The JXD S7100 is a 7 inch Android 2.2 device with built in gaming controllers. Install Mame or another gaming emulator and this would make a great little gaming device. It’s available from isharegifts.com for $139.99. There’s a video on their site showing it in action and it does support English and other languages.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Android, Gaming

JXD S7100 – Android Powered Gaming Device originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 24, 2011 at 11:45 am.

Can’t find a headset/mic combination you like?  Do you have a favorite pair of headphones but no mic?  Wouldn’t it be great to just add a microphone to your own headphones anytime you like?  You may remember my own attempts at using a hot glue gun to attach a microphone to my own comfy headphones…  Fortunately, the AntLion Audio ModMic detachable boom microphone solves this problem.

Oh, THAT'S an antlion

Made in Oregon!

Specs:

• Jack: 3.5mm
• 
Pattern: Omnidirectional
• Sensitivity: -26 ± 3 dB
• Response: 30 Hz–17.5 kHz ± 3 dB
• SNR: 58+ dB
• Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
• Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
• Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
• Max input SPL: 110 dB
• Boom Length: ~5 inches (~12.7 cm, stock), ~6 inches (~15.2 cm, maximum length)
• Clasp Height: 0.5 inches (1.27 cm, attached), 0.2 inches (0.5 cm, detached)
• Microphone Weight (mic and clasp): 4 grams (0.14 ounces)
• Total Weight (mic, clasp, and cable): 20 grams (0.71 ounces)

The NeoClasp magnets have a peel-off adhesive on one side, and a four-pronged “tooth” system that lets you adjust the mic angle.  If you unscrew the cap, you can adjust the length of the mic boom.

Closeup of the NeoClasp magnet

Length adjustment

To attach, simply attach the adhesive NeoClasp magnet to your favorite headphones.  You’ll need a flat surface, since the magnet itself is flat.  In my case, my Sennheiser PX100-II folding headphones don’t have a flat surface, so I cut a tiny piece of double-stick foam tape to do the trick.

Favorite headphones + boom mic = goodness

How does it sound?  Sounds great!  I called up my brothers-in-law, who I usually use to try this sort of stuff out with, and they could not tell I was using something that was essentially completely custom.  Voices sounded almost booming, as if the mic was too close.  The 6mm electret capsule condenser microphone at the end of a 5″ long boom is flexible, so you can move it closer or further away from your mouth.  The cable is a VERY generous 11.5 feet long to reach the back of your computer.

If there’s one thing I would improve on is the design of the magnet “teeth”.  Because there are four teeth, you can only rotate the mic at 90 degree increments.  Perhaps 8 or 16 teeth would have allowed a more usable coarse adjustment for mic-to-mouth alignment, while the bendy bit works for fine tuning.

Now I have no excuse for NOT having my favorite pair of headphones to use for that next Skype session or fragfest!

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Gaming, Headset, microphone, skype, VOIP speaker/mic

AntLion Audio ModMic Detachable Boom Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 23, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Most gamers would agree that having a left and right circle pad is necessary on a game controller.  The problem is that Nintendo released the 3DS with only one circle pad.  It works fine for most games but now game designers are making more complicated games that require a second circle pad.  And that’s why Nintendo decided to make a circle pad attachment for the 3DS.

As you can see from the magazine photo.  The problem with the circle pad attachment is that it’s hideous.  The attachment makes the slick looking 3DS bloated and seemingly uncomfortable to hold.  Plus it looks like the circle pad is smaller which means extended periods of gaming will be uncomfortable.

I just hope this is a prototype version and that Nintendo will make a better looking attachment.  Any Japanese readers want to help translate and summarize that magazine article?

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: 3DS, Gaming, Nintendo

Nintendo’s 3DS Circle Pad Attachment originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 9, 2011 at 10:00 am.

The R.A.T. 9 from Cyborg is a 2.4Ghz wireless, 5600 dpi wireless mouse that offers a crazy amount of customization for serious gamers. First of all, you get 3 interchangeable pinkie grips and 3 palm rests. The weight of the mouse can be customized by adding or removing one of the five 6-gram weight discs. There are also 4 dpi settings, 5 programmable buttons and 3 cyborg modes. If that’s not all, it looks cool as heck. The only down side is the price – $149.99. Ouch.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, mice

