lighting | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:32:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png lighting | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Corsair launches iCUE Murals Lighting for full-room RGB effects https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/corsair-launches-icue-murals-lighting-for-full-room-rgb-effects/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/corsair-launches-icue-murals-lighting-for-full-room-rgb-effects/#respond Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:46:07 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=593028 Corsair is bringing another upgrade to its iCUE software, enabling even greater RGB synchronisation and customisation. The new Murals Lighting feature is now rolling out, allowing users to create more complex lighting profiles. Murals Lighting is an interactive tool that enables users to quickly create custom RGB lighting effects. You can upload any image, GIF, …

The post Corsair launches iCUE Murals Lighting for full-room RGB effects first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Corsair is bringing another upgrade to its iCUE software, enabling even greater RGB synchronisation and customisation. The new Murals Lighting feature is now rolling out, allowing users to create more complex lighting profiles.

Murals Lighting is an interactive tool that enables users to quickly create custom RGB lighting effects. You can upload any image, GIF, or video to Murals, and then place your RGB devices over it on-screen to create unique visuals across your setup.

Nearly any static or moving image file format works in Murals, so you can choose from your favourite videos or background images, or match on-screen games/media in real-time to produce new lighting effects. Thanks to partnerships with smart lighting ecosystems such as Philips Hue and Nanoleaf, you can control your game room’s wall panels, smart light bulbs, and more in iCUE – and when combined with Murals, your system, ambient lighting, and walls can all sync up with colours and effects.

You can download Corsair iCUE Murals Lighting starting today.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: How many of you put effort into customising lighting around your gaming setup? Will you be trying out iCUE Murals? 

The post Corsair launches iCUE Murals Lighting for full-room RGB effects first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/corsair-launches-icue-murals-lighting-for-full-room-rgb-effects/feed/ 0
Patriot Viper Steel RGB 3600MHz 32GB Memory Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/patriot-viper-steel-rgb-3600mhz-32gb-memory-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/patriot-viper-steel-rgb-3600mhz-32gb-memory-review/#respond Mon, 18 Jan 2021 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=501045 Can Patriot's latest Viper Steel RGB memory kit compete at ÂŁ165?

The post Patriot Viper Steel RGB 3600MHz 32GB Memory Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Patriot is upgrading its popular Viper Steel series of memory to include RGB lighting, as is seemingly expected from every PC component in 2021. Featuring a black aluminium heatspreader with a top-mounted set of RGB LEDs and a diffuser lightbar, can the Patriot Viper Steel RGB memory prove to be a solid new option to the market?

The Patriot Viper Steel RGB memory module follows the same no-nonsense design logic of the standard non-RGB version of the RAM. Now, however, the aluminium heatspreader has been switched to a matte appearance with a grain-type texture while the Viper logo is coloured gold.

While the ‘Steel’ naming scheme now makes less sense given the black appearance, I personally feel that these styling adjustments are a good transition in creating a more attractive memory module. The black heatspreader looks sleek alongside the black PCB and, of course, retains it cooling functionality given the use of aluminium material.

Across the top of the roughly 48mm-tall memory module sits the RGB lightbar. This retains the aggressive angular styling of the non-RGB Viper Steel modules, but the height is now around 3mm taller for the LED-equipped kit.

It is difficult to tell exactly how many RGB LEDs sit underneath the lightbar. And that is a particularly important point given the perceived smoothness of the emitted light. Similarities to the light diffuser strip on the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro modules are evident, and that’s strong praise for Patriot.

Lighting control is handled through the sync utilities of the big four motherboard vendors. We tested with ASUS AURA and found the functionality to be straightforward and effective. The lighting speed is good, the brightness is positive, and the granularity of control is solid.

Colour accuracy for the lightbar is also positive overall, though we did notice that our white colour selection displayed a slightly off-white tint. Other than that, I was also happy with the transitions between colours in the go-to RGB rainbow puke mode.

In terms of modules specs, Patriot offers a variety of options. The kit that we have for testing is a 32GB (2x16GB) capacity set with rated specifications of 3600MHz at 20-26-26-46 timings and 1.35V. Of course, XMP 2.0 is supported.

Those timings are incredibly slack for a modern 3600MHz dual channel memory kit, so it will be interesting to see if we are able to overclock to some tighter numbers. Of course, 3600MHz is still ideal for simple 1:1 memory controller to Infinity Fabric clock operation on AMD platforms. And any additional frequency through overclocking will be welcomed by Ryzen 5000 users with higher FCLK capabilities.

