Gladget Magazine July 2013

I S S U E 3 3 / Vo l . 3 July 2013

www.gladgetmag.com

R evie w s inc luding J abra, Sam s ung, Sony , Rox io, H P, As us , Raz er and more. . .

Cleaning Up! Keep your Android device spruced up

Calling Trends Spying, speed and internet predictions

The Control Game The battle between two gaming titans...

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I S S U E 4 9 / Vo l . 5 Ju l y 2 0 1 3

w w w. g a m e c c a m ag . c o m

• The Last of Us • Remember Me • Fuse and more...

E3 Awesome!

70 Games to look out for!

The Long Road The Last of Us is an incredible journey

Filling the Big Chair in Saint’s Row IV

The New Drug Memories are addictive in Remember Me

Free Online Mag

Taking fun seriously!

www.gameccamag.com

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 Did You Know?

Some gaming-flavoured facts for you...

10 Tshabablabber

Where’s the inspiration?

12 Generation 8

Sony and Microsoft draw their console-war battle-lines...

18 Making Moses Proud

Tablets offer greater security

20 Things Have Come To Pass

The current state of the ‘net...

22 Cleaning Out the Closet

Get your Android ship-shape again

24 Lookng Back: 1996

A big, spicy year...

This Month’s Cover The two console giants are getting ready for battle.

See our feature on page 12...

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26 Reviews

TOns of tech for all tastes

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Reviews

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Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. M Mobile Gaming Headset

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Asus Maximus VI Hero Motherboard

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Asus Xonar Essence STU

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HP Envy 4 Ultrabook

GLADGET Volume 3 Issue 33 July 2013

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Razer Taipan Expert Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse

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Roxio Game Capture HD Pro

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HP ElitePad 900 Tablet

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Jabra Solemate

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Samsung Galaxy Music

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Writers: Alex Scanlon Andy Taliadoros Charlie Fripp Iwan Pienaar Lein Baart Pippa Tshabalala Rob Edwards Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius Letters: letters@gladgetmag.com

Mad Catz R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse

Competition Entries: competitions@gladgetmag.com

Sony Xperia Z Smart Phone

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladgetmag.com

Logitech Keyboard Folio Mini

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

MSI Z87-G45 Gaming Motherboard

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CanonPowerShot SX270 HS Camera

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Gunnar Digital Precision Eyewear

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The Last of Us (PS3)

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Remember Me (X360)

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Fuse (X360)

Editor: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

technology. simply.

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Copyright Š 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2013

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T

From the Editor

his intense modern world of technology has brought so many exciting variables into our organic existence that one wonders how our biological nature accommodates for this.

Our natural, genetic, instinctive wiring is inherited from the basic survival our ancestors experienced in nature. How cold, safety, famine and predator dangers were handled are still very much a deep genetic code, ingrained in how we instinctively react to life and, even more so, how our bodies adapt to circumstances.

Oh and guess what, we can’t control it. It is the fight, flight or freeze instinct we all have, for when the poop hits the fan!

So one has to ask whether our bodies and mind-set are adapting entirely to handle this modern tech-jungle, while still very much relying on our basic prehistoric instincts.

This has made me wonder how the combination of our organic coding, combined with an increased bombardment of technology, has influenced our lives, our bodies and our mindsets.

Albert Einstein said: “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction.

The world will have a generation of idiots.” If this is a prediction

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we are certainly in a danger zone and one can only wonder where we are heading…

We all know and have experienced that technology is exponential in growth; we all reap the exciting ego-boosting rewards of obtaining an “all new gadget” that has all the promise of making our lives happier and easier… only to discard it in a few months for the next “all new” distraction.

I have to wonder: what are we teaching ourselves and the next generation…perhaps that everything is expendable?

We have so many appliances that give us physical ease, only to go to the gym to get onto another appliance to offer physical stimulation and exertion.

We have social media networks to help us socialise from behind a computer, safely and securely, and have in the process created a new form of isolation and predator behaviour.

We have information at our finger tips to help inspire our thoughts and ideas and yet, in some way, easy access to information seems to sometimes prevent us from thinking on our own. Anyone heard of “Google before you tweet is the new think before

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by Katia Taliadoros

PrimalInstinct...

you speak”?

Human nature… yes, still catching up, but as predictable as it can be, it can also be surprisingly unpredictable too.

This may very well be our saving grace.

There is one variable that we haven’t looked at yet. In life it is all about choice, attitude and intention, which define how we act. In our prehistoric days we could choose to use fire to cook dinner for the man… or we could choose to use fire to cook the man. This attitude applies in our modern reality, too. Technology may be getting the better of our nature and messing with our basic coding but we still have the element of attitude and choice to utilise it positively.

We can decide to play a video game for our enjoyment for a few hours and reap the rewards of stimulating our IQ, or just simply having some fun with our basic instincts…or we can play a video game for a straight couple of days and stupidly die of exhaustion and dehydration.

The challenge here is to remain aware of this choice, while still living in a world that seduces us with its distractions.

Adapt or die… basic survival… not what it used to be, is it?

Did You

Know?

1

…that State of Decay is the second most popular XBLA game?

We all know that zombie games are very exciting, while others border on the spine-tingling. But one thing is for sure: they are incredibly popular – even more so lately. When games developer Undead Labs release State of Decay on Xbox Live Arcade, the had no advertising budget, yet the title become the second more sold XBLA game ever, with 500 000 copies sold in under a month.

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…that actor Seth Rogan was in talks to make an Uncharted film?

With the huge success of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, all focus has once again shifted onto the development studio. The developer is also responsible for the Uncharted franchise, and actor Seth Rogan said that he has been approached “for like four years now” to make a film about the game.

It might still happen, but Rogan wants to find a way to make it feel less than Indiana Jones first.

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Regular

…that Google might be working on a gaming console?

Video games is a multi-billion dollar industry every year, and it seems like everyone is trying to cash in on it. With that, Google is rumoured to be working on a gaming console that will operate on the company’s Android operating system. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google is developing the videogame system and a smartwatch to jump ahead of whatever Apple has planned in their production cycle.

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It’s all about gaming this month, with six interesting facts for you…

by Charlie Fripp

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…that Saints Row 4 is banned in Australia?

Since Australia doesn’t have a proper ratings board when it comes to videogame, it’s actually no surprise that Saints Row 4 has been banned from being sold when it releases there. The country has banned many titles in the past, but Saints Row 4 has been earmarked for banishment due to a weapons called the Alien Anal Probe, which “can be shoved into enemy’s backsides”. The Australian Classification Board said the weapon “implied sexual violence that is interactive and not justified by context”. They only recently implemented an R-18 rating system, but the board can still refuse classification for a title.

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…that Final Fantasy 9 has a mission that’s been hidden for 13 years?

PlayStation’s Final Fantasy 9 was released in 2000, but it took a clever gamer 13 years to figure that there is a side quest that nobody knew about. In the multidisc title, players got to the Tantalus hideout at the beginning of disc 4. Speaking with Zenero and Benero, they wondered where they fellow characters were. If players then went to Memoria, beat a boss, speak to other characters and repeated the process a couple of times, they would have received a Protect Ring at the hideout.

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…that the Xbox360 is set to overtake the Wii in sales?

The Wii is arguably the best-selling console of this generation of video game systems, and with multimillions in units sold, it seems as if the momentum of Nintendo is starting to slow down. According to projected forecasts, Microsoft’s Xbox360 is set to overtake the sales of Wii units by the end of the year in the US. According to data released by tracking firm NPD, “over the last 12 months, the Xbox 360 has outsold the Wii in the US by an average of about 278,000 units a month. At that rate, the Wii’s current accumulated lead will be completely dried up just in time for Christmas.” g

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Inspiration!

Where art thou?

Pippa Tshabalala

“

F

Tshabablabber

rom time to time it’s difficult to find something to write about from month to month. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, but when faced with the prospect of a deadline, occasionally you get stage fright.

The thought of people reading what you’ve written when you’re trying to come up with something interesting and relevant to say can be somewhat daunting.

Bring into this equation and our reliance on technology I had from time to time wondered if there was an app for that. So of course I did what any Internet junkie would do. I Googled it.

And turns out there actually are a number of apps that claim to help you with inspiration and writers block. Of course this is probably more attuned to novel writing than a monthly column in a magazine, nevertheless the premise is the same.

The Play store is limited to what sound like some rather ho-hum apps that I probably wouldn’t download for inspiration based merely on their description and the

Author’s photograph by Adrian Louw

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reviews, but the iTunes store has a much broader variety including apps geared specifically towards kids.

It made me wonder if this stuff actually works. In this case I can’t claim that I went and downloaded all these apps and tested them out, although certainly I like that idea for an app feature at some point, but even just looking at the selection available got me thinking.

These writing apps don’t seem to be simply limited to providing inspirational scenarios either, but some of the better ones (superficially anyway) also challenge the user to combine certain words in interesting ways in order to not only advance their vocabulary but also to improve your writing style and pull you out of any creative rut you might find yourself in.

What I do find quite ridiculous however is the way some developers seem to want to cash in on a process that could just as easily be overcome in different ways. You won’t find

many people who want to spend a large amount of money on an app that may or may not help them continue with their writing, so to see an app on the iTunes store for $40 blew my mind.

The description of this particular app insinuates that the reason you have writers block is because you need therapy. But don’t worry! They’re not going to charge you the equivalent of R1500 for a shrink, instead they’ll merely charge you R400 for an app.

Hypnotic results?

Daily subconscious messages to get over your writers block? Forgive me for sounding sceptical but even when I’m feeling inspirationally dry I can’t imagine ever buying an app like this.