Cyborg R.A.T. 9 – Gaming Mouse on Steroids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 11, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Coming only two weeks after Ten One Design announced that their the Fling Gaming Controller was going to be available in a smaller version for smartphones, ThinkGeek announces that they now have a mini version of their Joystick-It controller too. The new mini Joystick-It is available now through ThinkGeek for $17.99.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Gaming, iPhone

Joystick-It iPhone Gaming Controller Mini Version Now Available originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 17, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Smartphones with slide out keyboards are not unusual. But the same can’t be said about a smartphone with a slide out gaming controller. The Sony Xperia PLAY (aka the Playstation Phone) from Sony Ericsson and Verizon Wireless is an Android powered smartphone for those of you that love to play games but aren’t so thrilled with using the touch screen to do so. This phone’s Playstation style controller is meant to give you true gaming feel, but let’s see if it’s just a gimmick or the real thing.

Note: Some of the images in this review can be clicked to view a larger size.

Hardware Specs and Design

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon II 1GHz CPU with Adreno 205 GPU
Networks: CDMA 2000 and EVDOrev0/EVDOrevA
Operating system: Android 2.3.2 (Gingerbread)
Display: 4.0” Capacitive multi–touch screen, 480×854 FWVGA display
Camera: 5.1MP, front facing VGA camera
Memory: 8GB pre–installed memory card (approx 2GB used for pre–loaded games), Up to 32GB microSD support
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: v2.01+ EDR
Battery: 1500 mAh
Dimensions: 4.68” x 2.44” x .63” inches
Weight: 6.17oz

The Xperia PLAY has a very shiny Black plastic shell with chrome buttons and sides. The front of the phone has the display with function buttons below it. The display is crisp and vivid. It’s not as bright as other phones I’ve tried lately though. It has more pixels than other 4″ displays. At 480×854, it gives you a wide screen display which is great for watching videos.

The back of the phone has the camera lens and LED flash.

On the top edge of the phone, you’ll find the power button with the built in notification LED. The LED will flash Green when you have an email, SMS message, missed call, etc. The location of this status LED seems odd to me since it wouldn’t normally be visible to you if you place the phone face up on your desk.

There is a micro USB port for charging and syncing on the Left side, along with the earphone jack.

If we look on the opposite side, we find the gaming controller’s shoulder buttons (more about the controller in a sec) and the volume controller in the center. I hate the location of the volume button… It’s kind of difficult to press when you’re talking on the phone as the screen tends to slide in that direction when you press the volume button while holding the phone in one hand. It’s even more difficult to press when you have the gaming controller open and are playing a game.

The Xperia PLAY looked very familiar to me when I first removed it from the box. Why? It reminded me of my Motorola Droid X with the four physical buttons below the display. The button layout isn’t quite the same though and one small disappointment is that the icons for the buttons do not light up. This makes it slightly difficult to see which button to press when you’re in a dim or dark environment.

Let’s Play a Game!

The Xperia PLAY is a normal Android smartphone until you slide over the display and expose the built in gaming controller. I’m not a Playstation person, but even I recognize the Square, Triangle, Circle and X buttons that we see here. Out of the box, there are 7 games installed on the phone that was sent to me for review:

Asphalt 6
Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior
Crash Bandicot
Madden NFL 11
Star Battalion
The Sims 3
Tetris (touch screen mode only)

Whenever you slide the display over to reveal the gaming controller, it will automatically launch the phone into gaming mode. This happens even when the phone is idle, so you won’t have to unlock it to play games.

I played with all the built in games and found the graphics to be smooth and sharp. The addition of the enhanced graphics processor and the built in controller really make playing games on this phone feel like playing games on a dedicated handheld gaming device.

The controller feels responsive and the touch pad located in the center is a cool feature which can be used instead of the D-pad on the left. The touch pad doesn’t work with all games though… The same is true for the controller itself. You can’t use it with every game you download. It will work with all the Xperia PLAY games of course, but random generic games through the app market will be hit and miss.

Xperia PLAY games are purchased through the V Cast App store. Prices vary and some offer a monthly rental or can be purchased outright. Every time I check for new games there seem to be one or two additional added since I last looked. Right now there are 31 titles available.

Camera

The 5.1 megapixel camera does an above average job snapping pix. Thumbs up for its macro capability, which is always a feature that’s important to me. Here are two sample images. Click to view the full size version.

If I had any requests with regards to the camera, it would be to allow the use of one of the controller’s shoulder buttons to double as a shutter button.

The Xperia PLAY is great for games, but what about calls?

