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Mad Catz plots April release for C.T.R.L.i iOS7 gamepad
Gaming peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz plans to join the mobile gamepad market with the upcoming release of the C.T.R.L.i, a Bluetooth-enabled, dual-analog controller with native support for iOS7 devices. Keen eyes may observe that the C.T.R.L.i bears a striking resemblance to the controller bundled with the Mad Catz-branded MOJO microconsole released last year. The C.T.R.L.i uses the same basic shell as the MOJO's controller with an additional spring-loaded mount that supports current and future iOS devices. The C.T.R.L.i will be priced at $80 when it hits retail in April. [Image: Engadget]
Xbox One Media Remote arrives in early March for $25
That didn't take long. Scarcely a week after the Xbox One Media Remote briefly surfaced at a Canadian retailer, Microsoft has made it official. As expected, the peripheral lets you navigate videos more elegantly than with the bundled gamepad. However, it's not just a cheap substitute for a mobile device using SmartGlass. If you have your Kinect plugged in, the remote will also steer the power and volume of your TV or receiver. That consolidated control may help justify buying the peripheral for $25 when it ships in March -- especially if you're the sort who's more likely to watch Netflix than play Forza.
Valve reveals Steam PC game controller
Valve has revealed a new controller optimized for Steam and Steam Machines devices, concluding this week's string of announcements aimed at bridging the gap between PC gaming and the living room. The peripheral will support the full catalog of Steam games released to date, and will include legacy support for older titles that lack controller support. Contrasting "traditional gamepads," Valve's peripheral uses two trackpads, rather than the dual-analog setup common to consoles. Balancing the lack of physical sticks, Valve's controller uses haptic feedback, "allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement." The controller additionally features a touch-enabled surface with a high-resolution screen. The screen can also be clicked as a button. When a player taps the touch screen, its display overlays on top of the game itself, eliminating the need to look down at the controller during gameplay. According to Valve, "The screen allows an infinite number of discrete actions to be made available to the player, without requiring an infinite number of physical buttons."
Livescribe 3 smartpen appears in FCC filing, can't wait to digitize your doodles
Now that we've got those naming suits out of the way, it's time to get down to brass tacks. With "brass tacks" involving a new smartpen, in this particular instance. The Livescribe 3 has just made itself known in a public FCC filing today, showcasing a svelte writing utensil whose main purpose in life is to digitize your handwritten notes. It's equipped with Bluetooth in order to pair with your iOS device and the accompanying Livescribe+ app, and once you start doodling in your Livescribe notebook, those very scribbles will appear in the app. There's a micro-USB connector on top for recharging it, and a handy twistable handle that turns the unit on. (Oh, and if you're curious, we're told that "more supported devices" will be added soon.) For the power users, there are Pencasts -- said to be "interactive documents containing audio that is synchronized to your handwritten notes." As is always the case with FCC reveals, pricing and availability are nowhere to be found; that said, an FCC submission generally signals that it's just about ready for store shelves in the US. We'll watch as you attempt to digitally write about the art of containing your excitement.
GameCase brings a full-size, natively supported gamepad to iOS 7 devices
Apple now offers native gamepad support in iOS 7, and ClamCase is making the most of that opportunity by unveiling the GameCase. The Bluetooth add-on will give iOS players a full-size, Xbox-like controller that should work in any title using the official gamepad API -- developers won't have to include proprietary code in their apps. ClamCase also promises ample play time through a built-in lithium-ion battery. The GameCase isn't expected to ship until late 2013 or early 2014, but there are plans to offer versions for all iPads and iPhones that run iOS 7. If you're interested, you can sign up for notifications from ClamCase at the source link.
Griffin's MultiDock looks sleeker than ever, and it can still house and charge a herd of devices at once
In an age where expecting humans to limit themselves to a single piece of electronics is a little too much to ask for, what could be better than to own a physical hub where multiple things can be charged simultaneously? In all seriousness, though, the Griffin MultiDock can indeed be a rather handy tool for businesses, schools and other organizations needing to store, power and sync a large number of devices at once. What's also good about the second-gen MultiDock is that it's no longer only compatible with iPads, allowing a multitude of slabs from different manufacturers to be housed inside of it. Griffin's also quick to point out that the new MultiDock's design was the result of a collaboration with designer Thomas Meyerhoffer, who's more famously known for having worked on the Apple eMate. Regardless, be prepared to break the piggy bank, since the MultiDock's set to be priced starting at $699 when it becomes available later this month.
Daily Roundup: Peripheral Vision, GameStop's digital strategy, Lab grown human brains, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Mad Catz announces 'Force Feedback Racing Wheel' for Xbox One
Mad Catz today announced the Force Feedback Racing Wheel, an surprisingly backronym-bereft premium steering wheel for the Xbox One. No price point has been revealed, though Mad Catz is "planning on hitting console launch for the wheel," according to Global PR & Communications Director Alex Verrey. The wheel features two "next generation Force Feedback motors," suede leather on the surface of the central device and a "luxury" removable CNC-machined aluminum faceplate. The package also includes a set of pedals, which can be set to the user's individual height/spacing/resistance preferences. For reference, the Xbox One's launch-day selection of racing games consists of Forza 5 and Need for Speed: Rivals.
