Raymond Padilla

Dr. Dre + HTC = HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio

HTC has revealed the first phone produced from its partnership with Beats Audio (Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine) — meet the HTC Sensation XE! As you’ve probably guessed, the phone is based on the popular HTC Sensation. Key differences found in the XE are a larger battery, distinct black and red styling, a pair of Beats Audio earphones, and special sound algorithms. Here’s more from the press release:

The HTC Sensation XE is the first handset to offer a Beats Audio experience — a combination of software & hardware that allows you to hear music the way the artist intended. When used with the exclusive Beats by Dr. Dre in-ear headphones, the handset automatically switches to the bespoke Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile, delivering audio tracks tuned specifically for the headphones.

Whether you are using any of the many music services available in the Android market you will notice fuller bass and crisper vocals and a new level of clarity and range offering audio the way the artist intended it to be heard.

This looks like a great update to the Sensation, but it doesn’t address my biggest issue with the original — its disappointing qHD screen. While the 960 x 540 resolution is great compared to the standard 800 x 480 found on most current Android phones, the screen was dull compared to the ones on the Samsung Galaxy S II and iPhone 4. A new paint job and improved audio make the Sensation XE a more appealing package, but it doesn’t make up for the screen’s disappointing image quality.

That said, I’m sure it’ll be a great phone. Check out the official specs and the image gallery below. If you have a chance, please let me know what you think!

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The HTC Sensation XE will be available in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East by the end of September. Due to the stupid nature of the U.S. market, I’m not sure if it’ll be coming here (officially). Perhaps the HTC Vigor will be the first Beats Audio in America. Personally, I’m holding out for an HTC/Beats phone that comes with a visit from Dr. Dre.

Final Fantasy X HD Coming to PS3 and Vita!!!

At Sony’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2011 press conference, the company revealed a bunch of remastered hits for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. A lot of prospective Vita owners were psyched to learned that the Metal Gear Solid HD and Zone of the Enders HD games are coming to Sony’s upcoming handheld console. I love me some excellent Kojima Production games and all, but the big news for me was Final Fantasy X HD!

I’m an absolute mark for Final Fantasy X. I believe that it’s one of the best in the series. I love the “sphere grid” leveling system and the game’s soundtrack. I’m super psyched that FFX will be getting spruced up graphics to accompany its fantastic gameplay and wonderful music on the PS3 and Vita. This game will completely rock.

Any of you excited for Final Fantasy X HD? Or are you more about Metal Gear Solid and Zone of the Enders?

Will Xbox Live Blow Up on Windows 8?

At Microsoft’s BUILD developer conference, the company revealed that Windows 8 will featuring heavy Xbox Live integration. Xbox Live functionality has already stepped out of the Xbox 360 through the Windows Phone mobile platform. With Windows 8, the service stands to get bigger than ever. Before I get into that, here’s the official word from Microsoft’s Major Nelson:

We are confirming that we will be bringing Xbox Live to the PC with Xbox Live on Windows. We are very excited about Xbox Live coming to Windows 8. Xbox Live brings your games, music, movies, and TV shows to your favorite Microsoft and Windows devices. Bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy. At BUILD we are showing that it is easy for developers to create games for Windows 8 that take advantage of the power of Xbox Live. We have much more detail to share about the capabilities of Xbox Live on Windows and look forward to the opportunity to do so in the near future.

Xbox Live is one of the best features of Xbox 360 and a huge part of why the console has been so successful. Adding a substantial social layer to gaming and having games “live on” after players have stopped playing them is huge. When I first heard about these features way back in 2005, I knew they’d be killer. Having the social aspects of Xbox Live integrated into an operating system is a brilliant move that will almost definitely take the service to new heights.

A lot of you use social media services like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. They’re all great service, but none of them are integrated on the OS level. It takes effort to set up these services and to get the most out of them. Microsoft appears to be making Xbox Live on Window 8 easy as pie (preferably pecan). Being integrated into an upstart mobile OS like Windows Phone is one thing, but being integrated into what will be the most popular operating system on the market — one that will be used on desktop, laptop, and tablet computers — is tremendous. I believe ~~the children are our future~~ that being part of Windows 8 will increase Xbox Live use among existing users and help draw new players into the mix.

While I’m not too high on Windows 8 (yet), I’m loving the enormous potential of Xbox Live on Windows 8. What do you guys and gals think? Is it something you’d use? Do you think that OS-level integration will help the service blow up? Or am I just enamored with the potential and ignoring the realities of the concoction?

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Coffee Talk #397: Wacky Videogame Names

At Nintendo’s Tokyo Game Show 2011 presser, Square Enix announced Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for 3DS. The rest of TGS 2011 should be cancelled, because it’s not getting better than that. I love the name of…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Novak Djokovic’s remarkable season (tennis), playing “I Hope I Get It” over and over again, or Korean girls in skimpy sleepwear, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

At Nintendo’s Tokyo Game Show 2011 presser, Square Enix announced Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for 3DS. The rest of TGS 2011 should be cancelled, because it’s not getting better than that. I love the name of this game! It’s cute and dopey and oh-so-Japanese. I loved this game before I knew anything about it. That’s how awesomely powerful the name Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is. After I learned that the excellent Akihiko Yoshida is creating art for the game, I loved it even more.

I haven’t had this much fun saying a game’s name since Drag-On Dragoon. Sadly, Square Enix renamed that game Drakengard in America. Hopefully the company won’t butcher the glory that is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Just say it thrice. It’s so much fun!!!