First and foremost, the Sony Xperia PLAY is a phone. So it has to be able to make and receive calls. No worries, this phone has no problems in that regard. The only thing I’ve noticed is that it doesn’t seem to have quite as strong a signal as my Droid X, when comparing the number of bars. But that said, I’ve not had it drop any calls. Call audio quality and volume are very good on both sides of calls. So as a phone, I would have no problems recommending it.

Overall Performance

With its 1GHz processor, this phone is as snappy as my Droid X as far as scrolling through apps, launching apps, etc. Battery life seems to be on par with other 1GHz phones I’ve reviewed. That means you will want to charge it every night if you are a normal user. I guess that’s a cross we have to bear until mobile phones start using fuel cells

If you’re an Android fan that just happens to be a gamer, the Sony Xperia PLAY is a great choice. It really turns your phone into a handheld gaming device. There aren’t a ton of PLAY games available just yet, but with over 30 and more seeming to show up every day, it has a good start. All I can say is that I wish there was a slide out controller like this one for the iPhone. I’m jealous!

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Android, Gaming, Sony

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Android Smartphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2011 at 5:38 pm.

Last month, I reviewed the Fling Gaming Controller from Ten One Design. I found it to be a great way to improve playability for some games on the iPad and Android tablets. It adds real joystick feel to games that use an on-screen virtual controller. The only downside to the Fling was that it was too large to use on smartphone. Ten One Design has solved that problem with the new Fling Mini. The Mini is actually small enough that you can fit two on an iPhone’s display. Right now the Fling Mini is available for pre-order for $24.95. You get 2 in a pack and they will be available for shipping mid July.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: Android, Gaming, iOS

The Fling Gaming Controller Goes Mini for Smartphones originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 3, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

Arctic Cooling has released a series of audio gear under the label Arctic Sound, and I get the chance to try out three of their offerings- behind-the-ear Bluetooth headphones (P311), big ‘ear cans’ with microphone (P301), and a USB gamer headset (P531).

The silver-grey packaging motif Arctic Sound is using is nice, but the real sign that this is going to be a high-end product are the little touches like the nice molded case for the P311.

The short version is these are all good units- great sound, great comfort, great build. Lets look at them more closely.

P311 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones ($37.95 MSRP). These are a behind-the-head style set of, well, stereo Bluetooth headphones. They include an ‘invisible microphone’, travel case, USB to mini-USB cable, and instructions.

You can see the controls on the earpiece.

While I am not a fan of this style, I have to say that these are the most comfortable I have found of this type. They are easy to work with- they connected to my Android phone quickly and reliably. The company claims a typical Bluetooth range, and there is a bit of typical wireless sound degredation but all in all this is a nice set.

The right side unit has all of the controls- the mini-USB jack, the ‘multi-function button’ in the middle (with the phone icon), and four buttons- vol. up/down and forward/back. The placement and usage is fairly logical. A long press to the ‘phone’ button toggles it on and off- a blue LED indicates that it is on and the signal status.

The vol. and skip buttons only work with some devices- iPhone 3G ad 3GS, iTouch and iPad, but not with my Android (sniff).

As a phone headset, it supports voice dialing, etc. like many other hands-free systems. I found the voice quality to be OK- somewhat better than more earpieces and the speakerphone of my phone.

With all this good stuff, my big question is that I am not sure when to use it. It is not quite small enough for routine carry, and I’d rather not use headphones when driving.

P301 Professional Headset ($26.95 MSRP). This is a big, comfortable rig with a wide headband, thick ear cushions that completely surround the ear, two gold-plated plugs, an in-line volume control with pocket clip, lots of size settings, and a nice little slide-out microphone.

The techno-specs are:

• Frequency response: 12 Hz -24k Hz
• Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• Drive unit: Ø50mm

Shown with microphone 'boom' extended

The ads claim deep bass and crisp highs- but don’t most audio ads? This set does deliver great sound- music sounds about as well through the headphones as it does through my Bose radio- great sound for the price!

Using it as a calling headset with Google Voice was comfortable and the sound quality for both the mike and headphones was very good. Of course, my HP Mini 1000 Netbook shares a mike and headset jack- D’oh!

This has become my ‘go to’ set for use at home. While it is not sound cancelling, the padding is thick enough I can listen to my stuff while my wife listens to hers and we don’t disturb each other at all. The wide headband, big padded cups, and the low weight of only 8 ounces makes it a really, really comfortable unit to wear even for a long time.

