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Razer Ouroboros gaming mouse hands-on
You recall the Ouroboros, right? Nope, not the mythical snake yarn, the latest gaming mouse from Razer that inadvertently broke cover over at the FCC. While it's been official for around a month, Germany's annual gaming convention has offered us our first chance to get to grips with it. Razer has tied itself in a ergonomic knot over the Ouroboros, with most of the mouse's dimensions happily adjustable to suit practically any gamer hand. We get customizing right after the break. %Gallery-162518%
Microsoft details the Touch Mouse's upcoming support for Windows 8 gestures
We already knew that Microsoft would be upgrading its Touch Mouse to support Windows 8 gestures, but the outfit never confirmed which finger movements, exactly, would be built in. Now, Redmond is explaining it all, even though the mouse won't actually get updated until Win8 goes on sale in late October. According to the company, you'll be able to swipe two fingers to the right to toggle between open programs, and two to the left to expose those Charms. Sliding three fingers up and down will allow you to use Semantic Zoom. (Naturally, you'll be able to swipe from side to side to move through the tiles on your Start screen, but you probably already guessed that.) We have a Touch Mouse here at Engadget HQ that we're just itching to update, but until those drivers drop three months from now, it seems we'll just have to find something else to keep us entertained.
Microsoft outs Bluetooth-enabled Sculpt Touch Mouse, matching Sculpt Mobile Keyboard
Lots of hardware news coming out of Microsoft today. No, not that kind of hardware; just a lot of mice (and keyboards, too). In addition to that spiffy Wedge mouse and keyboard, the company just announced two products as part of a new "Sculpt" line. First up, there's the Sculpt Touch Mouse, which isn't all that different from this, except it works over Bluetooth, as opposed to a USB dongle. Unlike last year's Touch Mouse, which got a software update today, this doesn't have a full touch surface so much as a touch strip, so complex three-fingered gestures are out. Still, you can use it to swipe up and down, and from side to side. And, like other products in Microsoft's lineup, it has BlueTrack technology, which allows it to be used on almost any surface. Interestingly, you'll need Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows RT to use it, meaning Vista users are outta luck. Meanwhile, the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard is similar to last year's Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000, only this time around it has hotkeys specific to Windows 8. Both products will be available "soon," and will retail for $49.95.%Gallery-161070%
Microsoft intros Wedge Mobile Keyboard, whose case doubles as a stand
As we've seen, there will be no shortage of tablet / laptop hybrids on offer when Windows 8 starts shipping this fall. But since those keyboard docks will typically be sold separately, that means you're also about to see loads of third-party alternatives. Not to be left out, Microsoft just announced a Bluetooth mobile keyboard, along with its smallest-ever mouse -- both of which can be used with any Windows tablet. Starting with that Wedge Mobile Keyboard, it resembles Zaggmate's iPad case from 2010, in that it has a hard case to make it more travel-resilient. Here, though, the casing is made of flexible rubber, allowing it to double as a tablet stand. Putting it over the keys also turns the keyboard off, allowing you to conserve battery life. On board, you'll also find hotkeys specific to certain Windows 8 features, such as the Charms Bar. And, as the name suggests, the keyboard rises a bit in the back, thanks to the battery door on the other side (this takes two AAA cells, by the way.) One caveat: though you can use it with Windows 7, 8 and RT, and even Mac OS X, it's not compatible with Vista. Sorry, folks. In a similar vein, the tiny Wedge Touch Mouse has a matching soft-touch surface and is also Bluetooth-enabled. Like other mice in Microsoft's lineup, it has BlueTrack technology, allowing it to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. The mouse, which runs on a single AA battery, also shuts down whenever you power down whatever device it's paired with. These products will ship "soon," according to Microsoft, with the keyboard retailing for $79.95 and the mouse going for $69.95. For now, we've got a bunch of photos below for your viewing pleasure.%Gallery-161072%%Gallery-161098%
SteelSeries announces Sensei Major League Gaming edition, keeps palms eager until August
For most of us, the humble mouse is but a tool for effective computer navigation, for gamers though, it's a matter of life and (virtual) death. SteelSeries knows this, and hopes its new Sensei Major League Gaming edition mouse will keep a few more of its faithful out of the MASH. It looks like much of the credentials of the original Sensei have been kept intact, the same 10.8-megapixel sensor, the 150 inches per second movement detection, 32-bit ARM processor, LCD display and so on. What's new then? For the main part, the CPI, which can now go from one to 8,200, or all the way to 16,400 if you use the double CPI feature. You'll have to wait until August to get your hand on it, with pre-orders (but no price as yet) set to open at the MLG Championship next week.
