Following Creative’s launch of its Outlier Air True Wireless earbuds, the tech company is all set to showcase its diverse portfolio of innovation-inspired products at its booth at IFA 2019, Berlin.

Sound Blaster X3 with Super X-Fi 

Sound Blaster’s audio revolution began with the creation of the first Sound Blaster sound card in 1989. Since then, over 400 million Sound Blasters have been sold, with the brand etching several milestones in sound card development. 

The latest Sound Blaster X3 has landed, and it boasts Super X-Fi technology, a first for Sound Blasters. 

Super X-Fi recreates the soundstage of a surround speaker system in headphones. Furthermore, it’s personalised for a natural listening experience. 

Digital Audio Tech

Naturally, Sound Blaster X3 is packing a raft of digital processing technologies. Besides having Super X-Fi technology built-in, it is a high-resolution, 7.1 multi-channel USB DAC, offering 32-bit/192 kHz playback, and features a headphone amplifier capable of driving studio-grade headphones.

Additionally, there is Dolby Digital Live encoding for connecting optically to external receivers for multi-channel audio on speakers. 

Finally, Sound Blaster X3 has a versatile array of connectivity options offering cross-platform compatibility for PC, Mac, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. 

SXFI THEATER: Low Latency Wireless Headphones

Another standout highlight at Creative’s IFA booth this year is Creative SXFI THEATER.

Touted as the latest breakthrough solution in wireless headphones it features the audio realism of Creative’s award-winning Super X-Fi headphone holography. SXFI THEATER is a game-changer like no other headphone, according to Creative.

Propriety Wireless Transmission

The headphones sports a proprietary 2.4 GHz digital wireless audio transmission, with five times less latency than a Bluetooth transmission. The result is genuinely seamless audio and video sync. 

Stamina-wise, the cans clock up to 30 hours of battery life, which is amongst the best for wireless headphones. Topping it off with a gaming microphone engineered for clear communications, SXFI THEATER checks all the boxes for unsurpassed movie and gaming enjoyment. Furthermore, the SXFI THEATRE headphones play nice with PC, Mac, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Creative at IFA 2019

Creative’s booth at IFA features a theaterette, specially constructed for demo sessions with SXFI THEATER headphones.

Additionally, Creative is also be showcasing its other latest audio solutions at IFA 2019, such as:

• Creative’s most advanced PCI-e sound card Sound Blaster AE-9, the pinnacle of PC audio innovation
• Outlier Gold, the new gold standard in true wireless earbuds with 14 hours of battery life per charge and Software Super X-Fi
• MUVO Play, a waterproof speaker with a stereo wireless link which is ideal for outdoor adventures
• T100, a premium Hi-fi 2.0 desktop speaker system

The Creative booth at IFA 2019 is located at Messe Berlin, Hall 3.2, Stand 209 from 5-11 September.

The post Creative Sound Blaster X3 and SXFI Announced at IFA 2019 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Happy birthday to GadgetyNews and congratulations on making it to double figures!

Nothing lasts for long in the world of tech, so it is with a degree of pride that I am able to announce the tenth birthday of this website.

In fact, the very first post from me here occurred on October 30th, 2007! That means we are already in to our eleventh year

10 years ago

Ah, what timing. Within a day of starting the site, the exciting news that the Nokia Music Store was opening! I know, right? I was still in the afterglow of buying my shiny new Nokia N95 and then this! How could  I have ever contained myself.

Of course, 2007 saw the very first iPhone. It was also the year that the greatest rival to iOS was born.

Google Android‘s software development kit was first made available along with £5million in prizes to entice people to get on-board.

2007 was also the year that w00t! became the ‘Word of the Year’ – true fact.

Facebook also launched to the general public in 2007 but it was Bebo that took home the prize for being the best performing social media site. I think we also need to pause and reflect on the others we have lost such as LiveJournal and MySpace.

I loved my PSP (Playstation Portable) but Nintendo was still in the game with the announcement of their new DS.

As hard as it might be to fathom, 2007 saw the Nintendo Wii trounce both the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the battle of the consoles.

