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Microsoft has formally announced its latest Arc Touch mouse for the UK, declaring that the new peripheral proves that the mouse is not dead.

Microsoft's original Arc mouse sold well enough for the company to make a follow up and the new version flattens 'with just the touch of a finger'.

The neat design is obviously ideal for laptops, with the mouse much more simple to carry around.

Numbered?

"Some say the mouse's days are numbered, but today Microsoft Corp proves the gadget is alive and well by unveiling the Arc Touch Mouse, the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort," says Microsoft's release.

"The new mouse features Microsoft's first touch scroll strip for easy navigation — just move a finger slowly for controlled scrolling or flick for hyper fast scrolling."

The mouse also brings Microsoft's BluTrack tech which makes it usable on difficult surfaces, but it is the touchpad that headlines the peripheral.

Take control

"With the Arc Touch Mouse's touch strip, consumers can take control of their scrolling with a flick of a finger," explains Microsoft

"Using a capacitive sensing technique and sensor pads, the strip corresponds to each position and velocity change to give users accurate, controlled scrolling no matter how fast or slow the movement.

"Move a finger slowly on the strip for controlled scrolling, or flick a finger for hyper fast scrolling that can be stopped with just a simple tap.

"The strip also has three tap 'buttons' for added functionality: page up, page down and the middle click area, which is re-programmable for whatever mouse function the user needs most.

"Switching from a scroll wheel to a touch strip is made easier with haptics, a vibration technology that simulates the bumps users would feel while using a traditional scroll wheel."

The Microsoft Arc Touch mouse has been given a UK release date of November and will be priced at (a fairly hefty) £69.99.

Forget CPUs, GPUs, SSDs and RAM. The most important part of your PC is sitting right in front of you: the display. It's quite literally the window into the workings of your PC, and it has an enormous impact on your computing experience.

Unfortunately, monitors are also among the trickiest components to pick. It's all too easy to fall into the trap of treating a flat panel much as you would any other upgrade, and just focus on a few key specifications.

For a processor, that approach works well: the combination of core count and clockspeed provides a good overall impression of performance. For a screen, replacing those metrics with size and resolution is a recipe for disappointment.

The most important issue to get to grips with is the pecking order of panel types. Broadly, there are three different LCD panel technologies, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Manufacturers are sometimes reluctant to reveal the panel technology their screens are based on, but if you know what to look for it's usually possible to identify the panel technology from the specs.

The most common of the three monitor types is Twisted Nematic, or TN for short. For the most part, TN panels dominate the market because they're dirt cheap to manufacture and hence to buy. However, the low cost comes with a number of drawbacks.

For starters, TN screens suffer from relatively poor contrast and viewing angles. Consequently, black tones may lack depth and colours can be inconsistent.

The limitations

Part of the problem is that the default position of the crystals in a TN panel allows light to pass through. Only when a voltage is applied do the crystals 'twist' into a position that blocks the backlight. However, because the crystals are fixed at one end, they can only bend or twist, rather than freely rotate. Consequently, they don't block light as effectively as other panel types.

Limited colour saturation and accuracy are further shortcomings of TN technology. In fact, the range of colours a TN panel can produce is restricted to six bits per channel. Put another way, that's 18 bits overall for a total of 262,144 colours.

Why, then, do nearly all current TN monitors claim to be capable of displaying 16 million or more colours? The answer is a technology known as dithering. In simple terms, this involves approximating an intermediate colour by rapidly jumping between two adjacent colours. Look closely at most TN panels and you can see the pixels fizzing away as they hop between colour states.

Still, the upside of dithering is that it provides a giveaway of TN tech in the specification list. For reasons related to the number of shades that are required per channel for 8-bit colour, TN panels with dithering fall slightly short of the total colours offered by genuine 8-bit panels.

Where the latter deliver 16.7 million colours, TN screens are typically limited to 16.2 million. That's a handy little factoid in your hunt for the perfect panel. Put it all together and a typical TN display often has a watery, washed out appearance compared to alternative technologies.

It's not all bad news, though: twisted nematic crystals are the fastest responding of any panel type, making TN screens the weapon of choice for gaming enthusiasts. Fast response is also an advantage for video playback.

However, shortcomings in areas like contrast prevent TN screens from being suitable for home cinema.

Next up is In-Plane Switching, or IPS, technology. At the opposite end of the scale to TN screens in everything from price to colour accuracy, IPS is a favourite of graphics professionals the world over.

