Senior Associate Editor
Chris Southcott is a Senior Associate Editor for TechGeek, based in Wollongong. Chris is a long-time contributor to the site, usually writing about gaming, gadgets and the issue of censorship. For 2013 he won't be as active, due to other pursuits, but you'd better prepare yourself for 2014!
While the future remains uncertain for the PlayStation Vita, developers gave it their all throughout 2013. It has become apparent that the Vita likely won’t be the home of AAA home-console games, as originally promised, but still some amazing independent and blockbuster titles hit the system this year. So here is the cream of the crop, perfect for that loved one with a PlayStation Vita. PlayStation Network $30 or $50 [...]
If there’s ever been a killer app for the Apple iPad, it’s debatably been a simple drawing app called Paper by FiftyThree. Offering simple, dynamic drawing tools, Paper has been key to Apple’s hopes for the iPad to become more than just a consumption device, but also a creation device. But software and hardware are obviously very different, justifying the surprise of another hardware release from the startup. Following Book, [...]
It’s been at least 6 months since Google promised that their Play Music service would come to iOS, and it’s 6 months too early by the looks of it. I’m not usually one to complain about first-day bugs, but for an app promised to arrive at a more appropriate 5 months ago, to see it genuinely broken in key features isn’t fun. It’s smooth though. Google Play Music was first [...]
Despite concerns from Tim Cook over holiday availability, a batch of the new Retina display-equipped iPad mini’s are now available from the Apple Store. Coming in Space Grey and Silver, the iPad mini with Retina display starts at AU$479 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, AU$598 for the 32GB Wi-Fi model, while the most expensive iPad mini, with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi + Cellular, comes in at AU$949. Currently the 16GB [...]
Probably not. As expected, the backlash in tabloid tech blogs and news websites over Google’s new ‘Shared Endorsements’ system has been overwhelming, but also misinformed. Google today will begin enforcing their new Terms of Service for all Google+ users over the age of 18, allowing the company to present your Google+ name, photo and endorsements throughout its advertising network. However, as is usually the case with Google coverage, the privacy angle [...]
Hoping for a Wii U price-drop before Christmas? Look elsewhere. Despite a US price drop in September, and a 200% increase in sales following, Nintendo Australia today announced it’ll instead be creating two new Wii U Basic Pack bundles to counter the likely holday battle from Sony and Microsoft. Starting November 14, any Wii U Basic Pack purchase can bring with it Just Dance 2014, Nintendo Land, a Wii Remote [...]
Despite rumours (and hopes) for a universal release of Respawn Entertainment’s upcoming first-person shooter Titanfall, the company has today confirmed through EA’s quarterly earnings call that the game ”is exclusive only for the lifetime of the title on Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.” EA COO, Peter Moore, also said that he was confident that the game will review “very highly” and that, despite further rumours surrounding the development timeline of the title, the [...]
While free-to-air network Network TEN continues to struggle in the TV ratings, the network’s new responsive catch-up service, an end-to-end website which will allow their audience to be notified of new episodes, interact with shows, and watch the networks content, seems to have gone live. Available on the web at TENplay.com.au (and redirecting from TEN.com.au), as well as on iOS, Windows 8, Xbox 360, and Sony BRAVIA TV’s, TENplay feels less [...]
With more and more Australian’s trading in their dumbphones for smartphones, all-in-one devices that continue to replace entire product categories, it isn’t hard to assume that a dedicated GPS is irrelevant in 2013. If a smartphone, which is on you at all times, has a GPS inbuilt, surely all that’s needed is a free app and you’re ready to drive. To convince non-believers otherwise, TechGeek and a number of other [...]
Just a quick thought for today: maybe Microsoft shouldn’t have caved. Maybe they should’ve continued with the DRM. I know, crazy right? ‘I bought that game, so it should be mine to play offline.’ And that’s a good point. But by backtracking, Microsoft have moved their new Xbox from the future and put it firmly in the current-gen. The old, boring current generation where you still have to find a [...]
If you’re looking for a keyboard to compliment your iPad mini, here it is.
Plenty of discussions on Home turn into ‘I hate Facebook’ agreements, one of the only reasons why I think that I may actually add something to the conversation. Home isn’t for non-Facebook users, so it makes little sense to say ‘I hate Facebook, but here’s my review of Home’. Along with the majority of Generation Y, I do use Facebook. I don’t have a religious attachment, but I do check [...]
The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is a like a MacBook Air suffering an identity crisis. There are great intentions, and the software is amazing, but in the end it’s just the web and it’s a slow computer in a fast computers body. However there are glimmers of hope that make the Series 5 Chromebook a decent laptop, for the price.
The TECHGEEK webOS App is now available for anyone with Palm Pre, HP Veer or Palm Pixi to use. Featuring a convoluted and ugly design, you’ll be able to catch up on the latest stories, reviews and podcasts from the app. You’ll be unable able to select any of our latest podcasts and listen to them on the go, under the lockscreen. Share our articles easily by turning off your phone. [...]
Our editor in chief, Terence Huynh, has given me the privilege to announce our first ever TECHGEEK.com.au US correspondent! For the first time ever we’ll have a direct link to technology happenings in the land upunder. While you may not have heard of him, Kanye West, best known for starting the US technology blog ‘Good Life’ and hit YouTube channel ‘Cooking with Kanye’, will be joining the team at lunchtime with his [...]