Author - Jerry Paxton

Optoma Releases NE750M and the Carbon Fiber NE800M Earphones

2015/01/07

Fremont, CA – January 6, 2015 – Optoma, a leading international projector brand, announces the addition of two new earphones, the NE750M and NE800M, to its NuForce line of audio products. Optoma will debut and demonstrate these new earbuds, as well as its current and expanded NuForce product line, at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, Venetian Tower – Suite 29-331.

“When we decided to move into the audio space, we knew NuForce had the experience in the market we wanted,” said Jon Grodem, Senior Director of Product Management. “We’ve expanded the NuForce offerings by creating the NE750M and NE800M in order to continue the NuForce commitment and legacy in creating affordable and high-quality earphones for all musical tastes.”

The earpieces on both these earphones feature new Brilliance ™ UWB (ultra-wideband) driver technology. Brilliance™ drivers’ measure 8.6mm diameter, feature Titanium coated diaphragms and very high-strength motor structures. The acoustic structure housing the Brilliance™ driver incorporates two acoustic chambers; each employing aperiodic loading method to simulate an open-back headphone design. This innovative technique yields a wide, open soundstage while maintaining excellent isolation from the external environment.

NE750M
The NE750M is the newest rendition to the award winning NE-700’s. These solid, but light aluminum bodied earphones have exceptional sound quality and are designed to be both durable and comfortable to use. The built-in microphone can be used to answer calls, disconnect calls and move through a user’s playlist. The detailed engineering and aperiodic bass loading reduces the ear pressure for extended playtime comfort by reducing the listening fatigue.

Product Specs:

Driver Type: Dynamic with Brilliance ™ UWB driver technology
Driver Size: 8.6mm
Impedance: 16 Ohmf
Frequency Response: 20 to 20kHz
Max. Input Power: 10mW
Sensitivity: 113dB+/-3dB
Connector: 3.5mm 4-pin stereo plug
Weight (without packing): 14 grams
Cord Length: 1.37m
Colors: Black
$99 MSRP

NE800M
The NE800M’s are machined from space-age carbon fiber material, which frees the headphones from the micro-dynamic vibrations that add unnecessary colorations to music. This reduction in vibrations allows users to experience a very transparent and natural sound quality. The NE800M’s nozzle has been machined from solid brass to achieve the ultimate musical reproduction. Like the NE750M, there is a built in microphone and aperiodic bass loading.

Combined with all the above, the innovative NE800 offers a frequency response from 10Hz to 40kHz, a powerful “N50” neodymium motor structure that’s incredibly powerful in order to ensure the deepest, most authoritative bass possible. The NE800M’s also house proprietary, ultra-light weight 8.6mm Titanium coated driver diaphragms that deliver thundering bass along with a truly relaxed-yet-natural presentation and an intoxicatingly “holographic” sound stage.

Product Specs:

Driver Type: Dynamic with Brilliance ™ UWB driver technology
Driver Size: 8.6mm
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Frequency Response: 10 to 40kHz
Max. Input Power: 10mW
Sensitivity: 113dB+/-3dB
Connector: 3.5mm 4-pin stereo plug
Weight (without packing): 18 grams
Cord Length: 1.37m
Colors: Black Carbon Fiber
$199 MSRP

Pricing and Availability
The NuForce NE750M is priced at $99 and the NE800M at $199. Both headsets will be available end of Q1 2015.

Kent Displays Unveils Two e-Writers at CES 2015

2015/01/07

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

Kent, Ohio, USA – January 06, 2014: Kent Displays announced the unveiling of two new Boogie Board LCD eWriter models – the Boogie Board Play n’ Trace Paperless Doodle Pad and the new Boogie Board Jot 8.5 Paperless Memo Pad – at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. A new Boogie Board brand identity and a new release of its Boogie Board Sync iOS® app were also unveiled at the show.

The Boogie Board Play n’ Trace Paperless Doodle Pad is specifically designed for the toy market, and is the first Boogie Board eWriter model to feature a translucent LCD writing surface. The toy’s form factor is similar to an artist’s palette, which makes it comfortable to hold for hands of all sizes, and the translucent LCD allows two and three dimensional objects to be traced for hours of creative fun. A free Play n’ Trace activity center mobile app includes structured learning exercises, games and drawing templates.

The new Boogie Board Jot 8.5 Paperless Memo Pad features an ultra-bright reflective LCD that is 50% brighter than previous models, combined with a sleek, ultra-thin and ultra-light product design that makes it ideal for the home, office, school, or on-the-go. Both new models have the familiar superior writing experience that makes Boogie Board eWriters so popular.

