The gaming controller has a special cross shape and four programmable buttons. You can map those buttons to various commands using the videogame software. The device is designed to be very flexible allowing the users to place it in any direction they want and teasing with one or both feet.

The designer made the footboard to be easy to return to neutral position after you activate key. One of the more interesting features of the Stinky Footboard is that the device shipped with multiple Springs allowing you to customize the tension to your preferences. The project has now met it Kickstarter funding goal.

In fact, it raised a bit more than its goal of $75,000 racking up a total of $79,562. The funding goal is met yesterday and the controller cost those who backed the project $89 or more. Shipping is expected to happen in July of 2013, but you’d be safe to expect some delays. The laser very common with Kickstarter projects as roadblocks are hit during the ramp-up to production frequently.

[via Kickstarter]

That second Thunderbolt (the first hooking the dock up to your Mac or MacBook) means you can attach up to five more Thunderbolt devices to the same machine. As we’ve already seen, Thunderbolt’s hefty throughput – bidirectional 10Gbps, in fact – means you can have RAID arrays, Full HD displays, A/V interfaces, and more, all connected and operating simultaneously.

The dock also includes a single FireWire 800 port, handy if you’ve got legacy devices but a newer Mac which dropped the connection, and both audio-in and audio-out. In total, Belkin says, you can hook up eight devices with a single cable to your Mac.

It’s not exactly cheap for a dock, and we’re a little unimpressed that Belkin doesn’t even include the Thunderbolt cable you’ll need in order to use it. Still, if you want to make your MacBook Pro the hub of a desktop setup, it’s a straightforward way to do that without needing to hook up half a dozen cables every time you get home or into the office.

The new version is called the Ring Mouse 2 and Genius says it’s a cutting-edge ring style touch air mouse. The mouse is designed to be worn on the finger and can be used by business travelers, HTPC users and more. The ring section of the mouse is made from a flexible rubber material allowing it to attach securely to your finger during use.

The Ring Mouse 2 is also easy to remove and compact enough to fit in a pocket and have it ready to go whenever you need it. The mouse uses touch control technology on top allowing you to slide your finger on the touch panel allowing you to navigate web pages and documents. Cursor controls is done using the in-air mouse functionality.

The Ring Mouse 2 has left, middle, and right buttons and also supports the ability to drag and four-way scroll. Power for the mouse comes from an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Connectivity between the mouse and the computer is supported via a small nano adapter using 2.4 GHz technology. Wireless range is up to 10 m. The mouse comes in silver or titanium colors. Pricing and availability are unknown at this time.

[via Genius]

A company called IRIS has unveiled a new mouse that is significantly different from most mice on the market called the IRIScan. The mouse works like a normal pointing device allowing you to control your cursor on the screen of your computer. It also has a built-in scanner on the bottom allowing you to scan documents and images as you move around the page.

The mouse works in conjunction with optical character recognition software and if you use it to scan a document that content is turned into an editable document in Microsoft, Excel, or another program. The mouse has a scanning resolution of 400 dpi. The scanner is activated when the user clicks on the scan button and swaps the mouse in any direction on the paper document.

As the mouse is swiped around the page, the document text and images appear instantaneously on the computer screen. The software running on the computer stitches the image back together so you don’t have to swipe in a uniform manner. The scanned documents can be saved, e-mailed, or uploaded to the web. The mouse connects to a computer using USB and is available now for $79.

[via Irislink]

The MYO is a one-size-fits-all armband that is turned on and off via a hand gesture said to be unique enough to avoid accidental activation. Once on, users can control their computer or mobile device by a combination of gestures and arm movements, with the band being able to detect both. MYO reports that the device can detect subtle movements, as well as keeping track of where the user’s hand and arm is at for precise control.

MYO boasts that the armband is so fast, it can react to the electrical signal in the muscle a moment before the gesture is completed, making it seem as if the device is reading your mind. The device connects with your mobile and computer via Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, and is powered by lithium-ion batteries and an ARM processor.

The gesture control armband works out of the box with Windows and OS X, and the company is currently in the process of implementing Android and iOS support. Although the device is available for pre-order, there is no specific shipment date, with MYO stating that it is working to get the armband out ASAP and expects that to happen late this year. You can grab one of your own from the company website now for $149.

[via Get MYO]

There are 4 things that gamers are able to purchase from Razer’s collection. There’s the Razer Spectre Staracraft II Gaming Mouse, the Razer Marauder Starcraft II Gaming Keyboard, the Razer Banshee Starcraft II Gaming Headset, and the Razer Starcraft II Zerg Edition Messenger Bag. The Razer Spectre, Marauder, and Banshee all have an APM (Actions-Per-Minute) lighting system that responds to the gamer’s movements and speed. The lighting system features a multicolor LED that can be customized to any color the gamer wants.

The Razer Spectre is a lightweight, 5-button, gaming mouse that gives RTS (real-time strategy) gamers the control that they need. It also features a 5600 dpi Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor and a 1000 Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time. It is priced at 59.99 in both the U.S. and Europe.

The Razer Marauder is a gaming keyboard which features a multi-colored backlit keyboard that has elevated keys which will improve rapid command input as well as increase your gaming performance. There is also an “on-the-fly” macro recording system, and the keys are laser-etched and conveniently spaced. The Marauder is priced at 99.99 in both the U.S. and Europe.

The Razer Banshee is a gaming headset that comes with a configuration utility that allows you to adjust your equalizer, pitch, and volume, providing you the best sound experience while you game. It also comes with a detachable microphone boom that will allow you to easily transport this device. The device is priced at 89.99 in both the U.S. and Europe.

