Why Next-Gen Remakes Are Bad... For Now

The trend for re-issuing last-gen games on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One has attracted fierce criticism. We take a look at how developers can turn this into a positive for the whole industry.

The sales charts in August were completely dominated by one game: The Last Of Us: Remastered. Naughty Dog’s updated PlayStation 4 iteration of last year’s PlayStation 3 triumph further energises an industry-wide trend for reissuing popular last-gen titles on Xbox One and PSA, and was only knocked from its perch by the re-release of Diablo III: Reaper Of Souls Edition.

This comes hot on the heels of similarly repackaged titles in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Ray man Legends, and arrives before a veritable onslaught of more that include Metro Redux, Grand Theft Auto V and, if persistent rumours are to be believed, Beyond: Two Souls.

iPhone 6 fares strongly in speed tests

GOOD SHOWING AGAINST BOTH RIVALS AND PREDECESSORS

You've read the press release by now. You've also probably spent months poring over the online rumor pages. Now that they've finally officially broken cover and appeared in the shops, you might have even spent time playing around with them, contemplating whether now is the time to buy. Yes, we are - of course - referring to the recently unveiled iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Now, there are many things that will dictate whether you actually plump for that final purchase. It might be those stunning Retina HD displays that do it for you, or perhaps the convenient Apple Pay payments system. Alternatively, you might be in the market for a 'phablet' and reckon that the iPhone 6 Plus is exactly what you have been looking for.

For others, though, it's all about performance. Alas, this is an area in which some observers might have glanced over the specification sheet and decided that the latest additions to Apple's iconic iPhone line just aren't up to scratch.

Shareware Through The Ages

Shaun Green looks at how shared software has grown and changed over time.

The story of shareware runs parallel to the tale of the modern PC, from 1980s inception through to the present day. It may be surprising to think that something as innocuous as a method of distributing software can have had such significant roots and have left such a deep impression on the landscape of computing.

Shareware was born of humble origins all the way back in 1982 -just one year after the arrival on the market of the first IBM PCs, the great granddaddies of most modern personal computers. And in one of those odd coincidences that crop up again and again throughout history, shareware was invented almost simultaneously by two men - both Americans and both software developers.

BackBeat Pro

Michael checks out new headphones from Plantronics.

These BackBeat Pros are a set of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones from Plantronics. Tthis well-padded product is of the over-the-ear type, offering simultaneous dual-source connectivity, fold flat capability and a battery life that can deliver up to 24 hours of listening power.

Plantronics have also included power and audio leads in the box for use with this device. You also get a ‘Ballistic Nylon Travel Sleeve', a grandiose description for the soft-lined black pouch with Velcro fasteners for storing the headphones. Both of the supplied leads are of a reasonable length (94cm for power and 147cm for the 3.5mm jack) with a rubber coating for better protection. The audio lead has a volume adjustment controller, but this only appears to work with certain Apple devices.

Netgear ProSAFE GS105PE PoE Plus Switch

Netgear launches a switch that can't even power itself.

Over the past year I've seen a few pieces of equipment that support the often misunderstood PoE or Power Over Ethernet standard. The concept behind this technology is that the eight wires that make up Ethernet are enough to carry both data and power if used intelligently. It works well with devices like security cameras, as it's much easier to run a network cable than deliver mains power to many install locations.

The GS105PE is a switch that was made by Netgear specifically for supporting PoE situations and has five ports that between them support gigabit Ethernet and a couple of PoE standards. Those being; 802.3at Type 1 (802.3af) and 802.3at Type 2. What really confused about this device initally, though, is that it has no normal means of powering itself; instead, it uses PoE. That reduces the useable ports to four, though one port would always be used as a link back to a router or another switch anyway.