The specific memory chips used read as Hynix H5AN8G8N??R-VKC according to Thaiphoon Burner. That pair of question marks makes it unclear, but our contacts at Patriot confirmed that the kit uses SK Hynix “AFR” memory ICs with model code H5AN8G8NAFR-VKC. Those chips are deployed in a dual-rank configuration for each of the 16GB DIMMs.

Worth noting is that neither monitoring software such as HWiNFO nor Thaiphoon Burner could register any thermal sensor data on our test system.

In summary, we are looking at the Viper RGB Steel as a 32GB kit with a solid RGB implementation, 3600MHz running frequency and slack timings, and a price tag of £164.99 MSRP. Let’s have a look at how Patriot’s new set of memory performs.

  • Model Number: PVSR432G360C0K
  • Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB)
  • Rated Frequency: DDR4-3600MHz
  • Rated Timings: 20-26-26-46
  • Voltage: 1.35V
  • Format: Non-ECC Unbuffered 288-pin DIMM

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Patriot Viper Steel RGB 3600MHz 32GB Memory Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/patriot-viper-steel-rgb-3600mhz-32gb-memory-review/feed/ 0
NZXT launch new C series power supplies and RGB fan controller https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/nzxt-launch-new-c-series-power-supplies-and-rgb-fan-controller/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/nzxt-launch-new-c-series-power-supplies-and-rgb-fan-controller/#respond Wed, 22 Jan 2020 10:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=448068 NZXT has kicked off its new product launches for 2020 with the announcement of a series of 80 Plus Gold rated ATX power supplies, as well as an RGB lighting and fan controller for all you RGB enthusiasts out there. NZXT has had a relatively quiet start to the year so far but today the …

The post NZXT launch new C series power supplies and RGB fan controller first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
NZXT has kicked off its new product launches for 2020 with the announcement of a series of 80 Plus Gold rated ATX power supplies, as well as an RGB lighting and fan controller for all you RGB enthusiasts out there.

NZXT has had a relatively quiet start to the year so far but today the company begins its 2020 products campaign with the launch of a new series of ATX power supplies. The new range of C series power supplies from NZXT are manufactured in conjunction with Seasonic and will include the C650, C750 and C850 units, all are backed by a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.

As the model names suggest, the NZXT C series power supplies are available in 650w, 750w and 850w power ratings, all with 80 Plus Gold certification to provide system builders with various options to suit their requirements. The new C series is built from all-Japanese capacitors and includes protection against over/under voltage, over-current, temperature and short-circuits to ensure your hardware components are safe at all times.

The C series also includes a silent fan operation mode, with the push of a button a zero RPM fan mode kicks in which silences the fan under low-load conditions. NZXT’s C series power supplies are designed to fit any PC chassis of ATX form factor, the modular cable design makes system installation easy while providing a neat and tidy end product.

In addition to the new C series power supplies, NZXT has also launched a new RGB and Fan Controller powered by NZXT CAM. NZXT has created the new RGB and Fan Controller with system builders in mind and offers an affordable way to add a digital RGB lighting and fan controller into the system which is then controlled by NZXT CAM software.

The NZXT RGB and Fan Controller features two NZXT RGB Lighting channels for up to 40 addressable RGB LEDs per channel, each channel is capable of powering up to six addressable RGB strips or five Aer RGB fans. The controller also offers support for three fan channels with a maximum of 10W per channel output.

NZXT has made the C series power supplies available now in the U.S, with availability in other areas yet to be announced. Pricing of the C series power supplies starts from $109.99 for the C650, $119.999 for the C750 and the C850 is priced at ÂŁ129.99. The NZXT RGB and Fan Controller is also available in the U.S, priced at $24.99, it is expected to be available worldwide in early February.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: The new power supply line from NZXT should be great quality since it is manufactured by Seasonic and coems with a 10-year warranty, which is excellent. Any of you guys interested in picking up one of these products soon?

The post NZXT launch new C series power supplies and RGB fan controller first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/nzxt-launch-new-c-series-power-supplies-and-rgb-fan-controller/feed/ 0
CES 2020: First look at Concept Orion, Corsair’s RGB tempered glass https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/ces-2020-first-look-at-concept-orion-corsairs-rgb-tempered-glass/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/ces-2020-first-look-at-concept-orion-corsairs-rgb-tempered-glass/#respond Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:16:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=445611 Ever wanted RGB tempered glass? it could be coming to the market sooner than you think...

