Games That Missed the Top 5

Old and recent games that just missed the mark in my top 5

SpecTech Top 5 Favorite Video Games (#2)

Save the world by yourself or with another player in this SEGA Genesis Classic

Sandy dampens Google debut

                I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! Now stuff your face with candy and read about Google and Microsoft in this issue of Spec Tech!

                Due to Hurricane Sandy, Google had to cancel its event to announce new devices, but Google reveled these devices online anyway. 

                The first new device is the LG Nexus 4 smartphone.  It has a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch display, has 8GB of storage, HSPA+ data, and wireless charging.  It is the fastest phone on the market with 2GB of RAM.

 It runs on Android 4.2: Jelly Bean and goes on sale contract-free for $299 on November 13^th. The 16GB version will cost $349. T-Mobile will, however, sell the 16GB version for $199 with a new two-year contract.

                Google and Samsung announced the Nexus 10 tablet.  It is a 10-inch tablet with 300ppi­—more than Apple’s Retina Display—a 16:10 aspect ratio, run Android 4.2, it contains a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU with 2GB of RAM.  It has two NFC chips, a microUSB, and microHDMI ports.

 It comes in a Wi-Fi only model for now.  $400 will get you the 16GB of storage, while $500 will get you a 32GB version.  The Nexus 10 will go on sale November 13^th from the Google Play store.

                The Nexus 7 no longer has an 8GB version.  Instead, Google lowered the 16GB version to $199 and introduced a 32GB version for $249.  You can also get a 32GB version with HSPA+ connection for $299.  These price changes take effect November 13^th.

                Microsoft showed off more of Windows Phone 8.  You can now customize the lock screen with an App that will tell you information before you unlock your phone.  Bing will now create recommendations for you with local hotspots and events.  There is a child safe interface called Kid’s Corner, where a child can access only certain content. 

They showed off Xbox Music and Xbox SmartGlass.  Windows Phone Apps now replaces the Zune Apps store and claimed that Windows Phone 8 now has 46 of the top 50 Apps on their devices.Windows Phone 8 devices will not arrive until November.

                Lastly, Microsoft celebrated this weekend with having sold over four million copies of Windows 8 since last Friday.  I assume this includes all new hardware as well as customers who upgraded from Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. 

                That’s it for this week viewers.  Come by the Student Union from 2pm-5pm on November 1^st to meet some of the Spectator writers, including myself.  I hope to see you there!

Question: What device would you like me to review? E-mail your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu

                

Apple announces new iMac, two iPads

Hey Spec Tech readers.  Welcome to a new week with shocking news from Apple and Android about launching some new devices.

This week Apple gave another press conference where they announced the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display for $1699.  It has a 2.5GHz dual-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB flash storage.  It also has a FaceTime HD camera.  You can purchase it now at Apple’s website.

Apple also announced the new iMac which is only 5mm thick!  The 27-inch iMac comes with a 2.9GHz quad-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive.  It starts at $1799 and ships in November. There is also an i7 processor version as well as a 21-inch version.

Apple has revealed some shocking news.  Apple typically updates products once a year-- but not this time.  Apple has killed the 3^rd generation iPad after only six months! The 4^th generation iPad—now called iPad with Retina Display-- will have an A6X processor, a FaceTime HD camera and have the new Lightning connector.  You can pre-order tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2. The iPad 2 will continue to sell at $399.

Apple didn’t announce one iPad, but two! The rumored iPad Mini is here.  It sports a 7.9-inch screen, an A5 processor (same as iPad 2), 4G LTE, the lightning connector and comes in slate black and silver.

Sprint is also a new 4G LTE carrier for both of these new iPads. AT&T and Verizon continue to provide service as well.

Apple compared it to the Google Nexus 7 proving how much better the Mini is than the Nexus--but the price is not right.  You can pick up a 16GB Nexus for $249 or the new iPad Mini for $329! You can pre-order the iPad Mini tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2.

On Oct. 29 Google will hold its own conference where it is expected to announce the Nexus 10 from Samsung, Android 4.2 and the LG Nexus 4.  The Nexus 10 will compete directly against the new iPad, with a screen better than Apple’s Retina Display.

