<![CDATA[Gizmodo: logitech]]> http://tags.gizmodo.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: logitech]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/logitech http://gizmodo.com/tag/logitech <![CDATA[PSP Fans Are Never Happy, With the PSPgo Set to Receive a UMD Add-On Via Logitech]]> After being derided since, oh, 2004, the UMD is set to return to the PSPgo, albeit thanks to the peripheral guys Logitech.

Sure, we can see why some people may want to play their old UMD games on their new PSPgo, which lacks the drive and plays solely downloaded titles, but they should've really thought it over more carefully before whacking $250 on a new device.

Logitech sources dished the details to gaming site CVG, and while pricing and availability wasn't confirmed the add-on will presumably plug into the PSPgo's memory stick port. [CVG]

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<![CDATA[Logitech G110 Gaming Keyboard Has More Purple Lights Than a Discoteque]]> Logitech's more basic counterpart to the ridiculous G19 gaming keyboard, the G110 is screenless, playing up custom lighting with "red, blue, or pretty much any shade of purple you can imagine." Mostly, I'm glad they finally integrated some headset jacks.

The price you pay is that it's got a single hi-speed USB port instead of a pair, which has been de rigeur on gaming keyboards lately. And of course, it's got space for 36 macros. It's $80, and works with PC or Mac. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech Notebook Kit MK605 Turns Laptops Into Quasi-Desktops]]> If you're the type who likes using a laptop stand or a real mouse at your desk, Logitech's new Notebook Kit MK605 is a bundle with all of that stuff in one package.

The entire kit includes a 3-stage, pivoting laptop stand, a wireless keyboard and a wireless M505 laser mouse (along with the tiny, USB-based Unifying Receiver that communicates with the peripherals).

Purchased alone, the components would run you $130 ($50 for each peripheral and $30 for the stand). But combined in this Costco-like bundle, you'll get it all for $100. That's $30 savings, which equates to six McDonald's Value Meals or 30, count them, 30 Dollar Menu items. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech G500 Gaming Mouse Review: It'll Get You Killed]]> To register how deeply disappointed I am by Logitech's G500 gaming mouse, you have to understand how much I really love Logitech's gaming mice.

A Brief History Lesson

The original MX500 is the sliced bread of mousing ergonomics: The form factor is so good Logitech won't fuck with it more than six years and countless iterations later. The perfectly balanced ergonomic arch and thumb groove precisely straddle the line between suggestive and aggressive, so it feels just right, like Zach Morris.

The MX500 evolved into gamier, glossiers variants with boosted tracking engines, the MX 510 and still available MX518. That, in turn, gave us the original laser-based G5, which saw the loss of a thumb button through leprosy, and had a janky scroll wheel. Logitech fixed it with another take on the G5, adding back the missing thumb button and giving us a scroll wheel that worked, making the mouse great again. That brings us to the G500.

Let's Start with the Good

Like I said, there's a reason Logitech has kept the basic MX500 silhouette around for so long, through at least six other mice: It just works. There are some minor tweaks with the G500, which actually feels slightly more symmetrical, with a wider but less pronounced thumb groove that flows more smoothly into the body of the mouse, but it's basically the same. It's a little more texturally vivid than I'd prefer, with sides that feel like rubberized sandpaper for gripping, but I got used to it fast enough.

The laser engine inside now pushes 5700dpi, or exactly 100dpi more than Razer's latest laser engine. Logitech peeing on the pissing match, in other words. It also polls at 1000Hz, the same speed as Razer's sytem. (FWIW, I couldn't discern any difference between Microsoft's 500Hz polling and Razer's 1000Hz in actual gaming sessions.) The G500's tracking and accuracy is excellent, both on cloth pads and my fake wood desk.

Crippling Flaws

The reason I dragged you through a brief tour of Logitech mouse history is because Logitech repeats it with the G500. The original G5 screwed up on the thumb buttons and scroll wheel, and the G500 manages to screw that up spectacularly too.

