! Only one week left until spring break! This edition will introduce you to a ton of phones, the Windows 8 Beta, and the countdown to the iPad 3.

The Mobile World Congress event started with a bang as Nokia announced the Nokia 808 PureView; a phone unlike any other.

Although it runs the outdated Symbian OS, it makes up for it with a 41-megapixle camera!  It can record full 1080p HD video, will have CD-like audio recording and use Dolby Headphone technology and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound playback.  It will be released in May.

Nokia also announced a low budget phone called the Nokia Lumia 610.  It has a 3.2 inch screen, comes in a variety of colors, has a solid weight to it and will run Windows Phone 7: Tango.  It will cost around $254; no carriers were announced.

Samsung announced a ridiculous amount of devices this week.  The iPod Touch better watch out because the Samsung Galaxy S Wi-Fi is coming.  This is a Wi-Fi only device that supports a 4.2-inch screen, Android 2.3: Gingerbread, and a 1GHz processor.  It also holds a 2-megapixle camera and a VGA front camera.  This device will also have free Wi-Fi calling.  No price or release date was announced.

Samsung also announced the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet; finally a tablet that makes sense.  This 10.1-inch tablet will have a S-Pen stylus, two cameras with HD video and a 1.4GHz dual-core processor.  It will run Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich. 

The Samsung Galaxy Beam was announced with a built-in pico projector!  The projector can mirror any screen that is on the phone, but this is targeted at a general audience and not for business presentations.  It will have a 1GHz processor and two cameras and is expected to launch between May and June.

The Samsung Galaxy S II Blaze 4G was announced for T-Mobile.  The device has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, two cameras, and of course 4G HSPA+ support.  No price or release date was announced.

LG announced the LG Optimus 4X HD, a 4.7-inch smartphone with a quad-core processor.  It has an 8-megapixle camera and a front camera as well.  It has Near-Field Communication technology and will launch with Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich.  There was no release date or price.

LG’s second announcement was the LG 3D Max.  It will be glasses-less 3D, have a 3D camera and can run all apps in 3D.  Sadly, it will launch with Android 2.3: Gingerbread; there was no word if it will be upgradable to Android 4.0.

HTC’s One X was announced with a 1.5GHz quad-core NVidia Tegra 3 processor.  It will also have a 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 Gorilla Glass screen, an 8-megapixle camera and a 1.3-megapixle front camera and support Beats Audio.  It will launch on AT&T’s 4G network later this year, but with only a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor.

China based company, ZTE, announced 15 new smartphones and tablets, but the one that stood out was the ZTE Era.  It boasts an NVidia Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.3GHz processor, a 4.3-inch qHD display, and will only be 7.8 millimeters thin.  It will launch with Android 4.0 in the third quarter of this year, but it is unknown if it will be available in the U.S. at that time. 

The ZTE Orbit will have a 4.3-inch screen, a 1GHz processor, 5-megapixle camera and NFC compatibility.  It will launch with some version of Windows Phone in the second quarter of this year.

It is official, the iPad 3 reveal event will be held next Wednesday  in San Francisco at 10 a.m. PST, so about 1 p.m. EST.  Rumors have all pointed to better cameras, a better screen, an A6 processor and even Siri support.

Windows 8 made its beta debut and it looks amazing.  This seems to mix together the desktop experience and tablet OS seamlessly.  Like I reported before, the Metro screen will not have a Start button, but you are able to return to the Start screen from swiping either from the left or right.  Switching to the desktop is easy and still uses the same programs from the Metro screen, but allows for better use with a mouse and keyboard.  I have not been able to test out the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, but you can if you visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview.  I am using a Dell desktop running Windows Vista, so if you have something like that or better, it should work for you.

Our question this week is, “What device in this article are you most excited for?” My personal choice would be the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.  Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu or answer on our website at vsuspectator.com.

Amazon kindles bigger Fire

This issue of Spec Tech is all about new phones, BlackBerry’s OS 2.0 update, and E-reader tablets.

Companies are still announcing smartphones, even though the Mobile World Congress isn’t until next week. Samsung announced the Galaxy Ace 2 as well as the Galaxy Mini 2.

The Galaxy Ace 2 has a 3.8-inch WVGA screen, 800MHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, front facing VGA camera, microSD card slot, 4GB of internal memory, GPS, USB 2.0 port and will launch with Android 2.3: Gingerbread OS.

The Galaxy Mini 2 has an 800MHz processor, USB 2.0 port, microSD slot, 4GB of internal memory and launches with Android 2.3 but the other specs are less powerful that the Ace 2. It will have a 3.27-inch HVGA screen, a 3-megapixel camera and a front facing camera. It will also have HSDPA support, so it is a world phone.

A global release for these phones will be sometime in or after April.

A Japanese blog, Macotakara, reported that the next iPhone will release in the fall, like the 4s did this past year, and claimed that Apple will continue this trend for the phone.

The iPhone 4s was the first iPhone to be released in the fall and not the summer, but I expect this rumor to be true. Apple is not well known for releasing new products within the same year, except for MacBook Pro’s.

Releasing the iPhone 4s right before the holiday season helped with sales, so I expect Apple to release the next iPhone in the beginning of October.

Chinese phone manufacturer, ZTE announced two new Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich devices. The ZTE PF200 has a 4.3-inch QHD screen, 8-megapixel camera, 1080p front-facing camera, GPS and an HDMI-out port. LTE support is in the phone, but they have not announced what company it will be on.
The ZTE N910, on the other hand, has a WVGA touch screen, 5-megapixel camera, 1080p front-facing camera, GPS and will only support 3G networks. Do not get excited yet though, as ZTE has not announced what countries these phones are coming to, but it is expected to debut here in America.

