MasHD Blog

With the current global chip shortage in progress, we all wondered whether the world of gaming would see any breath of fresh air for some time. Although Nintendo brought an OLED version of their Switch a few days back, there wasn't much going forward - until today. Say hello to the Steam Deck - a handheld developed by Valve featuring the ability to play most AAA titles on a device only slightly chunkier than its competition and with . Priced at a decent $399, the device packs a quad core AMD Zen 2 derived processor (APU of 2.4-3.5 Ghz) and has 8 cores of RDNA graphics and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM which will completely destroy even some similar priced PC's. The device also has a base 64GB of eMMC storage, but if you can spend a bit more, you can opt for a 256GB NVME SSD or 512GB NVME SSD and still have a MicroSD expansion slot.All models come with a 7" 1280x800 resolution touchscreen (Say hello to 2012 small tablet displays) and has 2-8 hours of battery life (depending on title) ...

Nintendo's Switch has received a mid-life overhaul thanks to the introduction of a new OLED display equipped model simply named the Nintendo Switch - OLED. The new model , which now packs a 7" OLED display features deeper blacks and better contrast than the standard Switch model which is still on sale for $300. The new model , equipped with more responsive Joy-Con control sticks pack IR and motion sensors and like the older model are detachable and could be used in multiple ways depending on the game.  The new model, which like its older cousin, still packs a Nvidia Tegra X1 SOC and it comes with improved speakers as well and packs the same 4.5-9hours playability in handheld mode or acts as a fixed console if connected to the new dock which now supports an LAN port as well. The Switch OLED however is still limited to 720p but considering that most players would opt for the handheld mode the lower resolution may not be a major issue (The rumored Switch Pro would address the 4K ...

Say hello to Microsoft's most powerful Xbox ever made ! . The new Xbox One X , a technical flagship successor to the Xbox One and One S lineups is all about bringing raw performance , 4K playback and game  compatibility throughout the Xbox Range . Priced at the same $499 starting price ,the console brings a direct competitor to Sony's Playstationn 4 pro .The new Xbox One X ships on the 7th of November . E3 marks the world premiere of Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console designed for immersive true 4K gaming, ultimate compatibility, and unrivaled craftsmanship. As the newest member of the Xbox One family of devices, Xbox One X will offer gamers premier console performance for $499 USD / 449 GBP / 499 EUR / 599 CAD/ 649 AUD and begins rolling out to all Xbox One markets starting Nov. 7. Every Xbox One X unit will come with a 1TB hard drive, a matching Xbox Wireless Controller, HDMI cable, power supply, a 1-month free Xbox Game Pass subs...

Nintendo has anoucned their latest console/tablet hybrid gaming platform called the "Switch" .The device - a 6.2" tablet is capable of 6 hours of battery life and consists of a tablet and controller pad system which when plugged to a TV can operate without the two side mounted control pads which are called Joy Cons which contain a haptic feedback motor and IR inputs which work similar to the system on the Wii . The system can charge via USB Type C  and offer good battery life according to the intensity of the games which will be played on it . Nintendo currently offer(s) the Switch in packages and the unit is priced at $299 which puts it squarely against its main rivals Microsoft and Sony who dominated the console wars with their Xbox One and PS4 .Nintendo however has a edge on portability when compared to their fixed brethren ,but considering that the Xbox One S and PS4 slim are in the same $299 ball-park ,competition is going to be very tough . The Nintendo Switc...

Razer - a famous gaming product manufacturer has officially acquired Ouya (a startup that pioneered Android console Gaming a few years ago) ,the startup company , which produced the iconic Ouya console powered with the then powerful Tegra 3 soc was a crowdfunded project stated for a $100 off the shelf price , although the project was somewhat of a success for the company , the product came out a bit too late and this made the hardware kind of obsolete eventhough the Ouya game store had titles pre set on a subscription and a open appstore for devs , the project dissolved into pages of history as Nvidia and other companies including Razer stepped into the Android console world . Unlike ouya , which quickly ran out of funding , Razer's Android console project is still running active , the company recently announced the Forge TV console which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 soc .The recent acquisition of Ouya signals a possible merger product employing Ouya's experience and ...

According to new rumors , Nintendo's upcoming NX console is said to run Android as its operating system . Nikkei - a Japanese newspaper published the news and due to the news papers high reputation , this rumor is quite plausible . The reason for shifting to Android might be due to the ongoing console wars which pushed Nintendo Wii'ng back home .Android , which already has a established console division  gave rise to popular Android consoles such as Ouya , Shield and Razer Forge and the Nexus player and so the Nintendo might have some luck there . Source - Gamespot

Nvidia is really stepping up its game in the mobile market , after launching the original Shield portable ,and  the successful Shield Tablet , Nvidia is now focusing on the console segment with their new Nvidia Shield - console . The set top box - which is said to pack Nvidia's latest and greatest mobile chipset - The Tegra X1 is said to run Android TV - a special version of Android made specifically for consoles .but unlike the Nexus player , the Shield console will focus on cloud gaming . The Nvidia GRID - which is Nvidia's cloud based gaming system which requires a 10Mbit connection , games are processed off remote servers so all the set top box has to do is run it in full glory - which is quite possible as the new X1 and its Maxwell GPU is pretty much the best mobile chip you can get -at the moment . and if you are not into heavy cloud gaming , you can always play standard Android games as well . The Shield console box is also said to "play Crysis" - in th...