P531 5.1 Channel Gaming USB Headset ($66.55 MSRP). This is one fancy headset- far too fancy for a simple guy like me. Most of my computer gaming is playing Spider Solitaire, which apparently does not support 5.1 channel sound so I loaned them to my game guy who actually plays the sorts of games that use this sort of technology.

I wanted a photo of my game guy wearing them while in a full 'Game Rage', but this will have to do!

The P531 in-line controller

This ‘more than a pound’ monster features 4 drivers in each full-ear earcup- front, center, surrounding, and sub-woofer- as well as vibrational units! A big boom mike, USB plug, an in-line volume and balance control and noise suppression padding complete the package.

If you want the techno-specs, you’ll have to go to the website- each set of the 4 drivers has different, tuned specifications.

My game guy reports that the sound is fantastic with good 3D sound imasging, and that the unit was comfortable to wear for longer periods. I could not pry it off him long enough for a more detailed review.

I am not an audio-head. When I buy speakers or headphones, I try to find something I like, but I also keep a close eye on price. These headphones (especially the P301) easily satisfy my goals of good sound, good comfort, and good price.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Gaming Gear, Portable and Console Gaming, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Gaming, headphone

3 Arctic (Cooling) Sound Headphones Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 21, 2010 at 10:48 am.

If you much prefer the over-the-head type of headset, skip this review.  I’m one of those people.  I wear glasses and I never found the behind-the-ear style compelling enough to try.  But try I did.

The Logitech H760 wireless USB headset is another stereo headset and mic combo that works wirelessly with your Mac or PC via USB dongle.

Specs:

• Connection: 2.4 GHz RF
• Range: up to 40 feet (12 meters)
• Audio stream: 48 kHz
• Battery life: up to 6 hours
• Charging connection: full-speed USB
• Charge time: 2.5 hours or less (longer when in use)

You get the headset, USB transceiver dongle, micro USB cable for headset charging (charger not included) and a short USB extender for the dongle.  You also get a single-sheet fold out instruction page.

The H760 charges via microUSB connection.  An LED lets you know the charge status.

This is the USB bit that plugs into your computer.  It’s about the size of your typical USB flash drive.

The headset adjusts (telescoping) in the back of the band.  Other than the flexibility of the band itself, this is the only headworn adjustment you get.  The mic boom itself is flexible.

You’ll find all the controls on one earpiece.  This includes track control, play/pause, power and volume.

The microphone boom folds out of the way.  This mutes the microphone.  Very handy!

Microphone folded in, muted

Microphone extended and live

The earpads are covered in your typical, spongy foam.  They do not appear to be user replaceable.  They also feel a bit spartan.

USER IMPRESSIONS

Incoming audio sounded fine.  Nothing “enormous”, just adequate.  No complaints with outgoing audio, either.  Thankfully, the microphone boom is very flexible which gives you a wide range of fine tuning.

But for me, it’s uncomfortable.  It’s not something I’d want to wear for hours.  I’m not sure if it’s because I wear glasses, or if it’s the design of the headband.

However, if you prefer the style, it’s worth looking in to.  It’s very lightweight and easy to use.

If you do NOT like the behind-the-ear style and are thinking about it, don’t.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Gaming, Headset

Logitech H760 Wireless USB Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 4, 2010 at 10:53 am.

I wouldn’t say that I’m a neat freak, but I like an uncluttered house. That’s not saying that my house isn’t cluttered, because it is… except for my basement. It’s been newly remodeled and is the role model for the rest of the house. If you need a kick start to cleaning up some the clutter in your own home, how about starting with your gaming gear. If you are like most gaming geeks, you probably have games, controllers and consoles scattered willy nilly all over your bedroom or family room. LevelUp Ottomans give you a nice looking piece of furniture to store all your gaming gear. There are three different versions, which are constructed of solid wood with a faux-leather covering. Prices start at $29.99 for the ottomans, with $19.99 for the optional storage inserts. You can find LevelUp products at Kohl’s, Walmart and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Home Tech, News

Tagged: Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets, Storage

Video Game Storage – LevelUp Ottomans originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 30, 2010 at 10:36 am.

As a mobile gadget freak, I don’t go anywhere without my iPhone. Now XBox fans don’t have to leave their favorite console behind when they travel. They can use the GAEMS Suitcase, which turns any XBox into a portable (sorta) gaming station. It’s not just a carrying case, the suitcase houses a 15-inch 720p LCD and speakers in the lid. It will be available in Q4 for an estimated price of $250.