DELL ULTRASHARP U2711: This IPS screen is accurate and very pleasing to the eye

Where other panel types usually have a single controller transistor per subpixel, IPS panels pack a pair and therefore deliver the best control and colour accuracy. There is, however, a snag. The added complexity not only increases cost, it also blocks more light and reduces overall colour saturation.

Read ourDell Ultrasharp U2711 review

Another strength of IPS technology is its extremely wide and consistent viewing angles. Unlike TN crystals which twist at one end, the liquid crystals in an IPS panel rotate about their axis. They therefore present a more consistent face to the viewer at varying angles and allow a near-constant quantity of light to pass through each of the red, green and blue subpixels, regardless of the angle of view. Put another way, the colours don't go wonky when viewed from off-centre.

There is, however, a downside to the greater range of movement of IPS: the pixels take longer to respond when moving between extremes of colour. The longer that process takes, the blurrier a panel looks when rendering moving images.

The last of our trio of panel technologies is VA, or vertical alignment. There are actually two types of VA panels: PVA (patterned vertical alignment), and MVA (multidomain vertical alignment).

PVA is more common, but both share the same basic characteristics and give similar image quality. For the most part, VA panels fall halfway between TN and IPS technology. In terms of cost, colour accuracy and pixel response, VA panels split the difference.

However, VA screens also have a number of distinct characteristics that set them apart. Most notably, the default position of the liquid crystals in a VA pixel blocks light from passing through. This results in the deepest, inkiest blacks of any panel type and the best static contrast ratios.

Colour saturation is another plus point for VA screens, even if outright colour accuracy is usually lagging behind the best IPS screens. What's more, VA panels are true 8-bit per colour channel. Overall, VA panels give the most vibrant, eye-catching image quality of any LCD technology.

The richness and depth of a good VA monitor really is spectacular. For that reason, many high-end HDTVs use PVA LCD panels.

If VA technology does have a weakness, however, it's pixel response. In an attempt to reduce response times, many VA monitors have a technology known as pixel overdrive. While it can be effective for speeding up pixel response, it creates problems all of its own, including input lag and inverse ghosting (there's some more information on this below).

Any screen with a static, rather than dynamic, contrast rating above 1,000:1 is likely to be based on a PVA panel. Likewise, claimed viewing angles of 178 degrees or more indicate IPS and PVA technology. TN LCDs tend to dip into the 160s in the vertical plane.

As for pixel response, anything with a very low single-digit rating in terms of milliseconds is almost definitely a TN screen.

Price is another good indicator of panel type. Any 20 or 22in screen on sale for £200 or less is bound to be TN. The same goes for 23in and 24in screens below £350.

Is size important?

Armed with a good knowledge of panel technologies, the next step is to choose size and resolution. Firstly, it's worth noting that the increasing adoption of the full-HD 1080p resolution means you won't necessarily get more desktop space from a larger panel.

STAND AND DELIVER: Different monitor stands can make a big difference to your viewing pleasure

Currently, the majority of affordable monitors sized between 22 and 28 inches sport precisely the same 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution. One of the few exceptions is Dell's new U2711 with its 2,560 x 1,440 pixel grid. So, while larger screens are superficially more dramatic, they often don't actually display any more data.

What's more, as screen sizes increase while maintaining the same native resolution, the pixel pitch, or pixel size, also balloons. In other words, smaller screens are sharper and clearer, especially when viewed at close quarters.

That said, the 1080p resolution (and the HDTV-aping 16:9 aspect ratio that comes with it) isn't the only option available. A few 22in and larger displays are still available in the slightly taller 16:10 widescreen aspect. The benefit here is increased vertical resolution.

Larger 23in and 24in 16:10 panels, for instance, usually pack 1,200 pixels in the vertical plane, allowing you to view more of a web page or document without scrolling. Although monitor makers sound off about the multimedia advantages of the wider 1080p standard, the real reason they favour it concerns their manufacturing margins. The wider 16:9 aspect makes for slightly less overall screen area for a given screen diagonal, and therefore cheaper panels. In our view, a 16:10 screen remains preferable for PC usage.

Once you've decided on panel type, screen size and resolution, the next LCD-related issue worthy of your attention is digital image quality enhancement technology. In recent years, the capabilities claimed by manufacturers for their monitors have become increasingly spectacular. It's not unheard of, for instance, to see advertised contrast ratios as high as 100,000:1. But all is not quite as it seems.

