Hands-on review: Fuji XQ1

Fuji has expanded its range of X-series compact cameras with the addition of the Fujifilm XQ1 which will sit above the Fuji XF1 and below the Fuji X20 in the range.

Although considerably smaller than the X20, this new camera has the same 12MP 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor (without an optical low-pass filter) and EXR Processor II so it promises to deliver the same (or very similar) high quality images.

The XQ1 is a compact unit

Enticingly, the new camera's lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 at its shortest focal length (equivalent to 25mm) and f/4.9 at it's longest point (100mm). With Fuji's Intelligent Digital Zoom technology this 4x zoom can be extended to 400mm.

The lens has seven glass elements in six groups, with four aspherical and three extra low dispersion elements. It also includes an OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) group to reduce the impact of camera shake and potentially extend the hand-holdable shutter speed by 3EV.

Fuji has given the lens seven blades to give a rounded aperture shape and promote natural bokeh. In addition, the XQ1 has Fuji's Lens Modulation Optimiser technology, which processes each image to get the best result possible at the selected aperture and focal length, reducing the impact of diffraction.

Further good news is that in macro mode the lens can focus as close as 3cm from its front element.

Like the Fuji X-E2 announced at the same time, and the Fuji X20 and Fuji X100s, the XQ1 has a hybrid focusing system that combines both contrast and phase detection, with the camera choosing which to use depending upon the situation. Fuji claims that the XQ1 has the world's fastest phase detection system in a digital camera with a 2/3-inch sensor and its response time is just 0.06 seconds. The start-up time is also impressive at just 0.99 sec, while the shooting interval is 0.3sec and shutter lag is just 0.015sec.

Meanwhile there are continuous shooting options of 12, nine, six and three frames per second.

The exposure mode dial

In a move designed to appeal to experienced photographers, the XQ1 has an exposure mode dial that allows aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes to be selected in addition to a collection of automatic and scene options as well as the popular Advanced Filter modes. It's also possible to shoot both raw and JPEG files when using the advanced exposure modes.

There's no viewfinder built-in, but there is a three-inch LCD screen with 920,000 dots for composing and reviewing images.

As with the X-E2, Fuji has included Wi-Fi connectivity in the QX1, and after the initial pairing images can be transferred to a smartphone or tablet with a single press of a button.

Although small, the XQ1 feels like a fully paid-up member of the Fuji X-series. It's light enough to be used one-handed, but feels solid and nicely made. A small rubber pad on the thumb-rest also gives good grip in combination with the textured surface of the front of the camera.

The controls all feel well made and responsive. They are also nicely spaced, so although the camera is small it doesn't feel cramped.

A place for the thumb

Learning earlier lessons, Fuji has given the XQ1 a power switch as well as a control dial around the lens. This dial has just the right tension so it feels responsive, well made and not sloppy. In its default mode the dial changes function depending upon the exposure mode, but if you prefer you can set it to control one aspect such as focal length or exposure compensation. It's easy to set the option you want just by pressing the E-Fn button on the back of the camera and then rotating the ring to the find the desired features.

Pressing that E-Fn button activates a type of quick menu display that mimics a camera's controls. It gives quick access to the drive mode, sensitivity, focus point selection, white balance and Film Simulation modes.

So far we have only been able to handle a pre-production sample of the XQ1, but our first impressions are favourable.

We found that the screen is nice and sharp and gives a detailed view, and although we will have to assess it properly in bright light at a later date, it doesn't seem to suffer adversely from reflections.

The screen is big and sharp

The camera also appears to focus pretty quickly even in quite low light, but we'll have to use a full production sample in a range of conditions before we pass final judgement.

As we have tested the X20 and know it to be a good performer, we're looking forward to getting a full production sample of the XQ1 to test the new lens. Will the images be as sharp as from the X20 despite the downsized camera body?

When we tested the X20 we found that it controls noise well up to around ISO 3200, when (unsurprisingly) it becomes more of an issue, so naturally we'll look at this with the XQ1.