The new release of the Boogie Board Sync iOS app introduces the Boogie Board Live feature that allows anyone, anywhere to view your real-time writing or drawing through a web-browser. Great for sharing with an audience in a different location (e.g., a teacher’s or businessperson’s “whiteboard” copy, a grandchild’s latest masterpiece, or a personal handwritten message).

The new Boogie Board brand identity includes design elements and messaging that are bolder and more modern. The new brand better represents the ever-expanding and diverse Boogie Board product line which is reaching across a wider range of consumer channels. New messaging includes the tagline: No Paper, No Pen, No Problem. Writing Redefined.

“We are really excited to show our new Boogie Board eWriters to the public for the first time at CES.” said Dr. Albert Green, CEO of Kent Displays. “The Boogie Board Play n’ Trace eWriter represents an exciting evolution of Boogie Board LCD eWriter technology, and the new Jot 8.5 model’s LCD is brightest we’ve ever made.”

The Boogie Board Jot 8.5 Paperless Memo Pad will come in three colors – blue, pink, and gray – and will be available summer 2015 at an estimated MSRP of $24.99 USD. The Boogie Board Play n’ Trace Paperless Doodle Pad will be available holiday 2015 at an estimated MSRP of $29.99 USD.

For additional information about Boogie Board LCD eWriters, go to myboogieboard.com.

Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires Pre-Order Bonuses Revealed

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

BURLINGAME, Calif. – January 6, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America today announced pre-order bonus DLC details and an updated launch date of February 24, 2015 for the tactical action game, DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires. The pre-order bonus DLC available at GameStop and EB Canada for the PlayStation®4 system and Xbox One versions includes the following: Special Costume Set (Date Mashamune, Guan Yinping, Guo Jia and Tenko costumes), Edit Armor Set 1 (for male characters) and Edit Armor Set 2 (for female characters).

Additionally, the company released the epic opening movie, images and video for the new character, Xun Yu as well as new weapons. Xun Yu, from the Wei Kingdom, favors the “Formation Rod” and was known as the “King’s Gifted Adviser” due to the brilliant strategies and advice he dispensed. His keen insight and large network of acquaintances has made him skilled at evaluating people, resulting in the discovery of many adept officers.

New, favored weapons for 9 different characters in DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires include:

Deng Ai’s “Revolving Crossbow” which can be used for long and short-range attacks and is capable of rapidly firing multiple arrows, Guan Suo’s “Sabatons” which are equipped on the feet, focused solely on kicks and able to launch combo attacks in the air, Lianshi’s “Mandarin Duck Hooks” which makes up for its short reach with sheer speed that she wields in both hands, Liu Shan’s agile “Dragon Column” known for its variety of special counterattacks, Meng Huo’s hefty “Stele” that transform into a palm tree or other items during Strong Attacks, Sun Quan’s “Flame Blade”, a well-rounded powerful sword, enveloped in flames with fast attack speed at distances both near and far, Wang Yi’s “Emei Piercers” used primarily by assassins has a short reach, but is capable of multiple rapid attacks, Xiaoqiao’s “Paired Fans” which can create a flurry of small tornadoes that fly freely in the air, and last but not least, Yueying’s “Bladebow”, which combines a crossbow with a short-range sword that fires a homing arrow after multiple shots are executed.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires focuses deeply on the chaotic lives of the warriors as their fateful decisions affect the rise and fall of the nations they bravely fight for. Players can select from 83 unique characters, or create their own original character with a plentitude of options through the edit function. The visual customization goes further with the newly implemented ability to customize their horses, banners and “normal” officers.

Courageous warriors trudge through Ancient China with its vast plains, bleak wastelands, narrow ravines and immense castles as they slash through enemy lines. In DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires, warriors must fight against not only enemies but also the forces of nature as the changing seasons bring new elements to the more than 35 battlefields affected by seasons and the passing of time.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires is published by KOEI TECMO America and will be available onFebruary 24, 2015 in North America. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available for $49.99. The PC (Steam®) and PlayStation 3 digital only version will be available for $49.99 and $39.99, respectively. This title has been rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

For the latest DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires news follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmousor @KoeiTecmoUS or visit the official website at: www.koeitecmoamerica.com/dw8e.

