Pros

• Amazing design
• Fantastic Screen
• Great Sound
• 2 SD Card Slots
• A PDA and a Game Console
• Bluetooth
• Nice Interface
• Decent Battery Life

Cons

• Unusual stylus placement
• Bad technical Support
• Price

Review:

People often crib that Palm OS and Pocket PC PDAs offer little variation in term of form factor or features they offer. When it comes to games, there are few games that keep you busy while out of office. There was little scope for serious gaming on PDAs. However, every couple of years, there comes along a device that cannot be categorised easily. Tapwave’s Zodiac is one such device. It is the first PDA that is also designed to be a handheld gaming console. It is sort of like a GameBoy Advance for adults who also would need the organisational and power of a PDA. Its designers have achieved something extraordinary. The Zodiac excels at doing both things well.

Why is it special?

The gaming market is larger than the movie industry right now and an increasing share of that lucre goes to mobile devices. The Nintendo GameBoy Advance, The Sony PlayStation portable, Nokia’s NGAGE along with the Zodiac is all poised to go after this lucrative market. When it comes to gaming, the average gamer is more sophisticated than previously. While graphics and playability still matter, more and more people want versatility. They want devices that would play videos, surf the internet and store numbers as well. That is what Tapwave has done. Their product, the Zodiac does it all.

The Zodiac:

The Zodiac is the first PDA designed keeping the gamers in mind. It does all the things a high end PDA does but the layout is gamer friendly.  It has a 3.8 inch half VGA (480 x 320 pixels) backlit colour display and is powered by Motorola i.MX1 ARM 9 processor. It features an ATI graphics accelerator augmented by the Forge 3D graphics engine. Navigation can be done either using the touch screen and stylus. The device also has Bluetooth, dual expansion slots, rechargeable batteries and playable control buttons sufficient to make most manufacturers squirm. Available in 2 models, the Zodiac 1 and Zodiac 2 the only differences are the colour of the device and the RAM. The Zodiac 1 comes in slate gray and has 32MB of memory whereas the Zodiac 2 is available in black (or charcoal gray) and has 128MB RAM. The battery is a 1540mAh better than palmONE’s Tungsten C at 1500mAh.

Design:

Never before seen Design:

Wow! That was the first reaction when we held it in our hands. While it looks a bit large for a handheld and most certainly out of place in a board meeting, it is nonetheless well designed. With its hand friendly curves and subtle detailing, it looks nothing like any gaming console you would have probably come across. Once you start playing games, you would realise that the size and the form serve well. The body has two anodised aluminium shells sandwiching a multi part plastic frame. The device has tapering sides that make it easy to hold in the hand. There are rubber grips on the side edges of the device to make it resistant to falls. There is a soft vinyl flip cover over the recessed screen and is wrapped over the top to the back where it is pinned. Bend the plastic pin and the flip lid pops open.

There is the Tapwave logo impressed on the centre of the matte black vinyl cover, the first of several subtle details we loved. The stylus is available in the slot on the bottom of the unit and is held in place with the help of 4 pieces. However, it is annoying to turn the unit over to pull the stylus in and out. Left of the screen are four important controls; first in the list is the power button that lights up orange while charging, green when totally charged and flashes orange when the battery is low. While the screen shuts down and music is being played, the light fades in and out, which was another of those subtle detailing we absolutely loved. At the bottom is a hardware version of the Home icon and above it is the function button whose function varies depends on the program one’s using. Left of these 2 buttons is the left speaker that has a right counterpart also.

Analogue Joystick:

This is the most important item present on the left side of the screen.  It is analogue considering good gaming requires finer control than what digital can provide for. The joystick has 3 functions. It acts a 5 way navigator for Palm programs and OS functions. It goes north, south, west and east and pressing down on the centre is the fifth way. While it is clumsy on most handhelds, it tuned surprisingly well on the Zodiac.  It also acts as an 8 way controller with 8 zones around the dial.  The joystick is capable of 360 degree rotation with varying degrees of speed. The joystick uses a pair of small potentiometers according to a news report. While there was occasional drift, it was eliminated by recalibrating the joystick.

Four Action Buttons:

On the Right of the screen are the ‘our action buttons’ intended for controls such as shoot, accelerate or whatever the programmer would need to create a complete experience. Once you are on the Palm OS home screen, you can set the buttons to launch any applications of your choice. For most palm programs they function for scrolling.

On the Top:

On the top side of the Tapwave Zodiac 1 Handheld Gaming PDA device you would be surprised to find three more buttons. Two of them are the shoulder buttons or triggers. The centre button is the one that caught our attention.  It is the Bluetooth button. Easier to access than the one on palmONE Tungsten T3, all you need to access it is press the button and within three minutes, you are all set to access the Web and email. There is a Web browser and SMS application included on the disc. While there is no application for email included, we installed Palm’s VersaMail and it worked well. Behind the Bluetooth button, you will find two SD slots making the Zodiac the second Palm OS to have two of the same slots on it. So you can make the PDA have wi-fi or camera and still enjoy all the benefits of accessing data and games.

At the Rear:

The back of the device has logos, approval marks, a serial number and most importantly the stylus. The reason the stylus was mounted in a different way is perhaps there was no room for a conventional design without destroying the design of the Zodiac. There are rubber grips present, so that the stylus would not fall while being carried. To remove the stylus, press down on one of the ends and the other end will pop out for easier removal. The stylus itself is pointed at one end and hollow point on the other end. Apart from the reset button, there is a lanyard lashing point available as well.

Things at the Bottom:

At the bottom of the device is the HotSync port, charging port and the headphone jack.  The headphone jack is mounted so that when the included headphones are attached to the zodiac, they wrap around and up to mate with the device neatly. Really clever thinking from the design team at Tapwave, we must say. Like the Sony Ericsson phones, the power and HotSync ports are separate. For HotSync one needs to use the included cable or an optional cradle which joins the HotSync and power components into one.

Amazing Screen:

The display of the Zodiac 1 is simply marvellous; With 320 x 480 pixels resolution, it has a great contrast. Easily one of the sharpest displays around, the screen performs better than that of the GameBoy Advance and N-Gage. At its brightest setting, the Zodiac was not as bright as that of the screen of the Tungsten T3. It was surprising as often we had to turn down the brightness of the device indoors. The screen is slightly larger than the T3 and the design makes it look larger. The screen performs well outside and the only distraction was our own reflections. When used indoors, the screen is bright enough to concentrate on the screen.

Features:

Wheel Interface:

When we turned the device on, we were greeted by a new launcher interface. It appears as an effort to circumvent the stylus driven nature of the Palm OS. The Zodiac launcher takes advantage of the Analogue Joystick. The icons are arranged in a wheel format and moving the joystick towards an icon takes you to a program or category.  Users have the freedom to create wheels that lead to other wheels to leave some of their products on the right side as a list view. While it does take time to get used to, it works well. Pressing the joystick down would take you back one level. For those who do not want novel interfaces, there is also a large list view for those who like to tap with the stylus. One can also use the joystick to navigate around.  There are a couple of features that were missing in the Palm OS. While colour themes are not new, here one can set colour themes individually within a program and can even add background photos on the home screen. For the home screen wall paper one can use any of the pictures in the library or any one of your own. On the list view, the text is white and on the wheel view, it is black.

Versatile Status Bar:

On the top right side is the quintessential side bar.  Well, you can choose it to be on your right side or left side depending on the handedness you choose. There is a house icon which takes one to the home screen, a menu icon, a find icon and a volume control icon. The volume control icon also lets one control the brightness level of the screen.

Tiered Mute:

An interesting feature we found in the Tapwave Zodiac is the Tiered Mute. When we tapped on mute, there appears a pull down menu that comes with a Mute Until. There are values ranging from an hour, two and an indefinite option that allows one to mute the game silently for a while without the need to permanently disable the alarms if set.

Few other things:

The preference screen of the Zodiac is not a boring space; it has an application wheel of its own with custom icons that are unique to the Zodiac. Press on the icons, you would be taken to a boring white space which is familiar nevertheless they did something to the preference screen. The Clock application is crafted well too. There is an analogue clock as well as a digital one .There is an option for an alarm separate from the date book and a countdown timer as well. To activate the countdown, press the watch icon and comes up a keypad where one can set the time you would like to count down. After the sequence is complete, there is an alarm that goes off.  Tap the alarm icon to set up your wakeup time. If you think alarm sounds are boring, you can put a song of your choice to be the alarm. While the original release allows only a part of the song as the alarm, the upcoming 1.1 release would play the whole song.

Pleasant Alarm Sounds:

The Zodiac team added new sounds to replace the tired status beeps and noises that one is so used to at our workplaces. The sounds feel more magical and fun filled. While this is not a big deal, it shows how much Tapwave has tried making the device livelier. The sounds are not silly or corny either.

Decent Multimedia:

The Tapwave Zodiac 1 handheld console also excels at Multimedia. It has its own applications for playing music and viewing images. Music is the full screen player that runs in landscape mode. There are buttons for volume control, pause and navigating tracks. The application supports play lists and plays tunes present on storage cards as well. ‘Photo’ is another Tapwave application that supports JPG file format and offers thumbnail view. There are tools such as scaling and rotating as well. Viewing photos on the gorgeous display is a pleasure.  For viewing videos, there is the Kinoma Player 2.02 that is popular for viewing videos on Palm OS handhelds. It allows conversion of MPEG1, MPEG4, AVI and QuickTime files to Kinoma format for playback on the Zodiac. However we were unable to convert Windows Media files to this format. It would have been better if the video player could have played the files without any conversion.

Bluetooth:

The Zodiac features built in Bluetooth wireless networking. It allows one to enjoy multiplayer games with friends over Bluetooth. To start enjoying multi player gaming all you need is a pal with a PDA and the game that supports multiplayer over Bluetooth. Games such as Stuntcar Extreme, that come packed with the Zodiac support Bluetooth. For other activities such as browsing the web, one can connect to a Bluetooth enabled phone.  One can send and receive messages using the InkStorm chat application provided.

Strong suite of Software:

When compared to the gaming devices in the market, the Tapwave Zodiac has a pretty decent title selection of software.  Though only 2 games, StuntCar Extreme and AcidSolitaire are available, there is a fairly strong suite of Palm OS software. The popular word processor WordSmith, Kinoma Player and Producer, powerOne calculator, InkStorm Bluetooth chatting, Tapwave’s Clock and Web are the applications included.  Apart from them, there are standard Palm OS apps such as Address, to do list, Calendar, Memo Pad, Graffiti 2. The Palm Reader included supports portrait and landscape modes. The unit comes with a customised version of Palm Desktop for Windows.

Games:

StuntCar Extreme:

The most important aspect of the Zodiac is how good it is at gaming. We started playing StuntCar Extreme and were left speechless. It showcases the capabilities of the Zodiac brilliantly. The sounds, textures, scenery and the sense of speed make the game even more interesting. The interface is well designed with nice fonts, great graphics and decent music. There is a milkshake bar as well where drivers can have a chat and that adds to the subtle depth of the game. The sound is better and is more impressive when the headphones are attached. The console not only fit naturally in the hand but also was impressive enough to make us engrossed in the game. Extra depth is added by including the vibrate feature. It lets one know if the car has been hit or damaged. It was in this game, that we really discovered the importance of the Analogue Joystick. Moving the joystick a little bit when a curve approached allows the car to be gently steered and maintain a constant speed.

SpyHunter:

The Spyhunter is a combat driving game that is playable in landscape mode. It has four modes: Arcade, Multiplayer, Missile Crisis and Tournament. The game is real fun considering the cool chases in cars and demolishing cars. The graphics were crisp and clear enough that we could notice the smallest of details on the enemy car.

MegaBowling:

This game is better off being played using a stylus rather than a controller. It too has great graphics and decent sound effects. However, even if one hits a single pin or all of them, it sounds like you are hitting all of them. Though the game is playable in both portrait and landscape modes, it is better in portrait as the stroke resolution is greater due to the longer screen.

Firehammer:

Firehammer is an arcade style flat flying game that draws one in with the fast action, powerful weapons and great techno music. Easily one of the most stylish fight shooter games around, it is released from the guys who made the X Forge Game Engine. There are opponents who keep getting more challenging and start shooting at you from all the angles. The analogue joystick makes one able to move all around the screen and dodge attacks. It is playable vertically which means one needs to control the ship using the joystick with the left hand if you are right handed.  A great game to keep one entertained, we say!

Galactic Realms, Shattered Worlds and Tony Hawk Pro Skater:

Galactic Realms is a space game that offers great graphics and equally good music. The space simulation is pretty decent but it is incredulously difficult to defeat the opponents. The ability to create campaigns and play in multiplayer mode adds to the depth of the game.  Shattered World looks fun as well. But the joystick controls work opposite from a plane’s. Tony Hawk worked great on the Zodiac and is fun if you would get it.

Performance:

Sound:

For a complete gaming experience, one would want great sound too. The Yamaha audio chips that are inbuilt deliver amazing sound. One of the very few to have inbuilt speakers when it was released. Attach the headphones to get even better sound.  The Zodiac’s bass boost is one of the loudest around and all alarms sound loud without getting distorted.

Horse Power:

The Zodiac uses the 200MHz Motorola i.MX ARM9 family processor which is a pretty fast performer. The raw power of the processor makes it perfect for running emulators.  . The unit feels zippy and we had no issues with the processor. The impressive graphics chip combined along with the processor makes the Zodiac an amazing power house.  The Zodiac has 32MB of RAM whereas only 20 MB is available to the user. The rest is reserved for system/application use. There are 2 SD card slots one of which supports SDIO as well. The SDIO slot is compatible with SD cameras and more.

Battery Life:

The Zodiac runs on a non user replace Lithium Ion Polymer battery. Its Battery life is pretty decent considering that the Zodiac is a large screen PDA with a set of well amplified speakers and Bluetooth. Playing games and MP3 files would drain the battery soon. However, it allows 3 to 4 hours of gaming when fully charged and that is marvelous. If used as a PDA alone the device lasts two whole days assuming you check emails, phone numbers etc.