In the past we have found that Fuji's automatic white balance and multi-purpose metering systems give good accounts of themselves, delivering correctly exposed images with pleasant tones in most conditions. As a rule the metering only struggles occasionally in very high contrast conditions. While we anticipate similar performance from the XQ1, we will investigate it fully when we get a sample in for review.

With a list price of around £349 the XQ1 is set to offer some serious competition to the likes of the Canon S120 and Nikon P7800. It has a larger sensor (2/3-inch vs 1/1.7-inch) in a similarly sized body and offers a similar level of control with beautiful build quality.

The XQ1 feels lovely in the hand and the fact that it has the same sensor and processing engine as the popular Fuji X20 suggests that it should produce good images. The control ring around the lens also has a high quality feel and is responsive with well though out functionality.

It's a shame that the XQ1 doesn't have a touch-sensitive screen, as this would combine well with its E-Function display and allow the focus point to be set quickly and easily.

We're pretty excited about the Fuji XQ1, it's small enough to be fitted into a jeans pocket yet allows control over all the features that enthusiasts want and has a pedigree that indicates it will produce high quality images.

We'll be reviewing a full production sample in the near future, so watch this space.

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Hands-on review: New Nexus 7

While everyone waited on an iPad mini with retina, Google and Asus went ahead and did one better. Presenting the new Nexus 7, an affordable 7-inch tablet with beefy specs and more pixels per inch than you can shake a 1080p jpeg at.

Whether you call it the Nexus 7 2 or just the Nexus 7, it hurdles right over the iPad mini in both parts and price. For just a little more money, it offers greater functionality than a Kindle Fire HD. It so surpasses theoriginal Nexus 7 that Google has swept last year's tablet under the rug; it seems to be retired from the Play Store altogether.

Internally, the new Nexus 7 packs a 1.5Ghz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage. Those models go for $229/£200 and $269/£240, and there's also an LTE version selling for $300/£299. Sadly, we don't yet have official word on Australian pricing.

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While microSD slots now feel like a relic of a bygone era, since neither Nexus nor Apple devices offer them, we have to bemoan storage space a bit here. The Android 4.3 OS found on the Nexus 7 takes up a whopping 6GB. Our 32GB tablet came out of the box with 26GB available. Those planning to go for the 16GB model need to brace for having only 10GB to play with.

Still, no matter how you slice it, the Nexus 7 is a lot of great tablet hardware for the money, all packed in an unassuming, plastic package. That pockmarked rubber backing from the first Nexus 7 has been ditched, replaced with an all plastic black backing. It doesn't feel as slick or look as premium as the metal backing of an iPad, but it'll surely hold up against scratches better than Apple's tablet.

The new Nexus 7 is poised to change the tablet game. It has a display and a price tag that puts the iPad mini to shame, and makes us wonder what's in store for the redesigned Nexus 10.

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This isn't an open and shut case though. Right off the bat, if we had to register a few complaints about the Nexus 7's build, we have bring up all that bezel. Also, the industry standard of advertising the unformatted storage on a device instead of the available space needs to change, as the 16GB Nexus 7 is really a 10GB tablet.

Affordable price tags have bought the Nexus 7 some leeway, but it's no longer the dirt cheap option. Between Apple's premium iPads and Amazon's rock bottom Kindle Fire HD, is there room in the middle for a new Nexus 7?

Start rooting for the little guy; the Nexus 7 is small, even alongside other 7-inch tablets. At 7.87 x 4.49 x 0.34-inches, it's slightly slimmer than the original Nexus 7, which measured 7.81 x 4.72 x 0.41-inches. So it's a tad a thinner, and therefore even easier to hold in one hand, something we've never felt entirely comfortable doing with the wider iPad mini.

It's not too small, but we wouldn't want it any smaller. As it is now, it's the perfect size to toss in a bag or even a coat pocket. We've always considered 7-inchers to be travel tablets and 10-inch ones to be couch companions, and the new Nexus 7 fills this role perfectly, a featherweight at just 0.64lbs (290g).

Alas, the amount of storage on the device is also lightweight. Our 32GB Nexus 7 came with 6GB already occupied by onboard software. That left us with just 26GB to play with. That's not too bad, but those eyeing up the 16GB model should be warned that they'll have just 10GB available. That, compounded with the lack of microSD slot and 64GB option, may disappoint media hounds looking to carry a large collection of movies at all times.

