Gladget Magazine October 2013

I S S U E 3 6 / Vo l . 4 October 2013

www.gladgetmag.com

Everyone’s talking iOS7

The New OS

Can Telkom keep up?

Staying Ahead...

R evie w s inc luding As us , So ny , OCZ , Sam s ung, E ps on, Acer and more. . .

Teen Watch Youngsters keep safe?

Power to Africa The Jasper Project: solar power for Africa

Free Online Mag

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 Did You Know?

INteresting facts from the tech world

10 Tshabablabber

Anything you can do...

12 More Than Just Power

Disney Infinity has arrived!

18 Bigger & Shinier

Identifying the bad mail

20 Teen Watch

South Africa is ripe for the picking...

22 Can Telkom Touch Tomorrow?

South Africa is ripe for the picking...

24 Lookng Back: 1969

Humble beginnings

This Month’s Cover Will the Jasper Power Project be the end of SA’s energy woes?

See our feature on page 12...

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26 Reviews

Lots of tech and awesome goodies.

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Reviews

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Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC

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Jabra Revo Wireless Headset

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Epson EH-TW6100 Home Projector

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Acer Iconia A1Tablet

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OCZ Vertex 450 128GB 2.5’’SSD

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HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2545 Printer

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z

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OCZ RevoDrive 3

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Samsung 840EVO 500GB SSD

Writers: Alex Scanlon Andy Taliadoros Charlie Fripp Iwan Pienaar Lein Baart Pippa Tshabalala Rob Edwards Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius

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Asus FonePad

Letters: letters@gladgetmag.com

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MSI Z87I Motherboard

Competition Entries: competitions@gladgetmag.com

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Acer Iconia B1 Tablet

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladgetmag.com

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Logitech G500s FPS Laser Gaming Mouse

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

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GTA V (X360)

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Diablo 3 (X360)

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Puppeteer (PS3)

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Rome II: Total War (PC)

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Rayman Legends (X360)

GLADGET Volume 4 Issue 36 October 2013

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.

GLADGET is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2013

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PowerSource

by Katia Taliadoros

A

From the Editor

lmost perfectly spherical, the star at the centre of our Solar System was formed about 4.6 billion years ago, within a molecular cloud. The power of this interwoven hot plasma and its intricate magnetic fields has been revered throughout the ages. Therefore it is no surprise that the ever beautiful awakening continent of Africa is utilising the power of this incredible source, towards an evolutionary change within the continent.

“Solar energy is a clean alternative energy source.

It’s clear, given the current energy crisis, that we need to embrace new sources of renewable energy that are good for our planet. I believe very strongly in using technology to provide affordable options that all consumers can put into practice.”-Yang Yang When one looks at the economic development of the last three years, Africa is certainly a popular place to be.

With a booming economy and a population of 1billion people (and growing) urbanisation is bringing with it a tremendous amount of pressure on existing infrastructure. This is one of the many reasons why clean solar energy projects like the Jasper power project are so vital, bringing with them

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opportunities for manufacturing and industrialisation, as well as much needed job creation.

Nthato Morakabi carefully addresses the specifics of this particular power source project in our cover feature.

If you are shopping around, this issue’s flavour of the month takes a good look at tabs and SSDs, among others.

Also, check out Suvesh’s take on Telkom’s promise to touch the future. Iwan brings up some very good point on the millennial teenager understanding of responsible tech-security and Lein takes a look at 1969: The Year of Revolution.

With October being our birthday issue, we are happy to have officially started Volume Four. In most publication mediums, the publisher forms an intertwined relationship between the reader and the related products which are connected directly and indirectly to the advertisers and their suppliers.

Being the “middleman” in this relationship certainly has its advantages. It also has its challenges towards maintaining a constant balance. It has been my experience, that this unpredictable relationship, can be a determining factor in which direction the evolution of the magazine is driven. It is

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true that one finds, because of this determination, the magazine begins to take a life of its own.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank our readers and advertisers for their support and constant feedback as a driving force in taking Gladget to the next level. To our writers, you are true professionals and it is a pleasure working with all of you. Mostly I would like to give thanks to Walt Pretorius; without your motivation, perseverance and sheer stubbornness, Gladget Magazine would not exist.

Over the next couple of months the Gladget team will be working towards a gradual change in growing editorial content. Feel free to contact us directly on letters@ gladgetmag.com should you wish to offer any input on what you would like to see in a consumer tech mag. We would love to hear from you.

I will leave you with one last thought by Thomas Graedel: “Either the rest of the world can’t live like the developed world or we need, as a society, to think more about the technology of providing these services with less intensive use of at least certain materials.

We need to do a more diligent job of good housekeeping.” g

Did You

Know?

1

…MTN’s CEO is the highest paid in technology in South Africa?

South African mobile service provider MTN’s CEO Sifiso Dabengwa is the highest paid technologyrelated CEO in South Africa. At the end of 2011/12 his annual remuneration was R22.528-million, while his remuneration for the end of this year is set to increase to R23.539-million. Mark Levy from Blue Label Telecom is the second highest paid CEO in South Africa, and at the end of this year is forecast to walk away with R13.309-million – which is almost double from the last year.

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… Africa will become the fastest growing IP traffic region?

Cisco’s Visual Networking Index (VNI), which projects the global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic, has pinned the global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic to reach 413 million between 2012 and 2017. Africa is set to continue to be the fastest growing IP traffic region from 2012 – 2017, with a 5-fold growth, at 38 per cent compound annual growth rate over the forecast period. IP traffic in 2017 would be equivalent to 10 billion DVDs per year, 866 million DVDs per month, or 1 million DVDs per hour.

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Regular

…that smartphone shipments to Africa was up 21.5%?

There is no doubt that Africa is an incredibly fastgrowing region when it comes to technology, and according to the latest insights from International Data Corporation (IDC), smartphone shipments to Africa was up 21.5% year-on-year for Q2 2013.

While Samsung squarely dominates the smartphone market in Africa, smartphones in general now account for 18% of the overall African mobile phone market’s volume. Samsung currently enjoys a 51% market share in Africa, as measured in Q2 2013.

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Some interesting tech facts from Africa which may surprise you...

by Charlie Fripp

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…there are shoes that can charge a mobile phone?

A Kenyan inventor by the name of Anthony Mutua developed a special way of charging mobile devices.

And while most people in rural Africa walk to where they need to be, he decided to combine the two. His invention comprises of ultra-thin chips of crystal which are fitted to the bottom of a shoe’s sole. As the user walks, it generates electricity through the pressure exerted when it is stepped on. The chips costs around $46, and charges the phone through an extension cable that runs from the shoe to the pocket.

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…that the ‘Please call me’ was developed in South Africa?

While there is pending case on between mobile operator Vodacom and a former employee, there is no doubt that the much-loved (or berated) ‘Please Call Me’ or Call Me Back’ can find its root on African soil. The service allows users who have no airtime to send a Please Call Me text message to any number to alert the receiver that they wish to be called back.

The service was either developed by former Vodacom employee Nkosana Makate, ex-MTN employee Ari Kahn or former CEO Alan Knott-Craig, but that is what the court case is all about.

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…that 85% of the mobile-only Web users use a feature phone?

While smartphone shipments to Africa was up 21.5% year-on-year for Q2 2013, a large percentage of mobile internet users in Africa still access the web through a feature phone. According to recent data, 85% of the mobile-only Web users access the Web with a feature phone. The mobile device might not be as feature-rich as a smartphone, but downloading games (55 percent); downloading music (54 percent); social networking (52 percent); search (48 percent) and email (46 percent) are the most popular activities.. . g

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I Curse You Windows Media Player!

I

Tshabablabber

’ve always been interested in computers. I’m not a programmer by any means, but I’m also not afraid of trying things out to see if they work.

I always back up first of course, I’m not stupid.

While I certainly don’t expect this to be something that everyone has an interest in, what does continue to amaze me is that people who work in the same industry as me are really not tech savvy. I’m not talking about writing your own software, or building websites from scratch, I’m talking about using a computer. Sounds silly doesn’t it? Yet the number of people in the media industry who don’t understand the difference between an .AVI an .MOV and a .WMV continues to astound me.

I’ve worked with a number of people over the years whose eyes glaze over when I try and tell them the low res .GIF they’ve sent me is too small to blow up to A4 let alone billboard size.

And I can’t even count the number of times I’ve sent video files to people for approval and they’ve come back and said they can’t play the file, or there’s no video/ audio. It’s not like it’s an obscure file format either. It’s an .MP4

Author’s photograph by Adrian Louw

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which is pretty common in the contemporary media landscape.

You might think I’m being ridiculous. Sure, not everyone knows about all these formats, and if you were, say an accountant (no offence to accountants), I wouldn’t expect you to have the most up to date video codecs or software on your machine. That said, if you were an accountant and you weren’t up to date with the latest financial software I would despair. The same applies here – if you work in production and the media industry and don’t understand the difference between these formats then it worries me greatly. It’s about context.

I have certain pieces of software that are absolutely essential when it comes to video playback and media transferral. The first of these is VLC. Why you no have that on your computer? It plays EVERYTHING! If VLC can’t play it it’s not meant to be played. Or it’s corrupt. And even then VLC will probably be able to play it.

Next. MPEG Streamclip. This will convert anything to anything. You want to strip the audio?

Convert to a random file format that only your accountant’s machine can read?

Pippa Tshabalala

MPEG Streamclip is your friend. Of course it’s really only useful if you’re on a Mac. There is a Windows version but it’s not nearly as good.

Dropbox. I basically only save stuff in Dropbox now. It syncs across all my computers, from work to home to phone.

Working on that column at home and forgot to take it with you to work? If it’s saved to Dropbox you’re in the clear. Absolutely essential.

