Also this week: My take on the pricey new PlayStation Vita, Apple announces “Mountain Lion,” yet another new version of the Mac operating system; and find out how to lend a Kindle book to a friend.

Hands-on review: Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T
Is it a phone or a tablet? That’s the big question about the Samsung Galaxy Note, a new, gargantuan Android phone that tries a little too hard to do it all. Read more…

Hands-on review: Sony PlayStation Vita, and why parents who game will love it
Who needs a handheld game console like the PlayStation Vita when you can play games on your iPhone or Android phone? A dad-to-be like me, that’s who. Read more…

8 things you need to know about OS X “Mountain Lion” for Mac
So, when will the new Mac system software arrive? How much will it cost, and which features look most enticing? Get the scoop right here. Read more…

Facebook tip: How to limit who sees you as a suggested friend
You can’t completely stop Facebook from putting your name out there as a possible friend, but at least you can limit who gets to see the suggestions. Read more…

How to turn on parental controls for your PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii
If you’re the parent of a pint-sized gamer, make sure to turn on your console’s parental controls to keep your little ones away from Call of Duty. Here’s how. Read more…

How to loan a Kindle book to a friend
Lending a Kindle book to a fellow reader isn’t as easy as lending out a paper book, but it can be done—provided you’re willing to jump through a few hoops. Read more…

9 classic movies coming soon to Blu-ray
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” “Bring out your dead!” “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” Get the scoop on 9 great films making their way to Blu-ray in 2012. Read more…

Android tip: How to sync all your Gmail folders, not just the inbox
You can set the Android Gmail app to sync some or all of your custom email folders, although you’ll sacrifice battery life in the process. Here’s how to do it. Read more…

9 questions—and answers—about Sony’s PlayStation Vita
So, what’s the big deal about Sony’s new gaming handheld? How much will it cost, and why get one when you can play games on your smartphone? Read more…

Podcast 012: The Samsung Galaxy Note, or how big is too big?
Boasting a massive 5.3-inch HD display, the new Galaxy Note is easily the biggest smartphone I’ve ever tested—but is it a little too big for most of us? Read more…

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Now, don’t get me wrong: I’ve got nothing against slicing and dicing watermelons in “Fruit Ninja” or getting triple-word scores in “Words With Friends” on my iPhone 4, especially while I’m stuck in a crowded subway car.

But sometimes, I want a real gaming experience—that is, a deep game with cutting-edge graphics, hours of complex gameplay, and precision controls, something that even the best iPhone and iPad games can’t quite offer.

Up until now, I’ve gotten my gaming fix from the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 in my living room (yes, I have both—for work, I tell you!), but here’s the thing: in about a month, my wife and I will be the proud parents of a baby girl, and something tells me that blasting away bad guys on my 46-inch HDTV, mere inches from the crib, isn’t going to fly anymore.

And that’s why I couldn’t be happier the PlayStation Vita is sitting in my hot little hands.

A handheld gaming powerhouse

Slated to make its official debut February 22 (a “first edition” bundle went on sale on the 15th), the Vita ($250 for the Wi-Fi version, or $300 for the 3G/Wi-Fi model) easily ranks as the most powerful portable gaming system ever released.

Armed with an eye-popping five-inch touchscreen, a roomy rear trackpad, front- and rear-facing cameras (intended more for “augmented reality” games than for taking photos), a series of motion sensors, and a souped-up, quad-core processor (think four processors on a single chip), the Vita is capable of churning out graphics approaching those of the current crop of home gaming consoles.

More importantly, the Vita comes equipped with an arsenal of physical buttons and triggers, plus a pair of joysticks similar to those on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers.

Thanks to the twin joysticks—as opposed to, say, the sloppy, slippery “virtual” joysticks you’ll find on too many iPhone and iPad games—gaming on the Vita feels awfully close to playing on a full-size console.

Sure, you can also use the Vita’s touchpads and motion controls, just like you would on an iPhone; frankly, though, I mostly stuck with the old-school thumbsticks.

Stylish and substantial

Unfortunately, all those controls plus the jumbo five-inch screen adds up to a device that won’t slip into your pocket like an iPhone. Weighing in at about nine ounces and measuring a relatively bulky 7.2 by 3.3 by 0.7 inches, the Vita demands a tote bag, a purse, or even knapsack; good luck cramming it into a jeans pocket.

