As if playing Rock Band wasn't one of the greatest group gaming experiences to come along in years, it appears that a new accessory is set to amp up the fun even more by bringing an "interactive light and smoke stage show" to your already thrashing performances. Apparently you can already pre-order this so-called Rock Band Stage Kit from GameStop for 100 bucks, although they've since pulled the box image from the product page, so you'll have to rely on the screencap above to see what you're paying all that money for. Ships on June 23rd, according to the retailer's site, giving us plenty of time to install a proper stage and stadium seating in our game room.

[Via Technabob]

Because we'd love to stuff our iPod earbuds just a little deeper into our ear canals, a 3M spin-off called Hearing Components has developed a plastic and foam accessory that snaps onto the buds and promises to both keep them in place as well as improve sound quality. However, the so-called Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers themselves don't seem to contain any audio enhancing technology, but rather serve to simply direct the music deeper into your head holes. Twenty bucks is all it takes to score a two-pack of these in either black or white, although you really need to factor in the cost of future visits to the otalaryngologist along with all the hearing aids you'll need after blowing out your eardrums.

We thought Brando had finally reached the pinnacle of jokey USB armaments with its recent wireless missile launcher -- the third such product in this evolving line -- but apparently there is demand out there for a remotely-operated version capable of waging war over the internet. Filling this strange market gap will be the USB MSN Missile Launcher, which tacks a webcam onto the standard version and allows your buddies on the Microsoft network to randomly shoot at you throughout the day. Again, we're not sure who buys a weapon whose main purpose is to attack its owner, so the $49 device may not be the huge hit its predecessors were when it 'launches' on the 18th.

We have no idea why luxury watch and occasional cellphone maker TAG Heuer would be getting into the PC peripherals game, yet according to an FCC filing we got our hands on, the 150-year-old Swiss watchmaker has a Creative Labs-built USB headset in the pipeline. And although this wireless unit is branded TAG and developed by Creative, the actual cans themselves will likely be sold by Listen To Believe (LTB) Audio, another accessories company with very similar products. Either way, what you're getting here is reportedly "the world [sic] first digital wireless headset that delivers high-quality 2.0-channel stereo audio with extra sound clarity and soft, deep bass effects," according to the manual. That's certainly a lot of caveats, so we'll have to wait for an actual product launch to really see what's what.

As far as "world's firsts" go this is a pretty minor one, yet we'd be neglect in our duties were we not to present you with the Silver Seal Antibacterial, Washable Keyboard and Mouse, which manufacturer Seal Shield claims to be the only set combining both of these hygienic features. Designed for use in hospitals and other germ-laden environments, the Silver Seal desktop features those same silver ion nanoparticles that have become all the rage among hypochondriacs these days, and is totally submersible (dishwashers, too!) to expedite regular cleanings. Hospital IT procurement specialists should start looking for the set next month, and although no MSRP is available yet, we'll wager that you're looking at diNovo-level pricing.

Man, what a racket they've got going over there at Microsoft. Not only does the company get to unilaterally decide exactly when we all "need" a new operating system, it gets to siphon money off of hardware manufacturers for the privilege of advertising their products as "Vista-certified." Now we can see why said certification might be useful for entire systems or even select components such as video cards, but how is our computing experience going to be any different if we use a mouse adorned with this supposedly-coveted seal of approval? Nevertheless, Sigma APO of Japan has decided to shell out some cash to Redmond to get the ol' "Made for Vista" badge slapped on its oddly-titled "Zoffy" laser mouse, but predictably, there's no indication as to how this model differs from the Logitech you're clutching at the moment (except for its bargain basement price). On the specs front, you're getting a 1,600dpi laser (adjustable to 800dpi), four-way scroll wheel, rubberized grip, and not much else. Still, if you can deal with the dearth of buttons and absolutely gotta have "Vista-certified" bragging rights for all your gear, Zoffy will be available at the end of the month for about $27.

There's probably no small overlap among folks who play fantasy video games and those who while away the hours engrossed in Magic-style card battles, so we're thinking that a new attachment for the Nintendo DS has a real shot at succeeding. Capcom and TakaraTomy will jointly be launching the so-called Wave Scanner in Japan next month, finally bringing the fun of collectible playing cards to the Megaman series of games. The rather bulky scanner works with a number of different Rockman Star Force titles (Rockman is Megaman's original Japanese name), and allows players to swipe special cards for influencing gameplay. We're not really sure why this ¥4,200 ($35) add-on needs to be so big and thus hinder the whole portability thing that the DS has going for it, but who knows, maybe it takes a Cell processor and some serious RAM to process those complicated bar codes.

