Darkside is the second iOS title from developer Clockwook Pixels and if you have a soft spot for the retro game Asteroids then Darkside may be worth a look.
For those of you under 30 Asteroids is a 2 dimensional space shooter where you control a 4 line spaceship surrounded by spinning asteroids with your only option to spin and shoot your way through them.
While Asteroids still stands the test of time Darkside brings it into the 21st century with gorgeous retina display graphics, firework like explosions and a thumping aural experience.
Each level is based on a planet which you spin around and using the left virtual analog stick while shooting a full 360 degrees using the right virtual analog stick. The controls are simple and effective and allow you to navigate the busy planet at speed which is something you’ll need if you plan to progress through the levels.
You single weapon soon finds itself as little help against the huge asteroids that are bombarding you but luckily a variety of power-ups will provide you with just what you need to blast through the levels.
The game comes in three flavors, Arcade, Mission and Survival modes which add slightly different challenges to the main concept. Arcade is included in as part of the free universal app while a single in-app purchase will unlock the additional two modes.
If you are looking for a shooter that fires up the senses or want to relive the memories of yesterday year then you can’t go far wrong with Darkside that has a built-in trial period thanks to the 99 cent in-app purchase.
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On rare occasions I will tell you to go and grab a game immediately and then come back and read this review…….this is one of those occasions and to be honest what do you have to lose when all you’ll be spending is 99 cents on a universal app that will work on both your iPhone and iPad should you be lucky enough to have both.
You may be thinking, especially if you already have Asphalt 6, why should I even spend more money on the next version of Gamelofts arcade racer and the simple answer is this, it’s Bigger, Better, Faster and there’s more of it, so much in fact this review may only scratch the surface of all the features that are packed into this racing game.
If you have played any of Gamelofts games before then you will know what to expect when it comes to sound and graphics, and in Asphalt7 Heat they continue to lead the way a rainbow of electric lights that illuminate 15 different tracks from all around the world and with a pumping soundtrack the game is a dream to both see and hear.
There are four control options to choose from so you are bound to find one that suits your driving preferences, from using the accelerometer, on screen steering wheel or the screen itself the controls work very well, and you can also choose from auto or manual acceleration depending on your preference.
The quality of the controls are highlighted due to the fact that you can jump straight into Quick Play mode and start winning races immediately. Quick Race is just the beginning though, as the Career, Online and Multiplayer modes are where the real value comes in.
The Career Mode is spread over 13 cups each with 4 different races and these include normal races, elimination, knockdown, paint job and king of the hill which all offer slightly different variations on driving as fast as you can around the streets of the world.
As you work your way through the career mode you’ll have the ability to unlock and upgrade a great range of licensed cars, from a Mini Cooper S to the Shelby GT 500, from a BMW Z4 to the Lamborghini Countach and everything in between. There are 60 cars in total so there should be something for everyone.
The cars handle as well as you would expect for an arcade racer, the game relies heavily on drifting but this is relatively easy to control, early on at least, only when you start to unlock the bigger, faster cars does it get a little trickier, by the time you unlock them though you’ll be well practised, right?
Of course you don’t have to work through the game and earn your racing stripes to unlock all the flash cars, instead you can purchase your in game dollars by spending your hard earned dollars via in-app purchase but it’s well balanced, meaning that if you are willing to put the time in you can achieve your rewards without the need of spending above and beyond the original $1 outlay.
The online options are really where the game comes to life and it does this in two ways. First up is the online multi-player where you can race against your friends, and enemies, in any combination of race types and locations. The online mode works well, the games come thick and fast and there is relatively little slow down, it adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay that will keep you playing Asphalt 7 for a long time to come, or at least until Asphalt 8 comes out!
If you don’t want to want to race against people online in real time you can choose the weekly event that makes up the Asphalt Academy and see how far up the world rankings you can get.
