Uber has laid off about 185 Postmates workers, and plans to further integrate Postmates’ infrastructure within its Uber Eats segment, The New York Times reported. Uber acquired Postmates in July for $2.65 billion, following a failed attempt to buy rival food delivery service Grubhub.
Meal delivery has been one bright spot for Uber amid the pandemic, as bookings in its Uber Eats division rose 135 percent year-over-year in the third quarter while its ride-hailing segment dropped 50 percent over the same time period. It’s consolidated other parts of the company in a bid to become profitable by the end of 2021, selling its autonomous vehicles segment to Aurora Innovation in December, the same month it sold its Uber Elevate flying taxi division to Joby Aviation.
The latest cuts will see Postmates founder and CEO Bastian Lehmann depart the company, along with most of its executive team, according to the Times.
Uber Eats continues to trail competing food delivery service DoorDash, which went public in December, and showed a brief period of profitability over the summer. According to market research firm Edison Trends, in the fourth quarter DoorDash had 48 percent of the market share for food delivery services, with the combined Uber Eats/Postmates at 35 percent.
Uber did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Sunday.
SpaceX launched a batch of 143 spacecraft to space from Florida on Sunday morning under the company’s new cost-cutting SmallSat Rideshare Program, breaking the record for the most satellites lofted into space on a single launch.
The Transporter-1 mission kicks off a potentially lucrative business line for SpaceX, which unveiled in 2019 its SmallSat Rideshare Program, essentially a carpool for dozens of satellites of different shapes and sizes. The program offers relatively cheap access to space for small satellite companies starting at $1 million for the first 485 pounds.
Much like a rideshare Uber, a company’s small satellite can hitch a ride to space with other spacecraft instead of buying an entire rocket at a much higher price.
After scrubbing an initial launch attempt on Saturday due to bad weather, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off 24 hours later from its Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch pad at 10AM ET, sending a mix of shoebox-sized CubeSats and much heavier microsatellites to a 326-mile-high polar orbit — an unusual trajectory for a Florida launch site. SpaceX launched its first polar mission from Florida in August last year.
The launch, SpaceX’s third so far this year, marks the most satellites carried to space on a single rocket, a record previously held by an Indian satellite launch in 2017 carrying 104 satellites. The 143 spacecraft aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 include 48 Earth imaging satellites dubbed SuperDoves from Planet, 17 tiny communications satellites for Toronto-based Kepler, and 30 small satellites for the US and Europe packaged by Berlin, Germany-based Exolaunch.
Also aboard the flight are small capsules of human ashes arranged by Celestis, a spaceflight memorial company. Ten Starlink satellites are also hitching a ride, inching SpaceX toward the 1,000 mark for the number of active satellites in space supporting its broadband internet constellation.
DARPA, the Pentagon’s R&D agency, pulled out from the rideshare mission earlier this month after its two 187-pound satellites were damaged during launch processing in Cape Canaveral.
The Transporter-1 mission, coming just four days after SpaceX launched 60 of its Starlink satellites to space, keeps pace with what’s set to be a remarkably eventful year in orbit as SpaceX, OneWeb and other companies race to build vast constellations of internet-beaming satellites. In the past 16 days, SpaceX has launched more satellites to space than what the entire world launched in any year before 2013, according to data compiled by Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer and expert satellite tracker.
Rideshare missions on larger rockets appeal to a growing demand for affordable launch services from small satellite companies, ramping up competition with companies like Rocket Lab and Virgin Orbit with smaller rockets tailored for dedicated small satellite launches.
Amazon has offered help to newly appointed US President Joe Biden to meet vaccination goals. The new US administration plans in the first 100 days of office, 100 million US Providing citizens with vaccine. Now the online retailer emphasizes the role of 800. 000 Amazon employees as ” systemic workforce “who ensure that customers can receive products and services at home during the crisis. Most of the employees are unable to work from home, which is why they should be vaccinated “at the earliest appropriate time” according to Amazon.
Dave Clark, CEO of Amazon’s consumer division, stated in the letter Arstechnica received that it was ready to support the government in matters of distribution, IT and communication. Amazon has also reached an agreement with a medical service provider and is able to vaccinate employees in its own facilities as soon as the required vaccine doses are available.
Sought-after vaccines Clark had already contacted the US disease control agency CDC in December to work towards a speedy vaccination of the Amazon workforce. There were similar efforts by the driving service providers Uber and Lyft. Both companies are pushing for drivers to be vaccinated in a timely manner, according to the Wall Street Journal. In addition, the companies are in talks with those responsible from the healthcare sector about the possibility of offering free trips to vaccination appointments for low-income people. Uber is also planning, together with vaccine manufacturer Moderna, to disseminate information on the safety of vaccinations via the ride-sharing app.
Occupational safety under criticism Amazon is one of the winners of the Corona crisis and hired a record number of new employees last year. Hundreds of thousands of people work in the US parcel and logistics centers. The effectiveness of Amazon’s precautions to protect employees from corona infections was recently discussed. The service union ver.di reported outbreaks in the shipping centers in Garbsen, Bayreuth and Borgstedt during the last Christmas business. In the USA they were infected up to 19. September around 19. 000 Employees with Covid – 19, announced Amazon in early October 2020 in a blog post.
Instacart will give its shoppers — the workers who pick and fill grocery store orders for customers — a $25 stipend for the time they take off to get a coronavirus vaccine, the company announced Thursday.
Beginning February 1st, any full-service Instacart shopper in North America who has shopped at least five batches — which can include one or more customer orders — in the past 30 days and can also verify they have received a vaccine will be eligible. Shift leads and in-store shoppers who are actively employed when they receive the vaccine will be eligible as well.
The company says the $25 is intended to provide shoppers with financial assistance as they take time away from shopping. Full-service shoppers are independent contractors who both pick and deliver groceries, while in-store shoppers are part-time Instacart employees who do in-store shopping only.
Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said in a statement the company is taking “proactive steps to advocate that government agencies recognize Instacart shoppers as critical essential workers who deserve early access to vaccines.” It’s joined by other gig economy companies like Uber, DoorDash, and Lyft that have lobbied for their independent contractors to receive priority vaccine access.
Instacart, which does not provide medical benefits for its independent contractor shoppers, has unveiled several initiatives to demonstrate it is attempting to protect its workers from becoming infected with COVID-19, but with mixed results. Under an agreement with the attorney general for Washington, DC in June, the company expanded its sick pay benefit to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 by a health care provider, even without a positive test, and provided a telemedicine option through Doctor on Demand.
Instacart also said it would provide sick pay to shoppers who live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. However, shoppers have reported that the application process to receive sick pay has been difficult to navigate and the benefit was not always approved.
In March 2020, the company announced its plan to distribute health and safety kits to its shoppers, which include a washable face mask and hand sanitizer. It says it’s delivered more than 620,000 of the kits to shoppers via its app and website, but again, shoppers have described a complicated process for receiving the kits. The kits were announced just as a group of Instacart shoppers staged a strike to push the company for better protective gear.