The post CES 2020: First look at Concept Orion, Corsair’s RGB tempered glass first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Corsair suite at CES is one of the main attractions for PC enthusiasts at the event, our guys Luke and Leo spent some time with Corsair checking out new products including CPU coolers, gaming peripherals, Elgato video capture devices and dual system chassis, but there was one other innovative piece of equipment that caught our eye too…

Corsair has showcased a brand new concept design for 2020 at CES this week, while our guys were touring the Corsair booth something that really stood out for Luke was Corsair’s Concept Orion LED Tempered Glass. By using some technical engineering trickery, Corsair has managed to create tempered glass with embedded RGB LED lighting, Luke was really impressed by how this looked.

Corsair has created this RGB LED tempered glass by applying a layer of film to the back of the glass panel at the factory to hold the CAPELLIX LEDs in place. On closer inspection, you can just make out the fine circuit traces that supply power to the LEDs.

Corsair told us that the Concept is still in the very early stages of development and at the moment, manufacturing the tempered glass with embedded LEDs is not simple, so we don’t expect all cases to be featuring this technology right away. However, the hope is that Corsair’s high-end cases may include this RGB tempered glass soon, but with around a £100 premium added to the price for the pleasure.

The Concept Orion LED glass can be fully configured with 16.8 million RGB colour customisation options via Corsair iCUE software, to synchronise with other Corsair RGB components in the system. While on the subject of RGB lighting, Corsair has collaborated with Asus to bring iCUE integration to Asus motherboards now too.

PC enthusiasts with Corsair and Asus components in a single system will have the ability to synchronise RGB lighting across all components. Installation of Asus Aura Sync software will still be required; however, all the configuration will be done through Corsair’s iCUE platform to offer seamless RGB lighting control and consistency.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Since RGB lighting became a thing for PCs, Corsair has been one of the main players in the market by offering almost everything with RGB, now, even tempered glass is getting the RGB treatment. What do you guys think of this new technology from Corsair?

The post CES 2020: First look at Concept Orion, Corsair’s RGB tempered glass first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/ces-2020-first-look-at-concept-orion-corsairs-rgb-tempered-glass/feed/ 0
G.SKILL Announces Trident Z RGB DDR4-3333MHz 128GB and 64GB kits https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/paul-taylor/g-skill-announces-trident-z-rgb-ddr4-3333mhz-128gb-and-64gb-kits/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/paul-taylor/g-skill-announces-trident-z-rgb-ddr4-3333mhz-128gb-and-64gb-kits/#comments Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:29:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329414 PC enthusiast memory maker G.SKILL has announced a new line-up of top-tier memory kits for discerning modders and gamers. The Trident Z RGB DDR4-3333MHz 128GB and 64GB retail kits are squarely aimed at the high-end X99 and Z270 motherboards, respectively, currently driving the likes of Intel's Xeon E5 (v3)-series and Kaby Lake CPUs. The retail kits include …

The post G.SKILL Announces Trident Z RGB DDR4-3333MHz 128GB and 64GB kits first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
PC enthusiast memory maker G.SKILL has announced a new line-up of top-tier memory kits for discerning modders and gamers. The Trident Z RGB DDR4-3333MHz 128GB and 64GB retail kits are squarely aimed at the high-end X99 and Z270 motherboards, respectively, currently driving the likes of Intel's Xeon E5 (v3)-series and Kaby Lake CPUs.

The retail kits include either 8x or 4x 16GB of G.SKILL's trademark RGB lit non-ECC unbuffered 3333MHz DIMMs, which contain lighting control IC for compatible motherboards. The 8-DIMM kit is intended, naturally to max out all the memory banks on an X99 motherboard with quite the visual effect, while the 4-DIMM kit is intended for Z270-based Kaby Lake systems.

While the memories are rated at a snappy 3333MHz, you can play around with the settings, says G.SKILL. The kit, being XMP 2.0 compliant makes memory timing selections in the BIOS easy enough, and while it is XMP, we did realize that if you happen to reduce the number of DIMMs to as little as two (Ryzen, anyone?) you'll be able to squeeze out 3866MHz, with 18-18-18-38 timings, without raising the voltage (default 1.35v).

While technically you'll be wanting to ride a 128GB/64GB monster into modding la-la-land, the pricing on this kit has not yet been announced. Availability is set for May 2017.

KitGuru Says: We're not quite sure how many of you out there are blinging-out multi-thousand-dollar workstations running Xeon E5 CPUs with flashy lights, but if you are, this looks and acts the part.

