Genius Releases DeathTaker Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: February 1, 2012 05:09PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Genius has officially released its DeathTaker mouse, geared toward MMO and RTS gamers. We were able to get a quick look at the DeathTaker at the Genius booth at CES, and it looked promising. The mouse features nine buttons, and the Scorpion UI allows gamers to store macros for up to 55 keys in five profiles. The SCGii engine provides for independent adjustment of the X and Y axis from 100 to 5700 DPI. A removable weight system features six weights that each weight 4.5 grams. Gamers are also presented with cosmetic options, with a 16 million RGB backlighting system. The mouse will retail for $79.90.

Mad Catz Begins Cyborg M.M.O. 7 Gaming Mouse Pre-Orders

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: January 31, 2012 01:07AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Mad Catz has begun pre-orders for its Cyborg M.M.O. gaming mouse. The new gaming mouse offers an adjustable DPI setting from 100DPI to 6400DPI (in 25DPI steps) to cater for all gaming uses. Other features include a dynamic 1000Hz polling rate, up to 50G of acceleration and a tracking speed of up to 6m/sec. Five six-gram weights allow gamers to customise the weight of the mouse, while Teflon feet provide a smooth tracking experience. As the name suggests, the Cyborg M.M.O 7 is aimed at MMO players. To do this the mouse features 13 programmable  buttons, a three-position MMO mode switch and a two-position MMO shift button providing gamers with up to 78 in-game commands. Other customization options include interchangeable pinkie grips/palm rests and the ability to change the length or width of the mouse. The Mad Catz Cyborg M.M.O. 7 gaming mouse can be pre-ordered now for US$129.99 here.

Corsair Vengeance Keyboards and Mice Now Available

Category: Input Devices
Posted: December 16, 2011 08:30PM
Author: bp9801

It was not too long ago that Corsair announced its new line of Vengeance gaming keyboards and mice. Originally, Corsair was planning for the new products to be available in October, but that did not happen. Now, however, Corsair has announced the immediate availability of the new Vengeance gaming keyboards and mice. The K90 and M90 are designed for MMO and RTS players, while the K60 and M60 are designed with FPS gamers in mind. The K60 keyboard features Cherry MX Red switches, textured WASD keys, and a contoured left wrist rest. Those Cherry MX Red switches should help you frag the enemy quicker, as will the 1ms report rate and 20 key rollover. The M60 mouse features a 5700DPI Avago Technologies LaserStream gaming sensor, an aluminum unibody design with adjustable center of gravity, programmable lift detection, and a Sniper button that drops the DPI resolution when pressed to allow for more precise accuracy.

The K90 keyboard also features Cherry MX Red switches, 20 key rollover, 1ms report rate, and blue LED backlighting that can be set at three different intensities. There are also 18 macro keys on the left side that are fully programmable, plus you can toggle between three different profiles for up to 54 different macros. The M90 mouse has the same 5700DPI sensor, but it has 15 programmable buttons to store your macros for the latest MMO or RTS game. The macros can be stored in six profiles directly on the mouse, or you can use the Vengeance software to switch between even more profiles.

The Vengeance K90, K60, M90, and M60 keyboards and mice are available today. The K90 costs $129, the K60 at $109, the M90 at $79, and lastly the M60 at $69.

ROCCAT Products Coming to America

Category: Input Devices
Posted: December 15, 2011 04:55PM
Author: Nick Harezga

ROCCAT is a manufacturer of computer peripheral devices, such as mice and keyboards, based in Hamburg, Germany. The company has been around since 2007, but I haven't heard of them until very recently. Perhaps that will change soon, as ROCCAT is launching its gaming device line in the United States, with the big reveal coming up at CES in January. The devices already enjoy a great deal of popularity across the ocean in both Europe and Asia, and hopefully that will translate to the US. The company will be showing off the Isku Illuminated Keyboard and the Kone[+] mouse. Both of these devices look great, and with the ROCCAT Talk technology they can even interact with the other. Hopefully OCC can get a good look at these devices at CES this year, be on the lookout for whatever we have to report. For now, be sure to check out our review of the ROCCAT Kova[+] gaming mouse. The company is also sponsoring a contest on its Facebook page, so check it out to have a chance to win some cool prizes. 

