Do you or someone you know have a Nintendo Switch 2? What about accessories for your new console? Whether you want to play with others, increase your storage, or add functionality, you may want some extras to deliver the best gameplay experience possible, and now is the best time to score a big deal on them during Prime Day 2026.

• Check out all the Switch 2 accessories deals in Amazon's Prime Day Sale

There are many official, licensed accessories alongside third-party extras available at a wide range of prices. It's Prime Day 2026, so now is an excellent time to hunt for deals and the best prices on Switch 2 peripherals and accessories.

One of the most important extras you'll most likely want to pick up is a microSD Express memory expansion card. The least expensive out now is Nintendo's own (SanDisk) 256GB card, but there are other, faster models available for a pittance more (see below). If you know that's what you want, check out our handy list of the best Prime Day microSD Express card deals for the Switch 2. Just be aware that pricing has absolutely skyrocketed, along with RAM, Storage, and video cards, in the last several months, so don't be shocked. Still, we found the best deals that we could.

Other accessories to consider are screen protectors, carrying cases, and peripherals such as controllers, headsets, and cameras, as listed below.

If you're thinking about, or already using a camera for your Switch 2, most of the styles out there are pretty boring. Most are just a camera on a stick, or may even clip to the device. I found something unique, the officially licensed Piranha Plant Camera! Relive your days of Mario and the feared plant that comes out of the pipes, but on your desk - and for less than the price of the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera-on-a-stick.

We also added another Switch 2 Pro-class controller on top of the official Nintendo Pro controller. 8bitDo's Ultimate 2 bluetooth controller is one of my kids' favorites. For less than the cost of the Nintendo controller, the Ultimate 2 offers TMY joysticks, switchable hall effect/tactile triggers, vibration and motion control. It is a lower resolution (640x480), however. The best part? It's it's on sale right now.

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MSI showcased several new cases, coolers, and monitor arms in its booth at CES 2025, giving us a glimpse of what a next-gen PC build could look like. The company is showcasing two new monitor arms, two panoramic cases, and two AIO coolers, facilitating sleek and clean desktop PC setups.

The company is offering two new cooling solutions, the MAG Coreliquid A15 360 and the MPG Coreliquid P13 360. Both AIOs have a 360mm radiator and come with three fans, ARGB, and an LGA 1851 offset kit enhancer, allowing them to optimally cool the newest Intel desktop processors. Both are also compatible with MSI’s JAF connector, integrating the ARGB and fan cables to make cable management much easier.

Those who are into building their own PCs could be drawn to the MAG Coreliquid A15 with its pre-installed brackets and fans, which cuts down a couple of steps from your PC build. MSI has also added a few improvements, like the Full-Plane & Screwless Copper Base and CycloBlade Design, making it quieter and more reliable than previous generations. On the other hand, the MPG Coreliquid P13 gives you a 480 x 480 pixel, 2.1-inch IPS panel on the water block, allowing you to put information (or whatever else you like) on the screen and make it easier to see your PC’s current performance.

One of the often overlooked PC building accessories crucial for a clean and ergonomic PC build is a monitor arm, and MSI is releasing two new models that will help you achieve that: the MPG MT271GA and the MPG MT161A. Both arms accommodate flat and curved screens, are VESA compatible, and offer a full range of motion in both tilt, swivel, and rotation axes. They also have cable management channels to hide unsightly cables and have ARBG lighting to help you keep your battle station’s vibe going.

The MT271GA, with its dark gray or gunmetal finish, is built for 24-inch to 57-inch screens and has a maximum capacity of 60 lbs. for flat monitors and 49 lbs. for curved displays. It also uses a gas spring, which makes adjustments much easier. On the other hand, the MT161A, featuring a slightly lighter gray finish, accommodates smaller displays — from 17 inches to 49 inches. It also has a smaller maximum carrying capacity of just 35 lbs. per flat monitor and 29 lbs. per curved display.

These monitor arms will help you achieve a clean PC build by hiding your cables and giving you more desk space. But, more importantly, they will also allow you to adjust your displays to the optimal ergonomic position. That way, you can reduce aches and pains when you spend hours in front of your PC, whether for gaming or productivity.

Speaking of clean PC builds, MSI also showcased two new cases that will help you show off your desktop PC. The MSI MEG Maestro 900L PZ is a larger version of its Maestro 700L PZ case. The 900-liter internal volume allows you to have a dual-system configuration (ATX plus mini-ITX) in a single PC case, meaning you don’t have to maintain two different PC cases for multiple systems. To keep your systems cool, you could put as many as 16x 120mm fans or 2x 420mm radiators in the Maestro 900L PZ.

If you want your PC parts to take an even more prominent visual impact, MSI has the Project Zero X case for you. This panoramic case features an outer curved glass that lets you see its internals from the top and three sides. Its components are fully back-mounted, giving you a cable-free build. And despite its glass case, it has a unified airflow system that provides consistent air circulation throughout the case for efficient cooling.

These all-new devices give you a lot of options for your next clean PC build from MSI. With 2025 just starting, we’re excited to see what other manufacturers plan to release in the coming months that will give us a powerful but clean desktop computer.

As much as we love high-priced tech like graphics cards, monitors, or the latest handheld PC, most of us can't spend several hundred dollars on a gadget gift or purchase. But that doesn't mean you can't substantially improve your tech life while spending a comparatively small amount of money.

I own most of the affordable tech gifts in this list below, nearly all of which can be had for less than $50. I can honestly say that most of these products have made my nerdy world a little nicer in their own ways. If you're looking for an affordable gift for that techie friend or family member (or just something to get yourself) one of these under $50 options might be just what you're after.

For many of these deals, you'll need to click on coupons or add promo codes on the listing, so be sure to look for those to ensure you get the best price.

My favorite sub-$50 deals:

HOTO Wireless Screwdriver: now $36, was $70
Baseus 67W Charging Station: now $34, was $78
Lenovo Go Qi Charging Mouse: now $32, was $60

Baseus 67W Charging Station

With my laptop and several other devices charging over USB-C PD, I like to have a USB-C charger in multiple rooms, as well as a compact charger for when I travel. This 67W Charging Station from Baseus accomplishes both. On my desk, it can charge all my devices, with a promised 67W via any of the three USB-C ports, or 67W total shared from the three Type-C and single Type-A port. And it also provides a handy power outlet behind the USB ports.

And when I need to travel, the USB section unplugs from the base, giving you a tiny (2.5 inches long) GaN charger to keep your devices juiced up on the go. This is one of those rare two-in-one devices that doesn't seem to have any downsides. Well, there is one, but it's not a huge deal, at least for me. The power prongs on the charger don't fold in to the charger when it's away from its base. But since I keep my charger and cables in a small bag when I travel, that's not really an issue.

Just be sure to select the 30% off coupon and use the code COMBO67W to get the discounted price.

Lenovo Go Qi Charging Wireless Mouse

I have wireless charging pads at my desk and three other places around my apartment for keeping my phone and watch juiced up, and I take one with me when I travel. So when I saw Lenovo had a Go Wireless Multi-Device Mouse that charges wirelessly using the Qi standard, I was intrigued. And now that I've owned one for over a year, it's my go-to travel rodent.

There's not much remarkable about this compact mouse in terms of its design. It houses a USB-C dongle under its magnetic top, and it also works over Bluetooth for pairing it with up to three devices. Lenovo claims 2-3 months of use if you use it a couple of hours a day, which is probably fairly accurate. 

I've never been able to tell because once a week or so, I just drop it on the Qi charging stand on my desk and it's fully charged whenever I pick it up again. Plugging things in is so 2019. However, it does have a USB-C port in the front if you want to pry off the rubber door and charge it the old-school way.

Add recessed power and USB ports to your desk for just $16 

OK, this one's only for the DIY-inclined, because it involves cutting a hole in your desk (or anywhere else you might want some flush-mount power ports, like a nightstand). Jgstkcity's recessed power strip lets you drop a couple of AC outlets and two USB charging ports (one 30W USB-C) anywhere you need them – again, once you've cut a hole for it.

While it's always smart to be wary of no-name power strips, I've owned the older non-PD version of this strip for over two years and it's been functioning just fine. I  have it installed in the narrow stand I built right behind my couch. It's a super-convenient place for power outlets, especially when friends or family stop by. I just warn people not to put drinks there. Thankfully the coffee table is even more convenient for that and it's right in front of the couch.  

Powerowl's rechargeable batteries are good and surprisingly cheap 

When I first started using rechargeable batteries with my Walkman in the early 90s, they were kind of awful (but still better than spending all my money feeding my music addiction). They couldn't hold a charge and didn't last nearly as long as name-brand disposable batteries. But here in the 2020s, rechargeables are surprisingly good.

Panasonic's Eneloops arguably ushered in the rechargeable AA and AAA renaissance, but PowerOwl's batteries are a lot more affordable and I haven't had a single one fail in over three years of using them in my various remotes, smart door locks, and other devices.

HyperX Wrist Rest

For anyone who spends their days (and / or nights) in front of a keyboard, a good wrist rest is key for both short-term comfort and long-term limb health. Multiple Tom's Hardware staffers swear by HyperX's gel / memory foam wrist rests. Seriously, it makes typing feel a lot more like settling into a comfy recliner.

And with the rise in popularity of compact keyboards, it's nice to see the company now offers a Mini version. At about 9 inches long, this model is a good fit for small keyboards, but a 14-inch Tenkeyless option is also available for $5 more.

HOTO NEX O1 PRO 3.6V Screwdriver Set

I build a lot of PCs and also do a fair bit of home improvement work around my apartment. So a cordless screwdriver is a nice thing to have. I also own a much slimmer Wowstick, but have found HOTO's NEX O1 Pro to be handier thanks to its extra (and variable) torque. It's great for loosening those factory-installed screws on PC cases that just don't want to let go, and also good for assembling small pieces of furniture.

The HOTO won't replace my DeWalt impact driver or drill for bigger, tougher jobs, but I can confirm it's ruggedly constructed. While helping relatives move into a new condo recently, I used it for a full day and dropped it off a six-foot ladder at least three times while installing shelves and curtain rods. It still looks and functions like it did when it was new.

The Hoto screwdriver is powerful enough for most common household tasks, easy to charge over USB-C, and even looks good on my workbench. I just wish it came with and stored more than 12 bits. 

JLab JBuds ANC 3 Bluetooth Earbuds

We usually leave coverage of things like Bluetooth earbuds to our colleagues at Tom's Guide. But after losing my primary pair earlier this year while traveling in Scotland, I picked up the third generation of JLab's ANC earbuds, and have been pleasantly surprised by just how good they are -- especially at their current sale price of $42.

Don't get me wrong, my Samsung Buds 2 Pro sound better and have better noise canceling, but the Samsungs sold for more than four times as much until recently. The JLab buds deliver decent noise cancelling and solid noise cancelling, both of which I definitely appreciated on my flight home and then a much longer flight to Taiwan not long after.

If you don't want to spend more and don't need the best performance, these are great budget earbuds, and even though I've since replaced my Samsungs for another (refurbished) pair, I often find myself reaching for these JLabs when walking out the door. I find the slim vertical charging case slips nicely in my pocket.

For me, the only real downside is they charge over a short attached USB-C cable. I've also read reviews that say they aren't great for making calls, but I try to avoid talking to while people on the go as much as possible, anyway.

TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 USB Adapter

Have you upgraded your router to Wi-Fi 6, but your desktop or laptop doesn't have the requisite hardware to take advantage of your newer network tech? TP-Link's AX1800 WiFi 6 USB Adapter is here to solve that problem for you. It's quite large by USB Wi-Fi dongle standards, but I've found it works quite well with the Wi-Fi 6 router that I have running downstairs from my office. And it instantly fixed an issue I was having with very poor reception from the SFF PC I built in the Fractal Terra case.

TP-Link WiFi 6E Intel AX210 AXE5400 PCIe WiFi Card

If you have a desktop with a spare PCIe slot and want to upgrade to the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard, TP-Link's Archer TXE75E add-in card has you covered and is currently on sale for a penny under $50. I've been using the non-E (Wi-Fi 6 model) of this card (which is also on sale for $37) for four years in my primary living-room PC and it's worked flawlessly.

This model uses an Intel AZ210 Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 card, under a heatsink and supported by a serious antenna. For more about why you might (or might not) want to opt for the 6E version of this card over the cheaper, older Wi-Fi 6 model, see our explainer about the differences between the two standards. Of course, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest standard, but routers that support those features are still very expensive, and devices that support it are also scarce. Still, if you're after Wi-Fi 7 and don't mind paying a little more, the tri-band Archer TBE400E is also available.

Cozoo Headphone Stand with USB Charger

Do-it-all devices that pull together disparate features often turn out to be junk. But it’s hard to discount a $12 device that combines an under-the-desk headset hanger / cable holder and a three-port 20W PD USB charging hub. Cozoo's device ships with both 3M tape and screws for mounting under your desk, as well as cable tie-downs to help make the setup as tidy as possible.

Mine has been stuck under my treadmill desk for well over a year, using the 3M tape option, and it shows no signs of falling off. Given the price (and the fact that we’ve never heard of the brand before), we wouldn’t expect the audio circuitry / cabling to be top-notch. But again, I've been using mine for more than half a year and it's performed flawlessly so far.

Anker Power Strip Surge Protector (2100J)

What's exciting to say about a surge protector? If it's old and defective, it could help burn your house down. And even if it isn't, it's recommended you replace them every 5 or so years because the parts that actually do the protecting can become less effective over the years. So there's a good chance you're due for a new one. I own three of these Anker Power Strip Surge Protectors (2100J) or similar models, and they all have worked flawlessly. 

Aside from the usual things like 10 three-prong outlets and a handy switch, Anker also includes USB-A and USB-C charging outlets, with 20W max total output. I wish these came with more than an 18-month warranty, but I've always had good luck with Anker's customer service, which makes me feel a bit better on that front.

Orico USB 3.0 Clamp Hub

Much like the APC power station above, this is a four-port USB hub that's designed to clamp onto your desk and give you extra convenient connectivity. Orico's device is more about data than power though, delivering USB 3.0 speeds, which is good enough for most modern devices. 

It comes in black or silver and has a nice sturdy metal frame. Just note that its clamp section is pretty shallow and its adjustable screw can only open between 10 and 32 mm, so it won't fit on all desks.

If you are willing to spend a few dollars more, there's a newer model with a single USB-C port along with USB-A for $26.

8Bitdo SN30 Pro Wireless Bluetooth Controller

What's not to love about an SNES-inspired wireless gaming controller that's compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and the Nintendo Switch? Not much, but I own the original Pro model and not one of these newer models with translucent plastic shells. That's peak late-90s nostalgia and I really don't want to love it as much as I do.

As you might expect given this controller's small size and many more buttons than the SNES controller it was based on, its Rumble motors aren't the strongest, and the layout can feel kind of cramped for some modern games. But for any kind of retro game and especially platformers (I'm looking at you, Super Mario Bros. Wonder), this is my go-to controller.

Clean up the cables under your desk with a tray

If all you want is for someone in your home or office to get their cables off the floor, some cheap cable management trays will do the job. This two-pack comes with tape, though heavier loads will ultimately require some screws.

Besides the trays, this key also comes with some cable ties and a few cable clips you can place along the bottom or sides of your desk. One of these has been holding up the PC cable clutter in my living room since May. But I had to screw it into my desk because it's holding one of the above Anker power strips, plus the external power brick from my TV/Monitor.

Asus has been teasing some seemingly Marvel-inspired ROG accessories on its social media over the past few days — specifically, what looks to be an outdoor power bank named after Thor's legendary hammer, Mjolnir. 

There are no details aside from a couple of pictures, but the ROG Mjolnir looks like it's probably a portable outdoor power station given that it's got four power outlets (along with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and... a USB-B port? Does anyone need USB-B for charging?) on the front. It also has a digital display that shows remaining power/battery life and a handle because it's, well, a hammer. 

It appears to have a grille on the side, and the display shows an audio icon, so perhaps this is also a portable Bluetooth speaker. (Or maybe that's just a vent for the heat a portable power station of this size would inevitably emit. Or maybe it's both.)

Asus posted a different image, which appears to show the other side of the ROG Mjolnir, on its Facebook page on March 31. This side looks like it has some input ports, so, yeah, this is probably a power station. There's no word on how much an Asus ROG-branded outdoor power station named after Thor's hammer might cost, but considering the display looks like it says 768W, we expect it'll probably be upwards of $600. The perfect way to complete your off-the-grid gaming setup!

This isn't the first time Asus has taken inspiration from Nordic mythology (Asus loves Thor), but we think this is actually more Marvel-inspired than anything. Asus also posted an image of another accessory in its March 31 Facebook post, which seems to be designed after Captain America's shield: 

As for what this is, we're not sure. It looks like it could be a speaker (or part of some sort of speaker setup), but some of my colleagues also think it could be a mesh router. Or a frisbee stand. Or all three! (Probably not all three.) What do you think?

Asus has not provided any information on these upcoming products — except to assure that they're "not an April Fools' joke" — but has said to stay tuned for more info at Computex 2024, which will take place June 4 - 7 in Taipei, Taiwan. 

You heard correctly, that Amazon is having a sale! The Amazon Big Spring Sale has been taking place from March 20th to the 25th, 2024, and today is the last day. There is a selection of deals for all visitors, but, there will be some Amazon Prime member-exclusive deals also. 

We're featuring a selection of tech deals of the main event from Amazon, and include products on sale from other tech retailers as well. We've even included a small section on items we'd love to see a deal on - so that you can easily track if the price has lowered or not. This page will be updated regularly all the way through until the end of the sale on the 25th with price and product updates. 

Amazon Big Spring Sale: Quick Links

• Newegg: Up to 60% off pre-built PCs, CPUs, Monitors, and more
• Amazon: Save up to 40% on tech deals
• Best Buy: Up to $300 off laptops, monitors, & more 
• Dell: Up to $700 off gaming PCs
• Lenovo: Save up to 70% on Lenovo laptops
• HP: Save over $50% on HP, HyperX, Omen, and Victus in the Loot-Drop sale
• Walmart: Great savings of $120 on gaming monitors

Products to keep an eye on

Amazon Big Spring Sale Gaming laptop deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale Gaming PC deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale Monitor deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale GPU deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale CPU deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale SSD deals

Amazon Big Spring Sale Peripheral deals

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Netherlands-based technology company Streacom has announced that its VU1 computer dial system is now up for pre-order, with product shipments expected to begin before the year is out. We first reported on these highly configurable dials with eInk screens back at Computex 2023. Streacom, which was founded to deliver streaming media-related products, was at the PC trade show to promote VU1 and its SG10 (passive) gaming case.

The Streacom VU1 dynamic analog dials are one of those products that are both simple, yet offer a pleasing range of customization and configuration options. Essentially, they are USB-connected dials based on the tried and trusted moving coil mechanism which moves a pointer in accordance with the current applied.

To make these old-tech dials thoroughly modern Streacom has done a number of things. Firstly, it has implemented an eInk insert, so the dial can display any scale and inscription. Secondly, it has readied software control for several real-time system dials which is easy to extend / customize. Last but not least Streacom has implemented RGB lighting, despite reservations about what it calls “unicorn puke.” Here the RGB lighting could come in useful as the black & white eInk displays can be given greater meaning or context with the changing color light.

Streacom’s VU1 dynamic analog dials have an appealing simple design. They are described as 55mm cubes, machined from extruded aluminum. The housing has a sandblasted and anodized finish in natural or black. A new thing, since Computex, appears to be the angled stand option, and these can be attached to the base of each VU1 so the dial is easier to view when positioned at desk level.

At Computex, we heard that a starter pack of three VU1 units plus a hub would be sold for $99. However, there seems to have been some inflation, with a pack like this now listed at €130 ($138). Remember Euro retail prices include 20% VAT, and the price is also said to include global shipping.

Other kits advertised include a four-dial expansion set for €125, a single hub for €42, and a single dial for €38. Standard USB A to C cables connect your PC to the hub and up to 54 dials can be daisy chained using USB-C to -C cables.

Game Boy is one of the most iconic handheld gaming consoles of all time. Almost 35 years later, enthusiasts and gamers still find new mods and hacks for the retro device and its accompanying add-ons, such as the Super Game Boy.

The Super Game Boy is essentially a cartridge that bridges the gap between the Game Boy and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), allowing the latter to play cartridges from the handheld console. The Game Boy and Super NES are two different devices with little in common. As a result, the Super Game Boy leverages the same hardware as the Game Boy to emulate the latter's game on the Super NES.

The Game Boy features a custom Sharp LR35902 processor based on the Intel 8080 and Zilog Z80 chips. The 8-bit processor features a clock speed of 4.19 MHz. However, the Super Game Boy's clock speed is 4.295 MHz, resulting in the accessory running Game Boy games at a 2.4% faster pace. The audio is sped up, and there wasn't a link port on the Super Game Boy since the difference in clock speed would cause it and a normal Game Boy to desynchronize. It's why Nintendo exclusively launched the Super Game Boy 2 in Japan, an upgraded variant incorporating a custom crystal oscillator to mirror the Game Boy's clock speed alongside a link port for two-player gameplay.

