Hasta La Gadget!

Art Lebedev doesn’t have a fantastic track record when it comes to timing, but we’ll be damned if those boutique devices don’t look hot when they hit the scene — just check out this first render of the Optimus Popularis keyboard, which the studio informs us will still (despite years in the making) cost less than $1000 when it eventually arrives. We’re loving the new chiclet keys with typewriter spacing, even as we mourn the loss of a dedicated numpad in favor of industrial design — though Art Leb says a press of the FN key will remedy that issue. When every button has a screen built into it, you can put that ten-key wherever you want, right?

Optimus Popularis keyboard finally pictured, still on track for sub-$1000 release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look what we have here? The Dell Streak sure keeps bringing us more and more surprises — unlike most Android devices that lack the Bluetooth HID profile, here it is paired up with our wireless keyboard and mouse (Apple’s Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, specifically) without any driver hacks. Streak Smart, who made this discovery, had the same experience as us with its iGo Stowaway keyboard and an unknown mouse — typing was as smooth as cutting butter with a hot knife, but the mouse couldn’t do much due to the lack of pointer and scrolling support. If you insist, the forthcoming Nokia N8 is confirmed to support both devices natively, but it shouldn’t be long before we see a mouse hack for the green bot. Hands-on video after the break, and do also head over to the source link if you need more convincing.

P.S. — Since commenter dudeville was asking, here’s how to pair the Apple keyboard with the Streak: type a four-digit PIN on the phone when prompted, then type the same number on the keyboard and press the enter key. Good luck!

Continue reading Dell Streak gets cozy with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, suddenly looks small (video)

Dell Streak gets cozy with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, suddenly looks small (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With a name like “PS3 MMO Controller” there’s probably not much more that you need to know about this monstrous creation from Hori. It isn’t exactly Final Fantasy themed, but seems to be targeted for those who will be chocobo breeding in XIV. Its main component is, of course, the big white keyboard, but there’s also that extension on the left side, replicating the left portion of a Dual Shock and looking like something found on a Battlestar Galactica set (the original, natch). On the right side of the keyboard lies the other analog stick and full complement of buttons. We’re thinking we’d rather tackle the denizens of hell for real than attempt God of War 3 with this thing, but for the massive crowd it should do quite well — whenever it actually ships. Hori didn’t have a price in mine just yet either.

Hori’s PS3 MMO Controller is large and in charge originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Razer shows off Starcraft II series of gaming peripherals

Razer shows off Starcraft II series of gaming peripherals originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The internet at large has been joking about it long enough — “hey, where’s Keyboard Hero?” Well, here it is, and it’s pretty killer. We’re on the fence on how to describe our experience with Rock Band 3’s not-a-keytar, because in many ways it’s reflective of your own thoughts on the rhythm genre and pianos in general. Those with actual musical backgrounds are likely to scoff at the easy mode’s use of five arbitrary keys for the tune — not the groupings you see above, but a different set of colors, one per white note in the right half, with indicators just above the notes on that crevice between the top panel and keys themselves (picture’s after the break). Even if the actual song calls for a F# note, hitting a F or even a B might be called for instead. It’s a mentality that’s as old as the genre, that what we’re really doing is pantomiming instruments — or in the case of drums, just hitting key notes and letting the game fill in the blanks on lower difficulties. This, however, is an actual piano. The over-simplification is probably a necessary illusion in standard mode — or even when the keyboard is used as a replacement guitar / bass — but having actual proper keys will probably drive the more musically apt insane. Then again, if you’re not of that mindset, none of this will probably bother you at all, so feel free to ignore our impressions and bang away.

Pro mode, on the other hand is pretty killer, for all the reasons that standard mode can be irksome. Even at the simplest levels, you’re actually getting to play proper notation. Perfect for us, no matter how badly we flubbed up “Crosstown Traffic” on Expert. Sight-reading is a challenge, but nothing worse than actual notation. As we’ve seen before, the main lane doesn’t show all two octaves, but the warning we’re given before shifting to the right or left is easy enough to follow, but just like when you first grabbed the plastic axe, expect a good bit of adjustment frustration. See more pics below, and video after the break.

Update: Clarification added to the different color groupings used for Pro and Standard mode.

Continue reading Rock Band 3 keyboard hands-on (video)

Rock Band 3 keyboard hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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