A good ratio

Any ratio that measures in the tens of thousands to one (or more) will be achieved courtesy of dynamic contrast. The theory here is simple enough: video and games are typically composed of scenes that vary in terms of light intensity. Rapid changes from bright daytime vistas to nightscapes are standard fare.

However, the backlight strength of a conventional LCD monitor remains constant, and it's the changing orientation of the liquid crystals per pixel that modulates the amount of light the screen emits. But what if you could vary the backlight intensity, and therefore enable darker blacks to be rendered without compromising on vibrancy and brightness in brighter scenes?

That's exactly what dynamic contrast technology attempts by analysing the image data as it reaches the monitor and then adjusting the backlight according to the brightness of the scene being displayed. It's certainly a plausible idea in theory.

In practice, however, the results tend to be rather unsatisfying. Often, the backlight is too slow to respond. When it finally does, it tends to overreact, typically obscuring the finer details in darker scenes.

The next term you are likely to come across while perusing the monitors on offer to you is digital colour enhancement. Here, image data received by the monitor is digitally processed with a view to either compensating for the limited colour space of the panel itself or generally jazzing up the visuals. Just like dynamic contrast technology, we've yet to see an implementation of this technology that unambiguously improves overall image quality.

The final major enhancement technology is the pixel overdrive we mentioned earlier. The idea behind overdrive is to reduce response times – the time it takes pixels to change colour. Altering the colour of any pixel requires a change in the voltage applied.

By either increasing or reducing the voltage more aggressively than is required for the target colour state, pixels are accelerated towards the new colour state more rapidly. However, before the pixel can overshoot the target colour, the voltage is normalised.

Pixel overdriven?

Well, that's the theory, at least. Overdriven panels are definitely sharper when displaying movement. However, close inspection reveals something slightly rotten, too.

The first problem is usually referred to as 'inverse ghosting'. It's caused by excessive overdrive leading to pixels overshooting the required colour state and usually manifests as a trail or shadow in the wake of a moving object, approximately in the opposite colour to that object, hence the term 'inverse'. It's quite distinct from the blurriness and smearing seen on monitors with poor pixel response.

VIEWSONIC VX2739WM: The quickest LCD monitor around

Inverse ghosting can effect both TN and PVA panels with overdrive technology. However, the other major problem with overdrive technology – input lag – seems to be restricted to PVA screens. The issue here is a measurable delay between the video signal being sent to the monitor and the screen responding with a refreshed image.

Read ourViewsonic VX2739WM review

Typically, this is noticed as a lag between a physical mouse input and the movement of the cursor or application window on the screen. Of course, processing a digital signal results in at least some lag on all LCD monitors compared to the instantaneous output of an analogue CRT monitor.

Using a CRT monitor in cloned mode as a control device, LCD screens are usually found to lag behind by 10 to 20 milliseconds. With some overdriven screens, this increases to 50 milliseconds or more. The result is a sticky, disconnected feel on the desktop. For games enthusiasts, it can make first-person shooters in particular almost unplayable.

If that's a general guide to the state of play in LCD technology today, what does the future hold? Two new technologies which are grabbing the headlines of late are LED backlights and stereoscopic 3D displays.

As for stereoscopic 3D, the hype suggests that it's set to take over everything from your local cinema screen to HDTVs and the PC.

3D panels

There are various implementations of 3D technology, but all work by presenting a different image to each eye with the aim of generating the illusion of visual depth. Usually, the use of a pair of polarised glasses is required.

Currently, the most mature stereoscopic platform on the PC is Nvidia's 3D Vision. It's composed of a pair of active shutter glasses controlled by an IR emitter and requires both an Nvidia graphics card and a display with support for 120Hz video input.

For now, we remain dubious about the potential for 3D on the PC beyond games. That said, there is an unexpected benefit of the 120Hz refresh rate required for shutter-glass-driven stereoscopic 3D technology. The increased refresh rate has a noticeable impact on image quality, even when you're not in 3D mode.

There's no denying the added smoothness and clarity of 120Hz compared to the more usual 60Hz refresh of standard LCD monitors. It's also no surprise to find games are slicker and feel more responsive, but even if you are just shunting windows around the desktop it feels smoother.

When LCD monitors first arrived and brought with them the fixed 60Hz refresh rate, CRT fans complained about the demise of higher refresh rates and were dismissed as Luddites. Now it seems that they might have had a point after all.

