Top 15 Gaming Gear

Gaming is serious business. The game industry alone worths up to US$40 billion (yes, with a b) in 2011 and the numbers are rising. Chances are, you have several games going on on your smartphone and you have one or two consoles at home equipped for some heavy gaming sessions. But if you want to talk about extreme gaming pieces – let’s just limit it to PC this time – then you will definitely love today’s showcase.

Manufacturers across the globe have been coming up with gaming devices beyond just the mice, joysticks and keyboards for years. Some are built for durability, others for added functionality and an enhanced gaming experience. Most of them are futuristic and sleek but all of them are for built for one purpose, to give the best darn gaming session hardcore gamers deserve.

 

1. Logitech Flight System.

In a class of its own, this flight system is perfectly crafted for looks and comfortable gaming. The Force Feedback effect in the joystick even lets you feel wind shear, turbulence and g-forces, so you will feel that you are really flying an airplane. The use of illuminated and programmable buttons on the base of the throttle adds to the effect, making you feel like you are sitting in a real airplane cockpit.

2. Razer Hydra.

This is the world’s first motion-sensing gaming controller for PC, according to Razer, which coupled with good connectivity provides a flawless gaming experience that’s at a whole new level. Precision magnetic motion-sensing technology and the use of ultra-low latency allows fast response that makes all the difference when every second counts.

 

 3. Logitech G27 Racing Wheel.

Racers would go crazy for this gaming piece. Check out what it has: dual-motor force feedback to make you feel traction losses, weight shift, a six-speed shifter, sturdy steel pedals for precise throttling, brakes and gear shifting and a steering wheel that turns 900°, i.e. about 2.5 times from lock to lock

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 4. Razer Nostromo.

An ergonomically designed 8-way directional gamepad with 16 programmable and Hyperesponsive™ keys giving you better control over your games. It features a soft touch rubberized wrist pad for added comfort.

 

 5. Cybor M.M.O7.

If you are looking for a hardcore gaming mouse, few would be more rugged-looking than this one. It features a wide array of programmability for mode shifts, game commands plus a 5D button for quick access to commands using your thumb. Not only that, it also has backlights for the buttons.

 

 

 6. Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick.

12 buttons and 5 axles, all entirely programmable, an exclusive "Mapping" button, which lets you to switch functions from one part to the other instantly and easily and to add to the user experience, you can also program the resistance of movement to the joystick.

 7. Logitech G930 Gaming Headset.

If multi-player modes are your thing, you’d want this gaming headset to block out the white noise so you can focus on the distinct sounds of the game and team play. With a noise-cancelling microphone, 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, surround sound, you can receive and deliver your commands to team mates smoothly and clearly.

 

 8. Razer Naga.

Another mouse that is built for heavy-duty gaming, the Razer Naga is an ergonomically designed gaming mouse that features 17 MMO optimized programmable buttons. This mouse also has a scroll wheel which can be clicked in 24 different positions for advanced gaming.

 9. Saitek X52 Flight Control System.

Built for flight simulation games, this gaming controller has a 5-position handle adjustment system, is designed for comfort and enhanced game play. It even has an LCD display.

 10. Razer Ferox Gaming Speakers.

They are not binoculars or mini-power plants. These two tubes are gaming speakers with 360° omni-directional sound. Perfect for gamers who want the full surround sound experience.

 

 11. Saitek Pro Flight Yoke.

If joysticks are not your preferred flying utilities, then perhaps this one would be a better fit — a stainless steel shaft and precision bearings for smooth controls, a stopwatch for monitoring your flight timings, a three lever throttle for speeding up the airplane in the game, as you would in reality in a cockpit.

12. Cyborg amBX.

Another addition to the wholesome gaming experience, these are gaming lgihts that gives your room the matching ambience you experience in the game. For games which support amBX, these lights will automatically change according to the lighting conditions in the game at any instance.

 

 13. Razer Tiamat Gaming Headset.

Experience 7.1 Surround sound with this gaming headset for clear and distinct sounds in your game. You can tune the sound for each channel using the advanced controller that comes with the headset. It has soft ear pads to make the headset fit with ease and comfortably over your ears.

