Apple may consider the iPhone to be a gaming device, but even it's willing to admit that traditional gaming demands a proper gamepad. The folks at Logitech apparently agree, and seem to be preparing to release an iPhone 5-compatible device with its G-prefix branding. An image acquired by Kotaku shows a four-button Logitech gamepad built around an iPhone-shaped hole. There's a Lightning connector on the right side, indicating a hard-wired (or at least device-powered) peripheral. According to Kotaku, this will be just one of several third-party gamepads designed for iOS 7's Game Center overhaul. Of course, this blurry image should be regarded with a healthy dose of skepticism, but we certainly wouldn't scoff at an officially supported gamepad solution.

Filed under: Gaming, Mobile, Apple

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Source: Kotaku

Listen, you probably shouldn't be here. The iPad is a pure and carefully honed machine. If its designers wanted you to use some kind of ludicrous hybrid contraption that fused a tablet with a physical keyboard and doubled the weight, they'd have built one for you. But they didn't. So go away and don't come back until you've saved enough money to buy a MacBook Air. (Still here? Good, because we're about to compare three of the latest iPad keyboard cases: the ClamCase Pro, Logitech's Folio and Belkin's Ultimate Keyboard, designed to fit 2nd, 3rd and 4th-gen tablets. Read on for more.)

Gallery: Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case

Gallery: ClamCase Pro

Gallery: Logitech Keyboard Folio

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets

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Many crowdfunded companies are just happy to get their products out the door, let alone to enter the big leagues -- yet that's where TT Design Labs finds itself today. As part of a move into mobile gear, Logitech has acquired TT Design Labs and is relaunching the young firm's iPhone accessories for a wider audience. The starting catalog includes the Tidytilt Case, a $35 iPhone 5 shell with a Smart Cover-style flap, and the JustMount, a $25 magnetic wall mount for the Tidytilt and other metallic gadgets. Pre-orders for the Logitech versions are available now, and we're told to expect deeper collaborations in the future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

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Via: Logitech Blog

Source: Logitech, TT Design Labs

Bluetooth keyboards for the iPad are nice and all, but aren't you going to need to be within a wire's-length to see the thing anyway? To that end, Logitech has announced a full-sized wired iPad keyboard targeted to classrooms with an emphasis on durability and maintenance. It has a spill-resistant design, three-year warranty and key life of over 5 million strokes, according to the company, and comes in either lightning or 30-pin versions. If you don't mind being tethered, the Lightning model will ship in August and the last-gen iPad model in November for $60 each -- but you can pre-order now at the source.

Filed under: Peripherals

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Via: ZDNet

Source: Logitech

You know what'll go perfectly with that waterproof Bluetooth speaker ball that a Billy Corgan doppelganger recommended a few years back? That odd tube you're undoubtedly fixated on above. That's the Ultimate Ears UE Boom, and those people underneath are presumably blitzed from a day of raving at [insert EDM festival here]. Parent company Logitech is calling this thing the "world's first social music player," but last we checked, it's not capable of tweeting whatever you're listening to. Instead, it's seemingly engineered "to help you rage, riot, party and play the music you love, out loud." Seriously -- that's in the description.

In order to do so, there's a Bluetooth radio within, NFC support, a 15-hour rechargeable battery and an exterior that'll turn away light splashes. Of note, you can wirelessly link two UE Booms together using an associated Android or iOS app to play them in either stereo-to-stereo mode or traditional left / right stereo mode. It's expected to hit US and European shores later this month for $199.99, which means you too can take weird shots of yourself holding it at frat parties in the very, very near future.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

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Source: Ultimate Ears

Well, Comcast's idea to charge users $10 a month for set-top Skype hardware went as well as you could have expected. If DSLReports' sources are correct, the offering will be quietly retired on June 1st due to, surprise surprise, "low adoption." If you were one of the few triple-play customers who ponied up for the gear, fear not, as the leaked internal e-mail says that existing users will continue to be supported. Given that you can snag subscription-free gear from Logitech, Biscotti and others, it's no surprise to see Skype on Xfinity joining Cisco's Umi on the island of misfit telepresence devices.