Nyko Debuts New Console Accessories at CES 2015

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

LOS ANGELES – Jan. 6, 2015 – Nyko Technologies, the leading maker of videogame accessories, today debuted a new line of products at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nyko is showcasing new products, slated for retail release in 2015 and detailed below, as well as its popular Modular line of charging and cooling solutions for the Xbox® One and PlayStation® 4. Attendees interested in a hands-on demo of the products may head over to exhibition booth #8439 located in the Central Hall.

“This year’s product assortment looks to improve some of the everyday use cases that may go overlooked, but are just as important,” said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing at Nyko. “Our goal is to expand what is possible with video game hardware. This time, we chose different aspects of the consoles to tackle beyond charging and cooling, like data storage and communication with our Data Bank and Type Pad.”

Data Bank for PlayStation 4
The Data Bank is a hard drive dock for PS4 that replaces the top of the console and the 2.5” hard drive in order to provide compatibility with 3.5” hard drives as internal storage. The solution eliminates the need for an external hard drive, which currently cannot support game installs or save data. This also allows for larger storage, faster running speeds and less expensive prices found with 3.5” hard drives. The design of the replacement dock lid seamlessly matches the minimalist design of the PS4. Once a 3.5” drive is slid into the Data Bank, a built-in LED strip illuminates while the console is accessing its memory. The Data Bank represents Nyko’s commitment to expand the core functionality and capabilities of video game hardware with its accessories. It is anticipated to begin shipping in the first half of 2015. Patent Pending.

Type Pad for PlayStation 4
The Type Pad for PS4 is a full QWERTY keyboard attachment that snaps onto the bottom of DUALSHOCK® 4 controllers. It allows users to easily chat with friends during multiplayer gaming sessions, and includes a mini-analog nub for quick menu navigation as well as a “.com” shortcut to make input more convenient. Players also won’t have to worry about charging the device separately as it can be charged simultaneously with the controller using any standard micro-USB cable. It can also be switched on and off to conserve battery. The Type Pad is compatible with all Bluetooth keyboard-enabled apps and games and will ship in the first half of 2015.

Light Grip for Xbox One
The Light Grip for the Xbox One Wireless Controller is an ergonomic skin with an easy snap-on design, providing comfort and instant customization with brilliant LED lights. The Light Grip can illuminate in 17 different color and pattern combinations. A built-in select button allows players to choose from the various preset color and light patterns. The Light Grip is powered by the controller and does not require extra batteries or wires to work. It will be available in the first half of 2015. Patent Pending.

Charge Dock Mini for Xbox One
The Charge Dock Mini is a compact power station that plugs into the Xbox One’s side USB port to recharge 2 battery packs for Xbox One controllers. It is smaller than its predecessors, like the Charge Base, saving space with its new design but still providing a USB pass through to power other devices. The device comes with two NiMH battery cells and has two LED charge status indicator lights built in. The Charge Dock Mini will be available in early 2015. Patent Pending.

ROCCAT Unveils Ryos Phobo and Nyth for CES 2015

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Peripherals News

Las Vegas, January 6, 2015 – Leading German manufacturer of high quality gaming peripherals, ROCCAT, hits glitzy Las Vegas for CES 2015 with an expanded range of connected devices. The ROCCAT Phobo concept made its debut in 2012, as a gaming keyboard with a slot-integrated smartphone. ROCCAT is proud to announce that this concept has been reborn as the Ryos Phobo, refined and perfected by our creative design engineers to reflect ROCCAT’s Future Ready philosophy.

“When concepting Phobo, we knew we had a strong vision,” explains René Korte, CEO and Founder of ROCCAT. “Still, we brought it back to the drawing board to expand and perfect the design.” The changes are there, but the heart remains the same; combine an amazing gaming keyboard with smartphone tech, injecting it with software that gives amazing gaming horsepower. Smartphones of all brands and sizes rest in a wireless Ipuri setup, connected to your Ryos Phobo via two Bluetooth channels. This allows gamers to place their smartphone anywhere on the gaming surface for optimal play. Cherry MX Switch Mechanical keys, two USB ports and a tenkeyless design make the Ryos Phobo a powerful but compact gaming keyboard, with ROCCAT’s new unified Swarm Driver Software built in. ROCCAT is also bolstering its strong mechanical keyboard lineup with the Ryos MK FX and, Ryos TKL FX, both with Cherry MX Switches and RGB LEDs.

“We’re looking at a Q3 2015 drop date for the Ryos Phobo,“ says René. “I’m glad we held off on the original Phobo concept. What was once a great idea will now be a superior reality our loyal fans can hold in their hands”.

