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The Asus ROG Xbox Ally is an entry-level Windows handheld with impressive performance for the price. There's still time to save big on the first official Xbox gaming handheld. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which launched in October with a $600 MSRP, is on sale for $489 at Amazon and Walmart, $490 at Best Buy, and $520 at Target. It's still not entirely clear when this deal ends, but it's still available as of December 17. The $489 price at Amazon is an all-time low for the recently released Windows gaming handheld. Amazon has also restocked the official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case. If you pick up the Xbox Ally at Amazon, you should also check out some of the third-party accessories available now, including docking stations, screen protectors, travel cases, and microSD UHS-II cards. Though it's sold out more often than not at Amazon, the official Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case is currently available to order. Asus ROG Xbox Ally Gaming Handheld $489 (was $600) The ROG Xbox Ally is an entry-level Windows gaming handheld with impressive features and performance for the price. The Ryzen Z2 A chip is comparable to Steam Deck's custom AMD APU, and if you increase the TDP--at the expense of battery life--the Xbox Ally can outperform the Steam Deck OLED. For reference, the Steam Deck OLED 512GB model retails for $549. The Xbox Ally has a 1920 x 1080p IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate and support for VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium. If you're comparing to the Steam Deck OLED, Valve's handheld has a 7.4-inch 1280 x 800p OLED display with HDR and 90Hz refresh rate. So the Steam Deck wins in panel type and size, but the Xbox Ally wins in resolution and refresh rate. That said, to get the best performance on Xbox Ally, you will often want to lock the resolution at 720p, so the Xbox Ally doesn't always take full advantage of its advantages. The Xbox Ally is arguably the most comfortable Windows gaming handheld on the market today. Asus opted for the PlayStation Portal approach by essentially splitting the Xbox Wireless Controller in half and connecting it to each side. Along with all of the buttons, triggers, and bumpers found on the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Xbox Ally has two remappable back buttons. It also has motion controls and HD haptics. One of the big selling points of the Xbox Ally is the custom, console-inspired dashboard that is easier to use than the traditional Windows interface. The Xbox Ally has a 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, a microSD UHS-II card slot to expand storage capacity, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack. Specs: Processor: AMD Ryzen Z2 A RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 SSD Display: 7" IPS touchscreen (Gorilla Glass Victus) 1920 x 1080 120Hz refresh rate VRR supported AMD FreeSync Premium Controller Design: Contoured grips Hall Effect triggers Shoulder bumpers ABXY bumpers 2 remappable back buttons Analog sticks with light rings 6-Axis motion controls HD haptics 5 menu/settings buttons Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Type-C 3.5mm audio microSD: UHS-II reader (only UHS-II) Network: Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.4 Battery: 80Wh Battery life: 1.5-5 hours Weight: 670g Dimensions: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have a built-in library of hundreds of games for the Xbox Ally. Whether you already have a subscription or not, you'll want to purchase your membership from a major retailer instead of directly through Microsoft. The price of Game Pass Ultimate increased to $30/month in October, but major retailers still sell prepaid codes for $20/month. If you want to play your Xbox Ally on your TV or use it as a regular PC--you can switch to the standard Windows OS interface--you'll need a USB-C docking station. The official Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger Dock will set you back $85 (was $100), but there are solid third-party options that work well and come with a stand. UGREEN's 6-in-1 Docking Station is on sale for only $30 (was $46) for a limited time. You can upgrade to a 9-in-1 model with additional ports for $46 (was $60). The JSAUX Docking Station & 100W Charger is available for $50 (was $70). This one is nice because it also comes with the AC adapter, so you'll have a second charger. If you don't need an extra charger, you can get the same JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station for $33.24 (was $40). Another notable option is iVanky's 14-in-1 RGB Docking Station for $65 (was $80). It doesn't include an AC adapter or