Filed under: Cameras, Internet

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Source: DSLReports

When Logitech announced keyboard folios for the iPad and iPad Mini less than a month ago, it thought it had all bases covered: keyboard, stand, cover. One important group of people weren't considered in the design brief, however: so-called spillers, those with an uncanny ability to bring gadgets and beverages together. It's no wonder, then, that Logitech has been quick to come up with the FabricSkin keyboard folio to cater for this demographic. In addition to the "liquid-repellent FabricSkin surface" that coats the folio, there are a couple of new color schemes to choose from, and the Bluetooth keyboard is now without openings, similar to the Surface Touch Cover, so fluid can't work its way in between the keys. You'll be paying a premium for that peace of mind, though, as the FabricSkin folio for the iPad 2 and up (no iPad Mini version), set to launch in May, is now available to pre-order from Logitech for $149 (or £129) -- $50 more than the standard cover. Still, if there's a good chance you'd hydrate a normal folio eventually, the FabricSkin model is almost like getting a replacement at half price. We'll drink to that.

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets

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Source: Logitech (1), (2)

It may not be the most popular hardware configuration in PC gaming circles, but Macs actually make pretty capable gaming rigs. It's hardly a surprise, then, that Mac users are clamoring for serious gaming peripherals. Logitech is happy to oblige, of course, announcing recently that its updated its gaming software to support more devices on Mac OS. Gamers in Apple's ecosystem can now make the most of the company's full line of G series mouse and keyboard products, including the eight it released to herald the rebranding of its gaming lineup. The update is free, of course, and promises to offer Mac users the same level of customization that traditional PC gamers enjoy. Check out Logitegh's official announcement at the source for the full list of compatible devices.

Filed under: Gaming

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Source: Logitech

Got no touchscreen on your living room remote? That's a shame, because Logitech and others have been flogging such universal controllers since way back when. After a long new product hiatus, the late 2012 release of the Harmony Touch remote hasn't stopped Logitech from mulling a sale of the brand, but it's not done with it just yet. Coming soon are two fresh bundles bearing the Harmony name: the Ultimate and Smart Control. At the heart of both is the Smart Hub, a palm-sized box somewhat similar to the Harmony Link. It receives commands from remotes via RF, or from smartphone apps via WiFi, and in turn, broadcasts its own orders to your A/V setup using IR and Bluetooth. It's especially useful for those wanting to hide their kit away in cabinets, as it translates inputs into IR signals that'll bounce around those secluded spaces. Optional extender nodes will also pipe IR into other nearby recesses.

To do that though, the Hub needs instructions, which is where remotes and apps come in. The new Ultimate remote (aka the Touch Plus) is last year's Touch remote with a few refinements, including the addition of a trigger-like nub on the underside to improve grip. It uses IR, Bluetooth or RF (to the Hub) to control up to 15 devices, and is programmed using Logitech's software for PCs that pulls settings from a database of 225,000 home entertainment products. The Ultimate's 2.4-inch touchscreen serves as a number pad, a favorite channel list for easy hopping, and is the home of one-touch "activities," which are basically macros for issuing multiple commands. Set up an activity for "Play Xbox," for example, and in one touch it'll turn on your console, switch your TV to the correct source, select the right channel on your amp, and so on. It'll even tell Philips' connected Hue lightbulbs to set a mood. Jump on past the break for more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Software, HD

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The iPad was never designed to be a laptop, but some people can't resist the urge to change a gadget's nature. For that purpose, Logitech is outing keyboard folios for the iPad and iPad Mini that double as a hands-free viewing stand for those long-haul flights. Your fingers will be hovering over a Bluetooth keyboard with membrane scissor keys, covered in your choice of colored fabric shell. The hardware is marked down to be available in the US and Europe in April, setting you back $100 for the iPad edition and $89.99 for the 7.87-inch version -- and if you'd like to learn more, you can check out the videos we've stashed after the break.

Gallery: Logitech Keyboard Folio press shots

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets, Apple

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Source: Logitech

Logitech's G-prefixed gaming peripherals have been around for awhile, but they were never part of an official gaming line. That changes today, with the introduction of Logitech G, the company's official brand for PC gaming peripherals. "The overriding principal of G is that science wins," Logitech told us. "Just as gamers are compelled to beat levels, our engineers are compelled to test scientific theories." A fancy way to say that Logitech's gaming hardware is built using the latest technology.

