Activision and Treyarch return with the what is likely to be the best selling game of the year, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The series is beginning to show its age, but can it still deliver to fans without reinventing itself? In a word, yes.

The Call of Duty games are essentially first-person shooter porn. They bombard your senses with explosions, gunfire, and general mayhem during your time spent with them; throwing enemy after enemy at you, offering ways to keep the war going forever online. And it’s worked, and worked well. To the tune of a franchise that expects to clear a billion dollars every year. That’s a staggering feat when you truly consider it, and it proves that the series continues to remain relevant even as it recycles ideas. But its age is showing.

The real question is, is that an issue? Sports franchises release new iterations each year that often add just a single new feature or two, and fans are content. So why is the Call of Duty franchise held to a different standard? Perhaps it is a victim of its own success. Fans of the series put in days, even weeks of time into playing and exhausting themselves, and have done since Call of Duty 4 changed everything. They know their games, and minor additions can make for big changes.

But five years is a long time in gaming. The engine has seen several modifications, but it’s showing its age. After half a decade of seeing the exact same truck driven by the same enemies, it stands out. Facing the same scenarios in the campaign with just a few deviations can be masked with cleaver design and an addictive multiplayer – both of which are present here – yet the flaws are showing.

But.

Despite the inevitable calls that Black Ops 2 is just a new map pack for Black Ops, and despite the angry chorus that (correctly) suggest that this game lacks innovation, there is a reason for that billion dollar sales figure. And even if you don’t like it, you should respect it.

Black Ops 2: Black Ops Harder

Overseen by Hollywood screenwriter and recent co-scribe of The Dark Knight Rises, David Goyer, the plot in Black Ops 2 continues the tradition set years ago in the franchise of featuring campaigns designed to be the video game equivalent of summer blockbuster films. You shouldn’t play Call of Duty campaigns if you are hoping for character development or insight into the human soul, you should play them to blow stuff up real pretty. How you receive them depends on what you want from your game, and perhaps gaming in general. Regardless, Black Ops 2 does what it sets out to do, and fills your senses with enough battles and explosions that you may have to apologize to your neighbors for the noise. It is big, loud, and dumb, just like the high-octane Hollywood films it seeks to emulate. And just like those films, Black Ops 2 is entertaining, but it’s not without its problems.

The story takes place in two time periods: The first, chronologically speaking, occurs during the tail end of the Cold War, and continues the adventures of the slightly brain damaged protagonist from the original Black Ops, Alex Mason, as he attempts to stop the rise of the narco-terrorist, Raul Menendez. These sections are offered as flashbacks to the primary time frame of the game, 2025, as Alex’s son David attempts to learn more about the threat Menendez poses, after he gained a fanatical following of nearly one billion people.

The story actually works much better if you don’t already know Menendez’s plan. That’s tough if you have seen any of the commercials or stories about this game, but in the slim chance you remained pure like the virgin snow, this review will be spoiler free.

In general terms though, the plot attempts to give you a more rounded picture of the villain of the piece, as you see how and why he does the things he does. It is an interesting, even noble goal to bring complexity to the narrative, but it falls flat more often than not. Plus, while the retro settings worked well in Black Ops, in the sequel they aren’t as attractive as the levels that offer you futuristic – and therefore original – combat options. There is a heavy emphasis on tech, and it overshadows the more traditional aspects of the earlier missions in the past.

The story is also fairly dark, which leads to what is perhaps the biggest issue of the campaign – it just takes itself so damn seriously. From murdered fathers to crippled sisters, there is a bleak feel to the story, which is broken up by endless bouts of killing the same suicidal AI that continue to stay under cover until they conveniently stand up and place their heads in the same spot, over and over again.

Between the death-happy enemies and the auto aim (which is the default, but can and probably should be turned off), you can sleepwalk your way through most of the first half of the game. Black Ops 3 does away with the mystery of the previous Black Ops, and the eye-blindingly flashy spectacle of Modern Warfare 3, and suffers for it. The later half of the game picks things up, but there are very few new mechanics or set pieces you haven’t seen before.

The story does, however, now feature branching plot lines and multiple endings, which are activated based on the choices you make and the objectives you accomplish (or fail to). It leads to a different narrative in many instances, although the general story and the locations remain the same. It does give the campaign something it has never had before though: replay value.

Throughout the game you will be offered “Strike Force” missions, side quests that affect the overall story without changing the broadstrokes of it. These missions come and then disappear after a limited time, never to reappear and taking any story elements they had with them. The Strike Force missions are squad based, and allow you to work with multiple characters and some of the new high-tech toys of tomorrow. Some may have you on offense while others have you defending locations – it varies. Although it isn’t really an innovation, it is a good addition to break things up, even if it does cut into the pacing a bit since they are only available for short periods of time.

