The very kind people at Drinks by the Dram sent us a tasting set of theirs to try their service. Join me for a drink, won't you?

Drinks by the dram will let you sample a wide variety of drinks in small, single dram servings.

They're available either individually or in themed sets, they even have an amazing-looking advent calendar! I would definitely recommend checking them out if you have an interest in trying new drinks. I would especially recommend you try something different. Before receiving this set my experience of Japanese whisky was limited to two different bottles. Now I've tasted seven of them. And that's the beauty of Drinks by the Dram, the almost risk-free ability to taste new drinks that you wouldn't have experienced before. If you don't like it? You've lost the price of a dram, but if you do? Well you might just find a new favourite drink.

• WHAT

  • iRig Field Mic

• WHO

  • IK Multimedia

• WHERE:

  • http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmicfield/

  • IK Multimedia IP-IRIG-FIELD-IN iRig Field Stereo Microphone for iPhone and iPad on Amazon (Affiliate Link)

• WHY:

  • This does exactly what it is meant to do: pick up all of the noise in the field.  In our testing, it picked up both myself and Alex, even though he was pretty far away from the mic.  This really is a powerful mic if you are doing field recording,a s it almost replaces a shotgun mic or a dead cat setup.

• RATING:

  • 4/5

• WHAT

  • DiceMasters: Age of Ultron

• WHO

  • WizKids

• WHERE:

  • http://wizkids.com/dicemasters/marvel-dice-masters-age-of-ultron/

  • Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron Dice Building Game on Amazon (Affiliate Link)

• WHY:

  • This game is a lot of fun.  The rules, once discussed are pretty easy to understand, the and the demo game (the one that we played on the air) is a great way to learn the ropes.  When we played afterward with a different choice of characters, they flowed very well together.

• RATING: 5/5

Once upon a time all keyboards were mechanical. They were also expensive to produce, of course so it wasn’t long before something cheaper came along. But those membrane keyboards weren’t perfect and many people still prefer the tactile sensations and improved accuracy even if it does come at a price.

But for some, that price is still too high with some keyboards reaching astronomical prices. There are, though, some cheaper options available if you don’t want a lot of bells and whistles. At £69.99 on Amazon the Perixx 5200 hits a good spot.

Coming out of the box, the 5200 feels like a hefty machine. It’s plastic but has a decent weight and sturdiness to it; this thing could probably stop a bullet, though that wasn’t tested as part of this review. The only other things in the box are a usb-ps2 converter and a braided mini USB cable. The latter of which plugs into a nice little alcove under the machine that prevents any accidental tugs from damaging the port. A detachable cable also means that it can be easily replaced should you want to have a longer reach or have cats.

Setting it up with your machine is as simple as plug and play gets with no extra software dragging it down. Some might see the lack of options limiting but others will enjoy the negligible footprint this keyboard has on their machine. Of course this does mean that configurations are limited. Each key is nicely backlit with white LEDs but there’s no option to change the colour or brightness. What you can do, though, is use MT+TAB to scroll through a couple of settings which illuminate the full board, the WASD keys or the arrow keys in sequence. The last option turns off the lighting entirely. One particularly nice feature, though, is the Game mode that can be turned on with a G key in the top right corner. This disabled the windows key so you don’t accidentally press it during a gaming session.

The final bell and/or whistle is a macro option. There are eight M keys on the top row which can be used to record and play a sequence of key presses. It’s nice, and very easy to set up, but because you don’t have any software it’s also very limited. You can only record keystrokes and it doesn’t take pauses into account so you won’t be using them to go through your spell rotation in WoW… at least not with a lot of ease. There’s nothing stopping you from being clever and using them to set off the keyboard shortcuts from other macros for example.

But what about actually using it? It’s an actual and genuine pleasure.

Every keystroke on those Cherry Blue switches registers with a physical and audible click. The first words of this review came about because it brings back romantic memories of writing on an actual typewriter. In a world where many people are using the keyboards that shipped with their PCs this keyboard is a revelation. You can actually feel your accuracy improve on some instinctive level; typo’s are fewer, touch typing is instinctive and there’s less doubt where your finger is going to fall as you hammer away at whatever you’re writing.

The benefits in gaming are less pronounced, but definitely there. There’s no second guessing when, or whether a key is activated, and there’s no issue with missed keystrokes but really, that’s only a huge advantage if you game by mashing your fists against the keyboard.

One factor that doesn’t fall into an easy pro or con, though, is that signature clackity clack of the Cherry Blue switches. For most this is a huge selling point, but for others it could well be a dealbreaker; they aren’t quiet. Using it in a quiet office seemed to exaggerate the sound to distracting proportions, but not to the point where anyone complained. It was noticed over a couple of skype calls but only because it made typing sound a little on the aggressive side.

