What is the Xbox One?

The Xbox One was revealed by Microsoft in true style last week. It’s a shame that it didn’t receive the respect it probably deserves, but the 140-character Twitter backlash was quite amusing. If you haven’t heard, the Xbox One is the successor to the Xbox 360. However, Microsoft has taken a step away from the focus on gaming and revealed its next-generation console as more of an entertainment hub.

Whilst this move has been expected for a long time, well ever since Sony introduced DVDs to the PlayStation 2, its Microsoft’s relentless talk about entertainment that has frustrated fans. There are all sorts of parodies flying around on the internet, but when it’s finally revealed it will be a force to be reckoned with.

The idea behind the Xbox One is that you won’t need anything else for anything. Video game consoles are being threatened by tablets and smartphones as casual gamers can now access cheap thrills in seconds, without having to spend hundreds of pounds on a separate console and £40 plus on a game.

This box, will allow you to play games, but also watch TV, video call, access the internet and so on. It will be a complete entertainment hub. One console for everything, hence the name. I’m pretty sure that despite the complaints from gamers, the Xbox One will go on to be one of the biggest hits of the decade. That is unless the PlayStation 4 is able to compete.

So, what will you be expected to pay for such a luxury? Well, Amazon has just listed the Xbox One for a whopping £599.99. Whether that price will be beaten elsewhere, we’ll have to wait and see.

If you don’t think you can afford to splash out on the Xbox One just yet, don’t worry, as I’ve got loads of awesome voucher codes that will mean you can continue gaming on your current console for less.

Spend over £40 on video games – not hard to do on new releases these days – and you’ll bag £4 off games or get 10% off pre-orders with Zavvi UK coupon codes.

Take a look at GAME to find selected titles with up to 85% discounts – you’ll have to utilise GAME shopping vouchers to get this huge saving.

Get £1 off when you spend £10 on full-priced items with discount vouchers for The Game Collection.

Perhaps you can’t wait until the Xbox One reduces in price, so it’s time to get your thinking cap on. You could start by raising money using your existing consoles. You could get up to £40 for your PSP with Gadgets 4 Everyone discount vouchers.

Microsoft Surface 2: Can it compete?

It has been revealed that Microsoft is planning to up it’s game in the tablet domain. The original Surface RT tablet was launched in October last year and hasn’t quite lived up to expectation. In fact, it’s been something of a flop. However, the follow up, the Surface Pro has been more promising.

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The main reason for the lack of sales doesn’t seem to be the software or the tablet itself, but the intense competition. Microsoft entered the tablet market later than its main rivals, Apple, Samsung and Google. The iPad, Nexus and Galaxy Tab have all proven to be big hitters and a favourite with consumers.

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Now, Microsoft is reportedly planning on showing who’s boss with a successor to the Surface Pro. It’s thought that the tablet, or possibly two tablets (both a 7-inch and 9-inch are rumoured), will be revealed at the Build Developer Conference early next week.

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So, it’s thought that the Surface Pro 2 and Surface Mini will both run on the latest version of Windows OS and be powered by Intel processors. This all sounds positive, but is it enough to compete with the likes of Apple, which is releasing an iPad Mini 2 in the near future.

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Top 5 Budget Tablets

Right, so Bill Gates thinks that iPad and Android tablet users are “frustrated” because they can't type. Do you often sit on your snazzy new tablet wishing you could create a Word document? I know I don't and I'm a traditional PC user.

To be honest, I like the fact that my computer and tablet are different. I associate my Windows PC with work, but my tablet and smartphone are leisure items. What about you?

Is it time for Bill Gates to admit that [Google] Android and Apple have actually done something that Windows can't? When you think that the Surface RT and Pro account for just 2 million of the  250m tablets sold in the past three years, you have to wonder whether Microsoft has had it's day.

As you probably know, I'm something of a bargain hunter, so I scoff in the face of the iPad and Galaxy Tab. I'm far more interested in the tablets I can get for less than a month's wages.

