Peripherals - Page 24

Logitech has announced something that it is calling the 'fastest gaming mouse ever made' in its new G402 Hyperion Fury Ultra-Fast FPS gaming mouse. A new gaming moue that has tracking speeds of an insane 500 inches per second.

The company spent three years in research and development, according to Ehtisham Rabbani, who is the General Manager of the Logitech Gaming Business. Logitech's new G402 Hyperion Fury has an on-board 32-bit ARM-based processor, and Delta Zero sensor technology that helps it drive toward this new title. It also sports eight fully programmable buttons with 1ms report rates, and on-the-fly DPI switching between four different settings.

Each and every button supports a single keystroke or complex macros using Logitech's gaming software, with configurations saved to the mouse itself, meaning that you can bring your configurations with you to a new system. Logitech is expected to launch the mouse sometime in August across the US and Europe for $59.99.

Computex 2014 - Cementing themselves in the video card market and creating a name for themselves in the power supply market; EVGA now have their eye on the gaming peripheral market with the release of a mouse.

The Torq X10 Carbon was initially shown off at CES and it's taken almost 6 months for EVGA to finally bring the product to market. With a sleek software suite, though, and a great look and feel there's no denying that EVGA are ready to enter the gaming peripheral market with force. The new Torq X10 Carbon is a serious looking mouse with all buttons being customizable and LED lighting that can change color.

Along with the Torq X10 Carbon, though, we got a chance to check out a very early version of a full mechanical keyboard the company is working on. Sporting media keys, macros and an LCD screen across the top; the yet to be named keyboard is still a while away. It's clear that EVGA want to shake up the peripheral market; and with these products it's more then possible.

This morning Thermaltake and Tt eSPORTS released its new all aluminum Draconem mouse pad. Thermaltake says that the Draconem is a premium aluminum mousepad built for serious gamers who need an edge over the competition. The Draconem is one of the largest aluminum mousepads on the market at 300mm x 300mm and features a dual-surface design that allows for some restriction as well as a free floating uber-smooth surface when needed.

I got to spend some time with the Draconem in Las Vegas during CES 2014, and have to say that this 2mm thick mousepad was one of the most solid and smooth-feeling gaming surfaces I have ever used. The Extreme Precision surface is just a little more controlled than my current mousepad, but the Effortless Glide surface literally made the mouse feel like it was floating on air. Tt eSPORTS says the Draconem will retail for $39.99 and is available today.

Microsoft is working on a Kinect-style keyboard that can track your hand gestures. This is done by using a low-resolution proximity sensors that are embedded between the keys on the keyboard.

The prototype has 64 sensors. The sensors are good enough to detect and recognize common hand gestures, such as hovering, swiping, pinching to zoom in and out, and tapping in the air. This keyboard prototype was presented in the Computer Human Interaction conference held in Toronto, Canada.

Stuart Taylor, a Microsoft senior research engineer said,"The main goal is for users to be able to keep their hands-on or very close to the keyboard while typing and using input gestures." He continued,"What we've found is that for some of the more complicated keyboard shortcut combinations, performing gestures seems to be a lot less overhead for the user."

Intel's Thunderbolt technology is amazing in its current state, but some newly leaked details show just how much more amazing Thunderbolt can get. A new leak has surfaced on a Chinese technology site that shows that Thunderbolt 3 will be two times as fast as the current Thunderbolt 2 standard.

If true, the leak states that Thunderbolt 2 will feature a bandwidth of 40Gb/s thanks to PCIe 3 support. Furthermore a 50-percent reduction in power consumption will be achieved by the new hardware as well. A new connector will be on board that will allow system charging up to 100 watts, and the entire PCB will measure in at just 3mm thick. It is important to note that this information should come as a grain of salt, and count on these numbers being lower in real-world practice.

Logitech has rolled out a new keyboard that is aimed squarely at the users out there who are watching video and playing games on the big screen in the living room. The new keyboard is called the Logitech Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830.