CES 2015 also features ROCCAT’s groundbreaking Nyth gaming mouse, a fully modular chameleon peripheral that is a glove-fit to MMO gaming, that fluidly transforms into MOBA and FPS layouts thanks to custom button placement, and interchangeable side-parts. “Our growing file library of 3-D printed buttons and side-parts will ensure Nyth users get value out of Nyth years past what anyone else is offering today,“ effuses René. “It’s adaptable and great fun to play with. Much like the human fingerprint, almost no Nyth will be the same as another once users bring their creative customizations into the picture.”

The Nyth is expected to hit retail shelves around Q2 2015.

Finally, with a strong addition to the Kave headset roster, ROCCAT’s Kave XTD 5.1 Analog is set to provide gamers with the deeply immersive sound quality they’ve come to expect. Says René,” The Kave series has been fantastic for us, and the XTD 5.1 Analog is the perfect addition to the family. The Noise cancelling tech built into our dual-mode, in-cable remote means full immersion, no distractions. The sound quality of every Kave has always been great, but our tweaks based in part on customer feedback and our own sound engineering goals have catapulted the XTD 5.1 Analog’s audio to new heights. Also, the build quality is top notch, with twenty five percent of the weight knocked off this design.”

Audio junkies can expect to get their hands on the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog headset in the neighborhood of Q1 2015.

The ROCCAT Tyon is now available for $99.99 online and at Best Buy. For more information about the Tyon and ROCCAT’s complete line of gaming peripherals, please visit www.roccat.org.

Razer Announces Entry-Level Nabu X Smartband

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS (CES 2015) – Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of Razer Nabu X, a wearable that delivers notifications from smartphones, tracks fitness data, and has social band-to-band capabilities, all in a discreet form factor. The Razer Nabu X will be priced at $19.99 to qualified fans at Razer’s Insider forums and start selling on Jan. 13. Retail units will be shipping in spring for $49.99.

The Razer Nabu X uses three colored LED indicators and vibrations to alert users of any notifications received on a paired smartphone, while the Razer Nabu features an OLED private message screen that displays short text previews of incoming notifications. Both the Razer Nabu X and Razer Nabu will work with the full suite of third-party developed applications available on the Nabu Marketplace.

“The greatest barriers to entry for new technology are price and complexity, and we’ve eliminated both of those with the Razer Nabu X,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “We’ve taken what makes the Nabu such a compelling wearable – discreet notifications, activity tracking and band-to-band communication – and incorporated them into the Nabu X. It’s the basic alternative to the Nabu that’s extremely affordable and simple to use.”

The Nabu X’s sensor module houses a highly precise accelerometer, paired with finely tuned algorithms to ensure the most accurate activity data is captured for its users. A vibration motor ensures users are discreetly notified of incoming notifications, and the three LEDs can be color-customized to indicate what type of notification is being received. The sensor module is also detachable to allow users to mix and match between three planned strap colors: black, white, and green.

The Nabu X is designed for absolute comfort during daily wear with a soft-rubber finish, extensive water resistance, and one-size-fits-all watch-like strap. It’s also easy to use, with wrist-turn detection and light taps on the sensor module to activate the LED indicators.

Like the Razer Nabu, the Nabu X can be paired to connected apps on a user’s iOS or Android smartphone where collected data can be displayed and device settings can be finely tuned. Connected apps can be discovered via an in-app marketplace, with more to be added over time.

Early adopters and Razer fans can get the Nabu X at an exclusive price of $19.99 via Insider, Razer’s premier community-driven platform. To sign-up for Razer Insider and to get more information, go to https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php.

For more information on Razer Nabu X and how to get one, visit www.razerzone.com/nabu-x.

About the Razer Nabu X

The Nabu X joins the Nabu in the company’s wearables category, both as separate solutions to be sold side-by-side. The company’s first wearable features a private message OLED screen, while the newest addition employs three LED indicators to notify users.

The Razer Nabu is an award-winning wearable that was first introduced at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in 2014 where it won a “Best of CES” award as “People’s Choice,” besting a field of more than 40 finalists by earning 50 percent of the popular vote during the show.