In June, Instacart announced it was changing the way it handled customer tips, after the announcement of a congressional inquiry into the practice of tip-baiting. That’s when a customer rescinds or reduces a shopper’s tips after their order has been shopped and delivered.
A group of Uber and Lyft drivers in California filed a lawsuit Tuesday in state supreme court to overturn a ballot measure that allows the companies to continue treating its workers like independent contractors.
The drivers claim that Prop 22, which was approved by California voters last November, violates the state’s constitution by “stripping” the state legislature’s ability to empower workers to organize, as well as by “illegally” excluding ride-hail drivers from the state workers’ compensation program.
“Every day, rideshare drivers like me struggle to make ends meet because companies like Uber and Lyft prioritize corporate profits over our wellbeing,” plaintiff Saori Okawa said in a statement. “With Prop 22, they’re not just ignoring our health and safety — they’re discarding our state’s constitution.”
The drivers challenging the constitutionality of Prop 22 are being supported by labor unions like SEIU and the California Labor Federation, which unsuccessfully opposed the measure in the run-up to the election.
But ultimately labor was outspent and outmaneuvered by companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, which poured over $200 million into the “Yes on 22” campaign to exempt them from a California state law that would require them to treat their workers like employees. The companies aggressively opposed the law, arguing it would eliminate driver flexibility, while also increasing consumer prices and wait times.
The law, AB5, represented an existential crisis for the companies, none of which have ever turned a profit and which have pursued costly efforts to develop autonomous technology in the hopes of eventually replacing drivers and delivery workers entirely. In response, the companies proposed a ballot measure that would keep their workers as contractors, while also providing a modicum of added benefits.
It’s unclear how successful drivers will be in overturning Prop 22. The measure was written in a way to withstand future challenges, including a provision that requires a seven-eighths majority of the state legislature for any modification, and ensuring that it will be all but impossible to invalidate.
But drivers are trying to use this language to argue that Prop 22 was illegal from its inception. The plaintiffs note that California’s state constitution gives the legislature “unlimited” authority to provide for a worker’s compensation system, “so that authority cannot be limited by a statutory initiative.”
“We look forward to the court affirming that gig companies cannot strip workers of their fundamental right to bargain for better pay and working conditions — and that corporations alone should not dictate the laws in our state,” said Bob Schoonover, president of SEIU Local 721 and SEIU California State Council, in a statement.
There have been ballot measures successfully repealed in California in the past, but mostly through additional ballot measures. If the lawsuit fails, drivers’ and supportive unions’ only other recourse to overturn Prop 22 may be another ballot initiative.
Drivers are organizing car caravans in San Francisco and Los Angeles in support of the lawsuit against Prop 22.
You simply can’t find more powerful chips for a desktop or workstation than AMD’s Threadripper Pro series, and now they’re coming to retail. With 64 cores, 128 threads, up to 2TB of memory spread out among eight memory channels, not to mention support for 128 lanes of PCIe 4.0, the beastly chips represent the ultimate in workstation power.
Unfortunately, until today, the Threadripper Pro series chips were locked into the OEM market, meaning you could only find them in uber-expensive pre-validated systems like the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 that we recently tested with the flagship Threadripper Pro 3995WX.
AMD Threadripper Pro Series
MSRP/RCP
Cores / Threads
Base / Boost (GHz)
L3 Cache (MB)
PCIe
DRAM
TDP
Threadripper Pro 3995WX
$?
64 / 128
2.7 / 4.2
256
128 Gen 4
Eight-Channel DDR4-3200
280W
Threadripper 3990X
$3,990
64 / 128
2.9 / 4.3
256
88 Gen 4 (72 Usable)
Quad DDR4-3200
280W
EPYC 7442
$6,950
64 / 128
2.25 / 3.4
256
128 Gen 4
Eight-Channel DDR4-3200
225W
Threadripper Pro 3975WX
$?
32 / 64
3.5 / 4.2
128
128 Gen 4
Eight-Channel DDR4-3200
280W
Xeon 8280
$10,009
28 / 56
2.7 / 4.0
38.5
48 Gen 3
Six-Channel DDR4-2933
205W
Intel W-3175X
$2999
28 / 56
3.1 / 4.8
38.5
48 Gen 3
Six-Channel DDR4-2666
255W
Threadripper 3970X
$1999
32 / 64
3.7 / 4.5
*128
88 Gen 4 (72 Usable)
Quad DDR4-3200
280W
Xeon W-3275
$4,449
28 / 56
2.5 / 4.6
38.5
64 Gen3
Six-Channel DDR4-2933
205W
Threadripper 3960X
$1,399
24 / 48
3.8 / 4.5
*128
88 Gen 4 (72 Usable)
Quad DDR4-3200
280W
Xeon W-3265
$3,349
24 / 48
2.7 / 4.6
33
64 Gen 3
Six-Channel DDR4-2933
205W
Threadripper Pro 3955WX
$?
16 / 32
3.9 / 4.3
64
128 Gen 4
Eight-Channel DDR4-3200
280W
Ryzen 9 5950X
$799
16 / 32
3.9 / 4.9
64
20
Dual DDR4-3200
105W
Threadripper Pro 3945WX
$?
12 / 24
4.0 / 4.3
62
128 Gen 4
Eight-Channel DDR4-3200
280W
Now AMD is bringing the ultimate in threaded goodness to the retail market through participating global retailers, e-tailers, and system integrators. AMD hasn’t share pricing information yet, but we’ll update once the company shares more information. It should be much friendlier than what we see with OEM systems, though. For instance, it costs $7,000 just to upgrade from the 12-core 3945WX in a Lenovo system to the 64-core 3995WX.
If you want to see how these chips compare in about a jillion benchmarks, including gaming, head to our recent review.
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(Image credit: AMD)
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(Image credit: AMD)
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(Image credit: AMD)
You’ll need a WRX80 motherboard to unlock the best of Threadripper Pro, but never fear, ASUS has listed the Pro WS Sage SE on its website and we should learn pricing and availability in the coming days. This motherboard represents the ultimate in PCIe – it comes with seven PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and eight memory slots. The board also comes with a 16-phase power delivery substem, supports RDIMMs, and has a BMC chip for remote management. ASUS hasn’t shared the detailed specs yet, but we expect it will post the full listing soon.
(Image credit: VideoCardz)
Gigabyte also has its WRX80-SU8 waiting in the wings, but the details are slight. We know the massive board (most likely E-ATX) also has seven PCIe slots and BMC features, two 10 GbE ports, two GbE ports, and a 7.1-channel audio system. With AMD’s official release of the Threadripper Pro series to retail today, we expect more information on this motherboard to be inbound soon.
