PS4 production to begin later this year?

We're still waiting on that globe-like PS9 (aren't you?), but seeing as how wireless head-to-console gaming isn't yet available or ethical, we'll make do with PS4 rumors. Based on nothing more than a game of component-maker telephone, sources out of Taiwan are telling Digitimes to expect a brand new PlayStation 4 for launch sometime in early 2012. Reportedly on board for this latest iteration are baked-in motion controls à la Kinect and a holographic David Lynch virtual pet. We kid, but we do hope he helms those new ads. According to these anonymous insiders, Sony has a planned production run of 20 million consoles for launch -- all headed straight to eBay, we imagine. It should go without saying that news of this kind should be taken with a mouthful of salt, but with the PS3 turning five this November, it's a safe bet that there's a successor to the "It Only Does Everything" throne on the way.

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Toshiba reveals the Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D laptop, we go hands on (video)

Toshiba just unveiled what it claims is the world's first glasses-free 3D laptop, the Qosmio F750. It's a heavy-set beast dedicated to gaming and movies, with a 15.6-inch Full HD lenticular screen that can display 2D and 3D simultaneously in separate windows. It also rocks an HD webcam that follows your movements and adjusts the 3D effect accordingly, so you can peek at the that lovely third dimension from almost any angle you like. Innovative stuff indeed, but we were underwhelmed when we caught a glimpse of Toshiba's concept model back in January. So, has the technology improved since then? Check out our hands-on impressions and video after the break.

Toshiba Qosimo F750 3D laptop hands-on

The laptop we played with was still technically pre-release, but the official release is in early August so the hardware must be pretty final. This includes some powerful innards, befitting the £1300 ($2100) price tag: an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia Geforce GT540M graphics, "distortion-free" Harmon Kardon speakers, a BDXL drive, plus a USB 3.0 port and two of the USB 2.0 variety. HDMI and VGA outputs were also in attendance, along with an input for a co-axial aerial, which we were told would be "capped off" in the final European model. You'll find complete specs in the PR below.

The software was less production-ready, and we were only able to watch a few 3D video clips that Toshiba had loaded on there. It would have been great to see how an off-the-shelf 3D Blu-ray disc performed, and try our hand at a few 3D games, but alas that will have to wait until we do a full review. Also, we were unable to the see the simultaneous 2D/3D in action, for example by running a 3D movie in one window while browsing 2D content in another window. Nevertheless, the videos we saw were pretty mouthwatering -- at least once our eyes and brain adjusted to the 3D effect.

The eye-tracking system was remarkably quick and refused to be fooled by the sharp movements and embarrassing head-bops we threw at it. However, the adjustment of the 3D effect was slower to catch up. Even a relatively small head movement caused the 3D effect to falter momentarily before settling again. However, we think the system could cope with normal movements while watching a movie, and gaming tends to have the user transfixed in a single spot anyway -- and it was infinitely better than what we saw in the concept model. It's important to note that the system can only cater for one viewer at a time -- this is the major downside of the glasses-free tech employed here. You won't be able to watch a 3D movie with your buddy on a flight, for example, but that's the price you pay for not having to wear funny specs.

Show full PR text

Toshiba UK today announces the launch of the Qosmio F750 3D – a revolutionary new laptop with the ability to display mesmerizing 3D images without the need for 3D glasses. The Qosmio F750 3D can also display a combination of 2D and 3D images on screen at the same time, while a range of powerful, high-performance multimedia features ensures the laptop is perfect for even the most demanding tasks.

3D unplugged

The Qosmio F750 3D is designed for those looking for the ultimate 3D experience. Like the world's first glasses-free 3D television – the Toshiba REGZA GL1 – the Qosmio F750 3D uses a special lenticular 3D screen to give users the freedom to experience all the benefits of 3D entertainment, without the restrictions of having to wear 3D glasses. Glasses-free 3D technology adds a truly immersive element, perfect for experiencing 3D in a more natural and comfortable way, particularly for those that may already require prescription glasses. The 39.6cm (15.6") screen also offers Full HD resolution for clear, vivid images, while a 120Hz refresh rate eliminates blur or ghosting with the fast moving images seen in action films and games.

Glasses-free 3D – how it works

To create a 3D effect without 3D glasses, the left eye needs to see a slightly different perspective to the right eye. The Qosmio F750 3D's state-of-the-art lenticular screen sends
Qosmio F750 3D displays 3D images without the need for glasses Eye-tracking technology ensures 3D effect works regardless of position 39.6cm (15.6") screen allows 2D and 3D images to be viewed simultaneouslytwo images of slightly differing perspectives individually to the left and right eye, which creates the 3D effect. An integrated webcam also intelligently tracks the user's eye movements, allowing the Qosmio F750 3D to adjust the 3D effect to match the eye position. The Qosmio F750 3D can also display 2D and 3D content simultaneously – allowing users to browse the internet, for example, in one window and have 3D content playing in another window.
The glasses-free Qosmio F750 3D offers a unique way for businesses, professionals and designers to present 3D content. New product concepts, architecture plans, medical information or educational tools can be viewed with unparalleled realism and greater depth.

The ultimate multimedia machine

Premium features including second generation Intel® CoreTM i processors and the latest 3D graphics from NVIDIA® ensure the Qosmio F750 3D handles demanding programs and the latest video games with ease. Integrated stereo speakers designed by audio-specialists Harman Kardon® produce distortion-free, punchy sounds, working with Dolby® Advanced Audio optimisation technology to provide truly a cinematic experience.

3D conversion, 3D connectivity

In addition to integrated Blu-rayTM XL support, the Qosmio F750 3D also features Toshiba's 2D-to-3D technology – a complex algorithm that takes ordinary 2D DVD content and instantly converts it into 3D. For those wanting to enjoy 3D Blu-rayTM content on a bigger screen with family and friends, the Qosmio F750 3D easily connects to any 3D-ready HDTV via HDMI.
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) provides users with a fast and reliable wireless internet connection, while USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0 with High Speed support offers incredible transfer speeds between the laptop and peripheral devices.

Premium design

The Qosmio F750 3D is available in a Shiny Red finish, and features a distinctive wavelet pattern across the chassis lid, while a carbon pattern on the inside palm rest gives the laptop a premium finish. Additionally, the EasyControl bar includes seven dedicated buttons, sat above the matt black keyboard, providing users with feather-touch control over multimedia and 3D features.