[Via GadgetReview]

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets, XBox

Gaming on the go with the GAEMS Suitcase originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2010 at 9:17 pm.

When it comes to headsets, I’m really picky.  In 2004 when I started playing on-line co-op games with my younger brothers in-law, I shopped around for various stereo headsets with microphones for gaming.  They were all either too uncomfortable, or had poor outgoing audio.  Eventually, I took drastic measures and made my own, and I’ve been extremely happy for many years.

So when I came across the new Plantronics .Audio 476 DSP headset, my expectations were low.  But to be fair, I gave it try.  Let’s take a look.

• Intuitive folding design for on-the-go convenience
• DSP provides wideband acoustic echo cancellation for clear calls
• Digital equalizer optimizes 24-bit hi-fi stereo sound for enhanced listening
• Noise-canceling microphone for clear conversations
• Soft foam ear pads and lightweight materials for a comfortable fit
• USB connection provides true plug-and-play ease
• Easy-to-use inline controls for volume and mic mute
• Cable length:  2 meters
• Speaker driver size;  32mm
• Speaker frequency response:  20Hz – 20kHz
• Speaker impedance:  32 Ω
• Microphone frequency response:  100Hz – 10kHz

Packaging

Headset unboxed

In-line remote with volume and mic mute toggle

Closeup of headband

The outer side of the boom microphone

Inside view of the microphone

Boom mic is flexible

Showdown! Home made Sennheiser/Boom headset on left, Plantronics on right

But how do they stack up against my Franken-Headset?  First, the specs (parenthesis for the Plantronics):

• Frequency response 12Hz–38kHz (Plantronics: 20Hz – 20kHz)
• Speaker impedance 300 Ω (Plantronics 32 Ω)
• Microphone frequency response: 50Hz-20kHz (Plantronics: 100Hz – 10kHz)

The headphones are the Sennheiser HD 580 from roughly the early 1990s, and cost $300-400 when new.  They are super comfortable and do not hurt after hours of wearing them.  The microphone is unique.  It’s from UmeVoice theBoom, cannibalized from a Model V4 headset.  What’s special about theBoom microphones is that they provide superior noise cancellation without any battery-operated DSP circuitry.

The UmeVoice theBoom mic is attached via lots of messy hot glue

Yes, it's really a higher-end (circa early '90s) Sennheiser HD 580 set of headphones

Behold the super cushy around-the-ear velvety goodness!

I’ve created a video clip so you can judge for yourself.

Click to download movie (.m4v file at 21.7MB)

I was quite surprised that the listening quality through the headphones was quite good.  Clarity and music listening was satisfying when compared to the mighty Sennheisers.  The microphone picked up my voice clearly, although it picked up a tad bit more background noise vs. the customized theBoom microphone.

Plus, the 32 ohm impedance of the Plantronics meant that I didn’t have to crank the volume as high to get an acceptable listening volume.

Although my homebrew Sennheiser headset is by far more comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions, the Plantronics wasn’t too bad, either.  Plus the Plantronics doesn’t have the rat’s nest of cords that come with my handiwork, nor does it have the fancy in-line remote for volume and mute.  A very clean package with good performance at a reasonable price.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Gaming, Headset

Plantronics .Audio 476 DSP USB Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 4, 2010 at 11:00 am.

Ever have a yearning for those 80′s-style arcade games, but still want to stay on the cutting edge?  Enter the iCade iPad Arcade Game Cabinet.  Invented by those clever gadgetophiles at ThinkGeek, the iCade is a handcrafted, wooden, desktop-sized gaming console that allows you to slide in your iPad, launch the free iCade app (available April 3 in the App Store) and kick it old school with your long-lost pals Donkey Kong, Q-Bert, Dig Dug and more (games available separately).  With full-sized joystick and buttons, it also includes an integrated 30-pin Apple dock connector for charging and a 10W USB power adapter for juice hookup.  $149.99.

Sorry… this was an April Fools day post….

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Gaming, iPad accessory, Video Games

Old school iPad gaming with the iCade originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 5, 2010 at 8:00 am.

Just looking at this joystick brings back memories of playing Pacman, Donkeykong and Pitfall Harry. The Clear Classic USB Joystick from Retro Thing is modeled after the iconic joystick that us 40 somethings remember from the 70′s and 80′s. It plugs into a USB port to play retro games on a modern PC or Mac. The stick is transparent plastic with a blue circuit board and a blue LED that illuminates the stick from within. The stick is a limited edition item and sells for $29.95, which includes the stick, numbered certificate of authenticity, USB cable and CD game collection including the Stella emulator and over 80 games.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, Joystick, Spotlight Gadgets, USB

Nostalgic joystick brings back gaming memories of your youth originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 29, 2010 at 7:41 am.

