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This week Microsoft officially unveiled its 2nd generation Windows 8 tablets, including the new Surface Pro 2. As expected, the successor to last year’s Surface Pro is a 10.1-inch tablet running a full version of the Windows desktop operating system, and features a number of hardware upgrades.
Consistent with previous reports, the Surface Pro 2 utilizes a new Intel Core i5 Haswell processor. Microsoft claims that the Pro 2 is 20 percent faster than the original that there is a 50 percent increase to graphics performance.
Microsoft also equipped the new Surface Pro tablet with an improved battery, with the company stating that battery life has been improved by up to 60 percent — we found battery life to be a major problem with the original Windows 8 tablet, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Pro 2 can live up to the claims.
Like the first Surface Pro, the new model also features a digitizer pen. A dual-stage kickstand has also been introduced, which should please those who experienced issues with the limited-use kickstand that came with the original Pro.
Aesthetically, the Surface Pro 2 very closely resembles its predecessor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Microsoft has retained what appears to be the same magnesium alloy, VaporMg casing and dark finish that came with the previous Surface tablets, as well as optional covers that double as keyboards. This time around, though, the company will offer more than just the Type Cover and Touch Cover.
Surface Docking Station
A fabric-wrapped Power Cover was unveiled, which is said to extend battery life of the Surface Pro 2 by up to 50 percent. A Surface Docking Station was also introduced, which adds a number of additional ports, making the tablet more like a full-fledged laptop. The Docking Station is equipped with four USB ports, a Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio in and out, and a power port. The new Type Cover, aptly named the Type Cover 2, will be offered in a number of different colors, is thinner than the previous model — almost as thin as the original Touch Cover — and is now backlit.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 will start at $899 and will be offered in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM. 256GB and 512GB versions with 8GB of RAM will also be sold. Pre-orders for the Surface Pro 2 will start on September 24th through Microsoft’s online and physical stores, and Best Buy in the United States and Canada. Both the Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 will be available starting October 22nd.
The Docking Station and Power Cover will cost $199.99 each, and both are expected to launch at the beginning of next year.
The AMD GPU14 Tech Day Event, held in Hawaii on the 25th, was all about the new series of graphics processors from the technology company. Unfortunately, this was more of a large announcement instead of a full showcase or release event. In fact, there wasn’t even an exact release date given! Still, the show had some interesting takeaways.
One of the cooler points was the progress AMD has made over the years with their GPUs, specifically with regards to the teraflop barriers they have broken:
– In 2008, AMD was the first to cross the 1 TFLOP barrier with the Radeon 4000 series.
– In 2009, AMD was the first to cross the 2 TFLOP barrier with the AMD Radeon 5000 series.
– In 2011, AMD was the first to cross the 3 TFLOP barrier with the Radeon 7000 series.
– In 2012, AMD was the first to cross the 4 TFLOP barrier with the Radeon 7970 Ghz Edition
What are they bringing to the table in 2013? A GPU that will cross the 5 TFLOP barrier!
AMD Radeon R7 and R9 Series
AMD announced a set of five GPUs to appeal to PC gamers with various preferences and wallet sizes. The R7 series includes GPUs for those who don’t wish to spend too much on PC hardware, and the R9 series includes GPUs for big-budget hardcore gamers. The information for each GPU only highlighted the amount of memory it had, the price point, and the score it received in 3DMark Firestrike. For reference, Nvidia’s Geforce GTX Titan and GTX 780 sport scores between 5,000 and 15,000 (The Record).
As you can see, full specs were not available for the R9 290X, AMD’s next top-of-the-line GPU. According to the chart they were showing off, it should have a score above 8000 on 3DMark Firestrike. There are also a number of rumors going around that it will cost $599, have a 512-bit memory bus, and possibly beat Nvidia’s GTX Titan in performance.
As far as prospective release dates, many believe these GPUs will be available sooner rather than later. A special pre-order bundle will be available starting on October 3rd for the AMD Radeon R9 290X. This special Battlefield 4 Edition will include the game at no extra charge, and seeing as the game is currently slated to release on October 29th, it should be safe to assume the 290X will release sometime before then.
The event went into further detail on AMD’s ace-in-the-hole. Here’s the rest of what they had to say:
– It’s enhanced to support DirectX 11.2
– It has more than 6 Billion Transistors
– It has over 300 GB/sec Memory Bandwidth
– It can compute over 5 TFLOPS
– It can render more than 4 Billion Triangles/sec
This new GPU will also support Ultra HD 4K Monitors and multi-monitor displays. Most of the time, setting up your GPU on high resolution monitors must be done manually. However, AMD’s Catalyst Drivers will perform automatic configuration on select popular displays. The Panasonic Viera will be one brand to support this standard out-of-the-box.