So what are the alternatives? Well I can’t claim to ever having such serious writers block that I was paralysed by it, but I’m more inclined to think that this is something not solved by technology. Weird coming from me I know.

Sit down. Write.

Erase it. Hate it. But write. g

Genera Interview

The war for gamers

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ation 8

s’ hearts and minds

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Interview Feature

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he entertainment industry is in the beginning stages of what may become one of the biggest wars it has ever seen.

Specifically related to gaming, this war will be waged between Sony and Microsoft for the hearts and minds of the game playing public, and it will truly kick off at the end of this year.

But there have already been a few battles between Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, and the skirmishes thus far have left one of the combatants with a few scars. It was widely accepted that both companies would announce next generation consoles this year, particularly after Nintendo released their Wii U console in late 2012.

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The first volley came when Sony did the unexpected; while they had said that they were in no hurry to announce a new console previously, they unveiled the PS4 during a press conference on the 20th of February, 2013. While they dropped many hint and facts about the eighth generation PlayStation unit, there were still a number of unanswered questions surrounding the console.

The principle one was what it was going to look like – Sony did not have a unit to show at that conference.

However, Sony did manage to entice the public with a number of game announcements, and a handful of specifications that made it plain that the PS4 would be a big leap forward from the current,

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seventh generation PS3.

Microsoft realised that Sony had set the ball rolling, and that they would have to make their own announcement too. Amid numerous rumours, Microsoft held a much anticipated launch event on the 21st of May, 2013. Their event was rather different from Sony’s; they had a unit to show the world – the Xbox One - but didn’t put much concentration on games. Rather, Microsoft focussed on services and other offerings.

It was shortly after the Xbox One was announced that the internet began flaring up with negativity for the device. Microsoft’s plans for the Xbox One included several unpopular decisions. The Kinect unit would always have to be connected for the

Xbox One to work, users would have to connect to the internet at least once every 24 hours to keep using it, and a strict DRM policy would make the lending, renting and reselling of games next to impossible. Games would be tied to user accounts, meaning that only the person who purchased the games would be able to make use of them.

While Microsoft tried to play up the positive side of their decision, their once-loyal public were having nothing of it. Many felt that the DRM was far too restrictive, and that Microsoft was trying to control their gaming habits. Others felt that a permanently connected unit armed with a powerful, high-tech camera (in the form of the Kinect) held too much potential for the invasion of

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Interview Feature

privacy. Almost all the attention for the Xbox One diverted to these negative feelings, eclipsing the fact that the Xbox One matched the hardware specification for the PS4 almost exactly. Further criticism was levelled at the fact that Microsoft hadn’t mentioned enough games at the Xbox One launch, and that the unit was not focussed on gaming enough, thanks to numerous other entertainment services that it would offer.

Sony, in the meantime, were being very quiet.

When pressed for more details, the Japanese giant merely told people to wait until E3 for more details.

When E3 did roll around last month, Microsoft

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were the first to hold a conference. This one was all about the games, and much of the damage that was done before seemed to be soothed as they announced a large number of titles for the Xbox One, including a number of exclusives that looked extremely appealing. They also announced an initial launch price of US$499 for the Xbox One. Sony, however, were not about to let a great opportunity go to waste, and managed to steal the show the following day at their own press conference. They announced more games, of course, but what really got attendees going were their announcements that they would not require a constant internet connection, and that their DRM policies would remain the same as they were for

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the PS3. Although they stated that their online play service would now require paid subscription, similar to Xbox Live, they managed to soften the blow by announcing a price point of US$399.

Sony’s announcements redirected any positive attention that the Xbox One might have gained from its game line-up, focussing once again on the negative aspects of the system. Once again, issues of internet connectivity and DRM bubbled to the surface, this time further fuelled by a US$100 price difference that was not in Microsoft’s favour.

It seemed that the war was over before a single unit had been sold, and that Microsoft was securely on the losing side. However, the American

corporation made a surprise announcement shortly after E3 had ended; they dropped the need for internet connectivity, and drastically changed their DRM policies. Users would be able to lend, resell and rent games, just like they can with the Xbox 360.

Many feel that this latest announcement may be too little, too late. It doesn’t beat the PS4’s policies – rather, it brings the Xbox One in line with them. Further, there is still the question of that US$100 difference. But it is clear that Microsoft won’t go on without a fight. These changes in their policies are a very positive step forward, for consumers at least, and make the Xbox One a viable contender once again.

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Interview Feature

in South Africa, but it was the result of poor journalism, rather than anything either Microsoft or Sony did. Both manufacturers announced that their consoles will begin rolling out at the end of 2013, but Microsoft were the only one to be specific about dates. One of the things that came up was that the Xbox One would come to South Africa as part of the fourth wave of roll-outs. That means we will likely see it a few months later than its November release in other countries. This policy is based on performance and financials, which is something that happens fairly often; smaller territories have to wait while the manufacturers capitalise on early adoption in more lucrative markets.

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Where the controversy came in was when a South African news source misunderstood the information, and announced that the Xbox One wasn’t coming to South Africa at all. This inaccurate reporting lead to a blaze of internet fury locally.

With all that has happened, drilling down to the facts may be confusing for some – so here they are: • In terms of hardware, both consoles look very similar. They both have powerful, AMD based CPUs, 8GB of RAM and 500GB hard drives. The only real difference is that the Xbox One uses GDDR3 RAM, while the PS4 use GDDR5 RAM. How much of a difference this will make to the

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overall gaming experience is uncertain.

• The prices for the PS4 and Xbox One are US$399 and US$499 respectively. The price difference may arise from the fact that the Xbox One will ship with a Kinect unit, while Sony’s PS Eye may need to be bought separately. As for South African price points, none have been announced as yet.

• Release dates have been announced for the end of the year for both units. While it is unclear exactly when the PS4 will hit South African shelves, it’s a pretty good bet that the Xbox One will arrive on our shores in early 2014, thanks to our being part of the wave four roll-out.

• Both units will allow the lending, renting

and reselling of software. Neither unit will require a permanent internet connection, and both online services will be subscription based.

Beyond those facts, nothing is particularly certain. What extra services the units will offer – for South Africans, at least – are not confirmed yet, so we will have to wait and see. There are still five long months before these units even start to see the store shelves, and in that time a lot can happen… the only thing that is certain is that it really is too early to make final, fully informed decisions on which console is a better purchasing bet. Oh, and that the end of the year is going to be very interesting in the video game industry, as the war between PS4 and Xbox One rages on. g

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by Iwan Pienaar Feature

I

nternational research firms predict that the worldwide market for tablets will grow by 50 per cent this year and will start to outsell laptops from 2014. To many of us, this is hardly surprising as even in South Africa tablets are becoming a preferred device for relaxation and, more recently, doing business. In fact, they were added to lifestyle indexing lists not too long ago, which indicates their prominence in our market. With Africa as a whole being very dependent on mobile devices for Internet connectivity, it is hardly surprising to see these devices (which obviously offer larger screens that your average smart phone) becoming so popular, both at home and in the work place.

Not only is this good news from a productivity and connectivity perspective, but from a security one as well.

Tablets, by virtue of the operating systems they run, are considered to be more secure than computers.

Without getting too technical, tablets have a multi-layered

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approach to security and sandbox applications as a standard procedure. What this means is that applications are kept separate from the core system software so any malicious applications cannot infect others or the operating system itself.

Apps, as we are all aware, are also controlled through permissions. Before installing an app on our tablet, we need to give permission for it to access certain services and information. This is something that is important, although it does seem that many people simply gloss over this step, granting permission without taking note of what they are giving any particular app access to.

Normally, things don’t get out of hand, though; thanks to the way the majority of people use their tablets (i.e. not jailbreaking or otherwise modifying the operating system), apps are purchased and downloaded from legitimate stores where the content is carefully vetted for vulnerabilities or

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Making Moses Proud Tablets provide better security than PCs

threatening code. While it is not impossible for malware to slip though, the impact of this has been relatively minor.

Most apps are completely trustworthy, as those that make them available to you (read as the app store operators) are well aware that their reputation and income rides on being thorough.

Finally, when many tablets feature built-in GPS and remote lockdown facilities, they have features for finding, locking, wiping, and recovering a lost or stolen unit that are expensive optional extras on a laptop. For instance, every iPad has this as a free option through iCloud and the Find my Phone service, while similar features are easy to find on Android. These services do rely on user response; throwing your hands up in despair when your device is stolen or lost won’t help. The services are there to be used, after all, so take appropriate action should you need to.

Of course, this does not mean you can ignore the potential

security risks associated with tablets. Not only are they very desirable, they are also more portable than laptops. This means that they can be easily lost or stolen, and if the data on them is not encrypted, it is easy enough to capture and pass on.

People must learn to protect their tablets with encryption and lock-screen passwords. Also, GPS tracking and remote lock features have to be activated before a tablet goes missing. Again, many of us do not even bother to do this despite how easy it is. Just as with any technology device, choosing a tablet over a laptop does not mean you have guaranteed security. You still need to apply common sense and be careful of what you download even if it is from an official store. Considering most of our personal information is stored on our tablets or in the cloud which we use our tablets to access, the alternative is definitely something you should lose sleep over. g

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W

Feature

e’ve reached a stage in the evolution of the internet where a lot of people get their news on the internet first.

