Welcome back to part 2 of our apps games review. In part 1 we explained the rise of the apps.This time around we explore what the major games consoles are doing to take on the apps games and mention the upcoming release of the PS Vita.

If you can’t beat them…

The leading console brands clearly want a piece of the action, chasing the new revenue available from distributing game apps on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms. The latest Sony products such as the Sony Xperia S or Sony Tablet S are PlayStation Certified meaning you can download a range of classic PlayStation titles straight to your phone. Xbox have taken a similar approach offering the Xbox Live Arcade across Android and iOS, with additional features available for those who use the latest Windows Phone Mango. Nintendo currently don’t offer their titles as game apps. With strong branded characters such as Mario and Donkey Kong, maybe keeping these exclusive to Nintendo hardware is what keeps fans coming back for more.

PS Vita released in UK 22/02/2012

For those who still crave a portable gaming device, the PlayStation Vita is released in the UK on the 22nd February with 11 games. Armed with a Quad-Core processor, the PS Vita promises to bring PS3 quality gaming to a portable console. The top model boasts Wi-Fi + 3G access which is perfect for online gaming against your rivals or downloading the latest title from the PlayStation Store. The rear touch pads help interact with games in three dimensional motions such as touching, grabbing, pulling and pushing without obstructing the OLED screen. Overall, this product promises to push the boundaries of portable gaming once again.

Will the PS Vita reverse the trend of game apps? The heads at Sony realise the challenge they face against the smartphone as their Marketing team plans their “biggest campaign ever” for the PS Vita. With so many smartphone devices activated daily, PlayStation are unlikely to ever recapture their share of the portable games market of 2009. To place it in perspective, 6.68 million Nintendo 3DS’s were sold globally in the first 6 months of release. 0.7 million Android activations take place every day!

The Future..

The technology of the PS Vita looks incredible and is unlikely to be replicated in a smartphone that is primarily for calls and texts. Because a mobile phone is such an essential piece of kit bought by everyone, even PS Vita owners are likely to purchase apps games for their smartphone. The casual gamer only ever wanted that quick fix of gameplay when on the bus or away from their main games console; smartphones achieve this.

Sony and Nintendo’s revenue from portable games hardware will surely shrink as smartphones continue to grow worldwide. Could this be Sony’s last dedicated games console? With such a wide range of electronic products, Sony could make their games accessible as downloads onto their BRAVIA Televisions or invest further into PlayStation Certified smartphones to win back the heart of the casual gamer. With Nintendo’s top releases appealing greatly to children, many will be too young to own a smartphone. As long as Nintendo continue to captivate hearts with the likes of Mario Kart and Pokémon, portable games consoles will continue to sell; just in smaller volumes than we’ve seen before.

The golden age may be over for now but that doesn’t mean Game Over. Sony and Nintendo have exciting products lined up and will push in directions to provide an ultimate gaming experience. Let’s hope they fork out another coin and press continue because we still want to play!

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We also offer the Nintendo 3DS as a free gift. The perfect solution to play apps games on your smartphone and Nintendo games on the 3DS. Be sure to look out for the PS Vita on mobiles.co.uk after its UK release date of 22nd Februrary.

Unveiled officially at the CES 2012 press conference in Las Vegas, the Nokia Lumia 900 is the first smartphone in the Lumia series to enter America. Designed as the first real Windows Phone smartphone designed for the US market, the Nokia Lumia 900 offers some nice upgrades from the UK release of the Nokia Lumia 800 last quarter. Can we expect a Nokia Lumia 900 release date for the UK any time soon?

Larger Screen
The most notable change from Lumia 800 to 900 is the larger 4.3 inch AMOLED Clear Black display compared to the Lumia 800’s respectable 3.7 inches. The increase in size may raise concern over the performance and battery life of the Nokia Lumia 900; though don’t panic! Firstly the AMOLED Clear Black display offers a bright display without exhausting the battery. Encased within the Nokia Lumia 900, is an 1830 mAh battery which gives an extra 25% kick compared to its predecessor (The Nokia Lumia 800 had a 1450 mAh battery).

Front Facing Camera
The Nokia Lumia 900 also comes with a secondary camera that Lumia fans have been shouting for. Whereas the Lumia 800 lacked a front facing camera, Nokia’s latest release has a 1 megapixel camera suitable for video calls. Not only does the front facing camera have a large aperture to let in more light, its wide angle lens takes in more picture, so you can video call a friend, with another friend by your side! As with the Lumia 800, the 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics is still present on the rear of the handset.

Windows Phone Mango OS
Running the same Windows Phone OS as the Lumia 800, the People Hub feature seems a great tool for integrating together your favourite contacts across the wide range of platforms we all use. By linking Facebook updates, Twitter feeds, emails and texts across your chosen friends, it’s even easier to stay in touch and in the know. The People Hub even integrates Facebook chat without the need to download another app. At the CES conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, promised revolutionary apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace including 20 titles from games giants EA; apps not available on iOS or Android.

A UK release for the Nokia Lumia 900?
Built as a 4G LTE smartphone for high performance browsing and video and audio streaming, the UK’s online connection speed is currently too slow to utilise the Nokia Lumia 900’s performance fully. With a 4G network not expected for completion in the UK until 2015 (Ofcom), will this phone even grace our shores? A UK release of this handset would lack the advanced connectivity but a tweaked version of the Nokia Lumia 900 including a larger battery, screen and front facing camera would be welcome advancement from the Nokia Lumia 800. We hope to see a UK release around autumn 2012. The additional features are steps in the right direction to help Windows Phone OS expand and Nokia to reclaim lost ground from the likes of Apple and Samsung.

