Hasta La Gadget!

Well-renowned peripheral maker 8BitDo has revealed three new versions of its Ultimate Controller, including two wireless options. There are Bluetooth, 2.4GHz and wired variants, all of which are available to pre-order now. The controllers will ship on October 28th.

Both the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz models have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and come with a charging dock. All three have a switch that allows you to swap between three profiles on the fly. You can remap the controller and adjust other settings using 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software on Windows, Android and iOS (but only on PC for the wired controller). The Xbox-style controller also has two back paddle buttons.

8BitDo

The Bluetooth version works with Nintendo Switch and Windows, though you may need to connect the included 2.4GHz adapter (which nestles inside the charging dock) to your PC. It costs $70 and it’s available in black and white. The 2.4GHz model is compatible with Windows, Android and Raspberry Pi, 8BitDo says. That one comes in white, black and pastel pink. It’s all yours for $50.

As for the wired USB variant, that’s compatible with Switch, Windows, Android and Raspberry Pi. Other features include trigger vibration and enhanced grip. You can choose between black and white colorways for the wired version, which will run you $35.

8BitDo

Pity the cast of House of the Dragon—the actors playing the Targaryen family might be wearing those platinum-blond wigs for quite a while. While the series has already been renewed for a second season, people were even more interested in watching the second episode of the Game of Thrones prequel TV series than the …

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To everyone who has ever typed out a tweet and then hesitated to send it (this is probably wise), Twitter has a solution for you. The social media platform released its new Twitter Circle feature to all users on iOS, Android, and web on Tuesday, along with a simple plea: “use it. please.”

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Uber has announced some upgrades for its Safety Toolkit. Among the new features is a way to get live help from an ADT safety agent via phone call or text in the US. The agent can monitor a trip, stay in contact with the user throughout the duration and, if necessary, contact 911 on their behalf. The agent can provide authorities with the make and model of the vehicle, the license plate number and its GPS location.

On a similar note, Uber is expanding its text-to-911 feature across more of the US. The app can automatically populate a text with details about the vehicle and the ride, including the destination and current location.

Uber debuted the feature in Los Angeles, Minnesota and Indiana in 2019. It will now be available in almost 60 percent of the country, including New York City and all of California, as 911 call centers in those areas can receive text messages. Uber plans to expand the option to more regions where the technology is supported.

In addition, Uber has revamped the Safety Toolkit menu. There are large icons that show all the available urgent help options, such as an emergency button. “Our goal is to streamline access to and visibility of our most critical safety features because in an emergency, every second counts,” the company said. Uber introduced the Safety Toolkit in 2018. Other safety features include the option to verify a ride with a PIN code and share the status of a trip with friends and family.

Giving riders and drivers more options for assistance is a welcome move, particularly given that Uber doesn’t exactly have a spotless safety record. The company’s most recent safety report, which was published in June and covers 2019 and 2020, notes that 99.9 percent of trips ended without a reported safety incident. However, there were 20 fatalities reported “in a total of 19 physical assault incidents in relation to Uber.” 

There were also 3,824 reports of sexual assault, compared with nearly 6,000 in 2017 and 2018. The company says riders were the accused party 43 percent of the time in sexual assault reports in 2019 and 2020. In July, more than 500 women sued Uber, alleging that they were attacked by drivers.

There are lots of productions underway right now, including an R.L. Stine adaption starring Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase (Zombie Town), a sci-fi thriller starring Tessa Thompson and Joseph Gordon Levitt (Ash), and Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton attached to sci-fi series on Apple TV (Dark Matter). This year looks…

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