Most reputed news channels attract newsreaders to their stories from links on their social media pages and accounts. Many traditional newspapers and magazines put as much focus on their internet presence (if not more) as they do on their print output. And there are now many online sources of information, which has the advantage of being instantly up to date and almost “live”. The latest statistics show that while television remains the main delivery source of news to the public, the amount of people getting their current events from the radio and newspapers has steadily declined while web watching has dramatically increased over the past four to five years. Television also peaked around 2002 and has declined by approximately 14%, while internet news following has increased by approximately 40% in the last few years. The dramatic rise includes access through mobile phones. The rise in mobile browsing has also been bolstered by the advent of apps, which most of the news agencies now have.

In the wake of this, many agencies have reintroduced paywalls, spearheaded by the New York Times, who was amongst the first to revive this concept to their news service back in early 2011.

Simply put, a paywall is a system that prevents access to digital content without a paid subscription, and the concept is now synonymous with news and academic online publishing. The norm had previously been free registration, usually resulting in polite spamming of some sort, which most were probably generally OK with. However, we should have suspected that at some stage the free lunches would be taken away. While the last of the major international newspapers, like the Washington Post, fight desperately to resist the trend towards paywalls, many South African news sites have already adopted the model, from Die Beeld to Business Day, charging up to R99 per month for subscriptions.

The scheme has come across a lot of criticism, and there have been several modifications and revisions to make the scheme work. Some like the Times and The Wall Street Journal (who were the first to institute a paywall back in 1997) introduced “hard” paywalls, where no content could be accessed at all. Other opted for “soft” paywalls, either using a variety of free and mixed content. The metering of content is also considered a “soft” model, where a user may access a limited amount of content until they reach a free usage limit for the day, at which point further content browsing is blocked.

Several of them have since revised their offers in the wake of slow growth of subscriptions as well as criticism of the ethics of forcing the public to pay to stay informed of important events. Major internet players like Google, pushed for a more open system like “First Click Free”, which would only charge for repeated viewing of the same content.

Ultimately, the jury is still out on the fairness of

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the system, most have voted with their wallets (or more accurately, they have abstained). While New York Times had already publicised that “emergency” content, such as stories on Hurricane Irene would be free to view, they recently also disabled their video paywall to boost their online traffic, allowing for unlimited views on video content, which does not count towards the 10 article metered “soft” paywall.

So where does one find the news without paying a fortune? Social media has always been a shaky source of reliable information. The cherry on top has to be the recent hacking of Associated Press’s Twitter account. The hacker used the hijacked account to tweet false reports of bombings at the White House, which led to massive drops on the Dow Jones stock exchange. The account was quickly suspended, and the market eventually recovered, but the power of false news had already made waves. After a hacker recently hacked Burger King’s Twitter account back in February to post pictures of McDonald’s menus (snidely remarking that Burger King should really have chosen a better password than whopper123). Twitter has now come under fire to introduce more verification on Twitter accounts, with many calling for two-step verification on verified accounts.

So perhaps paying for news is the only way to make sure that one actually gets verified and reliable news. However, the question of paywalls came sharply into focus during the recent terrorist attacks in Boston, when multiple explosions killed and injured participants (including two South Africans) and crowd members at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The tragic event overtook the online arena, not through news agencies, but through social media, specifically Twitter. I happened to be online at the time, despite the time difference, and can remember the wave of sudden tweets and re-tweets that suddenly overtook my Twitter feed. As many of the people on the ground tweeted what they saw and heard, there was a feeling of being connected to the event somehow, as it was happening there and then. In fact, it seemed insensitive somehow that some news agencies and tech sites continued to tweet unrelated news, possibly scheduled before hand or unaware of the unfolding tragedy. Many US news sites only reacted later, while local news mostly picked up the story the following day.

So just as news agencies have to evolve with readers to meet their needs in expectation to generate revenues, perhaps we as news consumers need to evolve the way that we interact with information. When there is a limited stream of information, we narrowed our selection and chose agencies and formats that we identified with – business orientated magazines or tech-focussed journals. With a flood of information constantly vying for our attention, we’ll perhaps have to verify information from multiple sources before we can assume a certain presentation or viewpoint is substantiated. Luckily there is no shortage of sources to give us a varied, balanced and hopefully inexpensive perspective on world events. g

Things have come to pass Spying, speed and other predictions‌ gladget33

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Closet Cleaning Feature

Strategies for a cleaner, smoother, less sluggish mobile phone

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by Pippa Tshabalala

W

e’ve all heard the phrase “cleaning out the closet”, which more often than not refers to the process of cleaning the dark secrets and skeletons from your life, coming clean, starting anew and all that cathartic stuff.

What we do less often however is clean out the chaff from our phones. I am particularly guilty of this and try to make a concerted effort at least once a month to go through and cleanse my mobile phone of goodness knows how many unnecessary apps, photos, videos and the like.

Does your phone lag unnecessarily when trying to open an app? Does your camera take a few seconds to open causing you to miss that Kodak moment? Does an app hang suddenly seemingly out of nowhere? More than likely, you my friend, need to do a spring clean.

Android phones in particular multi-task everything so you too often up with applications running in the background consuming your RAM. There are a couple of ways to do this spring clean and in my case it’s usually a multistep process as I employ more than one method.

Let’s start with the wrong way to do this, mainly because it’s time consuming and irritating. The first is to manually go through and delete all the random photos of things you thought were great at the time but in retrospect just take up space. Add to this the unnecessary apps, which you totally thought you’d use, the browsing history and a million other things, and you’ll find your phone becomes unnecessarily sluggish.

Let’s start with photos. It’s annoying and time consuming on almost any mobile platform to have to go through and

select each photo individually.

Luckily this is exactly what backups are for. If you’re like me and often end up clearing your selection accidentally after you’ve spent an hour selecting which photos need to be deleted, then you’ll appreciate the computer backup system. Connect your phone, back up your photos (and videos while you’re at it), then clear all that stuff from your phone and go through the backup to delete photos at your leisure.

Perhaps it’s not ideal, because you can too often just end up with a load of crap saved on your computer instead, however at least this is easier to manage than a fiddly mobile file management system.

Any parents will also identify with the fact that we take a lot of pictures of our kids. And I mean a lot. Coupled with the fact that when your kid discovers the camera function on your phone and spends the afternoon taking photos of the floor, the top of their head, a black screen and so on, means that you often have some very random photos in your albums.

Next up are the apps.

Partly because of my job, and partly because I’m obsessed with apps, I have so many unnecessary apps on my phone it’s not even funny any more. Games that I played once, apps I installed for a feature, apps I needed for something specific at the time but which I no longer even remember what that was, the list goes on.

I went through my phone only a couple of days ago and did a complete app cleanse. I was brutal. Games I haven’t played in months?

Gone. Productivity apps I’ve used once no matter how theoretically useful? Gone.

So now, you’ve managed to clear your phone of all the unnecessary chaff but it’s

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still running slower than you’d like. What to do? If you’re not one of those people who is confident enough to go messing about with operating system files then you need a simple solution.

There’s an app for that.

On Android this app is Clean Master. Sure there are other apps that do much the same job, but Clean Master does it for me. Simple to use, free, it notifies you when you phone is becoming sluggish, and makes allowances for large files you might want to keep.

Clean Master will erase residual files that might have accumulated on your device, whether through the installation and subsequent uninstallation of apps, or even through simply browsing the internet throughout the day.

If you so wish it will clear your privacy data such as passwords and such, if you don’t like to have these things stored for security reasons, and it also includes an app manager and backup assistant which will allow you to easily manage your apps.

It’s a simple process too and you’re guided through the process, with an immediate indication of whether or not you should be deleting what you suspect to be the offending files.

From the bit of research I’ve done for a comparative iOS app, it seems that SYS Activity Manager Plus is the best on that platform, although you’ll pay for this one. I can’t say that I’ve used it, but I’m pretty sure if you do a bit of investigating yourself you’ll find one that works for you.

Right now daaahlings!

Time to get rid of the chaff and start afresh, lighter, reinvigorated and reenergised, ready to tackle the world secure in the knowledge that your phone isn’t the thing holding you back. g

25

1996 The Modern Age Arrives

By Lein Baart

Looking Back

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he nineties was a decade that saw massive cultural shifts, and 1996 was no exception. This was the year that saw the murder of 2Pac, the Spice Girls explode into proverbial cash cows, and the continuing parental nightmare that was the rave scene. But while bands like Rage Against the Machine had parents eyeing their children nervously, the plague of the modern age that is terrorism still reared its horrifying head. From the IRA bombings in London and Manchester to the suicide bombings and missile attacks in Israel that eventually culminated in Operation Grapes of Wrath, this was a fretful year for the world.

In contrast, however, this was an exciting time for technology. In the field of biology, 1996 saw the science community at a fever pitch with the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell. While not the first animal cloned (believe it or not that honour goes to the humble sea urchin in 1885), Dolly was hugely significant because she proved that adult cells have all the genetic information required to produce an identical clone. Despite the ethical debate

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around cloning, this stands as a landmark scientific breakthrough.

This was a year for computer science though, and the commencement of the Wayback Machine was only the beginning. Created by Internet Archive, the Wayback Machine is an attempt to preserve internet history, using a digital library of literally billions of pages (240 billion URLS as of January 2013 in fact). Using a web crawler, the library downloads webpages on a continual basis with the archive measuring in the petabytes (1000 terabytes), and is always growing. This was also the year Deep Blue managed to defeat reigning chess world champion Gary Kasparov. An IBM creation, Deep Blue was not able to win the match consisting of 6 games, though it would do so the following year amidst accusations of cheating.