The company points to its new line of peripherals as an example: eight products featuring hydrophobic coatings, Logitech's exclusive Delta Zero sensor technology and buttons capable of surviving over 20 million toggles. Headlining the new series are the G700s rechargeable gaming mouse and G19s keyboard, which promise anti-stick surfaces, more than a dozen programmable buttons apiece and $100 and $200 price tags, respectively. The company's rounding out its line up with a pair of audio devices, too -- the G430 and G230 surround and stereo gaming headsets. That's just the tip of the iceberg of course -- head past the break for Logitech's full roster of G series peripherals.

Gallery: Logitech G Series

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

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Logitech made clear in January that it was jettisoning weight in a bid to stem losses and focus on more successful technologies like mobile peripherals. Sadly, we're learning today that this also includes cutting jobs. The company is shedding 140 positions, or about 5 percent of its non-manufacturing workforce, as part of a streamlining plan that could save an extra $16 million to $18 million during Logitech's fiscal 2014. While there's no specific timeframe mentioned, it's suggested the layoffs will come quickly when the company may pay up to $14 million to address the cuts during its ongoing fourth quarter. Let's hope those affected land on their feet, and that the savings pay off in the long run.

[Image credit: Coolcaesar, Wikipedia]

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Logitech

It was inevitable that Logitech would expand its Ultrathin iPad keyboard cover lineup to include an offering fit for the iPad mini, and the time has finally arrived. Priced 20 bucks less than it's full-sized counterpart, the $79.99 Ultrathin Keyboard mini brings tactile typing and some added protection to Apple's 7.9-inch slate. Like the bigger version, it offers full size keys to please tapping fingers, has an aluminum cover and comes in your choice of black or white. Folks looking to pick one up won't have much longer to wait, as the Ultrathin Keyboard mini will make its retail debut in the US and Europe later this month.

Gallery: Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover mini press shots

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets

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Source: Blog.Logitech

Believe it or not, few musicians' in-ear reference monitors are tuned to emphasize voice; singers might have to compete for attention with wailing guitars and drums inside their own heads. Rather than risk artists shouting themselves hoarse, Ultimate Ears has launched its Vocal Reference Monitors. Separate versions for men and women focus on their typical vocal ranges and narrow the frequency range to between 90Hz and 8kHz, cutting out the more extreme sounds of instruments in the mix. The $999 price rules out the Vocal line for most garage bands -- it might, however, be perfect for pros whose screaming isn't part of the act.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

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Source: Ultimate Ears

The fiscal 2013 Q3 numbers from Logitech are in, and according to new CEO Bracken P Darrell, the "disappointing" results will require immediate action to turn around -- action that includes selling off its remote control (read: Harmony) and digital video security divisions. Logitech notched an operating loss of $180 million, on sales of $615 million. At this time last year, we were still looking forward to a refresh of the line which resulted in the Harmony Touch, but that does not appear to have turned things around. Harmony remote sales fell off by 55 percent based on units, although a focus on higher end devices like the new Touch meant revenue declined only 24 percent.

According to a slide in the presentation, after a strategic review, Logitech is focusing on tablet accessories, wireless speakers as well as keeping its lead in PC-related products. Other "non-strategic" products are also on the chopping block, and we'd have to think that includes video conferencing after yesterday's announcement. Current owners worried about potential support should be taken care of however, as a post by Darrell on the support forums indicates company will continue to provide support during the sale process and all current warranties are still in effect. There's no word about a possible buyer, but we'll be tuning into the earnings call tomorrow morning to see what additional information is revealed.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Logitech, Logitech Forum

Logitech's PR machine is on the loose this morning, trying to dampen expectations before the company announces its quarterly financial results later in the day. The key message is that we shouldn't expect any great shakes from the video conferencing side of the business. In fact, there'll be a $211 million charge against earnings, which is big enough to wipe out the previous quarter's income four times over, and which stems entirely from this source of pain:

"The enterprise video conferencing industry has experienced a slowdown in recent quarters and consequently, through this period, the video conferencing unit has not sustained the growth Logitech originally anticipated."

That's a blanket statement, describing a whole section of the industry and not just pinning the blame on LifeSize, the video conferencing company that Logitech picked up in 2009 for $405 million. It so happens that Polycom and Cisco have also reported ongoing slides in video conferencing sales, so Logitech's explanation is entirely justified -- not that it makes the LifeSize acquisition look any smarter.

