PS4 and Xbox One user interfaces are all about simplicity and speed

We’re only three months away from the launch of both the Xbox One and PS4, and we’re starting to get a better sense of how the consoles will actually work. We’ve seen the controllers, the cameras, and the consoles themselves, but we’ve still only seen a few minutes worth of footage of one of the most important aspects of a device: the user interface. Actual speed, ease of navigation, and the potential for annoying ads are still somewhat difficult to judge from these sparse details, but we can already see that Sony and Microsoft have learned from their previous mistakes.

Xbox One

The home screen on the Xbox One is extremely simple. On the left, you’re presented with the games and apps you’ve used most recently. On the right, Microsoft has some “recommendations” for you. Of course, that’s little more than just a way to present you with advertisements. Even so, the layout is very clean and basic — very inviting for people easily scared away by UI complexity. The biggest question I have about this screen is how it will populate the recently played section on first boot. Will it be filled with empty slots, or will MS take this opportunity to get some extra Netflix and Hulu Plus advertising in there?

With a familiar Metro-like grid layout, here we have the “pins” menu on the Xbox One. Just like the Xbox 360, this will serve as a favorites list for the games and apps you have installed on your console. More interestingly, the section on the right of the screen is serving as a sort of hub of frequently used features. Checking achievements, switching to live TV, and Bing-branded search are all accessible through the pins menu. Hopefully, users will be able to replace the drab black background with something more lively like the 360′s themes.

In this video, Microsoft‘s Yusuf Mehdi breaks down the interface in more detail. With voice, gesture, or the controller, you can quickly navigate the Xbox One dashboard very much like the Xbox 360′s. The standard categories like apps, games, and music are all still available, but Redmond has added a new section called “trending” in an attempt to help surface high quality content. From this menu, you can quickly see what media your friends are consuming. You’re also saddled with an aggregation of the most popular content from all users combined, so your milage may vary.

Without a doubt, the biggest improvement here is the speed at which everything is happening. Mehdi says a command, and the Xbox One almost instantly switches apps. The extremely generous 3GB of RAM dedicated to system resources really makes the interface seem properly responsive — standing in stark contrast to the sluggish Xbox 360 UI. Reportedly, the Xbox One is utilizing three separate operating systems — two of which are virtualized — to get everything working properly together. By dedicating a fixed amount of resources to specific tasks, the Xbox One should be capable of running apps and playing games at the same time with no penalty on performance. It remains to be seen if the Xbox team can actually pull it off on day one, but this demo is promising.

PlayStation 4

The Xross Media Bar (XMB) is gone, and has been replaced with the PlayStation Dynamic Menu. As you can see from this screenshot, Sony is still holding onto the same aesthetic, though. The row of icons is very similar to the PS3‘s interface, but selecting one doesn’t conjure a column of options. Instead, you’re quickly popped into a different menu with its own row of icons. Thankfully, both text and voice chat seem to be integrated prominently in the main menu, so communication should be very fast this generation. Frankly, that’s an area in which Sony lagged woefully behind during the PS3′s lifespan.

In the PS4′s “What’s New” menu, you can clearly see some similarity between the PS4 and Xbox One interfaces. Dynamically sized boxes filled with your friends’ latest accomplishments could easily fit with Microsoft’s current aesthetic. While the larger boxes are certainly nice for screenshots and videos, a smaller list-like format would probably serve the trophy and other text-based notifications better. Surely, we’ll see Sony tweak its layouts as more feedback comes in nearing the platform launch on November 15th.

As you can tell from this Gamescom demo, Sony is hell bent on keeping its UI just as snappy as Microsoft is. Jumping from menu to menu is extremely quick, but more impressive is how easy it is to jump into a live game. In this video, you can see Shuhei Yoshida go from watching a live multiplayer game of Killzone: Shadow Fall to joining that specific match in a matter of seconds. Keep in mind, this demo is staged in such a way to present the PS4 in the most positive light. It would be a huge disappointment if this kind of speed isn’t possible in the real world, so Sony has put itself on the hook to deliver this kind of impressive user experience. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. After dealing with increasingly languid consoles for the past eight years, this clear focus on sheer speed brings a smile to my face.

The PS4′s halo effect on the PS Vita is kicking into overdrive

We’re now less than three months away from the PS4 launch, and Sony’s momentum in the gaming industry has only increased. Countless developers are lining up to support the PS4, the Xbox One continues to struggle with its identity, and thePlayStation Vita’s value is seemingly getting better by the day. With all of this good news surrounding the Tokyo company, it entirely possible that the positive reception of the PS4 will have a significant impact on sales of the PS Vita.