Zink's hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers cater to gleeful labelers
It's been a hot minute since a new Zink printer made it through the wringer, but here we are staring at the latest duo. Designed to be coddled and cuddled by craft gurus and those who place an exceptionally high value on organization, the hAppy and hAppy+ smart app printers utilize the outfit's full-color, ink-free zRolls for printing. Each one is WiFi-enabled and engineered to travel well, with the $199 base model supporting print transfers from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. On the stock hAppy, you simply download a corresponding app, design what you need printed, and send it over the air. The $299 hAppy+, however, ships with Android in the device, allowing you to fiddle around with its touchscreen and create print designs without any other hardware involved. Of course, we're guessing that you'll be quite limited on what masterpieces you'll be able to muster on such a small canvas, but hey -- who are we to judge your creative prowess?
Delta Six gaming gun returns to Kickstarter, boasts Arduino innards
The Delta Six gaming controller first hit Kickstarter last fall, but the plug was pulled from the crowdfunding effort by its creator David Kotkin, as he reckoned it wasn't on track to generate enough support. With hardware and software refinements made over the last few months, the peripheral has just been relisted on Kickstarter. In case you need a refresher, the peripheral puts a premium on realism and motion-enabled gaming. Thanks to accelerometers, gyroscopes and buttons in odd places, users can do things such as bring up in-game sights by looking down the plastic rifle's barrel, or steady their shot by pulling the faux weapon close to their arm. Now, the campaign is asking $159 for controllers with black or white paint jobs and orange tips, as a second look at production costs indicated the project's original $89 price tag was too low. This time around, the funding goal has been locked in at $100,000, instead of a cool half a million. As for internals, the shooter is toting an Arduino, which opens up the hardware to software updates and customization. Not only will the blaster work with PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii U, but it's set to boast compatibility with next-gen consoles through an update, to boot. If the Delta Six reaches it fundraising mark, it'll ship out to supporters in December. Check out our hands on with the contraption or head past the break for Kotkin's video pitch.
The smell of success: Stinky Footboard raises Kickstarter funding
Montreal-based hardware developer SteLuLu Technologies has reached its Kickstarter funding goal for the Stinky Footboard, a PC peripheral designed to boost player performance with foot-controlled input. The Stinky Footboard accepts four user-defined inputs, triggering different keypresses and game-specific macros if the player leans his or her foot forward, backward, to the left, or to the right. Citing feedback from professional players, SteLuLu claims that the board offers "more functionality, improved gameplay, enhanced performance, and increased actions per minute." Better still, if you want to exercise all of your limbs at once, SteLuLu notes that it's possible to use two Footboards simultaneously. Though the product is PC-only at the moment, SteLuLu has announced plans to add Mac support by the end of the year. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3-compatible Footboards are also in the works. SteLuLu expects to ship its first wave of Footboards out to Kickstarter backers in July. To our knowledge, the Stinky Footboard does not emanate odors of any sort. Thankfully.
Moga Pro controller makes Android games better
We got our hands on one of PowerA's new Moga Pro Android controllers, and so we decided to put together a little video detailing how it works. The Moga Pro is a full-sized console styled controller, complete with a cradle to attach Android phones (and a separate stand for tablets).Overall, the experience of using the Moga Pro is a good one, providing much greater control compared to Android's usual touch screen controls. First-person shooters in particular are dramatically better, and the benefits for a reflex-intensive game like Pac-Man are obvious. We did notice a small amount of input lag while playing R-Type, but this seems to be a software issue, as other games like Dead Trigger played just fine.There's also a strange bug in R-Type that can force users to exit other games and go back into R-Type. We contacted PowerA, and the bug seems to be confined specifically to R-Type. PowerA is reaching out to its developers to get it fixed.The Moga Pro is available now for $50. Watch the video above for a full rundown.Update: PowerA contacted Joystiq to let us know that R-Type has been updated, and the bug mentioned in the video should now be fixed.
3DS XL Circle Pad Pro on sale through Nintendo store, ships Apr. 19
Nintendo's North American online store is now selling the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro peripheral, which has been exclusive to Japan since late last year. Nintendo will start shipping the $20 add-on April 19.We've contacted Nintendo to find out if this is exclusive to their online store or indicative of a full-on US retail launch. The 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro is the second iteration of Nintendo's supplemental analog stick, following the original GameStop-exclusive Circle Pad Pro made available alongside Resident Evil: Revelations.
