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Xbox One's translucent Phantom Black controller arrives September 11th
A pair of new Xbox One controllers is on the way next month, including the nifty-looking Phantom Black Special Edition. It has a translucent black finish on the top of the controller that transitions to champagne gold at the bottom. The inputs are black too, save for a champagne gold D-pad. The controller also has textured grips, which should keep the Phantom Black safely in your hands.
US Navy will use Xbox controllers to steer submarine periscopes
The Pentagon might have to buy Xbox controllers en masse in the future if the military ends up using them to control its laser weapons and other equipment. In fact, the US Navy will begin stocking its modernized Virginia-class submarines with them, starting with the USS Colorado that's expected to be commissioned in November. Sailors aboard the high-tech submarine will use the Xbox controller to maneuver its periscope. See, unlike periscopes in movies, wherein a single person has to peer through an eyepiece, the high-tech version of the instrument uses high-resolution cameras and displays images on big screens.
Xbox controller support is coming to Samsung's Gear VR headset
Last month, Microsoft announced plans to bring Xbox Wireless tech to PCs and other gaming accessories starting with Lenovo's IdeaCentre Y710 Cube. Today, the company went a step further with controller support for Samsung's Gear VR headset. That's right, the Xbox Wireless Controller will soon work with Samsung's phone-driven virtual reality device. Minecraft: Gear VR Edition will be the first game to make use of the feature, but eventually you'll be able to use it on any Gear VR title with controller support.
Boeing's drone-killing laser takes down targets with an Xbox controller
Boeing has a pretty storied history with lasers and now its testing one that can take out UAVs and rockets regardless of where it's installed. A recent trial run of the tech was conducted in Florida under some pretty grueling conditions (heavy fog, rain and wind), to prove that even a lower-powered version of High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator -- HEL MD for short -- is capable in a maritime environment. As Boeing tells it, the firm exceeded all of its goals and successfully engaged with some 150 different targets including drones and 60mm mortar shells with its 10 kilowatt laser. Wired says that the energy beam is powered by lithium ion batteries, and that the whole setup only requires a diesel-backed generator to keep the wheels of war defense moving. Meaning, running out of fuel, not munitions, is basically the only threat the energy weapon faces.
Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition and Ferrari gamepad for Xbox 360, we go hands-on
It's been almost a year since Thrustmaster rolled out its first replica Ferrari 458 Italia racing wheel and pedal set for Xbox 360, and the company's finally outed its successor: the Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition. Like its elder, the GT Cockpit has an 11.2-inch replica of the Ferrari 458 Italia's steering wheel, with A,B, X and Y buttons in place of turn signals and an Engine Start button that's actually a d-pad. It also sports brushed metal paddle shifters and 16-bit resolution to ensure a realistic digital driving experience. However, the new wheel is attached to a base sporting a pair of stamped steel pedals via an adjustable steering column. The whole thing has metal underpinnings and weighs 22 pounds to provide stability as you virtually race around Sebring or Laguna Seca. Plus, it's foldable, so you can easily stow it out of the way when you're not doing your best Stig impersonation.%Gallery-162413% In addition to the GT Cockpit, Thrustmaster has also outed the GPX LightBack Ferrari F1 Edition Gamepad. It largely looks like a standard corded 360 controller, with a Ferrari-style white and red paint job (replete with racing sponsor logos), backlit thumbsticks and two rows of LEDs at the top of the controller. The LEDs are programmed to provide visual indicators for engine speed or braking power, and the thumbsticks have been tweaked to be more precise than those on other available 360 gamepads. The F1 gamepad's up for pre-order today for $49.99, and the GT Cockpit can be yours in September for $300. Wanna know more? Check out our hands (and feet)-on impressions after the break.%Gallery-162412%
Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles
Biometrics and laptop security go together like business meetings and boardrooms, but this Microsoft patent hints that gaming could be the next frontier for fingerprint recognition. The claims for "personalization using a hand-pressure signature" detail a product that may look like your standard 360 controller, but it features sensors to detect a user's identity. It seems that, based on each gamer's unique hand pressure patterns, the controller can determine who is holding the device at any given moment and deliver personalized content based on that user's gaming profile. Whatever Microsoft's mystery controller may be, E3 is just a few weeks away, so perhaps we'll learn more then.