1996 marked the year that the DVD officially launched commercially, though only in Japan. The virtues of the storage format are well-known, it still being the most commonly used method of digital distribution, however the history of its development

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wasn’t without trouble. A result of two independent research initiatives by Phillips and Sony on the one hand, and Toshiba, Time Warner and Pioneer (to name a few) on the other, the DVD owes its existence to the Technical Working Group, a consortium of computer experts that prevented what would have been a costly format war. Essentially browbeating the companies into cooperation the result was the DVD, a format that combined the best of both technologies.

One of the greatest hallmarks of the year though goes to Java, and specifically the release of the Java programming language. Developed by James Gosling, Mike Sheridan and Patrick Naughton at Sun Microsystems, Java was designed from the start to be “simple”, “robust”, “secure” and achieve “high performance”. Probably its greatest feature was what Sun Microsystems dubbed “Write Once, Run Anywhere”, the ability of the language to run on any architecture and system regardless of where it was created (in theory at least). The language and the software platform has not been without its criticisms,

but its success has been nearly incomprehensible, with more than 3 billion phones and 1.1 billion computers all running Java (according to the owners, Oracle, at least).

Just as important though, 1996 saw the creation of BackRub, a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin that two years later would evolve into one of the behemoths of the modern technological world, Google.

The name “BackRub” was derived from one of the features that would later propel Google to success, namely PageRank. Contrary to popular search engines of the time, which ranked pages according to matches between the text of a page and the search string, Google took an altogether revolutionary approach, instead opting to rank pages by “link popularity”, or the number of links to a website from other sites a page has. By no means the only criteria Google employs (there are reportedly over 250 factors), this method for rating website importance proved one of the critical factors that has made Google synonymous with the Internet. g

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Reviews Highlights 20 Asus Maximus VI Hero Motherboard For all your Haswell gaming needs 26 Roxio Game Capture HD Pro Capture every console!

36 Jabra Solemate A workhorse speaker...

40 Mad Catz R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse The real cyber-mouse...

I

n this month’s review section we bring you a wide array of different product - almost literally something for everyone’s taste.

If you’re into Haswell motherboards, Ultrabooks, tablets, cameras, smart phones or even awesome PC-eyeware, there’s something here for you. And a whole lot more! g

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ASUS recommends Windows 8.

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23

Broaden Your Horizons ASUS All-in-One PC Powerful Performance

Impeccable Lifelike Visuals

Astonishing Audio

Entertainment made easy

4th gen Intel ® Core™ i7 Processor

16:9 widescreen display

ASUS SonicMaster audio technology

10-point multi-touch display

Powerful discrete graphics

Ultra-high 2560 x 1440 resolution

Crisp, clear sound quality

HDMI in/out ports

Ultrafast Thunderbolt™ technology

IPS display with wide viewing angles

Richer bass response

Super-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi

*External wired subwoofer, touchscreen and some features are available on selected models only. *Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, Core Inside and Thunderbolt are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Review

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Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. M Mobile Gaming Headset

ad Catz is a company that has grown from strength to strength. With this growth has come the acquisition of names like Tritton and Saitek, adding more punch to their portfolio and bringing in new technology and techniques required for creating the aspirational products that Mad Catz want to bring to market.

In addition to this, Mad Catz love innovation, and they have a tendency to innovate intelligently; that means creating products that make sense, rather than just doing cool stuff because they can.

One of the areas that they are looking at is mobile, and because they have a strong background in gaming peripherals, mobile gaming specifically. Not that the F.R.E.Q M headset is purely intended for gaming… or for mobile, for that matter. This small, very portable stereo headset can be used with any number of mobile applications, including calls and listening to music, and is at home with any device that uses a 3.5mm audio jack.

It ships with two cables – one for use with mobile devices, with an integrated in-line mic, and one that gets used with PCs or Macs – also with an integrated inline mic. The difference is that the mobile cable only has one audio jack for plugging in to devices, while the other cable has a headphone and mic jack. That’s an example of the smart innovation I mentioned – other headsets ignore the need for a computer based microphone, even if they do bring out a two cable system. The PC cable in those cases tends to have no mic support at all.

The F.R.E.Q. M is a small headset, which means that the ear cups are small, too. They are of the onear variety and, by necessity, house small drivers.

This might cause concern over sound quality but, to be honest, the audio that this headset delivers is very, very good. With great response over the entire audio spectrum and no distortion, even at the highest volume levels (and these babies are loud) the performance they deliver is much better than one might expect at first glance. The ear cups are also generously padded, meaning that they are very comfortable to use.

The foldable headset is easy to carry around (it even comes with a carry pouch) but the build doesn’t seem quite as tough as it could be. That means that the user will need to exercise care to avoid damaging the headset.

With good looks, great sound and simple-yeteffective ideas, the F.R.E.Q. M is a great headset.

Although it doesn’t feel very tough, it is still well worth consideration if you are after good quality headphones that fit a wide number of uses. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

In terms of performance, the F.R.E.Q. M mobile headset packs a massive punch.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Great audio Nice cable set Comfortable

Stereo 40mm drivers Foldable Computer compatible Smart device compatible In-line mic and controls

M a d Ca tz Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Might not stand up to rough treatment

Score

95 31

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Asus Maximus VI Hero Motherboard

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ximus!

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ith Intel releasing their new Haswell processors (which, in layman’s terms, are an upgrade to multi-core processing, based on the Ivy Bridge CPUs) motherboard manufacturers are working all out to ensure that they get a slice of the inevitable early-adopter upgrade pie. This, combined with the relatively recent move towards gaming oriented components, means that we are seeing some very interesting ideas popping up. While only hard-core enthusiasts get truly excited about motherboards, various companies are offering options that should get a wider variety of people looking forward to new system backbones.

Asus’ Maximus VI Hero is one such motherboard and it brings with it more than a few features that are rather exciting. For example (and this is one that we love) it has a built in Sonic Radar system. What this means is that, when gaming, the board scans for sounds within the 3D environment of the game, and displays precise directions of gunshots, footsteps and more on an on-screen radar.

Cheating? Well, maybe, but it certainly will gamers that use it an edge.

But the Maximus isn’t just about visual representations of audio stimuli. Rather, it packs in a number of features that make the overall gaming experience great. GameFirst II, for example, is a LAN system that prioritises game traffic over a network, cutting down on lag. The system is even customisable, allowing the user to manage traffic volumes effectively. RAMDisk is another system that improves the experience by using part of the system’s physical memory as storage. This means that smoother performance and less strain on drives are the order of the day. The board’s audio also uses carefully calibrated systems and architecture to deliver extremely good sound.

In terms of components, the Maximus uses top notch bits and pieces to ensure level power consumption and greater stability. These include NexFET Power Block MOSFETs, Black Wing Chokes and 10K Black Metallic solid stateW capacitors. In simple terms, these equate to less heat generation, more efficient power consumption and improved overall stability.

The Maximus VI Hero really is a great motherboard, in terms of performance. It might not look quite as flashy as some other boards do, but this system backbone manages to offer great performance – which really is the most important aspect of it.

With support for both Crossfire and SLi, the board allows for added graphics punch. However, overclocking it is not as simple as other boards –it’s possible, but it takes a little more work than on other boards. That shouldn’t be a problem for most users, though, because the Maximus manages to deliver the goods without tweaking. It’s fast and effective, and a very reliable device for tying all your PC components together. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

This board is a great solution for gamers, and anyone else wanting a high performance PC system.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Great stability Sonic Radar system Good audio

Z87 Express chipset 4 RAM ports 6 USB 3.0 ports 8 USB 2.0 ports Crossfire compatible SLi compatible

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om A pprox R3 200

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A little less userfriendly

Score

88 33

Asus Xonar Essence STU

A

T Review

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hose that love great audio know that an amplifier is often key to pitch perfect performance. While most devices have built in amplifiers of some kind, they can leave audio sounding flat. But when used with a good amplifier and speakers, or even a set of headphones, a ton of difference in tonality and quality can be detected.

Asus’ Xonar range contains a number of different amplifier solutions, ranging from high end and complex through to simple-yet-effective. It is in the latter section that the Xonar Essense STU plays. It offers a number of options to the user, but doesn’t go the complicated route (which includes things like adjustable audio resampling and the like.) Rather, the Essence concentrates on what is important – good stereo audio.

In terms of controls, this sleek, retro-looking box offers little more than input selection and volume controls. In

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this way it keeps things uncomplicated, allowing the user to experience great audio without having to tweak too many settings. Sure, other Xonar options offer more control, but if your audio is coming from at least a half-way decent source, the Essence will produce great results.

As far as outputs go, the Essence offers two options. The first is a set of RCA connectors for speakers. The system needs to be used with powered speakers, or routed into a powered amplifier (which seems a little redundant) for speakers to be an option. A better option lies in the front mounted 6.3mm headphone jack. In fact, the unit seems far more canted towards headphones with headphone gain indicators, as well as a headphone gain toggle mounted at the back.

For inputs, the Essence has four options. An auxiliary input will handle any device that uses a 3.5mm jack cable, like smart phones, tablets and mp3 players. An S/PDIF

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by Alex Scanlon

Performer Better audio is never a bad thing...

and optical input set makes room for devices like TVs, DVD players and CD players, although these are non-traditional input means. Lastly, a USB port allows for connection to a PC. While this is all rather straight forward, the Essence works its magic inside the box. Numerous systems are employed to enrich audio. Things like a selectable DC servo headphone output and 120dB signal-to-analog ratio sound very impressive (and true audiophiles will know what those terms mean). The truth is that the performance the various systems delivers is impressive, not only improving audio quality but also decreasing pops and jittering (which may come up in certain digital formats).