We've got to hand it to peripherals manufacturer Elecom for thinking outside the box and trying to solve a perceived problem with its new PRUMIE lineup of mice -- unfortunately, in our opinion, they addressed the wrong problem. All three PRUMIE models come with the increasingly-standard multi-direction scroll wheel -- meaning that it scrolls both up and down as well as side-to-side -- and in order to combat the dreaded issue of mis-scrolling, the mice come with a "tilt guard" to prevent accidental left and right clicks. Now we can't speak for everyone, but we never really find ourselves side scrolling when we're trying to navigate a page vertically; instead, our biggest problem -- which isn't much of a problem at all, really -- is pushing the wheel too hard and triggering a downwards "scroll click." So if Elecom could do something about this occasional nuisance, we'd be sold, but we certainly wouldn't pick up a PRUMIE for the sole reason of thwarting an "issue" that we never encounter. Still, if accidental side-scrolling just happens to be the bane of your existence, you can grab the M-P1UP2R series (available in six colors) for 3,000 Yen ($26), the M-P2UP2R (three colors, adds thumb buttons) for 3,600 Yen ($31), or the M-P3UP2R (three colors, adds thumb buttons and a "high accuracy laser sensor system") for just 4,800 Yen ($41).

[Via Slash Gear]

If you've been looking for a dedicated gaming mouse to give you the upper-hand during those endless hours you spend enveloped in virtual worlds, but aren't willing to lay down some serious cash for products like the $100 Heäd$h0t, custom keyboard manufacturer Ideazon may have just the rodent for your needs. You probably already know Ideazon from the configurable keyboards it makes (the ones with replaceable keysets covered in game-inspired graphics), and now the company has branched out in order to occupy your right hand along with your left, recently announcing the ominously-titled Reaper. The highlights here -- 1,600 DPI resolution, six programmable buttons, and rubberized left and right clicks -- make the Reaper sound like a good-but-not-great fragging accessory, although its $40 price tag should help you overlook the lack of adjustable weighting, in-depth macros, and multitude of LEDs found on pricier models. Also scheduled for a November release is the $15 FragMat, an oversized, slim profile mouse pad whose gliding surface apparently makes it far superior to the magazine or Garfield-themed pad you're currently using to wreak digital havoc.

Read- The Reaper
Read- FragMat
[Via CrunchGear]

If you're the type of person whose life resembles a Mountain Dew commercial, then there's probably been more than one occasion when you've foolishly tried to fiddle with your iPod's controls while doing something very dangerous at a very high rate of speed. Well since you're (hopefully) not reading this from a hospital bed, luck has apparently been on your side so far, but instead of tempting fate yet again during your next x-treme sporting expedition, Belkin hopes that you'll keep it safe with its new SportCommand remote. The weather-resistant, big-buttoned arm band features an adjustable Velcro strap for use with even the bulkiest snowboarding or Starter jacket, and sends your commands to a compatible iPod equipped with the included receiver (all 'Pods will work save for non-click wheel and, obviously, Shuffle varieties). Sure you could get the same functionality from an Audex jacket or the iSuit, but Burton charges an arm and a leg for its gear and you'd look pretty silly skydiving in a two-piece suit. Look for the SportCommand at your favorite iPod retailer (i.e. any store in America) sometime in November -- when it'll set you back $80 -- and keep reading for an x-treme close-up shot...

[Via TUAW]

With case modding so prevalent these days that gamers are often judged by the the number of LEDs they manage to cram into their rigs as opposed to the actual performance of their machines, pairing a tricked out system with accessories that lack equally gaudy illumination (like a Razer, Logitech, or -- shudder -- Fatal!ty mouse) simply won't cut it. Well a company called Fanatec is fully aware that blinding light shows are now as much a part of fragging as gimmicky keyboards and chainsaw-shaped controllers, which is why it's poised to release the $100, fully-customizable Heäd$sh0t gaming mouse. (We apologize for the lack of an umlaut in the headline; it's due to our quirky blogging platform and has nothing to do with our feelings about umlaut-heavy languages.) At first glance the Heäd$sh0t might seem a little intimidating: instead of plugging it directly into your PC, you have to swing the tangle-minimizing USB cord over a glowing arch and attach it to the back of the included mousepad / USB hub (which, according to Fanatec, has been specially designed to to interact as smoothly as possible with the mouse's glide pads). Other special features include adjustable width (though no adjustable weighting -- c'mon, guys), a huge "wing" on the right side meant to keep your fingers from dragging, and a software suite that lets you record macros, tweak the million on-board lights, and even turn the bulky rodent into a fairly-functional joystick. During their test drive, the team at Trusted Reviews found the device to work quite well -- mostly due to its 2,000dpi laser sensor -- although they thought that the top-mounted buttons were somewhat difficult to access, and joystick mode can't be used to manipulate the Z-axis. Oh, and they weren't really fond of all the lights -- go figure.

