Crytek promises to “melt down PCs” with Crysis 3

It is no secret that Crytek’s Crysis franchise has been pretty demanding when it comes to computer hardware requirements, and while the game is playable even on its lowest settings, what gamer can say no to the ability to set the game on ultra and enjoy it as it was meant to be? That being said, the upcoming Crysis 3 should be no different from its predecessors and we expect it will be just as demanding but just as visually astounding, if not more so. Crytek’s boss, Cevat Yerli, seems to think so as well and was quoted during an EA Livestream as saying, “That joke will be resurrected again with Crysis 3, I’m quite sure about that […] There are brutal expectations around the PC version of Crysis 3. So this time we promise to melt down PCs.” So gamers are you prepared to have your PCs melted, or do you have a new and awesome monstrous gaming rig planned out for the upcoming game?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Crytek reiterates that they are not working on Crysis 3 for the Wii U, Crysis 3 interactive singleplayer demo video released,

Creative launches new Sound Blaster sound cards for PCs

We can thank GamesCon going on in Germany this week for all the new gaming hardware and peripherals that have surfaced today. At the show, Creative has unveiled its latest line of Sound Blaster soundcards for computer users. It has been a long time since we talked about a Sound Blaster sound card. The Sound Blaster used to be common in gaming PCs, but many people have started using HD integrated audio support on the mainboard rather than a add-on card for audio.

Creative has unveiled three new Sound Blaster varieties including the ZxR, Zx, and the Z. The ZxR is a top-of-the-line with Creative claiming it’s the world’s best sounding sound card. The card retails for $249.99 and uses studio-grade components inside including digital to analog converters delivering 127 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The sound card also has an 80 mW into 600-ohm headphone amplifier and 192 kHz pass through.

All those features are targeted at the best audio quality available. The car also has a small daughterboard with an optical output and a lot more. The next down is the Sound Blaster Zx retailing for $149.99. It offers the same exact hardware as the ZxR minus the DBpro daughterboard. This card also has an attention grabbing color scheme with a red EMI shielding and glowing LED lights.

On the low end of the spectrum is the Sound Blaster Z with a retail price of $99.99. It has the same hardware as the Zx sound card minus the external Audio Control Module. The sound card is aimed at gamers looking for an all-around gaming entertainment solution on a budget. It features 120dB SNR and supports 192kHz direct pass-through to analog out as well as a 600-ohm headphone amplifier, glowing LED lighting, and more. All of these cards use PCI Express slots inside your PC.

[via Engadget]


Creative launches new Sound Blaster sound cards for PCs is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Google Maps updates streetview for New Orleans, reminds us the jazz plays on

Google Maps updates street view for New Orleans, shows us the jazz plays on

In many ways, Google’s Streetview is a document. A snapshot in time. Usually, this amounts to pictures of a sunny clear day in downtown Localsville, but it can also be a reminder of times less bright. Since Hurricane Katrina, the city has been working hard to rebuild neighborhoods and communities, and better prepare itself for the future. Today — via Google’s Lat Lon Blog — Mayor Mitch Landrieu proudly announced that Streetview has been updated to reflect those efforts, and show New Orleans in that familiar, sunny way. Whether it’s Congo Square (“the birthplace of jazz”), the city’s parks, or more recent features and attractions, Landrieu proudly extends an invite to all of us to come take a look, enjoy the virtual tour, and “whet our appetite.” We say put the Gumbo on.

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Google Maps updates streetview for New Orleans, reminds us the jazz plays on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xiaomi Phone 2: quad-core Krait, 4.3″ 720p IPS, and Jelly Bean

Xiaomi may not be the first company that springs to mind when considering a new smartphone, with the company based in China and predominantly serving local customers, but its latest smartphone will certainly turn more than just a few heads. Engadget reports that the Xiaomi Phone 2 was announced at an event in Beijing today, featuring some impressive specs, such as a 4.3-inch 720p IPS display and quad-core Qualcomm processor.

The handset is powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip, the APQ8064, a quad-core 28nm-based SoC clocked at 1.5Ghz. The company was keen to show off benchmarks using various apps such as AnTuTu and Quadrant, with the phone clocking 14085 and 7787 respectively. The handset is also powered by 2GB of RAM and comes with 16GB of memory, with the 4.3-inch IPS display manufactured by Sharp. The pixel density works out at 342 PPI, beating out the iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S III, and HTC One X. The touchscreen also makes use of in-cell technology which decreases thickness, something that Apple is rumored to be using for the next iPhone.

A 27mm eight megapixel camera with backside illuminated sensor is found on the rear of the phone, and a 28mm two megapixel camera has been placed on the front. The main camera is capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps, or 720p at 90fps. The standard phone comes with a 2,000mAh battery, but those who want to get through a full day and then some can pick up a 3,000mAh option that will increase the thickness of the phone by 2mm.

The Xiaomi Phone 2 will be running a custom MIUI interface, but it will be on top of the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean. The company will be offering the handset for an unsubsidized price of ¥1,999 (~$314), but Chinese carriers such as China Telecom and China Unicom will be offering the HSPA+ phone for lower prices as part of a contract. The only question left to ask is when can we get our hands on one?


Xiaomi Phone 2: quad-core Krait, 4.3″ 720p IPS, and Jelly Bean is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Razer DeathStalker Ultimate gaming keyboard surfaces

I’ve been a PC gamer for a long time and one of my favorite gaming keyboards was made by Razer. Razer has unveiled a new gaming keyboard called the DeathStalker Ultimate, and it’s one of the coolest keyboards I’ve ever seen. Rather than having a questionably useful number pad on the right-hand side, this thing gets a touchscreen and customizable buttons.