On the outside, the Nexus 7 has a durable, unassuming design; a bit dull if you want to be harsh about it. Apple fans will likely miss the premium feel of brushed aluminium, but anyone who's winced at the sight of a horribly scuffed iPad will understand opting for a tougher plastic exterior.

The Nexus 7's display is coated in standard issue Corning glass, and the rear is firm black plastic. The rubbery pockmarked backing of the original Nexus 7 has been ditched, and we're fine with that. It was a divisive design; some liked it, others didn't, and we found that the white version discolored over time.

The place where Google and Asus have really outdone Apple is in the resolution and pixel density of the screen. The Nexus 7 packs a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 display with 323 ppi. Compare that to the 264 ppi on a full size Retina iPad, and you can see the winner, at least on paper.

In actual real life, using fallible human eyes, you'd be hard pressed to spot a pixel on either display. They're both extremely dense, high quality displays. Compare the Nexus 7 to an iPad mini though, and it's a different story.

Apple's 7-inch offering is a mere 1024 × 768 with 163 ppi. That's by no means insulting, until you start comparing prices. With the Nexus 7 starting about $100 lower than a comparable iPad mini, it feels like high time for Apple to slap a Retina display on that thing.

The Nexus 7 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, while the iPad mini is 4:3. That gives Apple's tablet wider screen space, which is handy for the web, but films and some TV are produced in 16:9. That extra space ends up filled with black bars, like letterboxing on an old television.

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The one disadvantage of 16:9 is that it gives the Nexus 7 a ton of bezel -- unused space between the screen and the actual edge of the tablet. Because of the aspect ratio, the Nexus would need to get wider before it could get taller. That's not something we'd want, since we love how one-hand friendly this device is. It's a catch 22, and we think Google and Asus ultimately made the right call here.

The new Nexus 7 also has a very bright display display, with auto-brightness doing a perfect job of adapting to your environment. Like any tablet, it's at its best in moderate indoor light. It does washout in bright direct sunlight, but no more than the best displays out there.

It's not the best we've seen at handling colors though. They're not true to life, generally erring on the side of being slightly faded. It's really only something you can pick up on with a direct one to one comparison though.

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Compare a digital comic on the Nexus 7 to its print counterpart, or to a movie on quality HDTV and you can see the difference. Skin tones were a bit too light, including the Hulk from The Avengers, whose signature green pigment was shade lighter than Stan Lee would sign off on. Also, some sky blues were actually darker on the tablet than on the page.

Basically, the color accuracy is all over the map, but you'd have to be Rembrandt to really be bothered by it. For the sake of thoroughness though, it does merit a mention.

It still does fine work with video, streaming or locally stored. That 16:9 aspect is perfect for Netflix, and it's diminutive size makes it very easy to hold with one hand or two. And all that bezel space actually gives you somewhere to grip it without obscuring the screen.

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It's a good movie watching device, but we were actually most impressed with the reading on the Nexus 7. That high resolution, pixel dense display is the best tablet reading experience we've had on a backlit screen.

A device without a backlight, like a Kindle Paperwhite, will always be less trying on the eyes longterm, but as far as devices without e-ink go, the new Nexus 7 is king. Text is newspaper crisp, so much so that you may end up giving yourself an accidental eye exam. On a non-mobile site, it's tempting to read tiny shrunken print rather than zoom in. Don't strain your eyes though, no matter how impressive you might find this display.

The speakers have been given an upgrade from the original Nexus 7. The tablet now sports stereo sound, thanks dual speaker grills on the rear. The grills are large, and well-placed, so they're difficult to cover with your digits when holding the tablet. We actually had trouble trying to muffle them on purpose when testing.

The surround sound effect is surprising for tablet speakers, and sounds don't crackle and distort when the volume is cranked all the way. Overall, the sound is a big step up from the original Nexus 7, but the speakers still aren't terribly loud. It's fine for sharing a video in a quiet or moderately noisy space, but in a crowded and loud public space, the audio will drown out. We'd recommend some headphones.