As Nicole Express spotted, user nensondubois recently released a ROM hack for World Heroes 2 Jet to further overclock the Super Game Boy. The hack enables a "turbo mode" per se to run the device at 5.35 MHz. The website provided a few audio samples to show the overlock and a small video of the overclocked device. The biggest drawback is the graphical glitches, a product of the hardware limitation.

Obviously, Nintendo didn't want users to be fiddling with the Super Game Boy's turbo mode. According to Nicole Express, the code isn't available through the Super Game Boy BIOS on the Game Boy side. Instead, you can only access it through the Super NES end.

It's cool that the Game Boy scene is still alive after all these years, and we're still seeing new mods. Game Boy was part of many childhoods, so there's always a special place for the handheld gaming console in our hearts.

Recalbox, the popular open-source retro gaming OS announces version 9.1 of the OS and Recalbox RGB JAMMA, a means to use period-accurate arcade hardware with the Raspberry Pi via its GPIO.

Recalbox RGB JAMMA

JAMMA (Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association) was the de facto specification for arcade cabinets. Many cabinets used the specification, which meant that owners could easily swap out games without rewiring a cabinet.

Recalbox RGB JAMMA is a plug and play board that connects to the Raspberry Pi using the GPIO. The board is slightly larger than the Raspberry Pi 4, which means it is not a true HAT (the HAT standard was created to define the size and basic electronics of an add-on). Once connected to the Pi, the JAMMA interface sticks out of the side, enabling the user to connect their JAMMA harness (a collection of wires for video, inputs and general configuration) and get their game on.

Coupled with Recalbox 9.1, RGB JAMMA enables the use of period accurate inputs and ensuring that it uses the correct display mode, giving the player a massive dose of nostalgia. 

This isn't a retail product just yet, rather it is being crowdfunded with pledges starting from €60 (approximately $65). At the time of writing it is at 713% of its target with 23 days remaining. Units should be in eager hands from October 2023.

Remember that crowdfunding a project is not a guarantee of receiving a finished product. Backing a crowdfunded project is akin to an investment; you believe in the project and want it to succeed. You are not purchasing a retail product.

Recalbox RGB JAMMA - Key points

• ZERO CONFIG: you plug, you play
• 15kHz pixel + frequency perfect: display rigorously identical to the original arcade game
• < 0.5ms input lag: the lowest input lag ever recorded
• 3/6-button mode: original or modified JAMMA compatible
• KickHarness CPS1: the most widely used kick harness
• Mono 15 Watts amp: send mono sound to the JAMMA
• MONO/STEREO switch or stereo on an external amp
• JACK output
• Raspberry Pi 4/400/3 compatible
• TATE MODE : vertical mode support
• 40mm fan slot
• Hotkey Patterns (multiple functions on one button, such as quit, credit, menu)
• Voltage Barrier: 5v/12v compatible corner/service/test buttons
• Resin case (optional)
• OLED display of video signal frequency/resolution (optional)
• Automatic launch of the game of your choice at start-up for a dedicated terminal

Recalbox 9.1 Pulstar

Recalbox 9.1, codenamed "Pulstar" has a series of updates, along with support for the RGB JAMMA board. Support has been added for retro gaming handhelds from Anbernic, popular alternatives to Raspberry Pi DIY handhelds. Talking of which, support has now been added for Experimental Pi's PiBoy XRS, a Raspberry Pi powered Nintendo Game Boy facsimile. This new release also provides a new image for the original Raspberry Pi Zero, and the GPICase2W (my personal retro gaming rig), another Game Boy shell compatible with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.

Recallbox 9.1 can be downloaded free of charge via the Recalbox website.

• Add support for Anbernic rg353m, rg353p, rg353v
• Add support for PiBoy XRS
• Add TATE mode support for HDMI, CRT and handhelds
• Add start a game from savestate menu
• Add support for Super Game Boy games
• Add new core for Philips CDI (libretro samecdi, for PC only)
• New image for RPIZero (first one) and GPiCase2W
• Add missing joystick support on GPi Cases

Luxury fashion house Loewe has launched a new line of clothes and accessories that may appeal to those of a digital persuasion. Aiming to provide a “real world glitch” with its pixel-heavy fashion, Loewe’s new SS23 collection will surely catch some double-takes in the real world. Even more eye-popping than the fashionista visuals are the prices on these real-world digital goods, which start at $590 for a t-shirt and go up to $3,400 for a handbag. 

According to Loewe, "the digital world is decontextualised" with its latest line. The digital-physical collection includes delights such as a $2,500 pixelated hoodie, a $2,500 pixelated pair of trousers, a $1,850 pixelated top, and a $3,400 pixelated handbag.

The collection includes some (relatively) cheaper items as well, such as a $1,450 pixelated denim jacket, a $790 pixelated denim skirt, and a pixelated pair of jeans for $990. The cheapest item is a white graphic t-shirt for "just" $590. Making a full outfit from the collection would easily cost you over $9,000 — and you'd still need to source some shoes and underwear. 

Loewe doesn't neglect the packaging, either. Customers will receive products from the SS23 line in limited-edition pixel print bags (while supplies last). 

Gamers are used to seeing pixelated characters and items in games, especially in retro games and emulated classic titles. Pixelated visuals also came back into style a few years ago, when we saw a wave of stylized flat/2D titles — a trend that caused gamers to demand crisper integer scaling in their graphics drivers.

The pixelation effect in Loewe's new SS23 collection looks more like what we saw in early 2000s classic 3D titles, though the edge emphasis gives some Borderlands-style vibes. 

In 2023, graphics similar to the Loewe SS23 collection will mostly be seen by those running demanding modern titles on iGPUs in "potato mode." You may also see similar graphics if the VRAM on your GPU is running low, as this can sometimes render objects and scenes with low-res (or no) textures, making for blurry or pixelated visuals.

This is far from the first time pixels have hit the runway. Japanese designer Kunihiko Morinaga notably featured pixels in his FW11 collection for Anrealage, and other designers such as Burberry and Akris have pixelated prints in their current collections. 

In the late 20th century, video gaming grew from a curiosity into a booming business. In those early years, the arcade was the only place to get the best graphics. Those days are long gone, but we can relive them with retro home consoles thanks to the Raspberry Pi and the latest Recalbox 9 release.

What's new in Recalbox 9?

• Now compatible with RetroFlag GPi Case 2W for the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
• Bluetooth has been rewritten with improved handling of audio and controller connections.
• Retro shaders, to give the appearance of an old school CRT on modern day televisions.
• Windows 95 and 98 emulation via DosBox Pure.
• PC users with an iGPU and dedicated GPU will see Recalbox 9 default to the GPU for best performance.
• Full changelog available here.

Recalbox is an all-in-one retro gaming console tool that offers the ability to play over 100 different home consoles and arcade cabinets. Recalbox can be used with Raspberry Pi 4 and Zero 2 W. Or, for those of us reusing old PC hardware; you can download an image to reuse that 10-year-old PC. 

Recalbox 9 sees improvements to how it handles Bluetooth controllers and audio. The pairing of controllers has been drastically optimized and is now fully automatic at start-up. This is excellent news for those of us with retro-influenced controllers who don't want to break the immersion. Speaking of which, retro shaders replicate the look of retro gaming on retro televisions. Scanlines and CRT distortion are all on hand to enhance your nostalgia.

PC Gamers rejoice as Recalbox 9 offers a new feature, Windows 95 and 98 emulation via DosBox Pure. Now you can enjoy an era of gaming where CD-ROMs delivered full motion video and much larger worlds without needing a Voodoo2. I, for one, can't wait to play System Shock and Descent.

If you have a Recalbox RGB DUAL HAT, an add-on board for the Raspberry Pi that offers a SCART and VGA output, Recalbox 9 provides a multi-resolution calibration screen to ensure that your output closely matches the native resolution of the emulated system. There is also HDMI priority to switch between SCART and HDMI. Gamers can switch between PAL (50Hz) and NTSC (60Hz) or run 240P at 120Hz for 31 KHz screens. Recalbox seems to have it all covered.

Recalbox is a free download and a great way to relive the days when you could be the hero for just a few quarters.

HyperX, HP's peripherals brand, is launching a new line of cutetastic keycaps, headset stands, microphone holders and other personality-driven accessories that are manufactured using the company's industrial-strength Jet Fusion 580 3D printers. The new line of "personalized" accessories will be known as HX3D, with the first accessory, a Cozy Cat keycap, available for $19.99 on HyperX.com later this month.

At HP's pre-CES demo, we got to take a look at number of sample keycaps, headset stands, headset clip-ons and other models that may or may not be available for sale at some point. Most of them had a very cutesy design, with bright pastel colors and the shapes of adorable cartoonish animals such as rubber ducks or unicorns. 

Some of the sample accessories also looked like skeletons or demons. But they were still cutesy in a Hello Kitty sortof way. 

The Cozy Cat itself is an adorable 3D cartoon cat with a blue, snow-flake scarf that's adorned with the HyperX logo. You definitely wouldn't want to do any serious typing with this keycap, but maybe  you could place it on the Esc key or one of those Scroll lock keys you never use.

HyperX announced that it plans to have limited-time keycap sales like the one with the Cozy Cat throughout the year. It also released a YouTube video that shows some of the sample accessories in action, including a headset add-ons, stands and keycaps. 

The company says it will be working with designers and esports personalities to come up with more fun accessories to sell. But despite what HyperX says in its press materials these don't really "take hardware personalization to a new level," because while they allow you to decorate your gear, they aren't unique to each consumer; they just are whatever the company chooses to sell.

The fact that these HX3D products are manufactured by 3D printers is interesting, but not particularly relevant to the consumer who buys them. HyperX told us that it is using HP Jet Fusion 580 Color 3D printers and printing the accessories in nylon. These printers cost around $50,000 new (or $32,000 used on eBay) so it's not like you could 3D print these models at home with the same quality. Also, HyperX has not revealed any plans to share the design files it's using so, even if you have one of the best 3D printers for consumers, you couldn't attempt to make one of these accessories at home.

Finally, it's clear that HyperX isn't printing these accessories to order, but just making them in these limited edition batches. So whether your keycaps is made in a mold or on a 3D printer doesn't really change anything for you. If you could design your own HyperX accessory online and then have it printed for you, then this would be a really unique and interesting use of the technology.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mice

If you're looking for a lightweight gaming mouse, HyperX has two new choices coming in the Pulsefire Haste 2 and Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless.  The Haste 2 (wired) tips the scales at just 53 grams and uses a special 26K DPI sensor, along with an 8,000 Hz polling rate. 

Designed to compete with the best wireless mice, the Haste 2 Wireless is slightly heavier at 62 grams but has the same 26,000 DPI sensor. It can connect via 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 or USB-C. Its 370 mAh battery lasts up to 100 hours on a charge.

Both mice are available in black or white colorways and have built-in RGB lighting you can control via software. They use PFTE skates that are intended to provide a smooth glide.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 and Haste 2 Wireless will be available in April for $59 and $79 respectively.

HyperX Clutch Gladiate Xbox Controller

HyperX is also coming out with its own wired Xbox controller called the Clutch Gladiate. This controller has rear buttons you can remap, textured grips, a 3.5mm audio jack and two trigger locks. It will launch in March for $34.

If you’re anything like me, then you take great pride in both your gaming battle station and also your workstation - especially if you work from home - and there is one forever-ongoing battle, and that’s the task to try and keep the area looking neat and tidy. From maximizing the space on your desk to hiding those pesky cables. 

Home offices have multiplied exponentially, and people have had to set up what was once an office workstation and replicate that at home. There are all types of combinations of laptops and desktops with varying numbers of monitors and of course many more cables. Keeping a clean and tidy workspace can often improve your productivity as decluttering and cleaning can promote a positive mental attitude and can have an energizing effect.

Everybody’s setup is different, be it the number of desks, the PC tower on or under the desk, and of course your number of gadgets and peripherals. But one thing all setups have in common is that they all have to be near a power source and there are plenty of cables and connections. 

One of the first things you can do to tidy up is cable management. Try and group all your cables together and route or hide them away tidily. There are plenty of products to help you with this task, from cable ties to cable sleeves or even little cable management trays under your desk.

Tidy Cables

Cloth cable ties are a great way to bind cables together. They are really easy to use and are reusable, which is very handy when you need to make an adjustment like adding and removing a cable from a new peripheral.

Other great cable management options include material or plastic cable sheaths. These can be cut to length, and can make a bunch of cables look neat and tidy. A third option are cable trays that you can attach to your desk via small clamps, so there is no need to drill or damage your desk. Here are some great examples of these products.

• Alex Tech Cable Sleeve: now $7 at Amazon (was $8)
• 1/2 inch Reusable Fastening Tape: now $12 at Amazon
• Under Desk Cable Management Tray: now $14 at Amazon (was $17)

Go Wireless

What about the desk itself? Start off by just storing items properly that don’t need to be on the desktop. Some shelves, a peg-board, or drawers offer great storage options and help to reduce clutter.

Choosing wireless peripherals will reduce the amount of cables that connect to your computer,giving a nice clean look to your desk. There are plenty of great deals to be had on wireless devices for your setup. Why not have a look at our best wireless mice, or best wireless keyboards for ideas and suggestions.

• Logitech MX Master 3S: now $95 at Amazon
• Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse: now $66 at Amazon
• Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini: now $109 at Amazon (was $179)

One Hub to Rule Them All

If you can’t escape having lots of wired devices, perhaps you might want to consider using a USB hub. If your PC tower is below the desk, having a hub connected to the PC can not only reduce clutter, but also save you from having to crawl around under the desk, especially if your computer doesn’t have that many USB ports. See our best USB hubs page for inspiration on the types of Hubs that you can get to fill your needs.

• Sabrent 60W 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub: now $41 at Amazon (was $49)
• Wenter 11-Port Powered USB 3.0 Hub Splitter: now $28 at Amazon (was $49)

Mount Up

Is your monitor placed on your desk using a stand or riser? If so, you can free up a lot of room by mounting your monitor on an arm using a Vesa bracket. A massive amount of monitors are compatible with the Vesa mounting system and there are an abundance of monitor arms to choose from. 

These mounting devices can also just clamp to your desk, which is great for people who cannot mount one to a wall in a rented property or don’t fancy drilling into their desk. You will need to check the size and weight of your monitor though, and compare that against the specifications of the monitor arm to make sure it can support the dimensions of your monitor of choice. 

Some arms even come with laptop holders to help get that work laptop off of the desk when it’s connected to a monitor - so there is a lot of flexibility in your setup options. We even have a tutorial on how to install a desk mount for your monitor.

• Huanuo Dual Monitor Stand: now $37 at Amazon (was $59)
• Wali Monitor Laptop Mount Stand: now $69 at Amazon
• Wali Quad Monitor Stand: now $58 at Amazon

All of these options can help you to keep your computer desk setup clutter free and give you more room to work with, but don’t forget that it is ok to have some extra stuff on your desk. Glasses cases, microfibre cloths, pens, notebooks, and headsets all make up part of your workstation ecosystem - just try not to let too many bits and pieces build up over time. 

It seems that screwdrivers are the latest trend, and now we see that Noctua has entered the PC DIY enthusiast screwdriver market with its first discrete products. The new Noctua NM-SD1 is a driver with a Torx T20 (star shaped) tip, and the Noctua NM-SD2 features a Phillips PH2 (cross shaped) tip. Both screwdrivers feature a quite lengthy 150mm (6-inch) shaft, magnetic tip, and large comfortable grips. Noctua chose these two tips as they offer the best compatibility with its SecuFirm2+, SecuFirm and SecuFirm2 cooler mounting systems.

The Noctua tools bear more than a passing resemblance to the well regarded screwdrivers sold by Germany based Wera Tools. There is no mention made by Noctua of any such relationship with Wera. Due to the differences in Noctua warranty (shorter) and pricing (cheaper), it may be the case that the Noctua products are Wera inspired rather than produced.

It is also worth pointing out that these screwdrivers aren't 'Noctua's answer' to the $70 Linus Tech Tips screwdriver. Noctua makes it clear these are designed for easy and convenient SecuFirm mount fixing. However, the Noctua NM-SD2 with its PH2 tip is probably going to be a very handy long reach screwdriver as this Phillips tip is one of the most widely used in household DIY etc. The LTT screwdriver is quite a different beast with its ratchet mechanism, swappable bits (PH0, PH1, PH2, H2, H2.5, H4, SL2, SL4, SL6, SQ1, SQ2, and 5x5 Magnet bit), 82.2mm (3.2-inch) shaft, and price.

Both the Noctua NM-SD1 and Noctua NM-SD2 are available today from the firm's Amazon webstores around the world (including the US, Australia, Canada, UK, most of Europe, and Japan. In the US they are being sold for just under $10 each.

Friendly Elec has released its open source NanoPi R5C — an computer system housed in an extremely compact and appealingly industrial metal chassis — for the starting price of just $49. 

At its heart, the NanoPi R5C is powered by a Rockchip RK3568B2, which is a no-frills Arm A55 quad-core CPU. The entry-level configuration comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, but an extra $10 will get you 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The NanoPi R5C supports several operating systems, including Android and a number of Linux distros. 

The system is built around a square PCB, with a square chassis measuring 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.1 inches (62.5 x 62.5 x 29mm); some pictures show the device with a pair of Wi-Fi antennae attached. Though the single board computer (SBC) weighs just 1.34 ounces (38g), a fully-assembled system with antennae weighs almost 6 ounces (170g). 

Although there are many pictures showing the NanoPi R5C with the antennae attached, the antennae are optional: the Realtek RTL8822CE Wi-Fi 5 M.2 E-Key slot module is an $18 add-on. Buyers can also source their own or opt for a USB Wi-Fi dongle instead. 

This Arm-powered mini PC is officially described by Friendly Elec as a "mini IoT gateway device." Networking connectivity is important to its design, and a major feature of the system is its twin 2.5Gb/s Ethernet ports. It's a highly-functional mini PC in general, though — other ports include 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x microSD card reader with support for UHS-I cards, 1x USB Type-C (5V), and the aforementioned M.2 E-Key slot (1x PCIe 2.1, USB 2.0 support), which accepts devices such as Wi-Fi cards. There are connectors on either side of the chassis if you use an internal M.2 Wi-Fi card. 

Thanks to the microSD card slot, which supports OS boot, users have the flexibility to easily run a number of different operating systems on this tiny PC. You can also install an OS on the NanoPi R5C using a USB cable attached to your PC, or a TF card and a web browser. 

If you're tempted by the NanoPi R5C but disappointed with just two Ethernet ports, you might be interested in the previously-introduced NanoPi R5S, which has a similar design but with three Ethernet ports (2x 2.5Gb/s, 1x 1Gb/s), an M.2 slot that can be used for storage expansion, and 2GB of RAM (at a minimum).

The NanoPi R5C is available now, starting at $49 for the base configuration with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage and going up to $59 for 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage; a Wi-Fi module can be added to either configuration at checkout for $18 more. 

Back in May, Microsoft announced a set of Adaptive Accessories, including a mouse, joystick, buttons and more, in an effort to make Windows PCs more accessible to people with disabilities that prevent them from using a standard mouse and keyboard. Now, we finally know when they'll ship.

The Microsoft Adaptive Accessories will launch on Oct. 25 in "select markets." (Microsoft has not fully detailed these regions).

The accessories include the Microsoft Adaptive mouse, a square device that fits various accessories and is designed to be ambidextrous. Microsoft will sell the Adaptive mouse tail and thumb support separately, or you can 3D print your own.

The other cornerstone of the accessories is the Microsoft Adaptive Hub, a dock that lets you attach other accessories, including the Microsoft Adaptive D-pad button, Microsoft Adaptive Joystick Button, and Microsoft Adaptive Dual Button. The hub is required for those other accessories.

The original announcement also mentioned that people using the specialized mouse could 3D print mouse tails to fit their needs. Today, Microsoft is adding that customers using its business and education programs will be able to 3D print grips from Shapeways for the Microsoft Classroom Pen 2 and Microsoft Business Pen. (No word on if we'll see something similar for Microsoft's Surface pens,)

The Adaptive Accessories are launching alongside Microsoft's fall lineup of Surface devices, including the Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5 and Surface 2 Plus, giving them a bit of a flagship spot in Microsoft's roster of consumer-facing products.

Microsoft's other adaptive peripherals include the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a peripheral launched in 2018 that made gaming easier for those who can't easily use traditional controllers. Last year, Microsoft announced the Surface Adaptive Kit with key labels, an easy hinge opener, and port indicators for different accessories.

After a year of waiting, Valve's Docking Station add-on for the Steam Deck is finally here. The accessory gives the Deck added expansion capabilities, including additional USB ports, video outputs and an Ethernet port for wired connectivity. The dock is now available to purchase for $89 at the Steam store.