But despite the new setting, game mode, and weapons, Black Ops 2 operates much the same as the previous games, and features the same problems like exceedingly linear levels, reused design elements, the odd glitched character, and predictable fights with unimpressive AI. It also raises the question of why the game – which during gameplay always features a team of at least two characters, regardless of the time period – doesn’t feature co-op.

10 Slots Equal One New Approach

In what should surprise no one, the core multiplayer mechanics remain the same as always. The game moves the same as it has for five years now, and the same competitive philosophy is at work. If you have played the games before, nothing should surprise you here. It is, and always has been a matter of evolution over innovation, and the changes are progressions of things that have been introduced before. That isn’t a criticism though.

There is no question that the series is in need of an overhaul soon, but both Treyarch and Infinity Ward have done remarkable jobs with what they have to work with. The changes they have introduced are generally very good ones, and are typically adopted by other games in the genre quickly. The same process is at work here. There are several changes to the leveling that will alter your approach, although none should feel alien to fans.

The biggest change is the inclusion of a 10 slot limit for your loadouts. Each loadout has 10 spots that can be filled, and you can fill them however you choose once you unlock the item you want by reaching a specified level, and then using a token earned by ranking up to unlock it. These 10 slots can be used to carry perks, weapons, weapon modifiers like scopes, and secondary equipment. So if you want to attach a scope and have a dual clip, that will cost you three spots – two for the add-ons and one for the weapon itself. If you choose to load up on perks at the cost of a secondary weapon or a concussion grenade, you can. It often makes you sacrifice one thing for another, and after just a few times with it, you’ll see the ebb and flow at work. 

Kill streaks have also been replaced with something closer to the MW3 support point system, that included objectives as a measure for raising your streak points. Capture a domination point, shoot down a UAV, or kill an opponent and you will earn points to unlock one of three rewards, each of which is listed under its cost per reward, and selectable once you have unlocked it. As with all Call of Duty games, the risk of these scorestreaks overwhelming the gameplay is present, but it is manageable. If you hated the constant death from above mentaility of previous Call of Duty games before though, you will hate it here.

There are other changes, including the weapons, which offer new attachments unlocked bey earning experience with that weapon. It has a new coat of paint, but it should all feel familiar. All of the familiar modes return, including MW3’s Kill Confirmed and a new “Hardpoint” mode that is akin to King of the Hill. The wager matches from Black Ops also return, but are now dubbed “Party games,” and the practice mode that let you play against bots in Black Ops has been revamped, and now allows you to play mixed matches with humans and AI, which is a great way for new players to ease into the well-traveled world of Call of Duty online.

Along with the traditional online modes, Black Ops 2 introduces League Matches. Specific matches you compete in will rank you on a ladder, with a good performance sending you up and a bad one doing the opposite. It will take awhile for players to settle in once the game has been released, but it should group players with opponents of a similar skill level.

The changes don’t touch the fundamentals of Call of Duty’s multiplayer, but they help to present it in a new way that feels fresh, if very familiar. There aren’t enough changes to win over those that dislike it, nor is there enough new to bring back those that have since abandoned the series. But for those that do enjoy the games, or have in the past and have fallen off, Black Ops 2 offers plenty to reaffirm Call of Duty’s spot as the dominant online game around, and this offering does surpass Infinity Ward’s last offering. 

Have Zombie, Will Travel

One of the biggest changes seen in Black Ops 2 is the new take on Treyarch’s signature zombie mode. The single maps have been replaced with a bare-bones campaign called Tranzit, that has you and up to three others fighting off waves of zombies as always, but now you have a partial world to discover and an AI-controlled bus that takes you between the locales while under attack. It was a formula not especially in need of a major reworking, and it often leads to confused teammates being split up as others take the bus, but a good team can make the most of the shifting locations and hardcore fans should appreciate the effort to expand the mode.

Stats are now kept for your zombie progression, and you can collect tools that are scattered throughout. All in all though, the changes feel like half measures. The previous, stand alone maps offered just as much as the new, transferable campaign. It just doesn’t go far enough to really become the standalone mode that Treyarch was aspiring to.

Still, zombies mode remains a highlight for those seeking co-op. The change are a love letter for the zombie fans. Treyarch wanted to offer them something more, something deeper. In that it somewhat succeeds, and it will be interesting to see where the inevitable DLC takes the mode.

Along with the new take on the traditional zombie mode, Black Ops 2 also offers a new zombie “Grief” mode, which allows eight players to stand against the zombies, but those eight players make up two teams and only one team can win. If you see a human fall but they are on the other team, you have the choice to let them die and take a lead or revive them and hope that they help you survive longer. It’s a fun mode, but not a huge draw.

