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PlayStation 4

Sony is set to reveal the PlayStation 4 in less than three weeks, on February 20th. According to The Wall Street Journal, not only will we get a look at the PS4 and a rundown of all the new features, which include "more social gaming aspects" and "changes in how users interact with the machine," but gamers can expect to be able to pick up the new PlayStation later this year.

As for the console itself, not much is known--what we do know is that it will likely be powered by an AMD CPU and GPU, which could prove difficult for PS3 backwards compatibility, since the PS3 is powered by Sony's Cell processor. Additionally, although Sony considered shipping the PlayStation 4 without an optical drive, the Blu-ray drive will still be present, because the company believes that games are too big, and broadband not yet fast enough, to rely on hard drive storage and digital downloads.

We'll have all the info for you on the 20th!

Read More | WSJ

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Transporter shipping

The Transporter is a private data sharing and storage device from the folks at Connected Data, a team comprised of many of the same folks who worked on the Drobo. It's able to communicate with every other Transporter device, anywhere in the world, elimination the need for a third-party cloud storage solution for any files stored. Even more impressive? The Transporter is a Kickstarter project that is actually shipping on time - just 20 days after the end of its massively successful campaign. Compare that to other Kickstarter hardware projects, and you'll see just how impressive this is. You can pick up a Transporter with no drive for $199, a model with a 1 TB drive for $299, or a 2 TB version for $399. Hit the break for a video explaining how it all works.

Click to continue reading Transporter collaborative data sharing storage device now shipping

Read More | Transporter

BlackBerry

Earlier today, BlackBerry (formerly RIM) announced the first two BlackBerry 10 devices in the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10. Shortly after, the company's European MD, Stephen Bates, appeared in a BBC radio show, and gets asked multiple times about what the company has learned from Apple and the iPhone over the past few years. That's where it gets awkward, since Bates no-sells the questions time and time again, ignoring the direct questions point blank. BlackBerry may have a couple of new devices and a new name, but the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Read More | BBC

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BlackBerry Q10

While the BlackBerry Z10 was definitely the star of the show, the company also unveiled the BlackBerry Q10, featuring a hardware QWERTY keyboard and 3.1-inch display. With this device, BlackBerry (formerly known as RIM) makes it clear that it isn't ditching the hardware keyboard, making a device to cater to those who prefer it. The display is a 720 x 720 AMOLED screen, and it's all powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2 GB RAM. Like the Z10, LTE is on  board here as well, supporting AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless. One thing that BlackBerry left out here is the price of the Q10, but that should be coming soon enough. It should arrive in the US in April.

Click to continue reading BlackBerry Q10 keeps hardware QWERTY alive


BlackBerry Z10

This morning BlackBerry (formerly known as RIM) unveiled the first fully touch-based BlackBerry 10 device, the BlackBerry Z10. It's a handsome device, available in black and white, and matches what was previously leaked. They say that it's what's on the inside that counts, so let's dive in.

The BlackBerry Z10 sports a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 display with a pixel density of 356 ppi (better than the iPhone 5 Retina display.) It's not a huge phone like the Galaxy Note II, but it does measure in at 5.13- x 2.6- x 0.37-inches, so it's a bit bigger than the Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 in terms of hardware dimensions. That said, it's a nice and light 138 grams. The Z10 is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor with 2 GB RAM to keep it speeding along. A removable 1800mAh batter is a nice touch, and you get a microSD slot that supports up to 32GB of additional storage, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. For optics, you can expect an 8-megapixel 1080p camera on the back, and a 2-megapixel shooter up front that records in 720p. This will also be the first BlackBerry with 4G LTE support for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless.

The BlackBerry Z10 is set to launch in the US in March for $199.99, with the white version being touted as a Verizon exclusive.

Click to continue reading BlackBerry Z10: 4.2-inch display, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Plus, LTE, $199


Apple innovation

The day after Apple's latest earnings call, I got an email from a reader that asked if the days of Apple leading the world in consumer electronics innovation has come to an end, and if the playing field is leveling out:

Q: What's up with Apple? It seems the stock is down, profits are great, and products are stagnant, only seeing revisions rather than new product categories. Have they gotten too big to be as nimble as they used to be?

Coincidentally, I was browsing Facebook earlier, and I came across a post where a friend was very unimpressed by Apple's announcement of the 128 GB iPad:

Maybe it's the jet lag, but the latest 'New Thing' is a 128GB iPad?

This is it?

Where's Apple innovation?

I dunno, it seems that people expect way more from Apple than any other company. They update their iOS products on a yearly cycle, and they even updated the iPad mid-cycle last time (which people got upset about too, because it was too soon. Wait, what?)

Do people forget that the original iPod was released in 2001, and then the iPhone 6 years later, and then the iPad another three years after that? The iPad isn't even three years old yet, and people are saying Apple has lost something. Big, game-changing products like this take time.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: Where is Apple’s innovation? It takes time


iPad 5 leak

This is the alleged iPad 5 back plate, and as you can see, it's similar in design to the iPad mini's rear shell. At the present moment, the leaked parts are not 100% substantiated as actual parts designed by Apple or made by their manufacturing partners, but nothing is ever confirmed until Apple takes the stage and makes an announcement. The report from 9to5Mac also claims that the thinness almost matches the iPad mini, an impressive feat. For many, it is somewhat obvious that Apple would follow the similar trend of the new iPhone 5 and iPad mini design for the 5th generation iPad, as they're Jonathan Ive creations; and as witnessed in the past, this is the time of year when leaked parts that end up being true start appearing.

Read More | 9to5Mac

Monster Diesel VEKTR Military Green

Monster announced some new additions to its Diesel VEKTR on-ear headphone line at CES 2013. Being the fashion brand that Diesel is, you can expect a couple of new colors to be added. First, the matte-finish Military Green with gun metal accents. If that's not your thing, there's also the new Chrome VEKTR, with it's eye-catching mirror finish. Both new models will sell for $279.95 when they go on sale later this Spring. If you're looking for something for traditional, a white model just went on sale for $269.95. All of these are in addition to the black Diesel VEKTR that launched last year.

Click to continue reading Monster Diesel VEKTR on-ears get new Military Green, Chrome color options


Facebook in-app Video Recording   Facebook Audio Messaging

Facebook has updated its main iOS app to version 5.4, adding in-app video recording and audio messaging. Users can now record their cat videos without leaving the Facebook app and have the ability leave cryptic audio recordings when messaging their besties.

Share your moments with voice messages and video recordings right in the app.

  • Send voice messages when you have more to say
  • Record and share videos right from the app
  • Share and connect with your favorite places using the improved Nearby tab

Read More | Facebook

iPad 128Gb

Apple has announced a new 128 GB storage capacity option for the current iPad with Retina display, set to go on sale February 5th. The higher capacity model will sell for $799 for the Wi-Fi model, or $929 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version. Now, the only question left is if Apple will do the same for other iOS devices, like the iPhone, iPod touch (which has had double the storage capacity of the iPhone in the past,) and iPad mini. Full press release after the jump.

Click to continue reading Apple releasing 128 GB iPad with Retina display on February 5

Read More | Apple

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