Genius Ring Mouse 2 and Ring Presenter thumbs-on
With CES 2013 coming to a frigid conclusion here in Las Vegas, we moseyed our way to the Genius booth and went thumbs-on with the Ring Presenter and the Ring Mouse 2. Both use a 2.4GHz wireless USB connection, providing you with a 10-foot radius of Ring Mouse action on either OS X or Windows. The Ring Mouse 2 packs the standard mouse functions, while the Ring Presenter offers left / right / middle buttons, dragging, four-way scrolling and -- drum roll, please -- a laser pointer. Wearers simply navigate the cursor by perusing their thumb across the Touch Control sensor capable of a 1000dpi sensitivity. After donning the ring we found it to be quite large, so those with smaller paws might have a harder time using it. From within approximately two feet out we observed great response and ease of use. The duo of diminutive peripherals may prove interesting for a niche that's tired of the conventional pointer, and if you find yourself in that group, you can purchase either in the near future for $50+.
Belkin bulks up iPad mini with $80 Portable Keyboard Case
If you decided to go small by getting an iPad mini but find yourself needing to do some serious work (like blogging, for instance), Belkin may have just the accessory: the Portable Keyboard Case. The removable chiclet-style keyboard marries up wirelessly with the 7.7-inch tab via Bluetooth and has "well spaced keys for its size," including custom iPad shortcuts, according to the peripheral maker. The battery lasts a whopping 155 hours between charges, and when the Starbucks staff finally kick you out, you can fold all your kit up into the built-in folio, complete with a camera-lens cutout. If that sounds like your cup of chai latté tea, hit the PR after the break.
Twelve South introduces HiRise for MacBook stand, shipping now for $70
Hot on the heels of its HiRise for iMac release, the Mac-only accessory maker known as Twelve South is outing a similar riser for MacBook products. Engineered to hoist MacBooks from 11 to 15 inches up off of one's table, the HiRise for MacBook is a sleek, polished stand that serves a purpose much like the mStand from Rain Design. For avid MacBook users looking for a more ergonomic way to work, this is easily one of the best solutions out there. Unlike most rivals, Twelve South's offering is adjustable, allowing you to raise and lower your MacBook's keyboard and display to match the height of your eyes (or perhaps a nearby monitor). In our testing, we found the build quality to be exceptional, and it's most certainly a piece that you'd be pleased to have sitting alongside your other work peripherals. It's a bit heavy for travel -- but then again, you can't have that base being light enough to tip over -- but those still interested can nab one at the source link for $69.99.
Microsoft Touch Mouse gets promised Windows 8 support, works like a Charm
Microsoft vowed that its Touch Mouse would get Windows 8 support in time for the software's big release day, and it's being very true to its word by posting the relevant update with less than a week to go. Mouse and Keyboard Center 2.0 saves time for those not graced with a touchscreen by introducing multi-touch swipes that bring up Windows 8's Charm bar, switch between active apps and invoke Semantic Zoom. Will the Touch Mouse update trick you into thinking you have a Surface? No, but it's certainly much easier on the wallet.
Just Mobile talks about working with Apple and why it manufactures in Taiwan exclusively
For the average Joe that have managed to stay out of the Apple circle, the Just Mobile brand might not immediately ring a bell, but chances are you would've come across one of its peripheral designs at some point. The only problem is unless you knew the company in the first place, you'd easily assume that the aluminum or even plastic knock-offs are just based on generic designs, because there are simply too many of them. It's no wonder Just Mobile co-founders Nils Gustafsson and Erich Huang take imitations of all forms very personally (especially the ones they and their lawyers see at CES), but fortunately, we were spared from prolonged ranting when we visited the duo's office in Taichung, Taiwan recently. What we were treated to instead was an insight into how an accessory maker works with Apple and why Just Mobile manufactures exclusively in Taiwan, as well as getting a preview of the upcoming AluRack, HeadStand and AluBase that are due out this month.
3DS XL Circle Pad Pro gets big in Japan Nov. 15
Japanese gamers looking to expand the experience (and form factor) of the 3DS XL will only have to wait until November 15, when the revised hardware will receive its own, extra large Circle Pad Pro add-on. The peripheral will cost ¥1,500, or about $20.Revealed by Nintendo back in September, there are currently no plans to offer the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro here in the US. The original 3DS received a similar – though smaller – version of the peripheral, selling it on its official store and exclusively at retail with GameStop. Our pals over at Engadget had some hands-on time with the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro last month during TGS 2012, so feel free to check out their hands-on video. Or not. We're not the boss of you.
Twelve South HiRise takes iMacs and Apple displays to new heights, tidies up in the process
Many of those who buy iMacs and Apple-designed displays are eager to avoid clutter in the first place, which makes an organizer all the more logical for those who'd like Desk Zero almost as much as Inbox Zero. Accessory maker Twelve South's newly available HiRise aims to clean it all up -- and lift it up. The aluminum-and-steel frame elevates Apple's modern all-in-ones and screens to any one of six points while conveniently leaving storage space that goes with the local computing decor, whether it's to hold external hard drives or car keys. Although the HiRise is no trivial expense at $80, it's better for propping up an iMac than an old college textbook, and arguably more useful as a whole.