ROCCAT Savu hybrid mouse ready to assault PC gamers' senses for $60
If ever there were a prime candidate for Pimp my Mouse, ROCCAT's Savu would be it. The R.A.D. peripheral (no, really, that's the acronym) incorporates a category-first: an achievements application that rewards players for "a wide range of gaming feats, such as mouse movement, button clicks, scroll steps, etc." The tricked-out mouse also features an adjustable 4000 DPI optical sensor and Easy-Shift+ tech to let gamers program up to two dedicated functions per button. But, wait, there's more superfluousness to endure. In the event you feel the need to take this whole affair to 11, the company's also tossed in a customizable rear light bar that can be preset to one of 16.8 million colors. If you're a fan of over-the-top desktop accessories, you can snag this posterboy peripheral now for $60 at the virtual (or brick-and-mortar) retailer of your choice. Need more convincing? Then click on past the break for the hyperbolic presser from this extra-ordinary PC gaming kit.
Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT
In the increasingly complex world of gaming mice, we'd be happy with one that doesn't scrape the paint from the top of our desk. Still, if your ambitions are a little loftier, Roccat's unveiled the Savu gaming mouse in anticipation for its big day out at CeBIT. Named after an Indonesian province, its the first mouse to include a trophy system (nope, us neither) that rewards "gaming feats" when you reach the milestone of having clicked your right button a thousand times in an hour, or something. The 4,000 DPI optical sensor device has the company's usual clutch of features including Easy-Shift+ and customizable colors and it'll be available in May where you can customize it to your whimsy for an as-yet unspecified price.
Mad Catz Cyborg M.M.O. 7 gaming mouse hands-on
Mad Catz' Cyborg RAT series of adjustable computer mice has seen its fair share of minor revisions, and while wireless upgrades and whitewashed DPI tweaks have given consumers a hair of choice in transforming desktop pests, the differences between these devices has been modest, at best. Until now, at least. Enter the Cyborg M.M.O. 7, the outfit's latest addition to its aggressively styled line of gaming mice, minus the RAT moniker. Despite shedding the name of its predecessors, Mad Catz' latest point-and-clicker is as much of a RAT as the mice that came before it, but distinguishes itself with more buttons, more features and more color. Read on to see what's new, what's different and what should have stayed the same.
Shogun Bros. Chameleon X-1 mouse dons assassin style, sneaks into CES
Digging your stealthy Chameleon X-1 gamepad / mouse combo clicker? Look out, it's about to get a bit stealthier -- Shogun Bros. tells us that the dual analog rodent is sporting some fresh digs to ape the style of Assassin's Creed Revelations, complete with antique decorated leather mouse buttons. Cowhide aside, this is the same 1600dpi, 16 button wireless doodad the firm updated earlier this year. The branded mouse will debut at CES 2012 in "Altair white" and "Ezio grey," and promises to help you eliminate your targets in style. The outfit hinted to us that they'll be bringing a few other killer products to the show as well -- we'll be sure to sneak a peek while we're there.