 

 

 14. Thrustmaster Ferrari Wireless GT F430 Cockpit.

Inspired from the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, this driving simulator has two metal pedals fixed to the cockpit, for maximum stability and high-speed gaming, precision steering wheel for the perfect control during a simulated race. The steering wheel is also detachable, that means you can easily store it easily as well. The piece is fully programmable and also has its own internal memory.

 

15. PEREGRINE Weareable Interface.

With this glove, you can control about 30 actions with the movement of your fingers, like tapping and touching on your palm. It has 18 touch points and 3 activator pads, so you can strike or cast a spell just by making a hand gesture. This glove is made of washable and breathable material to ensure that long hours of gaming doesn’t forgo comfort on the user’s part

Top 10 Best Luxury Clothing Brands in the World

The best of the luxury haute couture clothing brands around the world influences the fashion industry. They are the real trendsetters, stars and magicians in the world of fashion. They can effortlessly make a grotesque look alluring and can easily transform a geek into a fashion icon. When money is no object, these luxury clothing brands are most definitely your hottest commodity. I can bet that, there is not even a single shopaholic out there who is not “madly” in love with the best of the clothing brands in the world.
What these brands create for there clientele are not just clothes or shoes or bags, they create something which is much greater than art. Their creativity gives individuality to your existence, injects confidence in your soul and speak a great deal about your personality even when a word doesn’t come out of your mouth. The love and respect I have in my heart for the legends behind these brands like Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Donatella Versace, Frida Giannini, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar De La Renta and many more, makes it extremely difficult for me to choose one on another. However, taking into consideration their commitment for perfection and excellence, I’ve minutely compiled the list mentioned below of the ten best luxury clothing brands in the world. So let’s have a look on which luxury brands are leading the very fascinating fashion industry.

1. Louis Vuitton

 Founded in the year 1854, Louis Vuitton is the ultimate French fashion house synonymous with perfection, sophistication, excellence and style. Louis Vuitton, the man who became a global brand started his journey in 19^th century Paris as a trunk maker and with his skills in wood craft he created the best luxury trunks the world ever saw. Today, LV is the most powerful international brand which specialises not only in trunks but also in ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, jewellery, sunglasses and accessories. Since 2001, Louis Vuitton’s future is in the hands of the very talented, gem of a designer Marc Jacobs who is an epitome of elegance and creativity and on whom I can write a book. His immaculate collection always oozes power and prestige. The very beautiful charm bracelet, LV’s first ever piece of jewellery was created by this legendary designer and I am sure till the time he is leading Louis Vuitton, the brand will top every opulent fashion list.

 

 

 

2. Chanel

 In the fashion industry, everything starts from Chanel and ends on Chanel. The interlocking C is a beloved logo of women all over the world. Founded by “Coco Chanel” – the Goddess of fashion, style, class, sensuality and beauty in the year 1920, the brand exalted elegance to the extreme. Coco Chanel is a pioneering French fashion designer who revolutionised the way women dress. She started the trend of menswear- inspired fashion and released women from their stiff corsets. When she launched her signature fragrance Chanel No. 5 which remains popular to this date, she became sensation and when she gave birth to the little black dress, she became immortal. Today, the most influential brand of the luxury clothing industry is in the hands of a living legend, Karl Lagerfeld who is born to reign the world of fashion.

 

 

 

3. Prada 

 The beautiful journey of Prada started way back in 1913 by Mario Prada and has since become one of the most prestigious and widely recognised brands in the fashion industry. Every brand has a DNA: at Burberry it is class, at Hermès it is excellence, at Dior it is elegance and at Prada it is prestige. Prada today is a multi-billion dollar company headed by Mario Prada’s grand daughter Miuccia Prada who took over the brand in 1978 from her mother Luisa Prada. Miuccia is known for her magic touch from the very beginning, and her collection is indeed the one to watch. The reason why this brand is set apart from the rest of the fashion world is because it has never followed styles and patterns but has always invented something sophisticated and trendy. If someone wants to know what a season is all about then it is advised not to miss fashion’s premier trend trailblazer Prada’s show.

