Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini pre-orders kick off in the UK ahead of early July release

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini pre-orders are now underway, with the sub-sized spinoff to the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 set to hit retailers early next month.

Having formally unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini in recent weeks, one of a trio of Samsung Galaxy S4 offshoots to have been announced, Samsung has now seen its Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini replacement made available for pre-order through a selection of leading UK networks.

With both Orange and T-Mobile having announced their intentions to sport the smaller S4 sibling, the networks have even offered pricing for the device which has been pegged with a potential June 5 Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini release date.

Set to be made available on £26 per month, two year contracts, Orange has revealed that those pre-ordering the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will not be forced to pay the usual £49.99 upfront handset fee which will apply to wannabe owners after launch.

For this rather reasonable outlet, early adopters will see their S4 Mini handset paired with 200 monthly minutes, unlimited texts and a 750MB monthly data allowance. The network is to offer the 4.3-inch device in both of its S4 mimicking ‘black mist’ and ‘white frost’ colour options.

Shaking things up slightly, sister network T-Mobile has confirmed that, for the same monthly outlay, it will offer the S4 Mini alongside 300 minutes, 500 texts and 1MB of data.



Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Features

Not quite the industry powerhouse like its 5-inch big brother, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini specs sheet revolves around a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display and Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS.

Boasting a 1.7GHz dual-core processor at its heart, the S4 Mini features list is further enhanced by an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera, second, 1.9-megapixel forward-facing snapper and a raft of Samsung’s latest software features.

With the headline grabbing, eye-tracking Smart Pause and Smart Scroll making the cut, Samsung has also bestowed the S4 Mini with the likes of S Health and a bevy of camera options.



Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

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New Google Nexus 7 appears with Android 4.3 in tow

A new Google Nexus 7 tablet has leaked once again, with the heavily rumoured second-generation device appearing via an FCC filing with the unannounced Android 4.3 OS in tow.

Having previously made a premature appearance courtesy of a leaked Bluetooth SIG certification earlier this week, latest reports have suggested the currently unconfirmed Google Nexus 7 2 has been passed through FCC testing, suggesting a release could soon be on the cards.

What’s more, with the original Google Nexus 7 tablet having launched Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it has been suggested that the new, second-generation model, will become the first device to run the eagerly awaited Android 4.3.

While we must stress that the claimed Nexus 7 2 is still far from official, the FCC product filing has suggested the revised 7-inch tablet will once again be manufactured in partnership with Asus and will be made available in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus 3G forms. The product filing has hinted that the two models will sport the device names, the Asus K008 and K009 respective.

Offering a potential glimpse in to the Google Nexus 7 2 specs sheet, the reports have tipped the iPad mini rival to land boasting a new, 1080p Full HD display alongside a quad-core rendition of Qualcomm’s zippy Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU.

With 2GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear-mounted camera and integrated NFC also expected to make the cut, the latest Google Nexus 7 2 leaks have claimed a 3950 mAh battery will help keep the tablet chugging along. Although it is not guaranteed the FCC approved device will sport Google’s Nexus branding, the listed device will reportedly line up just 7.5mm thick and with a slimmer bezel that the original Nexus 7. A second, 13-megapixel forward-facing snapper is also expected to be included.

With Google having, somewhat surprisingly, failed to unveil any new hardware during its recent Google I/O press conference, the search turn hardware giant is expected to announce the second generation Google Nexus 7, as well as a new Google Nexus 5 smartphone alongside Android 4.3 later this summer.

Read More: Google Nexus 7 vs iPad mini

Via: PocketLint

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PS4 demand to ‘outstrip supply’ at launch suggests Sony

Sony has suggested that demand for the recently priced PS4 will likely ‘outstrip supply’ at launch, meaning many eager gamers are set to miss out in the run up to the Christmas period.

With the PS4 price having been formally unveiled as £349 earlier this week during the company’s E3 press conference, Sony has revealed that pre-orders for the next-generation PlayStation have soared since the announcement, forcing it to readdress its sales projections for the console.

With a number of retailers now suggesting the PS4 is proving more popular that the £80 more expensive Xbox One, Sony has warned that at the current rate of interest, demand for the PS3 follow-on “may well outstrip supply.”

Speaking on the eagerly awaited console, Andrew House, Sony’s Global Head of the PlayStation Business told the WSJ: “The company is shifting its internal projections for the product after favourable reaction to the company’s presentation Monday.” He reportedly added to those considering the console, “demand may well outstrip supply.”

Earlier this week Sony looked to quell concerns that launch stock for its next-generation console would be limited, with the manufacturer stating it will look to accommodate all interest ahead of release. Presently, Sony has confirmed a PS4 release date will be held during the “2013 holiday season” but no more precise details have yet been given.

Speaking during E3 2013, Fergal Gera, Head of Sony PlayStation UK told reporters, “We’ve been really pleased with the boost overnight of pre-order figures of the PS4 following our E3 press conference.

He added: “We’ll do our best to have plenty of stock for gamers in the UK.”

Further suggesting that PS4 demand could be greater than supply figures at launch, a number of retailers currently allowing for PS4 pre-orders to be made are restricting eager gamers to just one console each.

On the expected PS4 stock shortages, supermarket behemoth Tesco stated: “We allow 1 pre-order per customer and reserve the right to cancel any duplicate orders.” The retailer added: “We are expecting demand of the Sony PlayStation 4 Console to be very high and stock availability limited so pre-orders will be prioritised in the order in which they were placed.”



Read More: PS4 Pre-orders: Where you can buy it

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Killzone 4: Shadow Fall Game Review

Killzone 4: Shadow Fall - first impressions from E3 2013

Is Killzone 4 the killer title that the PS4 needs at launch? Well, based on its showing at E3, it certainly won't hurt the console's chances. Like the previous titles in the series, it's a gritty sci-fi shooter charting the continuing conflict between the people of Vekta and their brutal, quasi-fascist neighbours, the Helghast.

Only this time, their planet ravaged by the war chronicled in Killzone 1 through 3, the Helghast have been forced to take refuge on Vekta. For twenty years peace reigns, but it can't last. One act of terror and, before you know it, the Helghast have rediscovered their military mojo. It's time to continue the fight.