The post G.SKILL Announces Trident Z RGB DDR4-3333MHz 128GB and 64GB kits first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/paul-taylor/g-skill-announces-trident-z-rgb-ddr4-3333mhz-128gb-and-64gb-kits/feed/ 7
G.Skill’s new Trident Z memory features RGB lighting heatsinks https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/jon-martindale/g-skills-new-trident-z-memory-features-rgb-lighting-heatsinks/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/jon-martindale/g-skills-new-trident-z-memory-features-rgb-lighting-heatsinks/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2016 10:12:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=315164 Heatsinks on G.Skill's new Trident Z RGB DDR4 modules come complete with some unique heatspeaders, which should really stand out from the crowd. Along with some high-end metalwork to make sure the RAM chips don't get too toasty, these sticks have a translucent band which lights up when in use, in any colour you choose. …

The post G.Skill’s new Trident Z memory features RGB lighting heatsinks first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Heatsinks on G.Skill's new Trident Z RGB DDR4 modules come complete with some unique heatspeaders, which should really stand out from the crowd. Along with some high-end metalwork to make sure the RAM chips don't get too toasty, these sticks have a translucent band which lights up when in use, in any colour you choose.

RGB lighting has been gaining traction in the gaming world for the past few years, showing up in keyboards, mice,headsets and internal hardware too. While there have been RAM sticks in the past which have LED lights on them and even some customisable ones, the new G.Skill Trident Z kits are designed to take it to a whole new level.

tridentz

The light bar on each stick stretches from one end to the other and is powered by a number of RGB LEDs under the hood, making them vibrant and powerful. However there is no need for additional power connectors, all of the energy required is drawn through the standard memory slot.

At default the Trident Z RGB DDR4 kits will display a rainbow of different colours that flow across the sticks in a wave-style, but G.Skill will be releasing back-end software for adjusting the colouring manually in February next year.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPx0LNzgQm4′]

Available in speeds up to 4,266MHz, all kits will also offer full support for XMP 2.0. They will be available to purchase worldwide in mid-January.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For anyone looking to add another dose of colour to the interior of their system, these sticks seem like a nice touch. The lighting isn't particularly subtle, but it is vibrant and will be fully customisable come February. 

The post G.Skill’s new Trident Z memory features RGB lighting heatsinks first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/jon-martindale/g-skills-new-trident-z-memory-features-rgb-lighting-heatsinks/feed/ 2
ASUS Aura Sync looks to keep your lighting uniform https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/asus-aura-sync-looks-to-keep-your-lighting-uniform/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/asus-aura-sync-looks-to-keep-your-lighting-uniform/#respond Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:25:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=314754 ASUS is well aware that a lot of gamers love LED lighting on their products – its why it makes keyboards, mice, motherboards and graphics cards that have that in spades. If you happen to have a number of ASUS supporting products though, you'll now be able to synchronise lighting across all of them. Although …

The post ASUS Aura Sync looks to keep your lighting uniform first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
ASUS is well aware that a lot of gamers love LED lighting on their products – its why it makes keyboards, mice, motherboards and graphics cards that have that in spades. If you happen to have a number of ASUS supporting products though, you'll now be able to synchronise lighting across all of them.

Although an RGB keyboard in its own right is pretty, especially when you create custom light shows that dance across the keys as you type, or patter down like rain, ASUS envisages a world where your PC is more synchronised than that. With its new Aura Sync system, you can have the lights on your keyboard match those on your motherboard, mouse and graphics card.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoRMe7zesg8′]

You will of course need compatible ASUS products to make it work, but if you do now or in the future, all you need is the Aura Sync software and you're off and running. There are nine distinct lighting schemes you can choose from, letting you customise your newly uniform lighting to your heart's content.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This should be great for those of you with big side-panel windows, though you will need to be a bit of an ASUS fanboy to take advantage. How many of you currently have backlit ASUS hardware that can sync up nicely?

The post ASUS Aura Sync looks to keep your lighting uniform first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/asus-aura-sync-looks-to-keep-your-lighting-uniform/feed/ 0
All PS4s to receive HDR update https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/console-desktop-pc/jon-martindale/all-ps4s-to-receive-hdr-update/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/console-desktop-pc/jon-martindale/all-ps4s-to-receive-hdr-update/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2016 07:51:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=305434 While the PS4 Pro is Sony's biggest announcement in recent months, it did reveal a minor detail during the debut of that generation-and-a-half system: that all PS4s would soon support HDR lighting. It will come as part of a firmware update in the near future, presumably around the November launch of the PS4 Pro. Confusingly, …

The post All PS4s to receive HDR update first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While the PS4 Pro is Sony's biggest announcement in recent months, it did reveal a minor detail during the debut of that generation-and-a-half system: that all PS4s would soon support HDR lighting. It will come as part of a firmware update in the near future, presumably around the November launch of the PS4 Pro.