AMD TrueAudio Technology
The GPU14 Tech Day Event didn’t focus solely on graphics. AMD has been working hard on a new tech called “AMD TrueAudio.” This is a fully programmable audio engine for developers to play with, similar to programmable shaders in graphics. It will allow players to hear more real time voices and channels in-game. It’s designed to work great with both 7.1 channel surround sound systems and 2.0 audio channels for those with headphones or simple stereo speakers. AMD TrueAudio Technology will be available on the R7 260X, R9 290, and the R9 290X.
Mantle
Another technology that was showcased was something called Mantle. Mantle is a new low level application programming interface for PCs. It serves two main purposes:
1. Optimizing games to run on AMD Hardware. This is a bit of a simplified explanation. It will allow games to have better access to the hardware (CPUs and GPUs) to run better and faster.
2. Assisting game developers when porting games to other platforms (PC, Xbox One, PS4)
AMD Gaming Evolved App
The final tidbit was the new AMD Gaming Evolved App powered by Raptr. It can be downloaded right now at Raptr.com/AMD, and has three basic functions:
1. The app supports 28 select games for auto-optimization based on your current PC rig, with more games coming soon.
2. You will be rewarded just for playing games with this app, just like when using Raptr to play console games.
3. You can broadcast live video via Twitch, watch streams, take screenshots, and share them on Raptr, Facebook, and Twitter without ever leaving your game.
Several games built on AMD technology were also played throughout the show, including Battlefield 4, Thief, Lichdom, and Star Citizen. If you haven’t heard of any of them, I suggest checking them out today!
It’s really not as stupid as it sounds – but you still probably won’t want to buy one.
When I heard word Nintendo were due to release a version of their popular 3DS console that didn’t have 3D, I thought I was just hearing crazy rumours and it couldn’t possibly be real. Yet that’s exactly what Nintendo chose to reveal this 29th of September. “Why release a version of a console whose whole gimmick is a glasses-less 3D experience; and remove the 3D? Are they MAD?!?” But then when I thought about it, I realised actually, it makes sense after all – for a certain market, that is.
The Nintendo 2DS is, like the name implies, a new alternative to the 3DS which forgoes the 3D effect. It’s functionally equivalent to the 3DS and plays both 3DS and DS games, so it’s wrong to call it a “new” handheld console – like the Wii had the Wii Mini, this is effectively a trimmed-down redesign of the original concept. For the first time since the original DS in 2006, the new Nintendo 3DS foregoes a clamshell design and goes back to being a single, solid surface not unlike a tablet computer. Rumours suggest that to save costs, the dual screens that define the “DS” part of the entire line are in this console a single touchscreen, with the output of both screens carefully positioned onto separate segments. The plastic bevel hides the unused screen areas giving the illusion of two screens; while also disabling touch for the upper section as only the bottom screen of a DS/3DS has ever supported touch. Other changes include: L and R buttons with a more rounded profile so they can be easily reached (given your hands will have further to stretch); a Sleep switch on the bottom right replacing “closing the lid” on the previous handhelds; and the controls repositioned to the centre of both sides where the screens separate – a change that, unfortunately, has led to the removal of the right speaker from the console, though Stereo output is still possible via headphones.
So, it’s a bulky, flat device with less speakers and reduced portability. Why would you ever want that?
I’ll give you the one reason the 2DS makes sense: Kids playing 3D games. Until now, Nintendo has had real difficulty touting 3DS games and consoles to younger children, a market it has always excelled with before. This is because of the 3D effect itself. Due to the potential of eye strain from watching two images merged together (which is, in basic terms, how stereoscopic 3D works), children under 7 are not advised to use the 3DS with the 3D effect on, for their own health. The problem is, while parents can avoid buying games that use the 3D effect; or can switch it off with the slider on the console’s side, the console’s own built-in software uses the 3D effect and turning it back on is just a case of sliding the switch back up – so a younger child, who probably won’t understand the health risk, can easily be exposed to the unsuitable 3D effect. Therefore, Nintendo can’t target the console or its games to young children, closing it off from one of its best markets – parents buying games for kids. With a new handheld console, with the same features of the 3DS but without the 3D effect as a rule, Nintendo finally make this market their own once again.
