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    Review: Razer Imperator 4G and Scarab Battlefield 3 Edition

    Gadgets Team
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    Review: Razer Imperator 4G and Scarab Battlefield 3 Edition

    The newest game in the Battlefield franchise has become a call to arms for most PC gamers. Many liken it to when Crysis was first released, with gamers scrambling to create monster rigs to be able to play the game in ridiculously high resolutions. Gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer has come out with a line of Battlefield 3 branded devices, which are basically hi-end models swathed in BF3 livery. But since we haven’t reviewed these products yet, we’ll be diving into them just the same. First up, the Razer Imperator 4G and Scarab BF3 edition.

    The original Imperator came out in 2010, and has generally received a lot of favourable reviews. The Imperator 4G takes the original’s design and outfits it with a 4G sensor system that combines both an optical and laser sensor to deliver 6400dpi performance. This ergonomically designed mouse has two adjustable thumb buttons on the left side and two additional buttons near the scroll wheel that allows users to adjust the sensitivity setting on the fly. The whole device is swathed in Battlefield 3livery. Fans of Razer’s glowing snake logo might not appreciate its omission, though the scroll wheel lights does have an LED light on it that you can configure. Like most of Razer’s USB peripherals, the Imperator 4G uses a gold plated USB connector.The overall ergonomics of the Imperator 4G is very good, and is very comfortable to hold and use, even with long gaming sessions. Unfortunately, we noticed that the Battlefield 3version of the Imperator 4G still has the original’s gloss black side instead of the rubberized, non-slip grips that’s in the plain Imperator 4G, which translates to a slippery grip especially if you’re someone whose hands sweats a lot. The two programmable keys on the right side of the device can be adjusted forwards and back, depending on your preference by a switch on the bottom of the mouse. The scroll wheel gives you the right amount of tactile feedback without being noisy.At the heart of the Imperator 4G is the dual optical and laser sensor that Razer says help in accurately calibrating the mouse to any surface for exceptional tracking. After using the Imperator in a variety of games from Battlefield 3 to Skyrim, we wholeheartedly agree. The Imperator 4G tracked well enough on the different surfaces that we used it with, but we found that it performed the best on the Scarab gaming pad that it was sent with.

    Like Razer’s previous offerings, the Imperator 4G comes with its own software suite that allows you to fully customize your experience with  it, from the sensitivity down to the color of the LED light. Your settings are also coded into the device itself, so your settings remain even if you take the Imperator 4G with you and plug it in into a PC without the software suite.

    The Scarab is absolutely swathed in BF3 livery, with the picture of the iconic soldier dominating the whole mat. What makes the Scarab better than your standard hard gaming mouse mat is Razer’s Fractal 2.0 Textured Surface which the company says helps tremendously in tracking.

    We primarily used the Imperator 4G with the Scarab, though we did spend some time with a generic mouse pad for comparison and unsurprisingly, the Imperator 4G tracked better on it. The Scarab also comes in a nice carrying case, if you ever feel the need to take it to a LAN party.

    Aside from the obvious Battlefield 3 branding, the Imperator and the Scarab also contains exclusive codes to unlock Razer’s virtual snake dogtag for use in BF3. While the dogtag doesn’t really give you an innate advantage over your opponents, it’s still a nice extra nonetheless, and we’re pretty sure not everyone will be walking around with it.

    We’re a firm believer in skill over equipment here at Gadgets, but to be honest, we did notice the advantage when we started using the Imperator 4G and the Scarab. We had better control over shots and our character, and the effortless glide of the Imperator 4G over the Scarab meant that we only hade to make small movements to turn around and shoot enemies. In fact, we had to dial down the sensitivity of the Scarab 4G because it felt to jumpy with the default settings.

    Is the set worth it? Short answer is most definitely a yes. The Battlefield 3 editions of the Imperator 4G and the Scarab gives you that edge when it comes to competitive, multiplayer play. While they’re a bit pricey (the Imperator 4G is pegged at $79.99 while the Scarab is at $39.99), the BF3 editions are basically priced the same as the plain versions. If you have the cash and want to declare your love for BF3 out loud, then the BF3 versions of the Imperator 4G and the Scarab are the products to pick up this Christmas.

