ASUS’ new ROG Strix gaming laptop is built for FPS players

ASUS’ IFA welcome mat is scattered with laptops, and it’s not just more slender ZenBooks. The company’s gaming arm, ROG, has recast its Strix gaming laptop in two different editions, each dedicated to a different type of game. First up, the SCAR edition, which was built for first-person shooter gamers “looking for a competitive edge”. That edge involves the newest eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processors, and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 10 in the way of graphical might. You’ll be staring into either a 15-inch or 17-inch screen, with a 5ms response time and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. ROG says this will eliminate motion blur, while also contradicting itself and teasing an even smoother 144Hz, 7ms display option also in the works.

With fast-twitch games like FPS, motion blur isn’t all you need to deliver on: the Strix SCAR Edition also has desktop-style keyboard with fast-actuation keys, as well as an N-key rollover — that’s for precision, apparently. However, if you like your games with League and Legends, then you might want to take a closer look at the Strix Hero Edition, which swaps FPS specifications for MOBA expertise.

The Strix Hero Edition has the same Intel Core i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 Series graphics and Windows 10 Pro of the Scar, but pairs that power with a wide-view display with 100% sRGB color gamut for improved contrast and color accuracy. Naturally, a wider screen will benefit games when you have to keep tabs on everything going on. ASUS ROG is also promising a 20 million key-press lifecycle on its desktop style keyboard too, so you can keep gaming for a long time to come. Or, at least until you need to upgrade your graphics again.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Apple Pay Support Comes to Popular ‘Citi Bike’ NYC Bicycle Sharing Service

Bicycle sharing service Citi Bike released version 6 of its iOS app on Tuesday to bring Apple Pay support to customers in New York City and New Jersey.

Now that Apple’s mobile payment system is supported by the service, riders using the app are able to purchase a single pass or Citi Bike membership using their digital wallet instead of plastic.

The app includes a color-coded map of New York City and New Jersey which help users discover nearby bicycle stations including live information on bike and dock availability, with the option to reserve a bike supported in selected locations.

In addition to Citi Bike’s core service features, the app also includes recent ride stats such as start and stop location, ride time, distance, and calories burned, while push notifications alert customers to their ride time and when they have securely docked their bike.

Citi Bikes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City. The Citi Bike app is a free download for iOS from the App Store. [Direct Link]

(Via AppleInsider.)
Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace ‘iPhone 8’ Home Button Entirely

Apple’s upcoming “iPhone 8” could rely entirely on gesture controls for carrying out tasks like navigating to the home screen and opening the new multitasking App Switcher in iOS 11, a new report on Wednesday claimed.

Apple has tested the complete removal of the home button – including even a virtual one – in favor of touch-based gestures, according to images of the new OLED iPhone viewed by Bloomberg and people familiar with the device.

Across the bottom of the screen there’s a thin, software bar in lieu of the home button. A user can drag it up to the middle of the screen to open the phone. When inside an app, a similar gesture starts multitasking. From here, users can continue to flick upwards to close the app and go back to the home screen. An animation in testing sucks the app back into its icon. The multitasking interface has been redesigned to appear like a series of standalone cards that can be swiped through, versus the stack of cards on current iPhones, the images show. 

In addition to the software-based changes, some of which are alluded to in beta releases of iOS 11 on iPad, Bloomberg reports that the new OLED screen on Apple’s “premium” handset is rounded on the corners, whereas current iPhone screens have square corners. The power button on the right side of the phone is also reportedly longer so that it’s easier to press while holding the device in one hand, according to images.

Elsewhere, in perhaps a more contentious move, Apple has reportedly opted not to hide the notch area at the top of the OLED screen, so a definite cutout area will be visible when using apps with non-black backgrounds.

The cutout is noticeable during app usage in the middle of the very top of the screen, where the status bar (the area that shows cellular reception, the time, and battery life) would normally be placed, according to the images. Instead, the status bar will be split into left and right sides, which some Apple employees call “ears” internally. In images of recent test devices, the left side shows the time while the area on the right side of the notch displays cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity and remaining battery life. Because of limited space, the status bar could change based on the task at hand, according to a person familiar with the testing.

Bloomberg also claims that when the display shows black, the superior color reproduction of the OLED screen ensures that it “blends in perfectly” with the notch and thin edges on the front. The screen is also reportedly flat like previous iPhones, in contrast to the fully curved displays found on Samsung’s latest smartphones.