Lastly this is less a piece of software and more an essential tool in any industry that means you have to transfer big files to people who don’t understand that a single video can be over 1GB. Wetransfer.com.

Better than YouSendit, more user friendly than Dropbox (for some anyway), Wetransfer allows you to drag and drop files of 2GB or less and email a download link to anyone you like.

You’re probably not the person I’m talking about.

Ok maybe you are, but some kind person just hasn’t realized you don’t know about these tools yet.

And next time anyone sends me a .WMV they’re being excommunicated permanently. g

More Than J Feature

The impact of the Ja

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asper Power Project

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by Nthato Morakabi

Just Power

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I

“load shedding” blackouts plaguing us anyway. It is therefore with no surprise that we can look towards the Jasper Power project with much optimism and joy; could this be a solution to our insufficient electrical energy problems? Why solar power and could it be the very thing we need to alleviate the pressure on ESKOM? What is the way forward in regards to electrical energy in South Africa?

First we must ask the question; what exactly is the Jasper Power project? The Jasper Power project is a venture that looks to implement a 96 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in the Northern Cape Province, as an effort to provide renewable energy through solar power to our beloved country. It will have a 20-year power sales contract with ESKOM on a fixed power

Feature

t is 5 PM. You stand by the kitchen counter, brewing for yourself what you hope to be a nice cup of coffee while music pours out of the radio on the table behind you. The music is merely a distraction, something to occupy you before you head to the lounge where your computer idly awaits your presence. You are also aware that your phone is still on the charger and hope it will reach maximum battery life soon. As the song on the radio comes to an end, a public broadcast announcement informs you that you should switch off all nonessential appliances between 5PM and 9PM in an effort to “beat the peak”. Is it not moments like these that you wish that there was some stability in our country when it comes to electricity, without

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price and annual escalation. The project also falls under obligation to utilize 45% locally sourced labour, materials and contractors.

In regards to the whether the project will reduce the cost of electricity in South Africa and if the project will affect us as a country is still unclear though at its completion, the power plant will be able to provide electricity to over 30 000 homes. Google, Rand Merchant Bank, the Public Investment Corporation, the Development Bank of South Africa and the Peace Humansrus Trust and various other organisations have banded together to back, develop and fund this project. The price of the contract for the construction of this colossal project is at a fixed price of R1.544 Billion and is expected to take a total of 255,680

man-hours of on-site construction. With much thanks to South Africa’s strong resources and supportive policies for renewable energy, these kinds of costs are deemed worthy of investment. The policy that is in place regarding renewable energy states: “The major objectives of government energy policy were spelled out in the 1998 Energy White Paper as: Increasing access to affordable energy services, improving energy governance, stimulating economic development, managing energy-related environmental impacts and securing supply through diversity (DME, 1998)” ~ Winkler Renewable Policy SA We can see from the statements in this policy that the well-being of our country is at the forefront of its enactment, addressing both the economic and

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Feature

ecologic aspects of renewable energy that will benefit us as a country. Considering the fact that South Africa is known for its fossil fuel reserves which established our coal mines for fossil fuel, moving towards a different kind of fuel source is quite a big step. Also considering air pollution and the carbon emissions that coal mines produce in contrast to none given off by solar power, or the fact that solar power will be a more feasible option than the current use of coal, shows how important such an endeavour will be to South Africa.

Currently, South Africa sits at 14th in the list of countries in the world that produce CO2 emissions with South Africa producing 436,875 thousands of tonnes annually which contributes to 1.46% of

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the world’s CO2 emissions. In comparison, the next African country is Algeria at 37th producing 111,304 thousands of tonnes and 0.36% of the world’s contributions. This solar-power project will surely be a great help in reducing our contribution to the greenhouse gases affecting the world as a whole.

One of the other ways that this project will benefit our country is through the amount of jobs it will provide. 80% of the South African based employees will be citizens of South Africa with 50% of those in that 80% being black citizens and 20% of the employees being citizens coming in from the community; 30% of the skilled employees will be black citizens. Unemployment is a widespread worldwide concern and if this project can help in alleviating a bit

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of this issue within our country, how can one not look favourably towards it. Apart from the employment issue, the project will also set aside a portion of the total project revenue to be used for enterprise and socio-economic development, aiding rural development and education programmes that we, as a third world country, are always in need of; a minimum of 45% of the total project value will be local content spend.

The Jasper power project will be building the largest solar installation on the continent of Africa. Some unemployed workers will be able to gain jobs and the community will benefit from the revenue generated.

Cheaper, cleaner and more affordable electricity will be provided to over 30000 homes while curbing

carbon-emissions. Is this not a step forward and a way forward for us as a country? Sure there will be some issue to face that may not directly be our fault, but here we have a fantastic venture by one of the biggest corporations in the world (if not the biggest) and they are investing their money in something that we can all benefit greatly from. Not only that but various other international and local companies have chipped in with another solar powered plant being built in the Free State and the two projects have taken R5.15billion to finance. Indeed it is a way forward for us as a country and as individuals, as we see great ways in which technology right here in our country and right here on this large continent of ours, is being finance, implemented for our use. g

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Bigger &Shinier Feature

Some hidden & not-so-hidden features of iOS7

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by Pippa Tshabalala

I

was recently the victim of a smash and grab. I’m not looking for sympathy - I’m pointing out that the result was the loss of my beloved Samsung Galaxy S3.

Luckily I have other phones to fall back on, and for a variety of reasons I decided to go with my Apple iPhone 4. Fortuitously not long after I made the switch, Apple released iOS 7.

I’m going to point out first up that I’m a sucker for firmware upgrades. I can’t help it. Even when I know things can be buggy, I love to have the latest version, especially if as in the case of iOS7, it comes with not just added functionality, but a whole new look. There are some big changes sure, but there are also the little things that enhance the over user experience.

If we begin with the big, noticeable features, you’ll find the first is an updated design that is clean, simple and pretty to look at. I’m amused to find that the look and feel of the OS has taken a leaf out of the Android book, but I guess it’s not unexpected. One thing that looks pretty, but can also be frustratingly slow at times, are the animations that go along with pretty much everything. When you tap on an icon you’ll spend half a second zooming into the icon as it fills the screen.

The next big update is the Notification Centre (oh sorry, it’s Center, because it’s American). There’s a rather handy tabbed display here, showing you your daily calendar, notifications and missed calls when you pull down the menu from the top of the screen. Still no option to clear all notifications (I miss this about Android), but overall it’s rather nicely designed.

The Control Center

which is a new addition and swipes up from the bottom of the screen, gives you instant access to music players, Airplane Mode (thank goodness!) and other shortcuts. Also something that Android users have already been using for ages.

It’s the small hidden features of iOS that I really like however. The ones that I either happened upon by accident or had to do a bit of research to discover.

If you’re one of those people that use Siri regularly (I don’t have this option), and especially if you have what for Siri might be considered a difficult to pronounce name (almost everyone in South Africa then), you can now tell her, “That’s not how you pronounce that”, and instruct her on the correct pronunciation.

A feature that I never really noticed until I did a bit of research, was the new added timestamp for messages.

Again a feature that Android users have already been enjoying for a long time, but the ability to now see exactly when a message was sent as opposed to just the beginning of the conversation, is useful even if only to tell people they’re lying when they said they didn’t get your message!

The Compass app now takes full advantage of the gyroscope and has an inbuilt spirit level. It’s concealed within the app on the second page, which seems an odd choice, but nevertheless it’s a useful addition to the system without having to download a third party app.

The folder options have now expanded so that you can add unlimited apps to each folder, no longer restricted to a set amount. Useful for anal retentive people like me who like to have as few things as possible cluttering my home screen.

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If you want to take advantage of the perks of Face Time but really don’t want people seeing your bleary eyed morning face, iOS has introduced audio only calls for Face Time.

Having had my phone stolen, I’m now acutely aware of the advantage of this next feature. You can set your device up to erase all your data after too many failed password attempts. A great security feature, but obviously not designed for parents whose toddlers get a hold of their phones, or the absent minded. Security win or recipe for disaster?

The Airdrop feature, which allows you to share information with other iOS7 users in the vicinity, is one that I like but which I feel could be open for abuse.

Luckily Apple have thought of this, and you can set up your visibility to make yourself discoverable only to people you know and who are in your contact list.

As to be expected certain apps are not responding as they should, and while we all know this will ultimately be sorted out, it makes for a frustrating transition period.

There’s also an overall sense of lag, particularly on slightly older iPhone models such as mine. Since I made the switch to Android, I never bothered to but the iPhone 5, and I have no doubt that this is the reason for some of the lag on my phone, the processing power isn’t quite as zippy as it could be with a later model.

Overall the system feels rather unfinished, as if Apple put together the outline for an awesome OS, but then got bogged down in admin and didn’t test all the features properly. I’m hoping that an update will sort out some of these issues, because it makes me feel the loss of my S3 a little less keenly.

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by Iwan Pienaar

Teen Watch

Feature

B

More sensible about privacy than you think

eing young has many things associated with it – not least of which are ideas of irresponsibility.

Adults often look at younger generations as care-free and reckless, not giving enough thought to the consequences of their actions. This has often lead to thing like over-protective parenting, with parents being concerned about the predations of the world preying upon those who, in their perceived innocence, do not necessarily comprehend the dangers of the world.

This is even more prevalent in this modern age, in which communication and information sharing have become extremely easy. With teenagers making up a fair percentage of those who use social networks and other digital media to communicate and share information, concerns over nefarious deeds affecting them have grown. Many parents believe that social networks have become potential hunting grounds for those who would exploit or harm youngsters. This is not an invalid concern; everyone faces risks to data and privacy online these days.