I seem to recall that there was also a battle being fought, the likes of which we had not seen since VHS Vs Betamax. This, of course, was HD DVD Vs Blu-ray.

Any other gadgety memories from a decade ago?

Please let me know below.

The post GadgetyNews – Ten years of tech news and gadget reviews appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Music is best when it’s shared. Well, that’s what Roxi thinks. Not only is the Roxi Jukebox a networked music player, it’s also a karaoke machine and quiz-master.

I have been playing with the Roxi Electric Jukebox for a while now. As its name suggests, you get access to a curated music library, and more.

It also hooks you up with a variety of radio stations as well as offering music-based entertainment.

It’s perhaps easiest to look at Roxi as the musical equivalent as your set-top streaming telly box. It even connects your TV.

Clear your throat, there’s also karaoke here. You’ve been warned!

Roxi design

The Roxi kit comes in two components.

There is the set-top-esque brains of the operation, and a wireless controller wand that also doubles up as a microphone.

The main unit has all the connections as well as the processing duties. It is a quite compact at 3.4 x 3.4 x 17 cm and weighs just 472 g.

I have been sent the charcoal-coloured version but it is also available in red or blue.

The hub features an Ethernet, HDMI, and USB port. There is also a 3.5mm jack socket for headphones.

As well as the wired connection you can connect Roxi to your home network via Wi-Fi.

The want mic is wireless but plugs in to the hub to recharge. There are four control buttons on the mic but most of the on-screen navigation is taken care of by waving it around.

It’s a neat little set up.

Roxi performance

Set up

I opted for a wired Ethernet connection but wireless is painless.

Next is plugging in the supplied HDMI cable to the hub and your TV. Switch on (yes, it needs plugging in using the bundled adapter) and that is the Roxi set up.

The only other thing is to plug the supplied USB cable in to the hub and controller. This is, of course, optional. Most of us will have a variety of microUSB charging cables and plug adapters laying around the place.

Press the ‘On’ button on the front of the Roxi and everything you need is now displayed on your television screen.

You’re given a year’s premium pass as part of the package; which enables you to have ad-free viewing.

This pass is already registered to the box so you don’t even have to enter any fiddly codes.

From unboxing to searching for music and creating a playlist can be achieved in five minutes. Literally.

Electric Jukebox

Using the remote is just like using a Nintendo Wii. All you have to do then is wave it around in order to control the on-screen pointer and then select ‘OK’ on the remote once you’ve found what you want.

If that’s all a bit physical, you also have the option to search using voice command.

Music library

The library on Roxi can be found by drilling down through the ‘Discover’ list.

Here you are offered genres and then playlists.

You are able to put together your own playlists or check out curated lists. There are even celebrity curators such as Robbie Williams, Sheryl Crow, Alesha Dixon, and Stephen Fry. This is your chance to see how eclectic their musical taste is.

Me, being me, I headed straight for the ‘Rock’ \m/

Most things appear to be covered.

Selecting The Boys Are Back In Town playlist took me right back to buying compilation cassettes such as ‘Leather and Lace’ and the stuff Top Gear would do.

Some top tracks, nonetheless.

What would make Roxi an even more compelling option for the likes of me who already has a decent digital music library? Well, if I could play tracks from my 8TB NAS drive, that’s what. If Roxi could discover other music on the network, that would be ace. That option would not negate the subscription as I am still a paid up member to Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify.

Audio quality

All the tracks are all streamed at 320kpbs AAC. Electric Jukebox does state that there is a diminishing amount of 160kbps tracks that might be used still.

Personally, I think that it’s nice that they admitted such as I reckon the chance of finding these tracks are small. Also, most people using this device probably wouldn’t notice.

Options

Roxi is much more than simply being a jukebox though.

Whilst you can create playlists, you can also create settings to avoid explicit content – this is via the ‘Family Protect’ option.

This means you can still enjoy your favourite artist during the day but without the fear of an f-bomb appearing in front of the little precious ones – or your parents, for that matter.

Fun time

The Roxi Electric Jukebox has primarily been used to listen to music, but the games are pretty fun too.