    Razer Imperator 4G Battlefield 3 Edition

    What’s Hot:

    Comfortable to hold and use
    Adjustable thumb buttons
    Dual sensor system

    What’s Not:

    Gloss black side finish may be an issue for sweaty palms

    Razer Scarab Battlefield 3 Edition

    What’s Hot:

    Mice tracks well on surface
    Great visual design

    What’s Not:

    A bit expensive for a mouse mat

    Bottomline:

    The Battlefield 3 editions of Razer’s Imperator 4G and Scarab are the peripherals to pick up for the die-hard BF3 fan.

    Buymeter: 8.6

    Secret smartphone app is monitoring everything you do, right now

    Gadgets Team
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    Secret smartphone app is monitoring everything you do, right now

    We, like most pinoys nowadays, can’t live without our smartphones. They’ve become an ubiquitous part of our daily lives, and we honestly don’t know what we’ll do if they’re taken away from us. It shocked us then, to know that the one thing we couldn’t live without was also pulling double duty as dirty, dirty snoop. A YouTube video from Android app developer Trevor Eckhart showed how software from a California based firm Carrier IQ recorded, in real-time, keys he pressed into a stock, unmodified HTC EVO handset even when the device was reset to factory default. Additionally, the device still used his geographical location even though he denied its use when he tried using Google. The secret app also managed to capture his search query (he was Googling hello world) even though he was using a page that uses the SSL, or secure sockets layer – which typically ensures privacy by encrypting data.

    “We can see that Carrier IQ is querying these strings over my wireless network [with] no 3G connectivity and it is reading HTTPS,” Eckhart says.

    For their part, Carrier IQ says that their software is purely for diagnostic purposes only, and does not capture key presses. “Our technology is not real time. It’s not constantly reporting back. It’s gathering information up and is usually transmitted in small doses,” Carrier IQ VP of Marketing Andrew Coward said.

    While Eckhart used a HTC device to demonstrate what Carrier IQ does, he says that the software is prevalent in other Android smartphones and even in BlackBerries and Nokia made devices. We’ve linked the video below so you can see for yourself how Carrier IQ works.

    Source: The Register

     

    Nikon announces the SB-910 Speedlight

    Gadgets Team
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    Nikon announces the SB-910 Speedlight

    Nikon brings us a new flagship Speedlight, the SB-910, with an enhanced graphic interface and “intelligent” features.

    Is AMD giving up against competing with Intel on x86?

    Gadgets Team
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    Is AMD giving up against competing with Intel on x86?

    We knew that AMD wasn’t in great shape, especially since their last processor offering, codenamed Bulldozer, is considered by many to be a failure. But it seems that the situation is actually more dire than we thought – TechPowerup is reporting that the company is on the verge of giving up when it comes to competing with Intel, with company spokesperson Mike Silverman saying that “we’re at an inflection point. We will all need to let go of the old ‘AMD versus Intel’ mind-set, because it won’t be about that anymore.” How the company will move forward isn’t clear, although TechPowerup thinks that AMD will try to gain a foothold in the smartphone and tablet market. A bit of a problem though – they’re basically exchanging one problem for another, as the mobile space is actually more crowded than the PC space – you have industry big hitters Qualcomm and NVIDIA in that space, along with a couple of smaller players. AMD will also run into their old rival Intel in that space too, as the company has already voiced  their interest in powering smartphones and tablets come next year (they already had tablets running MeeGo and Honeycomb in last year’s COMPUTEX). With AMD out of the running, Intel will have a virtual monopoly of the market, which doesn’t bode well for PC buyers.

    Source: TechPowerup

    Travel light [looking] with Pumpack suitcase

    Gadgets Team
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    Travel light [looking] with Pumpack suitcase

    I’ve always been one to pack light but that’s mainly because I want to reserve space for all of the extra stuff I might purchase and return with me. Ergo, I lug around a huge bag good for about 25kgs. with only about 8kgs worth of stuff. Now, you can bring with you a much more compact travel case without the extra hulk and bulk and carry home with you all of your extra goodies in a much sleeker fashion.