But the new generation is not blind to the dangers that mobile and online services potentially hold. This is

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a generation that has grown up with things like smart phones and social media, and they foster what could perhaps be a greater understanding of the workings of the modern, digital age.

According to new findings by US-based Pew Research Center and Harvard University, teenagers are beginning to take their privacy seriously on mobile applications and online services. The study has found that fifty eight per cent of phone-owning teens have downloaded apps to their devices. Of those, 51 per cent have actively avoided services to protect their privacy.

This challenges the perception that those of us who have embraced social networks and the digital age are more comfortable publicly sharing our personal details.

The surveyed teens (defined as 12 to 17 year olds) even take active steps towards protecting their privacy. For example, almost 60 percent of the females surveyed had switched off geo-location services. Many teenagers also carefully check reviews for apps to make sure they are safe.

The report echoes findings from an earlier survey focusing exclusively on web and online usage. From the

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same research team, the report says that 70 per cent of teens had done their own research into protecting their privacy online. Some had asked teachers or parents for advice, while others had searched for information online.

It seems that teens adapt to changes in privacy settings quickly too. Even services like Facebook, which changes its privacy settings frequently, don’t really faze them.

One of the respondents said that the privacy settings are actually quite straightforward but users just need to constantly update them.

Another area of perceived irresponsibility among teens is that of spending money without realising the impact that it could have on household budgets and other financial concerns. Many a parent is reticent about purchasing a device like a smart phone for their teenager, and a large amount of that concern stems from the potential cost involved. But, just as teens are showing a perhaps surprising level of understanding regarding privacy, they also display concern over the fiscal nature digital communication and services. This could stem, of course, from the fact that they do not necessarily earn money for themselves.

Surprisingly, teens are more concerned about spending too much money on their phones than other user groups.

The survey suggests that most young people stick to free apps. Even then, they look carefully at feedback and download statistics to make sure they are installing legitimate software on their phones.

While our immediate interpretation of these findings might be that our teens are a technologically informed and mature bunch, one of the report’s authors suggests that there could be other motives. Kids will be kids, as the old adage goes‌ Speaking to CBS News, researcher Amanda Lenhart said that teens are more concerned about privacy from their parents, their teachers, and their schools. In essence, this boils down to that age-old issue of making sure your mom and dad do not find out what you are doing.

Even so, by making sure they keep parents and teachers out of the loop means that teenagers are effectively protecting their data so more nefarious users cannot access it either. Let us hope the digital generation keeps up the good practice long after they stopped worrying about dad seeing their status updates. g

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by Suvesh Arumugam Feature

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T

elkom is still the major force in South African broadband.

The fixed line operator and telecoms provider caught the broadband community by surprise this month by announcing free DSL line upgrades for all ADSL subscribers. This comes in the wake of several ups and downs checkering Telkom’s last year, and comes exactly one year since their last round of DSL upgrades (in preparation for VDSL) that had consumers and Internet Service Providers confused, annoyed and generally ticked off.

In August 2012, Telkom announced that they would be upgrading 1024kbps lines to a newly created 2048kbps (2Mbps) tier at no extra cost. This was a much-anticipated change to the Telkom ADSL product structure amidst calls for Telkom to reduce IP Connect (IPC) costs. IPC is the infrastructure that allows ISP’s to break out of Telkom’s network onto their own network. The amount of capacity any ISP can purchase in IPC effectively controls their network capacity, as congestion at IPC level will slow down their entire network. Having multiple local IPC’s is also an advantage, but currently comes at a huge cost to ISPs. Telkom also announced they would be phasing out 384kbps ADSL lines and automatically upgrading customers to 1Mbps lines, also at no extra charge.

The upgrades, generally considered as the first part of Telkom’s phased approach to phase out copper based ADSL in favour of fibre based VDSL, was plagued with problems. Due to start on the 24th August, very few exchanges were ready for the move, and the project started and ended much later than originally promised.

Telkom’s simple approach to DSL products, labelled simply as Fast, Faster and Fastest DSL became a nightmare for customers and ISPs to navigate. New clients signing up had no way of telling if they were signing up for the new product or the old product, or if they signed up for the old product – whether it would be upgraded to the new product they actually wanted.

ISPs were equally confused, and this led to endless complaints and

headaches.

Once the dust had cleared, everyone seemed to come out more or less unscathed, but complaints started to mount regarding congested exchanges.

With the introduction of VDSL by March 2013, it started to become clear that Telkom had not provided sufficient bandwidth backhaul to provide adequate services to all their upgraded exchanges. By July, broadband journalists were reporting congestion on exchanges as an unavoidable reality. Despite Telkom’s denials that they identify and address congestion as quickly as possible, customers were being told that congested exchanges could take anywhere between 6 weeks and 12 months to resolve.

Exchanges with VDSL seem to be the worst affected, with some going through several upgrades during the past year and still showing signs of severe congestion during peak hours. Mweb stated in July that approximately 25% of national exchanges showed signs of congestion.

Telkom prefaced their latest announcement with a promised 5% increase in IPC capacity (at no extra charge) to ISPs. However, this announcement was generally met with negative sentiment from the public and ISPs. The feeling from ISPs was that the extra capacity was not enough to settle the broadband playing field. Most felt that what is no more than a symbolic token in extra capacity, to take effect in October this year, did not go nearly as far as actual reductions in costs that could be passed on to consumers. With Telkom having recently increased consumer rental fees, and still failing to allow “naked’ DSL (DSL line rental without voice line rental), many felt that Telkom failed to seize an opportunity to make DSL a viable alternative to increasingly popular (and affordable) mobile broadband.

Telkom’s latest move is due to take effect from 11 November this year. In a bolder move to last year’s upgrades, 1Mbps will be phased out completely and upgraded to 2Mbps, while 2Mbps users will now be upgraded to 4Mbps. 4Mbps consumers will gladget3 26 4

be migrated up to 10Mbps. This presents several complications.

Firstly, this effectively splits the current Fastest DSL into two products, up to 4Mbps and up to 10Mbps. However, many consumers fall somewhere in between due to limitations like their distance from the DSLAM or MSAN (DSL exchange) and the quality of the existing copper cabling in their area. With so many users falling anywhere from 2Mbps to 10Mbps on the current 4/10Mbps product, it’s not clear how Telkom plan to manage this.

At present there is no indication that these physical limitations will be overcome. Secondly, Telkom freezes all network changes over December and January. Given that it took several months for previous product upgrades to take effect, this likely means that there will be a six week chunk of the upgrade period where nothing will happen, further prolonging the confusion.

Finally, Telkom’s congestion and backhaul woes seem set to get even worse, as more users get access to faster speeds, destroying consumer confidence in an already struggling fixed line broadband market.

It’s clear that Telkom are fighting a losing battle to remain relevant as Mobile Operators improve services and drop their prices.

Cape Town’s Mayor Patricia De Lille recently announce a R220 million project to deliver free WiFi to Cape Town residents in Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha, coinciding with Green Point Improvement Districts similar Free WiFi launch. The proof-of-concept projects could ultimately see the entire city covered by free mobile access, eliminating the need for many to pay fixed line rental for broadband. A similar project is underway in Tshwane, spearheaded by Cell C CEO Alan KnottCraig, which plans to deliver similar free coverage to the Gauteng capital by 2016. At this rate, many would doubt that Telkom can keep fixed line broadband as a necessity for most consumers, and Mobile broadband, with growing 3G & LTE coverage, will fast become a more viable option for residential and business consumers. g

Can Telkom Touch Tomorrow?

Keeping up with the Intenet tussle.

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By Lein Baart

1969 The Year of Revolution

Looking Back

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f there was ever a year to be claimed the most iconic in modern history, 1969 was it. With the Cold War in full swing, and the tiny Asian state of Vietnam caught between the two battling superpowers, America was thrown into cultural upheaval led by the hippies, culminating in the most famous music festival of modern history, Woodstock. It was the year that saw one of mankind’s most profound moments with the moon landing (more on that later), global anti-war protests sentiment reach fever pitch and the election of Richard Nixon, who would become the only American president to resign from his office.

1969 also marked a revolution on the technological front, mostly in terms of computer science. The newly formed Intel, opened only a year before, released its first ever a product, a SRAM chip known as the 3101 Schottky TTL bipolar 64-bit. More importantly however they began work on what would become the Intel 4004, the world’s first commercially available

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microprocessor that would see release two years later.

Just as importantly, 1969 also marked the inception of ARPANET, the world’s first packet switching network, and the forefather of the internet. Designed and implemented to allow researchers in remote locations to access the supercomputers of the time, ARPANET originally consisted of only four computers. The network saw massive expansion in the following decade, and when it was eventually decommissioned in 1990, it had almost single-handedly laid the foundations for the networked era in which we live today.

1969 was the year of space however, and more so than just due to the moon landing. This year saw the Soviets launch the Soyuz 5, which holds the distinctions of being the first craft to dock with another in space, as well as the first mission which saw the transfer of crew members from one craft to another. This was also the year that the Venera 5 and 6 descended into Venus’ atmosphere, providing critical information on the

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planet’s atmosphere and chemical composition, though both probes only last just over 50 minutes, For the Americans however this year was only about one thing: getting a man to the moon. To begin with Apollo 9 was launched on the 3 March with the sole purpose of testing the lunar module. Encompassing the first flight of a lunar module, the first docking of the module and two spacewalks, the mission proved the equipment up to the challenge. Apollo 10 was launched shortly afterwards, and was meant as a practice run for the actual landing, with the craft coming within 15.6 km of the moon’s surface at one point. Indeed, NASA was so worried that astronauts might attempt the landing themselves that they short-fuelled the lunar module, meaning that had they attempted it they would have been stranded on the surface of the moon.