Be warned though, ‘Name That Tune’ can get quite competitive

Karaoke

I’ve never partaken in karaoke sober before and I had managed to avoid such ritual humiliation until my music college graduation in 2004.

However, in the right setting, it can be ridiculously fun.

It is good that you are singing along with the actual artist, not a dodgy tribute.

In true karaoke fashion, plenty of reverb is added to your vocals. I did notice quite a bit of lag from singing to hearing my voice through the telly.

The lyrics are clear and match the pace so, with a little bit of practice, I was able to preempt the lag.

Subscription

For the first year you really do get unlimited access to all that music, straight out of the box.

However, after the first year it’ll cost you another £52 for the same privilege. Bearing in mind the Roxi device itself costs £199, and you really have to consider if it will be worth it.

Still, add to that package the fact that you get a very capable Karaoke machine, and it might sway your decision. Plus, the UI is clean and easy to operate, and the voice search is quick and very accurate. Altogether, a extremely impressive entertainment gadget.

Roxi review conclusion

The Roxi is a great all-in-one box device for those that love to stream music.

Its easy set-up and intuitive user interface makes it easy to use for all ages. The swear filter adds to the family-friendliness of Roxi.

Played through my soundbar and sub the tracks sounded pretty good but, with 8TB of FLAC tracks on a NAS, it’s the karaoke and quiz features that makes the Roxi appealing to me.

As with all streaming services, it would be interesting to hear how much the content providers (music artists) get from this.

If I was a hard-core karaoke fan, £52 per year might be acceptable. That price would also be fine if I hadn’t already been paying for three hi-res audio services. But then, I’m probably not the target demographic for the music streaming bit.

However, for those that only listen to music occasionally and love a good house party – the Roxi fills all those needs.

I can see Roxi also being a hit in kid’s bedrooms.

Roxi price and availability

Roxi can be purchased now in blue, red, or charcoal. It is £199 from Amazon.co.uk.

In with the purchase price is a year’s subscription. After then, it is £52 per year.

The post Roxi – Electric Jukebox karaoke machine review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Xiaomi’s bezel-less Mi Mix smartphone is a gorgeous bit of kit. It was certainly the talk of the tech crowd when it launched last October. The Chinese phone maker will be creating waves soon with its Mi Mix 2 very soon.

Last year’s Mi Mix was stunning and, in my opinion, was way ahead of what Apple offered. It looks like Apple might be playing catch-up again this year as Xiaomi plans to unveil the new version at an event in Beijing one day before Apple’s iPhone launch.

Naturally, all eyes will be on Apple. Mostly as it really needs to release a device that distinguishes itself from the past few minor iterations to boost its brand. Furthermore, it could really do with stemming the flow of falling sales in China.

Xiaomi gets jump on Apple – again

By all accounts, we should indeed be expecting to see some radical changes from Apple. But, we shall only find out officially 24 hours after Xiaomi has enjoyed the limelight.

The Mi Mix really brought Xiaomi a lot of attention last year thanks to its stunning design which is practically all screen.

This was an extremely exciting breakthrough at the time. In fact, Xiaomi initially billed the Mi Mix as a concept device.

Now screens, or rather bezels, are the hot topic for smartphones in 2017.

Both LG and Samsung have unveiled devices with minimal bezels, running with the Mi Mix’s design lead.

Even less bezel

Early leaks of the Mi Mix 2 suggests an even smaller bezel, of course.

More specs

It looks like last year’s ‘chin’ has been reduced to a minimum. In the series of teaser images that outline the new phone’s general shape and contour there is definintely less bottom bezel.
Other whispers includes Qualcomm’s not-yet-announced Snapdragon 836 chipset and support for Android 8.0 Oreo right out of the box.

It is no surprise that Xiaomi is keeping tight-lipped about this. I guess it all adds to the Apple-like anticipation.

The great news is that we only have to wait until September 11th to see what Xiaomi has to offer.

I, as well as many of my friends, are hoping that the Mi Mix 2 is compatible with UK networks. Something that the original was not.

