The president continues to push scientifically unsound quick fixes to the coronavirus.
Office Boss Says He and Steve Carell Have Talked About a Reunion ‘Something’
Ever since The Office ended in 2013, fans have been clamoring for a reunion – and despite pretty much everyone involved admitting that reassembling the busy and successful cast would be a gargantuan task, there could be a glimmer of hope on the horizon (especially following the news that the Parks and Recreation cast is reuniting for a scripted special for charity).
IGN spoke to The Office showrunner (and Parks and Rec co-creator) Greg Daniels ahead of the launch of his two upcoming streaming shows – Amazon’s Upload (premiering May 1), and Netflix’s Space Force (releasing May 29), which reunites Daniels with Office star Steve Carell – about the continued interest around an Office reunion, and whether he and Carell have discussed the possibility.
“It’s so personally satisfying for me to work with Steve again, and I have talked with Steve about the fact that in a year or so we’re gonna start on Peacock as a rerun and I’m sure that they would love something, some sort of a… something,” Daniels told IGN. “I’m a little reluctant to open up the characters’ endings because we wrote specifically to an ending, but as we hang around we sometimes think about [it]. And there is a script that was written in Season 1; there was an extra script written that was never shot, called ‘Pet Day,’ so I don’t know, sometimes we joke around about gathering to do Pet Day.”
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Rumors of an Office reunion have been percolating for years, with former NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt fanning the flames back in 2018 by publicly expressing interest in a revival.
Ever since then, the cast and writers have been grilled about a potential reunion at every opportunity – soon after Greenblatt’s comments, star John Krasinski told IGN, “I love the idea of coming back together… I think it’d be impossible to get us all together to do a run of the series, but [British shows] have the Christmas specials.”
Carell then staged a mini-reunion when he hosted Saturday Night Live, with former co-stars Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, and Jenna Fischer jokingly harassing him about returning for a reboot. Soon after, a number of cast members reunited at Daniels’ home and recreated the character photo op from “A Benihana Christmas.” More recently, Krasinski reunited with Carell for the first episode of his Some Good News webseries.
“Some of the most fun memories, personally or professionally, are intertwined and connected with that show, without a doubt,” Carell said.
“Listen, I know everyone’s talking about a reunion; hopefully one day, we just get to reunite as people, and just all get to say hi,” Krasinski responded.
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How would you feel about an Office reunion or revival special? Weigh in below, and read up on HBO Max’s (sadly unscripted) Friends cast reunion coming later this year.
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Rogue One Prequel Casts Star Wars And Witcher 3 Actors For Disney+ Series
The upcoming Disney+ series following Rebel Alliance member Cassian Andor has two new actors joining the series. The show will be a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, set five years before the 2016 movie.
Both Genevieve O’Reilly and Denise Gough have signed on to appear on the series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They’ll join Diego Luna who will reprise his role as Andor.
O’Reilly has already appeared in the Star Wars universe multiple times. She’s played Mon Mothma in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, and on the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. It’s been confirmed she’ll be playing Mothma once again for the Disney+ show.
New York Retailer Accused Of Price Gouging Sanitizer, Masks And Gowns
Federal prosecutors accused Amardeep “Bobby” Singh of hoarding disposable masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer.
Take Your Mobile Gaming to the Next Level With a Phone Controller
It’s 2020. If you’re not gaming on your Nintendo Switch during the morning commute, you’re doing it on your smartphone. Just one problem: touchscreen controls on smartphones and tablets can be…awkward.
That’s why we’d recommend a phone controller to any serious mobile gamer. There are heaps that work with both iOS and Android, and luck for you we’ve rounded up the ones we consider to be the best. Get a load of these.
TL;DR – These are the Best Phone Controllers:
- Xbox One Wireless Controller
- SteelSeries Stratus Duo
- SteelSeries Nimbus
- DualShock 4 controller
- 8BitDo SN30
- Razer Raiju Mobile
1. Xbox One Bluetooth Controller
Best Mobile Controller
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The mobile controller market is filled with unknown names, but you’ll certainly recognize this one. The Xbox One controller gained Bluetooth support in 2016, making it compatible with PC, Android and iOS devices. And we’re thrilled, because Microsoft has fine-tuned the Xbox One controller to perfection.
The controller runs on two AA batteries, which is a good or bad thing depending on your preference, but personally, we like having one less thing to charge. The controller doesn’t have a grip, so you’ll need to supply your own – or find something to prop your phone/tablet up against.
2. SteelSeries Stratus Duo
A top Android all-rounder
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Another well-rounded controller, the SteelSeries Stratus Duo is absolutely loaded with buttons: two joysticks, a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two shoulder buttons, two triggers, and three front-facing buttons.
