Hasta La Gadget!

Not so fond of the resistance level on that stock Xbox 360 controller? Hello, solution! Razer just trotted out the Tournament Edition and Standard Edition controllers, and we stopped by to have a look. The company told us that it has been working on perfecting the resistance mechanism on the Tournament Edition ($49.99) for months on end, and the end product was as solid as a rock. Both analog joysticks are capable of being independently tightened or loosened with respect to resistance, and it also touts an added shoulder button that can be reassigned to do pretty much anything via an intuitive button / menu process on the rear of the controller — that’s shown in more detail down in the gallery below. There’s also a rubberized feel to the grip, backlit buttons and a braided cable, whereas the $39.99 Standard edition lacks the adjustable resistance, backlighting, rubber finish and cable braiding.

Representatives for the company noted that the next logical step would be to concoct a wireless version and to eventually introduce a PlayStation 3 variant with resistant analog sticks, but no one was ready (or willing) to talk release dates. As for these Onzas? Pre-orders will start on the 17th, with shipments to hopefully follow in a few months.

Razer’s adjustable Onza 360 Tournament Edition controller hands-on at CES 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been dying to play with a third-party AirPlay speaker system ever since Apple opened the tech up, and iHome was happy to oblige here at CES with the new iW1. The wireless speaker system features two three-inch woofers and two one-inch tweeters with Bongiovi audio processing, a built-in lithium-ion battery with a grab-and-go charging base, and capacitive touch controls — and, just as we suspected, AirPlay compatibility courtesy of BridgeCo. iHome’s also developed a new iOS configuration app called iHome Connect that’ll help you get the iW1 on your WiFi network quickly, although regular WPS setup is also supported. You can also charge your iPhone or iPod by plugging into the USB port in the back — iHome is packing a cable in the box.

Streaming from iOS was just as simple as with the Apple TV or Airport Express, and we only saw minimal lag between control inputs like volume and track changes, just as with an all-Apple setup. Interestingly, iOS only supports point-to-point AirPlay streaming right now, so you can only use a single speaker at a time, but if you’re streaming from iTunes you can hit multiple speakers at once, regardless of vendor. iHome is still tuning the audio performance, so we’ll reserve judgment on that until we get a review unit — which should happen when this guy ships for $300 in March. Video after the break.

Continue reading iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless speaker hands-on

iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless speaker hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now look what we have here, the long awaited HDHomeRun Prime triple CableCARD tuner for Windows 7 Media Center. Originally announced at CES last year, the little black perforated box is already in production and will soon be selling for $250 after it makes it ways through the final stages of CableLabs certification. The sad fact is there is no way to know when that cert will be sealed, but when it is you’ll be able to pre-order and then you can expect to receive it 30 days later. The other little tidbits we picked up from the booth is that SiliconDust is working on a six tuner rack mountable version that should ship later this year and that the ATSC and QAM version we’ve loved for years has a new case a new price of $129 and will be shipping in February.

Hands-on with the HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The original plush Chumby will always hold a special place in our hearts, but let’s be real: the average human doesn’t know what to do with a plush, huggable touchscreen that runs Flash Lite. The new Chumby 8 — leaked not long ago — is now official, featuring a revamped user interface that allows you to access music from the home screen, manage apps without using the web-based portal, and use internet radio stations as alarm sounds. Where does the “8” in the name come from, exactly? That’d be the 8-inch 800 x 600 resistive touchscreen, a heck of a lot bigger than the 3.5 inches on that Chumby One you’ve got kicking around.

The core of the Chumby 8, of course, remains the Flash Lite-based apps, and those remain unchanged and totally compatible so that you’ve got access to the existing lineup of 1,500-plus options. You’ve got a pair of USB ports, a stereo headset jack, and both CF and SD slots for powering your little desk-dwelling sidekick with media of your choosing. No word on pricing or availability, but it looks like Chumby will be offering these to third parties looking to customize and deploy or resell them — so our dream of an Engadget-branded photo frame might yet become a reality. Follow the break for our video hands-on!

Continue reading Chumby 8 announced: like a Chumby, but more normal (hands-on with video!)

Chumby 8 announced: like a Chumby, but more normal (hands-on with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve always thought that Xi3’s Modular Computer was a downright brilliant design, but up until now, we’ve had no real understanding of how it would be exploited. Here at CES, the company has answered that very question, and answered it well. The new Z3RO is little more than a dumb terminal, but if you’re considering a second household PC for the most mundane of tasks, it just might be the solution you’re looking for. You’ll need one of the firm’s Modular Computers to start, and from there you can connect up to three Z3RO terminals. Each one is equipped with a VGA port, USB sockets and audio jacks; once it’s connected to the mothership (read: the Modular Computer), each Z3RO taps into its 2.0GHz computer and creates an entirely new instance on whatever monitor it’s connected to. It’s generally meant for small businesses and libraries, but we’re certain the educational world could benefit from the setup as well. It’s expected to hit mass production at the end of March, but we’re told that it’s available today for an undisclosed amount in limited quantities. If you’re interested in doing the math, a single Modular Computer along with three Z3ROs will net you a per-seat price of $350. A shot of the rear awaits you after the break.

Continue reading Xi3’s Z3RO terminal connects with Modular Computer, kills the need for another PC

Xi3’s Z3RO terminal connects with Modular Computer, kills the need for another PC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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