Posts Tagged ‘experience’

Audio/Videophiles rejoice – Blu-ray audio released!

Friday, May 30th, 2008

While Blu-ray has been making waves far and wide for it’s video clarity and quality, the less touted aspect is its outstanding audio quality.  Well hang on to your hats (and if you haven’t already, maybe it’s time to think about ebaying that SACD player), as Norwegian record label 2L released the world’s first Blu-ray record yesterday.

While technically to be a record, media must be fashioned from vinyl plates and contain grooves, we’ll let this one slide.  If classical music symphonies are your deal, you’re gonna want this disc. The first ever blu-ray audio is a recording of the Divertimenti as performed by Trondheimsolistene – the Trondheim soloists, one of Norway’s finest orchestras.  If not, no worries…it only takes one, and you can bet the family dog that we’ll be seeing plenty more blu-ray audios in the near future.

Blu-ray technology makes use of five separate tracks which requires complex mixing and recording processes, as well as an equally equipped blu-ray player.  2L worked in close conjunction both with manufacturers and recording artists to achieve this spectacular new release.  Using Blu-ray technology, the audio is just like the video; like nothing you’re ever heard before.  Each instrument is perfectly positioned thereby creating a multidimensional listening experience that makes your cd collection look like child’s toys.

For those of you that already own a PS3 or are planning on buying a mac, no sweat, this Blu-ray has been confirmed 100% compatible and simply, “awesome!”

 

Best Gaming Mouse? Logitech vs. Razer

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

So here’s the thing, how are YOU controlling your gaming experience? I ask only because I recently got a new rig, and of course I had the “shiny new toy, let me buy some other toys to go with it’s shopping” experience afterward.

That being said, I use my machine not only for pwning some n00bs, but also for graphics (photoshop and illustrator) and purchased a wacom bamboo graphics tablet. I also like to edit video, and purchased a NuLOOQ to rapidly scrub through unedited video (it also makes for a very handy iTunes controller).

But when it came time for a main HID, I really started to look around. I’ve had the Logitech MX Laser pretty much since the first day it came out (before it was even labeled the MX1000 laser) and have been very happy with it. But lets face it, we’re all techno junkies, and if there’s something better out there: well goddamnit, I gotta have it!

So I started searching various other forums and pages, reviews and corporate homepages. The two names that I saw over and over were Logitech and Razer.

Logitech:

Logitech offers 5 ‘Gaming Grade‘ mice with only one cordless option. Sure, everyone tells me that I’m going to get a better response from a corded mouse, but personally, I’ve used a wireless mouse for so long now, I’m not sure I could really go back to giving up another USB port. But hey, maybe I really don’t know what I’m missing.

The two Logitech that showed up most often were the G7 (cordless, btw) and the G5 (corded, but with a swanky skin over it). While the G5 offers a custom weighting option, it looks as though the G7 does not. Similarly, Logitech’s newest offering the G9 also offers the included weights that you can either insert or remove from the mouse to fine tune you playing style. Neat concept, but I haven’t read any “OMFG u gotta get the G9, FTW!” reviews. It also looks slightly odd in my opinion. And alas, none of these mice have Mac support, which may not be the death bell, because technically, the MX1000 Laser doesn’t offer mac support either, but yet, a quick trip to the support downloads does offer a Mac OSX driver. Again, I know it’s time for a new mouse.

Razer:

Razer’s got 10 offerings currently available for your pwning pleasure. Until recently, Mac users were forced to deal with the (in my opinion) cheesy cousin of razer’s badboys. But, as of April 29th, Razer’s added the DeathAdder Mac edition for those of us playing on Jobs’ OS.

What can’t be said about Razer? I had the opportunity to use the Boomslang Collectors edition at a friends place, and I can honestly say that it’s the smoothest, most comfortable, most responsive mouse I’ve ever used, gaming or no gaming. Alas, no mac love for the collectors edition. Sure, I’ve read the forums where I can try and trick the mac into believing that it’s a mouse (as it normally shows up as a keyboard upon a simple plug in), but really, it’s just not as good as original drivers.

Fair enough, I’ll grant that Razer is not offering a cordless option, and maybe I should be taking notes on this one. Razer offers a wide variety of mice each with it’s own twists and quirks, sizes and weights.

So really: now it’s your turn *peeps* hit me back in the comments, what’s your personal preference when it comes to the mouse FTW!?

 

AMD amping up gaming arm

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

AMD is rolling out a new branding scheme to highlight hardware that is optimized for gaming software. The new AMD Game! Brand is meant to bring ‘console-like’ simplicity to desktop/laptop users.

The New logo with be plastered on all PCs that include an Athlon X2 5600+ processor, 2GB of memory, a Radeon HD 3650, and an AMD 770 or Nvidia nForce 500 series chipset or higher.

The super swanky “AMD Game Ultra” logo is reserved for top shelf systems only. These Johnny Walker Blue Label systems need to have a minimum of a Phenom X4 9650, 2GB of memory, a Radeon HD 3870, and an AMD 770 chipset.

According to AMD’s site, “We’ve tested the games, hardware, and components to make sure you get an amazing playing experience, right out of the box. And best of all, you don’t have to know every detail about your PC to get started.”

In other words, AMD will be reviewing, selecting, and matching peripherals such as mice, keyboards and controllers for max compatibility (um, where do I apply for this gig?). Again, stressing the console like, plug and play right outta the box simplicity.

Whether you prefer to build your frag machine from the ground up, or simply leave the choices up to AMD, my guess is that we’ve going to be seeing a bit more of AMD in the gamers galley.