Lastly, Microsoft has revealed that Xbox SmartGlass will launch tomorrow.  This is an App that you can use with your PC, tablet, or smartphone to control the Xbox 360.  It will also become a second screen with extra content.  Some content that will use this feature are Dance Central 3, Halo Waypoint, ESPN, HBO GO and Univision.

That’s it for this week.  Come back next week for an update on Google’s announcements

Question: Would you buy the new iPad or the iPad Mini? Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu

Top 5 Favorite Video Games (#3)

     Gotta go fast!!!!!

Come back November 8th for my 2nd favorite video game of all time!

Xbox sends out updates, Best Buy announces tablet

                I hope everyone had a great Fall Break.  It is a big week for Microsoft, Apple sets a date, and the Galaxy Note II finds a carrier.

                Xbox is now starting to ship out its Xbox Dashboard update.  Those who were in the best, like myself, have received the update first.  It will roll onto other consoles within the next few weeks.  It is odd that Microsoft did not update all consoles like in the past.  The update included the ability to PIN videos, games, or other content, as well as including Internet Explorer.

                The Windows Surface RT tablet has a price and launch date!  A 32GB version without a touch cover will cost $499, but with a cover it will cost $599.  A 64GB version with a touch cover will cost $699.  You can pre-order all of these models now.  They will ship out October 26^th with the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT.  The $499 delivery date has been pushed back to 3 weeks because of the amount of pre-orders at the time this article was written.

                Apple doesn’t like Microsoft having all the spotlight, so Apple sent out invites to an event next Tuesday, October 23^rd  with the tag line, “We’ve got a little more to show you.”.  Apple is likely to announce the iPad Mini and a 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro. 

                The Samsung Galaxy Note II has found a home on Sprint’s network.  It is expected to launch October 25^th with a $299.99 price tag.  It will launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and sport a hug 5.5-inch display. 

                Best Buy has announced its own 9.7-inch tablet.  It will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a dual-core 1GHz processor.  It will launch on November 11^th with a $239 or $259 price tag.

                That’s it for this week folks.  Check out the Spec Tech Blog this weekend for the video for my #3 favorite video game of all time.

                Question of the Week: Would you buy an iPad now or wait for the Windows Surface RT? Email me at smsetser@valdosta.edu

New iPod Touch arrives, PETA against Pokemon features

                Welcome to another weeks of rumors, new phones, and odd news.  This week, Nokia chooses a carrier for the Lumia 920, the iPod Touch launches, and PETA launches a campaign against Pokémon!

                The new iPod Touch seems to be shipping its pre-orders to customers before giving an official release date.  These new iPods should arrive around October 15^th.  The new iPod Nano’s still have no release date and have not shipped.

                An analyst has reported that a new BlackBerry 10 device will not release until March of 2013.  RIM was suggesting a January release, but it looks like it will be a while until the new phones release.  RIM has had phone troubles for a long time and BlackBerry 10 is its last hope to survive.

                The highly anticipated Nokia Lumia 920 will release exclusively with AT&T-much like the Lumia 900 did.  The phone is reported to have a November release date.  It will be running Windows Phone 8.

                Speaking of Windows Phone 8, AT&T will reportedly offer pre-orders for its Windows Phones- the HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 920.  It will also hold pre-orders for its Windows 8 and Windows RT devices- the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab RT.

                In the weirdest news, PETA, the animal rights group, is going after Nintendo’s Pokémon series for animal abuse.  PETA says that even though Pokémon are virtual animals, they are still very real.  A Pokémon in a Pokéball is the same as an elephant chained up in a cage.  PETA has created a spoof of the game called Pokémon Black and Blue: Gotta Free ‘Em All on its website. 

                This is not the first time PETA has attacked Nintendo.  A few months ago they attacked Mario for the tanooki animal skin that Mario uses to fly.

                Windows Phone 8 might finally have a device for Verizon customers.  A leaked image of the Nokia Lumia 820, renamed the Nokia Atlas will sell as a mid-range phone for Verizon sometime after October 29^th.

                Lastly, a Samsung executive let slip that a Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is coming soon.  It will have a 4-inch screen to directly compete with the iPhone 5.

                That’s it for the week, I hope everyone has a fun and safe fall break! Let’s hope the weather finally cools down.

                Questions of the week:  Are you interested in a Windows Phone 8 handset? Post your answers on http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/ or email at smsetser@valdosta.edu