MIT researchers locate genes that help underlie memory formation, zap some mice
Over time, the neurons in your brain are going to change. And that's only natural. When you experience a new event, your brain encodes the memory by altering the connections between neurons, which is caused by turning on several genes within these neurons. Recenty, a team of neuroscientists at MIT published their findings in the Dec. 23rd issue of Science in which the group was able to pinpoint some of the exact locations of memory formation within the brain. The team, led by Yingxi Lin, found that the Npas4 gene is especially active in the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be critical in forming long-term memories. Once engaged, the Npas4 gene turns on a series of other genes that modify the brain's internal wiring by adjusting the strength of synapses, or connections between neurons. The findings were obtained by studying the neural activity of mice which underwent mild electric shocks when they entered a specific chamber. Upon receiving the shock, researchers noted that Npas4 is turned on very early during this conditioning. The research is still in its early stages and while the researchers have identified only a few of the genes regulated by Npas4, they suspect there could be hundreds more that help with the memory formation process. The lesson learned: stick to it and if you have any questions, mildly shock some mice.
HP releases X4000 and X5000 mice that don't mind which hand you use (video)
Christmas at the House of Meg means there's two new wireless mice coming to fill the stockings of those who don't eat chocolate. Both units are clad in shimmering plastic and (not-so-shimmering) soft touch rubber, accommodating righties and lefties with equal ease. The 2.4GHz devices will give you 30-foot of roaming distance and a purported battery life of 30 months (on the X4000). The higher-end X5000 [pictured] has a touch scroll strip and four customizable buttons -- including a one-click Facebook button to match the social butterfly X7000. We've got a teaser video below that's either hyping these mice or the next James Bond movie (we're not sure) and you can snap 'em up from our source links, costing $29.99 (X4000) and $39.99 (X5000) respectively.
Corsair ships Vengeance gaming mice and keyboards, procrastinating shoppers rejoice
Remember that Vengeance line of gaming products that Corsair outed a few months back? We'll forgive you if not, and we'll also take this opportunity to refresh your memory while affirming that the company is shipping the bulk of 'em out just in time for the holidays. The Vengeance K60 and Vengeance K90 gaming keyboards and the Vengeance M60 and Vengeance M90 laser gaming mice and all clad in aluminum, with the K Series aimed at first-person shooter loyalists and the Ms aimed at those who just generally want to be awesome. You can catch up on the nitty-gritty just after the break, but here's the bad news: the K90, K60, M90 and M60 will go for $129, $109, $79 and $69 in order of mention. %Gallery-141889%
Yo-Yo wireless mouse concept charges with the flick of a wrist, saves your back
We've seen plenty of round mice, including Apple's infamous puck, and many devices that derive power from a yo-yo-like pull string mechanism. So we're not quite sure why we've never seen those two concepts married before. In retrospect, a wireless mouse charged by the kinetic energy of using it as a yo-yo seems like a painfully obvious idea. As an added bonus, this tiny pointer with an LCD battery gauge makes you get up every so often and get your limbs moving -- thus saving you from chromic back pain. Huzzah! Of course, there's no guarantee you'll ever actually see one of these on shelves. Check out the source for a few more pics.
SPHERE 2 mouse turns the premium dial up to platinum, can hide in perfumeries
You can't have enough premium spherical mice, can you? OreObject is hoping not, trumpeting its "environmentally sensitive" sequel to the SPHEREtouch. Sure, the SPHERE 2 still packs all sorts of curves, but it's now been crafted from "surgical grade" stainless steel, with four-way navigation chops and a detachable, tangle-free USB cord thrown into the mix. It's the curious scroll wheel at the apex of the sphere that now furnishes the orb with four-way scrolling, and the peripheral will be available in three different finishes: titanium ($185), gold ($290) and platinum ($320). The one percent among us can sniff out the preorder form at the source link below. Or get the butler to do it.