Finally, after 8 years of development and testing, Apollo 11 launched from the Kennedy Space Centre on the 16 July. Propelled by the Saturn V rocket at a

take-off speed of 2.76 km/s, it took the craft 3 days to reach lunar orbit, where the command module would orbit the moon 30 times during the mission. A day later, despite the now infamous 1201 and 1202 errors thrown up by the guidance computer (which meant that the navigation was not running in real-time), Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin achieved a dream held since antiquity by men: they walked on the moon. Collecting nearly 22 kg of lunar soil, in which three new minerals were discovered, and leaving behind various scientific equipment such as seismometer and a reflector (thereby proving men went to the moon), the landing also had a great scientific import.

Considering that the computer which powered the mission, known as the Apollo Guidance Computer, was easily inferior to even the original Intel x86 processor produced in the late 1970’s, the technical accomplishment achieved by the NASA engineers alone is momentous. g

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Reviews Highlights 28 Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC Portable gaming power 34 Jabra Revo Wireless Headset For every occasion!

44 Sony Xperia Tablet Z A new contender 46 OCZ RevoDrive 3 SSD alternative

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t seems that hardware comes in waves. This month, those waves are leaning towards solid state drives and tablet devices. We have a number of both on review in this issue, including the OCZ RevoDrive 3 and Sony’s rather remarkable Xperia Tablet Z. In addition, there are a number of other awesome devices and gadgets to check out in this issue. Enjoy! g

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Review

Specifically designed for killer gaming

Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC

Tuned

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by Walt Pretorius

T T

he struggle for dominance in any market is always tough. But when you get to a market that is as finicky and picky as the video gaming market, it gets even more difficult. And when you get to a concept like gaming notebooks, that a large number of South African gamers are at best reticent about, well, that just adds another level of challenge to the mix.

There are numerous perceptions about gaming notebooks that seem to pervade consumer thinking. Some of them are true, while others are not. The first is that a notebook cannot handle gaming.

This fallacy is legacy-thinking; based on experiences of the past, many people still struggle to believe that a notebook can deliver the kind of performance required by games. That is particularly true for the ever-more-demanding modern games out there. But that idea changed quite some time ago, and now we have more than a few options for very powerful notebooks, specifically designed to deliver top notch gaming performance.

Another perception is that notebooks cannot keep up with the upgrade demands that gaming places on PC owners. That, to a degree, is true. Most notebooks do feature at least a small degree of upgrade potential, but certain components, like the CPU and graphics chip… well, you’re going to be stuck with those. The truth is that upgrades don’t need to be done quite as often as some would have us believe. But, once an upgrade does become necessary, it might be a case of replacing the whole machine, rather than just essential bits. That said, the same happens for desk top PCs too.

It’s rare that a single component upgrade will be enough.

The third perception is that gaming notebooks are expensive. This, unfortunately, is completely true. To get the power you would need in a machine like this means that you may well be paying more than you would for a comparable desktop rig. It may not always be the case, but it is a distinct possibility.

But that extra cost buys something that people using bulky desktop rigs don’t have: convenience. Anyone who has attended a LAN – which are still pretty prevalent here in South Africa – has seen the players lugging in big boxes and monitors, generally accompanied by a rucksack to take care of controllers and other peripherals. With a device

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Review

like Asus new G750 Gaming Notebook PC, your whole rig will fit under your arm. You might want the rucksack, but you’re probably going to manage the headphones and mouse that you may be using with it without the need for extra luggage.

What makes a system like this worthwhile, in addition to that convenience, is the amount of power that Asus have crammed into it. The result is a notebook that is really rather big, not to mention heavy. It’s still easier to move around than a desktop rig, though, and the specification attached to the G750 will have you doing some time in the gym to make sure you can carry it around. It might be a monster in terms of size, but it’s a monster in performance too.

Powering the whole affair is a rather chunky Intel i7 4700HQ processor. We’re talking speeds of up to 3.4GHz here, which is blazingly fast. It will certainly hold its own with any current and near future game thrown at it, and will probably last well past that too.

Supporting the CPU is 16GB of DDR3 RAM, which is a really generous amount.

For the foreseeable future, any more than that will be something of a waste, and having such a large amount in a notebook is almost unheard of… unless it’s a gaming notebook, of course. And it’s got enough room to upgrade that to 32GB, if you choose.

Speaking of big, the G750 offers the user storage in the form of a 1TB hard drive, supported by a 256GB SSD. Using the SSD for OS and essentials, and the HDD for storage is the best approach of course. And let’s be honest, 1 TB is quite a bit. It might not be enough for some, though, which is one of the weaker aspects of notebooks in general. You will be able to upgrade the drive, true, but you may also end up with a lot of stuff stored on an external hard drive, too. Using a machine like this requires a decent degree of storage management.

That shouldn’t be too problematic, thanks to the four USB 3.0 ports that the G750 comes equipped with. In addition, it also has a card reader, LAN port, audio jacks and display outputs in the form of DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA ports.

You might not want to use an external monitor, though, because the 17.3 inch anti-glare monitor does the job beautifully. It gets provided images via a rather nice GeForce GTX780M GPU, which has a whopping 3GB of VRAM at its disposal.

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And then there’s the sound… handled

by Asus’ SonicMaster technology and served through an integrated headphone amplifier, it’s pretty awesome. You’re only going to get stereo out of it, which may be a problem for some, but the audio really is great quality.

The list of great features continues, and includes things like extended battery life and optimised gaming LAN technology. It makes it an extremely tempting purchase, despite the rather hefty price point.

With all that and more on offer, it is almost unimportant to consider how the G750 looks. But Asus haven’t skimped there either, producing a stylish machine. The chicklet-style keyboard is full, with offset directional keys and gaming response optimisation. Below it is a generous track pad, slightly offset to the right (although most people will probably only ever use a mouse with this monster). And the whole affair is finished in brushed black metal and durable matt black plastic.

It is easy to recommend the Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC as a great option for those in the market for a gaming notebook, but it does have a few downsides. The size and weight really are… well, large. And so is the price. It’s performance, though, is really exceptional, and if the cost isn’t going to cripple you, it is a very decent option. If a product like this suits you, it really is right at the top of the competition. g

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

It’s an awesome machine, all told... but many may find the price prohibitive.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om

Pros • • • • • gladget36

Very powerful Beautifully designed Generous spec

3.4GHYz CPU 16GB RAM 1TB HDD 256GB SSD GTX780M GPU 3GB VRAM 17.3 inch screen

Cons • • • • •

Heavy Pricey

Score

90 33

I I

Review

Jabra Revo Wireless Headset

t seems that there are two distinct trends in technology manufacturing these days. One is to address every possible market and make a huge variety of products. The other is to get really focussed and make products that all fit into one category. Jabra do the latter, and that category is audio. You could drill down further and say that Jabra specialise in audio that goes with mobile device ideas like Bluetooth, but some of their products work with a wide range of devices, so that specification isn’t really necessary.

One such product is the Revo Wireless headset.

As a Jabra product one would expect great audio quality, but how good it is may even surprise those that know Jabra’s line. The Revo Wireless headset delivers excellent audio across the full range through a pair of 40mm drivers. I used to believe that nothing under 50mm could deliver a decent level of sound, but that opinion is being changed by a number of great 40mm driver devices – and this one is right near the top of that pile.

But it is not just the really great sound that the Revo delivers that makes it something of a remarkable product in the overcrowded headset market. The designers built in every kind of sensibility that they could. So, for example, it can connect to devices using Bluetooth or NFC… or via the included, removable cable. Oh, wait, would that be the 3.5mm jack cable, or the plugand-play USB cable (which also charges the headset)?

Aside from connections, the Revo also allows a great degree of control, directly from the headset itself. The right ear-cup houses a multifunction controller in its shell. With a little practice, you’ll be skipping tracks and adjusting volume with ease. And answering calls. Yes, the Revo is also a hands-free phone kit, thanks to an integrated speaker.

In addition to all that, the Revo is well designed and solidly constructed. It is drop resistant up to two meters, and can take quite a beating in terms of bending. The on-ear cups are well padded, although the padding on the headband feels a little skimpy. The ear-cups have a fair degree of tilt, but they do not rotate forward and backward, which is a bit of an oversight. Still, the Revo is a comfortable and light headset. It gets pretty loud, too, so you’ll probably want to learn how to work those controls to avoid painfully noisy music.

And the whole thing folds up neatly, too.

The Revo Wireless Headset show’s a great amount of consideration, as well as a sensible approach to making a product that not only performs well, but is practical, too. Well done, Jabra! g

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All the

A headset that takes care o

by Walt Pretorius

e

of everything

Summary

Tech Specs:

Jabra’s Revo Wireless Headset is not only possessed of great audio performance, but it is crammed with sensible options, too.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

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Great sound Good controls Lots of connection options!

40mm drivers Bluetooth NFC connection Foldable 12 hour battery life Foldable

Ja bra Ja bra www.ja bra .c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No front/back rotation on ear cups

Score

95 35

P

Review

Epson EH-TW6100 Home Projector

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rojectors are not always the first thing that one thinks of when planning an awe-inspiring home entertainment set-up. This is largely due to the fact that a perception exists that projectors cannot always deliver the clarity that a big-screen HDTV does. But the fact of the matter is that the right projector incorporated into a well-designed home entertainment arrangement will not only provide the same kind of experience, but can actually improve on the results delivered by a TV based system.

But getting the right projector is key.

The Epson EH-TW6100 may very well be the right projector. It’s not the cheapest option around but it can deliver a picture size that makes it sensible when compared to similarly sized TV images. In fact, you can get a bigger picture for less using a projector like this.

While business oriented projectors often still skimp on things like resolution, this particular unit delivers in that field. It offers the user a full HD experience, with a 1080p resolution that results in crisp, clear images.

