Month Recap: Gadgets Launched In February

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Before we start looking at the next month’s big tech events, let’s take a look at this month’s big and popular tech news. It was certainly a big month for us tech geeks as we saw some great gadgets like Galaxy Note 8, Asus FonePad, HTC One and PlayStation 4.

PS4 Unveiled

ps4 leaked image

Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 4 this month at its NYC event after months of rumors. The company announced the hardware specs of the next generation PlayStation and also showed the DualShock Controller 4 with some amazing features. The new PS4 comes with an 8-core 64-bit x86 AMD CPU, 8GB GDDR5 RAM, enhanced Radeon GPU and 6x Blu-ray drive.

We don’t have any specific release date yet but you can expect to get the PS4 in the Holidays 2013.

Galaxy Note 8

galaxy note 8

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Note 8 at the 2013 Mobile World Congress after lots of rumors and leaked pictures. It’s a tablet version of the company’s successful Note and Note II and is ready to compete with iPad Mini with its 8-inch display. The company didn’t reveal the tablet’s specs yet but it features 8-inch 1280×800 screen, 2GB RAM, 5MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera. Another notable feature of this device is its S-Pen like other Note devices.

The company is yet to announce its availability and pricing details but you can expect to see an initial Q2 release in Asia and Europe only.

iPhone 5 leaked

leaked iPhone 5S image

A Chinese website has posted some leaked photos of the rumored iPhone 5S recently and they believe it’s a pre-production version of the next iPhone. Apple failed to protect it’s secret last time before the announcement of iPhone 5 so there is a fifty-fifty chance that these rumors are true. According to the rumors, we can expect to see the same taller screen, an improved camera with powerful LED flash, fingerprint sensor, full-HD display and color options like the latest iPod Touch.

Apple refused to comment on these rumors as usual so we have to wait for an official announcement to confirm these rumors.

Asus FonePad

Assus Fonepad ImageAsus announced FonePad, a Nexus 7 like tablet with 3G mobile data and voice-calling feature at the Mobile World Congress this month. The new device looks like a combo of Asus’ docking PadFone mobile and the popular Nexus 7.

The FonePad features 7-inch IPS screen with 1280×800 display, Android 4.1 OS, Intel Atom Z2420 processor, 1GB of RAM, optional 8GB or 16GB internal memory, 3-megapixel rear camera, 1.2 megapixel front camera, voice calling feature and full 3G telephony support. The company is planning to release the FonePad between April and June in the U.K. and in Asia at the end of the June for $249.

HTC One

HTC One

HTC recently unveiled the HTC One at an event earlier this month and called the new flagship smartphone a “game-changer” because of its “innovative features”. The company usually releases several phones using the same name but they decided to drop X or S from this device. The Taipei City-based company also decided to make this device their sole flagship smartphone for this year.

The HTC One features a 4.7-inch full 1080p HD Display with 468ppi, 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and a 2,300mAh battery. The flagship device will be available on Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T in the US next month and is now available for pre-order.

Chromebook Pixel

chromebook pixel price

Google unveiled its premium notebook, at a San Francisco press event this month. The Chromebook features a 12.85’’ inch screen with 2560×1700 resolution and it’s also a touchscreen which is introduced in a Chromebook for the first time.

The Chromebook also features a 1.8GHz Dual –core Intel i5 processor, integrated HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of RAM and Chrome OS. But it’s not these features that attracted tech geeks, it’s the price, $1299 for the 32GB of flash storage and Wi-Fi version and $1449 for Wi-Fi, LTE broadband and 64GB of storage. It’s too much for a Chrome OS based device which is only good for using web-based apps and internet browsing.

ZTE Grand Memo

zte grand memo specs

ZTE has announced the Grand Memo, a phablet with 5.7-inch screen at its MWC 2013 event this month. The flagship device features a big 5.7-inch screen with 720p resolution, 13-megapixel camera, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, customized Android 4.1.2 and 3200mAh battery.

Looks like ZTE is trying to push the boundaries of phablet and is trying to grab some attention in the phablet arena. The smartphone will be launched in China soon and then in Europe.

Sony Officially Unveils The PS4 Specs: x86 AMD CPU, Enhanced Gaming GPU

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Sony didn’t unveil the actual console at Sony’s two-hour long press event yesterday but we do know what we can expect inside it. The company revealed the hardware specs of the PlayStation 4 and also showed the new DualShock Controller saying that we can expect to see the PS4 in market in the 2013 holiday season.

PS4 images

PS4 Specs

The hardware specs of the PlayStation 4 includes an 8-core 64-bit x86 AMD CPU titled as “Jaguar”, 8GB GDDR5 RAM, 6x Blu-ray drive and an enhanced Radeon GPU that promises to give gamers “the kind of multi-dimensional experiences they expect and observe.” It will also feature 802.11n Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 2.1 and an analog AV out.

“PlayStation 4 will unleash imaginations to create next-gen experiences that surpass gamers’ wildest expectations, while also allowing developers to explore other business models,”  that’s what Andrew House, the president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment said at the launch event.

If you wonder what kind of graphics this machine can run, take a look at this video:

DualShock 4

The new PS4 will also come with a nicely revamped controller that features a touchpad, headphone jack, share button and a lightbar for identification of players. Mark Cerny, PS4’s architect believes the new DualShock Controller 4 now comes with an improved joystick and trigger button that can provide “much tighter sense of control over in-game actions.” There is also a stereo camera that can sense the depth of visible objects.

Sony PS 4 DualShock 4

New PS4 Interface

Sony also unveiled a new interface and introduced PlayStation app for iOS and Android. The new interface will try to keep you “seamlessly interconnected” with social life and all your PS4 conversations will be carried “far beyond the living room,” using different apps and web platforms. Cerny said that the new interface is designed to “keep in touch with the evolving world of your game regardless of your location”. He also discussed about using real names on the new interface. Users will be able to use aliases when they want anonymity but most of the interactions in this new console will be done using profile pictures and real names.

Sony PS 4 Social

Upcoming Games for the PS4

Sony announced some upcoming games for the PS4 including InFAMOUS: Second Son from Sucker Punch, Killzone: Shadow Fall from Guerrilla Games and Deep Down from Capcom. The developers behind the Braid puzzle game also showed The Witness at the event and Square Enix is also thinking about bringing a PS4 compatible Final Fantasy game soon. Meanwhile you can see the demo of the gameplay in this video:

The company didn’t unveil any specific release date in the event but they announced at the end of the event that the PS4 will be available in the Holidays 2013.