Uber Green, the feature that allows customers to request rides in electric vehicles, is coming to more cities. After initially launching in 15 cities last September, the ride-hail company is bringing the feature to 1,400 additional cities and towns in North America. The new markets include Austin, Calgary, Houston, Miami, New York City, Tucson, Winnipeg, Washington, DC, and hundreds more.
Uber claims that “100 percent” of rides on its platform will take place in electric vehicles by 2030 in the US, Canada, and Europe, and by 2040 for the rest of the world. But rather than pay drivers directly to trade their gas-burning vehicles for electric ones, the company will impose an extra fee on trips completed in an electric vehicle to incentivize drivers to make the switch.
For a dollar extra, riders can specifically request a hybrid or electric vehicle. Uber drivers who use hybrid or electric vehicles to pick up passengers will get an extra 50 cents per ride, while drivers using specifically battery-electric vehicles get another dollar on top of that — for a total of $1.50 extra per ride.
Uber is also announcing new partnerships designed to get more drivers in less polluting vehicles. In Los Angeles, Uber drivers can rent hybrid or electric vehicles through Avis’ new EV rental program. Drivers in San Francisco can rent a vehicle with Ample technology and quickly swap their EV batteries in mere minutes, then return to the road fully charged.
Uber has been linked to rising car congestion and increased pollution in cities. A new study from Carnegie Mellon found that the benefit from people ditching their cars to use ride-hailing services is negated by new vehicles added to the road by aspiring Uber and Lyft drivers.
Lastly, Uber is expanding its public transportation feature to more cities. The company is launching its journey planning feature, which allows customers to swipe through bus and train schedules and plan their entire journey on public transportation, in Atlanta, Auckland, Brisbane, Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Philadelphia, Rome, Bangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai.
In addition, Uber is launching Uber Transit, which allows customers to plan multimodal trips including trains, buses, walking, and Uber rides in Mexico City and London. They are the third and fourth city to get Uber Transit, after Sydney and Chicago.
For years, Uber has faced criticism for its negative effects on public transportation in the US. Declining bus and subway ridership has been pegged to the rise of Uber’s popularity in dozens of cities. The company hopes to blunt that criticism by giving transit equal footing in its app.
According to a report by the Bloomberg news agency, in which Hyundai confirmed talks between the two companies, the shares of the car maker on the Seoul Stock Exchange shot up by almost a quarter. Then Hyundai rowed back publicly: Various companies had asked for talks about the development of autonomous electric cars. The discussions are at an early stage, there are no decisions.
Euphoria among investors There was no longer any talk of Apple as a specific possible partner. The euphoria of investors could only slow it down a little, the Hyundai share ended trading with a good percent up. The market value of the group rose to 55, 7 trillion South Korean won (41, 6 billion euros) – an increase of 6.6 billion euros.
Previously, the business newspaper Korea Economic Daily on their TV station reports that Apple wants to work with Hyundai on the development and construction of a self-driving electric car. According to the report, Apple is targeting the launch of the car in the year 2027. In the past few weeks there had been more rumors and speculations about an Apple car.
Apple shies away from the public Apple is extremely sensitive in its business relationships when suppliers or partners want to publicly name the group as a customer. In the case of significant collaborations, discussions about contracts and partnerships tend to be held behind closed doors without explicitly naming negotiating partners before the results are announced.
Cooperation or but only software? A possible entry of Apple into the construction of cars or the development of the technology for it has been closely observed by the industry for years. Experts estimate that the industry could be revolutionized given its size, financial strength and development resources. However, it is questionable whether Apple would actually get involved in the actual construction itself or through partnerships, or whether it would only contribute software and other technology. In the past, Apple had named the latter as the focus. A partnership with a company like Hyundai could give the speculation on the former more fuel.
Possible competitors would be Waymo and Aurora Apple wouldn’t be the first tech company with aspirations in the auto world. To date, Google’s Waymo is considered a leader in the development of software for self-driving cars. The retail and cloud service giant Amazon has invested in the start-up Aurora and taken over the robot car developer Zoox. The driving service broker Uber, on the other hand, recently dropped out of robo-car development and sold its division to Aurora.
The development of technology for autonomous driving is considered to be very costly and time-consuming. Volkswagen invested billions in an alliance with the US automaker Ford in the developer Argo AI. Daimler is working with the US chip specialist Nvidia, BMW is working with Intel and its camera software specialist Mobileye on corresponding systems.
“To meet so many different goals requires political courage and a legislative effort. I’m curious how much of it the Federal Ministry of Transport can raise “, I wrote in March 2019 about the reform of the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG).
Gregor Honsel is since 2006 TR editor. He believes that many complex problems have simple, easy to understand, but wrong solutions.
Today, almost two years later, it turns out: Very little courage. At the 16. December the Federal Cabinet finally presented a reform proposal for the PBefG after much back and forth. But when trying to do justice to the interests of the taxi industry, municipalities, public transport, passengers and new mobility service providers such as Uber, CleverShuttle, Door2Door or Moia, the lead Ministry of Transport has created a bureaucratic brake block with built-in brake parachutes. Instead of creating a “level playing field” for the various mobility services, the BMVI is now simply dividing the large playing field into several smaller ones, on which the same game is played in principle, but according to different rules of the game.
Short leash So the PBefG now defines a “new form of regular service within public transport (regular service) “As well as a” new form of occasional traffic outside of local public transport (bundled demand traffic) “, each of which has its own regulations. The former denotes a kind of on-call bus without a fixed line at the conditions and tariffs of local public transport, the latter private ride pooling – but on a very short leash:
“The entrepreneur may only carry out the orders on prior order. The licensing authority can restrict the transport of people in bundled demand traffic in terms of time or space if this is required by public transport interests. (…) In bundled demand traffic, people may only be transported within the municipality in which the entrepreneur is based. (…) In urban and suburban traffic, the licensing authority, in agreement with the transport authority, must set a quota for the proportion of bundled transport orders that can be achieved within a certain period of time within the area in which the traffic is carried out (bundling quota). “
All of this is clearly directed against large platforms like Uber. In principle, it is okay to give the municipalities greater influence over who offers which services in their area – if only to avoid unnecessary car traffic and cannibalization of public transport. But with this tight corset up to a binding pooling quota? Which young company still wants to do that to itself?
Half-hearted Another crucial point is the reform only half-heartedly – the “obligation to return”. So-called “rental cars” (basically all chauffeur services that are not taxis) still have to drive back to their headquarters after every trip. It had long been apparent that this ecological and economic nonsense would continue to be part of the law under pressure from the taxi lobby. After all, authorities are now allowed to make exceptions in “municipalities with large areas of land” and allow further parking locations. However, you must be at least 15 kilometers away from the headquarters. Another more bureaucratic micro-regulation.