Qosmio F750 specifications

39.6cm (15.6") Full HD (1920 x 1080) glasses-free 3D display (120Hz) HD web camera with eye tracking technology Intel® CoreTM i7 processor (2.00/2.90GHz Turbo) 1.333MHz NVIDIA® GeForce GT 540M graphics (up to 2GB)
640GB (5400rpm) SATA hard disk drive 6GB DDR3 (1333MHz) RAM Blu-rayTM XL re-recordable drive Windows 7 64bit Home Premium NVIDIA® N12P-GS 2GB(DDR3) Harman Kardon® stereo speakers, Dolby® Advanced Audio HDMI-CEC, Multi-Card Reader
Wi-Fi 802.11(b/g/n), Bluetooth® 3.0 + HS 3x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 with USB Sleep-and-Charge, Sleep-and-Music 380.5mm x 254mm x 30mm (front) / 37.6mm (rear)

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HP TouchSmart 610 review

Is it just us or do all-in-ones seem to be having a moment? Over the past two months, we've seen Toshiba make a belated jump into the market, while Lenovo went and added one to its family of Think-branded laptops and desktops. And that's not even counting models by old-timers like Apple, Dell, and MSI. And then there's HP, which has been making touchscreen all-in-ones for three years -- long before they were a thing. The company's had plenty of time to fine-tune its finger-friendly TouchSmart software, and now, its newest model, the TouchSmart 610 ($899 and up), ushers in a fresh design, highlighted by a hinge that allows the display to slide down and lie nearly flat. Although it's been shipping since this spring, it's only been available with Sandy Bridge for about a month now. We took one of these tricked-out beasts into our living room and got reacquainted with the comforts of not-so-mobile computing. At the risk of spoiling everything, we think this should be on your shortlist if you're considering an all-in-one, especially one with a big 'ol touchscreen. Read on to find out why.

HP TouchSmart 610

Look and feel

The slimmest all-in-one this is not. Compared to the 2.5-inch-thin Lenovo ThinkCentre 91z, which actually makes that claim, it's 4.1-inch thick shell is chunky, though no more so than a small television. It's also thicker than the 27-inch iMac, which also measures 2.5 inches thick at its widest point. But the 610 redeems itself with a profile that's more shell-shaped than boxy, and a fine speaker grille discreetly lining the bottom of the bezel. Like a TV, it'll blend in well in your living room, which -- let's face it -- is where you're likely to stick this thing anyway. All told, it's not-too-modern design could be a good thing: the 610's design might be safe, but it will also call less attention to itself than the 91z, whose anorexic panel borders on avant-garde. And for what it's worth, the 610 hardly took over our modest urban apartment, which has a combined eating-living room area. Those of you lucky enough not to live in a studio should have no trouble finding room for it.

Fortunately, HP didn't take too much inspiration from the other consumer electronics populating your den. The company's design team blessedly kept the bezel and front surfaces matte and fingerprint-free. The sides are lined in plastic, but this bothered us a lot less than we would have guessed -- partly because of the subdued gunmetal color, and partly because the paneling isn't even that reflective. Alas, the pedestal and hinge 'round the back have a glossy piano black finish that will demand dusting. Although HP comes dangerously close to using too much shiny stuff, it keeps these materials low-key enough that the overall design looks handsome, even if it's not exactly premium.

And, to be fair, part of why the 610 takes up so much more space is that it needs a formidable hinge to allow it to tilt the way it does. The 610 has a mechanism that allows you to slide it down so that the display is lying almost face-up and at an almost-flat 60-degree angle, a position HP is dubbing Recline Mode. When you think that this is as likely to be a central media hub as a primary computer, it's convenient to be able to walk by it and tap the screen without having to sit down in front of it. And, as an HP rep noted, children might find it easier to interact with the screen this way, though admittedly, we don't have any little ones around who could have tested this claim.

As for build quality, the hinge is durable enough to withstand all that maneuvering. The PC doesn't make any noise as you slide it up and and down, and the the rig is rigid enough that you can push the display down using one hand. Lifting it back up, of course, requires two.

HP stuffed a lot of ports into the 610's 23.0 x 17.7 x 4.1-inch body and clearly had to set some priorities in terms of which ones would be easy to reach. On one side, you'll find a large volume rocker, mute button, 6-in-1 memory card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, and headphone and mic jacks. On the opposite side, there's a Blu-ray drive (also with a large button), and a power button that glows blue.

We're not done yet. The 610's also home to two more USB 2.0 ports, dual USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI-in socket, an Ethernet jack, a PCIe slot, and two MiniCard sockets. But these are all tucked in the back of the machine, and are covered by a drop-down latch door. Happily, even if you've got a cable plugged in, you can snap the flap shut, so that it won't hang open awkwardly. As a final flourish, on the back of the chassis, right behind the megapixel webcam, you'll find a wheel that you can use to adjust the angle of the camera.

Keyboard and mouse

In conversations with HP, the company said it envisions the 610 as a repository for digital content, particularly in mature markets like the US where people tend to enter and leave the home with mobile devices in tow. In other words, your main computer might not be an all-in-one, but a laptop. If the perfunctory keyboard is any indication, HP is assuming that's the case.

Everything about the keyboard is flat: the panel, save for a slight wedge, and even the tops of the keys themselves. We were able to type comfortably enough in short bursts, but we can see where this wouldn't be ergonomically sound enough for us to pound out news posts for eight hours straight. In that respect, we really admire what Lenovo's done with the 91z. Granted, we've only got a few minutes' hands-on time, but we were struck by how similar the sculpted chiclet keys felt to the ones you'd find on an Edge laptop or the ThinkPad X1. (And if you've ever typed on a ThinkPad, you know that's a wonderful thing.) With the 610, the keyboard feels like more of an afterthought.

On the flip side, the bundled mouse is a delight -- amply sized with a clickable scroll wheel and contoured shape that's easy to grip. And we were able to use it every surface around us, including a glass tabletop, wooden desk, granite counters, a rug, and our fabric couch. It would seem to be a big improvement over the mouse Lenovo is throwing in with the 91z -- a travel-sized number that felt too small for even our hands. In short, if we could combine the 610's mouse with the 91z's keyboard, we'd be happy campers.

Oh, and remember how we said this all-in-one reminded us of a small TV? Well, lest you needed more evidence, the system comes with a full-sized remote control, replete with dedicated buttons for photos, music, videos, radio, and even visualization. It also has a full number pad, and various guide keys, all of which makes it virtually indistinguishable from the remote that came with your cable box. We found that navigating through TouchSmart menus using the arrow buttons was a no-brainer, though we were disappointed to find that when we pressed "Pictures" and other launch keys, the computer opened Windows Media Center instead of HP's TouchSmart software.

Display

It's gorgeous, friends. The 23-inch (1920 x 1080) panel offers a bright, vibrant smorgasboard of colors. Despite its glossy finish, the viewing angles from the side are pretty good -- when the display is sitting upright, anyway. After sliding the screen down, we had a harder time watching from the side (see the gallery above to see what we're talking about). If you look at the screen head-on with the panel pushed down, you'll notice the colors will look a touch washed-out, but you won't actually have a problem keeping up with what's happening onscreen.