Filed under: Peripherals, Internet

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Source: Reuters

After unveiling a handful of accessories designed for Windows 8, it's clear Logitech had some catching up to do on the Mac side. The company just announced two things, the Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard and the Rechargeable Trackpad for Mac, and they're both more or less Apple-friendly versions of items that were announced for Windows back in October. Starting with the keyboard, it's basically the same as the Illuminated Bluetooth K810 keyboard, in that you can pair it with up to three Bluetooth-enabled devices and switch from one to the other by pressing a button. As the name suggests, it's also backlit, with sensors that turn on the lights when your hands are hovering, and lower the brightness when backlighting isn't necessary. The truth is, the K810 does all of this too and can pair with devices running any OS; it just has Windows 8-specific hotkeys, which you wouldn't need if you were a Mac user.

Moving on, the external touchpad is a Magic TrackPad competitor if ever we saw one, with support for all the multi-finger gestures you're used to making in OS X. Unlike the Magic Trackpad, though, it recharges over USB, whereas the Magic Trackpad runs on AAs. The keyboard and touchpad will be available in the US and Europe starting in January, with the keyboard priced at $100 and the trackpad retailing for $70, about the same price as the Magic Trackpad.

Gallery: Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard for Mac and the Rechargeable Trackpad for Mac

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Logitech (1), (2)

Filed under: Misc, Samsung, Nokia

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Logitech's Alert camera system has given security to Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows users alike, yet there's been a conspicuously Mac-shaped void in support. Logitech is plugging that hole with a native OS X version of its Alert Commander app. So long as Alert system owners are running Snow Leopard or later, they'll have an Orwellian view of live and pre-recorded video feeds from as many as six of the HomePlug-connected cameras. The control extends to 16 motion-sensitive zones, digital zoom, backups and desktop notifications for when an intruder disturbs the peace. As the app itself is a free Mac App Store download, the only cost left is a recent camera array like the Alert 750n to keep track of home from a MacBook Air.

Filed under: Household, Software

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Source: Logitech, Mac App Store

After trying (and failing) to surreptitiously shepherd it through the FCC, then seeing it leak out anyway, Logitech has formally outed the HD WiFi Broadcaster webcam. The 720P shooter (not 1080p as we hoped) allows wireless transmission from 50 feet away to any Mac computer, iPhone or iPad, instant broadcasting on Ustream and the ability to toggle between your device or computer's built in camera with a button push. The hard plastic carrying case with a magnetic lid doubles as a stand to elevate the cam, which Logitech says will "play nicely" with apps like iMovie, Final Cut Pro and FaceTime. Broadcaster is already up for preorder for $200 in the US and €180 in Europe, so if you want to show that you're doubly beautiful with a multi-cam Skype call, the PR and video are after the break.

Filed under: Cameras, Wireless, HD

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It'll be another two weeks before Windows 8 PCs go on sale, but if you like, you can pick out your gesture-enabled peripherals now. Logitech just announced two wireless mice and an external trackpad, all optimized to support gestures in Windows 8. Starting with the mice, the Touch Mouse T620 has the same design as the M600 announced earlier this year, except it supports Win 8 gestures out of the box. (The M600 will get a software update allowing it to work the same way.) Similar to its predecessor, the T620's entire top surface is touch-enabled, which means you can do things like swipe the right side for the Charm Bar, or swipe from the left to rotate through open programs. You can also double tap with one finger to return to the Start Screen, and double tap with two fingers to show the desktop.

Moving on, the Zone Touch Mouse T400 has a touch strip that you can use to move up and down through pages, as well as scroll through the live tiles on the Start Screen. In a brilliant twist, though, the touch strip itself is comprised of two buttons, which you can use to toggle open apps or bring up the Start Screen, depending on which end you press. Finally, the Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad with a spacious glass surface, which seemed impeccably responsive during our brief hands-on with it. Unlike the two mice, which run on AAs, the T650 has a rechargeable battery, which you can re-juice over USB.

All of these accessories use proprietary 2.4GHz wireless technology instead of Bluetooth, which means you'll need a free USB port to accommodate the accompanying transceiver. The dongle can pair with up to six Logitech peripherals at once, but that's a bummer if you also happen to own gear made by a Microsoft or HP. As you might have guessed, these are compatible with Windows PCs only, though you could use them with Win 7 if you so chose. Look for all three this month, with the Touchpad T650 priced $80, the Touch Mouse at $70 and the T400 at $50.