So yes, it’s big—compared to a smartphone, anyway—but the Vita also boasts a stylish, substantial feel that’s matched by its sleek, friendly home screen, complete with a matrix of bubble-shaped icons and even a soothing, Muzak-style soundtrack. (Some gamers say the Vita’s home-screen music is driving them nuts; my wife, on the other hand, thinks the soundtrack is lovely—and the more she likes the Vita, the more I get to use it. Besides, you can always muzzle the tunes via the Vita’s settings menu.)

Navigating the Vita’s menus is a simple matter of tapping and swiping, just like on an iPhone or Android phone. To launch an app or a game, you first pull up its “LiveArea” page, which includes help and update information, alerts about any “trophies” you’ve earned for a given game, and a “Start” button. To close a LiveArea, you just peel it off the screen with a swipe of your finger. Nice.

Speaking of apps, the Vita boasts a music player for tunes, a media player for renting movies, a custom version of Google Maps, and “Near,” a social app that lets you find and compare scores with other nearby Vita gamers. Near also keeps track of your daily travels and even lets you trade “game goods” with your fellow players—pretty neat, although you can also keep your identity and location hidden if you’re feeling shy.

Of course, a gaming console is only as good as its games. I’ve only played a handful of the Vita’s 20-odd launch titles so far—but what I’ve played, I’ve liked.

Bring on the games

Take “Uncharted: Golden Abyss,” a tongue-in-cheek adventure game that cheerfully plunders “Raiders of the Lost Art” and “Tomb Raider.” A Vita-ized version of the popular PlayStation 3 franchise, “Uncharted” plunges you into a lush, detailed jungle complete with roaring waterfalls, swinging vines, treacherous rope bridges, and dozens of armed baddies—and I have to say, it looks great.

Yes, the graphics look a bit “jaggy” compared to the smooth graphics in the PS3 editions of “Uncharted,” but “Golden Abyss” still manages to create an engrossing, immersive world, with characters that look, act, and react realistically, acres of jungle to explore and a slew of puzzles to solve. You can also tap the screen to leap across a ravine or shimmy up a vine by swiping the rear touchpad—but if you’d rather just use the buttons and joysticks to control Nathan Drake, the hero of “Golden Abyss,” you’re perfectly free to do so.

Then there’s “Wipeout 2048,” a thrilling, futuristic racing game that puts you in the driver’s seat of a souped-up hovercraft. Hurtling around a racetrack that looks like something from a “Star Wars” prequel, you’ll face off against computer-controlled and online opponents, and it’s an exhilarating ride. As with “Uncharted,” the graphics aren’t quite as smooth and detailed as those in the PS3 versions of “Wipeout,” but they’re awful close.

The most impressive Vita game for me so far is one I’d least expected: “Virtua Tennis 4,” a tennis simulation that lets you match rackets with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams. “Virtua Tennis” comes with quick “arcade” modes as well as full-on tournaments in stadiums from Flushing Meadows to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and it looks amazing: we’re talking silky smooth graphics, from realistic models of famous faces from the game to the scuff marks on the court. I know how I’m spending my weekend.

There are plenty more Vita games to explore, from big-name titles such as “Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3” (a fighting game starring Spider-Man, Captain America, and Doctor Strange) and small but intriguing games like “Escape Plan” (an atmospheric black-and-white adventure that makes clever use of the Vita’s touch controls). Keep in mind, though, that the Vita’s catalog of games is only in its earliest days; indeed, it can take years for a given console to rack up a deep, satisfying collection of titles.

The Vita’s hidden cost: memory cards

What are the biggest complaints about the Vita—besides its $250-and-up price tag, that is? As I described in an earlier post, there’s a hidden cost to the Vita: its proprietary memory cards, which are required for saving game data and cost anywhere from $20 for a 4GB card to a whopping $100 for a 32GB card. A garden-variety 32GB memory card for a digital camera, on the other hand, only goes for about $40.

Then there’s battery life—just four to five hours, depending on the game you’re playing. That’s fine for a quick gaming fix while the baby naps, but not ideal if you’re taking the Vita on a trans-Atlantic flight.

And then there’s the games themselves, which run anywhere from $10 to $50 a pop—far more than most iPhone and Android games, which rarely sell for more than $10 each.