Sound

As you'd expect, the TouchSmart also comes equipped with Beats Audio, which HP and Dr. Dre have been promoting up and down the company's line of netbooks, laptops, and desktops. As promised, the sound is rich, with deep low notes. Really, though, we need to tell you about the volume. We actually cringed when we cranked it to the max -- the speakers are just that loud. And while we're usually content to leave a computer's volume at about the median setting, in this case we pushed it down lower, to about a third of its capacity.

Performance and graphics

Our $1,459.99 test unit came stocked with a desktop-grade, quad-core 3.4GHz Core i7-2600 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 1.5TB 5400RPM hard drive, Blu-ray drive, TV tuner, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 2GB of video memory. All of that juice was enough to help us juggle our usual array of tasks with aplomb. We were able to jump among various tabs in Chrome, perform triage on our Gmail inbox, stream music through Grooveshark, download the very benchmarks you see listed below, and work on stories in Engadget's content management system. The system booted in one minute and seven seconds, which isn't exactly stellar for a Windows machine, especially one as generously spec'd as this. Still, it's far from pitiful. We also attempted to slow the system down by batch editing two dozen photos, sending them through three filters while running a first-time full system scan in Norton Internet Security, but to no avail: the 610 spat out the touched-up photos in seconds.

Whether or not you'll be sated with gaming on the 610 depends on how low of a resolution you're willing to settle for. NVIDIA will be the first to admit that the 425M is a mid-range card for multimedia machines, and not hard-core gamers. Playing Call of Duty 4 at the default 1024 x 768 resolution, we saw frame rates range from 59 to 146 frames per second (as measured by Fraps), with the numbers skyrocketing when we pointed our character's gun toward an empty sky and fired away. Crank the resolution to 1080p, though, and you'll find that the frame rates hover around 39 fps, occasionally sinking as low as 19 fps. Just to see how high we could get those numbers, we once again pointed our gun at the sky and opened fire. Even then, we maxed out at 67 fps.

As for benchmarks, we'll be the first to admit that our database of scores for desktops isn't nearly as fleshed-out as the one we keep for laptops. Still, if Geekbench can give you at least the basic gist, you'll see that this $1,460 TouchSmart 610 bested the $2,000 21.5-inch iMac's score by about 500 points, even though they pack similar processors. Also remember that though this high-end 610 configuration costs more than $500 less, it still crams in twice the RAM, which likely made a difference in this test. That particular iMac had AMD Radeon 6970M graphics with 1GB of video memory, not two, and a faster 7200RPM hard drive.

	PCMark Vantage	Geekbench	3DMark06	3DMark11
HP TouchSmart 610 (3.4GHz Core-7-2600)	9,977	8,982	7,168	X264
iMac (spring 2011) (3.4GHz Core i7-2600K)	N/A	8,465	N/A	N/A
MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D all-in-one (2.53GHz Core i7-860S)	7,318	N/A	7,714	X347
Notes: the higher the score the better.

Software

TouchSmart 4.0

And now, the moment you've been waiting for. The part where we talk about just what you can do with that expansive touchscreen. This is the fourth generation of HP's TouchSmart software, and it's been shipping on other products since last fall. By now, HP's beefed up its offering so that it includes Facebook and Twitter apps, Netflix, a browser, a recipe manager and note -taking / shopping list app, Hulu, live television (via Windows Media Center), eBay, weather, and, of course, dedicated apps for photos, music, and videos, among others. There's also the Apps Center, where you can download a handful of additional ones, including an app by Marvel Comics. Conveniently, you'll find all of these apps dumped in an intuitive carousel lining the bottom of the screen, leaving plenty of empty space above for post-it notes and open windows for the browser and those apps.

These so-called apps are, for all intents and purposes, widgets. Note that to use TouchSmart, you have to open it as you would any other program, and when you do, it runs in a full-screen window that you can't resize. Having more space for touch apps is nice, though it also means you can't drift between these apps and keyboard-and-mouse ones as spontaneously as you might like. Still, if you are, indeed, planning on leaving this parked in the kitchen, you might end up using the touch apps most of the time anyway, since it won't be in a location where people can conveniently use it as their primary computer.

This is a good time to confirm that the touchscreen is responsive, reacting speedily and precisely to taps, swipes, and other gestures. And though we particularly appreciated some of the apps, such as the Tweetdeck-esque Twitter one, a few of the others felt half-baked. Take the recipe manager -- it's not nearly obvious enough how you can go about adding your own to the handful that come pre-loaded. The calendar app also has lots of promise, but we wish it could pull in appointments from our Google Cal. Additionally, the touch-enabled browser lacks a scroll bar, meaning the only way to move through webpages is to swipe the screen with your fingers. We know, we know -- the software is called TouchSmart for a reason. But you can already use your physical keyboard to type URLs, sticky notes, and other text, so it feels unntuive that you can't still reach for a mouse to scroll in the browser.

All told, HP has come a long way with its TouchSmart software, though there is undoubtledly still room for it to beef up the selection -- not to mention, make the quality and usefulness of the apps uniformly good. It just so happens, though , that the TouchSmart 610 is an excellent Windows computer, so even if you don't plan on using this feature 24 / 7, you might still think of it as a pleasant add-on separating it from the pack.

On the multimedia front, HP also included its own LinkUp softawre, which allows you to wirelesslsy share media with other PCs running on the same WiFi network. Since these computers all have to have LinkUp installed, you'd better be prepared for a one-time chore. Other than that, as far as bloatware goes, you won't find much extra software other than the (admittedly large) array of HP-branded utilities. These additional apps include Bing Bar, LabelPrint, Power2Go, Microsoft 2010, and Norton Internet Security.

Configuration Options

The 610z starts at $900 with 2.5-GHz quad-core AMD Athlon X4 615e processor, while the Intel-based 610t starts at $950 for a dual-core 3.06Hz Core i3-540 CPU. Either way, they come with 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, though as of this writing, at least, HP was offering promotional upgrades to 6GB of RAM. Both models also get promotional hard drive upgrades, though the AMD-based one gets a boost to a 1TB 7200RPM drive, while the Intel-based model gets a 750GB 7200RPM number.

But wait, there's more. If you want a quad-core processor and a two-year warranty, you can choose from either the 610xt ($1,050 and up) or the 610 Quad Edition (starting at $1,370). Starting with the base-model 610xt, you'll get a Core i5-2300 CPU, integrated Intel HD graphics, a promotional 6GB of RAM (up from 4GB), and a 1.5TB 5,400RPM drive (another "free upgrade" over 750GB). The Quad Edition, meanwhile, starts with a Core i7-2600 CPU, AMD Radeon HD 6450A graphics with 1GB of video memory, a TV tuner, and promotional upgrades to 8GB of RAM and a 1.5TB 5,400RPM drive, up from 6GB of RAM and 750GB of storage space.