    The Pumpack, as the name suggests, allows you to increase storage space via a pump that serves as the bag’s handle. Clothes are put in vacuum bags in the first compartment  and air is pumped out to increase space. There’s also another compartment for hard items like toiletries.

    Designed by Yejee Lee, Jongchan Mun, Seobin Oh and Woneui Hong, the Pumpack won this year’s red dot design concept.

     

    Source: Trendhunter

    Groceries beyond face value with Taggie app

    Gadgets Team
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    Groceries beyond face value with Taggie app

    Ever wonder what you feed your children when you’re out grocery shopping at your local market? Better yet, do your kids ever wonder and ask you why exactly are “vegetables are so good for them?” Now, you can avoid your own unconvincing stammering to your children with Niels van Hoof’s “Taggie” app – an app that educates children on grocery store food.

    The Taggie app provides information on fruits and vegetables as well as their origins and their types. Just aim your camera at the product’s barcode, tag, and scan after which a #D augmented reality animation appears with the information. And when you’re equipped with this kind of information, consumers may find it more encouraging to choose healthier foods.

     

    Google: The Evolution of Search

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Google: The Evolution of Search

    Google hasn’t always been the monster company it is today. The company actually started out as a research project back in 1996, at the net’s infancy. From there the company grew, adding more features that allows better search results and more relevant information that people today can’t live without. Google recently released a short, six minute video clip that gives people a sense of how far the company has progressed, and a short graphic that you can download here that’ll let you pinpoint when your favorite Google feature debuted.

    Samsung Galaxy Note officially launched, will come with Netphone app for Smart subscribers

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Galaxy Note officially launched, will come with Netphone app for Smart subscribers

    We’ve had our quality time with the Galaxy Note, and laid down our judgement of Samsung’s biggest smartphone/tablet hybrid in our review. All that’s left now is the official public launch, and that took place last Friday at the Cav restaurant at Bonifacio High Street. You’ll be happy to know that the note is now available at Samsung’s dealers and partners, though you may not be as pleased to learn that the Note still retains the Php 35,990 price tag that we previously reported it’ll carry. If you ask us though, the note is worth every centavo of its asking price, being faster, bigger and better than the Korean company’s current flagship device, the Galaxy S II. The Note will also be available from Smart free through its plan 2000, with unlimited data and 150 minutes of talktime bundled in. Smart also tells us that the note will also ship with their Netphone app in it, something that might not please everyone. Personally, we think the Netphone app is pretty cool (as being able to surf the web without incurring data charges is awesome) but not everyone may appreciate its appearance in a high-end device, especially since the app is now more or less associated with entry-level devices.

    Canon customers can now inquire about their repair status online

    Gadgets Team
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    Canon customers can now inquire about their repair status online

    It’s always a bummer when a gadget needs to get serviced. The hassle of actually getting your device to a service center and the long, agonizing wait always bums us out. Thankfully, Canon is giving customers a new and convenient way of checking the repair status of their Canon products online. The new service provides information on the repair status of Canon digital cameras, compact photo printers, video camcorders, projectors, inkjet printers, laser printers, scanners and lenses online, so you’ll get instant feedback as to the condition of your beloved Canon product. To use the service, log on to canon.com.ph using any web browser, then select the Customer Care tab followed by the Repair Status Inquiry tab to bring up the login page. Enter the product serial and reference number to check the product’s status.