Conclusion

The cracks are showing, but Call of Duty continues to put out quality, annual offerings. There haven’t been many changes to the fundamentals, and the graphics – while still decent – are beginning to show their age compared to the newer engines on the block. There are several new tweaks that work though, and the 10 slot limit may not seem like a major change, but it really does make you rethink your approach.

The campaign is a decent diversion, but little more. It has pacing issues and never really surprises you, but it is a fun distraction for a eight hours or less. As always though, the multiplayer is king. It does honor to the series, but those that aren’t fans will see it as more of the same. Call of Duty is still the king, although its position is tenuous. It is in need of an overhaul, but as long as the quality of the games remains consistently high, and as long as Activision and its developers pack this much content on one disc – a campaign, zombies, and a massive multiplayer – Call of Duty will remain on top.

Score 8.5 out of 10

Research In Motion's promise that its next-generation BB10 OS and handsets will launch in the first quarter of 2013 appears to be holding steady, with the company announcing on Tuesday that its new handsets are set to ship "within 30 days" of the January 30 unveiling event.

– Next-gen handsets sent to carriers for testing? Check.

– Important security certification for next-gen handsets received? Check.

– Unveiling date of next-gen handsets set? Check.

– Launch date for next-gent handsets set? Er, well, kind of. Y’know. Yes….broadly speaking. Um…

On Monday, Research In Motion announced that its long-awaited next-generation BB10 operating system and handsets will be unveiled on January 30. Unveiling is all well and good, but many were left wondering when the actual launch date will be. Well, now we know. Sort of.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, RIM’s chief operating officer Kristian Tear said the company wanted to launch the devices “as quickly as possible”, with the first BB10 devices hitting stores on multiple continents “within 30 days” of the January 30 unveiling event.

Technically, this means consumers interested in getting their hands on a new BB10 device might have to wait till the beginning of March, but let’s hope – for RIM’s sake – it means early February.

The Ontario-based mobile company had hoped to launch BB10 last year but was left red-faced when it was forced to admit its new OS and handsets weren’t ready. Its latest promise, which has been holding firm for a while now, is that it’ll launch during the first quarter of 2013.

RIM has been doing its best to stay in the headlines recently, pushing out a number of news releases keeping consumers up to date with what’s happening with BB10. Last month the company announced the devices had been sent for testing to more than 50 carriers worldwide. And just last week BB10 received important security clearance that will allow the new handsets to be used by government agencies in the US and Canada.

“The hard work will not stop here as we build towards launch,” RIM boss Thorsten Heins said in October. “Our developer teams are continuing to generate momentum to bring a wealth of applications to BlackBerry 10, our enterprise teams have started to present BlackBerry 10 devices and services to our business customers, and our engineers are fully mobilized to ensure that BlackBerry 10 launches flawlessly in the first quarter of 2013.”

It sounds like everything is going to plan. Now let’s just hope those new phones really do see the light of day “within 30 days” of the unveiling event at the end of January.

Is the only thing standing between you and literary indulgence a lack of time and material to read? A new start-up that aims to put an entire library at your fingertips through your smartphone aims to change that.

By now, we’re used to the subscription streaming model for both visual and audio entertainment, with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Pandora et al having convinced us that we don’t really need to own media anymore as long as we have a strong wifi connection and the right kind of device in order to enjoy it wherever and whenever we want. But how far will this thinking stretch, exactly? Could you see yourself signing up for a monthly subscription to an ebook library?

It’s an interesting question. After all, prose books aren’t exactly the same kind of “passive” media as music, or even movies or television; you rarely (if ever) hear of someone reading a book in the background while engaged in other activities in the same way that they might listen to music or even half-pay attention to whatever’s on the television in the room, for example. Reading a book requires a commitment that changes our relationship with the media, and may mean that readers are more likely to purchase their ebooks rather than rent them. Not that there’s not a long history of “renting” books, which is another potential bump in the road for the paid subscription model for ebooks: There’s such a thing as your local library, which does much the same thing, but for free (There is also Amazon’s Kindle Lending Library, which is free for Amazon Prime subscribers, of course).

None of this has scared off the Oyster start-up, however.

The New York-based company is the brainchild of Eric Stromberg, Andrew Brown and Willem Van Lancker, who collectively wrote in a debut blog post that the company was “inspired by the belief that the transformation from the print book to digital is still in its earliest phase,” and the result of thinking “deeply about the future of long-form narrative.” Aimed at, in their words, “an audience that aspires to read more,” the app will allow users to read as much as they want from “an ever-growing library of books” for a single monthly price.

The focus on smartphones means a reformatting of the books themselves, it seems. “Today’s book reading products were never envisioned with phones in mind – they are incomplete and shrunken copies of their tablet counterparts,” explains the blog post, adding that Oyster will be “an end-to-end product created specifically for mobile.” But that won’t be the only differentiator from print books or digital copies from other sources; Stromberg, Brown and Van Lancker explain that what may truly appeal to hardcore readers is Oyster’s superior discovery process. “Currently, people buy books online in the exact same way that they buy lamps, blenders and kitchen knives,” they explain. “The process of finding your next book is very different from purchasing a knife, and it should be treated that way.”