Valve's Dock has been in the works for quite some time -- ever since the announcement of the Steam Deck in fact. But, thanks to the pandemic, supply chain issues have slowed or stopped Steam Deck Dock production for several months, forcing Valve to withhold availability until now. 

The Dock itself sports three USB type-A 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4 connector, a single HDMI 2.0 port, plus Gigabit ethernet. As the name implies, the Dock also holds the Steam Deck upright, with a groove in the front that the console can slot into.

The Dock will be a welcome addition for Deck users who want to convert their console into a desktop environment, paired to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. The Dock looks to be the perfect foundation for powering a desktop experience that will be similar to laptops and full-blown desktop PCs. Just don't do any crazy blender renders on the Deck's low-powered Zen 2 APU--unless you like waiting.

Of course, you can also use the dock as a Nintendo Switch-like dock, and hookthe Steam Deck up to a television for gaming on the big screen. Of course, if you don't want to shell out for the first-party dock, the Steam Deck uses a regular USB Type-C connection, meaning other docks and hubs with a USB-C port should work perfectly with the Deck, just as the Dock itself should work with other devices that support USB Type-C.

No More Reservations!

In even more exciting news, Valve has announced its reservation queue is now gone! All Steam Deck orders have been fulfilled, meaning you can grab a Steam Deck right now and you won't have to wait in line to get one.

This is seriously long-awaited news from Valve. The Steam Deck has been having notorious supply issues, especially during the beginning of this year, where people were scheduled to wait for months to get an order fulfilled.

It wasn't until a few months ago that we heard news of Valve beginning to resolve these supply chain issues in a big way, and the reservation lines began to get shorter and shorter. But now it seems, Valve's Steam Deck production has expanded to the point where a queue is no longer required. This is despite, according to Valve, consumer demand being higher than ever for Valve's console.

This has led Valve to expand Steam Deck availability to other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong -- in the form of reservations. So it seems some of us will still need to get in line.

Corsair’s HS80 RGB USB takes the solid design and audio quality of the HS80 RGB Wireless, strips out the radio, and cuts a third off the retail price. The result is a headset that retains the best points of the HS80 Wireless, such as its superb microphone quality, but some of the bad as well — notably, a quirky suspension band size-adjustment process that makes getting a good fit a chore. Also, its lack of wireless and analog support means it’s not a good option for PC gamers who also play on consoles and tablets.

Quirks aside, this $100 headset features top-notch audio quality, with 50mm neodymium drivers and Dolby Surround that doesn’t require purchasing an extra-cost add-on, as well as one of the best built-in microphones I’ve used. It’s got a design that says “gamer” —  but does so quietly.

Corsair HS80 RGB USB Specs

Design and Comfort

The Corsair HS80 RGB USB has the sturdy, high-quality build typical of Corsair headsets we've tested. The major elements are a combination of thick plastic and machined aluminum, with squarish earcups that give it a more unique look than the round versions on Corsair's lower-end headsets.

Despite the "RGB" in the name, the gamer elements are subtle. The only RGB elements are light-up Corsair logos on each earcup and a red LED ring on the microphone that illuminates to indicate the mic is muted. The single RGBs may not make you the belle of the tournament, but you can use the iCUE software to program effects that sync with multiple Corsair devices. I created a cool multicolor strobe effect that started on my K95 RGB mechanical keyboard and then finished on the headset, for instance. The only other branding is a tasteful "Corsair" across the top of the headband.

The earcups are hinged and rotate up to 90 degrees, which makes for both a conforming fit and easy transport. They're padded with cloth-covered memory foam that's incredibly comfortable and relatively cool, even during long gaming sessions. They don't do a great job isolating external sounds, though, nor do they fully prevent others from hearing your audio — especially in quieter events. These probably aren't a great choice for an open office environment.

All of the action takes place on the left cup. Here you'll find a non-removable microphone, the Mute button (which is reprogrammable) and a volume dial. If the Mute button feels redundant here — you can also mute the mic by flipping it up — you can reprogram it using the iCUE software. For example, I reprogrammed mine to start/pause my media player.

The one part of the design I dislike is the suspension band adjustment scheme. Instead of the usual extendable headband, a stretchable band at the top of the frame adjusts with velcro. It's hard to get the size just right, and you'll likely need multiple tries for a proper fit. And if someone else in your household changes the adjustment, you'll get to repeat the process. The end result isn't really any more comfortable in practice than the foam-padded extendable headband on Corsair's less-expensive HS65 Surround, but it's much more of a hassle.

The HS80 RGB USB is slightly heavier than its HS80 Wireless counterpart (despite lacking a battery), thanks to the 71-inch long non-removable USB-A cord. This cable is the only connection option, which means this headset is limited to PCs and (with a docking station or USB-A to USB-C adapter) Macs. Macs are fully supported by the macOS version of iCUE. I tried the headset with a PS5 and it produced audio, but it wasn't a good solution for that platform — you'd likely need a really long USB extension cable to reach the console, and neither the volume dial nor the mute function work with the console. Xbox and Switch aren't even options.

Audio Performance

The HS80 RGB USB supports both stereo audio and Dolby Surround sound. Surround support is included in, and toggled through, Corsair’s iCUE software. The large 50mm neodymium drivers do a solid job of reproducing the lows of musical bass and battle sounds, as well as higher-pitched environmental and musical cues.

I played Halo Infinite with 7.1-channel Dolby Surround enabled and the FPS Competition equalizer preset enabled. I was able to get good positional audio cues without the bass of gunfire and explosions overwhelming the audio, and I could clearly make out the wisecracks from the Grunts during heated battles. I chatted during a multiplayer match and swapping to the Clear Chat preset muffled the game audio a bit but clearly brought out the voices of other players.

The Dolby Surround audio also sounded great when I watched movies and TV shows. The space battle action sounded excellent in the second episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; I was also able to pick up on environmental audio on the Enterprise’s bridge that I hadn’t noticed when I was using my TV’s soundbar.

Musically, the 24-bit/96 KHz audio support shined when I listened to high-definition FLAC Pink Floyd tunes purchased from HDTracks, with superb detail in psychedelic songs such as Shine On You Crazy Diamond. The steel guitar and vocals in Larkin Poe’s Holy Ghost Fire sounded great, and the bass and drum beats in Kendrick Lamar’s Purple Hearts weren’t overemphasized like they are with some other gaming headphones. 

The non-removable mic automatically mutes when you swing it upwards into the storage position. It has superb clarity with a frequency response of 100-10,000Hz; Corsair bills this mic as “broadcast-quality,” and it’s not an exaggeration — I’ve never heard clearer recordings from a headset mic. The mic also does a great job with directional pickup, capturing my voice clearly while only picking up the loudest environmental sounds.

Features and Software

To enable surround sound, configure RGB colors, and adjust equalizer settings, you’ll use Corsair’s iCUE software. This is the same software package used by other Corsair devices, so you can also use it to adjust the RGB settings on Corsair keyboards and Asus Aura-enabled devices. Having a Cylon-like light pulse start on myPC’s Asus motherboard through the case window, sweep across my Corsair K95 RGB keyboard, and end on the HS80 might not be useful, but it’s undeniably cool.

The equalizer module lets you toggle Dolby 7.1 Surround support and adjust the microphone volume. There are five EQ presets, and you can also create custom presets. Pure Direct doesn’t modify your audio; I found music sounded best with this flat profile and with Dolby Surround turned off. The other presets were most effective with surround active. Clear Chat emphasizes voices, FPS Competition is tuned to make those enemy footsteps in 3D clear, and Movie Theater and Bass Boost do just what you’d expect.

As I mentioned earlier, you can also use iCUE to reprogram the redundant Mute button. I mapped it to Play/Pause in Spotify, but you can also have it do things such as entering keyboard/mouse macros or adjusting settings in the optional Voicemod add-on voice changer app.

Bottom Line

I was very pleased with the HS80 as a PC companion across the board: Music and movies sound great and surround gaming audio is clear with positional cues that work really well. It’s comfortable, and because I don’t share the headset, the suspension band adjustment was only annoying during the initial setup. I wouldn’t choose this headset for use with multiple devices or multiple wearers, but if you’re looking for a great-sounding set of cans to leave plugged into your PC, it’s a solid option with unexpectedly great audio quality for just $100.

If you like the design of the HS80 RGB USB, but you want something that also works with a PS5, it’s worth spending the extra $50 for the HS80 RGB Wireless version, which includes a dongle that’s more practical with that console. If there’s also an Xbox, Switch, or another device with a headphone jack in your life, Corsair’s less expensive HS65 Surround is an excellent option that supports both USB and 3.5mm plugs, and sacrifices very little in style or audio quality. On the other end of the pricing scale, the Asus ROG Delta S offers similarly excellent audio clarity, more connectivity options, and flashier RGB lighting.

Check our list of Corsair discount codes for savings.

Microsoft today announced a set of new accessories to help people with disabilities who cannot use a standard mouse and keyboard create a PC setup that allows them to be productive.  The news comes out of the 2022 Microsoft Ability Summit.

The new adaptive accessories, which haven't yet been priced and are set to release in the fall, consist of several pieces: a mouse, a hub and some buttons. All of the products are wireless with rechargeable batteries.

Microsoft's Adaptive Mouse is two small buttons and a scroll wheel that can be modified with a traditional mouse tail. If you have one of the best 3D printers (or one of decent quality), you can also print tails of different lengths, shapes or sizes to fit your needs. The thumb support accessory works on either side of the mouse so that people with strengths in either their left or right hand can use the mouse.

Beyond the mouse, Microsoft has a set of adaptive buttons that can pair with a hub that connects to a PC. The Microsoft Adaptive Buttons are wireless, but the hub is also compatible with existing 3.5 mm assistive tech buttons. The hub also has three profiles so you can switch between devices.

Microsoft's Adaptive Buttons include a directional pad (much like the one on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller) with eight inputs that can be programmed to different commands; an eight-way joystick; and a "dual button" that rocks in two directions. As with the mouse, you can 3D print accessories to fit on the button base if you need something that Microsoft won't provide at launch.  Microsoft also says that people can 3D print button toppers to interact with the PC in a way that fits peoples bodies or comfort levels.

This work comes out of Microsoft's Inclusive Tech Lab, which came out of the Xbox team's efforts when it released the Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018: a peripheral that made gaming easier for people who couldn't be served by traditional controllers. Last year, Microsoft announced the Surface Adaptive Kit with key labels, an easy hinge opener, and port indicators for cables and accessories.

In a blog post, Microsoft director of devices accessibility Dave Dame wrote that its new lab is "an embassy for people with disabilities, not a space about them," which will feature design sessions, talks, and demonstrations to build accessibility products with the people who will use them.

At the Ability Summit, Microsoft also touched on accessible design across gaming, Windows and Office.

Speaking about gaming, Microsoft touted its Xbox Twitch channel based in American Sign Language and an accessibility-themed world in Minecraft called BuildAbility  that helps students understand and eliminate barriers to accessibility. Additionally the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines, which help developers validate that their games are accessible, will add best practices for mental health, text clarity and sizing, and motion sickness.  

Microsoft re-emphasized Windows 11 features like Focus, which helps people block out distractions, and system-wide live captions to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some of these features are available in Windows Insider builds and will be in the next release of Windows.  When speaking about Edge, the company highlighted automatic image description for images without alt text. The company is also adding a text predictor for writing in the Microsoft Editor.

PiSugar Kitchen has released two new low-cost battery add-ons, the PiSugar S and PiSugar S Pro, that promise to power a Raspberry Pi for several hours on a charge.

As spotted by Notebook Check, the PiSugar S is a diminutive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W. It features a 1,200 mAh battery with 5V 2A input and output said to be able to power a connected Zero W for more than 6 hours.

The PiSugar S Pro is a slightly larger UPS and is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3B, 3B+ and 4B. This one boasts a 5,000 mAh battery with 5V 3A input and output. PiSugar Kitchen claims the device is able to keep a Raspberry Pi 3B running for over  10 hours.

PiSugar Kitchen hasn't provided exact measurements for either PiSugar S model, but they mounted directly to the connected Raspberry Pi, so they should be the same size. The batteries for both models also seem to align fairly well with their boards.

Both models can receive power over a Micro-USB connection, but PiSugar Kitchen said they can also be expanded to support wireless or solar charging, and the PiSugar S Pro's larger size gives it enough room to include a USB-C port as well.

There's a GPIO button for turning on the connected device by default, but if "the automatic power-on function is turned off," this can serve as a custom button instead. The remaining GPIO pins are left unobstructed for use with your best Raspberry Pi accessories.

Hackster.io noted that both PiSugar S models lack the real-time clock found in the PiSugar 2 but are also more affordable. The sold-out PiSugar S is priced at $28 to the PiSugar 2's $40, and their companion Pro models cost $30 and $50, respectively.

The Xbox Design Lab, which allows gamers to design their own controllers, is back online. While it had previously been using the Xbox One controller, the new Design Lab is based on the Xbox Series X and Series S controllers.

Currently, you can place orders in the United States, Canada and "most" western European countries. Controllers are $69.99 (a $10 add-on to MSRP for store-bought controllers), and an additional $9.99 if you choose to get optional engraving. Controllers are delivered with two weeks of orders being placed.

There are eighteen colors, some of which are seen in existing controllers. Pulse Red, Electric Volt and Shock Blue are new to the Design Lab but are also available on the market without the customizations.

Microsoft is also adding a black-on-color ABXY button option, which harkens a bit back to the original Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers, and black-on-white view, menu and share buttons.

Xbox controllers work not only with Microsoft's consoles, but are also widely considered the best option for PC gaming, as most publishers use Xbox buttons in games by default.

Microsoft had paused the Design Lab back in October as it transitioned to the new consoles. This announcement was made during a post-E3 extended briefing.

When it comes to gaming headsets, you’re likely already familiar with the RIG name. RIG has been a market leader in the gaming headset space since 2012. And, though the RIG brand was recently acquired by Nacon, what it stands for has not changed: great audio performance-enhancing features and competitive play. That’s made as clear as ever with a new generation of RIG products officially licensed for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. 

The latest from the RIG brand starts with a first of its kind: the PRO Compact controller. The RIG PRO Compact Controller is not only the brand’s first controller but also the world's first game controller to include Dolby Atmos for Headphones, a 3D sound format that can provide players with detailed audio for a greater sense of immersion as well as handy tactical information beyond what they can see on their TV screen. This new addition to the RIG brand comes alongside a pair of gaming headsets that continue the RIG legacy. 

Though RIG is now operating under Nacon, its mission to provide gaming peripherals that offer a competitive edge remains unchanged. So, whether you’re gaming at an esports tournament or just eyeing that #1 spot on the scoreboard after work, you can be sure RIG’s new controller and headsets from RIG are built with the features and durability to help you win.

With the PRO Compact controller, Nacon is bringing gamers a smaller form factor that isn't seen across elite controllers. The controller allows players to create their own custom button maps, change trigger sensitivity, and control dead zones by way of the PRO Compact app for Xbox.

It’s a great controller all on its own, but the inclusion of Dolby Atmos pushes it over the edge. By connecting any headset to the PRO Compact controller, gamers can enable Dolby Atmos to get object-based 3D sound that can help them pinpoint important sound sources in games like enemy footsteps approaching. Since Dolby Atmos is object-based, game creators can use it to fill the game world with various sound sources for a richer soundscape that surrounds the player, pulling them further into the game world than basic stereo or multi-channel surround. Critically, Dolby Atmos can also cue players into sounds’ height positioning as well, letting them quickly react to players approaching from above or below. 

Like the PRO Compact Controller itself, Dolby Atmos audio also supports customization. Thanks to the Dolby Access app for Xbox, players can tweak settings to improve and better tune their headset of choice as well. To start using Dolby Atmos for Headphones, it's as easy as downloading the free Dolby Access app from the Windows Store on Xbox or Windows 10, then plugging the controller in via USB and connecting to a headset. 

Of course, with such a rich legacy in the headphone space, RIG has the natural complement to the PRO Compact controller. The brand is introducing a new generation of headsets with the RIG 700 PRO Series and RIG 500 PRO Gen 2. These headsets continue RIG’s tradition of offering headsets built to offer solid audio matched with a sturdy and modular design, with simple-to-replace parts and virtually indestructible headbands. With these latest models, RIG is offering headsets that are ready for Dolby Atmos, include self-adjusting straps to help you get an easy fit, and feature a dual-material ear cushion to simultaneously block out external noise while remaining comfortable and more breathable.

The RIG 500 PRO Gen 2 is a wired headset built for serious play. From its durable, metal headbands and large 50mm speaker drivers, it offers sound and a design that won’t let up. And, as it’s specially tuned for the 3D audio that Dolby Atmos provides, it can serve as a handy sidekick for the RIG PRO Compact controller. The RIG 700 PRO Series drops the cable and goes for an ultra-lightweight design so you can move more freely and take full advantage of its wireless connectivity. Just like the rest of the new lineup, the headset also comes with Dolby Atmos support for Xbox and Windows 10. 

If you’re ready to level up your gaming, the PRO Compact controller is available for $49.99 at Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and Target now. You can find it in both black and white. The RIG 500 PRO Gen 2 series is also available now at $69.99 while the RIG 700 PRO Series is sold exclusively at Gamestop for $119.99.

When it comes to upgrading your PC gaming setup with some new hardware and accessories, Razer ranks high as one of the best brands to go for — across the best gaming laptops, best gaming keyboards and more.

Compared to other options, Razer can be a little pricey. But now this problem has been (temporarily) eliminated, thanks to Razer’s extended St. Patrick’s Day sale.

• More: Best Gaming PC and laptop deals
• Best Tech and PC Hardware deals

So, whether it’s a new pair of earbuds or a new keyboard, mouse or headset you need, or even a new piece of kit to play games on, this sale has you covered until the end of March 21st. Be quick!

When it comes to the best gaming headsets and accessories for new gamers and enthusiasts alike, HyperX ranks highly thanks to its premium builds and quality materials.

Now, as a “thank you” to all of its fans (and as a moneymaking opportunity for itself), the gaming brand is having a weeklong sales event called HyperX Loot Drop. Throughout the week, HyperX will be dropping big daily discounts across everything it does, including its accessories and even components like its best RAM.

These discounts will be available across all the big online retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Fred Meyer, Microsoft and more. Here are the best HyperX deals we're seeing on this first day of the sale.

The Best HyperX Loot Drop Deals of the day

This event comes after recent news that HP is set to acquire HyperX for $425 million, so it's possible this deal is also acting as a sort of warehouse-clearing event before the brands get consolidated. We're not 100% sure how HP plans to split up its products' branding, though HP has said the HyperX will retain "DRAM, flash, and SSD products for gamers and enthusiasts."

To see the latest deals as the event goes on, keep checking this page throughout this week, as we will add new offers as they become available! And for more information about all the participating countries and retailers, HyperX has set up its own Loot Drop website.

Looking to upgrade your setup with some branded gaming hardware, including some of the best laptops, best mice and/or best microphones? Razer's always near the top when it comes to premium gamer lifestyle gear, but its products usually come with a steep price tag to match.

But right now at Best Buy, you can circumvent this problem with site-wide Razer deals including up to $500 off Razer Blade laptops and up to $60 off accessories.

• Best gaming PC/laptop deals
• Dell Delivers Over $600 off Alienware Laptops and XPS Gaming PCs in Huge Sale

Tempting, right? But for those who aren't really feeling it with these deals (or like colors other than black and green), we've got you covered. Check out what Dell is up to with its Alienware discounts, or the ongoing Lenovo Legion price cuts.

Apple recently updated macOS to resolve an issue that, according to ZDNet, could result in some USB-C docks bricking specific MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models.

Apple said that “macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 prevents MacBook Pro (2019 or later) and MacBook Air (2020 or later) models from incurring damage when they are connected to certain third-party, non-compliant powered USB-C hubs and docks.”

Mac owners affected by the bug initially speculated that Apple’s new M1 chip was to blame. The first Macs to feature the chip weren’t released until 2020, however, so the inclusion of the “MacBook Pro (2019 or later)” line suggests that isn’t the case.

But it wouldn’t be surprising if the M1-equipped MacBook Pro was disproportionately affected by this bug compared to its Intel-bearing counterpart simply because it doesn’t offer nearly as much connectivity out of the box.

The most recent Intel-equipped MacBook Pro offers four USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports; the model featuring the M1 chip only has two USB 4 / Thunderbolt 3 ports. Both have headphone jacks, too, and the MacBook Air has the same configuration.

It’s not hard to imagine someone whose laptop only has two ports—one of which has to be used to charge the device—turning to a USB-C dock sooner than someone whose laptop has two more ports. Those cables have to go somewhere, right?

Luckily the specificity of Apple’s release notes suggests that most USB-C docks were safe—only some “third-party, non-compliant powered” accessories were to blame. Docks that were standards-compliant or non-powered shouldn’t have caused issues.

Still, the best way for anyone who owns a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air affected by this bug to stay safe would be to install macOS Big Sur 11.2.2, which is available now.