EDIT 24/01/2012 – Internet pre-order websites suggest the Nokia Lumia 900 will see a UK release date in June.

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If you fancy owning the latest technology without the burden of a premium price tag, then a refurbished phone could be the perfect solution. Despite the great savings, many people are unaware you can buy refurbished phones. What are they and what are the benefits of owning one?

What is a refurbished phone?

A refurbished phone has been returned to mobiles.co.uk by customers who change their mind within 7 days of purchase. This means all handsets have hardly been used and are barely out the box.

What are the benefits of a refurbished phone?

By purchasing a refurbished phone, you can own a handset for less than if you bought it brand new. If you’re on a strict budget, refurbished phones will give you more features, faster technology and more fun for your money. Alternatively, if you know exactly what phone you’re after, why pay more? The savings on buying a refurbished phone could be handy towards a holiday or that guitar you’ve always wanted.

How does a refurbished phone differ to new handsets?

The handset may have minor cosmetic flaws to the exterior design. All refurbished phones are fully inspected, tested and repackaged by qualified engineers so you can be sure that you will receive a fully functional phone. Due to testing, refurbished phones will arrive to you in a different box to the original. Though you will always receive the handset, battery, charger and manual, we cannot guarantee additional accessories will be included i.e. headphones.

Am I covered for faults?

A refurbished phone still comes with the 12 month manufacturer’s warranty starting from YOUR day of purchase, so you can have peace of mind your phone has identical cover to a brand new phone.

How much can I save?

A refurbished phone can often be purchased for 30% less than the price of a brand new handset.

It’s not only refurbished phones that we offer. Many of our free gifts are also available as refurbished. This allows you to receive a higher value gift on a lower monthly tariff.

See our current offers on refurbished phones

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If you were lucky enough to receive a brand new iPhone 4S or iPad  2 in your stocking this Christmas, the latest present from the App Store is sure to whet your appetite. Created by Apple, the 12 days of Christmas App, offers exactly what it states; a free gift each day for the 12 days of Christmas.

In Apple’s words “Each download will only be available for 24 hours. Get our special 12 Days of Christmas app to make it even easier to access your gifts while you’re on the go.”

This is Apple’s fourth year to offer free content throughout the festive season and has kick started with some great freebies. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me … an iTunes Live Coldplay E.P (A package containing three videos and music files for free!)

The gift for December 27^th, a free episode of Top Gear, was perfect for petrol heads and those after some light hearted motor entertainment. Today (December 28th) the 12 days of Christmas app offers a free download of Lady Gaga’s smash single “Marry the Night”. Rolling from December 26^th until the 6^th January, the 12 days of Christmas App is a great way to introduce your new device to the App Store with popular content into the New Year.

To see what’s available today, visit the 12 days of Christmas App page.

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Now available at mobiles.co.uk, the Apple iPad 2 offers some nice improvements to its 2010 predecessor. If you’re looking to get kitted out with a tablet for the New Year but are confused with the terms Facetime or iCloud, we explain their meaning and how they can enhance your tablet experience.

Apple iCloud

If you’re the type who has digital media scattered across a range of devices, then iCloud will help collate it all together. You’ll never be without your favourite music track with instant access to your media across a range of portable devices. It’s also a great timesaver as a file uploaded straight to iCloud will automatically appear on each of your synchronised devices. You can even edit documents across devices or open an iBook on the exact page you left on your iPhone. Beyond accessibility, iCloud is a back-up system for your valued files should your iPad get lost or stolen. By logging into iCloud, you can view a map to locate the whereabouts of your device and even lock or wipe the handset should it enter the wrong hands.

Facetime

With a front and rear camera built into the Apple iPad 2, Apple have found the best way to say hello to your loved ones. Facetime is great for video calling and won’t cost you data charges when connected to a Wi-Fi connection. With both cameras operable during Facetime, it’s effortless to flick between front and rear camera. This feature is great for showcasing your surroundings in high definition, yet allowing you to see their reaction as it happens. Not restricted to the iPad 2, Facetime is available on the Apple iMac, iPhone 4 or the latest iPod touch. Once you create an Apple ID you’re only a tap away from sharing a smile with those who matter most.

With prices starting at £399, the Apple iPad 2 is now available at mobiles.co.uk. Click here to see a full range of models and latest Apple iPad 2 deals.

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To celebrate 10 years since its release, Rockstar Games have made Grand Theft Auto 3 available on iOS and Android platforms. Back in its day, GTA 3 was the first game in the series to allow a full 3D experience as gamers could kill, steal and hijack from the inhabitants and underworld of Liberty City.

One of the most exciting features of the GTA franchise is its ability to allow full flexibility in the way you complete the game thanks to its non-linear gameplay. Take on heists and assassinations instructed by the mafia at a time that suits you; preferably in between the thrills of taking on the fuzz, SWAT teams and the army purely for the adrenaline rush of survival.

As one of the most influential games of all time, this is no standard rerelease. Now with HD quality resolution and visually stunning updated graphics, GTA 3 comes with even comes with better graphics than the original release a decade ago.

At just £2.99 in the App Store and Android Market, GTA 3 looks a dead cert to shoot its way to the top of the charts and steal the Christmas number one spot.