Since the Perixx 5200 is an entry level Mechanical keyboard some corners have been cut in the name of saving cost, but they’ve been done by losing extra features without a single compromise in quality. If you’re mechanical-keyboard curious and don’t mind a basic keyboard then this is the one for you. If you absolutely need intelligent macros and a million customisable keys then be prepared to spend a lot more.

Five Stars.

In a press release today,  computer store giant, newegg.com has announced they are stepping into the enterprise IT game, with NeweggBuisness!

Their first contender into the areana, the ABS N-Series, is a fierce one indeed.  The base model, starting at US$649 is an easy comparison to everything Dell can offer at that price point, raising the game by introducing a key element: default SSD! 

Is this going to cause companies who have held the Enterprise title for so long to finally step up their game? Only time will tell.

The ABS begins shipping later this month.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

​NeweggBusiness Launches New Business-class PCs

New Products Serve Critical Needs of Business Customers, Strengthen Company’s Commitment to the SMB Segment

May 13, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA – NeweggBusiness, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newegg North America Inc. and a leader in business e-commerce, today announced its line of ABS N Series desktop PCs.

“NeweggBusiness is squarely focused on serving SMB and education customers. These are underserved markets within the e-commerce space and our products allow them to operate more efficiently,” said Merle McIntosh, VP NeweggBusiness North America.

ABS N Series Desktop PCs

The NeweggBusiness ABS N Series Desktop PC is a high-quality PC rivaling similar offerings from major brands, but at a better price. NeweggBusiness customers have been looking for an Intel PC that not only handles all of today’s business applications, but also integrates seamlessly into their current workflow. These machines are filled with options all too rare these days: Samsung SSD, three types of monitor connections, USB 3.0 ports, a quiet power supply and Windows 7 Pro (upgradeable to Windows 10). The included Logitech keyboard and ambidextrous mouse round out the bundle, making the N Series the perfect machine to serve the computing needs of any busy office environment.

The ABS N Series desktop PC will ship in late-May 2015. For more information, visit http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-83-102-037.

About Newegg Business Inc.

Newegg Business Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Newegg North America Inc. It owns and operates NeweggBusiness.com which was founded in 2010. NeweggBusinessSM is a leading online e-tailer providing an extensive assortment of IT products, services and solutions to businesses, government agencies and educational entities of all sizes, with unique expertise serving institutions with less than 200 employees. Additionally, it serves manufacturers, systems integrators and value added resellers seeking a broad assortment of sharply priced IT products, technical support services, warehousing and logistics services all backed by an efficient and sophisticated, international supply chain. Newegg Business Inc. is headquartered in the City of Industry, California. 

• WHAT

  • Powramid® Power Center and USB Charging Station

• WHO

  • Accell

• WHERE:

  • http://www.accellcables.com/products/powramid-power-center-and-usb-charging-station

• WHY:

  • Lots of ports, large and spaced out, able to plug a myriad of devices in and handles them all in a form factor that works for carrying that much load

  • 2.1v USB ports

  • Large, doesn’t travel easily.

    • Still try to put it in bags, as it is extremely useful.

  • Unsure why, but our phones act odd when plugged into both USB ports

  • When the phones are fully charging, they charge quickly,

  • Is pleasant to the eye, looks really cool just sitting on the table or the floor.

• RATING:

  • 8/10

    • Too large to travel with easily, but if you can fit it in, goes everywhere with you with no problem, can carry all of your goodies and more. Plus, it looks really cool

 Universal MIDI groove controller for iOS & Mac/PC

Introducing iRig Pads, the full-featured, ultra-portable MIDI groove controller for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as well as Mac and PC. Smaller than an iPad and less than 1" thick, it's the smallest groove controller on the market. It features a 4x4 grid of 16 velocity-sensitive, backlit multicolor rubber pads that give you tactile control of your favorite MIDI-compatible apps and software. And to help you get in the groove immediately, iRig Pads supports a growing suite of powerful apps and software, like the included SampleTank Free, GrooveMaker 2 and DJ Rig for iOS and SampleTank SE (worth $99.99/€79.99) for Mac/PC users. And as if that wasn't enough, iRig Pads users can also gain access to The Grid, an exclusive and free additional collection of 50 instruments (800 samples) and 50 MIDI patterns designed exclusively for beat makers and groove performers. With iRig Pads, you get a versatile system that lets you make beats, grooves and mixes anywhere you go. 

Order iRig Pads for only $149.99/€119.99 (excluding taxes), and find out why it's the perfect companion for the mobile electronic music producer on the go.
 