SparkFun and Pimoroni, partners in the recent Raspberry Pi Pico project, have announced their own RP2040 'Pi Silicon' based boards with extra features and changes to the Pico form factor. Pimoroni is also the first partner to have add-on boards available for purchase for release day. This follows announcements from Adafruit and Arduino, who are also releasing boards based upon the new RP2040 SoC. All of these new RP2040 boards have the same Arm Cortex M0+ CPU and 264KB of SRAM, but they each bring something unique to the table.

SparkFun Thing Plus

SparkFun's Thing Plus shares the same form factor and basic pinout as Adafruit's Feather RP2040, but hidden on the underside of the board is a micro SD card slot useful for larger project files or data logging projects, with 16MB of flash storage granting the SparkFun Thing Plus a large storage capacity. Thing Plus also has a JST battery charging port, 30 GPIO pins including four 12-bit ADC channels, SparkFun's Qwiic Connect I2C sensor connection, and a WS2812 RGB LED. Thing Plus can be used with C/C++ and MicroPython.

Priced at $16 and available in mid-February, SparkFun's Thing Plus is an interesting board for data logging and science experiments.

Pimoroni Tiny 2040

Pimoroni's Tiny 2040 is an RP2040 based board that can fit on the end of your finger.
Given the name "Tiny," we see that a few sacrifices were made to reduce the board's size. There are now only 12 GPIO pins, four ADC channels and a button for basic input and selecting the boot option. The Tiny 2040 also shares the top spot for storage capacity with SparkFun's Thing Plus; both have 16MB of flash storage available. 

Currently priced at £8.40, around $12, Tiny 2040 is coming soon on Pimoroni's website, and we can't wait to take a look.

Raspberry Pi Pico Accessories

Pimoroni was the first Pico partner to have its own range of accessories available for purchase on release day.

• Pico Breakout Garden Base for use with Pimroni's range of Breakout Garden boards.
• Pimoroni Pico VGA Demo Base, used with Programmable IO to emulate a VGA output.
• Pico Omnibus / Decker Expanders, providing 2/4 times the number of GPIO pins for addons.
• Pico Proto, quickly prototype permanent Pico based projects,
• Pico RGB Keypad to create your own USB keyboard with 16 RGB keys.
• Pico Explorer Base, an electronics playground with speakers, 1.54" IPS screen, motor drivers and Breakout Garden connectors.
• Pico Unicorn Pack, 112 RGB LEDs and four buttons for light based animations.
• Pico Audio Pack, to create a 32-bit 384KHz stereo audio synth or it can be used as a custom USB soundcard.
• Pico Scroll Pack, a 7 x 17 grid of single color LEDs which can be used to scroll messages.
• Pico Display Pack, a 1.14" IPS LCD and four buttons that can be used to display images, text and basic user interfaces.

The Raspberry Pi Pico and the RP2040 SoC seem to have come from nowhere, but it looks like in just a few hours, they have already made their mark on the Raspberry Pi and greater Maker community.

The floor of PAX East 2020 is a great place to find awesome gaming products on display, and data storage developer Seagate made sure to show three of their top notch hard drive devices and accessories that have taken the gaming world by storm so far, and will no doubt continue to do so in the future. Here’s an overview of each of the devices we saw from Seagate at PAX East this weekend.

The Seagate FireCuda 510

The Seagate FireCuda 510 is the more affordable of the two PCIe NVMe SSDs that Seagate showed this weekend, but it is in no way a slouch. In fact, its 3,450 MB/s read and 3,200 MB/s write speeds are excellent. With speeds like this, gamers will notice their games loading significantly faster than they would with traditional hard drives. In addition to this, rigs equipped with this SSD will be able to load in new areas quicker in large, open world games too, eliminating freezing entirely. Another way the blazingly-fast speeds of the FireCuda 510 will help gamers is with its ability to process multiple 4K video streams and/or programs at any given time, which is essential for both content creators and regular players alike that want to record and stream their gameplay with others. The FireCuda 510 is also designed to take up as little space as possible thanks to its M.2 2280 design, which means that you’ll be able to put it in any size device out there, ranging from a laptop to a full-blown desktop battlestation. It’s also important to note that the SSD is available in sizes of 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB. This ensures that no matter how much space you need to store your games and game-related content, you’ll be able to get it with the FireCuda 510. Finally, it comes with a 5-year limited warranty, so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a faulty SSD if the one you get initially has any problems.

The Seagate FireCuda 520

The Seagate FireCuda 520 is Seagate’s latest and most powerful M.2 2280 SSD yet, giving gamers the ultimate edge. Unlike the PCIe Gen 3 FireCuda 510, the FireCuda 520 is compatible with cutting-edge PCIe Gen 4 motherboards; this means that on average, the FireCuda 520 is a whopping 45 percent faster than SSDs of the previous generation. This can clearly be seen with the FireCuda 520’s speeds of 5,000 MB/s read and 4,400 MB/s write, which blow the already awesome speeds of the FireCuda 510 out of the water. With this SSD, you’ll get all the same amazing benefits you would with the FireCuda 510, but with even faster, better results. It should also be noted that this SSD is fully compatible with AMD’s X570 chipset and its third-generation Ryzen desktop CPUs — both of which are widely considered to be some of the best pieces of hardware in the PC gaming space. Like the FireCuda 510, the FireCuda 520 comes with a five-year warranty and is available in sizes of 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB.

The Seagate FireCuda Gaming Dock

The final product Seagate showed this weekend is the Seagate FireCuda Gaming Dock, which is designed to connect to gaming laptops with Thunderbolt 3 and to be used as an all-in-one hub. Featuring 4TB of HDD storage, this dock has all the space a laptop gamer could possibly want for their games. On top of that, the dock also comes with an M.2 NVMe SSD slot that’s compatible with SSDs like the FireCuda 510, allowing you to take advantage of the unbeatable speed of SSD storage if you want to. Aside from the Thunderbolt 3 port used to connect to your laptop, this dock also comes with a myriad of ports for peripherals, including a Thunderbolt 3 accessory slot, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 ethernet, 3.5mm audio (one in, one out), four USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, and a single USB 3.1 Gen 2 port designed to be used for charging something. As icing on the cake, the FireCuda Gaming Dock comes with Seagate’s Toolkit software as well as RGB lighting, allowing you to give your hub some stylish, customized flavor. Overall, the FireCuda Gaming Dock is a fantastic storage hub that any laptop gamer will love.

Due out in May, Lenovo's $99 ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II is clearly designed for productivity users who want the famous ThinkPad laptop keyboard in a standalone, wireless form factor. And, as a tabletop keyboard that connects to your PC, be it a desktop or a docked laptop, it seems like a strong option. But the device, which has both 2.4 GHz and dual Bluetooth 5.0 connections, could be even more compelling for makers working with Raspberry Pi or other single-board computers.

The ThinkPad TrackPoint II Keyboard has the same awesome key feel, layout and look that you'll find on Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops. I tried typing on it briefly at Lenovo's CES suite and found it identical to the key feel of a ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which means that it felt great.

Like a typical ThinkPad, the TrackPoint II keyboard has Lenovo's famous red pointing stick, along with left, right and scroll buttons. Because it has a built-in pointing device, the keyboard should be fantastic for use from your lap or in environments where desk space is limited and you don't want to waste real estate by plugging in a separate keyboard and mouse.

When you're building with Raspberry Pi, there's often a jumble of wires, breadboards, lights and sensors on  the table, along with, perhaps, your primary PC and all of its peripherals. The TrackPoint II keyboard is guaranteed to keep your desk as neat as possible while providing you with a superior typing and navigation experience. And  it will also make you more productive, because you'll be able to move your pointer without taking your hands off of the home row.

Because it supports 2.4 GHz, via an included dongle, and two different Bluetooth 5.0 profiles, the ThinkPad TrackPoint II keyboard can be the only input device on your desk, allowing you to switch among your main PC and two other devices, which can be Raspberry Pis. So, just imagine using your main PC to read up on how to program something in Python  and then hitting a keyboard combo and typing the code you learned directly onto the Pi. Yes, you could use a headless Raspberry Pi install to remote control the Pi from your main computer, but sometimes that just isn't practical.

It almost goes without saying that the TrackPoint Keyboard II is not the only wireless keyboard with a built-in pointing device. In fact, Lenovo itself sells an earlier version of this keyboard, without 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.  But the 2.4 GHz dongle is critical, particularly when you're booting up a Raspberry Pi for the first time and haven't yet been able to set up Bluetooth pairing yet. 

Unfortunately, most keyboards with built-in touchpads aren't particularly compelling. Our favorite, thus far, has been the Corsair K83 which has a circular touchpad, snappy keys and support for both Blueooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity. However, Lenovo's keyboard appears to have much snappier keys and much better navigation, thanks to the TrackPoint. 

According to Lenovo, the TrackPoint Keyboard II should hold a charge for two months. It charges via USB Type-C, which is also good news. The company has tested it to make sure that it works with Android devices in addition to Windows PCs. However, any 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth keyboard will work with Raspbian, the official OS of the Raspberry Pi. 

While $99 may seem like a ludicrous amount of money to spend on a keyboard that you would use with a $35 computer,  buying a high-quality wireless keyboard can help you get projects done faster and better, while still keeping up with your day job. The ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II looks like it could be the best of the bunch, both for Pi users and for everyone else.

Amazon has a hot Cyber Monday deal going right now with this Dremel kit, which usually retails for $243.00, but now is only $93.00 with free delivery for Prime members. It also comes with 100 accessories and three attachments, including a Flex Shaft attachment. 

It really doesn't matter if you're a professional modder or an on-again-off-again PC builder, a quality Dremel kit is indispensable if you need to hack your way out of a tough spot. This rotary tool has a variable speed range from 5,000- to 35,000-RPM to give you much-needed control over your Dremiling action, and it also features a quick-change mechanism to ease changing out those 100 accessories that come in the kit.

Accessories include a micro-sander, wood carvers, routers, grinders and polishers, and the kit has three attachments just for good measure. That tough spot you thought you couldn't reach? Connect the Flex Shaft attachment and, odds are, you'll finally be able to reach it. 

If that healthy ration of accessories isn't enough, rest assured, this kit is compatible with all Dremel accessories and attachments. You also get a nifty carrying case, but you'll have to act fast: This deal ends in five hours from the time of publication. 

If you're after other smoking deals, head over to our Cyber Monday Tech deals page for all the latest.  

For better or for worse, we've all come on board with the fact that Microsoft sells its Surface Pro tablets without a stylus or keyboard, two accessories often deemed essential for using it to its full potential.

On the Surface Pro X, the company's new Arm-based tablet that releases in November, it gets more expensive and complicated than before. And frankly, it's getting a little out of hand.

You can get a Surface Pro X keyboard on its own for $139.99, which is $10 more than the Surface Pro Type cover ($129.99) but cheaper than the Alcantara Surface Pro Signature Type Cover ($159.99).

There's also the Surface Slim Pen ($144.99), Microsoft's new stylus with wireless charging (or USB Type-C if you have an older Surface Pro, see below). Sure, the older Surface Pen is $99.99 and works with the Surface Pro X, a significant difference, but it requires AAAA batteries, which feels ancient these days, and is designed with the aesthetic of the older Surface Pro in mind.

The Surface Slim Pen is also notably more expensive than the most pricey Apple Pencil for iPad Pro, which is $129.00.

What power users will likely consider (and probably what Microsoft is going for), is a bundle. There's a $269.99 Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard bundled with the Slim Pen. That has a spot to wirelessly charge the Surface Slim Pen, and removing the Pen opens a whiteboard. It's how Microsoft debuted the Surface Pro X, and clearly viewed as integral to the experience.

$269.99 for that bundle is a savings over the keyboard alone and the Surface Slim Pen (getting them separately would cost $14.99 more, a total of $284.98, and you wouldn't be able to charge the stylus in the keyboard).

So let's examine the Surface Pro X's starting price here with other accessories. Is starts at $999.00 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But that's just the tablet.

There are more permutations. It's possible someone would want to just get the keyboard, and then add a Surface Slim Pen or Surface Pen later.

It's similar on the Surface Pro 7. Sure, it starts at $749.00, a Type Cover is $129.99, a Signature Type Cover (with Alcantara) is $159.99, and then pen options are the same as listed above

And to add some insult to injury, there's no headphone jack, but Microsoft will sell you an $11.99 USB Type-C to 3.5mm audio adapter. Of course, you may have a cheap one lying around from a smartphone, or you can get one elsewhere pretty cheap. And if you have Bluetooth headphones, this won't apply to you.

But all of the options -- bundle, no bundle, cheap keyboard, different pen options -- bring forward one big point about Surface. In 2019, none of these pieces come in the box (Apple is on the hook for this, too, with its Smart Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil for iPad Pro).

You've likely read some form of this before. This has been the case since the original Surface launched in 2012. And it's not that the Surface Pro X or Pro 7 won't be capable on their own.

But there's a reason they're marketed together. To do real work, to truly create, you'll likely need to get at least one of these accessories. And at this point, with so many options, the starting price should really reflect that.

Note: As with all of our op-eds, the opinions expressed here belong to the writer alone and not Tom's Hardware as a team.

At CES in Las Vegas this week, Lenovo is updating its Legion line of gaming laptops with new CPUs and GPUs, The Lenovo Legion Y740 will be available in 15-inch (starting at $1,749.99) and 17-inch (starting at $1,979.99) in February, as will the new 15-inch Legion Y540 (starting at $929.99), which will launch in May.

The Y540 is Lenovo's budget play, with a variety of Intel Core processors (though Lenovo hasn't named which), Nvidia GPUs (RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 Max-Q), up to 32 GB of RAM and two version of its 1080p display (one 144 Hz version with Dolby Vision HDR and a 60 Hz version). There's no massive redesign here, though the display has a stronger aluminum hinge to keep the panel upright. Lenovo is also touting better "coldfront" cooling with dual fans. Interestingly, Lenovo was extremely cagey about what processor the Y540 will use, so it's possible we can expect something new before its May launch.

The Y740 is the more powerful option (though still a portable device). Unlike the Y540, it will have an RGB backlit keyboard using Corsair's iCue software. It goes up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs, up to 32 GB of RAM and will have Dolby Atmos speakers. Both the 15- and 17-inch sizes will have optional 144 Hz FHD displays with Dolby Vision HDR. This machine will have the same GPUs as its cheaper sibling, as well as the RTX 2080 Max-Q as an option.

Lenovo also announced a series of peripherals, including the Legion H5000 7.1 Pro Gaming Headset with passive noise-canceling, a metal suspension headband and 50mm drivers ($99.99 in April); the Legion H300 Gaming Headset with soft cushioned leather and 50mm drivers ($59.99 in April), the Legion K500 RGB Mechanical Keyboard ($99.99 in April) and Legion M500 Gaming Mouse with adjustable weight cartridge and  RGB lighting ($59.99 in April). 

Have we reached peak RGB? NZXT clearly doesn't think so, as the company took the wraps off of its new Hue 2 series of RGB accessories today, which includes both complete kits and add-ons to bring even more RGB bling. A digital controller on each device is the key improvement over previous-generation Hue components, which allows additional synchronization options. One example is the ability to extend chase mode from the first to the last LED, regardless of the number of strips used.

NZXT’s also adding more components to the mix, including an ambient lighting kit for monitors. The key to its functionality rests in the software, which we’ll touch on after a brief hardware run-down.

Our samples included the Ambient RGB Lighting kit, an RGB lighting kit with four strips and a six-device controller, an additional two pack of lighting strips, an RGB Underglow pack for under-case lighting, and a set of RGB-lit comb-style cable organizers.

The Hue 2 RGB Lighting and Ambient RGB Lighting kits both contain magnetic RGB strips and a controller, and all strips have adhesive backing as a secondary attachment method. The Ambient kit’s strips have a black background and come in both 250 and 300mm lengths, while the internal strips have a white background and are 250mm-only. While the internal kit relies on a 4-pin ATA-style power header and gets is USB control from a row of four pins on a standard 9-pin internal USB header, the Ambient Lighting kit includes an external power adapter and external USB cable. The internal kit's controller has four channels, but the Ambient kit’s controller has only two. Ambient lighting tracks the color profile of the edge of the picture to extend those colors to the wall behind your monitor.

Available in two sizes for longer or shorter cases, the Hue 2 Underglow kit’s lighting strip is built into a black-anodized aluminum channel with frost-white diffuser covering the LEDs. It also differs from internal strips by having no magnetic attachment, and in its inclusion of a card slot plate that allows users to install the lights on the outside of the case without cutting a hole for the cable. The light bars of our ATX-sized sample are 250mm-long.

The LED Strip Accessory pack includes only the parts needed to extend the lighting of the full RGB Lighting kit by two strips. The cable comb kit has a fixed number of connectors, but users can individually remove extra combs that they don’t need.

Lacking enough time to build a pretty configuration, we ran three strips around the sides and back of a motherboard testing platform and used the underglow bars to light the lower section of the same case.

NZXT’s CAM software is meant to be a complete cooling and lighting management system, and does a good job of reporting our Core i7 and GTX 1080 stats (including temperatures). Overclocking functions didn’t function with our motherboard, however.

Lighting modes include traditional patterns, thermal reporting, per-LED customization, an audio synchronized mode, and several game-responsive modes. We ran through these in rapid succession hoping to lock the software up, but it was stable through our repetitive testing. Unfortunately, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the only gaming profile loaded into CAM.

Other accessories that launched today include several fan kits, along with smaller versions of the Ambient RGB Lighting and Underglow Accessory kits. The following MSRPs are from NZXT.

While we didn't have as much time as we'd like with NZXT's new lighting and accessory line, it's certainly an improvement over the company's existing Hue+ lineup. And the robust selection of options mean that, if you're at all interested in bringing some RGB accents to your PC or monitor, there's probably something for you here. And as always, it's good to see competition in this space, so that customers have comprehensive lighting options other than those from Corsair and its iCue suite. 

Apple recently introduced a new feature in iOS 11.4.1 called USB Restricted Mode, which is meant to block devices that can crack the iPhone’s passcodes and unlock them. However, mobile forensics firm Elcomsoft found that this new security feature can be easily bypassed with just about any Lightning port accessory.

iPhone Restricted Mode

Over the past year or so, we’ve seen more companies develop ways to unlock locked iPhones for law enforcement, and chances are we would’ve seen more in the future unless Apple took steps to address this issue.

This is how Apple came up with the USB Restricted Mode, which disables the Lightning port data connection after the iPhone hasn’t been unlocked for seven days. Seven days seems like a significant amount of time, as chances are by the time those seven days pass, law enforcement would have long been able to unlock the device once it’s in their possession.

Some users complained about this online, noting that they’ve never even needed the data connection for their Lightning port to be enabled by default.  Apple seems to have listened to some degree, as the USB Restricted Mode is now automatically enabled an hour after the user has last unlocked the phone.

USB Restricted Mode Flaw

Elcomsoft’s initial tests showed that once the USB Restricted Mode is enabled, there’s no way to disable it with forensics tools. However, the company found a flaw in Apple’s new implementation of the USB Restricted Mode.

If an accessory is connected to the iPhone within that one-hour timeframe before the Restricted Mode is enabled, then it will be able to disable the lockdown timer. According to Elcomsoft, even untrusted accessories can do this, and the company believes that it should be able to keep an iPhone unlocked even with $2 iPhone cables from online Chinese stores.

Elcomsoft believes that this is what the police would need to do to bypass iPhone’s new security feature:

1. Connect the iPhone to a compatible Lightning accessory (such as the official Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter).
2. Plug external battery pack to the adapter (to avoid iPhone battery drain).
3. Place the entire assembly in a Faraday bag.

Elcomsoft explained that this issue with the USB Restricted Mode feature arises from the fact that Apple doesn’t enforce cryptographic authentication for iPhone accessories, except for its own. Because many iPhone accessories lack support for authentication, and because the iPhone connects to them anyway, that means any untrusted device could connect to the iPhone and exploit or bypass certain security features. The only way for Apple to now fix this flaw would be to require authentication of all iPhone accessories, but this likely won’t happen anytime soon.

If Apple does end-up switching to the USB Type-C port for one of its next iPhones, as has been previously rumored, it could use the opportunity to require authentication, too. The USB Promoters Group announced support for USB Type-C authentication back in 2016.

Corsair has come a long way since its early beginnings as a memory maker. The moves it made to capture market share in the chassis, power supply and peripheral markets have paid off, and now the company is widening its focus to include the growing community of game streamers. Corsair today announced that it would acquire streaming accessory brand Elgato Gaming.

Corsair didn’t buy Elgato’s entire business and portfolio of products. It acquired only the Elgato Gaming brand and the products under that branch of the company, which include its lineup of internal and external capture cards, the Elgato Stream Deck, the Elgato Cam Link and the company’s portable, collapsible green screen. Elgato also makes Thunderbolt Docks, but it’s unclear if those are part of the Elgato Gaming brand.