Killzone 4: Shadow Fall trailer

Watch the Killzone 4: Shadow Fall trailer from E3 2013

Read 10 things we learned about the PS4 at E3 2013

This time, though, the fight is a little different. You're no longer playing as a frontline grunt, but as an elite agent of the Vektan authorities, operating behind enemy lines. You might not get the trips and artillery of previous Killzones, but you do get the latest elite agent hardware.

This includes the Owl, a small drone device, which works in three different modes. Sweep right on the DualShock 4 touchpad and it hovers to give you a portable airline - perfect for traversing the game's larger environments. Sweep up, and it becomes your comrade in combat, defending you against the Helghast troops or sweeping the area for hostiles should you direct it to. It can also be asked to call up a handy shield. You can shoot out, but the Helghast can't shoot in.

Your weapons prove equally versatile. You can still scavenge a wide range of guns from the battlefield, but your default arm, a sort of futuristic carbine, can also be set to work as a sniper rifle, its barrel extending and a scope appearing for firing at range. In this mode it's much more powerful, but shots need to be charged up before you can fire, making it less ideal when confronting several targets a little closer up.

With Killzone 4: Shadow Fall, Guerilla Games wanted to give us a different style of Killzone, and that's reflected in everything from the environments to the art style to the way the levels are laid out. The sequence we saw at E3 was set in rugged forest with the area split by a wide rushing river and waterfall.

The forest is dotted with ruined buildings, Helghast guard towers and encampments, and we we're free to wander where we chose. We're promised that many of the game's levels will have a choice of objectives that can be completed in any order, and while the director made it plain that Killzone wasn't going open world, the team did want to give the player more freedom.

Instead of moving from cover to cover, peeking and blasting through a series of streets, corridors and plazas, you're encouraged to move rapidly, improvise and make the most of your high-tech toolkit.

To make this work, Guerilla has ramped up the Helghast AI, making the little orange-goggled devils more aggressive and more inquisitive. They certainly pose a challenge in numbers, and you're encouraged to take a stealthier approach than in earlier Killzones, using tools like a handy sonar locator to spot your enemies and gain the advantage.

At this point we should probably mention the graphics, which are… astonishing. If ridiculously detailed, natural looking rocks, realistic rushing water and gorgeous mist and light effects are the benchmark of next-gen excellence, then Killzone 4: Shadow Fall might be the current leader of the pack. It's a truly stunning looking game. The Helghast have never looked so mean or menacing, or died in so many impressively unpleasant ways.

Any concerns? Only one. You do have many tools at your disposal, and there's probably going to be a bit of a learning curve before you get the hang of the controls. Certainly our brief hands-on wasn't short of humiliating pitfalls.

Overall, though, this is a powerful statement of intent from Sony and Guerilla, that intent being to build a sci-fi shooter capable of standing up with the best of the genre, and showing them how it's done on next-gen hardware. We can't wait to see more.



Next, read our in-depth Xbox One vs PS4 comparison

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Pink Floyd's entire back catalogue coming soon to Spotify

Spotify to unlock Pink Floyd

Legendary rock band Pink Floyd have agreed to end their self-enforced absence from Spotify, with the band's entire back catalogue coming soon.


The Swedish streaming giant has announced that iconic Floyd albums like The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall will be unlocked once the now-available track 'Wish You Were Here' reaches a million plays on the service.

The announcement was confirmed by the band's official Twitter account.

The capture of Floyd is a big coup for Spotify in a week when Apple finally launched its iTunes Radio service which threatens to undermine the company's streaming dominance. Check out our iTunes Radio vs Spotify feature for the lowdown.

It also allows Spotify to match Rdios offering who've been offering Floyd albums for quite a while to paying customers.

Spotify users will be hoping that now David Gilmour and Roger Waters are in the bag that the likes of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and The Beatles could be convinced to jump on board too.

Given the previous those artists have with regards to their music rights, we wouldn't hold our breath, but given that even Metallica gave in eventually, anything is possible.

Spotify users around the world sing with us in unison "We don't need no…iTunes downloads…"

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Facebook looking to fill Google Reader void?

Facebook Reader on the way?

Facebook may be looking to provide a home for Google Reader users when the popular RSS reader closes next month.

A developer has been delving into Facebook's code and spotted mentions of RSS feeds. The man in question, Tom Waddington of Sleuthing, reckons this could be more than a simple implication of RSS feeds for friends' status updates and what-have-you.

He believes what he's seen beneath the surface is "exactly what you'd code to start up a Google Reader clone."

Furthermore, access to the code is limited to Facebook employees which suggests there's a little more secrecy surrounding whatever the social network's programmers are plotting.

It would certainly make sense for Facebook to attempt to fill the void left by Google Reader, a service Google seemingly just got tired of facilitating.

Facebook's modus operandi is to keep eyes on the site at all times and the instant delivery of users friends' favourite news sources would be another way of doing it.

Plenty of Google Reader loyalists have already overcome their sadness at the impending closure by shacking up with the impressive Feedly app, which has revealed 3 million new users since the announcement

The start-up has made it easy for Google Reader users to migrate over to the new service, preserving all of their favourite feeds.

Meanwhile, the former giant of web content aggregation Digg is also plotting an alternative service

Google Reader will officially pull down the shutters on July 1, so time is running out if Facebook plans to launch a replacement reader in time.

Via SlashGear

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 photo samples point towards 13MP camera

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 camera looks set to be of the 13-megapixel variety, as claimed sample shots from the handset leak online.

With a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date widely expected to be held around IFA 2013 this autumn, newly leaked sample shots taken by the as yet unannounced ‘phablet’ device have suggested it will sport the same 13-megapixel snapper as the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Uploaded to a Picasa web album, the 4128 x 2322 pixel images list the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 as the device used to capture the images. What’s more, this resolution points to a 13-megapixel camera with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Suggesting the Note will sport the same impressive snapper as the Samsung Galaxy S4, the new image leaks are the latest in a long run of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours which have suggested the smartphone turn tablet hybrid will feature everything from a 6-inch display to a new, squarer form factor.