As the name suggests, the keyboard has backlit keys. An ambient light sensor on the keyboard automatically adjusts the backlight brightness to suit the conditions of the room and save power. Power comes from an internal rechargeable battery.

One of the biggest challenges with a HTPC is controlling the mouse, the K830 has an integrated track pad. Connectivity to the PC comes from a Logitech Unifying receiver that has 2.4GHz tech and a 33-foot range. Logitech says that the keyboard is good for ten days of use per charge.

Corsair has just announced the launch of the latest mechanical keyboard to be added to its already impressive arsenal. The new Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard features a rugged black-anodized aluminum frame with red back-lit keys who's brightness can be adjusted as a whole or individually. Corsair says that the new K70 features authentic German-made Cherry MX switches for the best reliability, accuracy, and longevity of any other mechanical switch on the market.

The Vengeance K70 is designed with a 100-percent anti-ghosted matrix with full n-key rollover and a 1000Hz reporting rate, meaning that you never miss a keystroke, or a key combination while typing or gaming. The Keyboard also features multi-media controls, a built-in USB hub, and a "soft-touch" wrist wrest that helps reduce fatigue during those long gaming sessions. The K70 is available with Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Blue, and Cherry MX Brown switches to suit each individual gamers needs. The Vengeance K70 will retail for $129.99.

Its been more than half a year since we first got a glimpse at the next-generation Kinect motion sensor from Microsoft. During its unveiling, no mention was made of a PC version. This left makers, and kinect enthusiast wondering if there would even be a PC version of the new Kinect.

Today Microsoft answered those questions by finally unveiling the PC version of the Kinect, and for the most part it is identical to its Xbox One counterpart. The differences lie in the way the Kinect connects to the PC, which is handled through a new connection hum. The hub is designed to connect the sensor to the PC via USB 3.0, as well as providing a place to plug in a power brick. Furthermore, the Xbox logo is gone, and the power button has the universal power logo on it. While the sensor is not yet available for purchase, Microsoft says that it is close to launch and will arrive soon.

Anyone who plays games or spends a lot of typing on a computer each day can tell you that not all keyboards are created equal. I've been typing on a super thin Logitech keyboard for years and find that I can't type nearly as fast on anything else. A lot of gamers and typists out there like mechanical keys.

If you are one of those sorts of people, you will be interested in the new offering from Das Keyboard. You might recognize the Das Keyboard name, the company has been making keyboards for years now. In fact, we reviewed one back in 2012.

The latest offering is called the Das Keyboard 4 Mechanical Keyboard and it has mechanical keys as you expect. You can get the keyboard in a version with names printed on all of the keys. If you are a touch typist, sure of the location of everything you can get it blank as well.

Days before the Game Developers Conference kicks off in San Francisco, Valve sent its latest Steam Controller prototype to WIRED. The new controller was meant to feature a touchscreen in the center, with four buttons around it, but the new one still doesn't feature a touchscreen.

Instead, it has morphed into more of a traditional console controller, with two diamond-shaped arrays of buttons. It looks (at least in the picture) a little more comfortable than the first Steam Controller, but I would've liked to have seen a touchscreen on the controller. The circular touchpads are still in play, which match both the precision and resolution of a mouse, giving gamers more precision than traditional controllers.

Jason Allenmann makes some truly amazing things with Lego, but his latest creation is something for PC lovers: a fully-functional keyboard made out of the little plastic blocks.

Underneath the keyboard is the traditional circuit board and sensor pad from a normal keyboard, but the exterior is entirely made out of Legos. Allenmann said that his biggest hurdle was to interface the Lego keys with the sensor pad, but instead of using custom-painted tiles or stickers, Allenmann used printed tiles that Lego has officially released over the years.

Allenmann was quite creative with this bit of the keyboard, where the Home key is represented by a roof-shaped Lego, while a tile with a photo of a scroll is used for the Scroll Lock key. The Caps Lock? A mini baseball cap - a nice touch.