HP's WiFi Touch Mouse X7000 has a Facebook button, doesn't like lefties
Six months ago, HP got us to look twice at its WiFi Mobile Mouse, which connects to your PC via your home network so that you don't have to waste a USB port on a dongle or receiver (incidentally, it promises to then work even if there's no WiFi connection available). Now the outfit's at it again: it's quietly started selling the WiFi Touch Mouse X7000, which, as you might have guessed, sports a gesture-friendly touch strip. Before you get too excited, though, it only supports one-fingered scrolling, whereas Microsoft's Touch Mouse does panning, minimizing / maximizing, docking and revealing the desktop. Like its little brother, the X7000 promises a 30-foot range and nine months of battery life, though for whatever reason this one's only meant for the right-handed among us. Other differences: this guy has six programmable buttons, not five, including a dedicated Facebook key. Just a heads up: you'll need not just a PC, but one running Windows 7, so those of you still rocking an XP machine for work are sadly out of luck. It's on sale for $60 -- that's twenty bucks less than Microsoft's Touch Mouse but then again, it's far less touch-friendly. But is that worth the savings? And the Facebook button?! We'll let you chew on that for awhile. %Gallery-137820%
Logitech M525 wireless mouse lasts three years on a single pair of batteries
That is the Logitech M525 wireless mouse, a rather unassuming hunk of plastic and rubber with a scroll wheel that also tilts for navigating pages both horizontally and vertically. Sure, you get your choice of white or black, for what that's worth, but probably the most distinguishing feature is the battery life. This £35 ($40) pointer gets up to three years on a single pair of AAs. In the states you get a few more color options, including green and blue, and all versions use Logitech's proprietary wireless connection, which lets you connect up to six devices to a single tiny dongle. The M525 is available now in the US and should be available in the UK before the month is out. Check out the PR after the break.
SteelSeries Sensei gaming mouse goes up for pre-order, obeys your macro come October
Competitive gaming scored itself a new peripheral vying for the top spot back in August, when SteelSeries unveiled its ambidextrous Sensei mouse. If you'll recall, the Sensei tracks up to 150-inches per second with its 10.8 megapixel sensor, and uses a 32-bit ARM processor to calculate it all without bogging down your rig. Making things sweeter, a trio of illuminated sections can be set to differing hues befitting your mood, and an LCD planted on the Sensei's underside will let you change some settings without a computer. If you've been dying to get your FPS-loving mitts on this $90 input device, it's now officially up for pre-order from the company's website and due to hit doorsteps during the first week of October. As usual, the full PR is located just past the break.
Targus to release new WiFi PAN-equipped Laser Mouse this September, flips Bluetooth the bird
Back in 2008, Ozmo Devices paired up with Intel to get its WiFi PAN (WiFi Personal Area Network) tech into low-power devices. Fast-forward to a few years later, tack on a new partnership with Targus and get ready for the first of those Bluetooth-less peripherals to hit the market. The company's new accessory teammate is planning to rollout a line of WiFi Laser mice that incorporate the OZMO2000 chip, with the first mouse to hit sometime this September. The unreleased AMW58US model will connect directly to your computer's WiFi receiver and packs a four-way scroll wheel, laser sensor and compatibility for Windows 7 -- batteries included. There's no pre-order page available at the moment, so you'll just have to sit tight and wait it out. Official PR awaits you after the break.
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.
Mobile startup Motiga promises real-time mobile multiplayer tech, starting with 'The LeftOvers'
Motiga is a new startup with a clear goal: To build a technology platform that enables small mobile gaming teams to include real-time multiplayer "quickly and with less resources." Motiga's platform is called (backronymed?) the Motiga Infinite Context Engine or MICE. To show off what MICE is capable of, Motiga is co-developing The LeftOvers, which it's billing as a "free-to-play, real-time multiplayer game." "The fact that The LeftOvers is created by a team of three developers is a testament to the ease of use and robustness of our technology," said Motiga co-founder Rick Lambright. Lambright, along with fellow co-founder Chris Chung, bring a lot of expertise to the outfit. Chung served as Chief Strategy Officer at Trion and before that, spent time at NCsoft and Guild Wars developer ArenaNet. Lambright was Chief Architect at MMO pub Gazillion Entertainment where he worked on the tech for games like Marvel Super Hero Squad Online and LEGO Universe. Is an easy-to-implement real-time multiplayer solution for mobile gaming possible and, if so, is that model of multiplayer something mobile gamers are interested in? We're not sure, but we're excited to find out. %Gallery-131678%
