Hasta La Gadget!

This week the Android-based HDTV connected gaming device known as OUYA has blasted past its initial Kickstarter goal straight into the news media’s eye for up-and-coming powerhouses in the mobile universe. As such, each time they send out an update as large as what they’ve just pushed, it’s time to pay attention. Today’s update includes their first meeting with NVIDIA on how the quad-core Tegra 3 processor plays into this whole fabulous situation.

The folks at OUYA have let it be known that NVIDIA has thus far been “incredible” in their support and in the help they’ve given the team in getting off the ground with developing the console for the future of Android gaming. They’ll continue working side-by-side as NVIDIA always does with great hardware manufacturers and software developers aiming for greatness with their Tegra chipset.

The OUYA team has acknowledged the fact that they’ll need to address the issue with their current controller in that it’s not going to work too great with color-blind users. They’ve noted that they’re now considering an Ethernet port for the device. They’ve let it be known that they’re still working on both discovery and curation.

And of course they’ve brought on an update about the future of games on the console, showing off some support from the indy game makers at Meteor – they’ve made a soon to be released game by the name of Hawken, as seen here:

Finally, they’ve assured the developers out there looking to get into OUYA with contributions via Kickstarter in the short term that they’ll be adding additional rewards in the near future since the current set of rewards has dried up entirely! They’ve suggested that they might release the software build for the device earlier than the device itself, that they could release the innards of the device to contributing developers before the actual device is released, and have noted that they’re very open to suggestions, of course.

Have a peek at our timeline of Ouya stories below, and let us know if you’re thinking about purchasing the $99 beast of an Android device when it comes out some time soon!

OUYA begins talks with NVIDIA and pledges more rewards for investors is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the meteoric rise of Kickstarter-started Android device Ouya has been the subject of some massive amounts of attention – today the doubts begin. It’s Craig Rothwell, part of the team that created the ill-fated open-source handheld gaming device Pandora. His trip down terror lane with the development and production of both the software and the hardware for said device have allowed him to lend some knowledge today to Pocket Gamer on how hard the team behind Ouya are about to have it, $4 million dollars in funding or not.

Speaking up on how the Ouya team expects to be able to present a $99 Android-based gaming device with a quality wireless controller and an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor inside, Rothwell made it clear that it’s more than likely a pipe dream. “Even a Chinese semi-slave production line won’t hit $99 at that spec, as the big name parts they are talking about are a set cost.” He continued by noting that by his calculations, the Ouya team may have to bite the bullet:

“My feelings are that at that price – and remember you have to take off the Kickstarter fees, which brings the console and touchpad-equipped controller in at less than $99 – they will be making a loss on each unit sold.” – Rothwell

In addition, Rothwell warns of a possible DOA situation with developers, a situation which he, his team, and quite a few other hardware manufacturers know all too well:

“What they are doing with regards to developer fees is also nothing new; they want to charge developers 30% to release a game on their console. What’s the point in doing all that work for their comparatively tiny audience when you can get a better deal releasing on iOS or ‘normal’ Android via Google’s popular Play Store? You might as well get a HDMI cable and an iControlpad and use your super-powered Android Tablet on the TV. You can do that right now, without the need for the Ouya.” – Rothwell

Check out the rest of the Ouya news in the timeline below and feel free to head to their Kickstarter page to drop a few bucks on a possible future unit now – but beware! Nothing is certain until it’s certain!

Ouya hits $4m while Pandora device creator pans the idea is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Console startup Ouya has launched its much-anticipated Kickstarter round, promising free-to-play gaming on a minimalistic and open-source Android box hoping to steal players from phones and tablets. Billed as “a new kind of video game console” and targeting $950,000 through the crowdfunding site, Ouya uses Google’s Android OS with a custom controller designed, like the main unit itself, by Yves Behar, and has a target price of just $99.

“Shooters, platformers, sports games, arcade classics and experimental indie games just feel bigger on a TV screen” the Ouya team says. “It’s how most of us grew up gaming.”

Inside, there’s NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 chipset running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage. It has an HDMI output, capable of up to 1080p HD, along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and a single USB 2.0 ports.

The controller, meanwhile, is wireless and includes two analog sticks, a d-pad, eight action buttons and a system button, along with a touchpad for controlling games ported from smartphones or tablets.

However, the Ouya won’t be limited to gaming. Since the software is open-source and, so it’s said, easy to root (without voiding the warranty), and has easy access to the internal design, the team expects various third-party apps including media streaming and more.

At time of writing, the Ouya project is already past the $150,000 pledge point in just a few hours time, with over 1,000 backers, and it could well challenge the Pebble smartwatch for Kickstarter appeal. Still, shipments are not scheduled to start until March 2013.

Ouya aims to rekindle consoles with Android Kickstarter is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

LG has an ongoing smartphone problem: despite a few valiant efforts (the G2x comes to mind) the company continues to live in the shadow of rival Samsung. Most of this malaise can be attributed to hit-and-miss hardware combined with lackluster software (we’re looking at you, Spectrum). Last February, at Mobile World Congress, LG spiced things up with an attractive collection of devices including the Optimus L7, Optimus Vu and Optimus 4X HD — the latter being one of the first quad-core handsets announced. Now, six months later, we live in a world where the global versions of HTC’s One X and Samsung’s Galaxy S III dominate the superphone market and share the quad-core crown. With me-too features like a Tegra 3 processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the Optimus 4X HD appears ready to play in the big leagues. Does it succeed or is it just a flash in the pan? Is it all style over substance or does it bring something unique and meaningful to the table? Hit the break for our full review.

Continue reading LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Filed under: Cellphones

LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the following hands-on blood-spewing experience with this next-generation first person shooter from the same folks that brought you Shadowgun, you’ll see zombies. You’ll see so many zombies that your head will explode. We’ll be showing off this game Dead Trigger THD, developed by Madfinger Games in collaboration with NVIDIA for their Tegra 3 quad-core processor, on the newest device to utilize that architecture, the Google Nexus 7 tablet.

If you’ve played Shadowgun, you’ll feel right at home with Dead Trigger. You’ve got essentially the same controls, the graphics are extremely similar, and the amount of fun you’ll have here is at least as high as it’s been in that non-zombie game. Here you’ll have a host of new weapons, a much more terrifying environment, and zombies. Understand this if you understand nothing else: there’s lots of zombies in this game. Lots of once-dead people who are now out to eat your brains.

You’ll see water and fluid effects like you’ll find nowhere else, similar to what’s been shown in the THD (Tegra High-Definition) version of Shadowgun. You’ll also see variable lighting as well as volumetric fog and some excellent rag doll physics all around. And lots and lots of blood.

NOTE: also be sure to have a peek at the tablet in this post in our Google Nexus 7 Review. Then have a peek at this game in the TegraZone and/or the Google Play app store right this second for the impossibly inexpensive price of $0.99 USD. It’s impossible not to grab. Grab it right now.

Dead Trigger THD zombie-killing Android FPS hands-on is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.