What is in the Box?

The Zodiac comes along with a lanyard and flip cover attached.  There is a power supply cord, a USB cable and headphones included as well. There is a Quick Start Guide, Warranty, The Tips and Tricks guide and a CD.

Service and Support:

The device has a warranty of 12 months and there is support available on the site such as support phone numbers and live chat, a knowledge base, downloads and support email addresses.

Verdict:

The guys at Tapwave have done a great job. They made a product that exceeded what people expected of it. It is not just a game console but a world class PDA as well. It has all the makings of a successful product. However, a game console is as successful as the titles available in it. If the future launched titles attract the attention, Nintendo and Sony would have tough competition from the Zodiac. If you are going to buy a PDA, we recommend you go for the Zodiac.

Tapwave Zodiac 1 Gaming PDA - Technical Specification Table

The Device:

The Wii Motion Plus is not really a stylish add on, however, it does make the Wiimote look complete and a bit longer too. It is about a square inch and hooks on to the Wiimote easily. The attachment does feel bulky and has 2 buttons on the sides that one can use to push in or remove the motion plus to from the Wii controller. On the rear, you will find a lock button which slides up to lock and down to unlock. At the bottom of the device is the pass through for the nun chuck.  There were problems in hitting the 1 and 2 buttons while moving horizontally. The newer Wii remote jacket would help in limiting the damage done to the accessory if it falls down.

Set up:

The Wii Motion Plus is provided in a pre packaged protective cover and to connect to the Wiimote, just thread the wrist wrap, plug it in and pull the rest of the cover over the assembly. There is a locking switch on the back and you are done. To remove the Motion Plus, one needs to unlock it, press on the tabs on the sides and pull it off.

Features:

Hardware:
The Wii Motion Plus hardware consists of a sensor that is capable of detecting rotation and hooks onto the expansion port of the Wii remote. Thus, it allows the setup to feed back on the exact 3 D positional information to the console. However, since it still requires all the other motion detecting systems of Wii including the sensor bar, there is scope for flaws.  While, playing Showdown we had to constantly re-calibrate the system by pressing down on the D pad. Then there are problems of the Wii mote being susceptible to interference from sources of bright light as it mistakes them to be signals from the sensor bar. But otherwise, its 1:1 motion in carefully controlled environment and just about does whatever it claims to.

Games:
Grand Slam Tennis:
The Grand Slam Tennis title from EA sports is one of the few titles that Motion Plus is compatible and when we tried playing the game with the accessory on, we noticed that it felt no more accurate than the Wii Sport Tennis. Unless you are really into tennis, neither would most of you notice a difference. The Motion Plus let the game distinguish whether the user was holding the racket in the left or the right hand.  One can hit a reasonably decent serve but constant calibration was a pain in the neck. Even swinging backhand and forehand was not distinguishable. There was a noticeable difference in the hand movements and the actions on screen and so it certainly was not 1:1. But we must keep in mind that one to one tennis is real hard to simulate.

Tiger Woods PGA 10:
There is a reason EA games has packed the game along with the Wii Motion Plus add on, the accessory works here. While playing tennis was not that realistic, the Motion Plus accessory did bring us to the reality of playing golf indoors. There are 3 modes of difficulty in the game and that basically tells you how realistic you want the game to be. The game has astounding consistency and controls are pretty accurate. Twist the remote left or right, so does the club move on screen and that translates in the shots. The main thing left to ape is the topspin and backspin which are very difficult to do on a handheld controller. While there is that, one could feel the difference between a shot with 30 percent power and 70 percent power. This slight extra force does remind you how hard it is to do so in real life.

Disc Golf:
Not only is the mini game in Tiger Woods a fun little game, but this game allows you to experience the most technical demonstration of Motion Plus available right now from a non Nintendo title.  Pickup a disc and you can play it in 3 d space with almost perfect 1:1 motion. The game allows distinction in twisting and bending a flick well. However, the game was not able to detect the distinction between a full body throw with less power and a powerful flick.

Wii Sports Resort:
Nintendo has made sure that the true potential of Motion Plus is revealed in the Wii Sports Resort. The title is developed such that the implementation of this concept is best done in the titles we have seen so far. The Frisbee game is fun as you would watch your Mii character with the 1:1 replication before you toss the disc.  Even basketball, bowling and table tennis fare well and make you feel like you are controlling what is happening on screen, something that was lacking from Wii Sports. But there are games such as archery and canoeing where Motion Plus is not as flawless as it seemed to be. There was a problem of constant calibration in both the games and hence precision was not as perfect as you would want.  While we believe these games do lack depth, we also believe that this is a blueprint for future development and that Nintendo and others should focus on expanding into “real” games.

Some Hassles:

Constant Calibration:
While playing most titles, the game will ask you to place the controller on a flat surface so that you can re calibrate it. Games have an option to pause at any time so that this can be done manually. We guess that the reason for constant calibration is to be careful about the experience. But it does get annoying at times. What was interesting was that there is an option in the game to let it use the sensor bar to help refine the motion control detection.
Single Motion Add on:

One disappointing thing about the Wii Motion Plus is that to play any multi player games Motion Plus compatible games, one would need two or more Motion Plus controllers.

Design Issues:
The Motion Plus does make the Wii remote big enough not to fit in any of Nintendo’s official peripherals.  And if you would want to use the Wii Zapper or the Wii Wheel, you would have to remove the Motion Plus and place the standard Wii Remote into the shell.  But if you would want to play games such as Super Paper Mario or Excite Truck, try removing the accessory that simplifies things.

Cannot be used with Third Party add-ons:
Another complaint with the Motion Plus is that it cannot be used with third party add-ons. There are wireless nunchucks that communicate with the remote via a device that plugs into the nunchuck port. The Motion Plus also is capable of plugging the nunchuck, but since the port is positioned differently than on the remote, it is incompatible with some devices.

Not Backward Compatible:
Sadly, the Wii Motion plus is not backward compatible and it neither would probably in the future. There are a great deal of games that would highly benefit from Motion Plus and that would probably boost sales of the accessory as well.  Let’s hope that Nintendo launches a firmware update regarding this soon.

Power Drainer:

As soon as the Motion Plus is attached to the Wii Remote and is powered on, the gyroscope present in the accessory drains power from the batteries. If you keep playing non motion plus titles, keeping the accessory attached means one would have to keep on changing batteries quite regularly.

Warranty:

While the console itself carries a warranty of one year which is one of the longest in the console industry, the accessory has a warranty of three months. The warranty covers all manufacturer’s and workmanship defects and they will be repaired at no change. However, the warranty does not cover any sort of physical damage such as spilled liquid on your accessory or anything of that sort.

Conclusion:

Let us be frank, we are not really sure whether to give the Wii Motion Plus a buy or do not buy recommendation.  While the Motion plus at its best can be seen as completing the Wii revolution and allows player a sense of control that they have expected from the beginning.  It looks like it could solve the problem of people overusing excessive and pointless waggle in games.  The use of the Wii Motion Plus does differ from game to game but the functionality is definitely working as Nintendo promised.  All this makes you wonder why this was not included when the Wii launched. Nintendo claims that the gyroscope technology was too expensive then and hence launched it separately.

While it does deepen the experience of most games, it has a lot of issues that are need to be dealt with. There are problems of calibrating very frequently and constantly altering your Wii remote if you own accessories such as the Wii wheel. Also most games are neither Motion Plus compatible nor is the accessory compatible with older titles. At the end of the day, should you buy it? That depends on what you think of current Motion Plus games available in the market now. If you love golf and the likes, then this would be a good investment.  If it still does not appeal for you, there is no need to buy it soon, as we believe it is something that you would need sooner or later because that is the future of Wii.

Check Nintendo Wii Fit Reviews,  Nintendo DS Game Console Review in this website.

Nintendo Wii Motion Plus - Technical Specification Table

Ah! The wait ends. Korean manufacturer GamePark Holding’s fourth generation handheld GP2X Wiz has finally been released. The machine, intended to be the successor to the highly popular GP2X, sadly has been subject to a lot of delays. The company has developed a Linux based hand held gaming console to cater to homebrew games and emulation. The GP2X Wiz is not another ordinary gaming console as it differs from the mainstream competitors like the Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable.  While the latter makes sure users stop writing their own software, the Wiz is completely open. It means anyone can write new applications and software using Adobe Flash or the native code of the machine.  The GP2X Wiz is an extremely compact hand held gaming console that features a 533MHz processor with a 3D accelerator.  It has a 64MB RAM and a 1GB NAND Flash memory and 12 inbuilt games.  It also has a 2.8 inch OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, a USB 2.0 port and a SD card slot. Sadly it lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. However GamePark claims to incorporate those two as well in the future. Is it worth the wait or should you rather wait for the Pandora – another equally powerful console, read the review to find out.

What’s in the Box:

GamePark has always had a knack for catchy packaging and they have not let us down this time.  The heavy cardboard box has been designed to look like a treasure chest.  The Wiz logo is present at the centre of the box with the caption “Whatever you want” printed below. Sony and Nintendo ought to learn a thing or two from GamePark when it comes to bright and attractive packaging.  Inside the box was the unit present in a plastic bag, a mini CD, a lead for connecting PC and a Quick Start guide. There is also a packet of Silica gel present in the box, which is a first as no other gaming console packaging  has ever had Silica gel included. A Carry case, headphones, a stylus and a screen protector are to be separately bought if needed.

Design:

Impressions:
The initial impressions of the GP2X Wiz device are pretty favourable. Made up of matte black plastic, it resembles a toy. The build quality is better than GamePark’s earlier models. It might be small, but it feels very solid. It has dimensions similar to that of an iPhone or an iPod touch but a bit thicker. Moderately larger than the Nintendo Game Boy Micro, the console beats the GP2X F-100 / 200 in terms of design. The buttons feel good and smooth to touch.  It seems to have all the amenities we have expected to be towed in as well.

Controls:
GamePark never really had great controls in their earlier models. The First version of the GP2X, the F 100 had a micro switched joystick intended to be used on Sat-Nav devices.  The F 200 had a four button D pad which still had issues. The Wiz fortunately features a proper D pad and while it could have been much better, it is still a bit spongy. The controls could do with having a solid pivot company and in spite of all this; the console has a substantial improvement over its predecessor.

Buttons:
The buttons in GP2X Wiz Gaming System are a bit close to each other and are quite small.  There is a Menu and a Select button on either side of the screen, rather reminiscent of GP32’s layout. The implementation of the function of the select button depends on the specific game or application.  On the right side are the four action buttons (A, B, X and Y) also located similar to the joy pad cross. They have a surrounding silver edge that has a metallic look. Though mushy, they would not be used much during game play.  The Joy pad can be pressed not only in the four basic directions, but also diagonally as well. By pressing at the centre, one can gently move the thumbs to rotate without much problem. On the upper side are present two more “action” buttons that are well placed. They make a “click” sound when pressed so that you do not have to check for it.  The power button is located on the left side of the device and is used to switch on or off the console. The device can also be used to lock the device as well.  There are buttons on the bottom side as well: 2 to control the volume (that is to either increase it or decrease it).

Ports:
At the middle of the bottom is present the USB slot to which one can connect the supplied USB cable.  The right hand side of the bottom is the location of the 3.5mm jack adapter which allows one to connect a pair of headphones. Next to the left button on the top is present the microphone hole and on the middle of the upper side is present the slot for SDHC. This leaves out one slot on the device for the strap.    So a pretty decent set of ports, nothing extraordinary here.

Display:
The display has a diagonal measurement of 2.8 inches and a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels points. Most Emulated games faced problems while running in high resolution. However, a wide screen such as the one PSP has is not necessary as most games were made for 4: 3 aspect ratio earlier. The touch screen uses the same technology used in PDAs. The screen responds to a touch pen or a finger with ease. We wish the screen were larger but it is not really much of a deal breaker. It does display images very beautifully. One also can choose from four possible intensities, brightness and display. The touch pen provided is hard to lose because the holder is located in the device.

Using the GP2X Wiz:
To turn on the unit, one needs to slide a self returning switch on the side of the unit.  Since the Wiz uses a trimmed down version of the Linux operating system, it takes some time to start up unlike other handhelds with just cartridge software that take 20 odd seconds to load. Once the Wiz boots up, there is the icon driven menu which is pretty okay, but the quality and brightness of the screen will bowl you over. The Wiz runs a Qplus embedded Linux and is capable of playing some homebrew games created for its predecessor. It also has a GUI that allows one to play videos, view photos, record audio and read eBooks and comics. It does not come with emulators built in but one can download them free of charge. The Main menu has the following icons : Wiz Game (that allows you to play purchased SD card games), Built in games, Flash Games, Entertainment(which is further subdivided into Video, Flash, Music, Photo, Comics, EBooks, Tools,  Launcher and settings.

The OLED screen makes it viewable from any angle and allows you to view bright and sharp images. One small niggle we found in the Wiz is that the volume resets itself every time we reboot the machine.

Connectivity to PC:
In order to connect the GP2X Wiz Game console to the PC, one needs to use the USB cable and connect one end to the bottom of the console and the other to the PC. The connector has an LED that goes green if the console is connected and turns red when the device is not. The console shows up as a separate drive on your PC and one needs to select on the display whether you would like to see the internal memory or the memory card.

Features:

Although the GP2X comes loaded with a host of applications such as a video player, a clock and a voice recorder, it is best as a gaming console.

Powerful Processor:
The GP2X Wiz features an ARM9 533MHz CPU with 3D acceleration which means one can enjoy cutting edge music, games and movies with this powerful Processor. It is 100 more MHz than the Dingo which is under clocked at 400 MHz. It is capable of over clocking to 800MHz and hence is powerful enough to play with if you are interested to write your own applications. However, it is still weaker than Pandora’s 600 MHz and one really cannot observe the difference between this processor and the one of its predecessor the GP2X. However, it was able to handle emulators, some homebrew software and flash based titles pretty well. When we played the game Quake 2 on the Wiz, it seemed choppy at the default clock speed, however, over clocking to higher speeds eliminated that as well.