With the game being a universal app it’s good to see that your progress can be transferred between devices. Asphalt Tracker allows you to transfer your progress between devices using either Facebook, or Gameloft’s own servers and while this isn’t quite as seamless as iCloud syncing would be it works and prevents you having to play the game twice across all of your devices.
Asphalt Tracker also enables you to send offline challenges to your friends via Gameloft which just adds more depth to an already deep game and that’s before mentioning the goals are Gameloft’s equivalent of GameCenter Achievements.
After all this eulogizing you’d think that perhaps I didn’t have anything bad to say about the game, that’s not the case. Asphalt 7’s all about social gaming and this takes the form of Facebook integration, the problem with this is though that between races and for every earned goal you are prompted to confirm whether or not you want to publicize the achievement and if you don’t want to bombard your Facebook newsfeed with your progress it can get a little frustrating.
If you’ve got this far and have not been simultaneously downloading Asphalt 7 on your iOS device you have permission to do so now!
[rating: 5/5]What we like
What to know
Gameloft have been churning out mobile games for a while now and for the most part they’ve been pushing the mobile gaming envelope especially when it comes to the graphics and N.O.V.A. 3 is no different. Does the gameplay match the beautiful and rich environments though?
N.O.V.A. 3 as the name suggests is the third in the the first person shooter series which follows the explosive exploits of Kal Wardin as he fights for no lesser prize than humankind itself. If you haven’t played either of the previous N.O.V.A. that’s not a problem, (although you may go back to them after playing this), as the game stands on its own and the short intro will soon get you up to speed.
As previously mentioned the whole look of N.O.V.A. 3 is completely immersive as the rich, massive, interactive environments are a pleasure to behold. Starting in and around the derelict buildings of San Francisco, through alien spacecraft and an explosive fire and ice wasteland the worlds look incredible.
As we’ve all come to learn though, games require more than just graphics to be a success and N.O.V.A. 3 is more than just eye-candy, in fact it’s one of the closest experiences to having a console in your pocket that I’ve ever played on a mobile device.
The audio helps this with the overall experience too, from powerful gun-shots and explosions to great voice acting and background music the aural experiences is excellent, especially if you listen with headphones.
The action comes fast and furious, right from the start and you will need fast fingers to keep yourself alive. These fast fingers have to be balanced with the amount of ammunition you have as supplies are limited especially if you don’t want to if you don’t want to increase the cost of the game by stumping up more of your hard earned money to upgrade your weapons and abilities.
The downside of the scarce ammunition though is exacerbated by some less than perfect controls. There’s nothing substantially different in N.O.V.A. 3 from other first person shooters but they feel unpolished and the limited customization ensures that we will have to spend quite a while with them before you feel at ease.
Spending time with N.O.V.A. 3 though is something you will want to do though as the rewards are worth it. A compelling, if short, campaign mode is great to play but the addition of not only a local wi-fi multiplayer but also an online version, via Gameloft LIVE, is going to have you hooked for months.
Six different multiplayer game modes as well as weekly tournaments keeps things interesting and as long as you put in the time to learn your skills so that you aren’t re-spawning every 30 seconds the online modes ultimately make N.O.V.A. 3 {$6.99} a very rewarding experience.
All this comes at a price, not the $7 that it’ll cost you in the App Store, that’s a bargain, but the 1.5 GB of storage space that it will take up on your iOS device. You may need to manage some space before installing this monster!
There are games that push the limit of mobile gaming and make other companies step up, N.O.V.A. 3 is one of those games and you don’t want to miss the bandwagon.
What we like:
What to know:
If you want a more relaxing way to get your daily 3 star fix than firing slightly perturbed feathered animals at different green animals then growing flowers could be just for you. And if that’s the case then you need to get hold of Chillingo’s latest game, Light the Flower.
The challenge in each of the 60 levels spread across 5 different homes is to get as much light as possible to all the plants in the house. The 3 star challenge comes from equally lighting up three stars as you bounce the light around the room to the sun thirsty plant.