Last, but not least, there is the Razer Zerg Edition messenger bag. The bag is a weather-proof, tear-resistant bag designed to protect all of your gaming gear. It has a compartment for your laptop, gaming peripherals, and also a mobile gaming device. It’s inner-lining is shock-absorbent in order to protect all of your expensive devices. The messenger bag sells for 79.99 in both the U.S. and Europe.

If you’re a diehard StarCraft II fan, or if you need peripherals that can enhance your gaming experience, you should act on this sale now before Razer discontinues it again. Razer is also holding a sweepstakes. Players will choose the race they align themselves with, whether it’d be Protoss, Zerg, or Terran, and 3 lucky players from each race will be awarded the Razer StarCraft II gaming headset, mouse, and keyboard, along with a StarCraft II strategy guide and clothes.

[via PR Newswire]

The new version of the mouse features 2.4 GHz wireless technology and a 1200 dpi optical sensor. The mouse ships with a wireless pico receiver that is small enough to allow you to plug the receiver into the USB port of your computer and leave it. The mouse will work on just about any Windows computer and features three buttons.

The mouse supports hyperspeed scrolling, 4D scrolling, works in both hands, and has a touch scroll feature. Sensitivity of the mouse is also adjustable to both 400 and 800 dpi. The mouse sensor is designed to work on just about any surface. Genius says that the mouse will work on clothing, your hand, desktop, and just about anywhere else.

The mouse features a smart power saving function that automatically starts the sleep mode when the mouse isn’t in use. The user can press any key to wake the mouse up. The mouse is available in carbon gray or silver for $49.99.

[via Genius]

Dedicated buttons for answering/ending calls as well as muting are present, with illumination so that you can be alerted to an incoming call even if you have the volume shut off. The voicemail button also lights up when there are new messages.

As for the other companion peripherals, the M525-C mouse comes with one of Logitech’s Unifying receiver dongles, which can plug directly into the K725-C keyboard, and has a scroll wheel and rubberized grips. The C920-C webcam can handle up to 1080p video at 30fps, and includes stereo microphones and onboard H.264 encoding for reducing computer processor strain.

Obviously you’ll need a Jabber system in order for the bundle to be any use to you, but we can envisage Logitech developing another version of the keyboard targeting home users instead, perhaps with Skype controls instead. As for the K725-C, that’ll land in March 2013 priced at $269.99, complete with both webcam and mouse, while the C920-C webcam will also be sold separately at $109.99.

That’s in both software and hardware, somewhat unusually. Each of the twelve buttons can be set to the function of your choosing, or assigned to one of up to 72 macros; they’re stored in the mouse’s own, onboard storage, rather than on your PC, so that in-game macro blocks won’t be able to prevent them from running, and meaning no setup time if you change system.

Five levels of precision – from 200dpi to 8200dpi – are supported, and the setting can be changed mid-game. Meanwhile, unlike a regular mouse (either computer or live), you can open up a panel on the base of the Gila and slot in up to six of the supplied weights, each 4.5g, to adjust the heft of the peripheral to suit your preferences.

As for the lighting, that can be tweaked from ubiquitous-but-perhaps-a-bit-2000s-now blue to any of 16m different colors, complete with selectable brightness and pulsation. A double-braided cable and gold-plated jack round out the key specs.

The Genius GX Gaming Series Gila mouse is on sale now, priced at $99.99.

The Orochi can be connected two ways: wirelessly via Bluetooth 3.0, or wired for those who need a slightly more archaic connection method. The device runs a new, more precise laser, which Razer touts as the most powerful laser available in a mobile mouse. The laser sensor is a 6,400dpi 4G unit that “promises to take out the competition with deadly accuracy.”

For those who choose to use the Orochia via a Bluetooth connection, the unit is powered by two AA batteries. You can expect to get about 30 hours of continuous use, which is double the life of the previous iteration. The battery rating equals about three months of conventional usage, according to the press release.

RazerGuy Robert Krakoff offered this statement. “We want our dedicated fans to keep the ability to game at the high level they demand when they leave their home. Companies including Razer make mobile gaming laptops for that and, with those, there needs to be a mobile mouse solution. The Razer Orochi answers that need. We believe we’ve ushered in a new era of mobile gaming with the extreme performance and portability of our Blade laptop and Orochi gaming mouse.”

[via Razer]

There’s also a 3.5mm stereo audio output, for hooking up a set of speakers, and a microUSB input for charging the phone and powering the Smart Dock itself. The Note II can be used as normal when docked in place – including for making phone calls – and if you’ve a flip cover fitted you won’t need to remove it in order to slot it in.

So, you could use the Smart Dock to turn your Note II into a desktop computer replacement, with a full-sized keyboard and mouse to navigate via Android – and all the usual Android apps – on a large display. Alternatively, it could form the hub of a media system, hooked up to your TV and with external storage plugged into the USB ports.

Meanwhile, it folds up for easy transport, so you could feasibly drop it into your bag wherever you go. Clove says UK availability isn’t confirmed yet, nor pricing, and while it’s available for preorder on Samsung US’ webstore, there’s no estimated shipping date. More on the Note II in our full review.

Hardware

At first glance, the Livescribe Sky looks just like a fat pen: perhaps something you’d give a child to more easily grip as they learned to write. Inside, though, there’s a lot going on. Livescribe says that, while externally the design is pretty much identical to its previous Echo model – bar a slightly different color scheme for the lower half – on the inside it’s almost entirely different.