Logitech Unveils Modern Warfare 3 Branded Gaming Keyboard and Mouse

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: October 28, 2011 10:22PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Logitech has unveiled a special edition gaming keyboard and mouse to commemorate the upcoming launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. First up is the Logitech G105 gaming keyboard, the official keyboard of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The G105 features green LED backlit keys and six programmable G-keys for macros, along with media keys for easy video/sound control. A gaming mode switch also disables the Windows and context menu keys for uninterrupted gaming sessions. Next up is the G9X gaming mouse, offering movement of up to 165 inches per second, up to 5700 DPI and a polling rate of 1000Hz. Other features include custom LED lighting and adjustable weights up to 28g. The Logitech G105 gaming keyboard and G9X gaming mouse should be available in time for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's release, retailing for US$79.99 and $99.99 respectively.

Pad, Nail, Knuckle, Tip: Getting the Most Out of a Touchscreen with TapSense

Category: Input Devices, Science & Technology
Posted: October 21, 2011 06:53AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*

Touchscreens, especially those with multitouch capabilities, open up interfaces to user control methods mouse and keyboard cannot duplicate, such as pinch-to-zoom. Now researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are taking touchscreens to another level by giving devices the abilities to distinguish between the different parts of the finger users can use to interact with TapSense. By then mapping certain commands to the different parts of the finger, such as right-click to the knuckle and backspace to the nail, onscreen controls can be removed, giving more room to the information of interest to the use. The researchers use a microphone for distinguishing the parts of the finger by the sounds they make when impacting the screen. Unfortunately the microphones on phones with touchscreens are not adequate for TapSense, as they are designed for voices and not what the software needs.

Cooler Master Introduces QuickFire Rapid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: October 19, 2011 03:08AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Cooler Master today introduced the latest member to its CM Storm range of gaming peripherals, the QuickFire Rapid mechanical gaming keyboard. The new keyboard features durable rubber-coated keycaps with laser-marked symbols, along with Cherry MX switches to ensure minimal lag. A choice of either Cherry MX Brown, Blue or Back switches will be available subject to regional availability. The Windows key is also disabled in game mode allowing uninterrupted gaming. Other features include a 1ms response time, a removable braided USB cable and cable-routing grooves for easy cable management. The QuickFire Rapid mechanical gaming keyboard will be available next month for around US$79.99, including an extra set of keycaps.

Thermaltake To Release New Gaming Products

Category: Input Devices
Posted: October 18, 2011 05:34PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Thermaltake has announced that it has partnered with one of its sponsored StarCraft 2 players, White-Ra, to release a line of new gaming products. The Ukrainian is one of the nicest and most creative players in the professional StarCraft 2 scene, and these products will be geared toward all the gamers out there. The official reveal will be made on Sunday at Howie’s Game Shack in Buena Park, CA. White-Ra will be on hand to introduce all the new products, answer questions, and meet the fans.

Taking the Screen Out of Touchscreen

Category: Input Devices, Science & Technology
Posted: October 18, 2011 06:25AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft have together created a new way to interface with electronics, called OmniTouch. By combining a projector with a depth sensor, similar to the Microsoft Kinect, a display can be placed on any surface, including curved ones, and interacted with, as though it were a massive multitouch screen. At present the device is placed on the user’s shoulder, making it less than ideal for some, but the technology could one day be shrunk down to the size of a deck of cards, or even a matchbox. Also a plus for OmniTouch is it does not require calibration to operate, so it can tell the difference between a finger clicking or hovering over a position.

Cooler Master Announces CM Storm Xornet Gaming Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: October 11, 2011 04:40PM
Author: bp9801

Cooler Master is expanding its line of CM Storm products today with a new mouse. Dubbed the CM Storm Xornet, this mouse is designed for gamers wanting a minimalist look in their peripherals. The Xornet is a claw-grip style mouse, very similar to the CM Storm Spawn, but features an all-black appearance. It has a 2000DPI optical sensor and can be adjusted on-the-fly between presets of 500, 1000, and 2000. The left and right mouse buttons feature Omron micro-switches that are guaranteed to last for five million clicks, an Anti-drift Control Sensor to main control whenever you lift the mouse, and an Ultra-Step Scroll Wheel Encoder for precise control over the slightest of movements. The Xornet also features an 8KB microprocessor to store button assignments, macros, and other commands to ensure everything is always within your grasp.

The Cooler Master CM Storm Xornet will launch later this month for $29.99.