AMOLED Display:
One of the USPs of the GP2X Wiz is that fact that it is the first handheld console which boasts of modern AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. How is it different from conventional TFT? These LEDs are thinner, do not need a backlight and are excellent in clear and contrasting views. Even in pitch black darkness, the colour black is visible and the device consumes a significantly less amount of energy. However, it is difficult to make out anything on the screen in direct sunlight. It also does not suffer from ghosting like the Sony PlayStation Portable does.

Storage:
The Gamepark GP2X Wiz comes with an inbuilt memory of 1GB and most users would likely require more than that. The Primary storage device of the Wiz is the SD Card (with SDHC supported) which can be placed into a socket at the top of the unit. The SD cards must be formatted as FAT16 or FAT32 and now cards up to 32GB can be added.  The console features an SDRAM of 64MB.

Built in Games:
The Wiz is capable of running several emulators, flash games, applications and freeware games and comes preinstalled with a number of games on NAND. However, gamers notice that the Wiz is best for playing eternally popular classic arcade games and one cannot expect game launches like the one PSP and Nintendo has. So does that mean missing out on a lot? Not really, thanks to the growing list of emulators in GamePark’s application store. GamePark has announced that it will be making a handful of games available every month for download. The best part about all this is that one can download all of them for free. The following are a list of games that are included in the console.

• IQ Jump : A collection of 5 brain training style “flash” games that allows you to look for the same pictures, or a missing number, addition and subtraction, looking for a coin in the saving pocket and Crisis ladder.
• Animatch by Ruckage: A regular match three game with cute little animal icons. The cutest thing was that the game says “Paws” when you pause it.
• Square Tower Defense: A rather cubist tower defense game that did not have basic instructions included.
• Wiztern by Chemaris: A demo game that allows one to tap at the screen to shoot at cards flipping over.
• Myriad by WarmFluffyUK: A space invaders game that allows one to shoot a city from above and whips them.
• Space Varments by Ruckage: A point and shoot game where one has to tap the touch screen to shoot passing aliens.
• Tail Tale by Rerofumi
• Boomshine 2x PeterR

Backward compatibility with previous models such as the GP2X is missing and one can make them compatible and copy them into console. This is unlike the PSP where one has to “hack” the console.

Emulators:

The inbuilt games are good enough, but what most users are excited about are emulators. They are basically programs that allow the Wiz to “emulate” a video game console. They are usually used to play older video games on PCs and consoles. They are usually used to translate games into other languages or modify existing games. However downloading emulators and ROMS usually violate copyright rules and is punishable by law. For Emulators and ROMS to work on the Wiz, one needs to first find an appropriate emulator and then the actual ROMS. Once you have both of them, one has to drag them into proper folder on the device. To do that one needs to connect the console to the PC via the USB cable.  One can navigate the Wiz folders on the PC and can even store ROMS on an SD card to save space on the device. We did try a couple of emulators and they worked flawlessly. The Wiz supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Nintendo, various arcade machines, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Mega Drive, Genesis, A Sega CD, Sega 32X, Sony Playstation and Neo Geo games and mind you, that is a very impressive list.

Music Player:

The GP2X also functions as a music player something that most users would also want in a console. Buyers will not be disappointed as the Wiz can handle music in MP3, OCG and WAV format. There is even a spectral analyzer that “visually” reacts to music and was an aesthetic add. The music player was equipped with basic functions alone and too bad it did not have an equalizer like its predecessor did.

Other Applications:

When compared to the older models, the Wiz features four new applications: Calendar, World Time, Calculator and Timer. A calendar is highly handy and thanks to the world time one can see what time it is in different cities in the world. The timer helps in measuring time intervals.  There is a recorder as well on the Wiz. With an integrated microphone one can record sound. There are only four controls: Start / Stop, recording, playback, delete and exit. The recorded audio files are stored in WAV format. Another mentionable feature is that the Wiz acts as an eBook with limited functionality. One can read .TXT files on the Wiz along with images and enjoy comics on the handheld as well.

Support:
One can download and view photos taken from a digital camera or a phone through your PC. There are options to enlarge or abridge the image from 320 x 240 to 1024 x 768. One also can rotate the images in 90, 180 and 270 degrees. The Wiz supports JPG, BMP, PCX, GIF and PNG files. Amongst the wide range of video formats, the console supports DivX 3/4/5 and XVid (MPEG-4) and the audio formats of MP3 and Vorbis.

When it comes to audio, it is capable of replaying music in MP3 and OCG formats on its multi codec MP3 player.

Performance:

First and foremost, the Wiz as a gaming console does excellently well. Although it does not stray anywhere close to the territory of Nintendo or the PSP, it excels at what it is aimed to: Open source gaming and emulators.  Emulators such as Pico Drive (Megadrive/Genesis), GP2Xpectrum (ZX Spectrum) and Mame4All (Arcade) worked wonderfully well and the OLED screen made them look even better. Controls, sounds and sights were great. The new processor does not seem to enhance the performance of the GP2X Wiz and then there was the problem of screen tearing in some fast paced games. There was a diagonal split across the screen making the game look like it was running 2 displays at once perhaps due to different refresh rates. We hope that GamePark will launch a software fix for this soon.

There were some occasional crashes and freezes but a quick reboot solved the problem. The built in games were fun and the best was perhaps Animatch, a clone of the Zoo Keeper.  Video playback through the inbuilt media player was at best average. The movie files we played were occasionally marred by stuttering. The music playback was far better. The recording capabilities were good too as it was able to accurately capture spoken audio well. We believe that future firmware upgrades will greatly enhance the performance of this already well performing device.

Battery:

The GP2X Wiz features a Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 2000mAh that lies hidden under the removable back cover. To remove it one needs to unscrew the 2 little screws and there you have 2 AA rechargeable batteries. In order to charge your GP2X Wiz, you need to connect the console to the PC using the USB port. Charging the battery through the USB port was gruesome and slow and it gets slower if the console is switched on. It took 5 hours to get totally charged with the console off and a whopping 10 hours with the console on. So we suggest that you leave it for charging overnight. For faster charging times, we suggest you buy a classic charger with a USB port as an output and connect using it in place of the USB cable.

There is a battery status icon located on the upper right corner of the display. Though it is not linear, it shows the remaining energy and once you reach the minimum value it displays the low battery message. Unlike the GP2X100 it does not “die” when the power ends and energy saving is possible thanks to power saving measures such as reducing brightness of the display and the automatic shutdown screen (which switches off screen and is handy while listening to music). So the main thing is how long does the Wiz last? 4 hours 35 minutes was all it took for the battery to get empty.  One can replace the batteries easily without having the need to reset the date and time every time you do it.

Warranty:

The GP2X Wiz is provided with a warranty period of one year on service and labour.

Verdict:

The Wiz is an amazing successor to the GP2X and manages to meet our expectations. Though it is much better than its predecessor, it seems like a more enhanced version than a full fledged successor.  Apart from the fact that it has a small screen, the console has a great design and is perfectly sized for handheld gaming. Like most other handhelds the Wiz tries to cater to Audio and Video playback but with mediocrity. The Wiz sadly can handle emulators that the GP2X could handle as well but only slightly better.  Its closest rival is The Dingoo Digital A 320 is available at half the price with similar specifications and another rival the Pandora has not yet been launched.  If you owned any of the predecessors and feel like the Wiz addresses any of your past problems, it is highly recommended. As mentioned earlier, the console caters to emulators and home brew games and so if you like some hardcore popular titles such as the GTA, you can pick up the Sony PSP or the Nintendo.

GP2X Wiz Game System - Technical Specification Table

Sony hopes that this trimmed version of the PS3 will similarly improve Sales of the PS3 which has not only lagged behind Nintendo Wii and the Microsoft Xbox 360 but also took some luster off the PS brand. This revamped version was launched as the PS3 slim and could well herald the start of a new profit making era for Sony. The Sony PS3 Console powered with a 45nm Cell Broadband Engine processor sports a 256MB RAM and has BD ROM Blu-ray player and a 120GB hard disk drive. The graphics adapter is a 256MD nVIDIA RSX which provides a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.  Lighter and smaller than the hefty 60 GB classic, how was Sony’s console evolved? Read on to find out.

What’s New?

The Sony PlayStation 3 Slim is actually pretty similar to the original PlayStation 3.  The Slim offers a smaller size, reduced power consumption and more importantly a lower price. The usage of the 45nm manufacturing process ensures a lower power usage and shrinking in the size of the unit. The PS3 Slim also allows you to bit stream Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD audio. The lift up flap housing and array of memory card are gone, so are the ability to install a different OS, play older PS 2 games and the set of 4 USB ports. Though the new matte look makes the console look less premium, it eliminates the fingerprint and dust prone-ness of the original. There is a blu-ray disc drive an inbuilt Wi-Fi as well something that the XBOX 360 does not.  This perhaps explains why it is more expensive than the 360. Mind you, if you account in the cost of a Wi-Fi adapter and a Blu-ray disc drive to the price of a 360, the PS 3 Slim is cheaper.  Overall, more practical and buyable.

Design:

A Slimmed Down ‘PS 3’:
Undoubtedly, the first thing one would notice in the PS3 Slim is the design.  The design is very similar to the original PS3 but only two thirds of its size. At 2.6 inches tall, 11.4 inches wide and 11.4 inches deep, it feels like a little brother of the original PS 3. It has a dull matte finish with a plastic casing that neither feels classy or robust. The mirrored strip beside the opening of the disc slot and the plastic on the sides make it glamorous. It feels textured and this makes it feel inexpensive.

Stripped Down:
Remember the chrome trimming with the Silver PS 3? It is now replaced with a plain PS 3 logo on the top of the case.  The touch sensitive on/ off and eject buttons are absent and we have actual buttons that work when you push them.  The number of ports has been reduced from 4 to 2. The master power switch is removed and the newer power button present on the front has a low response time and boots up the console in 20 seconds.

Ports:
The Playstation 3 Slim 120GB Gaming Console does not have as many USB ports the original PS 3.There are only 2 USB ports around the front and behind the back is the HDMI, AV multi-out, optical out and Ethernet ports. The presence of a HDMI connection will satisfy most users and the optical out for connecting it to an AV receiver to take advantage of the Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master. Like the original, the HDMI connection can output 48 bit Deep colour and X.V colour. There is an AV multi connection with a cable which allows you to hook up to TVs which do not have HDMI. There is a memory card missing. And the power cable is now replaced with a slimmer 2 pin cable.

Controller:
Inside the controller is a high precision six axis sensing system that detects fine movements in roll, pitch and yaw and all the three dimensions of movement. This means one thing: Future PS 3 games would involve the usage of hands rather than just thumbs.  The PS 3 controller looks like its Dual Shock predecessors; it lacks the force feedback vibrations as it would interfere with the sensing system.  It runs on Bluetooth technology and is a hot swappable system.  The latter would allow you to pause your game and connect a USB cable to charge your controller while playing.

Looks Cheap:
What we did not really like about the PS 3 Slim is the fact that it looks cheap. As part of a cost cutting measure, Sony has had the choice of removing all the aesthetic design features of the original. We are not against it, but the XBOX 360 sells for cheaper and looks better than this.

Accessories:
Apart from the main gaming console, there is the Sixaxis wireless controller, an AC power cord, an Audio / Video cable and a USB cable provided with the package.

Hardware:
In terms of Volume, the Sony Playstation 3 Slim Game console with Blu Ray Player is one thirds slimmer than its predecessor and at 7 pounds; it joins a league of a more reasonable weight class unlike the original which weighed 11 pounds. It has a 45nm Cell Broadband engine processor and a 256MB RAM. The Cell processor and the co developed Nvidia graphics processor helps the system about 2 trillion calculations which makes it 350 times faster than the PS2, There is a BD ROM Blu-ray disc player and a 120GB hard drive. There is the BD ROM Drive that keeps your discs safe in the event that the console gets moved about. If you have ever accidentally tapped your XBOX 360 the wrong way and found your CD rendered unusable, you would appreciate the feature. The 256 MB Nvidia RSX provides a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Its HDMI ports boast of delivering uncompressed and unconverted digital picture and sound which enriches the Home Theatre experience. There is also support for Dolby Digital True HD and DTS 5.1 which provides a great sound experience. The wireless interfaces supported are Bluetooth and IEEEE 802.11.

Setup:
Setting up the Sony PS 3 Slim Console is easy as well. When turned on, there is a standard setup option that lets you choose your video and audio outputs, video connections and network settings. If you choose HDMI, the PS console determines the best settings according to your equipment and lets you confirm the changes.  One can further refine settings under the XMB menu.

Interface:
The PS 3 uses a version of Sony’s Xross Media bar Interface.  While the same interface was slow on the BRAVIA TVs, it was worthwhile on the Slim. It lies at the centre of the PS 3 and is more accessible than the Xbox interface. There is access provided to the PlayStation Network as well for which one does not need to shell out extra.On a machine as powerful as it, the menus were fast and responsive. The easy to use and good to look at menus also respond fast to user input. One can even download themes from the PlayStation Network to change appearance of the menus. Viewing files on a USB is weird as one has to press the triangle button and choose View all which we think is unnecessary.

Supports:
The Sony PlayStation 3 Slim supports a wide variety of formats and hence saves you from forking out for a media bridge. The File format is not fully comprehensive with MPEG4/H.264, MPEG 2, AVI (MJPEG), AVCHD, DivX and WMV video support. If you have a diverse set of videos, you will realize that there are holes in the codec support for some of these file types. But do not worry, there are conversion software that will cure those problems and save one from the “The File is Corrupted “messages. The Music support gives you AAC, WMA and MP 3 as well. One can access BBC iPlayer directly from the XMB too. It also can be used to act as a media hub to stream contents from DLNA compatible networked devices such as computers and hard drives that are connected on routers. There is an inbuilt web browser that allows you to access the Internet.