Logitech has been making its line of Harmony universal remote controls for a number of years. These remotes are notable because they all have macro buttons that make changing multiple inputs on your home theater system as easy as pushing a single button. Logitech has rolled out a new Harmony product called the Harmony Smart Keyboard.

The device is exactly what you think it is, a keyboard that can be used as a universal remote. The device is compatible with set top boxes like the Apple TV, Roku, Xbox 360, and PS3 consoles. It will also work with the Xbox One, but support for the PS4 isn't mentioned.

The QWERTY keyboard lets you easily type searches or chat. The keyboard also has the buttons you expect for controlling media and has a guide button. The keyboard also ships with the Harmony Hub that launched last summer as a standalone device.

If you spend lots of time during the day stuck in front of a computer, you are probably out for anything that can make all that computer use more comfortable. There are few things that are more of a literal pain in the neck than having to look down at a computer screen all day because it won't go high enough for your comfort.

There are bunches of monitor stands out there that will lift the screen up to a more comfortable level. Satechi has a new monitor stand that will lift up your screen or notebook and has some features that make it more like a docking station as well.

The monitor stand is called the Satechi F1 Smart Monitor Stand. The device will lift the screen of your computer or notebook up several inches. It also has a quartet of USB 2.0 ports on the front and jacks for your headphones and mic.

ROCCAT's Kone series of gaming mice are some of the best on the market today, and its Kone Pure Color line allows for optimum gaming performance while breaking the black gaming mouse mold. This week, ROCCAT announced the release of the new Phantom White Kone Pure Color to the line of colorful peripherals.

Much like the other Kone Pure mice, the Phantom White version of the Kone Pure Color features a high-end 8,200 DPI Pro-Aim R3 laser sensor and high quality Omron switches. The mouse includes exclusive ROCCAT Technology such as Easy-Shift[+], Easy-Aim and ROCCAT Talk that ensures you have an edge over the competition that will land you in the top spot at the end of the match.

Today Ozone launched an new mechanical gaming keyboard to its lineup of gaming peripherals. The all new Strike Pro is a mechanical keyboard designed for the serious gamer in mind. The utilization of Cherry MX switches in red, blue, brown, or black flavors lets gamers chose which keystroke profile will give them the edge over their competition.

The Strike Pro features white LED back-lit keys with the gaming specific keys being back-lit by red LEDs for quick and effortless acquisition of gaming keys when gaming in the dark. The Strike Pro also features 30 macros across five profiles, which can be customized to suit your gaming style. Profiles are stored on 64k of internal memory.

Additionally, the keyboard can be configured to have a response time of between 1ms and 16ms. A built-in USB hub and Audio ports are also featured. "For me there is no other option for a keyboard than mechanical, and there is no other option than the Ozone Strike Pro. Cherry MX Switch, HUB & Audio inputs, LED back light, good design ... So, yes, I have many reasons to choose Strike Pro to my sessions as a professional gamer," said Cho "Mata" professional gamer on the Samsung Ozone Team.

Feenix is known for their high-end luxury gaming peripherals and this morning the company added two new items to their collection. The all new 2014 edition Nascita gaming mouse, and Dimora mouse pad truly live up to the company's high-end boutique image. The Nascita features bold curves, and sleek styling, while the Dimora is well refined and appears to be what a high-end mousepad should be.

"Everything in gaming had always looked exactly the same; it was black with loud red or green lights around it. There was no simplicity or elegance to it," says Ashkon Shayani, Creative Director. "Our main goals at Feenix are design and quality. Our instruments deliver the best gaming experience possible and sleek designs that fit right into any home or office."

The Nascita's ergonomic curves provides for a comfortable gaming experience no matter the gamers mouse handling style. "The 2014 Nascita's form factor offers perfect ergonomic feel regardless of whether the user is a palm, claw, or semi-claw gamer," the company said in a press release. The Nascita runs completely driverless, meaning that gamers can take it to any PC they wish and begin gaming instantly. Additionally the mouse retains user configurations without the need to load anything from host software.