It's the first gaming mouse MX500 descendant Logitech has graced with the hyper-scroll tech that's been in its high-end consumer mice for a while—it's got a toggle button that lets you pick between regular clicky (but still speedy) scrolling or the hyper-infinite scroll, where one flick of your finger spins the scroll wheel almost forever, shooting you down a million lines in Excel in half a second. Which is great, if you spend a lot of time in Excel or zipping through web pages—not so great if you're flicking through a handful of weapons in Left 4 Dead. Even when it's not in hyper mode, the scroll wheel's still pretty fast and loose—though that's something that you can mitigate with careful scrolling.

What really murders the scroll wheel, though, is that middle-clicking is an act requiring damn near surgical skill. Half the time you attempt to middle click, and you think you have, you've actually just left- or right-scroll clicked. Which is not the same command. Meaning, if you've mapped middle click as a lightning fast shortcut to get back to your main gun after you've tossed out a proxy mine, you're gonna get shot in the face trying to pull out your gun.

The thumb buttons are almost as bad. Instead of two clearly distinguishable buttons, we've now got a nearly seamless button strip that actually contains three buttons for you to press. And, just like the scroll wheel, you'll go to click one button, and wind up hitting a different one, particularly the new "middle" thumb button. You don't know how many people got backstabbed by Spies in Team Fortress 2 after I tried to hit the forward button to yell at them via voice chat but tapped the wrong button.

Don't Buy

Gaming gear, in theory, should be all about precision. That's why Logitech tells us the dots per inch the mouse's sensor can handle and how fast and how often the mouse gets data from the laser sensor. That's why I can adjust the dpi rating on the fly. That's why Logitech includes weights with the mouse, so you can even adjust how much it weighs, down to the gram. Yet two buttons that people use a lot are huge failures in precision. Whole buttons. That negates basically everything else that's good about the mouse, which is a lot, like the heavy braided cable, or built-in profile storage, so you don't have to redo your settings everytime you take it to a different computer.

So, my advice? If you're dedicated to Logitech, wait for the next G500, or the surely inevitable wireless variant. Logitech will probably fix the problems in the revision, just like they did before. Or, just stick with the actually good G5, which is $20 cheaper, at $50. You don't really need 5700dpi anyway. If you're open to other mousemakers, in the same price range, I'd suggest Razer's DeathAdder, which recently got beefed up with Razer's newer tracking engine and a less flimsy cable, Microsoft's wireless SideWinder X8, or SteelSeries' relatively frill-free Ikari.

Classic Logitech ergonomics still great

Crazy fast sensor tracks really well

Scroll wheel design is not great for games

Thumb buttons completely screwed up

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<![CDATA[Surveillance Footage Highlights The Hazards Of Living In the Woods]]> When you live out in the woods, thieves are the least of your worries.

This video was captured using Logitech's WiLIfe line of security cameras and submitted to the company as part of a weekly contest that rewards customers with the best videos. Awesome—perhaps they can use any money they won to buy a gun or throw into the pot on a down payment on a place in the city. At any rate, the second and third place videos are also pretty amusing.

[WiLife]

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<![CDATA[Logitech's New Wii Drums and Guitar Ignore Recession]]> I love me some Guitar Hero, but I'm not sure enough to upgrade to Logitech's wireless drum and guitar for the Wii. Having the best is cool, but $200 for the guitar and $230 for the drums!?

Sure that is more than Guitar Hero for Wii (including guitar and drums) will cost you but for those that love to have the best for rocking, the Logitech stuff is made from the best stuff on earth (just like Snapple). The wireless guitar has a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets. Even the wireless controller has a white finish with a glossy-black pick guard.

Like those for the PS3, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii has got three drum pads and two cymbals. You can adjust them to your liking and there is a recessed-rim around the pads that help avoid accidental rim shots. And haven't you always wanted a kick pedal made of stainless steel. The Wii remote fits into the panel on the drum set (and into a slot on the back of the guitar).

Logitech also released a wireless drum set for the Xbox360 which is pretty much the same as the one for the Wii without the opening for the remote. Same pricing and all.

For those watching the cash, you can always find the closest pub with a Rock Band jam session and totally mooch on their instruments. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech Harmony 700 Universal Remote Gives You More Physical Buttons]]> The $150 Logitech Harmony 700 is much like their other non-touchscreen universal remotes in that you have a load of physical buttons to push. However, the 700 is difference since it gives you four physically labeled activity keys.