In short, the Xonar Essence STU is a great way to listen to audio, particularly music and other things that work well in stereo. It’s a bit of a niche item- not everyone will want one- but it certainly does its job well. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

While not the most complicated Xonar option, the Essence does what it is supposed to do well.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Easy to use Elegant looks Good audio quality

Optical input S/PDIF input Auxilliary input USB input 6.3mm headphone jack Stereo RCA output

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Requires powered speakers

Score

79 35

HP Envy 4 Ultrabook Review

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Elega Good looks and decent performance combined…

U U

ltrabooks have proven to be very popular with those that can work around the idea that they have no optical drives.

While this can still be seen as a problem here in South Africa, improved infrastructure and better Internet provision have seen devices that are more dependent on internet connectivity growing in popularity. And what’s not to like about a small, sleek, powerful Ultrabook?

And they don’t get much better looking than HP’s Envy products. This range of stylish devices in perfectly named, because people that see you with one will certainly be jealous. The black brushed metal top is complemented by a base finished in a deep burgundy on the outside, and a similar, stylish brushed black metal on the inside.

The overall aesthetic is possessed of strong lines and interesting angles, all of which add up to make this Ultrabook look a bit different from the average devices available on the market.

Inside, the 14 inch glossy screen is surrounded by a generous bezel that continues the shiny look. It’s a nightmare for fingerprints, so you will probably spend some time keeping the thing clean. The keyboard is not full (it has no numpad) but the discrete, low profile black keys look great against the brushed metal finish. It is all rounded off by a generous, textured touch pad.

But looks aren’t everything. Performance counts a lot longer than looks do for Ultrabooks.

And in that department, the Envy 4 is no slouch. Sure, Ultrabooks aren’t the highest spec portable computers around, but in keeping comparisons fair, the Envy does well against other devices in its class.

It is powered by a 1.7GHz CPU, supported by a rather nice 4GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 8GB. Graphics are handled by an Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip, which results in a nice, clear display. Storage is provided by a 500GB HDD, although up to 24GB of that may be consumed by HP’s system recovery applications.

Another important aspect of the Envy is the high grade audio it delivers. Powered by Beats audio, it sounds better than your average notebook. Then again, most new notebooks these days are taking sound more seriously, so it doesn’t stand out too much.

Using the Envy 4 is a pleasure. The device is responsive and powerful enough for general work purposes, although it will struggle a little with more demanding applications. Then again, it wasn’t intended for those kinds of things, so all’s well there.

At 1.8kg, it is one of the heavier Ultrabooks around. When closed, it measures only 1.98cm in depth, so it really is sleek.

Good looks and a decent degree of power meet in the Envy 4. It’s a great work companion of the image conscious. g

ance

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

It looks really good, and delivers a good degree of performance.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

HP HP www.hp.c om R9999

Pros • • • • • gladget33

1.7GHz CPU 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Intel HD Graphics 4000 chipset 1.8kg 14 inch screen

Great looks Good audio Decent performance

Cons • • • • •

Heavy for an Ultrabook

Score

80 37

Mr

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Razer Taipan Expert Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse

Se se

ns or s

T Review

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he mouse market is far more complex than one would think. But if you walk into a well-stocked retailer and try to find a mouse, you’re going to be overwhelmed with choices. There are all kinds of products available in this hotly contested market, and the trend for new ideas and innovations isn’t going to be slowing down any time soon.

Razer offer a massive variety of mice, including the Taipan. Once again named after a venomous snake, the Taipan manages to bring a new idea to the table that will have those wanting a high degree of precision doing a jig of delight. See, instead of using one sensor system, the Taipan sports two: this mouse uses a laser and an optical sensor.

That may seem redundant, but what it essentially means is that the Taipan will work very well on absolutely any surface, and it offers a high degree of

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precision tracking. The system uses an 8200 dpi sensor as well, so it is extremely responsive and quick.

Here’s the irony, though… you would think that Razer would work that kind of a system into a mouse that was crammed with features. In essence, though, the Taipan is a fairly simple device. It may have fast reflexes, including 50g of acceleration and a 1 millisecond response time, but just looking at it wouldn’t have you thinking that it is particularly fancy. Not that it looks bad, mind you – Razer mouse devices all look sleek and impressive. But it is hard to distinguish this mouse from any other ambidextrous form factor Razer mouse.

It features nine programmable buttons, which include the two standard buttons, a scroll wheel, two smaller buttons just rear of the scroll wheel and two buttons on each side. As with most ambidextrous Razers, the two buttons on the off side – away from the thumb – are

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pretty tough to get to, but that still leaves seven easily accessible controls.

The mouse sports a seven foot braided cable (because we all know that a mouse with a cable performs better) and has a contoured, rubberised thumb grip on either side. It is Synapse 2.0 compliant, and features all the glowing bits you would expect from the Razer stable.

It’s a great mouse to use, and the responsiveness is clear right from the word go. But adding yet another mouse to their offering certainly muddies the waters a bit. What Razer need to do is pour all this innovation into one flagship product, creating a clearly superior mouse possessed of all the features and technology they have at their disposal.

Still, if you’re after a mouse so sensitive that it cries during chick-flicks, the Taipan is the beast for you. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

This mouse really is extremely sensitive, and great fun to use.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Extremely sensitive Comfortable to use Ambidextrous

8200 DPI Dual sensor system 9 programmable buttons 7ft cable Ambidextrous

Ra zer Corex www.c orex.c o.za A pprox R850

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Off-side buttons hard to reach

Score

89 39

Roxio Game Capture HD Pro

Record video from any game platform with this effective solution.

Review

the Platf

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by Walt Pretorius

forms!

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ecording footage of video games is not something that everyone is going to do. But for those that are after effectively capturing video game footage, there are a few problems that may arise. First of all, many capture cards or units feature only one kind of input. In other words, they feature either component cable plugs, or HDMI ports.

While it might seem like a good idea to leap on the HDMI port option, there is a problem that arises from capturing footage from PS3; the HDMI port on the Sony console is protected by HDCP, a highdefinition copy protection system mainly aimed at stopping people from pirating Blu-Ray movies. It can’t be turned off for games, though – everything that passes through the PS3’s HDMI port is protected.

That’s what makes Roxio’s Game Capture HD Pro such a great device. This external capture device allows for both HMDI and component inputs and outputs. That means versatility in connection, and a way around Sony’s HDCP implementation.

What’s even better, though, is that signal input via component can be output as HDMI. This means hooking the unit up to a monitor or TV while recording is really simple. Sure, there is a bit of clarity loss, but you’re going to do this for video recording, not general gaming. And if you’re going to upload your videos to something like YouTube, the 720p cap for component recording is really enough.

Once connected to the console (or consoles, if you use a component connection for PS3 and HDMI for Xbox, for example) the Game Capture HD Pro interfaces with the PC that will be capturing the footage via a USB cable. Roxio-s software then captures the footage while the player enjoys gaming with no lag on the output monitor. There might be lag in the software’s monitor area, but absolutely none of that appears on the screen that the signal from the unit outputs to.

With such an easy-to-use, effective solution taking care of current-generation console game recording, it’s a wonder that more people aren’t doing it. The Game Capture HD Pro is almost fool-proof, and the unit and software enjoy extensive support coverage online, should you run into any problems. Speaking of online, the capture software insists on an internet connection while recording, which is the only real downside to this system.

It is a great option – in fact, Gamecca Video have switched to using the Roxio solution for online video reviews. Check out the reviews of The Last of Us and Remember Me to see the quality of the recordings at www.youtube.com/gamecca.

In short, if you want to get all your gaming recorded effectively and simply, this is the way to go. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

The Game Capture HD Pro not only captures great quality video game footage, but it provides a solution for all consoles.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Very easy to use Great capture quality Multiple inputs

Component input HMDI input Component output HDMI output Live streaming Editing software included

Roxio Phoenix Softwa re www.roxio.c om TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Only 720p from component

Score

92 41

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Review

HP ElitePad 900 Tablet

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f anyone thought that tablets were a fad, they have been proven wrong. These highly accessible and easy to use computing devices are popping up everywhere, both here in South Africa and all over the world. And while the market leaders are arguably Samsung and Apple (when it comes to these smart devices, at least) there are numerous other manufacturers getting in on the action. One of them is the computing giant HP. The HP ElitePad 900 looks like it means business.

The 10.1 inch screen is surrounded by a wide bezel, with a front facing camera at the top and a home button at the bottom. The outer shell looks metallic, with a fairly large rubberised section at the top rear housing a camera, flash and near field communication (NFC) hotspot. The outer shell extends beyond the bezel quite a bit, adding an edge to the device, where most others opt for rounded surfaces.

It feels a bit bulky, to be honest, and is a little on the heavy side. However, the striking looks and heft lend it a serious edge, and it seems that HP has intended this device to be more of a business tool than a general tablet. That could also be why they avoided Android as an operating system (and obviously couldn’t use iOS). Rather, the ElitePad 900 makes use of a Windows 8 based system.

This means easier integration with other systems running Windows 8 – once again a nod towards that whole business tool idea.

The ElitePad 900 comes in 32GB and 64GB flavours, and has the added benefit of expandable storage via a MicroSD card reader. The reader is locked behind a door that requires a pin to open, which is great for added security but takes a little longer to work with.

On the outside you’ll also find an audio jack port, obligatory controls for power and volume, and a screen rotation lock switch.

Inside, the ElitePad sports a 1.8GHz dual core processor, supported by a rather nice 2GB of RAM. This means that the ElitePad 900 is surprisingly quick, offering smooth operation via the multi-touch Gorilla Glass screen. The CPU user hyperthreading as well, which also adds to the smooth operation of the device.

