X-Box One & PS4 - A Year Later

November marked the one year anniversary of both of these gaming consoles and it's promise of a new generation of games and technology.  So here are the pros and cons, broken down into 8 separate categories.



Resolution

Commonly referred to as pixelation; Or to the uninitiated it's simply the clarity, sharpness, and overall quality of the image. The Winner in this department is PS4, but by a small margin. When sampling upcoming games like Dragon Age: Inquisition, Battlefield 4, and Watch Dogs. The resolution is slightly higher, but it can only be noticeable realized when viewed on the largest screens possible.
So the edge on graphic horsepower is PS4.





The Menu Screen

Or the more technical term, that I despise - 'User Interface' -   Over the course of the year there has been updates,but the clear winner again is the PS4, it's design is a simple hierarchy with familiar symbols of navigating through the menus, and it's far more  comprehensible.  X-Box One has a periodic table. My home computer is a PC and I'm navigating windows 8.1. so there is no real bias on this review.
The Winner PS4


Controller

Well to start PS4's dual shock controller has improved from the PS3 design. Having the touch-sensitive trackpad, a built-in speaker, and a multi-coloured light bar.  The X-Box One does not have these features,  but what it does have are two things in it's favor which are design and durability.
PS4  controllers have had common problems  with sticky buttons and rubber peeling off the thumb-sticks, while theX-Box One just tend to work and holds comfortably in one's hand.
The Winner X-Box One.


Entertainment

Both consoles have put considerable amount of thought into non gaming entertainment over the past year, that includes TV and music services, and of course Netflix.  The console that edges out the win here is X-Box One by offering a wider range of entertainment apps & services, as well as the ability  to plug your cable or satellite box into the console and thereby using it to control what you want to watch on TV, proving to be more.. the jack of all trades.
The Winner X-Box One


Social, Sharing, and Online

From multi-player gaming & live-streaming game highlights to free games offered to subscribers of X-box One and Playstation Plus.  It is the X-Box One that makes it slightly easier to record, share, and stream gameplay; But its the PS4 that offers a better library of free games with its subscription service.
A Comparable Tie


Price & Popularity

PS4 Sensor

Right from the gate of its release this was X-box One's raging issue with consumer, selling $100 more that the PS4 controller that hit the market at $399.  It wasn't until June, when Microsoft made the underwhelming  Kinect Sensor an optional accessory, and now offering the X-Box One at $399 without its' sensor. Meanwhile Sony Canada raised its prices to$399 to $449 due to our weak dollar.
With PS4 more expensive and recently X-box One getting a $50 price cut in the US.  The overall commanding worldwide sales  still remains with the PS4.
Winner due to Popularity PS4



Voice & Motion Control
Both consoles offer voice & motion control peripherals

Kinect Senor

The $60 Playstation Camera is not really used for much as things sit right now, a couple of games uses simple voice commands. X-box One Kinect sensor has several games built around it, and most of X-box One's functions can be activated with Kinect voice commands. It doesn't always work well.
The Winner X-box One




Games
This is really the category that should have the most baring, for what is the console for than without games. Big gaming franchises appear on both consoles; Truly exceptional exclusive games have been thin on each system thus far. The roll out for next year's titles will play the biggest deciding factor on consoles's overall success.  The big exclusive titles will include Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, The Order: 1886, and Blood-bourne on the PS4.  
Halo 5: Guardians, Quantum Break, and Rise of the Tomb Raider will be on X-box One.
The Winner: You Decide