Hasta La Gadget!

Pioneer’s original DDJ-WeGO was an effort to secure some of the entry-level DJ-dollars (it does pretty well at the other end already). This time around, there’s more of a focus on iOS, with a grip along the back that doubles as a stand for your iPhone or iPad (a lightning cable is included, too). This also means that as well as support for PC and Mac DJ software (Virtual DJ LE is bundled,) you can ride the fader with the fancy new Djay too. The rest of the hardware is pretty familiar ground, with two jog-wheels, effects and a tiny mixing console crammed-in to the small footprint. Learner DJs can improve their skills thanks to visual prompts provided by the LEDs (that flash with the beat etc.,) and USB power means one less cable to worry about. Importantly there’s onboard audio, so you get the full DJ / headphone monitoring experience, and a decent audio line out. Prospective spinners will have to wait until October to get one, at a cost of $429. A shade more than the predecessor, but you do get three spiffy full-body colors (red, white and black) to choose from.

Filed under: Misc, Peripherals

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Source: Pioneer

Many portable mice are fairly chunky, which can be tricky when you’ve got a slim bag packed with an Ultrabook or a MacBook Air. Logitech’s set out to solve this problem with its $70 Ultrathin Touch mouse. The aluminum-clad pointing device features an ultra-svelte wedge design with a smooth top for touch gestures. A flick of a switch on the mouse lets you switch between two Bluetooth-connected devices and a one-minute charge over USB gives it enough juice to last about one hour. The Ultrathin Touch Mouse will arrive in black this September and in white come November.

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Logitech

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

Sure, crafting flawless 360-degree photos of objects can be a slog, but Jared Bouck’s taken to Kickstarter betting that his solution can whip up such pictures and make them web-embeddable in as little as 15 minutes. Dubbed Zcapture, the hardware packs a rotating platform for items and cooperates with custom software to edit and produce the images without additional post-processing. As it stands, the gear works with cameras that boast external shutter controls (specifically Canon and Nikon models at the start), but stretch goals may bring support for other shooters, including IR header compatibility for point-and-shoots. With an Arduino at its core, and coupled with a circuit board packing additional ports and headers, the box is designed with modding in mind. In addition to snapping photos, Zcapture can even be used as a rotating base for 3D scanning.

If you’re wondering just what the system is capable of, just take a look at Bouck’s work at Rotate 360 Studios, where he’s made product shots for the likes of Foster Grant, Reebok, Xi3 and others. A USB-powered mini Zcapture along with the software is priced at $150 (or just $100 for the program), while other kits range from $300 to $690 for a fully-loaded version paired with soft box lighting. If the project meets its $46,000 funding goal, the contraption is expected to ship in December. With a little over $4,000 pledged so far, we hope — if not for our review photos, for our eBay listings — that it hits its goal before the two-month deadline.

Filed under: Cameras, Peripherals, Software

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Source: Kickstarter, Zcapture

Last week, Wacom unveiled its latest tablet pen — the Intuos Creative Stylus — alongside a trio of Cintiq Companion standalone slates. The stylus is indeed a departure from the regular ol’ scribbling units that we’ve seen popping up all over. This time around, the Intuos Creative Stylus draws much of its look and feel from Wacom’s Pro Pen (or Cintiq Pen) with its on-board buttons, soft grip and recognizable shape. Of course, it wields the same 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity that we’ve seen on units included with Intuos and Cintiq models as of late, and connects to the latest Apple tablets via Bluetooth 4.0. All that sounds great, but as you might expect, it comes with a higher price. Is parting with $100 a safe bet in October or are you better off sticking with your current tools? Venture past the break for our initial impressions. %Gallery-slideshow73499%

Filed under: Peripherals, Software

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One thing’s for sure: we’ll certainly miss keynote dances and chants of, “Developers! Developers! Developers!” when Steve Ballmer steps down from his job as the head of Microsoft some time within the next 12 months — no matter who the John Thompson-chaired succession committee picks to fill his shoes. There aren’t a ton of details regarding the decision at the moment — though a press release issued by the company (which you can find in all of PR speak glory below) is certainly positioning the move as voluntary on Ballmer’s part, stating that the exec, “has decided to retire.”

No direct replacement has been lined up, and as such, he’ll remain on-board as CEO until the committee finds the right person. Along with Thompson, Bill Gates, Chuck Noski and Steve Luczo will also take part in the search. Gates had some nice things to say about his successor and old pal, “We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties.” For his part, Ballmer continues to sound bullish when it comes to the company’s future, “there is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.”

Update: Well, ask and ye shall receive. Just like that, Microsoft has revealed Ballmer’s “internal email” to the staff. We’ve included that below, just under the aforementioned press release. The opening of the letter is comprised of the same quote Microsoft issued in this morning’s release, as well as, interestingly, a link to press release itself. Ballmer goes on to praise current senior leadership and adds that the company has managed to balloon from “$7.5 million to nearly $78 billion,” since the 30 staff member days when he first joined up. The note doesn’t shed much more additional light on any future plans, though the executive does add that he will “[continue] as one of Microsoft’s largest owners.” The exit, he explains is “emotional” and “difficult.” No doubt there will be much dancing and shouting in the months to come.

Update 2: The Seattle Times scored interviews with Ballmer and Thompson, revealing a couple of tidbits. First, Thompson notes that the CEO will, indeed, have some input on choosing his successor. In fully reflective mode, Ballmer (not shockingly, perhaps) admits that Vista was his biggest disappointment during his tenure. He also added that he plans to stay in Seattle post-retirement, so that tropical island paradise will have to wait. Also, as plenty have noted before us, the Wall Street reaction to news has been been initially fairly positive, so read into that what you will.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Displays, Gaming, Laptops, Peripherals, Tablets, Software, HD, Mobile, Microsoft

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