Confusingly, High Dynamic Range lighting is something that has been present in a number of games for well over a decade and was supported by PCs and consoles alike for many years. But HDR is a feature that TV makers are starting to tout with their new displays too, as the new addition can really improve the range of colours available on screen.

hdr

Source: Giga

That means movies and TV shows should look nicer when streamed from any PS4 once the update has been applied, but you will need a compatible TV to see the difference.

It's the kind of feature that will be most obvious in scenes where there are large blocks of black or white, as HDR has the potential to much more easily differentiate between shades of darkest and lightest, improving the range of available colours. It can also highlight details in scenes that might not otherwise have been viewable.

Streaming applications like Netflix can also take advantage (thanks Kotaku).

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This will be a nice addition for those not looking to upgrade their PS4 to a Pro any time soon. Free visual upgrades are always appreciated – as long as they don't impact performance too much.

The post All PS4s to receive HDR update first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/console-desktop-pc/jon-martindale/all-ps4s-to-receive-hdr-update/feed/ 2
‘Light skin’ could be techy bodypaint of the future https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/light-skin-could-be-techy-bodypaint-of-the-future/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/light-skin-could-be-techy-bodypaint-of-the-future/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:35:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=289850 Staple of prank videos, art shows and magazine photoshoots the world over, clothing-feigning bodypaint is always quite an impressive show of how easy it is to trick the human eye. But we may do away with it and perhaps even clothes altogether one day, as a new type of ‘E-Skin' is offering the potential for …

The post ‘Light skin’ could be techy bodypaint of the future first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Staple of prank videos, art shows and magazine photoshoots the world over, clothing-feigning bodypaint is always quite an impressive show of how easy it is to trick the human eye. But we may do away with it and perhaps even clothes altogether one day, as a new type of ‘E-Skin' is offering the potential for lighting based clothing and informative displays, right on our skin.

Using a rubber substrate and integrating it with polymer LEDs, a group of engineers and researchers has developed a new, skin-like substance, that can light up on command. That allows for the creation of on-skin displays that could put the smart-watch to shame in the future and may one day let us walk around with clothing that is built entirely of light.

That's a long way off of course, as right now the developers have shown a proof of concept of a countdown timer or digital clock on the back of someone's hand, but it's still impressive to see (thanks Ars). The E-Skin is just three micrometers thick, so could easily be adhered to just about any body part without adding weight or indeed increasing that person's profile by any real measure.

It's also very flexible and malleable, which would make it great for exercising and perhaps giving users an easy to read display right on their arm. The low power nature of the display technology and the fact that it can be charged up via solar power, means going for a run in the middle of the day, might be enough to keep it operating while you jog about.

While we might be a few years at least from full light-suits, in the near future it would make for a fun augmentation and could accent outfits or even mix the functional with the stylistic, giving you accessories that light up when you're hot, or when it gets dark, giving you a wearable torch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you did build a whole suit of this, the one downside would be if you ran out of power. No one wants their dress to disappear half way down the street because you forgot to plug it in overnight. 

The post ‘Light skin’ could be techy bodypaint of the future first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/light-skin-could-be-techy-bodypaint-of-the-future/feed/ 4
Adam Elements iKlips Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/orestis-bastounis/adam-elements-iklips/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/orestis-bastounis/adam-elements-iklips/#respond Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:46:25 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=280787 The iKlips from Adam Elements may look like a lowly USB flash drive, but its main purpose it as removable storage for iOS devices. On one end is a USB 3 connector, while at the other, a Lighting connector that plugs into an iPhone and iPad, supplementing any internal storage inside the device. Dating back …

The post Adam Elements iKlips Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The iKlips from Adam Elements may look like a lowly USB flash drive, but its main purpose it as removable storage for iOS devices. On one end is a USB 3 connector, while at the other, a Lighting connector that plugs into an iPhone and iPad, supplementing any internal storage inside the device.

Dating back to the iPod, Apple is well known for avoiding support for any removable storage such as SD cards in its devices, relying instead only on internal flash memory to store apps and media on the device. When you buy an Apple product, you’re stuck with whatever capacity you choose, as it cannot be expanded in any way.

Countless pages of forum posts have been dedicated to arguing for and against this approach. Apple most certainly profits from the hefty markup on iPhones and iPads with additional internal flash storage, opting for a 64GB iPhone 6s adds ÂŁ80 to the cost – the only difference being an extra 48GB of internal flash memory. The gits.