Whichever model you choose, you can add a TV tuner and a 7200RPM hard drive toping out at 2TB of storage, or opt for graphics cards that include an AMD Radeon HD 5570 or 6550A (1GB or 2GB of video memory) and NVIDIA's GeForce 425M (1GB or 2GB).

The competition

We don't have to tell you you'll pay more for either a 21.5- or 27-inch iMac, which start at $1,199 and $1,699, respectively. We can see where the iMac's sexier aluminum design would help boost the price, but it's harder to forgive the gap in specs you get for the money, particularly since the TouchSmart 610 is, too, a solidly built machine. Even if you opted for the entry-level 21.5-inch iMac, you'd get a 500GB hard drive (albeit, a 7200RPM one), 4GB of RAM, 512MB graphics memory, just four USB 2.0 ports, and -- surprise, surprise -- no USB 3.0 or HDMI output. (You would get a Thunderbolt part -- two if you chose the 27-incher.)

The 610 also holds its own at the low end. It's true, this is hardly the only Windows-based all-in-one that starts at a reasonable price. Gateway's 23-inch ZX series starts at $1,000 with either a a Core i3-550 or Core i5-650 CPU, while a 21-inch version starts at $599 -- albeit with a Pentium E5800 processor inside. Toshiba's 21.5-inch DX1215 starts at $930 with Core i5. Some -- including the DX1215, to name one example -- match the 610 in the storage and ports department. Others, such as Gateway's HDMI- and USB 3.0-less ZX series, do not.

We could go on, but you get the idea. The TouchSmart 610's starting price is fair, but not extraordinary. But even if you opted for a lower-end configuration, you'd still be getting something most others can't offer: a slick package of touch apps -- albeit, one that still leaves plenty of room for growth. And while some of you might prefer the slimmer stylings of, say, Lenovo's 91z, we think the 610's design is innovative, practical, and mostly well-executed.

Wrap-up

There's a lot to like about the HP TouchSmart 610: it's fast, has a fresh, useful design, a gorgeous 1080p panel, and it offers more bang-for-your-buck than many of its competitors -- even the skinnier, sexier ones. And we stand by that even if you don't end up making much use of all those touch apps. It just so happens that we set it up in our living room / home office, where we're inclined to get real work done. But some of you might default to the touch UI -- if you place this thing in, say, the kitchen, where it would be less convenient to use as a primary computer.

All in all, if you're inclined to stick to a budget, think you'd actually use the touchscreen, or are just a Windows kind of person, you'd be hard-pressed to find something with a better value proposition -- unless it's a slimmer, more modern profile you're after. And yes, we suspect you can get an excellent user experience even if you don't spring for the tricked-out configuration we tested. That said, we also still highly recommend the iMac, which has a more striking aesthetic. But as we said in our review, we particularly suggest it for power users, creative professionals, and people who just prefer Macs. If that's not you, we'd more than empathize if you went with the less expensive, comparbly powerful, extra port-packing 610.

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Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 smartphone with Symbian^3

Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 are two new Symbian^3 smartphone from the Finnish company, addressed respectively to the business and entertainment.

It was thought that Symbian was almost over and that the Finnish company, recently landed a completely different with the agreement with Microsoft, no longer points to the little known but now listed on the Symbian operating system, meanwhile arrived at the Symbian^3 release (code-named Anna ). Here we have, in recent days, get the official announcement of two new smartphones, both equipped with the Symbian^3 operating system version.
The first, called Nokia E6 is targeted to professional users and looks nice, with quality materials for the body, such as glass and steel. It has a QWERTY keyboard and a 2.46 inch touchscreen full display with a 640 x 480 pixels resolution. The 8-megapixel camera will be with dual LED flash. Even Nokia X7 , voted instead to the more multimedia, will have a glass and steel chassis and the unusual design, but will have a much larger screen, 4-inch AMOLED type with a 640 x 480 pixels resolution, 350 MB of memory expandable with microSD cards up to 32 GB and camera similar to Nokia E6, 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash.

The other details released so far only about the battery , which would be 1200 mAh . As we said then both terminals will use the Symbian^3 operating system which is in a completely new look, featuring new icons, a faster browser, the presence of the OVI Maps service updated and generally has a higher usability than introduction of other the management of email security improvements on both. Nokia has not announced yet when the new smartphone will reach the market, nor is the price. Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 smartphone with Symbian^3.

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Lenovo Essential B470 with Intel Huron River mobile platform

The new Lenovo Essential B470 notebook is suitable for a tighter afforded the purchase laptop with Intel Huron River mobile platform. The Lenovo Essential B470 model has cost of $599, even although other the Lenovo Essential B470 types price is $649.


Lenovo Essential B470 a 14-inch display with resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, HDMI output, Ethernet LAN, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, a 6-in-1 media card reader, a 0.3MP webcam, 2×1.5W speakers, a fingerprint reader, and optional Bluetooth.
The Lenovo Essential B470 notebook is powered by selection of a 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M or 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M processor, either Intel HD 3000 integrated or Nvidia GeForce 410M 1GB discrete graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM, and up to the 1TB hard drive (5400rpm or 7200rpm).
Lenovo Essential B470 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery is allowing works as much as Three hours. This laptop is pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional (64bit) OS.
In accordance with its configurations, the newest Lenovo Essential B470 business laptop is available in two models of Lenovo Essential B470. This start up business orientated notebook would work to get a tighter budget to purchase laptop with Intel Huron River mobile platform.

Lenovo Essential B470 Specifications

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium/Professional 64-bit
Processor: 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M or 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M
Graphics Card: Intel HD 3000 Graphics or NVIDIA GeForce 410M Graphics with 1GB memory
Memory: Up to 8GB DDR RAM and Up to 1TB Hard Drive
Display : 14 inch display screen with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution
Other: 0.3 Mega Pixels Web Cam, HDMI port, 3 USB 2.0, Optional Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, eSATA and VGA port, Microphone and Headphone port, 6 in 1 Card Reader, 6 Cell Li-Ion battery provides up to 3 hrs useful life, 2 Speakers, Fingerprint Reader, Wi-Fi, Ethernet LAN.
Lenovo Essential B470 with Intel Huron River mobile platform.

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top 5 smartphones available today

Some very exciting smartphones have been announced, but many of these have vague shipping dates. There are still some excellent choices available today and here is my take on what I like.
 This current top 5 list below only has phones that are available now and ones that I honestly do think are worthy of consideration.