Five years in the making - that's what Nvidia says about its secret device which is set to be unveiled on the 3rd of March . Nvidia - a company that has recently stepped into making Android tablets is said to be working on a successor to the Shield Tablet launched last year.According to rumors , the new device is said to pack a 8 core Nvidia Tegra X1 processor which packs a power of one Teraflop and it is said to be one of the current top dog mobile processors to date ,Nvidia also stated that it will "redefine the future of gaming " a further hint that the device will be gaming oriented with possibly enhanced game streaming abilities over the K1 powered Shield tablet of 2014 . Written By Rakitha for MasHD Source - AndroidPolice

Microsoft has announced that their current best selling console - The Xbox One (without Kinect ) is going to get another $50 off this season , starting from November 2nd and lasting upto the 3rd of January , the offer means that the standard Xbox One , which was earlier sold for $400 and the Assassins creed bundle will be available for  $350 and $450 if you decide to go for the optional Kinect module . There is also a limited edition Call of Duty - Advanced warfare kit that includes a custom chassis , a custom controller and a 1TB storage expansion for $450 .Overall the choice of the best gaming console is still a ongoing battle and so far the PS4 has the edge in sales , but hopefully the new rebate ,which is also affecting the price of XBox One's in the UK (UK -330 GBP) might lure more potential console customers to join the Xbox side this season . Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - GSMArena

The Nvidia Shield tablet is finally official , the tablet , which was leaked a few days prior to the official launch was almost 100% accurate in giving out the exact specs so the launch is a bit "meh" ,however it it , the Nvidia Shield tablet is nothing short in being awesome , the sound of having a Kepler GPU and a low price will surely make this another thing to have , if you are after a tablet which has the properties of the Shield console . The tablet at first looks a bit like a stretched out HTC One , this look mainly comes from the front facing speakers which are surely a plus if you want some quality audio that is not muffled when you place it on a table . The tablet features a DirectStylus 2  "pen" for graphic applications such as Nvidia Dabbler - a pre installed software for drawing using watercolor effects and the usual Android apps like Photoshop touch and et al .Even with the tuck in stylus silo on the rear , the tablet measures at a good 9.2mm...

Related articles Snapdragon 805 Snapdragon 802 We mentioned a bit ago that Qualcomm had rolled out a new Snapdragon 802 processor aimed at bringing Ultra HD content to TVs and set top boxes. Qualcomm has also announced its new entry into the hardware space for improving infotainment systems in cars. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 602A was designed specifically for the automotive market. The Snapdragon 602A is an automotive-grade infotainment chipset that has a quad-core Krait CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. The Snapdragon 602A also features Hexagon DSP, integrated GNSS baseband processing, and additional cores for high performance audio, video, and communications. Qualcomm designed the 602A to meet all the industry standards for temperature, quality, longevity, and reliability. The Snapdragon 602A is also AEC-Q100 compliant. The chip is also pre-integrated with a Gobi 9x15 multimode 3G/4G-LTE and QCA6547 Qualcomm VIVE 2-stream, dual-band 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth LE 4.0 modules. The...

Microsoft's Xbox One launch has seen some bumps in the road but the company has announced it's already sold more than a million consoles worldwide. Last week, Sony announced the PS4 sold more than one million units in the US and Canada in less than a day, but at this point, Microsoft has not made any such regional distinctions. Still, the "biggest launch in Xbox history" is well under way and already outpacing its predecessor's initial numbers -- day one download and all - Engadget

NVIDIA promised that we'd see big upgrades to its Shield gaming system today, and it's delivering them in spades. A just-launched Android 4.3 update introduces Console Mode, which lets players steer a TV-connected Shield through a Bluetooth gamepad; NVIDIA supplies a button mapping utility that adds hardware controls to games which expect touch input. The release also takes Gamestream out of beta, providing official PC-to-Shield streaming for more than 50 titles. A few interface-level tweaks come with the new OS, including actionable notifications, restricted profiles and the option of moving app files to an SD card. The update should be rolling out now, but gamers who don't yet have a Shield now have an extra incentive to pick one up. NVIDIA is lopping $100 off the system's price as part of a bundle that includes a GeForce GTX graphics card as well as copies of Assassin's Creed 4, Batman: Arkham Origins and Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Engadget

At E3 earlier this year, video game accessory maker Mad Catz unveiled its new entry into the world of consoles with the M.O.J.O., and the company has just announced that you'll be able to pick up the micro-console in a few months. Similar to devices like the GameStick, M.O.J.O . is built to play Android games, but unlike the Ouya, Mad Catz' offering is compatible with titles from existing digital storefronts like the Google Play store and Amazon's Appstore. The device runs on a 1.8 Ghz Nvidia Tegra 4 chipset and it has 2 GB of RAM and has 16 GB of internal storage with a 128GB expansion slot for SDXC cards , Also included in the package are 2 full Size USB ports , a MicroHDMI out Bluetooth 4.0 and WIFI A/B/G/N + ethernet port with Android 4.2.2 running the show .Mad Catz' M.O.J.O. Micro-Console will be available starting December 10th for $249.99, with pre-orders being accepted now .

