Talk about a long wait. Razer’s Chimaera — which first popped onto our radar in prototype form here in Vegas a year ago — is finally shipping to end users. That’s according to staff at the company’s booth today at CES , who seemed quite pleased that they could change their answer when asked about it from eager (read: impatient) customers. The website still hasn’t been updated, but the 5.1 channel surround sound headset ($199.99) should be more widely available to purchase soon. Also, a 2.1 version will be on sale for $129.99, rocking a fairly similar design and charging station. For those needing a refresher, this is a wireless Xbox 360 headset, complete with an equalizer, audio out jacks (on the station) and a flip-down microphone. Have a peek at the gallery below, and feel free to start checking your doorstep at an unhealthy clip. Gallery: Razer Chimaera Xbox 360 gaming headset at CES 2011 Razer Chimaera emerges at CES 2011, starts shipping to consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …The urge to kill a chicken is surprisingly strong when operating in the dead space between sleep deprivation and a caffeinated buzz of hyper alertness. The fact that the beast is giant and in space makes it downright compulsive especially when given the opportunity to team up in combat with Max Planck over an 802.11n WiFi Direct connection… without an access point and without any lag. This isn’t your father’s Bluetooth connection, son. See the carnage go down after the break. Continue reading WiFi Direct helps you kill space chickens without an access point (hands-on) WiFi Direct helps you kill space chickens without an access point (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …We aren’t quite sure we’re on the same page as Splashtop ‘s CEO, who is seemingly on a mission to “build the Bridge to Anywhere,” but we’re all for a remote access client for Google’s mobile OS. Shortly after bringing your Windows PC to the iPhone, iPod and iPad, the aforementioned company has now issued an Android client. As you’d probably guess, it allows anyone with an Android-based smartphone or tablet to tap into their networked Windows PC, with content and applications both accessible. According to the company, it’ll allow Android users to “listen to music, access all of their files and applications, and play PC and Flash games remotely.” We’re a little hesitent to believe all that will be doable on some of the lower-end handsets, but at least it’s out there to try (if you’re willing to part ways with $4.99). Continue reading Splashtop Remote Desktop adds Android compatibility, opens another avenue for Windows remote access Splashtop Remote Desktop adds Android compatibility, opens another avenue for Windows remote access originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …In an effort to obviate the best efforts of Boxee , Logitech , Roku , and Apple , the new line of HDTVs from Haier aims to bring internet content and streaming video to your living room without such excess hardware. Rather than having another black box fighting for space in your entertainment center, Haier’s Net Connect LED displays have WiFi capabilities and Yahoo’s Connected TV baked in to deliver content. In addition to Yahoo’s apps, the TVs will also provide viewers with access to Hulu Plus, Blockbuster on Demand, Film Fresh , and Netflix. Unfortunately, we don’t have specs, prices, or a release date for the sets, but we do know that they’ll have remotes with a dedicated Netflix button , which is sure to please the impatient movie watcher in us all. Continue reading Haier launches WiFi equipped Net Connect LED HDTVs, takes Yahoo Connected TV along for the ride Haier launches WiFi equipped Net Connect LED HDTVs, takes Yahoo Connected TV along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …We had a hunch that PixelQi was going to bring its 7-inch displays to Vegas, and lo and behold we caught a glimpse of the unique transreflective displays today. (For those that have been living under a rock and aren’t familiar with PixelQi — the high contrast 3Qi screens allow for the backlight to be turned off; not only does it save energy, but it’s easy to read in natural light.) The smaller, 1024 x 600-resolution displays are, well, smaller than the previous 10.1-inch version. Most of them, however, were just hooked up to demonstration boards. There was one put into a Viliv X70 , but again, this was just a PixelQi mod. The bigger story at the PixelQi booth, however, came from its founder Mary Lou Jepsen, who not only promises that production is ramping quite well on both the 7- and 10.1-inch tablets, but that the company is working on a higher resolution 1280 x 800-resolution 10.1-inch display and a 9.7-inch display for a partner. We’re not going to read into that too much, but she maintains that they are continuing to work with major companies. She also explained what we have heard before — that much of the tight supply issues were attributed to the recession and that many companies changed their course after the iPad was introduced to make tablets. Obviously, the current 10.1-inch screen is starting to ship in the Notion Ink Adam , but we’re still waiting to finally see the game changing technology in a tablet or laptop from a major manufacturer. With that, we leave you with a bunch of pictures of tablets and netbooks with PixelQi displays that you really can’t buy right