Number 1: HTC ThunderBolt

You may have read that I purchased the HTC ThunderBolt on launch day. This is a device that is similar to the HTC EVO 4G and other large 4.3 inch display devices that HTC makes. However, it has LTE and once you experience the speeds of this network technology you really can’t go back to much less.
Others have confirmed some of my ThunderBolt experiences too and agree that the device is very fast and responsive, even though it just has a second generation single-core Snapdragon processor. The display is also excellent and I watched a couple of movies last week with the rock solid kickstand propping it up. The battery life is not very good on 4G, but easily goes more than a day on 3G.
I am making a major commitment and keeping the HTC ThunderBolt on a Verizon line while I have a T-Mobile family plan for my standard needs. The ThunderBolt is one of the most capable devices today and if you have a need for speed there is currently nothing else like it.

Number 2: Dell Venue Pro

There are Microsoft haters out there who won’t even think of giving a Windows Phone 7 device a chance, but I can honestly say that my T-Mobile SIM has been spending most of its time in my Dell Venue Pro ever since I bought it and put in my 32GB microSD card. The operating system is a breath of fresh air with an amazing collection of Xbox LIVE games and a fast-growing list of applications, now past the 12,000 level and growing. It may not have everything that iOS and Android currently have, but it gets the job done and in a way that is seriously enjoyable.

Number 3: Nokia N8

I have an orange Nokia N8 and even though it is a Symbian device that was released last October there are still several features of the device that no other smartphone manufacturer has yet matched. One of the best is the penta-band 3G so this device could serve as a bridge device for AT&T and T-Mobile customers who want 3G no matter what the new company decides to do with the two competing wireless frequencies.
If photos are important to you then you will not find a better camera phone available. The aluminum body comes in five cool colors and unlike many smartphones today, you will actually experience top notch phone calls and RF reception. You also cannot overlook the amazing FREE Ovi Maps support that gives you free offline navigation around the world.

Number 4: Apple iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is now available on both AT&T and Verizon. The iPhone 4 is one of the only smartphones available that you can trust will get you through the day on a single charge, the Nokia N8 is another, and this may be vitally important to some people while others are fine with carrying a second battery to pop in their Android device. Apple does a great job with industrial design and the iPhone 4 feels great in your hand. The display has amazing clarity with the 3.5 inch 960×640 pixel resolution. If apps are important to you then the iPhone 4 also rules in that department.

Number 5: Motorola Atrix 4G

The Motorola Atrix 4G is one of the first dual-core smartphones available and as Kevin Tofel posted in his review it really is a great phone. In addition to the dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, the Atrix 4G has a 4 inch 960×540 pixel resolution display, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage and microSD card slot, HDMI port, 5 megapixel camera and 1.3 megapixel front facing camera.
There is also unique docking accessories for the Atrix 4G so you could turn it into a netbook device if you wanted to try to work on a bigger display on the go. If AT&T had a network that provided faster speeds then this would be rated higher, but their current network is almost laughable when comparing with Verizon or T-Mobile.

Final thoughts on these top 5

So, there’s my current list of favorites that are available now. I would add other Windows Phone 7 devices like the Samsung Focus (AT&T) and HTC Arrive (Sprint) if you are on those carriers and want a Windows Phone 7 device too. The HTC EVO 4G on Sprint is also still a great device that closely matches what we see in the ThunderBolt.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab: iPad’s First Solid Contender

iPhone:iPad :: Galaxy S:Galaxy Tab


That simple analogy is all you really need to know about the highly anticipated Galaxy Tab and what it can do.
With the first legitimate competitor to iPad for the consumer-focused tablet-computer market, Samsung continues to take its cues from Apple — just as it’s been doing with cellphones.
That is not necessarily a bad thing. For all its faults, the iPad is still the tablet to beat. The Galaxy Tab takes direct aim at iPad’s shortcomings and does a credible job at addressing nearly all of them.
The most immediately noteworthy difference from the iPad is that the Galaxy is considerably smaller — physically about half the size and weight, with a 7-inch diagonal screen instead of the iPad’s 9.7 inches. However, the Tab’s 1024 x 600–pixel resolution makes this less of a big deal than you might expect. Considering the iPad’s 1024 x 768–pixel resolution, you’ll find the Tab nearly as spacious, although the screen (a standard LCD) is not as bright and as clear as the iPad’s beauty.
What you gain, however, is considerably better portability: The iPad is not always convenient to tote with you, while the Tab really feels like a jumbo-sized cellphone and slips easily into any bag and many jacket pockets.
Any screen shortcomings are rapidly put out of mind by the Galaxy Tab’s rich feature set. Everything you’d want from a modern Android phone (version 2.2, upgradeable when 3.0 hits) is here: Full app support (though, as with running iPhone apps on the iPad, many apps look JUMBO SIZE in use), a fair-enough camera (3.2 megapixels) with flash, a mobile hotspot and tethering option, and virtually no buttons. The only physical buttons are the power button and volume toggle, both on the upper right side. Four touch-sensitive Android-standard buttons on the bottom of the front screen are usable only when the display is active.
Storage is what you make of it: A 16-GB microSD card, accessible via a flap on the side, is installed by default, and you can upgrade to 32 GB.
In use, the Galaxy Tab performs well, but is not exemplary. It feels snappy enough, but longish load times can sometimes be tiresome, and webpages invariably loaded more slowly than the iPad — sometimes taking twice as long. We also ran into a few issues with apps hanging and the Wi-Fi connection suddenly vanishing without explanation. Reboots solved both issues.
On the hardware side, the light, 13.4-ounces unit just fits in a single hand, but the slick surface tends to be slippery and prone to dropping. If you’re the kind of person who is always finding his phone falling out of your grip, your Tab is going to spend a lot of time on the floor. (Maybe that’s why Jobso was so critical of these devices?)
Compounding matters is the problematic location of the power and volume buttons. Holding the device in your left hand often causes you to hit these by accident. They’re temperamental and touchy, until you eventually adapt to a grip further down the chassis.
Pricing is complicated and modeled after the cellphone, so pay close attention: The base unit is $400 with a new or upgraded two-year contract, or $600 without a rate plan. Data costs extra: $30 a month for 2 GB of service plus unlimited messaging, or $60 a month for 5 GB and unlimited messaging. Mobile Hotspot support is extra ($30 a month), and Sprint Navigation is extra, too.
These are relatively minor complaints, in the end. The Tab requires some retraining in the way you use a mobile device — it’s somewhere between a phone and a regular tablet — but once you get it, it’s a pleasure to use. The Tab ultimately reveals itself not as a competitor to the iPad but as a new class of mobile devices: a minitablet that is designed to go everywhere you do.
WIRED Smaller form factor offers much better portability. Bright, high-resolution screen. Runs Flash? Oh, yeah.
TIRED Some stability concerns. Proprietary connector and cable (looks like an iPod port, but ain’t). Battery is nonreplaceable.

