Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

The folks at G4 have a juicy tidbit on the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour cacophony of simulated instruments: there might be another one in the works. G4 cites Neversoft’s Brian Bright, who let slip that a new peripheral is coming, and will be designed specifically for the music-creating Studio mode (pictured above). The logical choice is a keyboard, since it’s the preferred method for entering melodies and other mundane tasks by boring people, but we’re secretly gunning for Guitar Hero Bassoon — check out the video after the break to see why.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Another Guitar Hero World Tour peripheral in the works?

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Filed under: Peripherals

We had a hunch that Microsoft would be launching a SideWinder-branded keyboard this fall, and sure enough, the suits in Redmond are keeping the revitalized name alive with an all new September-bound input peripheral combo. The SideWinder X6 is hailed as the “first gaming keyboard created by Microsoft from the ground up, and the only gaming keyboard on the market with a switchable key pad.” When not in gaming mode, the key pad transforms into a full-programmable macro pad. You’ll also find two-color adjustable backlighting, mode switching and a $79.95 price tag. As for the X5 mouse, this critter packs nine buttons (five of which are customizable), a 2,000DPI laser tracking engine, six DPI settings (adjustable on the fly) and a $59.95 sticker. Full release is just after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft intros SideWinder X6 keyboard and X5 mouse

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Filed under: Peripherals

Hard to believe it has been well over a year since Logitech unveiled its original Cordless Desktop, huh? As of today, said outfit is formally introducing the Cordless Desktop Wave Pro, a two-pack that includes the Wave Keyboard and the MX1100 laser mouse. You’re plenty familiar with the first half of the equation, but the new critter promises to last up to six whole weeks on a full charge, and the included USB plug enables users to charge and work if they’re okay with a temporary tether. You’ll also find a 1,600DPI sensitivity rating, MicroGear precision scroll wheel and eight programmable buttons. Look for the happy couple to land in the US in October and Europe in mid-November for $129.99, while the mouse alone will go for $79.99 two months earlier in each region. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Logitech reveals Cordless Desktop Wave Pro keyboard / mouse tandem

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Filed under: Peripherals

For the longest time, Luxeed’s eye-tingling keyboards were only available on the other side of the planet. Now, however, the Dynamic Pixel LED Keyboard is finally for sale on US soil. We’ll spare you the completely irrelevant Optimus Maximus links — after all, this thing only allows you to tweak the colors of each individual key — but those obsessed with lighting up their gaming area without using those boring incandescents will certainly find plenty to love. And yeah, the $199.99 (for the keyboard alone; the number pad attachment is another $34.99) price tag is way closer to “manageable” than that ‘board you really want.

[Thanks, Zarian]

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Filed under: Peripherals

Logitech’s diNovo Edge has always been one of the sexiest Bluetooth keyboards around, with its circular-scrolling trackpad, orange-backlit keys, and slick dock / charging cradle, but Apple fans have been left out of the party — until now. Yep, there’s finally a Mac version of the Edge. Apart from some new OS X-centric key labels and driver software (sadly, it’s the same iffy Logitech Control Center that ships with the company’s mice), there’s not much new here — but the lower $159 price tag is certainly welcome. Should be shipping soon, we’re told.

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Filed under: Peripherals

Maybe it’s the ambiguity and possible masking of truth that just adds to the allure here, but whether it really lived or not, you now know what an Optimus Maximus looks like after an impromptu greeting with lukewarm java. Sir tema clearly states that the keyboard “survived” its first recorded coffee spill “thanks to the construction of the upper tray,” but judging by the looks of this thing… um, we’re not so sure. Oh, and he also mentions that spilling liquids on the ‘board is not only “stupid,” but it obviously voids any applicable warranties. Thanks for the memo.

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Filed under: Media PCs, Peripherals

Wireless keyboards with built-in pointing devices are usually pretty ugly, and Sandberg’s new HTPC-oriented keyboard is no exception: sure, the dedicated Media Center Keys and 32-foot range are nice, but that two-tone color scheme is straight out of 1987. Plus, check the placement of the Media Center button — yeah, that’ll never get accidentally pressed. On the plus side, it’s just £49 ($97), so you’ll have plenty of scratch left over for fiber-optic lights and white shag rugs.

[Via Bios]

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Filed under: Peripherals

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Say, is this a Microsoft SideWinder-branded keyboard? Looks like it might just be. It looks like it’ll go by the name of SideWinder X6, and feature a detachable numeric keypad, programmable keys, and “cruise control” (don’t quote us, this is from a translation) which emulates a steady keypress. It’ll run $80 in September — that is, if this doesn’t just turn out to be pure rumor.

[Thanks, Husar]

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Say, is this a Microsoft SideWinder-branded keyboard? Looks like it might just be. It looks like it’ll go by the name of SideWinder X6, and feature a detachable numeric keypad, programmable keys, and “cruise control” (don’t quote us, this is from a translation) which emulates a steady keypress. It’ll run $80 in September — that is, if this doesn’t just turn out to be pure rumor.