Speaking of headphones, the audio jack is found on the top right of the tablet. It's well placed by default, since you can rotate the tablet any way you like and the image will reorient itself. Therefore, if you want your cord plugging in at the top, or trailing down from the bottom, iPhone 5 style, it's your prerogative.

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Hands-on review: Motorola Moto X

In 2012, Google bought Motorola, and the cellular world waited with bated breath for the first joint device from the Android giant and the mobile maker.

On Thursday, Motorola gave us the first official glimpse at the combined efforts, and one year's worth of hype and hope was realized in the Moto X.

In a world where new Android phones are arriving at an alarming rate, it would be easy for Motorola's latest venture to get lost in the shuffle.

However, instead of relying on specs, and focusing on a more user-oriented experience, the Moto X is a refreshing bit of smartphone ingenuity, and one that could put other Android manufacturers on notice.

Unfortunately, despite hopes of the operating system's fans, the Moto X will ship with Android 4.2.2: Jelly Bean, and not Android 4.3, let alone Android 5.0: Key Lime Pie.

Still, the Moto X we tested was running pure Android, and the phone won't have any third-party skins like Sense or TouchWiz getting in the way.

The phone is fast and responsive, which is to be expected with 2GB RAM and a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chip.

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That processor is just a part of the new X8 Computing System, the real brains behind the Moto X operation, which also includes a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU.

Jelly Bean is just the foundation with which Motorola has built an impressive set of features, most notable of which is a whole host of voice-activated touchless controls.

The X8 architecture provides to key features which should help set the Moto X apart from its competition: a natural language processor and a contextual computing processor.

The natural language processor gives the Moto X the ability to work without you ever having to touch a button.

By offering the key phrase, "OK Google Now…" you can start up any number of features like phone calls, web searches, etc.

The phone gets trained to work with your voice, and even in the crowded showroom where Motorola had its devices on display, the Moto X was able to clearly hear and execute commands.

This is thanks in large part to three different microphones built into the device (on the front, rear and top of the phone), which work to reduce noise interference, and allow users a greater opportunity of being heard correctly, even if the phone is in their pocket.

Motorola claimed the Moto X would be able to hear you from up to 30 meters away, but we couldn't really push the voice activation to the limits at the event.

Security freaks shouldn't worry too much though, as the phone will still require you to put in your PIN before it will actually perform any voice-activated task.

However, you can bypass that need when the Moto X is tethered to a trusted Bluetooth device, which means you can keep doing things like asking for directions hands-free while driving.

Google and Motorola envision a world in which touching your phone becomes a thing of the past, and the ease of the Moto X's voice features could make bring that future ever closer.

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Contextual computing comes into play in a few different ways, but the most important is in the Moto X's photographic capabilities.

Motorola's key idea was in finding the fastest way for users to get the phone from users' pockets to snapping pics.

By making a twisting gesture when pulling out the Moto X, the contextual computing recognizes you want to take a picture, and instantly boots up the camera app.

Motorola has ditched the shutter button all together, and images are taken by merely taping anywhere on the screen.

In execution, it works well enough, but the camera's autofocus isn't always on point, meaning you might not get the shot you want right away.

The 10MP rear camera isn't really anything to brag about compared to the likes of the HTC One or the Nokia Lumia 1020, but the Clear Pixel technology inside more than makes up for the lack of pixels.

With its RGBC image sensor, the Moto X is able to conjure solid images thanks to a portion of white pixels set aside for the singular purpose of capturing more light.

This means pictures taken in low light should come out better as well, but they appeared a bit washed out and overly bright.

Granted, the environment we had to snap pics wasn't exactly the best, but for all the talk about how impressive the images were supposed to be, we were a bit underwhelmed.

The contextual computing is also responsible for the new lockscreen, which always displays the time and notifications without any need from the user to wake the Moto X up.

Motorola discovered users turned their phones on for 10-15 seconds at a time some 60 times a day, which the researchers realized was to check the time or messages.

The Moto X shows that data every 10 seconds on its OLED screen, but users shouldn't worry about losing out on any battery life, as the screen only uses those same pixels every single time, and not the full screen.