When using Logitech remotes, the point is to let the remote know every single appliance in your setup so you can focus on "activities", such as watching TV, or playing your Xbox, or watching a Blu-ray on your PS3. That way your remote knows exactly which thing needs to be on—and which boxes don't—for what you want to do. Since these activities are now tied to a separate physical button, you can just hit that button instead of scrolling through a list in order to get where you're going. It saves a few seconds each time, but adds up over years of TV watching.

Other features on the 700 include a color LCD screen, rechargeable AAs and compatibility with the standard Logitech remote setup program. It will be available in September. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech's Two New Squeezeboxes Bring Streaming Audio to the Living Room]]> Logitech has just announced two new Squeezeboxes that stream audio over Wi-Fi: the Squeezebox Radio and the Squeezebox Touch. The Radio is a stand-alone device, while the Touch is designed to work with your existing stereo.

The Squeezebox Radio is the cheaper of the two, coming in at $200. It's got a built-in amplifier and speakers to pump out music streamed from online or from your music collection stored on your computer without needing to plug into your stereo. It'll download from iTunes or stream from Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius or Last.fm. The screen isn't a touchscreen, but it's got six buttons for navigating or selecting what you want to stream.

The Squeezebox Touch is the fancier of the two at $300, and looks just like those leaked pictures. Designed to plug into your existing stereo, it's got a 4.3-inch touchscreen for choosing music to play and viewing album art, and it streams everything that the Radio does. Since it doesn't have built-in speakers, it supports sampling rates of up to 24 bits at 96kHz. It's also got a USB port and SD card slot for listening to music stored on thumb drives or memory cards.

The Squeezebox Radio drops later this month, while the Squeezebox Touch arrives in December.

Limitless Choices: Logitech Brings Your Digital Music Together, Unveils Two New Squeezebox Wi-Fi Music Players
Logitech Squeezebox Radio, Logitech Squeezebox Touch Deliver All The Music On Your Computer, All The Music On Internet Into Your Home;
Feature Streamlined Interface, Facebook App

FREMONT, Calif. – Sept. 3, 2009 - You're a 21st century music lover but your stereo is stuck in the 20th century. To help bring the digital world into your home, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today unveiled the Logitech Squeezebox™ Radio Wi-Fi music player and the Logitech Squeezebox™ Touch Wi-Fi music player. Both Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players give people simple, intuitive access to a wide variety of music choices including free Internet radio, personal digital music files and music subscription services.

"Digital music and the Internet have radically changed how we discover, share and listen to the music we love," said Sam Feng, product marketing director of Logitech's Streaming Media business unit. "Now, millions of people are downloading music through iTunes® and listening to Internet radio stations and music services and our newest Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players bring it all together. Just plug one in and you can be ready to discover and enjoy music from around the world."

Logitech Squeezebox Radio – Small Package, Big Sound
The Internet has changed everything, including your radio. With the Logitech Squeezebox Radio, you'll get the simplicity of old-fashioned radio with the power of the Internet wherever you want to listen to music.

Unlike other complex Wi-Fi music systems, Squeezebox Radio sets up easily. You just plug it in, turn it on, connect to your home network and like magic, you've got access to a world of music – Internet radio, your personal music collection including DRM-free iTunes Plus downloads, and subscription services such as Napster®, Pandora®, Rhapsody®, SIRIUS®, and Last.fm™. And the Squeezebox Radio's color screen can display album art, track and station information, visualizers and more.

With six preset buttons located on the side of display, at the touch of a button the Squeezebox Radio makes it easy to enjoy your favorite song, Internet radio station or playlist. With automatic brightness adjustment and a built-in alarm clock, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio is even ideal for your bedside table. And if you want to listen to music in private, a 3.5 mm jack lets you plug in your headphones.

At just 5.12 inches (130 mm) by 8.66 inches (220 mm) by 5.04 inches (8.5 cm), the compact design makes the Squeezebox Radio ideal for your living room, kitchen, bedroom – even your patio. While it's a space-saver, the Squeezebox Radio still delivers clear sound with minimal distortion – no extra speakers required – thanks to the 3/4-inch high-definition, soft-dome tweeter and 3-inch high-power, long-throw woofer.

