Microsoft has launched the X6 SideWinder gaming keyboard in India.The keyboard comprises a switchable key pad with flexible design that offers right side or left side configuration. Users can switch between standard key pad and macro pad in gaming mode. In the latter mode its two-color adjustable backlighting dial shows keyboard keys as red and key pad and Macro keys as amber. A lighting dial adjusts the brightness of the keyboard and key pad. It has 30 programmable keys, known as Macro keys, which allow up to 90 programmable options with an assigned gaming profile. The keyboard can be manually toggled from standard mode to either of two gaming modes with the LEDs indicating the selected mode.The keyboard offers Cruise Control to continue an action without having to hold down the key or keys assigned to the action. While Cruise Control does not work with programmable macro keys, it can be used with up to four keys at a time. The unique In-game macro record button enables the user to record any sequence of keystrokes - even standard chat messages. Macros are stored on the hard drive and can be easily shared. When a game or application profile is assigned using the software, the keyboard uses the automatic profile switching, detects the game or application that is being run, and applies the custom profile. The keyboard also has front-face lighting for enhanced visibility of WASD gaming keys and the Media keys.

"The X6 will definitely change the way games are played on the PC. This is truly an avid gamer's best friend allowing him to delve right into the game. Microsoft Hardware, being the leaders in gaming peripherals, has always brought out products that push the envelope and redefine gaming", said Ashim Mathur, National Marketing Manager, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited.

The Microsoft X6 - SideWinder keyboard is available across India from today for an estimated retail price of Rs. 4,300 and a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty.

Logitech is one of the best-known names in the computer peripherals, gaming and home entertainment industries, releasing a very large number of products each year, whether we're talking about wireless audio systems, mice and keyboards, gaming accessories, etc.

Each year, they organize special events for the press, during which they present their latest innovations, in just about every country where one can find their products. We've recently attended such an event, where we've had the chance to get very close and personal with quite a few of the company's latest products. And within this article we'll give you a complete tour of the most interesting models we found on display, ranging from the Illuminated Keyboard to a wireless racing wheel designed especially for the PS3.

One of the most remarkable things worth mentioning about the event as a whole is its concept. Thus, the company's representatives had arranged the respective location in such a way so as to replicate the various rooms in a house, with every corner of this "home" being filled with the company's goodies.First of all, there was the "living room" area, where we could find some of the manufacturer's products designed especially to create a high-end home entertainment system. We were able to "feast" our eyes and ears on a Squeezebox Boom wireless audio system, the Z-5 omnidirectional stereo speakers for PC and the Z-5500 5.1 surround audio system. Of course, in order to control all of these products, there was also a Harmony One universal remote control thrown in the mix.

Plus, since there are quite a lot of people whose computers have become integral parts of their home entertainment systems, we could also find there some of the company's notebook stands, plus a few very attractive peripherals, such as the DiNovo mini keyboard or the very famous illuminated one.Within the same room, there was a secondary area, which represented the bedroom. There, we could find a special "Mac" area, with some of Logitech's products designed to work with Mac systems as well (such as the QuickCam Vision Pro, the Z-5 speakers for Mac and the DiNovo keyboard for Mac). However, since we were talking, after all, about a bedroom, there was also a Pure-Fi Anytime system, designed to dock iPods and also double as an alarm clock.

Then, there was the "kid's" room, although, to tell you the truth, it was more of a gaming area. There, I could find two systems, completed with some of the company's high-end webcams (like the QuickCam Pro for notebooks), as well as some of the latest peripherals, such as the Wave Keyboard and Mouse combo and the DiNovo keyboard.However, the main point of attraction in this particular area was represented by the racing zone, where we could find Logitech's Driving Force GT racing wheel and also took a very quick look at the Driving Force Wireless, designed especially for the PS3 racing games.

And in order to provide some musical "atmosphere", there was a Pure-Fi Express Plus, an omnidirectional stereo speaker system for iPod/iPhone with a built-in alarm clock. Moreover, in order to allow the other guests to keep an eye on what was going on within the gaming area, there was an Indoor Video Security Master System installed, which streamed a live feed (via the powerlines) directly to the HDTV installed in the "living room."

Caught your interest? Well, in that case, keep an eye out for our future posts in the Gadgets section, where you'll be able to read a lot more about each of the devices listed above (plus many more).

