Best known for its range of console and PC gaming accessories, Mad Catz has made huge strides over the past year to cater for mobile gamers. After it launched its M.O.J.O. Android gaming console in June, the peripheral maker has emerged at Mobile World Congress with C.T.R.L.i, its first controller to feature native support for iOS 7. While it’s still in the prototype stage (so new, we were the first to see it), the C.T.R.L.i is was fully playable when we discussed specifics with Mad Catz’s representative, allowing us to experience an almost final version of the gamepad when it launches publicly in April. If the C.T.R.L.i looks familiar, that’s because it’s basically the same as the accessory maker’s award-winning MLG Pro Circuit controller for Xbox 360. Swapping consoles for handhelds, Mad Catz has introduced a spring-loaded mount to cater for Apple’s current iPhone range and any larger devices it may or may not decide to launch in the near future ( cough , 5-inch iPhone, cough ). The clip is fixed with a tiny screw, allowing iPad gamers to play wirelessly fear of a giant clip obstructing their view. In the past, iOS 7 controllers have been called out for their high price and low build quality, but in our short time with the C.T.R.L.i prototype, we were impressed with how stable the controller remained while we played, and our iPhone looked to be in no danger of falling out. When Mad Catz finally makes the Bluetooth gamepad available in early Spring, it’ll be available in black, white, blue, red, orange and will carry an $80 price-tag. That’s cheaper than the most MFi devices already on the market, but we’re still looking for that golden sticker price to make it a real impulse buy. Comments

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Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i is an iOS 7 controller with Xbox heritage (hands-on)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Lenovo ought to be tickled right now. HP just announced the 11-inch Pavilion x360, and it takes more than a few cues from Lenovo’s iconic Yoga design. Not only does it have a 360-degree hinge allowing it to be used in four modes, but HP is even using the same terminology to describe how it works (think: “stand mode” for when the keyboard is folded under, and “tent mode” when the machine balanced upside down). Also like the Yoga, the keyboard disables automatically when you flip the screen back into tablet mode. So how is it different? Cost, really. Whereas most convertible notebooks command flagship prices, the x360 starts at $400. (For comparison’s sake, even Lenovo’s mid-range ” Flex ” convertibles still cost $549 and up.) Of course, a lower price means lesser specs, which in this case include a Pentium-series Intel Bay Trail processor, a 500GB hard drive (no SSDs here) and a 1, 366 x 768 display. On the bright side, the display uses IPS technology for wider viewing angles, and HP also included Beats Audio. So the sound quality, at least, might be better than what the Lenovos of the world have to offer. Three USB ports and a full-sized HDMI socket might further sweeten the deal for prospective buyers. As for battery life, HP isn’t yet saying how long the two-cell battery is expected to last, though a company rep did assure us the final runtime would exceed four hours (on a portable, three-pound laptop, we’d actually hope for more than that). Look for the x360 to ship this week, on February 26th, with a red color available to start, and a silver shade following later. In the meantime, we’re sure to get a peek at Mobile World Congress, so stay tuned for hands-on photos and some early impressions. Filed under: Laptops , HP Comments

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HP’s Pavilion x360 convertible has a low price, decidedly Yoga-like design