Nabu and Nabu X comparison table

	Nabu	Nabu X
OLED screen for notification previews	X
LED indicators for notifications		X
Steps, calories, distance tracking	X	X
Sleep tracking	X	X
Active minutes	X	X
Vibration motor	X	X
Gesture recognition (wrist-turn, etc.)	X	X
Texts, emails, app alerts	X	X
Band-to-band communication	X	X
High-Five to exchange data	X	X
Third-party apps integration	X	X
MSRP (USD)	$99.99	$49.99

Price:

Exclusive Insider-only price: U.S. $19.99

Find out more at http://insider.razerzone.com

Retail: U.S. $49.99 / EU €49.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Jan. 13, 2015

Worldwide – Spring 2015

Product features:

Compatible with: iOS devices – iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6; and Android 4.3-and-up devices
Lithium-polymer battery with 5 – 7 days of battery life, 30 days standby
IP67 water resistant, up to 30 min. in 1 m depth

Display and sensors:

3 LED indicators
Accelerometer
Cylindrical vibration motor

Software:

Pairing via Bluetooth Low Energy
Nabu X Utility app for band customization, notifications, data, app discovery, and other settings
Nabu X Fitness app for activity logging and monitoring
A growing collection of Nabu-and-Nabu-X connected third-party apps

For more information about the Razer Nabu X, please visit www.razerzone.com/nabu-x.

Thermaltake Announces New Core X PC Chassis

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, Hardware News, News

Las Vegas, USA – January 5, 2015 – Thermaltake, an industry leader in computer chassis, thermal solutions, and power supply units, once again provides trendsetting impetus in liquid cooling technology to introduce the new Core X Cube Series (X1, X2, X9), iTX, M-ATX, E-ATX motherboards supported respectively; this series a continuation of Thermaltake’s tradition of innovative design and edgy technology, particularly for liquid-cooling system cases. The New Core X Series models come with the exclusive Tt LCS Certified logo. Applied only to products that pass the design standards of hardcore enthusiasts, the philosophy of the exclusive Tt LCS certified was created so users can know which chassis has been tested to be most compatible with extreme liquid cooling configurations to ensure the best performance, features, and fit. Featuring a cube design, the series offers endless stackable ability and expandability for enthusiasts to create massive liquid cooling systems for a single system, file server or even dual systems. Users can customize the chassis for the best viewing presentation with interchangeable window and I/O panel design. Delivering outstanding cooling performance with compatibility for extensive DIY/AIO LCS and overclocking components, the Core X Series further enhances the reputation Thermaltake enjoyed for its earlier air cooling units.

“The new Core X Series combines superior performance with exclusive stackable and expandable equipment details and the excellent LCS usability also excellent ventilation. The greatest challenge in this is to translate efficiency into superior performance. In this respect the unique stackable function experience in the new Thermaltake Core X Series is guaranteed by the LCS ability.The new Core X Series offers our hardcore players the entire range of innovations that make our new Core X Series so successful, and the particular Tt LCS Certified philosophy ensures outstanding water cooling pleasure and dynamism combined with the highest efficiency. ” adds Mr. Kenny Lin, Chairman and CEO of Thermaltake Technology.

Worldwide launch partners get ready in USA, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia

Thermaltake is proud to host the world premier of the “Core X Cube Series” with four partners:

USA – Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Super-Stars/EventSaleStore/ID-2024361) ,

Germany – Alternate ( https://www.alternate.de/thermaltake-CoreX)

UK – Scan (http://www.scan.co.uk/shops/thermaltake/corex) and

Australia – Mwave (www.mwave.com.au/catalog/ttcorex)

Let’s take a closer look at Core X Cube Series:

Stackable for Enthusiasts

With its endless stacking design, the Core X Series is in a class above the rest. Virtually limitless utility is possible; it offers an expandable system allowing enthusiasts to incorporate externally- modular upgrades. Stacked together, the chassis opens up space to expand the liquid cooling system, the storage solutions, or even create dual systems, thereby enabling a dedicated top/bottom set-up for pure cooling.

Remarkable Expansion

Designed for high-end gaming system compatibility, the Core X Series’ modular drive racks allow gamers to easily install up to six data storage devices, a dual expansion slot VGA as well as tower CPU cooler. Even with a high-wattage PSU stretching to 200mm in length, it still leaves plenty of space for cable management. Moreover, two radiators can be installed on top of the chassis, delivering superior cooling performance.

Excellent Ventilation

The Core X Series’ unparalleled cooling ability offers fan brackets with various mounting points to support any type of gaming system that can be accommodated, including DIY/AIO liquid-cooling systems and air-cooling units. Pre-installed fans reassure and guarantee the flow of aeration. The fan brackets can either be adjusted for 120mm, 140mm, or 200mm fans on the top panel, while there is room for 120mm and 140mm fans on the side panel.