Lastly, the report adds that Apple plans to include a stainless steel band around the phone which the glass curves into. According to images seen by Bloomberg, the steel band “has small antenna cuts on the corners like past iPhones to improve reception”.

While Apple often tests different designs of its products, the hardware details covered here will have been finalized long ago, although the software interface could still change before iOS 11 gets its official public release. Apple is expected to debut the redesigned OLED iPhone at a September 12 launch event alongside iterative updates to its current smartphone line-up, as well as a new upgraded Apple TV with 4K support and Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE capability.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iOS 11
Tag: bloomberg.com
Discuss this article in our forums

Deezer now streams high-quality audio to more than just Sonos

Deezer Elite brought high-quality music streaming to Sonos speakers back in 2014, but until now, the service wasn’t available on audio gear from other companies. Starting today, you can access the renamed Deezer HiFi tier from Chromecast Audio or any speaker that has Chromecast built-in. That opens up the options to devices from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, Onkyo and Pioneer — just to name a few.

If you’re not familiar, Deezer Elite, er… HiFi offers lossless audio (FLAC) with original analog quality for $20 a month or twice as much as the normal subscription. Of course, Deezer’s library includes more than just music. It also features podcasts, live sports events audiobooks and more, similar to what Spotify and other services showcase in addition to their music collections.

Deezer says if a speaker maker opts to include Google Assistant voice features, you’ll be able to control the HiFi service just by speaking. In fact, the company claims this is the first high-resolution audio streaming option to enable voice control. Sure, the number of speakers that employ Google Assistant is limited to Google Home, but Google paved the way for more voice-controlled gear back at I/O when it released an SDK for developers. With IFA just getting started, perhaps we’re going to see a lot of new devices powered by Google’s virtual assistant this week.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Alienware’s 34-inch curved monitor supports NVIDIA G-Sync

Gaming monitors are becoming more specialized and less useful for regular movies thanks to widescreen and often curved designs. Alienware is a good example with its latest 34-inch displays, the curved AW3418DW and flat AW3418HW (or the “A W 3 4 1 8 H W,” as some genius Alienware typography designer wrote it). Both use 21:9 widescreen designs, with 3,440 x 1,440 and 2,560 x 1,080 resolutions, respectively.

The screens have tiny bezels, support NVIDIA’s G-Sync for smoother graphics, and feature 4 millisecond refresh rates for maximum gaming snap. The curved model with a (1900 Radius) supports a 120Hz refresh rate, while the lower res model goes up to 160Hz. Both of those rates are overclocked, because apparently you can overclock monitors now. Each also feature LEDs on the back that glow to match your gaming system tastes.

The high-res curved model is launching today for $1,499, while the flat, 2,560 x 1,080 model will arrived in “late fall” at $1,199. Not cheap, but perhaps worth the edge.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Acer’s Switch 7 hybrid tablet has dedicated graphics without a fan

Acer’s Switch 5 tablet wasn’t something to write home about. The kickstand was clever, but what else was there to lure you away from, say, a Surface Pro? The company has a better answer today. It’s launching a slew of new PCs at IFA 2017, and the headliner has to be the Switch 7 Black Edition. While the 13.5-inch slate is larger and heavier (2.5lbs) than the Switch 5, it’s also the first fanless 2-in-1 to pack dedicated graphics — in this case NVIDIA’s GeForce MX150. You probably won’t be playing Destiny 2 on this machine, but the extra visual oomph should help with video streaming and creative apps while giving you enough peace and quiet to concentrate.

Other tricks? The 2,256 x 1,504 display takes advantage of an included Wacom-powered (and now battery-free) stylus, and an 8th-generation Core i7 should give it some brawn in general-purpose tasks. A fingerprint reader along the bezel should help with quick sign-ins as well. The Switch 7 Black Edition should hit stores in December for $1,699 US and €1,999 in Europe. That’s pricey by most standards, but it could be justifiable if you want a tablet that can handle Photoshop as well as some nicer laptops.