According to the latest leaks, it has also been suggested that, like the S4 before it, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will see the camera component handset a f/2.2 aperture lens with a 31mm focal length. Although it is currently unclear what secondary snapper the Note 3 will support, if taking both cameras from its S4 sibling it will be a strong 2-megapixel option.

Showing nothing more than an office workstation and desk, the leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 3 photos offer little in terms of insight into the camera’s true quality.



Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Rumours

Set to land as a direct replacement for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, recent Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours have pointed to a device with a 5.99-inch screen, a full 1-inch bigger than that of the S4. Like the S4, the Note 3 will reportedly benefit from 1080p Full HD visuals.

Tipped to land running Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS skinned with Samsung TouchWiz UI, further Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours have pegged the handset as sporting an eight-core Qualcomm processor and anything up to 3GB of RAM.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

Via: GSM

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3D film revenue in UK continues to fall

The total gross income generated by 3D films in the UK has fallen for the third year in a row, now down to 18 per cent for 2012.

Over the course of 2012, 43 films were released in 3D but only managed to generate 18 per cent of the UK’s gross box office revenue, down from 20 per cent in 2011 and 24 per cent in 2010.

Revenue generated by 3D films in the UK is showing a downward trend, even though a high number of blockbusters were released with a 3D viewing option.

Alex Stoltz, Head of Distribution at the British Film Institute, told Radio 4 that consumers were being more selective as to which films they wished to see in 3D.

“It does seem to be a bit of a slide… on different titles people are making different decisions,” said Stoltz. “On the big family films there seems to be a lower proportion of people opting to choose 3D.”

“There were very successful films like Madagascar 3 and Brave, and only about a third of their total revenue came from 3D ticket sales.”

The Life of Pi managed to achieve great 3D success, with 79 per cent of its viewers opting against 2D. This figure equated to 3D viewings accounting for £19 million worth of its £24 million box office takings.

“Life of Pi was conceived and produced by Ang Lee, an auteur, and audiences can tell the difference between an authentic 3D film rather than a bolt on”, added Stoltz.

Marvel Avengers Assemble was the best performing 3D movie with a total gross income of nearly £52 million. £30 million of those takings was generated by people watching it in 3D.

The premium price of 3D movies is inevitably being taken into account when making viewing decisions, especially by families who need to economise on multiple tickets.

Next, read our pick of the best TVs of 2013.

Via: BBC

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Nokia EOS snapped, metal bodied 41MP camera phone leaks

More pictures of the Nokia EOS PureView smartphone have leaked online, showing an aluminium casing for the 41-megapixel camera phone.

Expected to be revealed at a New York event on July 11, the Nokia EOS PureView has appeared online again but this time with an aluminium body and looks to be taking design cues from the Nokia Lumia 925.

The latest images come from Chinese sources on Weibo and provide a few more snapshots of the 41-megapixel camera phone to complement the Nokia EOS PureView pictures leaked online last week and the camera video that also appeared.

These previous leaks showed the Nokia EOS to have a polycarbonate body, but if the latest photograph is accurate, Nokia could launch the EOS with an aluminium body to differentiate it from all the Lumia products already on the market.

Of course, this may be a prototype of the device, so we’ll have to wait until the July 11 New York event, which bears the heading “Zoom. Reinvented” to see what the Nokia EOS will look like.

The smartphone is rumoured to pack a 41-megapixel Carl Zweiss image sensor in the rear with Xenon flash, potentially with optical image stabilisation and variable aperture. From the images we’ve seen so far, the camera should bulge out from the rear of the smartphone, slightly distorting its otherwise straight back.

Although the actual screen size is unknown, it should offer 1290 x 768p resolutions and 32GB of internal storage.

Any other specs for the Nokia EOS PureView are still unknown, but it will be the upgrade to the Nokia PureView 808 device launched last year.

The Nokia PureView 808 used the Symbian OS and was extremely successful due to its excellent image quality and giant 41-megapixel sensor with lossless zoom technology.



Next, read our pick of the best mobile phones of 2013.

Via: PocketNow

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Acer to launch wearable gadgets next year

Acer says it will launch its own wearable tech next year

Acer has revealed it will launch its own wearable gadgets, with the manufacturer stating it will launch a smartwatch or Google Glass rival next year.

A market seemingly on the periphery of the mainstream, wearable tech has received a number of big new players recently, with Acer now confirming its intentions to enter the sector that currently features devices such as the Nike FuelBand and Google’s tech-filled eyewear.

"We are looking at wearable, I think every consumer company should be looking at wearable,” ST Liew, President of Acer’s Smartphone Business Group told PocketLint. He added: “Are we thinking along those lines? Yes, absolutely. You should expect something like that from us as well next year."

With Acer one of many leading manufacturers now know to be plotting products for the wearable tech sector, recent leaks have also suggested that Apple is currently working on an Apple iWatch device of its own. Said to offer iPhone connected notifications direct to your wrist, the iWatch has been mooted for launch later this year.

Discussing the emerging sector, Liew stated: “Wearable isn't new ... it just hasn't exploded in the way that it should. But the opportunity’s for billions of dollars worth of industry."

Suggesting that there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the wearable tech market, he added: "I think the trick is making the right trade-off, so that you put the right package of what people are expecting into a wearable.”

Hinting that an Acer branded smart watch would be the company’s first wearable offering he stated: “Is a day battery enough? It might be, if the charging mechanism is easy. You take off your watch at night, throw it on the side and it inductively charges.”



Read More – Google Glass: The privacy problems

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Google CEO warns of online permanent record for teenage antics

Google CEO, Eric Schmidt has warned that today’s teenagers are the first generation to grow up with an online permanent record of all their digressions.

Speaking at the Telegraph’s Hay Festival, Schmidt stated that teenagers in the digital age can never escape any mistakes they’ve made due to how much of their lives are stored on the internet.

“We have never had generation with a full photographic, digital record of what they did”, said Schmidt. “We have a point at which we [Google] forget information we know about you because it is the right thing to do.”

Schmidt explained that it is Google’s policy to many any information on what any individual has searched for completely anonymous after a year.

However, he also made it clear that he feels the amount of personal information shared online is becoming ridiculous. He cited parents that post ultrasounds of their unborn babies on social media sites, saying it was taking oversharing to “overwhelmingly excessive levels.”