The clarity is a result of the 3 LCD system that it uses, which delivers 2 300lm of light power and a contrast ratio of 40 000 : 1. The result is an image that really is rather impressive, and is suitable for any kind of viewing, including gaming.

Where the EH-TW6100 falls down a little – in fact where virtually every projector manages to underperform – is sound. It is armed with a pair of 10W speakers. Compared to other projectors, that’s pretty good, and the sound quality is better than one would expect. But external sound is a better option.

That would likely be the case in a good entertainment set-up anyway, but it does bear mentioning.

It’s a large projector, the kind that will work best if set up in a permanent position. And it can be positioned anywhere (even in a sensible ceiling mount) thanks to a full function remote control.

And then of course, there is the 3D aspect. The EHTW6100 delivers excellent 3D quality, in conjunction with powered, rechargeable 3D glasses. It offers a 2D to 3D conversion system (none of which have quite got it right yet). More impressively (and effectively) it features 3D depth adjustment, which allows the user to enhance their viewing experience by getting the illusionary depth of images just right.

There are other features, too, like auto colour optimisation and easy installation options. They all add up to make the EH-TW6100 one of the most impressive projectors we have seen. It offers a number of connection options, in the form of a single set of component plugs, a VGA port and two HDMI ports.

If a projector is going to form the core of your entertainment system, this really is a great one to consider. It delivers great visuals and, although it may seem expensive, it’s potential cost to viewing size ratio is far better than that of the larger TVs available on the market. g

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Bigge

And projectors provide the biggest…

Summary

Tech Specs:

With numerous features that enhance the home entertainment experience, this projector is a great option for visuals.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

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Great image 3D depth adjustment

• • • • • •

Full HD 3D 2 300lm 40 000:1 contrast ratio 3LCD Auto colour correction

Epson Epson www.epson.c o

Pros • • • • •

by Walt Pretorius

er is Better

Cons • • • • •

LBulky Sound quality isn’t fantastic

Score

90 37

Acer Iconia A1Tablet

T Review

T

ablets are, without a doubt, all the rage these days. With companies bringing out new models constantly, the market for these devices has become somewhat tricky. There is a lot of choice out there and, while this is a good thing in terms of allowing consumers a wide variety of options, it also makes matters difficult. Too much choice can lead to buyer confusion, and not enough research may result in the purchaser ending up with a device that isn’t quite right for them.

Acer is jumping into the tablet fray with gusto, in the form of their fast-expanding range of Iconia products. The A1 enters the market as something of a budget option, offering a 7.9 inch display (similar in size to the iPad mini) at a more affordable price point.

There are a few aspects to the A1 that make it

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remarkable, but not necessarily in a good way. The main negative aspect of the tablet is the screen’s aspect ratio. Instead of the more popular 16:9 ratio that is common on the majority of tablets, it uses a more traditional 4:3 aspect ratio… more like the dimensions of a PC monitor. Additionally, the screen doesn’t get up to a full HD resolution, with 1024x768 being the flavour of choice for this device. That means that the graphics aren’t as crisp as they would be on a tablet that runs full HD, thanks to a lower number of pixels per inch.

While the screen may leave some a bit cold, there are other aspects of the A1 that are pretty good.

It makes use of a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, for example, which is quite impressive considering the price. In addition it offers 1GB of RAM and 16GB of on-board memory, with a microSD card slot to allow

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by Alex Scanlon

for Money But is it a top performer? for even more storage. It also offers a mini HDMI output port, as well as the expected headphone port.

The spec is rounded out by a 5 megapixel rear facing and 0.3 megapixel front facing camera.

The Iconia A1 is a solidly built and reliable tablet, when all is said and done, and is perfect for users on a budget.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles one might demand from a device such as this, it still manages to be impressive for its cost, and will serve those that select it quite well. Armed with the Android OS, the A1 might not be the best performer around, but it has access to all the great apps, and will prove itself to be a dependable device, complete with a very decent battery life. It’s only true short-coming is in its screen, but if you can get past that, it should serve your purposes well enough. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

As a budget tablet, the A1 is surprisingly well endowed... but its screen may leave a bit to be desired.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

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Nice spec Better price

1.2GHz quad core CPU 1GB RAM 16GB storage 7.9 inch screen MicroSD compatible Android OS

A c er A c er www.a c er.c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Screen ratio and resolution not ideal

Score

80 39

by Rob Edwards

Fast…

OCZ Vertex 450 128GB 2.5’’SSD

Just as it should be

S Review

S

SDs are one of the best additions we have seen to the world of computing in recent years.

These devices make a lot of sense, in terms of longevity, speed, lower heat levels, decreased power consumption and a whole lot more. All of this is largely due to the fact that they do not have working parts – no hardware failure, no extra power requirements, and so on.

OCZ have been in the industry for a while, and while their name might not be quite as prominent locally as other brands, they have a reputation for great quality.

The same can be said for the Vertex 450 2.5 inch SSD, which we reviewed in a 128GB flavour. It’s a little on the small side, but it is a great SSD. Aside from great build quality being responsible for this, OCZ prefer to use their own technologies, rather that licensing from others. It’s a smart approach, and shows through in the quality of this product. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

OCZ’s Vertex SSDs are a great option for those wanting speed, reliability and all the other perks solid state offers.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

•

Tough Cloning software

8128GB SATA III MLC flash memory TRIM support Cloning software included 3.5 inch adapter included

O CZ Corex www.c orex.c o.za

Pros • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Small capacity

Score

80

This is

T Review

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2545 Printer

T

here is something you see when you review a lot of printers; manufacturers love bells and whistles. That’s probably because consumers like them, too, but if you get down to it, do you really need all those added extras? Sure, there are people out there who will strangle every ounce of functionality out of a device, but most folks don’t ever get that far. They will buy a device safe in the knowledge that it offers tons of features that they will likely never use.

More pragmatic consumers are going to want substance over style, and will likely be able to save some cash by getting products that serve their needs rather than their egos. And that’s where a printer like the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2545 comes in.

To say that the 2545 is a no-frills option is almost an understatement. But it is also not a criticism… this printer is extremely practical, and manages to perform necessary tasks beautifully. And the pragmatic buyer will also notice that it comes in at a very friendly price.

What the 2545 will deliver exactly what is required: printing, scanning and copying. It doesn’t feature fax functionality, which will suit many people just fine. And it does these things with a simple, easy grace that is quite pleasing.

The solidly built unit doesn’t have those added extras that you may not need. It has no card reader, for a start, and its LCD screen is a tiny monochrome affair that only displays the most rudimentary information. Its controls are also extremely simple… no touch screen here. Rather, there are only around six buttons to deal with.

It does feature Wi-Fi support, and makes use of HP’s Air Print technology, which are features you’re going to find in pretty much every HP printer now.

The simple operation and almost Spartan design of the unit is supported by a very simple ink system.

But here the economy of the 2545 takes a bit of a knock. It uses Ink Advantage products, which are very economical in the bigger scheme of things, but the fact that the 2545 uses a dual cartridge system means that there will inevitably be ink wasted when the three colour cartridge needs to be replaced.

This really is a stripped down printer, which is why the price is so good. And, quite frankly, there will be folks out there who will want some more features than what this extremely simple device has on offer.

But there are those that will appreciate its simplicity and economy. Once again, HP is successfully trying to address as many options as they can. g

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An extreme

by Walt Pretorius

ely simple printer for those who want the basics.

Summary

Tech Specs:

It has no real special features, but it does what it is supposed to do perfectly well.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

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Simple Affordable Well built

Printer Scanner Copier Wi-Fi Air Print 2 cartridge system

HP HP www.hp.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No frills. At all...

Score

78 43

range tablet joins the Xperia

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Ag rea tA

ndr

oid

by Alex Scanlon

Masterpiece

S Review

S

ony are taking a strong run at the smart device market with their latest range of Xperia products. The Xperia Tablet Z is a fantastic addition to the range. It has a host of top notch features that will thrill and impress users.

This 10 inch tablet is very slim at only 6.9mm, yet manages to deliver massive power, thanks to its 1.5GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM. The water resistant and dust-proof housing hold even more, though, including an impressive 8 megapixel camera that can capture HDR for both stills and video.

The tablet also offers a high degree of connectivity, including proprietary Sony systems that make pairing with other Sony devices a breeze.

This might not be the cheapest tablet around, but those that invest in the Xperia Tablet Z will be thrilled with the power, versatility and intuitive design of this device. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

This is a very impressive tablet indeed, and one that is well worth the cost.

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

Excellent performance Great camera Impressive build

1.5GHz CPU 2GB RAM 10 inch screen Up to 16GB storage microSD compatible 8 megapixel camera Water resistant

Sony Sony www.sony .c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A little pricey

Score

90

The Direct Line

OCZ RevoDrive 3

T Review

T

Storage straight to the source…

he way we store things on our PCs is changing fast. The days of noisy hard disc drives spinning away in our cases (and sometimes delaying us slightly because they need time to spin up) are fast coming to a close. Not only has HDD technology come a long way, but the advent of solid state drives – probably the smartest thing since sliced bread, really – means that data is accessed faster via devices that are more stable, due to a distinct lack of moving parts.

These were really just a matter of time, as devices like flash drives and SD card drove storage technology to new heights.

SSDs are fast. There’s no denying it. But they still sit behind something of a bottle-neck, because they need to be accessed via cables and ports. Sure, we’re talking fractions of seconds, but in the world of computing, a fraction of a second is a massive thing. There is another

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option, though, that is even faster. You don’t hear a lot about it, because everyone is bleating on about SSDs, but devices like OCZ’s RevoDrive 3 make a lot of sense.

