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Razer's 3D-sensing camera brings motion tracking to your games
Razer has been big on immersive gaming as of late, and it's reinforcing that by unveiling a 3D-sensing camera at the Intel Developer Forum. The ominous-looking gadget uses Intel's RealSense to track your movement in games, whether you're sitting at a desktop or sporting a VR helmet (including Razer's own OSVR, naturally). For example, it can follow your head movements when you look to the side in a race car's cockpit. There aren't many more details to speak of just yet, but this hardware should arrive in the first quarter of 2016.
Apple is upgrading the Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard
To put it mildly, Apple's input device roster hasn't changed much in recent years. The Magic Mouse hasn't really been touched since 2009, and the Wireless Keyboard is even older than that. The Cupertino crew must be ready to shake things up, though: regulatory filings for both a Magic Mouse 2 and an updated Wireless Keyboard have shown up at the FCC. It's not certain how the external designs will change (there's no peek at the top of either model), but they're definitely going to get an internal upgrade. The peripherals are jumping from Bluetooth 2.0 to the more efficient Bluetooth 4.2 standard, and it looks like they may ditch AA batteries for built-in lithium-ion packs -- you might not have to swap batteries ever again. While there aren't any clues as to when Apple will deliver either the mouse or the keyboard, we won't be shocked if the two show up alongside new Macs sometime later this year.
Samsung's launches a keyboard cover for its newest phones
Those rumors that Samsung would launch an oddball keyboard add-on? They're true. The Korean tech firm has unveiled a Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy Note 5 that, as the name suggests, gives you both a case and a hardware keyboard for those times when you need to punch out long messages. It'll retail for $80 when it launches in a few weeks, and will also be available for the Galaxy S6 Edge+, as well as the smaller S6 and S6 Edge. The case consists of two parts: A rear panel and the front keyboard, which can be snapped onto the back of the phone when you don't need it. Once attached, the screen adapts to the keyboard, and there are conventional navigation buttons to replace the capacitive ones you've lost. We can't imagine too many Note 5 owners picking this up (part of the point is that big screen), but it could hit the spot if you're jonesing for a BlackBerry-like experience on an Android phone.
Razer stuffs colored lighting into more gaming keyboards and keypads
Razer has been decking out seemingly every gaming peripheral it makes with many-colored Chroma lighting, and there's no signs of that trend letting up any time soon. The company has rolled out Chroma versions of both its slim, laptop-like DeathStalker keyboard and its Orbweaver keypad, giving you even more ways to put on a light show while you play. Both let you pick from 16.8 million shades, including in multiple zones on the keyboard. As before, you can even sync colors and light patterns between other Chroma devices -- handy if you want to change the mood between games, or just show off at your next tournament. Just be prepared to pay for the pretty. Both Chroma devices are shipping very shortly, but you'll shell out $100 for the DeathStalker and $130 for its Orbweaver sibling.
The Chatpad returns on Xbox One this November
Remember that Chatpad you used to trash-talk your Xbox 360 rivals? It's back in an Xbox One version with a few new twists. The keyboard add-on still clips to the bottom of your gamepad and makes it easy to type just about anywhere on either the Xbox One or a Windows 10 PC, but it now has a pair of programmable keys to automate common input (for example, asking for help from your friends in a tough match). Microsoft won't ship the peripheral until November, alas, but pre-orders will start today -- we'll get you pricing as soon as we can.
Hacks turn Square's reader into a card-stealing machine (updated)
As helpful as a Square Reader may be for purchases at trendy stores, you'll want to watch out -- in the right circumstances, they can also be used to steal your credit card info. Security researchers have discovered that you can physically disable the encryption the device uses to protect your financial info, turning the Reader into a tiny, portable card skimmer. There's also a way to record the signal created by your card when you swipe its magnetic stripe on an unmodified Reader, which theoretically lets evildoers charge your card without approval.