SteelSeries Sensei Gaming Mouse Now Available

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: September 21, 2011 12:58AM
Author: Daryn Govender

SteelSeries has made its latest gaming mouse, the Sensei, available for purchase. The Sensei is touted to be the "most customizable mouse in the world" by SteelSeries, featuring a 32 bit ARM CPU. The ARM chip enables the mouse to perform calculations itself without relying on software drivers or the PC. The ARM CPU runs the SteelSeries ExactTech suite of settings, including the ability to change CPI in intervals of 1, between 1 and 5700CPI (Counts Per Inch) dubbed ExactSens, along with automatic acceleration and deceleration of the mouse pointer (ExactAccel and ExactAim). This is combined with an adjustable lift distance (ExactLift), teflon feet and three illuminated zones each displaying up to 16.8 million different colors. The 5700CPI laser sensor can be doubled to 11400CPI using the ARM processor, for uses such as multi-monitor configurations. A LCD screen is included on the bottom of the mouse, enabling settings to be changed without any software. The Sensei also supports the SteelSeries Engine utility, giving users more advanced macro capabilities. The SteelSeries Sensei gaming mouse weighs in at 102g and is available now for US$89.99 (€89.99).

Corsair Announces New Line of Keyboards, Mice, and Headsets

Category: Input Devices
Posted: September 16, 2011 01:26PM
Author: bp9801

Once upon a time, Corsair dealt only with RAM for your computer. Then it started to branch off by offering Flash drives, solid state drives, cases, CPU coolers, and audio gear. Today, it has a new product segment it is getting into, and that is keyboards and mice. You heard that right, Corsair will soon be offering a line of keyboards and mice designed with the computer gamer in mind. The line will be called Vengeance and there will be two keyboards, the K60 and K90, and two mice, the M60 and M90. The K60 and M60 are designed with FPS gamers in mind, while the K90 and M90 are for MMO players. There is also a new addition to its lineup of headsets, though this time these are being branded in with the Vengeance line like the keyboards and mice.

Both Vengeance keyboards are built with an aluminum chassis and feature Cherry MX Red switches, meaning both keyboards are of the mechanical variety. Those switches don't have that distinctive click as some of the others, but the feeling is just as responsive. The K90 features blue backlighting and 18 macro keys that can be programmed with three presets, offering 54 macros ideal for MMO players. The K60 doesn't offer any extra keys, but has a wrist rest directly below the left side of the keyboard that also doubles as the storage area for the extra keycaps. The K60 comes with red capped keys on the WASD cluster and numbers one through six on the number row, but you can switch those out with the black ones to match the rest of the keys. The K60 and K90 also have 20 key rollover, the ability to disable the Windows key, and a 1ms report rate.

The mice both feature 5670DPI sensors, with the M90 featuring nine macro keys arranged in a circle around the thumb. Those should be pretty easy to reach and will go a long way to helping MMO players. The M60 features a "sniper button" on the thumb rest that allows you to temporarily lower the DPI while you're doing a precise task, like sniping in a game. The idea is to push down that button whenever you need to instead of cycling through all the DPI settings.

Lastly, we come to the new Vengeance headsets. These are the Vengeance 1100, 1300, and 1500, and any one of them should help you hear your games better. The 1100 features both USB and dual 3.5mm connections, plus 40mm drivers, a noise-canceling cardiod microphone, and a wraparound design. The 1300 and 1500 both feature 50mm drivers, 3D positional audio, a noise-canceling cardioid microphone, and an over-the-ear design. The 1300 connects via dual 3.5mm jacks, while the 1500 connects via USB and delivers either 5.1 or 7.1 Dolby audio.

All four products will be available in October, with the K60 setting you back $99 and the K90 at $129. The M60 will cost $79 while the M90 will be $99. The Corsair Vengeance headsets will cost $39, $79, and $99 for the 1100, 1300, and 1500, respectively.

UIST Third Annual Student Innovation Contest: Microsoft TouchMouse

Category: Input Devices, Gadgets, Modding, Science & Technology
Posted: August 11, 2011 08:35AM
Author: Guest_Jim_*

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology is holding their third annual Student Innovation Contest and the reservation deadline is August 17. The goal of this contest is to develop new ways to interact with new hardware. This year the hardware is the, as yet unreleased, Microsoft TouchMouse. For those that enter and are eligible to participate in the contest Microsoft provides the hardware (TouchMouse) and access to the unreleased API. The winner is determined after demonstrations of everyone’s innovations on October 17 and announced the next day. For first place the winner receives $1500 and second place gets $500, but both also get a “spiffy trophy that you can show off to your friends and family.”

