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...
Razer Expands Availability of Quartz Pink Blade Stealth 13 Laptop & Peripherals
Modern users tend to be very different and demand unique lifestyle devices with a distinctive design. To address certain audiences, companies need to take rather extraordinary measures and introduce...
14 by Anton Shilov on 4/18/2019Logitech Unveils Slim Folio Pro Keyboard for 3rd Gen iPad Pro
Logitech this week has introduced its new keyboard cases for Apple’s latest 3rd Gen 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets. The Logitech Slim Folio Pro keyboard features backlighting and...
11 by Anton Shilov on 4/4/2019SilverStone Launches MS10: a 10 Gbps USB-C Adapter for SATA M.2 SSDs
As SATA SSDs slowly give way to M.2 SSDs, so too have the SSDs' use cases. Besides internal storage, of course, SATA SSDs have also commonly been used as...
20 by Anton Shilov on 4/1/2019Apple Cancels AirPower Wireless Charging Mat
Apple today has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, citing the difficulties the company has encountered in getting the mat to meet its ‘high standards’. The company emphasized that...
30 by Anton Shilov on 3/29/2019SilverStone EP14: A Miniature USB-C Hub with HDMI, USB-A, 100 W Power
With hundreds of different USB Type-C adapters and docks on the market, manufacturers are trying hard to make theirs more attractive. To that end, they now tend to design...
15 by Anton Shilov on 3/19/2019Turtle Beach Acquires ROCCAT: a New Gaming Peripherals Giant Is Born
Turtle Beach, a leading supplier of headsets and a developer of various audio technologies, this week signed an agreement to acquire ROCCAT, a maker of gaming peripherals. The move...
17 by Anton Shilov on 3/15/2019USB4 Specification Announced: Adopting Thunderbolt 3 Protocol for 40 Gbps USB
The USB Promoter Group has announced the upcoming release of the USB4 specification. The new standard is based on Intel’s Thunderbolt protocol and supports a range of features, including...
56 by Anton Shilov on 3/4/2019USB 3.2 at 20 Gb/s Coming to High-End Desktops This Year
The USB 3.0 Promoters Group announced its USB 3.2 specification update that increases theoretical performance of a USB 3.2 interface over a Type-C cable to 20 Gbps back in...
62 by Anton Shilov on 2/26/2019The Das Keyboard 5Q Cloud-Connected Mechanical Keyboard Review: How To Get Noticed
Today we are taking a look at the world’s first "cloud-connected" mechanical keyboard, the Das Keyboard 5Q. Aside from its unique capability to connect to the internet, the Das...
34 by E. Fylladitakis on 2/26/2019Logitech Re-Launches ‘Legendary’ MX518 Mouse with 16,000 DPI Sensor
Logitech this week introduced its all-new MX518 mouse, which incorporates its latest HERO sensor as well as a new SoC. The new mouse is designed to be better than...
43 by Anton Shilov on 2/21/2019Cosemi Launches USB 3.1 Gen 2 Hybrid Active Optical Cable: Up to 50 Meters of USB
Cosemi has introduced the industry’s first USB 3.1 Gen 2 hybrid active optical cables (hAOC), which enable USB connectivity over distances upwards of 50 meters. The cables will be...
40 by Anton Shilov on 2/12/2019The HyperX Alloy Elite RGB Mechanical Keyboard Review: A New High-End Challenger
Today we're taking a look at the latest addition in HyperX’s arsenal of gaming peripherals, the Alloy Elite RGB. Based around genuine Cherry MX RGB Red switches, the latest...
36 by E. Fylladitakis on 1/24/2019CES 2019: Cooler Master Announces Three New Wireless Mechanical Keyboards, SK621, SK631 And SK651
Cooler Master has announced its first range of wireless mechanical keyboards, the SK621, the SK631 and SK651 models. All three models feature Bluetooth 4.0 functionality and have a slimline...
11 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/10/2019HP at CES 2019: Slim Envy USB-C Hub Debuts with Charging USB Type-A and HDMI 2.0
Having already sold tens of millions of laptops that only feature USB Type-C ports, it would seem that PC makers are finally getting into the burgeoning market for USB...
6 by Anton Shilov on 1/6/2019OWC Acquires AKiTiO, Creates Peripheral Powerhouse
OWC on Thursday announced that it had acquired AKiTiO, creating one of the industry’s largest suppliers of storage and other peripherals aimed at professionals and prosumers. One of the...
1 by Anton Shilov on 1/3/2019Amazon Launches Online Tool to Check Compatibility of PC Hardware
Amazon has begun rolling out a special tool that helps DIY computer part buyers check the compatibility of their PCs with components sold by the online store. The Amazon...
19 by Anton Shilov on 11/30/2018OWC Announces 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock: Now with microSD, 85 W Power Delivery
OWC this week introduced its new flagship Thunderbolt 3 dock, which features 14 ports. Living up to its flagship aspirations, the “one dock to rule them all” can also...
22 by Anton Shilov on 11/14/2018AKiTiO Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro with Aquantia 10 GbE
AKiTiO has announced its new Thunderbolt 3 dock for high-end mobile workstations. AKiTiO’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro features a 10 GbE port enabled by an Aquantia chip, along with...
14 by Anton Shilov on 10/17/2018The i-Rocks Pilot K70E Capacitive Gaming Keyboard Review: Our First Capacitive Keyboard
In today's keyboard review we are taking a look at the first capacitive keyboard that found its way into our labs, the i-Rocks Pilot K70E. The Taiwanese company managed...
28 by E. Fylladitakis on 9/21/2018The SteelSeries Apex M750 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review: Set Apart by Software
Today we are taking a look at the SteelSeries Apex M750, the highest-end mechanical keyboard that SteelSeries currently offers. The Apex M750 also sports the company's new QX2 mechanical...
18 by E. Fylladitakis on 9/7/2018