In its arguable defense, without needing constant checks for media on removable storage, this approach makes file management in iOS simpler and ensures consistent performance. It’s one less port required on the outside of the device, when Apple absolutely prefer a minimalistic external design and when its designers are on a never-ending quest to reduce the thickness of its hardware.

iklips-128GB-Gold

It matters not though, because Apple is unlikely to ever change this policy. If you want an iOS device, unless you are absolutely certain you will never use it for storing large apps or media files, the smallest 16GB models are best avoided, and you should stump up the cash for the larger capacities. It’s worth it for your sanity especially to avoid the constant headache of file deletion and management later on when the device is filled up.

The door isn’t completely closed on external storage though. Apple sells its own adapter to use SD cards purely for transferring photos from digital cameras to the Photos app. And now, third-party support is possible too, as the iKlips from Adam Elements shows.

As a project that began life via funding on Indiegogo, the iKlips is available in five colours, silver, black, gold, rose gold and red. Storage capacities range from a lowly 32GB up to 256GB, with this largest capacity listed at a fairly hefty $399 on the iKlips website.

With a USB 3 connector on the other end, it can be used as a standard USB flash drive when connected to a PC or Mac. Formatted with the exFAT file system, you cannot store files larger than 4GB on it, but you can transfer files from your computer’s hard disk, completely circumnavigating the use of iTunes as well.

It relies on an iOS app to manage storage on the device. Apple’s own Music, Photos and Videos apps cannot access the extra storage it provides, so this app offers a built-in photo viewer, music and video player and document management.

We will be taking a look at more of what the iKlips has to offer from its hardware and software in this review.

The post Adam Elements iKlips Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/orestis-bastounis/adam-elements-iklips/feed/ 0
Dyson’s new lamp has heatpipes and heatsinks https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/dysons-new-lamp-has-heatpipes-and-heatsinks/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/dysons-new-lamp-has-heatpipes-and-heatsinks/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:07:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=253684 One of the cornerstones of graphics cards of the past decade or so, is that they get quite warm, which means that heat needs to be dissipated in order to keep them functioning long term. While doing so was once possible with a little low profile fan, for a while now it's involved big heatsinks and …

The post Dyson’s new lamp has heatpipes and heatsinks first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
One of the cornerstones of graphics cards of the past decade or so, is that they get quite warm, which means that heat needs to be dissipated in order to keep them functioning long term. While doing so was once possible with a little low profile fan, for a while now it's involved big heatsinks and heatpipes to transfer the heat to them. And that's exactly the sort of technology Dyson is using in its new range of lamps, to keep the LEDs cool and to ensure that they continue to produce light for more than three decades.

At least that's how Jake Dyson, the son of famed inventor and businessman, James Dyson, is claiming. The CSYS lamp is said to be capable of outputting a natural white light for more than 160,000 hours, or just shy of 40 years, if used for 12 hours per day.

heatpipelamp2

This is all possible because of the heatpipes located in the boom arm of the lamp, which direct heat away from the LEDs. While such diodes are much more efficient than traditional lighting, they can still be subject to high temperatures and over time that strips away their phosphorous coating which degrades brightness and colouring. By preventing that heat build up, Dyson believes that its new lamps should last half a life time.

Thanks to the triple axis boom arm too, the light can be moved vertically, horizontally or rotated, to provide angled light exactly where you want it and thanks to the balanced weighting of the boom, it only takes a small push. It also features a dimmer switch with memory, so turning it back on later will result in the same light levels.

All of this does come at a price though. The new Dyson lamp retails for ÂŁ400 and comes in three flavours: white/silver, black/silver and black/black.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I must admit I do like how classy these lamps blend technology with style, but £400 is crazy money for a lamp. I think the 80 £5 lamps I could buy with that money would last longer in the end.

The post Dyson’s new lamp has heatpipes and heatsinks first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/dysons-new-lamp-has-heatpipes-and-heatsinks/feed/ 1
Corsair Gaming Sabre Optical RGB gaming mouse https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-sabre-optical-rgb-gaming-mouse/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-sabre-optical-rgb-gaming-mouse/#respond Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:20:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=227763 Corsair's latest gaming mouse – the Sabre, ships with a high-end, 6,000 DPI Avago ADNS S3988 optical sensor, strong back-end software and an RGB LED colour system which lets you pick just about any colour for the backlighting. Of course a lot of its contemporaries ship with similar features, so Corsair has to work hard …

The post Corsair Gaming Sabre Optical RGB gaming mouse first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Corsair's latest gaming mouse – the Sabre, ships with a high-end, 6,000 DPI Avago ADNS S3988 optical sensor, strong back-end software and an RGB LED colour system which lets you pick just about any colour for the backlighting.