Chambers Concept

Optimized for space management, the Core X Series is divided into two main chambers: the upper chamber is made for cooling performance and better efficiency, while the lower one is made for PSU and drive bays. Thanks to the removable 2.5”/3.5” drive device racks, there is plenty of flexibility to gain the maximum interior space when needed for advanced cooling performance or liquid systems build.

Fully Modular Design

The Core X Series makes setting up the best storage solution on the market super easy and flexible. In addition, a customizable 5.25” & 3.5” drive bay feature enables users to freely interchange the 3.5” hard-drive cages to suit their particular needs.

Interchangeable Window and I/O Panel

Users can customize the chassis for the best viewing presentation with an interchangeable window and I/O panel design.

Thermaltake releases exclusive “Tt LCS Certified”

Tt LCS Certified is a Thermaltake exclusive certification applied only to products that pass the design standards of hardcore enthusiasts. The Tt LCS certification was created so that can power users can know which chassis has been tested to be most compatible with extreme liquid cooling configurations to ensure the best performance, features, and fit. Thermaltake’s Core series of chassis—comprising Core X Series and Core V Series—are Tt LCS certified, meaning DIY PC enthusiasts can rest assured of optimal performance.

For more details on the Thermaltake Core X1, X2, and X9 information please visit:

Core X1 – http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002576

Core X2 – http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002563

Core X9 – http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002562

Thermaltake official website and community websites:

Thermaltake official website: http://www.thermaltake.com

Thermaltake product video link: http://www.youtube.com/user/Thermaltakereview

Thermaltake Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThermaltakeInc

Thermaltake Instagram : http://instagram.com/thermaltakeusa

Creative Labs Unveils Sound Blaster X7 Limited Ed at CES 2015

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, Hardware News, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – January 6, 2015 – Creative Technology Ltd today unveiled a limited edition of its latest Sound Blaster® X7 at CES 2015. Recently named a double 2015 CES Innovations Awards Honoree in both the ‘Home Audio/Video Components and Accessories’ and ‘Computer Hardware and Components’ categories, the feature-packed Sound Blaster X7 which is an ultra high-resolution external USB DAC and powerful audio amplifier now comes in an exclusive pearl white color, includes a 144W power adapter that is capable of delivering up to 100W output to passive speakers, and has a very low headphone amplifier output impedance of 1 ohm to effortlessly drive even the more sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs) on the market.

The Sound Blaster X7, showcasing at the 2015 International CES, is designed to connect with a range of gaming and entertainment systems as an ultra high-end external Sound Blaster audio solution with an impressive 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution 127dB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a powerful 100W audio amplifier. It provides a superior, pure and lossless listening experience for games, music and movies – meeting the most discerning demands of audiophile listeners and enthusiast gamers alike.

Superior Ultra HD (High-Resolution) Listening Experience
The 144W (24V 6A) power adapter bundled with this limited edition Sound Blaster X7 is capable of harnessing the full potential of the built-in Texas Instruments TPA3116D2 Class-D amplifier inside to efficiently deliver up to 100W (2 x 50W RMS @ 4?) to passive bookshelf and tower speakers – giving users a more superior high-resolution audio listening experience.

Coupled with Sound Blaster’s proprietary multi-core DSP, the SB-Axx1, and other high-end audiophile-grade components, such as the Burr-Brown PCM1794 127dB DAC, Nichicon “Fine Gold” capacitors, and the Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier that can support up to 600? headphones, this Sound Blaster X7 will greatly enhance audio quality, delivering a powerful mind-blowing immersive gaming or movie audio experience as well as perfectly reproducing the full range of sounds from music recordings with high-fidelity and pristine detail.

Linear Frequency Response for Low-Impedance In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)
Using one of the lowest-rated impedance IEM in the market with the limited edition Sound Blaster X7 at 1 ohm headphone amplifier output impedance, the Shure SE846 IEM which has a rating of 9 ohms at 1 kHz is able to achieve one of the most linear frequency responses ever. With a small overall variance between +0.5 dB and -1.0 dB, the Sound Blaster X7 is able to reproduce audio almost faithfully. Compared to a typical headphone amplifier using the standard reference design of the Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier chip at 10 ohms output impedance, one can see from the graph that the frequency response is non-linear with a significant variance between +2.25 dB and -3.8 dB. The frequency response fluctuation shows an increase in low frequencies and loss in mids at 5 kHz which results in coloration of sound when used with low-impedance IEMs like the Shure SE846.