 

 

4. Dior

 Christian Dior, a French couturier founded the house of Dior in 1947 with his debut collection in which he presented revolutionary ninety different looks for the women who starved for glamour. His “New Look” collection was so magical that after the show his face was pink with kisses and he couldn’t believe for days that he received such a huge response in his very first show. Almost everything he created was booked even before the show ended because the primary purpose of his collection was to make every women look like a duchess. After Christian Dior’s death in 1957, Yves Saint Laurent took over the couture house and even he was an instant success followed by Marc Bohan to Gianfranco Ferré and John Galliano. Today, Dior’s cultural heritage is in the hands of the very promising Raf Simons who has a fresher take on femininity and soft palette.

 

5. Hermès

 Established in the year 1837 by Thierry Hermès, this 176 year old brand is a major player in ready-to-wear fashion and with time it is aging like a fine wine. Hermès is without a doubt one of the most sort-after French fashion house in the lexicon of luxury goods and its fierce commitment to the quality has made it a brand par excellence. The lifeline of Hermès is its tradition of giving a personal touch to every item they sell in order to maintain a level of consistency for which they have out rightly rejected the mass manufacturing, assembly lines and mechanization. Each and every produce is fabricated from start till the end by one artisan only to make sure their final offering is impeccable and one of its last kind.

 

 

 

6. Burberry

 Burberry is a luxury British brand established in the year 1856 by the young visionary designer Thomas Burberry who designed the very first now-iconic trench coat for which this fashion house is very famous. Christopher Bailey, the creative director of Burberry has kept the trendsetting legacy of the house alive with his regular infusion of unique style in the timeless standards of quality. Burberry was granted a royal warrant for clothing from Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Charles of Wales. Since its inception, Burberry has been a real force for innovation and British sensibility as its motto Prorsum , on its knight and horse logo bears witness.

 

 

7. Gucci

 Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in the early 1920’s in a small shop in Florence. He never dreamed of Gucci becoming the biggest selling Italian brand in the history when he first laid down the foundation of this fashion house. His eldest son, Aldo Gucci took over in the 1940s and transformed the lesser-known family business into an iconic luxury brand that carries such cultural significance. After Aldo it was his son Paolo Gucci who introduced the exotic ready-to-wear segment in the year 1960s which soon became a mainstream of Italian art. In 1994, a very young visionary designer, Tom Ford who is a perfect blend of sensuality and class became Gucci’s creative director. He made Gucci a globally recognised brand with his hip and cutting-edge designs for which Gucci is a celebrated luxury brand.

 

8. Versace

 Founded by a true fashion rock star Gianni Versace in 1978, Versace today is the leading international luxury clothing and one of the most influential fashion houses in the world. The bold as brass Gianni was a freelance designer who consistently challenged the boundaries of fashion industry. His sharp cuts, vivid prints and offbeat fabrics beautifully integrated high art and contemporary culture. After Gianni’s sudden death in 1997 by a spree killer, his sister Donatella Versace took over all the attention and responsibility as a new creative director of the brand. Although Gianni was a gifted designer and world can never forget him but he represents Versace’s past whereas Donatella is already Versace’s successful present and bright future.

 

9. Armani

 Giorgio Armani is an Italian designer who taught the world that “Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered.” He along with Sergio Galeotti formed a high-end label “Armani” in 1975, and by 2001, he became the most successful designer to come out of the worlds’ fashion capital – Italy. Armani has become one of the strongest luxury fashion brand in the world, and there are many sub-brands under the umbrella brand of Giorgio Armani like Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Exchange, Armani Collezioni and Casa to cater the specific needs of different market segments. Built on the dynamic personality of Giorgio Armani himself, this fashion house is the most respected brand in the fashion industry, and this is the reason why it is not leaving the spotlight anytime soon.

 

 

10. Dolce & Gabbana

 

 Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury fashion house established in the year 1982 by Domencio Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. In today’s luxury fashion industry, Dolce & Gabbana are unarguably the most influential and leading designers who have made the modern woman look fantastically sexy. Their sweet and sharp style is very popular among the best dressed celebrities around the world. Together these two immensely skillful designers have created the best, most flattering clothes and mesmerizing fragrances. I have tried as much as I could, but it is real difficult to circumscribe the D & G universe in few sentences as their versatility and dedication is something which cannot be explained in words.

Top 10 Best Gadgets 2013

Powerful got redefined in 2013 - devices have gotten thinner, better and more power-efficient, but some stand out. We are rounding up the best gadgets of 2013, with a focus on mobility. It’s not just about smartphones, it’s about all the innovations that come with them. The smartphone is becoming an enabler, a hub opening a whole wide field of gadgets that work with it.