Of course a lot of its contemporaries ship with similar features, so Corsair has to work hard to stand out. Is it worth your hard earned money?
Corsair Gaming Sabre Optical RGB

Features and Specifications

Optical sensor: Avago ADNS S3988
Sensitivitiy: 50 DPI – 6400 DPI
Mouse Backlighting: 4 Zone RGB
Programmable Buttons: 8
Polling Rate: 1000Hz/500Hz/250Hz/125Hz
On-board Memory: Yes
Weight: 100g
Mouse Feet: Extra Large PTFE (unbranded Teflon)
CUE Software: Yes
Cable: 1.8m Braided Fiber
Dimensions: 124mm x 80mm x 38mm
Warranty: Two years

The post Corsair Gaming Sabre Optical RGB gaming mouse first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-sabre-optical-rgb-gaming-mouse/feed/ 0
Alienware FX lighting to come to Roccat peripherals https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/alienware-fx-lighting-to-come-to-roccat-peripherals/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/alienware-fx-lighting-to-come-to-roccat-peripherals/#respond Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:31:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=218905 Alienware and Roccat have just announced that they will be partnering up to bring Alienware FX lighting to several Roccat gaming peripherals. So far, supported products include the Roccat Tyon, which we recently reviewed, the Kone XTD mouse as well as the Isku FX gaming keyboard. Drivers for the compatibility update are expected to roll …

The post Alienware FX lighting to come to Roccat peripherals first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Alienware and Roccat have just announced that they will be partnering up to bring Alienware FX lighting to several Roccat gaming peripherals. So far, supported products include the Roccat Tyon, which we recently reviewed, the Kone XTD mouse as well as the Isku FX gaming keyboard.

Drivers for the compatibility update are expected to roll out soon, users can expect to receive the Alienware lighting update before the end of November, although that could be pushed back. Not much else is known about the extent of the partnership for now, it is possible that we will see Alienware machines come bundled with Roccat peripherals going forward but there is no confirmation of this.

img_21827_5_796_400

While Alienware's FX lighting suite has been around for some time, not many games officially support it. Some big games worth mentioning include The Witcher 2, League of Legends, Payday, Hotline Miami and Battlefield 3. You can see the full list of compatible games and applications, HERE.

It will be interesting to see if any changes are made to the FX lighting suite in order to make it compatible with Roccat's peripherals.

You can read our review of the Roccat Tyon mouse, HERE. 

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: You can say what you want about Alienware's price to performance ratio but many will agree that the systems and their lighting tend to look pretty cool. Hopefully the same level of quality will transition over to Roccat's peripherals and it will be interesting to see if the partnership extends further. What do you guys think of this? Do any of you guys own any Roccat or Alienware gear? 

The post Alienware FX lighting to come to Roccat peripherals first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/alienware-fx-lighting-to-come-to-roccat-peripherals/feed/ 0
Silicon Studio’s new engine demo is very pretty https://www.kitguru.net/professional/development/jon-martindale/silicon-studios-new-engine-demo-is-very-pretty/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/development/jon-martindale/silicon-studios-new-engine-demo-is-very-pretty/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2014 08:22:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=186236 Each new successive generation of graphics, we often hear a lot about Epic's new engine, or Crytek's new one and Unity gets a lot of press for its multi-platform outputs, but Bravely Default developer, Silicon Studio, shouldn't get left out, as its new engine tech demo is incredibly pretty – especially the up close detailing. …

The post Silicon Studio’s new engine demo is very pretty first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Each new successive generation of graphics, we often hear a lot about Epic's new engine, or Crytek's new one and Unity gets a lot of press for its multi-platform outputs, but Bravely Default developer, Silicon Studio, shouldn't get left out, as its new engine tech demo is incredibly pretty – especially the up close detailing.

Seriously, just have a look at this:

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErWicf6yuDo']

Did you see the macro shots of that camera lens? And those reflections? It's absolutely beautiful.

The Wall-E like Robot is quite cool too and the lighting within the room looks nice, but it's the up-close and personal details that really sell it for you.

lens
Don't tell me you're not impressed by that?

Also a heads up for those that missed it, Silicon Studio is hiring. So if you want a gig, check out the “nex-gen” page here.

KitGuru Says: Who wouldn't like to see a version of Fireproof Game's The Room, built in this engine? Man that would be pretty.