“There are situations in life that it’s better that they don’t exist. Especially if there is stuff you did when you were a teenager. Teenagers are now in an adult world online.”

Previously, anyone who made mistakes in their teenage years had the potential to get away from those actions.

“Society has always had ways of dealing with errant teenagers”, Schmidt explained. “They grow up out of it and become fine, upstanding leaders.”

However, with the current generation of young people, they may never be able to escape past mistakes because they are captured online and could potentially be dredged up by future employers, governments or other life influencing sources.

In recent months, Google has been urged to censor offensive videos and messages on the internet, particularly regarding extremist content. Schmidt said Google has no plans to do so, instead retaining its current censorship rule that bans content according to the legal requirements of each country.

“It is a slippery slope. Where do we stop?”

Next, read Google Glass – the privacy problem and how to solve it.

Via: Telegraph

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Office Mobile lands for iPhone, UK users left out in the cold

Microsoft has finally launched an Office Mobile app for iPhone users – what a shame it’s only for US iPhone users with an Office 365 subscription.

Any American Office 365 Home Premium and Office 365 ProPlus subscribers now have access to the Office Mobile app on the iPhone, allowing users to view, edit and create Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel directly from their iPhone.

“We are excited to be adding even more value to our Office 365 subscriptions with the new Office Mobile for iPhone!” writes Pat Fox, Microsoft Office's Senior Director of Product Marketing on the official Microsoft blog. “Office Mobile now enables iPhone users to access, view, and edit their Office Documents on the go, similar to what is already preinstalled today on Windows Phone 8.”

Unfortunately, the long-awaited arrival of Microsoft Office Mobile on iOS devices has been tarnished by its current US exclusivity and the fact it isn’t offered for iPad users.

Microsoft instead suggests that iPad users opt for the Office Web Apps, but has yet to give any details as to whether the Office Mobile app will be available in the UK.

“Office Mobile is designed for people on the move,” reads the official announcement. “We made it quick and easy to access your Office content in the cloud on SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro. When you’re on your phone, you’ll easily find the content you viewed on your computer in the Recent Documents panel.”

Working in a similar way to the iWorks suite on Mac and iOS devices, the Office Mobile app for iOS synchs all documents edited and viewed on Office 365 irrespective of platform.

Office 365 Home Premium subscriptions in the UK cost £79.99 per year or £7.99 a month. It is only compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later, but can be installed on up to 5 PCs or Macs.

The Office Mobile app doesn’t cost any more for Office 365 Home Premium subscribers, but the iPhone must be an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 or 5th-generation iPod Touch all running iOS 6.1 or later.

Unfortunately, anyone without an Office 365 subscription will have to sign up for one to use Office Mobile and there are no discounts for only using the mobile option, or whether the mobile option is compatible with older Office iterations.

Next, read our iPhone 5 tips and tricks.

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Samsung Galaxy S4’s plastic build to help drive case sales?

The plastic build of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the few elements of the flagship phone which has come in for criticism, and accessory manufacturers have suggested that this could have seen a rise in case sales.

A true powerhouse of the smartphone scene with a 5-inch, 1080p Full HD Super AMOLED display and a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, the Samsung Galaxy S4, in the eyes of many consumers, us included, failed to live up to its high-end billing by adopting a cheap feeling plastic construction. Its main rivals, the HTC One and iPhone 5 are both crafted out of more premium metal.

While a disappointment to many, it has been suggested that this plastic build could have helped case manufacturers shift more protective covers for the S4.

“Consumer perception of the plastic construction might have driven more S4 case sales,” Bryan Hynecek, Vice President of design with case manufacturer Speck said in an interview with TrustedReviews. “There is definitely a consumer perception that plastic is more fragile that metal phones.”

Although stating that the build quality of the internals of the phone are a more honest portrayal of how sturdy a device is that is exterior material, Hynecek claimed that, with sales of S4 cases currently strong, the handset’s plastic build could have played a contributing role in this.

In an industry formally dominated by Apple products, the Speck VP has suggested that interest in cases for Android based handsets is on the rise, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 currently leading the way.

“There is a consolidation going on,” he told us. “With non-Apple phones previously you had other manufacturers making multiple phones throughout the year but they have started to consolidate to ‘world phones’ which makes it a little easier to know which devices to bet on with making cases.”

He added: “Likewise these companies are focussing branding and marketing around these hero phones and it is growing the market for non-Apple device cases.”



Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5

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iOS 7 game controller plans confirmed by Apple, partnering with Logitech and Moga

Apple has confirmed that it will release licensed iOS 7 game controllers via Logitech and Moga, revealing its plans during a WWDC session.

The Curpertino company has held a 45-minute long WWDC session dedicated to its upcoming iOS 7 game controllers, showcasing hardware mock-ups and outlining best practice guidelines.

Entitled “Integrating with Game Controllers”, Apple’s WWDC session revealed how serious the company is about producing licensed game controllers for its new iOS 7 operating system and confirmed they will be made by Logitech and Moga.

Apple speakers during the session offered a comprehensive guide helping developers to code their games for the iOS 7 controllers.

Two iOS 7 game controller concepts were outlined earlier this week, but Apple actually provided hardware example designs during the WWDC session. The first is a called a the “form-fitting extended gamepad” that wraps around an iPhone or iPod Touch that features the standard array of console gamepad buttons, D-pad, shoulder buttons and dual analog sticks.

The second option is the “standalone extended gamepad” that is not connected to the device in any way and could perhaps be used for iPad iOS 7 gaming. It has the same button layout as the “form-fitting” option but includes player indicator LEDs, meaning the device could support multiplayer gaming, akin to the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Handily, both controller options feature a pause button for quick access to the start menu of iOS games.

Apple also outlined that both iOS 7 controller models will have pressure-sensitive, analogue sticks without a dead zone, non-drifting D-pads and fast button response times.

An iOS 7 release date has been scheduled for some time this autumn, compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 devices along with iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and iPad mini. The 5th-generation iPod Touch will also be compatible with the new operating system.

Device specifications and accompanying APIs for the iOS 7 game controllers will be ready in time for the iOS 7 release later this year.