[Thanks, Husar]

Update: Reader RainMotorsports points out that the side profile looks, well, unconvincing. Certainly right, especially when you ask yourself where those giant knobs went. Hey, we never said this was a sure thing!

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We highly doubt Art Lebedev chose the opening day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on purpose here, but nevertheless, the design studio made famous by its Optimus Maximus keyboard will be opening up shop in the Big Apple on August 8th, 2008. At first, the store will actually be held within RCS Computer Experience at 575 Madison Ave. and E. 56th Street (on the second floor, just opposite the escalator), but if sales start pouring in, we reckon it could land its own place in due time. It is noted that this location will devote almost all of its shelf space to Optimus Maximus keyboards, but a few other electronics gizmos should be available as well. So, who’s camping out for the opening?

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/nintendo/The_Wii_Keyboard_exactly_what_the_name_suggests’; Next time you sit down to write your Great American Novel, perhaps you should consider tapping the opus out on your Wii with Logic 3’s weird and somewhat awful — though excellently named — Wii Keyboard. There’s not much meat on these bones — it’s simply an add-on for Nintendo’s console that allows you to type on a QWERTY pad rather than light-sabering all over your apartment to name your new Mii “Death Bringer.” The ‘board is due out July 18th (in the UK at least) and will nab a tidy £14.99 (or about $30).

[Thanks, John]

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Filed under: Peripherals

If you’re the type who just can’t view a website without slamming the Control key and flinging that scroll wheel down (or up, we suppose) in order to gigantify the on-screen text, this here keyboard has your name written all over it. Offered up at Taylor Gifts, this unit actually doesn’t seem much / any larger than your average KB, but each key sports a relatively prominent letter that aims to make typing much easier for the visually impaired. You can order yours now for $19.98.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

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Filed under: Peripherals

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Filed under: Peripherals

It only makes sense to go all expensive on the things you look at most often, like your TV, car, or — in this case — your keyboard. For only (!!) $155, you too can get a handmade Nishi-Ki USB keyboard. Yours is sure to be the object of typist envy cube farm-wide. Nishi-ki keyboards pack 86 keys and work via USB or PS/2 interfaces. Sorry, Mac users, no Command keys.

[Via BoingBoing]

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Filed under: Laptops

Apparently some audio can’t be turned up to F11.

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Filed under: Peripherals

iKey’s done this whole rugged keyboard thing a time or two before, so when it builds one meant to operate like a champ around environments laden with grease, you know it means business. The new line of Membrane keyboards — which arrives in a trio of flavors — boasts a stainless steel enclosure, or customers looking to integrate can snag the OEM edition and do as they please. The board possesses a “hard-coated, textured, polyester film that is more rugged than industrial silicone rubber keypads,” and it’s designed to withstand “directed hose water, disinfectants and environmental contaminants.” Seems as though you’ll have to phone up iKey to find out what this Apocalypse-approved device will run you, but it should get along quite well with that impenetrable Iron Drive of yours.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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Filed under: Laptops

Okay, this is pretty much for the crazy keyboard aficionados out there, but the crew over at Laptop says there’s a distinct difference between the keyboards on the black and white Eee PC laptops. They compared the ‘boards on a white 701, black 4G Surf, and white 900, and while the two white Eees had identical keys, the black unit featured different switches with deeper keypresses and more tactile feedback, smaller spaces between the keys, and rougher plastic. (Of course, if you actually use any keyboard for long enough, the plastic eventually wears smooth, so that’s probably not an issue.) We doubt the difference is going to really sway anyone’s purchasing decision — the tiny Eee keyboard isn’t exactly ideal for hardcore typists, after all — but if you’re looking for a tiebreaker between the black and white 700s, well, now you have one that will bore the pants off people at parties.

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Filed under: Laptops

We’re not at all certain what led Dell to ship European Vostro 1310s and 1510s with, ah, revised QWERTY keyboards, but it looks like the company is making good on its promise to remedy the situation. According to Dell, all affected customers will be contacted and offered a replacement keyboard beginning today. Apparently the switch isn’t too hard to make, so you’ll be able to either do it yourself, or Dell will send out a tech to do it for you at no cost. Sounds like Dell’s doing its best to make this right — but c’mon, how did this not raise all kinds of red flags during the design process?

P.S.- If you’re a touch-typist who’s having major issues, you can also jump to the front of the pack by emailing Dell — check out the read link for directions.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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Filed under: Peripherals

If you weren’t enthused about the SteelSeries 7G for whatever reason, Gigabyte looks to have another alternative headed down the pike. At the company’s Spring Break event and Plug-Fest 2008, folks from Tweaktown were able to spend a few hurried minutes with the GK-K8000 gaming keyboard. We’re told that “design issues” were holding ‘em up from being released right now, but we get the impression that it’s certainly nearing completion. Initial thoughts were that typing felt great and the unit itself seemed mighty sturdy, but why take our word for it? Hop on down to the read link for a few more snaps.

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