USB-C cable, but it has more ports for accessories and is capable of 144Hz refresh rate. All of the docks in the list below support 4K resolution but refresh rates vary; we've included max refresh rates when displaying games in 4K in parentheses. UGREEN 6-in-1 Docking Station (120Hz) -- $30 ($46) UGREEN 9-in-1 Docking Station (120Hz) -- $46 ($60) UGREEN 9-in-1 Docking Station (60Hz) -- $40 ($60) JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station: Black (120Hz) -- $33.24 ($40) JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station: White (120Hz) -- $40 JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station & 100W Charger (120Hz) -- $50 ($70) iVanky 14-in-1 Docking Station (144Hz) -- $65 ($80) Asus ROG Xbox Ally 100W Charger Dock (60Hz) -- $85 ($100) Xbox Ally Tempered Glass Screen Protectors The Xbox Ally has a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus screen, but it never hurts to add a screen protector to pricey handhelds, even if it's just for your own peace of mind. Plus, screen protectors are cheap. You can get a 2-pack of JSAUX's tempered glass anti-glare screen protector with an alignment frame for $11.59 (was $13). Two of the biggest names in the screen protector market, amFilm and iVoler, have 3-packs for $9-$10 without an alignment frame. JSAUX Screen Protector - Matte (2-Pack) -- $11.59 ($13) JSAUX Screen Protector - Glossy (2-Pack) -- $10 ($11) amFilm Screen Protector (3-Pack) -- $10 ($11.49) iVoler Screen Protector (3-Pack) -- $9 ($13) Xbox Ally Carrying Cases The official ROG Xbox Ally carrying case retails for $70. It has a built-in stand and comes with a removable pouch for accessories. On the back are the words: "This is an Xbox case." It's a very nice hardshell case, but if you don't want to spend $70 on a carrying case, there are numerous third-party options to check out. JSAUX's hardshell travel case is only $25.19 (was $28), and several smaller brands have carrying cases for around $30. Here's a list of some of the best-selling ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X cases on Amazon. ROG Xbox Ally 2-in-1 Premium Case -- $70 JSAUX Travel Case -- $25.19 ($28) JSAUX Sling Bag -- $40 Sarlar Travel Case -- $30 ProCase Travel Case (White) -- $22 ($26) ProCase Travel Case (Black) -- $26 Miimall Travel Case -- $24.29 ($27) Coowps Sling Bag -- $29 ($40) Spigen Rugged Armor Pro -- $47 ($57) CoBak Travel Case Bundle (Black) -- $50 CoBak Travel Case Bundle (White) -- $65 Xbox Ally Grip Cases & Thumbstick Grips The Xbox Ally already has great ergonomics, but so does the Steam Deck, and that hasn't stopped players from buying ergonomic grips. One of the benefits of a grip case beyond enhancing comfort is protecting the handheld from drop damage when outside of a travel case. For a premium option from a major accessory brand, check out Dbrand's Killswitch Travel Case for $72 (was $80). Dbrand's Killswitch series is fantastic, and Best Buy recently started carrying select Dbrand grip cases. We haven't tested the Xbox Ally Killswitch, but the Switch 2 Killswitch is the best ergonomic grip we've tried for Nintendo's new console. You can also find a a few budget-friendly options from generic brands on Amazon, including this popular $20 silicone grip case with a built-in stand. Dbrand Killswitch Grip Case Travel Bundle -- $72 ($80) Ninki Silicone Skin & Stand (White) -- $18.38 ($20) Ninki Silicone Skin & Stand (Black) -- $18.38 ($20) Miimall Silicone Skin & Stand (Clear) -- $18.89 ($21) Skull & Co. Stick Grips (6-Pack) -- $10 Skull & Co. Convex Stick Grips (4-Pack) -- $8 microSD UHS-II Cards for Xbox Ally As mentioned, you can expand the Xbox Ally's storage with microSD cards. Unfortunately, the entry-level handheld is limited to UHS-II cards; the Xbox Ally X can read UHS-I cards, which are cheaper and easier to find in higher capacities. We've rounded up a few options below. The most affordable is Kodak's 256GB microSD for $45.60. For 512GB, the Gigastone Ultimate Pro is the cheapest we saw at $100. Kodak UHS-II microSD (300MB/s) 128GB -- $32.71 ($40) 256GB -- $45.60 Lexar Professional Gold UHS-II microSD (280MB/s) 128GB -- $35 256GB -- $65 Nextorage UHS-II microSD (280MB/s) 128GB -- $40 256GB -- $70 512GB -- $140 Gigastone Ultimate Pro UHS-II microSD (280MB/s) 128GB -- Sold out 256GB -- $65 512GB -- $100

