FREE (wireless remote controller)
If you remember the Zeemote, and you enjoyed how you could play in a cool way, then you’ll love the FREE remote.
QUICK OVERVIEW
-Wireless controller via Bluetooth technology
-Cross-platform compatibility with PC, Mac®, Android smartphones and tablets, and iDevices including iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod Touch®
-Classic controller layout with two joysticks, Dpad, two trigger buttons, four-button layout, and select/start buttons
-Remap all 12 buttons via SteelSeries Engine
-Light indicators for pairing and switching between multiple device platforms
-Rechargeable battery with an estimated 10 hrs of continuous, wireless play time
-Auto power save will turn off the controller after more than 3 mins of being idle
-Mini USB to USB cable will charge the SteelSeries FREE in less than 2 hours and allows for charge and play functionality
-Controller will work up to 20 feet away from your computer or device
-SteelSeries FREE App for mobile devices will provide users with the quick start guide, and direct access to SteelSeries Engine support
This is a great little remote. Like the Zeemote, it connects to your phone/tablet via bluetooth, and it’s pretty straight forward easy to set up. I had the Zeemote driver app installed and it worked out of the box. You could install the SteelSeries Engine app if yours doesn’t.
It’s much better than the JS1 as this has a dual axis controller, plus your standard ‘nintendo-esque’ 8 way directions. You also have 3 more buttons available. If you’ve used a playstation, you can easily use this remote. The BIGGEST advantage of this device over its predecessor is that it has a rechargeable battery in it. 10+HRS and it charges via microUSB. That’s awesome. Not only do you not have to worry about batteries, and you get it to last much longer, but you get an extra USB cable for somewhere else. Heh.
You also get a carrying case for it. Very cool. I think it’s a sign of this company, they really to pay attention to the details.
Like the JS1 it has a select group of games that it’s compatible with. You can see a list on their site here.
It works quite well.. very well. It is a little on the small side, you’ll have no problem using it properly. Depending on the app you can adjust some of the sensitivity.
I only wish that more apps could be used for it. I’ve tried that BluezIME that Tom had suggested for the original Zeemote, but even that doesn’t work for everything. Ah well. It’s a great remote.
Here’s the video of me playing with it!
BONUS: Discovered this after I made the video. You also can use the controller to move around in your normal apps. The 1/2 buttons act as ‘action/click’ and the 3/4 buttons act as ‘back’. I loaded up Maps and it let me use the left controllers to scroll around. Pretty neat. On the desktop you can move it around like a ‘cursor’ highlighting different icons.
Available for purchase at: http://shop.steelseries.com/us/controllers/steelseries-free-mobile-controller.html
FLUX (headphones)
These are sweet. I wasn’t expecting these when the company sent over the review unit. But I’m not complaining. When i looked at them at first I wasn’t that impressed, but as you take it out of the box, the way that everything is meticulously put in, you know it’s of high quality. Really high quality in my opinion. For a company that sells them-self as a “professional gaming gear” company, it’s got to live up to that standard.
These are the models: http://steelseries.com/us/products/audio/steelseries-flux
QUICK OVERVIEW
– Includes interchangeable cable connections! PC and Mobile cables in the box.
– Dual jacks so your friend can listen with you
– High quality finish and diamond cut SteelSeries logo
– Slim foldable gaming headset with on-cable microphone
– 40 mm drivers with super high grade mylar
– Comfortable, rubber headband padding
– Interchangeable earcushions, ear cup plates, and cables
– Go to the SS web-shop and customize your Flux to your liking!
The headphones not only come with an instruction manual (yeah, an instruction manual!), it has 2 types of connectors for you. First off, that’s genius in my opinion, and more quality sets of headphones should have this. A connection at the bottom of the unit to plug a m2m cable in. Anyways.
The first cable is your standard ‘mobile’ cable. Plug it into your headphone slot on any player and it’ll work. If that device is a phone the little piece by the connector acts as a microphone and has the button to either start play of music, or pause or switch (double press). Standard stuff.
The second cable is for your computer. As a ‘gaming set’ it is meant for serious gaming, and you tend to do this more often at the desktop. For this feat it has the cable split into a headphone jack and a microphone jack.
It works GREAT for hangouts. (of which, we’re really trying to having a regular hangout on Friday nights at 11pm EST)
The drivers have a great heft to them. Nice soft pads that aren’t the plastic-leathery feel that get sweaty after long. They’re easily adjustable and strong enough to not feel like they’ll break.
Then you’ll turn it on… HOLY SMOKES. Clear. Clean… great sound. I try to fancy myself a bit of an audiophile… used to sell audio equipment. Bought a DVD-Audio player because I knew it would sound better.
THE NUMBERS
Headphones
- Frequency response: 18 – 28000 Hz
- Impedance: 29 Ohm
- SPL@ 1kHz, 1 Vrms: 118 dB
- Cable length: 2m
- Jacks: 3.5 mm
Microphone
- Frequency response: 50 – 16000 Hz
- Pick up pattern: Omni-directional
- Sensitivity: -38 dB
It’s really good. I’d do up a video, but you can’t really demonstrate that. Besides there’s a ton of reviews out there for that too.
Anyways, what you also will notice about the set is that it has 2 connectors on the bottom of the phones. Why 2? Does it matter which you plug in to? No… and don’t plug 2 devices in at the same time (i.e. your phone and your computer). What it’s for is so that if you’re listening to something that’s cool, and your friends want to as well… well they plug their headphones into the 2nd and then they can listen to it through your headphones. VERY COOL.
You don’t know how many of those dual adapters I’ve sold in my day. This solves all that. You also get to customize your headphones with different colour plates over the drivers (that’s the black circle in the picture… they magnetically stock to it), plus you can get different colour cables.
So, go pick up yours today. The money is WELL SPENT.
http://shop.steelseries.com/us/audio/steelseries-flux-headset.html
Thanks again to the gang at SteelSeries!