Is the Vita right for you?

So, should you get the Vita? Well, for me, it’s a no-brainer. The Vita promises console-quality gaming in the palm of my hand, whether I’m on call with the baby or cooling my heels at an airport terminal.

The Vita is pricey, no question, and its full potential probably won’t be realized for a few years while we wait for a deeper slate of games. But as a soon-to-be-parent who’s about to see his Xbox 360 and PS3 use seriously curtailed, the Vita couldn’t have come at a better moment.

But what if you’re a more casual gamer who’s happy with “Angry Birds” and “Cut the Rope”? In that case, there’s no need to drop $250 on yet another device—or at least, not until the perfect Vita game for you comes along.

Have questions about the Vita, or any impressions of your own you’d like to share? Post ’em in the comments below!

Note: The PlayStation Vita that I reviewed is, in fact, my own. Specifically, I purchased the $350 “First Edition” bundle.

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So, first things first: what is the PlayStation Vita, anyway?

 
It’s a handheld gaming console that sits roughly in the same category as the Nintendo 3DS (the two-screened gaming device that’s all the rage among the younger set) and the older PlayStation PSP (the Vita’s predecessor).

Related: Hands-on review: Sony PlayStation Vita, and why parents who game will love it

Huh. So is the Vita just an expensive toy, then?

 
Well, no, or at least not according to the hard-core gamers eager to get their hands on it.

Armed with a five-inch, 960 by 544-pixel touchscreen, dual cameras, a motion-sensing accelerometer and gyroscope, and a powerful quad-core processor (that is, four processor cores on a single chip), the Vita packs in more horsepower than just about any smartphone or tablet currently on the market. According to those who’ve seen it in action, the Vita churns out the most eye-popping graphics ever seen on a handheld device.

How big is the Vita itself? Will it fit in my pocket?

 
Measuring 7.2 by 3.3 by 0.73 inches, the Vita makes for a fairly hefty piece of hardware compared to a smartphone. Is it small enough to fit into a purse or knapsack? Sure, but it’s probably too big for a pocket.

How much does it cost, and when does it go on sale?

 
The Vita is slated to land in stores February 22, and like the iPad, it’ll come in two versions: a 3G/Wi-Fi model for $299, and a Wi-Fi-only version for $249.

Also, Sony is offering a $349 “First Edition” bundle that includes the 3G-ready PlayStation Vita, a carrying case, a 4GB memory card (more on that in a moment), and an earlier release date—February 15, to be exact.

I can already play tons of great games on my iPhone/iPad/Android phone, so why would I need a Vita?

 
Great point—and indeed, the Vita is probably overkill for the average user who just want a few minutes of “Angry Birds” or “Words With Friends” while they’re on the go.

But while touchscreen devices like the iPhone and iPad excel when it comes to inexpensive “causal” games, they’re not so hot when it comes to games that require precision control or state-of-the-art visuals. The iPhone, for example, lacks the physical joysticks that you’d need to get the most out of a first-person “shooter” like “Call of Duty,” and it must also divide its processing resources among a host of other core functions such as email, calling, text messaging, and any other resource-hungry apps that happen to be running.

(Now, don’t get me wrong; there are some iOS games, like the superb Infinity Blade II, that push the envelope in terms of console-quality graphics and gameplay, but they’re relatively few and far between.)

The Vita, on the other hand, boasts a pair of physical joysticks, same as on the controller for a home game console, and it can dedicate the lion’s share of its muscular processor and roomy memory to games, and only games—a key factor for game developers looking to get the most out of the Vita’s horsepower.

What kind of games are we talking about, and how much will they cost?

 
Among the 25-odd titles set to arrive on launch day are games that’ll sound familiar to console gamers, including “Wipeout 2048” (a futuristic racing game), “Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus” (think fast and furious ninja action), EA Sports FIFA Soccer, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (a fighting game that pits such Marvel superheros as Spider-Man and Hulk against classic Capcom characters).

Perhaps the most anticipated Vita game on Day One, however, is “Uncharted: Golden Abyss,” an all-new “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-style adventure based on the PlayStation 3’s “Uncharted” series. Those who have played “Golden Abyss” say it’s like playing a full-on PS3 game in the palm of your hand.