There are obviously numerous other bells and whistles included, particularly on the software side – HP likes adding the extras. On the whole, all of this adds up to a pad that is quick and efficient. In terms of battery life it certainly isn’t bad, either, allowing for a fairly long period of use before recharging is required.

As with many tabs, this one comes down to a matter of looks and OS. If you enjoy Windows 8 and like the more serious appearance of the ElitePad, it is an excellent option. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

If you enjoy Windows 8 and like a more serious looking device, the ElitePad 900 will serve you faithfully.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Looks serious Very responsive Decent battery life

32 / 64GB storage 1.8GHz dual core CPU 2GB RAM MicroSD card reader Windows 8 10.1 inch screen

HP HP www.hp.c om R8 999 (32GB )

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A little bulky

Score

86 43

Jabra Solemate

TOUGH as

I Review

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t took me a little while to figure out why Jabra’s Solemate Portable Speaker made me feel all kinds of nostalgia. And then it came to me: back in the days of my misspent youth, I wore Doc Martens boots.

In fact, Docs have a strong association with music for me. And the Solemate has a look that reminds me of a Doc Martens boot, from the heavy black finish through to the yellow trim and the little carry tab. It might sound odd, but the similarity is definitely there… and I don’t think I will be the only one to see it.

And it’s a good association. Putting on the Docs always meant that good music was likely to follow, and that’s what the Solemate is all about. This chunky wireless speaker system uses Bluetooth to connect to a host of devices, and deliver great audio. It’s not the biggest device we have seen for this purpose, but its overall design makes it look tough and bulky. And it

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is tough – the solidly constructed device features metal speaker covers and a rubberised feel that implies a degree of durability. It even comes with a special sound bag for added outdoor protection.

Coming back to the boot thing; one of the most distinctive features of the Solemate is also the source of its slightly unusual name. Built into the base of the unit is a thick rubber sole, which helps prevent unwanted vibration and distortion. It even has a fair amount of tread, which actually works beautifully on slanted and uneven surfaces.

Built into the sole is a cable storage area, housing a bright yellow, braided cable with two 3.5mm jacks, allowing the Solemate to be used with virtually any audio device (and a work boot needs laces, right?) It also comes with a USB cable, for charging and data, and a separate charging adapter.

gladget33

by Alex Scanlon

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In addition to music performance, the Solemate can also be used as a speakerphone extension. And it’s internal, rechargeable battery allows for up to eight hours of audio performance, with up to 40 days of standby time.

Speaking of performance, it sounds as good as it looks. The volume can really be pumped up with this one, in which the combination of great speakers and vibration dampening results in no distortion, even at high noise levels.

Jabra really have struck a great cord with the Solemate. Not only is it tough, portable and extremely good in its performance, but it looks great. All those boot references weren’t poking fun, they were pointing out one of the coolest aspects of this device. It’s funky, easy-to-use and extremely good at what it is intended to do. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

It looks tough, it is tough, and it sounds fantastic!

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Very tough Good sound Looks awesome

Bluetooth 3.5mm cable included 8 hour battery life 40 hour standby Speakerphone capability

Ja bra Wintec Solutions Xxxxxxx A pprox R2 500

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A little bulky

Score

89 45

Little Guy

Samsung Galaxy Music

A great entry-level option

by Walt Pretorius

S Review

S

amsung’s Galaxy range really tries to address every need, and the Galaxy Music is a great example of that approach. What we have in this device is a stripped-down version of the Galaxy smart phone range. It’s perfect for those that want a phone capable of various tasks, but without the high end components that define a fully functional smart phone. In other words, it’s great for youngsters who need a phone (particularly for music as well as calls) who don’t need to access the internet on their mobile much.

It sports a single core 850MHz CPU, 4GB of storage, a 3 megapixel camera and a three inch screen. It runs Android, and is much smaller and lighter than the average Galaxy phone.

The music is not for everyone, but it is a feature rich, cost effective entry into the smart phone market. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

It’s a stripped down smart phone, but it is a decent entry level option.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Small Well priced Great for music

850MHz CPU 4GB storage 3 megapixel camera 3 inch screen Android OS Stereo speakers

Sa msung Sa msung www.sa msung .c om A pprox R2 700

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Feels anachronistic

Score

70

us rio se !

fun

Mad Catz R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse

me so

Review

for ‌

AS

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by Walt Pretorius

Serious Rig W

e have seen numerous good mouse devices over the years that we have been putting this magazine together.

But only on one occasion did we see a mouse that offered an extreme degree of physical customisation. By ‘physical’ we mean actually allowing the user to alter its shape for a more comfortable fit. It was the Razer Orobouros, and it remains a firm favourite.

But there is a whole range of mice that offer that kind of customisation, plus something that the Razer solution did not – variable weight.Originally created by Cyborg and now by Mad Catz (thanks to one of those business-type take-over things) the R.A.T series of mice offer users a massive degree of customisation.

The R.A.T. 5 offers it in mainly two ways. The first is that the mouse features a length adjustment, which allows the user to find a very comfortable fit.

The second is in 30g of weighs which can be added or removed, giving the user the perfect heft for the mouse as well. While other devices in this range offer even more options (like width adjustment) the R.A.T. 5 is a more stripped down version.

That said, it still gives virtually any competitor a good run for their money. Built on an aluminium frame, it is extremely sturdy, and features a look that is, to say the least, very striking. While other mouse products are about smooth lines and curves, the R.A.T. 5 is about edges and dramatic angles, making it stand out among the crowd, in terms of looks. Other mouse products look like cool devices – the R.A.T. 5 looks like a tool.

Several other features are quite exceptional, in addition to the 5600 dpi performance that it delivers with its high grade laser. The DPI can be adjusted and set to four predefined setings, for example. Also, the mouse features a precision aiming mode, when the smallest movement is vital to gaming success. A mode switch next to the left button allows the user to switch between three modes, making the total number of programmable button sets 18 – that’s six times three.

And then, just to add insult to injury for competitors, it comes in a variety of colours, too.

Mad Catz are working hard to become a company that produces high-end, aspirational products, and with devices like the R.A.T. 5, they are achieving that goal. Sure, these aren’t the cheapest mice around, but the 5 is better priced, placing it within reach of a wider audience. It may not have all the bells and whistles of the higher end R.A.T. units, but it still offers great performance and a good level of customisation, both physically and in terms of control. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

At the lower end of the R.A.T. range, the 5 performs beautifully nonethe-less.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Unique looks Excellent performance Customisation

5600 dpi 3 modes 6 programmable buttons Length customisation Weight customisation Four DPI presets

M a d Ca tz Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Not the cheapest mouse around

Score

92 49

Sony Xperia Z Smart Phone

Much Smarter

A Review

A

lmost everyone has some kind of smart phone horror story. The kid smashed it. It fell into the toilet. It got wet and died. The display cracked. For such expensive devices, they certainly are fragile things, and the amount of use and carrying around that the average smart phone goes through means that a tragedy is more of an inevitability than an accident.

Sony have a solution in the form of their Xperia Z hand held device. Quite simply, make it tougher.

The Xperia Z can handle more than the average smart phone, simply because Sony wanted to make a device that could take a beating. Durable glass panels with anti-shatter film cover the display, while the whole things is constructed into a glass fibre polyamide skeleton – a substance which is incredibly strong. Add to that a water resistance of up to 1m,

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and you have a device that will take on the everyday knocks with grace.

But the Xperia Z is not just about being tough‌ Sony are well aware that the smart phone market is a hotly contested one, and to become prominent in it they need to make sure that this device has features aplenty. So there are things like the OptiContrast display, which performs better in all light conditions. The 5 inch HD screen is driven by the mobile Bravia Engine 2, which results in really crisp and clear graphics.

Even the camera has things to crow about. The 13 megapixel camera performs well in almost any light conditions, thanks to an Exmor RS sensor. Not only that, but the water and dust resistance of the phone makes using the camera in a wider range of conditions viable. It also features a burst mode to ensure that you get the shot. And, get this‌ it can even shoot video in

gladget33

And tougher, too!

by Alex Scanlon

HDR. That’s pretty impressive.

In fact, the Xperia Z is the best phone we have seen from the range to date. It is a reliable and effective device, around the size of Samsung’s S3. It also blends well with the entire Sony stable, which is starting a wide implementation of one-touch connectivity, a system based on near field communication (NFC) which implements easy pairing and sharing.

Armed with a quad core 1.5GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM, the Xperia Z is fast and responsive. It even features a punchy graphics processor, in the form of the Adreno 320 GPU, which helps gaming and other applications perform better. And with an LTE (or 4G) connection, it is quick with wireless comms, too.

Sony have produced a winner in the form of the Xperia Z. It is their best bet, so far, at making a bigger dent in the smart phone race. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

Sony’s best run at the smart phone market yet, the Xperia Z is tough and crammed with cool, sensible features.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Very tough Awesome features Fast and responsive

1.5GHz CPU 2GB RAM LTE 13 megapixel camera Up to 16GB storage MicroSD compatible 5 inch screen

Sony Sony www.sony .c om A pprox R7 000

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Looks a little plain

Score

90 51

G G

Review

Logitech Keyboard Folio Mini

etting a cool new device always brings up the need for looking after it. Spending a lot of money on a gadget seems to make most people happy, and having that device damaged has the exact opposite effect. That’s why there is such a lucrative market for covers that protects smart phones and tablet devices.

While most protective coverings are generally functional only in those terms, there are others that add even more usability and accessibility to a product, making them even better than the run-of-the-mill. Take iPad covers, for example.