Gigabyte Prepares ECO500 Wireless Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: June 16, 2011 02:35AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Gigabyte is preparing its latest wireless mouse, dubbed the ECO500. The ECO500 includes a laser sensor offering up to 1600DPI and runs using a 2.4GHz wireless connection, provided by the included USB nano receiver. The mouse also has a quoted battery life of up to 12 months (with two AA batteries) and features an on-the-fly DPI switch, enabling the sensitivity to be changed to either 800DPI or 1600DPI. The ECO500 has five programmable buttons, non-slip rubber grips and a low battery indicator. The mouse measures in at 105x59.7x40.1mm (LxWxH) and weighs 75g, excluding batteries. Gigabyte did not disclose details regarding the pricing or availability of the ECO500.

The MX518 Gets Succeeded

Category: Input Devices
Posted: June 10, 2011 01:46PM
Author: Tobias Thydal

Most gamers know and love the cheap yet reliable Logitech MX518 mouse. It's managed to compete with its newer and more expensive rivals for a long time. Now it seems that it'll be phased out, but it won't leave completely, since it'll be succeeded by a new mouse called the G400. The new G400 is full of neat features, but it's still easy to see where the design comes from. The G400 has been improved in a few ways. The optical sensor has been improved from 1800DPI to 3600DPI. That is a welcomed improvement for all who like to play shooters. The report rate has also been improved from 125 to 1000 reports per second. That's 1ms response time - the fastest USB can handle. The cable is also improved, so it's now thinner and lighter to make it less restrictive. The G400 will use the same button programming software as the G-Series keyboards, making it able to share macros with the keyboards. The G400 will be in stores on June 19 for $49.99, but only in the US as of now. Other markets are soon to follow.

Razer to Produce Accessories for Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3

Category: Input Devices
Posted: June 9, 2011 12:18PM
Author: bp9801

By now, it should be no surprise when Razer announces it has a deal in place to produce accessories for a popular game. It already has the Dragon Age II, StarCraft II, and Tron gear, plus it recently announced Star Wars: The Old Republic items. Now, two more BioWare franchises are joining the party as both Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3 will have Razer gear bearing the logos and graphics from the games. EA, which owns BioWare, struck a deal with Razer to produce co-branded gear for the popular franchises based on the success the Dragon Age II items had. You can expect to find keyboards, mice, headsets, messenger bags, and Xbox 360 controllers to bear each game's logo or graphics. I have no doubt these will sell like hotcakes and carry a premium price over the non-branded items, but people will buy them. No details on when the products will get shown or when Razer will launch them, but something tells me we'll be seeing them not long after each game launches.

65-Inch Monitor From Champtron

Category: Input Devices, Monitors, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: June 5, 2011 07:33PM
Author: Birul Walidain

You think a 30-inch touchscreen monitor is big? Check Champtron's 65-inch touchscreen monitor that was shown at Computex 2011. You heard it right, a 65" monitor running a Sharp 1080p panel that is able to recognise two inputs from almost anything, whether that's your finger or a stylus. If you're a professional worker that needs a big space for your career, this monitor will make it that much easier for you. No word yet on the price, but I expect a hefty figure just to own this monitor.

Microsoft Pushes Keyboard Encryption

Category: Input Devices
Posted: June 4, 2011 09:17PM
Author: Brentt Moore

With the wireless spectrum being so easy to hack without any form of encryption, it seems easy for hackers to take information from consumers using a wireless keyboard. Microsoft has a new product that aims to end this dilemma however, named the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000, which falls in line with its usual naming scheme for computer peripherals. The wireless keyboard and mouse combo provides a sleek design, while also delivering over the air AES 128 bit encryption, making the data transfer quite difficult to hack into. The combo set is available for a mere $40, and should put to rest any worries consumers might have over their wireless signal keyboard signal getting tapped into. The problem also lies within other wireless devices hooked to the personal computer however, serving as an access point, not just the keyboard and mouse.

Steam Gets a New Rival

Category: Input Devices
Posted: June 4, 2011 05:37AM
Author: Tobias Thydal

Steam has been dominating the digital distribution of games for a long time now, and only recently has Microsoft announced that it will open its own digital distribution service. But now a second competitor has announced its arrival. EA has revealed that it is going to start its own digital download service with more than 150 games available to purchase at launch. It's also going to be the only place to buy Star Wars: The Old Republic digitally, when it's out. It will be possible to fetch friend lists from web sites such as Facebook. Users can create their own profile page to keep track of progress in their games and will have some of the same social tools as Steam. Origin, as EA calls the service, plans to spread to smartphones in the future.