Homemade pink Xbox 360 controller makes the ladies say 'heyyy!'
Not that we haven't seen pink Xbox 360 controllers before (including one from Microsoft itself), but this one just oozes class. Constructed by Flickr user 4apples for the lovely lady (ladies?) in his life, he took all the time one would expect a handsome young bloke to take by dissembling it, painting each piece in varying shades of pink and slapping it all back together. Have a look at the read link for the finished project, and naw, we won't tell your special someone if you decide to follow suit and call it an original. [Via technabob]
Halo 3: ODST's limited edition 360 controller
Sure, Microsoft might be moving past the controller entirely with Project Natal, but that doesn't mean it's not going to try and milk you for all you're worth with limited-edition frippery like the Halo 3: ODST-themed controller that comes with the $99 collector's version of the game. You know you're powerless to resist -- we know we are. Check a couple more shots after the break.
Ben Heck crams wireless Xbox 360 controller into original Xbox controller
Yeah, we doubt that summary rolled off the average tongue, but regardless, modder extraordinaire Ben Heck has managed to stuff the guts of an Xbox 360 wireless controller into the frame of an original Xbox controller. Often dubbed "The Duke," the massive device actually proved rather hard to work with, though one may assume that you could actually cram the entire Xbox 360 into this beast with all that room. Nevertheless, the final product actually looks fairly unscathed, save for the tiny, recessed Sync button on the rear, the added Guide button on the front and the headset port at the base, but it sounds like this may be the only one to ever be created by the hands of Mr. Heck. You know what that means -- get your bid in or live with unimaginable regret.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Carbon fiber 360 controller is fast, furious
This sweet Xbox 360 controller mod comes to us direct from Germany, where a forum reader called MueMue used the shell of an extra wireless controller to shape a sporting new carbon fiber case. He's also replaced the original removable battery pack with two built-in 1100mAh cells to preserve the lines and coloring of his work, and we think it came out looking pretty hot -- we'd definitely take this bad boy over the eh-so-it's-black 360 Elite controller.[Via Make]
Caption Contest: Operation Red Ring of Death
The US Army just wrapped up its first live-fire exercise for Future Combat Systems technologies and equipment in Texas last week, with 36 soldiers testing out robotics, UAVs and remote sensors -- though it looks like Bogden here wasn't quite putting in his fair share of the work.Ryan: "Is it just me, or is the Xbox Live connection hella laggy out here?" Or, "Dude, have you guys played this America's Army game?!"Evan: "Um, I'd love to keep playing UNO fellas, but I'm a little busy right now." Or, "Hey guys, anyone know how many Achievement points I get for taking out a landmine?"Paul: "Just a sec guys, they're doing the romance dance!"Thomas: "What's the command for safety off?"Chris: "Just give me a sec, Sarge... I'm playing out this scenario in GRAW to see if we live or die." Or, "Gold subscription expired... I can't connect to the drone. Can I use your Visa, sir?"Donald: "Hang on guys, we need a firmware update before we can go any further."Darren: "I admit, I feel a little bad for keeping the head-mounted displays biz lucrative."
Go all Dualshock on your 360
If for some odd reason you wish you could use your uncomfortable PS2 controller on your 360, then TeamXtender has an answer. TeamXtender is in the planning stages of creating an adapter that your Xbox 360 controller would plug into to allow full PS2 Dualshock support and would also allow keyboard/mouse connectivity. I'm in love with my sexy white controller, but would you be enticed by such an offering or are you like me and satisfied with the your current 360 controller?[Thanks, SuicideNinja]
