Peripherals
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) introduced USB4 version 2.0 in fall 2022, and it expects systems and devices with the tech to emerge later this year and into next year. These upcoming products will largely rely on Intel's Barlow Ridge controller, a full-featured Thunderbolt 5 controller that goes above and beond the baseline USB4 v2 spec. And though extremely capable, Intel's Thunderbolt controllers are also quite expensive, and Barlow Ridge isn't expected to be any different. Fortunately, for system and device vendors that just need a basic USB4 v2 solution, ASMedia is also working on its own USB4 v2 controller. At Computex 2024, ASMedia demonstrated a prototype of its upcoming USB4 v2 physical interface (PHY), which will support USB4 v2's new Gen 4 (160Gbps) data...
Intel Shuts Down New Devices Group: No More Intel-Made Wearables
Intel this week confirmed that it had decided to close down its New Devices Group, which developed various wearable electronics, such as smartwatches, health/fitness monitors, smart/AR glasses and so...
56 by Anton Shilov on 4/20/2018StarTech’s New Adapter Brings eSATA Storage to Thunderbolt 3 PCs
Alternative headline: StarTech’s New Adapter Weds MacBook Pro and eSATA Storage StarTech has expanded its lineup of Thunderbolt 3 adapters with a rather extravagant solution that features an eSATA port...
23 by Anton Shilov on 4/17/2018StarTech Launches Thunderbolt 3 USB Hub with 3 USB 3.1 Controllers & Power Delivery
StarTech has released a new Thunderbolt 3 USB hub that features three dedicated USB controllers and provides up to 20 Gbps of aggregated bandwidth to USB devices. The company...
3 by Anton Shilov on 4/16/2018Foxconn Acquires Belkin for $886m: Gets Belkin, Linksys, Wemo
Foxconn Interconnect Technology this week signed a definitive agreement to take over Belkin International, the company that controls such brands as Belkin, Linksys, Wemo, and Phyn. Foxconn will pay...
12 by Anton Shilov on 3/28/2018ROCCAT Launches Horde AIMO: "Membranical" keyboard
ROCCAT has unveiled their latest keyboard, the 'Horde AIMO'. The Full-size Horde features ROCCAT’s 'Membranical' keys which are claimed to combine the strengths of mechanical and membrane keys in...
6 by Joe Shields on 3/27/2018Logitech Unveils LightSync: Syncing RGB LEDs with G560 Speakers and G513 Keyboard
Logitech has introduced its new Lightsync technology designed to add immersion to games as well as to visualize music or movie audio using RGB LEDs inside peripherals. The first...
11 by Anton Shilov on 3/21/2018Opro9 Introduces USB-C Dock & Adapters: from €29 to €109
Opro9 may not sound like a household name, but this company introduced a lineup of USB Type-C adapters and a docking station that feature rather interesting configurations, and at...
7 by Anton Shilov on 3/9/2018The HAVIT KB395L RGB Mechanical Keyboard Review: Marvelous Mechanical Minimalism
In today's review we are taking a look at the KB395L, a mechanical keyboard from HAVIT, a Chinese manufacturer of advanced PC peripherals. Emphasizing a minimalistic design that's only...
27 by E. Fylladitakis on 3/1/2018MSI Reveals Vigor GK80 and GK70 Gaming Keyboards: Cherry Red RGB Switches, Aluminum Chassis
Today MSI has revealed two new keyboards adding to its Gaming Gear line of peripherals in the Vigor GK70 and GK80 Gaming keyboards. Both keyboards feature a base constructed...
6 by Joe Shields on 2/28/2018The Kinesis Freestyle Edge Gaming Mechanical Keyboard Review: Split Ends For Combined Comfort
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge is the first ergonomic mechanical keyboard that found its way into our labs. Kinesis is a company that specializes on the design of ergonomic input...
44 by E. Fylladitakis on 2/5/2018Azio Ships Retro Classic Bluetooth Keyboard: Expensive Luxury for Windows & Mac
Azio has started to sell wireless versions of its old-fashioned typewriter-like Retro Classic mechanical keyboard. The devices look the same as their wired brethren and are available in four...
8 by Anton Shilov on 2/2/2018Cooler Master at CES 2018: Aimpad’s Analog Keyboard Technolgy Found in Cooler Master MK851
LAS VEGAS, NV — During CES 2018 this week, Cooler Master announced that it’s coming to market in one of its new keyboards, the MK851 which features Aimpad's...
17 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/10/2018Mad Catz Return From Bankrupty To Showcase A Trio of New Peripherals At CES 2018
LAS VEGAS, NV — Back in March of 2017, Mad Catz, the manufacturer of some of the most extravagant and daring peripherals on the market filed for bankruptcy. In...
7 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/9/2018ASUS at CES 2018: ROG Strix Flare Keyboard and the ROG Spotlight Lights Up Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV — In addition to a number of releases announced today, ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) has released a brand new RGB mechanical keyboard and a unique...
0 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/9/2018HP at CES 2018: The HP Z 3D Camera, for 2D and 3D Scanning
LAS VEGAS, NV — At CES, HP is announcing the first monitor-mounted 3D/2D camera. The down-facing ‘zero-footprint’ camera attaches to the display to capture and digitize 3D objects, 2D...
4 by Joe Shields on 1/8/2018The Azio Retro Classic Mechanical Keyboard Review: Eyecatching, But Stiff
Today we are taking a look at the Azio Retro Classic, a mechanical keyboard designed to turn heads with its unique aesthetic design. It will certainly appeal to anybody...
50 by E. Fylladitakis on 1/3/2018Cherry Announces the MW 4500 Mouse with 45° Palm Rest, 1200 DPI Sensor
Cherry has introduced its MW 4500 mouse featuring a rather unique shape that promises to reduce, or even prevent hand fatigue, but only for right handers. The mouse is...
16 by Anton Shilov on 12/18/2017Silicon Labs to Acquire Sigma Designs, Get Z-Wave IP
Silicon Labs has announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Sigma Designs in a cash transaction valued at $282 million. By taking over Sigma Designs, Silicon...
5 by Anton Shilov on 12/11/2017Cherry Launches MC 4900 Mouse with Fingerprint Reader, 1375 DPI Sensor
Nowadays Cherry is known primarily for its mechanical switches for keyboards, but the company also manufactures its own range of peripherals and accessories as well, some of which are...
36 by Anton Shilov on 12/2/2017MediaTek Reveals MT2621 SoC for IoT: Arm7 MCU, Integrated GPRS/NB-IoT Modem
MediaTek this week announced a new SoC designed for ultra-low-power autonomous IoT applications such as wearables, security sensors, and similar devices. The MT2621 SoC integrates basic computational capabilities...
3 by Anton Shilov on 11/30/2017