Additionally, the lack of hinges on the 2DS, by making it a flat, single surface device, make it less fragile – and we all know how children are with electronics, always dropping them. (On the downside, as the device is permanently open, the screens are always exposed to damage – which Nintendo is resolving by proposing owners also purchase a carry case for the device or screen protectors.) The October 12, 2013 release date of the 2DS – the same day as Pokémon X and Y launches globally – cements the fact that this is a console for the younger children.
The clincher? You can get the new console for just £110 from many UK retailers – significantly less than any 3DS version currently available.
However, those older players like myself – who can take advantage of the 3D effect and which don’t find it causing headaches for them – yet don’t have a 3DS already, might just find the 2DS a bit of a hard sell. While it may support the same games; have the same two internal cameras; the same features; wireless capability and so on, the chunky, non-portable build and the stretch it will cause to press the L and R buttons may be a turn-off, as well as the single speaker; and 3D DOES help to improve the graphics and playability of a fair few titles.
Unless you’re money-conscious, a young child, or concerned about the 3D effect, the Nintendo 2DS is probably best avoided. But if you ARE any of those, you now have an option. And THAT is where the logical insanity of Nintendo makes sense. You’re always welcome at the Sanitarium, Nintendo 😉
Minecraft, a game known for its vast world sizes, has been used as the building structure for a virtual map created using actual Ordinance Survey data to accurately resemble Great Britain.
The map, in area covering the equivalent of 224,000 sq km (86,000 sq miles) and using around 22 billion blocks, is the result of a fortnight’s work by intern Joseph Braybrook working with the OS’s Innovation Labs team and OpenData OS software to create a map that’s as accurate as possible and like all Minecraft worlds, completely breakable and customisable. The OS map products, OS Terrain 50 and OS VectorMap, create the 3D map of the earth’s surface with features such as rivers, forests and roads included.
Speaking about the map Graham Dunlop, the Manager for OS’ Innovation Labs said that this could be the largest Minecraft world ever created using real-life world data. He believes this proves that Minecraft shows ‘massive potential’ as a tool for geographical and computer technology use within schools, but also as a way to demonstrate the scope of OpenData and applications that could be created for it too.
The map covers the entire of the mainland part of Britain, comprising of England, Wales and Scotland as well as some islands but does not contain any parts of Ireland, North Ireland, the channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Upon download players enter the map through the OS’s building in Southampton and from there can explore the lay of the land around them, building upon the land with their own ideas or recreating British landmark buildings if they want.
Southampton Water --- X = 9000 Y = 100 Z = 26000
London -------------- X = 10632 Y = 100 Z = 24422
Mt Snowdon ---------- X = 5218 Y = 200 Z = 20913
Outer Hebrides ------ X = 2110 Y = 100 Z = 10000
Shetland Islands ---- X = 8900 Y = 100 Z = 4969
Poole Harbour ------- X = 8020 Y = 100 Z = 26235
Weymouth ------------ X = 7300 Y = 100 Z = 26440
Foulness Essex------- X = 12000 Y = 100 Z = 24174
Lake Windermere------ X = 6800 Y = 100 Z = 18080
Ordnance Survey ----- X = 8745 Y = 100 Z = 25695
Use the values above with the teleport command, for example /tp 6800 100 18080.
The image below may help you find your bearings:
It shows the coverage of Minecraft GB expressed in world coordinates and the relationship with National Grid 100 km squares.
You’ll also notice in the image above the metal lines and brick on the map
The table below lists the materials used for each map feature:
Motorways
Diamond
A roads
Emerald
B roads
Pumpkin
Minor roads
Gold
Water
Water
Foreshore
Sand
Forest
Leaves
Plains
Grass
Built-up areas
Brick
So where there is a brick area, denotes a town/city so you can find where you live and the metal lines are roads that you can follow to where you want to go
We will be putting this map up on the station Minecraft server for a short time (starting tomorrow) to have a play with and if you like the map, we may keep it for later (or we could use the tool to make the world)
If you want to join us on the station Minecraft server, goto Multiplayer on the front screen of Minecraft and in the server address box, put www.sanitarium.fm and come and join us
Upgrading to the digital version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Watch Dogs or Battlefield 4 on PS4? Then you’ll need to remember not to sell the PS3 version.
Sony has revealed that each of the above games on PS3 come with a single use code that can be entered on the PlayStation store for a discounted PS4 version, however for this digital PS4 edition to work the original PS3 disc must be in the drive.
Even though the PS3 versions do not actually work in the PS4, we’re guessing that Sony has implemented some code within the disc to allow this to work and therefore combat a huge amount of second hand games from flooding the market.
Check here for detailed instructions on how the upgrade from PS3 disc to PS4 digital will work. There is currently no mention of other titles being upgradable such as FIFA 14.