Elgato also makes a line-up of connected home devices under the brand name Elgato Eve, which is not part of the Corsair acquisition. Elgato Eve will go on independently under the new name Eve Systems.

Corsair didn’t reveal many details about the deal. We don’t know how much Corsair paid for Elgato Gaming, and it’s unclear whether Corsair intends to keep Elgato Gaming’s workforce in place. Elgato is based in Munich, Germany, whereas Corsair is an American company based in Freemont, California. However, Corsair did say that Elgato Gaming would operate as a separate brand within Corsair, so it could leave the brand’s base of operations in Munich.

Nintendo has unveiled a Switch console whose Joy-Cons and dock look like they're crafted from cardboard. But you can't purchase this limited edition Switch--you have to win it as part of the Nintendo Labo Creators Contest that will run from July 19 to August 20.

The gaming icon has enticed consumers with various colors of its Joy-Con controllers ever since the Switch debuted. The base console arrived with gray and neon red-and-blue options; Arms, Splatoon 2 and Super Mario Odyssey were accompanied by yellow, purple-and-green and brick red offerings.

Now, Nintendo is temping gamers with a special cardboard Switch only available through a Nintendo Labo contest. Nintendo Labo is essentially a platform that allows you to build your own Switch peripherals from cardboard. It sells a Variety Kit that offers several of these unique peripherals (or Toy-Con), as well as a Robot Kit that lets you control an in-game robot. Nintendo doesn't just want you to use its own cardboard add-ons, though, and instead hopes Nintendo Labo will inspire Switch owners to embrace their creativity. The Nintendo Labo Creators Contest is the company's way of focusing those creative energies and rewarding the most innovative participants.

The Nintendo Labo Creators Contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada--excluding Quebec--above the age of 13 who own a Switch and Nintendo Labo kit. Two grand prize winners will receive the limited edition Switch, a Nintendo Labo Creators Jacket and an award certificate. Eight runners-up will get the limited edition Joy-Con, Nintendo Labo Creators Jacket and an award certificate. Nintendo pegs the value of the prizes at around $3,640, which isn't a bad haul for playing with cardboard.

Labo Support Heads to 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'

Nintendo also announced that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a remastered version of the Wii U game that smashed previous sales records when it debuted in May 2017, is the first non-Labo game to support the platform. Now you can use the Toy-Con Motorbike from the Variety Kit to control your racer, and it works pretty much like you would expect. You steer by tilting the Toy-Con, you accelerate by twisting its right handlebar and you use the Joy-Con to perform other tasks. Given our habit of "leaning in" to turns, this feature will likely be a welcome addition for Labo owners.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe won't be the only non-Labo game to support the cardboard peripherals. Nintendo said the racing title is merely "the first game outside of Nintendo Labo software to receive Toy-Con support" and that "more titles will be compatible with Nintendo Labo in the future."

Toy-Con support probably won't be a core aspect of most games since it's restricted to people who care about the Labo platform, but it's a nice addition for people who want to experiment with the Switch's and Labo's capabilities instead of simply using the officially licensed controllers.

Updated, 04/03/2018, 8:35am PT: HTC officially revealed the Vive Pro Starter Kit, which includes the controllers and base stations, as described below, and will be available on April 5. However, the announced price is much lower than the one we discovered last week. We reported that the starter kit would be $450, but HTC revealed today that the kit would be $299.

In a blog post, the company wrote:

"After reading your feedback, we’ve realized we created some confusion that we want to address today. First, we introduced Vive Pro as an HMD-only upgrade because it represented the quickest path to market for the new headset. Since Vive Pro works with both SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 tracking, we believed an HMD-only upgrade was the right option for the most demanding VR user, as well as VR arcades and enterprises that already use Vive.But what we didn’t outline was a clear path for everyone else. We have also seen feedback related to existing accessories prices for 1.0 base stations and controllers.So today we’re announcing the Vive Pro Starter Kit available on Vive.com starting April 5. This bundle pairs the Vive Pro HMD and two Vive 1.0 controllers and two 1.0 base stations for $1099 (USD, regional prices vary)."

HTC also sweetened the pack-in deal for the Vive Pro. It still doesn't include a copy of 'Fallout 4 VR' like the original Vive does, but the new headset now includes a full-year of Viveport (up from six months) and a $100 Viveport credit.

Original article, 3/27/2018, 1:15pm PT:

The HTC Vive Pro is an HMD-only upgrade kit, but you can buy controllers and base stations to go along with it. Though, for the price HTC is asking, you’re better off buying a classic Vive headset with your Vive Pro order.

Last week, HTC revealed that the Vive Pro upgrade kit would cost $800 for just the HMD and new Link Box. The company did not release a full-package for the headset, which means you need to use the base stations and controllers from an original Vive headset to use the new one.

HTC said that it would release a full kit later this year, which would include the Vive Pro along with updated SteamVR Tracking 2.0 base stations and controllers with Triad Semiconductor’s latest Steam VR sensors. But if you want a Vive Pro now, and you don’t own a standard Vive, you can buy an accessory bundle at checkout, which would give you a complete Vive kit.

The HTC Vive accessory page doesn’t list any accessories for the Vive Pro, but if you add the new HMD to your store cart, you’ll find the Vive – Pro Headset Accessories Starter Kit listed in the Recommended Products box below your inventory. The pack includes two Vive base stations and two Vive controllers, but they appear to be the standard black Vive controller, not the updated blue controllers that should ship with the full Vive Pro package later this year.

More Outrageous Pricing

Unfortunately, we see no compelling reason to buy the Vive – Pro Headset Accessories Starter Kit. It's unnecessarily expensive and there's a better deal on the table.HTC is asking $450.47 for the package, which is approximately $80 cheaper than buying the controller and base stations a-la-carte. But for less than $50 more, you could just buy a whole Vive system, which gives you a backup HMD (or one to let your friends play with), and a copy of Fallout 4 VR to add to your content library. Either way, you're looking at $1,250+ to get into a Vive Pro if you're starting from nothing, which is a hard pill to swallow.

Accompanying the launch of the Define R6 Tempered Glass Edition chassis, Fractal Design has also taken the wraps off a handful of accessories designed to accentuate your next system build.

First up we have the Connect D1, an optional replacement I/O shell for all Define R6 Series cases that adds full USB 3.1 Gen 2 support with up to 10Gb/s transfer speeds and the addition of a reversible USB Type-C port. This new panel also offers USB Fast charging support with compatible motherboards and devices.

Next, we have the Fractal Design Flex VRC-25, a PCI Express riser cable kit specially designed for the 2.5 slot vertical GPU mount in the Define R6 chassis. Describing this new product, the company said:

The highly flexible extra-long ribbon with patented EMI shielded overlap cable architecture works in conjunction with heavy-duty double-sided PCB wiring to ensure uncompromised zero-latency performance with up to 3x the power delivery of traditional riser cables.

The obvious benefit of offering these products separately is to keep cost down. Sure, the company could have included these items with the Define R6 line of chassis, but that would have significantly increased the price of the chassis and, to be honest, not everyone is going to want to vertically mount their graphics card or pay for a reversible USB Type-C port they might never use.

Both products will be available in early 2018. MSRP for the Connect D1 and Flex VRC-25 is listed at $30 and $40, respectively.

Introduction

HTC and Valve launched the Vive virtual reality headset with tracked wand controllers back in 2016. Then, at CES 2017, HTC introduced us to the universal Vive Tracker. With it, you can add SteamVR tracking to almost any object for use in the virtual world. The company shipped hardware to developers shortly after its announcement, giving us hope we'd see games with built-in support not long after. Even specialized hardware designed for use with the Vive Tracker seemed plausible.

Although we've had a few chances to play with the Trackers, we waited (im)patiently for the better part of a year for our chance at a deep-dive. It's time to get physical.

But first, a bit of background. When Oculus and HTC kicked off the current generation of consumer-grade virtual reality hardware, their respective HMDs shared design features like three-point head straps, dual 1080x1200-pixel OLED displays, and interpupillary distance adjustments. Oculus bet that a lightweight headset made of premium materials would entice consumers, whereas HTC (and Valve) prioritized creating a more immersive experience including tracked hand controllers and a room-scale environment.

Early on, it was clear that motion controllers added a level of immersion to virtual reality that a gamepad or keyboard couldn’t. Oculus was forced to play catch-up, and it took the company the better part of a year to release the Touch motion controllers. Since then, Oculus completely redesigned its Rift platform to fully integrate motion controls. The Rift now includes Touch controllers instead of the Xbox One controller that came with early Rift units.

For the most part, what you get from an Oculus Rift is now on par with HTC's Vive. But the new Vive Trackers could leave Oculus playing catch-up again. The concept holds great promise: hardware developers can create peripherals that interact with the Vive Tracker, reducing R&D costs and time-to-market for tracked peripherals; software developers can get creative and build interesting game features. HTC even offers code that lets developers integrate full-body tracking into their games.

HTC's Vive Trackers create what amounts to a VR peripheral platform.

Vive Tracker Box Contents:

• 1x Vive Tracker Universal Tracking Puck
• 1x Micro-USB cord
• 1x 2.4 GHz USB Dongle
• 1x Dongle Cradle
• Instruction Booklet
  

Meet the Vive Tracker

HTC's Vive Tracker is a small, round device that includes an array of SteamVR Tracking sensors, just like the Vive HMD and controllers. In pictures, the tracker looks like the top of a Vive wand without a hole in the center and handle to hold. Until we had one to inspect, though, it wasn't apparent that the tracker is quite a bit smaller than a Vive wand's head (it measures just 99.65mm across, compared to 116mm for the wand).

Up top, the device has 18 SteamVR IR sensors that monitor its orientation and X-, Y-, and Z-axis positions. Those sensors are placed around the Tracker's upper surface to maximize tracking fidelity. You'll also find three protruding surfaces on top of the Tracker that expose sensors at a variety of angles. HTC claims its sensor placement allows a 270° trackable field of view.

The power button, shaped like a Vive logo, sits between the three sensor bumps. When you press and hold the button, an LED lights up. Different colors and patterns indicate various states. Solid green signals normal operation and good battery status. A blinking blue light conveys that the Tracker is pairing to the receiver, which happens during setup. When the LED turns solid blue, the device is connecting to the receiver (you'll see this every time the Tracker is powered-up). A red, blinking light tells you to recharge the Tracker, and when it's plugged in the light turns orange.

A set of exposed copper pogo pins for peripheral hardware sit on the Tracker's base; these provide signal points for each wand controller function, allowing hardware developers to map peripheral inputs to the standard Vive controller inputs. The Tracker also includes a micro-USB port that can receive data from peripheral devices, and is used for charging the internal battery.

Like HTC's Vive wand controllers, the Vive Trackers communicate with the host computer wirelessly. They employ the same wireless protocol, though each tracker requires its own wireless USB receiver. If you plan on using multiple Vive Trackers, make sure your motherboard has a free USB port for each one.

The Vive Trackers have 1500mAh lithium-ion batteries, which should provide up to four hours of continuous use. It takes roughly three hours to charge a Vive Tracker through a computer's USB port, and about an hour and a half when you use the wall plug. It’s also possible to use a portable USB charger to extend the tracker's battery life. At least one concept rifle peripheral includes an internal battery that can charge the Vive Tracker while you play (pin #3 in the pogo array accepts power input from an attached device).

The Tracker's bottom side has a standard 1/4" tripod mounting point that lets you attach accessories. HTC lines this surface with a rubberized friction pad to help keep the Tracker planted on flat surfaces.

Specifications

Vive Tracker Setup

HTC's setup process is simple. The Trackers come from the factory with a small charge. HTC includes one micro-USB cable in the box, along with a USB receiver dongle and a dock to plug it into. The instructions suggest using the cable bundled with your controllers to charge the Tracker, since the cable that comes in the box is intended for the dongle housing the receiver. However, instructions that came with our review unit said to use the included cable for charging the Tracker. In the end, they're identical, so use whichever is most convenient.

When you’re ready to pair the Tracker, plug the USB receiver into a spare USB 2.0 (or better) port on your PC. HTC suggests placing the receiver 18" away from your computer for optimal signal performance. Next, start the SteamVR client and turn on your controllers. Turn on the Tracker by pressing the Vive logo for a second. The LED indicator should blink and then turn solid green. If the light turns blue, close SteamVR, press and hold the power button until the Tracker shuts down, re-seat the receiver cable at both ends, and try pairing again.  Should that fail, manually pair the Tracker the same way you would pair a Vive controller. Click the down arrow on the SteamVR window, scroll down to Devices, select Pair Controller, and follow the prompts.

When the Tracker pairs with SteamVR, you will see a Vive Tracker icon appear in the SteamVR window. From there, it’s up to your software to calibrate the Tracker's position. HTC’s FAQ page states that “multiple Vive Tracker hardware can be used, but limitations apply.” It does not clarify what those limitations may be. We’re not sure how many Vive Trackers you can pair with one computer, but we know that at least five units work together (that's how many we have at our disposal right now). In January, Alan Yates, the creator of Valve's SteamVR Tracking system, stated that he had seen 10 working on one PC.

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Vive Tracker Features & Functions

The Vive Tracker opens up a world of possibilities. For starters, you can bring your feet and hips into a game, along with your head and hands for a more full-bodied VR experience.

ISVs have had almost a year to create clever applications. One particular innovation is the notion of full-body avatars. Cloudgate Studio, for example, created a full-body tracking system for its dinosaur hunting game, Island 359. We tried a pre-release version earlier this year and found it to be impressive. A couple of weeks ago, Cloudgate Studio released the Virtual Self update for Island 359, which not only enables foot  and hip tracking, but also allows a third-person spectator view for live-streaming gameplay. The Virtual Self update supports one Tracker for hip tracking, two Trackers for foot tracking, and three Trackers for hip and foot tracking together.

Strange Company’s Left-Hand Path has a semi-hidden feature called External Camera mode, which also enables a third-person view for spectators. Left-Hand Path’s External Camera mode isn’t part of the game's standard release, and we’re not sure if the beta version is available publicly. But the capability exists, and we expect it to be made available in a future update.

Island 359 and Left-Hand Path are the only two games that we know offer some sort of third-person spectator view. But there are several games that support the full-body and foot tracking, including Final Soccer VR, Climbey, Holodance, Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing, VR Monster Awakens, and High Fidelity. Some games, like The Path of Greatest Resistance, even use full-body tracking to offer a new locomotion method where you run in place to move forward.

The Vive Trackers don't include hardware to attach them to anything. If you want to use full-body tracking, you need to purchase or fashion a mounting system. HTC recommends a set of Rebuff Reality's Trackstraps so that you can attach the Trackers to your feet. The Trackstraps feature Velcro to secure them and a quarter-inch thread for the tripod mount on the bottom of each tracker. They're long enough to wrap around your feet, and should fit around most shoes.

HTC doesn't sell the Trackstraps on its website, but you can pick them up directly from Rebuff Reality. The company asks $15 for a single strap or $25 for a pair. Every Trackstrap purchase also includes a code for Rebuff Reality's Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing game.

Vive Tracker Peripherals

Because HTC just released the Vive Trackers, there aren’t many peripheral options available yet. We do expect more in 2018, though. Several HTC partners demonstrated product concepts alongside the initial announcement: pistols and rifles, a fire hose, and a novel virtual camera, for instance. Manus VR showed off its VR gloves with Vive Trackers attached. Although we saw a small selection of weapon peripherals at CES back in January, none of them are available yet.

There are currently two peripheral bundles available for purchase: the Hyperkin Hyper Blaster pistol and the Racket Sports Set, which includes a tennis racket and ping pong paddle with Tracker attachments.

The top of the Hyper Blaster features a quarter-inch mounting screw and stabilizer post to mount a Vive Tracker to the gun. Hyperkin took advantage of the Tracker's pogo pin connection to map Hyper Blaster button inputs. In addition to the obvious trigger, it has a trackpad where a gun's hammer would be, grip buttons on both sides of the handle, and a menu button on each side of the barrel. The mapped buttons let you replace one (or both) of your controllers with a Hyper Blaster in games that support it.

Naturally, a Hyper Blaster adds unprecedented immersion to Stress Level Zero’s Duck Season, since the peripheral is a physical representation of Nintendo's light gun knock-off featured in the game. Hyperkin did design its Hyper Blaster specifically for Duck Season; however, the peripheral works with other games too. You can use the Hyper Blaster to improve your target shooting prowess in Practisim VR, or use the controller to better simulate the arcade experience of Operation Warcade VR. Soon, you’ll be able to use the Hyper Blaster in Tactical AR and Samurai Punk’s The American Dream VR. Vertigo Games also embraced the Hyper Blaster; it has an update planned for Arizona Sunshine, which you can try in beta form today.

The ping pong paddle and tennis racket in HTC’s Racket Sports Pack are more specific tools because they accurately represent the weight and feel of their real-world equivalents. Both items share the same overall design. They're made of a rigid grey plastic material, and both include tracker mounts surrounded by hollow space instead of paddle or racket surface.

The ping pong paddle appears to be standard (real) size. Meanwhile, the tennis racket features a full-sized handle and much smaller head than a real racket. More than likely, the smaller size limits whatever damage might come from whacking something in the real world on accident.

The Racket Sports Set includes a code for Virtual Sports, which offers tennis and ping pong games that support the respective peripherals. Three other ping pong titles already support the paddle, including Paddle Up, Eleven: Table Tennis, and Racket NX. A trio of tennis games extend support for the racket as well, including Blobby Tennis, First Person Tennis, and Selfie Tennis. HTC told us that Pitch Hit VR supports the racket with a Tracker; however, we couldn't enable Vive Tracker mode in the game. We later learned that the build needed for Vive Tracker support isn't publicly available yet.

More Tracker Ideas

Beyond those existing examples, Logitech recently revealed the upcoming Bridge developer kit, which should let developers create virtual overlays for Logitech keyboards with attached Vive Trackers.

Triangular Pixels, the creators of Unseen Diplomacy, experimented with a pet tracking system that it called Tracker VR. In short, you strap a Vive Tracker to your furry friend, allowing you to see whenever it wanders into your virtual playground. Development of the Tracker VR software appears to have stalled out, so we’re not sure if it will ever be available.

Finally, we've seen some mixed reality green-screen setups at various trade shows where the Vive Trackers are the tracked object for the in-game camera. Early on, HTC offered Vive Tracker Roll Switcher software that tricked SteamVR into treating the Vive Trackers as a Vive wand. Once the Trackers hit the consumer market, HTC pulled the link to the role switcher software from its forum, but you can still request a copy if you have a use for it.

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Performance Analysis & Conclusion

How We Tested The Vive Trackers

Nearly two years into the advent of consumer VR, our testing options continue to evolve. Nvidia’s FCAT VR remains the best tool at our disposal for performance analysis. However, Nvidia hasn’t updated the software since its initial release in July, and we noticed that newer games don’t always play nice. When we received our first two Trackers, we tried benchmarking VR Monsters Awoken with the full-body tracking system enabled, but the game crashed every time we tried to launch it while FCAT VR was running. We had no choice but to wait for more compatible software.

In early December, when Cloudgate Studio released the Virtual Self update for Island 359, we discovered that it worked properly with FCAT VR. Island 359 supports up to three Trackers, and it also gives you a virtual avatar when you don’t have any Trackers. We took four performance samples, one for each configuration, to determine whether more tracking points increase CPU load.

We guessed in advance that the Trackers would have little impact on performance. We even posited that receiving data from additional tracking points would lighten the load from Cloudgate’s inverse kinetics (IK) system. Our results prove those theories wrong.

The focus of this particular testing is to determine if the Vive Trackers complicate the processing workload, not to identify the best hardware to use with Vive Trackers or Island 359. As such, we didn’t swap out any of the parts in our VR platform. It boasts an Intel Core i7-5930K @ 3.5 GHz, 16GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR4-3200, and a GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics card.

Island 359 features a large, jungle map with random dinosaur spawn points. It’s nearly impossible to repeat the same process and encounter the same dangers over multiple runs. To avoid inconsistencies and limit the variables, we chose to run our tests from the home camp where you start before setting out on a mission.

For each test, we loaded the game, created an avatar profile to match our hardware configuration, and entered the main camp. From there, we launched FCAT VR and danced around our room-scale space for 60 seconds. We figured that dancing around would be a great test for the IK system, and it would put the most stress possible on the SteamVR Tracking system. We did our best to repeat the same moves for each test.

While we ran our benchmarks, we didn’t notice any issues in the headset. For the most part, performance was consistent for all four configurations. However, FCAT VR observed some anomalies (dropped frames) when more than one Tracker was enabled. We ran the tests again to rule out isolated hiccups, and the second round confirmed that our test system did encounter some trouble keeping up with five or more tracked objects (HMD, two controllers, two or more trackers).

We suspect that the issue is CPU-related, but we’ll test this more thoroughly in the coming weeks with an eye toward recommending minimum system specifications for adding more Trackers. This will include evaluating performance across a wider range of games. As of early December, Nvidia claims to be working on an FCAT VR update. We hope this irons out compatibility.

