There is a common perception that video games are for kids
and grownups are not welcome to enjoy the pleasures that these current gaming
consoles have to offer. This perception is so wrong that its laughable; games
these days are focused on getting as much adults on board as possible because
of the mere fact that teens and adults are the ones willing to spend on games
and game services. This week I give to you five (5) games that defines mature
gaming this year.
#5
Tomb Raider (Review
Score: 9 out of 10)
Tomb Raider becoming a mature game; I never saw that one
coming at all. The new and improved Tomb Raider is one of the few games that I
enjoyed playing from start to finish.
The puzzles are well designed, graphics are solid and beautiful, lots of
collectibles to be found, and a well written story line. But the key mature factor
in this game is the pain and suffering that the main character has to endure to
the end. This is why this game has a mature rating and is number 5 on the list.
#4
Gears Of War Judgment
(Review Score: 8.7 out of 10)
Fighting 
#3
God Of War Ascension
(Review Score: 9 out of 10)
Kratos is back, again... Although he die in God Of War 3...
He is back to star in his latest game God Of War Ascension. Apart from the
addition of a multiplayer component; nothing much has changed in this
franchise. Kratos is still as brutal as ever and the game still looks amazing
and polished. Obviously the mature factor in this game is Kratos... the most
manliest man in world that runs around in a skirt doing brutal stuff to his
enemies.
#2
The Last Of Us
(Review Score: 9.7 out of 10)
The game that put the
Playstation 3 back on the map this year is The Last Of US, and I must confess
that it's a really really good game. The creators of the Uncharted games put
their heads together and came up with this post apocalyptic horror game. It has
an amazing story and in-depth game play that you can't experience in any other
game out now. If the story doesn't draw you in, then the jaw dropping graphics
will. The mature factor of this game is the atmosphere and the brutal nature in
which the main character has to survive. Nothing can prepare you for The Last
Of Us. 
#1
Far Cry 3 (9.5 out of
10)
Far Cry 3 is one of the most exciting, pulse pounding,
mature game I have ever played. Persons who own the game can tell you that
there isn't a single word that can describe far cry 3. As a first person
shooter this game will blow your mind with the attention to detail and
character movement through the jungle habitat that you explore in the game. Not
to mention the smiles you'll get hearing Skrillex
Feat Damian Marley - Make It Bun Them song being played while burning down
a "herbal" farm. The mature factor in this game is
"everything", and I do mean everything. This game makes grand theft auto
look like a sonic the hedgehog game with no rings. This is pure mature fun at
its finest.
Final Thoughts
They are many games that didn't make the list, but that
doesn't mean that they weren't good enough. In fact, I might have to continue
the list a next time to give them the recognition they need, but for now these
will certainly do for the mature gamers out there looking for something to
play. Don't let age dictate what you do for fun. The products mentioned in this
article were provided courtesy of Royale
Computers and Accessories telephone#: 906-1067,
906-1068, and 754-5048.
This week I have with me a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 to
review and must say that white is a very attractive color for it. Anyway, let's
start out by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the device.
Strong Points
·
The speakers on the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 produce excellent
sound for a tablet. Highs and mids are well balanced and even some bass is
present in the audio.
·
The LCD display on this device is bright and can
be easily viewed in most lighting condition.
·
The touch screen is also without a doubt very accurate
up to the edges of the device.
·
The warranty period is 24 months and
is valid in any country that sells the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.
·
The case and build quality of the Samsung Tab 3
7.0 is a major improvement over its predecessor.
Weak Points
·
The camera on this device is less than desire
able and takes poor photos.
·
Most GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) intense games
or programs function choppy and glitch frequently.
Who is it ideal for?
The
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 may have a long
name for a tablet but it those come with a short price tag. This tablet would
be perfect for someone who wants an android tablet for work related tasks like
checking emails and quick document creation and viewing. Plus the fact that
it's light and is a 7 inch tablet makes it ideal for the traveling workaholic.
Final Thoughts
Given
the price(which is around 30,000 dollars) of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 it's
safe to say that it's a budget tablet and not targeting the hardcore tech
happy persons out there. If persons are looking
for something more enticing on a specification sheet then I would recommend
persons to look at the Google Nexus 7 line either the first or the second
generation. The product mentioned in this article was provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories
telephone#: 906-1067, 906-1068, and
754-5048.I'm very anxious to get my hands on
the Quantum 7 (7" inch tablet)
which is the mid range tabletThis week we will find out if it's a worthy investment of $12,000.00 (JMD).
Design and Built
Quality
The first thing that usually jumps out at a consumers
looking to purchase a item is how attractive the device is and how it feels in
the hand. The Quantum 7 certainly
doesn't have that wow factor at first glance because of its bland black
designed, but it's definitely not an eye sore to look at like some 7" inch
tablets in its price range. The build quality for the test unit that we had in
the office seemed to have every port and memory card slot in place except for
the USB OTG (On The Go) cable that seemed
to be assembled by a blind person and looked a bit deformed but it still works
like a charm.