[Thanks AGB]The post Silicon Studio’s new engine demo is very pretty first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/development/jon-martindale/silicon-studios-new-engine-demo-is-very-pretty/feed/ 1
Roccat Kone Pure Gaming Mouse Review (w/ Hiro Gaming Surface) https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/luke-hill/roccat-kone-pure-gaming-mouse-review-w-hiro-gaming-surface/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/luke-hill/roccat-kone-pure-gaming-mouse-review-w-hiro-gaming-surface/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:25:13 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=117590 As the second mouse from Roccat's updated Kone series to hit our labs, the Kone Pure looks to offer the same excellent gaming performance as its sibling – the Kone XTD – while reducing the physical dimensions and retail price. Does the Kone Pure have what it takes to impress as much as the ‘Must …

The post Roccat Kone Pure Gaming Mouse Review (w/ Hiro Gaming Surface) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

As the second mouse from Roccat's updated Kone series to hit our labs, the Kone Pure looks to offer the same excellent gaming performance as its sibling – the Kone XTD – while reducing the physical dimensions and retail price. Does the Kone Pure have what it takes to impress as much as the ‘Must Have' Kone XTD did?

Packing an 8200 DPI Pro-Aim laser R3 sensor and a 32-bit Turbo Core V2 72MHz processor into a form factor that is 91% the size of the Kone[+], Roccat's Kone Pure targets gamers that lust for a mouse that has the ability to offer outstanding performance while maintaining a sleek, user-friendly style.

Accompanying the Kone Pure during testing will be Roccat's Hiro gaming mouse pad. The surface's large 350 x 250 x 2.5mm size and vulcanised silicone surface give gamers a good degree of free movement that is required when contesting at the highest levels.

Is the Kone Pure a worthy addition to Roccat's flagship series? And is the Hiro gaming surface its perfect partner?

Specifications:

  • Pro-Aim Laser Sensor R3 with up to 8200dpi
  • 1000Hz polling rate
  • 1ms response time
  • 30G acceleration
  • 1-5mm Lift off distance
  • Tracking & Distance Control Unit (TDCU)
  • 72MHz Turbo Core V2 32-bit Arm based MCU
  • 576kB onboard memory
  • Zero angle snapping/prediction
  • 1.8m braided USB cable
The post Roccat Kone Pure Gaming Mouse Review (w/ Hiro Gaming Surface) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/luke-hill/roccat-kone-pure-gaming-mouse-review-w-hiro-gaming-surface/feed/ 2
Antec Launches Accent USB Lighting System https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/harrison/antec-launches-accent-usb-lighting-system/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/harrison/antec-launches-accent-usb-lighting-system/#respond Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:39:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=103176 Human beings love to be able to control their environment. When you spend hours in front of a PC, you want that experience to be as pleasant as possible. Antec has a new idea up its (transparent plastic) sleeve. KitGuru pulls out an LED torch and goes looking for the ambient truth. Originally popular with …

The post Antec Launches Accent USB Lighting System first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Human beings love to be able to control their environment. When you spend hours in front of a PC, you want that experience to be as pleasant as possible. Antec has a new idea up its (transparent plastic) sleeve. KitGuru pulls out an LED torch and goes looking for the ambient truth.

Originally popular with modders and overclockers, LED lighting now comes in a variety of formats for a huge range of users. Gamers can still make their high end rigs look devastating, but there is also a lot of science around the fact that balancing bright TFT screens with dark working environments can have health benefits for everyone.

Putting the accent on self-adhesive LED cabling

Indeed, for professional users, the importance of the lighting around your PC cannot be overstated. Experiments by laboratories across the world have shown conclusively that a human’s ability to detect colour, especially grey scale perception, changes with the ambient lighting.

For designers, grey scale is crucial, but for gamers ‘immersion’ is the key word.

Antec’s Accent system allows gamers to throw splashes of red and blue around their environment.

It can have multiple benefits, as one lighting expert explained, “If you’re gaming in a totally dark room, then you’re constantly putting additional strain on your body’s vision processing system. Adding even one USB light to your rig will not only make your system look cooler, it will also help balance the light levels being received by your eyes and help sustain your gaming performance”.

Antec’s Accent USB lighting comes in Red and Blue with a one year warranty and convenient on/off button for times when darkness is required. Each lighting strip is self-adhesive, comes with a 1.2m cable and the 6 LED unit itself is 37cm long.  Whether you prefer warm red, cool blue or a combination of both colours achieved by fitting both strips around your PC – Antec’s affordable Accent USB lighting is a great way to personalise your working environment and reduce in-game strain. This new Antec Accent USB strip lighting technology is expected to be in stores soon and pricing is likely to be ‘Very affordable’.

A pair of Antec Accent strips in action. Red and blue give a purple hue. Who knew.

KitGuru says: We've been firing all sorts of lights at the wall behind the monitor for some time now. The convenience of multiple colours, long cable and self-adhesion should make the Antec Accent interesting to quite a few people.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

The post Antec Launches Accent USB Lighting System first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/harrison/antec-launches-accent-usb-lighting-system/feed/ 0