Hasta La Gadget!

Amazon has refreshed its Kindle app to include support for swiping and other gesture navigation features for Macs running Lion OS X or higher. It will now display Kindle’s new Format 8 books, allowing for more complicated formatting, HTML5 support, pop-up text, embedded fonts and other visual accoutrements to spice up your Mac-based reading. The update also adds Japanese language support alongside the typical pile of bug fixes and tweaks. You can download the new reader from the Mac App Store now, right at the source link below.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Amazon Kindle Mac app update adds gesture features and visually richer Kindle book support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 06:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest horse in the increasingly cluttered mobile controller race is still hampered by the same problem as the others: it’s not compatible with all mobile games. But it is compatible with a lot of hardware, not just mobile devices.

On the Android side, the SteelSeries Free Mobile controller works with all Zeemote-enabled apps, while on the iOS side it should work with all apps that are also compatible with the iCade. Aside from that limited compatibility, the controller should also work with “controller-enabled” PC and Mac games.

Hardware wise, the controller connects via Bluetooth and has almost the same layout as a PS3 controller, except it only has two shoulder buttons. It has a rechargeable battery, which apparently is good for up to 20 hours of “casual play.” I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean.

The controller will be available for the rather exorbitant price of $80 (USD) (€80 in other European markets) this October. One interesting tidbit that I read on the controller’s product page is that SteelSeries is working on a “mobile version” of Engine, the company’s app that lets users customize their controllers. I wonder if it means that the company has found a way to make the controller be compatible with more games.

[via SteelSeries & Engadget]

NVIDIA’s Kepler-powered Quadro K5000 GPU will be making its way to Apple’s Mac Pro systems, the company announced today at IBC. The professional graphics card made its debut earlier this summer and is slated to ship beginning in October for $2,249. Timing for the Quadro K5000 for Mac isn’t quite so firm, with NVIDIA simply stating that it’ll ship “later this year,” though pricing is expected to be in line with the previously announced flavor. The next-gen GPU is said to offer up to 2x faster performance over the Quadro 4000, while also delivering 4K display support, quad display capability through two DVI-DL and two DisplayPort 1.2 connectors, and 4 gigs of graphics memory. Furthermore, each Mac Pro will be able to support up to two separate cards, should you need the extra power. You’ll find full details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA announces Quadro K5000 for Mac Pro, brings 4K support, 2x performance over Quadro 4000

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

NVIDIA announces Quadro K5000 for Mac Pro, brings 4K support, 2x performance over Quadro 4000 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s a stack of different plugs, cables and connectors aimed at piping sound into your iPad, but when studio-stalwart Focusrite makes one, we pay attention. The iTrack Solo is a two channel interface compatible with the iPad, as well as your Mac or PC, offering mobile recording all the way up to 24-bit / 96kHz. The onboard preamp is the same as used in the brand’s flagship Liquid Saffire 56 interface, and there’s phantom power for microphones. As well as the mic-in there’s a quarter-inch input for guitars etc., as well as a chunky volume control for monitoring. Front “halo” indicators change from green to red if your recording levels go too high, and the aluminum casing should prevent it from getting damaged at the bottom of any gig bag. Once you’ve created a masterpiece in Garageband (or other recording app), you can use the line-level phono outputs to run it through your sound system of choice. Sound like something you can get down to? You’ll be able to get your hands on the iTrack Solo starting next month, and it’ll set you back $160 at your local dealer — in the meantime, you can jam on the PR after the break.

Continue reading Focusrite launches iTrack Solo, a two channel interface for iOS and desktops (video)

Filed under: Misc, Tablets

Focusrite launches iTrack Solo, a two channel interface for iOS and desktops (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you prefer a set of keys to power your mobile recording sessions instead of a guitar adapter of some sort, you’re in luck. The folks at IK Multimedia have just revealed the iRig KEYS portable keyboard peripheral for iOS devices and both Mac and Windows PCs. Packing 37 velocity-sensitive mini keys, the add-on touts a three full-octave range, modulation / pitch bend wheels, an input for a sustain / expression pedal and an assortment of controls for customizing your sound just so. Should you feel inclined, this iRig offering connects via USB to a computer for an “in-studio,” desktop tracking experience. The unit is Core MIDI compliant and sports plug-and-play functionality alongside the outfit’s SampleTank family of apps. Said software can function on its own on the PC side or as a plug-in for more robust offerings like GarageBand, Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar and the like. Itchin’ to snag one? You’ll have to wait until sometime this fall, but when it arrives, the KEYS will set you back €74.99 ($94).

Continue reading IK Multimedia announces iRig KEYS portable keyboard for iOS devices, ships this fall for $94

Filed under: Peripherals

IK Multimedia announces iRig KEYS portable keyboard for iOS devices, ships this fall for $94 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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