SAMSUNG LD220Z: This touchscreen is excellent as a second monitor for a laptop

Finally, the widespread adoption of touchscreens is another possible trend for the future. While touch interfaces for mobile devices have improved immeasurably in recent years, we've yet to see a really convincing touchscreen PC for the desktop.

Read our Hands on: Samsung LD220Z review

For the most part, that's due to a lack of quality interfaces and suitable applications rather than any problem with the hardware. However, we also have doubts that the very concept of touch on a desktop PC actually makes sense, and that's an opinion our experience of Samsung's new SyncMaster LD220Z has done nothing to change.

In the context of the traditional desktop PC, it's hard to see what touch does better than a conventional keyboard and mouse.

ViewSonic has announced a 'strategic' move to LED technology, which will include a new flagship monitor in the Vx2450wm and a 24-inch 3D monitor.

The ViewSonic Vx2450wm offers 1080p performance, 20K:1 dynamic contract and eco-mode as well as LED technology which will begin to replace the CCFL tech.

"We feel that LED monitor technology is mature enough to deliver our display standards across our entire portfolio," says James Coulson, European marketing manager.

Proof of commitment

"Our investment in LED technology with our new range of monitors is proof of our commitment to deliver a better picture using greener products to all of our customers," he added.

The new range also includes the 'affordable' VA1931w-LED and the VA2231w-LED designed primarily for school and business use.

And, last but not least, ViewSonic's first 3D 24-inch monitor - the V3D241WM-LED - will join the range and include a set of 3D active shutter glasses to ensure users are 3D ready from the start.

The Vx2450wm, VA1931w-LED and VA2231w-LED are available now from £123.

The Razer BlackWidow has been unveiled, billed as the first mechanical gaming keyboard engineered for gamers.

Razer's peripherals have been popular with gamers for a long time and the US company is keen to build on that with a number of recent announcements.

The latest arrival for Razer is the BlackWidow keyboard, which was shown off at GamesCom in Cologne and is the product of three years' design work.

Re-badged

"Most mechanical keyboards in the market today are standard mechanical keyboards rebadged as gaming keyboards that feature stiff keys that cause key actuation fatigue," explains Razer's release.

"Such keyboards are inherently worse off for gamers as it actually decreases gameplay performance as opposed to enhancing it.

"As a result, most professional gamers eschew such marketing gimmicks for regular membrane keyboards."

Strain-free

So, essentially, it's easier to press the button and makes sure your fingers don't get worn out.

"The Razer BlackWidow is the world's first mechanical keyboard that has been engineered from the ground up for gaming," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president, Razer.

"Imagine every single key on the keyboard with the precision of a mouse click – no more pressing of keys without knowing for certain if they have been actuated.

"Precision clicking coupled with an optimised lighter key actuation force, this changes the way gamers will play from now on. "

The Razer BlackWidow has a UK release date set as September, and will be priced at around £66.

Ultimate

There will also be a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate priced at £107.

"Also available in the same month is the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, a step up from the original edition with the added features of individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting, 3.5" audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port."

Canon has announced a veritable slew of new printers and scanners, including the new Pixma range, two CanoScan and the Selphy Cp800 photo printer.

Canon has a well-established brand in the printer world and the latest Pixmar range brings 'some of the most dynamic models in the market' according to the company.

"With the new Intelligent Touch System, Full HD Movie Print Function and direct Flickr access from Easy-PhotoPrint EX software all enabling you to increase your creativity, anything is possible. The new PIXMA range does it all in unrivalled style."

Flagshiprinters

The flagship printers are the new Pixma MG8150 and the Pixma MG6150 – two All-In-Ones that Canon thinks look good and are easy to use.

"Boasting a sleek, deep black exterior that adds style to any space, both models come to life when switched on, instantly illuminating the TFT display and a large central control panel that guides users through a simple, step-by-step interface using Canon's intuitive new Intelligent Touch System.

"All models in the new range feature Canon's groundbreaking new Full HD Movie Print Function, an incredible new software that allows users to print their favourite moments from full HD movie captured on Canon's Digital SLR range or HD movie captured on Canon Digital Still Cameras."

The entire range features wireless connectivity, and on selected models, including the entry-level PIXMA MP495, wireless printing allows users to print from a range of Wi-Fi compatible devices instead of just being limited to PC printing.

