Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[DS headsets thrown into ring, forced to fight to the death]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/#commentsFiled under: ,

Did you pick up a DS headset today along with your preorder of Pokémon Diamond/Pearl? What will you be using to take advantage of the online voice chat feature? Nintendo's official headset, Turtle Beach's Earforce D2, or Datel's Communicator? Or will you be slumming it with the handheld's built-in microphone?

If you're still in the market for a headset solution, Nintendo Gal has posted a comparison chart and her analysis on the three products. Testing their comfort, durability, sound output, and recording quality, she was able to determine which one deserves our hard-earned allowance money. There are even recording samples available that you can listen to and weigh in on yourself.

We're surprised that the Earforce D2 was judged as the best of the lot, but seeing that it's also the most expensive at $19.99 (Nintendo's headset is on sale for $9.99 at Amazon), it's good to know that you're not paying that premium for nothing. Turtle Beach's headset outclassed the official one in every category except recording quality, while Datel's Communicator was laughed out of the competition.

JoystiqDS headsets thrown into ring, forced to fight to the death originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatcommunicatord2dateldsearforceearforced2headsetnintendonintendodsturtlebeachvoicevoicechatvoipwifiSun, 22 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[360 Dashboard update in a week?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/360-dashboard-update-in-a-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/360-dashboard-update-in-a-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/360-dashboard-update-in-a-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Xbox Live's Major Nelson discussed in his latest podcast that he has been playing around with the upcoming Xbox 360 Wireless Communicator on his development kit, which of course has "excellent" sound quality. Be sure and listen to the entire podcast. Near the end "e" from Microsoft gets a jab in on the PS3 by way of an article he read here on Joystiq.

However, Major Nelson goes on to say that "even if you went to the store today and bought it, you couldn't use it until you have the fall upgrade to the dashboard." This is an extremely interesting little tidbit, because every online retail site that lists this for sale has a release date of October 31st -- which is also a Tuesday, the day new retail items are typically released.

So, does this mean that the dashboard update is less than a week away? It is entirely possible that Microsoft could change the release date for the communicator to whenever they wish, but with two major consoles launching less than three weeks after the 31st it seems doubtful that they'd want to do that. What's more likely is that the fall dashboard update will probably appear sometime before the 31st, or possibly even that day. Microsoft is going to want to have every oar in the water pulling for the finish line through the rest of the year, and not dropping updates after the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii launches.

Our prediction is -- drumroll please -- big dashboard update early next week. Mark your calendars ... in pencil.

[Thanks, Josh and Thomas]

Listen -- Major Nelson's "Show #199: The one about Gears and the maintenance" (around 1:16:30 in)

Joystiq360 Dashboard update in a week? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360CommunicatordashboardFall updatelaunchNintendo WiiPlaystation 3podcastPS3PSPupdateWiiWirelessXboxXbox-360Tue, 24 Oct 2006 09:58:00 EST