A few positive things should not be concealed here either: All services must provide their mobility data so that municipalities can evaluate what works well and what not. And the strict tariff rules for taxis are being relaxed. Authorities can now set a “tariff corridor” with minimum and maximum prices or fixed tariffs for frequently used routes.
The draft is now going into parliamentary proceedings and, according to the BMVI, is to be adopted during this legislative period.
As part of the Universe 2019 GitHub presented a new initiative to improve code security a year ago. GitHub Security Lab aims to help secure the open source ecosystem. The cooperation between all parties interested in secure software (developers, companies, security researchers) should be simplified and made more effective. The partners at the Security Lab include Google, Uber, Mozilla and Oracle.
Security research, community and engagement in the industry The initiative focuses on three areas: security research, building a community and getting involved in industry. At its core, GitHub Security Lab mainly consists of a team of security researchers who focus on finding vulnerabilities in open source software (OSS) before they become an exploit – i.e. before an attacker can exploit the vulnerability. GitHub states that the team already found 400 issues in the first year through variant analysis, controlled by its own code analysis engine CodeQL, targeted fuzzing and manual code review Has. Large projects such as Google Chrome, Android, the Linux kernel, Ubuntu and Java enterprise applications were also affected by this.
According to its own information, the team should also have helped in an active attack on stop an OSS supply chain. In addition, the initiative apparently recently helped to identify and remedy a critical remote vulnerability in the German COVID 19 infrastructure.
Destinations for 2021 For the coming year, the team has set itself the goal of further improving the workflow for eliminating OSS vulnerabilities and further involving the community. In addition, the research team wants to expand the spectrum and not just focus on vulnerabilities in open source code. OSS components made available via package managers are also increasingly at the center of attacks, for example through hijacking and mailware. This is where Security Lab sees an opportunity to help.
Finally, GitHub Security Lab wants to help bridge the gap between the security and developer communities. Building CodeQL queries is a first step, but the research team wants to expand its efforts, for example in the form of new educational content and support from contributions from the community and the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF). More information about GitHub Security Lab and its first anniversary can be found in the post on the GitHub blog.
Frontline essential workers and people 75 years of age and older in the United States should get COVID-19 vaccines in the next wave of immunizations, an independent committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended. That group includes about 49 million people.
After those groups are vaccinated, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) said doses should go to people between 65 and 74 years old, people between 16 and 65 years old with underlying health conditions, and other essential workers not in groups considered frontline.
Vaccines will be in limited supply through at least the next few months. The CDC expects that there should be doses available to vaccinate 20 million people in December, 30 million people in January, and 50 million people in February. “In this setting, difficult choices have to be made,” Kathleen Dooling, medical officer at the CDC, said in a presentation to the ACIP.
States and local jurisdictions ultimately make the final decisions around the distribution and prioritization of vaccinations, but the CDC recommendations help shape their approaches.
The first phase of vaccinations are going to health care workers and long term care facility residents. Those groups started to get vaccinated last week, and over 200,000 people in the US have been vaccinated so far.
The ACIP balanced two main goals to make recommendations for the second wave of vaccinations: preventing death and disease and preserving societal function. Older adults over 75 have the highest risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Frontline essential workers — which the committee says includes firefighters, teachers, grocery store workers, manufacturing workers, and others — are unable to work from home and often have to interact with the public, putting them at risk of exposure to the virus. Keeping those groups healthy will help keep key services running.
Slide from a presentation on vaccine prioritization. CDC
“This approach mitigates health inequities as racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in many essential industries,” Dooling said.
The third group the committee says should be vaccinated includes essential workers like people working in food service, construction, transportation, wastewater, and media. People between 65 and 74 are also at high risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, as are younger people with underlying health conditions like cardiac disease or diabetes.
While the CDC has a list of workplaces that it considers frontline and essential, different states will set those designations in different ways. Various interest groups are lobbying states to include their workers in early vaccination groups — Uber, for example, asked states to prioritize its drivers.
Distributing vaccines to the second and third wave of priority groups will be difficult. It’s hard to determine eligibility, for example, and reaching essential workers (who may not be able to take time off of work, or may live in rural areas) is a challenge. Committee members stressed the importance of adequate funding for vaccine distribution. Money was funneled into vaccine development, which led to the overwhelmingly effective final products. Local health departments need the same level of investment in vaccination programs. The vaccines are Cadillacs, Jeffrey Duchin, a health officer in King County, Washington, said during the meeting. “But they’ve come with empty gas tanks,” he said.
Over 200,000 people are being diagnosed with COVID-19 in the US each day. Over 2,500 people in the US are dying from the disease every day.
The holiday season has arrived — but don’t panic. If you forgot to buy a gift for someone, you can’t decide what to give your loved one, or the item you wanted to give can’t be delivered on time, it’s not a problem. Digital gifts are the most convenient and easiest gifts. And with so many digital gifts to choose from — like a subscription to a popular streaming service, some extra cash for iTunes or a new game, or a gift card from your favorite retailer — we made a list of a few quick gift ideas.
A streaming service like Disney Plus could be the perfect gift for a stay-at-home friend or relative.Image: Disney
For movie / TV show streamers
With the pandemic continuing to keep most of us inside, there’s never been a better time to subscribe to one (or multiple) streaming services and indulge in great shows and movies. There are so many streaming services to choose from now, such as Disney Plus, Netflix, and many others.
Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus bundle
Disney Plus
ESPN Plus
HBO Max
Peacock Premium or Premium Plus
Netflix gift card from Amazon, Target, Best Buy, or Walmart
Hulu gift card from Best Buy, Target, or Walmart
YouTube TV
YouTube Premium
YouTube gift card from Amazon
Amazon Prime gift membership
Sling TV gift card from Best Buy, Target, or Walmart
Consider a Spotify gift card for the music lover in your life.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
For music-lovers
Whether you prefer Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music, a music gift card is not a bad gift for someone who enjoys tuning out all of the noise and jamming to some funky tunes.
Spotify gift card from Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart
Apple Gift Card (which can be used for purchases for anything Apple, including products, Apple Arcade games, and iTunes or App Store purchases). Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
YouTube Music subscription
For Switch owners, Nintendo eShop or Switch Online memberships are good digital gift options.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
For gamers
There are a lot of options when it comes to buying games online or gifting a subscription. Whether your giftee could use some extra cash to buy games from a digital storefront or to renew their membership for a video game console, there’s a slew of options to choose from for the gamer in your life.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which includes Xbox Live Gold, plus access to Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, and access to the xCloud game service. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, Target, and Walmart.
Xbox Game Pass for consoles subscription. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Target.
Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.
Xbox Live Gold subscription. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, Target, and Walmart.
Xbox gift card. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, Target, and Walmart.
PlayStation Store gift card. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, Target, and Walmart.
PlayStation Plus subscription. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, Target, and Walmart.
PlayStation Now is Sony’s cloud gaming service, similar to Microsoft’s xCloud. A subscription is also available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, and Walmart.