Matchstick's Firefox OS-based TV dongle is dead
Bad news if you backed Matchstick's crowdfunded, Firefox OS-powered TV adapter: it's not going to happen. The team has cancelled its would-be Chromecast rival after realizing that implementing copyright protection will require "significantly more" work than expected. It wouldn't be fair to leave people hanging when there's no way to "reliably predict" when you could play Netflix or other locked-down content, the company says. If you plunked money down, you should be getting a full refund within the next 60 days.
Call Windows' Cortana assistant with this Bluetooth button
Now that Microsoft's voice-guided Cortana assistant is up and running in Windows 10, you might be eager to trigger it without leaving the "hey Cortana" feature on (which might sap battery life) or staying within reach of your computer. If so, Satechi might just come to your aid. It's releasing a Bluetooth Cortana button that will trigger the Halo-inspired helper on Windows PCs and phones from a distance. You can use it to more quickly ask about the weather from across the room, for instance, or leave your phone in your car's cupholder when you start a call. At $23, it won't be the cheapest single-purpose peripheral when it ships later in August. However, that purchase might pay off if you'd rather not get that chatty with your devices.
Tiny sensor tells you when your favorite places are crowded
You probably aren't a fan of showing up at the coffee shop right when there's a large line, or at the gym when there are no free machines. Wouldn't it be nice if you could find out how busy a place is at any given moment, without resorting to estimates? The new Density sensor might help. The tiny infrared detector is effectively a smarter, more connected pedestrian traffic sensor: it tells apps how many people are entering or leaving a building at any moment, giving you a good sense of whether that restaurant is packed or blissfully empty. Shops can use that data to their advantage, too. They can offer discounts whenever it gets quiet, or notify you the moment there's a free seat.
Motorola unveils wireless Pulse and Surround headphones
Hold on, folks -- Motorola's big event wasn't done when it unveiled a trio of new smartphones. The company has also launched two sets of Bluetooth headphones, the in-ear Surround (shown above) and over-ear Pulse (below). Besides the form factor, you're mostly choosing based on longevity. The bigger Pulse lasts a healthy 18 hours on a charge, while the tinier, waterproof Surround will get you a smaller, but respectable 12 hours of listening. They're both available today, starting at $60 for the Pulse and bumping up to $70 for the Surround.
The PS4 will get an officially licensed media remote
You'd think that Sony would have released a remote control for the PlayStation 4 given that video is even more important this time around, but that's not the case -- without a compatible TV remote via HDMI-CEC or Harmony setup, you're usually stuck using a gamepad. The next best thing is coming, however. Accessory maker PDP has quietly unveiled an officially licensed PS4 media remote that gives you an easier way to navigate both your console and your TV when watching movies. PDP hasn't formally announced launch details, but US retailers have it shipping in October for $30. That's not a trivial amount, but it could be worthwhile if you spend as much time watching Netflix as you do grinding through Destiny.
Drum sensor helps you play digital beats on analog skins
You can certainly use drum machines and electronic drums if you want to add a digital kick to your music, but you typically lose the intuitiveness and subtlety of playing old-school skins in the process. Why can't you have the best of both worlds? Sunhouse thinks you can. It's crowdfunding Sensory Percussion, a sensor that translates your acoustic drum sounds into electronic beats. You can map different samples to different parts of your drums, and the add-on will even recognize various playing styles. The effect is a bit surreal, as you'll hear in the video below -- you can produce beats that you'd rarely hear in the studio, let alone at a live concert.
Palette's modular controller is ready to steer your creative apps
Palette crowdfunded its unique modular controller in the hopes of giving you customizable, hands-on control over your creative apps, and it's finally ready to make that technology available to everyone. As of today, you can pre-order Palette kits that scale up depending on just how much tactile fine-tuning you want. The base is a $199 kit with a dial, two buttons and a slider; the $299 Expert and $499 Professional kits throw in more gear, and you can even snag an $899 limited edition in cherry wood. Of course, you can also buy individual parts if you need more. The controller is mostly useful if you thrive in Adobe software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, but it's also helpful in MIDI music, gaming and most any other program where keyboard shortcuts just don't feel right.