If you have the BlackBerry PlayBook, then rejoice! The new operating system, OS 2.0 is here, giving you everything it should have had a year ago.

With a built-in e-mail, calendar, and a contacts app, the update also allows for more Android apps to work on the device. Sadly, it still does not have integrated BBM. The update is available now for free.

Barnes & Noble has announced an 8GB version of the Nook Tablet for $199. All of the specs are the same as the 16GB version. Barnes & Noble has done this for direct competition with the Kindle Fire, since the Fire is the second best selling tablet, next to the iPad. The 8GB Nook Tablet is now available on the Barnes & Noble’s website.

A report from DigiTimes says that Foxconn is making a 10-inch Kindle Fire for Amazon. The original Fire is only a 7-inch tablet. It would be set to launch in the second quarter of 2012.

The question for this week is, “Who do you think has the better E-reader, the Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire or iPad?” I am asking for the enjoyment of reading, not which tablet has the most features. E-mail me at smsetser@valdosta.edu or comment on the Spectator website, vsuspectator.com.

Redbox and Verizon team up against Netflix

This week Netflix should start getting worried, iPhone classes, and say goodbye to the PlayStation Network name.

In an interesting move, Verizon and Redbox have teamed up to have a new streaming service and even possible downloading of movies. The standard DVD kiosks will remain, but you will be able to stream movies to your smartphones, TV sets and maybe game consoles or streaming boxes like Roku. This could have a huge impact on Netflix if this new partnership will allow new movies to be streamed, which is Netflix’s weakness. This service is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2012.

Google’s prototype HUD glasses might have been spotted in the wild. These glasses have head-up displays which can use Google’s cloud-based location services and give the wearer information about their surroundings. It gathers information by using a tiny front facing camera and is reported to only use HUD information in one eye, not both. 9to5Google reported that this product is nowhere near complete, so we won’t see these for a few more years.

London’s Kensington and Chelsea College is now offering classes to learn iPhoneography.

The course is designed to teach students how to take photographs with their iPhones, sending them to different post-production processing apps, and finally creating stunning pictures.

“With the right apps and skills, the iPhone can be a powerful creative tool,” Professor Richard Gray said. He will teach basic photography theory, composition, lighting, and color skills. This course will start next month.

If you have a PlayStation 3 or a Japanese import of the PlayStation Vita, you might have noticed something different as of Tuesday; the PlayStation Network has been changed to the Sony Entertainment Network.

The company was quoted, “This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.” Users will not have to change their usernames or passwords. Oddly this change did not come to the PlayStation Portable.

The latest build of Windows 8 is missing something we’ve all gotten used to, where the heck is the Start button? Instead of a start button, the empty space will be replaced with a “hot corner.”
If you hover your mouse or swipe your finger over that spot it will transfer you between the Metro UI and the desktop. The super bar from Windows 7 will remain. Windows 8 will include an enhanced “charms bar,” which are transparent icons that have the action to search, share, devices, and settings panels, all of which the Start button did.

I’m going to start a new end section where I ask you guys a question. This week’s question is, “What do you think about the iPhoneography class? Would you take it if it were offered at VSU?”

You can email your answers to me at smsetser@valdosta.edu or comment directly on the online article at http://www.vsuspectator.com/category/Features/. Have a great week!

Sonic, Tails, and Amy travel through time!

When Sonic CD was released in 1993, I was so excited. But, I did not have a SEGA CD console, so I never got the game.

In the end of 2011, Sonic Team released an enhanced port of Sonic CD on pretty much anything that can connect to the internet. Is this enhanced port worth your time and money?

The Story of Sonic CD is simple. A planet, called “Little Planet,” arrives on Sonic’s world at the end of every year.

Sonic and Amy Rose arrive to see the view, but find that it is covered in metal and chained up by Dr. Robotnik.

Robotnik’s newest creation, Metal Sonic, captures Amy and leaves Sonic in the dust.

Sonic must collect the Time Stones to change the past to make a better future and save Amy.

The gameplay feels just like any other SEGA Genesis Sonic title; it is good 2D plat forming. What separates this from other Sonic titles, at the time, was that Sonic could travel to the past and future of any level.This meant that every act actually had three levels in it.

In the past you must destroy a robot generator and a Metal Sonic hologram to achieve a “good future”. If you go to a “bad future,” the game is much more difficult and has more enemies to defeat.
In addition, you can enter a special stage if you have at least 50 rings when you beat an act. The special stages are in 3D.

You must destroy all of the UFOs floating to collect a Time Stone.

There are seven levels with two acts and a third act that serves as a boss stage.

So, what makes this an enhanced port?

Well SEGA teamed up with a fan, Christian Whitehead, who helped create the engine that this version of
Sonic CD is running on. This allows for the game to run in widescreen at 60 frames-per-second.

In addition, they added the ability to choose to use the original spin dash attack or use the spin dash from Sonic 2, which is much better.

The player is also able to choose between the U.S. soundtrack and the Japanese soundtrack, which I prefer.

Lastly, they added Tails as a playable character after you beat the game one time with Sonic.

Although, you cannot earn achievements with Tails, it is fun to see him in a game he was not meant to be in.

I highly recommend anyone to this game that loved the SEGA Genesis trilogy.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD is available on the iOS App store and Android Market for $2.99 as well as Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam for $5. Later, this year it will be released on Windows Phone 7 platforms.

For anyone who is concerned, I have played the iOS version and the touch controls are very responsive and accurate.

Welcome to SpecTech!

Hello and welcome to the official VSU technology column blog, SpecTech! Run by tech wizard Steven Setser, SpecTech has everything you want to know about the latest gadgets from the digital world. So if you think you're ready, power up and let's get going!