8BitDo, once known exclusively as a purveyor of Nintendo-infused nostalgia, has expanded in recent years into all sorts of gaming controllers and accessories. The company’s latest foray is into mobile gaming controllers. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller takes the highlights of its well-received Ultimate series — Hall effect included! — and brings them to an extendable accessory that latches onto your smartphone, a la Backbone and Razer Kishi.
First, the bad news (for some). The 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is Android only, so no love here for iPhone owners. It’s also a Bluetooth accessory, rather than a plug-in one like Backbone’s, which means it has a 350mAh battery and weighs more than some rivals. (As The Vergenotes, it tips the scales at 236g, making it 71 percent heavier than the BackBone One.) 8Bitdo says its battery lasts up to 15 hours from 1.5 hours of charging time.
But for Android device owners, it’s a versatile controller. 8Bitdo says it’s compatible with mobile devices that are 100mm to 170mm in length. That can even include some small tablets, although not many these days are that small. (Even Amazon’s relatively small Fire HD 8 is about 32mm too wide.) However, it should fit just about any Android phone.
8Bitdo
The controller has Hall effect triggers and joysticks, so you shouldn’t have any drifting worries. It includes a standard four action buttons, a “clicky,” “smooth” and “tactile” D-Pad, a profile button and two paddle buttons on its back. The sticks have “wear-resistant metal joystick rings.”
Advertisement
It works with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, letting you remap buttons, adjust stick and trigger sensitivity and create or edit profiles. The software is available on Windows and Android. The iOS version is installable on Macs from the App Store.
You can’t get the 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller quite yet, but you can pre-order it now from Amazon. It costs $50 (half the price of Backbone One!), comes in black and white options and will arrive on November 29, Black Friday.
Apple’s beta testing service Testflight just got a fairly substantial update, according to a report by TechCrunch. The software refresh gives developers much more control over who can join a beta and how new features are shared. It also allows beta testers to get more information about an app before they dive in.
Developers will be able to set all kinds of criteria as to who can or cannot access the beta. This should help devs narrow the test groups to specific audiences, like those using a particular device or OS version. Testflight offers a maximum of 10,000 invitations by default, so this should help reserve spots for an intended audience. The developers can also now decrease this maximum number to whatever they want.
The update allows for more control over the beta invites, as they can highlight new features and content. Apple says that beta builds of apps that have already been approved for publication can now include screenshots and the app category along with the invite.
App creators will also be able to view metrics regarding the success of a beta invite, which includes information as to how many people viewed the invite, who opted in and why folks declined.
Advertisement
As for users, beta invites can include a feedback field. This is for people to let the developer know why they chose not to download an app.
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
The Sandbox has launched a multi-year partnership with King Kong of Skull Island to build a space inside its virtual world where you can build, own, and monetize your gaming experiences.
The Sandbox has been creating AdventureWorld, a neighborhood in the Sandbox map. Defender District park is the first realm within AdventureWorld, where LAND owners defended against massive Titans from Attack on Titan.
The Sandbox has done a LAND sale (using $SAND, which is The Sandbox’s utility token) in the Defender District park inside The Sandbox’s metaverse-like map. It has also started a LAND sale in the second of three parks inside the new AdventureWorld neighborhood on the Sandbox map.
The Sandbox will have a space for Skull Island in its virtual world.
That second park is Brawlers Ring, and it is right next to the King Kong of Skull Island realm. In this case, players can buy LAND right next to the King Kong place. This LAND sale marks the first major collaboration between The Sandbox and King Kong of Skull Island.
The third part is yet to be named.
Advertisement
GB Daily
Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily
Only 3 days to go! Moscone West in San Francisco will host 10,000 startup and VC leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 from October 28-30. This event promises to inspire, spark new ideas, and cultivate meaningful connections.
Final days to lock in your savings! Don’t miss your chance — you have until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to save up to $400 on individual tickets or purchase two Expo+ Passes for half the cost of one. Act now to secure your discounted ticket or the Expo+ 2-for-1 Pass!
Reasons to attend Disrupt 2024
10,000+ startup and VC leaders to connect with
Connect with 10,000 tech pioneers, startup founders, and VC leaders, all gathered for extraordinary opportunities to collaborate and build valuable relationships.
350+ startups exhibiting their innovations
Step into the Expo Hall and witness cutting-edge innovations from more than 350 startups, giving you a preview of the future of tech from around the world.
Advertisement
The Pitch Showcase Stage provides these exhibiting startups with a platform to present their innovations in fast-paced pitches to attendees and TechCrunch editors.
250+ industry leaders
Discover exclusive insights from prominent industry figures spread across six focused stages, concentrating on vital sectors of the tech landscape: AI, startups, venture capital, fintech, SaaS, and space.