now but that will certainly make you drool. Gallery: PixelQi tablet and screen hands-on PixelQi demos its 7-inch displays, working on a 9.7-inch version originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 05:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …For Sony, the homebrew community is both enemy and friend — at the same time hackers are exploiting the living daylights out of the PlayStation 3, they’re making the experimental PSP Go moderately interesting again. Here it is running UMD disc images directly from flash storage, letting it play games like Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep , formerly off-limits since it was released on a physical disc. Sure, we’ve seen it play Sega CD games before, but this looks like the real deal — working, user-installable ISO loaders for PSP Go backups and homebrew. Not to mention the skull-and-crossbones-clad elephant in the room. Perhaps these aren’t exactly Sony’s friends, on second thought. PSP Go hacked to play UMDs, slightly increase its desirability (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …We can’t imagine how this might have slipped your attention, but LG and Motorola used this year’s CES to roll out the smartphone world’s first dual-core devices in the shape of the Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X . Both are built around NVIDIA’s 1GHz Tegra 2 chip, which has been the most popular thing out here in Vegas after the free food and shuttle rides (Moto even has the Droid Bionic , a 4.3-incher bound for Verizon, using it). But what does that extra core matter to you ? Well, aside from facilitating 1080p video playback on both phones, it does make them quite formidable mobile gaming stations. NVIDIA took the time to show us a couple of games being handled with ease by the 2X and Atrix before noting that it isn’t leaving it entirely up to Google to provide the compelling content for its hardware. Gaming is, after all, close to the GeForce maker’s heart, and we were told that NVIDIA is working closely with developers to help them exploit the added firepower of Tegra 2 so as to deliver prettier, shinier things on screen. We were also informed of the introduction of a Tegra Zone, an Android app designed to serve as a showcase of Tegra partners’ wares, whether they be video or gaming content, though you shouldn’t fear the specter of fragmentation here — it’s not a separate app store, any purchases will be directed through the Android Market. Anyhow, enough talking, there’s video to be watched after the break. Continue reading NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video) NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …The folks over at HomeSeer , maker of home automation devices, are set to debut the super small, super powerful HomeTroller-Mini at CES this week. The mini controller apparently fits in the palm of your hand, and is compatible with Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, allowing you to switch off the lights or set an alarm via text, e-mail, or text-to-speech. The SheevaPlug -alike sports a 1.0 GHz Linux platform, retails under $300, and can be linked to a number of other products to control your thermostat, appliances, lights, window shades — you get the picture. All of this sounds great, but we’re still waiting to see if it can get our circular bed spinning. HomeSeer HomeTroller-Mini home automation controller gets you one step closer to the bachelor pad of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …We got a chance to spend a little time with Contour’s upcoming Live Viewfinder for the ContourGPS , an app that finally lets us know for sure which way our little cameras are pointing. The app makes a Bluetooth connection to the camera and pulls down footage in real-time, also allowing you to tweak camera settings, which is hugely more convenient than tethering to a PC or Mac. The company also showed off a rifle-ready picatinny rail mount (above), following in the footsteps of Tachyon . Get yourself a taste after the break. Continue reading ContourGPS Live Viewfinder on iOS hands-on ContourGPS Live Viewfinder on iOS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …3D technology’s inevitable race to the bottom officially kicked off today with ViewSonic’s announcement of their new ViewFun line. The Palm 3D HD was the priciest item shared due to its ability to record full HD 1080p in 3D or 2D at 60fps. Some of its other notable features include a rechargeable Li-ion battery, an SD slot for expandable storage, and a 3.2-inch LCD screen which uses parallax technology to display 3D video without wearing glasses. If you can’t afford to spend $250, ViewSonic also announced the ViewFun 3D Pocket, ViewFun 3D PocketHD, and ViewFun 3D Snap Pocket camcorders for $149, $179, and $199. The thing is the ViewFun 3D PocketHD isn’t really new, and we still remember when it was called the 3DV5 earlier this year; so unless you’re desperate to spend under $180 on a 3D camcorder, we’d wager Sony’s new 3D Bloggie Touch line is a smarter use of funds. Gallery: ViewSonic ViewFun 3D products Continue reading ViewSonic announces ViewFun 3D camcorder line, hopes we won’t notice a bit of re-branding ViewSonic announces ViewFun 3D camcorder line, hopes we won’t notice a bit of re-branding originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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