Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve seen interesting 3D peripherals like the Novint Falcon combine multi-axis movement and force feedback to create immersive experiences in the past, but a new research project called the H.VR Editor takes the idea to the next level, allowing you to “touch” and interact with CGI objects. Objects respond according to a pre-programmed graph of hardness values, and the system is capable of simulating texture and events like button presses. That should make the system a hit with product developers everywhere, but we’re waiting to see if the folks at DeviceAnywhere pick this up to build the ultimate cellphone testing lab. Video after the break.

Continue reading Force feedback controller allows you to “touch” CGI objects

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Force feedback controller allows you to “touch” CGI objects originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that microphone that we peeked just before Lips hit and (subsequently fell off) the scene? Microsoft has just announced that a standalone version will soon be available sans a tether, giving owners of the aforesaid title, Guitar Hero Metallica, Rock Band 2, Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year and The Beatles: Rock Band the ability to carry a tune in a bucket right in the comfort of their living room. Too bad it’ll run you $49.99 when it ships in the fall, but who knows, maybe there’s some sweet Sennheiser diaphragm in there that we’re not aware of.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone ships this fall for $49.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Without a doubt, Sonos makes an excellent wireless distributed audio system. If we had to nit pick (and we do), then its massive controller, the CR100 is easily the first thing to complain about. For starters it’s a $400 remote control that does one thing, it controls your Sonos audio system. Granted, the CR100 is rugged, splashproof, and turns on in an instant thanks to a built-in accelerometer; features that can’t justify the price, however, in light of the solid Sonos did its user base when it released a free Sonos controller app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app even one-ups the CR100 with its on-screen QWERTY since the CR100’s scrollwheel isn’t exactly the best interface for typing out the name of an artist search. So imagine our intrigue when we saw a new CR200 Sonos Controller pass through the FCC. The new controller appears to prefer a portrait orientation (instead of landscape like the CR100) and was tested across 802.11g WiFi frequencies with a 24Mbps fixed data rate. While that doesn’t give us much to go on, at least it passed the tests meaning we could be close to an official announcement. Considering the controller’s physical design hasn’t changed since its launch in January of 2005, a few more days or weeks of waiting shouldn’t be a problem.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Sonos CR200 controller outed by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know, it’s just another angle — and one that we’re not quite sure the origin of — but considering just how many years we’ve been waiting for the Wii to be anything other than glossy white, we’ll take every opportunity we can to relish this moment. Hop on past the break for a more official look at the jet black controllers. Hey Nintendo, you do realize that North Americans love new hues too, right? Cool, just checking.

[Thanks, Craig]

Read – Kuro Wii
Read – Black controllers

Continue reading Another look at Nintendo’s kuro Wii, jet black Classic Controller Pro

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Another look at Nintendo’s kuro Wii, jet black Classic Controller Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, here’s a curious one. Those eagle-eyed folks at Joystiq caught sight of a pair of Classic Controller Pros for the Wii at Nintendo’s E3 booth, which wouldn’t be so unusual if not for the fact that it still hasn’t been announced for release outside of Japan. Adding to the intrigue, the Nintendo reps at the booth apparently know nothing (or weren’t talking) about a planned release, and there’s no official word to speak of on the E3 press site either. Yet the controllers were there for all too see, which leads Joystiq to rightly speculate that a release ’round here is now decidedly more likely than not.

Filed under: Gaming

Classic Controller Pro appears at E3, unbeknownst to Nintendo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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