Witness 20 outstanding startups battle it out in the thrilling Startup Battlefield 200 pitch competition at Disrupt 2024, competing for a $100,000 equity-free prize and the prestigious Disrupt Cup, judged by top VCs. You’ll have a front-row seat to hear invaluable feedback from leading VCs on creating a viable startup.
Exceptional networking opportunities
In addition to casual networking around the venue, enhance your connections using the Braindate app, which allows you to create or explore topics for deeper discussions. Meet in person at the Networking Lounge powered by Braindate on level 2 for 1:1 or small-group conversations.
Advertisement
60+ Side Events
Maintain the excitement of Disrupt 2024 by taking part in company-hosted Side Events across San Francisco throughout the week. With activities including workshops, cocktail parties, morning runs, and meetups, there’s something for everyone.
Register at a low rate
Seize the opportunity to save up to $400 on tickets! You can also benefit from our Expo+ 2-for-1 offer — bring a guest for just half the price of one Expo+ Pass. These deals end on October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and ticket prices will increase when doors open on October 28.
In September, Apple launched its latest smartwatch, introducing the Apple Watch Series 10 alongside a black rendition of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Each wearable has its own pros and cons, as does the second-gen Apple Watch SE, but the recent introduction of the new wearables also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had.
But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch you can afford so that it continues to receive software updates from Apple. The latest update, watchOS 11, launched in September on the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, ultimately leaving those still using an older Series 4 or Series 5 behind.
Picking up a watch from the latest (or a recent) generation ensures you’re getting a smartwatch with an updated design, a robust number of features, and plenty of sensors. Now, let’s get to the deals.
The best Apple Watch Series 10 deals
Advertisement
The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. It’s also thinner and lighter than its predecessors.
The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. It’s also thinner and lighter than its predecessors.
The Apple Watch Series 10 represents the latest wearable in Apple’s flagship Series lineup. It features the new S10 SiP chip, faster charging, and a wide-angle OLED display that’s brighter, larger, and easier to read than that of previous models. It weighs half as much as the Ultra, too, and is about 30 percent thinner despite its new 42mm and 46mm sizing. Other upgrades include an added depth and water temperature sensor, as well as a new FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature, the latter of which is also available on the last-gen Series 9 and Ultra 2.
While the improvements are certainly welcome, the Series 10 isn’t a vast departure from the prior model, the Series 9. That being said, you can already pick up Apple’s latest wearable at Amazon in the 42mm sizing with GPS starting at $365.28 (about $34 off). The GPS-equipped model is also on sale at Amazon in the 46mm variant for $398 ($31 off), while the LTE models can be had at Amazon starting at $470.36 (about $29 off).
The Apple Watch Series 9 features the company’s last-gen S9 processor, which paved the way for offline Siri use and Apple’s double tap gesture. It also has the second-gen ultra wideband chip for Precision Finding if you have an iPhone 15 or 16.
The Apple Watch Series 9 represents a slight upgrade over the prior model, the Apple Watch Series 8. It uses Apple’s S9 SiP processor and second-gen ultra wideband chip, though there aren’t many significant differences beyond that.
In 2023, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9 alongside the second-gen Ultra. It uses Apple’s last-gen S9 SiP chip and a second-gen ultra wideband chip, which allow for onboard Siri processing and precision finding with select iPhone models. It also features a brighter, 2,000-nit display and support for Apple’s nifty “double tap” feature — two minor additions that are also present on the Series 10.
Advertisement
The Series 9 has been out for more than a year, but certain configurations have become increasingly difficult to find with the arrival of Apple’s latest watch. Luckily, the GPS-equipped Series 9 is still on sale at Amazon in the 41mm sizing starting at $299.97 (about $99 off) or in the 45mm configuration at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $329 ($100 off). There are also a handful of deals to be had on the LTE models with cellular connectivity, though none of them undercut the current price of the LTE-equipped Series 10 model by much, hence their exclusion here.
The latest SE borrows a few features from the Series 8, including the same chipset and Crash Detection feature, but it’s an otherwise subtle upgrade from the last-gen SE.
Apple’s entry-level wearable represents a minor upgrade when compared to the prior SE, though it does sport a faster chipset and make use of many watchOS 11 features.
The Apple Watch SE received a refresh in late 2022. It has the same chipset as the Series 8, which is great, but with fewer sensors, no always-on display, and a slightly outdated design compared to the Series 8 and Series 9. Those omissions might take this out of the running for some people, but it still may be exactly what you’re after. Best of all, it starts at $249 for the 40mm Wi-Fi / GPS model, which is $30 less than the previous generation’s baseline cost. Opting for cellular connectivity bumps the starting price up to $299 for the 40mm size (44mm adds $20 to each configuration).