Features:

If we talk about features on the PS 3 Slim, there is nothing new. However, as a cost cutting measure, Sony has stripped down features like the ability to add another OS such as Linux. One cannot play PS2 games and this might be a negative for some users.  The PS 3 uses an all in one remote control which is luxurious, but one cannot use a universal IR to control it.  But Omitted features aside; one can expect to achieve the same capabilities as the original PS 3 at a cheaper price. Did we mention that the console has an inbuilt browser and Wi-Fi?

HDMI:
For 1080p video HDMI is a preferred connection as the output is capped at 1080i. It does not offer multichannel analogue outputs and even the audio options are limited. The PS3 supports only multichannel PCM, it had to decode Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS Master Audio and convert them to PCM. Now the transmitter is changed to allow a raw bit stream output for Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio etc. But secondary audio like PiP or those clicks and beeps in Blu-ray disc menus.

Blu-Ray Player:
The PlayStation 3 is not only a great gaming console, but an equally good Blu-ray device as well. The PS 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-ray disc media format which holds 6 times more data than a standard DVD. This increase in capacity along with the powerful processor and great graphics promise mind blowing fames. The PS 3 supports CD ROM, CD RW, DVD ROM, DVD R and DVD+R formats as well.

The PS 3 software update version 2.20 and above includes BD Live support with which one can play discs that support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 and connect to the Internet while playing the discs. But the fact that the PS 3 has a BD ROM player gives it an edge over its rival the Xbox.

BRAVIA Sync:
When you connect the PS 3 Slim to the 32 inch BRAVIA L series TV, you can utilise the BRAVIA Sync and manage the system with the TV remote. To enable it, Go to System settings and select the Control for HDMI option. Once you do that, one can navigate through the XMB Menu and control video playback. You also can turn the display off and the PS 3 with the power button. But you cannot turn the pair back on. It is a neat feature, but considering the limitations, it is pretty useless as you will still need the DualShock 3 handy.

Gaming Device:
The PlayStation has always been intended to be a gaming device and in this field, it is more powerful device than the Xbox 360.  In terms of graphical fidelity, the PS 3 is good. But in terms of being an all round gaming device, the Xbox lies miles ahead of the PS 3 thanks to the ton of games available.  Sure the Xbox was launched a year early and has more titles than the PS 3 does. But the Xbox 360 has a great gaming platform and XBOX live is way better than the PlayStation network and hence it leads in sales. The PlayStation is expected to catch up with the Xbox 360 soon., let us hope it does.

New Titles:
Apart from the several games which are exclusively available on the PS 3 as well as an extensive list of major gaming titles, The PlayStation is still a gaming console. There are several top titles in high definition waiting to be released such as the Call of Duty Modern Warfare, FIFA 10, Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Tekken 6, Gran Turismo 5, MAG and many more

Backward Compatibility:
Other than the original 60 GB model, no other version of the PS 3 is compatible with the older and popular PS 2 games. If you own a PS2 and loads of PS 2 games and plan to ditch them to upgrade, beware. If you want to play all your PS 2 games, you will need to hang on to your old console.

PlayStation Network:
Like the XBOX Live, Sony has introduced the PlayStation Network and with 120GB storage capacity one can store downloadable games, music, photos and videos. The PlayStation network has applications such as PlayStation home, a 3D gaming community that allows interaction, communication and sharing of your gaming experience.  While connecting to the network is free of cost, the games and other content come at a cost.  Since it is newly launched, it has a couple of loop holes and as of now, the Xbox Live is much better than this.

In-built Web-browser:
There is a built in browser in the PS3. One can connect a standard keyboard to it for typing without using the tedious virtual keyboard Sony provides. The browser is fairly decent and offers limited flash support. The web browser allows accessing the XL version of YouTube as well as other media sharing sites such as Picasa etcetera. One can transfer files from your PC or other media device over the network without the need of a media PC.

NetFlix:
The PS 3 Slim 120GB allows Netflix streaming and one needs an Instant Streaming Disc that uses BD Live to stream movies and television episodes from the Netflix server.  Netflix streaming requires a membership subscription, the Streaming Disc and a broadband internet connection. For installing and title selection, a computer and a PS 3 are needed. After the Streaming Disc is inserted, your PS 3 will sync up your Instant Queue and one can hop over to their Netflix account to watch your selected titles, just like a DVD queue. While it is free and easy to use, it lacks quality and is bothersome.  Hopefully, with time, things video and audio quality would improve.

Performance:

One might wonder that whether the new slimmer processor and its stripped features might affect the performance of the PS 3 Slim. There is no need to worry as Sony has retained the internal power horse it was originally.

Blu-ray Playback:
The results surprised us and hence we had to test them over again. The Blu-ray player is actually slower, just a tiny bit slower than the 60GB PS3. The time taken in between inserting the disc and having it register in the menu was the same, about 10 seconds. Time taken for the movie to get loaded was a few seconds quicker on the classic. Not a huge difference, but considering that it has been quite some time since BD ROM technology has been around, it should have been better off.

Home Cinema:
One of the major trump cards that the PS 3 Slim has is its in built Blu-ray drive that allows you to play back Blu-ray movies in full HD 1080p. The most important home cinema feature is the ability to bit stream Dolby DTS and DTS HD Master Audio to a receiver over HDMI. To be sure we checked the console through a HD audio receiver and popped in a CD. After selecting bit stream from the BD/DVD Audio output format from the Video Settings, the audio output never sounded better. Does it make any difference? Unless you are an audiophile, it would not make much difference to the regular users.

1080p/1080i Playback:
The PS 3 handled all video content flawlessly well. The Sharpness test showed that no edge enhancement was added to the video after decoding. The machine delivered 1920 x 1080 pixels without any sort of cropping. The machine makes sure that the images from a movie are not tampered with and the image is portrayed as it was intended to. Since it decodes video and audio well, we give it a thumbs up.

DVD Playback:
One of the key factors that determine the picture quality of the standard def content is the quality of the Film mode detection.  Though the player was not able to smooth jaggies in extreme angles, one part where PS 3 is impressive is Scaling.  These scalers do not over emphasize on things or cause things to get blurry. Instead the image is “scaled “ up to smooth edges and ensure detailed areas remain as they are intended to be.

Noise:
Not only is the PS 3 slim power efficient, but it operates a lot more quietly as well. With less energy being wasted as heat, the fan does not need to work hard and hence lesser irritating noise is pumped out.  The 17 blade fan and the 95 mm fan seemed to be slightly quieter than the original even while playing games. Most of the noise produced is actually from the disc drive. The Spinning disc makes more noise than the fan and is annoyingly loud enough. The PS consoles have always been pretty quiet. When compared to the XBOX 360, the PS 3 is stealthier.

Power Consumption:
The one area where Slim shines is the electrical efficiency department.  Though the results are not as drastic as the newer fat models, the power consumption has been cut nearly to half since its initial 90nm CPU iterations.  The results remained the same across all applications but the consumption during plugged in mode or when the unit is idle is almost as much as the original PS3 consumed.

Warranty:

There is a warranty period of one year provided on the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

The PlayStation 3 Slim is an attempt for Sony to boost their dwindling sales and will it work? We guess it would. Considering that the major problem with the original PS 3 was its price, Sony guess cleverly cut down costs by compromising only on aesthetics and a few features. What they did not compromise is on quality. It is a great blu-ray disc player and its DVD and HD Playback are great. Its inbuilt Wi-Fi and browser are a great plus as well. But if Sony really wants to capture the market, they should work on the PlayStation Home concept and try adding a couple of other features to this marvelous piece. On the whole, a highly recommended model.

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim - Technical Specification Table

The following is a review on the Xbox 360 Pro; there are several different versions of the Xbox basing on the storage capacity and the A/V capabilities. Does this console promise to set newer heights or is it better to wait another couple of months for the Playstation or the Wii, read the review to find out.

Design:

Form Factor:
At 12.1 x 3.27 x 10.1 inches, the Xbox Pro Gaming Console is smaller than the original and can be laid vertically too thanks to interchangeable face plates. Microsoft has managed to keep the weight down to just 8.8 pounds because they built a laptop style hard drive which is detachable from the main unit instead of building a desktop style drive. For Data entry, there is a small keyboard accessory provided that snaps on the controller. The IR Port on the front panel allows using compatible remote controls without any external dongle. The Xbox 360 has in built Wi-Fi capabilities and can support up to 4 wireless controllers. Did we mention that the Xbox is now available in a host of colours including pink and black?

The worrying power supply and drive:
However, the design has 2 major shortfalls – its over sized power supply and extremely noisy disk drive. The power brick is very big. At 6 pounds, it is bigger than anything its rivals will have. The Cable to it is equally huge and the DVD Drive is very noisy. The fans run loudest when the GPU and the CPU go into the game mode. The system tends to get heated up soon, to avoid it, it is recommended to put it in a well ventilated area.

Ports:
The stylishly designed Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro 20GB console contains 2 memory slots on the front and the power button. One can connect any wired controllers or any USB accessories as well as cables to connect to a digital camera, Mp3 player or even an iPod. The HD Cables do not come with an optical cable so one should buy them separately. The Hard Drive is hardly noticeable when plugged in.  Two more USB ports are hidden behind a spring loaded door and one more is in the rear of the system below the adaptor. There is an HDMI port, am Ethernet port and an infrared port provided as well.

Controller:
There are 2 controller options – the wireless and the wired. The wireless controllers can be synced to the system by holding the connect button down on both the system and the control. 2 AA batteries are required for using the wireless controller.

The Controller for the Xbox Pro is not a new design however, it is much better than the original Xbox controller. They are nice and small, and the white and black buttons have been moved to the top of the controller like the double button design of the dual shock. There are the left/right joystick, a directional pad and X, Y, A and B Buttons as well. The buttons have a quick response time and the green light around the “X” symbol is a nice touch. The Type S Controller has triggers which are not as quite as deep as they were, but still very responsive. That makes playing racing games a pure joy. One feature, we have liked is the ability to switch off/on the 360 using the controller, which means you do not have to get up from your couch to switch off the console.

Setup and Installation of 360 Pro:

It is relatively easy to setup the Xbox 360 however the documentation is skimpy. To install the 360, one needs to control the AV Cable to a television or the AV receiver. Connect the Ethernet cable and the power supply to the Xbox 360 and switch on the power.  If you use HDTV you would need to flip a switch on the AV Cable that switches the display ratio format from 4:3 to 16:9 otherwise you will see only 4:3 ratios on the display. One point to note is the fact that the Xbox 360 supports only optical digital cables and there are no ports for co axial digital cables.

The Core package does not come with component A/V Cables, one of the several reasons why it is better to prefer the Pro package.

Features:

User Interface:
The Dashboard interface of the Xbox has been redesigned. There is a vertical tab interface that you can flip through using controller’s joystick knob. The tabs are intuitive and easy to browse through. There are four major vertical tabs – the Xbox live, Games, Media and System. The Xbox Live tab allows you to log in and see your Xbox live profile information, check email and browse the Marketplace. The Games tab is where you will be able to see your achievements and play the game in an optical drive and view game demos and trailers. The Media tab is where it becomes evident that the 360 is more than just a gaming console. One can view photos and listen to audio files from XP machines on the LAN. The Settings tab is where you can modify the system settings, memory settings and network settings.

The Ring of Light and Xbox Guide Button:
The ring of light present on the front of your console is the power button and it is divided into four quadrants that can display a variety of colours depending on what’s going on. There is another button on the controller – the Xbox X., which is also divided into four quadrants. On activating the wireless controllers, the colours on the quadrants of controller as well as the console light up. If they match, it means that a wireless connection has been made.

Another prominent button present on the controller and the remote control is the Xbox guide button. This button gives access about the information on a person who has challenged you on the Xbox Live and find downloadable content for the game currently being played. This button also functions as a power button allowing you to switch on/off your console using the controller.

Xbox Live and Xbox Marketplace:
Microsoft has launched the Xbox Live feature that allows you to access special features of the game and your favourite game online. There are 2 versions of the Xbox available – The Silver version and the Gold Version. The Silver version allows you to access the Xbox Live Marketplace and communicate with other users. The Gold Version gives access to all the available features and more importantly play online.  Microsoft has promised Gold service for the first month to all new Xbox 360 owners. The market place is an area where one can download game trailers, demos and new content. They do have some pretty neat games and lots of exciting content. Thumbs up to Microsoft for doing such a great job in this segment.

Digital Entertainment:
The Xbox 360 Pro System allows you to watch DVD movies, pictures and other content on CD/DVDs. It allows you to rip music to the hard drive even if you plug a MP3 player in to a USB 2.0 part. The Remote provided allows you to control the Xbox while it behaves as a DVD/CD player. The console is compatible with iTunes and Zune as well as other audio formats.

Internet Connectivity:
When it comes to Internet connectivity, the Xbox 360 uses the very popular 0802.11 wireless model in favour of the original 100MBit Ethernet connection that the original Xbox ran on. The Xbox 360 allows you to access internet and download stuff. The appreciable feature is the fact that its performance is comparable to desktops at least in terms of cached memory and computational power. There are browser functions that allow you to watch Live TV and this gives it a strong foundation taking it beyond game play and establishing itself as a central entertainment staple.

Video and audio specs:
The Xbox 360 Pro boasts of a customized IBM Power PC CPU with 3 processing cores running at 3.2Ghz. But perhaps its most notable feature is its availability to output graphics. All the Xbox 360 games are designed to output a minimum of 720p and they can be upscaled to 1080p. The HD Component is available via the component video cable or you can use your own HDMI Cable. The other alternative is using VGA Adapters provided by Microsoft and JoyTech which allows you to connect HDTVs and PCs. There is even a fallback composite output and the system provides an output of standard 480i resolution for 4:3 sets.  The Xbox 360 offers an amazing video experience with unbelievable speed and consistency.

The Xbox Pro offers top class Dolby digital audio. The in game sound tracks are rendered in full real time surround creating an immersive effect. All the AV Cables include an optical audio output and standard analogue stereo connections for connecting to a TV or stereo. But by doing the latter, you lose the surround effect. You can use HDMI and have digital video and audio handled by a single cable. The Xbox supports the following formats - Support for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD

Performance:

At the first look, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. The Xbox 360 does not look futuristic enough to entice interest. But once you start playing some games you would realize the huge potential that the Xbox has.