Tapping on the screen allows you to see more details, and you can either swipe to send them away, or to respond to the call or text.

It's not a feature that's going to change the face of smartphones forever, but it's a small touch that is built to make the phones easier to use.

While Motorola's clearly spent some time crafting some distinctive innards and features, part of Motorola's big plan for the Moto X includes giving users more choice when it comes to the look of their cell phones.

The online Moto Maker gives you a host of options when designing your phone, including the color of the front, back, accents and the default wallpaper.

You can also pick just how much storage space you want, and the Moto X comes in the familiar 16GB and 32GB varieties.

There's no expandable memory, but the free 50GB of Google Drive cloud storage included should make up for the fact there's no microSD slot.

All the custom options in the world wouldn't matter however if the phone didn't look and feel good in its most basic form.

Motorola based the design around the screen, a slab that's 4.7-inch size was derived from testing to find the perfect fit in users' hands, or so the company claimed.

Additionally, the rear of the Moto X has been contoured to better fit in the palm, which also gave Motorola more space for the phone's 2200mAh battery.

Using a new bonding polymer, Motorola was able to conceal the Gorilla Glass face within the bezel with no seams visible on the front of the device.

In fact, the only seam noticeable is that dividing the front and back panels, leaving you with an incredibly smooth smartphone whether its in your pocket or against your ear.

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Even though the Moto X feels light, it also manages to feel durable and strong, though particular attention should be paid to the upcoming wood panel versions due out later this year.

Having a wood phone sounds strange at first, but the texture is like nothing you've ever held, giving you a truly unique device.

If you're concerned with moisture affecting the wood, Motorola assured it was treated in a similar way to a deck, and was laminated and constructed to withstand the elements.

We won't know for sure just how well the wood holds up until it arrives, but it's easily one of the most desirable looks for the Moto X at the moment.

We've been waiting for Motorola and Google to do something eye-catching since they teamed up last year, and the Moto X doesn't disappoint in that regard.

The Moto X isn't as spec heavy as some of its competition, but it has the power in important places like RAM, and doesn't spend any extra juice running a skinned version of Android.

The voice-activated control appears to be really strong, but until we can put it through the ringer with daily use, we're not consigned to mark it as a major victory just yet.

Where Motorola really shines is in the way its managed to make the Moto X all about the user, whether it's in the control or the design, and that could go a long way with consumers tired of the same few colors and styles most manufacturers have been relying on.

Whether the freedom afforded by the Moto X is something consumers flock to remains to be seen, but we're glad to see phones are again being designed with us in mind, and not finding a way to jam in a bigger processor than the competition.

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Hands-on review: Hands On: Acer Aspire V7 review

Premium designIPS screenHaswell CPU10-point touchscreenLaptop makers can rarely afford to stand still if they want to compete with the myriad of new devices popping up on a weekly basis, even less so in the immediate aftermath of a new Intel CPU hitting the market.
With the mid-range Aspire V7, Acer claims to have trimmed 9% fat compared with previous generations while adding Intel's latest Haswell processor, and a healthy dose of brushed aluminum. It's a smouldering, grey and black concoction of moody tones that comes off as quietly classy.

We got our hands on the 14-inch version running Windows 8, which sports a brilliantly crisp and vibrant 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution IPS display with deep colours and impressive viewing angles. It may not reach the giddy heights of Samsung's stunning 3200 x 1800 pixel resolution Ativ Book 9 Plus display, or even the panel on Apple's MacBook with Retina, but it still went some way to providing a visual feast.

Our model featured a touch screen, allowing us to swipe and navigate Windows 8's Modern UI without a hitch. If you're more of a mouse and trackpad person, you can opt for a non-touch version that cuts down the V7's weight from 2.0kg to 1.85kg. The laptop felt fairly weighty to hold in one hand even for short periods, but it's certainly not too heavy to slip into a backpack for frequent travelers.

The V7 is offered with an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, and up to 12GB RAM. Its graphical grunt can be increased up to a 4GB Nvidia GeForce GT 750M GPU. Storage ranges from 320GB to 1GB, and Acer is claiming up to eight hours use from its battery.