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Slim Fast: Apple’s iPad 2 Leads the Race

Everybody wishes the iPad 2 had a higher-resolution display like the iPhone 4, but Apple didn’t even have to go there yet.
All Apple did was put the iPad on a treadmill. The tablet shed some weight and gained some speed to become the iPad 2, and it’s incredible what a difference that makes. It feels like a brand-new product.
Most important of all is the iPad 2’s thinness. The iPad 2 is 0.34 inches thick, about 33 percent thinner than its predecessor. Now, reaching your fingers across the screen to swipe and tap is far easier than it was on the chunkier iPad 1.
People who enjoy reading will love the thinner body: Cradling an iPad 2 in your hands for an hour doesn’t feel that cumbersome. You’ll also be surprised how often you’ll be using the tablet with one hand. Even though it’s only a few ounces lighter than the older iPad (1.3 pounds versus 1.5 pounds), the changes to the tablet’s weight and ergonomics feel substantial.

The iPad 2 is only slightly thicker than a pencil.

Imagine how significant thinness and weight are for people who are considering tablets for use in a professional field that requires a lot of moving around, such as doctors who could use the iPad to replace a stack of X-rays, architects relying on an iPad as an interactive display for blueprints, or students using the iPad as an all-in-one textbook, note-taker and daily planner. The thinner and lighter a tablet gets, the more useful it becomes for various types of customers.
As a standalone device, the iPad 2’s soft keys still aren’t ideal for typing compared to a physical keyboard. However, this problem seems to be eroding over time, as the skinnier profile already makes it easier to hold the device with one hand while pecking away on keys with the other.
Also, Apple’s Smart Cover protective accessory (sold separately for $40 to $70) is a cover that folds to create an angle to prop up the device so you can type on it more comfortably. The built-in magnets, which cling to the side of the iPad, are very cool and make the cover extremely easy to take off or put on. Personally, I prefer using most gadgets bareback, but the Smart Cover is the only cover I’d consider keeping with the iPad 2 since it’s so easy to take off.
The other most important change is speed. Apple claims the new A5 processor in the iPad 2 offers double the performance of the original iPad. Indeed, apps and websites load more quickly, and 3-D games look more detailed; the entire iOS experience is just buttery smooth.

Web performance has largely improved, thanks to iOS 4.3, the latest software update shipping with the iPad 2, which includes an improved JavaScript-rendering engine for Safari. The iPad 2 took 2,180 milliseconds to complete a SunSpider benchmark test, whereas the iPad 1 took 3,353 milliseconds. Running the earlier iOS 4.2, the iPad 1 took over 8,100 milliseconds to complete the same test. That means JavaScript-heavy websites (such as Gmail) should run significantly faster.
Surprisingly, despite the major speed boost, the iPad 2 retains a 10-hour battery life, the same as the slower, first-gen iPad.


As for the cameras inside the iPad 2, Apple took some shortcuts, presumably to keep the costs down and to make the device thinner. Apple claims it primarily designed the cams with FaceTime video conferencing in mind, so photos weren’t a priority. That’s an understatement: The front-facing cam is VGA, or 640 x 480 pixels, and the rear camera shoots 720p video. These resolutions add up to less than a megapixel, making the cams useless for still shots. The iPad 2’s video looks good and it’s adequate for video conferencing, but still shots are frighteningly bad.
The rest of the iPad story is the most important ingredient that defines a tablet: the apps. Without apps, after all, a tablet is nothing more than a fancy digital picture frame, and here, Apple is the uncontested winner: The iOS App Store serves about 65,000 apps made just for the iPad.

Here in the Wired newsroom, we were entranced with Apple’s new, $5 GarageBand app that launched with the iPad 2. People could pick up the tablet for the first time, fiddle with some options and immediately figure out how to compose a drum loop or guitar melody. Within minutes, we were passing the iPad 2 around the room as if it were a spliff.
The iPad’s closest contender, the Motorola Xoom, has about 16 apps made for Android Honeycomb, and the tablet has a starting price of $800. Here’s where the decision becomes easy: Why would you buy a tablet for $800 with just over a dozen apps, when you could pay $500 to $830 for a tablet with access to 65,000 apps?
Google and its manufacturing partners have their work cut out for them, and until we see some killer apps made for Android tablets, Apple will continue to lead this market.

As for which iPad 2 you should buy, it really depends on your needs. For most people, we’d recommend at least the 32-GB model ($600), which should come in handy if you plan to use the iPad for gaming, watching video or creating media. If you already own a smartphone with tethering or hotspot options (which all iPhones have now), you won’t need to plunk down extra money on an iPad 2 with 3G, so go with a Wi-Fi-only model. Those who plan to use lightweight applications — reading, web surfing and e-mail — will be fine with the 16-GB base model for $500.
WIRED Skinnier profile shows mercy to your joints. Big performance boost makes apps, games and web browsing more zippy. Same $500 starting price and 10-hour battery life.
TIRED Mediocre cameras make still photos look slimy. Thinner body makes physical buttons on the side a little harder to press.

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Dell Inspiron Duo Is Indifference Times Two

You can’t deny Dell some hard-fought gee-whiz cred with the new Inspiron Duo.
In a world of commoditized portables, it is nothing if not a unique product. Show it off to your friends; it looks like a netbook, and you pop open the laptop-like clamshell and wait for the bored expression to appear. Then comes the sucker punch: you rotate the screen horizontally within its frame and snap the laptop back shut. Ta-da, it’s a freakin’ tablet, bro! People are duly impressed. It’s a neat trick and, at the very least, a clever feat of engineering.
But what is the Dell Inspiron Duo? Cut through the mystery and you will find — sorry to burst your bubble — a Windows netbook with a rotating touchscreen.
And that begs the question, what is it good for?
Well, we’re still working on that one.
This is the problem with dual-function gadgets in general: They rarely do either of the things they’re designed for very well. As a netbook, the Duo is at least passable. While it’s heavier than other 10-inch netbooks by up to half a pound, it’s well designed and looks good, and the 1366 x 768 screen’s brightness is about average for the category. But performance is unfortunately poor all around (a 1.5-GHz Atom doesn’t get you very far), and the two measly USB ports could stand an upgrade.
As a tablet, the Duo fares considerably worse. Here, its three pounds of heft are way too much for extended use, and the clamshell design adds an uncomfortable thickness to the device that makes it hard to hold. The screen also suffers from the same poor viewing-angle problems that sunk the Streak 7. If you’re not holding it dead on, the screen is virtually illegible.
Of course, the biggest problem here really isn’t Dell’s fault, it’s that Windows just doesn’t work very well for touchscreen devices, especially not on a small scale like this. Use the Duo in tablet mode for more than three minutes and your skin starts to crawl. You want to get something done quickly. You try to hit Control-C. Soon you find you’re reaching over and over for a keyboard that isn’t there. Except, of course, it is. Thank God for that.
WIRED 320GB hard drive is bigger than my laptop’s. Flipping system works well, feels sturdy. Dell Stage custom launcher app loads automatically in tablet mode, makes Windows a bit more useful as a slate. Duo Audio Station ($100 more) adds much-improved audio and a vertical docking system.
TIRED Tediously slow all around; get used to a lot of waiting. Screen is hideous. Too heavy for regular, table-free use.