Graphics:
High Definition is a pre requisite for Advanced Gaming. For High Definition, games have to be either in 720p or 1080p. Put in a game and experience the incredible HD clarity. We played the Call of Duty 2 on the Xbox and wow! The graphics were incredulous. They were sharp and the game play was very fluid.  The high resolution details enable one to enjoy gaming and takes things to the next level.

The online networks:
Apart from Gaming, the Xbox 360 opens doors to the online network of Xbox live. With Xbox live, the possibilities are endless. The 360 is intended to make the console a centre piece of digital entertainment.  The 360 is capable of playing DVDs and CDs like before. The Dashboard interface transforms into a media centre interface when you pop in an audio CD. The Xbox has inbuilt Windows Media Centre Extender software, which is a remote desktop to your MCE Box and displays everything the MCE is capable of performing. One can stream high definition content from an MCE making it the best implementation of a media centre extender today.

Red Rings of Death:
There have been reports of hard ware failures in the case of the Xbox 360. The most infamous of them being the three flashing red lights around the 360’s power button, nicknamed as the “Red Rings of Death”. It represented an internal problem that required service, such as freeze – ups, graphical problems etc. When an error occurs, the user’s attempt to turn the console on results in the lighting up of only 3 out of 4 quadrants of the X and the console does not function. Though usually it occurs due to some internal hardware failure, it sometimes is due to the lack of sufficient power supply or power surges . The General Hardware failure results in a similar looking error warning when 4 red lights appear.  When the console is overheated,  the users are warned so by the indication of flashing of 2 red lights.

Accessories included:

Clearly, the focus has been on using wireless technology for everything from controllers to headsets. By doing so, they have eliminated the mess of cables and lines. There are host of accessories provided along with the Xbox 360. Apart from the console system, there is a headset, a wireless controller, an Ethernet cable, a Component HD AV Cable and an AC power adapter. Regarding the headset, the microphone can be adjusted for quality and noise cancelling microphone improves game response to voice commands and provides good voice communication.

Power Consumption:

The Xbox 360 is a power hog considering the fact that it draws about 160 watts of power twice as much as its rivals do. It consumes more power than most home entertainment devices. The Bulky power adapter is another dampener.

Warranty:

There is a warranty of one year on the console from the date of the purchase. There is a 90 day warranty provided for the accessories provided along with it. Microsoft however, charges for any sort of problems after that for a fee. One can access help and support using the telephone, online chat and email assistance.

Note: As of 2010, Users who face the problem of the “red rings of death “ can claim for replacing the console under the extended new warranty as it falls under “General Hardware Failure”. The Warranty for Xbox 360 models has been extended to 3 years now and it covers errors under the E74 code as well.

Verdict:

Microsoft has done it again! They have managed to launch a next generation console reaching all the expectations. The 360 has set newer targets for its future rivals – the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. It truly is the best Media Centre Extender available today. Apart from Gaming, it’s ability to read DVDs/ CDs and view pictures are a marvellous addition. The Internet connectivity is another bonus. But the Xbox Live and the marketplace have added a whole new dimension to gaming. Their amazing features will give it an edge amongst all its other rivals. However, there are a few downsides to this marvellous device. The Power adapter is too big and so is the power consumption.  The ROM Drive was extremely noisy and the console got heated in a very little time. However, these are minor irritants when compared to the joy the console offers especially while gaming. Definitely a must buy!

Note: out of the two models, Xbox  Core and the Xbox Pro; we suggest you to choose the Pro because it offers component A/V Cables, hard drive memory and HD output. Something that the core lacks and hence will deprive you of the pure pleasure the console offers.

Check 2010 latest Game Consoles, other Microsoft console reviews in this website.

Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro Console - Technical Specification Details

In 2008, the PSP has got yet another minor makeover with changes like a built in microphone in order to increase the usability of its on-board Skype functionality and also with a better video output support which allows you to play games on the non HD hook-ups. The other improvements include in the display, which is said to be having reduced glare with better colour reproduction and diminished ghosting. Apart from these changes, the PSP 3000 is all identical to its predecessor.

Design:

Where is the difference?
Starting with the casing, top to bottom and side to side, it looks virtually identical to the PSP 2000. The Sony PSP-3000 Game Console has got the same slim dimensions of its predecessor which is, (H X W X D) 71 x 168 x 16 mm and weighs a light 200 grams with all the batteries, game disk and the memory stick on board. Have a closer look, you will find some subtle changes. The Sony moniker has been moved from the right of the screen to left where the PlayStation logo used to be. So where is the PSP logo? Look down at what used to be the home button which brings the PSP into alignment with the PlayStation 3 that has a similar master control button smack in the midst of its wireless gamepad. Yet another thing that is noticeable is that the, PS, Select and Start buttons along the bottom of the PSP are now fully oval and no longer the oblong half circles. When you run your fingers along the tops and they will also feel flush to the case model, not protruding as they do on the PSP 2000. Overall, the ABS plastic of the casing feels and looks more metallic and less plastic now.

A better display:
Only the 4.3″ size of its luscious LCD display is retained as it has got a complete make-over which results in better colour reproduction and is less prone to glaring. The colour vibrancy has been improved a lot and the difference was very evident, but as far as the glaring is concerned, the difference is not huge. Do not dream that you will be able to play in direct sunlight, but we assure you that you will have better luck with lesser distractions from the indoor light sources. You are given the option to toggle between wide and standard colour options and by doing so, can clearly see the difference with the colours.

The layout:
The Sony PSP 3000 is available in two common colours: Black and Silver. The silver model has a matte finish, while the black model has a glossy finish. Hence, you can have a smudge and fingerprint free handheld if you choose the silver model and vice versa if you opt for the black one. Unfortunately the displays of both the models are the smooth and shiny ones that remain to attract dust and fingerprints. Apart from these very minor cosmetic changes of the console, the button layout is basically the same as its predecessor. The display is fully surrounded by the buttons and the layout is based on the classic PlayStation Controller layout.

Navigation:
The four way directional pad is on the left and the square, triangle, cross and circle keys are in the right and you will find the two shoulder buttons along the top edge of the console.  In the bottom left of the facia is an analogue thumb stick for precise movement. It would have been great to have a second thumbstick on the right of the device that mimics the design of a PlayStation controller. The array of media controls, select, start, volume, brightness and  home button are lined up just after the display.

Built-in Mic:
A welcome addition to the PSP3000 is the built-in microphone that is located just beneath the display. This is a great inclusion as it can be used for online communication within the game or for using the Skype application. The single biggest advantage of having a mic integrated into the body of the console is that, the console can then be used with any standard pair of headphones. Whereas, the PSP2000 required a special pair of headset to communicate online. Since the layout is a familiar one, anyone who has used a Sony console over the last decade should be able to pick it up and play straightaway.

Ports in PSP-3000:
The headphone or AV jack on the bottom of the Sony Playstation Portable 3000 Handheld is compatible with any standard 3.5mm headphones and also works with the special PSP only AV out cables for connecting the device to TV. The USB port is retained in the centre top edge of the console. Sony has not included a cable in the package, but since it is a standard mini USB connector, you might have one lying around. You will find that the USB is flanked by two screw holes and they are for allowing the other accessories to be firmly attached to the frame. However, most of the people will use the USB connectivity only for making quick connections to the PC in order to transfer digital media, games and demos that are available through the online PlayStation store.

Features:

The Graphical User Interface:
If you own any gadget of Sony’s, you must certainly aware of its Cross Media Bar interface. The original PSP was the first product to use it and since then, it has been incorporated in to the Play Station 3 and many of the other television sets and AV receivers of Sony. Trip the “on” switch and you are greeted by the same familiar logo and XMB interface, but you will not miss to notice that it is bit more colourful with enhanced edge distinctiveness in terms of darks and lights. It is a pretty slick menu system that can be easily navigated through with the help of the D pad and the control buttons. However, with some of the applications, you will find that the simplicity of the system is lost. The web browser was not as well designed as the overall XMB menu system.

Firmware:
The PSP 3000 arrives running the version 4.20 firmware which has been updated to 5.01, so we were immediately set to be grabbing about it. It takes only a few seconds to configure the device to work with a home WiFi network, about a minute to download the patch and another couple of minutes to install, all in a wireless manner. Since the debut of the prior model, intervening updates have wonderfully exploited the abilities of the hardware with welcome features including free internet radio powered by SHOUTcast, LocationFree video watching from select Sony Electronics along with the Remote Play access to and control of a registered PlayStation 3.

The Media:
The Sony PSP is designed to play movies and games out of a new kind of media called Universal Media Disks (UMD), and this media is certainly not universal as its name indicates as Sony’s PSP is the only device that uses them. The UMD is a kind of combination of the mini CD and the old MiniDisc which holds only about 2.2GB of data. To load them, there is a snap open door on the rear of the device and the Memory Stick Duo slot remains to be on the left edge.

For now UMD stays to be the primary means of delivering the games to the PSP 3000 Handheld console, but Sony has been expanding the options that are available in the online PlayStation Store as well. This store allows the users to rent and buy movies and downloadable games and all these downloadable content is stored on the MemoryStick Duo.

WiFi functionality:
Though the PSP 3000 is primarily a gaming system, it has got some very notable media functionality as well, such as the built-in WiFi capability. With the WiFi feature, you will be able to connect the device to any wireless internet service, including those with the WEP and WPA encryption, but not the WPA2. One of the greatest disappointments with the WiFi feature is that the PSP3000 continues to be using the slowest 802.11b version; an upgrade to 11g or even the 11n is long overdue.

Built-in Skype Client:
The Sony PSP3000 is equipped with the built-in Skype client that can be used for the free Skype to Skype calls as well as the calls to and from the regular mobile phones, only if you have the paid Skype add-ons. Though this might not threaten to be the serious competition to the iPhone or any of the other dedicated mobile phones that are available in the market, the ability to make use of Skype, without the need of a headphone can certainly prove to be very useful.

Remote Play in PSP-3000:
Yet another unique feature of the PSP 3000 is the “Remote Play” which allows the PSP to log on into the PlayStation 3 either via home network or net and stream any video, audio and images that are stored in the PS3.

The Web Browser:
As we had mentioned earlier in the review, the PSP 3000 has a web browser, but you will end up desperate for a touch screen or a numeric keypad. The browser is not well designed and you will find that a lot of the graphically rich pages will be cramped or broken on the screen. This is basically because of the fact that there is very limited flash support and that it is not very robust. Said that, you will be able to control the cursor using the analogue and it is a very nice touch. Most of the people will find that the browsing experience in this Sony PSP is much better than their mobile browsing experience that they get via their phones.

Apart from the web browser is a RSS reader which could use an overhaul to make it easier to use and add your own feeds. There is also a very handy dedicated Google search icon and in addition to all these, the PSP is also equipped with a dedicated Shoutcast client that offers free streaming of internet radio. It is nothing but a plug-in that works via the browser, but since it is overdesigned, it is not as straightforward and easy to use as it should be otherwise.

The Gaming Features:
Though the PSP 3000 has a very impressive set of media and online features, most of the consumers tend to put the console secondary when it comes to gaming on the go. The Nintendo DS remains to be the king of portable gaming and we say this only based on the number of units sold. But you will find that there are lots of teens who are looking for some more sophisticated and less kid oriented games than what the DS offers. For those who are looking for some real killing, fighting and stuff and not great fans of, the cute stuff of Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, Cooking Mama and Animal Crossing games, the PSP will certainly be a welcome breath.

Portable version of PS2?
Initially with the early stage of the PSP, it was knocked down just as a portable version of the PlayStation 2 as so many titles were simply the ports from the PlayStation 2 games. The hit list was mostly dominated by many of the franchise standbys, which includes Grand Theft Auto, SOCOM, Tekken and God of war too. You must also note that these phenomenal titles have been designed for the PSP from the scratch. For those who like some speeding and racing, there are sports, action, racing and shooter games, but all is not sweat and blood as you will also find plenty of quirky puzzle games like Puzzle quest, Lumines and LocoRoco. The list does not end here as the console has a host of family favourites including Ratchet and Clank and Daxter.

Online Multiplayer Component:
You would be delighted to know that most of the popular games have an online multiplayer component. While some of the games offer ad hoc multiplayer, some of the other titles offer Internet play or both. The online game play service is completely free; but the performance of these varies from title to tile and is also dependent on the network speed. The whole experience will be just as fun and fulfilling as playing on a home console.

The store:
The PlayStation store can be accessed via a single PlayStation Network account and you can also have a PS3 and the PSP on a single account. Hence, you will also have the PS3 movies purchased on the system offloaded to be viewed on the PSP.

Performance:

Video:
As far as video is concerned, the PSP3000 is capable of playing them from a variety of sources. Though it is very easy to just buy the pre-recorded UMD video discs, it is the most ill-advised idea. One of the best way outs is to copy your own set of videos from your system on to a Memory Stick Duo card and just pop it on to the PSP. You can also download a wide range of freeware and commercial software products that can readily convert files into PSP friendly formats and resolutions which are MPEG or H.264-AVC and up to 720 x 480 pixels. If you are ready to invest on an add on cable, you will also be able to output the PSP’s audio and video into a TV. One of the most annoying limitations of the PSP 2000 has been corrected in this model which will allow you to have video and game playback on pretty much any TV. In the case of the previous model, the game play had been limited to progressive scan only via the component video that limits you to the HDTV hook-ups. The PSP3000 also has the built-in capability to stream live television from any Sony LocationFree TV device, which is basically Sony’s version of the Slingbox. As long as the PSP is in a Wi-Fi hotspot, the device will be capable of streaming video and change the channels on the LocationFree box, even if you are half way around the globe.