The replaceable nib sits next to a small camera that faces down at the page, tracking what you’re writing. All you get in the way of physical controls is a power button, which sits by a monochrome, single-line OLED display, a microphone, and a small speaker. A 3.5mm audio jack is on the top, which also doubles as a microphone input, and there’s a microUSB port for hooking up your computer or recharging the internal battery.

In the hand, the Sky takes some getting used to versus regular pens. The thickness of the barrel feels strange, oversized, and the taper – which gets broader up toward the top half – can feel unnatural. That can end up making your handwriting in initial notes somewhat more untidy than usual, though you do get used to the feel of it over time. The lid – which slides in firmly to cover both the nib and the camera lens – can be a little tricky to remove, too, and is easily lost since there’s nowhere on the phone to clip it when you’re writing.

With so few controls on the pen itself, actually taking advantage of the Sky’s functionality relies on the specially printed paper notebooks. The pages in these are covered in a unique pattern of microdots, which the camera in the tip can track; each page has a different layout of dots, meaning the record of each note is unique, and – as long as it’s turned on – the SmartPen always knows where it’s pointing.

That’s the case for writing and sketching, but it also means Livescribe can print controls onto the paper and have the Sky recognize those. You get the usual buttons for menu navigation, record/pause/stop, jump forward/backward a few seconds in playback, media position, playback speed, and volume/mute printed along the bottom of the page, and tapping them with the nib triggers the appropriate function. At the back of the notebook there’s a scientific calculator – results are shown on the smartpen’s display – and buttons to set the time and date. It’s all very responsive, with no lag from when you tap.

However, the Sky version gets a new page of wireless controls, printed on the inside front cover of the notebook and – for those with pre-Sky notebooks – sticky labels printed with the same buttons. There’s a big WiFi setup section, with buttons to scan for networks, scroll through the list of results on the smartpen’s screen, and then select it, plus a QWERTY keyboard to enter the password; you also get buttons to turn WiFi on/off, trigger a firmware check, and sync with the cloud. A new block of WiFi Share controls will, eventually, allow you to fire off select notes via email (to yourself), to Google Drive, to Facebook, and to Dropbox, though those features won’t be available until Q1 2013.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to connect to WiFi connections that require you to log in via a webpage (such as is often the case in hotels or cafes). Instead, Livescribe recommends either using the mobile hotspot feature on your phone or laptop, or synchronizing notes via the free Livescribe Helper Application, which pulls them off the smartpen over a USB connection.

Three versions of Sky will be offered, a 2GB for $169.95/£159.99, a 4GB for $199.95/£179.99, and an 8GB for $249.95/£224.99. They store around 200 hours, 400 hours, or 800 hours of audio respectively; the 8GB model also comes with a leather smartpen folio and a one-year subscription to Evernote Premium. All versions get 500MB of dedicated Evernote upload allowance. Livescribe will continue to sell the Echo smartpen as an entry-level model, though it lacks wireless and still demands the old Livescribe Desktop app.

Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen demo:

Software, Evernote, and Sharing

Ditching the Livescribe Desktop software is arguably the best news about the new Sky smartpen. The old app was functional but didn’t make sharing notes straightforward, particularly if they had audio attached. By switching to Evernote, however, Livescribe has sidestepped needing to handle management software, and the cloud-based notebook service’s own sharing tools – together with some HTML5 magic – mean collaborating with notes is far easier.

When you first set the Sky smartpen up, running through Livescribe’s online guide, you associate it with your Evernote account (or set up a new one). A new notebook is created in Evernote, and any new scribblings you make are automatically filed in there. Evernote already has clients for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and other platforms, or you can access notes via the browser view.

Most of the time you can leave the smartpen to its own devices when it comes to synchronizing. It’s triggered when you come back within range of a previously-saved WiFi network (though we occasionally had problems with the odd wireless network not being auto-resumed, and had to manually search, select, and connect to it, though the Sky smartpen did save the password), and – if a connection is present while you’re actually writing – notes are automatically uploaded when you press the “stop” button to end audio recording. The #1 shortcut button on the top of some notebook pages is also set to trigger a manual sync by default, and there’s another button to do the same printed as part of the WiFi controls layout.

Upload speed itself will obviously depend on how fast your data connection is. Text-only notes are gone in seconds, while audio comes in at between 7.2MB to 35.6MB per hour depending on quality and whether it was recorded in mono through the Sky’s integrated microphone, or in stereo via the optional microphone accessory Livescribe offers. Uploads continue while you’re taking notes, but are paused if you start recording more audio.

Once they’re safely stored in Evernote, you can use most of the service’s regular tools with them. They can be tagged though you can’t change the titles as otherwise Livescribe will lose track of which notebook page relates and you won’t be able to sync any amendments later on; notes with audio recordings are clearly flagged up in the collated list, as well as pulled out into a separate section for easier review. Evernote can even pull up search results from handwritten text, though the accuracy of that obviously depends on your penmanship. We had mixed results, though if you try to get into the habit of writing titles and subtitles in block text, it makes digging through notes with search more consistent.

Evernote also has integrated sharing tools, and coupled with Livescribe’s new HTML5 player it’s incredibly easy to pass notes on to others. If you send an email, the recipient sees an image of the note which, if they click on it, opens up the new player in their browser. A media control bar operates audio playback – the text goes from grey to green as it tracks along with the recording – or you can click on any point in the notes to jump the audio to that specific place. There are easy buttons to flip between pages, along with controls to skip forward or backward in 10 second increments. Any HTML5-compliant browser should be able to view the pages, too, including those on your iOS or Android phone.