Display
The 7" inch
display on the Quantum 7 looks
slightly better than most low end tablets on the market, but at a resolution of
800 x 480 this display should not be
called HD (High Definition).
Although the resolution is a bit on the low end it still shows 720p and 1080p videos with clarity and decent color reproduction.
Hardware and Sound
The first thing you will notice is that this tablet has no
Bluetooth connectivity. So, those of you who love sharing files and photos with
friends via Bluetooth will be severely hampered owning this tablet, but there
is hope. The Quantum 7 is one of the
few tablets I have seen that comes with a USB
OTG cable in the box. A USB OTG
cable allows user to connect any USB
device to their tablet which simply means that the tablet can be used with USB keyboards, mouse, flash drives,
hard drives, and even USB Xbox 360
controllers for games. A USB OTG
cable is the greatest thing since slice bread or mobile Mother's patty dealers. The 0.3 megapixel camera on the front of
the device is the only way of capturing images and they are not of a high
standard, but you will be able to recognize yourself in the photos. The
speakers and sound output was the only aspect of the Quantum 7 that we were totally satisfied with. Speakers on the
device were loud and offer crystal clear sound on every volume level.
Final Thoughts
Although we found things we didn't liked with the Quantum 7 the fact still remains that the retail price for this gadget is around $12,000.00 (JMD). With a price like that I can forgive the Quantum 7 for all its short comings and get one....... P.S. for the kids.
Have you ever used Windows on anything else but a
computer/laptop? Well, for me the answer was no until a week ago and now my
ignorance is no more. What I have found will change the views of the masses.
This week I bring to you a look at Windows has a operating system for Tablets
and Phones.
Windows on Tablets
This part of the review will focus on Windows as a tablet
Operating System (OS) first and foremost. To figure out how good Windows on a
tablet would be we had to take the Lenovo
ThinkPad Tablet 2 on a test run. Just for the record this tablet comes with
all the bells and whistles that most devices would dream of having and here is
some key features to show it.
- 10.1″ IPS Display (1366×768)
- Dual-core Intel Atom (Z2760 1.80GHz) w/ 4 threads
- PowerVR SGX545 graphics
- 2GB / 800MHz LPDDR2 RAM
- Windows 8 Pro 32-bit
- 64GB Flash Memory
- ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0 combo chip, GPS
- Mini-HDMI, 3.5mm Audio In / Microphone Jack combo
- USB 2.0, micro-SD
What's The Verdict?
Speaking as an avid Windows 8 user I can safely say that the
experience and resources you have at your disposal on a windows 8 desktop or
laptop is exactly the same on a Windows 8 tablet. Windows tablets offer
something that Android and iOS cannot give a user and that is a fully
functionally PC experience on your tablet. That simply means you don't have to
go through the headache of finding an App to replace your favorite desktop
programs. All you need to do is install the desktop version of the program on
your tablet.
Conclusion
Windows tablets are certainly the best solution for persons
thinking of ditching their laptop or desktop for a more portable solution. It
also helps to know that most windows tablet have USB ports built-in for file
transfer or integration with USB devices.
Windows on Phones
This part of the review will focus on Windows as a Smartphone
OS first and foremost. This part of
the review was done with the help of a Nokia
Lumia 620 running the new Windows 8 Phone
OS. The Lumia 620 isn't the best that Nokia has to offer but it is a well
rounded mid-range Windows phone.
Here are some of the key features for the Lumia
620.- 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU
- 512MB RAM
- 3.8-inch 480 x 800 pixel ClearBlack LCD screen
- Windows Phone 8 OS
- 8GB internal memory
- 5-megapixel camera with LED flash
What's The Verdict?
The Lumia 620 is
a great mid-range Smartphone at a respectable mid-range price from Digicel. The only problem I find is
that Windows as a Smartphone OS
isn't as mature as Android or iOS. So, at the moment Windows App Store isn't very diverse
and populated as the other market leaders. Also, the learning curve is a bit on
the steep side for persons coming from Android and iOS, but maybe much easier
to someone just entering the realms of Smartphone's.
Conclusion
The Nokia Lumia 620 is a very capable mid-range Smartphone that has a rich and vibrant display and a unique design. I would certainly recommended it to new comers to the world of Smartphone's because of it stability, but Windows Phone 8 has a lot of ground to cover to become a serious alternative for Android or iOS. Products mention in this article were provided by Microsoft Of Jamaica.
Well folks as always I carry to you nothing but the best,
and this week is no different. This week I bring to you the small, tiny,
minute, minuscule, microscopic, miniature Dell
Zino HD. This ultra small, micro PC
(Personal Computer) is so eye catching that most consumers would certainly by
it on the spot, but do you know what you are really getting?
Introduction
The Zino HD is a
scale down version of a basic desktop computer. It has all the ports and
accessories of a normal PC without the
major bulk that a normal PC carries.
Specifications
They are many different versions of the Zino HD, so to save on time I’ll just give the specification for
the high end model that we got to review.
