Hasta La Gadget!

A few days ago, we heard of our neighbors living in the Great White North (that would be Canada just in case you were wondering) would be on the receiving end of the white colored PS3 from Sony, and it is comforting to know that folks living Stateside have not been overlooked. In fact, it has been announced that Sony will make available the Classic White PS3 Instant Game Collection Bundle in the US, where it will be accompanied by a 1-year membership to PlayStation Plus. This is definitely one of the more pleasant pieces of news to start off the relatively young year, don’t you think so?

At least this means that folks living in the US and Canada will be able to have access to the Sony PS3 in a color other than boring old black. When you throw in PlayStation Plus that has seen more than a 57% increase in memberships since June last year, you are more or less looking at the ultimate game bundle for just about any avid video game fan. In fact, last year saw PlayStation Plus members received over 50 free and 270 discounted PS3 games, in addition to over 90 add-ons for the PS3 and eight free PS Vita games. How’s that when it comes to value for your hard earned money, huh?

This Classic White PS3 Instant Game Collection Bundle will arrive in the US and Canada this coming January 27th, where it will cost you three Benjamins (that would be $299.99 if you want to be exact in your accounting). Inside the bundle, you will find the Classic White PS3 system that sports a 500GB hard disk drive inside, apart from the aforementioned one-year membership to PlayStation Plus. This gives you unlimited access to a regularly refreshed library of a dozen PS3 games alongside half a dozen games for the PS Vita, and not only that, new games will also be added each month.

Press Release
[ Classic White PS3 Instant Game Collection Bundle copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The smartphone has ended up to be a pretty decent mobile gaming device in recent times, and it does not seem to show any sign of slowing down at all. In fact, it looks as though it is growing from strength to strength, and dedicated handheld consoles such as the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS need to look behind their shoulders! Well, for those who love gaming in short bursts on their smartphones but have not really gotten used to full touchscreen controls even until now, here is a solution for you – one that needs no app at all. We’re talking about the $39.99 iDroid Bluetooth Gaming Controller, of course.

The iDroid Bluetooth Gaming Controller is a wireless Bluetooth controller for both Android and iOS powered devices, where all you need to do is just pair and play. This is definitely a controller that will resonate with long time console gamers, where it comes complete with analog thumbsticks, a digital gamepad, half a dozen digital buttons and a couple of analog L and R triggers. It will even support controller function, mouse, keyboard, mouse/keyboard, and can also play nice with iCade apps. The built-in li-Ion rechargeable battery can be juiced straight from the attached USB cord.

[ iDroid Bluetooth Gaming Controller copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Don’t you miss the good old days when certain words had meanings that are so far removed from today? For instance, ‘gay’ meant happy and without a care in the world, and ‘cloud’ was a noun used to describe those fluffy white things in the sky, and if you looked closely enough, you would be able to find angels strumming their harps and lyres while humming a soothing tune. Well, fast forward to the 21st century, ‘cloud’ has taken on an entirely different meaning, where it is now widely accepted in the computing world as a platform where your data and even processing can be done remotely, as everything is connected via the Internet to the cloud. It is an ideal way to work with your files stored on the cloud, and you need not worry about folks stealing some crucial files when you are on the move. Since we are on the topic of cloud services, how about moving from something serious like work to a more casual activity like gaming?

G-cluster is currently inviting IPTV and wireless operators and game publishers to jump aboard the cloud bandwagon, especially at CES 2013 that is happening in Las Vegas early next year. Basically, G-cluster is best described to be a fully-featured white label service that offers the largest deployments at scale, sporting the most deployed catalog of casual and AAA games, and they fully intend to debut their Game Machine platform so that operators are able to deliver premium and casual games to the TV, all done without having to own a gaming console in your living room in the first place.without the need for a gaming console.

You will still need the G-cluster Game Machine as an intermediary, however, where it will plug into the HDMI port on HDMI-equipped televisions while connecting to the home Wi-Fi network in order for one to access the service. You can then use a game pad with a wireless receiver, or smartphones or tablets, in order to dictate the gameplay on the TV, where you can choose to fly solo or with friends, where they will rely on other devices such as PCs, smartphones, or tablets.

Press Release
[ G-cluster delivers cloud gaming to the masses copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When it comes to playing video and computer games, you can say that having the right kind of equipment is essential to making the most out of your gaming enjoyment. Well, it goes without saying that you can always rely on your skill to “get the job done”, otherwise it is always prudent to make sure that you have the best kind of gaming equipment at your disposal. A pair of headphones are essential in the modern day, as they will be able to do their bit in letting you know just where your opponent is, as well as making sure you can hear what is going on in the rest of the map or to look out for audio alerts of something else that is happening in the vicinity. Well, Razer has just announced their spanking new and improved Razer Carcharias gaming headset for the Xbox 360.

Continuing from where the original Razer Charcharias for the PC left off, it will have the base of its predecessor’s ergonomic and aural standards, and this time around, it would be Xbox 360 owners who will be able to enjoy pro audio fidelity whenever they game on their console, not to mention enjoy doing so in extraordinary comfort. The full over-ear coverage ensures that, where the Razer Carcharias boasts of a fully adjustable, padded head rail, 1.25 in/3.18 cm on either side, allowing it to accommodate a vast array of head sizes, all courtesy of its soft, pliable, removable ear cups.

Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, president of Razer USA, said, “Xbox gamers – get ready to experience extreme comfort with circumaural ear cups and interchangeable ear cushions with the new Carcharias. This fan favorite of ours is now redesigned for the Xbox 360 and gamers are going to love it.”

You can pick up the new Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset for Xbox 360 for $69.99 if you are living in the US, although folks living across the pond will have to fork out €69.99 for a pair.

Press Release
[ Razer Carcharias Headset redesigned for Xbox 360 action copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Archos has jumped aboard the mobile gaming bandwagon with their latest release, calling it the Archos GamePad. Well, this is the first dedicated mobile gaming device from Archos which runs on the Android operating system, but as to whether it is capable of challenging the Nintendo 3DS, let alone the Sony PS Vita or aged Sony PSP remains to be seen. After all, having fantastic hardware is nothing if you do not have the kind of software to go along with it, and let’s face it – the Android operating system is not exactly a hotbed for game developers to hang around and play in. Perhaps the GamePad could be a catalyst of something bigger down the road, who knows? Still, the Archos GamePad is a beauty to look at.

Just what kind of features does the Archos GamePad bring to the table? Well, it is a new kind of revolutionary tablet (or at least, it hopes to be) that will merge physical gaming button controls alongside an Archos patented mapping tool, not to mention a full Android-powered tablet experience to boot. You get physical buttons and analog thumb-sticks, as well as the unique mapping software thrown into the mix which enables you to link the virtual controls of any game to physical controls.

It will run off Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as the operating system of choice, but this does not mean it will not be on the receiving end of an operating system update sometime down the road. Not only that, you will be able to gain full access to Google Play and Google Mobile Services, and if you are interested, you can pick up the Archos GamePad for €149.99 in Europe at the moment (hello, Christmas!), while folks living in the US and Canada will have to play the patience card, missing out on a Christmas release as the Archos GamePad is tipped for a rollout in that region sometime in the first quarter of next year.

Press Release
[ Archos GamePad announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]