Hasta La Gadget!

Despite the millions of dollars of profits that it’s raking in, Apple still hasn’t come up with a way to include native support for physical controllers in iOS games. The best that we can hope for is for a gamepad manufacturer to step up and get support from developers. I really hope Bladepad does that.

The Bladepad is a Bluetooth 4.0 gamepad that comes with all the buttons and sticks present in a modern console controller: a D-pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons and even a select and start button. It comes with a case, but you can detach the Bladepad itself if you choose. It even comes with a charger that can simultaneously juice up the controller and the iOS device that it’s attached to.

Now for the bad news. Because it uses Bluetooth 4.0, the Bladepad is only compatible with the iPhone 4S and the new iPad. Worse, as of this writing the controller is confirmed to work with – drum roll please – only one game.  The makers of the controller did say that they’re working with “several major game studios and many independent studios as well.” I really like how the Bladepad looks and fits, so I hope it gets widespread support from developers.

A pledge of at least $59 (USD) on Kickstarter gets you a Bladepad, but if you ask me I think you should pledge less than that. You might be stuck with a beautiful controller that has no games to control.

[via AVING]

TI isn’t just in the business of making ARM-based processors. The company makes all manner of components and chips. Amongst the things in its vast repertoire of silicon are charging controllers. Texas Instruments’ latest offering, the UCC28700, not only draws an impressively low sub-30mW when idle (meeting new five-star rating requirements from the European Commission), but does so in a tiny package that eliminates the need for an opto-feedback circuit or other external components. A second new controller, the TPS2511, tackles the problem of multiple chargers by moving to a 5V universal system for tablets and smartphones using the USB Battery Charging 1.2 specification. This could mean not only lower electricity bills (if only nominally so), but smaller wall warts that can be used across numerous devices. For more, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading New TI power chips save energy, move towards universal charging

Filed under: Tablet PCs

New TI power chips save energy, move towards universal charging originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 03:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After the TMNT and Pokemon bras, now comes the Xbox 360 controller bra. It’s the prefect way to make your boyfriend stop fiddling with his Xbox 360 and start playing with your buttons instead.

Each Xbox 360 controller bra is handpainted with permanent paints. It’s definitely an interesting bra, especially since the full details can only be seen once you get comfortable in your underwear. It could also be worn to a sexy geek costume party. You’ll definitely be ogled by geeks a plenty in this bra!

Unfortunately, for now, this bra is sold out and the seller requires 5 weeks to deliver a final garment. I’m sure geekettes everywhere will be lining up to get theirs. It sells for $35 to $45 from SceeneShoes.

[via Walyou via Dressed Like Machines]

It’s widely considered a tradition: Microsoft readies a new Halo game, and a new Xbox 360 bundle swings by stores to mark the occasion. The Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 follows that pattern, with a special (if minor) twist. No one will be shocked by the new Halo-themed artwork or the inclusion of a Halo 4 copy in the 320GB system’s box, but the ring of light on both the console and its two matching gamepads will drop the Xbox 360’s green glow in favor of a distinctive bright blue. At $400, the console arriving November 6th will aim chiefly at the hardest of hardcore sci-fi shooter fans — although murmurs of an upcoming successor console could make the Halo 4 pack an unofficial swan song for Microsoft’s market dominator. Consider the stand-alone $60 special edition wireless controller for a less expensive way to say goodbye.

Filed under: Gaming

Xbox 360 Halo 4 bundle fights new enemies, packs familiar hardware on November 6th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RationalCraft brought its surreal Winscape virtual window to market when the Wii was virtually the only game in town for affordable motion tracking. Microsoft’s Kinect has certainly changed the rules of the game since then, so it’s almost natural that a fourth-generation Winscape has just launched to make use of the much more sophisticated sensor. For a start, there’s no need to dress like Flavor Flav anymore: the camera can recognize anyone, even passers-by, without an oversized necklace. The larger-than-life footage used to generate the window effect has been given its own bump, too, and the app can now handle 4K video as long as the Mac underneath (sorry, Windows folks) is powerful enough to drive it. For those who truly want to be disconnected from reality, there’s even six-display support provided it’s all hooked up to a Mac Pro and a pair of three-output Radeon HD 5770 video cards. RationalCraft’s software is free to try out now, although the requirement for at least two big TVs, a Kinect controller and a fast Mac should say all there is to know about the practical cost of pretending the Golden Gate Bridge is visible from inside a living room in Cleveland.

Continue reading Winscape virtual window makes the leap to Kinect in 4K-capable, 6-screen glory (video)

Filed under: Displays

Winscape virtual window makes the leap to Kinect in 4K-capable, 6-screen glory (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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