Sunday, December 9, 2012

Valve will release PC/console next year

Valve boss Gabe Newell has announced this week that the company will be launching a console built for the living room next year. Newell says the company's main focus now is how to make PCs work better in the living room on the big screen. The first step was releasing their "Big Picture" UI earlier this year. PC packages that are desi
gned to run on a TV will be launched next year, by Valve and by other manufacturers, with each being able to run Steam flawlessly out of the gate. Newell says the PCs will compete with the Xbox 8 and the PS4. Original News story here

Thursday, January 5, 2012

How Good is the PS Vita's Camera?

Cameras are a staple feature of the PS Vita, enabling it to take photos, detect motion and play augmented reality games. But we wanted to know how the device's rear-facing camera stacked up against other devices, including competing handhelds, smartphones and tablets, so we propped up our friend Pikachu and found out.

PS Vita vs. iPhone 4S

First on our list was the iPhone 4S, which features what is commonly regarded as the best camera of any mobile device. As you might expect, Apple's 8-megapixel camera trumps Sony's meager 640x480 offering. The iPhone 4S produces a better depth of field, richer, more natural colors and more detail, whereas the PS Vita appears washed out and grainy. Of course, the iPhone 4S (unsubsidized) is a significantly more complex and expensive device, featuring a retina display, 3G connectivity, etc. and starting at $649 for the base model.

PS Vita vs. iPad 2

The iPad 2 is hardly known for outstanding picture quality, but its 960x720 photos surpass the PS Vita's. Like the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2 produces more detailed pictures with richer colors, albeit a bit grainier.

PS Vita vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Tab also outperforms the Vita, producing 2048x1536 images.

PS Vita vs. iPhone 3G

One of the more interesting tests was with the iPhone 3G, which is nearly four years old with a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera. Though a far cry from the quality provided by the iPhone 4S, the 3G is still better than the Vita.

PS Vita vs. Nintendo 3DS

But, of course, the big question is how the PS Vita compares to its closest competitor -- the Nintendo 3DS. In terms of resolution, the devices have near-identical specs and results are similarly grainy and out of focus. However, Nintendo's camera produces better color.