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Size Certainly Matters With Nintendo's DSi XL

Photo by Jim Merithew for Wired.com

When other companies bob, Nintendo weaves. As it s rivals attempt to make their handheld game machines smaller and more portable, Nintendo hits us with the DSi XL, a supersized version of its pocket player. DSi XL, currently available in Japan and set to be released in America in the first quarter of 2010, is the size of a paperback book. It’s also about 30 percent heavier than the DS Lite. Why? Because the unit’s two screens are much, much larger — 4.2 inches diagonally, compared to the DS Lite’s 3.25-inches.
Why did they supersize it? Nintendo says the massive screens (with wider viewing angles) are in part aimed at senior citizens who don’t want to squint while playing Sudoku. But granny typically plays from home, where portability isn’t really a concern. If you do the bulk of your DS playing on your couch instead of on the bus, you likely won’t mind the tradeoff.
The larger screen isn’t just some frivolous purchase — it’s completely awesome. Seriously, we can’t imagine going back to smaller screened DSi. The screens have the same resolution as previous models, but the blown-up images look fantastic. It’s much easier on the eyes, even if finely detailed 2-D art does look a bit pixelized on occasion. It’s less obvious with 3-D graphics.

Beyond pure visual splendor, it’s also easier to interact with the DSi’s touchscreen. And although it features a standard stylus that stores inside the unit, DSi XL also comes with a comfortable pen-sized stylus that’s much easier to hold. (There’s nowhere to store it, though.)
At all of its five levels of screen brightness, XL has better battery life than the regular DSi: an additional one to three hours, depending on the setting, for a total of four to 17 hours. That’s still not quite as good as the older DS Lite’s five to 19 hours, though.
In terms of functionality, the XL isn’t different from the standard DSi: Besides playing games, you can download games from the DSi Shop, browse the web, listen to music and take pictures with the unit’s dual front- and rear-facing cameras.
When it’s released in the United States in early 2010, the DSi XL will come pre-loaded with downloadable apps. Nintendo hasn’t said which, but the Japanese version comes with a web browser, an animation program called Moving Memo, two bite-sized Brain Age games and a dictionary.
Getting a few apps for free should help to soften the sticker shock: At roughly $200, DSi XL is the most expensive model in Nintendo’s portable lineup.
If you haven’t yet traded up from a DS Lite to the DSi, you might want to wait until the XL comes out. If you’ve already upgraded, the benefits are less obvious at first — but we bet that once you try XL for yourself, you’ll want one too.
WIRED Big, gorgeous screens and comfy Sharpie-sized stylus prove it: Size matters. Better battery life than DSi.
TIRED Blown-up art looks a bit pixelized. Where are we supposed to store that giant stylus?

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Xbox 360 Slim Is Leaner, Meaner, Quieter Machine

When the Xbox 360 hit in 2005 it promised to revolutionize gaming. Microsoft got most of the way there (conceptually), but the original 360 hardware wasn’t without its … quirks.
Enter Microsoft’s upgrade/redo, the Xbox 360 S. Not only is the chassis slimmer (hence that weird, floating “S”), but it’s packed with a lot of the extras that used to be sold separately. The most dramatic change takes place under the hood. Redmond swapped out the 360’s power-hungry setup with a much more economical (e.g. smaller) motherboard and an integrated CPU/GPU/eDRAM chip. On top of the spatial benefits, this means that the 360’s operating volume — normally a hissy, Harrier-esque din — has been greatly reduced. The difference was almost immediately noticeable. While streaming Nextflix, we no longer had to turn up the volume to drown out the sound of the fan, and the act of the disc drive cycling up no longer made the doors on our entertainment center rattle.
The benefits of this engineering go beyond operating volume. Paired with the console’s newly integrated 802.11n, bevy of USB 2.0 ports, and a (finally) built-in optical audio port, the 360 S actually feels like the living room-ready entertainment powerhouse Microsoft promised five years ago. Playing DVDs and/or downloaded video seems like a much more natural extension of the console’s capabilities (though we’d still love some Blu-ray love), and the army of USB ports proves nifty for charging gadgets. The aesthetic impact is palpable too. Now that so many features are tastefully built in, the console finally looks like a serious, streamlined home theater device rather than a whirring, blinking gadget with countless peripheral flagella.
To be fair, this revamp isn’t quite the second coming either. In vying to be taken seriously, the 360 S has gotten rid of old favorites like customizable faceplates. Also, the power brick is back (though it has gotten smaller), and the included 250-GB hard drive is still proprietary (and not backwards compatible with older 360s). And, of course, there’s the largest elephant in the room: If you already have a 360, there probably isn’t a huge incentive to upgrade.
In the end this isn’t all bad. Microsoft ultimately set out to make a better (and Kinect-ready) version of the 360, and they’ve largely succeeded. The end result isn’t necessarily worth, say, drowning last year’s model in the tub and rushing to Best Buy. But, if you’ve yet to join the Xbox fold — or at least want an inexpensive, quiet, gaming/DVD/Netflix/Hulu box — this year’s model is your best bet.
WIRED Leaner, (slightly) meaner and quieter. Inches closer to the all-in-one entertainment box we’ve been waiting for. Cosmetic touches like touch-sensitive power and eject buttons class up the joint. Thrusts overpriced accessories ($80 for a Wi-Fi dongle?!) into obsolescence. Want to splurge on the Kinect in November? There’s an (integrated) port for that.
TIRED In many ways the same console we’ve been playing since Senior Year. Inter-console data transfers still require a wonky proprietary cable.

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Realistic Rock Band Guitar Lends Cred to Your Shred