Since the PS4 was announced, the PS Vita’s value proposition has increased substantially. While the Vita already has limited PS3remote play, PS3 cross-buy, and a line-up of respectable indie titles, it’s clearly the PS4 that is driving the noticeable increase in interest. With built-in remote play functionality for almost every PS4 game, cross-console party chat, and rumors of a sweet $500 bundle, the Vita is primed to start its second life as a second screen for the PS4.

With all of the goodwill Sony has accumulated with the PS4 this year, it seems like the Vita could benefit heavily from the so-called “halo effect.” The most notable example of this psychological phenomenon is, undoubtedly, Apple’s iPod. In the mid-aughts, the iPod exploded in popularity, and that led to an increase in sales for the company’s other products. As Sony turns the tides in the home console market, perhaps that popularity will translate to the traction the Vita so desperately needs to remain a viable platform.

Over in Redmond, Microsoft has been doing its damnedest to sell the Surface RT andWindows Phone 8 as proper second screens for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Unfortunately, the SmartGlass initiative just isn’t nearly as compelling as the Vita. Sure, you can do a handful of neat activities with SmartGlass, but it just doesn’t have the same kind of “buy-once; play-anywhere” functionality that the Vita has on offer. Even better, Sony will be offering a competing iOS and Android app that takes on SmartGlass’ features head-to-head, so the uphill battle for Redmond is even steeper. Microsoft still has a lot of catching up to do after its very public identity crisis, and there doesn’t seem to be any path forward for competing directly with the remote play features that Sony is trumpeting.

Now that the Vita has seen its first price drop to $199, this upcoming holiday season could serve as the handheld’s true make-or-break moment. Sony has put in the grueling behind-the-scenes work, and turned the Vita into something worth noticing over the last year. In the face of lackluster sales, Sony has seemingly done the impossible and made gamers actually care about the Vita. All we can do now is sit back and wait to see if that translates into increased sales.

2013 Honda Fit review: A good small car with amazing cup holders but modest tech

When it comes to low-cost subcompact cars, you don’t get much choice in tech options beyond hoping the USB jack comes standard and Bluetooth is available. All you can really do is pick the car that’s the most fun to drive or has a lot of room on the inside. The Honda Fit in its final year wins on both counts and is as good as it gets. For now.

The other subcompact of note in 2013 is the redesigned Nissan Versa Note hatchback. The Versa has a 360-degree camera system, tires that beep when you fill them to the right pressure, and slightly more room. The Fit comes with USB as standard in the entry model, it’s more fun to drive, and the cup holders are fantastic. Take your pick. Neither has enough technology for us to pick one as the best subcompact car you can buy. Check back in 2014 when the third-generation Fit arrives with the promise of an 86 mpg Honda Fit hybrid version.

2013 Fit has the tech you need, nothing more

The 2013 Honda Fit comes with stability control and anti-lock brakes standard, along with six airbags, or one for every two feet of length. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering makes extensive use of high-strength steel to disperse crash forces. It’s as good as a 13-foot car can be in a crash.

The other Honda Fit tech is USB (one jack, standard) and navigation, Bluetooth, and satellite radio (all optional). That’s it. The only other option is paint color. Your seating option is black fabric. Henry Ford would be proud (“any color you want, as long as it’s black”). With all Fit models, you get a single 12-volt accessory jack, so bring a multi-way adapter. 120-volt option? Bring that, too.

This Honda fits (so to speak) nicely in tight urban parking spaces, at just 162 inches (4105 mm) long and 2,600 pounds (1180 kg). But unlike the shorter and more cramped Mini Cooper, the Fit has pretty good room in back and its “Magic Seats” let you fold the rear seat cushion and seat back forward to create a largish cargo space.

On the road

The Fit is fun to drive around town, energetic if not real quick to accelerate to highway speed or go up hills, and quite acceptable cruising on the highway at steady speeds. The tank is just 10.6 gallons and I found the Fit Sport’s EPA rating with the 117-hp engine and five-speed automatic of 27-33-30 mpg (city-highway-combined) right on target, meaning you’ll need to stop for fuel every 300 miles, tops. In a car this small, you might hope for closer to 40 mpg.

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class ($100,000), Audi A8 ($80,000), Hyundai Equus ($65,000) and even the Honda Civic ($25,000) I’ve driven recently, this was the noisiest car. No surprise, but then you can have five Fits for the price of one S-Class. The Fit was also the most fun to drive. If you get the Fit Sport and the five-speed automatic, you also get paddle shifters.

The steering wheel is leather-covered (Fit Sport) and the steering wheel buttons are decently sized. The instrument panel is Spartan and the color scheme of red dials, blue lettering, and black background is hard to make out in the daytime. The air conditioning lacks a temperature setting (just a warmer-colder knob), so you wind up fiddling with the controls during your trip.