We found the trackpad and its two buttons to emit a satisfying click when pressed, and Acer's decision to carry over the brushed aluminium texture from the laptop's body worked to good effect.

The keyboard seemed fairly springy and responsive, and the backlit keys give off enough light to make sure you'll hit the correct keys when bashing out documents in the dark. Additional features found on the Aspire V7 include a 720p front-facing webcam, USB 3.0, Ethernet, HDMI and Wi-Fi connectivity options.

Acer's Aspire V7 is available from the end of June starting at €699. No word yet on UK pricing.

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Hands-on review: Canon EOS 70D

The new Canon EOS 70D replaces the Canon EOS 60D, which first appeared in the manufacturer's DSLR lineup way back in August 2010.
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As such, the Canon 70D is aimed at keen photographers who want to take their hobby further. These users need a versatile camera that's capable of shooting in a range of conditions and that provides plenty of control.
It also has automatic options to help those who are relatively new to photography but want to develop their skills.
Shortly before the Canon EOS 70D's official announcement we went down to Canon UK's headquarters to take a look at a pre-production sample.

One of the most interesting things about the Canon 70D is that the company has finally broken away from using its 18 million effective pixel sensor, and the new camera has a 20.2 million effective pixel CMOS device.
This is coupled with a Digic 5+ processor that enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 7fps for 16 raw files or 65 JPEGs, and a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-12,800 with an expansion setting of ISO 25,600.
The sensor inside the Canon 70D uses completely new technology, since it is a Dual Pixel CMOS device, which is designed to improve autofocusing in Live View and video mode. Each pixel site on the sensor (strictly speaking pixels don't exist until an image is created) has two photodiodes beneath a single micro-lens. Each of these diodes can read light independently, and this enables a form of phase detection autofocusing that drives the lens to focus.

While the diodes are read separately for autofocusing, they are read together to form the image, and this means the Canon 70D creates 20.2 million pixel images
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Although every 'pixel' is a dual diode device, only the central 80% are used for auto focusing, because using the outer edges makes the system more prone to errors.
As usual with a DSLR there is also a phase detection autofocus system that is used when images are composed in the viewfinder. This is the same as the AF system inside the Canon 7D, and it has 19 AF points, all of which are cross type.

However, while the Canon 7D has five AF point selection modes, the Canon 70D has just three: Single point AF, Zone AF and 19-Point or Area AF. In 19-Point/Area AF mode the camera selects the appropriate AF point to use, while in Zone AF mode the camera selects which AF point to use from a group selected by the photographer. Meanwhile, Single AF mode enables the photographer to select any one of the 19 AF points.
Another exciting feature of this enthusiast-friendly DSLR is that its 3-inch 1,040,000-dot vari-angle screen is touch-sensitive, and it can be used to make settings adjustments and scroll through images. This is coupled with the full complement of buttons and dials, so you can decide how to control the camera.
Like the full-frame Canon 6D, the Canon 70D has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. As well as enabling you to download images wirelessly, this enables you to control the camera remotely using Canon's free EOS Remote app, which is available for Android and iOS devices.

Naturally, the Canon 70D is also capable of recording Full HD (1920 x 1080p) video with a choice of frame rates, including 30, 25 or 24fps and 60 or 50fps at 720p. An internal mic is provided to record stereo sound, but there's also an input for an external microphone. There's no port for a set of headphones, but settings such as aperture and sensitivity can be controlled and adjusted in manual mode.
Other niceties include a multi-exposure mode, an HDR mode that combines three images to create one with a greater range of tones, and the JPEG-only Creative Filters mode. There's also a built-in Speedlite transmitter, which provides in-camera wireless control over multiple Canon Speedlite EX flashguns.
The Canon 70D is set to go on sale at the end of August and will be priced at £1,079.99 (around US$1,645 / AU$1,790) body only. Or you'll be able to buy it for £1,199.99 (around US$1,830 / AU$1,990) with the 18-55mm STM lens or £1,399.99 (around US$2,135 / AU$2,315) with the 18-135mm STM lens.