At the moment, the best deals on the latest Apple Watch SE can be found at Amazon and Walmart, where you can pick the 40mm model with GPS in select styles starting at $189 ($60 off). The 44mm configuration, meanwhile, is available in select styles at Amazon and Walmart starting at $219 ($60 off). If you want the LTE configuration, the 40mm configuration is currently on sale at Walmart for $229 ($70 off), or in the larger 44mm sizing at Walmart for $259 ($70 off), its usual sale price.
The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes in one size: 49mm. It offers the brightest display of any wearable in Apple’s lineup, along with better battery life and improved performance. It sports Apple’s last-gen S9 SiP, too, allowing you to take advantage of Apple’s handy double tap feature.
The latest Apple Watch Ultra launched at $799 in September of last year with GPS and LTE support, much like the original model. The ultra-capable smartwatch has the most features, sensors, and ruggedness of any Apple Watch model available thus far, along with a display that’s 50 percent brighter than the first Ultra. The 49mm smartwatch also packs Apple’s S9 SiP and second-gen ultra wideband chips, just like the Apple Watch Series 9, while maintaining long-lasting battery life, precise GPS tracking, and a bevy of diving-friendly sensors.
In recent months, we saw the Apple Watch Ultra 2 dip to as low as $642 ($157 off) in select configurations. Right now, however, it’s only on sale at Amazon with an Alpine Loop or Ocean Band starting at $699.99 (about $99 off), or with a Trail Loop starting at $758.99 (about $40 off). The Ultra 2 is also available at Best Buy and Target, though neither retailer is currently discounting the wearable as steeply as Amazon.
While all of the Apple Watch models and colorways covered here are encased in aluminum (except the Ultra 2, which has a titanium build), Apple does make a more premium range built out of stainless steel and titanium. These offerings are functionally and aesthetically similar to their aluminum counterparts, with slightly refined colors and finishings — polished for the stainless steel and brushed for the titanium. However, they start at much steeper prices of $699 and above. They, too, can often be found on sale, but they’re never discounted as low as the standard base models, so we don’t include them here.
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• D
• C
• B
Advertisement
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1006) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1006, are…
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Advertisement
Well, this was about as easy as a Quordle ever gets for me. Like, really, really easy.
My strategy involves playing three set start words every day, and though I have experimented with other approaches, it’s by far the most successful I’ve tried. Those three words are STARE, DOILY and PUNCH and today they gave me all five letters for the top-left answer, four for the top- and bottom-right quadrants and three for the bottom left.
The first of those merely needed me to solve an anagram, then – which I did to find DUCHY, possibly the hardest word here simply because it’s not a widely used term. CANNY was the other contender for toughest to solve – it has a repeated N, after all – but there was no other option for me, so it was again rather simple.
SMART was another where the answer was given to me by my start words – I knew it was S-ART and didn’t have any other letters that could fit but the M. So that just left BLOCK. Here I did need a bit of luck, because it also could have been FLOCK, but with only a 50/50 ahead of me there was no point in playing a word to narrow down those options, so I guessed BLOCK and solved it in seven.
NASA has issue a warning about two asteroids — Asteroid 2024 QA and Asteroid 2024 JV33 — moving really fast towards towards our planet, according to a report.
What is Asteroid 2024 QA?
Asteroid 2024 QA is an aircraft-sized rock with a length of 23.5 metre and a diameter of 41.3 metre. The gigantic rock belonging to Apollo asteroid group is expected to come as close as 7,06,502 km from the Earth.
It is travelling at a speed of 21.66 km per second. However, we need not worry as the asteroid will not change its path, all thanks to Earth’s gravitational force, reports News9Live. It has been classified as a Near-Earth Object.
Advertisement
What is Asteroid 2024 JV33?
Asteroid 2024 JV33 is a building-sized rock which has a length of 207 metre and a diameter of 335 metre. The closest the asteroid will come near Earth is 4,58,663 km and it’s expected to happen on August 19.
This has prompted NASA to categorise the Apollo group asteroid as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. It’s speed is 11.08 km per second.
Though it is extemely close, it is expected not to deviate from its path, according to News9Live.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623043/247270_Apple_watch_series_10_AKrales_0007.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623043/247270_Apple_watch_series_10_AKrales_0007.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623065/247270_Apple_watch_series_10_AKrales_0370.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623065/247270_Apple_watch_series_10_AKrales_0370.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933442/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0356.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933442/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0356.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933463/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0902.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933463/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0902.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24049860/226292_Apple_Watch_SE_PHO_akrales_0047.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24049860/226292_Apple_Watch_SE_PHO_akrales_0047.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24049873/226292_Apple_Watch_SE_PHO_akrales_0222.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24049873/226292_Apple_Watch_SE_PHO_akrales_0222.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933448/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0421.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24933448/236790_Apple_watch_9_Ultra_2_AKrales_0421.jpg)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login