Oyster is currently in the process of signing up new investors as well as publishers and authors interested in adding their books to the company’s library. No launch date nor subscription cost has been revealed as yet.

We get our hands on the HTC Droid DNA, the newest flagship phone on Verizon. Does it have what it takes to compete against the litany of powerful smartphones available this holiday season?

If you thought choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, iPhone 5, HTC 8X, Motorola Droid HD, LG Optimus G, Sony Xperia TL, Nokia Lumia 920, and Google Nexus 4 was tough, brace yourself: Things are only getting worse. (Or better, depending on your outlook.) Today, HTC and Verizon unveiled the Droid DNA, another flagship phone that desperately wants to make friends with your hand, and wallet. After the announcement, we were able to get some hands-on time with the new Droid DNA. Here’s what we think.

Best. Screen. Ever.

This is a bold statement to make, but we cannot recall a phone screen that looks as good as HTC’s new Droid DNA. Like the first time we set our eyes on the ‘Retina,’ high-resolution iPad 3, looking at the Droid DNA’s 5-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixel) Super LCD 3 screen is a jaw-dropping experience. It’s pixel density is 440 pixels per inch, which is significantly denser than even the iPhone 5′s screen. After staring at the DNA’s screen for a while, going back to a 720p screen was not fun.

More impressive is the speed and fluidity of the Android operating system on this phone. For the first time, Android’s animation and fluidity appear on par with the iPhone 5. We don’t know if it’s entirely Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) or if HTC’s Sense 4.0+ user interface actually speeds up the OS, but everything moves fast on the DNA. Google talked about ‘Project Butter’ when it unveiled Jelly Bean in the summer, but the Droid DNA is the first Android phone we’ve seen where the jump in speed is noticeable. Of course, the quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM may also contribute to the Droid’s prowess.

There’s nothing quite like watching a 1080p video on a 1080p screen this small. It’s gorgeous. Unfortunately, due to the limited 16GB of internal memory and lack of microSD support, you won’t be able to download many movies to your Droid DNA. 

Stylish design

HTC has had a rough year. It’s top Android handsets have been handily outsold by Samsung. Things got bad enough that it was posting losses. But instead of wallowing and waiting, HTC continues to push forward, kicking its designs and performance up a notch with every phone unveiling. We recently labeled the HTC 8X as our favorite Windows Phone 8 device, and the Droid DNA may take the top spot for Android. Everything about the look and feel of the DNA, aside from its Verizon black and red color scheme, appears top notch. The device is thin: only 4mm at its edges, and is designed with the hand in mind. HTC has built a gradual hump into the back of the phone, which your hand cradles as you hold it. Though conventional wisdom argues that thinner is better, Having a rounded back is surprisingly comfortable.

On the edges of the phone, HTC has included a grill of sorts, as well. We don’t think this adds a lot to the experience, but it definitely doesn’t hurt. Did we mention that it can charge wirelessly?

All the conveniences of a modern HTC phone

HTC hasn’t gained much attention this year, but its hardware and Android user interface is more consistent than what a lot of manufacturers are pumping out. The Droid DNA has all of the good features we’ve come to like in phones like the One X. The Music app, for example, still aggregates all of the music on your device, regardless of its source; it’s a single place where you can find music from all your different apps, like Pandora, Spotify, Amazon MP3, etc. Like all HTC devices, the DNA also appears to have an excellent 8-megapixel camera, complete with the fancy ‘ImageSense’ chip that HTC includes in its top phones. The front-facing camera from the 8X is also included, which has a wide-angle lens so you can fit more of your friends in a photo.

Destined for greatness?

We don’t know if the Droid DNA will be a hit phone this holiday season or just another crashing wave on the smartphone shores. It has some hefty competition, and the fact that it’s a Verizon exclusive will work against its potential to compete with the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5. But after using the Droid DNA, we think it would be dumb to count HTC out. The DNA builds on all of the forward strides HTC has made in 2012 and may be its best phone yet. We can’t wait to try it again.

The HTC Droid DNA will be released on November 21 for $200, with a two-year contract. Check out our spec comparisons to learn more: HTC Droid DNA vs. iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 and Droid DNA vs. Galaxy Note 2 vs. LG Intuition.

The second installment of Starcraft II will be available in Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Edition packages.

The eagerly anticipated second installment of Blizzard’s Starcraft II trilogy will arrive March 12 with a $40 price tag for the basic version of the game, according to an announcement made yesterday by the developer.