Essentially, this is an SSD drive. It does everything that an SSD drive does – it stores data, and allows much faster access to it. It also allows for more stable operation, generates less heat, and doesn’t lose data if moving parts fail (because, once again, it has no moving parts). The major difference between the RevoDrive 3 and a ‘traditional” SSD is that this device won’t sit in any kind of drive bay. And that is because it is a PCI-Express compatible card.

Wait, what? Storage on a component card? Yes. It makes absolute sense. The connection to the motherboard is far more direct, for one, and it helps keep the case interior free of cables – because it doesn’t need any. It plugs directly in to the

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by Walt Pretorius

motherboard, via a PCI-E port.

It makes perfect sense, particularly when you consider the fact that most people don’t make much use of their PCI-E ports these days. With almost everything provided on motherboards, the need for sound cards and the like is greatly diminished. Making use of the space with one of these makes great sense.

The RevoDrive 3 is a power-user’s dream. It really does clip along very quickly, and has built in systems to minimise CPU load, among a host of other features.

It is extremely simple to install and use, and makes a lot of sense for those who need that extra ounce of performance from their PC. There are various size options too, so those interested in this kind of device will have some choice.

It might not be for everyone, but those that need it will love it. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

An extremely sensible option for power users who demand a lot from their data storage solutions.

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

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Very clever idea!

Fast Less cable clutter

PCI-E card Bootable drive SMART data monitoring TRIM support

O CZ Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Consumes a PCI-E port

Score

96 47

Not

Little

by Rob Edwards

Samsung 840EVO 500GB SSD

power. e r o m eans m e c a p More s

S Review

S

amsung have been making components for computers – their own and other brands – for quite some time.

So it isn’t surprising to see their famous logo on the casing of a rather impressive SSD drive. It comes in the form of the 840EVO, and those that know their SSDs will see a number of things about this drive that makes it stand out.

With SSDs becoming more and more common, winning market-share now comes down to features, and this 500GB model (and that’s a nice size) has the right kind.

Upgrading is made simple with Data Migration software, and Magician software allows the user to manage the performance of this comparatively sizeable solid state device.

Both of these features are aimed at more general users, rather than catering to the enthusiast. And that makes the 840EVO a great choice for upgrading and the like.

The storage capacity still doesn’t compete with that offered by hard drives, but at 500GB this particular model is a great system drive for power users. And, of course, it is quick… just like an SSD should be. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

A nicely sized SSD with some great features.

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

Fast Great system drive Nice capacity

SATA 6 compatible 500GB Data migration software Performance management software

Sa msung Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Expensive

Score

85

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us… m As ct fro expe ou’d hat y

Asus FonePad Review

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J J

ust because a company has the theoretical capability to do something doesn’t mean that it should. And that is doubly the case for band-wagons.

For example, just because tablets are all the rage doesn’t mean that every company should get on board. The market has been pretty much sewn up by the giants already, after all. Adding new product from different manufacturers adds to the noise.

Still, manufacturers like Asus have a very strong fan following, so brand loyalty may be a sensible backing argument for the existence of a device like the Fonepad. But brand loyalty may not be enough in this case – the Fonepad struggles against other devices in its class. Just because it has the Asus name associated to it doesn’t mean people will go nuts for it, not in a society with growing demands placed on device performance.

Asus are pushing the idea that this device is a phone-tablet hybrid quite heavily… with a lot of concentration placed on the phone part. Like Samsung’s Note series, it is a good idea, but also isn’t the most comfortable device to use as a phone (unless you’re using headphones, that is).

The Fonepad isn’t bulky, but it is too bulky to hold up to your ear during a phone call.

On paper, the Fonepad should be a great performer. With a clear 7 inch screen delivering graphics and a 1.2GHz CPU (with a 1.6GHz option also available), supported by 1GB RAM, doing the heavy lifting, it should really be above average. But sadly it is not. The Fonepad manages to perform well for the most part but will, at times, become sluggish. In addition, its battery life is a little disappointing.

It offers two flavours of internal memory (8 or 16GB) and support for microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity. That’s a little weak on the internal memory side of things, but the expansion ability sort-of makes up for it. Also, it sports a 3.15 megapixel camera as its primary photographic option; that’s rather shy on spec, considering market trends.

It seems that Asus have tried to aim a decent device at a mid-range Android tablet market, but have missed the mark somewhat. It is a decent device, but it certainly doesn’t live up to the standard set by other tablets in its category.

And that really is a pity, because Asus do manufacture great products. Whether they should be taking on this market is a pointless argument, because they are. And many of their offerings have been quite good – however, the Fonepad may leave something of a bad taste in the user’s mouth, particularly when considering the fact that Asus normally delivers top-notch performance. g

The

by Alex Scanlon

Phablet

Summary

Tech Specs:

Asus makes many great products, but the Fonepad isn’t one of them. Sluggish performance and poor battery life set it back.

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

gladget36

1.2 / 1.6GHZ CPU 1GB RAM 8/16GB internal memory MicroSD compatible 7 inch screen Android OS

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Phone-tablet hybrid Nice size

Cons • • • • •

Sluggish Poor battery life

Score

74 51

On the

Review

MSI Z87I Motherboard

A great mini all-rounder!

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W

by Walt Pretorius

Scale W

e have seen quite a few mini-ATX motherboards over the last few months, most notably from Asus, who have options that range from every-day to gaming-capable.

The idea of a smaller PC overall still being able to perform all those tasks that a big box tower can do is gaining a very wide appeal, particularly for gamers who transport their cases a lot, or for people looking for excellent media PC options… or even just those people who want a more discrete PC. With MSI’s Z87I, thing can be even more discrete and uncluttered, thanks to one of its features. This feature also makes it an excellent board to use with a media PC… Wireless Display technology, or WiDi for short, comes from Intel, and it allows the wireless streaming of audio-visual data from the PC to a compatible monitor or TV. Complete with 1080p resolution and 5.1 surround sound, WiDi means that effective sound and image transmission takes place, without the use of any cables. And that’s awesomely discrete. In fact, if you make use of a wireless mouse and keyboard set up, the only cable you’ll potentially need for the Z87I motherboard is the power-cable.

Providing, of course, that your audio is handled via your HDTV or monitor. Those that prefer the reliability of a wired connection can make use of the HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI ports built into the board, as well as the on-board 7.1 surround sound ports.

As far as the expected level of quality goes, this diminutive motherboard runs the same types of components that you would expect on other MSI devices. That means Military Class 4 components, which include Hi-c CAPs, Solid Ferrite Chokes and Solid CAPs, to mention a few. In addition, the board features humidity protection, high temperature protection, electrostatic damage protection and EMI protection (which helps keep things stable after long periods of operation).

As far as ports and the likes go, the Z87I provides users with six USB 3.0 ports and four USB 2.0 ports.

That’s pretty generous, considering the form factor.

The Z87I is a fantastic option for those who want a more generalised PC while keeping to a smaller size.

It might not have some of the features of the gaming specific mini-ATX board we have seen, but as an allrounder, it really works well. Excellent performance is the order of the day, and while users may need to make some compromises in moving to a smaller form factor, this MSI option will give them the confidence to do so. And it even incorporates MSI’s OC Genie 4 system, fo those that want to squeeze a little more out of their machine. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re looking for a fantastic all-round miniATX motherboard, here’s a great option for you.

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

gladget36

Very stable WiDi Excellent allrounder

Intel Z87 Express chipset DisplayPort HDMI port DVI port 6 USB 3.0 ports 4 USB 2.0 ports WiDi support

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

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Smaller form factor means some compromises

Score

85 53

by Alex Scanlon

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Acer Iconia B1 Tablet

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A Review

A

ndroid tablets don’t grow on trees, but it seems like they do. With so many options available, one has to wonder if someone looking for a tablet specifically opt for the Acer Iconia B1. Its 7 inch screen is where that question arises from; it certainly isn’t the biggest tablet around, and the convenience offered by its size can be found in other devices that offer more.

Powered by a dual core 1.2GHYz processor, the B1 offers the user 512MB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage, with a microSD card slot for expansion.

As the spec implies, the B1 isn’t the fastest tablet around. But it also isn’t the most expensive, either.

Oddly, it doesn’t feature a rear-facing primary camera, with only a front-facing 0.3 megapixel image capture device incorporated.

The B1 is something of a niche product, all said and done. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

It is a budget tablet, yes, but some of its features make it a strange addition to the market.

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

Small Good price Expandable storage

1.2GHz CPU 512mb RAM 8GB storage microSD slot 7 inch screen

A c er A c er www.a c er.c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Slightly sluggish No rear camera

Score

69

Right on Tar Logitech G500s FPS Laser Gaming Mouse

performance th r e t an the last one… et b A

L Review

L

ast month we had a look at Logitech’s G100s gaming mouse and we didn’t like it. The mouse itself was fine, for a middle-of-the-road twobutton affair. Labelling it a gaming mouse, though, is a big stretch, no matter how scientific the surface coating may be. We called foul.

This month we have the G500s, and the picture is very, very different. Where the G100s felt like a marketing ploy to flog a cheap, standard mouse as something it wasn’t, the G500s is very definitely a gaming product.

There was a time when Logitech was a definite leader in this field, and it looks like they’re trying to recapture the title from the likes of Razer and SteelSeries. That’s going to be quite a fight, but the G500s is a great weapon in the battle.

First of all, it has a very wide DPI range, from 200 to

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8200. It might not be the most sensitive we have seen, but such a wide degree of variance makes it extremely adaptable to the needs of gamers. DPI can be changed on the fly, too, with very sensibly placed sensitivity buttons just to the side of the main left button. This customisation is further enhanced by the fact that the weight and balance of the mouse can be adjusted – something which we really don’t see often enough. The weight can be adjusted by up to 27 grams… it doesn’t sound like much, but it does make a difference.