You can see a demo of a shared Livescribe note here [opens in new window].

In the Pen Pipeline

Adding wireless to the Sky smartpen is just the start of Livescribe’s ambitions, however. The company is hoping to turn the digital stylus into a platform, not just a product, with multiple partnerships simmering away for launch over the next few quarters.

Arguably most useful will be the extra sharing options Livescribe is cooking up. Pencast PDF is due in Q1 2013, embedding notes – complete with audio – into PDFs that can be opened up in Adobe Reader 10 (or newer). Considering the HTML5 player requires a web connection, that will clear the way for offline playback; it also adds another level of security, since there’s no way to password protect a shared HTML5 note sent from Evernote. As long as someone has the URL, they can play back your recording; Livescribe tells us that updated security settings to address that are coming in the next important feature release.

Also worth remembering is that a shared note isn’t a fixed, immutable thing: if you subsequently add to a page you’ve shared with somebody, they’ll be able to see the sync’d additions by clicking the original link they were sent. There’s no apparently way to limit them to the state of the note at any one, fixed point in time; nor any way to “unshare” that note. In short, don’t add any extra jottings to a note that you might not want anybody it was shared with to subsequently read.

Also being worked on is transcription. Liverscribe is collaborating with Vision Objects on technology to convert handwritten notes into text, and with other developers on the same for audio recordings, though releases for both haven’t been pinned down to anything other than “in the future.”

Before then will be SDKs for iOS and Android, allowing third-party developers to integrate Sky smartpen functionality into their apps. The iOS SDK will arrive in Q4 2012, with the Android version following on in Q1 2013; Livescribe sees huge potential in linking handwritten notes with digital content, for instance.

The company has come up with a few demo apps – not for public release, sadly – such as one which allows handwritten annotations to be appended to PDF documents shown on-screen, by jotting them down on a physical notebook. There’s also a collaborative whiteboard app, which permits up to thirty people to remotely work on a single virtual whiteboard, each making notes on their Livescribe pad. Exactly when we’ll see the first such apps is unclear, and Livescribe isn’t talking about specific developers it’s working with.

Battery

Livescribe quotes 11-12 hours of recording audio with wireless turned off, or 4-5 hours if the WiFi is on. That obviously increases considerably if you’re only taking handwritten notes, not recording audio at all, and an imminent firmware update is expected to squeeze even more runtime out of the smartpen.

In practice, we managed nearly two weeks of intermittent use – with WiFi always on, but turning the Sky smartpen off in-between bouts of note taking – and the battery gage dropped by half. That’s with a couple of pages of notes per day, perhaps a third of which had audio recordings as well.

Wrap-Up

Livescribe’s smartpens always made sense for personal note taking, but they also demanded some extra degree of organization in use: remembering to plug them into your computer to sync, and then sharing them via the company’s awkward homegrown sharing system if you ever wanted to review them from elsewhere. Packaging up the Sky smartpen with WiFi and Evernote support addresses each of those problems neatly: now, all you need do is flip the pen on when you get home and your notes are not only pulled straight to the cloud, but distributed to all your Evernote-sync’d devices.

You can read notes on your phone, on your tablet, via the browser on your computer at work, and anywhere else Evernote is accessible. That will get even better when integration with other cloud services is added at the start of next year. Plus, Livescribe’s HTML5 player means showing other people your notes needn’t be the headache it has been so far.

Some still can’t grasp the value of a digitally-enabled pen, and it’s true, there are many who can take notes on their smartphone or tablet screen just as quickly as they can handwrite. For those who want their sketches to be included, however, or who still enjoy the feel of a physical pen nib on physical paper, Livescribe offers the best of that tactile experience with the convenience of digital backup and sharing. The inclusion of wireless to streamline that process only makes it more appealing.

The keyboard is sized to hold in your palm and supports thumb typing. It also has a track pad on the right side allowing you to control a pointer, and it has buttons on the left side for left and right mouse clicks. This might be the perfect HTPC keyboard for connecting to your little Android mini PC that plugs into the HDMI port of your TV, assuming it has integrated Bluetooth.

If you want to use the keyboard with a device that doesn’t have integrated Bluetooth, you can still do that thanks to the included USB Bluetooth receiver. The only caveat is that your device has to have a full-sized USB port. FAVI specifically calls out support for the Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus 7, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, as well as numerous PCs and Mac computers.

The little keyboard features backlit keys for easy use in the dark. The little track pad also supports tap to click and page scrolling. The track pad end of the keyboard has an integrated red laser pointer and the keyboard has PowerPoint slide buttons. The Bluetooth keyboard has a range of 50 feet and is available now for $49.99.

The chassis is brushed aluminum – Logitech is particularly pleased by the fact that it’s real metal, not plastic made to look like metal – and the key backlighting is dynamically adjusted based on the ambient light in the room. We’ve seen that before, but Logitech also throws in a sensor that tracks whether your hands are nearby and shuts off the backlight so as to save power when you’re not actually typing.

Recharging is via USB, and the keyboard can be used while plugged in. Logitech says it will run for around ten days of average use on a single charge.

The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 is set to go on sale in the US this month, and in Europe come November. It will be priced at $99.99 and €99.99 receptively.