Final Thoughts

When HTC first announced the Vive Tracker and revealed its potential for interchangeable tracked VR accessories, we imagined that we would see a robust array of low-cost accessories to pair with them. With the tracking sensors, battery, and logic circuitry embedded in the Tracker, accessories could be cheap and easy to manufacture.

To some extent, HTC delivered on our expectations. The Vive Racket Sports Set and the Hyperkin Hyper Blaster are both available in bundles that include Vive Trackers and pack-in game codes for $150. A single Vive Tracker costs $100, so a bundle package puts the actual accessories at around $50. We would like to see the Racket Sports Set sell for slightly less—perhaps $140—since it lacks any electronic components. The Hyper Blaster, with its fully mapped button configuration, commands a fairer premium.

But it’s the price of the Vive Trackers that makes us pause. At $100 each, HTC expects you to dole out another $300+ to experience full-body tracking. When you consider that there isn’t much you can do with a single Tracker (without a peripheral), the $150 accessory bundles start to look like decent deals.

With the addition of the Trackers to its Vive platform, HTC's pricing starts spiraling out of control. The Vive costs $600, which is already $200 more than an Oculus Rift. If you want the mechanical head strap with the integrated headphones, that sets you back another $100. And now, if you want full-body tracking, you need another $300 for three Trackers and $24 for TrackStraps. Add another $100 for the Hyper Blaster and Racket Sports accessories.

That's $1300 for everything. You get a lot more functionality than a Rift would give you, but as much as we love stomping dinosaurs (at least the mean ones) and holding a pistol in shooter games, we’re not convinced that the masses will splurge for the few experiences currently available. HTC is doing a great job differentiating its Vive platform, but the company’s à la carte approach is sure to scare off many potential customers.

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Pimax released a video that shows off several accessories that the company is developing for its upcoming 8K VR HMD, including eye tracking modules, an inside-out tracking module, and even a scent module.

Pimax is a company that isn’t afraid to experiment with the limits of VR technology. At CES this year, Pimax revealed a prototype of a VR HMD that boasts 8K resolution and an ultra-wide 200-degree wraparound configuration. The 8K headset isn’t available yet, but Pimax is still adding to the package. Earlier this week, Pimax quietly posted a video to its YouTube channel that demonstrates several add-on accessories that the company is experimenting with.

Despite the exceptionally high 8K resolution, the refresh rate of the dual 4K displays is limited to 60Hz. What the Pimax 8K lacks in refresh rate, it makes up in the 200-degree field of view (FOV), which puts it right next to the StarVR HMD’s 210-degree FOV. The Pimax 8K headset also features dual tracking technologies. The company created a tracking system for the headset and its wand controllers; it also licensed Valve’s SteamVR tracking technology, which allows the headset to work with SteamVR base stations and accessories.

Just in case the base specifications weren’t enough to catch your attention, take a look at the modular accessories that Pimax is cooking up for the headset: There's a module that adds inside-out tracking to the headset, which you can bolt to the bottom of the HMD. The inside-out tracking module brings hand tracking and depth awareness, and the tracking module could also open a potential path for Windows Mixed Reality support.

Pimax also demonstrated a modular eye tracking unit that mounts around the outside of the lenses. It’s hard to tell from the video, but the eye tracking units look like they could be the aGlass eye tracking modules from 7invensun.

Pimax is even going after a market segment that isn’t really being taken seriously: scent. We’ve encountered scent simulation devices on only two other occasions. Last summer at Gamescom, one of our writers sacrificed his nostrils to the South Park gods to try the Nosulus Rift; and in January, a pornography website called CamSoda released a product called the OhRoma, which is meant to enhance the experience with pleasant scents. There’s no telling what Pimax has in mind for its scent module.

Pimax also showed off a variety of fitment and comfort accessories that are comparable to accessories that you can get for the HTC Vive, including an adjustable rigid head strap with integrated headphones, adapters to mount corrective lenses inside the HMD, and a pair of fans to reduce perspiration.

Pimax even has a wireless module in the works that would eliminate the tether cable that keeps the headset connected to the host PC. The company has not released any details about the wireless adapter other than showing that it exists. We’re unsure which wireless protocol would support streaming an 8K feed.

Pimax hasn’t revealed when the Pimax 8K would be available for purchase, but the company is promoting an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the headset. It’s unclear if Pimax intends to bring the modular accessories to market alongside the headset, at a later date, or at all.

Threadripper lands on retail shelves on August 10 and pre-orders open tomorrow. AMD filled us in on additional details at its Capsaicin event here in Los Angeles today, including an unannounced processor, a new accessory kit, and Threadripper's XFR frequencies and TDPs.

AMD's Zen microarchitecture, which was first officially available in early March, has truly revitalized the company's processor lineup. The design can scale from low-power mobile models to the high-powered data center, so it was only a matter of time before AMD expanded its attack into Intel's high end desktop stronghold.

AMD's halo Ryzen Threadripper 1950X model leads the charge with 16 cores and 32 threads, and the Zen architecture bristles with copious PCIe connectivity options for the entire lineup. More importantly, Threadripper sets the stage for a potentially lopsided fight between this $999 16-core flagship model and the similarly priced Intel 10-core i9-7900X.

Lower prices and less segmentation are music to enthusiast ears, but we still have a lot of ground to explore when it comes to performance. Here's what we know now.

The Lineup

AMD aims the Threadripper lineup at software developers, video/audio engineers, and of course gamers, particularly those who stream or multitask heavily. The competitive Ryzen 7 lineup addressed the lower spectrum of professional applications, but dual-channel memory limited its reach. Threadripper's step up to a quad-channel memory controller provides enough memory heft to handle voluminous professional applications. Throwing in a beefy slab of PCIe connectivity also provides plenty of NVMe storage ports and supports up to four GPUs for heterogeneous computing.

The $999 16C/32T Threadripper 1950X is disruptive, but AMD also offers two competitive downstream models. The $799 1920X wields 12C/24T with a slightly higher base clock, and due to the basic rules of semiconductor power and thermal scaling, the $549 8C/16T 1900X features the highest base clock of the family. AMD already spouted the basic specifications of its two high-end models, but the 1900X was somewhat of a surprise announcement.

The Threadripper 1950X naturally competes with Intel's Core i9-7900X, but it brings more cores, cache, and PCIe lanes to the battle. The Threadripper 1920X straddles the pricing line between the Core i9-7900X and the i7-7820X, which shows that AMD is taking advantage of the big $400 price gap in the Intel lineup. Shrewd move; Intel doesn't have a clear contender at this price point.

The Threadripper 1900X only undercuts the -7820X by $50, but it arrives at the party with 64 PCIe lanes. As such, it poses a real threat to Intel's Core i7-7820X.

AMD also announced that it offers a 200 MHz XFR boost, which brings the top stock frequencies to 4.2 GHz for all Threadripper processors. That narrows the gap between AMD and Intel's boost frequencies, but AMD also offers higher base frequencies across the stack. 

AMD also provided a slide that outlines Threadripper's resource advantages relative to Intel's lineup. Overall, AMD's core, cache, and PCIe advantages are impressive. Although these factors don't always equate to better performance, they surely set a strong foundation. AMD also reminds us that it dedicates four of Threadripper's 64 PCIe lanes to the chipset.

Unleashing The Threads

AMD also treated us to performance comparisons, but as with all vendors, we have to take the claims with a grain of salt. We provide expandable test notes at the bottom of the article.

Intel's Skylake-X models have leading IPC throughput and boost clocks, but it isn't enough to hold off AMD's 1950X in multithreaded workloads. The 1950X's 60% core count advantage yields a 39% Cinebench performance advantage. The 1920X, which is 20% cheaper than the -7900X, provides 11% more multithreaded performance. AMD provided performance data from a broader spate of heavy workloads for the 1950X and 1920X, and even the 12-core 1920X can trade blows with Intel's $999 Core i9-7900X, according to AMD's numbers. We will have to wait for more information on the eight-core 1900X.

AMD also claims a performance-per-Watt advantage over comparably-priced Intel models. We learned the Threadripper models all have a 180W TDP, which is 40W more than the Skylake-X lineup, but TDP figures can be misleading. For instance, AMD's EPYC processors have a higher TDP than Intel's Purley models but are surprisingly efficient. Those processors are very similar to Threadripper.

AMD contends that its 16-core 1950X offers considerably more efficiency than Intel's 10-core -7900X, but it will also be interesting to pit it against one of Intel's higher core count models. Those have yet to come to market, lending AMD the advantage of the highest core counts at launch.

The Launch Ecosystem And Tool Kit

AMD is eager to avoid some of the hiccups of the Ryzen 7 launch, which suffered from limited motherboard and cooling options. To that end, AMD has lined up launch-ready motherboards from ASRock, Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI.

A menu of 20 different liquid cooling options and five air coolers from a wide array of manufacturers also greet early adopters. AMD includes a bundled Asetek adapter for existing AIO watercoolers. Considering Asetek's role in the AIO ecosystem, the bracket will grant wide compatibility with existing closed loop coolers.

Threadripper's large retail package provides plenty of room for value-adds. Given the large Threadripper processors and TR4 socket, it will likely require a fair amount of pressure to ensure consistent contact between the chip and the socket, so the company employs three Torx fasteners to hold the processor snugly. AMD provides a bundled Torx wrench for processor installation. We've covered the socket dimensions and installation procedure, so head to those articles for more detail.

Pre-orders and Availability

AMD is opening a pre-order window for the Threadripper 1950X and 1920X models on July 31, but as usual, we recommend waiting for in-depth reviews before pulling the trigger. For those who can't wait, Amazon, Newegg, and a host of other retailers will have the processors. A slew of boutique builders already offer pre-orders for full systems. The 1950X and 1920X ship on August 10, and the eight-core Ryzen Threadripper 1900X will land on August 31.

The Intel Reaction

AMD feels that Intel has already begun to lower its prices in the face of stiffer competition, and as we can see in the chart, Intel has significantly reduced its pricing for high-end desktop models. If AMD generates enough sales, it's possible we could see further changes to Intel's pricing model.

It's definitely been an exciting (and exhausting) year of processor releases so far, but the story isn't over. AMD also has the Ryzen Mobile and Raven Ridge APUs, which feature Zen and Vega cores on the same die, headed to market later this year. That puts a cap on AMD's penetration into every market segment. AMD has built its way up the stack to Threadripper, and you can imagine reviews will be ready when the processors hit shelves.

Virtual Reality Peripherals And Accessories

Virtual reality headsets burst into the consumer market a little over a year, and there’s already an abundance of VR accessories to choose from, including gun peripherals, tracking systems, and omnidirectional treadmills. The market is still young, and everyone wants a piece of it. What follows is all of the gear we know of.

Granted, whether you need some (or any?) of these products remains to be seen, and many of them may never see the light of day.

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Oculus Rift Earbuds

During the Oculus Connect 3 (OC3) developer conference in October 2016, Oculus released an earbud accessory to replace the over-the-ear headphones that come pre-installed on the Oculus Rift HMD. The Oculus Ear Buds attach to the head strap of the Rift in the stock mounting points. The Oculus Earbuds are available for $50 as an optional accessory from Oculus.com.

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HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Head Strap

HTC announced an upgraded head strap for the HTC Vive at CES 2017. The Deluxe Audio Head Strap combines the best qualities of Oculus’ Rift head strap and the mechanical head strap found on Sony’s PSVR.

The Vive Deluxe Audio Head Strap features a rigid construction like the Rift, as well as a crank to help secure the Vive into place like the PSVR. The upgraded head strap also includes a pair of integrated over-the-ear headphones, so you don’t have to wear a gaming headset with the Vive anymore.

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JBL OR100 Oculus Rift Earbuds

When Oculus released the Rift Earbuds accessory, the company opened the doors for third-party vendors to build accessories, too. JBL is among the first in line; the long-time speaker and headphone maker released the JBL OR100 Oculus Rift earbuds, which replace the stock Oculus over-the-ear headphones. The JBL OR100 earbuds feature ear tips in three different sizes that block ambient noise. The earbuds also feature JBL Pure Bass sound amplification.

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JBL OR300 Oculus Headphones

If earbuds aren’t your style, JBL also offers an on-ear headphone upgrade. The JBL OR300 premium headphones offer similar specifications to the OR100 earbuds. The headphones feature JBL’s Pure Bass technology, and JBL designed the earcups to seal out ambient noise. JBL also packed the cushions with soft padding so you can wear them comfortably for extended lengths of time.

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Mantis Detachable PSVR Headphones

The Oculus Rift includes built-in headphones, and HTC Vive owners have the option of purchasing the Deluxe Audio Strap that includes integrated headphones. Sony doesn’t offer a first-party attached headphone option for the PSVR HMD, but a company called Bionik Gaming filled the gap with a third party accessory.

Bionik Gaming’s Mantis PSVR headphones mount to the headband of the PSVR HMD. The Mantis headphones feature a spring-loaded hinge like the one found on the Oculus Rift headphones that make it easier to slip the headset on and off.

Bionik Gaming plans to release the Mantis headphones later this year.

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Turtle Beach Ear Force 350VR

There are plenty of accessories that attach headphones and earbuds to your HMD, but Turtle Beach designed the Ear Force 350VR headset to fit around it.

Most gamers have a fancy gaming headset with surround sound features and a quality microphone, but often those headsets don’t fit over the head strap of a VR HMD—particularly the PSVR’s rigid headband system. The Ear Force 350VR headset has a wider headband to leave room for VR headgear. Turtle Beach also carved a channel out of the top band to let data cables pass through without sacrificing comfort.

The Turtle Beach Ear Force 350VR headphones are compatible with the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Sony PSVR.

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Sixa Rivvr Wireless VR Adapter

Sixa is building a WiFi-based wireless system called Rivvr that will let you forever disconnect from the dreaded tether from your HMD. Rivvr supports Oculus Rift and HTC Vive and works over standard 5GHz Wifi connections. Eventually, Sixa plans to like the Rivvr system to its cloud-hosted desktop platform, so you won’t need a PC to use a Vive at home.

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TPCast Wireless VR Adapter

TPCast is a Chinese company that specializes in wireless technology. It developed a wireless VR transmission system that leverages the company’s proprietary high-bandwidth wireless video technology that removes the tether cable from the the VR experience.

TPCast partnered with HTC to offer an officially sanctioned upgrade kit of the HTC Vive VR system. The TPCast kits are available now in China and should hit North American shores later this year.

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Leap Motion Camera

The Leap Motion camera isn’t strictly a VR accessory. In fact, the hardware launched long before the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive hit the market. However, when Oculus started selling developer kits, Leap Motion made a quick pivot to virtual reality. The company adapted its hardware and software to enable camera-based hand tracking in real time so you can use your actual hands in VR experiences.

The Leap Motion camera is somewhat outdated, but it’s still readily available. When Leap Motion released the Leap Motion Camera, the company fancied itself a software company first and foremost. Now, though, Leap Motion is transforming into a VR input technology company and doesn’t have plans to update the standalone camera. Leap Motion said we should expect to see its technology embedded in VR HMDs later this year.

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Vive Tracker Universal Tracking Device

At CES 2017, HTC revealed the Vive Tracker, a device that you can attach to any object that you want to bring into VR. The Vive Tracker pucks feature Lighthouse sensors, a USB port for charging and to pass data, and a set of FGPA contacts so you can map button inputs from peripherals such as rifles or pistols.

The Vive trackers are good for more than just accessory peripherals. At GDC 2017, we had the chance to try CloudGate Game's Island 359 with dino stomping action. CloudGate used three Vive Tracker pucks to bring our feet and torso into the game to offer a form of full-body motion tracking. The Vive Tracker pucks could even help you avoid stepping on your pets while you play games.

The Vive Tracker developer kits are available to registered Vive developers. HTC plans to release the Vive Trackers to consumers in late 2017.

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Manus VR Gloves

Manus VR is developing a pair of tracked gloves for VR input that work with several optical tracking solutions. You can mount a Vive Tracker to a wrist strap to give the gloves Lighthouse tracking. We had the chance to try an early prototype of the Manus VR gloves before HTC revealed the Vive Tracker puck, which used Vive wands that would be strapped to the top of your hands. Manus VR also works with commercial-grade optical tracking systems from Xsens, OptiTrack, Phase Space, and Vicon. Manus VR does not currently support Oculus Constellation tracking.

The Manus VR gloves allow you to reach out and touch things in the virtual world with your real hands. The gloves include three 9DoF IMU modules in the thumb and one 9DoF IMU on the backside of the glove to track their orientation. The gloves also include programmable vibration motors to simulate tactile feedback.

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NeuroDigital Gloveone

NeuroDigital launched a Kickstarter in mid-2015 to bring a haptic feedback VR glove to the market. The campaign narrowly passed its funding goal, and the company had planned to ship the gloves by February 2016. To this day, NeuroDigital is still accepting pre-orders for the Gloveone peripheral, but it hasn’t shipped the developer kits to customers yet.

NeuroDigital’s Gloveone controller includes a 9DoF IMU sensor for orientation tracking and 10 vibration actuators to stimulate your senses when you touch things. NeuroDigital said the gloves could also simulate “the intensity of a virtual fire.”

The Gloveone peripheral should be compatible with PC-connected and mobile VR systems.

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NeuroDigital Avatar VR

NeuroDigital is not only working on a glove peripheral; its Avatar VR system builds on the Gloveone hardware and brings full upper-body tracking to the mix.

The Avatar VR system features a tracked glove peripheral with tactile feedback (similar to the Gloveone hardware) as well as tracking devices for your forearms, biceps, and upper chest. The Avatar VR gloves also feature full finger tracking and include conductive zones that let you initiate actions by touching your fingers together.

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Noitom Hi5 VR Glove

The Noitom Hi5 VR Gloves are similar to the Manus VR gloves and feature six 9DoF IMU sensors for orientation tracking. Noitom also included a mount for the Vive Tracker universal tracking devices to provide optical tracking. The Hi5 VR Glove also works with Project Alice, the company’s B2B multi-user VR solution. Project Alice leverages the OptiTrack optical tracking system, and the Hi5 VR Gloves can be adapted with OptiTrack markers.

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VRgluv Haptic VR Gloves

Manus VR and perhaps NeuroDigital have worked out how to track your hands and fingers, and even add haptic feedback, but vibration motors don’t accurately replicate real-world interactions because there’s nothing stopping you from squeezing your fingers through a virtual object.

VRgluv’s engineers believe they’ve solved that tactical feedback problem with pressure sensitivity technology. The VRgluv peripheral features patent pending technology that pushes back on your finger tips to simulate grabbing onto objects. VRgluv’s technology allows for a range of pressure intensity, and you can attach a Vive wand controller, Vive Tracker, or Oculus Touch controller to provide spatial tracking. 

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Dexta Robotics Dexmo

VRgluv isn’t the only company trying to solve the virtual touch problem. Dexta Robotics designed the Dexmo gloves--which it calls an exoskeleton for your hands--to bring tactical feedback to your fingertips in VR, too.

The Dexmo gloves are large and bulky, but they let you pick up virtual objects as if they were in your physical environment. Like the VRgluvs, the Dexmo gloves put pressure on your fingertips to simulate grasping onto things.

Dexta Robotics said the Dexmo gloves are suitable for education, gaming, training, and medical applications.

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Valve Knuckles Controller

Valve is developing a new controller for Steam VR called the Knuckles controller. Valve showed the controller privately to developers at the Steam Dev Days developer conference in late 2016, but it hasn’t shown the controllers to the press in great detail. Valve recently published developer documentation for the new peripheral and started shipping Knuckles controllers to devs.

Valve's Knuckles controllers let your open your hand to reach out and grab objects in the virtual world with your real fingers. You don’t have to hold the controller; it latches onto your hand. The controller includes capacitive sensors for your pinky, ring, and middle fingers. Developers are just now discovering what they can do with Knuckles, but the freedom to move all your digits without dropping your controller should open up many possibilities for interaction techniques.

Valve is working on three VR games that it plans to launch later this year. We expect that the Knuckles controllers will play a large role in at least one of those games. 

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Finch Dash

The Dash from Finch VR is a 3DoF motion controller for mobile VR platforms. The controller includes a thumbstick with click motion, a home button and app button on the face, and a trigger for your index finger.

The Dash controller brings the functionality of Google’s Daydream controller to any Android or iOS smartphone VR device. The Finch Dash controllers aren't on the market yet, but Finch expects to ship the controllers in Q3. The company said the controller would carry a price tag between $20 and $30.

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Finch Shift

The Dash controller isn’t the only VR peripheral Finch VR is developing. At CES earlier this year, the company showed off the Finch Shift controllers, which bring full motion control to mobile VR platforms and are similar in design to the Vive wand and Oculus Touch motion controllers. The Shift controllers include dual triggers, a handful of face buttons, and top-mounted thumbsticks.

Finch’s motion controller technology doesn’t require any cameras. The kit includes a pair of arm bands that features sensors to keep track of its paired controller’s positions.