NZXT Unveils Avatar S Laser Gaming Mouse

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: May 25, 2011 09:07PM
Author: Daryn Govender

NZXT today unveiled the latest version of its Avatar gaming mouse, dubbed the Avatar S. The new ambidextrous mouse features a 1600DPI laser sensor, a polling rate of 1000Hz and a maximum tracking speed of 30 inches per second. A DPI switch enables users to change the mouse sensitivity to either 400, 800 or 1600DPI on-the-go. Customization is covered by five programmable buttons and 16Kb of onboard memory, allowing gamers to save their settings directly onto the mouse for hassle-free gaming. Specifications aside, the Avatar S features a low-profile design coupled with Teflon feet for easy mouse control. The Avatar S will be available in either black or white for around US$39.99. You can check out OCC's review of the NZXT Avatar S gaming mouse here.

Thermaltake eSports Prepares Meka G Unit Mechanical Keyboard

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: May 13, 2011 02:03AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Thermaltake eSports is preparing the latest addition to its Meka series of mechanical keyboards, dubbed the Meka G Unit. The Meka G Unit is touted by Thermaltake to be the first mechanical keyboard with both on-board memory and illuminated keys. The G Unit also includes two USB 2.0 ports, two audio jacks, dedicated multimedia keys, a 1.8m braided cable, and Cherry Black switches. An interesting feature of the G Unit is the ISS (Instant Shift System) which allows all 60 macro keys be accessed in one profile. As always, I'd expect to hear more details regarding the Meka G Unit after Computex Taipei.

Razer Unveils Hydra Motion Sensing PC Controller; Coming June with Portal 2

Category: Gaming, Input Devices, Gadgets
Posted: April 22, 2011 03:59AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Razer and Sixense Entertainment today unveiled the Razer Hydra motion sensing PC controller. The Razer Hydra, first announced at CES 2010 (OCC coverage here) is finally ready for pre-orders next month.

The Razer Hydra is a PC-exclusive motion sensing controller, and offers astounding accuracy down to a millimeter or a degree using electromagnetic fields. The Hydra features an analogue thumbstick, four Hyperesponse buttons, a rapid-fire trigger and a bumper connected to the base station by a braided cable. The controller does not need a line of sight to operate and can function around 2-3 feet from the base station, enabling 3D game immersion. The Razer Hydra will be compatible with over 125 PC games on release, including Portal 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Pre-orders for the Razer Hydra will start next month with a Razer Hydra Portal 2 bundle priced at US$140, including two motion sensing controllers, a base station and a full copy of Portal 2, along with six exclusive Sixense TrueMotion levels. The Razer Hydra will be available in June. You can find out more about the Hydra here.

A video of the Razer Hydra paired up with Portal 2 follows.

 

USB Atari Keyboard

Category: Input Devices
Posted: April 20, 2011 12:59PM
Author: Jeremy Holstein

Remember the Atari? Probably not, but a company called Niyari does and it designed a keyboard to mimic the Atari's keyboard. The keyboard has the same iconic brown color as the original Atari and features a modern twist with chiclet keys instead of membrane keys. This new addition offers a sign of relief for fingers around the world that have been pained by the previous membrane keys. Be aware that some keys have Japanese characters on them that steal from the Atari likeness.

The keyboard comes in at $148.55 which isn't cheap for a regular USB keyboard and is currently out of stock and discontinued in many online stores so it may be hard to find. Any vintage tech lover should try to get their hands on this. If you enjoy spending lots of money for vintage tech, you can also check out the Commodore 64 comeback.

Intel Thunderbolt Dev Kits Coming Soon

Category: Input Devices, Gadgets
Posted: April 13, 2011 01:47PM
Author: Charles Coggins III

How would you like to be able to transfer data from your PC to an external device and vice versa with speeds that can reach 10 gigabits/sec? Apple has the ability to do so with the new MacBook Pro laptops, and thanks to Intel you will soon be able to as well! Intel is going to make development kits for its Thunderbolt interconnect available to companies. These dev kits should increase the rate at which device makers release products that will use this new technology. The Thunderbolt interconnect is dual-channel which means it is capable of transferring data up to 10 gigabits/sec both ways! Thunderbolt has many companies like Western Digital who have already created devices capable of using the interconnect and we should see many more during the NAB trade show in Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see how the Thunderbolt will be used with USB 3.0 and DisplayPort in the future.