The light source on each of the levels is the sun that streams in through one or more of the windows. You then get to use a combination of mirrors, prisms and filters to bounce and change the path of the light to the darkened corner where the plant has been positioned.
The touch controls are smooth and accurate. You can drag the mirrors around the room and rotate them so that you can get the perfect angle. It’s also worth noting the splitting the beams of light is key in some of the levels as multiple plants have to be bathed in sunlight.
The challenge is increased as you progress through the various houses not only by multiple plants but also by their need for different colored light. This is achieved by passing the sunlight through different colored filters.
Throughout the game your progress is hindered by a variety of household items that are strewn throughout the different rooms which block the light from passing requiring you to bounce the sunlight around them.
As with all such games you can progress through the game relatively easily if you don’t care to achieve all three stars on each level, but then where’s the fun in that!
The game has a Cut the Rope feel to it especially in regard to the cartoon style graphics and the jolly background music that keeps things moving along nicely! Light the Flower is a fun, challenging puzzle game and the nature of the game means that you can just keep making slight adjustments to achieve the result you desire.
Additional levels are promised in future updates but that’s not to say that the 60 levels aren’t good value in themselves especially if you complete them all with 3 stars. If you want to unlock the current 5 houses you will need to get all the stars you can though, otherwise you’ll need to unlock them via a 99cent in app purchase.
Light the Flower is available now for just 99 cents in the App Store and as a universal game it’s great value for money if you do happen to own both an iPhone and an iPad. What it doesn’t do is synchronise your data between the two devices which is slightly frustrating.
Both Crystal and GameCentre integration is included so you can view your progress with all your friends.
[rating: 4/5]What we like
What to know
In the world of gaming anything goes, so a back story of a group of sharks hanging out happily in a bathtub before being joined by a noisy group of rubber ducks and helping them take revenge on them is perfectly normal, right?
Luckily, reality is not a requirement in most games these days, in fact quite often the more bizarre the story the better, and that’s certainly the case for Shark Dash.
The game uses the now traditional 3 star rule to progress through the almost 100 levels over 4 different environments, (i.e. bathtubs), and these are achieved by eating all the ducks, collecting all the coins and doing this within the given number of shots.
Each level is played within the confines of a bathtub and is viewed as a sideways cut through including, bubbles, plughole, and all of the usually bathtime accoutrements that you would expect to see around the side of a bath. The graphics are solid and are certainly in keeping with the cute and fun style of the game as is the music which in is light and jaunty.
Controls are easy to learn but the levels can be difficult to master especially if you aim to get 3 stars in every single level. Collect the coins and stars is a simple task of pulling back on the shark’s tail and launching him in the direction that you desire. Your shark will pick up coins and the rubber ducks as he passes over through them, ducks will also float along the top of the water so as long as you knock them into the water and there is nothing blocking their path then they will willingly swim into your jaws.
As you progress through the 100 levels additional obstacles will be put between you and the ducks, these include salt sticks, soap, pipes, chains and a host of other things which all affect the physics of the game. The physics are additionally affected by the water in the bath so you will have to take that into consideration if your plan of attack takes you underwater, rather than over it.
Some of the objects that you’ll need to overcome will require sharks with different skills and as you progress you’ll get to unlock Sawy, Hammy and Scuby who all have skills associated to their names.
As with the majority of these games, if you don’t want to put the work into unlocking all of the levels by competing all the stars and earning coins then you can purchase coins to spend on unlocking levels, sharks and undo’s that will allow you to rewind a shot it didn’t quite go according to plan.
As if completing the 100 levels wasn’t enough there are 24 achievements to unlock and another 24 missions to keep you entertained. Unfortunately these don’t synchronise with GameCenter so there’s no way to compare your scores and achievements with your friends.
Shark Dash is a universal app and is available from the App Store now for just 99 cents. Grab it now for hours of fun, with a bite!