 

 

 

1. iPhone 5S

For meaningful innovation with Touch ID fingerprint scanner, significant under the hood upgrades, iconic design and rich ecosystem.

 

 

 

 

2. Samsung Galaxy S4 

For its all-around appeal, support and great performance.

 

3. Nokia Lumia 1020

 

For being the best cameraphone out there.

 

4. Ouya

For showing the way for a new type of a console, open, compact and mobile.

 

 

5. Sony Playstation 4

For the best performance so far on a game console.

6. Samsung Galaxy Gear

For great inovation and utility.

7. Samsung's 55-inch Curved OLED TV

Great and clear image.

8. Razer Edge

A tablet PC running Windows 8 with hardware powerful enough to run video games.

9. Garmin HUD

Do you use your smartphone for GPS functions while driving?  Yeah, we do, too, and it's pretty awesome.  You know what would make it better, though?  Having those apps show up directly on our windshield, so we never have to take our eyes off the road.  That's exactly what the Garmin HUD does.

10. Keychain Virtual Keyboard 

The Keychain Virtual Keyboard can turn any flat surface into a full-sized virtual keyboard, beaming a set of keys that you can type on using its onboard laser while tracking your fingers with its built-in optics.  It can be paired with any gadget that has Bluetooth, allowing you to use it with almost any tablet or smartphone.  The catch, though, is the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that powers the tiny peripheral can only hold a charge of up to two hours of continuous use, so it’s not exactly the kind of thing that will last you a workday.  For use sparingly throughout a day on the road, though, this could be really helpful.

 

Google Glasses

Odată cu primele exemplare Google Glass trimise dezvoltatorilor software, au ieşit la iveală noi detalii legate de configuraţia acestora la nivel hardware, costurile de producţie şi o estimare pentru preţul final de lansare.

Ochelarii Google Glass îşi dezvăluie specificaţiile

 

Aflăm astfel că ochelarii echipaţi cu vizor ce simulează prezenţa unui ecran cu diagonală 25 inch, care pluteşte la 2.5 metri distanţă în faţa utilizatorului, dispun de chipset Ti OMAP 4430 cu CPU dual-core şi 1 GB memorie RAM, din care aproximativ 682 MB sunt disponibili pentru aplicaţiile deschise.
Camera foto încorporată în ramă este activată prin comandă vocală şi poate obţine poze la rezoluţie 5 MP, respectiv secvenţe video cu format HD 720p. Fişierele media sunt adăpostite în cei 16GB memorie internă (12GB disponibili), sincronizată cu serviciul Google Cloud.
Lista dotărilor mai cuprinde un receptor GPS, conectivitate Bluetooth şi acces la reţele WiFi.
Pentru început, sistemul de operare livrat este versiunea Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Potrivit unor informaţii încă neconfirmate, ochelarii Google Glass Explorer sunt oferiţi dezvoltatorilor contra sumei de 1500 dolari, însă costul de producţie pentru varianta finală a gadgetului ar putea scădea la numai 200 dolari, urmând ca preţul pentru un exemplar Google Glass achiziţionat din magazin în pachet retail să fie apropiat sumei de 500 dolari.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Pros 

Camera is very nice
Screen is awesome
Very smooth OS, fast processor
Interface is very thoughtfully designed
Little bit of a learning curve on this phone

Cons 

 None. As much as I want to think of something bad to say, there's simply nothing negative about this phone.

Summary 

 Some background on me: I bought into the Android hype from the beginning, buying a Droid Milestone (the OG Motorola Droid slider.) It was a neat device, but riddled with SO many software bugs and hardware that just could not run such a hefty operating system. I gave up on Android, and switched to an iPhone 4S in 2011. In late 2012 after a series of itunes fails, I switched to a droid razr M. A great device and epic battery life in a small package, but a crummy camera and Android definitely needs the 2GB of ram. OK, enough about me, the phone:

Design: Thin, light, plastic. The thinness is lost on me - I am 6'5 with proportionally gigantic hands, so I don't need a tiny phone per se. That being said its almost too thin, and while we're on it its almost too light for its size. Fortunately if you are part of the 98% that buys a case then this is quickly offset. The case adds the requisite weight so it feels solid, the requisite thickness so holding it doesn't feel like its cutting into your hands. Plastic is almost like a four letter word nowadays, but as is the case with the thinness and lightness, you will not see plastic if you use a case. That being said if you go case free, its all glass front and a metal trim. A beautiful device through and through (5 of 5)

