Given that everyone persists; As interest in playing games on mobile phones increases, companies want to provide a more effective experience than simply using a finger on a touchscreen. Razer, the maker of unapologetically rugged and flashy gaming devices, has a new product that does just that.
The new Razer Kiyo Ultra is an improved controller that adds pro-level thumbsticks, buttons, and triggers to almost any mobile device. This is the latest addition to Razer's Kiyo lineup of portable gaming devices, launched in 2020. Once the two handles are apart, you can slide your phone between them. Secure your phone with a spring-loaded clamp and you've got something like a DIY Nintendo Switch. Connect to your phone using the USB-C port. Plus, with the USB-C port, you can handle iPad Minis and Android tablets up to 8 inches diagonally. Knight Ultra only works with USB-C iPhones, so you're limited to iPhone 15 and newer. (Also compatible with some flip phones.) Kishi Ultra can also be connected to a PC via a USB-C cable. Like almost all of Razer's products, the Kishi Ultra comes equipped with his RGB lighting options, which can be changed in the associated app for a full dose of customizable flash.
Knight is different from the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, which are full-fledged handheld gaming consoles in their own right. However, gaming devices with more specific use cases, such as Playstation's Portal device that allows you to stream games only from your existing PS5, are becoming more popular. Razer has been making gaming handheld devices since 2013 and has developed his own Steam Deck style Razer Edge handheld. But more and more companies want to create devices that work with the screen you already have in your pocket. Razer's latest devices, as well as those from gaming company Backbone, aim to extend mobile playtime by strapping a controller to the side of the device.
Here's some other consumer tech news this week:
Meta adds AI images to WhatsApp
Meta has added AI image generation to its WhatsApp messaging platform. As part of the rollout of his Llama 3 large-scale language model, which arrived this week, the company has enhanced its Meta AI in-app service.
WhatsApp's AI image generation option works similarly to sending a text message. You can enter a private chat with Meta AI and enter prompts. The keyword in the input field is “imagine,” so enter that and a description of the image you want to create, and the AI assistant will generate a visual representation of the prompt. And it happens almost instantly. Images pop up on your screen as you type, and you can watch them change and generate in real time as you add words to the prompt. This can get very weird if you add parameters to the request, but the more description you have, the more detailed the generator can create the image. The resulting images are pretty much what you'd expect from modern AI art sources: odd proportions, people with too many fingers, and misplaced eyeballs. Still, it's both nice and very weird to see an AI generate a description of something while you're writing it.
Introducing GMC's massive new Denali EV pickup
Photo: GMC
This year will see a slew of new EVs debut, from compact three-wheeled smart cars like the Nimbus One to high-performance supercars like the upcoming electric Dodge Charger. Pickup trucks are a somewhat niche segment of the EV market, aside from popular models like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian products, and Tesla's struggling Cybertruck (both of which were recently recalled).