Microsoft has revived its Sidewinder gaming line with the introduction of the SideWinder X6 keyboard and SideWinder X5 mouse. This debut took place at Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.
The X6 Keyboard has the first-ever switchable key pad that can be attached to the left or right side of the keyboard for flexibility. The switchable key pad makes the SideWinder X6 Keyboard ideal for gaming as well as productivity, as the key pad functions as a standard num pad in normal keyboard mode, but becomes a programmable macro pad in game mode. The X6 keyboard’s features are specifically designed for gaming, including the capacity to store up to 90 macros per game and backlighting that helps users get immersed in the game."We know that consumers don't want to pull out and set up a second keyboard for a gaming session, so we created a device that was perfect for both gaming and regular computer use," said Kevin Flick, user researcher for Microsoft Hardware. "With the switchable key pad, gamers will have a fantastic, customizable experience whether they're playing their favorite game or creating Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations."

The SideWinder X5 Mouse is a powerful gaming mouse designed to give mainstream gamers a competitive edge. The nine-button gaming mouse is designed for handling with vertical side buttons, adjustable sensitivity switching up to 2,000 DPI, five customizable buttons, and a Quick-Launch button that instantly launches the Windows Vista Games Explorer.

The SideWinder X6 Keyboard and SideWinder X5 Mouse will be widely available in September 2008 for an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.) and $59.95.

Gaming controllers, be it a gamepad, joystick, wheel or mouse, are some of the central defining elements of any gaming experience. Any gamer with a modicum of experience knows how a bad controller or control scheme can completely ruin the experience of playing an otherwise excellent game. Judging from the huge variety of input devices available, we put a high value on the kind of immersiveness that a good controller-to-game match can create.

While game controllers come in all shapes, sizes and colors, the input technologies they feature are surprisingly universal. Nearly all game controllers receive some or all of their input from various switches of some type. More advanced controllers may also incorporate analog sticks, throttle wheels, visual sensors and motion sensors. Regardless of which combination of these input technologies are incorporated into a controller, the end result is nearly always a device that is controlled with the hands or feet, so it was quite refreshing to learn that OCZ's idea of a game controller doesn't require any of your extremities to operate.OCZ Technology has laid claim to being the first company to bring a "brain-computer" interface to the retail market and they have aimed it squarely at the gamer. The device is called the NIA, which is an acronym that stands for Neural Impulse Actuator, and instead of buttons, sticks, gyroscopes or motion sensors, it reads the body's natural biosignals and translates them into commands that can be used to control PC games.
The NIA is able to detect three types of biosignals generated by your brain, facial muscles and eye muscles via a special headband. The user can bind these signals to any keystroke using the driver and configuration software. This allows the NIA to take the place of any keyboard command in any game. OCZ claims the NIA allows for a new level of immersion not possible with traditional tactile input devices. Not to mention the obvious advantage in input response time that a brain-computer interface could provide.

Now you may be understandably skeptical, as we certainly were. The whole concept of the NIA sounds more than a little outlandish. When we first heard of OCZ's interesting "brain-computer" interface a couple of years ago, we couldn't help but have visions of The Matrix. The very notion of controlling a computer with the mind conjures up images of exotic, fictional technologies from sci-fi movies. We were also slightly skeptical about the NIA's ability to improve our gaming experience, even if it were to work as advertised. Don't get us wrong, controlling the computer hands-free with our mind sure sounds neat, but we really like our mice, keyboards and gamepads. Perhaps we're old fashioned but there is at least one member of the HotHardware team that thinks the keyboard and mouse are the only input devices you will ever need, well at least for the foreseeable future.

As pundits at a computer hardware publication, there is only one way we know how to settle our suspicions and curiosity, as well as try and shed some light on this product for you. So we've obtained a retail-ready NIA sample and have put it through its paces to see for ourselves if it's the real deal or just another gimmick product.

Razer has introduced its latest gaming keyboard exclusively for China market. It is known as the Razer Aurantia (China Pro-Gaming Edition).

The Razer Aurantia is bundled with the Razer Salmosa mouse (China Pro-Gaming Edition). The gaming device has a dimensions of 446 x 205 x 29 mm (LxWxH), offering a wrist rest.The latest gaming keyboard carries few attributes such as 104 programmable keys with macro capabilities, three additional keys for ‘gaming mode,’ ‘profile switching,’ and ‘mute’ functions, 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching and a removable non-slip wrist rest .

Mid-July 2008 is the availability period of the Razer Aurantia gaming keyboard in the Chinese market. Razer Aurantia will be presented at the Razer booth at ChinaJoy 2008, which is happening in Shanghai. The Razer Aurantia keyboard and Salmosa mouse will retail for RMB 399 (approx. Rs. 2,526).