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Hands-on review: E3 2013: PS4

This generation's console war is still in the arms race phase, but the PlayStation 4 has found its big guns. At Sony's PS4 press conference on Monday, the crowd roared with approval when SCEA President Jack Tretton announced that the new console would allow used games, disc sharing and not require any sort of online check-in.

It's all excellent counter-programming to Microsoft's Xbox One, which has presented a confusing message as to its daily internet check-ins, used games policy and loaning out of discs. The PlayStation 4 also launched one more potentially devastating strike: a $399/£349 price tag that makes it $100 cheaper than the Xbox One, thanks to selling its non-integral PlayStation Eye separately.

On the show floor at E3 2013, we had the chance to scope out the PlayStation 4's angular design, put our hands on the redesigned DualShock 4 controller and play some of the titles for Sony's new system.

We'll continue to update this hands-on PS4 review as we spend more time playing games and learning about the new console's features.

Since its initial announcement event, Sony has taken its sweet time showing the PlayStation 4. It took some ribbing when the event turned out to be more of a proof of concept than an actual unveiling of the system.

Now that we've finally laid eyes on the final product, the design smacks of the good old PlayStation 2, and, surprisingly, of its chief rival the Xbox One. Both systems are matte black and composed of hard angles. It's an interesting contrast to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which both had sloped designs.

The PS4 looks sharp, and we mean that both in the sense that it's attractive, and that it seems as though you could cut yourself on one of its corners. It looks a bit like two separate slabs of plastic fused together asymmetrically.

The system's USB ports, as well as its power and eject switch, are both well disguised. It gives the system a sleek, modernist look.

Personally, we've always considered the Xbox 360's controller to be as close to perfect as we've experienced, and we think Sony would agree. It seems to have taken some cues from Microsoft's in revamping the classic DualShock design.

Like a 360 controller, the new DualShock has handles that are ergonomically curved. It also has a grippy, contoured pattern that makes it easy to hold onto.

Also like a 360 controller, the thumbsticks are dimpled, and feel good under your thumbs. They're responsive, as always, but now even more comfortable. The PS3's DualShock didn't have these depressed thumbsticks, and we imagine these new sticks will be easier to keep a grip on.

Its biggest and most original change has been integrating a touchpad into the design. It's a lot like the one you'd find on your laptop; it even clicks when you press it.

During our play time, we didn't see any games integrating it in truly meaningful ways. Shooters like Warframe and Blacklight: Retribution basically turned it into a D-pad - swiping upwards did one move, swiping down did another, etc. Killzone: Shadow Fall uses the touchpad to deploy various gadgets, like a portable zipline. It feels like Sony put the pad there so it could make use of it down the road, which is not a bad strategy at all.

The console will ship with one controller, and extra controllers will likely cost $59.99, according to Sony spokespeople on the show floor at E3.

On the E3 show floor, we tried out several of the PlayStation 4's upcoming titles. The first was Blacklight: Retribution, a "free-to-play" first-person shooter with a futuristic cyberpunk look.

Blacklight featured rather run-of-the-mill FPS action, and while its graphics were sharp and clean, they weren't mind-blowingly next gen. That's not surprising, since it's essentially a port of a PC title that's been around since April of last year.

However, the game's frame rate was strikingly smooth. We couldn't confirm that it was 60 frames per second - the ideal promoted by the Call of Duty crowd - but we'd be shocked to hear that it was any less than that.

The next game we tried was Warframe, a third-person action title that felt like Mass Effect 3 with some sci-fi swordplay thrown in. Like Blacklight, it's another free-to-play title being ported from PC.

Killzone seems like the PS4's killer app

All these PC ports of "free" titles were surprising, and speak to the different business models being embraced by this console generation. Now even Microsoft, which previously never allowed free titles on its console, is bringing free phenomenon World of Tanks to the 360.

But it's the titles being built specifically for the new console that really impress.

At the top of many players' lists is Killzone: Shadow Fall, the PS4's killer app if it's got one at all. It continues the story of Killzone 3, and in the mission we played at E3 we were dropped behind enemy lines and given a number of objectives to complete in any order we liked. In that way it's different from past Killzone games, and the increased freedom felt good.

