The week in tech: 5 must-know things

Julia Ryan, USA TODAY | USATODAY

We'd like to spare you any more storm analogies, but let's just say that the thunderclap of tech news continued this week with the first wave of reviews of Apple's new iPad Mini, Microsoft's big launch event for Windows Phone 8, and a refresh from Google on its Nexus smartphones and tablets. Here are five things you need to know about this week in tech:

1) Baig gives the skinny on iPad Mini

Apple's smaller take on the iPad changes the way you approach the tablet, says USA TODAY's Ed Baig. Like other reviewers, Baig notes that screen resolution on the Mini is not as sharp as the "retina display" of the larger iPad. And at $329 for an entry model, the Mini is priced higher than other tablets in its size range.

Still, says Baig: "I've never hesitated to travel with the bigger iPad. It's terrific for reading, watching movies and playing games on an airplane — but given a choice, before a road trip I would now more likely grab the little guy. It's the right size for immersing yourself in a novel. Held sideways, it's simple to bang out an email with your fingers. Battery life is excellent."

Baig's big picture on the small iPad: Despite a few quibbles and strong competitors in the space, the Mini is a splendid choice for folks who held off buying an iPad because it was too large or too expensive.

The Wi-Fi model of the Mini goes on sale today at retail stores. Online orders at Apple's website now are expected to take about two weeks to ship.

2) Microsoft unveils Windows 8 Phone

Microsoft is hoping its new Windows 8 smartphone will help the company enter a fiercely competitive smartphone market dominated by Apple's iPhone.

USA TODAY's Byron Acohido weighed in on Microsoft's big sell to members of the press at an event on Tuesday in San Francisco. Executives called the Windows 8 phone's touch tiles a "difference maker," with senior product manager Greg Sullivan saying, "You can really customize and make the phone a reflection of what you care about in ways that aren't possible on the other platforms."

Microsoft is wasting no time in trying to get handset makers on board. Nokia announced its Lumia 822 Windows Phone 8 on Tuesday. The Verizon smartphone comes with an 8 megapixel camera, turn-by-turn navigation and a front-facing camera for video calls that sounds similar to Apple's FaceTime feature.

Windows Phone 8 could hold a lot of appeal for a key demographic: parents with kids.

A "Kid's Corner" feature on the phone locks young ones into only using specific games and apps — no accidental calls to your boss or awkward texts to your friends.

Parents can also use the Kid's Corner feature to restrict a kid's access to certain music on the phone. You can get your kids to develop an appreciation for The Beatles without exposing them to less kid-friendly offerings in your music library.

3) Google refreshes Nexus line of Android devices

Hurricane Sandy didn't stop Google from rolling out a new line of Android devices. The company took to its blog on Monday to show off three new Nexus-branded devices. The Nexus 4 smartphone has a 4.7-inch display and wireless charging capabilities.

The Nexus 7 tablet was upgraded to 16 GB of storage for a selling price of $199. The Nexus 10 tablet from Samsung has a 10-inch screen with great image quality, making it "the highest-resolution tablet on the planet," Google says.

USA TODAY's Ed Baig hopes to get a hands-on look at these new devices ahead of their release on Nov. 13, so stay tuned to Tech for our verdict on Google's new gadgets.

4) Video games roundup: 'Assassin's Creed III' and 'Grand Theft Auto V'

Two wildly popular video game franchises made fans very happy this week, from an exciting new installment in the Assassin's Creed series to a big announcement about Grand Theft Auto.

'Assassin's Creed III' moves the timeline of the series from the Renaissance to the New World and the Revolutionary War. USA TODAY's Brett Molina says the game has intense naval missions, more combat-driven tasks and improved multiplayer functions. He has nothing but praise for the game: "Between the storytelling, its well-represented setting and mission diversity, Assassin's Creed III marks a bold step for the franchise and is easily one of 2012's best video games."

If you have been eagerly awaiting a new Grand Theft Auto game, your wait will soon be over. Rockstar Games announced on Tuesday that Grand Theft Auto V will be released in spring 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Details about the game are scarce, other than a teaser that the game's action will take place in a fictional version of Los Angeles called Los Santos. Molina speculates that Grand Theft Auto V will be released sometime in May because it seems to be the month that Rockstar Games releases new titles, including this year's Max Payne 3.

5) GoPro Hero3 camera is a small wonder

If you want to get a head start on holiday shopping and need the perfect gift for the budding filmmaker in your life, check out GoPro's new Hero 3 action cam. USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham says the camera is "stunning" with video that is "crisp, sharp and amazingly bright."

So what makes this camera cool? It's a tiny device that fits in the palm of your hand and goes anywhere. Graham took the Hero3 on a trip to Times Square a few days before Halloween and shot a crystal-clear street video of the ghosts, cats and monsters that he found at the popular tourist spot. Graham had a few issues with battery access and photo quality on the camera, but said that "the exceptional video quality of the camera almost makes up for the pains of operation."