charge base
Latest
Nyko's Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Charge Base peripherals (eyes-on)
All right, all right, so it's not the sexiest thing in the world, but let's face it, those wireless controllers need to be charged. Nyko's got the jump on the next generation of battery drainers, rolling out out new Charge Bases for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The two peripherals look fairly similar: strips with two charging ports. The Xbox One version comes packed with two batteries, and the PS4 edition uses a little dongle for charging. In both cases, the systems are just drop and go. Once they're in place, a little display will illuminate an image of the controller to let you know that it's doing its job. No word on pricing on either, but you can treat yourself to a gallery of both below. %Gallery-191145%
IRL: gfxCardStatus, Nyko Charge Base 3 for PS3 and the OG iPad
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Different strokes for different folks. While Darren may have long since sworn off tablets as productivity machines, our very own Billy Steele (a designer by trade, don'tcha know) has been using one to workshop projects with clients. For Darren, anyway, productivity means having a laptop with a discrete GPU at the ready -- except for when the GPU drains his battery life, which is where an app called gfxCardStatus comes in. Rounding things out, we've got Jason Hidalgo talking up the different ways he's attempted to charge his needy PS3 controllers. All that and more after the break.
Nyko Power Grip review
There have been more than a few third-party responses to the Nintendo 3DS' notably short battery life, from grips to clips, to full-on battery replacements. Despite their best efforts, these products still fall short of making the fledgling handheld international flight-ready, leaving globetrotting gamers with idle thumbs. Can't we do better? Nyko thinks so, and promises to triple the battery life of a standard 3DS with its latest accessory, the Nyko Power Grip. Other products have boasted double, but three times the play time? Now we're interested. We gave the Grip a run for its money -- read on if you want to know if it is worth yours. %Gallery-139504%
Deluxe Power Grip bulks up your 3DS with extended battery life, charges over USB
The Nyko Power Pak+ does an admirable job of keeping Nintendo's 3DS out of the red, but what if you want an extended battery that won't fit in your pocket? Look no further than CTA Digital's Deluxe Power Grip, the 3DS cradle that doubles your console's bulk to match its newly extended battery life. The grip's form mimics that of an Xbox 360 controller, replete with a 2600mAh battery pack and a game-card storing kickstand. The peripheral's grips seem to lend better access to the handheld's awkwardly positioned D-pad, but its real triumph comes in the option to charge the unit via USB; folks looking for a standardized charging solution can kick Nintendo's official AC adapter to the curb. Comfy grips and USB compatibility will set you back about $30. Not convinced? Barrel roll past the break for the official PR and a cheesy overview video.
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: gaming
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're getting our game on -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Let's be honest, balancing coursework with recreation is just as important as maintaining a balanced food diet -- perhaps even more. After you spend countless hours hitting the books, cramming for tests, and writing papers, you're just going to need something to turn your brain to mush. Don't worry, we have just the thing: video games. It doesn't matter how many midterms you have, we're sure we can find something to help you slack off. Of course, it's not going to be easy; you'll have to wait until next semester (at least) to get your hands on the PlayStation Vita, but that doesn't mean that you don't have options now. Jump past the break -- we can probably help you find something to get you through mid-terms with your sanity intact. Don't want to shell out cash to have fun this semester? Enter our back to school sweepstakes! Simply leave a comment below for a chance to win, and drop by our giveaway page for more details.
