N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment gets a CES overview (video)

The scariest looking peripheral at CES 2011? Possibly. But for those looking to gain a split-second edge on the competition, the N-Control Avenger just may be the solution Xbox 360 gamers have been looking for. Announced just a couple of months ago, the company was here in Las Vegas to actually demonstrate a fully functional model. But simply, it straps onto your first-party 360 controller, adding triggers, straps, cables and all sorts of other contraptions that aim to give you improved alternatives to pressing buttons (while freeing your thumbs up to more accurately operate the analog joysticks). Enough talk — hop on past the break to see how exactly this $60 shell gets down to business.

Continue reading N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment gets a CES overview (video)

N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment gets a CES overview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SteelSeries trots out Spectrum 7xb headset, Siberia Neckband for iPod, iPhone and iPad

SteelSeries is on hand here at CES, and as with Sleek Audio, Turtle Beach and hordes of others, it’s also introducing new cans at the show. First up is the Spectrum 7xb wireless headset for Xbox 360, which touts a retractable microphone, four-piece breakdown for travel and interchangeable cloth and leather earcups. You’ll also get in-game volume controls along the right earcup, LiveMix technology — which balances in-game audio with voice communication — and the new ExactSND feature, a quick-button option that allows users to switch between three settings that have been preconfigured for different sounds. It’ll ship in Q2 for $149.99. Moving on, the Siberia Neckband is making a triumphant return, this time with innate support for the iPod, iPhone and iPad via an inline three-button remote. More details on specifics are embedded after the break, with a ship date of today and a price tag of $79.99.

Continue reading SteelSeries trots out Spectrum 7xb headset, Siberia Neckband for iPod, iPhone and iPad

SteelSeries trots out Spectrum 7xb headset, Siberia Neckband for iPod, iPhone and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calibur11 Vault eyes-on, protecting your Xbox from tactical nukes and stuff

Although it won’t protect your console from a certain red ring, the Calibur11 Vault will fend off pretty much everything else. Calibur11 claim that the MLG approved plates that latch on to your Xbox 360 increase console airflow, while adding an integrated game interaction through the use of LED / USB lighting effects and the extravagant 3D extremities protruding from the sides of your console. The pieces themselves are interchangeable as well as customizable with colors, decals, nameplates and accessories packs. Calibur11 has several versions of the Vault available, including an MLG special edition as well as an upcoming chainsaw-wielding blockbuster-title special edition sometime in Q3. Calibur11 plans to release at major retailers like BestBuy in March 2011, so we’ll have to keep our consoles safe from nuclear attacks the old fashion way till then.

Calibur11 Vault eyes-on, protecting your Xbox from tactical nukes and stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer’s adjustable Onza 360 Tournament Edition controller hands-on at CES 2011

Not so fond of the resistance level on that stock Xbox 360 controller? Hello, solution! Razer just trotted out the Tournament Edition and Standard Edition controllers, and we stopped by to have a look. The company told us that it has been working on perfecting the resistance mechanism on the Tournament Edition ($49.99) for months on end, and the end product was as solid as a rock. Both analog joysticks are capable of being independently tightened or loosened with respect to resistance, and it also touts an added shoulder button that can be reassigned to do pretty much anything via an intuitive button / menu process on the rear of the controller — that’s shown in more detail down in the gallery below. There’s also a rubberized feel to the grip, backlit buttons and a braided cable, whereas the $39.99 Standard edition lacks the adjustable resistance, backlighting, rubber finish and cable braiding.

Representatives for the company noted that the next logical step would be to concoct a wireless version and to eventually introduce a PlayStation 3 variant with resistant analog sticks, but no one was ready (or willing) to talk release dates. As for these Onzas? Pre-orders will start on the 17th, with shipments to hopefully follow in a few months.

Razer’s adjustable Onza 360 Tournament Edition controller hands-on at CES 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions

Is your Xbox 360’s bundled controller not loving you quite like it should? Razer’s ready to pick you up on the rebound with its updated Onza controller for Microsoft’s console. The Tournament Edition offers analog sticks with adjustable resistance, an improved D-pad, backlit action buttons, and a pair of added programmable keys. The Standard version eschews the backlight and analog customizability, but keeps the other improvements. Pre-orders for both begin on January 17th, with the Tournament costing $50 / €50 and the Standard asking for $40 / €40.

Continue reading Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions

Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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8 million Kinect sensors sold in first 60 days

8 million Kinect sensors sold worldwide in first 60 days — that’s 3 million more than Microsoft had planned. Not bad. Microsoft also announced 30 million Xbox Live members and 50 million units sold worldwide with the Xbox 360 outselling all other consoles for the last 6 months in the US. Not bad at all.

8 million Kinect sensors sold in first 60 days originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avatar Kinect for Xbox 360 is official, smile like you mean it

Turns out the rumor was true, Avatar Kinect is coming to the Xbox 360 this spring (for Xbox Live Gold members, at least). Details are sparse — a place where you can virtually hang out with your “friends” — but Kinect is shown to now be able to detect facial gestures like eyebrows, smiles, and laughs. Impressive, but after all we’ve seen with the Kinect hacks, can’t say we’re too surprised the camera’s capable of such detection.

Avatar Kinect for Xbox 360 is official, smile like you mean it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix and Hulu Plus with Kinect coming this spring to Xbox 360

Good news, Hulu Plus is finally coming to Xbox 360 this spring. Better news, both Hulu Plus and Netflix will be compatible with Kinect. We imagine it’ll be just like Zune Video’s interface, but there really wasn’t much of a demo during Ballmer’s keynote tonight. Excited? We are.

Netflix and Hulu Plus with Kinect coming this spring to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft to announce ‘Avatar Kinect’ at CES?

There isn’t much to go on here, but a supposed snapshot from Microsoft’s CES keynote has surfaced with the name Avatar Kinect displayed front and center. So, what is that, exactly? Chances are it’s not the Avatar Kinect we were dreaming of earlier this week, but if we had to guess from the picture and the name alone, you’ll probably be awkwardly moving your body to see just how well your on-screen representation can mimic the motion. Winrumors goes a step further, claiming (without citing any sources, though) that there’ll be a separate channel for the Avatar coming via an Xbox Live software update. Nothing’s confirmed here, but given Microsoft’s CES keynote is tomorrow, this rumor’s shelf life is thankfully pretty short.

Microsoft to announce ‘Avatar Kinect’ at CES? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect rumored to have PC support in waiting

There’s been no shortage whatsoever of PC control schemes using Kinect, but up until now, every bit of it has been without Microsoft’s official blessing. Of course, the company eventually caved to the massive amount of hacking going on and confessed that it didn’t have any hard feelings for those giving it a whirl, but is it really fixing to take things one step further with bona fide PC support? That’s the talk emanating from South Korea, where game developer GamePrix has reported that at least one of its titles (Divine Soul, if you must know) is “scheduled to support Kinect.” Continuing on about the game, the company’s Jason Lim was quoted as saying that “Kinect will soon be available as a new PC controller,” but naturally, we’ve our doubts. For starters, why wouldn’t Microsoft be working with a more major developer if honest-to-goodness PC-Kinect interactions were planned? Secondly, there’s a definite possibility that GamePrix could really be referring to unofficial support, which would make everything seem a lot more sensible. Either way, we’ll definitely be keeping an ear to the ground for more, and with GDC under three months away, we ought to know the truth sooner rather than later.

[Thanks, Rashad]

Kinect rumored to have PC support in waiting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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