For your convenience, a rechargeable battery pack that is sold separately will let you move the Squeezebox Radio around your home without interrupting the music. The battery can power your Squeezebox Radio for up to six hours and recharges automatically when it's plugged in.

Logitech Squeezebox Touch – Color Touch Screen Puts Music at Your Fingertips
So you can seamlessly discover a world of music and play it through the stereo system you already own, the Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player has a stunning 4.3-inch color touch screen that lets you easily select and play music – and even view album art. Plus, to provide a better listening experience, the Squeezebox Touch supports sampling rates of up to 24 bits at 96 kHz, delivering rich sound with very little distortion. Simply plug in the Squeezebox Touch to your existing speakers, connect to your home network and you're ready to rock out. An included USB port and SD card slot on the back of the Squeezebox Touch also lets you access music and photos stored on flash drives and memory cards.

To put control within reach, a wall-mount bracket (sold separately) lets you put your Squeezebox Touch at eye level – near the stereo, over your kitchen table or wherever you want convenient control of your music. With the optional Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wall-Mount Bracket, the power cord and speaker wires can be run inside your walls so cords or cables aren't dangling from your Squeezebox.

Streamlined Interface, Facebook App and Flickr Support
The intuitive Squeezebox interface was designed for speed and convenience. The color display found on the Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch help you quickly locate your favorite radio stations, playlists or music services. And, with its redesigned menu system, you can easily choose from a variety of applications to enhance your listening experience.
Plus, if you're a Facebook fan, you can share music recommendations, as well as check out your friends' statuses, recommendations, and full-color photos right on your new Squeezebox. Photo slide shows from the popular photo-sharing site Flickr are also supported on both new Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players.

The Squeezebox Family
Both the Logitech Squeezebox Radio and Logitech Squeezebox Touch can seamlessly integrate into your existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet-based home network, as well as with the Squeezebox family of products, which includes the award-winning Logitech Squeezebox™ Boom Wi-Fi music player, Logitech Squeezebox™ Duet Wi-Fi music player, and the audiophiles' choice, the Logitech Transporter® Wi-Fi music player.

All of the products in the Squeezebox family work together so it's easy to expand your system. Simply add additional Squeezebox Wi-Fi media players to any room you like and then you can listen to one song throughout your entire home – perfect for a party – or enjoy a different song in every room.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September for a suggested retail price of $199.99 (U.S.). For a limited time, a special edition Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player will be available in red at http://www.logitech.com and select retailers. The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $299.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Accessory Pack (which includes a battery pack and IR remote) is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wall-Mount Bracket is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.).

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<![CDATA[Logitech Squeezebox Touch Desktop Audio Player Looks Lickable Too]]> The Logitech Squeezebox Touch—the shiny audio playback device with 4.3-inch touch sensitive screen—is out. Looking at the specs, it looks like a nice audio component with HQ 24-bit/96khz sampling rate sound. Here are all the naughty bits:

Apart from the touchscreen and remote, the Logitech Squeezebox Touch comes with SD card slot, Ethernet, digital optical, digital coaxial, and analog stereo ports, as well as light, temperature, and proximity sensors. [Heise—In German via i4u]

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<![CDATA[Logitech Performance, Anywhere Mouse MX Review]]> Logitech's latest laser tracking technology in their Performance MX and Anywhere MX mice, Darkfield, promises to track even better than standard lasers multiple surfaces not possible before. The most impressive one? Glass.

The Price: $80 for the Anywhere Mouse, $100 for the Performance Mouse

The Technology: A new lasering scheme called "Darkfield Laser Tracking", which gives the mouse enough fidelity to illuminate even glass (as long as it's more than 4mm thick). The laser (or standard optical) illuminates the different terrains on a surface, which the mouse can then track to see which direction you're moving your hand in. The more differences the mouse can "see", the more fine-grained the movement. The Darkfield tech works by blocking out light from the central area, then allowing light to enter at an angle, which is more refined in seeing abnormalities. Both these mice use two lasers to help track dust, scratches and other identifying features.

The Verdict: It works! It works so well that it tracks just fine on a glass sliding door. And using it on regular mousepads, like the MacPadd aluminum mousepad, works even better than last-generation Logitech mice at providing a smooth, uninterrupted mousing experience.