 More Info  |  Watch Video  |  Buy iRig Pads  
 

16 multicolor
pads

Smaller than 
an iPad

Less than 1"
thick

6 programmable
controls

Works with iPad, 
iPhone

Works with 
Mac/PC

Comes with
iOS apps

Comes with 
Mac/PC software

Here's what is included:

• Pop Rocks candy (I did a little "Stackage" of these buggers)
• Science Fiction vinyl figure
• A very confusing bunch of Firefly money
• Alien action figure
• stuffed Tribble
• Halo Escalation Dark Horse Comic download
• Retro gaming (Asteroids) camera
• September 2014 "Galactic" Button

• Limited Edition Groot Funko POP! Figure
• EpixScents air freshener
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sunglasses
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure
• Shwingz shoe accessory
• Digit loot
  • Doctor Who Legacy (IOS)
  • Defense Grid (Steam)
  • Gauntlet DLC
• Deadpool magnet
• August 2014: Heroes Month button

​
July 22, 2014 - IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music-creation apps and accessories, is proud to announce the new version of the highly acclaimed VocaLive™ app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, which now adds a flexible new multitrack studio with digital audio workstation features. Now singers, songwriters and musicians of all kinds can benefit from advanced editing features like timeline audio editing, waveform visualization, touch-and-drag looping and more.

When used with the IK Multimedia iRig? line of microphones and mic interfaces, like the upcoming iRig Mic HD or the popular iRig PRO, iRig PRE, iRig Mic, iRig Voice and iRig MIC Cast, VocaLive provides an all-in-one solution - with superb sound quality, recording flexibility and ease-of-use - for the professional singer on the go.

The new VocaLive studio
The newest feature in VocaLive 2 is its Studio section. Designed to compliment VocaLive's Recorder section, it allows for a full degree of editing and composing flexibility with recorded tracks. Now musicians can see and manipulate their audio tracks (up to 4 on iPhone and 8 on iPad) as waveforms on a timeline grid, just like on a computer digital audio workstation.

Clips can be easily moved and adjusted with a simple gesture. Its grid feature provides "snapping" of regions to the timeline for precise and easy positioning. Audio regions can be manipulated with a full set of standard commands and controls: cut, copy, paste, delete, normalize, split, crop and more. Now, with VocaLive 2, it's never been easier to record, edit and arrange complete songs while on the move.

Powerful vocal effects
At its core, VocaLive continues to be all about outstanding vocal processing effects. VocaLive includes 5 "Vocal Effects": Pitch Fix (for pitch correction or stylized quantization), Choir (a 3-part harmonizer), Morph (a pitch and formant shifter that changes the tonal quality of the voice from subtle deepening to radical gender bending), DeEsser (a sibilance remover) and Double (a voice doubler). It also includes 7 "Studio Effects": Reverb, Delay, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Phazer and Envelope Filter.

VocaLive features 3 effect "slots" on iPhone and 4 on iPad, where users select the effects they want to use and chain them together. VocaLive's intuitive interface makes it easy to reconfigure effect chains to explore your creativity and make wildly new sounds. Favorite chains can be saved to a user preset bank or assigned to one of four "favorites" buttons for fast recall. VocaLive's full MIDI compatibility allows its presets to be controlled by compatible foot controllers like IK's wirelessiRig BlueBoard.

Price and availability
VocaLive 2 is a free update for all existing users and it's available now on the App StoreSM both as a free or paid app for iPhone/iPod touch or iPad for only $11.99/?10.99 for new users. The new studio feature is available as an in-app purchase for $9.99/?8.99 on iPhone and iPod touch and $14.99/?13.99 on iPad for users who have already purchased the multitrack Recorder, or at a special "Total Studio Bundle" price of $17.99/?15.99 on iPhone and iPod touch and $26.99/?23.99 on iPad that also includes the multitrack recorder.


For more information, please visit
www.ikmultimedia.com/vocalive

Here are some of the points:

Wired Headphones
Professional quality sound
Long cable
4 styles
Comfortable
Light
Comes with a lot of things for the price

My Points: 9/10

TL;DR - Worth the price, if you can afford it.  It is a lttle cost prohibitve, but really amazing!

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Images!

Here are some of the points:

Easy to assemble
Works with any size of tablet
Cost effective at $50
Works well
Keeps it stable
Easy to use
No slip grip

My Points: 9.9/10

TL;DR - Amazing, simple as that.  Does what is needed to do very well, and what else could you ask for?

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Images!

Here are some of the points:

Compact
Works on both iDevices and Android
Charges phone while plugged into wall.
Slower charge
$60 is great for what it does, but a little steep.