Getting a iPad cover is a no brainer for someone who has an Apple tablet, but getting one that improves the way the tablet works is an even better idea.

Logitech have shown an understanding of this principle pretty much since there were tablets, with a particular leaning towards the Apple brands. Now that there is such a thing as an iPad Mini, they have once again produced a product that not only protects the precious tablet, but adds a keyboard into the mix as well.

Let’s be honest – typing with the on-screen keyboard of almost any smart device can be a pain, and with its smaller form factor, that idea applies even more to the iPad Mini. So having a dedicated keyboard worked into a protective cover, which doubles as a display stand… well, that’s just great. And that’s exactly what the Logitech Keyboard Folio Mini offers.

On the surface, it looks like a stylish folder.

Powerful magnets serve to keep it closed when folded, and a clever design keeps the iPad screen away from the keyboard inside. Once opened, the keyboard is revealed, and another magnet holds the folder in place, creating a sort of ‘laptop’ look and feel to the set up. The folder can also be opened all the way, to enable the user to use the iPad in a more traditional way.

The keyboard connects to the tablet via Bluetooth, and has an independent power switch and rechargeable battery. The keys are quite small, but they are well separated and are still easier and more convenient than any of the iPad’s onboard options. It is a stripped down version of an Apple keyboard; it has no numpad, for example, but still includes a CMD button.

This really is a great quality device, but it does have one short-coming… it is incredibly specific.

That can be said for any tablet oriented product, sure, where not only brand but size also plays a big role in compatibility. So it really is a small thing; the only people who will buy this are those that own the product it is intended to be used with. If you own an iPad Mini, this is the perfect protective companion for it. g

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Mini

A great way to enjoy your Apple…

Summary

Tech Specs:

by Walt Pretorius

The perfect cover for those that own an iPad Mini. And only for those that own an iPad Mini...

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Quality materials Good keyboard Excellent protection

Rechargeable battery Bluetooth keyboard EasyType keys Magnetised cover

Log itec h Log itec h www.log itec h.c om TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Extremely product specific

Score

80 53

W

Review

MSI Z87-G45 Gaming Motherboard

W

The Next

ith Intel’s new series – that would be series 8, or Haswell – processors, motherboard manufacturers have jumped on board. They’re producing a number of solutions aimed at bringing end users boards that take advantage of all of the new Haswell features and abilities.

Haswell, quite simply, is an enhanced multicore system that is a revision of the Ivy Bridge processors that were released not that long ago

by Intel. In very basic terms, that means better processing power, but it also means having the right motherboard to handle not only the new chip, but also what it can do.

One such motherboard manufacturer is MSI, who have introduced a series of Haswell based motherboards to their Gaming Series range of products. One such board is the Z87-G45 Gaming motherboard, and it brings with it the kind of quality you would expect from both the manufacturer and the series, combined with a number of new features.

Among these features is simple overclocking, thanks to OC Genie 4. Additionally, overclocking can be done in the board’s BIOS, but OC Genie 4 keeps things very simple and effective.

Also included, aside from the expected Military Class 4 components and other things that we see time and again from MSI, the Z87-G45 offers a few very nice extras that make a difference in the enduser’s performance. Killer Ethernet, for example, prioritises gaming over other network traffic, which leads to a reduction in lag. Then there’s the Audio Boost chipset, which employs studio-level materials (including gold jacks and EMI shielding) to get the best out of the boards built-in audio. This is supported by a SoundBlaster Cinema component, which enhances the surround sound performance of both games and movies. And then there’s the gaming device port, which has a PS/2 and USB ports that are triple gold plated and trimmed for high performance.

The Z87-G45 is a good looking board, complete with the Gaming Series dragon trim that sets it visually apart from others. But it is also a great performer, providing stable and effective operation of pretty much every computing task it is put through. And that’s hardly surprising; when a motherboard is trimmed towards gaming – which is a very intensive activity for the PC system –all other tasks more or less fall into place.

Those that want to keep on top of things may well be considering an upgrade with the release of the Haswell chips, and moving to a high-grade gaming motherboard may be an excellent option. If this is a route you want to follow, the Z87-G45 represents a reasonably priced, effective alternative. And that Z87 chipset really is great to see in action! g

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A gaming solution for the Haswell chipset

Dragon

Summary

Tech Specs:

MSI presents yet another great motherboard for gamers, this time in a Haswell flavour

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Haswell CPU support Great gaming elements Looks killer!

Z87 Express chipset 6 USB 3.0 ports 8 USB 2.0 ports SLI / Crossfire compatible 4 RAM ports 8 channel audio

M SI Corex www.c orex.c o.za TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

It’s upgrade time again!

Score

89 55

Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Camera

Pocket

P Review

P

hotographic devices are a very hotly contested market, because more and more people are realising that the advent of digital photography has taken high end performance away from being something of an elitist market and brought it to the masses. Sure, there are still high end products, but these days even the smallest pocket camera can produce remarkably good images – the need for manual settings and a deep understanding of photography is still there, yes, but the capability of cameras these days has made it possible for anyone to take a smashing pic.

Canon produce cameras that speak to the high-end super-enthusiast, but they also make devices that have a wider appeal; no mess, no fuss cameras that are remarkably powerful, all things considered. And they keep making them smaller and smaller.

It is well known that as technology progresses

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devices potentially reduce in size, but when you consider that the Canon Powershot SX270 HS is a 12.1 megapixel camera with a generous 20x optical zoom, seeing the size of the device itself is something of a surprise. It’s much smaller than a smart phone, although it is a bit thicker.

What that means is that it is remarkably pocket-friendly, in terms of portability, without conceding the kind of performance the average user is starting to demand from a camera. And its size belies other qualities that it possesses; while it looks like a great pocket camera for everyone (which it is) it is also a great backup for those who want a quick and easy solution to complement their existing photographic kit. Sometimes you need a camera in short order, and the small size and fast response of the SX270 HS makes it a marvellously practical camera.

Those that want control will have it – the SX270 HS has several mode settings, running the gamut from full

gladget33

A small camera that packs a lot of photographic punch.

auto through to full manual. It also allows video capture at full HD, and possesses a host of other features that make the photographer’s life that much easier. These include intelligent systems for face detection and 58 scene presets, among many others.

The end result is a camera that is more than a little capable, and produces fantastic quality images. And it’s fast, not just in powering up, but also in terms of offers a maximum ISO of 6400 and high speed burst photography.

Whether you are an accomplished photographer looking for a good companion camera, or someone who wants to be able to take great photographs quickly and easily, the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS is a reliable, easy to use and overall impressive option to consider.

It’s small size truly belies a very capable and impressive photographic ability. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

It may look small, but the SX270 HS is big in all the areas that count.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget33

Really small Great zoom Good image quality

• • • • • •

12.1 megapixel 20x optical zoom HD video 3 inch LCD screen Full manual option 58 presets

Ca non Ca non www.c a non.c om TB C

Pros • • • • •

by Walt Pretorius

Power

Cons • • • • •

Slightly cramped controls

Score

90 57

Eye

Looking after your peepers

Gunnar Digital Precision Eyewear

by Rob Edwards

W Review

W

e spend a lot of time in front of computers, and the resulting potential eye-strain can wreak havoc with our health. Not only eyesight can be affected; headaches and other maladies are also possible.

It is vital to visit an optometrist, who can help out with prescription lenses. However, if you don’t need glasses, then there is a solution for you. Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear products are available in a number of styles, but they all have one thing in common – their specialised lenses. These lenses help to reduce the negative impact of staring at a computer monitor for long periods of time. That’s great news for those that want to preserve their eyesight without compromising on their computer use.

They do take a little getting used to, but perseverance has its rewards in this case. We’re impressed with the decrease in eyestrain and related problems that using them brought about. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

A great solution for those who get eye strain from computer use, but don’t need prescription glasses.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Comfortable Effective A variety of styles

Several styles Protective lenses

Gunna r Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za Va ries a c c ording to sty le

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Take some getting used to

Score

86

The Last of Us

At the End… Powerful entertainment in a dying world.

by Walt Pretorius

N

only lived up to its hype, but exceeded it.

The Last of Us paints a grim picture of humanity’s future, as the name implies. A terrible fungal infection turns much of the population into flesh craving Infected, mindless zombie-like creatures that prey on those who have not succumbed to the disease. Those that are left are herded into tightly controlled quarantine zones, or remain in the resulting wastelands to fend for themselves, either as paranoid settlers clinging together, or as bloodthirsty predators who see their fellow man as something to be hunted. And it is through this world, with its ramshackle cities slowly being reclaimed by the wild, and vast open stretches where no-one dares live, that two survivors must journey.

The first is Joel, a middle-aged man who’s past has left him bitter and angry, and more than a little brutal.

Review

aughty Dog really rose into prominence when they developed the Uncharted series for the PS3. Back when the console was still young, this remarkable development studio delivered a game that was – for its time – breath-taking. And they continued to improve on the formula, with each successive Uncharted title looking and feeling much better than those that had come before.

And then, a couple of years ago, they announced that they would be bringing a second IP to the PlayStation 3. Even just after it was announced, The Last of Us got everyone talking. The hype that built up around the game was slow and steady, with just enough information released to keep us wanting it.

And when it finally did arrive, we were treated to one of those rarest of gaming occurrences: a game that not

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The second is Ellie, a teenage girl who knows nothing of the world before the outbreak, but who’s innocence in tainted by life in difficult circumstances. Together they need to travel across the USA to… ah, wait. That would be a spoiler. And spoilers for this game would be a sin.