Nintendo Switch Online 12-month individual subscription at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart
Nintendo Switch Online 12-month family membership at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart
Nintendo eShop Gift Card available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart
Steam gift card available at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart
Battle.net (Blizzard Entertainment) gift card available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Newegg, and Walmart
Google Play gift card available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target
GameStop gift card available at Amazon and GameStop
Uber is a great gift for the traveler in your life.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
For travelers
While I would not advise traveling right now if you do not need to, Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb offer digital gift cards, which are great for someone who likes to travel or doesn’t like taking public transport. This way, when it is safer to travel again, you can treat them to a nice car ride or even a vacation.
Uber gift card. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
Lyft gift card. Also available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
Airbnb gift card available at Amazon and Target
Southwest Airlines gift card available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart
Get the foodie in your life a gift card to DoorDash or UberEats.Image: Uber
For foodies
Most food-ordering apps have online gift cards available for purchase. This is convenient if your loved one is feeling too lazy to cook dinner one night, doesn’t feel like going grocery shopping, or needs to stay indoors. Here are a few gift cards for the food-lover in your life:
Instacart gift card
DoorDash gift cards are available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart
UberEats gift cards are available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart
Grubhub gift cards are available at Amazon and Target
Whole Foods gift cards are available at Amazon
For everything else
If you’re not sure what to get someone or you want to give them more leverage on what they want to buy, a general gift card might be the best option. From app stores to department stores, here are some gift cards for everyone:
Google Play Store gift card is available at Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart
(Pocket-lint) – Gaming mice are the high-end devices of the mouse world. They are designed to be more accurate, offer a more comfortable experience and are built to last – as gamers are likely to spend more time with their mouse than anyone else.
Top-of-the-range gaming mice also have multiple buttons, highly adjustable dots per inch (DPI) accuracy and a mass of settings that include everything from custom lighting to macros for specific games.
However, finding the right mouse for you can be tricky. People hold their mouse in different ways and have different sized hands that make purchasing a tricky business. A wide mouse with thumb rests and grips might be perfect for someone with large hands, but others might find a small and sleek mouse preferable, both in terms of fit and agility.
We run through a variety of gaming mice to see which are the best around, taking into account all the things gamers love most – RGB, responsiveness, number of buttons and, of course, value for money.
Best overall gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro
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2.4GHz wireless, low-latency Bluetooth 4.0 or wired USB connection
Swappable side grips and ergonomically textured design
Nine individually customisable RGB lighting zones
1.8 metre braided USB cable
Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) compatible
18,000 max DPI, on-the-fly DPI switching via buttons and sniper mode
Eight programmable buttons
2,000Hz polling rate
The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is a true work of art and gaming precision. This is an ergonomically designed mouse with a comfortable textured grip that fits perfectly in the hand. It comes with a swappable side grip which keeps your fingers and thumbs off the gaming surface and allows for accurate mouse movements.
It’s wireless by design – capable of connecting either via wireless or low-latency Bluetooth. A USB wireless transceiver included in the box ensures an instant and responsive connection to your gaming machine via ultra-fast 1ms 2.4GHz wireless. But you can take the Dark Core RGB Pro with you and quickly connect to any other machine that supports Bluetooth in a flash.
As standard, this mouse can manage up to 50-hours of gaming on a single charge. If that doesn’t sound like enough then there’s also the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE – a version that’s compatible with the MM1000 Qi wireless charging mat meaning you can keep the mouse going and going by popping it on the charging zone when not in use. The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE is Qi capable – so not only can it be charged on the mat, but also with any other Qi charging pad you happen to possess. The standard version is not.
Using Corsair’s iCUE software you can do everything from changing the lighting to programming buttons and more. Here, you can customise the Dark Core’s nine main lighting zones with a number of different effects that including static, rainbow, colour pulse and colour shift or choose instant lighting to set the same colour across multiple Corsair devices with a single click.
The Dark Core RGB Pro has been upgraded over the previous model, with more RGB zones including a lighting bar under the thumb buttons that is split into sections and can be individually tweaked.
Pocket-lint
This mouse supports up to 18,000 max DPI switchable on-the-fly with the buttons on the top. You can change between three main DPI modes which can be customised in the CUE software.
You can also add to your DPI options by changing one of the eight programmable buttons into a “Sniper” button. This is a fourth ultra-low DPI level for tiny and accurate movements. This needs to be pressed and held, but means you can quickly get back to your standard DPI much more easily too.
High-performance Omron switches provide a lightning-fast response and continue the theme of precision and accuracy. Easily accessible thumb buttons mean you can masterfully activate any setting or macro you want with a small movement of your hand too. Corsair has upped the polling rate of the new Dark Core RGB Pro too. So it’s accurate, responsive and agile.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is a solid all-rounder. It’s a multi-button mouse with great battery life, a comfortable design and brilliant specs too.
It’s superbly agile, accurate and customisable too. The highlights of this mouse include wired, wireless and Bluetooth connectivity options that make it easy to use on multiple machines with ease. We also really like the dual side grip setup which means your fingers are very rarely interfering with movement and you can keep on gaming until your heart’s content.
Best weight adjustable gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Logitech G502 Lightspeed
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Ergonomically textured thumb rest
114-gram standard weight with extra adjustable weights
Powerplay compatible
Lightspeed wireless technology
11 programmable buttons with hyper-fast scroll wheel
Logitech G Hub compatible for lighting controls, macros and various customisation options
25,600 max DPI, on-the-fly DPI switching via buttons with four custom settings and DPI shift mode
11 programmable buttons customisable with macros, actions and G-shift settings
Up to 60 hours battery life, fast charge capable
This is a mouse that’s not only crammed full of all the usual options, but also has a customisable weighting setup that allows you to adjust its heft to your personal preference.
Logitech’s G502 Lightspeed is a real looker, but it’s much more than that. It’s very much a right-handed mouse, with a mass of easy-access buttons on the left side and very little catering to lefties.
It’s incredibly light and nimble in the hand. It is also customisable in various ways. This mouse comes with 16 grams of extra weights that can be installed within the mouse via hidden flaps in the underside.
Lift the flap with the little G on it and you get access to a hidey-hole which is perfect for storing the USB wireless dongle when you need to travel with the mouse. The underneath of that flap also has room for some of the weights. You can install the two 4 gram weights here and the rest go under the other flap which surrounds the sensor.
Pocket-lint
The G502 uses Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless technology to ensure it maintains a low-latency and reliable connection constantly and never lets you down. It also has fast charge capabilities which mean you can get around two and a half hours of battery life from a five-minute charge this way.
The G502 Lightspeed can manage as much as 60 hours of battery life and is also compatible with the Powerplay wireless charging system so it never needs plugging in if you splash out some extra cash.