There's really no point in launching a major new portable audio device without a ton of accessories, so Microsoft's got you Zuneheads covered with a trio of packs to maximize your listening experience at home, in the car, or when you're getting your travel on. The Zune Home A/V Pack is centered around a dock (obviously), which you connect to your home theater gear through the bundled AV cable, and control with the included wireless remote; this pack also includes a sync cable and AC adapter. When you're rocking the Zune in your ride, the Car Pack will deliver power from your DC socket and transmit songs with the obligatory FM transmitter. Finally, for jamming to tunes while holed up in a sleazy motel, you can enhance the experience somewhat with the Zune Travel Pack, which includes premium earbuds (hopefully magnetic -- fingers crossed), a so-called dual connect remote, snazzy gear bag, and the same sync cable and AC adapter found in the home kit. Also noteworthy are the number of third-party manufacturers on-board to help you pimp out your Zune, including Altec Lansing, DLO, Griffin, Klipsch, Logitech, Harman Kardan, and several more -- basically the same folks who have been accessorizing your iPod for all these years. Okay, enough with the peripherals -- go read about the hardware and software, 'cause like, that's what's actually influencing your purchasing decision, no?

As if to prove a point to their comrades in the Microsoft Windows division, Microsoft Hardware has just launched nine new peripherals to show 'em how its done. We won't trouble you with all nine products, but the four highlights of the launch are plenty to be getting on with. Pictured above is the new Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, which claims to be the first wireless rechargeable backlit keyboard, and who are we to argue? The 'board features ambient and proximity sensing, while keeping it slim at a mere 1-inch thick, and it should be available next February for $250. Next up is the do-it-all Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000, which stuffs in slide presenter, laser pointer, media remote and laser mouse functionality into its meaty girth. The Bluetooth mouse should be out mid-October for about $100. Microsoft also has the new Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, with high-def laz0r tracking and intense ergonomics, and the new LifeCam NX-6000 webcam, which features 7.6 megapixel stills and 2.0 megapixel video in a minuscule package. The cam should be out in November for $100, while the Laser Mouse 6000 should follow in January for $80. Now, if only we had a shiny new OS to use these with. Keep reading for more pics.

Read - Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000
Read - Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000
Read - Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000
Read - Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

You're probably getting pretty sick of toting around all those cables, adapters, and antennae required by the GPSP mod to get sat nav functionality on your PSP, so you'll be happy to know that Sony's official GPS add-on for its portable console has just been spotted in the wild. We've already seen pics (albeit crappy ones) of the wayfinding peripheral, but now we've got proof that it exists somewhere besides on a PowerPoint slide. Unfortunately there's really not much to see here (it's a little gadget sticking out of another gadget -- wow), and we've got no new info regarding functionality, pricing, or release dates. Still, when we come across something that we think you'd be interested in, we write a post about it -- that's how we do things around here. Sharing is caring, right?

[Via DigitalBattle, thanks Tom]

In a shocking turn of events development that will surprise absolutely no one, the company formerly known as Infinium Labs has apparently removed all references to the all-too-aptly named Phantom PC video game console from its website, leading us to believe that the product that never was is finally dead in the water. Recently renamed Phantom Entertainment (probably to shed the constant vaporware references that plagued its former moniker), the company is now focused on marketing its wireless gaming Lapboard and so-called Phantom Game Service, which is the "first end-to-end on-demand game service delivering games to your living room" (guess they never heard of GameTap) -- that is, if you happen to have an XP-powered PC situated in that particular room. As is fitting for such a shady operation, the service itself is not actually live yet; they're busy modifying the software that was originally intended for the proprietary console to run on standard Windows machines. So in conclusion, the slippery company with grandiose aspirations that we've devoted numerous (mocking) posts to for over two years has exactly one source of revenue: a keyboard / mouse set with a pretty snazzy design.

[Via Joystiq]