"As well as their home computer or laptop, the new PIXMA range also allows users to print directly from a number of devices, including iPhone, Android devices or the PlayStation 3," adds Canon.

The range starts from £59 for the MP280 and moves right up to the MG8150 which is priced at £329. There is also the new iP4850 prices at £99. The UK release date for all the printers is given as October 2010.

LiDE oh!

Next up are the CanoScan LiDE 210 and 110 scanners, which replace the LiDE 200 and 100.

"CanoScan LiDE 210 and CanoScan LiDE 110 offer crisp and clear scanning at significantly higher speeds, stated Canon.

"CanoScan LiDE 110 has reduced the A4 300 dpi scanning time to approximately 16 seconds compared to 24 seconds for the LiDE 100, whilst the CanoScan LiDE 210 has reduced it to approximately 10 seconds compared to 14 seconds for the LiDE 200."

Both have a UK release date of September 2010 ad are priced at £95 and £75.

Last, Selphy CP800 photo printer is "designed to make photo-lab quality printing at home quick and easy."

As you may guess, the CP800 replaced the CP780 and features a simple user interface and 2.5 inch LCD screen.

It has a UK release date of September and is priced at £99.

Sony has released a brace of new gaming headsets, the DR-GA500 and DR-GA200, with the electronics giant suggesting that the latest peripherals are the 'ultimate weapon for FPS gaming'.

Sony's DRGA500 offers 7.1 Dolby surround sound and has 40mm drive units for 'premium gaming sound quality'.

The lower specced DR-GA200 also boats 40mm drive units but not the Dolby surround, with both headsets offering 'triple enfolding' design that Sony believes offers unrivalled comfort over long periods of wear.

Very Special

"Sony is launching two very special headsets into the gaming sector," explained the release.

"Each has been designed in response to extensive user research that shows what different gamers want from the ideal headset."

The DR-GA500 offers a Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create 7.1ch 3D surround effects, interestingly the signal processing hardware is contained in an external unit.

"The result is a soundscape rich in precision spatial detail that pinpoints everything from a stealthy footstep to the position of an exploding grenade," says Sony.

"This audio environment is perfect for first person shooter (FPS) games where what you can hear is often as important as what you can see."

A UK release date of September has been announced but no official UK price, but expect them to retail for around £55 for the DR-GA200 and £129 for the headlining DR-GA500.

Mad Catz is extending its quirky Cyborg gaming peripherals range with a wireless RAT 9 mouse and the G.L.I.D.E 7 'gaming surface'.

The eccentric Cyborg RAT 7 has attracted both mirth at just how ridiculously customisable it is and glee at how fantastically it handles, and it has now been joined by a wireless version: the RAT 9.

Mad Catz is hoping to get away from the eternal problem of gamers worrying about batteries running out or problem charging with a tether by offering two lithium ion rechargeable battery packs, allowing you to swap from one to the other.

Weights and measures

The charger also doubles up as store for the weights that you adust when you get the mouse and, probably, never really touch again.

As you may expect, the mouse also offers 2.4Ghz wireless tech – and latency of less than one millisecond.

The RAT 9 will cost a whopping £119, so it's very much a mouse for those who take their gaming particularly seriously.

Next up is the G.L.I.D.E 7 which is billed as a 'gaming surface' and is, therefore, a nice mouse mat.

We're not sure what G.L.I.D.E is an acronym for, but it does offer a foam backed, laser cut, low-friction surface and has been made in conjunction with pro gaming clan TCM.

Next generation

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, "The RAT range of professional gaming mice continues to impress at retail, and critics and consumers alike appear to be universal with their praise.

"The RAT 9 introduces next generation wireless technology to the range which we believe makes this the most advanced gaming mouse available.

"When used in conjunction with one of our new gaming surfaces, we believe we are able to offer PC gamers the ideal mouse installation."

We don't have a price of the mouse mat and we are chasing a UK release date for both – but expect it to be imminent.

ROCCAT has unveiled the Kone[+] gaming mouse, with a 'revolutionary' 6,000 DPI Pro-Aim sensor.

The ROCCAT Kone[+] max customization gaming mouse boasts a 1,000Hz polling and some nifty tech to pick up what it terms 'lightning fast' mouse movements.

"Thanks to the Tracking & Distance Control Unit (TDCU), which is now integrated in the laser sensor, the ROCCAT Kone[+] can also control lift-off distance as well as fine tune the sensor to suit the mousepad, resulting in optimal tracking," says the German company's release.

