If there's one downside to picking up a shiny new game console, it's throwing out all of your old games because you've just not got the room to keep everything set up. That's where backwards compatibility comes in - letting gamers play the previous generation of games on the latest tech. The problem is that if the new machine's different enough to the old one, that may not be possible.
Linux enthusiasts rejoiced at the news that Canonical would be bringing Ubuntu to the mobile realm, and although it was promised a developer preview would be available for the Galaxy Nexus at some point early this year, it now looks as though the Nexus 4 will be joining it. From 21st of February, anybody in ownership of either device will be able to get a first look at the OS, which is set to release at some point in October, and although developers may not be leaping out their seats in excitement, it's hard not to take at least a fleeting interest in its progress.
Following on from a report yesterday, in which Destructoid offered a supposed first look at what it claimed was the controller for Sony's PlayStation 4, a second photo has today emerged depicting the same peripheral. Today's image is a lot closer, and taken at a different angle - one which also reveals a 3.5mm jack on the underside of the controller, and from this perspective, the handles also look a certain degree longer.
Although iOS 6 has been adopted in record numbers since its release back in September alongside the iPhone 5, it has scarcely been able to buy a decent press report. In a week which has seen a lot of fuss being tossed around regarding the passcode security bug, which allows a user to bypass the code or password on a device with apparent ease, it has also been revealed that the Restrictions feature’s “Don’t Allow Changes” doesn't exactly work as advertised. Namely, it doesn't fully prevent changes from taking place, and although considerably fewer users take advantage of what is a fledgling feature, the timing of the discovery paints the usually robust iOS in a fragile light indeed.
If you have been a loyal user of Skype, you have likely run into the hurdle of reaching a user when they are offline. While sending SMS messages often does the trick, sometimes a video message is just more convenient. The good news is that Skype has begun rolling out this feature in the form of an update for its Mac, iPhone and Android client, with support for other platforms such as Windows coming very soon.
Soon after the release of iOS 6.1, it came to the attention of the tech world that a major security flaw allowed basically anybody with a spare couple of moments to slip through the passcode system and access a device's confidential, and supposedly secure data. The release of iOS 6.1.1 a couple of days back, which fixed lingering cellular and battery issues with the iPhone 4S, is also susceptible, and an urgent update is required on all fronts to sort this mess out. According to iFun, a German blog which accurately pinpointed the aforementioned 6.1.1 release, reckons that will likely be "early next week", meaning those conscious as to the security of their iPhone will only have to wait a couple more days.
Bump, the sharing app for Android and iOS, has been updated on each platform, with the takeaway feature being the ability to 'bump' files to a computer. It is often the case with the more popular apps that both the Android and iOS versions are given updates at around the same time, and while the iteration for Google's platform now stands at 3.4.9, the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch incarnation of the app has been, erm.. bumped to version 3.5.6.
The Apple TV has enjoyed a moderate amount of success hitherto, but with Tim Cook famously labeling the device a mere hobby in his day as the Cupertino's COO, it has always been felt a more noteworthy assault on the lucrative market would be forthcoming. Speculation concerning the future of Apple TV has been an almost ongoing debate, but this week, it has become an even hotter topic than usual. Just days ago, Xbox engineer Nat Brown stated his belief that an Apple TV opening itself up to third party apps could be a significant threat to traditional console gaming, and TechCrunch's MG Siegler cites multiple sources suggesting this may be the case later this year.
What with it still being very early in the year, lots of rumors continue to be frivolously thrown about as excited tech fans sink their teeth into the prospect of some landmark releases this year. The console wars are set for a step up, with both Sony and Microsoft releasing their respective next-gen offerings, and if it's the unofficially-dubbed PlayStation 4 you're waiting patiently for, it looks as though the controller for the upcoming entertainment system may have been leaked. Well, a picture of it, at least.
Although the notion of Samsung joining the growing list of big-name companies purportedly delving into the smart watch market is not exactly news, yesterday, it was revealed that such a device could debut alongside the Galaxy S IV, whenever that may be. As a follow on from that story, SlashGear has caught wind of a few screenshots floating about a Korean message board which, it is claimed, offer an insight into the supposed smart watch, which is naturally being dubbed the 'Galaxy Watch'.