Very nice, but unlike the bargain games you can scoop up for iPhone and Android (typically $10 or less), Vita games will cost you a pretty penny. “Uncharted: Golden Abyss” goes for a hefty $50, while even the cheaper “casual” titles like “Hot Shots Golf” will run you $30.

What else can the Vita do besides games?

 
You can also browse the web, provided you’re connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or 3G; you’ll also be able to pinpoint your location on a map, post updates to Twitter and Facebook, rent movies and TV shows, and find other nearby Vita gamers. Just don’t expect the breadth of social and productivity apps that you’ll find on Apple’s App Store or Google’s Android Market.

What are the biggest criticisms of the Vita?

 
Early reviewers of the Vita aren’t wild about its battery life—just four to five hours, which means you’ll need to need to keep the Vita’s (proprietary) power cable handy if you plan on indulging in a lengthy gaming session.

The Vita also requires a removable memory card for storing games and data—and no, you can’t use the same memory cards that work with your digital camera. Instead, you’ll have to pony up for a special Vita storage card, and they’re not cheap: think $20 for a 4GB card, all the way up to $100 for 32GB. Ugh.

Last but not least, there’s the price of the Vita itself: $250, the same as the cheapest PlayStation 3 home console.

Should I buy one?

 
Well, that all depends on how you feel about games. If you have a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360 at home and yearn for playing console-quality games while you’re on the go, the Vita could end up being your Holy Grail. If, on the other hand, you’re perfectly content with casual games on your iPhone or Android phone, there’s probably no need to cough up the cash for yet another device.

Even if you are a devoted gamer, you might want to think twice before cracking open your wallet on launch day. Why? Because many industry watchers think Sony will chop the Vita’s hefty $250-plus price tag before the year is out.

Wait, I still have questions!

 
No problem—just post ’em in the comments below. And keep your eyes peeled for my hands-on review later this week.

Update [2/15/12]: And look what arrived on my doorstep today! I’ll be testing the Vita for the next few days; if you have any specific questions in the meantime, just let me know.

Update [2/17/12]: And here’s my review!

So, anyone out there champing at the bit for the Vita, or are you just as happy playing games on a smartphone?

Note: Please read the community policy before posting a comment. Questions and constructive comments are always welcome, but flames from game-console fanboys will be deleted on sight.

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Lytro “Light Field” Camera

What is it? Looking more like a jumbo-sized tube of lipstick than a camera, the Lytro is a new-fangled camera with a so-called “light-field” sensor that’s capable of gathering up to 11 million rays of light in a given scene, including the rays that aren’t pointing directly at the camera lens.
Expected to arrive: Early 2012
Cool new feature: The beauty of the Lytro’s “light-field” sensor is that you can (as the company claims) essentially “shoot first” and “focus later”—meaning, theoretically, that you’d never have to worry about taking an out-of-focus snapshot again.
Biggest hurdle: While the concept behind the Lytro sounds enticing, the proof is in the pudding. And then there’s the price tag, which is…
Price tag: $399 and up. Ouch.

Family data plans

What is it: Not really a product, per se, but rather a new and potentially cost-saving data pricing structure similar to family plans for voice minutes and text messages.
Expected to arrive: Sometime in 2012
Cool new feature: With more and more parents passing out iPhones and Android phones to their kids, a shared pool of monthly data for the entire family makes a lot more sense than each family member coughing up $30 a month.
Biggest hurdle: Whether the big carriers decide to play along. Verizon Wireless execs have already said they’re looking to roll out family data plans in 2012, but whether Verizon’s competitors follow suit remains to be seen.
Price tag: No details yet.

PlayStation Vita

What is it? Sony’s long-awaited successor to the PSP gaming handheld. While the popular mobile games like “Angry Birds” are designed with “casual” gamers in mind, Sony is taking square aim at “hard-core” gamers (like, say, your teenage kids, or game-addicted grownups like yours truly) with the Vita.
Expected to arrive: Out now in Japan, slated to land February 22 in the U.S.
Cool new features: Armed with a gorgeous five-inch touchscreen, dual analog “sticks” for precise movement and aim, a roomy touchpad in back, and 3G wireless, the Vita promises to bring full-on “console”-style gaming to a light, compact handheld.
Biggest hurdle: Reviewers are already calling out the Vita for its mere three hours of battery life.
Price tag: $299 for the 3G version, or $249 for Wi-Fi-only.

iPad 3

Expected to arrive: In April or May, although Apple hasn’t said anything publicly yet.
Cool new features: The new iPad will probably come with a souped-up processor, a sharper camera, and maybe even a thinner shell. But the most anticipated feature on the iPad 3 is doubtless a “retina display” similar to the iPhone 4 and 4S—that is, an ultra high-resolution screen that’s so sharp, you can’t make out the individual pixels.
Probable price tag: $499 and up seems like a safe guess, although again, Apple hasn’t breathed a work about the next-generation iPad yet.