Next read what’s new with our iOS 7 features list.

Via: AppleInsider

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Samsung Galaxy S4 software update released, rolled out in the UK

Samsung Galaxy S4 users, update your handset now

A recently announced Samsung Galaxy S4 software update has been released in the UK for the first time, introducing a number of new user interface fixes in a bid to make the handset more stable.

Amending a selection of minor software glitches found on the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 since launch, the S4 software update sees new camera firmware added while the handset’s storage space woes, which were investigated by the BBC’s Watchdog, are addressed. Launched in Germany last week, the new Samsung Galaxy S4 software update is now available to the handset's UK users for the first time.

Having come under criticism for the 16GB model offering just 9.15GB of user available storage space, the Samsung Galaxy S4 update allows users to move apps to additional SD storage.

Being rolled out across the UK's S4 users now, the software release is currently available only for those using the 1.9GHz quad-core rendition of the phone (the model available in the UK).

Lining up at 365.67MB in size, the update alters how the S4 looks and performs, with the purple smearing issue reported by some while scrolling through menus eradicated. On top of this, a semi-transparent status bar has been introduced as have legibility improvements looking to remove text blurring.

With a Smart Pause Toggle option added to the mix, the S4 update sees users now able to benefit from HDR video recording capabilities, moving the high dynamic range features beyond the handset’s stills camera.

Available as an over-the-air fix, the S4 patch is accessible through Samsung KIES.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5

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Destiny Game Review

At every E3 there are a few games that really matter, and Destiny is certainly one for E3 2013. This is, after all, the mysterious new project from Bungie, the studio that bought us Halo. It's its first cross-platform game since separating from Microsoft, and it's also a lead title for next-generation consoles, with Sony showcasing the game on PS4 at its E3 conference, though it is set to appear on Xbox One and the current generation systems as well.

With Destiny, Bungie has some ambitious aims. It's a multiplayer FPS set in a persistent online world, but one that's designed to feel more like a single-player game, with an evolving storyline and episodes that key into a wider saga. Destiny takes elements from massive multiplayer games, including loot, group missions, classes and experience, but it's not a massive multiplayer game as such. Instead, Destiny uses smart matchmaking to group players together while on a mission, and doesn't focus on the kind of player to player interaction you'd find in a Guild Wars 2 or World of Warcraft. In a way, Destiny brings the single-player and multiplayer halves of Halo into one big sci-fi epic. It might look a bit like Halo meets Borderlands, but it works at a larger scale than that suggests.

This universe has a new premise, too. It's the far future and, aided by a mysterious spherical entity called the traveller, mankind has spread out to fill the solar system. Sadly, an event known as 'the collapse' has bought us back to the point of extinction, with only pockets of humanity remaining on Earth, sheltered from hostile alien invaders in the last human city, and under the traveller's watchful gaze. Players take on the role of Guardians, defenders of the city and the last hope to reconquer the Earth, enhanced with what look like supernatural powers and ready to do battle. Your aim? Help save humanity and become a legend while you're there.

Watch the impressive official Destiny trailer:

We had a chance to get a closer look at the section of Destiny demonstrated at the Sony press conference, with a little more explanation from the development team. With a bit more time to see the game played in real-time before our eyes, it's easier to catch its flavour, and there are definitely echoes of Halo in the game's grand vistas, distinctive styling and tough, unpredictable AI.

Combat looks fast and furious, with a huge selection of weapons, each bearing its own skill tree and each branded with a brilliant, ridiculous name. After the destruction of a hulking boss enemy beneath the wall surrounding a crumbling Russian city, the two players were rewarded with a sniper rifle known as Duct Tape Fixes Everything and a powerful, electrically-charged machine gun known as the Thunderlord. It just doesn't get much better than that.

There's humour elsewhere too. If you've seen the Sony conference demo then you've seen your floating robot companion, Ghost, and it's clear that he'll add support and personality during the game.

Beyond talent trees and loot, Destiny takes another leaf from the MMORPG playbook by cramming in larger scale 'public events'. In this case, breaching the wall led to a pitched battle against the section's weird insectoid adversories, with four additional players joining battle against the alien hordes and a massive crawling mech. During this fight we also saw what looked like magical powers wielded, though details of how these work and of the different capabilities of the various playable classes are scant at present.

Watch the character creation video:

In fact, there's a lot we don't know about Destiny, and we suspect we'll have a lot more fun finding out. One thing's for sure, though - this is a seriously beautiful looking game, taking the kind of natural and sci-fi environments Bungie bought us with the original Halo, and dragging them into the next generation with some of the best lighting and water effects we've seen on the E3 show floor. It will take a lot to match the impact of Halo - a game that defined the console shooter for the best part of five years - but Destiny might just do it, and bring the worlds of single-player and multiplayer together into one compelling whole.

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PS4 size sees console dwarfed by Xbox One

PS4 and Xbox One size comparison

A new image comparing the PS4 and Xbox One sizes has revealed Sony’s next-generation console to be a lot smaller than the Microsoft option.

The PS4’s size see the Sony console dwarfed by the Xbox One, which is also taller and just as beefy as the original Xbox 360 console released in 2005.

Considerably slimmer and smaller than the Xbox One, the PS4 is also miniature in comparison to the original beast of a PS3 released in 2006. In fact, some have suggested that the PS4 may not be that much bigger than the Nintendo Wii .

The next-generation size comparison picture appeared courtesy of a Twitter user and reveals just how different the Xbox One and PS4 are in size.

Sony has already released the official specs sheet and size dimensions of its PS4 console. It packs an eight-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar processor, 1.84 teraFLOPS GPU with AMD next-generation Radeon based graphics engine. It has a 500GB harddrive and 8GB of GDDR5 RAM.

Measuring up at approximately 275 x 53 x 305mm, the PS4 weighs 2.8kg and packs Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Xbox One will have a custom Microsoft build eight-core CPU with 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB hard drive. Microsoft's console also packs the same AMD GPU but with 32MB of eSRAM. The PS4's GPU is 50 per cent more powerful though, with 1152 shader processors in comparison to the 768 in the Xbox One.