I’m going to save you an in-depth history lesson: about a decade ago, Valve tried to launch its own line of gaming PCs—working with partners to provide hardware while it aimed to provide a Linux-based software platform—called ‘Steam Machines’. It didn’t work out. Now, though, Valve has a working software solution in SteamOS (the software that underpins the fantastic Steam Deck), and the knowledge and means to build its own hardware. So, it’s trying again. The Steam Machine, as Valve is calling it, is a small-form-factor pre-built PC running SteamOS (built on the open-source Linux, rather than Windows or MacOS), and will be available to buy in “early 2026”. Valve did show off quite a bit of info about the Steam Machine, but it left some important details out: a specific release date, and how much it’ll cost. What we do know, though, is that the Steam Machine will be able to play most modern games at 4K resolutions at 60 frames-per-second using upscaling technology (as well as natively at lower resolutions), it runs at a significantly lower voltage than a traditional gaming tower, and it’ll bring a lot of the best features of the Steam Deck to a more powerful device. It’ll also launch in Australia day-and-date with the rest of the world—we won’t be waiting an additional two years like we did with the Deck—alongside a revamped Steam Controller, and its latest VR offering, the Steam Frame (both seen above). Like many of my fellow nerds, I’m really excited to see what Valve brings to the hardware space, and I’m hoping the Steam Machine will bridge the gap between PCs and consoles in the same way the Steam Deck did with PCs and handhelds. We’ll have to wait a little bit more before we see where it lands, so here’s what we know about the Steam Machine so far: Tech Specs Valve’s ‘Steam Machine‘ Confirmed Specifications Price TBA OS SteamOS (Linux) Internals – AMD Zen 4 CPU (4.8GHz, 6 cores) – AMD RDNA 3 (2.45GHz, 8 GB DDR6 VRAM) – 16GB DDR5 RAM Ports – 4x USB-A Ports – 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 – DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K 240Hz, 8K 60Hz) – HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K 120Hz) – Gigabit Ethernet – SD Card Reader Storage – 512GB or 2TB M.2 Storage – Can be upgraded by user Dimensions – 156mm x 152mm x 162mm – 2.6 kg Other – Replaceable front cover Is it a Gaming PC? Or a Gaming Console? It’s worth noting that while Valve is very much positioning the Steam Machine as a gaming PC, it’s also skirting the line into console territory. According to Valve, you should be able to plug the box into your TV, projector, monitor, or whatever you’re using and get running quickly and seamlessly. It’ll have sleep-to-wake functionality with the new Steam Controller, which is something PC gaming has traditionally struggled with, meaning you can easily jump back into a game on your TV when you get home from work. Plus, with how well SteamOS simply works as a full-screen gaming OS, rather than a more traditional Windows-like environment (which is very cumbersome to navigate using a gaming controller), it’ll be very well suited to a home theatre-like role—plugged directly into your TV, rather than sequestered away on a desk. Assuming it all works as it should, the Steam Machine could be a great bridge between those who want the freedom of PC gaming without giving up the comfort of a living-room console, and given my months of Steam Deck use, I can say that a lot of these things already work pretty well: the biggest problem I tend to hit with the Deck is that it’ll run out of battery while asleep, which shouldn’t be an issue for a device that is perennially plugged in. It’s also worth noting that one of the other ways it eschews closer to consoles is in the Steam Machine’s virtual inability to be upgraded. It should be pretty simple to swap out the device’s storage, but here you effectively get what you pay for. You’re not going to be tossing in a new GPU once performance starts lagging as you could with a more traditional desktop PC, and without a Thunderbolt/USB-4 capable port the Steam Machine can’t function with an external GPU. Instead, Valve is banking that a lot of people will be comfortable gaming without cutting-edge hardware, but with the added software customisability of a PC—and, based on Steam’s monthly hardware surveys, its probably spot on. Plus, there are plenty of people without the patience to tinker with hardware but who still would prefer to game on Steam than a console. Who’s the Steam Machine For? It’s worth stating here that if you’re someone who already has a high-end gaming PC capable of hitting 4K on ultra with respectable frame rates, it’s unlikely you’ll get a lot out of a Steam Machine aside from a potentially cheap living room box to stream games to. You could, instead, simply install a similar Linux-based OS (such as Bazzite) and make your own Steam Machine. If you’ve been looking to get into PC gaming on a budget: the jury is still out, but this one should be an answer to that problem. If you’re coming from a console, though, there’s quite a bit to talk about. Valve says the Steam Machine lands somewhere around six times the power of a Steam Deck—which sounds like