[rating: 4.5/5]What to know:
Apple released the New iPad 3 about a week ago and new rumors about iPhone 5 continue to surface on the web. On Friday, a report from iMore suggested that Apple’s next generation iPhone 5 is expected to release this Fall and will include LTE, as expected and retain the same 3.5 inch screen.
A number of sources have suggested that Apple is looking to upgrade the new iPhone to a 4-inch screen, but iMore’s sources suggest otherwise. The report also suggests that if not the same 3.5 inch screen, it will be “very similar”.
So to sum up, iPhone 5,1 is on track for:
– Similar if not same sized screen (currently 3.5-inch but not set in stone)
– 4G LTE radio
– New “micro dock” connector
– Fall/October 2012 release
The online publication has a good track record of reporting on Apple product announcements, including the March 7th announcement date for the New iPad as well as the addition of LTE. The fast 4G connectivity is widely expected to be included in the iPhone 5, however, a larger screen size is still questionable.
The inclusion of larger battery, LTE and quad-core graphics to support the retina display has raised some concerns regarding heat, data consumption and battery life. It will be interesting to see if Apple will have to let go of iPhone’s thin form factor in order to include LTE and support quad-core graphics.
{via MacRumors}
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Apple released the iPad 3 only a few days ago and already it has been a big success. The company recently announced that they have already sold 3 million of the new devices under 4 days. The new iPad was considered by some to be only a minor upgrade with the 5 megapixel camera, new Retina Display and 4G LTE.
The Cupertino company called this the “strongest iPad launch yet.” This puts the New iPad as the most successful iPad launch ever. Apple continues to improve upon its products every year and reaches a higher number of sales each quarter.
CUPERTINO, California―March 19, 2012―Apple® today announced it has sold three million of its incredible new iPad®, since its launch on Friday, March 16. The new iPad features a stunning new Retina™ display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, a 5 megapixel iSight® camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video, and still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G supports ultrafast 4G LTE networks in the US and Canada, and fast networks around the world including those based on HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA.**
“The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold―the strongest iPad launch yet,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad, including the stunning Retina display, and we can’t wait to get it into the hands of even more customers around the world this Friday.”
With the launch of the iPad 2, Apple did not report the first weekend sales, however, the company sold over 300,000 of the original iPad with the first batch of one million taking 28 days to move and ship. Apple also experienced a massive success with the iPhone 4S, with customers experiencing long queues.
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iBomber Defense Pacific is a follow up to the highly acclaimed iBomber Defense and provides hours of tower defense style game-play.
The action, as the title suggests, takes place on the Pacific Rim and the levels reflect that region in all their glory, from golden deserts and deep jungles to the city streets the graphics are clear, detailed and strong over 20+ different levels.
If you’ve played a tower defense game before then you are going to be very comfortable in iBDP but for those of you that haven’t there is in game tutorial that takes you through all the basics and it’s not difficult to pick up, although as with all good games there is more to simply knowing enough to cruise through all the levels.
You can do that if you like and even then there you will enjoy the journey but just like achieving 3 stars on all the levels of angry birds the real fun comes in attempting to get the best ranking in each level which in turn rewards you with the cash and honors to do even better in the following rounds.
The controls are simple, drag and drop to place your machine gun, cannon, rockets, flamers and other weapons and tapping on them provides you with the ability to repair, upgrade and sell them. If things aren’t going your way on any level you also get the ability to rewind a wave and try again, however this ability it limited so it has to be used wisely.
I highly recommend playing the game with your headphones on too as the sound of the thundering gunfire over the back-drop of the ambient location noises creates a great atmosphere.
As with all Chillingo titles the game comes integrated with Crystal, their social gaming network which provides multiple achievements and leaderboards for all the levels.
Chillingo continue to churn out quality titles and in iBomber Defense Pacific they continue to do so with a solid, if not ground breaking title. iBDP is a universal game and is available in the App Store now for $2.99.