It’s a superior controller to the Status XL thanks to the new, more comfortable design and the rechargeable battery, which the XL doesn’t have. Best for Android phone and PC users only – for iPhone, check out the SteelSeries Nimbus below.
3. SteelSeries Nimbus
A great choice for iPhone users
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If you’re a PlayStation 4 gamer at home and don’t like the idea of rewiring your brain to a different layout, the Nimbus takes the PS4’s same analog stick layout, along with a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two bumpers, and two triggers.
This is the iPhone user’s answer to the SteelSeries Stratus Duo, complete with a Lightning port to recharge the battery, which should net you a little over 40 hours of playtime. There’s no mount, annoyingly, but we do like the haptic feedback motors that give our mobile gaming a little extra edge.
4. Sony DualShock 4
For Team Sony
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It would be remiss of us to include the Xbox One controller and not mention Sony’s DualShock 4, which also works with both iPhone and Android devices. If you’re a PS4 player at home, you’ll probably already have one of these PS4 controllers hanging around; pairing it with your mobile device is nice and easy.
While we personally prefer the comfort of the Xbox One controller, the DualShock 4 is still a fantastic gamepad. In fact, those who find the Xbox One’s a little too chunky are more likely to prefer Sony’s alternative. It does, however, have a far inferior battery life. You can also pick up a phone mount from one of the many PS4 accessory makers.
5. 8BitDo SN30
Best for retro appeal
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If Nintendo’s SNES is a major feature of your childhood memories, then this one’s for you. The 8BitDo SN30 is both a great mobile controller and a shameless appeal to nostalgia. And sure, you could actually use it on your Nintendo Switch for the ultimate throwback, but it also makes a great retro accessory for your Android phone (sorry iPhone users, but this one’s not compatible).
Better still, the controller’s color options are based on variations of Nintendo’s original Game Boy Pocket. The price is good, too.
6. Razer Raiju Mobile
The everything package
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As another of the more established names on this list, it’s no surprise to see Razer turn in one of the more “elite” mobile controllers on our list. It can connect over Bluetooth or wired via one of the USB-C cables that Razer bundles in the box.
The controller also has a built-in dock for your phone, which slides upwards and should have no problem handling most Android handsets. Our favorite bit is the companion app, which lets you map buttons and adjust the sensitivity of the analog sticks. The downsides: it’s an expensive controller, one we’d only recommend for the most ardent of mobile gamers. Android only.
What You Need to Know About Mobile gaming controllers
Compatibility: First things first, make sure the controller works with your mobile device. A lot of mobile controllers are Android-only, but there are plenty of iPhone options too. And pay special attention to the version compatibility, especially if you’re running an old version of Android or iOS, as some controllers will need newer versions to work.
The games: Some games are better suited to specific control types, so you need to think about the types of games you tend towards. More of a touchscreen puzzle player? A mobile controller might sooner find itself in a draw collecting dust. But if you play a lot of first-person shooters or find yourself longing for more precision in your platformers, then chances are your gaming experience will improve vastly with something more tactile.
Mounting: If you’re playing with a mobile controller, then you’ll need something to hold up your phone or tablet. Some controllers come with a mount, some don’t. You could also get a stand for the phone, which is great if you have a surface to play it on, but less helpful when you’re trying to cram in a quick game of Fortnite on the bus. A mount, either built-in or attachable, is recommended.
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Hugh Langley is a tech journalist who’s fascinated by wearables, health tech, the smart home, and more. You can find him tweeting (often nonsense) over at @hughlangley.
Disney Theme Parks and Resorts May Not Open Until January 2021
Disney is reportedly considering keeping their theme parks and resorts, such as Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney World in Orlando, closed until at least the beginning of the new year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Disney parks remain indefinitely closed at the moment.
According to the Los Angeles Times (via ScreenRant), the global financial advisory firm UBS informed their clients Monday that the “Walt Disney Co. is likely to wait until Jan. 1 to open its theme parks.”
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And once they do, UBS predicts that Disney “will see only about 50% of 2019 attendance” and that they can expect reduced profitability until there’s a vaccine for the coronavirus. Disney’s stock dropped earlier this week following a downgrade from UBS.
Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger recently said Disney parks and resorts will implement new screening measures and health precautions once they reopen, including possibly taking visitors’ temperatures, in order to ensure employee and customer safety.
Disney is reportedly losing upwards of $30 million a day as a large swath of their businesses remain closed, a downturn in the media giant’s fortunes that has seen their rival Netflix become more valuable than them.
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Fortunately, there are new attractions you can look forward to in the future when the parks reopen, like Disneyland’s upcoming Avengers Campus and the new Spider-Man ride featuring Tom Holland.
As for Disney films, the company recently announced a slate of new release dates for their movies postponed due to COVID-19, and have pivoted to releasing some of their titles, like Onward, earlier than expected on VOD. The studio also scrapped plans to release Artemis Fowl theatrically, opting to debut the film on Disney+ instead on June 12.