Navigation, USB, and cup holders

The navigation system works but it feels dated and the buttons are small. Voice input lets you enter addresses while you’re moving. Navigation is an option on the Fit Sport only. The Versa has better navigation and it’s apparently cheaper; the actual cost is masked because they’re both parts of packages.

The USB jack, in a 2013 Honda Fit Sport

The USB jack is built into the upper glovebox, on a short tether cord, and it will play most music devices or USB thumb drives; it does not have enough power to charge an iPadthat’s running. Automakers are slowly upping the output from 1 to 2 amps to work better with tablets.

In addition to cup holders in the center console and door pockets, there are cup holders high up on the instrument panel right by the doors. This is the best location I’ve ever seen for cup holders, and in a tiny car with finite space, no less.

When tech gets cheaper, even subcompacts will benefit

The next generation of subcompacts will need to incorporate some of the driver assistance features offered on many midsize and larger cars, particularly blind spot detection and lane departure warning. It’s easy to say that you can just turn your head in a car this small and with this much window glass. But people don’t do that, especially older people whose neck muscles aren’t so flexible any more. Over-50 buyers are the hidden demographic. Automakers talk about urban millennials as the hot demographic for small cars. The parents of that demographic, with no kids at home, are in the Fit’s buying set, too, especially in a two-car household.

You can put BSD, LDW and FCW (forward collision warning) on a car for $500 now, and if you use the EyeSight optical system I saw on the Subaru Forester, throw in adaptive cruise control and pedestrian safety for not much more.

To be competitive and remain atop the subcompact space, it would help for the third-generation, 2014 Honda Fit to incorporate:  improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), better gasoline-engine fuel economy (40 not 30 mpg), more than five speeds in the non-hybrid automatic transmission, a more modern navigation system with a backup camera, and Bluetooth that doesn’t require you to buy navigation. The next Fit is likely to get a city safety/pedestrian safety feature that will stop the car short, automatically, in urban situations, and it’s possible the same electronics would provide forward collision warning (not stopping) at higher speeds, as well as lane departure warning.

Should you buy? This year?

Among subcompacts, the Honda Fit is the most enjoyable car to drive outside the Mini Cooper, which costs more and has no back seat to speak of, so it’s not really a competitor. The base Fit is about $16,000 with a manual gearbox, USB, and four-speaker audio. Add $1,500 for the more desirable Fit Sport and six-speaker audio. The Fit Sport with automatic is just under $19,000 and $1,500 more with navigation and Bluetooth, which is pricy for what you get.

In the US, there’s also an EV version of the current Honda Fit, rated at 118 mpg-e offered as a three-year, $260 per month lease including a 240-volt charger. Honda says the range on a full charge is 80-130 miles, about typical for EVs other than a Tesla. There is a Fit Hybrid offered elsewhere but not in the US; the 2014 Honda Fit Hybrid is making news because of its reported 86 mpg fuel economy.

The 2014 Honda Fit

My suggestion if you’re buying: Start with the Honda Fit. Look at the Versa if you just want to put the car in drive and go somewhere, or if the navigation system is important. Also look at the other subcompacts that are all decent but with less cockpit/luggage room, such as the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Mazda 2. The subcompact Chevrolet Spark has an innovative phone-linked navigation system, GoGo Link, but the car itself isn’t a prime contender.

You also should look at compact cars, since they’re not much more costly. On the other hand, the Versa and Fit are both competitive in seating capacity and cargo space inside, even if they’re subcompacts based on length. The Volkswagen Golf is the closet compact car competitor based on its hatchback shape.

The 2013 Honda Fit is a lot like the 2009-2012 Honda Fit, so think used as well as new. Make sure any used Fit you’re checking out has stability control (it’s standard now but wasn’t on the base Fit before 2011). Stability control is the car’s most important safety feature after seat belts.

At Extreme Tech, we’ve been designating the best tech cars in their categories. For subcompacts, neither the Honda Fit nor the Nissan Versa has the weight of enough technology for that designation. Leave it at this: The Versa and Fit have the best combination of space and affordability in a subcompact car. The Fit adds a measure of fun-to-drive and holds the promise of more tech just down the road.

The 2014 Honda Fit

EVs are better and cheaper, so why aren’t they selling? (Actually, they are)

Surprise: Sales of electric cars are up, despite what you may have heard. At the same time, the majority of EV makers are having trouble keeping sales up. The reason is simple: Two brands, Nissan and Tesla, make up most EV sales. Everyone else registered sales in the hundreds of units for the first half of 2013. Depending on how you crunch the numbers, the market for EVs can be considered healthy or anemic. Here are five reasons why the market for EVs is getting better. Or not.