SteelSeries is known for its high-performance PC gaming peripherals and today the company added another weapon to its arsenal of frag assisting devices. The all new SteelSeries Rival optical gaming mouse is said to offer "unparalleled" technology based on a new optical sensor that provides unmatched deadly precision.

SteelSeries says that the new Rival optical gaming mouse features the company's proprietary switches that provide ample speed, consistency and durability throughout a lifespan of 30 million clicks. The mouse also features a unique ergonomic design that reduces fatigue during extended gaming sessions, while an anti-sweat rubber coating delivers the perfect gripping surface.

"We've named our newest optical gaming mouse the Rival, because we believe that it meets and surpasses every other optical mouse in its price bracket on the market," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "The new ergonomic shape and state of the art hardware deliver unmatched levels of precision, comfort and durability. Combining this level of hardware with new SteelSeries Engine 3 software, users will find an entirely new customization experience that redefines how a mouse can be configured."

Today ROCCAT released its Power-Grid app to the public in the form of a free download for Android or iOS as the project reaches its open beta phase of development. For those unfamiliar with Power-Grid, the software consist of an app that is ran on a smartphone and pairs up with accompanying software on a host PC running Windows.

Power-Grid basically turns your smartphone into immersive, fully customizable remote control for your PC. This allows the user to take full control of his gaming experience, and adjust system settings, checking hardware specs, and even execute in-game macros from your smartphones touchscreen. Power-Grid can be customized by the user to display only the information relevant to them, and those users can also visit the Power-Grid website to upload and download custom made "Grids" that other players have created.

"Power-Grid opens up a whole new world of opportunities for PC gamers. Finally you are able to connect your smartphone to your gaming environment - it just feels natural and makes perfect sense. Forget about inflexible solutions like keyboards with integrated displays; create your own command center and benefit from this innovative ROCCAT technology," said Rene Korte, ROCCAT founder and CEO.

Earlier this week Roccat releases its highly acclaimed Ryos mechanical gaming keyboard to the US market. Roccat says that the Ryos sets a new standard for Gaming Keyboards and features some innovative features you will only find on the Ryos. ROCCAT has released three varying models including the Ryos MK, Ryos MK Glow, and Ryos MK Pro.

"PC gamers all over the world have been wishing for ROCCAT to come up with a mechanical keyboard - and finally here it is" says René Korte, ROCCAT founder and CEO. "Congratulations to everyone who has been waiting patiently, you are now able to get the most advanced mechanical keyboard on the market".

The Ryos MK is the first board in the series, and features Cherry MX switches. The MK is powered by an ARM Cortex processor which makes the device super responsive. Featuring 2MB of flash memory, the Ryos MK can store over 500 Macros and ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+] and ROCCAT Talk are onboard as well.

Earlier this morning, SteelSeries released two new devices to its massively popular H-series of gaming headsets. The 5Hv3 and 3Hv2 are designed to deliver tournament-grade audio while remaining affordable to everyone in the gaming community.

The SteelSeries 5Hv2 was undoubtedly one of the most popular gaming headsets in the professional gaming arena, and the newly released 5Hv3 update makes everyone's favorite headset even better. SteelSeries says that the new 5Hv3 features the latest high-end audio drivers from SteelSeries and a custom-engineered soundscape to bring you the highest level of audio quality possible. The new headset features a large microphone that retracts into the headset for convenient storage when not in use. Additionally, new ear cups have been designed with comfort in mind.

Up next is the SteelSeries 3Hv2, a budget-friendly headset that has been created for gamers who are looking to experience what SteelSeries has to offer without breaking the bank. The new headset features a compact, affordable design, which makes it the ideal solution for travel, and includes a unique adapter that allows the headset to function with PC, Mac, tablets, and smartphones. The 3Hv2 features next-generation audio drivers, extra padded leather ear cups, and a retractable microphone. The 5Hv3 and 3Hv2 are available for purchase now at electronics retailers everywhere and retail for $79.99 and $39.99, respectively.