Here are my top 5 budget tablets and the deals that can help cut the cost even further.

Kindle Fire

If you're a heavy Amazon user, the Kindle Fire is a great buy as it's very content-orientated and has a custom version of the Play Store. With built-in Wi-Fi, 8GB onboard storage and 9 hours of battery life, it's the perfect tablet for any book worm.

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Dell XPS 10

Ok, so it would be wrong not to have a single Windows tablet on the list. The only one that I think cuts the mustard is this XPS 10 by Dell. It has flexible docking functionality, so it can be used more like a laptop as a well as tablet. There's a few different versions, some come complete with keyboard and dock, whereas others standalone.

Use Dell Business free discount vouchers to get this Windows RT Dell XPS 10 for less than £300.

BlackBerry PlayBook

Although not quite as popular as it's Android rivals, the BlackBerry PlayBook has proven itself to be a decent budget tablet. It sports the BlackBerry OS and an ARM Cortex A9 processor. Unfortunately, apps are limited as you'll be buying from the BlackBerry AppWorld. You can bag this one for just £129 at Currys.

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Prestigio MultiPad 7” Pro

Thanks to the Prestigio Multi 7”, it's possible to get a great slate for less than £100. This one may not have all the mod cons you'd expect on a top of the range pad, but it has 4GB internal memory, micro USB port, mini HDMI socket and access to the full Google Play Store.

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Google Nexus 7

This tablet has got to be my favourite budget tablet by a long way. It has everything you could need, including the latest version of Android and a beautifully sharp screen. It's lightweight, has a front-facing camera for video calls, a super-fast quad-core processor and come with all the usual connectivity options. The 16GB model is just £189, but for an extra tenner you can double the storage and benefit from 32GB memory.

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Top TVs for less than £500

Have you seen the latest in televisions? It's the stunning LG 55EA9800 that we originally saw at the Consumer Electronics Show back in January.

LG has revealed that the curved TV is up for pre-order in Korea for KRW 15 million. Wait for it... that's a staggering £8,800. Will it come to the UK? Well, who knows, only time will tell, but if you do want to get your hands on this 55-inch curbed OLED TV, you'll need to raid more than the piggy bank.

If you are in the market for a new television, but you're sadly not on a footballer's wage, you'll be pleased to hear that you can still bag some top tech. By taking advantage of discount vouchers and coupons available online, you'll soon have a brand-spanking new TV (and possibly even change) for £500!

You may be pleasantly surprised at just how much tech you can buy for £500. Most will be smart TVs and integrated Freeview, but you could even bag yourself a 3D TV (if you want to go there).

Here are my top picks for TVs for less than a monkey.

5. LG 32LK450

It's LG again. This 32 inch, full HD TV is a great price, particularly as at less than £300 we wouldn't expect anything above the standard 'HD ready'. There isn't any smart TV functionality, but there are other features worth mentioning, including 3 HMDI ports and USB connectivity.

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4. Finlux 32F8030-T

Ok, so Finlux might not be one of the most recognisable brands. It's definitely not an LG or Samsung, but this model is still a good choice for the price. It's a 32 inch TV with full HD resolution, built-in Freeview, USB connectivity and online services – including BBC iPlayer.

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3. Samsung UE40D5520

This Samsung smart TV is an incredible buy for less than £500. The screen is out of this world, not only is it twice the resolution of standard HD, but the colour is amazing too.

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2. Panasonic Viera TXP50X50B

If you were hoping for a TV that makes a statement, take a look at this 50 inch screen from Panasonic. Given it's high specification it has been awarded five stars from What Hi-Fi? It's not quite as thin and glossy as many of the other TVs in this price range, but we'll let that fly considering the incredible picture quality.

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1. Samsung ES5500

For me Samsung is the top dog here. It's around the £500 mark so you'll need to shop around a little and take advantage of the codes available to make sure you don't spend more than necessary. This 40 inch TV has a super sleek designs and the Samsung Smart Hub, which is definitely the best web user interface.

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