Windows 8 tablet

What is it: Microsoft’s latest stab at the tablet market, coming about two years after the vaunted, Windows 7-powered HP Slate landed with a thud.
Expected to arrive: Sometime in 2012, maybe
Cool new feature: The elegant “Metro” interface, which is already featured on Windows Phone handhelds and even on the Xbox 360 gaming console. With its touch-friendly, eye-catching design and “live” tiles for email, weather, social networking, events, and other essentials, Metro (which is also slated to land in the desktop version of the new Windows OS) is a far cry from the stodgy Windows desktop of old, not to mention a relatively daring departure from the icon-heavy look of Android tablets and the iPad.
Biggest hurdle: Overcoming the perception that a Windows tablet is totally uncool.
Price tag: Good question.

iPhone 5

Expected to arrive by: Anywhere from June-July to September or October, given that the iPhone 4S landed in stores only two months ago.
Cool new features: A faster processor, a better camera, a sleeker profile and perhaps even a larger screen, similar to the latest Android phones. Even better, though, would be support for speedy 4G LTE networks, such as those operated by AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
Probable price tag: Apple hasn’t budged from pricing its cheapest new iPhones at $199 with a two-year contract, and there’s no reason to believe they’ll change course next year.

Nintendo Wii U

What is it? A new version of the Wii gaming console that connects to your HDTV but also comes with a portable, tablet-sized controller, complete with its own 6.2-inch touchscreen.
Expected to arrive: By the end of 2012
Cool new feature: Besides finally making the leap to true HD-quality video, the Wii U’s wireless controller will let your kids play games remotely on its six-inch touchscreen while you’re watching CNN. The controller can also act as a second gaming screen, working in tandem with a big-screen HDTV.
Price tag: Probably in the $200 to $300 range

What new gadgets and tech products are you looking forward to next year? Let us know!

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Revealed back in January and slated to arrive sometime this holiday season, the NGP (short for “Next Generation Console”) is a follow-up to the five-year old PlayStation Portable, and believe me—this thing is more than just a kid’s toy.

Armed with a quad-core processor (or roughly twice the processing power of today’s top-of-the-line, dual-core tablets), a five-inch touchscreen and a rear touchpad, the NGP seeks to be nothing less than a full-power gaming console—albeit one that fits easily in a purse or a knapsack.

Sony is clearly teasing the NGP (which will likely hit the market with a different name) ahead of next week’s E3 conference, the gaming industry’s largest annual confab. During its keynote on Monday night, Sony will probably show off new NGP games, and it may also reveal specific release dates and pricing details (probably in the $250 range).

So, what makes the NGP different from, say, the games you’ll see on an iPhone, an Android handset, or the Nintendo 3DS? Rather than going for so-called “casual” games like Angry Birds (aren’t we sick of Angry Birds yet?) or Words with Friends, the NGP will focus mainly on “hard core” games that push graphics processors to the limit.

I’m sure plenty of teenagers will get a charge out of playing, say, the upcoming “Uncharted: Golden Abyss” (a graphically intense action/puzzle game that’s a cross between “Tomb Raider” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark”) on their NGPs, but make no mistake—plenty of grown-ups with a taste for high-end gaming will thrill to the NGP, as well.

Indeed, I suspect portable gaming on powerful new devices like the NGP will particularly be a godsend for gaming-minded parents (a category that’ll probably include me in the near future) who’d rather not expose their little ones to blood-soaked, M-rated bedlam in the living room.

here’s the thing: Video games aren’t just for kids anymore, and as more and more gamers become parents, I suspect that portablet high-end gaming consoles like the NGP will become increasingly popular with the over-30 set.

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