14 DAY TRIAL // Hybrid devices are always getting invented, even if not all of them sell as well, and the latest to make the news is a certain mouse-gaming pad crossbreed from Shogun Bros.
Consumer technology nowadays may be varied in shape, size and usability, but there are also limitations in the way that many of them aren't cross platform compatible.
For example, a PC's mouse and keyboard doesn't work on a game console, and even if it did have a compatible connector, the software wouldn't know what to do with it.
The same is true, to some extent, for gamepads, although USB-connected ones do work on PCs just fine.
Eager to make bring the mouse and the gamepad closer together, Shogun Bros created the Chameleon X-1 peripheral.
It functions as both a wireless mouse and a wireless gamepad, thanks to having 16 buttons, many of which are built into the underside.
There are also 2 analog sticks, plus a 1,600 dpi optical sensor and a rubberized surface, which improves the grip and also the physical endurance.
Speaking of the surface, the hybrid device, once it finally gets to the point where it starts shipping, will be colored in one of three options (Graphite Grey, Passion Red and Essential Purple).
Additionally, the gamepad/mouse is bundled with a nano transceiver and runs on the energy provided by a single AAA battery.
As a special perk, Shogun Bros gave the newcomer the ability to link to and control one's home theater PC (media startup, play, pause, volume, next/previous track) and Power Point Presentations. It can even tell the PC to sleep or shutdown.
In other words, with the press of a single button, the item can switch from wireless gaming mouse to wireless gaming pad or wireless remote control and presentation unit, all without driver requirements.
October 2011 (next month) is when shipments will start, for the price of $59.99 (about 44 Euro). Compatible operating systems are Windows 95/98/2000/NT/ME/XP/Vista/Win 7/Mac OS X 10.5.
