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Nyko Power Grip for PlayStation Vita review: a $25 accessory that promises to double your battery life
Gaming accessories come in all shapes and sizes --- replacement controllers, portable console suitcases, specialized mice, control augmenting nubs, you name it. Whatever your niche, you can bet there's a product out there to fill it. Nyko, in particular, has made a bit of a habit of fulfilling a particular need: manufacturing third-party battery accessories for all those short-lived handhelds. The outfit has such a solid track record in the category, in fact, that we had little doubt its PlayStation Vita Power Grip ($25) would live up to its life-giving hype -- but we decided to put it to the test all the same. %Gallery-162642%
Ion iCade Mobile and iCade Core review
The iCade Arcade Cabinet famously began life as an April Fool's joke, pulling the video game equivalent of Pinocchio by transforming in a real salable product. The $100 arcade machine-shaped iPad enclosure / controller hit the sweet spot between functionality and retro gaming nostalgia, proving successful enough that Ion found itself with a solid reason to expand the line. Notable amongst the new arrivals are the iCade Core, which offers up the same feature set as the original iCade in a more portable joystick form, and the iCade Mobile, a re-imagining of the product as an oversized iPhone case. The Core carries the same price tag as its predecessor, while the Mobile clocks in at $20 less. So, are these additions worthy of the iCade name? Or would the line have been better served as a one-off? Insert a coin and find out after the break. Update: Unfortunately, we were provided with incorrect information ahead of the review -- the iCade Core is actually priced at $80, same as the iCade Mobile.
Razer Naga MMO mouse gets some work done, fresh for 2012
It's fair to say we admire the Razer Naga MMO 'round these parts -- as much for its thumb-thrashing controls, as for its democratic diplomacy. Now the original is back, and updated for 2012. What's new? Well, there's a redesigned anti-slip, fingerprint-fighting finish, three interchangeable side panels and a re-optimized button placement. It's all designed to stop your fevered swipes from landing your mouse on the other side of the LAN, and help fend off a dreaded bout of "Warfare-wrist". Reckon you deserve an upgrade? US and EU gamers can get their $80 dollar-laden hand on it now, and the rest of the realm later in Q2.
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.
Razer Naga Hex Gaming Mouse hands-on (video)
Ready to give your right thumb a workout? We just tested our hand stamina with the recently-outed Razer Naga Hex Gaming Mouse. The programmable, six-button side panel also sports a thumb rest in the center of the control set -- something we found to be a nice touch. If the stock feel of said finger grip doesn't exactly suit your gaming style, you can switch it out for two other heights for a better grasp of things. Shipping this spring, it'll set you back $80. So is the Naga Hex a sound investment? Read on to find out.The first thing we noticed about the Naga Hex was how lighting fast it was. We didn't experience any lag in the movement, something we've come to count on from Razer peripherals. There was the slightest bit of travel with button set on the right side, though, but the feel could change slightly once you pop on a different thumb rest. Those side buttons also boast speeds of up to 250 clicks per second, making those all-too-important macros keep pace with your MW3 tactics. Naga Hex is the first Razer device to sport Synapse 2.0, a cloud-based service that manages all of your custom settings even when you head over to mates house. Scroll wheel and buttons up top work like a charm as well, making it a nice piece of kit to add to your gaming rig.
Razer Naga Hex Gaming Mouse asks your single thumb to do sextuple duty
It's time to whip that lazy right thumb into shape, to end its freeloading ways and make sure it's fully maximized. The Razer Naga Hex is the way to go. Think of it as a somewhat simplified version of the Razer Naga MMO, dropping to six buttons and re-arranging them into a hexagonal pattern. It's designed for the burgeoning action-RPG gamer -- or for those who spent too much time playing Battletech with little painted figures. The $80 mouse is available for pre-order now and will ship later this month before popping up in stores in March.
Nintendo pulling the plug on the Wii Speak, gently
Oh, noble Wii Speak, you promised to make taunting newbs and chiding teammates so much more of a social affair. Now you're being relegated to the cemetery of console accessories that simply never caught on. Nintendo has confirmed Wii Speak is only available now at "limited retail locations" ahead of an apparent discontinuation, and that while "additional shipments can be made if consumer demand increases," that doesn't sound particularly likely to us. If you'd like to pay your respects, visiting hours will be all weekend ahead of the final ceremony taking place on Monday between the Power Glove and Zapper plots.
Microsoft gives us a look through Project Natal's eyes (video)
Ilan Spillinger, Microsoft's Xbox 360 VP, was on hand in Tel Aviv yesterday for a showcase of Project Natal. Although there wasn't much in the way of groundbreaking stuff, the resulting video does show off the motion control system's gender recognition (done through Natal's facial recognition ... you filthy child) and ability to track two players within the frame at the same time. A tipster from the audience tells us that earlier lag issues have been eradicated, although some jitter was indeed apparent when the second person stepped into Natal's field of vision. Either way, it's looking like Microsoft's Xbox 360 peripheral is progressing well toward its release near the end of this year. Go past the break to see for yourself. [Thanks, Roy]