Mionix Zibal 60 Mechanical Keyboard in the Works

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: April 8, 2011 02:53PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Sweden-based gaming peripherals manufacturer Mionix is preparing its latest mechanical keyboard, dubbed the Zibal 60. The new keyboard is targeted at high-end gamers, featuring Black Cherry MX mechanical switches for a responsive experience. Furthermore, each key will be individually backlit. The new keyboard offers plug and play installation without the need for drivers. The Mionix Zibal 60 will launch in around five days, so I'd expect more details to surface in the days to come. You can check out the Zibal 60 teaser page including a countdown timer here.

Thanks to TechPowerUp for the images of the Zibal 60.

Gigabyte Unveils ECO600 Wireless Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: April 8, 2011 02:43AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Gigabyte today unveiled yet another wireless mouse, dubbed the ECO600. This new peripheral features a laser sensor offering either 800, 1200, or 1600 DPI via a switch. Two AA batteries power the mouse allowing up to 12 months of use, according to Gigabyte. Connectivity is covered by a nano USB receiver which operates over the 2.4GHz band. The receiver can also snap into the mouse when not in use for easy safekeeping. Other features include a rubber coating for improved grip and two customizable buttons. The Gigabyte ECO600 wireless mouse measures 124.5x77.6x41.8mm (LxWxH) and weighs in at 106g, excluding batteries. Gigabyte did not disclose details regarding the pricing of the ECO600.

Gigabyte Unveils M7800E Urban Chic Wireless Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: March 16, 2011 12:13AM
Author: Daryn Govender

Gigabyte today unveiled a new addition to its family of wireless mice, the M7800E wireless mouse. The new mouse is targeted at men of "urban chic style," and features a minimalist design incorporating a matte black coating. Appearance aside, the mouse is equipped with a 1600DPI laser sensor which can be switched to 800DPI via a switch, along with customizable buttons using the included utility. Portability is covered by an ultra nano receiver and a quoted battery life of 6 months. Gigabyte did not disclose details regarding the pricing or availability of the M7800E.

Razer Unveils Dragon Age 2 Product Line

Category: Input Devices
Posted: March 1, 2011 05:27PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Razer is teaming up with Bioware to release several products to go along with the upcoming launch of Dragon Age 2. The game will be released March 8 on PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and Mac. Razer will release special editions of the DeathAdder mouse, BlackWidow keyboard, and Goliathus mouse mat for the PC. The Xbox 360 will get a special edition of the Onza Tournament Edition controller. Also available is a Dragon Age 2 themed messenger bag. The peripherals all feature custom artwork from the Dragon Age series, and the BlackWidow even has blood red LED back lighting. In addition to getting the tools to play the game, all of the products except the messenger bag will also come with "The Ring of Whispers" in game item. Follow the links for full specifications and pictures of all the items.

Gigabyte Readies Aivia M8600 Wireless Gaming Mouse

Category: Gaming, Input Devices
Posted: February 28, 2011 10:58PM
Author: Daryn Govender

Gigabyte is readying the latest addition to its Aivia series, the M8600 gaming mouse. The M8600 is wireless and will offer up to a staggering 100 hours of gameplay on a single charge, using the supplied charging dock. This will be coupled with Gigabyte's Quick Swap Battery System (QSBS) enabling easy battery swapping in under two seconds. Batteries aside, the new mouse will feature a twin-eye gaming grade laser engine, 32kB of  built-in memory supporting the Gigabyte GHOST macro program and an 1000Hz polling rate. I'd expect to hear more details regarding the M8600 in the days ahead.

Mionix Updates NAOS 5000 Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: February 2, 2011 02:53PM
Author: Nick Harezga

Mionix has announced a software update to its NAOS 5000 gaming mouse, reviewed here by OCC. Version 1.17 offers a few updates, as well as a new feature. The new feature is called angle snapping, and aims to improve the path the mouse takes. Angle snapping can sense the tiny deviations when making vertical and horizontal movements, and corrects them to straighten the path the mouse takes. No predictions about future movement are made, only corrections to past movements. The software updates come in the form of an updated GUI and fixing a bug with 125Hz mode.