What we like:
What to know:
One of, if not the, most popular Twitter client’s for iOS has been updated today in anticipation for the new iPad (3rd generation) which will be released on Friday 16th March. While some deveolopers may have been happy just to update the graphics to take advantage of the high resolution display of the new iPad Tapbots have bundled another great feature and a few of tweaks into this update.
Some of the more minor tweaks include restricted the new tweet alert sound to mentions, DM’s and new tweets via pull to refresh and double tapping the timeline tab at the top of the screen will initially take you to your last read tweet before going to the top.
The major new feature though is the streaming feature that will automatically load and scroll through your timeline as new tweets arrive. The feature works great and allows you to leave Tweetbot for iPad running as your iPad sits on your desk top as the updates to your timeline automatically scroll by in real time.
The update is only available for the iPad version of Tweetbot at the moment as is currently available as a free update to those who already own it. If you are new to Tweetbot it’s $2.99 and worth every cent.
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As Apple does with all of their newly launched products, they released the first TV ad for “The new iPad”, solely focusing on the new Retina Display. Eventually, as time progresses, Apple may highlight other new features of the New iPad, including the A5X chip, and even the 5MP rear-facing iSight camera.
As with all of Apple’s ads, they did not mention specifications or pricing, instead focusing on the simplicity of the device and its features. The ad shows how the device can be used to edit a photograph, read a book, watch a movie, and draw a picture. Then the following words are said, describing the New iPad:
When a screen becomes this good, colors are more vibrant. Words are pin sharp. Everything is more brilliant. Because when a screen becomes this good, it’s simply you and the things you care about. The stunning Retina Display on the new iPad.
With the new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, iSight camera and the incredible new high resolution retina display the third-gen iPad has raised the bar for other tablet manufactures. It will be interesting to see how Motorola and Samsung catch up with Apple with their tablet releases in 2012.
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On Wednesday, Apple introduced “The new iPad” (third generation tablet) with a Retina Display coming in at 2048 x 1536 pixels. With iPad 3 Apple aims to redefine the category it created with the original iPad.
The new display on “the new iPad” is retina quality, with indistinguishable pixels when held at the proper 15” viewing angle. The new iPad is powered by the new A5X system-on-chip with quad-core graphics and this display now shows 44% more color saturation than the second gen model.
All of Apple’s stock apps available on the iPad have been updated to work with the Retina Display. As for cameras, the new iPad 3 now be sports 5-megapixel rear camera with advanced optics very similar to the 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 4S.
HD Video recording up to 1080P is now standard and Apple has also brought over Voice Dictation into the keyboard from the iPhone 4S. Cellular models of the iPad now not only support 3G networks from carriers but now have 4G LTE capabilities. Rumors of 4G LTE enabled iPads were floating around for quite some time prior to the event. The iPad now supports data speeds of up to 21 Mbps on HSPA+, 42 Mbps on dual-carrier HSPA+, and 73 Mbps on LTE.
4G connectivity allows iPad users to browse significantly faster than they have in the past. LTE partners include AT&T and Verizon in the United States and Rogers, Telus, and Bell in Canada, however, due to separate network offerings, AT&T and Verizon will require two different models to operate.
The new iPad, with its higher resolution screen, faster processor and better cameras has still retained the same 10 hour battery life on Wi-Fi and 9 hours on 4G LTE. The new iPad is now slightly thicker than the iPad 2 and slightly heavier but offers many more features coming in at 0.6 mm thicker than the iPad 2 at 9.4 mm thick, and weighs 1.4 pounds versus the 1.33 pound iPad 2.
All other aspects of the iPad remain the same including pricing, coming in at $499/$599/$699 for Wi-Fi models and $629/$729/$829 for 4G LTE models, with capacities coming in at 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. As rumored, the new iPad will be available on March 16th in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.