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be available in both the $40 Standard Edition and a $55 Deluxe Edition that includes a long list of bonus items for Starcraft II, as well as World of Warcraft and Diablo III. Battle.net has the full list of Deluxe Edition features and add-ons, which include StarCraft II Swarm-themed Battle.net portraits, a Zerg Ultralisk “Torrasque” skin, a World of Warcraft Baneling Battle Pet, “Blade Wings” for your Diablo III character, and a Zerg banner sigil for Diablo III.

Along with the Standard and Deluxe Editions, there will also be a Collector’s Edition of Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm that includes everything offered in the Deluxe Edition, plus a DVD and Blu-ray disc with more than an hour of behind-the-scenes content, a CD soundtrack, an art book, and a “Zerg Rush” mousepad. Blizzard hasn’t posted the price for the Collector’s Edition yet.

Heart of the Swarm is the follow-up to 2010′s Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, with Strcraft II: Legacy of the Void arriving at a later point.

Maingear's new portable gaming laptop, the Nomad 15, is proof that powerful machines with impressive specs don't have to be live on your desk.

When it comes to gaming laptops, buyers often face a direct tradeoff between high-end specs and actual portability. In fact, our review of the 5 best gaming laptops last month featured a number of 16-inch (and larger) behemoths that weigh in closer to a calculus textbook than a paperback. Maingear today announced its Nomad 15, which aims to offer the best of both worlds.

Complementing the company’s feather-weight option, the 11.6-inch Pulse 11, the Nomad 15 boasts a 15.5-inch 1920 x 1080 anti-glare matte screen and clocks in at an average 7.7 pounds – still not light, but not backbreaking either. More importantly, nearly everything in this Windows 7 rig is customizable. Choose your graphics card from the top-of-the-line NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, GTX 675MX, 675MX, or GTX 680M, all of which allow for Maingear’s one-touch GPU overclocking. The third-generation Intel quad-core i7 processors run as high as 3.8GHz, complemented by up to 32GB of RAM and the option of dual hard drives, either SSD (2 x 256GB) or HHD (2 x 750GB).

But the flashiness doesn’t end there: a backlit keyboard, built-in subwoofer, and complimentary hand-painted chassis (anything from lime-green to Lamborghini-yellow) amp up the cool factor. Both the optical drive and wireless card are upgradeable, while standard ports include HDMI, DVI-I, two USB 2.0, three USB 3.0, and a single Fire Wire. However, be forewarned that goodness comes at a price: the basic setup starts at $1,549, and an all-upgraded version runs a cool $2,599. It may be worth waiting for Maingear’s Black Friday sale, when at least you’ll get free shipping and bonus swag for your arm-and-a-leg.

Verizon and HTC have announced the Droid DNA, a 5-inch tablet/smartphone hybrid with an amazing 1080p resolution. Here, we compare it's specification to its closest smartphone rivals, the Apple iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

HTC and Verizon have announced the Droid DNA, the first smartphone with a 1080p resolution screen to be launched in the USA. It measures 5-inches though, which means it’s really a tablet/smartphone hybrid, however the overall size of the chassis isn’t much larger than the Samsung Galaxy S3, so anyone who uses that as their everyday phone, may be willing to accept the Droid DNA too.

It’s also HTC’s most technically impressive phone, and therefore deserves to battle it out with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple iPhone 5, it’s two closest smartphone rivals. Here’s how it compares:

	iPhone 5	Galaxy S3	Droid DNA
Size	123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 (mm)	136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm)	140.9 x 70.6 x 9.7 (mm)
Weight	112g	133g	140g
Screen	4.0-inch LCD	4.8-inch Super AMOLED	5-inch Super LCD 3
Resolution	1136×640 pixels	1280×720 pixels	1920×1080 pixels
OS	iOS 6.0.1	Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI	Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 4+
Storage	16/32/64GB	16/32GB	16GB
SD Card Slot	No	Yes	No
Processor	Dual-core A6X	Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US)	1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
RAM	1GB	2GB	2GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, EV-DO Rev.A
Camera	Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP	Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP	Front 2.1MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0
Battery	1440mAh	2100mAh	2020mAh
Charger	Lightning connector	Micro USB	Micro USB
Marketplace	Apple App Store	Google Play Store	Google Play Store
Price	$200+	$200+	$200
Availability	AT&T, Sprint, Verizon	AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon	Verizon

As expected, the Droid DNA has the largest screen and is the heaviest of the three, but in other areas — including the all-important cost — it’s a close-run battle. The Droid DNA’s processor is a quad-core monster and it has 4G LTE connectivity, while the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 both have dual-core chips, plus the Droid DNA’s 1080p resolution beats the other two on paper. Just how much better the Droid DNA’s 440ppi pixel density panel is than the iPhone 5′s Retina screen, remains to be seen.