Rhythm games get a lot of guff from naysayers. If you’re a fan, you’ve surely heard the catty complaints: “That’s just a toy. It’s not a real guitar.”
And it’s true. The typical Rock Band or Guitar Hero controller is fun, but it’s a bit of a joke compared to the real thing. It may look guitarlike, but the primary-color buttons up top and the plastic flipper at the bottom don’t exactly impress the ladies. You can be the best guitar “hero” in the world and you’re really still just a loser with a plastic ax.
Well, the time is here to silence the naysayers — if you can handle it. For Rock Band 3, Mad Catz is seriously upping the ante with a whole new approach to guitar gaming. Put simply, the Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller is not really a game controller at all, but a full-on guitar simulator. Seventeen frets split up a total of 102 buttons which correspond to a traditional six-string guitar fingerboard. Below that, you are now tasked with actually strumming the proper string — a real wire string — instead of moving a little plastic nubbin up and down. You can play with a pick or with your thumb and fingers. Callous lotion is not included.
The PRO-Guitar completely changes the Rock Band experience from top to bottom. No longer are you simply relying on muscle memory and blind luck to power through an Expert-level song, now you’re actually learning how to play it for real.
Is this difficult? Yes, it is difficult. If you’ve never picked up a guitar before, the learning curve is extremely steep. This is night and day vs. the standard rhythm game ax, and you’ll need to slave through the Rock Band 3 pro lessons — learning chords, arpeggios, muting strings and more — to have any hope of success. But as with a real guitar, practice and you’ll get there. I (a guitar novice) was at last breezing through Medium songs on day three, though completing tunes on Hard was still out of reach when my deadline arrived and the controller had to be returned to Mad Catz. The controller can also be used to play authentic bass guitar tracks, which are easier, and standard five-lane Rock Band guitar parts, which are surprisingly not.
What’s lacking? Despite the new approach, the Mustang still looks like a toy. It’s the same size as a standard guitar controller and is completely made of plastic. If you do want to eventually switch to a real guitar, you’re going to have to get used to everything being farther apart.
And sadly, this controller’s authenticity will do nothing to head off that other standby quip of the naysayers: “Why don’t you just play a real guitar?” Well, really, why don’t you?
WIRED You’re not playing a game any more, you’re learning how to play guitar. Totally revolutionizes Rock Band gameplay (and makes you the weakest member of the band).
TIRED No whammy bar — but, trust us, your hands will be full. Lacks weight. Big investment.

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Nintendo 3DS Review: It’s Totally in Your Face

What’s so appealing about 3-D, anyway?
A while back, I saw two landmark 3-D movies in the same six-month time span: Avatar and the revival of Captain EO at Disneyland. The latter, a 1986 Michael Jackson flick, used 3-D in the sort of ham-handed ridiculous way it had always been used: Asteroids flew into the seats. Evil monsters poked their claws and spears into your face. Cue screams and laughter from audience.
For a movie so closely identified with the current 3-D boom, James Cameron’s Avatar never tried any of these tricks. I quickly forgot I was watching a “3-D movie.” The depth, the added sensation of things being further away, had the subtle effect of making everything seem real, touchable. The 3-D technology was the medium, not the message.
The Nintendo 3DS is at its best when it does Avatar, not Captain EO. Games that make players go gaga over the innovative glasses-free 3-D display are all well and good. But it’s the way the small screen’s 3-D effects make every 3DS game look like a little animated diorama in a shoebox that impresses me the most. Something about that third dimension brings games to life.

The $250 3DS, already available in Japan and coming stateside March 27, is a gadget with the weight of the world on its bezels. Nintendo has enjoyed uninterrupted dominance in the handheld gaming space since it practically created that space with Game Boy in 1989. This is now under assault from Apple’s suite of touchable phones and tablets, which play an increasingly enjoyable library of games for significantly lower prices.
Once again, Nintendo’s proposal is typical Nintendo — staunchly conservative and wildly innovative in equal measure. On the one hand, it emphasizes $40 retail games over cheap downloads, and the company says it won’t try to attract indie “garage game” developers. On the other hand, it has positively leapfrogged the competition by utilizing a glasses-free 3-D screen, in the same way that the original Nintendo DS led the way with its touch interface.
As other writers have already elaborated upon, the 3-D screen is made significantly better by the “volume control” slider to its right. You can crank the 3-D up all the way if you want to enjoy the full depth-of-field effects, but to view these you’ll need to hold the 3DS rather close to your face, pointed square at your eyeballs.
This is not nearly as taxing as it sounds — I’ve played it at length with the machine in just that position and never felt tired. But if you want, you can crank down the 3-D, sacrificing the full force of its power for a more relaxed viewing angle.

Screen aside, the 3DS looks a lot like the original DS. There’s a D-pad, four face buttons, L and R shoulder buttons and Select and Start buttons. Oh, and there’s the lower screen, which isn’t 3-D but still has a touch interface.
The big additions are a comfortable analog “slide pad” joystick and a 3-D camera, which faces outward, so you can take stereoscopic pictures of the world around you. Every Nintendo 3DS comes with a 2-GB SD card, and photos are saved directly onto this in two formats — JPG and MPO.
When you look at the images on the 3DS’ tiny screen, they may not seem so bad. When you actually open them on a PC, they look pretty much awful. But because it uses the standard MPO file format, you can then open those 3-D images in other viewers or use them on other devices. (Nintendo says it will eventually update 3DS’ firmware to take 3-D video.)
The 3DS is packed full of preloaded games and applications, some of which are more interesting than others. (I wager none will prove as compelling as Wii Sports.) Several “augmented reality” games use the 3-D camera to overlay gameplay onto a real-time image of the real world around you.
Of these, the most fun is Face Raiders, in which a photo of your face is transformed into a series of grotesque laughing enemies that fly all over the room and must be shot down. It’s not the game’s very simple point-and-shoot mechanic that makes it fun, it’s the hilarious comic expressions that it morphs your face into. Nintendo is still the master of these little touches.
Other features use the system’s wireless connection. You can set three different connections to various Wi-Fi hot spots, and when the 3DS gets into range of any of them it will automatically connect and search for new content on Nintendo’s servers. The StreetPass mode constantly searches for other people’s 3DS consoles and automatically exchanges data with them if you get within range. You can swap your Mii characters, which you can create on the system or import from your Wii, for example.
You can also drop the 3DS into sleep mode by just closing the lid, and it will continue to search for other DS systems and hot spots while running on a minimal battery charge. I was able to leave the 3DS sleeping and carry it around for two days without having to recharge it. And with so many reasons to always have it on me as I go about my day, I fully plan on doing so.
That said, when you actually have the 3DS open and are playing a game, the battery will drain very quickly. If you’ve got the wireless turned on and the screen brightness going at full blast, you’ll be staring down the Blinking Red Light of Impending Death within about three hours.
Turn the Wi-Fi off and crank down the brightness and you might squeeze another 90 minutes out of it, if you’re lucky. To that end, Nintendo has included a convenient charging cradle with each 3DS, and you’d probably better get used to using it regularly.
Eighteen months from now, Nintendo will release the inevitable 3DS Lite and take us for another $250. Until that day arrives, I’m pretty comfortable saying that the Nintendo 3DS is the best gaming platform the company has ever created: The user experience is quite polished in a variety of ways, and its forward-thinking core feature really does make gaming better. Nintendo will sell a lot of them, and glasses-free 3-D will be a big deal in the next generation of gadgets, just like an avalanche of touch screens followed the first DS.
But all that may not be enough to keep smartphones and tablets from siphoning away more and more of the gamers who have long kept Nintendo in charge of the portable-gaming world.
WIRED 3-D visuals are true game-changer. Variety of fun, preloaded apps. Lots of reasons to carry it around in sleep mode.
TIRED Camera images are low-quality. Chews through battery in the blink of an eye. Games start at $40.

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