The Touch Mouse T620 has a full touch surface, including around the edges of the peripheral, with laser tracking. It has a dedicated shortcut to the Windows 8 start screen, and uses Logitech’s Unifying Receiver; battery life is up to six months with two AA batteries, or you can ditch one of the batteries for a lighter mouse, and get up to three months runtime.

Touch Mouse T620 demo:

As for the Zone Touch Mouse T400, as the name implies the touch-responsiveness is limited to certain portions of the peripheral. In fact, the zone is limited to where the scroll-wheel might normally be expected to find, with a rubberized, textured surface. The same Unifying Receiver is used, and battery life is up to 18 months.

Zone Touch Mouse T400 demo:

Like Apple’s Magic Trackpad of 2010, Logitech’s Touchpad T650 pulls the touch-sensitive square normally found in a laptop’s wrist rest out onto the desktop as a standalone peripheral. It supports thirteen Windows 8 gestures, and can be recharged via USB; a full charge is good for up to a month’s use.

Touchpad T650 demo:

The Logitech Touch Mouse T620 and Logitech Zone Touch Mouse T400 are up for preorder now, priced at $69.99 and $49.99 respectively. The Logitech Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 is priced at $79.99.

“Motorola’s Webtop app helps users extend their smartphone experience to larger screens. While consumers around the world have adopted Webtop and the concept spurred a lot of innovation in the industry, the adoption has not been strong enough to justify continued resources being allocated to developing Webtop on future devices” the company said in a statement. “We have also seen development of the Android operating system focus on the inclusion of more desktoplike features. Beginning with Photon Q and Droid Razr M/Droid Razr HD/Droid Razr Maxx HD, we will no longer be including Webtop on our products moving forward.”

Although by no means essential to using any of Motorola’s devices, Webtop allowed road warriors to dock their phone – such as the Atrix 2 - into a laptop chassis and rely on the increasingly potent mobile processor performance to remotely access work files, visit full websites, and more. A smaller media dock could be used with a TV and wireless peripherals, ideal for setting up an impromptu office in a hotel room.

However, while Webtop’s software functionality was included in the cost of the device itself, the companion hardware did not come cheap. The Atrix 2, in a bundle with the laptop dock, was priced at $500 by AT&T and Motorola, potentially more than a cheaper smartphone and a full notebook bought separately.

Motorola’s decision will leave the company – now owned by Google – to focus on core smartphone performance, though it would be a surprise if the lessons learned from the Webtop experiments didn’t percolate through Android as a whole. Google has also been pushing its Chrome OS platform, again focusing on lower-powered local devices that tap into the potential of the cloud, and a closer link between that and Android has been rumored for some time.

The mouse does exactly what its name implies; it vibrates to massage your hand or your body when you need a break from working. The mouse promises a comfortable and stylish design that appears to be ambidextrous. The mouse has a touch-sensitive surface for buttons and scrolling. It also has integrated LED lights along the edge of the mouse to make it look like it’s glowing.

The mouse itself is wireless and ships with a charging stand that connects to your computer via USB. The mouse has three different massage modes indicated by buttons on the side for A, B, C. There are 10 different vibration levels that can be accessed with button A. Button B allows the user to choose continuous vibration or pulsating vibration patterns.

Button C reduces the vibration level and when the vibration stops the mouse automatically goes back into mouse mode. It also goes back into the mouse mode within 30 seconds of massage mode being activated if the mouse isn’t picked up and used. The mouse uses optical tracking technology and will be on display at CES in January of 2013. Pricing and availability are unannounced.

The Replicator 2 has a 100-micron layer resolution, which the manufacturer says is a new standard in professional looking models and accurate, lifelike replicas. The printer is also capable of making large objects up to 410 cubic inches in volume. That works means items as large as 11.2-inches long by 6-inches wide by 6.1-inches high can be made.

The new 3-D printer also ships with updated software enabling faster and more consistent printing. The printer is optimized to work with MakerBot PLA filament. This filament is a renewable bioplastic that is the most popular build material used in 3-D printing. The material is popular thanks to its strength and the ability to make large products without the material cracking or warping.

One interesting feature of the Replicator 2 is that you can make multiple models at one time thanks the large build volume. The slicing engine is also up to 20 times faster than previous technology to allow for quicker printing. The Replicator 2 Desktop Printer sells for $2199.

It’s fair bristling with buttons and sticks, too, keeping even the most frantic gaming fingers occupied. As well as the analog sticks there’s a D-pad and the usual cluster of four buttons, a 5-row keyboard – with the sticks sandwiched in-between rows one and two – start/select, and two shoulder buttons, though the iControlPad 2 team says the layout isn’t quite final and could still be changed base on gamer feedback.

Attaching to whatever mobile device you want to use the iControlPad 2 with uses a swivel-holder, that can flip around the back of the phone in case you need to suddenly take a call. Inside there’s a battery good for 12-14 hours of runtime.

It’ll work with your PC or Mac, too, and the firmware is open-source so that you can hack it about if you don’t have support for a specific device. Pledging is open from today, with a minimum pledge of $69 getting you a unit when it begins shipping; that’s expected to happen in time for the holidays.

Apple announced the Thunderbolt Display more than a year ago, back in July 2011, and since then the desktop monitor has gone technically unchanged. The company did push out a new SKU in July this year, though the only change was the inclusion of a new power adapter so that the Thunderbolt Display’s pass-through power cable could be used with the redesigned MagSafe 2 connection.