Issue with the resolution:
One of the biggest disappointments with the videos is that, the videos of the UMD disks that have pre recorded videos and from that of a Memory Stick with home ripped videos can be displayed at the DVD level 720 x 480 pixels resolutions but note that the quality will differ depending on the compression of the video. They will fit into the widescreen display of your television set but since the games are locked to the native 480 x 272 pixel display, if your TV does not possess a robust zoom function, you will be stuck with just window boxed experience for gaming.

Audio:
The audio features of the PSP-3000 console are so good, that we can even say that it doubles as a very decent MP3 player. It can play a wide range of formats which includes DRM-free MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC and ATRAC3 files along with the support for album art; exciting! Is it not? In addition to this, it has a visualiser function and support for the Repeat and Shuffle modes. Its support for the images is equally good. The PSP3000 supports the JPEG, GIF and TIFF image formats and it displays the ones stored in the MS Duo card individually or as a slide show. The larger images may have to be compressed before viewing.

Graphics:
We have to appreciate Sony for its kind of graphics in the games as they are much better than what you get out of the DS. In fact, the games are at the level that you can expect from a Play Station 2.

Microphone and Speakers:
The microphone is well and alright when it is used to chat across the pond and bug family and friends via the Skpe, but there are complaints that there is some echo. We have no word on if it supports noise cancellation, but let us just say that the mic is still not the way you will want to talk smack in a friendly online match if, say you are playing in a noisy coffee shop or cafe. If you opt out the headphones, you have always got the external speakers which produces decent amount of volume for the games and UMD movies. But the volumes of the videos that are copied over to the memory stick have very less potential.

Power:

For the sake of power, the PSP3000 has a 5 volt AC power adaptor and the device can also be charged via USB. The only issue is that, charging via USB is a little bit time consuming when compared to the time consumed by the power adaptor to charge the device.

Warranty:

Sony PSP3000 comes with one year limited warranty.

Note:
Though Sony has released its latest model the Sony PSP GO, the PSP 3000 will continue to be sold alongside the most expensive sibling.

Conclusion:

If you ask us if PSP 3000 will be able to replace your iPod, iPhone or even a portable DVD player; for the die-hard media lovers, the answer is no. But if you are looking to travel with a few hours of music and TV shows, then the console makes for a good diversion from a game and also eliminates the need to lug a second device along with you. Though you will not be getting a bigger display as you would get with a DVD player, on the positive side, the PSP is less bulky and you will have a bigger display than the iPod or iPhone. We all are aware of the fact that a small but growing library of games is available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to this, they also offer far better web browsing, communications and media options and this means that Apple is as big rival to the PSP as the Nintendo currently is.
If you already own a PSP 2000, then we do not think that you need an upgrade unless you are looking to enjoy the minor tweaks like better video and microphone. If you are an original PSP owner and skipped the PSP 2000, you will see an even more dramatic difference upgrading.

Check 2010 Best Game Consoles in this website.

Sony PSP 3000 Handheld - Technical Specification Table

The DS Lite Game Dual Screen console is a beauty of a machine that is a major argument in its own right for clever thinking over packing as much tech into the box as possible. The key selling points of the original DS, such as the dual screen displays, built-in wireless connectivity, touch screen with stylus and microphone for voice control over certain games. The launch of the DS back in the year 2004 was limited success; with the release of the DS Lite in the year 2006 giving it a new lease of life and driving the UK market crazy.

We are reviewers, so it is really hard for us to go past without saying the cons of the model. As far as the Nintendo Lite is concerned, the downside is that the enhancements in the console are only cosmetic than anything else, just offers the gamers a light weighed and much more stylish way of getting their latest Magnetica and Super Mario Bros on.

Design:

The Nintendo DS Makeover:

The tangible weight and size reductions, repositioned buttons, sharper visual performance, repositioned stylus holder, everything is a welcome addition to the Japanese giant’s celebrated family of portable gaming console, the Nintendo DS. Aesthetically the Lite looks absolutely terrific.
This Nintendo DS Lite Handheld console that has got a very notable make-over attempts to make the same fashion statement for video games that the iPod did for the MP3 players. As in the case of iPod, the Lite too comes in a wide spectrum colours. It is also available in a limited edition Pink supported by the female artist with the same name. But at the time of its release only the black and white models were available. Although the DS Lite is available in different colours, it’s the lacquered white finish that shows Nintendo’s new baby off to best effect, hence the obvious Apple comparisons. As in the original DS, the DS Lite too comes with two vertically tiered screens. The bottom touch screen is the one that you will be using on stylus or a finger to perform operations like selecting the moving options and moving characters. If you are not very comfortable with the touch screen operations, a normal face button layout is also available and it gives you a more standard method of control.

It is really lite:

As the name indicates, the console has shredded a lot of weight and is not a much more compact system, measuring (H x W x D) 133 x 72 x 21 mm and weighs just 217 grams. These figures show that the console is about 39% smaller and 21% lighter than its elder brother. In the original model, the bottom half was over sized, but this model has the top and bottom halves symmetrical and rounded corners that are more tampered. Despite the overall size reductions, the trademark twin displays have the same dimensions. With these changes made to the design, the DS Lite is now a much more pocket friendly console.

Finger print and scratch magnet:

The single biggest problem with the DS Lite is that, it comes in a high gloss finish and so is a magnet of fingerprints. Nintendo has also failed to include the rudimentary cleaning cloth in the package. The Black coloured Lite is the device that is most affected by this characteristic of Lite. On the positive side, the clamshell design makes sure that the DS Lite travels well, limiting the scratches and marks to the exterior, while the dual touch displays remain fully protected.

Some repositioning:

The layout of DS Lite is mostly similar to that of Nintendo DS with some slight beneficial changes. The speaker retains its place in the top half of the clamshell, taking the centre position and despite being smaller than the original DS, it sounds as loud as its predecessor. The bottom part of the console feels more flimsy, maybe because we got used to the bulkier model. To the left of the touch screen, you will find the D-Pad that is about ¾ the size of the original, but not reductions in the efficiency. Though the four X, Y, A and B face buttons are essentially the same, they feel a little more pronounced than the original DS. You will no longer find the semi ovals on the top, as the start and stop buttons are now small circles and you will find them on the bottom.  The power button also has been moved to the right side of the system, a re-location from just above the D-pad. This change is one of the most welcome changes as the original looks exactly like the select and start buttons, and had been placed in the same area on the opposite side; this led to occasional turn off instead of pausing.

The facia of the DS Lite Console system has been left untouched, from left to right, you will find the volume control, the GBA game slot and the in-line enabled headphone port. You will find the microphone in the hinge between the screens. The rear of the unit too is basically the same and the only difference you will notice is that, the stylus holder is moved from the back of the system to the left of power switch. Though the left and right triggers have been miniaturised, as in the case of the face buttons, they are more pronounced and much easier to press. The DS cartridge slot is centred at the top, and the AC power port is off to the left. The system includes an AC adaptor, two styli that match the Lite’s colour, and a smaller wrist strap that.

The cartridges:

The DS Lite Console from Nintendo has its own cartridges that have a size that is in between SD and CompactFlash cards. It is almost fully backward compatible with the GameBoy Advance titles; we had to use “almost” there because the unit does not play multiplayer modes of the GBA games. Though the cartridges of DS are much smaller in capacity than the Sony PSP’s UMDs, the good news here is that they can be played without the wait for the unbearable load times of this proprietary format of Sony.

The GBA slot:

The GBA slot itself has undergone some makeover. Instead on an empty cartridge slot, Nintendo has now included a plastic cover that looks like a half size GBA game. It looks as though you will lose it for sure, though it is quite sleek it also put itself in the place of our criticism. The GBA games stick out of the cartridge slot by about a centimeter; the original DS fits the cartridges perfectly. There is nothing very serious to worry about though, as it does not impede the game playing even in the slightest way. And when you consider the fact that the DS is backwards compatible with tons of GBA games, it is really a very small price to pay.

Features of DS Lite:

Forget what the DS Lite does not offer: major interactive feature upgrades, improved quality of games, better software performance or ace out the PSP in terms of whiz bang 3D graphics technology. Instead concentrate on the strides that the system makes like enhancement in the overall quality of gameplay, improvement in visibility and of course more pocket friendly.

Excellent WiFi service:

Being introduced just after a year after the system had launched, the WiFi compatibility on the DS is surprisingly solid, especially considering the fact that it is a free service that is hosted by a company that is known for its aversion to online gaming. As in the case of the original DS, the WiFi setup is extremely simple and efficient in the DS Lite too. The WiFi system recognises most of the wireless connections. If you have no WiFi hot spots nearby, you can always create one from a broadband connected PC just by attaching the Nintendo USB Wi-Fi connector to it.

Play with your buddies nearby:

If you wish to create a friends list, just enter a 12 digit friends codes for each game that you would like to play with your buddies. But if you wish to play against the non-friends, it will either be a hit or a miss as you will not be finding a game to join as fast as you will on an online console like the Xbox 360, but as long as you are playing a fairly popular game in a reasonable hour, it will not be long before you locate your competition. You can even have a voice chat using the offered microphone. We prefer the local wireless as it is much more reliable with the additional benefit of allowing multiplayer via a single cartridge. With the GBA multiplayer games, you will not be able to play head to head over a wireless connection and with the absence of a link cable port, you will not be able to have a wired bond to the older GBAs or Nintendo GameCubes. This is not possible at least until Nintendo releases yet another adaptor that interfaces with the proprietary power port of DS Lite.

Graphics Quality:

The quality of graphics of the DS Lite games is pretty decent. They are better than the PS1/N64, but were nowhere near the quality of Xbox or PS2 or the Nintendo GameCube. And they are no better when compared to the games of PSP. One area where the DS Lite over powered the other consoles is in its innovative quality of titles. While the PSP games were much like the games of its siblings, while the touch screen set-up of the DS-Lite that allows the designers to create some really unique game play. It is quite disappointing that the DS Lite does not have the audio, video and web surfing features of the PSP.

Improved Brightness:

Nintendo has made some real improvements in the brightness settings by upgrading it to four, whereas the original DS had only two of them. At the lowest setting, the Lite is just as bright as the original DS, but at the brightest setting, it is simply brilliant and is as bright as the GBA SP. But the GBA game’s colours look very much washed out while played with the lite, whereas the good quality backlighting of DS makes the graphics of the games stand out.

Games for all:

No body can deny the fact that a console is only good as its games and equally, a console also gets the games that it deserves. As far as the Lite is concerned, Nintendo has led by example with its range of touch generations by producing some groundbreaking titles that not only appeal to the veteran gamers but has also ensnared brand new audiences who previously would not have touched a video game.

For instance, the Nintendogs is essentially a pet simulator having some unique features that will allow you to interact with your digital mutt like never before. With the help of the stylus you will be able to actively tickle and stroke your pooch, throw Frisbees for it to chase and much more. With voice recognition, you can call the pet and even teach him to obey command and teach tricks by speaking directly into the console. In the Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? You take part in a wide range of number and word based challenges against the clock. Based on an analysis of your performance, the game then calculates your brain age and offers a regime for self-improvement. Again, it is the interactivity that makes this such fun, and you will be scribbling down words memorised from lists, shouting out colours and much more.

Software:

The DS software catalogue is expanding at a terrific rate. But it is worth noting that an in-built cartridge slot provides full compatibility with the entire back catalogue of Game Boy Advance games; perfect for retro heads.
For testing the battery performance of the Nintendo DS lite against the DS original, we played an exact same game at the brightest setting and max volumes of each of the systems. The Lite lasted for about five hours whereas its predecessor came out as the winner with about six hours and forty five minutes. It takes about three hours to get the system fully charged and as in the case of the DS original, Lite to goes into sleep mode when the system is closed.

Power Supply:

One thing that is annoying about the DS Lite is that it uses a different power supply to the original DS. Given, it is the same PSU as the GBA Micro, but that is not going to help current DS owners that want to upgrade and fancy having a PSU at work and at home.

Warranty:

Nintendo offers its DS Lite with one year manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict:

If you still do not own a portable gaming device, the Nintendo DS Lite is worth having a consideration especially with its list of quirky and original titles. So, if you have not yet got the hip to the dual screen diversion’s charms; the touch sensitive titles experienced through top and bottom mounted visual displays using stylus or d-pad and button based front end, this is just the perfect chance. But if you already own the original model, then we would say that the improvements are not very significant enough to shell out another 100 more pounds, unless you are really desperate to get rid of the bulkiness of the handheld console. If you like to own a portable console with more mature titles with decent multimedia capabilities and web browsing, the Sony PSP is a best buy.

Nintendo DS Lite Console - Technical Specification Table

A bold effort:

This PSP is a massive initiative by Sony to capitalise over its massive popularity of Sony PS2 in order to move across its new market, which is pretty much owned by its very strong rival company in the gaming market, the Nintendo. Though Nintendo is said to be having the edge with its dual touch screen at a lower cost, over Sony’s costlier console with a better specification, Sony has still managed to attract a significant amount of market with its much faster, sleeker and good looking PSP.

What is new on the Go:

So, if you ask us what is new in the device? It is not radically new to the PSP franchise. Apart from being much compact than the other three earlier generations of the portable gaming device, it features some additions like built-in Bluetooth, slide out controls and the radical change being completely digital, completely deserting the cartridges and optical discs.

PSP though a makeover:

The list of features of the Sony PSP Go Console is very less, but the device has gone though a complete makeover. The main focus of the make-over has been on removing some fat and shedding some weight. Sony PSP Go is available in black and white colours; you can expect some colourful versions in the future though. Sony has maintained the glossy finishing of the device that attracts scratches and fingerprints as in the case of all the previous models. However, the surfaces surrounding the D-pad and the other controls have been given matte finishing.

Display and Dimensions:

Another thing that you will notice after the very obvious decrease in the width of PSP Go is the fact that its 3.8” display is slightly smaller than the PSP 3000’s 4.3” display. The resolution has been maintained to be the same 480 x 272 pixels and its wide-screen aspect ratio too. Though the screen now has a smaller surface area with less viewing space, since the resolution is in-tact, the graphics look much sharper. The screen is not having the interlacing issue that its predecessor suffered with. The colours, Screen and Brightness have been improvised a lot too.