Samsung Sells 10 million S4's while HTC sells 5 million One's  According to the Wall Street Journal, an unnamed HTC executive has revealed that the company has sold roughly 5 million units of the HTC One since the device went on sale in late March. At this time, orders for the HTC One still exceed HTC’s production capacity, but that issue is expected to be resolved by the end of May. Orders are pretty good so far and are still more than what we can supply. This is partly due to the shortage of components. When the issue is resolved next month, we will have a better idea if it's doing really well or not,  EXECUTIVE - HTC Shipping 5 million HTC Ones may sound impressive, but we expect Samsung is unimpressed. The Korean manufacturer has announced that they have already shipped 10 million Galaxy S4s, breaking the 50 day record it took Samsung to ship the same number of Galaxy SIIIs. To celebrate this grand achievement  Samsung will be launching the S4 in four new col...

As OUYA gets ready to launch in full next month, other companies are trying to replicate the success with their own portable gaming consoles. Android app emulation service BlueStacks has announced GamePop, which is a portable Android-powered gaming console that looks to take on OUYA, as well as become the Netflix of gaming with a unique subscription plan. The console is available to pre-order now , and you can actually get the console and controller for free throughout this month, but it’ll cost $99 if you order one after May (although the final price hasn’t been finalized yet). The console requires an $83.88-per-year subscription fee as well, which comes out to $6.99 per month. This will get you an all-you-can-play buffet of games to play on your TV without needing to pay for the games individually. BlueStacks has already managed to get a handful of popular mobile game developers to partner up, including Glu, Halfbrick, Gameloft, Intellijoy, and Deemedya. It’s not said exactly ...

If you’re familiar with the Alienware X51 , you know you’ve only had it available with Windows software out of the box until now – now you’ll find Ubuntu leading up the show. This machine brings on a rather small form factor you can use to replace your gaming console – if you dare – a possibility made even more real now that Valve’s Steam gaming interface works with Linux natively. You know good and well you’ve wanted to try it since that bit was announced. Ubuntu is being pushed with this machine as an ideal environment for gamers of all kinds, specifically because of its low-weight abilities. You’ve got an extremely clean build with this operating system right out of the box, with only the basics loaded immediately – you choose what you want when you want it – you also get Ubuntu-specific interfaces through Ubuntu’s Software Center, with “thousands of free applications” at your fingertips. Several builds are ready for gaming action with the Alienware X51 this week, the least ...

Hyperkin’s upcoming RetroN 5 gaming system will allow you to dust off those old, video game cartridges you have lying around and play them once again. The RetroN 5 improves upon the old RetroN 3 by adding support for more, old gaming consoles. Like the RetroN 3, you will be able to play game cartridges made for the original Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis, but unlike the RetroN 3, you can also play games made for the Famicom, Super Famicom, Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, and original Game Boy. The new RetroN gaming system also allows you to use your old gaming controllers with the system as well. There are 6 available controller ports. The Sega Genesis and Famicom controllers will use the same port, and the Super Nintendo controllers will be used to also control the Game Boy games. The retro gaming system will also feature Bluetooth wireless controllers that can be configured to work for any game. The RetroN 5 is basically a hardware emulator for...

Nintendo has announced that on March 24 it will be releasing a limited edition yellow Nintendo 3DS XL that features a cute outline of Pikachu on the back. The handset is being released the same day as the upcoming Pokemon video game for the 3DS, and Nintendo is offering a game for free to those who purchase both the special edition handset and the Pokemon game. On March 24, Nintendo will also be releasing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, which it boasts as a game with a “deep and compelling story full of unexpected twists.” Gamers can choose to play as one of five different Pokemon through randomly generated Mystery Dungeons, where battles await and other pokemon can be recruited. Says Nintendo, the Mystery Dungeons that are generated are “near infinite”, meaning players won’t be getting bored any time soon. In addition, entrances to new dungeons can be discovered via “everyday circular objects,” which the gamer will scan with the 3DS’s camera. It doesn’t specify what th...

With the hype of the Galaxy S4 winding down , most of the Samsung faithful are waiting to see what Samsung has to offer when the Note 3 comes around somewhere this year .although we are not sure what the spec's will be , but we probably think that The Note 3 will come with a 6.3" display - why , well Samsung released this S-Gaming pad for Galaxy Devices , the NFC device works only with Samsung's devices ranging from 4- "6.3" . a few months back , Korean times reported that the next Galaxy Note will feature a 6.3" display size , so we can safely assume that Samsung is indeed planning for something big