Peripherals - Page 19

CES 2017 - Peripheral manufacturer ROCCAT today revealed its new fleet of gaming mice and keyboards in Las Vegas, all of which are enhanced with the company's new Owl-Eye and ForceFX sensors.

First off let's take a look at ROCCAT's new keyboard, the Isku+ ForceFX. This particular model is an enhanced version of the Isku RGB keyboard outfitted with ROCCAT's new ForceFX tech that blurs the line between mechanical and membrane switches. The Isku+ Force FX features "pressure-sensitive QWEASD keys which can be configured in three different modes" for optimum use.

Now let's take a look at ROCCAT's new gaming mice. The trio of performance RGB mice, the wireless Leadr, Kone EMP, and Kone Pure 2017, rock ROCCAT's new Owl-Eye sensor tech that enables insane sensitvity up to 12,000 DPI.

CES 2017 - Alright, Roccat has my attention with their new wireless gaming mouse that rocks an interestingly named 'Owl-Eye' optical sensor.

The new wireless mouse is promising to translate motions to your gaming display with 1:1 accuracy, and is only one part of three new mice Roccat has to show off at CES 2017, and a new keyboard.

Roccat's new wireless mouse is offering "virtually zero latency", and rocks a charging dock and a detachable charging cable - so for those of you who want "absolutely zero latency" (that's what I'm calling it) - plug it in, and away you go.

Das Keyboard's new cloud-connected 5Q keyboard will be showcased at CES 2017, allowing attendees a chance to try it out at the event.

The Das Keyboard 5Q was originally funded thanks to a wildly successful Kickstarter, which exceeded its goal by some 500%. The 5Q is connected to the internet via QCloud, and relays information via color-coded signals on its RGB backlit keys instead of an LED screen. For example, you can assign a custom profile that makes a specific key turn red whenever you get an email, or as a reminder for a project deadline.

All of the 5Q's keys can be custom programmed with RGB lighting schemes to allow users to create their own unique visual queues.

Tesoro has just entered the gaming chair market with the introduction of their new Zone Balance professional gaming chairs, which the company says combines "unique design with versatility and extreme comfort".

The company has used premium materials that are held up by the strong steel frame, with high-density cold core foam that is covered with "uniquely designed polyurethane (PU) faux leather delivering enhanced durability, and splash resistance". Tesoro has included adjustments on the Zone Balance chairs, with an extra-comfy headrest.

You can use the Tesoro Zone Balance gaming chairs as a flat bed, with the back being adjustable to 180 degrees, and a class-4 gas piston that provides easy height adjustment.

Makers of the GT mouse Swiftpoint are aiming to do it all with their next device. The Z mouse offers a level of control over your actions and movements we've never seen before, whether it's tilting the mouse to lean, pivoting it to change direction, taking advantage of the pressure sensitive clicks for added action precision, lifting it to bring a chopper off the ground, or all kinds of other things.

Between the different buttons, how you click them, and the aid of tilting and pivoting, the Z allows you to take advantage of 50 clickable button actions, which could prove very handy for RPGs, MMOs, and MOBAs.

"Deep clicking" is useful for strong versus light attacks in games, but also for office productivity: a shallow click will select a word, a medium click will select a paragraph, and a deep click will select an entire page. Similarly, you can use the tilt functionality to scan through pages freely.

G.Skill's new firmware update for Ripjaws RGB mechanical keyboards adds galaxies of scintillating prismatic flair to your fingertips.

With the new SW0.104/FW57 firmware update, G.Skill has unlocked a massive new range of per-key color customization options to KM780 and KM780R Ripjaws RGB mechanical keyboards. Armed with the new update, users can fully personalize their keyboard's glowing hues with the full palette of 16.8 million different color combinations, and even save their creations to profiles and share them with friends.

The Reactive and Ripple RGB lighting effects can also be assigned custom backlighting on a per-key basis, offering even more style to your keyboard. The board's top row of special function keys also get a makeover; users can now assign individual and personalized color combinations to macro and media keys.

Nintendo has been in the headlines for most of the year with the teases of its next-gen Nintendo NX console, which should be powered by an upcoming, but yet unannounced Pascal-based Tegra processor from NVIDIA.

Well, Nintendo has hit the headlines in another big way, with Shinya Takahashi - the GM of Entertainment Planning and Development for Nintendo talking with Polygon recently, where he said: "Physical controllers for smart device applications are available in the market and it is possible that we may also develop something new by ourselves".

Takahashi continued, saying: "I believe Nintendo's way of thinking is to look at whether action games are really not impossible (without a physical controller for smart device applications) to create and how we can make it happen to create such a game".

Steam Beta Client users can now grab a special update for Steam Controllers that allows you to bind different types of button presses to different functions, which Valve is calling Activators.

For example, you can bind jump to long press A and grenade to double press X, or even bind both to the same button but different types of presses, as there's no limit on how many functions you can bind to a given button beyond the amount of press types available. You can also do things like set a single press to single fire and a long press to Turbo fire, enable the Start button to switch between button customization profiles on-the-fly, and more.