However, Microsoft has not yet revealed the exact or approximate measurements for the Xbox One, so this size comparison picture has been engineered by working out the console’s dimensions from the console’s various ports.

In light of this of course, the image may not be accurate, but from the PS4 and Xbox One hands-on contact we got at E3 2013, the Microsoft console is definitely beefier than Sony’s offering.

Not only does the Xbox One dwarf the PS4 in size, but in price too. The PS4 price with one DualShock 4 controller has been set at £349 or £398 with the PlayStation Eye camera as well. The Xbox One price is £429 coming complete with the new Xbox One Kinect and a single controller.

The Xbox One release date was revealed during E3, with the console arriving sometime in November. The PS4 will be released sometime in the “holidays 2013” season.



Next, read our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison.

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Samsung defends Galaxy S4 sales following share price drop

Samsung Galaxy S4 sales are strong claims, well, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S4 sales have been defended by the South Korea manufacturer after concerns over missed targets cause the company’s share prices to drop.

Reassuring investors that the Samsung Galaxy S4 remains a strong sales threat despite recent claims from analysts, Samsung CEO J.K. Shin has suggested sales are “fine” and that the HTC One and iPhone 5 rival continues to “sell well.”

Last week, Samsung’s share price dropped six per cent overnight following reports by J.P Morgan analysts claimed Samsung Galaxy S4 sales could fall short of expectations. This came despite the S4 shifting a hugely impressive 10 million units during its opening 28 days on sale.

"I can say sales of the Galaxy S4 smartphone are fine. It's been selling well," Shin said speaking with the Korea Times. "The report was based on its own analysis. Probably the bank may have corrected its previous bullish estimate about the S4 sales."

With Samsung predicting it will sell a whopping 100 million S4 handsets during the smartphone’s lifecycle, Shin has been keen to reassure investors that the company is not behind on these intentions. With the recent crash in share prices marking a four-month low for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 manufacturer, the S4 sales reports took $12.4 billion (£7.9bn) off Samsung’s worth.

While Shin has been quick to defend S4 sales, it has been claimed that the recent dilution of the S4 brand could have a detrimental effect on the handset’s sales. Crowding the market with question spinoffs, Samsung has formally unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, waterproof Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and camera focused Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom in the past two weeks.

Earlier this week the first Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours started doing the rounds online suggesting the manufacturer could move to a new, metal bodied design principle for next year’s flagship handset.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Features

Arguably the most popular handset on the smartphone scene right now, the Samsung Galaxy S4 pairs a stunning 5-inch, 1080p Full HD Super AMOLED display with a speedy 1.9GHz quad-core processor, 13-megapixel camera and 2GB of RAM.

With a second, 2-megapixel snapper lining up on the handset’s fore, the S4 specs sheet is rounded off by Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and a svelte 7.9mm thick form factor.



Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5

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iPad mini 2 release date teased by August shipment claims

An iPad mini 2 release date has been tipped for September, with industry insiders suggesting the handset will start shipping in August.

Seemingly set to land a year after Apple’s original 7-inch iPad mini tablet, the mooted iPad mini 2 has been pegged for a September launch with the Google Nexus 7 rival reportedly set to touch down alongside the eagerly awaited and heavily rumoured budget iPhone.

Citing unnamed sources within the supply chain, DigiTimes has claimed the iPad mini 2 release date will follow shipping in August, a launch window that would see the next-generation tablet arrival touting the newly unveiled iOS 7 operating system. It has suggested the Apple’s manufacturing partner Pegatron will start piecing together the second-generation tablet next month.

With some suggesting the iPad 5 could have been a surprise WWDC 2013 unveiling earlier this week, latest reports have suggested the 9.7-inch tablet revision will actually be pushed back until early 2014 to accommodate the next iPad mini.

Claiming the iPhone 5S had also been pushed back in to the new year, the reports stated: “A next-generation iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad reportedly will appear in early 2014.”



iPad mini 2 Rumours

With an iPad mini 2 having been on the cards since the arrival of the original model, it is widely believed that the refreshed model will boast Apple’s stunning Retina display technology.

As well as being on the end of a visual overhaul, further iPad mini 2 rumours have claimed the tablet will sport a faster, quad-core CPU, improved graphics and upgraded camera optics. An iPad mini 2 release date has previously been pegged for Q3, with Apple reportedly intent on capitalising on the lucrative pre-Christmas shopping spree.



Read More: iPad mini vs Google Nexus 7

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iPhone 5S rumoured to come in gold

Apple could be set to add a third colour option to its smartphone range in the form of a gold iPhone 5S.

Japanese Apple blog Macotakara referred to "a source that can be trusted" when it claimed that the next generation of iPhone would come in gold as well as the usual black and white.

It might sound ghastly and distinctly un-Apple-like (can you imagine the combination of gold and the new pearly iOS 7?), but in fairness this isn't the first source to have pointed to a possible golden iPhone 5S.

Rumours of additional colours for the next iPhone, which is otherwise said to be very similar (externally at least) to the iPhone 5, have been doing the rounds for some months now.

More specifically, just last month BGR published images of a number of components said to be lifted from the iPhone 5S production process. One of those was a SIM tray that came in a shade of - you guessed it - gold.

The Japanese report also carries claims that the often-rumoured cheap iPhone model will come in the same six colours as those iPhone 4 bumpers that everyone needed to be able to make calls back in the day. That is: black, white, pink, orange, blue and green.

This would certainly support yesterday's Reuters report, which suggested that the new affordable iPhone would come in a choice of five or six colours. That report also claimed that the phone would cost $99, presumably on contract.

Next, read up on the iOS 7 features list

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Mirrorless Samsung Galaxy NX camera leaked in press shots

Is this Samsung's first Android camera for more serious toggies?

Samsung's big push into Galaxy-branded Android cameras looks set to continue after leaked press shots of a fully-fledged mirrorless camera leaked online.

The snaps, courtesy of a Vietnamese camera site, showcase a DSLR-styled compact camera system called the Galaxy NX, joined by a trio of interchangeable lenses.

The large rear touchscreen displays Android Jelly Bean 4.2 as well Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface, just like the recently announced Galaxy S4 Zoom.

The device is allegedly packing a 20.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, 1080p video capture and ISO settings ranging up to 25,600. Price, connectivity and release date are not yet known.

