Category: Tech

SteelSeries 9H Headset Is Available for Pre-Order Now

On By AnjelIn 2DS, 3DS, Android, Games, iOS, News, Online, PC, PC, Tech, Tech, VITALeave a comment

SteelSeries 9H-hero-shot

So our friends over at SteelSeries are just about to release their newest headset, the 9H.

The 9H features three different Dolby® technologies, a double enclosure design, SteelSeries signature retractable microphone, and a swappable cable system to allow for cross platform usage on PC, Mac, handheld consoles or tablets and smartphones. The 9H also features thick leather ear cups for extended use comfort, during those long gaming sessions. Like all of SteelSeries Products, the 9H was designed alongside professional gamers to create the most balanced and linear tournament-grade soundscape. To get a better idea of how they did this take a look at this video below


SteelSeries 9H1SteelSeries 9H2

I had a chance to get some hands on time with this headset at PAX, and I have got to say, what a sweet, sweet headset. They are very comfortable, and fit very nice on the head, I could easily see gaming in them for long periods of time. The sound quality from them was honesty jaw dropping. I never expected a pair of gaming headphones to sound so good. I didn’t get an opportunity to test the Dolby® Technologies in them, but here is hoping I can get my hands on a pair and see how they sound for you guys. I really liked the style, it is a lot more low key then a lot of gaming headsets and with the retractable Mic I could definitely see myself using them outside of the house. The swappable cable system has in line controls, but also can be  disconnected on the go for a more streamlined “on the go” headset. Honestly I will be following this closely and I would highly recommend if you are in the market for a new pair of headphones to give the 9H a look.

SteelSeries 9H Sound Dongle

Equipped with an advanced USB soundcard, the SteelSeries 9H provides users with Dolby® Technology that works together to create incredible sound:

·      Dolby Digital – reproduces multichannel audio to deliver a cinematic audio experience

·      Dolby Headphone – allows up to 7.1 channels of realistic multi-channel surround sound

·      Dolby Prologic IIx – provides the smoothest surround sound experience allowing for multiple listening modes and a more realistic sound

steelseries-9h-headset-with-dolby-technology_retail-box-image

The 9H is up for preorder from SteelSeries as well as other fine electronics retailers for 159$. For more information you can head over to SteelSeries.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Windows 8.1 Is Now Available

On By AnjelIn News, PC, Tech, TechLeave a comment

Windows-8.1 Logo

The long awaited return of the start menu (well long awaited by some people)  is finally upon us….kind of.  Windows 8.1 is finally out today, as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users, and with it they have brought back the Start Menu Button. This time though, it just launches into the Start Screen that we have all come to either love or hate (personally I am a big fan, really like the forward movement here, but I digress) But at least for those people that found Windows 8 confusing and didn’t know how to get back to the start menu, the lovely button is there now. They also have included the option to boot straight into desktop mode, instead of going into the start menu first, which for some people is a big deal (not like it was hard to click one button…) Windows 8.1 also includes a plethora of small changes throughout the OS that really do make it feel much more streamlined. So if you haven’t made the upgrade to 8.1 yet, I highly recommend it. You can access the upgrade from within your Windows Store on Windows 8, if you don’t have Windows 8 yet, you can head over to Microsoft and grab it there, or if you would prefer, you can also get it at your nearest retailer who sells Microsoft software.

Win8.1Boxshots

I upgraded earlier this morning, and I must say it was a VERY painless experience, I went to the Windows store, saw there was an update and clicked yes to download, once that was complete I just restarted like it asked, waited a little while, filled a few things out and Viola! I was on 8.1. All of my programs and settings are all the same, it was a wonderfully easy and painless experience. So again, what are you waiting for? Go get your upgrade on!

Windows 8.1

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Valve Shows of the Steam Controller in Action

On By AnjelIn Game Videos, Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, Steam, Tech, VideosLeave a comment

Steam controller_bindings

Today Valve has released a video of the Steam Controller in action. In the following video you can see the controller being used for Portal 2, Civilization 5, Counterstrike Global Offensive, and Finally in Papers Please; an Indie title. They are showing off how versatile the controller is across a wide range of games, some of which you wouldn’t normally think to use a controller for. Take a look below.