]]> https://touchreviews.net/the-new-ipad-retina-display-lte-a5x-chip-5mp-isight-camera/feed/ 4During today’s iPad 3 live keynote event Apple will finally unveil the third-generation tablet and release date is expected within two weeks from today. iPad 3 is widely expected to feature retina display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, faster processor with improved graphics, better cameras and more.
iPad 3 is rumored to use Dual-Core A5X SoC that will not only be faster but also deliver enhanced graphics and include 1GB RAM. The design is not expected to see major changes however, it is believed that the new iPad will be 0.8 mm thicker when compared with the second gen tablet.
Apple could share an update related to iOS 5.1 software update and could announce its immediate availability. While we haven’t heard about any conclusive evidence which points to inclusion of Siri in iPad 3 Apple could be looking at bringing the “personal voice assistant” to the tablet.
What are your expectations from this years event? Let us know in the comments section.
Check back soon for the iPad 3 live coverage.
08:00AM – Hawaii
10:00AM – Pacific
11:00AM – Mountain
12:00PM – Central
01:00PM – Eastern
06:00PM – London
07:00PM – Paris
09:00PM – Moscow
03:00AM – Tokyo (March 8th)
You don’t need to refresh this page! Live updates will appear below:
Sources: Engadget, Ars Technica, The Verge, gdgt
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UPDATE: Apple has announced “The new iPad” with retina display, A5X chip with quad-core graphics, 5 MP iSight camera and more.
Apple is all set to unveil iPad 3 at today’s launch event but, new details about the upcoming product announcement continue to be revealed. iPad 3 specs have been widely reported as the third gen tablet is expected to feature retina display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, a dual core A5X chip and now details about RAM have been published too.
A new report by The Verge reveals that in addition to “powerful GPU” iPad 3 specs will also include “more RAM”. 9to5 Mac was quick to point out that their sources claim Apple’s next generation tablet will include 1GB RAM. The new A5X chip is being now referred to as “A5 on steroids”. With a high resolution display on the new iPad it would require a powerful graphics processing unit and more RAM for fast and responsive applications.
Apple usually doesn’t reveal technical specification such as RAM in its keynote event or product descriptions. In the past RAM has only been confirmed when the device goes on sale and iPhone / iPad repair sites teardown the device and reveal specifications that are not published by Apple.
The rumor mill also seem to suggest that iPad 3 will finally bring LTE connectivity to Apple’s iOS device. The third generation iPad is expected to be available on Verizon and AT&T networks.
To be clear, that would mean two distinct, separate versions of the LTE tablet (one for each network). In addition, there’s a third international model which does double duty on 3G; a CDMA / GSM model using a similar radio chipset to the iPhone 4S (a Qualcomm Gobi chip).
Other specifications leaked so far point to a thicker iPad, better battery life, “Smart Case”, and improved cameras. Even though Apple has always aimed for its next iOS device to be thinner than the previous one it would be interesting to see if iPad 3 actually turns out to be thicker when compared with iPad 2.
Have you been waiting for LTE iPad? What are your expectations from the event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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As iPad 3 release date announcement nears rumors about technical specification of the third-gen iPad continue to pour in. Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media for iPad 3 keynote event which is scheduled to be held on March 7th, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
According to a tweet posted by CNBC Apple’s iPad 3 tech specs would include a quad-core processor and 4G LTE network capability. The tweet mentioned that the keynote event would be held in New York which turned out to be false as Apple has already confirmed the venue of the event.
Rumors surrounding iPad 3 tech specs have been circulating the web since a long time and most reports and speculation seem to agree on the fact that the third-generation iPad will feature a faster processor with enhanced graphics. While most reports suggest it will be a quad-core processor, an A5X SoC image has been leaked which suggests that Apple could be looking at introducing minor changes to its custom-built processor. The company is known to be working on A6 and A5X simultaneously so it will be interesting to see the official iPad 3 specification once the device is unveiled on March 7th.
In addition to a faster processor many rumors suggest Apple will finally introduce 4G LTE networking on iOS devices with the iPad 3. Apple has not shown much excitement when it comes 4G or LTE networks as the company believes that it could cause serious strain on the battery.
iPad 3 is also rumored to have a slightly thicker back panel to accommodate larger battery so it’s highly possible that with improved battery life Apple could bring 4G LTE to the iPad.