The as-yet-unannounced camera would bring the Android-based camera experience to more serious photographers for the first time.

The company's existing Samsung Galaxy Camera expanded the editing and sharing options for point-and-shoot toggies, while the Galaxy S4 Zoom brings a 10x optical zoom improves the options for those only wishing to carry their smartphones.

We've also been told by Samsung Mobile head J.K. Shin to expect a Galaxy Camera 2 at the company's June 20 event in London.

Perhaps the Galaxy NX will also get an official baptism a week from today?

Via SlashGear

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Nokia's 41-megapixel EOS Windows Phone handset set for July 11 reveal

Nokia will likely unleash it's newest camera phone in less than a month

Nokia has issued a media invite for an event on July 11th with all signs pointing to the launch of its long-awaited 41-megapixel camera phone, codenamed EOS.

The invite bears the heading 'Zoom. Reinvented' strongly suggesting that the first Windows Phone handset to rock the PureView camera tech is ready to step onto the catwalk.

The handset has been leaked numerous times in recent weeks suggesting that an official launch is imminent and it now looks like Nokia will pull the trigger on the device in exactly four weeks at the event in New York City.

Beyond the protruding camera module, leaked snaps have suggested that the handset will boast a similar design to that of well-received handsets like the Lumia 925 .

Rumours have also suggested it'll have a 1290 x 768p resolution OLED screen alongside 32GB of storage to hold all of those high resolution snaps. It has also been suggested that the device will capture images at separate resolutions in order to facilitate easier social sharing.

Many Nokia fans have been waiting for the company to launch a high-spec camera phone running the Windows Phone OS since the PureView 808 device appeared over a year ago.

That handset arrived touting the ancient Symbian operating system, but impressed most observers with its giant sensor and excellent image quality.

When the device does arrive it'll be in direct competition with the newly-announced Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom , which brings a 10x optical zoom into play.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Release Date: Where you can buy it

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date has formally pegged as a somewhat vague ‘summer 2013’, but that isn’t stopping a number of retailers letting you register interest in the camera heavy smartphone right now.


Officially announced following weeks of rumours and premature outings, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a camera-centric smartphone which packs a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor alongside an unparalleled 10x optical zoom. The third direct spinoff of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4, the Zoom adds a 4.2-inch Super AMOLED display, Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and optical image stabilisation to its bulging specs sheet.

Although Samsung has yet to officially announce a Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date or price, it has revealed the handset will be made available this summer, and that’s enough for many retailers to start offering pre-orders.

Where can you buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom? Read on to find out.

Carphone Warehouse

One of the first to confirm its intentions to stock the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, high street chain Carphone Warehouse is now letting you register your interest in the recently unveiled device.

Pegging the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date as “July 2013”, the reputable reseller is, unlike some of its rivals, not currently taking pre-orders for the handset. Instead, it is letting you input your contact information in order to receive notifications as and when further details are available.

The retailer has stated: “We will contact you when the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is available to order.”

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Carphone Warehouse

Phones 4u

Another leading chain to already confirm its S4 Zoom intentions, Phones 4u has stated it will offer the device straight from the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date.

“We are extremely pleased to confirm that we will be stocking the cutting edge 4G camera phone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom,” Scott Hooton, Chief Commercial Officer at Phones 4u said.

He added: “The latest addition to the Samsung range will be welcomed by those who like to use their smartphones for taking pictures on the go, with its outstanding sensory camera features, including an incredible picture quality for optimum viewing pleasure.”

Again allowing you to register your interest in the 16-megapixel camera phone, Phone 4u is not currently taking Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom pre-orders.

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Phones 4u

Clove

A lesser known retailer always quick on the draw, Clove is now letting you register interest in the S4 Zoom.

Suggesting “We can notify you when this becomes available,” Clove, like its more high-profile high street counterparts is not presently allowing pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoff to be made.

Somewhat surprisingly for a company renowned for taking wild stabs at handset’s potential price points or launch periods, Clove has shared no details on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date or costing.

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Clove

Expansys

Already accepting Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom pre-orders, Expansys is one of the more brazen retailers in letting wannabe owners secure the upcoming smartphone just days after it was formally unveiled.

Although hosting a pre-order page, the company has failed to confirm the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom price and is offing consumers a no qualms get out if they change their mind on snapping up the S4’s sibling.

“If you place a pre-order for this product now, we will not ship the product or charge your credit card without confirming you still wish to proceed when stock arrives,” the company’s site reads. “There are no cancellation charges.”

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Expansys

Networks

At present, none of the leading UK networks (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three) have confirmed their intentions to stock the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom.

While all host the handset’s flagship sibling, we would imagine that perhaps just one or two will range the more niche, Zoom edition.

We will continue to update this post with all the latest Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date details, stockists and deals so be sure to return for all the up-to-date information.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra release teased by French press invite

Sony Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z

The rumoured 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra phablet has been teased by a Sony Mobile press event invitation sent to French journalists.

Taking place on July 4 at 9.30am in France, the invitation reveals a first look at the supposed Sony Xperia Z Ultra device, that blurs the boundary between the Sony Xperia Tablet Z and the flagship Sony Xperia Z smartphone.

“Sony Mobile reserves a big surprise for you,” the invitation reads in French. “Don’t forget to mark the date in your calendars.”

The second half of this is printed in hand-written script on the invitation with a stylus, adding to the rumour that Sony will use the event to launch the 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra as a rival to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 .

From the image, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra seems to be a very thin device, with rumours suggesting it will be just 6.5mm thick. To put this into perspective, it’ll be thinner than the 6.9mm Sony Xperia Tablet Z, 7.2mm iPad mini, 7.6mm iPhone 5 and 7.9mm Sony Xperia Z.

Of course, the invitation only shows the side of the device, including the headphone jack at the top, the signature power button and volume slider. There’s a dedicated camera button down the bottom too and what looks to be a lanyard hole.

According to the rumours, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra should have a 6.44-inch Full 1080p HD display, powered by a 2.2GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM.

It will have an 8-megapixel camera in the rear, 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera and 16GB of internal storage bumped by the inbuilt microSD card slot.