This isn’t Acer’s only portable PC on deck. It’s also launching the Nitro 5 Spin, a 15.6-inch convertible laptop whose GeForce GTX 1050 makes it well-suited to “casual gaming.” Those who don’t need gaming-grade hardware can spring for the Spin 5 in 13- and 15-inch flavors (though the larger model has a GTX 1050 option). And if you just want an ultraportable laptop, the Swift 5’s combination of 8th-gen Core chips and a sub-2.2lb weight might do the trick. The regular Spin 5 arrives first, shipping in September with a $799/€899 starting price, but it’ll be quickly followed up in October by the Nitro 5 Spin ($999/€1,199). The Swift 5 arrives last, hitting shelves in December for $999 in the US and €1,099 in Europe.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Source: Acer

Xiaomi to Debut Mi Mix 2 Smartphone the Day Before Apple’s ‘iPhone 8’ Launch Event

Xiaomi has announced that it will unveil the second-generation version of its nearly bezel-free Mi MIX smartphone on September 11, just one day ahead of Apple’s expected “iPhone 8” launch event in California.

The Chinese mobile maker confirmed rumors of its event in Beijing next month by sharing a launch poster over microblogging site Weibo featuring a profile of the “full screen” Mi Mix 2 and the accompanying phrase “Evolution, approach to final perfection”.

Xiaomi turned heads in October of last year when it unexpectedly announced the 6.4-inch Mi Mix, which it called “the world’s first edgeless display” smartphone, just as iPhone 8 rumors were beginning to gain steam. The device was pooh-poohed by some as “vaporware” when Xiaomi described it as a “concept phone”, but the company began shipping the Mi Mix in December in limited quantities and received some respectable reviews.

Once again, French designer Philippe Starck is said to have worked with Xiaomi on the Mi Mix 2, which is expected to feature an even higher screen-to-body ratio than its predecessor, but will adopt a slightly smaller 6-inch display with an 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio.

Speculation suggests Xiaomi may choose a metal rather than ceramic chassis to make the handset easier to mass produce this time. Internally, the Mi Mix 2 is thought to include a Snapdragon 835 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 3,400mAh battery. Prices are expected to start at around $600, with a higher tier model featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for around $750.

Other China-based smartphone vendors rumored to be launching all-screen handsets to rival Apple’s so-called “iPhone 8” include Huawei and Gionee, with others expected to follow suit. Apple will reveal its first iPhone with edge-to-edge OLED display alongside upgraded versions of its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus next month.

Tag: Xiaomi
Discuss this article in our forums

Logitech’s new Lightspeed gaming peripherals trick bosses with no-frills designs

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for peripherals that blend into the office environment but provide the performance PC gamers demand, then Logitech’s new mouse and keyboard are just for you.

On Tuesday, August 29, Logitech introduced a pair of new wireless peripherals under its Logitech G gaming brand: the G603 mouse and the G613 mechanical keyboard. Both are based on the company’s proprietary Lightspeed wireless technology, which promises fast 2.4GHz connections so that your key commands and mouse movements are immediately received by the parent PC as if the devices were wired. They’re also surprisingly ideal for the work space.

Logitech G G603 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse

With the G603 mouse, Logitech is introducing a brand-new optical sensor called Hero, short for High Efficiency Rating Optical. It was built from scratch for power efficiency and performance, providing up to 10 times more power efficiency than Logitech’s 3366 mouse sensor, and up to four times better performance than its M010 and M000 sensors. Logitech essentially created a new bracket with Hero so that the parent mouse isn’t chewing through batteries while it performs like a wired peripheral.

For the curious, the sensor aspect includes an infrared LED that shines through an elbow-shaped illumination lens. This lens bounces the infrared light off the desktop surface, and into a specially shaped “capturing” imaging lens. This lens then reverses the beam and shoots it into the actual Hero optical sensor, which consists of hardware for turning the captured light into a pixel-based snapshot. This snapshot is then sent to the mouse processor.

Of course, there’s a lot more going on with the Hero sensor than what’s described in our simplification. But one of the Hero sensor’s highlights is that it relies on unlocked firmware. Typically, mouse firmware is locked, making changes to the tracking algorithms and the sensor’s communication process with the mouse processor impossible. But with Hero, Logitech can update the firmware with fixes, optimizations, and “use-case” changes.

But the Hero sensor is just one piece of the G603 puzzle. As previously stated, the peripheral relies on Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless technology, promising wired-like connectivity. Because of the high-performance low-power Hero sensor, Logitech says the mouse already increases battery life. But the company introduced Lightspeed High and Low modes because office work just doesn’t require high precision input. The mouse can even connect via Bluetooth if you don’t want to deal with the miniature USB-based Wi-Fi dongle.