“The Sound Blaster X7 is the most technologically advanced Sound Blaster we have ever created. We combined our decades of expertise in audio with the finest of the finest audiophile-grade components to deliver the most powerful high-resolution audio experience for games, music and movies. The original black edition of the Sound Blaster X7 comes with a headphone amplifier output impedance of 2.2 ohms which is good enough for most IEMs in the market. Now, our engineers have pushed the boundaries further by specially engineering the headphone amplifier circuit with an even lower output impedance of 1 ohm,” says Long Chye Low, General Manager of Sound Blaster. “The limited edition Sound Blaster X7 can accommodate both extreme ends of headphones in the market – from the most demanding high-impedance studio headphones to the most sensitive low-impedance in-ear monitors – with minimal distortion to audio content caused by variance in frequency response.”

Frequency response of Shure SE846 at standard 10 ohms headphone amplifier output impedance

Frequency response of Shure SE846 at Sound Blaster X7’s 2.2 ohms headphone amplifier output impedance

Frequency response of Shure SE846 at Sound Blaster X7’s 1 ohm headphone amplifier output impedance

The Sound Blaster X7 will be demonstrated at the Creative Labs, Inc. Booth (30331) in Tech East, Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), South Halls 3 – 4, Upper Level & Connector at the 2015 International CES, which runs January 6 – 9, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sound Blaster X7 will also be displayed at CES Unveiled Las Vegas: The Official Media Event of the International CES from 4 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 4 at Mandalay Bay, Level 3, South Seas Ballroom C.

Pricing and Availability
The Creative Sound Blaster X7 pearl white edition with the 144W power adapter and 1 ohm headphone amplifier output impedance will be available at the end of January 2015, priced at USD499.99 at the online store at creative.com.

Also available, the black Sound Blaster X7 with a 70W power adapter, priced at USD399.99 at the online store at creative.com.

For more information about the Creative Sound Blaster X7, please visit http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7-limited-edition.

Krytac Compact Carbine AEG Stock Now Available

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Articles, Geek News, News

January 6, 2015 — KRYTAC Compact Carbine AEG Stock now available! The KRYTAC Compact Carbine Stock, known as the CCS, is a two position stock that can extend and collapse with the push of a single button to fit any situation. Its unique design also allows for the accommodation of a small battery in the buffer tube, allowing you to keep your rifle streamlined without the use of a battery box or other external battery option. The CCS installs directly to the back of your standard M4 Style AEG replacing the standard buffer tube assembly and stock. In its most compact position, it is ideal for short rifles and PDW set ups in CQB environments, but can be extended to its full length to provide a stable platform.

KRYTAC Store Link

D-Link Unveils ULTRA Performance Series of 11AC Routers at CES 2015

2015/01/06

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — INTERNATIONAL CES — D-Link today announced it’s now shipping the first router in a series of new high-performance 11AC home networking solutions. Ushering in the bold new look of D-Link^® home networking, the ULTRA Performance Series of 11AC Wi-Fi Routers and Adapters are built with the speed, coverage and processing power needed to support the most bandwidth-demanding applications and devices.

Comprised of three routers including the AC5300 ULTRA Performance Wi-Fi Router (DIR-895L/R), AC3200 ULTRA Performance Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L/R) and AC3100 ULTRA Performance Wi-Fi Router (DIR-885L/R), the ULTRA Performance Series delivers chart-topping wireless speeds up to 5.3 Gbps¹, far-reaching coverage, a revamped and intuitive user interface, and dynamic Smart Connect to automatically balance clients, giving users more control over their network than ever before. The new series also includes the AC1900 ULTRA Performance Wi-Fi USB Adapter (DWA-192) designed to bring 802.11ac performance to existing laptops and desktop PCs.

The ULTRA Performance Series from D-Link brings an aggressive and stylish design to home networking with a premium red finish designed to match the ultra-performance delivered by these new routers. In addition, the series’ sleek form factor features a broad base with angular points and high-powered antennas to offer extreme performance in a modern form-factor for today’s homes.

“We’ve set the bar for how a Wi-Fi Router should look and perform,” said Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. “Our new ULTRA Performance Series has everything a demanding user is looking for – three bands of Wi-Fi, fast speeds, beamforming, and QoS – all housed in an attractive form-factor that is sure to make a statement.”