One of our favourite features of this mouse is the mouse wheel. This is a hyper-fast scroll wheel similar to the one we saw on the Logitech G903. Click a button and you either have a tactile mouse wheel that gives a clicky feedback each time your scroll or an ultra-smooth, ultra-fast wheel that just spins and spins. This setup has a variety of potential uses, but is brilliant for just smashing through long webpages and documents in the blink of an eye. It’s also incredibly satisfying to use.
The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is controlled by Logitech G-Hub – a free download for Windows and Mac that allows you to tweak the various settings on the mouse and customise to your liking.
From within it, you can control the lighting of the two main RGB capable zones, adjust DPI levels, report rates and customise the setup of the buttons. This mouse has 11 different buttons, two of which are sideways presses on the mouse wheel, and they can all be tweaked in here. You can set specific commands (like Windows shortcuts), individual keypresses, macros or actions within this software. It’s possible to do things like assign a button press to start/stop OBS recordings for example. This system is incredibly flexible.
Then there’s G-Shift mode. This lets you add an additional action, button customisation or macro to any button on the mouse. This is then accessible when you activate G-Shift mode (via a key or button press). Essentially you then have 22 buttons instead of 11. Though you will have to remember which is programmed with what.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The G502 Lightspeed is one of our favourite gaming mice when it comes to customisation options. We love many of the little design features of this mouse that make a big difference. The ultra-smooth scroll wheel, the mass of programmable buttons, the reliable wireless connection and the utterly incredible battery life.
This mouse does come with a hefty price tag and it is a tad smaller in the hand than other mice we’ve tested, but its almost certainly worth adding to your shortlist if you’re shopping for a new gaming mouse. It’s bound not to disappoint.
Best RGB gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Corsair Nightsword RGB
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Customisable weight system
Four RGB lighting zones controllable in the iCue software
Six pre-set illumination effects
Patterned rubber grips, ergonomic design and thumb rest
Customised button mapping, surface calibration settings and macro settings
18,000 DPI max, 10 programmable buttons
1000Hz/500Hz/250Hz/125Hz report rates
We’ve seen a fair few gaming mice with RGB lighting, some are in-your-face, some are more subtle and understated.
The Corsair Nightsword verges on the latter, but with multiple lighting zones and numerous other features that make it appealing.
Pocket-lint
The Corsair Nightsword is a brilliantly designed feature-packed mouse that has plenty going for it. We’ve suggested that it’s the best RGB mouse, but it’s much more than that. This is an affordable gaming mouse with all the bells and whistles.
It sports a contoured shape, a rubberised textured finish and a design for palm grip specifically for right-handed FPS and MOBA players. Another highlight is the tunable weight system, with six weights (three 4.5g and three 2.8g) that can be placed in different layouts in the underside compartment.
Add to that a design that includes 10 programmable buttons, with DPI switching buttons and multiple easy-access thumb buttons too.
For RGB lighting lovers, there are four lighting zones on this mouse – the logo, the rear, front and mouse wheel. There’s also a DPI indicator that can be tweaked in terms of colour too. All with the usual Corsair RGB goodness.
Pocket-lint
The Nightsword has 11 programmable buttons, as well as the ability to switch DPI on the fly. Set three different DPI levels to switch between, as well as custom level for “sniper” mode that can be engaged by pressing and holding one of the thumb buttons to drop into an uber low DPI level for precise movement.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Corsair Nightsword is a fantastic little mouse that’s packed full of features but without excessive cost which is refreshing.
It’s comfortable to use all day, whether working or gaming or both. Customisable lighting, buttons and weight systems round off a brilliant package that anyone will love. Unless, of course, you’re a lefty.
Best high-dpi multi-button mouse
Pocket-lint
Razer Basilisk Ultimate
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Customisable scroll wheel resistance
Replaceable Multi-function paddle
Gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel with customisable resistance
Textured grips and an ergonomic grip
2.4 Ghz HyperSpeed Wireless technology
Razer Synapse 3 compatible
20,000 max DPI adjustable in five different levels
On-the-fly DPI switching via buttons with sensitivity clutch too
11 programmable buttons
The Basilisk Ultimate is a pinnacle of Razer’s design – a wireless mouse with multiple buttons, a nifty charging base, some colourful RGB lighting and interesting features too.
This mouse is packed full of features including a removable multi-function paddle that doubles as an oh-so-satisfying thumb button. This paddle can be customised within the Synapse software, but as default works as a sensitivity clutch. Press and hold the paddle in the middle of a game and you get a temporary reduction in DPI levels for accurate sniping or tiny mouse movements. Once you let go again you’re back to whatever level you were using before.
Pocket-lint
The other fun feature is the customisable scroll wheel. On the underside of the mouse, there’s a tiny wheel you can roll to change the way the mouse wheel works. Roll it one way and the scroll wheel becomes smooth and fast, roll it the other and you get a clicky feedback with every tiny movement of the wheel. This is a nice little customisation option that we’ve not seen elsewhere.
That mouse wheel is also sideways clickable and this combination of buttons, along with things like the DPI buttons meaning you get a total of 11 programmable buttons with even more when you engage Hypershift.
This is a wireless gaming mouse with a focus on comfort and usability. When not in use you can pop it on the accompanying charging base to refill the juice. That dock also has a USB passthrough meaning you can plug the wireless dongle directly into it, removing the need for using two ports on your PC for one mouse.
Easy access DPI switching buttons, wonderfully contoured and textured thumb rest and brilliantly ergonomic design make this mouse incredibly comfortable and pleasant to use.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate uses Razer’s HyperSpeed Wireless technology that provides accurate, lag-free wireless gaming goodness. It’s also designed to run for as much as 100 hours with the lighting turned off – though we feel that might be a little optimistic under normal use, but the dock makes it easy enough to charge anyway.
This mouse also has an insane 14 customisable lighting zones for you to play around within the software.
From Synapse you also get access to tweak the mouse buttons, adjust DPI levels and more. You can set up several different profiles, with five on-board memory profiles on the mouse you can switch between using a small button located underneath.
You can also choose levels of DPI switching in five varying levels up to 20,000 max. Set stages here and you can then switch between them using the two buttons on top near the mouse wheel.
We enjoyed this mouse, particularly for its thumb buttons and mass of customisable settings. The textured grips, ergonomic design and thumb rest make it comfortable and capable during gaming sessions too.
With found the Razer Basilisk to be fantastic for FPS sessions, but also great for everyday use, surfing, browsing and working too. It’s really accurate and the wireless connection never let us down. Meaning we could never blame our tools when we failed to claim a Battle Royale victory or outshoot an opponent.
1/19Pocket-lint
Verdict
If you’re looking for something with a mass of buttons, plenty of programmability options and a stylish design, then look no further.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is easily one of the most comfortable and flexible wireless gaming mice we’ve tried.
A ridiculous battery life, snazzy customisable lighting and a convenient charging dock certainly round off an awesome gaming package.
