Google’s Android
TV has already been released since June of last year, but manufacturers are
yet to fully utilize its capabilities. That is until today, when Razer
announced the Forge TV at last week’s CES.
The Forge TV is a set top box designed to bring Android
usability to your living room. The box is equipped with a Snapdragon 805 chip
with a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. The
device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop running an Android TV interface.
Internet is delivered to the device by a Gigabit Ethernet
port or Wi-Fi 802.11ac. The box connects to TV sets using an HDMI 1.4 port and
connects to various accessories using a USB 3.0 port or a USB port.
And speaking of accessories, Razer is also launching two
accessories to complement the Forge TV. On one hand we have the Razer Serval –
a Bluetooth controller that doubles as a smartphone gaming accessory through an
adjustable game clip so you can snap on your smartphone for a more immersive
gaming experience.
The controller works with Bluetooth 3.0 for wireless use or through
a microUSB to USB cord that 1.5 meters long for wired gameplay. On the other
hand, there’s the Razer Turret – a lapboard with a gaming mouse designed to be
your primary input device for the Forge TV.
The lapboard features Chiclet style keyboard with
anti-ghosting for up to 10 key presses at the same time. It also packs a number
of dedicated Android buttons, a Cortex quick-launch button as well as a Windows
button. There’s also a pull-out pad on the right that snaps in to place using
magnets.
The mouse is not as good as Razer’s more expensive gaming
mice but keep in mind that this is a keyboard lapboard bundle. Nonetheless, the
Turret’s mouse is more than enough for typical activities in use with Forge TV.
The Razer Turret will be available in the second quarter of
2015 for $130, while the Serval and the Forge TV will retail for $80 and $99.99
respectively.
Finally, there’s the Razer Nabu X, an entry-level smartband
that provides users with social notifications and tracks personal fitness
information. In contrast to the Razer
Nabu, which was unveiled at last year’s CES, the Nabu X doesn’t have an
OLED panel for viewing notifications. Instead, it has three LED indicators that
when matched with vibrations alert users about different notifications.
The device also comes with an accelerometer that provides
activity data for its users. The Nabu X’s band is made from soft-rubber while
the main module has been constructed to be water-resistant. The device will be
available in three different colors – black, white and green and will retail
for $49.99 once it ships this month in the US and Europe.