a massive jump, but actually puts it pretty close to today’s entry-level console architectures. The technically-minded folk at Digital Foundry believe the capabilities on show here theoretically put the Steam Machine between the Xbox Series S and the base PlayStation 5. These would be very respectable benchmarks to hit, though we still don’t know anything about how it’ll compare on pricing. The Steam Deck is still one of the cheapest PC handhelds on the market, thanks to the fact that it natively runs SteamOS, and Valve takes a cut of every game sold on the Steam store—the de facto gaming store on PC. Getting the device into your hands cheaper means more games sold on Steam, which means more money for Valve in the long run. We don’t know if that’ll be the approach Valve is taking this time, but its hinted that it aims to keep the Machine affordable. Similarly to modern consoles, the Steam Machine will rely on upscaling technology to hit its quoted “4K 60fps” capability. However, if you’re happy playing games at 1080p, or even 1440p for certain titles, the Steam Machine should function well even without any kind of upscaling. Additionally, it costs nothing to play online games through Steam. Comparatively, it costs AU$30 a year to jump in on Nintendo’s cheapest membership tier, AU$102.95 for a year of PlayStation Plus ‘Essential’, and AU$155.40 on Xbox’s Game Pass ‘Essential’ tier (paid at AU$12.95 monthly). You do get a lot more value in some of these memberships beyond just playing online (free games, discounts, game streaming, etc), so it isn’t exactly a fair comparison—but if you don’t want any of those things, and just want to play games you buy online with friends this could be an attractive way to get there. Are There Any Red Flags? It can’t all be good though—the included SD Card Reader should make transferring games between your Steam Deck and Steam Machine a breeze, but actually playing those games off an SD card isn’t going to be a great experience. You’ll likely still want to transfer games onto local storage to keep read times quick—especially if you’re playing something competitive. As with the Steam Deck, which launched with underpowered capabilities, the Steam Machine isn’t going to be leading the pack graphics-wise—even among other mini PCs. While RDNA 3 graphics are good, RDNA 4 is already a thing and there are far more powerful pre-built mini PCs on the market: though it’s worth noting they’re all quite expensive as a result. If Valve is trying to keep the device affordable and small, while still performant, as it says it is, keeping some costs in check is inevitable. Then there’s the issue of Linux. While Windows and MacOS are pretty well-embedded into our lives at this point, Linux is a bit tricky to get started with. Yes, SteamOS is a pared back, simple version of the OS, but if you’re reliant on specialised software to do your job there’s a large chance Linux won’t fit your needs (unless you’re willing to get very, very in the weeds to make it work). If you only use your PC for gaming, streaming content, and browsing the web, you’ll be completely fine—though there will still be a learning curve. Beyond that, even gaming can get tricky on Linux. Valve has made huge strides in this space in the past decade with its Proton translation layer, which I’m not going to go into at all (this story is long enough already), but many newer games require a type of anti-cheat that Linux itself does not support. ‘Kernel-level’ anti-cheat effectively embeds itself into the deepest depths of your PC’s software with the aim of keeping an eagle-eye on whether or not you’re cheating in online matches, though it also appears in single-player games from time to time. Game developers swear this level of visibility is necessary to keep hacking in their games under control, but many people see this as complete overkill and an invasion of their privacy. It’s a thorny issue that, again, I don’t have time to get into here. The result is that many modern games, such as Battlefield 6, will not run on the Steam Machine without some tweaking from the developers—and few developers will bother unless there is a large contingent of players flocking to Linux to make it worth their while. That may not be a big deal to veteran PC players who know enough about this issue to go in with the knowledge needed, but if someone is buying their first gaming PC only to find out that their favourite game simply won’t run after already dropping an unspecified amount of money on the hardware—that’ll be a kick in the teeth. What do you think? Are you interested in a new player entering the console wars? Are you interested in jumping into PC gaming, but haven’t wanted to deal with the hassle? Are you interested in a small-format PC?