Those two aspects alone make it stand out among other products. But it has a number of other features that add massive amounts of value, too. It has ten programmable control inputs (buttons and the like) which can be stored as part of on-board profiles that the mouse itself saves. Some profiles may need the support of the optional Logitech Gaming Software, though, so

gladget36

rget!

by Walt Pretorius

not every profile will work as a plug-and-play solution.

Even the scroll wheel has multiple options, either with a specific click function, for precision, or as a freespinning wheel, for speed.

The G500s is a right hand only device, but it is quite comfortable. In addition to that, it is sturdily constructed and featured a hydrophobic palm surface, dry grip side panels and fingerprint resistant buttons. Those buttons are graded up to 20 million clicks, which is pretty impressive, and the low-friction polytetraflouroethylene (say that fast five times) feet have been durability tested to 250km.

Sure, it’s a higher grade mouse, but the thinking behind the G500s and the G100s are chalk and cheese.

Unlike the smaller model, here we have a device that truly deserves to be called a gaming mouse, and one that gamers can buy with confidence. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

Logitech gets things right with the G500s, which is a great gaming mouse all-in-all.

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

gladget36

Nice feel Adjustable weight and balance Great DPI range

10 programmable controls 2m cable 200 – 8200 dpi On-board profile

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

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Not ambidextrous

Score

88 57

I S S U E 5 2 / Vo l . 5 August 2013

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

GTA V Puppeteer Killzone: Mercenary Rayman Legends RomeII:Total War and more...

Off the Wall Addictive platforming in Rayman Legends

Life of Crime Dominate Los Santos in GTA V

Ancient Battles Total War takes on the Roman Empire... again

Console Terror!

Diablo 3 on Xbox 360 and PS3

Age of Innocence

The magical world of Pupeteer

Hollywood Games Delving into narrative in Beyond: Two Souls

Free Online Mag

Taking fun seriously!

www.gameccamag.com

GTA V

Los Santos!

I am in you!

by Pippa Tshabalala

I

would be an understatement – it’s massive!

In yet another innovative move (because let’s face it they needed something good to be able to compete), you get to play as three different characters, all pretty much simultaneously. There’s Franklin, the boy from the hood who’s just trying to make a buck. Michael, the rich guy with a sinister past, and Trevor, the crazy, drugged up hillbilly who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anything, but will happily shoot you in the head while he’s shagging your girlfriend.

When you switch between characters you won’t find them where you last left them. For example if you switch from Michael to Franklin and the last time you were playing as Franklin he was standing outside his house, don’t expect to find him there, or indeed even find him in the same clothes. The characters are dynamic in their own

Review

love GTA. All of them. I love everything about the world, the franchise, the characters, the mechanics, the rampages, the missions, the radio stations… need I go on?

That might be a perfect place to end this review, with just, “Buy it, it’s awesome!” but I suppose you actually want to know why. Let’s start at the beginning.

You return to probably my favourite city in the franchise, Los Santos. For anyone who played San Andreas, you’ll find familiarity, but also a sense of disorientation. This is San Andreas, twenty years on.

The city has expanded, it’s grown up, it’s become more debauched, and much like the real life city it’s based on, urban sprawl has taken over. In fact the city is more than five times the size of the map of Red Dead Redemption, previously Rockstar’s largest game. To say that it’s huge

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way and the experience of Los Santos is only enhanced by this feature.

Each character has their own strengths as well. While the ability to build up your stats has made a return, and practicing a specific skill will up your abilities significantly, each character has their own set of unique talents as well.

You can invoke this special power, (Trevor’s for example is his ability to take less damage for a limited time while causing double), whenever you want. The success of a mission will also depend on which character you’re playing as, and if they’re particularly adept at performing certain tasks.

As always the main story missions are well thought out and construct a vast and intricate narrative, but the joy often comes from the side missions, which are generally more quirky and random. This doesn’t detract from the

main story however, which also involves Ocean’s Eleven type heists where multiple characters are employed to commit a heist and then take a cut of the profits depending on their skills and experience.

Speaking of heists, let’s get into gunplay. The auto aim feature can be toggled on and off, so you can aim and shoot at your targets more quickly and easily if you’re not overly concerned with combat, but if you like more of a challenge, turn off that auto aim feature and make life way more difficult (but decidedly more satisfying) for yourself.

I am ecstatically happy that Rampages have finally made their triumphant return to GTA V! I was extremely sad when this feature was removed, and I almost leapt to my feet in joy when I spotted my first rampage. The only thing missing now is “Kiiiiiiiiiiiill Frenzy!” As challenging and bloodthirsty as ever.

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pretty. Whichever console you’ve got the game on handles them well (I’m playing on Xbox FYI). I haven’t spotted many glitches as yet, and the ones I have aren’t deal breakers, in a world of this size they’re bound to exist.

I am however going to go slightly more in depth with regards to radio stations simply because this is a feature that I’ve always loved about Grand Theft Auto. They were first introduced in GTA 2, and have been one of the strongest features of the game since then, providing you not only with regular news updates within the game world (often of your exploits), but with an awesome soundtrack to boot. I inevitably have my favourites, but it’s worthwhile exploring all the stations in order to discover genres that never interested you before you associated them with your favourite mission.

It’s not a flawless experience sadly, with one of my major

Review

Expect to see familiar locations as well. Without giving too much away you’ll make a return visit to Grove Street to find a location that has changed, although I can’t necessarily say for the better, with the times.

Indeed this is where GTA V really plays on your sense of nostalgia. While the new city is substantially bigger, you’ll find these pockets of familiarity that look and feel as though they’ve aged twenty years. It’s wonderful and depressing at the same time.

As always the city has hidden gems, ranging from the amusing chatter of the passers-by, to the shop signage and the NPC character design. If you take some time out to discover what the city has to offer, your experience of the game will be that much better for it.

I’m going to skim over graphics for the simple reason that they are everything we’ve come to expect. They’re

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bug bears being the connection to the Rockstar Games Social Network and the taking of photographs which is inherently flawed. Each character is equipped with a smartphone on which you can snap pictures (and even selfies if you so choose). This has always been a feature I’ve enjoyed and so the lack of functionality irks me incredibly. Having to first sign up and then connect online just to save out a picture only to have it announce that the servers are down is particularly tiresome, and I’m hoping that an update that allows offline saving of photos will be forthcoming.

At the time of writing, GTA Online is not yet available, although it will become so in October. I’m hoping that this deserves an entire review of its own.

Grand Theft Auto V is a rich, mind blowing experience that has been expertly handcrafted by Rockstar Games,

and I am as in love with the franchise as I always have been.

Interestingly while many critics love it there’s also been a fair amount of criticism levelled at the game for the fact that it’s no longer cutting edge and provocative but more content to maintain the status quo. This is perhaps a fair judgement. We’ve come to expect shock tactics and controversy from GTA, but while the story is expertly crafted, the gameplay is much as it’s always been. That said, there is comfort in familiarity and there is nothing wrong in going with a winning formula. There are enough new features to keep old fans enthralled and new fans excited and coming back for more.

Every time a new GTA is released, we always wonder, what more can they do? How can they top what they did last time? Well played Rockstar, well played. g

AT A GLANCE: Action Adventure

The GTA universe is a familiar but still infinitely satisfying one. It’s not perfect, but damn close to it.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Grand Theft Auto IV, Saints Row IV Local

1

Network

Online 16

Rockstar North Rockstar Games Megarom

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget36

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Reviewed on:

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

95 63

Diablo 3

The Big Shift ..and an incredible result!

by Walt Pretorius

I

numerous changes here that make the game extremely enjoyable, and incredibly well suited to the more casual play-style presented by a game pad.

On the downside, the graphics have taken a bit of a knock, basically to stay in-tune with console hardware. It may be a little disconcerting at first, but forgiving players (and newcomers who have never played the PC version) won’t have any problems. Things are still clear, lively and very visually enticing.

PC gamers may well want to slaughter me for saying this, but the transition onto consoles has been the best thing to happen to this franchise in years. Now we have a game that is slicker, faster paced and even more appealing than the PC version. And it’s not just the more generous drops. There are a number of reasons for this game to be superior to the PC version.

Review

t was only a little way into my first play-through of Diablo 3 on Xbox 360 that the item drops started getting rather generous – at least compared to what I was used to in the PC version of this massive action adventure epic. But more generous item drops are just one of the tweaks that have accompanied Diablo 3 onto console – something which many people believed could (and should) never happen.

The truth is, though, that this version of Diablo 3 is an absolute joy to play. Not only has the genre transitioned beautifully onto console platforms, but Blizzard took the time and effort to ensure that the game runs beautifully, and offers at least as much enjoyment as the PC predecessor.

The story, characters and settings in Diablo 3 on consoles is identical to the PC version. But there are

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Dodging… there’s a good example. Now, with a flick of the right analogue stick, the character will dodge out of harm’s way. This makes fights feel more visceral than the toe-to-toe bashing of the PC version, and adds a dimension of instant-action strategy to the title that was absent before.

Treasure gathering is also much improved – obvious treasure like gold and potions are instantly scooped up, while other treasures require the quick press of a button.

This deposits them into an inventory system that seems clunky and awkward at first, but actually works beautifully when you get used to it.

And the combat? Well, it’s beautifully tuned. A general direction on the left stick will allow the game’s auto-aiming to take out enemies. A wide number of attacks and skills can be mapped to the controller’s buttons, and that silly

restriction of using one skill per skill-class can be avoided when playing in elective mode – making for a game that grants the player more control over their character.

Blizzard have, with this release, once again proven that – even though they sometimes do things we don’t like – they are a company that is very aware of the quality of their offerings. Diablo 3 could have taken the form of a lazy port from PC to console, but instead the developers took the time to make sure that it is everything but. It may be a slightly arguable point, but there are many out there (myself included) that find this version of Diablo 3 to be superior to the PC version in a great many ways.