The Peregrine glove is a hand-worn controller that captures gestures, allowing users to play Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux games by simply touching their fingers together. It has 18 Touch Points and 3 Activator Pads that allow for over 30 user-programmable actions. The glove is currently only available in three sizes for the left hand as it has been designed for gamers who use their right hand to mouse, and their left hand to type. You can pre-order now for $129.99

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets

The Peregrine glove lets your fingers do the fragging originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 16, 2009 at 12:38 pm.

TOOBs are 3 x 6 foot half dome movie screens that claim to provide an immersive movie and game playing experience. You can buy just the screen for $1590 or go with the $2560 package that includes a Mitsubishi HC1600 1280p DLP Home Theater Projector, and Logitech G51 Surround Sound 5.1 speaker system. Hmmmm, I think I’ll just stick with my junkie old 65″ RPTV for the time being. Jeez, do people really spend that kind of money on products like these?

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, Movies, Spotlight Gadgets

Think out of the box with a T.O.O.B originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2009 at 12:36 pm.

The Cyber Snipa Silencer Mouse is a fully customizable laser gaming mouse that has been designed specifically for pro gamers. Its DPI can be adjusted on the fly from 100-5000 and it has advanced macro features that allow you to record macros, which can then be assigned to any of the 9 customizable gamer buttons. With 7 gaming profiles available, you can fully customize the mouse to include over 63 commands. Other features include a customizable weight system that can be adjusted (up to 29.4 grams) by removing one or more of the 6 available weights. There are also interchangeable ergonomically designed rubber side grips with finger grooves. The price for all of this seems very reasonable at $54.99.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming, Mouse, Spotlight Gadgets

The hotrod of mice – Cyber Snipa Silencer Gaming Mouse originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2009 at 8:18 am.

Think you would make a better Sarah Connor?  Or maybe you see yourself as a natural addition to Mad Men or Sesame Street?  With the Yoostar system, it’s possible to insert yourself as a character from one of your favorite movies and then share your scene-chewing with others.    Think of it as Rock Band for the movie-loving crowd.  The  system includes a web cam, portable green screen, remote, and 14 preloaded movie scenes.  Additional scenes cost between $1.99-$2.99 and the selection of available movies/TV shows is varied with a little something for everyone in the family (Rocky, Psycho, Saw 4, Wizard of Oz. Blade Runner, etc)  Most of the movies include several scenes to choose from, but for some reason Ferris Bueller is lacking any scene with Ferris Bueller (c’mon– not even Danke Schoen!?)!  The Yoostar website contains an area for users to upload their masterpieces, and the compositing does seem pretty decent (compared to web cam projection games, ie playstation, xbox) with just a little bit of visible corruption around the edges.  The software also includes widgets for posting scenes on Facebook/Myspace.  Yoostar has a $169.95 retail price through the manufacturer and is currently PC compatible only, but a Mac version is scheduled for the end of the year.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Gaming Gear, Kid Gadgets

Tagged: Gaming, Movies, Spotlight Gadgets

Be in the movies with Yoostar originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 7, 2009 at 5:01 pm.

Oh wow, I really want one of these handhelds. It looks like a retro gamer’s dream. It has emulation software for MAME (retro arcade games), Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore VIC20/64/128, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, NeoGeo and support for Flash based games. The GPX2 Wiz features a QVGA OLED Touch Screen, 1GB of memory and a SD slot. It can all be yours through ThinkGeek for $179.99.

Filed in categories: Portable and Console Gaming

Tagged: Emulator, Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets

GPX2 Wiz – An Amiga, Atari ST, C64 and more in your pocket originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 15, 2009 at 2:52 pm.

Augmented reality advertising is taking off. Do you remember when Dave and his son Jacen discovered the cool new 3D model display feature at their local LEGO store? And then there was the 3D model of the starship Enterprise for the new Star Trek movie. Well, if you can’t get enough of this sort of thing, here is another one for you to check out. It’s an augmented reality movie poster for the upcoming Gamer movie featuring Gerard Butler. I had not heard of this movie, but from watching the trailer, it looks pretty good and I look forward to seeing it.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear

Tagged: Gaming, Movies

More augmented reality niftyness originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 9, 2009 at 5:10 pm.