The Big One: The Performance Mouse MX is similar to the MX Revolution and the MX 1100 in that it's fully loaded, meant for the hardcore mouse user and only really usable for right-handed people. But there are some slight differences. The Performance mouse has its forward and back thumb buttons have moved slightly higher to make room for a zoom button underneath. It's also slightly narrower and smaller, pushing your hand further back on the mouse instead of firmly in your palm area.

To us, that's a slight step backwards in design. We prefer the fatter mice that fits in your hand like a comfortable pebble, but this should probably be fine for people with smaller hands that complain about the size of the previous two MX devices. So, great for Chinese children forced to farm gold in World of Warcraft all day.

The Performance MX takes one AA battery and comes with one rechargeable Eneloop, which is great. Other than that, it's basically the mouse you loved before but with increased tracking capability with the Darkfield laser.

The Small One: The Anywhere Mouse is like a travel mouse with benefits. It has the two forward and back thumb buttons, a separate middle click/app switcher button and the same Darkfield laser. It's also slightly larger than usual travel mice, but still small enough to fit easily in bags without bulging out too much.

It takes two AAs and actually has a slot inside the mouse for the Logitech Unifying adapter, preventing it from being lost in the bowels of your briefcase. It's definitely one of the best travel mice we've used, and the fact that it has better trackability with Darkfield means you won't need to bring a mousepad along with you—you can just mouse anywhere.

Final Thoughts: Although the Performance Mouse MX is slightly smaller than we'd like, it's still one of the best-tracking mice we've ever used. If you've got a glass table, or if you just like slightly better fidelity with your input devices, Logitech's new Darkfield is probably as big a step forward as the jump from optical to laser.

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<![CDATA[Performance Mouse MX]]>

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<![CDATA[Anywhere Mouse MX]]>

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<![CDATA[Logitech G27 Racing Wheel Helps Race Fans Shift Gears]]>
Many virtual rev-heads knew it was coming, but Logitech has now officially replaced its G25 Racing Wheel with the G27. The update adds shift-indicator LEDs that you help know when to up/down gear, and more programmable buttons on the wheel.

The 11-inch, leather-wrapped wheel now has a total of six buttons (three for each thumb), compared to just two previously. This, and the shift-indicator LEDs on the six-speed gear stick are the core of the updates. Dual-motor force feedback returns, along with steel gas, brake and clutch pedals.

The G27 works with supported games under Windows XP/Vista, and on the PS3 or PS2. It should be available this September, for the same $299.99 asking price as its predecessor. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech MK700 Wireless Desktop Features Concave Keys to Cradle Your Fingertips]]> Logitech's new wireless desktop keyboard/mouse set, the MK700, is a nice-looking, if standard, Logitech offering. It's got a little LCD, shiny black finish and efficient batteries. But it's also packing Logitech's new "Incurve" concave keys to sensuously caress your fingers.

Logitech promises that its new "Incurve" concave keys and wrist-rest properly cradle your fingers in a way we suppose flat keys can't. We haven't gotten a change to use it, but it sounds interesting to have a little gully for fingertips. The MK700 also has improved battery efficiency that yields some impressive results: The keyboard will last about three years, and the mouse about 12 months. Otherwise, it's a pretty standard set, clocking in at $100 when it ships later this month. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[New Logitech iPod Speakers Are Almost Certainly Sufficient]]> iPod docks are a dime a dozen, though Logitech's are some of the most reliable and best-sounding. They've got two new rechargeable docks, and we're sure they sound nice and work well—but there's nothing new or exciting here.

The S125i, checking in at $70, is totally standard: Universal iPod/iPhone dock, 3.5mm auxiliary input for other audio sources (I like using my Zune, because I'm a rebel like that), a one-touch bass boost button, and can run on 4 AA batteries for around 10 hours.

Equally dull is the S315i, pictured, a little more expensive at $130, has the same inputs, except its battery is rechargeable and lasts twice as long, up to 20 hours. Apparently the "custom, full-range drivers" give excellent lows and highs, though without having heard it we can't confirm that.