Boot Steam now to grab the update. If you're not in the beta, navigate to Settings > Account > Beta participation.

Computex 2016 -- We got a chance to see Tesoro's new IR key switches in action at their Computex booth, courtesy of the company's Excalibur Spectrum SE Keyboard. Considering it was submerged in a small tank of water all day, we're pretty sure Tesoro's claims of it being spill-proof are accurate.

The Excalibur Spectrum SE uses the company's slick new light-based infrared switches, which eliminate metal bounce and oxidation. That means you can go ahead and splash your favorite beverage on it and it will just shrug it off and laugh hysterically.

Tesoro's Lucas Wiltse explained to TweakTown that this makes the Excalibur Spectrum SE the perfect candidate for internet cafes.

Computex 2016 -- True story: I'm old enough that I learned how to type using a combination of classic typewriters and an Apple II Plus. So when AZIO showed me one of their upcoming keyboards during Computex, pangs of retro nostalgia flooded over me.

From the rounded keys to their chrome edges to the font choice, AZIO's latest just screams retro. Unfortunately, it's so early in the design process that the company doesn't yet have a marketing name for it, although interested keyboard warriors will be able to find it under its model number MK-OS-01 once it launches.

Aside from the model number, all we know at this point is that it will use Kailh Blue switches, should launch for less than $100 MSRP, and will grace our fingers in September.

Computex 2016 - Tesoro's new light-based infrared switches could pave the way for dramatic innovations on future mechanical keyboards.

Tesoro revealed its new Tesoro IR mechanical keyboard switches at Computex, giving us a glimpse at what the future holds for enthusiast-grade keyboards. The new Tesoro IR switches are light-based, so they completely eliminate metal bounce and oxidation, thus dramatically increasing switch lifespan. Here's how the infrared switches work: each switch is outfitted with an IR blaster that beams light, and as each key is pressed, the light is broken, thereby registering the keystroke.

The Tesoro IR switches offer a tremendous speed boost over the company's low-profile AGILE switches in its GRAM Spectrum keyboards. "The Tesoro IR switches score 0.1 millisecond response times, meaning they are extremely fast," said Tesoro's Marketing Manager Lucas Wiltse. Although the Tesoro IR switches are light-based, they still have a tactile bump and resemble the Cherry MX Blue switches.

Computex 2016 - Two new performance-grade mechanical keyboards join G.Skill's Ripjaws product fleet, sporting Cherry MX Red, Blue and Brown switches.

First up is the Ripjaws KM570 MX, which G.Skill describes as the "ideal option for anyone who's looking for their first Cherry MX keyboard." The KM570 MX sports Cherry MX key switches in red, blue or brown flavors, full N-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, Windows key lock, and a default polling rate of 1000Hz. The KM570 MX apparently doesn't need to be optimized with software, with lighting customization and macros included within the keyboard's storage. Although not RGB, the KM570 comes with seven different lighting effect presets and allows users to customize effects for each individual key.

Next up is the Ripjaws KM770 RGB MX keyboard that's specifically made for seasoned gamers. This model is a direct successor to G.Skill's popular KM780 RGB, sporting multiple revisions over the original keyboard. With similar features like a brushed aluminum top-plate construction, the KM770 RGB has been streamlined to size up with standard keyboards, and rocks Cherry MX Red, Blue or Brown switches. Thanks to new cable grooves, the mouse cable holder on the KM770 RGB now tucks neatly underneath the keyboard for tidy cable management.

Computex 2016 - GIGABYTE is focusing on gamers with a new line of peripherals and accesories that includes a mechanical keyboard, a mouse, and a mousepad.

First up is the XK700 keyboard, which features Cherry MX switches, 16.8M RGB lighting that's customizable per key, and full N-key rollover functionality (so simultaneous keystrokes always register as you'd expect them to). The design looks to be simplistic with a clean silver and black colour scheme -- just the way we like it.

Then there's the XM300 gaming mouse, which houses the Pixart 3988 optical sensor and the "ultra durable" Omron Switch (said to be good for 20 million clicks). Like the XK700, it also features customizable 16.8M RGB lighting.

Computex 2016 - Tesoro teases a brand new mechanical keyboard powered by IR key switches for "extreme durability and breakneck response times."

Although Tesoro has recently unveiled the Gram Spectrum RGB mechanical keyboards outfitted with Kailh's custom 3.5mm travel distance Agile switches, the company plans to push the bar with new IR key switches. The optical-based infrared key switches should be a big jump in speed over the low-profile Agile switches, offering faster response by "eliminating metal bounce."

Here's what Tesoro said in their official press release: "The new switches use infrared technology to register keystrokes eliminating metal bounce and oxidation meaning extreme durability and breakneck response times. The new switches will reportedly offer advanced anti-particle and spill-resistant abilities and allow users to customize key switches on the keyboard."

Remember that sweet mechanical keyboard with pressure-sensitive keys I told you about a few months ago? The one with the weird name? It's hit Kickstarter.