The post Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 – less bezels more details appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Mixed amidst the Nintendo Switch excitement is the disappointment of it not coming with a bundled game. With games costing around £60 each, potential buyers are having to reorganise their budgets. But there might be a sliver of silver in that particular cloud.

It does seem strange that, as far as we know, the shiny new Nintendo Switch hybrid console will be bucking the trend. Previously Nintendo have packaged games with their releases. The Wii U and Wii came with Nintendo Land and Wii Sports respectively.

It stands to reason that many thought that the same would be the case with the Switch. Sadly, that’s not to be. Not from day one anyway.

Splatoon 2

So, if you’ve maxed out your budget for the console will you have to resort to making game noises until you can afford to buy a full title? Well, you will get something to play with.

Nintendo is releasing a free “preview” of Splatoon 2 that will be available to play online for three days at the end of March.

This might not be earth-shattering news for PC gamers or those on PS4s or Xbones but this is a first for Nintendo.

You see, Nintendo has never offered free open betas to their consumers before.

The Splatoon 2 preview build can be played over a LAN network on up to 10 docked Switch consoles. This is split between 8 players and 2 watchers in a new Private Battle Spectator mode.

You will also be able to hit the 8 player matches wirelessly too!

This, hopefully, will be the first of many. Even though the betas will only be available for a short amount of time, at least you get to try before you buy.

Splatoon 2 Global Testfire!

You can download and play the Splatoon 2 preview build from March 24th to 26th. Sessions will run in one hour intervals from the following times:

Friday 24 March

• 7pm GMT

Saturday 25 March

• 4am GMT
• 12pm GMT
• 8pm GMT

Sunday 26 March

• 5am BST
• 1pm BST

Unreal Engine 4 ports

It has also been revealed that the Nintendo Switch games console uses the NVIDIA Unreal Engine 4, which Nintendo’s creative director says has been mastered by Nintendo.

Thanks to this tidbit, it is safe to put two-and-two together and surmise that PC games will easily port to the new Switch console.

This would allow games developers to easily benefit from the new platform. Something that the Wii U couldn’t do.
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Nintendo’s creative director Shigeru Miyamoto explains:

Regarding our software development environment, third-party developers who are making software for PC can now easily adapt that software to work on our platform. In the current development environment, I’d say that it would take less than a year for them to port a PC game to Nintendo Switch.”

Nintendo’s managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi spoke of the collaboration with NVIDIA:

I have to refrain from disclosing any technological details, but … we have been very flexible when making technological selections. This time, in order to develop Nintendo Switch with high performance in spite of its low power consumption, I feel it was key that the two companies could work together as partners while also fully displaying our individual craftsmanship.”

Good news for Switch

It will be an interesting first 12 months for the Nintendo Switch. I know a couple of people that have pulled out from their pre-orders already.

Have you pre-ordered? Are you still excited?

Let me know below or on our FB page.

The post Nintendo Switch free game and ported Unreal 4 titles appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Nintendo has now announced that its new Switch console will go on sale on March 3 and cost you £279.99.

The Switch, as we expected, is a hybrid console. You can use it as a handheld gaming machine and then dock it to become a home console.

After first being unveiled in October, Nintendo revealed more details about the console at a much-anticipated event, including news of a new online gaming network.

The Switch can be played on the go using a 6.2-inch 720p touchscreen onto which the two Joy-Con controllers attach.

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It will have a battery life of between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, but can also be charged over USB-C.

This is all powered by an Nvidia Tegra X1 chip. It was never going to challenge the PlayStations and X-Boxes of this world head-on.

The console uses cartridges instead of discs. This enables the games to be played on-the-go as well as at home by connecting the Switch to a dock and using the Joy-Cons wirelessly.

Switch games

Games available at launch will include the new Legend of Zelda title ‘The Breath of the Wild’. Later releases include Splatoon 2 and a ported version of the Wii U’s Mario Kart 8.

Mario fans will be excited to hear that Nintendo revealed a roster of new games including a brand new Mario title, ‘Super Mario Odyssey’. This should appear by the end of the year.