The mouse utilises an EasyShift[+] Button, which works a little like a shift key on a keyboard and allows you to trigger different functions with the same buttons.

EasyAim

There is also a button that, when held, switches the mouse to a pre-set DPI – making that tricky sniper shot all the easier.

Last up, ROCCAT has kept its popular 4 multicolour LED system to let your mouse pulsate and embarrass all its less colourful friends.

The mouse will be unveiled at IFA and will cost €79.99, with a UK price likely to be around £56.

Logitech has unveiled the Wireless Combo MK520 mouse and keyboard combination.

The peripherals specialist has brought together a package of a wireless mouse and keyboard – and the Logitech Unifying receiver – for £50.

"When you're using a laptop, the Logitech Wireless Combo can make everything you do on your computer more comfortable," said Marcus Harvey, Logitech UK & Ireland Country Manager.

Hour after hour

"The MK520 keyboard and mouse combo is designed to feel good hour after hour," he adds.

The keyboard boasts the company's Incurve keys and offers a three-year battery life, and the mouse a year's worth of juice.

The Logitech Media Combo MK520 has been given a UK release date of August and will cost £49.99.

Logitech has taken a bold step by releasing a wireless gaming mouse, but there remain huge doubts from professional gamers that even the most advanced technology is reliable enough.

Microsoft has already trialled wireless gaming mice through its Sidewinder range, and Logitech's latest G700 will be considered a desirable piece of gaming kit by many.

But for the top echelons of gamers, and the much bigger group of serious gamers that care greatly about their kit, wireless still brings major doubts.

Come a long way

"Wireless peripherals have come on a long way in recent years and some of the better ones out there are actually really great," said pro gaming events organiser Corin Cole.

"The reason they're not suited for professional gamers, however, is that they just aren't as reliable as wired mice.

"If I'm browsing the web at home and run out of battery, or find there's some interference causing me problems, that's fine, I can live with that.

"If it happens to a gamer in the middle of a big game when prize money is on the line, that becomes a huge problem, and that's not a risk they want to take."

Horror stories

Cole's take is reflected by many gamers, myself included. I have dabbled with wireless mice, but a series of horror stories involving death, destruction (only of my avatar fortunately) and severe gamer rage put pay to that brief foray.

Logitech's wired mice are, as thousands would testify, wonderful pieces of technology. I currently use a G9 at work and G9X for my main gaming PC – but despite my faith in the company's peripherals I won't be taking the jump to wireless.

Firstly, I don't really see the point. At no point in my gaming life have I felt trapped by my wired mouse.

A wireless headset is a slightly different matter, but when you sit in front of a screen (or a laptop) the chance of ever being irritated by the wire is tiny.

Problems

So when you factor in problems like charge and interference – however unlikely – you can understand why people are reticent to leave their cables behind.

The latest Logitech mouse, and Microsoft's wireless Sidewinder, offered the chance to leave the cable plugged in, giving people the option of choosing wired or not.

But, several of my problems came from the mouse constantly failing to charge despite being 'plugged in' so even a wired/wireless mouse can have issues.

I'm not convinced by a wireless gaming mouse. Wireless makes a degree of sense for casual use, but I just haven't been given a proper reason why I need to do away with my trusty old wired version.

Asus has unveiled it latest gaming headset, with the CineVibe headphones bringing force feedback for "greater immersion" in games and movies.

Although force feedback (or rumble) is not a new concept, Asus has decided that gamers will benefit from having it in their headsets.

So, they have integrated the technology into the Asus CineVibe headphones, and hope that it will "change the way gamers perceive and enjoy personal audio".

Miles ahead

"The inclusion of moving bass, force feedback reactive vibration and superior audio quality put the all-new ASUS CineVibe miles ahead of other headphones, providing an entirely upgraded personal audio experience," says Asus' release.

"CineVibe headphones use advanced audio rendering to provide impressive bass as well as precision mid and high range output, making them ideal for exciting gaming and movie watching.

Force feedback

"Better yet, the biggest attraction with CineVibe headphones is the addition of reactive force feedback that vibrates in tandem with the action on screen, creating a gripping experience," it continues.

"Unlike the forgettable sound of most headphones, CineVibe headphones evoke great wonder and amazement, injecting a whole new dimension of audio to personal, undisruptive gaming and movie watching."