Like we said, these docks are totally fine—if we were in the market for a new iPod dock, we'd definitely consider them. Logitech has a history of nice-sounding, nice-looking iPod accessories and it stands to reason these'll be perfectly nice as well. But there's also nothing new here, and we just can't get too excited about another black plastic and silver metal iPod dock. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech Harmony 900 Universal Remote Review]]> The Logitech Harmony 900 is the updated Logitech Harmony One, which marries a traditional button remote with a capacitive touchscreen for expanded functionality. What makes this better are the charging dock and the RF to IR control adapters.

The Price: $400

The Verdict: This form factor, plus the included charging dock and the RF to IR blasters make this the best remote package Logitech has right now. We've been fans of their standard remotes for a while, but combining the keep-your-eyes-on-your-tv ability of those with the extendability of their full touchscreen units makes for a winner.

If you've played with the Harmony One you should know what this remote feels like. The number keys are on the bottom, the navigation keys are in the middle and the activity keys are near the top. The touchscreen is responsive enough, and can scroll through pages of various commands for different media console items—just like their previous remotes.

The charging dock is contoured exactly like the back of the remote, taking it in lovingly into its electric arms. Imagine getting into bathtub shaped exactly like your body—this is that, except without the water or the urge to pee.

Syncing with your computer works the same way as before, but Logitech STILL hasn't managed to enable consolidating profiles so that you can have more than one remote on an account, and hasn't come up with a way to export remote profiles to other accounts. That's a huge pain in the ass if you have multiple Logitechs, and is probably our biggest gripe with their setup.

There is one included central RF to IR blaster, with two other IR blasters that can hook up to it for a total of three IR blasters. They're meant to be used in cabinets where the door is closed, or somehow out of IR line of sight, so you can literally point your remote at nothing (it's using RF) and it'll still propagate the command through to the IR blaster. This is pretty easy to set up—there's a wizard right on the remote—and you should be up and running in a few minutes. And there's very little RF delay, so you won't have to worry about that.

The upside is that this is probably our favorite universal remote package that Logitech has made, figuring in the charging dock and the RF to IR blasters. The downside is that the whole setup costs $400. If you're shopping for your first universal remote, this will probably be your last. if you already own a cheaper Logitech in the sub $100 range, find a way to sell it and pick this up. [Logitech]

Best universal remote by Logitech yet

Allows extendability with touchscreen without sacrificing the usability of buttons

Price is a little high, but less than full touchscreen remotes

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<![CDATA[Logitech Harmony 900 Gallery]]>





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<![CDATA[Logitech's Harmony 900 Universal Remote Has Touchscreen]]> Only a certain type of person is willing to drop $400 on a remote control, but those people are going to be excited about the new Logitech Harmony 900.

The Harmony 900 isn't quite as huge and crazy as the Harmony 1000, as it retains the form factor of, you know, a remote control, like the Harmony One. But it packs in a color touchscreen to let you control pretty much anything you want. It's the best of both worlds.

It's also got a new RF to IR blaster to control your home theater components. Instead of sticking small IR receivers to the IR inputs of every device in your cabinet, you put the blaster in front of all of them and it fires off its signal in every direction, hitting everything at once. It makes the install process easier, at least. This way you can control closed cabinets (or cabinets behind you) with RF, so the repeater will send the IR to the desired components.

Look for the Harmony 900 later this month for $399.99. [Logitech]

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<![CDATA[Logitech Frags The G5 With Higher Precision Gaming Mouse G500]]> The G500 succeeds the popular G5 Laser Mouse with greater accuracy (up to 5700dpi, adjustable on the fly), and a broader thumb rest. Logitech also has a new budget noise-cancelling headset called the G330.

The Gaming Mouse G500 has a "battle worn finish" and dual-mode scroll wheel that either can click through weapon selection, or be made frictionless when scrolling Web pages. Like the G5, you can also add extra weight (up to 27 grams). The G500 will cost $70 when it ships in September.