In addition to these tech specs, iPad 3 is expected to have retina display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and a much improved rear-facing camera.
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Apple earlier today sent out media invites for iPad 3 launch event which will be held on March 7th, Wednesday in San Francisco. The third-gen iPad will be unveiled at a keynote event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10 a.m Pacific and 1 p.m Eastern time.
Last week we highlighted a report which suggested that Apple was planning a media event in first week of March and today the Cupertino, Calif. based company officially confirmed the event date. The invite sent out to media has image of an iPad with Maps, Calendar and Keynote apps showing on the dock and the text reads “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”
Apple brought Retina Display to iOS devices with introduction of iPhone 4 and then it made its way to fourth-gen iPod touch. According to various rumors and speculation we’ve reported in the past, iPad 3 is widely expected to feature Retina Display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and include a faster processor. While most evidences revealed in the past confirm the inclusion of Retina Display it’s still unclear if Apple will use a quad-core chip or a dual-core chip with enhanced graphics.
In addition to an improved display iPad 3 is also expected to feature better rear camera for taking photos however the front-facing camera might not receive any update. It is believed that in order to feature the high resolution display and better camera the iPad 3 might be thicker than iPad 2.
Apple is known to introduce complete product re-design every alternate year so iPad 3 is expected to retain the same design as iPad 2. The company could also introduce new Apple TV with “A5X” chip that could deliver 1080p content to your HD television.
Are you excited about iPad 3 launch event? What are your expectations from the event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Every now and again apps arrive on my virtual desktop to review that are a little out of the ordinary and Skulls by Simon Winchester certainly falls into that category.
Skulls in an interactive book in which the author delves into the life of Alan Dudley, a British taxidermist whose ‘art’ got him arrested for dealing in protected species.
The story itself is a fascinating one even for those who don’t have a particular interest in the subject, however with the addition of of 300 animal skulls that can be spun and viewed at all angles it’s visually stunning too.
In fact even the extinct Dodo in skeletal form seems to come to life as you rotate it on the screen and I’m sure this would be even more the case if you get yourself some of the 3D compatible glasses for $5 from the touchpress.com website.
You have the option of either reading the book as you would any other or you can choose to have the book read to you. What’s nice about the audio option is the fact that the page will move as the book is read so that the relevant illustrations and pictures are always visible.
As well as using Skulls by Simon Winchester as a book it can also be used as a reference tool with all of the skulls beautifully displayed graphically in alphabetical order which can also be filter on based on Class, Group, Family and Behaviour.
You can also compare up to four of the skulls at the same time and rotate them simultaneously so that you can compare and contrast them.
Skulls by Simon Winchester is certainly not going to be to every ones taste, however it not only tells a fascinating story but is also a beautifully crafted application that utilizes everything that is great about the iPad.
[rating: 5/5]What to know:
[rating: 3.5/5]
Don’t Run With a Plasma Sword Review: I loved Mirrors Edge, it was one of the first games that I brought for my iPad and I played it almost non-stop, sliding, jumping, swinging and rolling through the scrolling levels it worked great. Well, if you’ve played Mirrors Edge you be right at home here, minus the cutting edge graphics!
Your Plasma Sword is your only defense against an invasion of intergalactic creatures, well, that and your swift feet that will see you running, jumping and sliding through the levels.
You’ll find yourself running and leaping from left to right as you attempt to avoid traps, pitfalls, meteors and other items that will be detrimental to your health and as you progress through the levels and things get faster you will need quick reactions to prevent a premature end to your adventures.
With running being taken care of automatically your only concern is with the jump, slide and attack buttons which are on the left and right hand side of the screen. These buttons work well but sometimes, especially on later levels, it is possible to miss them in the frantic action.