There will also be multiplayer games that take advantage of the Switch’s innovative Joy-Con controllers.

These include 1-2-Switch, in which players look at each other rather than the screen for reaction games such as a Wild-West style duel, and ARMS, in which the players’ hand movements are reflected as boxing moves in the game.

Other franchises such as FIFA, Minecraft and NBA 2K17 will come to the Switch, as will Skyrim and Fire Emblem Warriors.

Nintendo is obviously trying to recapture the instant appeal of games such as Wii Sports, which made 2006’s Wii console so successful.

Joy-Con

A Joy-Con Grip accessory can hold the two Joy-Cons together to use as a more traditional controller. They can be held independently in each hand, or be used by one player each as two miniature controllers.

Each Joy-Con has motion control technology so can be used as Wii-style controllers. Naturally, you get “HD-rumble”, an advanced form of vibration feedback.

Nintendo said this effect was detailed enough that it could simulate the feel of individual ice cubes shaking in a glass. Could this be a hint at an interactive drinking game?

The right-hand Joy-Con has an infrared camera. This can detect how far away a hand is, or if it is making a rock, paper or scissors shape. Nintendo said this would allow for new gameplay ideas. Interesting.

The controllers also come with wrist-straps to prevent them flying out of your hand.

One set, including wrist straps, will be included in the box, but other sets, or individual replacements, will cost extra.

You’ll need to fork out £75 for an extra set.

Online services

Nintendo announced that it will have a paid-for subscription service for online gaming, similar to Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus. It will start with a free trial before charging in the autumn.

Nintendo said the service would allow users to chat online or set appointments for games. The Switch will connect over Wi-Fi, and up to eight consoles can connect together locally for multiplayer games.

The subscription service will include extras including a free monthly download of a SNES or NES title and special offers.

Price and availability

UK retailers such as Amazon and Game are taking pre-orders for the Switch from this morning. As I have said, in the UK the Nintendo Switch is £280.

More information and to pre-order click here.

Interested? Do you think it will be as big a hit as the Wii or will it go the same way as the Wii U?

The post Nintendo flicks the Switch appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Netgear’s Nighthawk router range is already well established, especially amongst gamers and streamers. The company has now announced a versatile, high performance, easily configurable, Layer 2 switch for expert gaming and HD media streaming – The Nighthawk S8000.

The Nighthawk S8000 8-port Gaming and Media Switch (GS808E) is a great looking and powerful switch. This will certainly be an ideal addition to your network to hook up your Playstation, Xbox, Wii, PC and anything else.

Nighthawk S8000 features

The Nighthawk S8000 8-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch extends the speed and performance of the Netgear Nighthawk family of WiFi routers, already the fastest on the market.

It provides your wired devices with ultra-smooth gaming and streaming. This means that you can host a multi-user gaming party, stream HD content from the internet or your own local storage — without competing for bandwidth on your wireless network.

Each Gigabit Ethernet port on the Nighthawk S8000 Switch can be configured differently. This hands you complete versatility. These settings can be defined and saved on the switch, and accessed from the web-based GUI.

Pre-configured settings automatically configure ports for gaming, media streaming, or as a standard LAN port for seamless surfing, VoIP or video calls.

In addition, link aggregation (LAG), or “port trunking”, means you can use multiple ports to create an aggregated connection of up to 4Gbps concurrently to any other link aggregation-capable device. This is great news for NAS users like me!

Key features and benefits of the Nighthawk S8000 switch

The Nighthawk S8000 Gigabit Ethernet Switch seamlessly integrates with any Nighthawk router and includes the full set of Netgear Web Managed (Plus) Switch software features. Some of its key attributes include:

• Sleek, durable, “cool-touch” premium zinc alloy housing design with soft-touch no-slip base
• Easy, one-click optimised configuration presets for gaming, media streaming, or standard networking, plus two user-defined configurations
• Port-based and 802.1p/DSCP-based QoS (Quality of Service) for 4 levels of network traffic prioritisation
• Auto “denial-of-service” (DoS) prevention
• IGMP snooping support for multicast optimisation
• Loop detection and broadcast storm controls
• Rate limiting and priority queuing for better bandwidth allocation
• Port trunking/link aggregation (LAG) enables increased throughput beyond 1Gbps [up to 4Gbps] or to provide redundancy across the link(s)

Netgear Nighthawk S8000 pricing and availability

The NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000 8-port Gaming and Media Switch (GS808E) will be available in March 2017.