There has been an inconsistency in reports as to whether the Xperia Z Ultra will feature the water- and dust-resistant qualities of the Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z. However, the fact that the headphone jack is open could be a sign that it won’t be waterproof or dustproof.

Next, read our pick of the best mobile phones of 2013.

Via: Xperia Blog

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PS4 controller priced alongside optional camera accessory, still cheaper than Xbox One

Bundling PS4 peripherals still works out cheaper than buying an Xbox One

The PS4 controller price has been confirmed alongside the console’s optional PlayStation Eye camera accessory.

With the PS4 price confirmed earlier this week, the Japanese gaming giant has revealed that eager gamers will be able to snap up the PS3 follow-on and PlayStation camera accessory cheaper than it would be to buy an Xbox One.

While the PS4 controller’s integrated touchpad has seen its price jump £15 over the current DualShock 3 peripheral to a far from inconsiderable £54, the revised PlayStation camera, designed for use with the PS4 will set wannabe owners back just £49.

Although the Xbox One comes boxed with the second-generation Kinect accessory which enables a raft of voice and motion based input options, Microsoft’s next-gen console will still cost £31 more than the PS4 and camera combination being sold separately. The Xbox One price was confirmed earlier this week as £429.

Building on the PlayStation’s traditional form, the new PS4 bound DualShock 4 controller sees a number of new features added, with a Vita-esque touch-sensitive panel replacing the customary ‘Start’ and ‘Select’ buttons.

On top of this, a Move themed lightbar has been added to the controller’s upper edge whilst a new ‘Share Button’ features on the fore to provide gamers with a quick option for posting gaming content and notifications on social avenues.

With the PS4 price announcement having seen Sony’s console overtake the Xbox One in a number of retailers’ pre-orders charts, Sony yesterday suggested that it was ‘surprised’ by how much the new Microsoft console will cost consumers.

Speaking at E3 2013, Shuhei Yoshida, Sony’s head of first party game studios stated: “I was very surprised about the announcement yesterday by some other company… In a good way.”

Read More: PS4 pre-orders

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DualShock 4 Review

First impressions of the new PS4 controller from E3 2013

If the new Xbox One controller is an exercise in refinement, the PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller is more a wholesale reinvention - certainly the biggest leap forward for Sony since the introduction of the original DualShock on PS One, and arguably the most interesting and innovative controller on any console since the Wii remote.

It's a controller that's been designed from the ground up to support everything Sony's new console can do, with the more conventional analogue sticks and face buttons joined by a touchpad, Sixaxis tilt controls and built-in Move functionality through the glowing bar at the rear. As they used to say about PS3, it only does everything.

You might feel concerned that the extra width of the DualShock 4 might affect its comfort, but while the balance is a little top-heavy in comparison to the new Xbox One pad, the controller actually feels very good in the hand, the extra distance between your paws giving them a little added space to breathe. The new controller has softer curves than before and a more tactile matt finish, and it feels lightweight but solid and robust.

Read our full hands-on PS4 first impressions for more on the games and hardware

Dual Shock 4: New Pad, New Sticks

The most exciting aspect of the DualShock 4 for many of us will be the reworking of the analogue sticks. With their loose feel and large central dead-spot, the Dual Shock 3's analogue sticks have never been quite as good as their Xbox 360 or Nintendo equivalents, leaving FPS fans in particular feeling that they're not quite playing at their best.

From what we've played, the sticks on the DualShock 4 are a big improvement. They feel a little tighter, they're more responsive near the centre and they seem more sensitive in general. The raised ring around the circumference also makes them easier to grip during long periods of gaming - the old DualShock 3 sticks felt a bit slippery after a while.

Dual Shock 4 triggers and buttons

As with the DualShock 3, the analogue triggers are light and very springy, but they now curve slightly outwards, which feels odd at first but soon becomes very natural. As before, the triggers have a fair amount of travel and seem very responsive, so they should work well with those driving games where you don't want the pedal on the metal every time. The L1 and L2 buttons also seem easier to grab in a hurry, but still work very smoothly.

The position of the face buttons hasn't changed - it's a focal part of the PlayStation brand - but they have lost their analogue capabilities. Bearing in mind how few developers used these that isn't much of a loss, and the feel is light and precise.

Probably the only controversial move on the new controller is the repositioning of the Start and Select buttons to make space for the central touchpad. They definitely don't come as easily to the hand if you need to access them mid-game, and a lot of PS3 games have relied on them heavily for calling in maps or inventory screens.

Read the 10 things we've learned about the PS4 at E3 2013

Dual Shock 4 Touchpad

We're still getting to grips with the touchpad, not least because it's only supported by a handful of games at E3, with some of them developer-led rather than hands-on demos. It does seem to be very sensitive - easily sensitive enough to handle the PS4 UI and in-game menus - and we're seeing it deployed in Diablo III to control the inventory screens and in inFamous: Second Son to move and hold specific large objects through a kind of telekinesis. It's also being used in Sony's brilliant Playroom demo to flick objects and characters out into the augmented-reality room on the TV screen.

The Playroom demo also gives the new glowing bar a bit of a workout. The new PlayStation Eye camera offers a lot more resolution, better low light performance and more lifelike colours than the old, and it has no problem using the bar at the back of each controller to track the DualShock 4 in a 3D space. We've had water gushing out of the controller and robot minions rattling around within it, all controlled through the DualShock 4's tilt sensors, and it's clear that it all works very well.

You can also use the tilt sensors to steer in DriveClub, though if you haven't got on with this control method in previous racing games, it's unlikely that this experience will change your mind.

First Impressions

There's always a challenge in adding new functionality to a controller, in that you can compromise comfort and the core controls for features that only a subset of games might use. With the DualShock 4, however, Sony has got things right. It's going to be a revelation for PlayStation FPS fans, and we suspect that the touchpad will see a lot of action across a wide range of titles.

On balance, the Xbox One controller still has the edge on ergonomics, not to mention those brilliant new rumble features, but if Sony and its developers can find ways to use the touchpad and the built-in Move features to enhance their games, then this could still be the defining pad of the coming generation.

Next, see the definitive Xbox One vs PS4 comparison -- now updated with new E3 2013 info

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