While supplies direct from Apple’s own webstore remain prompt, several UK retailers are showing no online stock availability. Amazon UK, for instance, says the Thunderbolt Display is backordered until September 20 (though independent Marketplace sellers still have stock); fellow UK retailers Dixons, PC World, Currys, John Lewis and Comet are also out of stock.

Currently, the Thunderbolt Display runs at 2560 x 1440 resolution and measures in at 27-inches, as per the larger iMac. Opinions on whether the all-in-one will get a Retina boost have been mixed, with some expecting a significant step up in resolution, while others say Apple will skip such a – likely expensive – change for this generation.

Those same factors count for the Thunderbolt Display, though there are still areas in which Apple could tweak the monitor. On the back, for instance, is a hub of ports which includes gigabit ethernet, a pass-through Thunderbolt, three USB 2.0, and a FireWire 800; Apple might opt to update that to USB 3.0, as with the ports on the 2012 MacBook Pro, and add another Thunderbolt pass-through.

The first-gen Thunderbolt Display arrived without fanfare as a simple press release, so it’s possible that a new version might make a similarly low-key debut. Amazon’s September 20 supply estimate could be an indication of when the new model is due, a week after Apple’s iPhone 5 launch.

The keyboard features the Razer Switchblade User Interface that we first saw on the awesome Switchblade portable gaming device. The Switchblade UI allows the touchscreen and 10 buttons above the screen to have custom programmable icons. The screen can also switch modes depending on what you’re doing at a particular time.

Razer offers a special interface for Star Wars: The Old Republic that has custom keys and uses that LCD panel to show a special application for adding control to your game. That panel also functions as a multitouch track pad with support for gestures and more. There are a number of apps available for that LCD panel.

The apps include a track pad, number pad, macro recorder, gaming mode, browser, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, clock, screenshot, and a game timer. There are enough apps to let you do just about anything you want using that touchscreen. The keyboard also features anti-ghosting technology allowing you to hit up to 10 keys at once in game mode. All keys are backlit as well for gaming in the dark. The keyboard will launch in September for $249.99, and I want one.

The improved anti-ghosting technology allows for up to 10 key presses at the same time in gaming mode with no ghosting. Ghosting happens on a gaming keyboard when you press a key for an extended period of time and when you release that key, the action bound to it continues. Razer also has a new model for 2013 called the Tournament Edition in addition to the standard and the Ultimate editions.

The Ultimate edition has backlit keys whereas the standard version of the BlackWidow doesn’t. The Tournament Edition ditches the number keypad for a smaller form factor. All three BlackWidow editions support macros and on-the-fly recording.

Razer fits the mouse with two interchangeable side panels that allow the user to change the footprint of the mouse to suit claw, palm, or hybrid grip styles. The mouse also has an adjustable tilt back angle to provide the perfect amount of palm support for individual gamers. The mouse is capable of up to 8200 dpi sensitivity and has an integrated dpi clutch trigger button that allows changing sensitivity at a press.

The mouse can be wired or wireless and has Razer’s 1 ms wireless technology promising no lag. There are 11 programmable buttons, and the mouse cord is seven-feet long. The mouse will be available globally in Q4 of this year for $129.99.

The SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] differs from the previous SteelSeries Sensei gaming mouse in that the [RAW] version lacks the 32-bit ARM processor that the older Sensei about uses. The new mouse has professional grade laser sensor and an adjustable sensitivity range from 1 to 5700 CPI. The mouse has large DPE material feet on the bottom for smooth gliding action.

It also has a 6.5-foot anti-tangle black and white cord covered in braided nylon. Other features include bright white LED illumination in three zones that can be configured with different levels of pulsation. The mouse is designed to be ambidextrous for right or left-handed gamers.

The 26-letter alphabet is spread across and in-between the fingers, and selected by tapping them with the thumb. It currently uses an Arduino Lilypad, the version of the trusty prototyper’s board designed to be stitched into wearable electronics, and will eventually be paired with a li-ion battery and a gyroscope for gesture-based controls.

It’s not the first we’ve seen of wearable keyboard alternatives, of course. Chorded keyboards have been around for several decades, trimming down the number of keys by introducing combination presses; although originally desk-bound, they were soon seized upon by mobile gadgeteers as ideal for on-the-move text entry. Long-time AR pioneer Steve Mann used chording keyboards in some of his wearables research, and an alternative approach was funded on Kickstarter last year.

Gauntlet is unlikely to reach the market, at least in its current form, which is being developed as part of a university design project. However, with an estimated price tag of around $99, there’s certainly the potential for it to be commercialized.

[via Ubergizmo]

The concept behind the idea is straightforward: smartphones are incredibly capable, powerful devices, but in being portable they also demand a huge compromise on screen size. Even the Galaxy Note, with its 5.3-inch display, is considerably smaller than the average tablet, and that can make reading news, ebooks, presentations and other content frustratingly uncomfortable.

Plastic Logic’s idea is an ultra-thin companion device using one of its plastic-transistor based displays, paired with a wireless technology such as WiFi or Bluetooth, a battery, touchscreen, and a smartphone app – currently a hastily-cobbled-together Android app – that exchanges data between the two devices. With that app, users could squirt over emailed documents or webpages to the epaper, paging through using the onscreen controls. Alternatively, you can do the same thing with photos taken with the phone, which could be useful for those with partial-sight wanting to enlarge pages.

Although Plastic Logic bills its displays as flexible, in this context the company says its potential carrier partners are more focused on a rugged device: something that can be dropped into a bag or briefcase without concerns that the screen might crack. Rather than the Heath Robinson prototype, the final design is envisaged as a slim frame with a carry-handle on the top that would contain the electronics, battery and other components.