All these design changes paying off in the dimensions of the device which measures just 5″ wide, 2.75″ tall and just over half inch thick. Particularly when the device is kept close, the minimalistic deign is very appealing.

Into the Pocket-Friendly club:

One of the most evident problem that both the previous models of the PSP and all the various iterations of the Nintendo DS in the last five years was that, though they had the term pocket friendly in their name tag, they were truly not “Pocket” friendly, unless you are wearing cargo pants with a deep O pocket styling. And we have said this because, the latest PSP Go from Sony has come in as a exception by being truly pocket friendly, by sliding easily into your jean pockets without showing off too much of a bulge. But we are not promising any gamer who is a fan of the latest trend of “Skinny Jeans”, as you will not be succeeding shoehorning the PSP Go or any other device for that matter, into your pockets.

Sliding controls:

You will find that the controls are hidden in a slider that pulls from underneath the screen whenever you intend to start playing or watching a video. With the much improved display, the controls that are hidden away are surely a design win. It has two rounded rubber stoppers that allow you to gripe the device well. The overall finger and thumb control over the device is far better when compared with the Nintendo DSi.

Gripes with the arrangement and size of the controls:

Yet, we will have to point out some of the black spots in the arrangement of the controls specially, their in-game performance. Clearly, the issues caused are only because of miniaturising them and awkward positioning. The analog stick has been moved to the right of the D pad that makes you feel off-centred. While put into real action, we could not help noticing that the new positioning felt way too awkward. Though the new PSP users will not find it a big issue, the other PSP veterans will certainly not appreciate the change. The analog stick offered is smaller than that found on its predecessors, but it feels much more sturdy and durable. You can also feel that there is a lot of friction while moving around; they are not much looser as in 3000.

Placement of the controls:

Most of the time, the buttons exhibited no issues, they had solid operations assigned to them like the ones in the Nintendo DSi. The L and R buttons are more prominent, which will be preferred by most of the gamers instead of the shoulder buttons that adorned the earlier versions of the PSP. The start and select buttons have been placed too close to each other and they also do not have the same tactile feedback as the other buttons are having. There has been some rearrangement with the display, volume and sound buttons too; they can now be found between the L and R shoulder buttons. They work alright, but the issue is that you have to look at their location when the screen is slid up to use them. Fortunately, the remaining controls have been left where they had been previously. The power switch is on the lower right side and the wireless switch will be available on the lower left side of the device, immediately below the new M2 micro memory card slot about which we will discuss below.

Memory:

As we had mentioned in the intro, Sony has removed the UMD media slot and opted for a 16GB internal storage unit. In addition to this, the Sony proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo slot has been replaced with a smaller M2 micro memory card slot, which is again a proprietary format of Sony.

Microphone:
As in the case of its predecessor, the PSP Go Video Game Console too has a built-in microphone for applications like Skype and also for making calls via the WiFi. You will find the microphone between analog stick and the Start and Select buttons. By investing on some additional cables, you can hook-up the PSP Go to a TV and you can also buy either a composite or component cable for displaying videos and games.

Absent features of PSP GO:

There are a couple of things that you will not find on the PSP Go; a touch screen and a second analog stick. While the former would make some of the first person shooting games easy and fun, the latter is expected simply because the feature is available in its rival gaming console, the DSi. With a touch screen interface, you would have also enjoyed the advantages of an on screen keyboard for on-screen data entry and surfing.

Efforts paid off:

The whole device stands as a treat showing off the efforts of the design engineers of Sony who have impressively managed to reduce the size and weight of the console. Yet, we have a few grips with the miniaturisation efforts of Sony. First of all, it is disappointing that there is simply no way that you will be able to remove the battery, so you will have to be a really stingy player for about four hours as long as you are away from a plug point. Though it is not too bad for daily use, this will prove to be a killer blow if you are on a long flight journey or something equivalent.

Disappointment for the big hands:

If you are a gamer with big hands, forget it! The Sony PSP Go is not the console for you. They have squeezed the D pad and the analogue nub into a very small real estate that will be a deal breaker for you. If you are having big hands, it is better that you at least get a demo for about half an hour, playing with any of your friend’s device or that of your dealer, before you even think of swiping your card.

WiFi with no upgrades:

Wi-Fi is back and, disappointingly, Sony deemed it unworthy of an upgrade. So, you can have any type of connection you want so long as it is the most basic 802.11b variety and nothing can lend you a helping hand if the encryption is set to anything other than WEP or WPA1.

Browser:

The web browser is slow and awful when viewing full fat websites, with Flash playback, it is particularly slow and cumbersome. Mobile only sites look OK though, while PSP optimised sites, such as the online manual, are of course, good.

Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity:

Sony has added Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity in its PSP GO handheld Console, which is a very good addition as it makes all the wireless tasks feasible and extremely easy. With this feature, you can connect to wireless headsets, but we had experienced some difficulties in getting a stereo headset in good working condition, connected to the device. One very fine advantage of the Bluetooth feature is that you will be able to control the PSP via a PS3 controller. But for this to work; you have to connect both the devices and the controller to a PS3 simultaneously with the help of USB cables.

A better media:

Since the UMD slot has been removed, accessing of all the multimedia and gaming has to be done via the 16GB of internal storage or with the M2 memory stick. With the help of the built-in WiFi, you will be able to download software from the Sony PlayStation store directly to their PSP Go, or even transfer data from the PC or PS3 via a USB. You can expect Sony to sell some big budget downloadable games, which will also be available in the UMD media and for such titles; it will be a wiser to transfer data directly from your PC or PlayStation 3 with the help of USB rather than using the WiFi connection on your PSP. For instance, downloading the MotorStrom of 520MB takes more than 2 hours to complete from the GO and just 20 minutes via the PC.

Multimedia capabilities:

Apart from gaming, you can have fun with the multimedia capabilities of the PSP Go that includes playback of videos, digital music and photos. As we mentioned earlier, it also has a rudimentary web browser and a dedicated Internet Radio player.

Operating System:

The PSP Go operates on an OS that is slightly different from that of its predecessors; Software version 5.70. There is very little difference between them and this will be mostly because of the fact that the slider affects the behaviour of the device. For instance, when the screen of the system is closed, the device gets into a screen saver mode that displays an analog clock and date. Both the shoulder buttons have to be hit together in order to bring up a calendar and scroll through the months by hitting over either the L or R buttons. When the device is slid open again, you will be taken to the XMB menu. These specific behaviours of the device can be customised, for instance, you can set the device to go into sleep instead of the clock display.
One other improvement that has been made to the firmware of the PSP GO is that, you have an option to pause a game and return to the cross media bar. And while playing, just by hitting over the PlayStation logo button in the bottom left corner of the screen, the home menu will come up and by hitting over the Pause Game button, freeze the game and return to it later by clicking over the “Resume Game” button under the game icon in the XMB. Though it takes about 10 seconds to pause a game, this feature is very useful.

Games seal the deal:

Fashion factors aside, you must be asking us what is the great deal with the £225 price tag for this new kit, and you may even argue with us saying that you might as well buy a new PS3 slim for that kind of a tag. So, here is the deal why you must go for this UMD free toddler. Sony has decided to expand the online offering that are available to more than 225 games, 2300 movies and more than 13,000 TV episodes and the new game titles include the most anticipated titles and brand new ones. You will be able to put some serious time in on your commutes to work this Christmas with the new Gran Turismo, Motostrom: Artic Edge or Fifa 10, really tempting, is it not?  Some of the other notable PSP titles include Pixel Junk Monsters Deluxe, Tiger Woods PGA tour 10, Soulcaliber: Broken Destiny, Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite, Madden NFL 10, God of War: Chain of Olympus, Star Wars: Battlefront II, Beaterator, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas, Field runners and Tetris.

The PlayStation store:

In order to taste the same kind of success that Apple tasted with the micro transaction based download system with the iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony is doing its best in order to add similar elements of casual gaming to the PlayStation store. As an initiative in this attempt, Sony has included the PSP Minis which is the latest bite sized casual gaming that will be offered exclusively in the PlayStation Store. The best part about these games is that they are not exclusive to PSP GO; they can be downloaded by any of the PlayStation users, it is just that they are released at the same time as the GO. You can buy them either by loading up with the PlayStation Store Credits or even by buying the prepaid cards at the retailers that have a unique unlock code. We found that these games cost a wee bit more than the usual costs paid at the App stores.

Not very intuitive:

The PlayStation is not an intuitive online applications store. There are no screen shots offers for the games and they are also not organised in a logical manner. Yet another issue with the downloading is that, once you start downloading, you will not be able to use the GO for anything else until the download is complete.

The PlayStation network:

If you are having games and content across a number of Sony devices, you can link them all into your online PlayStation Network account in order to make sure that you can play or view whatever you have purchased. This is in fact quite useful and with this technology available, you will be able to share content with up to five Sony devices. Just buy them once and you can make use of them in any of PSPs or PS3 at no extra charge.

This is just one reason why you might want to go for the PSP Go, you can download games, demos, movies and trailers from Sony’s online store quite easily and the whole process is pretty straightforward. But if you are possessing a stack of the older UMD games, that are not available on the PS store, then you will be a little displeased. And we are sure that no one will be really interested in two PSP versions with them.

Performance:

Though there are a few speculations that there is an advanced chipset employed in the PSP GO that aids in a better performance, we virtually found that there is not much difference with this model and its predecessor.

Software:

Sony has included a Media Go Software in the package that allows you to convert most of the videos for playback on the PSP Go and also rip audio CDs to the device. The software functions between the PC and PSP Go, the same way as iTunes and iPod.

Battery and battery life of PSP GO:

As in the case of its iPhone companion, the PSP GO is also bad in battery life. In addition to this the fact that it is not user replaceable is letting us down. This has been deliberately done by Sony in order to combat piracy, as we know that the previous PSP models have been exploited via custom battery packs like Pandora’s Battery. The battery life is same as that you must have found in the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000. Sony claims that you will get about three to six hours of gaming time. The ability to manually check the battery life in the PSP has been removed, hope to get back the feature in the next firmware upgrade.

Inside the box:

The accessories supplied with the console include an AC adaptor, a USB chord, Media GO software and an instruction manual. As in the case of the previous PSPs, Sony does not offer a standard mini USB port and instead, everything has to be connected with the help of a proprietary port. This includes AC adaptor, the USB cord and the afore-mentioned PSP Go cable accessories that allow you to view the games and videos on a TV display.

Warranty:

Sony offers its latest PSP GO one year limited warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

The new Sony PSP Go has been designed beautifully for the “On the go” gamers. It certainly has the wow factor that you would like your mates to be impressed with the new and innovative technology. It is a great device, but we feel that it is over-priced. The value of it can be determined only by the kind of games and videos Sony offers for the device online. With the PSP3000 available at a much lower cost, it is hard for us to recommend Go to the people; the console also has fewer number of games that it can currently play.

You can go forward and get the device playing for you, if you have no issues with the staggering price tag.

Sony PSP GO Game Console (Black, White) - Specification Details

Rumours that propagated about the second design came true when Nintendo has announced its latest and mostly believable last retrograde from the Nintendo DSI organisation. This acclivity added two VGA minute resolution cameras, increased the screen size to be slightly larger, and an SD card expansion slot to the portable console. The slot called Game Boy Advance which was encountered in both of the earlier designs has been removed in the latest design.

The Nintendo DSI is offering a great deal of ground breaking media lineaments and the on-line practicality that is ensuring the purchase of it by the user Nintendo DS Lite who may think twice about advancing to the latest version. The users of original DS version also should undoubtedly shift to new version, and those who are still making thoughts about purchasing original DS, the new Nintendo DSI is a good way to go through.

Design:

Lustreless Rubberised Outer Layer:
If you have used or own the DS Lite, the foremost matter you will discover about DSI is that its firmness. You will unquestionably sense that it is more full bodied. That also says that it is no longer cloggier because both liberate fairly below half a pound. The new DSI spreads over with no lustre, contains almost rubbery outer layer, whereas the DS Lite is surfaced with glistening plastic. Though it is not muled during testing, it seems to be mostly prostrate to such decorative abrasions. In the terms of size, the DSI is just 4 millimetres slenderer than DS Lite and also just 5 millimetres wider. The DSI is out in several colours like white, blue, pink, red and black.

Relocation of the Lights:
Next to that, you would not detect much difference in visual aspect. A band of tierce lights are placed along the left side hinge of the new DSI instead of the two lights on right hinge of DS Lite. Now they are also tagged around, with symbolisations of power, charging and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Bouncy with More Click Buttons:
As Nintendo preferred for the pushes that clink more, every button on the DSI has been changed, which is an absolute contrast to the gentle feel you experienced on the DS Lite. The pressing motion is less for A, B, X and Y as they are not that deep as they were earlier. In the same way the R and L buttons are also now more bouncy and in result you need very minute attempt to make them function. It was found very hard to compress the start and select buttons particularly in DS Lite though; they too were same as the other buttons. You will feel the same kind of click reactivity when you move along the D-pad. The D-pad of DS Lite is found to be somewhat looser, which is a carbon replicate of that match detected on the Nintendo Wii remote.

Resettled Power Button:
The power press is now relocated to the underside left from the lower touch screen. A farseeing tap is provided to provide power to the device, on or off. And on the other hand, the little tap (whilst the DSI is in ON mode) gives you a gentle readjust, which cannot be done and not available on DS Lite.

Brightness and Colour Performance:
Though the inner camera is at present centred with its microphone merely to its adjacent right, the position of microphone remains unchanged. Especially when you shift backward and forward amongst the systems, the deuce screens of DSI Handheld Game console are perceptibly bigger. This says that you may not really discover immense betterments in total brightness and colour performance. The deuce stereo system speakers of the unit which are attached on both sides of the upper side screen, now appear to be brought down around one-half of an inch.

