It’s been seven years since Sony introduced the world to the PlayStation 3. The company tried to sell the PS3 as a living room hub where you could use a multimedia device to not only play video games but also watch movies and listen to music. Sony learned a lot of lessons on what makes a great console. The PS3 was viewed as a difficult system to program for developers. It was expensive to purchase and had an ambitious goal to try to reach out to casual fans with gimmicks that weren’t always about the video games themselves. Sony was introducing Blu-ray media technology for the first time which eventually became the adopted physical media standard. Now, Sony no longer needs to worry about these distractions and their new system reflects this fact with a clear message that it’s a video game console before anything else with an aggressive price point. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons to the PlayStation 4.

Pros:
-Graphics are good
-Dual shock 4 controller is good
-PS Vita remote play over wi-fi
-Excellent hardware performance
-Interface is fast

Cons:
-No DLNA Streaming
-No mp3,mkv,mpg playback
-Payment plan for online gaming
-No bluetooth headset support at launch
-Interface has too many cluttered menus

The first thing to enjoy about the PS4 is its design. The half-gloss, half-matte finish is a pleasant visual compromise and makes it look like a grown-up machine. The PS4 is 6.1 lbs. Sony has tucked the PS4’s power supply inside the system, leaving no external power brick to trip over. In the front, you’ll notice the Blu-ray disc drive to the left followed by two powered USB 3.0 ports on the right, which can charge your DualShock 4 controllers when the system is turned off. On the top, a clear blue line lights to signal when the device is turned on. If you flip to the back of the system, you’ll see only digital/optical ports as Sony no longer supports any video/analog ports. The system is also built with stability in mind as gamers can place the console either horizontally or vertically .

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The concept of sitting down at a table to order a meal at a restaurant is nothing new. However, more and more fast food joints and full service restaurants are now trying to use technology to make the interaction between the client and the server less awkward and more accommodating then before. Many restaurants are deploying pilot projects where customers order directly from the tables on i Pads specifically deployed to the tables for that purpose. According to the 2013 Restaurant Industry Forecast by the National Restaurant Association, in-house iPad menus are one of the hottest trends of the year for the nation’s bars and restaurants.

For example, you can use the tablet to custom-build your meal, pay for the bill, and even prepay for the bill ahead of time so that you have more time to enjoy your meal without worrying about the bill at the end. Another example of the benefits of the tablet devices would be educating the customer on a difficult product choice such as wine. Many individuals don’t know much about what type of wine to pair with a specific meal and the tablet can help make the customer make the right selection with their meal. Another great thing about these tablets is that they provide a distraction for kids at the dinner table. Tablets can be used to provide games for young children which will keep them from crying or jumping up and down from boredom. This can allow parents a chance to relax after a long day without worrying about their kids giving them headaches. Overall, let’s look at some of the pros from purchasing these items…

Pros:
-Entertain guests which might force them to stay longer and purchase more items
-Distract kids long enough for their parents to enjoy a quiet meal
-Increase interaction and engagement with customers
-Improve service efficiency
-Educate customers on complex purchases

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The Xbox One is Microsoft’s third attempt at a video game console and their latest attempt is the company trying to recreate their system into an all-in-one entertainment center. The Xbox’s new interface allows users to watch live TV service along with streaming media options, recorded programs and video chat. The Xbox One also includes a built-in Kinect motion sensor/remote extender/voice controller that was previously an accessory for the Xbox 360. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons to the Xbox One.

Pros:
-Easy to share videos with friends
-Powerful interface
-Kinect included in the box
-Good integration with television and DVR

Cons:
-Controller still requires batteries
-Hardware design not aesthetically pleasing
-Live subscription required for Netflix
-Price is way too expensive

The first thing that you’ll notice about the Xbox One is its design. It runs cool and is relatively quiet. It’s quite bulky and won’t be winning any awards for hardware design but its large size leaves a lot of room for the system to be able to breathe. The last console by Microsoft was easy to overheat and break down so we’ll give Microsoft a pass by trying to fix a potential hardware error early rather than to wait for problems down the road. There’s no ports or slots in the front. The only thing in the front is the disc drive and the Xbox One logo that lights up when powered on. All of the ports are neatly hidden in the back. You have all of your standard ports such as HDMI-Out, USB 3.0, ethernet, IR-Out and HDMI-in, which is how you feed the Xbox One your cable or satellite signal.

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