Crackers, hackers, phrackers, phreakers, sneakers: Is there a difference? Here's a primer on hacking nomenclatures to help you keep the bad guys and the good guys straight. Recently, a debate broke out on TechRepublic over the use of the word “hacker” in an article describing DDoS attacks (see "TechRepublic members say the law needs to punish cyber criminals, not the victims"). Member Lee McGrevin, a systems administrator, took exception to that article’s usage of the term “hacker,” stating that the correct term for someone who launches a DDoS attack would be “cracker.” “I am surprised that such a technical-based Web forum would stoop low enough to jump on the bandwagon of the hacker witch hunt,” McGrevin wrote. “Let’s get the record straight for those of us who wear the white hat. A hacker is someone with deep knowledge of how systems work, how to optimize them through noncommercial ways, and [how to] improve the overall quality of programs and [deal with] security-related issues.” McGrevin basically felt that calling those who engage in DDoS attacks “hackers” was demeaning to the hacking community and a hallmark of bad reporting. We certainly regret mislabeling anyone, although in our defense, we’d like it noted that hacking is used generically both in the media and in the IT security field to refer to illegal tampering with systems. So to make sure no other members out there fall into the same trap we did, let’s all take a closer look at this issue. Depends on whom you ask In some ways, the definition of these terms depends upon whom you ask. Take, for example, the following various interpretations of hacking. The National Security Agency (NSA) defines hacking simply as the “unauthorized use, or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.” By comparison, Hackers.com, an underground domain whose stated purpose is to “provide a place for hackers, phone phreaks, and other underground-related people to interact and expand their minds,” offers a somewhat more poetic and gracious definition of hacking: “Hacking is the act of penetrating a closed computer system for the knowledge and information that is contained within. Through the study of technology and computers, a hacker can open his mind and expand his knowledge. Hacking is intended to free information and expand minds, not to be destructive nor for material gain. There is always some debate because of how the term ‘hacker’ has been both glorified and undermined by common media, but most will say that those who destroy data, hack for money, or hack with illegal intent should be referred to as ‘crackers,’ not hackers.” On the other hand, TechRepublic member Edward Clint, a systems administrator for HealthCenter Internet Services, made this important distinction: “No one with a real IT job calls themselves either a hacker or a cracker. …In the real world, we are Security Experts, System Engineers, Network Admins and Architects, and so forth.” A list of terms To help set the record straight, we’ve provided a breakdown of terms and their definitions from the "NSA Glossary of Terms Used in Security and Intrusion Detection." You might also want to visit Information Security Magazine’s online descriptions of "Perpetrator Subtypes." Hacking Unauthorized use, or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network. Hacker A person who enjoys exploring the details of computers and how to stretch their capabilities. A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. Crack A popular hacking tool used to decode encrypted passwords. System administrators also use crack to assess weak passwords by novice users in order to enhance the security of the Automated Information System (AIS). Cracker One who breaks security on an AIS. Automated Information System - any equipment of an interconnected system or subsystems of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, control, display, transmission, or reception of data and includes software, firmware, and hardware. Samurai A hacker who hires out for legal cracking jobs, snooping for factions in corporate political fights, lawyers pursuing privacy-rights and First Amendment cases, and other parties with legitimate reasons to need an electronic locksmith. Sneaker An individual hired to break in to places in order to test their security; analogous to tiger team. Tiger Team Government and industry-sponsored teams of computer experts who attempt to break down the defenses of computer systems in an effort to uncover, and eventually patch, security holes. Ankle-Biter or Script Kiddies A person who aspires to be a hacker/cracker but has very limited knowledge or skills related to AIS's. Usually associated with young teens who collect and use simple malicious programs obtained from the Internet. Phreaking The art and science of cracking the phone network. Phreak(er) An individual fascinated by the telephone system. Commonly, an individual who uses his knowledge of the telephone system to make calls at the expense of another. Phracker An individual who combines phone phreaking with computer hacking. Hacking Unauthorized use, or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network. Hacker A person who enjoys exploring the details of computers and how to stretch their capabilities. A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. Crack A popular hacking tool used to decode encrypted passwords. System administrators also use crack to assess weak passwords by novice users in order to enhance the security of the Automated Information System (AIS). Cracker One who breaks security on an AIS. Automated Information System - any equipment of an interconnected system or subsystems of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, control, display, transmission, or reception of data and includes software, firmware, and hardware. Samurai A hacker who hires out for legal cracking jobs, snooping for factions in corporate political fights, lawyers pursuing privacy-rights and First Amendment cases, and other parties with legitimate reasons to need an electronic locksmith. Sneaker An individual hired to break in to places in order to test their security; analogous to tiger team. Tiger Team Government and industry-sponsored teams of computer experts who attempt to break down the defenses of computer systems in an effort to uncover, and eventually patch, security holes. Ankle-Biter or Script Kiddies A person who aspires to be a hacker/cracker but has very limited knowledge or skills related to AIS's. Usually associated with young teens who collect and use simple malicious programs obtained from the Internet. Phreaking The art and science of cracking the phone network. Phreak(er) An individual fascinated by the telephone system. Commonly, an individual who uses his knowledge of the telephone system to make calls at the expense of another. Phracker An individual who combines phone phreaking with computer hacking. We’d like to know: What’s your take on this whole hacker/cracker debate? Is there an important distinction between all of these terms, or is it mere semantics? Post your comments below.