The Steam Controllers will be heading out to 300 lucky beta testers later this year, take a look at what they get to play with.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

What Next Gen Console are you planning to buy?

On By AnjelIn Games, Online, PC, PlayStation 4, Tech, Wii U, Xbox One2 Comments

Next Gen Console Mashup

We here at Geekoholics.com have been wondering, what your thoughts on the next gen are? Are you planning on picking up a new Console? Wait and See? PC only gamer? Wii U? Let is know in the poll below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Call of Duty: Ghosts System Specs Revealed for PC

On By AnjelIn Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, TechLeave a comment

codg

So Nvidia posted the system requirements for Call of Duty: Ghosts on its website this morning. I think there will be some people out there in some serious need of upgrades when they read this, as going next gen is more then a little harder on the hardware then the old games where. Take a look below.

Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 64-Bit / Windows 8 64-Bit
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 2.66 GHZ / AMD Phenom X3 8750 2.4 GHZ or better
  • RAM: 6 GB RAM
  • HDD: 50 GB HD space
  • Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti / ATI Radeon HD 5870 or better
  • Sound: DirectX Compatible Sound Card
  • DirectX: 11
  • Internet: Broadband connection and service required for Multiplayer Connectivity. Internet connection required for activation.

Recommended System Requirements

  • Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, you read that right, 6GB RAM and 50GB Harddrive space! Well now you can get upgrading those PC’s before it is released on Nov 5 on PC.

Source: Nvidia

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Valve Announces the Steam Controller

On By AnjelIn Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, Steam, Tech, TechLeave a comment

SteamController

So today Valve finished off their Trilogy of announcements with the Steam Controller, a new Input device they have spent the last year working on.

They have designed it to be used with all current and future steam games, and in place of thumb stick they have added two, high resolution haptic trackpads, which are also click-able. This is definitely an interesting way of designing a controller, one in which Valve believes every game can be played on, even games like RTS games. They have essentially “tricked” the games into thinking you are playing with a mouse and keyboard and thus allows you to play any game on steam with this controller. They added a Diagram showing how this should work in Portal 2.

Steam controller_bindings

As you can see from the Diagram above, the middle area of the controller is also a touchscreen, which is also click-able, not unlike the PS4 controller.

Steam controller_schematic

Valve is also claiming that they have designed the controller to be “hackable” and are interested in how the community will utilize this controller. They plan to release tools out to the public to allow this to happen at an unspecified later date.  This controller will be part of the same Beta as the Steam Machine, in allowing the public to voice opinions and help mold where it goes, from software, all the way to design.

Steam controller_parts

No word on when these will ship out to beta testers. For more information on the Steam Controller, and to see about getting into the beta, you can go here; Steam.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

From the creators of Mark of the Ninja comes a new game, Incognita, and man it looks cool

On By AnjelIn Game Videos, Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, Steam, VideosLeave a comment

incognita_logo

From the guys that brought us last years Incredible, Mark of the Ninja, Klei are at it again, throwing the stealth genre on it’s head with their new one, Incognita.  I think the video does the best job for showing this game off, so I will just say, take a watch below.

So Incognita is Available for early alpha access on Windows PC’s here. It is also on the way to steam in the coming future. Also if you have yet to pick up their other simply amazing game Mark of the Ninja it too is available on Steam here.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Valve Announces Steam Machines

On By AnjelIn Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, Steam, TechLeave a comment

Valve Steam Box concept

Valve, today, in the second announcement of three planned for this week, announced The Steam Box Machines. In an announcement where they really told us…. well not really anything. Other then to saying that they are working with partners to create various machines, and there will be a beta test, in which they are inviting 300 people from the public to test these machines, which if you are interested in doing so, you can go see the requirements for the “hardware beta test” Here.

We don’t have specs, we don’t have a drawing, we don’t get to see a prototype, really all they have told is “Entertainment is not a one-size-fits-all world. We want you to be able to choose the hardware that makes sense for you, so we are working with multiple partners to bring a variety of Steam gaming machines to market during 2014, all of them running SteamOS.” They have said that they would be shipping hardware in 2014, and that said hardware will be running SteamOS.