We’re are awaiting news of UK pricing.

The post Netgear launches Nighthawk S8000 switch at CES 2017 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

If you were hoping that the Nintendo Switch was going to be a hybrid gaming power-house then I might have some disappointing news for you. The graphics on the next Nintendo won’t even trouble the three-year-old PS4.

This news comes by way of VentureBeat. The report sites two sources who have both said that the Switch will be built using Nvidia’s last-generation Maxwell architecture rather than the new Pascal design. The reason being that the latter is not yet ready for the Tegra chip powering the heart of Nintendo’s machine.

Nintendo Switch graphics

Essentially, the Switch is a custom version of the Nvidia Shield. This route reduced the R&D requirements needed to develop the machine and get dev kits out to studios.

This means the console will offer around one teraflop of processing power. This is less than a quarter of that found in the PS4 Pro (4.2 TF) and just over half that found in a regular PS4 (1.8 TF).

Apparently, the plan was to use Pascal but that ‘the timing just didn’t work out for Nintendo’ as they’re rushing to replace the discontinued Wii U. There is the added concern regarding rivals releasing competing portable-home hybrids.

This could point to a more potent follow-up version though, if you can wait.

The use of the more recent Drive PX 2 Tegra, which can pump out 4K at 60fps, was considered but dismissed. This was down to the amount of redesign needed to make it run properly in a portable device.

The possibility remains that the Tegra chip will at least be overclocked to turn in a still decent performance. Saying that, this may be limited to only when the Switch is docked.

The thinking is that developers may choose to render their games at 540p when in portable mode. When the Switch is docked, however, it would then upscale them to 720p.

The positives

The pros to Maxwell are that, while more power hungry than Pascal, it is less reliant on cooling. The trade-off is that cooling the device with Pascal could sap more battery power.

Nintendo has also made sure that Switch will be friendly with the Unity engine. That’s certainly a step in the right direction as the Wii U often struggled with that. This will make the porting of titles far easier. It has also won the support of Unreal Engine.

It might not be as bleak as I’ve made it sound though. Switch’s visual capabilities could still satisfy most gamers. Nintendo has implied it can handle realistic-looking games like Skyrim and NBA 2K in the trailer for the system.

We’ll get a better idea at what the system can pull off in January when Nintendo hosts a full media presentation for the Switch in Japan.

The post Nintendo Switch outgunned by PS4 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

When the Nintendo Switch was announced not much was let slip about the console/handheld hybrid. We’re not likely to get any more key details about the system until January 2017. Although president Tatsumi Kimishima has offered some snippets regarding two key areas.

With production of the Wii U coming to an end this Friday, all eyes are on the new Switch.

Nintendo has announced that it will hold a dedicated event for its next games console on January 13 next year. This will precede its release in March.

Nintendo Switch what we already know

Thanks to the teaser trailer, first aired in October, we already know some details.

For a start we know that it can change from being a home console to a handheld gaming portable thanks to add-ons and clips. We also know that it can even be played by two-players when out and about.

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This seems all very futuristic but gaming on a tablet-style device while travelling and then being able to hook it up to a television when at home is not new. The Nvidia Shield tablet (I still love mine) can do just that.

Games on the Shield are very playable thanks to its low latency game controller. You can hook it up to a TV using a HDMI lead and, thanks to its Tegra K1 processor, it is capable of console-like graphics. Oh, and you can stream your PC games from your machine upstairs to play on the telly downstairs.

Chances are that the Switch will be more powerful. I dare say that clipping controls on to the side of the tablet display will make for a more effective portable gaming device too.