However, the lack of expandable memory is a problem, but perhaps not as much as the battery, as it’s smaller even than the Galaxy S3’s; which doesn’t have a 5-inch, 1080p screen to run. We won’t know how much of a concern this will be until we get the Droid DNA out into the real world though.

However, there’s no denying the Droid DNA has been well-priced, and that amazing screen is sure to win it plenty of fans.

We compare the specification of the new Verizon-bound HTC Droid DNA with its closest rivals, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the LG Intuition.

HTC and Verizon have announced the Droid DNA, the first smartphone to come with a 1080p resolution to be launched in the USA. Because that screen measures 5-inches though, it’s more of a smartphone/tablet hybrid, which means it’ll be going head-to-head with the current favorite, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and the slightly less popular LG Intuition.

Here’s how they specifications of each big-screen device compare.

	Galaxy Note 2	LG Intuition	Droid DNA
Size	151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 (mm)	139.7 x 90.4 x 8.4 (mm)	140.9 x 70.6 x 9.7 (mm)
Weight	183g	168g	140g
Screen	5.5-inch Super AMOLED	5-inch HD-IPS LCD	5-inch Super LCD 3
Resolution	1280×720 pixels	1024×768 pixels	1920×180 pixels
OS	Android 4.1 with TouchWiz UI	Android 4.0	Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 4+
Storage	16/32/64GB	32GB	16GB
SD Card Slot	Yes, up to 64GB	No	No
Processor	1.6GHz, quad-core Exynos	1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3	1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
RAM	2GB	1GB	2GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, EV-DO Rev.A	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, EV-DO Rev.A
Camera	Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP	Front 1.3MP, Rear 8MP	Front 2.1MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 3.0	Yes, version 4.0
Battery	3100mAh	2080mAh	2020mAh
Charger	Micro USB	Micro USB	Micro USB
Marketplace	Google Play Store	Google Play Store	Google Play Store
Price	$299	$149	$199
Availability	AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint	Verizon	Verizon

The result shows just not only how impressive the Droid DNA is, but also how much it and the Note 2 put the LG Intuition in the shade. Thanks to the Droid DNA’s excellent $200 (with a two-year contract, of course) price tag, the Intuition can no longer claim to be half the price of the other option either.

We’ve already seen the powerful quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chip in the LG Optimus G, the Nexus 4, and the Asus Padfone 2, and it’ll easily match Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad inside the Note 2; however, we’re a little concerned by the small battery inside the Droid DNA, especially as it’s non-removable. The lack of expandable memory is a drawback too.

While the Galaxy Note 2’s wide availability will help it stay ahead in sales, on paper, the Droid DNA looks like an incredibly tempting proposition.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed concern about the price of Nintendo's next console, comparing it to an iPad as opposed to a gaming system.

The upcoming launch of Nintendo’s Wii U has lots of people celebrating, but Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has some concerns about the much-anticipated system’s $299 price tag.

“I always prefer lower pricing, so I can’t say I’m happy,” Guillemot told Games Industry International when asked about his company’s perspective on the next console to enter the gaming market. Ubisoft is currently one of the biggest third-party developers working on Wii U titles, and though the system will almost certainly sell out at launch, Guillemot expressed some concerns about its longevity with such a high entry point.

The Wii U launches November 18, and along with the basic system priced at $299, Nintendo is also offering a “Deluxe Set” for $349 that comes with 32 GB of internal storage instead of the standard 8 GB and is painted black instead of the standard white.

“I’m never happy when the machines are expensive,” he said. “What we have to do there is remember that compared to an iPad, it’s cheap. With what it brings [to the gaming table] it’s cheap. But I hope they’ll be able to drop their price in time.”

imo.im unveiled a brand new redesign of its iPhone and Android app, and new photo uploading and downloading features specifically for the iPhone app.

Imo Instant Messenger users will see a major design update to the messaging client today for both its iPhone and Android apps. The redesign should streamline the user experience by combining existing pages while also focusing on a feature upgrade to the iPhone app and will enable users to download Imo-shared photos as well as give users the option to quickly upload images to Imo with an instant upload-like feature.

The major updates that will appear on both apps include an entirely new user interface, from the user experience to the color. The updated interface has been completely redone; for example, the personal profile settings panel can be quickly accessed with a right swipe. In addition, Imo.im will enable you to quickly toggle between your “Favorites” and “Chats,” since your contact list and open conversation will now be housed under the same page. Note that the settings pages are now colored a dark shade of gray and blue.

“The main goal of the redesign for Android and iPhone was to make our app cleaner and easier to use, yet functional. So instead of making mere cosmetic changes we decided to rethink the whole app. We took a lot of user feedback into consideration with this new design. We focused on making the UI simple and elegant,” says Imo CEO Ralph Harik.