For its part, the Gaming Headset G330 has a behind-the-head design, volume control on its cord, and provides basic noise canceling for $50. Though it can connect to your PC via 3.5mm mini-jack, using it over USB enables optimized EQ. [Logitech]

Logitech Gaming Mouse G500 Refreshes Popular Logitech G5 Laser Mouse with Latest Gaming-Grade Laser Engine, Logitech Gaming Headset G330 Delivers Comfort That Won't Quit

FREMONT, Calif. - Aug. 6, 2009 - When there's sweat on your brow, and it's way too late to turn back, it's time to choose wisely. To help you make the right choice when victory is on the line, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today unveiled extensions to its award-winning G-series line of gaming peripherals: the Logitech® Gaming Mouse G500 and the Logitech® Gaming Headset G330. The Gaming Mouse G500 refreshes the popular Logitech® G5 Laser Mouse with the latest gaming-grade laser engine and a battle-worn appearance, while the Gaming Headset G330 delivers comfort that won't quit – even after long hours of battle.

"As more and more people make gaming with family and friends the new night out, Logitech continues to push the envelope with the Logitech G-series." said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech's director of product marketing for gaming. "If you're getting serious about gaming – or have already seen the light – then the best way to dive ever deeper into the game is by putting the G500 mouse in your good hand and the G330 headset on your head. Victory is up to you."

For gamers, especially the more than 11 million people playing World of Warcraft® or the millions on a tour of Call of Duty®, the Gaming Mouse G500 and the Gaming Headset G330 help ensure that every late-night gaming session is victorious.

Logitech Gaming Mouse G500
The successor to the classic Logitech® G5 Laser Mouse, the Logitech Gaming Mouse G500 delivers game-changing precision at any hand speed. With its gaming-grade laser engine you can rev up your intensity – reaching a maximum hand speed of 165 inches per second (ips) and a maximum acceleration force of 30 gs. An on-the-fly adjustable-dpi gives you the right level of precision – from pixel-precise targeting (200 dpi) to lightning-fast maneuvers (up to 5700 dpi) – for whatever game you're playing. (The dpi can be adjusted, after installing the Logitech® Gaming Software, in increments of 100 dpi). Plus, full-speed USB helps ensure that the G500 mouse is smooth and responsive.

But the G500 mouse offers much more than precision. A rugged finish offers a battle-worn accent to your gear. And an updated shape – with a broader thumb rest and a smoothed-out pinkie ledge – makes the new Logitech gaming mouse more comfortable when you're in the heat of competition.

When you're ready to battle, the onboard memory lets you save and take the settings for your favorite title with you – no software required. If you're sensitive to weight, the G500 mouse offers weight tuning, including up to 27 grams of extra weight for personalized feel and control. The additional weights fit into a removable chassis and, when not in use, can be stored in the accompanying case. A dual-mode scroll wheel – with hyper-fast scrolling for those times that you have to work – provides click-to-click scrolling that's perfect for weapon selection. And ten programmable buttons put valuable macros in your hand (software required).

Logitech Gaming Headset G330
Even when gaming casualties are heavy, your Logitech Gaming Headset G330 isn't. The lightweight G330 headset combats fatigue with its adjustable, behind-the-head design – the first of its kind for gaming headsets – that slides for a personalized fit. To further relieve common pressure points on your head, the G330 headset features a soft silicone-lined headband and pivoting ear pads. And with durable steel spring at its core, the flexible headband is designed to withstand the wear and tear of furious battle.

A noise-canceling microphone reduces annoying background noise and rotates out of the way when you're not using it. The in-line audio controls let you adjust the volume or mute the microphone without pausing the action. An included USB adapter lets you choose to connect digitally to any USB port for enhanced audio or directly to your PC sound card via 3.5 mm jacks.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Gaming Mouse G500 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in September for a suggested retail price of $69.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Gaming Headset G330 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in August for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).

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<![CDATA[Logitech's R800 and R400 Wireless Presenter Remotes]]> If your job involves giving presentations on a regular basis, you might want to look into two new offerings from Logitech—the R800 and R400 Wireless Presenter remotes.

The R800 offers a green laser pointer, LCD display (providing info like battery life, time alerts and wireless reception) and a 100-foot range. The R400 is stripped down to a red laser, navigation buttons and a 50-foot range. Both devices will be available starting in September for $100 and $50 respectively. Not bad if you are on a budget, but if you have some money to burn I would hold out for this. [Logitech]

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