My Points: 9.5/10

TL;DR - Amazing, simple as that.  Wish it was slightly cheaper.

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys Episode 5 source video

Images!

This week on Geek Toys, I discuss the IK Multimedia iRig Voice microphone!

Here are some of the points:

Compact
Works on both iDevices and Android
Limited Android application support
Great for on the go needs.

My Points: 8/10

TL;DR - It's hard to find a product it works with other than IK's, but when you do, you never want to stop using this! It's beautiful!

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys Episode 4 source video

Images!

Geek Toys episode 3

This week on Geek Toys, I go discuss the IK Multimedia iRing motion controller!

Here are some of the points:

Very small, easily fits on your hands

Amazingly simple plug and play use

iRing Music Creator is great - but needs a LOT of light.

No Android Support

It's a niche thing, but if you're the niche, it's gold.

My Points: 7/10

TL;DR - Hate the fact there is no Android support, and there needs to be a ton of light in order for it to fully get going, but once it does, it's awesome.

Here's an audio file I recorded with it in the first 5 minutes using it

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys Episode 3 source video

Images!

Geek Toys episode 2

This week on Geek Toys, I go discuss the IK Multimedia iRig PRE!

Here are some of the points:

Small, compact design

Amazingly simple plug and play use

iRig  Recorder is an astonishing, strong recorder and editor for all on the go use

For interviews, on the go podcasts, and much more, it's a no-brainer

My Points: 10/10

TL;DR - Like the other devices from IK that I have reviewed, this one is a high point of its competitors.  There is no question to easily pay the $39.99 for this.

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys episode 2 Audio Archive

This week on Geek Toys, I go in depth with the StarTech 7-Port USB Station

Here's a breakdown of what I thought:

Small - fits in your pocket, or bag with no issue

Rotating DC plug - able to fit in any DC outlet anywhere in the US.

5x 1A USB ports for everyday use

2x 2A ports for blistering charging speed

$69.99 is a little higher than I would like, but for my use, I would pay for it several times over.  Honestly, this little powerhouse is a spectacular device, and easily worth every dime.

My rating:

9/10

TL;DR  - If you have a bunch of devices like any self-deserving tech geek does, YOU NEED THIS. If not, the $69.99 price tag may be a little steep.

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and ThinkGeek.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys Episode 1 Audio Archive

By Darrell Shayler

The subscription box is one of those services that has blossomed of late. The first I tried was Graze, a healthy snack delivered to your door. It started out simple enough, though more recent boxes increased their recipes’ complexity (or added cheaper filler to the premium items if you’re cynical).

Loot Crate, however, is a little different. Each month you get a themed box filled with items of general geekery. Books, T-Shirts, minifigs, they’ve all featured prominently in previous boxes and below you’ll find my first unboxing of my first box. 

Looking back on my first box it did perhaps underwhelm in comparison to my expectations, I had built them up in anticipation of 'new shiny' after all. I did do a little research into the prices of the individual parts it actually seems like it wasn't too badly valued either, though this says more for the high prices of such geek related merchandise these days. It was certainly good enough to have me excited all over again for next month's delivery. 

What I don’t mention in the video is that there is a monthly mega crate giveaway that contains some impressive items. Hopefully I’ll get to do an unboxing of one of those one day.

Bottom line, Loot Crate is a fun monthly treat for your favourite geek (especially if that geek is you) but it falls under the category of disposable-income-only, but ultimately its great to have something really cool sent to you each month. I like to think of it as buying a little surprise for your future self, and it's a gift they're sure to thank you for.

If you’re tempted, please feel free to use the link below (or just click here), you pay the same price, but it sends a little love back our way so that I can unbox more cool things, and maybe even look and sound better! A word to the wise no matter how you get to their site, check the banner for this month’s money off deal when registering.

http://mbsy.co/lootcrate/3968245 

Once a week, CJ will bring you what's new in the world, as well as what he's playing with, good bad or indifferent.

In the show notes, there will be links to where you can buy these beauties at as well.

But wait, what about the Gadgets Games and Gizmos section of the normal show? Well, that's still a thing, and it won't be going anywhere, but CJ won't be doing product reviews there, that's only for your beautiful ears right here, subscribers! CJ will occasionally be joined (or a guest host will randomly appear) to show you what Geek Toys THEY are playing with!

If you have anything you want us to know about, send us an email at feedback@geek-io.com!

Geek Toys is brought to you by Tweaked Audio (Use Geek at checkout for 33% off and free shipping!) and Audible.com! We want to thank them for their amazing support of the network, as well as being some of the coolest Geek Toys on the Net!

Geek Toys episode 0 Audio Archive