With a vested interest in photography among social media users today, Imo is expanding its photo-sharing feature for its iPhone app to streamline the photo taking experience. Users that share photos during conversations in real-time with groups of friends can now also download these images to their iPhone. The downloading is supported by 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi connections. An additional feature will make the photo uploading process seamless, similar to Google+’s Instant Upload feature. All photographs, as they’re taken using Imo’s app (which uses the iPhone’s native camera), will automatically be uploaded privately onto the platform’s servers and can be accessed on the “Imo social” page. Users can grant a group of friends access to these photos uploaded via a dedicated gallery. You and your friends can cherry pick images to share, delete, or even download, but the images live on Imo’s servers for just 24 hours.

Group chat is also getting better, for iPhone and Android. “Updated chat group capabilities allow contacts to view and discuss these photos instantly,” says Harik.

So far the messaging company is seeing the fruits of its labor since launching in 2007, particularly after Meebo was acquired by Google and bowed out of the competition in the messaging space. Since then, Imo has released a slew of new features, which among the latest in August included the release of its VoIP calling for the iPhone, enabling users to call friends using Imo, and NFC for its Android app. But more importantly today, Imo told us that it reached a milestone of five million downloads (between both its iOS and Android apps).

The Imo.im update for the iPhone will be available on iTunes later today, and on Google Play for Android smartphones.

Google believes its updated version of Chrome is so good it can increase battery life by 25 percent. We were a bit skeptical, so we put it to the test ourselves.

Google announced about a week ago that its new version of Chrome turns on GPU accelerated video decoding in the browser. What does that mean exactly? Besides potentially improving performance on older systems with a reasonable GPU but slow processor, this change could also enhance battery life. In fact, Google’s official blog states that battery life could improve by up to 25 percent.

This left us wondering – could a PC Web browser really have an impact on battery life? We’ve noticed improvements with mobile browsers in the past, but a PC is an entirely different beast with both a much larger battery and much higher power consumption.

It’s time to enter the test chamber.

Our testing was performed on the Acer Aspire M3, little-known forefather of the Acer Aspire M5 we reviewed in July of this year. This Ultrabook packs a Core i5-2467M low-voltage processor and Nvidia GT 640M discrete graphics.

We grabbed a benchmark result by running a YouTube video loop using Chrome 22 (we’d not yet received the automatic update). The video ran in its normal window size at 720p resolution and Battery Eater was used in idle mode to measure run time. After three runs the Aspire M3 reached an average life of four hours and four minutes.

We then upgraded to Chrome 23 and performed the same test three more times. After our last run, the laptop reached an average life of four hours and twenty-four minutes. That’s almost 9 percent better than what the laptop could achieve while running the previous version of Chrome.

An improvement of 9 percent is much smaller than 25 percent, but it’s not insignificant. Twenty additional minutes of runtime could matter to a user traveling without frequent access to power sockets. We also tested under conditions we think are representative of typical use (reasonable display brightness, no background software terminated, 720p resolution), rather than those likely to produce an exaggerated result. A different scenario might result in even better endurance.

We were a bit surprised to see even a 9 percent improvement. It certainly goes to show that there’s more to battery life than the hardware. The update was pushed out automatically, so any Chrome user reading this article is already benefiting from it.

Behold! The first of what will no doubt be many reviews for Nintendo’s new console, the Wii U. And while this one is actually a polished re-release of a game released in March, it is a vast improvement over the original.

Whenever you have a brand new console on the market, the games launched with it are automatically graded on a scale, either intentionally or – at this point – simply by habit. You may love a game on whatever new system, but while holding that game under the microscope, you realize that part of the thrill is just the newness of it all. It’s fresh, because the console is fresh – even if the game itself may not withstand the next wave of releases.

There are exceptions, of course, but launch day (or launch window) titles tend to be risky. For every great new title that justifies the new system, there are two that were hastily assembled to create the illusion of available content range for when people shell out cash for their new console. It happens on every new gaming hardware system, and the Wii U is no different. Nintendo does have one huge advantage here though.

Launch window games tend to be quickly developed for the launch thanks in no small part to the need for secrecy leading up to the release, which limits the development time a game can have; A problem that is compounded by unfamiliarity with the system. But what if you could skip all that and release games that had healthy development cycles, then give them half a year of fine-tuning on top of it?

This is our first Wii U review, but it is the beginning of a theme you may hear repeated often in the next few months. Several of the Wii U launch titles are re-releases of existing games, with a few twists to appeal to the new hardware. They are good, even great games have been given a polish. For Nintendo fans that only have the Wii, this is Christmas, and these games alone should keep you gleefully playing the Wii U for months. For the more dedicated gaming fan, this might be a moot point in favor of the Wii U; Many of the games are some of the biggest titles recently released so they’ve probably already been played by people who had any interest in them. And then there is a game like Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, which has been granted a new life, and revealed in it.