     

    Logitech’s Christmas promotion starts tomorrow, shiny freebies to be had

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Logitech’s Christmas promotion starts tomorrow, shiny freebies to be had

    Logitech’s local PR arm has just notified us that they’ll be launching their Christmas promotion tomorrow. Customers who buy their Logitech Wireless Mouse M325 or their Logitech Wireless Combo MK220 gets a free Logitech S150 Digital USB Speaker headset, while every purchase of Logitech Anywhere Mouse M905 or Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 nabs you a Logitech USB headset H390. A purchase of their Logitech Couch Mouse M515 nabs you a Logitech Stereo Z110, while customers who pick up their Logitech Wireless Mouse M505 will get a Logitech Ultra Flat Keyboard Dark Shine. The promotion will start Dec. 1 and will end on Dec. 31.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Logitech Sale/]

    RIM outs BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, makes device mobile management easy for Enterprise

    Gadgets Team
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    RIM outs BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, makes device mobile management easy for Enterprise

    The general public knows about RIM and their BlackBerry devices but few are really aware of the scope of the Canadian company’s enterprise offerings. Today RIM has announced BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, a new solution aimed at simplifying the way an enterprise manages the diverse portfolio of devices that their employees use. The new offering from RIM allows companies to manage different mobile devices from a bevy of manufacturers running a gamut of operating systems, including BlackBerry (naturally), Android and iOS.

    BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will provide the following mobile device management capabilities for all supported mobile devices:

    • Asset management
    • Configuration  management
    • Security and policy definition and management
    • Secure and protect lost or stolen devices (remote lock, wipe)
    • User- and group-based administration
    • Multiple device per user capable
    • Application and software management
    • Connectivity management (Wi-Fi, VPN, certificate)
    • Centralized console
    • High scalability
    BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is currently in early beta testing with select enterprise customers. RIM is now accepting customer nominations for the closed beta program which will start in January, and general availability is expected in late March.

    Rovio rejects $2.25 billion acquisition by Zynga

    Gadgets Team
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    Rovio rejects $2.25 billion acquisition by Zynga

    We all know how wildly successful Rovio’s Angry Bird series of mobile games have been. If you’re an Android or iOS phone owner, chances are you have a copy of their game on your device right now. And as with any successful business in the tech world today, there’s a lot of companies that want in on that action. One of those companies is Zynga, the wildly successful Facebook game developer responsible for hundreds of farms and poker tables for the social network. Unfortunately for Zynga, Rovio wasn’t in the mood to sell – according to TechCrunch, the Finnish company walked away from a $2.25 billion offer from the casual game company. The reason why they rejected the offer isn’t clear, though the report from TechCrunch opined that it may have been a clash of cultures – the nickel and dime approach by Zynga doesn’t mesh well with Rovio’s free for everyone mantra for their games.

    Source: TechCrunch

     

    JB Music sponsors Ableton Live Workshop

    Gadgets Team
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    JB Music sponsors Ableton Live Workshop

    Today at the JB Music Solutions showroom, a small workshop was conducted teaching the basic functions of Ableton Live, the versatile music production software that’s heavily influenced the scene of live digital music.

    Continue

    Teaser: Dec./Jan. issue takes you back to the future

    Gadgets Team
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    Teaser: Dec./Jan. issue takes you back to the future

    “I’m so sorry, I’m not usually like this. You just really caught me at a bad time,” Iza apologized between muffled coughs. Sick, tired, and feeling absolutely terrible, Ms. Iza Calzado still managed to make it to her Gadgets photoshoot, even after having cancelled and postponed her other obligations. For all it was worth, I told her she was a trooper. She smiled.

    The following day, her father had passed away. And though we at Gadgets were deeply saddened upon learning the news, we don’t think there could’ve been a better model to usher us into the future – a future filled with hope, love, and the strength to overcome even the most trying of adversities.

    Four pinoy hackers arrested over AT&T hacking attacks

    Gadgets Team
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    Four pinoy hackers arrested over AT&T hacking attacks

    Reuters is reporting that four Filipino hackers have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over the hacking attack on US telecom giant AT&T. The attack cost the company $2 million dollars in fraudulent calls to premium-rate services, which the CIDG says that the group then diverts to a Saudi-based militant group. The four hackers, identified as Macnell Gracilla, Francisco Manalac, Regina Balura and Paul Michael Kwan. Reuters notes that weak cybercrime laws and poor technical capabilities makes our country an ideal base of operations for organised crime syndicates involved in cyber pornography, cyber sex dens, illegal gambling, credit card fraud and identity theft.

    Source: Reuters, CNET

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