Hardware: Coming from a dual core S4/1 GB of ram I can say this is a huge performance boost. I still close down apps from time to time, though thats mostly for battery saving purposes. I have yet to have this device hang up on me. (Note: Chrome occasionally hangs up, though thats a function of Chrome I suspect. No other apps have hung.) The antennas in this device are great as well. I'm a crazy ground dweller (AKA I live in a basement.) I was getting 1-2 bars on my Razr M, 2-4 bars on this phone. For all I know they have the cell receiver, but I can tell you theres a marked improvement in the S4. Data rates remain constant though, around 7 up/7 down on New York City's oversaturated LTE network. Middling speakers, though quality headphones solve (the OEM headphones are dreadful.) (5 out of 5)

Display: Ill let a little Apple bias shine now - the Iphone 4S and 5 have half the resolution but are sharper and brighter than this phone could dream to be. "But MJ 1080 > iSheep!" you say. Well, yes, more pixels is grand, but the iPhone display is simply better. That being said this is still an amazing display. I actually prefer AMOLEDs more vibrant colors. I have slight color blindness, so the popping colors really jive well with my broken ass eyeballs. Much like a TV you have some good control over the display settings. I go with the "Vibrant" preset cause, well, I love those poppy AMOLED colors. Theres a setting for every type though. (4 out of 5)

Software: This section both validates and invalidates this review. I dont know stock vs Touchwiz Android, so I wont win many Fandroids by admitting that but it also shows im not a Fandroid. I'd like to think I just like good phones. That said, the software on this phone is wunderbar. First off the missing software option: software buttons. Purists love having buttons taking up the bottom 10% of their screen, I hate it. Its why I got this phone. Your menu buttons should not be on the !@#$ing screen! Ahem, anyway. Beyond that its as if Samsung said "to hell with minimalist Android" and fancied it up. I was able to familiarize myself with it pretty quickly based on previous experience. Verizon offers free classes on how to use Android if you're new to the system, at least they do here in NY, so that should help with the learning curve.

As for most of the new additions: I havent had much luck with them. Frankly they are pretty weaksauce - I am not going to flail crazily at my phone to answer it or have it pop popcorn, etc. One really awesome addition though is the Universal Remote Control app included WatchOn. Cant find your remote? Got your S4. At a sports bar where your waitress is taking 20 minutes to switch to the Mets? Got your S4. At your girlfriends place, entering hour 4 of an Americas Next Top Model marathon? Got your S4 (well, at least you can suggest the TV gods are insisting on a new show...) Android is developed enough that its smooth a babies behind. And widgets are why I can never go back to iOS. (Also, being able to drag and drop your music folder instead of librarying and syncing and dancing to the rain gods to get your library on your phone is much, much better.) (5 out of 5)

Battery: Battery is where this place REALLY shines. My brother has an S3, and maybe gets 12-14 hours of serious usage. I want a phone I can use all day, syncing with personal email, syncing with a battery gobbling proprietary work email app, at 70% brightness. Well, I got it. Sadly I cant paste in images here, but right now I am looking at 18 hours on battery, 4 hours of display usage, wifi+GPS on all day, and still at 20% battery. What else can I say? Well, if youre a road weary business traveler like me you have the option of second batteries and extended life batteries, though I find it rather unnecessary. This was my biggest area of concern going into this phone, and this is my favorite aspect of it right now. (5 out of 5)

Rick Ross - Mastermind

Rick Ross has finally announced his album release date and details for his forthcoming tour.

According to a press release sent to HipHollywood, Ross will release his highly anticipated album, Mastermind on December 17. The rapper’s sixth studio album will feature his new single, “No Games” featuring Future.

On November 12th, the 37-year-old will kick off his solo headlining tour of the U.S, the ‘Mastermind Tour’ presented by AEG. The trek will kick off at Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, and end with a homecoming show in his native Miami, at the Knight Center on November 23rd.

The rapper will team up with the 1500 Or Nothin’ Band for the 8-city trek and according to the release, will bring a look and sound unlike anything anybody has seen from him do before.