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Logitech Blog

Is that old pro-gaming keyboard you have finally breaking down from years of use, its blue backlight fading to teal (or worse) as the days go on? Are you ready to spend over $100 to get back in the game? Then you, ideal consumer, sound like a good match for Logitech's newest gaming keyboard, the G710+. "Plus what?" you ask? Well, it's a standard G-series performance keyboard from Logitetch, plus a white LED backlight, anti-ghosting tech, under-key dampening to help with all the clickety-clacketing, and a promised 50-million keystroke life span. A set of "G-keys" along the left side allows for assignable macros and scripts, should you need to suddenly maximize your APM mid-StarCraft 2 match (and let's be honest, you've totally been there) -- sadly, the G710+ only works with Windows Vista and up, so you'll have to maximize those actions exclusively on a PC for now.

The Logitech G710+ arrives at retail in the US this October for $150, and heads to Europe starting in December at an undetermined price -- check after the break for full specs and a quick demo video.

Gallery: Logitech G-Series G710+

Filed under: Gaming

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Source: Logitech Blog

That mysterious Logitech WiFi webcam we spotted on the FCC in July might have finally been outed, thanks to a tip sent to Zatz Not Funny. This Logitech Wireless Webcam for the Mac listed on B&H certainly fits the bill, as it touts both wireless capabilities and apparently a rechargeable battery. There also looks to be an interesting status indicator on the top. Seeing as most Macs already come with a pretty decent front-facing camera, we're assuming the Logitech offers higher quality video (1080p perhaps?) and greater flexibility for broadcasting or recording to the cloud. The B&H Photo listing doesn't exactly provide many details, but it does reveal a $180 price tag. We'll be sure to keep an eye on this when it gets official.

Filed under: Cameras, Internet

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Via: Zatz Not Funny

Source: B&H Photo

The cat is already well out of the bag, but we finally have some official information about the new Logitech Harmony Touch universal remote. Its first addition to the line in a while, Logitech is pushing its center-mounted 2.4-inch color touchscreen with support for control by tapping, swiping or scrolling through up to 50 channel icons as a way to "unprecedented control" of your home entertainment system. We're still not entirely sure about the transport controls being placed so far up top or the usefulness of a screen focused on direct live channel access in the DVR and streaming age (check out our thoughts on this week's podcast), but it does bring the usual control of up to 15 devices and backlit keys. Just as we saw in the stores, the price is set at $249 and it controls only via IR, not RF like the pricier Harmony 900. Check out more info in the press release after the break (along with quick demo and how-to setup videos) or on Logitech's blog, fans of the new device should be able to find them released widely in the US and Europe this month.

Gallery: Logitech Harmony Touch universal remote

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Logitech Blog

It's been a long time since we've seen any new blood refreshing Logitech's line of universal remotes, but after indications of new devices on the way in an earnings call earlier this year tipster Andrew spotted this brand new Harmony Touch on store shelves. Arriving at Best Buy unheralded by any official announcement or specs so far, the box shots and list of features show the ability to control 15 different devices and (of course) that center mounted touchscreen. There's no mention of it on the Logitech site either, however one leaked blog post we spotted referred to this device and a Harmony Plus.

As our friends at Tech of the Hub note, the Touch clearly draws a lot of its heritage from the Harmony One and 1100 touchscreen remotes although to have ditched the dedicated Activity button for "one touch" control. The touchscreen itself supports both taps and swipes as well as up to 50 customizable channel icons, and the box lists both online setup and on-remote customization as features. According to Andrew it's rocking a price tag of $249 -- $50 above the current price of the Harmony One but $100 shy of the RF-equipped Harmony 900 -- hopefully we'll find out soon if what Logitech has added this time around makes it worth the wait.

Update: Another one of our readers, Zachary also saw it at Best Buy and bought one, check out a few out of the box pics in the gallery below, and drop any questions about its capabilities in the comments. He's digging it so far, saying that the touchscreen is responsive and it found icons for his area quickly, with options to change background, LCD brightness and screen timeout. There does not appear to be any RF support however, so it's IR control only.

Gallery: Logitech Harmony Touch universal remote

[Thanks, Andrew]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: AVS Forum