According to Logitech, the Lightspeed High Mode has a high, one-millisecond report rate, which is what you want for PC gaming. The Low Mode has an eight-millisecond report rate while Bluetooth ranges between 7.5 and 11.25 milliseconds. A report rate is how many times the mouse updates the parent PC with its position, and a faster report rate requires more energy. That said, the High Mode promises four to six months of battery time, and the Low Mode (along with Bluetooth) promises 18 months.

The mouse relies on two AA batteries, but if you’re using Lightspeed Low Power or Bluetooth modes, you can use only one battery. These can be added and replaced by simply removing the top plate comprising of the palm rest and mouse buttons, which appear to be held into place with magnets. Along with the two battery beds, you’ll also see a small compartment for storing the mini USB dongle.

The mouse itself doesn’t look like a gaming peripheral. It’s simple in design and built for right-handed users. It consists of the right and left click buttons, a clickable mouse wheel, a button for adjusting the sensitivity, and two thumb buttons mounted on the left side. All buttons can be configured through Logitech’s free desktop software.

What you won’t find on the G603 mouse is a USB port. Logitech is extremely confident in the peripheral’s low power consumption, and its high performance stemming from the Hero sensor and the Lightspeed wireless technology. But that low power draw is also due to the absence of any kind of illumination on the device, which is typically a feature on many PC gaming peripherals.

That said, there’s no visual flare with the G603. It blends into the office environment so the boss can give you props for purchasing productive hardware when in secret you’ve bought something built for PC gaming. The mouse comes with on-board storage, too, for using the peripheral on PCs without Logitech’s software installed, such as an office computer. Otherwise, Logitech’s gaming software will automatically apply settings for a particular game, or you can create profiles and have them automatically load when a specific PC game launches.

Overall, the mouse feels extremely responsive despite its wireless connection. It’s comfortable to use but feels slightly more bulky than other gaming mice. There are no rubberized grips, but they may not be necessary given the bulk of the device and its office-focused design. A switch is provided on the bottom for moving between High and Low Lightspeed modes, or turning wireless off altogether. Another button is available for syncing the device via Bluetooth.

Finally, note that the new G603 mouse is not compatible with Logitech’s new Powerplay wireless charging system. That’s because there’s no rechargeable battery in the G603, and no compartment for the Powercore module.

Here are the specifications:

Processor:
32-bit ARM-based chip
Sensitivity:
200 to 12,000 DPI
Maximum acceleration:
Around 40G
Maximum speed:
Around 400 inches per second
Switch durability:
20 million clicks
Dimensions:
4.88 (H) x 2.68 x 1.69 (D) inches
Weight:
3.14 ounces (mouse only)
3.96 ounces (1x AA battery)
4.79 ounces (2x AA battery)
Includes:
2x AA batteries
Mini USB dongle
USB dongle extender
Shipping:
September 2017
Price:
$70

Logitech G G613 Lightspeed Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

As for the G613 mechanical keyboard, it’s a no-frills solution as well. It doesn’t look like the standard PC gaming keyboard, and there’s no backlighting on purpose, again to conserve battery power. It relies on two AA batteries as well, but there are no High and Low power modes as seen with the G603 mouse. Instead, the keyboard provides a single Lightspeed wireless connection promising a one-millisecond report rate.

The drawback in using Lightspeed connectivity is that it requires a mini USB dongle. If you’re already using the G603 mouse, the keyboard can’t use the dongle already installed in the parent PC. Instead, if you want to use both the mouse and keyboard, you’ll need both mini USB dongles plugged into the parent PC. The keyboard also connects using Bluetooth if you don’t have a free port.

But what’s cool about the G613 is that it includes a multi-mode feature. For instance, you can connect the peripheral to the host PC via the Lightspeed mini USB dongle, and connect to another device using Bluetooth. To tell the keyboard which device you are currently accessing, simply hit the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth button located above the Print Screen/Scroll Lock/Pause buttons. The keyboard can remember up to 10 Bluetooth devices.

According to Logitech, the keyboard promises up to 1.5 years of battery life “with normal gaming usage” versus only 40 hours if the peripheral included backlighting. Meanwhile, the Romer-G switches mounted under the caps promise a durability of 70 million key presses. These are Logitech’s proprietary mechanical switches installed in a multitude of its gaming mechanical keyboards, providing an actuation distance of 1.5mm, and an actuation force of 45g. The result is a quick acknowledgement of your key press, a quick processing of that request, and an extremely fast transport of that key press to the parent PC.