The Finch Shift controllers are available to developers now for $179. The company expects to ship the retail version before the end of the year, which would be cheaper than the developer kits. Finch VR said it expects to sell the Shift controllers for $100-150.

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NOLO VR

The Nolo VR system is a 6DoF motion controller set that works with mobile VR devices and PC-connected VR systems. It includes two motion controllers and a beacon for your HMD, as well as a base station to track them.

Nolo VR claims sub-2mm tracking accuracy and 20ms tracking latency, and it can tracking in spaces up to 13 x 13ft. The Nolo VR kit also includes third-party software that lets you play Steam VR games with your mobile VR system.

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Talaria VR Locomotion Wearable

The Talaria VR locomotion wearable is a foot-attached VR accessory that brings your feet into VR using the Vive Tracker universal tracking device for spatial tracking. Each Talaria foot accessory features eight high-fidelity pressure sensors that measure the intensity of your step while you run in place. Thus, the harder and faster you stomp your feet, the quicker you’ll move in the game.

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3DRudder

3DRudder is a foot controller for VR that offers 4DoF input so you can navigate 3D environments with your feet while leaving your hands free for other tasks.

3DRudder developed a companion app to go along with the peripheral that lets you change the input interactions of the controller. You can map the controls to emulate mouse input, replace the teleport mechanic in many room-scale VR games, or control the camera in computer assisted drawing (CAD) software.

The 3DRudder foot controller is available for $179. The company also offers a CAD Edition 3DRudder for $279, which includes a license for the CAD plugin software.

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VirZoom

One of the promises that VR evangelists often tout about virtual reality is the benefit of getting your exercise while you game. Room-scale VR titles can get you moving enough to break a sweat, but if you really want to get fit with the help of VR, take a hard look at VirZoom.

VirZoom is an exercise bike converted into a VR input device. The harder you pedal, the faster you move in the games that support it. When you lean on the bike, you lean in the game. VirZoom doesn’t have much third-party support, but the company also develops software to complement the hardware that you can download through Steam.

The VirZoom brings excercise to virtual reality, but it comes at a hefty cost. The VirZoom excersize bike peripheral sells for $399.

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PSVR Aim Controller

Sony recently released the PSVR Aim Controller, which puts the PSVR platform in a league of its own for VR first person shooters. The controller gives you the natural aiming precision of a Move controller while providing all the input freedom that a Dual Shock controller offers.

The PSVR Aim Controller is available now, which leaves HTC and Oculus at a slight disadvantage when it comes to immersion in a shooter experience. That is, until rifle peripherals for the PC VR platforms hit the market.

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Ilium VR Athena

Ilium VR is a third-party peripheral company that's building a rifle peripheral for the HTC Vive VR system. Ilium VR’s Athena rifle is a premium VR peripheral with Lighthouse tracking. Ilium built the gun from the base of an Airsoft gun, which gives it working mechanical components and realistic haptic feedback.

Ilium VR ran an Indiegogo campaign at the end of 2016 to help fund the creation of the Athena rifle, which would have shipped at the end of this year had the campaign reached its goal (which it did not), but the device should still see the light of day. Ilium said production could be delayed by six months, but it's moving forward with making Athena.

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Virtuix Omni

The Virtuix Omni is an omnidirectional treadmill designed to complement VR HMDs. The Omni allows you to walk and run in VR without the restrictions of a limited play space. The hardware suspends you in place with a harness system that resembles rock climbing equipment. The base of the Omni features a smooth, concave surface, and it includes special low-friction shoes that slide on the base.

Virtuix initially intended to sell the Omni to consumers for home use, but following a handful of setbacks and logistics issues, the company pulled out of the consumer market to focus on commercial installations, such as mall kiosks and arcades.

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Kat Walk

Kat Walk is also an omnidirectional treadmill like the Virtuix Omni, but Kat VR took a somewhat different approach. Whereas the Virtuix Omni holds you up with a ground-based suspension system, which restricts your movement in some ways--for example, you can’t crouch down or jump, and the Omni base also hinders free movement of your arms in some cases--Kat Walk uses an overhead hook system to hold you in place. This doesn’t restrict your movement in the same way--for example, it doesn’t limit your arm motion, and Kat VR designed the hook to allow for active movement, including hopping and crouching.

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Roto VR Motorized Chair

The Roto VR motorized chair is a simulation gamer’s dream. With a footprint not much larger than a standard computer chair, the Roto VR offers a haptic experience more akin to an amusement park thrill ride than a home entertainment system.

The Roto VR rotates from side to side in conjunction with the movement in the game. In driving games and flight games, the chair turns when your vehicle does to simulate the feeling of inertia. Roto also offers a foot pedal system that lets you “walk” through a VR experience while seated in the chair.

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Nyko Charge Block

Nyko’s Charge Block is a borderline necessary accessory for the PlayStation VR system. If you have move controllers for your PSVR, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that charging the controllers is a pain unless you have a charging accessory. The PlayStation 4 console doesn’t offer enough USB ports to charge your controllers without you having to unplug the PSVR Processor Box. The controllers won’t charge when the console is off, either.

Nyko’s Charge Block offers a convenient way to charge your Move controllers without leaving your console to idle for hours at a time. The Charge Block draws power from a wall plug instead of the USB ports on your console and it features slots to charge both Move controllers at once.

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VR Mag Docks

VR Mag Docks are designed to work with the HTC Vive wand controllers. They include magnetic USB cables that allow you to disconnect your Vive wands from the charge cable quickly. The docks feature a drop-in design that takes the hassle out of connecting the charge cables to the controllers.

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VR Cover Protective Covers

VR Cover is one of the only companies in the VR industry that’s addressing the obvious hygiene problem that sharing virtual reality headsets produces. VR games often get you moving, which in turn causes people to perspire. When you’re wearing an HMD, your forehead sweat has nowhere to go except into the foam cushion. And then you remove the HMD and hand it to a friend...

VR Cover makes a lineup of washable and moisture resistant products that product your HMD’s foam cushion. The company makes covers for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, and PlayStation VR.

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Noitom Perception Neuron Suit

Noitom's Perception Neuron is a wearable motion capture system that you can pair with a VR system. The Perception Neuron allows you to connect sensors (called "neurons") to your feet, legs, torso, arms, hands, and fingers. Each neuron sensor unit features a three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer, and three-axis magnetometer, and the Perception Neuron system can access up to 32 Neurons at once.

Noitom created the Perception Neuron system as an affordable alternative to camera-based mocap systems. It's also a more practical option for smaller studios because you don't need a lot of space to use the Perception Neuron suit, which Cloudhead Games demonstrated when it revealed how the actors from The Gallery performed their scenes.

The Perception Neuron suit can also be used as a peripheral for VR experiences. AltspaceVR, for example, offers full-body motion if you're wearing a Perception Neuron suit.

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CaptoGlove Motion Controller

The CaptoGlove is a platform-agnostic glove-based input device. Unlike the other glove controllers, which are being developed primarily for virtual reality, CaptopGlove is building its glove controller for PC, mobile, and XR experiences. The CaptoGlove even works with Sony's PlayStation VR.

The CaptoGlove motion controller offers 10-degrees of freedom, and each CaptoGlove controller can manage up to 20 different controls. A pair of CaptoGloves, then, would allow 40 individual input options. It includes a three-axis gyro, three-axis accelerometer, and three-axis magnetometer. The controller also includes five finger sensors that can detect the bending action of your fingers at one degree of resolution, and there's a pressure sensor on the tip of the thumb. CaptoGlove is also a wireless device with built-in batteries that provides up to 10-hours of use.

You can purchase CaptoGloves individually or as a pair. A single CaptoGlove would set you back $250. A pair of CaptoGloves would cost you $490.

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VirZoom VZ Sense

The VirZoom exercise bike is a great way to get in shape while enjoying a VR gaming experience, but what if you already have an exercise bike? To meet the needs of those who don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a full VirZoom bike, the company is developing an accessory called the VZ Sense that attaches to any existing stationary exercise bike and would allow you to use your existing equipment to play VirZoom's VR content library. 

The VZ Sense peripheral fills a few voids that the VirZoom Bike does not. For example, the VirZoom Bike is rated for up to 260lbs., but if you need a stronger bike than that, you have to use dedicated exercise bike. The VZ Sense also works with mobile VR devices, such as the Gear VR, which the full bike does not support.

The VirZoom VZ Sense is also perfect for people who go to the public gym to get their exercise, because the VR Sense module is portable, and the installation is not permanent. VirZoom is currently taking pre-orders for the $99 device and expects to ship hardware to the early-bird customers this fall.

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Vive 'N' Chill

When you're playing an active VR game, it doesn't take long before you start to get sweaty. VR Cover's whole business emerged because of the fact that people sweat when playing VR games. Sweat is A) uncomfortable (and if you're sharing, unhygenic) and B) it can damage your hardware. VR Cover's gear keeps your foam cushion fresh, but they don't prevent you from sweating. In fact, the leather covers often cause you to sweat more than the standard foam.

Vive 'N' Chill takes the opposite approach to dealing with sweat in that it tried to prevent you from doing so in the first place. It's also designed to remove moisture The Vive 'N' Chill is a pair of adjustable fans that you can attach to the top of your Vive HMD. The fans blow air towards your forehead and through your hair. The air flowing over your head should help evaporate your sweat while you play and prevent it from making your foam cushion soggy.

Vive 'N' Chill successfully passed its crowdfunding goals, and the company expects to ship the hardware to backers in September. You can order a Vive 'N' Chill unit through Indiegogo until July 30, 2017.

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HTC's doing a little Spring cleaning, and it's starting with all the wires protruding from its headsets. The company announced today at Computex 2017 that it has partnered with Intel to create a "wireless VR accessory" for the Vive HMD. That accessory will rely on WiGig, the wireless tech Intel created to let you connect basically everything to your PC without having to plug in a single wire, and is expected to work with existing Vive HMDs.

First a quick flashback. Not too far back--just to Google's I/O developer conference, where HTC announced that it created a standalone headset for the new-and-improved Daydream VR platform. That headset (and others like it) will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 VR platform to offer XR experiences without requiring people to own high-end PCs or connect their headsets to another device. Everything happens right on the headset.

Of course, those headsets are going to be less powerful than the current Vive and other PC-based VR systems like the Oculus Rift. Today's announcement showed that HTC wants to offer a similar, but not identical, experience for desktop users. This accessory won't result in a self-contained headset; you'll still have to connect your Vive to a relatively powerful PC. But at least you won't have to deal with a bunch of wires.

This is how HTC described the accessory in its announcement:

The WiGig technology, based on 802.11ad standard, works solely in the interference- free 60GHz band, and enables high throughput and low latency in both directions, from the PC to HMD and from HMD to PC. This means pristine video quality with <7ms latency in any environment, supporting multiple users sharing the same space. All of this results in the seamless wireless VR with the Vive!

The extent to which the wireless VR is "seamless" depends on how much lower than 7ms latency HTC manages to get. Low latency is crucial to XR--too much can hurt your sense of immersion at best and make you feel sick at worst. The good news is we might not have to wait long to find out how well this accessory works: HTC said it's going to show off a proof of concept when it heads to E3 from June 13-15.

In the meantime, we can take comfort in knowing HTC isn't the only company that's chasing that wireless VR dream. AMD acquired an Austin startup called Nitero for its wireless XR technology in April, and we recently went hands-on with Sixa's Rivvr wireless VR system. Oh, and Oculus is also working on a self-contained, untethered HMD with Project Santa Cruz. Hopefully we can bid adieu to all these wires sooner than later.

Noctua announced the expansion of its A-series premium cooling fan line with the addition of new 200mm, 120mm, and 40mm models. In addition to the new fans, the company also introduced a new fan controller, anti-vibration mounts, and S-ATA power adaptor cable.

Noctua CEO Roland Mossig had this to say about the company’s latest additions to the A-series line, :

Customers have been asking us for 20cm and slim 12cm fans for years, but meeting the quality standard users have come to expect from Noctua fans in these form factors has proven very challenging, so it took us quite some time to make sure that these fans live up to our name. The NF-A4x20 has been conceived following requests by our industrial clients who are looking for a 40mm fan that provides superior performance in pressure-demanding applications as compared to the existing NF-A4x10.

At first you might think "what's the big deal about a 200mm fan?" According to Noctua, designing a high quality fan of that size isn't as easy as it sounds. The company said the mass of a 200mm impeller is about four times greater than that of its 120mm fans. Through the use of a new fiberglass reinforced polypropylene material, designers were able to reduce the mass of the NF-A20 impeller by 26%. In addition, the diameter of the axis and the bearing were increased from 3mm to 4mm to better distribute the load over a larger bearing surface.

Water cooling aficionados and system builders will definitely appreciate the new NF-A12x15 fan. Measuring 120 x 120 x 15mm these fans are ideal for use with water cooling systems with limited space or cramped cases. Often times, radiator and all-in-one cooler placement is restricted in smaller chassis due to lack of space. By cutting 10mm off the thickness of its standard 120mm fans, Noctua was able to create a cooling fan that fits in tight spaces while still providing 54cfm of airflow.

Conversely, where the NF-A12x15 fan was slimmed down, the company doubled the thickness of its 40 x 40 x 10mm fans to 40 x 40 x 20mm for applications that require higher pressure performance such as rack mounted servers and other devices like routers, DVRs, and NAS enclosures. All the aforementioned fans share Noctua's signature features such as Flow Acceleration Channels, Advanced Acoustic Optimisation (AAO) frames, SSO2 bearings, and an MTTF rating of more than 150,000 hours and a six-year manufacturer’s warranty.

In addition to the new cooling fans, Noctua also added a new fan controller for up to three 4-pin PWM fans. The controller can be used to manually control fan speed from 0 to 100% or work in tandem with 4-pin PWM headers to allow fans to run slower than the motherboard's PWM setting. The company also announced new silicone anti-vibration mounts that work with both standard open and closed corner fans 10mm to 25mm in thickness. Finally, there is a new SATA to 4-pin power adaptor cable for those of you that want to run high-wattage fans directly from the SATA connectors on your power supply.

Noctua said all of the new products are currently shipping and will be available shortly. Manufacturer suggested retail prices are as follows:

Are you a camouflage enthusiast? Do you like Ghost Recon: Wildlands? MSI debuted a new lineup of PC gaming products that could be right up your alley if you answered yes to one or both of those questions.

The MSI Camo Squad lineup consists of a gaming laptop (with two different GPU options), a desktop PC, a motherboard, and a graphics card, in addition to a plethora of accessories (a mouse pad, backpack, water bottle). Each of these special edition products bears a camouflage pattern and design.

The Camo Squad GE62VR 7RF and 7RE laptops both hail from the Apache Pro lineup, with the 7RF offering a GTX 1060 graphics card and the 7RE featuring a GTX 1050 Ti. Both sport an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, but full specifications (memory and storage configurations, display resolution) of the limited-edition notebooks aren’t yet known. You could say the specs are...camouflaged.

Also absent from MSI’s announcement are full specifications for the Trident 3 Camo Squad desktop PC, Z270 Camo Squad motherboard, and GeForce GTX 1060 Camo Squad 6G. Both, again, are adorned in the classy camouflage pattern. The Trident’s main panel is half covered in camo, the Z270 motherboard’s back panel I/O cover and heatsinks are the epitome of inconspicuous, and the graphics card’s fan shroud and backplate could easily remain hidden in leafy foliage.

In addition to the conspicuously camouflaged products, MSI is offering Ghost Recon: Wildlands bundles with the special edition offerings. Purchasing a laptop will get you a copy of Ghost Recon: Wildlands, a season pass, and all of the camo accessories (backpack, water bottle, dog tags, and mouse pad). A Z270 Camo Squad motherboard comes with a game code, and the GTX 1060 Camo Squad 6G comes with a season pass to Wildlands.

Although full specifications, pricing, and availability of the Camo Squad products aren’t yet known, we’ll check in with MSI at Pax East later this week to see if we can find the answers. For all we know, they could be hiding in plain sight.

Snakebyte revealed at CES 2017 a range of accessories for Nintendo's upcoming Switch console and the NES Classic nostalgia machine.

Snakebyte Meets Switch

Little is known about Switch: It's a hybrid device meant to bridge the gap between home consoles and handheld devices; its unique controller can be split in half to allow for multiplayer gaming; and it's going to play host to the next entries in Nintendo's beloved franchises. The company plans to reveal more on January 13, but for now our knowledge about Switch is limited to hearsay and revelations from an all-too-brief trailer published in October.

Apparently that doesn't matter to Snakebyte. The company announced two accessories--a foldable headset with 40mm drivers that's meant to provide decent sound quality while using Switch as a handheld device, and a "starter kit" filled with accessories. That bundle includes game cases, a screen protector, stereo earbuds, a cleaning cloth, control caps, and a carry bag to "allow for an enhanced gaming experience" and protect the device.

Making Nostalgia More Convenient

The NES Classic is a miniature console that supports 30 old-school games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and more. It's also Nintendo's latest effort to cash in on decades of nostalgia, and it worked, because the device sold out within minutes and remained that way for most of the holiday season. As we covered in our hands-on, it's a solid product marred by weird inconveniences like USB power and a very short cord for its retro controller.

Nyko was quick to address the cord length issue with an extension cable for the bundled controller as well as a wireless controller of its own. Snakebyte is hitching on to that bandwagon with a 9.8-foot extension cable of its own, and it's also made an adapter that allows the USB-powered console to be plugged in to a wall socket. The improvements should let the fortunate few who own an NES Classic more easily enjoy their itty-bitty gaming device.

Here's Snakebyte in a press release:

'Nintendo has a tradition of honouring the past while forging a bold future, and with the release of the NES Classic Edition as well as the forthcoming Switch, we believe that gamers everywhere will respond positively to the new hardware Nintendo are introducing,' said Nick Repenning, CEO for Snakebyte USA. 'We expect our range of Switch accessories to be high quality and thoughtfully designed, ideal for a day one purchase alongside new console sales. We believe that the new products announced today will allow us to continue growing market share in our gaming hardware business and look forward to sharing further details soon.'

The company said it expects both product lines to debut in spring 2017. Pricing information for any of the products was not revealed.

Nyko revealed at CES that it would expand its VR accessories lineup with products for Sony’s PSVR and HTC’s Vive VR systems.

For over 20 years, Nyko has sold third party accessories for every video game console to hit the North American market. In June 2016, Nyko announced it would dip its toes into the still untested VR accessories market. At the time, the company launched the VR Guardian Bluetooth based VR safety grid system that works with any VR headset, and a wrist band called the VR Motion Band. Nyko is now expanding the lineup with four more VR related products.

Sony PlayStation VR

Nyko announced two charging solutions for Sony’s PlayStation Move controllers. Sony’s solution for motion control with the PSVR is actually an old product that debuted in the days of the PS3. When the PlayStation Move controllers launched, Mini-USB was the prevailing USB interface. The industry moved on to Micro-USB, but Sony didn’t bother updating the PS Move controllers for the re-release with PSVR. As such, you can’t use the same cable to charge your PS Move controller as your DualShock 4. What’s more, if you have a standard PS4, you will only have one free USB port, so you can’t charge both Move controllers at the same time.

Nyko has two solutions for charging your Move controllers. The first option is a Mini-USB cable with a Y-split that provides plugs for two devices so you can charge both controllers off the one remaining USB port on the PS4 console. The Y-split is on an adjustable slider, which allows you to spread the cords out enough to let you play with the controllers while they charge.

Nyko said the cable is universal, so you can use it to power any device with a Mini-USB port. 

Nyko also offers a somewhat more elegant option as well. If you don’t want to fiddle with cables, you can opt for the Charge Block for Playstation VR, which features a drop and charge design. You can plug Nyko’s Charge Block into a wall outlet, or you can tether it to the PS4 via USB. 

Nyko also said you can tether the PSVR Charge Block to the company’s other Charge Block products “to create a clean, universal charging system for all your gaming needs.”

HTC Vive

Nyko’s 20-year history is rooted in the console market, but the VR industry is luring Nyko into the PC market, too.

The Nyko Charge Base for HTC Vive is another drop and charge solution. Nyko designed a dongle that attaches to the USB port on the Vive motion controllers. The dongle is tapered, which lets you drop the controllers into place. The other side of the USB dongle features contact points that form a connection between the Charge Base and your controller. Nyko’s dongle solution isn’t as elegant as VR Mag Docks’ magnetic USB cord solution, though.

The Charge Base plugs into an AC power outlet to provide faster charge times than USB charging offers. The base includes LED charge status lights that let you know when your controllers are fully charged.

The final VR product that Nyko announced isn’t an electronic device, but it could potentially be quite helpful. Nyko revealed the VR Halo protective cover for HTC Vive controllers. The VR Halo is a slip-on cover that adds a layer of protective padding to the Vive wand’s sensor ring. The VR Halo includes holes for all the sensors and doesn’t interfere with any of the buttons on the controller.

Available Later This Year

Nyko plans to sell the Charge Link for PSVR cable for $15, and the Charge Block for PSVR for $20, and The accessory company is seeking $30 for the Charge Base for HTC Vive and $9.99 for the VR Halo protective covers. Nyko didn’t announce release dates for the new VR accessories, but the company said they would all ship later this year.