Are there any strange or unusual videogame titles that have stuck in your? Anything crack you up as much as Bravely Default: Flying Fairy cracks me up? Post the weirdest game name you can think of in the comments section (please)!

All Hail the New TNA X-Division Champion Austin Aries!!!

If you haven’t been watching Impact Wrestling — and I know that most of you haven’t — then I urge you to give it a go. Yeah, there’s still a bunch of crap like Ric Flair and Sting embarrassing themselves in their advanced age, the uncertainty of whether Jeff Hardy will wrestle or traffic drugs, every segment with Hulk Hogan, and 84 percent of what Vince Russo comes up with. All that aside, there’s one glorious bright spot in all of TNA Entertainment — Austin Aries.

Obviously I’m biased, but Aries is the best thing — by far — about Impact Wrestling. I’m thrilled that he’s the new X-Division Champion. He absolutely deserves this success and more. He’s putting on great matches and cutting great promos. He’s been consistently great since returning to TNA. While other wrestlers in the company are busy trafficking drugs or getting DUIs, Aries has been providing high-quality entertainment in and out of the ring.

So yeah, I’m watching TNA these days…but only to catch Austin Aries matches and promos. Screw Kurt Angle. A-Double is the one that’s that…damn…good.

GameStop Planning to Release Android Tablet

GameStop faces a rocky transition to the digital world. The company is already selling codes for digital downloads, but it appears it will take a giant step by release a GameStop-branded Android tablet. The tablet will focus on gaming (duh) and push titles that are certified by GameStop. According to Gamasutra:

The company also revealed today that it is set to launch its own brand of Android gaming tablet, which will be classed as a “GameStop certified gaming platform.”

If the company is going to get into the increasingly crowded tablet market then setting up its own ecosystem is definitely the way to go. HTC, LG, and Samsung make quality Android tablets, but haven’t made a splash at retail. This is partially because the tablet version of Android (Honeycomb) is immature and mostly because Honeycomb’s ecosystem isn’t as robust as Apple iOS’ tablet offerings.

Most pundits believe that Amazon’s upcoming Android tablet will do well because of its allegedly cheap price and rich ecosystem (Amazon App Store, Amazon Cloud Player, Amazon Instant Movies, etc.). I could see GameStop doing some damage with a younger audience by selling a similarly cheap Android tablet that focuses on gaming and a GameStop-branded social experience that brings players together.

Of course my big fear is this thing will use a customized version of Android that’s ugly as hell. GameStop has never been great with aesthetics. Its stores are ugly and its web site isn’t particularly attractive. I can see some GameStop marketing hack commanding designers to create an Android skin using the gaudy graphics and text found in GameStop stores. There are lots of sharp people at GameStop and I’d like to think that someone would be smart enough to try to steal the look of iOS or webOS…but marketing hacks often prevail.

What do you think of the prospects of a GameStop tablet powered by Android? What would GameStop need to do to help it succeed?

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS) Looks Awesome!

You must check out this gameplay clip of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for Nintendo 3DS. It mixes music-rhythm gameplay with scenes, characters, and music from numerous Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy VIII marks will be particularly delighted by a certain scene. After you give the video a go, please let me know what you think of it. I’m definitely picking this one up.

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

Everyone could use a few more god-killers in their lives. This week Sony is providing a double dose in God of War: Origins. This compilation contains HD remasters of Kratos’ adventures in Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. I know that a few of you are hockey fans and not Canadian (very strange), so I imagine that NHL 12 is a big deal for you. White Knight Chronicles II isn’t getting the hype of the original, but it looks better in several areas. Lastly, Nintendo fans can get tripping with Bit.Trip Complete (Wii) and Bit.Trip Saga (3DS).

Anyone picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #396: Bomb Threats, Gadgets, and You

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Serena Williams displaying bad sportsmanship again, Klatch’s El Salvador Las Mercedes, or Korean girls in skimpy sleepwear, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last Saturday my apartment complex was evacuated due to a bomb threat. Details were scarce. One minute the police were calling for one building to be evacuated. A short time later, my building was being evacuated. My initial thought was, “Where’s my phone?!?” This was quickly followed by, “Where’s my iPad?!?” and, “Should I nab my 3DS and PSP?!?” In the end, I decided to just grab my phone and quickly leave the building. If it were a bomb threat on any other day than September 11 then I would have taken more time and packed more gear with me.

How would you react in a similar situation? How precious are your gadgets and pieces of gaming gear? Would you try to pack as many precious geek goodies in a bag before evacuation? Or is it safety first? What do you think your answer says about you?

Android Jellybean Following Android Ice Cream Sandwich?

Back in September 2010, RPadholic bsukenyan correctly predicted that the next version of Google Android would be called Ice Cream Sandwich (well, he was close enough). My guess for the version after that was Jellybean. According to ThisIsMyNext, my guess was right! Check it out:

We’re hearing from a trusted source this afternoon that the next version of Android after Ice Cream Sandwich will be known as “Jelly Bean,” continuing Google’s longstanding tradition of naming Android builds after sweet treats in alphabetical order. What we don’t yet know is the version number — in fact, Google has yet to say what Ice Cream Sandwich’s version number will be, much less Jelly Bean’s.

The site has additional information on Jellybean. If you’re an Android user and/or fan then be prepared for some disappointing news. It looks like Jellybean will pack a lot of features that should have made it to Ice Cream Sandwich. Check out ThisIsMyNext for more details and don’t forget to click on the video above to celebrate Android Jellybean with Shonen Knife’s excellent “Flying Jelly Attack”!

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