Who’s it for? It’s safe to say that the beginner market is locked-on to here. A serious play for curious and casual DJs is made, too! Anyone wanting to try DJing can now find something to suit their needs from Pioneer DJ’s lineup. The promo’s bubble graffiti, colourful graphics and comic-esque imagery all illustrate that this kit makes DJing both fun and accessible. The DDJ-FLX4 is a good choice for DJs who are looking for a controller that is easy to learn and use, but also offers enough features to allow them to be creative. It is also a good choice for DJs who are on a budget, as it is one of the more affordable controllers on the market. The DDJ-FLX4 is a good choice for a variety of DJs, including: Beginner DJs who are just starting out and need a controller that is easy to learn and use. Intermediate DJs who are looking for a controller that offers more features than a beginner controller, but is still affordable. Mobile DJs who need a controller that is portable and easy to set up. DJs who want a backup controller for their main setup. Its power teamed with its ease of use means every type of entry-level DJ is catered for. Original Features With a streamlined and lightweight design heavily resembling its predecessor, the new controller has struck a fine balance between retaining features which make the current best seller so popular and introducing modern conveniences which are sure to satisfy beginners starting their DJ journey in late 2022. The below are inherited directly from its predecessor the DDJ-400: Club standard layout which emulates 2 flagship CDJ multi-players sandwiched between a DJM mixer. High-quality beat effects. Access to Performance Mode in rekordbox for plenty of creative mixing tools. An affordable RRP of £279 / $299 These features made the DDJ-400 a success! It is now regarded as a trusty controller which offers far more than is needed for a newcomer. Its winning streamlined design is the reason it has found its way into many DJ equipment riders as a practice session or backup device. The new stuff! The DDJ FLX4 takes the DDJ-400’s proven formula and enhances it! Users of this next-generation controller get the following upgrades: Smart Fader function – automatically takes care of making a seamless blend between any 2 tracks with the simple slide of an upfader or crossfader! Perfect for mixing between large BPM gaps and genres. Smart CFX function – automatically adds dynamic combinations of complimentary complex effects to your tracks or mixes with the twist of a single knob! USB connection carries microphone audio – voice is now recorded with your set so there’s no need for an external sound card or additional laptop for live streams. A major update to the rekordbox mobile app – allows the controller to perform with a smartphone or tablet. (Coming Early 2023) Bluetooth connectivity – perfect for users who want to connect wirelessly to their smart devices! Alongside the all-new rekordbox app, the controller is also compatible with Serato DJ – lots of options to try wether it’s stems technology in Serato or cloud sycing in Rekordbox! The unit is powered by modern USB-C and includes a power throughput. This takes the convenience factor up a few notches as most smartphones and tablets can now charge when physically connected to the controller. A simple way to mix Absolute beginners who may have reservations about starting their DJ journey have had a friendly nudge forward. With this device, they won’t need to worry about the technicalities of mixing to get a decent-sounding set to play through their speakers. All thanks to the world debut of it’s automatic mixing features: Smart Fader The DDJ-FLX4’s Smart Fader and Smart CFX features are two of its most innovative and useful features. The Smart Fader allows you to mix two tracks with different BPMs seamlessly, even if they are drastically different. It does this by automatically adjusting the tempo and pitch of the two tracks as you move the fader. This makes it easy to create smooth and professional-sounding mixes. Newbies can have fun combining the music they love straight out of the box! Simply activate the feature, then slide either the crossfader or an upfader as slowly or quickly as desired to allow rekordbox’s A.I to take care of making a blend. The incoming track will start with perfect, on-beat precision and both tracks’ volumes and bass levels will blend to make a smooth transition, every time. Even if the DJ is hopping from one genre to another! In the Crossfader studio, we’ve found that moving between very different BPMs works incredibly well when done in rekordbox. The BPM slowly shifts from the first track to that of the incoming track with every nudge of the fader and has a little echo-out once the fader has fully opened or reached the opposite side. With Serato DJ, on the other hand, the BPMs did not sync well, the Smart Fader feature simply applied an effect to make the transition. This is hopefully something that will change with a little development time. When using Smart Fader, users are still free to play around with and learn how to manipulate the EQ and filter settings manually