Last year at CES, HTC revealed the Vive Pre, the company’s final developer kit model, which introduced the integrated camera’s “Tron Mode” chaperone feature and Mura correction. This year, HTC is focusing on enhancements to the Vive experience.

HTC's first year of VR was a success. The company received a variety of awards for the Vive VR HMD, including a Best of CES 2016 pick from Tom’s Hardware, and the Vive platform benefited from widespread developer support. During HTC Vive’s CES press conference, Dan O’Brien, Vice President and Executive Director of Emerging Products at HTC, said there are over 1,000 Vive supported titles available today, with approximately 30 titles added every day. Customer excitement hasn’t waned, either. Valve recently revealed that over 1,000 new Vive owners sign on to Steam every day.

With the Vive platform churning out content and picking up customers regularly, HTC turned its attention to enhancing the hardware with accessories.

HTC Vive announced two new accessories for the Vive that are coming to market in Q2 2017. During HTC Vive’s CES 2017 press conference, the company introduced the Vive Tracker, a universal Lighthouse tracked device that you can attach to any object to track it within VR.

Track Anything, Anything At All

The Vive Tracker features three ways to interface: It includes a micro USB port, which allows for tethered data transfer. The tracker also includes a set of analog GPIO pins, which hardware developers can use to attach third-party peripherals such as a light gun. In fact, HTC had a few examples of peripheral accessories on display. The company showed off a large rifle with a Vive Tracker attached to the top that you can use for first person shooters. HTC also had a VR camera peripheral on display, which lets you take screenshots of virtual experiences as if you were taking a picture of the real world.

“To foster the long-term growth of VR, we want to make it even easier for developers to prototype and market more immersive controllers and accessories,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM, US and EMEA, Vive. “The Vive Tracker is the first step in growing an ecosystem of third-party accessories that will change how we interact with virtual experiences and provide consumers and businesses with an unlimited amount of content opportunities.”

HTC also demonstrated that the tracker could be used to enable asynchronous room-scale VR games. The company had a pistol peripheral with a Vive Tracker attached to the front, which was tethered via Bluetooth to a smartphone attached to the top of the gun. The smartphone acted as a screen for a second player in a shooter game. One player had the Vive on, and the other player shared the virtual and physical tracking space while playing on a mobile phone.

The Vive Tracker is a small device. HTC said the tracker weighs 85g, is 42.27mm tall, and has a diameter of 99.65mm. Inside the small package, HTC fit an internal rechargeable battery pack, which offers up to six hours of use between charges. The bottom side of the tracker features a tripod mount.

HTC said it is giving away over 1,000 units to developers, and eight partners have already adopted the device. The consumer release for the Vive Tracker is slated for Q2 2017. HTC said it would announce the price close to the launch.

Integrated Speakers, Mechanically Adjusted Head Strap

HTC also announced a new head strap for the Vive, which you’ll be able to purchase as an upgrade to the VR HMD in Q2. The Deluxe Audio Strap, as HTC is calling it, blends the best features of the Oculus Rift, PSVR, and Vive head mounting mechanisms.

“We’ve continuously improved the core Vive experience, making it more comfortable and easier to use,” said O’Brien. “The Deluxe Audio Strap evolves this mission further, offering a seamless audio solution that also fits more comfortably for Vive users.”

The new head strap features a rigid design similar to the Oculus Rift’s head strap. The Vive’s deluxe head strap still features the overhead band and the section in the back that sits low on your cranium. Unlike the original strap, which is fabric, the deluxe version is made of a firm material with padding on the inside.

HTC also addressed the cumbersome hassle of dealing with earbuds or using your own headset with the Vive. The idea sounds good: use the headset of your choice. But in practice, the cord from gaming headsets often gets in the way, even more so than the rear tether in many cases. Oculus’ solution with integrated headphones is much more elegant. Apparently, HTC agrees, as the new deluxe head strap includes integrated adjustable headphone.

The deluxe head strap also borrows from Sony’s PSVR. The rear includes a dial that you turn to tighten the fit. With the deluxe version, you don’t have to fiddle with Velcro straps on the sides. The dial is directly in the center rear of the head strap, which is where the Vive’s tether cable traditionally runs down your back. The new strap reroutes the Vive tether cable to the side, over your right ear. There is Velcro on the top strap, but it's now easier to reach because the cables don't run overhead anymore.

HTC said the Deluxe Audio Strap will be available at retailers and to order on Vive's website in Q2. The company hasn’t revealed the price yet.

TPCast Wireless Upgrade Launching World Wide

In November, HTC’s Chinese division revealed the TPCast Wireless upgrade kit of the Vive VR HMD. The company had a limited number of pre-orders for the device, but it was only offered in China. During the CES presentation, HTC Vive revealed that the TPCast wireless upgrade would be available worldwide in Q2 2017.

“Our approach to wireless and VR is the same approach that we’ve taken with the Vive –wireless will be open-standard, and we look forward to supporting any company that can demonstrate a low-latency solution to wireless VR,” said O’Brien. “We are confident that wireless VR will be a significant contributor to the Vive ecosystem in 2017."

The TPCast Wireless kit substitutes the Vive’s tether cable and adds roughly 2ms of latency to the system. The base unit will include a 6,000mAh battery pack that offers between 1.5-2 hours of continuous use. TPCast plans to offer a larger pack with up to five hours of battery life later. 

The second half of 2017 will be an exciting time for Vive owners. 

Sharing VR experiences is a surefire way to grow the industry and show the general public the benefits of virtual reality, but this approach has a major drawback that it seems not a lot of people realize: it's terribly unsanitary.

Let me put it this way: You wouldn’t want to put on a sweatband after someone else was wearing it during a workout, right? Well, after an intense game of Space Pirate Trainer, Holoball, Audioshield, Ripcoil, or any other game that has you moving frantically, the face cushion of a Rift or Vive headset isn’t much different than that soggy sweat band.

The Rift and Vive both have foam cushions for comfort, but they both wick sweat like it’s going out of style. Worse still, you can’t clean the cushions. Even if you weren’t sharing it, would you put on the same sweatband you wore yesterday without washing it? If you game every day, Oculus and HTC are effectively asking you to put on the same sweat band every day, forever. HTC sells replacements, at least, but Oculus doesn’t sell individual accessories.

The last thing you want to do is ruin your expensive hardware due to poor sanitary conditions (let alone give yourself some awful fungus or something). It's in your best interest to protect your expensive investment with something washable. Fortunately, VR Cover offers a range of products that can prevent permanent damage to your hardware and provides a sanitary solution for sharing your device with others.

VR Cover makes washable and waterproof covers and replacement foam cushions made of moisture-proof materials. The company also offers a few other accessories, such as replacement facial interface brackets for the Oculus Rift, and a reinforced travel case for the Gear VR. VR Cover sent us almost everything in its product stack to try out.

After weeks of testing what VR Cover sent our way, we can say that some of VR Cover’s products are necessary for any HMD owner, but other products don’t deliver on their promise. Read on to save yourself frustration in the future.

Gear VR Accessories

VR Cover started its business selling washable cloth covers for the Oculus DK2 developer kit, and the company quickly expanded to include products for the Samsung Gear VR Innovator edition developer kits. VR Cover doesn’t sell those products anymore, but it sells variations of the original VR covers for the retail versions that replaced the DK2 and Gear VR Innovator Edition.

VR Cover offers three products for the retail Gear VR HMD. There's a washable cloth cover that fits over the Gear VR’s existing foam cushion, as well as a waterproof replacement foam padding and a reinforced carrying case for the Gear VR HMD.

The cloth covers wrap around the outer edge of the HMD and rest over the foam cushion. The outer edge of the cloth covers features four small strands of Velcro that keep the cushion in place, but curiously, the Velcro straps don’t attach to the back of the cushion at all. Instead, they're designed to adhere to the HMD. It would be much easier to install the VR cover if you could attach it to the bottom of the cushion.

The washable covers are nice to have, but they are a hassle to put on, and they still wick up moisture. If you plan to share your HMD with a large number of people in one day, like at a tradeshow, you should pick up a waterproof foam padding replacement. The replacement foam cushions come wrapped in a leather-like material that doesn’t soak up moisture, so you can quickly wipe it away. You can also clean the leather material with anti-bacterial wipes.

The replacement foam is also slightly thicker than the stock foam cushion that comes with the Gear VR HMD, which helps improve comfort somewhat.

When Oculus and Samsung released the first Gear VR Innovator Edition, the hardware came packed in a reinforced fabric case with a zipper. Samsung and Oculus quickly dropped the carrying case from the bundle, though. The follow-up developer kits and the retail hardware didn’t come with carrying cases, but if you want one, VR Cover will sell you one.

The case is the perfect size for the retail Gear VR HMD. The outside is wrapped in a denim-like fabric like you sometimes find on luggage. The case has a reinforced core that can handle an impact without losing its shape. On the inside of the top half, you’ll find a mesh pocket, which you can use to carry an extra VR cover, a lens cloth, or maybe some earbuds. Don’t expect to fit much in the pocket, as there isn’t much clearance inside the box above the HMD.

HTC Vive Accessories

Shortly after HTC released the Vive Pre, VR Cover started selling Vive covers. First, the company launched the standard washable cotton Vive covers. The dual layer cotton VR Covers fit over the Vive’s existing foam cushion and are held on with Velcro straps that slip under the cushions.

The cotton VR Covers fit loosely over the cushion, which leads to bunching and slack in between the Velcro straps. You should also be careful about the placement of the cover along the top edge. I found the cover would sometimes slip down into my field of view.

A washable cotton cover is helpful, but sometimes you need something that repels sweat, not wicks it. The HTC Vive offers room-scale movement, and some developers take full advantage of that to provide active experiences that often leave you sweaty. VR Cover offers a waterproof leather Vive cover as an option for Active gamers.

The leather cover is the same as the cotton cover, aside from the material. The cover fits over the existing foam and straps on with four Velcro straps. The leather cover won’t absorb sweat, so it protects the cushion from long-term damage. Be careful about letting too much sweat build up on the VR cover, though. There are components inside the Vive HMD that are sensitive to moisture. If your headset fails because of moisture build-up (especially salty sweat), your warranty won’t cover it. Make sure you to wipe the headset down regularly.

VR Cover also offers replacement foam cushions for the HTC Vive in case your original foam is already damaged, or you don’t want the hassle of attaching a fabric cover to your headset. VR Cover has four replacement cushions to choose from, including two waterproof versions, a cotton wrapped version, and a software velour version.

The cotton and velour cushions are the only two Vive accessories that VR Cover hasn’t sent us for evaluation. Both cushions are machine washable and feature 18mm of soft memory foam wrapped in their respective materials.

VR Cover sent us both moisture resistant cushions. These replacement cushions are filled with soft memory foam and are wrapped in water resistant polyurethane leather. The Pu leather cushions are available in two thicknesses, and each is thinner than the cotton and velour options. VR Cover offers a 14mm-thick option, which is comparable to the standard Vive cushion. VR Cover also offers a thinner 6mm option.

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The 6mm cushion doesn’t offer as much padding, but it offers an advantage that outweighs comfort. With a narrower cushion, your eyes sit that much closer to the lenses, which in turn increases your visible field of view. The first time I put the Vive on with the 6mm cushion installed, it felt like wearing an entirely different headset. If you wear glasses, this cushion won’t do you any good, but for the rest of us, the thin cushion is almost a necessary upgrade.

Oculus Rift Accessories

Sometime after Oculus launched the Rift HMD, VR Cover released the first cloth Rift VR Cover, which didn’t go over well. Because of the design that Oculus chose for the Rift’s facial interface, VR Cover couldn’t use a Velcro attachment system as it did for the Vive and Gear VR products.

The first design that VR Cover came up with loosely fits over the Rift cushion, leaving it easy to slip out of place. VR Cover didn’t create a mounting mechanism for the Rift VR Cover. You simply slip it over the edges of the Rift and leave it in place. Many people reported issues with the Rift covers, which prompted VR Cover to create a short tutorial video demonstrating the correct method of installing the covers and how to put the headset on without disturbing the cover’s placement, which you can find on the product page.  

VR Cover still sells this version of the cover, but I wouldn’t recommend it now that the company has other options, such as the stretchable, nose-free Oculus Rift VR Cover. The nose-free cover is made of a soft, stretchable fabric that helps keep it in place. It stretches around the outer edges of the Rift's facial interface to create a more secure fit than the other Rift VR Cover, and it also features two elastic straps that wrap around and latch onto the facial interface to ensure the cover isn’t going anywhere.

The nose-free cover fits much better than the version with the nose, but you must be careful about blocking the proximity sensor. The stretchy fabric doesn’t hold to the top as well as it does to the sides of the headset. It’s not uncommon for the VR Cover to trip the proximity sensor and activate the screens inside the Rift. If you pull the Rift away from your face before lifting the headset up, you shouldn’t have that problem, but you should always double check just in case.

VR Cover created fabric covers that go over the existing Rift headset because it didn’t have any other choice, but over the summer it sought to remedy that problem. The company worked with Oculus to create custom facial interface replacements for the Rift that include Velcro adhesive strips so that VR Cover could offer cushion replacements for Rift owners. In July, the company launched a Kickstarter campaign to help bring the product to life.

VR Cover’s Kickstarter campaign finished with nearly three times as much funding as the company required to bring the facial interface replacements to market. The product shipped to backers in late November, and now you can order them from the company’s website.

VR Cover created two different facial interface sizes. You can purchase a direct replacement that shares the same dimensions as the factory part, or you can purchase one with a longer body to add more clearance between the lenses and your eyes.

VR Cover advertises the long facial interface as an option for people who wear glasses, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s true that some people’s glasses touch the lenses when they put a Rift on, but most people who have trouble getting their glasses into the headset run into width constraints first, and VR Cover’s facial interfaces don’t do anything to address that problem. In fact, in some ways, they compound the issue. 

Oculus' facial interface is made of rubberized plastic that has some flex to it, which allows you to force a pair of glasses in if you must, but VR Cover's replacements are made of rigid plastic that won’t give way.

The VR Cover facial interface is sold as a package with two Pu leather cushions--one thick, one thin--and a nose-free Rift VR Cover. The thin cushion with the VR cover over it is roughly the same thickness as the stock foam cushion. The thick cushion adds a little bit more padding, but it also compounds the glasses issue by making the gap for your face narrower at the sides.

A three-piece cushion option with gaps for glasses on the sides would help, but ultimately, we need a new facial interface with a wider opening to accommodate glasses properly.

Necessary Accessories

Some of the products in VR Cover’s lineup leave much to be desired. The cotton covers for the Gear VR, Vive, and Rift are difficult to attach to their respective headsets, and the material wicks up your sweat quickly, which can limit your play time. The cotton covers are better than the bare foam cushions, but with other options available, you’re probably better off skipping these.

The leather covers are a marked improvement over the cloth covers, but they lack convenience. Getting the cover into the correct position proved to be a hassle that you probably want to avoid.

The Pu leather memory foam cushions are by far the best option. These waterproof cushions are comfortable, washable, and easy to attach. If you don’t wear glasses, the VR Cover Rift facial interface is a worthwhile upgrade. If you own a Vive, the Pu leather cushions are a must-have item.

VR Cover sells its product line directly to customers through its webpage, www.vrcover.com. Prices start at $19 for the cotton VR Covers and $29 for the waterproof covers and replacement cushions. The replacement Oculus Rift facial interface sells for $49 with two Pu leather cushions and nose-free VR Cover. VR Cover also offers a premium kit with two extra washable velour cushions for $75.

VR Mag Docks are clever stands that allow you to put your Vive controllers on display while you charge them, and a convenient way to take them off the charger when it’s time to play.

As the virtual reality hardware market matures, the demand for accessories will undoubtedly grow with it. If you look at the selection of aftermarket accessories for the console market, for example, you’ll find third-party controllers, chargers, cooling systems, protective covers for controllers, and so on. We expect that the VR accessories market will mimic the console market in many ways.

A Nascent Market

The accessories market for VR hardware is just getting started. You can get your hands on a few third-party accessories, but not many. VR Cover offers a range of face cushion covers and replacements; VR Lens Lab makes lens protectors and prescription lens upgrades; Hyperkin offers a range of rubberized protective sleeves for Vive controllers and headsets; and multiple companies offer chargingdocks/headset stands for the PSVR and Move controllers.

I’ve certainly missed a few, but the point is, the VR accessories market is sparse right now, which makes it the perfect time for new companies and entrepreneurs to capture significant market share.

Dylan Evans of Manchester, England, is one such entrepreneur hoping to get an early foothold on the market. Earlier this year, Evans created and released a printable 3D model of a Vive controller stand into which you could insert a magnetic USB cable. Evans received feedback from people who printed their own stands, which he used to improve the design and release as a saleable product.

Evans launched his company and product, VR Mag Docks, in July 2016. After spotting the announcement, I reached out him to inquire about a review sample. Evans quickly agreed to send a set of docks but noted that the response to the announcement overwhelmed his capacity to produce the docks. The following month, though, he pulled the docks due to a design flaw and set out to reimagine their construction.

“I have learned a lot over the few orders I have made," said Evans. "The docks you will receive are relatively complex in terms of plastic parts. This makes them unique and interesting but has several disadvantages, chief among them, that it is very time consuming to get a 'perfect' finish (if you look closely at your docks you will see the finish is not perfect), and it will be very difficult to scale the business should it take off. In addition to this, the current design is not repairable. I use high-quality cables but things break, and I want overseas buyers to be able to fix their purchase.”

Evans halted production of the VR Mag Docks on August 14 with a notice indicating that sales would resume when he finalized the new design, which he said would take “several weeks” and would launch “in conjunction with a new wall holder” product. Several weeks turned into a little more than two months, and the wall holders are still a work in progress, but Evans relaunched the VR Mag Docks at the end of October with a completely new design.

Refined Design

The second-generation VR Mag Docks are still 3D printed, but the structure of the latest version is far less complex. The first-generation VR Mag Docks featured solid internal construction with the magnetic cable embedded directly into the plastic, which made it impossible to replace the cable should it ever fail. The reimagined docks feature a removable bottom plate so you can change the cable if necessary. The magnetic end is glued in with standard hot glue.

The magnetic cables include tiny USB dongles with magnetic contacts that plug into the charge ports on your controllers. The charge port on the Vive controller is slightly recessed, so the magnetic USB dongle is hard to pull out once you stick it in. Fortunately, you’ll rarely have to remove it. Evans said he uses “high-quality” cables that are capable of doing firmware updates.

If you must remove the USB dongle, don’t use tweezers or pliers. Some early adopters reported that their adapters broke apart, and leaving the USB port plugged in. I’ve found that sticking your fingernail between the plug and the controller forces it out without damaging anything. 

The updated VR Mag Dock charging bases are much larger than the previous version. They stand approximately 95mm tall, which is 25mm taller than the older model. The oblong base of the new design takes more surface area than the old stands, too.

The cradles for the controller also sit at a different angle. In the first version, the controllers rest at close to a 45-degree angle from the base. In the new base stations, the controllers sit more upright. Generally, the cradles were redesigned. The previous iteration was clever; it featured a slot for the hand strap and was designed to let you easily drop the controller into place. With the new dock, you can still quickly drop your controller into the dock, but it also lets you grab the controller with less hassle when you need it.

Dropping your controller into the dock couldn’t be easier. The tapered nature of the bottom of the Vive wand allows the controller to slip into the slot to exactly where it needs to be. You don’t have to worry about being precise. Just get the controller into the slot and let go. Picking up the controller is just as painless if you do it right.

It's All About The Technique

The new docks feel somewhat lighter than the previous version, but that’s an illusion due to the balance of each design. The first edition weighs 141 grams, but most of its weight is at the base, and almost none is in the brace that holds the controller. The redesigned docks weigh 160 grams and have more even weight distribution.

Despite the extra weight, the magnets will accidentally lift the docks briefly. In my experience, the dock lifts off the table with the controller if you try to lift the controller upwards. The magnets aren’t strong enough to sustain the dock’s weight, but they are strong enough to displace the mag dock.

To avoid lifting the base when you grab your controller, pull the controller away from the dock as if you’re pulling back on a joystick. You won’t damage the magnetic attachment by pulling it away at an angle. It doesn’t take long to get used to flicking your wrist back slightly while you pull the controller back to break the magnetic attachment.

Available Now

If you use your Vive a lot, especially if you habitually show it to friends or at tradeshows, these magnetic docks are incredibly handy to keep the charge going between turns without risking damage to your USB ports and the hassle of plugging the cord in regularly.

VR Mag Docks is based in Manchester, England, and therefore it offers the docks in British pounds. A set of two docks with magnetic USB cables goes for £39.99 (approximately $49 USD) plus shipping to your respective region. Each set of docks is made to order, and VR Mag Docks offers customization. If you want something unique, contact sales@vrmagdocks.com before placing an order.