Apple Stores to carry third-party accessories in custom boxes
Apple is well-known for being very particular about its packaging... and it apparently cares about other companies' packaging, too. According to 9to5Mac, the tech giant is telling retail staff that it will soon sell third-party accessories in boxes co-designed by Apple... and possibly only in those boxes. Yes, that familiar minimalist look would soon spread to just about everything in the store. The move would ostensibly help you find what you're looking for and make sure that it works with your devices. Many of the familiar brands in Apple stores are reportedly on board with the idea, including Incase, Mophie and Logitech.
At last, the Raspberry Pi mini PC has an official case
There's no question that the Raspberry Pi is successful among the homebrew computing crowd. However, it's not what you'd call consumer-friendly -- the bare circuit board you normally get is clearly intended for tinkerers who plan to put the mini PC inside their own projects. Mercifully, you won't have to devise a shell for it (or run it exposed) for much longer. Raspberry Pi has released an official case that gives a home to either the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B or the original's Model B+. It's a fairly unassuming piece of plastic, but it'll both protect your gear and give you access to both the primary ports and the GPIO port often used for DIY creations. More importantly, this add-on costs just £6 ($9). At that price, it's a no-brainer if you're treating the Raspberry Pi as a tiny desktop, an ad blocker or some other kind of self-contained machine.
Oculus accidentally reveals an early VR controller concept
The Oculus VR crew has been doling out hints about what the mainstream version of its headset will do, but the controller? It's been pretty tight-lipped so far. However, the company just gave an inadvertent clue as to what it's been working on. Fans have discovered a concept image that Oculus' Palmer Luckey says is an early "placeholder" for the company's controller work. The peripheral is "nowhere close to final," the executive adds, but it's implied that some of the underlying ideas will show up in the products you see at Oculus' big consumer event on June 11th. Not that it spoils much -- it's little more than a touchpad with basic navigation controls, so the odds are that there are some surprises left in store.
Use your Xbox One gamepad wirelessly with your PC this fall
Microsoft didn't have just a 1TB Xbox One in store today. The company has also revealed that a wireless PC adapter for the Xbox One's controller will be available this fall, both by itself ($25) or bundled with a gamepad ($80). The add-on will give you that familiar, console-like input on any Windows 10 device with a spare USB port, including stereo audio and voice chat. That's a while to wait just to get that Xbox One feel on your computer without plugging in a cable. However, the adapter could make all the difference if you're using a laptop or tablet and want to get rid of as many cords as possible.
Synaptics' touch-sensitive space bar speeds up your writing
Your smartphone's keyboard has loads of shortcuts that help you write faster, but the keyboard on your big, brawny PC doesn't. Seems illogical, doesn't it? Synaptics doesn't think it makes sense, either. The input firm is launching SmartBar, a technology that turns your keyboard's space bar into a touch-sensitive surface for gesture controls. You can swipe your thumb to select text, pinch to zoom in and program five "logical buttons" that perform macros, such as formatting text or building units in a favorite real-time strategy game. This might only save you a couple of seconds reaching for your mouse, but Synaptics is betting that those little time savings will add up.
Xiaomi officially launches its US and European stores in early June
After a brief dry run, Xiaomi is just about ready to officially launch its online store in both the US and Europe. The Chinese tech firm has announced that the Mi Store will be available in the US on June 1st, and will reach France, Germany and the UK on June 2nd. As before, you're not about to score phones like the Mi Note Pro or Mi4 through this shop -- it's all about mobile-oriented accessories, such as the Mi Band activity tracker, Mi Headphones and Mi Power Bank. If you're only interested in scoring a deal on a wearable or power pack, though, you won't have long to wait.
Razer's latest gaming mouse mat is a light-up wonderland
Think your mouse pad is a little lifeless? Razer thinks it can spruce things up. Its new Firefly gaming mat is ringed with customizable lighting that can glow and pulse in 16.8 million colors. It'll even sync with Razer's Chroma-badged peripherals, if you're bent on putting on a coordinated show. The Firefly will undoubtedly be one of the most expensive mouse pads you could buy when it ships in June for $60, but you could easily justify the expense if you already have a flashy PC case sitting under your desk.