Most stylish gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Roccat Kain 202 AIMO
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Roccat Owl-Eye optical sensor with 16000 DPI
1.8m micro USB cable
2.4GHz wireless
1000mAh inbuilt Li-Ion rechargeable battery with up to 50 hours charge
Omron switches
If style and charm is something you need from your gaming mouse and you’re just a tad bored of boring black mice, then this mouse from Roccat might be the answer.
The Roccat Kain 202 AIMO is not only a pleasantly affordable, feature-rich mouse, it’s also a looker.
Pocket-lint
This is a compact gaming mouse with some pleasantly understated style. It’s designed to be both ergonomic and durable with a dirt-resistant, anti-wear coating that should keep things clean even for the messiest gamer.
The Kain 202 AIMO has a number of things going for it. Firstly, a battery life that means it can last up to 50 hours before it needs plugging in. Then there are the eight programmable buttons, which can be doubled up with Roccat’s Easy-Shift technology. Then a multitude of settings that include five customisable DPI levels up to 16,000, a tuneable click, scroll and pointer speed as well as adjustable lift-off distance.
Roccat claims the Kain 202 has ultra-fast Titan Click technology and an Owl-Eye optical sensor that make it agile, accurate and responsive. It shows too as this mouse is a real performer, both in game and out of it.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
Although the Roccat Kain 202 AIMO isn’t necessarily the most feature-packed mouse on our list, it is probably the most beautiful. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we love the white colour of this mouse and the durable bodywork that should keep it clean for yonks.
Beauty is more than skin deep too and that shows with this gaming mouse. Backed by a variety of features that include high DPI settings, some funky lighting and neat Easy-Shift button customisation too.
At this price, the Kain 202 is a bargain.
Best large gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Mad Catz R.A.T. PRO X3 Supreme
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Exoframe size adjustable structure with swappable grips and rests
16000 DPI
On-board memory for up to 10 profiles
400 IPS, 50G acceleration, 3000 Hz report rate
Omron switches
10 buttons
If your hands are slightly on the large side, then choosing the right gaming mouse can be tricky. Comfort is a problem and you might find that your thumb can get in the way, at least we do anyway. It’s often hard to find a comfortable, suitably sized mouse that you can use without problem.
The Mad Catz R.A.T. PRO X3 Supreme may well be the weird-looking solution to that issue. We’ve seen Mad Catz mice in the past, but this is the all-singing, all-dancing, supreme version which not only boasts stylish looks but plenty of nifty features too.
Pocket-lint
It sports all the usual things you’d expect from a decent gaming mouse. 10 buttons, 16,000 max DPI, onboard memory for profiles and more. But the highlight is the design. Like other R.A.T. mice, this mouse is extendable and ergonomically crafted to be a great fit and one that can be customised to your needs.
It also comes with swappable rests for both sides of the mouse, extra palm rests, pinkie rests and thumb rests that can be swapped out in a matter of seconds. The feet can also be changed and there are even different scroll wheel covers included in the box as well, so you can change how that feels.
1/8Pocket-lint
Verdict
The result of all this is a highly customisable mouse that can be tweaked to fit your particular needs. A real eye-catcher with multiple buttons and a multitude of customisation options. Perfect for gamers who aren’t sure what mouse is for them.
Best MOBA/MMO mouse
Pocket-lint
Razer Naga Pro
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20,000 DPI
19 customisable buttons
2 RGB lighting zones
117g weight
Swappable button sideplates
650 IPS, 50G acceleration
MMO and MOBA gamers are generally a different breed of player. They’re often found trying to micromanage and pull off all sorts of moves with multiple macros and complex button presses. If you’re that sort of gamer there are a few mice out there for you. But what if you like MMO gaming but also like shooters? Well, the Razer Naga Pro maybe just what you need.
This mouse seemingly tries to cater to all with an interesting design that not only has everything you’d expect from a gaming mouse, but also has swappable side buttons meaning you can change the thumb button access depending on what you’re playing.
Two side buttons for FPS or 12 for MMO/MOBAs the choice is yours.
Pocket-lint
These side plates are held on with magnets, so they’re easy to snap off and on at a whim, to suit your needs. You can then customise the buttons within the Razer Synapse software, setting macros, button presses, actions and more. With Razer’s Hypershift tech, you can also assign a secondary button action when in that mode too, making the number of programmable buttons likely more than anyone would need.
The Naga Pro thrills in other areas too. One of those is its ability to connect in wired, Bluetooth or wireless mode. In Bluetooth, with RGB lighting off you can get as much as 150 hours of battery life out of it too.
Throw in five onboard memory profiles, five custom DPI levels, 100% PTFE feet and a Pixart Optical sensor and you’ve got a real gaming powerhouse.
1/9Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Razer Naga Pro is a fantastic option for gamers who need a different mouse setup for particular games but don’t want to own multiple mice and the expense that comes with that. It’s all-singing, all-dancing and generally fantastic.
Best lightweight gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Glorious PC Gaming Race Model 0
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12,000 max DPI
50 G Max acceleration
250 IPS Max Speed
~0.7mm Lift off Distance
Up to, 1,000 Hz adjustable polling rate
67g weight
6 buttons
Professional gamers will tell you that weight is all that matters. A lightweight mouse is easier to move swiftly, even on lower (more accurate) DPI settings.
That’s where the Glorious PC Gaming Race Model 0 comes in. This mouse weighs in at just 67 grams and delivers speed in other areas too.
It’s designed with slick PTFE feet known as G-Skates and a lightweight flexible USB cable that makes the entire thing nimble and agile.
Pocket-lint
It sports a honeycomb design and some seriously snazzy RGB lighting thanks to the lighting strips on either side which send a satisfying glow through the inside of the mouse.
Simple software allows you to adjust DPI levels (switchable via the button underneath), adjust lighting, tweak polling rate, lift off distance and more.
1/8Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Model O is a surprisingly affordable gaming mouse with fantastic style and gaming prowess. The lightweight design makes it nimble and agile and it’s incredible feature-rich for such an affordable mouse too. It might be tough to keep clean in the long run, but there’s no denying it’s a looker and a great bit of kit.
Others to consider
1/9Pocket-lint
Roccat Burst Pro
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Lightweight 68g design
16,000 max DPI adjustable in five levels
Roccat Titan Optical Switches
Honeycomb design with outer shell
Eight programmable button
The Roccat Burst Pro is the company’s answer to the wave of lightweight honeycomb mice that have hit the market of late. With the benefits of a hollow mouse but without the danger of dirt and dust build-up on the internals. It’s also affordable but doesn’t skimp on quality. The Burst Pro has an accurate Owl-Eye optical sensor and Roccat’s Titan Optical Switches making it accurate and robust – guaranteed upto 100 million clicks. This mouse won’t burst your wallet, but it might make you pro.