Battery life could be a real advantage over existing tablets. Since the Plastic Logic display only uses power when it changes the on-screen image, it’s far more frugal than a traditional LCD or OLED. That could mean 2-4 weeks use on a single charge, potentially, though final runtimes haven’t been confirmed.

In practice, use is a simple affair. The rudimentary app allows you to pick a file and share it to the display – in this prototype’s case, using a WiFi connection – and, after a couple of seconds, it blinks into life. Photos are shown full-screen and, while it’s currently monochrome and obviously lower resolution than a new iPad, it’s still easier to look at than a compact phone screen. As for multi-page documents, like PDFs, they can be paged through with a few stabs at the on-screen buttons, though there’s the usual blink-refresh we’re familiar with from other e-paper products. That should change if Plastic Logic uses one of its video-capable panels, which has a higher refresh rate.

The deciding factor is likely to be price: Plastic Logic and its partners would need to bring this in significantly lower than regular tablets, which could be a challenge given the $199 Nexus 7 announced yesterday. The company wouldn’t give us an estimate – it depends on who supplies the rest of the components and builds the slate, as well as how carriers decide to market it – but the idea of it being supplied as a freebie with a new phone was vaunted.

With the footprint of half a piece of paper, and capable of being USB bus powered – albeit using two of your USB ports – so that you don’t need to tote a separate PSU, the ScanSnap S1300i will work as a regular multi-sheet scanner. It can also scan straight to your Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive or other cloud storage services.

However, the Android and iOS apps allow you to scan to your phone or tablet instead; unfortunately you’ll still need to have a PC or Mac connected to act as an intermediary. That’s the big missed opportunity for Fujitsu: if they’d integrated WiFi and made it so you could wirelessly connect your iPhone directly to the scanner, it would’ve been far more useful.

Scanning speeds of up to 12 pages per minute automatic detection of color, grayscale or monochrome, and a 10-sheet document feeder round out the key specs. So close, Fujitsu, and yet not quite on the mark. The ScanSnap S1300i is available now, priced at $295.

Manufacturers Lantronix say the Home Edition is optimized for USB printers of the sort most home users will have, rather than the enterprise range the original model catered for. There are no drivers or installations required, only a case of plugging in the printer and waiting a while for it to be automatically recognized.

Although there’s only one USB printer port, the xPrintServer can actually handle up to eight: you’ll need to supply your own USB hub, however. It can also handle up to two network printers and an unlimited number of iOS clients.

The xPrintServer Home Edition is up for pre-order now, priced at $99.95, and is expected to ship in 3-4 weeks. There’s a list of supported printers here.

The three profiles pre-set include two for MMOs and one expected to be used in general gaming. No special drivers are needed, either, and there’s a G-Shift control to double the functionality for each key. The G600 itself has onboard key-memory, so that even if you plug it into another machine it will still have your personal settings.

All of the buttons are LED-backlit, and can be set to a choice of 16m different hues (or left to cycle through them automatically). The 6.5-foot USB cable is cloth-wrapped, which Logitech says makes it more resilient, and it’s possible to change the DPI accuracy on-the-fly with up to five presets per profile.

Finally, the scrollwheel is tiltable and clickable. The Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse is available for preorder now, priced at $79.99.

The new printer is called the Epson Expression Home XP-400 Small-in-One, and it sells for under $100. The printer has a 2.5-inch LCD touch panel screen on the front and integrated memory card slots for printing photos from memory cards without a computer. The printer uses Epson’s DuraBrite Ultra Ink and has integrated Epson Connect, Apple AirPrint, and Google Cloud Print for wireless printing from smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

The printer is an all-in-one that can print, scan, and copy and measures 15.4 x 20.8 x 11.0 inches. The scanner has a 2400 dpi resolution, and the printer can automatically correct over and underexposed digital photos. Red eye removal is also integrated into the printer and most popular photo sizes can be printed. The printer will launch in June from $99.99 online and in retail stores.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a laptop-style peripheral. Palm famously came up with – and then axed – the Folio several years ago, and since then Motorola has gone a few steps further and actually managed to get its Lapdock to market. Those with particularly good memories might remember the REDFLY Mobile Companion for Windows Mobile handsets.

Where the ClamBook differs is that it promises to work with a variety of platforms and hardware, so even if you switch between iOS and Android you should be okay. The display is 16:9 for better results watching video, and there are dedicated Android navigation buttons for menu, home and back (not to mention media and volume keys) along with a multitouch trackpad.

Those with Motorola phones equipped with Webtop will get an even better experience, with Firefox and more. First shipments are promised in time for holiday 2012, though there’s no indication of price at this stage.

[via Twitter]

The keyboard hooks up via Apple’s Camera Connection Kit and works with any app for the tablet with MIDI support. It has dedicated transpose and octave buttons, along with pitch bend and modulation wheels, and Samson has also thrown in a shift key for adjusting more than a dozen performance-related parameters.

Both USB and traditional MIDI-Out connections are available, along with a sustain-pedal input. Power can be supplied via the USB connection from your computer or, indeed, from your iPad, making for a surprisingly portable setup (assuming you have a bag capacious enough for a 49-key ‘board).

Samson throws in a copy of Native Instruments’ Komplete Elements software for PC and Mac, too. The Carbon 49 is available now, priced at $89.