I really like the fact that the new Ninte comes with a proper TV dock. It’s much better than having to fiddle with leads. There are a number of rumours that this dock will be packing its own tech too. The favourite whisper is that it will be capable of 4K video output for Netflix and such.

Nintendo Switch – the latest

Trusted Nintendo insiders have leaked some of the internal specifications of Nintendo’s latest console. These confirm previous reports that the device would use a 6.2-inch 720p multi-touch display and come with 4GB of RAM.

It’s almost a given that the device will use a Nvidia made SoC (System on Chip), using an ARM CPU. The Graphics Processing Unit will likely use the Nvidia Pascal GPU architecture. This means that the Nintendo Switch’s internal hardware will have a lot more in common with Nvidia’s aforementioned Shield Tablet than the PS4/Xbox One and PC.

Word is that the portable gamer will have 32GB of internal storage, though this will likely be expandable using microSD or a similar storage standard.

Nintendo Switch – what the President says

Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima said during an earnings briefing that the console will be priced in line with what you’d expect from a Nintendo console.

However, given that the Switch is a console/mobile hybrid, which Nintendo console does he have in mind?

Kimishima said:

Regarding the price, as we have been saying, we are, in principle, not planning to sell it at a loss… We would like a wide variety of consumers to enjoy Nintendo products, and we would also like to think in terms of consumers’ expectations for our products.”

I am thinking that $400 will be a ballpark figure. The Wii landed at $250, whereas the Wii U started at $300 at launch.

Switch game line-up

Nintendo’s only confirmed Switch game is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There are teasers for new or updated versions of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon shown during the Switch’s teaser vid though. There was also a mysterious 3D Mario game on display in the video.

These might all be red herrings, so be careful. Nintendo does state that the trailer shows

…short glimpses of representative gameplay to demonstrate the liberating nature of the Nintendo Switch home gaming system.”

Videos for Skyrim and an NBA 2K game were shown during the Switch’s announcement trailer, but these games are not officially confirmed for the console.

Ubisoft is bringing at least Just Dance 2017 to the Switch, while dozens of third-party developers have signed up to support the console. These game houses should be able to bring something tasty to the table(t). Big hitters such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros., Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom are amongst the roll call.

In the earnings briefing, Kimishima said third-party support for Switch has been strong because the studios…

…realise that Nintendo Switch offers a chance to create new and exciting surprises which are not possible with existing gaming devices.”

Nintendo Switch – what’s next?

The Nintendo Switch has obviously been designed to be an affordable portable offering. It does have significantly less RAM than the PS4 or Xbox One, will this matter? If it uses a more lightweight OS and run games at lower resolutions, then this might not nobble it so much.

Nintendo will officially announce the Switch’s price, launch lineup, and specs on January 13 during an online presentation. The company has said not to expect any major news about the console until then.

In terms of sales projections, Nintendo expects to ship 2 million Switch consoles during its launch month of March 2017.

Check out the Nintendo Switch official online home.

The post Nintendo Switch price, games, latest spec appeared first on GadgetyNews.

After all my previous articles, I managed to go hands on with PowerVision’s PowerEgg drone.

PowerVision, a global leader in UAV technologies, products and services has launched the PowerEgg as it’s first consumer product!

The PowerEgg also has the bragging rights to being the world’s first drone to come with a gesture-based single-handed controller.

Did you enter the design competition? The examples on the PowerVision website looks excellent. The egg still looks cool in white though.

PowerEgg design

As its name suggests, this drone has a uniquely egg-shaped robotic design.

Not only does this look very cool, it means that it can be dropped in a bag without the risk of breaking bits off.

The self-contained egg bot can also be placed in a rather neat display stand (as in the first picture). Disappointingly though, this is not a charging base. I was told that, to incorporate touch charging tech would have increased the PowerEgg’s weight, and thus reducing flight time. It still looks awesome.

The bottom portion of the egg comes off to reveal a camera on a gimble. As PowerVision is well established in the field of drones, mostly for engineering inspection, etc, I am sure this camera will be great.

The rotor arms are easily unfurled manually. The folding blades are easily clicked open. To fold these away it is a simple matter of reversing the process. There is a little black catch at the base of each arm which needs to be depressed to allow them to be folded back in to its shell.