The gameplay still has the weight that past entries in the series had, but it's faster-paced as well. The weapons are intriguing; a touch on the DualShock 4's d-pad transformed a midrange assault rifle into a long-range sniper right before our eyes.

Driveclub focuses on social racing

On top of that, Killzone: Shadow Fall looks gorgeous, as anyone who's seen it can attest. It's truly a showcase of what the PS4 is capable of at this early stage, and we're glad the drab aesthetic typical of last-gen shooters has been colored in with oranges, greens and blues in Shadow Fall.

The merits of Driveclub, another game Sony showed off at E3, weren't as immediately apparent. Yes, it's gorgeous, but so are Microsoft's Xbox One exclusive Forza Motorsport 5 and even Sony's other big racer Gran Turismo 6. But the developers of Driveclub are stressing accessibility and social play most of all, and the game will take full advantage of the PS4's connected nature.

Fighting as a house-sized Knack was fun

Before our demo started, we posed for a picture with the new PlayStation Camera, creating an avatar that other racers can see in-game. The game's technical art director, Alex Perkins, said that you'll be able to set challenges for your friends, and that you'll be rewarded no matter how you play; you get points for winning, of course, but spinning out spectacularly pays off as well. It makes the game feel very friendly, despite its sometimes unforgiving driving mechanics.

Slightly less impressive was Knack, a platformer and action game that resembles Ratchet and Clank with a touch of Katamari Damacy. Players take control of Knack, a magical creature who grows larger as he destroys enemies and objects with punches and body slams. In one urban section, Knack eventually grew as big as a house. In a stealthier level he could shed his armor and become camouflaged to infiltrate a secure facility. It looks like a Pixar movie, and it's fun enough, but it doesn't seem to do anything that wouldn't have been possible on the PlayStation 3.

Hohokum is abstract, artsy and utterly charming

The last PlayStation 4 game we played at E3 was Hohokum, an abstract title that felt as directionless as it was charming. It's like a combination of the PSP's LocoRoco with the classic mobile game Snake. Its visuals and audio drew us in, but without instructions we were left guiding the colorful, serpentine protagonist around aimlessly, followed by fish and stranger creatures.

It was relaxing, to be sure, and it seemed like the kind of unique, artsy game that we've enjoyed before on Sony's PlayStation Network. There's nothing wrong with that, and we look forward to spending more time with it and seeing what it really has to offer. It did nothing to demonstrate the hardware's strengths, though.

With its cheaper price point and less restrictive DRM policies, the PS4 already seems to have the Xbox One on the run. We still think it would be naive to consider Microsoft's system down for the count, though.

Exclusive titles, and maybe even some backpedaling on its internet connectivity demands, could right the Xbox One's ship. A new Halo and the Call of Duty-with-mechs titled Titanfall have already piqued a lot of interest.

Also, Sony's supposed DRM-free policy is not quite as black and white as it seemed during Sony's Tuesday press conference. Yes, it supports used games - theoretically. In reality, third-party publishers can still impose whatever restrictions they want, just like they've always been able to, Sony's spokespeople at E3 revealed. EA's online pass is a good example of what that might entail. Sony has promised that its first-party games will feature no such restrictions at least.

Sony still hasn't given gamers a precise release date or a firm list of launch titles. It's still saying "holiday 2013" and has only confirmed a handful of day one titles, like Warframe, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack and Drive Club. Sony did confirm this week that the PlayStation 4 has 30 announced exclusives, 20 of which will launch within the first year. Twelve of those are completely new IPs. Sony spokespeople at E3 said that there are 140 PS4 titles in development total, 100 of which will be released in the first year.

At this point we only know of one launch bundle, which will include the console with a 500GB hard drive (it may be an SSD, but Sony wouldn't say either way this week), one controller, an HDMI cable, and an earbud headset for voice chat. There may also be other SKUs, but Sony hasn't detailed them yet. The PlayStation Camera (don't call it the PlayStation Eye!) will be available at launch for $59.99, spokespeople confirmed.

If the Xbox One and PS4 do end up going toe-to-toe in November, this holiday season will be a battlefield fit for a video game.

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