Amped Wireless claims that its UA1000 High Power Wireless-N 500mW Directional USB Adapter provides up to ten times the wireless output of standard wireless adapters. It has two high power 500mW amplifiers for increased transmit range, two low noise amplifiers for increased receiving capabilities, and a high gain 5dBi dual polarity, directional antenna for concentrated single direction WiFi signals.

The US2000 High Power Wireless-N Directional Dual Band USB Adapter delivers up to six times the wireless output power of standard adapters and operates in 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz modes. Its dual band technology avoids interference to ensure top speeds.

The adapters work with both PCs and Macs. The UA1000 is priced at $79.99, while the UA2000 is $99.99. Both are available now for pre-orders.

[via Engadget]

The Livestream Broadcaster is a tiny red box that can either be attached to video equipment for covering live events or used as a desktop encoder. Either way, the Broadcaster eliminates the need for a computer. It automatically encodes live recordings on the fly into H.264 video and AAC audio at up to 2.3Mbps and then streams it via Ethernet, WiFi, or a 3G/4G USB modem to the LiveStream platform.

Cameras connect to the Livestream Broadcaster using HDMI video input, while microphones can be connected directly to its 3.5mm audio jack. In contrast to existing equipment that cost in the thousands, the Livestream Broadcaster only costs $495, really lowering the barrier of entry into live broadcasting. The device comes with 3 free months of Livestream service, which costs $45 per month.

[via MarketWatch]

The Intuos5 features a slim-profile in a professional matte black and soft-touch finish that’s both modern and durable. It has ergonomics in mind with an ambidextrous design that makes it easily adjustable for right- or left-hand users. At the core of Wacom’s graphics tablet is its Intuos5 Grip Pen, which registers 2,048 levels of pen pressure and up to 60 degrees of tilt. This precision and sensitivity makes it feel the same as working with traditional tools such as markers, pens, and brushes, giving users more creative effects when used with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other similar graphics software.

The addition of multi-touch gestures support helps to further streamline workflows by making it easy to zoom, scroll, pan, and rotate content, all directly on the tablet instead of switching back and forth from a mouse or other input device. The Intuos 5 can recognize standard Windows and Mac gestures as well as custom gestures created through Wacom’s software.

There are also customizable ExpressKeys on the Intuos5 along with one Touch Ring and a four-function toggle that allow users to create custom shortcut keys for commonly used functions to reduce the need to go back to the keyboard, improving productivity. And with the purchase of a separate Wireless Accessory kit, which includes a rechargeable battery, RF module, and USB receiver, the Intuos5 can be converted to a wireless tablet for even more comfort and convenience.

Wacom’s Intuos 5 graphics tablets are available now and come in three sizes with the Small priced at $229.95, Medium at $349.95, and the Large at $469.95. A cheaper pen-only version of the Small tablet will also be offered, but pricing on that has not been confirmed yet.

Other features of the keyboard include USB ports for connecting peripherals and six programmable macro keys. The macro keys have different profiles allowing up to 18 macros to be assigned. The keyboard has onboard memory so you can store macros on the keyboard rather than on a computer. The different game profiles can be switched on the fly.

The dual USB ports on the keyboard have 1000 Hz report rate to support fast peripherals such as mice. For times between gaming, the keyboard also has six media access keys for controlling audio and video. It also has a palm rest for more comfort. Pricing is unknown at this point.

A new mouse that has surfaced from a company called Ion Wireless may be the strangest I’ve ever seen. The mouse is called the Ion Air Mouse and it uses a glove style with little buttons worn on the finger for the right and left click. Apparently, the mouse does require little bit of set up on your computer by activating the clock in the control panel allowing you to using your wrist.

It appears that the click buttons for left and right, which are worn on the index finger are pressed using the thumb. The mouse also has a pause button underneath the left and right click buttons so if you need to type or get up from your desk you won’t need to take the glove off. The mouse is wireless and rechargeable via a USB port with a range of 35 feet. The mouse sells for $79.99 and is available now.

[via EverythingUSB]

In fact, Logitech reckons it’s as smooth as the scrolling you’re used to on your smartphone. Connectivity is via the company’s Unifying Receiver, a compact USB dongle that can pair with up to six Logitech wireless peripherals simultaneously.

Interestingly, the Touch Mouse M600 gives a choice of power options. The mouse is usually powered with two regular AA batteries, but users can choose to ditch one of them if they’d prefer a lighter peripheral. With two in place, you can apparently expected up to six months of use; half of that if you only use one.

The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is available for preorder now, priced at $69.99. It’s expected to go on sale later this month.

Inside the Targus gadget is the DisplayLink DL-3900 hardware that allows the device to work. The HDMI output supports video and six-channel surround sound. It also supports HDCP so you can use it for watching Blu-ray videos. This card is the first use the 3900 in a product that only supports displays.

The 3900 chip can support gigabit Ethernet as well so this product could have been more of a docking station than a USB 3.0 video card alone. The outputs support resolutions of up to 2048 x 1152 making 1080p HD resolution easy to achieve. The Targus device sells for $99.

[via EverythingUSB]

The iConvert features a small footprint, but can scan documents ranging from 2- to 8.5-inches wide. Documents are scanned with 300 DPI resolution and saved to your iPad’s picture folder. The controls for the scanner show up on the iPad screen via the iConvert iOS app that you can download from the iTunes App Store.

The scanner dock is compatible with both the original iPad and the iPad 2. It’s priced at $150 and will go on sale in February, giving you enough time to scan and sort all your receipts in time for tax season. The iConvert will be available through Brookstone.

[via Cult of Mac]