For added value there are two game modes. The main story mode see’s you making your way through multiple levels of action and end of level bosses and while this is fun I prefer the endless mode where you are tasked with achieving various milestones to earn XP which you can then use to unlock levels, upgrade abilities and change your plasma sword.
The game graphics and sound are ok, but could certainly be improved on and are rather lackluster, however, what it lacks in polish it makes up for in humor with seemingly a million and one things that you shouldn’t do with a plasma sword.
To add to the two game modes there are 30+ achievements and Leaderboards via the OpenFeint and GameCenter integration that add to the hours of fun that you can have while not running with a plasma sword!
What we like:
What to know:
Gallery
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Steve Jobs just announced Apple’s second-generation iPad at a media keynote in San Francisco, and here’s everything you need to know about the iPad 2 before its release on March 11th:
The processor has been upgraded from Apple’s A4 chip to its new dual-core A5, which runs at 1.2GHz as opposed to the 1GHz of the current iPad, but still maintains the same low power consumption of the previous processor and also maintains its 10-hour battery life. Apple claims the iPad 2 is the first dual-core tablet to ship in volume, and it also boasts a whopping 9x faster graphics performance!
On the outside, the iPad 2 is 33% thinner than the original Apple tablet, measuring just 8.8mm in depth as opposed to 13.44mm. It also features both front- and rear-facing cameras and finally introduces FaceTime and video conferencing to the device. Just like the iPhone 4, the iPad 2 also features a gyroscope, which will improve gaming and augmented reality just like it did for the iPhone.
You now have two choices to decide between when you buy your shinny new iPad; as well as the original black device, Apple is offering the iPad 2 in white, and there’s no mention of a delay in release just yet!
The price of the new iPad 2 remains frozen at the current iPad prices, starting at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, increasing to $839 for the 64GB 3G device. The 3G device will be compatible with both AT&T and Verizon, but surprisingly, there will be both CDMA and GSM versions – not one-model-fits-all as we expected.
Look out for our next post on the awesome new iPad 2 accessories!
]]> https://touchreviews.net/ipad-2-a5-chip-faster-graphics-thinner-lighter-white/feed/ 3Apple (AAPL) holds a small share in the company, which it recently increased from 3% to almost 10%. And Imagination (like ARM) is currently a healthy performer on the UK stock market, unsurprisingly.
It is being reported that Imagination has purchased a company called Caustic Graphics who are well known for their Ray Tracing technology that can produce super high fidelity images in 3D. The difference between normal raster based graphics that we see on current GPUs, and Ray Traced images that we normally see in technology demos, is in some ways akin to the difference between normal TV and HD TV. And not surprisingly the horsepower needed to produce the higher quality images is not inconsequential.
$27 million, the purchase price for Caustic, is not an insignificant sum to a company like Imagination. They do not posses the cash reserves of a company like Apple. But on the back of a growing stock value, and increased sales revenue and market share this strategic purchase is something that Imagination obviously see as important.
The PowerVR line of GPUs coming in the next 12 – 18 months promise that mobile GPUs will be delivering desktop quality graphics within 2011 on handheld devices. So it seems likely that in the not too distant future Imagination and Caustic Graphics see an opportunity for Ray Tracing on devices in our hands.
One of Imagination’s strategies to producing high speed, high quality graphics is a “Tile Based” rendering system that allows significant rendering performance improvements on their mobile PowerVR chip sets. Perhaps between the two companies they can come up with a similar approach to traditionally horsepower heavy Ray Tracing that will similarly impress.
It is expected that this technology will show up in Apple’s devices in the future.
Ray tracing is a key additional technology that traditionally has been regarded as the exclusive domain of specialised markets and non real-time applications, said Hossein Yassaie, chief executive of Imagination. “We intend to change that.”
Yassaie said the acquisition for $27 million will allow Imagination to create even more advanced graphics technology in the future.
Excited to think of Ray Traced graphics on your iPad or iPhone? Have your say in the comments…
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