Microsoft continues their penetration into the PC Gaming hardware fray with their newest release, the Sidewinder X8 mouse. Wireless peripherals in PC gaming have long been a no-no, promising lag and instant death. Will this wireless mouse change that notion?

I recently reviewed the Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse, which is the wired sister to this X8 model. I was very impressed with its features, feel, and performance, and I was more than anxious to get my sweaty gaming paws all over what Microsoft is touting as the best tracking wireless mouse made. Needless to say I was ecstatic when Julie scored a review model for me to try out. Let’s get to the specs!

Features

Hardware Specifications

Package Contents

Test Machine

Setup

The first thing you have to do is install the included rechargeable battery into the mouse. This is done by removing the bottom cover and sliding the battery in at an angle. Once in, the mouse came to life with at least a little bit of juice to get things going. There are three sets of feet included to configure the grip the mouse has or doesn’t have based on the surface you will utilize. These feet are stored in the round charging station and accessory holder. These are easily switched out per the provided instructions.

As in my previous Sidewinder review, this mouse utilizes the Intellipoint software that integrates nicely with the built in windows mouse configuration control panel. I like this implementation because it doesn’t add a 3rd party utility that can get a little buggy come game time. Simply throw the CD in and let Windows do its thing, then plug in the USB charging station, and turn the mouse on. Within Intellipoint you can of course configure your mouse buttons for different operations and set the DPI, which on this mouse, is a configurable super wide scale from 250 to 4000. Needless to say, you should play with a combination of DPI settings and in-game sensitivity settings to get just the right feel.

I hate to keep referring back to my original Sidewinder review, as this mouse is a somewhat different beast, but I have to say I’m just a tad disappointed in the physical feel of this mouse, especially considering how much I love the original. It’s not that it’s bad compared to other mice, it’s just not as plush as it’s sibling. It is a tad heavy, which I prefer, but that’s without the added extra weights included in the original Sidewinder. The surfaces of this mouse are pretty much what you see on the shelves at Best Buy. It’s plastic. The original Sidewinder has a nice soft rubbery textured surface that I find I am missing somewhat. They covered the charging station in this surface, why not the mouse?

Microsoft BlueTrack Technology

The BlueTrack technology implemented in this device is something I had not heard a lot about, but after doing a little research, I’ve got to say I’m very impressed with the development. Briefly, a blurb from the BlueTrack Website explains:

This new tracking technology—available only from Microsoft—lets you use a mouse anywhere and work with confidence on more surfaces than ever before. BlueTrack combines the power of optical with the precision of laser, allowing you to mouse on virtually any surface—from a granite counter top to an airport bench to your living-room carpet.

I could go into great depth here, because it’s actually very interesting, but instead, how about watching a couple of brief videos? The first video is a quick intro into the features of BlueTrack, the second video is by the inventor of the technology, and gives a nice solid background on the development of it.

I did try this mouse on a variety of surfaces in my home, granite counter tops, hardwood floors, the wooden desk surface, the dining table, the wall, and even the carpet. The mouse worked great on all of them, even on the carpet, which I find somewhat odd and pretty amazing all at the same time.

Performance

This is where this mouse shines. The performance is great. By far and away it is the best wireless mouse I’ve ever had my hands on. The biggest compliment I can give it is that it performs just as accurately and acutely as its wired sibling. Its precision is surgical, and its speed can be set to borderline insane. Like its wired sibling, you can swing this mouse around for a shot so fast it will make you dizzy, but you can pull up and zero in a kill just as quickly.

Shift on the Fly DPI, implemented by the three buttons on top of the mouse, make it easy to switch from precise pixel level control to head spinning whirling in an instant.

The two side buttons are situated at inverting angles which is actually more comfortable and intuitive, I find, than on the original Sidewinder. The buttons don’t protrude from the body as much, but the different angles let you know immediately where you are and make for fast switching and clicking between them.

The scroll wheel, while not as wide as the original, does do the tilt, which adds a nice dimension to gaming. I set mine to leaning in Team Fortress 2, and found I immediately liked that feature. The detents are pronounced, and the machined surface of the metal wheel gives some nice traction.

The implementation of the LCD Screen, Precision Booster, Macro recording features, and Quick Turn found in the (OK I KNOW I KEEP REFERRING TO IT) review of the original, really give it some sweet extras.

