Check out the Good and Bad side of BlackBerry Z10

The basics

The BlackBerry Z10 might not be the last throw of the dice for Research In Motion (now simply called BlackBerry) - but it’s certainly getting close to closing time at the casino. It’s finally come up with a more modern operating system that can finally handle 3D games, blazing fast speeds and super sharp, HD resolutions, BlackBerry 10. And the BlackBerry Z10 is its opening gambit: a 4.2-inch number with a 1280x768 screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and an eight megapixel camera. Is it a match made in heaven, or just another pedestrian phone? Let’s take a look.

Xbox 720: 3D, a huge hard drive and multitasking on the way

We’re just over a week away from Sony’s big PlayStation announcement on 20 February, and the Xbox 720 rumours (From Microsoft itself?) are coming thick and fast. After the News last week that the next-gen games machine would not allow used games but would come with a new Kinect, a new report adds some flesh to the bone. Want to know exactly what you’ll be getting?

  kotaku has a detailed report on the next Xbox based on what it’s learned from sources, and it backs up what we heard about a new Kinect next week. The new motion sensor camera will be far more accurate, even able to detect fingers if a leaked document is to be believed. You will however need it plugged in at all times: the Xbox 720 (or whatever it’ll be called) won’t work without it.

From PS3 to PS4, the evolution of PlayStation from 2006 to now

Under the good, the new Xbox will pack an eight-core processor as we previously heard, support for full HD 3D output as well as a huge 500GB hard drive. This won’t be optional either: game installs are mandatory, but the good news is Microsoft seems to have thought these through, setting up options for developers to quietly install the game in the background in sections while you play the level before.

Lastly, the Xbox 720 will let you seamlessly multitask between apps and games, as you’ve come to expect from your laptop and your smartphone – you’ll even be able to flick between two games at once, though that might be getting a bit greedy. But hey, the option’s there.

All in all, the Xbox 720 is shaping up to be a powerful PS4 rival – but are the requirements we’ve heard about, such as the mandatory Kinect accessory and used game block, a dealbreaker for you? Shout off in the comments below with your view.

The five best phones you’ve never heard of

When it comes to smartphones, you’re spoiled for choice these days. Phone peddlers like Apple and Samsung spend millions – billions, even – telling you about their latest and greatest, but it’s not all about the big guys. Here, we take a look at the unsung heroes of the smartphone world, the ones you haven’t heard of but really should consider if it’s time to upgrade. Read on to meet them.


Huawei Ascend G330

You don’t have to spend through the nose to nab a smartphone with a dual-core processor. You could just pick up the  Huawei Ascend G330 instead, which shoves one in alongside feature-stuffed Android 4.0 so you can play games, watch video, surf the web, even share your data by turning your phone into a mobile hotspot. Not bad for just £10 per month with a healthy 200MB of data through TalkTalk.

ZTE Grand X

We loved the  ZTE Grand X’ clean, untarnished take on Google’s Android operating system when we tested it last year, the but the low, low price of the  Google Nexus 4 made it an also ran. Now though, the 4.3-inch phone with a sharp 960×540 resolution screen has come down in price – you can get a dual-SIM version SIM-free for just £155.99 on Amazon – a bargain if you want pure Android without paying full price.