Removal of Game Boy Advance Slot:
You will determine some more obtrusive alterations on the exterior of the DSI Video Game Console. To list down, first of all, the Game Boy Advance’s expansion slot has been withdrawn, as a result of which the lovers of that hand held platform are away from fortune. Someone may trust that this deletion helped shrivel the thickness of the device, and wish that the alteration made good upgrade. Now we happily drop out the 4 millimetres to be capable of playing whatsoever, the Game Boy Advance game.

Volume Slider Changed to Push Button:
The audio slider is changed over to a push press arrangement in DSI and is located along the left face instead of the front left edge on the DS Lite, the head phone jack retains in the same old position. Though everyone will enjoy the alterations in buttons, we believe that it would be even more fun with slider rather than the new buttons. It is much more convenient to dumb the device just by sliding the slider with thumb, instead of holding the button for few seconds for the same thing. On the right bezel, the SD card expansion slot of the device is placed.

Two 0.3 Mega Pixel Cameras:
As brought up in the beginning, the new Nintendo DSI Gaming Console comprises of deuce 0.3 mega pixel cameras, in which one is positioned along the internal hinge and other is placed on the external front cover. While the external camera is alive, a pink LED light glows out. The perpendicular squarely logo of DS in plastic which is found on DS Lite and located on the outer casing is also deserted.

Variation in Stylus Size:
The Nintendo provides you with an extra stylus which is mounted on the rear location similar to DS Lite. You will be fond of the DSI’s stylus which has been increased in size and raised up by another 4 millimetres.

Features:

Updated Firmware and Interface:
Out and away, the most important modification on the DSI is the modified firmware and interface which is undivided to the unit, apart from the cameras. You would not be capable of upgrading your master DS and DS Lite to the novel DSI’s experience.

Permits Access to Several Media and Online Applications:
The fresh firmware permits you to move to snaps and music, which also includes several media together with online coverings. The device’s design is mostly like Nintendo Wii’s feel, where assorted transmission channels and coverings can be moved through and propelled around. You can doubtlessly fill the great deal of white spaces available with the downloaded games or even using the coverings from the DSI shop.

Internal Memory and SD Card:
You can save the photos taken by the camera using DSI camera apps either along the device’s inner 256MB of memory or onto an SD card. And the new DSI also abides the SDHC cards that have a storage capacity of more than 2 GB. There are several lens choices constructed in to the applications, apart from capturing schematic photos. These consequences can, not simply be plucked while you are taking the snaps, but as well later after you have already captured them. Even a face identification technology has been included, which can be used to add few effects, for instance it embosses your own face also with Mario moustache or apply you a funny pig nose. There is abundant sport to be enjoyed even in the frame characteristics, you can place your human face over anything you film or you want to.

DSI Sound Application:
By using powerful tools and included comfortable to usage tools you can record the sound and edit it by using the DSI Sound apps. You are given options to increment and reduce the pitch or speed, and you can even use pre-installed sound filtrates that transmutes your recorded sections. These segments could also be saved either on to the SD card or on to internal memory. The DSI Sound apps provided permits you act up on your own music and even you can even deform it. But nevertheless, currently the device is capable of playing only AAC files. Regrettably the MP3 and some other audio data file fans would not be able to enjoy this application. In order to boot, you will also not be able to save your own edited music.

Pictochat and DS Download:
You will be able to find a few intimate fronts in the interface of DSI, like Pictochat, which is a way to chit chat and extract from local DS systems, and DS download act persists integral. You can approach download act for synchronising up the games along with the local DS systems. With most of the models of the DS device, the DSI system is capable of playing.

The Online or Wi-Fi Connectivity:
The DSI holds the capability of linking with any 802.11 b or any g Wi-Fi router or any other hot spot. You will find it oddly adequate hard to link with a higher security than WEP. All those settings in real are inhumed inside the system, pushing you to select from the “Advanced Settings” over the main “Internet Connection Settings” screen. We are not certain why it is made very difficult to discover this practicality, but by utilising connexions 1-3, would not permit you to connect to larger than WEP. You could also manually arrange a connection through the more encryption like WPA or WPA2, by accessing the advanced menu. You will just need to insert security key, when you are capable of scanning towards hot spots which confirm the encryption over WEP. The DSI can connect to AOSS, in case your own router affirms it. You will be granted an easy internet connection to the DSI by utilising the option Wi-Fi USB connector of Nintendo, which is sold separately.

The Nintendo DSI Shop:

DSI equivalent to the WiiWare:
The handheld equivalent called as DSI shop has been developed after the achievement of Wii Virtual Console by Nintendo and its WiiWare Platform. Nintendo explicated that this is an online heart to download games of DSI only and apps which are constructed by the first base or third base party developers. The Nintendo will provide you with an active time of diversity of titles, in which some uses DSI camera in games. The pricing structures of all these provided titles vary from costless to one thousand DSI points. And also as an incentive, Nintendo also offers free 1000 points to use for any users who visit DSI shop at times of certain offers. Also, since the outlet had been launched, you will also be offered with a free web browser.

Nintendo Points for DSI Shop:
An interface really alike to the channel of Wii Shopping will be greeting you once you successfully enter into DSI shop. Though the Nintendo points cannot be transmitted, you can use them in both the shops. You can also add points by either using your credit card or shop-brought Nintendo points card. And you will find several paths to surf the usable titles, for instance, through title or even through price.

Sensible Downloading Speeds:
Downloading speed upon the DSI shop are very sensible, things proceeded by rather fleetly. That says that you must observe that the Internet activity in spades have virtual affect on the battery life, which more concerned than whatsoever earlier lineament of DSI.

Opera Powered Web Browser:
Opera powered web browser is one among the primary free apps provided. Even though, you would not be able to watch any of the videos or view any of the flash application in the least, it functions substantially adequate.

Transfer to DSI Internal Memory:
You should make a note that downloaded apps and acts cannot be played directly from the SD card. Firstly you must copy the game and application into the DSI’s inner memory and then can play them.

Performance:

Doubled Microprocessor Size:
Nintendo DSI Handheld Game console have as well obtained some hardware amendments, under the cap. The chief processor size has been doubled to 133 MHz, to that of 67 MHz discovered within the earlier DS Lite. DSI’s RAM has been multiplied by four, making it 16MB from its initial 4MB. But still, do not allow these digits sap you. No big variation in functioning among the systems has been detected when the same game is played. We suppose that this upgrade in design is just to fulfil the hardware requirements of cameras. It is said that Nintendo has suggested at DSI “enhanced” games, the titles provided can be played upon whatever DS, still you will be supplied with more features when you play it on DSI.

Less Competent DSI Battery Life:
Nintendo itself has accepted that DSI’s battery is less competent with that of DS Lite’s, which provides functioning time of 19 hours in the lowliest setting of screen brightness. Alternatively, DSI battery is capable of holding charging for approximately 9-14 hours, which depends on the brightness of the screen and power appetite features like cameras. During the tests conducted over the DSI battery, nothing is found dissatisfying about its battery life, but the DS Lite utilisers might discover the slender growth in frequency of the charging .

Frustrating Pirated Software:

It is no more confidential that hijacked software used to be a big trouble for DS Lite. Several hacked cartridges are discovered on the Internet, which allows playing illicitly downloaded games. Now the DSI for once discovered a path to frustrate them and also profits you through its updateable firmware.

Service and Support:

A Limited Warranty of one year is provided by Nintendo to its DSI.

Contents of the Box:

Nintendo DSI Console, Stylus, AC Adapter, one lithium ion battery, instruction manuals and warranty are provided in the packed box of DSI console.

Verdict:

As the new DSI is the third loop of the cycle DS system, it left a doubt, who needs to buy it? Possessors of original DS, better doubtlessly upgrade to DSI. The modifications in design, amendments in size of the screen and brightness paired with the accession to DSI shop are more than adequate rationalities to accept immerse. That also says that the current users of DS Lite should also take a look at it. The DSI shop is the fullest reason for up-gradation and you will have to determine if it is an adequate bonus. And naturally if you do not own any of the new DS systems, this will be the best choice. Though it is a bit expensive than present DS Lite, it is of good value. The unit is definitely a further step in the way of iPhone and iPods which have accession to outlets for downloading acts and apps. One matter in reality is doubtless, the Nintendo DSI is the manufacturer’s most challenging and also solidly constructed portable device up to date.

Nintendo DSI Handheld Console - Technical Specification Details

Not an ultra portable console:

At the very first look at the Nintendo DS Handheld Console , the thing that strikes you apart from the silver sleek design is its two LCD displays. The Nintendo DS has roughly got the same size of the original GameBoy Advance, but its clam shell like design makes the device look bigger. Unlike the SP which was an ideal example of the portable gaming console, which would easily slide inside any pocket, the DS can be carried around only in your back pocket or your shoulder bag. Yet another example of a very portable console was the Tamagotchi. Though the size has been increased, the device is not that bulky, it weighs just 275 grams. Since you will be using either the thumb pad or the stylus, the device has to be held with both your hands. However, the additional weight can be easily managed. The direction pad, four face buttons and two shoulder buttons are all within easy enough reach, but that does not stop you wishing for something more slim-line.

Buttons and controls in Nintendo DS:

The following is the list of controls of the device from left to right: the DS’s volume control, GBA cartridge slot, microphone and headphone connectors occupy the front of the unit. In the rear of the unit, it has its shoulder buttons, the DS game slot and an AC adaptor slot. By having a dual slot, the device has retained its compatibility with all the existing GBA games, but the device can also accept the latest smaller DS game cards. When the DS is opened in the front, the top panel has stereo speakers and the main LCD display, while the bottom panel sports a directional pad, power button, touch screen and the six functional buttons that include A, B, X, Y, Select and Start. Two pen shaped styluses come with the package, one slides into the DS body in a PDA-style. This pen like stylus works better while drawing and writing messages in a PicoChat and the thumb stylus extremely good at the time of playing games.

Displays and sound in Nindendo DS Handheld:

The two displays, each have a resolution of 256 x 192 and 260,000 colours. The display is simply glare free even when the top screen is pivoted as far as it can go and both the displays seem to work seamlessly when the top screen is slightly tilted. Both the displays are terrific and you will not be able to find any of the ghostly white glow that was prominent in the GBA SP’s front lit display system and the backlighting of DS makes its graphics outstanding. The game’s beautiful full motion video sequences seem to take complete advantage of both the screens. One of the major advantages of elongated form factor is that, the stereo speakers work in a great fashion. There is a very clear separation of notes between the left and right speakers and it has very well done surround sound effects.

The first few steps:

The first time you turn your Nintendo DS Console on, the console asks the gamer to input a variety of details that includes your name, the current time and date, your favourite colour, which becomes your background colour and your birthday. It saves your birthday to offer you with a pleasant surprise on that special day of yours. Once this information has been inputted, the user is greeted to an extremely user-friendly interface that allows the gamer to play a Nintendo DS game, run PictoChat, DS Download play for multiplayer games or launch a GBA game.

Nintendo DS Features:

The DS Gaming Console runs on two powerful ARM9 and ARM7 CPUs running at 67Mhz and 33MHz respectively. The unit has 4 megs of memory and a BIOS. Another impressive feature is that the unit also has the ability to download software from another DS unit which means that some two player games only require one cartridge to play between two or more people.

Pico Chat:

The Pico Chat comes in as a very attractive distraction for the gamers. This application has a lot of interesting features that combine DS’s wireless features and its touch screen capabilities. Once the program is started, a number of available rooms are listed. Typing in the virtual keyboard in the bottom of the touch screen with the stylus is quite natural. The only issue with the pen is that, its tip is too broad to even think of any intricate drawings.

The multi-player mode:

When the multi player mode is used, the DS player surpassed its rated 9m in outdoors and in fact, it manages to go beyond 45m. But through the walls, the range is a little shorter and this is the case when the game cuts out in just 9m. In the Metroid and PicoChat applications, you will be indicated the type of connection you are in with the help of a mobile phone like small signal indicator. Even with only a single signal indicator, the multiplayer games were seamless and lag free. When everything seemed to be nice and happy, we were put down by a bad news, the older GBA multiplayer games will not play head to head over the wireless connection and with the absence of link cable port, you will not be able to wire bond to the older GBAs or the Nintendo GameCube.

Package contents:

The package of the Nintendo DS Handheld Gaming Console includes demo version of Metroid Prime: Hunters, the full version of Nintendo’s PictoChat software, two pen-shaped styluses, a wrist strap that doubles as a thumb stylus, and the same AC adapter that came with the GBA SP.

Battery life:

Since the Nintendo DS has come out in the strong competing market with Sony’s PSP, it is important that we take a note of its battery life too. The DS managed a game time of about six hours and 40 minutes. The low battery indicator comes on in about 6 hours mark and from then on, in 40 minutes, the device ran out of juice. The high battery life of the unit is achieved by the lithium-ion battery that takes 4 hours to charge the battery which is a small price to pay for portable gaming. Another nifty idea is that when the unit is closed while you are playing a game, the system goes into a sleep mode to maximise battery life.

Warranty:

Nintendo offers the DS console a standard one year warranty.

Verdict:

In conclusion, the Nintendo DS is a brilliant gaming console that truly takes portable gaming to the next evolutionary stage. The only downside to the unit is that sometimes it does become a little heavy through continuous gaming sessions but it’s a small price to pay for what this unit can perform. The DS has got the real flavour of Nintendo within it. It has got the characteristics that suit the console’s long list of games. This console challenges the game developers to take full advantage of its dual display, touch screen and microphone capabilities. Although the majority of first generation games are aimed at the younger gaming market, there are enough adult titles on the horizon to allow the more mature gamer to truly enjoy this new console. This game console with the funky design is worth laying your hands on. But if you are asking the question that if you could go for PSP or Nintendo, then we would definitely advice you to go for the PSP. And the justification we have is that, the PSP is much ahead of the DS in terms of graphics, audio performance, display quality and even the attire. And the PSP can also play movies and MP3 tracks for you. Overall, the DS is just not about having the best graphics or even the fastest processor; it is fully about having fun.

Nintendo DS Video Game Console - Specifications, Features