Nyko cures Kinect's farsightedness, brings bountiful battery life and alarm clock capability to the 3DS
E3 2011 is upon us, and you know what that means, a heaping helping of new gaming gear from Nyko. Zoom for Kinect is a set of clip-on specs that lets you get 40 percent closer to the sensor bar with no loss of function -- so the studio apartment set can get in on the gesture gaming craze. Nyko's Play Clock is a charging dock for Nintendo's 3DS that doubles as an alarm clock, because you always wanted to turn your 3DS into an alarm clock. Nintendo's new handheld could definitely use some longer battery life, however, so the company's also rolling out three new extended battery packs for the 3DS. There's the Shock n' Rock that brings thrice the juice, "added vibration feedback," and four speakers to your personal gaming party, while the Power Grip is an ergonomic external battery that also triples the 3DS' battery life. Lastly, the Game Boost battery simply snaps on for an extra hour or two of gameplay. Prices and availability remain unsaid, but there's eye candy in the gallery below and PR's after the break. %Gallery-125407%
Nyko Power Pack+ and Charge Base for Nintendo 3DS review
When we reviewed the Nintendo 3DS (both times) there were some things we liked and others we didn't, but one thing stood out as a true flaw: the battery life. Three to four hours on a charge just doesn't cut it when portable game systems are traditionally known for shrugging off entire international flights. The 3DS would struggle with a puddle-jumper. Now, Nyko says it has a fix, and have released a battery backpack that promises twice the life of the stock console. Does it deliver? Not quite, but close. %Gallery-120292%
3DS Power Pak + review: a battery of tests
Nyko was first out of the gate with a product designed to ameliorate the 3DS's infamous battery life issue. The Power Pak + is a replacement battery that Nyko claims will double the runtime of the 3D handheld. Nyko sent Joystiq one of the packs, along with the optional Charge Base cradle (the Power Pak + uses the normal AC adapter, but is incompatible with the dock that ships with the 3DS) and I decided to put that claim to the test, and evaluate the device in a non-battery-life capacity as well.%Gallery-120083%
Nyko solves your 3DS battery concerns with Power Pak+
If you took the time to peruse our early review of the Nintendo 3DS, and it sure looks like a lot of you did, you're probably well aware that battery life is a serious concern. We managed just over three hours on a charge, which is really bad for a handheld gaming console. Nyko is the first to offer a solution, the Power Pak+, which actually replaces the stock Nintendo pack, screwing on to the back and offering double the battery life -- which still sadly doesn't approach the longevity of the DS Lite. The company is also releasing a new charging stand that will let you juice up that pack just by setting it down, useful because once you affix this bump the stock charging pad won't work. The Power Pak+ will cost $19.99 and ships on March 27, while the Charge Base is $29.99 and hits stores a week later. It'll be up to you to provide the pants with bigger pockets necessary for the extra bulk added here. %Gallery-118666%
Nyko unveils accessories to extend 3DS battery life
One of the biggest shortfalls of the Nintendo 3DS's feature set is its brief battery life, which Nintendo estimates to be as short as three hours. Where we see a disappointing feature, accessory manufacturer Nyko sees an opportunity. The company has revealed the $20 Power Pak +, a battery pack that clips to the back of the 3DS and "doubles" the battery life of the unit. It'll be out on launch day. One week later, Nyko will ship the $30 Charge Base, a charging dock for the Power Pak + (one of which is included with the package), that replaces the existing 3DS charging cradle. As a bonus, the Power Pak + subtly enhances the 3D-ness of the 3DS -- not by doing anything to the screens, but by making the unit take up more 3D space.%Gallery-118682%
Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping
Nyko's just unleashed its latest charging base for Wii controllers. This newest unit makes use of induction charging, so you can dispense with the sleeves, and just throw your contollers or Wands straight onto the dock for charging. The controllers are attached to the dock via magnets, and it also boasts a USB port for charging up other devices. The Nyko Charge base comes with two battery covers that are compatible with both Wiimotes and Nyko's own Wands, as well as two rechargeable battery packs. It's available now at Sam's Club and Amazon, and retails for $39.99. Full press release is after the break. Also, be on the lookout -- we'll be giving away five of these puppies on Black Friday (among many, many other things).
Nyko pushes new Blu-ray remote and ChargeBase for your PS3 loving needs
We've gotten a press release from Nyko detailing some new peripherals they're about to launch. Curious? First, let's have a little story to set the mood for the first item. A lot of people complained about the Bluetooth technology pushed by the PS3. When they experienced the sheer awesomeness of the Sixaxis controller, they complained to their friends, "Why in the world can I still play the game from in the upstairs bathroom? This is stupid!" Well, Nyko has your back with their new BluWave remote control supporting infrared technology. It's designed specifically for the PS3 as well, so you can easily control all those features Blu-ray movies have to offer without scrolling through that weird interface the controller forces upon you. We prefer the official Sony one, however.Nyko also released a ChargeBase peripheral that helps you keep your Sixaxis collection charged up. It's a relatively compact device and can rapidly charge up to four controllers simultaneously. Instead of relying on USB power, you've got an external power supply (read: plug) which means you can charge your controllers, but have the PS3 actually turned off. That's pretty handy. We'd definitely say this would be worthwhile, unless the quick charging starts to decrease your average battery life rapidly. It shouldn't, but weirder things have happened.