Oh and at the very bottom we get this little, possibly foreshadowing, morsel “Am I going to be using a mouse and a keyboard in the living-room? If you want. But Steam and SteamOS work well with gamepads, too. Stay tuned, though – we have some more to say very soon on the topic of input.”  Possibly tipping their hand at what Friday’s announcement will be? I guess we will have to wait till then and see.

They have stated that we will begin to see Steam Machines in early 2014.

You can check out the Steam Machines page Here.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Microsoft Announces the new generation Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro Tablets and Accessories.

On By AnjelIn News, PC, Tech, TechLeave a comment

Microsoft Surface 2

This morning, Microsoft showed off their next generation Surface Tablets, the Surface 2 running windows 8.1 RT and the Surface Pro 2 running Windows 8.1 pro. Here is what’s new:

Surface 2

  • New 2 stage Kickstand
  • Tegra 4 SOC for up to 4 times the performance of the old Tegra 3
  • Bigger battery, for up to 10 hours of battery life
  • 10.1″ 1080p IPS Screen (the old one was only 768p)
  • USB 3.0, Micro SD and HD video out ports
  • Increased WiFi and RAM performance
  • Users get 200GB of Skydrive Storage free for 2 years when they buy a Surface 2
  • 1 Year free Skype calling to landlines also included
  • Windows 8.1 RT Installed
  • Outlook 2013 RT preinstalled
  • Now thinner at 8.9mm and lighter at 676 grams
  • Now comes in both black and white
  • Starting at $449.99
  • Pre-Orders start Sept 24, Shipping to 21 markets Oct 21.

Surface Pro 2

  • New 2 stage kickstand
  • Intel 1.6GHz Core i5 Haswell processor (which is supposed to be faster and quieter then its predecessor)
  • 10.1″ 1080p Clearblack IPS Screen
  • Up to 512GB Internal Storage
  • 2 USB 2 Ports, 1USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, Micro SD slot, audio in/out and charging ports.
  • Can output up to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels on an external display
  • Battery life increased by as much as 75% due to battery, architectural changes, CPU and platform changes.
  • Windows 8.1 Installed
  • 1 Year free Skype calling to landlines also included
  • 200GB Free Skydrive storage for 2 years
  • 4GB or 8GB RAM depending on package
  • Starting at $899.99 for the 64GB/4GB RAM package and increasing depending on package
  • Pre-Orders start Sept 24, Shipping to 21 markets Oct 21.

 

As well as these new tablets, Microsoft also announced several new accessories for the Surface series. The new accessories are; A docking station that also charges the Surface, a new Touch Cover that is both thinner and lighter then its predecessor, the Type Cover now in 4 new colours, the new Power Cover; which adds a battery to the type cover for extended range from your tablet, and a Wireless Adapter for type covers.

Pictures:

So there you have it, the new Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 Tablets. For more information and pre order info you can go to Microsoft.

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody

Steam OS has been announced, coming soon to a living room near you

On By AnjelIn Games, Games, News, Online, PC, PC, Steam, TechLeave a comment

Steam OS Logo

Today, Valve made the first announcement of three that they have scheduled for this week. Valve has announced the Steam OS, a Linux based Steam OS for the living room. In their own words:

As we’ve been working on bringing Steam to the living room, we’ve come to the conclusion that the
environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself.
SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen.
It will be available soon as a free stand-alone operating system for living room machines.

In addition to a free open platform, they are also touting that due to being an integrated OS, they have “achieved significant performance increases in graphics processing, and we’re now targeting audio performance and reductions in input latency at the operating system level. ” As well, they are stating that Steam OS will integrate streaming your games from your desktop PC. They also stated that they are working on bringing the media services we love over to the platform in the coming months. No word on when Steam OS would be released, only that it would be released as a free download sometime in the near future.

This looks to be a way for Gabe Newell to show his love for Linux, and to try and build a better PC for the living room. We will be very interested in seeing where this goes in the future. Stay tuned for the next announcements that Valve is making later this week.

For more info on the Steam OS check it out here, Steam OS 

By Dayne “Anjel” Cody
@DayneCody