Asus' CineVibe headphones are available now for £58.99. And, we're just as intrigued as you as to what a headphone rumble pack is going to feel like.

Logitech has unveiled its latest G-series gaming peripherals, including the G930 headset, the G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse and the G510 Gaming Keyboard.

Logitech's G-series have long been favourites for PC gamers and the new troika of peripherals will no doubt prove popular despite carrying hefty price tags.

The Wireless Gaming Headset G930 is available for a suggested retail price of £149. The Wireless Gaming Mouse G700 will cost £89.99 and the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G510 is available for £89.99.

Competitive advantage

"The new G-Series products give every gamer a competitive advantage," said Elliott Chin, Logitech's senior manager of product marketing for gaming.

"Whether it's a headset with 7.1 surround sound, a mouse with 13 controls, or a keyboard with an LCD that displays critical in-game stats, everything about the new G-Series line-up helps you win, no matter what game you love to play."

The Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 brings what Logitech describes as Dolby 7.1 surround sound.

The headset has three programmable 'G' keys, memory foam headband and is wireless with a 10 hour battery life. Logitech also points out that you can charge the headset while still using it.

Next up is a Wireless Gaming Mouse G700, which may well test gamers' aversion to wireless kit.

It has 13 'precisely placed' controls and has a quick connect charging cable.

Last but not least the Gaming Keyboard G510 'delivers the tools you need to win' says Logitech.

The keyboard features 18 programmable G-keys with three mode states, giving you up to 54 possible macro settings per game.

It also includes the much-admired Logitech-exclusive GamePanel LCD to give you real-time game stats and PC performance data.

Add in customisable RGB backlighting and 3.5 mm audio jacks and you get a tasty bit of gaming kit.

Razer has unveiled a refresh of its Razer Lachesis gaming mouse, boasting a 5600dpi laser sensor and customisable multi-colour LED lighting system.

Razer's gaming mice are among the best on the planet, and the company has deemed it time to update its much-loved Lachesis.

"The all new Razer Lachesis is about giving gamers more personal choice and customisable options," said Robert Krakoff, president, Razer USA.

"With a multi-colour LED for customizable color and a built-in variable dpi, the Razer Lachesis gives gamers everything they need for this three-year fan favourite."

16 million

As well as allowing you to choose from 16 million different glowing colours (handy for picking out your machine at a dark LAN perhaps?) Razer's latest sensor bears scrutiny.

The Razer Lachesis has a 5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor and 1000Hz Ultrapolling for minimal latency.

The pricing is likely to be around £59, with a UK release date of September.

Apple's Magic TrackPad has been given iFixit's customary teardown - and they can confirm that magical unicorns are not part of the components list.

The teardown specialists discovered that Broadcom's chips are the key components, running both the touch surface and the Bluetooth connectivity.

It is Broadcom chips that can be found performing similar roles in the Magic Mouse and iPad/iPhone from Apple.

No unicorns

"We didn't find any magical unicorns inside, but we did uncover a plethora of components inside the Trackpad's *very* thin profile," said iFixit.

"Even though repairing the components might be infeasible, we're still impressed by everything Apple's engineers managed to stuff into the Trackpad."

One point of note is the clever way that the button is pressed by users.


"The Magic Trackpad has a unique way of triggering the mouse button," adds iFixit's report.

" As you press down on the top surface of the pad, the two rubber feet near its front edge push on a plate attached to the chassis.

"The plate squeezes the electronic mouse button switch, producing the characteristic 'click'."

More pictures and details are at the iFixit website.

Microsoft has announced the arrival of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000v2 – billing it as the 'perfect accessory to any notebook, laptop or PC'.

Although not as headline drawing as Apple's Magic TrackPad – announced yesterday – Microsoft hardware's latest offering is somewhat cheaper at just under £20.

Like up to 20 Mbps?

The budget mouse has 'up to' 10 months of battery life (which technically of course could mean anything) and a range of 'up to' 30 feet.

There are three buttons, a scroll wheel and the mouse offers 1,000dpi, and uses the 2.4GHz wireless connection.

The mouse is available now, and has been given a price of £19.99.

Razer has officially unveiled its Tron-themed gaming keyboard and mouse at ComicCon, in conjunction with Disney.

The gaming peripherals specialist has used the famous San Diego-based conference of all things geek and awesome to show off if Tron:Legacy branded wares in conjunction with Disney Consumer Products.