The landing gear, on the other hand, is automatically deployed when using the assisted landing as the drone detects distance from the ground. It can also be controlled by the main controller.

PowerEgg performance

Fly straight out of the box

PowerEgg is looking to take the consumer drone market to the next level with the world’s first gesture-based one-handed drone controller — PowerEgg Maestro.

With PowerEgg Maestro, takeoff and landing can be done with the push of a button so that anyone can fly PowerEgg right out of the box.

The motion-sensing one-handed remote looks similar to a Wii wand. It also appears to be just as easy to learn to use. Thanks to its advanced, integrated accelerometers and gyroscopes you can control up-down, left-right, and near-far using intuitive motions.

PowerVision separated the flight processor and base station from within PowerEgg Maestro to enable its one-handed gesture-based capability. This allows for future PowerEgg and potentially third party controller and upgrade options. For users that require enhanced control, PowerEgg also comes with a traditional two-handed remote control.

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Wally Zheng, Founder & Global CEO of PowerVision Technology Group had this to say:

As an established innovator in the commercial drone industry, our goal was to take PowerVision’s technology expertise and package it in a form factor that everyone interested in flying a drone could relate with and enjoy immediately… We designed PowerEgg to be the consumer drone for everyone. It’s sleek, compact and portable but also easy to operate, making it simple for anyone to launch and capture special moments on camera.”

Range and camera

The PowerEgg delivers long distance real-time video transmission up to 3.1 miles (five kilometers). It is equipped with HD video transmission and has a maximum flight time of approximately 23 minutes.

With its optical positioning system, PowerEgg can fly indoors, low to the ground and in GPS-free areas.

PowerEgg’s visual and ultrasonic sensors scan the ground beneath it for patterns, enabling it to identify its position and move accurately.

The integrated 4K UHD camera can produce professional-grade photographs and videos with panoramic 360 degree views on a 3-axis gimbal. This hands you stabilised aerial views with an immersive “spherical” experience.

In addition, PowerEgg’s flight software includes multiple automated flight modes that let the user easily frame their shots while the PowerEgg automatically manages its flight path.

These ‘PowerModes’ include Follow Me, Orbit, WayPoint, and Selfie mode, and are easily accessed through the iOS or Android user interface.

PowerEgg first look conclusion

The PowerEgg certainly looks good and the short indoor flight proves that it does work. There was video footage (some did look rendered though) showing the egg out in the wild. We were promised that PowerVision will return to take us outdoors with the drone. This I very much look forward to.

The cool, unique styling combined with ease of flight should make this drone a winner.

I hope to spend some more quality time with the PowerEgg and give you a more in-depth review soon.

PowerEgg price and availability

Priced at £1,290, PowerEgg global pre-orders are being taken now at the PowerVision Online Store with shipping scheduled for mid-October 2016.

Pre-order customers will receive a limited edition PowerEgg backpack which also features the design language of the egg – simple complicated.

Key Product Specifications

• Weight: 2090g (Battery and propellers included)

• Maximum Flight Speed: 13 m/s (Professional mode)

• Maximum Ascent/Descent Speed: 5 m/s ascending; 2 m/s descending (Professional mode)

• Maximum Flight Time: Approx. 23 mins

• Optical Positioning System Range: Altitude Range: 0.66 – 13.12 ft Surface with clear pattern and adequate light (Lux >15)

• Hover Accuracy:

  • Vertical +/- 0.1m (When optical positioning is active, 0.2 – 4 m); +/- 1 m

  • Horizontal +/- 0.2m (Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting); +/- 1.5 m

• Digital Image Resolution:

  • UHD: 3,840 x 2,160 30p

  • FHD: 1,920 x 1,080 30/60/120p

  • HD: 1,280 x 720 60/120/240p

  • Photo: 4,254 x 3,264

• Max Transmission Distance: 3.1 mi (Subject to regulation and local operating conditions). Distance will be shorter for CE.

• Flight Battery Capacity: 6400mAh

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