1. Sales are way up in the US

Sales more than tripled in the US in the first half compared to the first half of 2012, led by the Nisssan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Renault has had similar success selling EVs in Europe. In the US, sales jumped from about 7,000 to almost 25,000.

But… that’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the eight million US car sales through June. As for EVs, only Tesla and Nissan are doing well. Of the 25,000 EV sales, the Nissan Leaf accounted for almost 12,000. Tesla doesn’t report sales until the SEC forces them to, but based on Tesla’s repeated claim that it will sell 20,000 Model S cars this year, that’s up to 10,000 in the first half. Then it drops way off: The Ford Focus EV sold just over 1,000 units, the Mitsubishi MiEV just under. Who’s left? Among the Toyota RAV4 EV, Honda Fit EV, Smart for Two ED, and Chevrolet Spark EV, there was just over 1,000 sales among them.

2. EV prices are coming down

Nissan cut the price of the Leaf by $6,400, or 18%. Ford reduced the price of the Focus EV by $2,000 for cash buyers and reduced the effective cost by more than $10,000 on three-year leases. Mitsubishi offered a $10,000 rebate on the MiEV. That makes electric vehicles price competitive with comparable combustion-engine cars and hybrids.

But… some of the price cuts were driven by more efficient technology and the reduced cost of battery packs. Much was marketing driven, meaning the price cuts were necessary to keep cars selling. Some cuts are temporary. Some are to move out stock that just won’t sell. Sudden price cuts of several thousand dollars hurt the brand among customers who just bought and feel like chumps and the resale value also takes a hit.

3. Virtually all driving fits within the 80-100 mile range of EVs

Most people drive 20-40 miles a day. Word-of-mouth helps generate sales. There are more public charging stations than ever. ZipCar,Relay Rides and EV dealers all have programs to get you a real car — sorry, combustion-engine car — for the occasional long weekend trip. So does the existing infrastructure called Avis, Hertz and National.

But… every time automakers tell you not to worry about range anxiety, you worry about range anxiety. It’s real when you forgot to charge the car last night and try to limp in to work. Batteries degrade over time, air conditioning and seat heaters affect range, and sometimes the public charging stations are full up or broken. The happiest EV owners are the greens and those who own two cars, one of which isn’t an EV. It’s easy to be happy with your Nissan Leaf when you also have a Nissan Armada at the ready.

4. Electric is cheaper than gas and diesel

The big electric company that rips you off every month, or so it seems, produces energy about three times as cheaply as a combustion engine. At the national average of 11-12 cents per kilowatt hour (1 kWh equals 1,000 watts used for one hour), for the average EV that’s the same as finding gasoline for a little over a dollar a gallon. Everyone supplies a 120-volt (overnight) charging cable and the price of 240-volt chargers that refill the batteries in three hours is coming down.

But… it’s only cheaper on a per-mile basis if you don’t factor in the premium you pay for the EV. It’s cheaper only if you use electricity at home. Some workplaces and public charging stations, the ones that got a lot of publicity, do it for free (it helps if you work at Google and other public-minded companies, but you probably don’t). Other parking lots tack on a convenience or flat rate charging fee that wipes out the advantages of cheap electricity. For buyers who have only 120-volt charging, it’s still overnight, and for everyone, it’s a hassle to plug the charging cable in every time you pull into your garage at night. We are still years away from inductive charging where a transformer plate in the garage floor works with a transformer plate on the underside of your EV so long as they’re in reasonable proximity to each other.

5. More and better EVs are coming soon here and abroad

Tesla’s rumored Model E will likely be priced closer to the mainstream, perhaps around $30,000, in 2015. The BMW i3 is the first mass-production vehicle making extensive use of carbon fiber to reduce weight. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive will generate 580 hp and reach 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. These halo cars will generate sales and publicity for EVs. Around the world, there’s a huge market for megacity vehicles where the owner seldom would leave town: Beijing, Mexico City, Tokyo.

But… no buts (almost!) Cars like the BMW i3 will have a premium compared to non-BMWs, but not compared to a BMW combustion engine car with the same carrying capacity. To hedge its bets and in response to customer demand, BMW will also offer the i3 with a gasoline helper engine, making the i3 more like the Chevrolet Volt yet capable of going up to 200 miles. Expectations are that US customers will opt for the PHEV version.

Sales of EVs hit 100,000 earlier this year, something of a milestone. EVs are getting better and cheaper, short-term because of discounting, longer term because tech drives the cost of everything down. Near-term challenges remain. The 100,000 includes pioneers and green chauvinists who already have their EVs and won’t be in the market again for a couple years. Most of the sales included federal incentives of $7,500 that could go away. In California, EVs are popular because they carry the right to drive in the HOV lane and that, too, could go away when EVs clog the HOV lanes just as hybrids did a decade ago.