Ninja Gaiden 3 was originally released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in March, and it’d be kind to say that it was “flawed.” If you like, you can check out our full review here, but there isn’t a lot of point since it is a markedly better game now. The six months have been kind to Team Ninja, who overhauled the game and have created not just a good launch window game, but a good game, period.

The Director’s Cut

The story of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge remains inherently the same as the previous Ninja Gaiden 3. You play as the death dealing ultimate ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, whose total kill count borders on having him classified as an act of nature, or at least a weapon of mass destruction.

Upon investigating a hostage situation in London at the behest of the Japanese government, Ryu goes head-to-head with the group known as the Lords of Alchemy and is cursed with the “Grip of Murder.” This causes the odd slip into a murder filled dimension that occasionally pops up. 

The plot is the same as the previously released Ninja Gaiden 3 with one notable exception, the addition of playable sections starring the ninja Ayane. These new modes don’t significantly alter the game or the story, but they do deliver a good bit of variety as Ayane comes complete with her own move set. She can also be selected in the Chapter Challenges, and is available through the online co-op, which was sadly not available during the review period.

The story remains as convoluted and yet oddly entertaining. As we mentioned in the original NG3 review, there really is no reason for a cloned dinosaur with a headset like the Borg to attack you, but what the hell. It’s bloody, wild, completely over the top, and features women with breasts that operate under water balloon-like physics which border on misogyny (okay, not even border), but it all works under the rules created by the game.

Porting this game to the Wii U also signifies something interesting that we are seeing more of: Nintendo’s changing stance when it comes to mature games. Nintendo was never outright against mature games, but it never did anything to truly attract them either. With games like NG3 and ZombiU as featured launch titles, that seems to have changed.

Dress Like a Ninja, Kill Like a Plague

The gameplay remains Ninja Gaiden’s defining characteristic, for better and worse. It’s a hack and slash in the truest sense of the word, but it is also brutally, sadistically difficult. As you play you unlock abilities, new weapons (including two new weapons: dual katanas and the awesome lunar staff that are exclusive to the Wii U), and new moves that give you better options as you progress. This adds impressive depth to a demanding combat system. But while the scenery is varied and looks better than ever on the Wii U (albeit not significantly better), the enemy variety is still fairly weak. You will see the same soldiers and monsters repeated over and over and over again, and by the time you reach the seventh and final day, some eight hours in, you can’t help but feel the weight of repetition. The combat does keep things lively though.

The learning curve is steep, and it requires quick reactions, as well as a good TV to be able to track everything that’s going on during hectic fights against enemies that aren’t that differentiated from you. But once you do figure it out, each new battle is an experience and a challenge. You need to practice patience and perfect your block, but also be able to react and link combos quickly. If you want to test yourself, try the hardest setting. Beating it on that level will give you bragging rights for life. If that isn’t your thing, then there is no shame playing on the easiest setting. The main difference from it and the level above it is that you’re charged a penalty in your score when it auto-blocks for you. It is a challenging game. 

Like eating spicy foods, this is entirely down to personal tastes. The game is solid, and the Wii U port fixes numerous small problems like homicidal camera angles. It is, without question, what Team Ninja was hoping for with the previous version.

Introducing the GamePad

The highlight of the Wii U is, of course, the tablet-like GamePad. Each game will utilize it differently, and in the case of Razor’s Edge it offers more gameplay options, as well as additional information for your viewing pleasure. On the touchscreen, there are three buttons you will use often: The change weapon prompt, the Ninja Sense that guides you, and the Ninpo special attack. They simply make it easier to do what you already can with a controller. The Ninpo is the most useful, and when you power it up through combat the icon glows to signify that it’s ready.

The GamePad is ergonomically sound, but with games that have you constantly moving your fingers without mercy, you may consider switching to the new Wii U Pro Controller instead. Don’t consider this a negative against the game, however. We just thought it’s worth noting.

Online – Under Construction

During the review of this game, the Wii U’s full online functionality was not quite ready for prime time. The original version was something of a mess, with balance issues helping to highlight other problems. But since the rest of this game was polished so significantly, there is good cause to think the online has been refined as well. There is also the co-op, which is tantalizing.

Once the online is fully active, we will give it a full shake down and update this section (as well as the score, if necessary).

Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden 3 was a mess. It had technical problems, and it just didn’t work all that well. While this game is a port of that one, there is more than just a few new modes and inclusion of a new controller scheme. Razor’s Edge is a better game: Polished and reworked. It’s a second chance for Team Ninja, and one that they made the best of.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge is still a hack and slash game with waves of identical enemies charging you endlessly. The combat is what makes this game, which is good, since that is pretty much all there is. Still, fun is fun. If you are among those looking for Wii U launch titles, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge is among the strongest.

Score: 8 out of 10