The keyboard features the Razer Switchblade User Interface that we first saw on the awesome Switchblade portable gaming device. The Switchblade UI allows the touchscreen and 10 buttons above the screen to have custom programmable icons. The screen can also switch modes depending on what you’re doing at a particular time.

Razer offers a special interface for Star Wars: The Old Republic that has custom keys and uses that LCD panel to show a special application for adding control to your game. That panel also functions as a multitouch track pad with support for gestures and more. There are a number of apps available for that LCD panel.

The apps include a track pad, number pad, macro recorder, gaming mode, browser, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, clock, screenshot, and a game timer. There are enough apps to let you do just about anything you want using that touchscreen. The keyboard also features anti-ghosting technology allowing you to hit up to 10 keys at once in game mode. All keys are backlit as well for gaming in the dark. The keyboard will launch in September for $249.99, and I want one.


Razer DeathStalker Ultimate gaming keyboard surfaces is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


This Short Film Shows English Eccentricity and Engineering at Its Best [Video]

The Moulton Bicycle Company was established 50 years ago by the engineer who designed the suspension system for the first Mini. This video takes a peek at the inner-workings of the company at its headquarters in Bradford-Upon-Avon, UK—and shows off the kind of English eccentricity that is impossible to resist. More »

Apple patent reveals possible plans for an illuminated touchpad

In a recently published patent, it has been revealed that Apple could be (or was) looking into the idea of illuminated touchpads. This patent could be applied to existing MacBooks or the Magic Trackpad peripheral, and it basically illuminates the touchpad in relation to how it is being used. If you’ve used a MacBook or the Magic Trackpad before, or even the Magic Mouse, you’re probably aware that you are able to perform a variety of multi-touch gestures on it. This includes finger movements to scroll, zoom in, zoom out, move objects, and etc. Apple’s patent, dubbed the “Illuminated Touchpad”, has been described as a means to “give other feedback related to how the touch pad is being used.”

Basically what this means is that if you were to use the touchpad as a cursor, it might illuminate in a certain way, while if you were to use two fingers with it for scrolling, it might light up in a different way. We expect this might come in handy for those times when you thought you had performed a certain gesture when in reality the touchpad might not have registered it. Given that this is a patent, it’s hard to say if Apple has plans to use it in their products in the future, or if it is merely an idea they’re sitting on that may never come to fruition, but what do you think? Does the idea of an illuminated touchpad sound appealing to you?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google files patent for microphone/speaker orientation, Apple patent reveals plans for in-cell display-like technology,

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean “confirmed” for the Samsung Galaxy S2

A week ago we reported that according to SamMobile, rumor had it that the Samsung Galaxy S2 among other Samsung devices would be receiving the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update. Well the folks at SamMobile are back again and this time according to one of their sources, they have “confirmed” that the Galaxy S2 will indeed receive the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update and that Samsung is currently in the process of testing it. They also expect that the update should roll out in the September-October timeframe. However given that there has been no official confirmation from Samsung themselves, we suggest that you not get your hopes up just yet in order to avoid disappointment. In the meantime for Galaxy S3 owners, the update is indeed real and a leaked version of the test firmware can be downloaded, albeit at your own risk although the full and final version is rumored for an August 29th release. In any case we suggest you take this with a grain of salt and remember, seeing is believing! Be sure to check back with us at a later date for more info.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean test firmware for the Samsung Galaxy S3 now available for download, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean spotted on Galaxy S2 with CyanogenMod 10,

The Hӧvding invisible bike helmet can now be yours for $600

While some think bike helmets are cool, there are others who worry about how it will mess with their hair and overall fashion. If you fall into the latter category, you might recall that a couple of years ago we reported on the  Hӧvding inflatable bike helmet. In case you missed it and have no clue what we’re talking about, the Hӧvding is an inflatable bike helmet that you wear around your collar and will only activate and form a protective helmet around your head in the event of an accident. Otherwise it remains hidden in your collar which is why some consider it to be “invisible”, therefore solving the problem of helmet hair. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Airbag Helmet looks silly but could help save lives, Google Maps gets more public transportation schedules worldwide,

Creative reveals Sound Blaster ZxR, Zx, and Z PCI-Express sound cards, pumps up the volume

Creative reveals Sound Blaster ZxR, Zx, and Z PCIExpress sound cards, pumps up the volume

Along with your first day at school, and (for the boys at least) growing your first peach fuzz mustache, many of you might also never forget your first Sound Blaster soundcard. In the present day (unless you’re blessed with youth) only the Sound Blaster can be enjoyed again, and today Creative introduces its new Z-series. The latest PCI-Express cards use the firm’s Core3D quad-core sound and voice processor and come in three variants: the Sound Blaster ZxR, the Zx and the Z. As you might have guessed, the more letters, the higher up the food chain it is. The flagship ZxR ($249.99) boasts a 127dB SNR, sockets for swappable Op-Amps, 80mW into 600 ohm headphone pre-amp, plus RCA / optical connectivity (via additional daughter board) and an external “ACM” control module for less fiddling around the back of your machine. You can save yourself $100 with the Zx model, if you don’t want the ZxR’s “DBpro” daughter board, and the Z edition saves a further $50 at the expense of the external controller. Want to dive into the full specifications? Plug in to the PR after the break.

Continue reading Creative reveals Sound Blaster ZxR, Zx, and Z PCI-Express sound cards, pumps up the volume

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Creative reveals Sound Blaster ZxR, Zx, and Z PCI-Express sound cards, pumps up the volume originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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