1/8Pocket-lint
Endgame Gear XM1
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50 CPI to 16,000 CPI sensitivity
50 G Max acceleration
450 IPS Max Speed
2mm Lift off Distance
250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz adjustable polling rate
The Endgame Gear XM1 might not look like anything special, but don’t let that fool you. It’s understated in its gaming power but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. It’s accurate, responsive and swift too. Thought has clearly gone into the design and we love the simple touches like the ultra-flexible cable which doesn’t tug or snag on the desk.
It’s affordable and serious. If you don’t care about the thrills of RGB and more premium mice and just want something that does the job, then you’re in for treat.
1/11Pocket-lint
Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini
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8500 max DPI
300 IPS max speed
35G max acceleration
100% PTFE feet
Speed flex cable
62-gram weight
6 programmable buttons with Hypershift
If you have smaller hands or prefer a diddy mouse to do your gaming with then the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini may well be the device for you. This is a titchy little mouse which is designed to be lightweight, comfortable and agile too.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other gaming mice on this list, but it makes up for that in other ways.
It weighs just 62 grams, sports six programmable buttons (more with Razer Hypershift) and is surprisingly nifty. We also like the optional anti-slip grips included in the box which make the mouse easier to grip and meaner looking too. Small mouse, small price, big personality. What’s not to like?
We’d recommend combining it with the Razer Gigantus V2 for the hilarious joy of using a tiny mouse on a gigantic mouse mat.
1/13Pocket-lint
Mad Catz R.A.T. 6+
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11 programmable buttons (including side slung additional mouse wheel)
Up tp 12,000 DPI
50G acceleration, 2,0000Hz report rate
131 grams
The Mad Catz R.A.T. 6+ is one of the most bonkers looking mice you’re ever likely to see. It’s also feature-rich for this price too. It boasts an adjustable weight system, multiple programmable buttons and is even able to extend in size as well.
We feel like this mouse is probably the perfect choice for those who aren’t too sure what size mouse they need or gamers who vary their grip between palm, claw or finger-tip. A comfortable thumb rest, easy access buttons and extendable length make this mouse ergonomically enjoyable.
Add in all the usual features you’d expect from a decent gaming mouse like DPI switching, profiles, macros and customisable buttons and you’ve certainly got a great package. The R.A.T. 6+ might not be the best mouse on our list, but it’s certainly worth considering.
Without a debate, the Federal Cabinet launched an amendment to the law for modern passenger transport law on Wednesday. The federal government wants to create a legal basis for new digital mobility offers and business models and to remove app-based services such as Uber and Free Now from the legal gray area. It is also intended to enable “needs-based brokering of driving services”, “which can be offered to several people with different destinations independently of route specifications through intelligent bundling”.
The federal government differentiates with the Berlkönig test “> in the draft law for” shared use “(ride pooling), and the” bundled transport on demand “outside the public with providers such as CleverShuttle or Moia. The Federal Ministry of Transport originally wanted to allow collective trips only to these new providers After protests from the taxi industry, taxi drivers are now also to be allowed to rent out individual seats along a tariff corridor with minimum and maximum prices. They could therefore offer ride pooling via app and benefit from their VAT privileges.
Obligation to return Transport service providers such as Uber and Free Now should, as before, in principle, after every trip to the Be have to return. However, the licensing authorities of the federal states and municipalities are given the opportunity to determine further suitable parking locations in municipalities with large areas of land and long distances. A minimum distance of 15 km between headquarters and other locations is planned for this. Taxis are still the only ones allowed to spontaneously pick up customers in the “Winkmarkt”.
The government wants to give the municipalities and approval authorities further control options. For example, you could set a “pooling rate”. All registered entrepreneurs and intermediaries would also have to provide extensive mobility data in the future.
The draft is now going to the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars $ (LB 3015522: is still not satisfied with it. According to him, it would be the task of politics to strengthen the taxi as part of local public transport. The draft law leave “the central problems of tomorrow’s mobility unsolved.” This will not succeed in mastering the undersupply in rural areas or the uncontrolled growth in large cities. Associations of the digital economy complained that new mobility services continue to be structurally disadvantaged compared to municipal providers and the taxi industry that would be detrimental to the environment and consumers. So there will be nothing with the mobility transition.
Following their victory last month in California on the Prop 22 ballot measure, Uber and Lyft have unveiled the new “benefits” for California drivers on their platforms, including guaranteed minimum earnings and stipends for health care.
“Even though we’ve won the vote, we’re still not done,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a blog post announcing the benefits. “In fact, we’ve only just begun to improve independent work together.”
Gig economy companies, including Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, spent more than $200 million on the “Yes on 22” campaign. Prop 22 exempts them from AB5, a California state law requiring them to treat their workers as employees. The companies said AB5 would increase wait times and prices for customers, while taking flexibility away from drivers.
Prop 22 allows the companies to continue categorizing drivers as independent contractors and also provide some additional benefits. Opponents argued that the provisions in Prop 22 were not equal to the economic security of full-time employment.
Under Prop 22, gig workers — including ride-share drivers — will be paid 120 percent of California’s minimum wage of $13 per hour, which increases to $14 per hour in 2021. For ride-share drivers, this applies only during active hours: when they have a passenger in their vehicle or are en route to pick up a passenger. It requires workers with 15 active hours a week to receive a health care stipend.
Uber’s benefits program calls for drivers to be paid at least 20 percent more than the pickup city’s minimum wage plus 30 cents per mile for expenses. That 30 cents per mile doesn’t apply to delivery workers on foot or bicycle. Drivers who earn less than the guaranteed minimum over a two-week period will be paid the difference automatically.
Lyft’s pay schedule is similar, with its first guaranteed earnings period beginning on December 16th. At both companies, drivers who earn more than the guaranteed minimum will keep all of their earnings — there is no upper limit. They’ll also keep 100 percent of their tips
For health care, Lyft will provide a quarterly health care subsidy for drivers who drive an average of at least 15 hours per week. To qualify, drivers have to provide proof they are enrolled in a qualifying health care plan. Uber’s health care stipend also requires an average of 15 hours per week, and drivers have to prove they are the primary policyholder on a qualifying health insurance plan. Uber drivers receive 50 percent of the stipend — amount still TBD — if they average 15 active hours a week and 100 percent of the stipend when they average 25 active hours per week.
Drivers can qualify for the health care subsidies beginning on January 1st.
To cover the costs of the new benefits, Uber said it would apply a fee of up to $1.50 to the cost of rides and up to $2 on meal deliveries, the Financial Times reported. Lyft did not provide details on any additional customer fees.
Prop 22 mandates current ride-share drivers receive safety training before July 1st, 2021. Drivers who sign on after January 1st will be required to complete the safety course before they take their first trips. Drivers will also be required to take breaks of at least six hours if they drive more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, and they will be enrolled in injury protection insurance that covers medical expenses, disability payments, and survivor benefits.
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