The Wooting one, as it's known, has already surpassed its €30,000 funding goal, sitting at €46,915 as of the time of writing and just two days in. The company behind it says the keyboard is nearly finished and a manufacturer is lined up; they just needed a bit extra to finalize the firmware, so now it's off to the races.

Since we last saw it, the Wooting one's switches have been detailed. They are indeed custom: dubbed Flaretech optical switches, they come in Red ("Linear silent" for gaming) and Blue ("Non-linear clicky") and are described as "modular" and "fast as light."

Logitech's "Great Wall of G810s" goes down as one of the most ingenious and impressive spectacles in PAX East history.

At this year's PAX East show, Logitech built a massive colorful wall of out of 18,400 keyboard LEDs to simulate old-school arcade games. The wall used 160 of Logitech's new G810 RGB mechanical keyboards, and was made possible thanks to custom laser-etched keycaps to make every key simulate a colored pixel. The huge LED wall drew lots of attention at the show, and reportedly took six months of planning to orchestrate.

"I'm a dork, I'm a nerd, I grew up playing Pac Man, Space Invaders, Asteroids...so I thought 'how cool would it be if we built a huge wall out of our keyboards and we programmed a video game on it," Logitech's Vice President and General Manager Ujesh Desai told Gamers Nexus.

PC gaming peripheral maker Tesoro today announced two new low-profile GRAM Spectrum mechanical keyboards optimized for performance gaming.

Tesoro's new GRAM Spectrum mechanical keyboards sport the company's low-profile AGILE mechanical switches with a shorter 3.5 mm travel distance, and are available in red and blue AGILE switch flavors. The GRAM Spectrum also feature double-injection keycaps for optimum durability.

The GRAM Spectrum fluxes with over 16.8 million color combinations with fully customized RGB lighting, and every single key can be custom-programmed. With a 32bit ARM processor and 512KB onboard memory, users can save and execute macro settings on-the-fly. Tesoro's new mechanical keyboards offer an ultra-polling rate of 1000Hz, and Full N-Key/G-key rollover options.

SteelSeries is not to be outdone by their competitors with their new eSports focused minimalist keyboard; the Apex M500. They want to bring the cost of entry into the mechanical world down so that anyone can enjoy the stability and typing superiority that comes from real mechanical switches.

Don't be fooled by the lower price, however, because this exudes all the quality you'd expect from a SteelSeries keyboard. The comfortable, durable injection-molded keys in an attractive yet understated casing. The branding is also very low-key, simply the logo on the top right. Being a bit more minimalist and low-cost, it only comes in Cherry MX Red flavors with blue LED backlighting. You can still customize the lighting to light up on specific zones with the SteelSeries Engine. Nonetheless, a good quality keyboard with great switches at what might be seen as a bargain price for what it is. These things are expensive, costs more to make those switches, so anything approaching below $99 is fantastical. It's good to see SteelSeries taking up that segment, driving things down where possible without compromising quality.

"The APEX M500 is my new keyboard of choice. It's a tank and lives up to the quality of the 6Gv2, the mechanical keyboard that I've been using for a year now," says Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling, Carry for Evil Geniuses Dota 2. "This keyboard is everything I think a majority of players look for when it comes to quality and feel, it's going to be a product that will be used at the pro level for a long, long time."

Corsair has just unveiled its new M65 PRO RGB gaming mouse, which is a competition-grade FPS gaming mouse that is infused with technology that pushes you further towards your goal of winning. It features a huge 12,000 DPI optical sensor that provides "pixel-precise tracking and the advanced surface calibration support offers supreme responsiveness for your playing surface".

The new M65 PRO RGB has an advanced weight tuning system that lets gamers tune their mouse's center of gravity to better match their play style, as some gamers want super-quick precision so they make it lighter - while heavier weights are used for decisive movements. Corsair has tapped high-capacity Omron switches that are good for 20 million clicks, alongside low friction PTFE glide pads that will provide reliable performance throughout your gaming sessions with the Corsair M65 PRO RGB. Here are the full specs:

The new Corsair M65 PRO RGB is available right now from most places, while the M65 PRO RGB White will be available next month.

Last week it was a smart frying pan; this week it's a smart rice cooker. Chinese company Xiaomi, which already has several smart appliance products, is launching the $150 Mi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker in collaboration with partner Chun Mi, which aims to improve on the traditional rice cooker with added features.

Firstly, the app will let you scan your bag of rice so the cooker knows exactly what to do based on the type of rice you're using as well as its brand and origin. 200 brands are supported, with more to come. Second, it employs pressure control, induction heating, and a grey cast iron lining as highly regarded Japanese rice cookers do, all with the aim of creating tastier rice. And finally, it can make rice cakes as well as other dishes.

The price may seem steep, but Xiaomi says its cooker is comparable to the aforementioned Japanese rice cookers, which go for about $600. If you're a rice nerd (if there ever was such a thing), it could be well worth it.