I was never able to measure the touted 30 hours of straight use, my gut can no longer handle Red Bull and Twinkies as sustenance, but I never had a problem after 6 straight hours of use, and noticed no degradation in performance during that time. But when it’s game over, one of my favorite features kicks in.

The magnetic cord which couples on the underside of the mouse to charge it, almost seems to reach out and find its home in the docking bay of the mouse automatically. Microsoft did an excellent job of making this mouse easy to charge and easy to disconnect from charging. And as a bonus, if you forget to charge after a few sessions and the mouse goes dead, simply unwind some more of the cord, leave the mouse plugged up, and keep on going.

Conclusion: Game-O-licious

Dont’ try it, buy it. While I miss the posh and sophisticated surface on the original Sidewinder and its metal buttons and extra wide scroll wheel, the wireless freedom and performance of this mouse more than make up for it. I notice absolutely zero lag or tracking degradation vs. a wired performance mouse.

It performs so well in fact, that I’m not sure this BlueTrack hocus-pocus doesn’t let this wireless mouse perform better than the wired Sidewinder, the spec says it does, and it seems to ring true. It is deadly accurate. The addition of tilt wheel also adds a nice dimension I’ve not used in-game before. The huge feature set and configuration variables make it very customizable.

Would I go out and spend the money to upgrade from the original? That is one tough call. I love the original, but the wireless freedom of the X8 is so very nice. What I do know is that my new X8 is upstairs, calling me to undock it from it’s charging cord, set it free, hop online, and seriously own some newbs with a very serious piece of hardware.

Happy Fragging!

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Gaming Gear

Tagged: Gaming, Microsoft, Mouse

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Wireless Gaming Mouse Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2009 at 9:55 am.

Recession got you down? Weather outlook not good for your locale? Can’t upgrade that video card yet? Can’t pump the Buick full of liquid gold and head to Wally World for the holiday weekend? Well fret not dear friends, Good Old Games has you covered! Round up the kids around that Packard Bell, break out that old Logitech racing wheel, save the environment, and burn up all the digital gas your thumbs can handle with your choice of three classic best selling racers!

As always, the classic PC games offered by GOG are good to go on XP and Vista, and mine have worked on the Win7 beta. Go re-live some arcade action in a time where the pixel ruled. Get all the deets here! Happy Racing!

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets

GOG.com is at it Again! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2009 at 10:36 am.

Do you have a box of old 8-bit Nindendo cartridges from the 80′s? Wanna relive countless hours of childhood fun? You’re in luck because ThinkGeek is selling a $49.99 color NES handheld system. It runs on 4 AA batteries and is guaranteed to make you the envy of all your geek buddies.

Filed in categories: Portable and Console Gaming

Tagged: Gaming, Nintendo, Spotlight Gadgets

8-Bit NES Handheld Gaming System originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 13, 2009 at 11:41 am.

The folks at FpsBrain claim that their FpsBrain capsules support gamers nutrition and optimizes capacity of reaction and concentration. While their latest product FpsBrain Zoom strengthen and protect gamer’s eyes when they are under particular strain. The ingredients of each include:

FpsBrain: L-tyrosine, L-glutamine, Choline, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Niacin amide, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1

FpsBrain Zoom: Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E, Niacin Amide, Calcium Pantothenat, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin A, Zinc, Beta-Carotine, Bilberry Anthocyanines, Taurine, Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin

Quite a few of the ingredients look like the same things you’d find in normal multi-vitamins that you can buy at Walmart. Each bottle contains 60 capsules for 19.90 Euros (approximately $27.00) which seems really pricey to me. FpsBrain offers a 110% money back guarantee though. Do you think that popping pills can improve your pwnage skills?

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Drugs, Gaming, Spotlight Gadgets

Performance enhancing drugs for gamers? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 6, 2009 at 9:03 am.

This INSANELY equipped Gaming Notebook from ASUS is going for $150 off right now, and they’re throwing in a gaming mouse and Targus made backpack. With Blu-ray, dual 320GB 7200rpm drives, 512MB Discrete Nvidia 9800M GS graphics, and 4GB of DDR, heavy-duty gaming is always within arms reach. Netbook Shmetbook! You won’t be toting this beast around campus, but your online foes will toting around a few bruises when you crank this puppy up. Check the skinny here. Mine’s due in today and the review is forthcoming!

Filed in categories: Laptops and Gear

Tagged: Gaming

ASUS G50Vt Gaming Notebook On Sale originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 30, 2009 at 2:33 pm.