Xbox One S Has Been Annouced

Lets get started. Xbox has done its big annual unveiling of all things new at Microsoft at E3 this year. In a bit of a bizarre move they have announced a new console arriving early August of this year. The reason it is a bizarre move is because it is pre cycle in the console world as they have already announced a much more powerful console coming next year which is code named Project Scorpio but expect that name to change to something a little different.

Back to the Xbox One S tho, it is a 40% smaller console over the current beast of a machine in the Xbox One, it has also lost the bulky and damn right annoying power brick which is a nice touch… well done Microsoft. In terms of other hardware nothing major has changed inside apart from it now supports 4k streaming, 4k Ultra HD Video Support including 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray and full HDR (high dynamic range) capability which will mean the blacks will be blacker and the colours will be more vibrant with playback and games but please bear in mind this doesn’t include 4k gaming as of yet, this is something coming in its bigger brother Xbox Scorpio along with VR and you will need a 4k TV for all of this to work.

Compared to the standard Xbox One the only other changes include the USB port being moved to the front of the case for easier access along with the Xbox One controller pairing button which makes much more sense and they have upgraded the HDMI to HDMI 2.0a which means it can output 4k at 60hz unlike HDMI 1.4 which can only do 4k 30hz. It will also include a vertical stand for those who want your Xbox to stand vertical. Microsoft has also made a slight change and upgrade to the already amazing Xbox One controller. These upgrades include a new textured grip for a more comfortable hold and the biggest upgrade is it now has Bluetooth built in which therefore improves range and it makes it easier for the PC gamer to use it with there PC without having to use an annoying USB lead or dongle.

So the conclusion and main question on everyone’s lips…Should you get one? Personally my view is if you already have an Xbox One you are better off saving your money and waiting to see what Project Scorpio brings as there should be much improved hardware as it will be able to play 4k games. Now if you were thinking of getting an Xbox I think the decision is a little harder for you guys and you have to just go with you gut feeling. If you cannot wait for Project Scorpio then go ahead and buy the Xbox S and you will not be disappointed in any way shape or form but again if you can hold out, I would save that valuable cash and wait to see what Microsoft unleashes next year.

On a final note here is the pricing and please note the first edition going on sale will be the 2tb the other configurations are going on sale at a later date:

1. Xbox One S 500 GB Console Package – £249.99
2. Xbox One S 1 TB Console Package – £299.99
3. Xbox One S 2 TB Console Package – £349.99

Thank you for reading my blog and if you have any question please send me a message directly on this page or via my twitter @liamstechguide.

 

 

Steelseries Siberia 800 Wireless Headset Brief Overview

So let’s get to it. After months and I really do mean months of deciding what headset I would like to purchase I narrowed it down to the Steelseries Siberia 800 Wireless.

Why this headset I hear you cry? Well I have been using the turtle beach x12’s from my Xbox 360 with my PC to date. This was due to them actually being a pretty decent headset for the price and they worked perfectly for me on the PC so I didn’t see a need to upgrade the headset until the rest of my PC had been built.

As you can guess the time has come. I have been looking for a quality 7.1 sound, wireless headset which was going to last me and that I would get a decent listening experience from. Also I wanted one that was compatible with my Xbox one which this one is,you must have the Xbox one adapter tho. Yes I do know, generally wired headsets are the way to go but I just wanted to be wire free and create a less cluttered area where my PC is located.

Now for the specs and what’s included in the box. In the box it includes:

• Steelseries Siberia 800 headset
• Transmitter/Control Hub
• 2 Battery Packs
• Power adapter with 4 worldwide plug ends
• 6 connection cables which include optical, USB, power, analogue, mobile and Xbox chat.

The headset has 40mm drivers which you can adapt for your hearing pleasure, due to the very customizable sound options thanks to the transmitter box. As you probably guessed from the box contents this headset is extremely versatile and can connect to almost anything with all its included cables. It will connect to PC,Mac,Xbox,Xbox One,PlayStation,Tablets,Phones or directly into your Home Entertainment System. The transmitter box is effectively the control hub for all of these as you can connect all your inputs into this device and due to its handy OLED display you can select which input you want to listen to along with customized or pre set EQ settings for each device. There is also a clickable wheel and various simplistic buttons located on the headset so you can control the transmitter box without being next to it. The transmitter box also has a handy feature of being a charging dock for the battery you are not using which means you never have to go without battery because when one battery dies you can literally hot swap between the two included battery’s which I think is a very attractive feature for this headset.

My general view and conclusion on this headset is a very impressed one. I have only been using the Siberia 800’s for a few days but I am already blown away with the punchy sound quality that they pump out and the comfort that they provide when using them. They aren’t the most lightweight headset in the world but you do get a feel of a premium product with its leather on the earbuds and across the top of the headset itself, providing a sturdy but comfortable feel and experience. I had these on for around 5 hours straight and I didn’t feel uncomfortable or the need to take them off to give my ears a bit of freedom. Steelseries advertise this headset as lag free and all I can do is back them up with this statement, I haven’t had a single problem with any lag coming from the sound or produced from the retractable microphone. Talking of the microphone, as mentioned just a moment ago it is retractable which again is a nice feature to have for those games where you don’t necessarily need a microphone dangling around your mouth. The microphone quality itself is okay, to be honest from a headset at this price I would of expected a little more but it is what is and that is my only real negative point about this headset. I have seen others complaining that it doesn’t go loud enough but for me I have been using it on roughly 80% and that is more than loud enough for me and it blocks out the constant background traffic noise which I have living next to a busy road.

So would I recommend the Steelseries Siberia 800 Wireless? Yes I would, they tick all the boxes I think you would ever want in a gaming headset and have more than enough features and settings to adapt to any sound that you require. Saying that at £259.99 RRP these aren’t cheap and the only reason I took the big leap into these were because of an offer at box.co.uk for £189.99 (which I believe is still on for anyone wanting to get a set of these) but in my eyes it is money well spent for my needs but if you don’t essentially want or need a wireless headset there are cheaper options out there which produce a very similar sound to these.