On an audible level, Logitech’s Romer-G switches have a muffled but clicky sound, and the keys themselves don’t require much pressure to actuate your commands. But what we noticed is that in a quiet environment, something inside provides a constant metallic echo/hum while we type, as if someone is banging a hollow aluminum flagpole way out in the distance. It’s not loud at all, but distractably noticeable nonetheless, and a sound not usually present in mechanical keyboards built for PC gaming.

Again, the G613 is a no-frills keyboard visually, but it does provide handy media control buttons along with volume controls. There’s no USB port for wired connectivity, and the wrist rest cannot be removed. But it’s still a PC gaming keyboard, thus it provides six “G” keys to the far left that you can program using Logitech’s free desktop software. These keys can be programmed with individual assignments, mouse inputs, multi-key macros, and so on.

Here are the specifications:

Romer G switch durability:
70 million key presses
Actuation distance:
1.5mm
Actuation force:
45g
Total travel distance:
3.0mm
Dimensions:
18.81 (L) x 8.50 x 1.32 (H) inches
Weight:
3.10 pounds without battery
Includes:
2x AA batteries
Mini USB dongle
USB dongle extender
Tablet/smartphone stand
Availability:
September 2017
Price:
$150

Logitech G Logitech G840 XL Gaming Mouse Pad

Finally, you can’t complete a new mouse/keyboard duo without a new mouse pad. The G840 XL is huge, measuring 35.43 inches wide, 15.74 inches deep, and 0.12 inches thick (3mm). Designed to spread across your entire desk, it provides a cleaner, more uniform look while you use the associated G603 and G613 products. A rubber base keeps it stationary on the desktop while a cloth-based surface enables precise optical mouse tracking, and optimal friction. It’s optimized for Logitech’s new Hero sensor along with Logitech G sensors installed in the company’s other gaming mice.

The G840 XL will ship in September for $50.

Logitech’s latest no-lag wireless gear includes a mechanical keyboard

Logitech’s ultra-low lag wireless peripherals are quickly expanding beyond mice. It’s introducing two more peripherals that take advantage of its Lightspeed tech, including its first keyboard. The G613 (above) has the mechanical switches that many gamers prefer in a keyboard while offering the virtually undetectable 1ms latency inherent to Logitech’s. If you combine this with a Lightspeed-equipped mouse, you’re theoretically eliminating two wires without losing your edge in twitch-happy games. Thankfully, there’s a new mouse on offer as well.

On the surface, the G603 mouse looks like a lower-cost alternative to the G703 and G903 with a relatively plain five-button layout. However, it’s the first Logitech gaming mouse to include the new High Efficiency Rated Optical (HERO) sensor. The upgrade promises an extremely high 12,000DPI sensitivity (with no acceleration or smoothing) while offering just shy of 21 days of battery life. So long as you have even a modest charge, you shouldn’t have to worry about your mouse conking out in the middle of a gaming marathon.

The G613 won’t be a trivial expense when it ships before the end of August for $150/£130. However, the G603 is definitely a bargain over its pricier counterparts at $70/£70. In other words, Logitech just lowered the price of entry for Lightspeed — you don’t need to drop $100-plus to see if the concept works as well as promised.

Source: Logitech (1), (2)

CeX hack puts as many as 2 million accounts at risk

Second-hand gaming retailer CeX has been left red-faced after being forced to admit that an “online security breach” may have put as many as two million customer accounts at risk. In an email to customers, the company said that personal information — including first names, surnames, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers — were stolen. Financial information was also pilfered “in a small number of instances”, but CeX confirmed that the encrypted data included only expired credit and debit cards up to 2009.

It appears that the attack is only limited to the CeX website, which stopped taking financial data eight years agp. In-store personal membership information isn’t thought to be affected, but the company has warned all of its customers to change their store passwords, as well as any other accounts that share the same login details.

“We take the protection of customer data extremely seriously and have always had a robust security programme in place which we continually reviewed and updated to meet the latest online threats,” it said in a statement. “Clearly however, additional measures were required to prevent such a sophisticated breach occurring and we have therefore employed a cyber security specialist to review our processes. Together we have implemented additional advanced measures of security to prevent this from happening again.”

CeX joins TalkTalk, Three and the UK parliament in admitting that it has been the target of a large-scale online attack. While you may have received the email from the company, it doesn’t mean that your details have necessarily been stolen. CeX has said it has contacted all of its website customers as a precautionary measure.

Via: The Sixth Axis

Source: CeX