The player spends most of their time in control of Joel, the grizzled veteran who doesn’t shy away from violence in this savage world. Ellie, therefore, is mostly an AI controlled companion, but great programming means that she is an asset rather than a liability. The game often relies on the two working together to overcome obstacles, which the AI does dutifully and efficiently.

There are other characters that share the limelight for short periods, and they too possess the virtual brains the player needs them to. In fact, all of the AI, from companions to mindless infected and sly, sneaky

human enemies, is top notch. The player will often find themselves up against enemies that try to flank them or play to other advantages, which adds a beautiful level of realism to this title.

Speaking of realism, Naughty Dog have done numerous things to the game dynamic to not only further the idea that the situation is real, but also to add tension to the proceedings. The Last of Us plays off like a survival horror and cover-based shooter hybrid, with healthy doses of stealth dynamics thrown in for good measure. And so ammo and resources are scarce, and enemies are plentiful and relentless. But further tension comes from the fact that aiming a weapon is more difficult than in other games, because there is no aim assist and weapons tend to waver a bit. That’s not bad coding – it’s exceptionally good coding. In addition,

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linearity in a game is often frowned upon, it is important to The Last of Us, because all that exploring, shooting, crafting and sneaking is secondary to the real shining gem of the title: the characters.

The plot is fairly straight forward, but existing within it are some of the most compellingly believable characters that video games have ever seen. Not only are they written well, with carefully constructed dialogue adding to the player’s perception of them, but the game’s excruciatingly good graphics and pitch perfect voice acting allows the player to read between all kinds of lines. The sullen Joel, for example, never really says how he feels about his companion, but his body language and facial expressions speak volumes. That, combined with a wonderfully atmospheric sound track, makes The Last of Us a game that is not only engaging and exciting, but

Review

healing takes time, as does crafting items like health kits, Molotov cocktails, shivs and nail bombs. Even improving Joel’s skills takes a bit of time (hold the button, rather than press it).

In addition to improving skills, Joel can also make his weapons better. Both of these need resources that are scarce, so choosing the right skill increase or weapon modification is vital. Even though the game allows a ‘plus’ playthrough when you have completed it, that doesn’t mean that you will necessarily find everything you need to max the character out.

Speaking of finding things, because it is quite plot driven The Last of Us is pretty linear. Still, the levels are large and have tons of exploration potential, with nooks and crannies hiding resources or those couple of extra bullets that may make all the difference. While

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also extremely emotionally charged, right from the getgo. Even the most hardened head-shot hunter will get misty eyed from time to time as this powerful piece of entertainment unfolds.

And that is why action junkies who race through games and skip cut scenes simply won’t gain a full appreciation of how good this game really is. The game dynamics are fun and exciting, but the real meat of the offering lies in the story, and the complex relationship between Joel and Ellie. It has massive implications for the plot, too, which you will see as the game draws to a close.

At the risk of sounding like a gushing fan-boy, The Last of Us truly is a gaming masterpiece. Everything about it screams quality, and the final result is greater than the sum of its already impressive parts. Yes, it has a bug or two – like when your AI partner, on rare occasions,

gets in your way. But these are very uncommon, and even when they do crop up, the player will be likely to forgive them, purely because the rest of the experience is sublime. It’s the kind of game that you’ll want to play more than once… and it has a decent multiplayer component, too!

The word “masterpiece” is one that I generally don’t like putting into game reviews. But it is totally applicable in this case. Naughty Dog have not only shown that they are capable of great game design, but also that they can create a piece of true art in the form of the video game.

It is a massive achievement, both for the PS3 and for gaming in general, and a title that every gamer simply must play. The Last of Us proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that games can transcend stereotypes and become wonderful pieces of entertainment art. g

AT A GLANCE: Third person adventure

Reviewed on:

The Last of Us is, quite simply, one of the finest games ever made.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Uncharted Local

1

Network

Online

8

Naughty Dog SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget33

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

98 63

Remember Me

Remember What Now? Memory loss is a drag…

by Charlie Fripp

W

point of view. With Remember Me, the graphics - while strong - do not test the computing power that resides within PlayStation and its ability to handle images. The environments are rich in detail and small add-ons do go some way to make the game a bit more believable.

Nillin’s main objective is to defeat any enemy that gets in her way and she accomplishes this rather effectively using a set of combos and powers. Players will have to manage the combos themselves through a series of level-ups, but luckily it is not very difficult to work out.

As for the rest of the button scheme, during the short tutorial it is clear that it will not take a great deal of skill to guide Nillin around the world and to complete tasks, but this simplicity is also what makes the game enjoyable.

And she does have some rather impressive powers at her disposal, easily within reach…

Review

hat would happen in a world where memories can be bought, sold, traded and stored? In today’s age, that would certainly create a lot of havoc, and that is exactly the situation that plays itself out in Dontnod Entertainment’s futuristic Remember Me. Taking place in highly-technologically driven Paris in the year 2084, the city is entirely transformed through technology – and it’s not all for the better.

Players will assume the role of Nilin, a memory hunter who aims to bring down a large corporation that has commercialised the storing of memories online– and the removal of unpleasant ones.

But are gamers in for a technological whirl-wind of adventure? Or will it slide into the ‘delete’ pile?

As is the case with most titles that are released, there is a tendency to push the boundaries from a graphics

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One of the most exciting aspects of the title is the ability to remix the memories of her targets. Sadly this cannot be done at will, and there are not nearly enough of these sequences, but it is still highly entertaining. During the Memory Remix, Nillin changes small aspects of a person’s memory to create scenarios that differ vastly from actually occured in reality. This is done for various reasons, but mostly so that people either kill themselves, or other people.

While the rest of the game is action-packed, the addition of Memory Remix sequences would have made the title stand out from other third-person action adventures. There are far too few of them and they are incredibly interesting to piece together.

Another area where the game lacks somewhat is combat. Do not get us wrong – the combat works pretty

well, but once gamers have filled up their slots of combos, it is really down to simply remembering each one to successfully pull off the attack. It can become a bit repetitive after a while and a bit more variation would have gone a long way.

Going through the levels, navigation and orientation of the narrow alleys and streets of Neo-Paris can become tedious and pedestrian. Gamers will be guided around every turn, where to go, what to jump on and what to swing off of. A bit of room for free-thinking on the player’s part would have been a nice touch, or more of an openworld in which players could explore other options.

Remember Me is something that most gamers might not remember at all. While the concept is great (although not something entirely new), the game misses the opportunity to truly stand out. g

AT A GLANCE: Adventure

Reviewed on:

PS3

The exciting concept and good graphics ultimately isn’t enough to sustain attention Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Tomb Raider Local

1

Network

Online

0

Dontnod Entertainment Sony Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget33

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

79 65

Fuse

All or Nothing Play this one co-op… for your own sanity

by Walt Pretorius

E

Fuse tells the tale of four elite operatives on the trail of an organisation that is trying to steal a mysterious alien technology called Fuse. Who are the aliens? Where did Fuse come from? How did it fall into human hands? The game pretty much yells “who cares?” at these questions as it loads up another clip and lets loose on the bad guys.

The plot line is simple, derivative and completely underdeveloped. It’s about co-operatively killing lots of enemies, and little more. It hints at deeper character stories and does a tiny bit of development, but none of this is important to the game itself. In terms of expanding on the world presented in Fuse, well… the game could have been set anywhere, with any back story.

Except, of course, for the Fuse powered weapons that the characters use. Each character has a unique weapon that more or less ties into their role in the team, and the

Review

veryone loves a co-op game. Well, almost everyone. There’s something about working together in a game environment that is extremely appealing, and this is something that Fuse definitely gets right. With four playable characters that are well balanced to support each other’s roles, the need for support in terms of healing and missions that are failed in anyone dies, it pushes the idea of co-op into new realms. It’s not about players giving each other boosts to higher platforms anymore – this one really needs a level of co-operation.

That, of course, brings a problem to the picture.

You need to find the right players to enjoy Fuse with.

If you do so, and can forgive the game a few of its eccentricities, you’ll have fun blasting bad guys for a few hours.

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special effects that these weapons result in can be rather fun.

In truth, while it is lots of fun, Fuse is also rather mediocre. The graphics are okay, the voice acting is not bad, the level design is acceptable. There is nothing that makes this particular title stand out.

Until, of course, you start playing it as a single player.

The AI that controls the rest of the characters is also mediocre, meaning that it simply isn’t good enough for the single player to get through the game properly. This is particularly apparent in times missions, when the lacklustre performance of the AI characters simply isn’t effective enough to beat the clock.

Sure, the player can jump between characters in single player, but that still doesn’t change the fact that there is a pervasive feeling of being punished for daring to play Fuse

without the required four humans.

Fuse is great as a time killer, but it is little more than that. It doesn’t try to be deep, or to deliver anything but a B-grade sci-fi movie experience. Even as a multiplayer game, people will likely only want to play it through once (and single players might not even get that far). And that’s sad, really, because the concept of the game could have resulted in a lot more of… well, everything. Including quality.

There are some truly annoying bugs that crop up, although they are pretty few and far between. Event triggers may fail to engage, or the camera may literally get stuck. That kind of thing that isn’t a minor glitch.

Still, you may well enjoy it, if you’re after a bucket-load of mindless action. Just make sure you find three friends after the same thing before you even start. g

AT A GLANCE: Third person action

Reviewed on:

X360

Fuse is mindless fun if you’re playing it co-op.

Going solo is painful.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Army of Two, Star Trek Local

2

Network

Online

4

Insomniac Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget33

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

69 67

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