Everything about the console version of Diablo 3 screams “quality” and “fun”, all in the same breath. If you haven’t played it yet, this is the version to get. Even if you have played it, this is the version to get. g

AT A GLANCE: Action Adventure

Reviewed on:

The move from PC to console has resulted in a version of Diablo 3 that is arguably superior to that on the PC. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Diablo, Diablo 2 Local

4

Network

Online

4

Blizzard Blizzard Megarom

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget36

4

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

90 65

Puppeteer

Innocent Delight Appease your inner child

by Lein Baart

I

follows the story of Kutaro, a boy whose soul has been kidnapped by the evil despot Moon Bear King and forced into servitude as a headless puppet on the dark side of the moon. Aided by the jaded moon cat Ying-Yang, the feisty sun sprite Pikarina and the conniving witch Ezma Potts, Kutaro must regain a magical pair of scissors called Calibrus with which he can defeat Moon Bear King and return to earth. It’s an enchanting fairy-tale, rich in fantastical creatures and locales that’s designed to make your inner child squirm with glee. There’s an innocence to the story that cannot fail to make an impression, revelling in a world an adult may be tempted to dismiss as foolishness, but nevertheless captures the mind to send it soaring on flights of fantasy.

The mystery and wonder of the story is perfectly represented through its presentation, which takes the form

Review

n the world of modern gaming true originality is a rare quality, particularly when it comes to mainstream markets. It’s understandable, as not only does it make sense financially to stick with what you know, but artistically most games are inspired by titles that came before them, meaning that innovation rather than true creation rules the day. Those few studios out there that do attempt to do something different are generally confined to the indie community, meaning that too often those precious few titles that have the potential to change the accepted standards are undercut by low budgets. Puppeteer then is an exception to the rule, a title utterly unique in concept and design but backed by a major publisher, in this case Sony Computer Entertainment.

Developed in-house at SCE’s Japan Studio, Puppeteer

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of a puppet show in which you have a front row seat. Red curtains open and close as you move from scene to scene and act to act, while props and backgrounds pop into place supported on mechanised arms. There’s an ethereal, almost surreal beauty to the game, with amazing character design and stunningly imaginative levels to suck you even further.

From a dark castle to windswept seas to a chilling mountain top, Puppeteer can leave you breathless in its variety. This is supported by flawlessly grandiose voice acting, with the narrator of the show and the main cast bringing the game to life, despite Kutaro being a silent protagonist.

The actual gameplay of Puppeteer is that of the humble platformer, but even this has been transformed beyond the mere ordinary. By and large a 2D game with a sprinkling of 3D sequences, most levels have you hopping and cutting along a mostly linear path. Calibrus plays an important

role, allowing you to essentially fly around stages as long as there is a paper cloud or a piece of cloth to snip. Being a headless doll, a vital part of the gameplay revolves around collecting heads, which both act as lives as well as providing various enhancements to Kutaro’s abilities.

What combat there is does tend to get a little repetitive, and you’ll rarely be challenged, but the boss battles are awesome in their scale as you battle the twelve generals of Moon Bear King.

Puppeteer is game that is unreservedly different from anything that has come before. It exudes a palpable sense of theatre, and majestically sweeps all who play it into a magical realm of youthful delight. Be you child, teen or adult Puppeteer cannot fail to enrapture you, and you should have no regrets spending hard earned money on this exquisitely crafted adventure. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

There is nothing quite like Puppeteer. Beautifully imagined and superbly told, this is a game you really should consider buying Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

LittleBigPlanet Local

2

Network

Online

0

SCE Japan Studio SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

12+ gladget36

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

91 67

Rome II: Total War

The Second Empire A return to the days of togas, orgies and knives in the back‌

by Walt Pretorius

T

the player deal with every controlled city on an individual level, Rome II’s territories are grouped into provinces. Each province has up to four cities in it, and the player manages all four at the same time. It feels a little less hands-on, perhaps, but it does make overall management more‌ well, manageable. Each province has a capital city, which is the only city in the province that has a wall (thereby cutting down on all those lengthy sieges we experienced before).

Each province also has limited growth potential, and the player will need to balance development carefully to meet the demands of their armies, and the populace. Finally, when all the cities in a province are controlled, the player can issue province-wide edicts to further the advantages gained from controlling the territories.

Armies and fleets must now be controlled by a commander, in the form of a general or admiral. The player

Review

he Total War series has been around for more than a decade now, and has managed to rise to new heights throughout its long history consistently. In this latest iteration, Creative Assemble take a step back in history to revisit one of their best settings to date: the ancient Roman Empire.

Rome II: Total War manages to introduce a number of new ideas to the franchise, making for an arguable slicker experience. It still follows the formula of playing politics on an overview map and zooming in for tense, strategically detailed real-time battles, but there are a few aspects that make the overall experience that much easier to manage.

The first of these is how territories are handled. The map is vast, as to be expected, and crammed with potential management headaches. But instead of making

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only has a limited number of these, granted according to the number of controlled provinces. This system has numerous advantages to it, not least of which is adding a level of challenge, but there are also one or two downsides.

Principal among these is the fact that reinforcements cannot simply be sent out to meet waiting armies – they need to be taken by one of the commanders. This can complicate matters somewhat, particularly when you consider that each army can contain a maximum of 20 platoons. Thankfully, though, cities now have their own garrisons, composed of platoons gained from various buildings. It is therefore possible to successfully defend a siege without a general in sight.

When it comes to the battles themselves, Rome II offers the same high degree of strategy, as well as great looks.

There are hundreds of different unit types, and zooming

right in on the action – standing among the troops, as it were – can be quite thrilling.

While Rome II is, on the whole, a much improved title, there are issues that still plague the franchise. Some of these go back right to the series’ beginnings. Probably the most annoying is the inconsistent AI. AI opponents will alternate great battle strategies with absolutely silly moves, and the player will be able to find exploits that remove some of the game’s strategic realism in RTS battles.

That said, there is still no finer franchise for exploring the intricacies of ancient warfare. Rome II goes a long way to retaining that title, and it provides the player with a massive, challenging series of campaigns at the head of some of the ancient world’s most notorious warrior nations.

Strategy fans will love it, even with the few warts it has. g

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Strategy

Reviewed on:

PC

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Rome: Total War, Shogun II: Total War Local

1

Network

Online

2

Creative Assemble Sega Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget36

2

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Rome II manages to build on Total War’s sterling reputation, but some of the series’ longstanding quirks have still not been addressed.

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

84 69

Rayman Legends

Platforming Pleasure!

Rayman and co return for a yet another legendary adventure!

by Nthato Morakabi

T

graphics. The background depicting aesthetic visuals of castles, mountains and foliage moving with the characters creates realistic in-game depth. There are also points while playing in which you bounce from either foreground to background or visa-versa, utilising the visual depth superbly.

Along with its aesthetic value, there is much in Rayman Legends that is downright weird and creepy such as the multiheaded bird like creatures that attempt to peck the heroes to death, not to mention ogres, dragons, pirates, giant centipedes and a host of characters and creatures that bring the Rayman to life.

A wide roster of characters will be available for play, most of which have to be unlocked through collecting Lums. The playable characters look, feel and play like their personalities including Rayman in his usual attire or his “alter ego” hidden below a knight’s helmet. Even playing as the other unlockable

Review

he large nosed, limbless warrior returns for yet another legendary adventure that sees him team up with Globox, the Teensies and friends for an epic excursion across various regions, kicking, punching and leaping to action for yet another rescue mission. The tale begins during the heroes’ century long sleep, when Bubble Dreamer’s nightmares begin to formulate and grow in strength and number; the resulting consequence is a mass imprisonment of ten of the princesses of the land along with numerous teensies, by the nightmares and 4 of the dark teensies. Murfy, a friend of the heroes, wakes the sleeping warriors up and informs of them of the predicament requiring some hero initiative.

Visually, Rayman Legends is stunning. The crisp, colourful, HD graphics combined with the impressively hand drawn sprites creates a brilliant amalgamation of 2D and 3D

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characters feels different and yet similar enough that it’s not like learning to play the whole game again. You can also play through co-operatively with four other players and that in itself is a challenge, especially if a friend isn’t platform adequate.

Those familiar with the previous Rayman titles will be familiar with the controls, franticly cruising through the levels while those new to the platformer might have to adjust to the pace and dynamics of the game. These dynamics include the collecting and rescuing of Lums and Teensies while occasionally fending off whatever is in your way, escaping enemies or speeding through time-constrained levels; epic boss battles in stunning 3D are sure to test your mettle.

A feature specifically for the Wii U version, now implemented with the other consoles, is the controlling of Murfy – a green flying character from a previous Rayman title. Murfy is only usable at certain areas of the game and is

controlled with a single button; quite a manoeuvre when you are running, jumping and pirouetting through level. Murfy’s job is to assist Rayman as he speeds through the levels such as helping him cross over certain areas by moving platfroms, cutting ropes, poking the eyes of creepy looking nightmares or tickling enemy creatures to lower their defences. Once you get the hang and timing right, controlling Murfy isn’t as hard as it seems though it does become quite a challenge in progressing levels.

A variety of game modes are open for play from the frantic local-multiplayer soccer mode, Kung Foot to an unlockable Return to Origins that takes you through rehashed levels from the previous title and competitive online play in various daily and weekly challenges.

In conclusion, Rayman is a frantic, fast-paced game, visually stunning and fantastically fun. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

Bubble Dreamer’s nightmares have bubbled up to the surface, kidnapping princesses, capturing Lums and Teensies. It’s up to Rayman and friends to save the day.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Rayman Origins Local

4

Network

Online 10

Ubisoft Ubisoft Megarom

Parental Advisory

7+ gladget36

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

90 71

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