without fear of sounding unskilled. Example: To use the Smart Fader to mix two tracks with different BPMs, simply load the two tracks into the controller and press the Smart Fader button. Then, start moving the fader towards the track that you want to mix in. The Smart Fader will automatically adjust the tempo and pitch of the two tracks so that they match. As you move the fader further towards the incoming track, the first track will fade out and the incoming track will fade in. Smart CFX This feature can be used to add flavour to a mix. Now the turn of a knob will introduce combinations of effects which can be used to build tension or layer the sound in interesting and unique ways- an exciting new way for DJs to put their own stamp on tunes! In rekordbox, there are 8 combinations of effects to choose from with only 2 being available in Serato DJ at this time. Using combinations of effects seems to be what the FLX series of controllers are all about as the FLX6 also has an exclusive feature for combining effects. This is typically for aiding with transitioning from one genre to another with the FLX6, but on the FLX4 it is more of a standalone feature. Use it with your smartphone or tablet For those who don’t want the commitment of needing to fire up a computer to start DJing, this controller supports mobile use for instant easy access to DJing! With a new update to the rekordbox app for iOS/ iPadOS and Android dropping in 2023, users will get full functionality of rekordbox via their smart device. This ability is absolutely essential for Pioneer DJ in their cornering of the casual market. No longer is Algoriddim Djay the only fully-featured smart device DJ platform! Pioneer DJ’s mobile platform, WeDJ, may close down following the introduction of this rekordbox update. If so, they will likely offer anyone using mobile controllers, such as the DDJ-200, a reasonable time frame to migrate over from the simplified platform and onto their fully-featured, all-new rekordbox mobile app. A sound card that records it all! This is the feature that has true mass appeal! The ability to record a microphone feed gives content creators a compact and capable device they can live stream from without needing additional gear like an external soundcard. This is a great selling point for those who have space constraints or want to travel light when on the road! Recording microphone audio is only possible if Bluetooth is not being used to connect the controller to a smart device as it is done through the USB-C connection. The Look With a striking new orange-on-black finish, this colour scheme is in line with Pioneer DJ’s entry-level Serato DJ controller, the DDJ-REV1, which dropped earlier in the year. This cool new design seems to be what Pioneer DJ are now going for across their entry-level gear. This now also comes with a slick new matte jog wheel plate design and the main faceplate has a revised matt finish. I/O The device retains the same bare essentials for hookups as the DDJ-400 but replaces USB-B for USB-C. The change is monumental as controllers have been shipping with USB-B since their dawn! There is also an additional power throughput socket to allow the unit to deliver power to connected devices rather than draw from them. Essential for DJs using a tablet or smartphone which would not be enough to power the controller. With a single RCA MASTER port, the FLX4 is clearly designed for non-professional use, but that’s not to say it can’t hook into a club mixer to feed through to professional speakers in a DJ booth if needs be! Headphones are plugged in via 3.5-mm stereo mini jack, with no port for professional ¼ inch jacks. The microphone port is an unbalanced TS jack with a dedicated attenuation dial next to it. The mixer retains the dedicated volume pot for the microphone feed. There is also an Android MONO/STEREO switch which toggles the signal coming from an Android device into Mono if its stereo signal comes through distorted. So, what do we think?… This device definitely delivers as a follow-up to a hugely successful controller and executes impressive new features brilliantly in rekordbox. However, Serato DJ implementation seems like an afterthought at present with issues affecting a range of functions like the use of Smart Fader, the lack of Smart CFX effect options and an inability to set certain loop lengths. It is safe to say the FLX4 will change the DJ landscape. Until now, Pioneer DJ have played a relatively minor role on the casual DJ scene with most people simply trying a DJ app like the free version of Algoriddim Djay and potentially progressing from there. With an RRP of £279, this is by no means in direct competition with these apps. However, it promises beginners that they will sound good. Straight away! And that proposition may have opened up it’s own new category of budding DJs. Crossfader’s Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 Performance Mix Do you want to see the DDJ-FLX4 in action, showcasing all it’s new features live in the mix. Well look no further, here is our performance, putting the controller through it’s paces and focusing heavily on the smart features.