The new series of routers is equipped with a wide array of advanced features including Wireless 11AC Beamforming to enhance signal strength and throughput, Smart Connect to automatically assign clients to the wireless band providing the best bandwidth and an advanced QoS engine with a drag-and-drop UI to provide an easy way to prioritize applications and devices. In addition, the routers feature gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports for high speed wired connectivity and are enabled with WPA™ or WPA2™ security and Wi-Fi Protected setup to ensure network integrity and ease-of-setup.

Each router is fitted with high power antennas (four for the DIR-885L/R, six for the DIR-890L/R and eight for the DIR-895L/R), designed to maximize range and optimize coverage. For added performance, the DIR-885L/R and DIR-895L/R routers incorporate the latest multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that enables simultaneous transmission to groups of clients, making more efficient use of available Wi-Fi network capacity and speeding up transmissions.

The ULTRA Performance Series Wi-Fi routers also feature D-Link’s latest user interface, making it easier than ever to control a network right from a smartphone or tablet device with touch-friendly layout. Enabling parental controls, blocking unwanted devices, monitoring internet activity and creating Wi-Fi guest networks has never been simpler. The routers also support simple setup using a mobile phone or tablet with the free Quick Router Setup (QRS) app.

More About the D-Link ULTRA Performance Series:

AC3200 Ultra Performance Wi-Fi Router

DIR-890L/R

AC3100 Ultra Performance Wi-Fi Router

DIR-885L/R

AC5300 Ultra Performance Wi-Fi Router

DIR-895L/R

Tri-Band up to 3.2Gbps

600Mpbs on 2.4GHz

1300+1300Mbps on 5.0GHz

Dual-Band up to 3.1Gbps

1000Mbps on 2.4GHz

2165Mbps on 5.0 GHz

Tri-Band up to 5.3Gbps

1000Mbps on 2.4GHz

2165+2165Mbps on 5.0GHz

MIMO

MU-MIMO to efficiently handle large groups of concurrent users

Over 1Gbps LAN-to-WAN routing performance
Gigabit Ethernet Ports (4 x LAN and 1 x WAN ports) for ultra-performance of connected devices
High power antennas to meet a range of coverage needs:
Smart Connect technology to automatically assign clients to the Wi-Fi band providing the best bandwidth
USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports for optimal USB device connection and media sharing
Stylish design that is desktop and wall mountable

Additional features and capabilities for the AC1900 Ultra Performance Wi-Fi USB Adapter (DWA-192/R) include:

Wireless AC Speeds – Supports high speed internet connections with speeds up to 1300Mbps on the 5Ghz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band
USB 3.0 – Supports USB 3.0 for faster speeds and compatibility with the latest devices
Stylish Sphere design – Compact sphere with USB 3.0 connection to computer
Dual Band Technology – Intelligent, versatile and interference-free bandwidth
WPS Setup – Establish connection with WPS-enabled routers with a push of a button
Backwards Compatible – Works with existing Wi-Fi devices (802.11n/g)

Availability and Pricing

The ULTRA Performance Series Wi-Fi routers and adapter will be available throughout D-Link’s vast network of retail and e-tail partners in the United States as follows:

D-Link AC3200 ULTRA Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L/R) – Available now from NewEgg.com for $309.99
D-Link AC5300 ULTRA Wi-Fi Router (DIR-895L/R) – Available Q2 2015/pricing to be announced
D-Link AC3100 ULTRA Wi-Fi Router (DIR-885L/R) – Available Q2 2015/pricing to be announced
D-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi USB Adapter (DWA-192 ) – Available Q2 2015/pricing to be announced

The ULTRA Performance Series Wi-Fi routers and adapter will be displayed at the 2015 International CES,Jan. 6-8, 2015 in Las Vegas. Detailed specifications are available online at us.dlink.com.

Product Videos

The AC3200 ULTRA Performance Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L/R) – http://youtu.be/mVXmn4PasA8

About D-Link

D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, storage, IP Surveillance, and cloud-based network management. For more information visitus.dlink.com, or connect with D-Link on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dlink) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/dlink) or D-Link’s blog (http://blog.dlink.com/).

D-Link and the D-Link logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of D-Link Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other third-party marks mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2015 D-Link. All Rights Reserved.

¹Maximum wireless signal rate derived from draft IEEE 802.11ac specifications. D-Link makes no warranties as to forward compatibility with future standards or compatibility with draft 802.11ac devices from other manufacturers. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate. Environmental factors may adversely affect wireless signal range.

Related Link
D-Link Website