High End Model
Specification:
* AMD Dual Core Athlon
Neo X2 6850e (1MB L2, 1.8GHz)
* 20″ inch Dell HD
Monitor with VGA port and cable
* Genuine Windows
7 Professional 64-Bit
* 8GB of 800MHz
DDR2 Memory
* ATI Radeon HD
4330 512 MB (Video Card)
* 1 TB (7200 rpm,
SATA II Hard drive)
* Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and
Writes to DVD/CD)
* Soundblaster
X-Fi Hi Def Audio (Sound Card)
* Dell 1520 802.11
b/g/n wireless card
Build and Design
The Zino HD looks
like a youngsters lunch pan with stickers on it. I have never seen a more
compacted device in my life. Just changing out parts out of it for a upgrade is
going to be a pain in the behind for anyone who dares to attempt it! On the
other hand, Dell has included all
the ports and connection needed to weather the future storm called change. They
include a HDMI(High-Definition Multimedia
Interface) port, VGA (Video Graphics
Array) port, USB (Universal Serial
Bus) port, CD/DVD Burner, Card Reader and many more. I guess they really wanted
consumer to keep it locked and not tampered with it. The only thing that is
easily interchangeable on the Zino HD
is the top face plate, which are available in a wide assortment of colors and
designs.
Performance
Dell named it the
Zino HD for a reason… This little
piggy packs a punch in the video department. To my surprise this small device
plays back HD (High Definition)
video perfectly without any problems at all. Also, other programs that were
pre-installed worked fine, and without any delay or system crashes.
Software
A next amazing point to make is the ability for this minute
device to run Windows 7 as its main
operating system. If you haven’t yet gotten the pleasure of using Windows 7,
then you are in for a pleasant surprise if you purchase this device. Windows 7
offers better power management, and a lovely user interface.
Final Thoughts
I’m confident that the Dell
Zino HD will be great addition to any entertainment center. It’s sleek
design and compacted size makes it easy to fit in any entertainment stand. The
product mentioned in this article was provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories telephone#: 906-1067, 906-1068, and 754-5048. Sooo, because I was away for so long... I'm trying to make up for lost time and will be posting four articles today, before I return to the once a week routine I usually follow. So let's start this one on how can someone further enhance the abilities of an Apple. Well this week I found the answer to that age old mystery, and it’s
called XtremeMac. XtremeMac make products that will protect,
power and enhance Apple devices. This week we were able to get our hands on
two products that are made by XtremeMac
. They were the Tango TRX and the Soma Stand are both good devices in
their own light, but I’ll let you be the judge of that…
Tango TRX
The Tango TRX is
a dock and speaker system for almost all your Apple devices whether it be old or new, but it also has an
auxiliary stereo mini jack input and Bluetooth audio streaming capability
built-in to give other devices the option to function with it as well. Now to point out the good, bad and ugly side
of this device.
The Good (Outstanding
qualities that had to be mentioned)
The Bad (Points that were a bit disappointing and had to be mentioned)
- The sound quality that this little thing pumps out is astonishing. It was able to produce a very deep round bass and very sharp treble.
- The ability to customize the amount of bass or treble you hear through the speakers is a nice touch.
- Also, the two free apps that is offered to iPhone and iPod Touch owners is great for showing of the Bluetooth audio streaming capabilities.
- Very sturdy and attractive build quality.
The Bad (Points that were a bit disappointing and had to be mentioned)
- The sound quality wasn’t as impress through the Bluetooth, but it was far from horrible.
- The docking station was not compatible with any of the Apple iPad versions.
The Ugly (Horrible
points that may irritate the consumer and had to be mentioned)
- The cloth that covers the speakers are dust magnets and may be a hassle to clean.
Final Thoughts
The Tango Trx is
a small audio system that packs a heavy punch. This device is powerful enough
to satisfy all your music needs whether it be the bedroom or the living room.
The Tango Trx retails for about
16,000.00(JMD).
Soma Stand
The Soma Stand is a bed side/potable audio docking station for you Apple device that has a very unique designed. It’s able of folding
flat for storage or open into a rounded pyramid shape with a pop-out front dock
and rear-mounted controls. Now to point out the good, bad and ugly side of this
device.
The Good (Outstanding
qualities that had to be mentioned)
- The sound quality was excellent for the size of this device.
- The free app that is offered to iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad owners helps to turn your device into a very expensive bedside alarm clock.
- Exceptionally rugged and eye-catching build quality.
- It is potable and can be used on the go.
The Bad (Points that
were a bit disappointing and had to be mentioned)
- The docking station was a little weak but it held itself together.
The Ugly (Horrible
points that may irritate the consumer and had to be mentioned)
- This thing uses four… (4) AA Batteries . If that’s not something to point out then I don’t know what is.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Soma
Stand is a truly unique petite speaker system, and it also delivers
excellent sound. It’s small enough to fit on a desk or a nightstand without
taking up a great deal of space. The Soma
Stand retails for about 9,000.00
(JMD). The products mentioned in this article were provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories
telephone#: 906-1067, 906-1068, and
754-5048.