They include a Razer–designed Tron keyboard, a Tron gaming mouse and a Tron mousemat all incorporating the "distinctive blue glow and custom features inspired by the upcoming Disney film TRON: Legacy"

Tron: Legacy is released on Dec. 17, 2010 in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D, and the peripherals are, as you may imagine, compatible with TRON: Evolution the video game.

And, quite frankly, they look absolutely amazing.

Excited

"We are all extremely excited about our collaboration with Disney on a line of high-end gaming peripherals inspired by the upcoming film TRON: Legacy," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president, Razer USA.

"Razer is known for our highly detailed finishes and lighting effects, so as soon as we viewed footage from TRON: Legacy, we were immediately inspired.

"Then, we started working to take it to the next level, as only Razer can, with a keyboard and mouse that has digitized sound effects and lighting built into it for the ultimate gaming experience."

The pack will cost a not insignificant €149 – that's about £126 in real money – with a UK release date of Q4 2010.

Asus has teamed up with Sennheiser to offer what it claims is the world's first total audio solution optimised for first person shooters – pairing the Sennheiser PC350 'Xense Edition' headset and the new Asus Xonar Xense One sound card.

In an inspired move, Sennheiser and Asus are trying to persuade gamers to opt for a package that brings a quality pair of headphones with one of the latest audio cards to create the X-happy Xonar Xense package.

"Xonar Xense is a perfectly matched combination of cutting edge audio card and superior quality headphones that reinvents immersive sound for serious gamers," explains Asus in its release.

"The gaming audio set creates unbeatable sonic experiences in PC gaming that are sure to be appreciated by hardcore gamers keen on competitive online play."

1,000 tests

Asus states that it tested '1,000 headphone combinations' to find the perfect match for its Xonar Xense cards, and the Sennheiser PC350 was the choice.

"Unlike random audio card/headphone combinations, Xonar Xense features a holistic design from the ground up, crafting a balance of the two components," adds Asus

"There is no quality gap between audio card and headphones, so no quality is lost in transition. "

The Asus VG236H 3D monitor has officially launched, with the 23 inch display designed to take advantage of the latest 3D technology.

Announced back in May, the 1080p (1920X1080) Asus VG236H offers a 2ms response time, double speed 120Hz refresh rate and Trace Free II technologies .

But it is the 3D, designed for Nvidia's 3D vision technology, that will be the headline feature.

Active shutter

"Through the use of market-leading Nvidia 3D Vision technology, the VG236H takes advantage of active shutter glasses, alternate-frame sequencing, and 120Hz refresh rate to deliver the action at 120fps," explains Asus' release.

Asus also boasts about the monitor's ultra-vivid colours, with the company's 'Colour Shine Technology' and 400 nits ultra-brightness.

So, if you're looking to take your gaming to the next dimension (sorry) then this may be the monitor for you.

Logitech has announced the arrival of its H530 and H555 headsets, which boast of having crystal clear audio quality.

Both headsets feature support for super wideband audio, with the H555 optimised for use with a laptop.

And when we say optimised, they fold flat and can fit into your laptop case so you can talk on the go using Skype, Logitech Vid HD or whatever video app that takes your fancy.

When it comes to the H530, this headset has been laser-tuned for your aural pleasure. It has a 'pure digital' USB connection and also has on-ear controls for those who will be using the headset while listening to music, playing games, pretending to be Madonna...

The Logitech Laptop Headset H555 has a UK release date of July and will be available for £54.99.

The Logitech USB Headset H530 also has a UK release date for July and is priced at £44.99.

Go to www.logitech.com for more details.

Asus has announced a raft of new monitors, including the world's largest 3D display, with the PG276 bringing an impressive 27 inches of gaming screen.

With 3D becoming an increasingly important factor in gaming, Asus is making sure that it stays in touch with the release of the 23-inch VG236H monitor and its bigger brother – the PG276.

Both monitors boast a 2ms response time, double speed 120Hz refresh rate for the stereoscopic 3D and anti-reflective 'colour shine' technology.

Designo

As well as the award-winning 10,000,000:1 Designo MS and LS Led monitors, Asus is also showing off the Designo ML series – describing it as "at the crossroads where design and eco-friendly technology meet."

Also on the cards is the Asus PA246Q professional display aimed at photographers, graphic designers and, of course, colour accuracy nerds.

"The PA246Q is optimised for colour accuracy and Adobe RGB colour space to deliver the most precise colour reproduction," explains Asus.