This Discounted Gaming Laptop Is Great For Shooters Like Fortnite And Valorant
There have been some great gaming laptop deals over the past couple of months, and now, Newegg has a new one for a limited time. You can snag an Asus Tuf gaming laptop for $1,000, down from its original price of $1,300. This deal is valid for less than 12 hours, so you’ll need to act fast. It boasts an RTX 2060 graphics card, a Ryzen 7 R7-3750H processor, and a 1080p 144Hz display, which makes it an excellent choice for PC shooter fans that want the freedom a laptop provides.
The Asus Tuf laptop’s specs are powerful enough to run all of today’s most popular shooters at medium-to-high settings, from Fortnite and Valorant to Call of Duty: Warzone and Rainbow Six Siege. though you may want to lower your settings if you want to take full advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. This means that the screen can display up to 144 frames per second, which makes it much easier to react to things happening on your screen, such as an enemy coming around a corner.
Asus Tuf gaming laptop with RTX 2060 and 144Hz display
$1,000 ($1,300)
Best Capture Cards 2020 For Streaming On Twitch And YouTube
If you want to become a streamer on Twitch or a content creator on YouTube, then a capture card is essential. These handy devices can help you record and stream PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and even PC gameplay, and if you want to create high-quality videos, you’ll need a great capture card to do so. That’s why we’ve tested several capture cards to figure out which ones will help you make the best videos and streams possible, whether you’re on Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, or anywhere in between.
What to look for in a capture card
There are a few key things to consider when shopping for a capture card. The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you want a portable capture card or an internal capture card that you insert into your PC’s motherboard. They both achieve the same results, though the internal capture cards don’t need to take up any extra space to get their job done and are generally easier to use if you want to capture your own PC’s feed. If you have a laptop, however, you’ll need an external capture card. You may also want to take your capture card with you on the go, whether that’s to events, on vacation, or a friend’s house. Once you figure out what your needs are, the choice is even easier.
Next, you should consider what the device is capable of capturing–this includes the max resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and more.
Stream Anime Free for a Month with This Funimation Premium Deal
Good news, anime fans: Funimation and Square Enix are teaming up to offer a 30-day free trial of the Funimation Premium streaming service. All you have to do is enter promo code MANAFANS20 when you sign up. The normal free trial lasts 14 days, so the promo code gets you an extra two weeks and change of free (and ad-free) streaming.
The promotion is to celebrate the launch of Trials of Mana, which is now available on PS4, PC, and Switch. (If our Trials of Mana review is any indication, it’s quite good.) You can use the month-long trial to find out if Funimation Premium is a service you want to stick with. If it is, cool. If not, you can cancel the subscription before being billed; you won’t be charged a dime.
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Funimation Now offers a large library of anime TV and movies to stream, including exclusive access to popular series like Dragon Ball Z and Fairy Tail. It also has the newest seasons of shows like My Hero Academia, Black Clover, and One Piece.
There is a free option for streaming Funimation Now, but it includes ads and doesn’t give you access to the full library. For that, you’ll have to subscribe.
The baseline paid plan is Premium, which costs $5.99 per month and lets you view the entire library ad-free, with subs and dubs, and two simultaneous streams. Alternately, you can pay for a year in advance. That method costs $59.99, which breaks down to $5 per month.
Premium Plus ($7.99/month) offers all that, but with five simultaneous streams, plus downloads for offline viewing on supported devices, members-only offers and events, early access to special sales in the Funimation Shop, and free shipping on orders over $20. Pay for a year in advance, and it’s $79.99 which, if you do the math, is $6.66 per month.
Finally there’s the Premium Plus Ultra plan. It’s only available at the annual price of $99.99, which breaks down to $8.33 per month. It includes everything in Premium Plus, but with free shipping on all orders, as well as a yearly anniversary gift and two free rentals per year.
That’s a lot of options, so maybe start with the cheapest one and upgrade only if you feel like you need to.
For even more streaming options, check out our big roundup for all the best streaming video free trials available now.
WWE’s New Day Was Inspired By A Surprising Tag Team
For almost six years, Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods have delighted audiences and put on spectacular performances as the tag team The New Day. In modern-day wrestling, being on the same team for six years is a huge accomplishment, especially considering how quickly sports entertainment moves. Recently, the team beat The Miz and Jey Uso to reclaim the Smackdown Tag Team Championships–sort of. In reality, Big E beat The Miz and Jey Uso in a triple threat match for the titles. They are a team that has consistently been at the top of WWE, regardless of the situation they’re in.
However, when the New Day first formed and became a tag team, they needed to learn how to work together in the ring–and with an audience that wasn’t very interested in the beginning. While they had all been involved in tag team action separately, they needed to figure out their own style as a trio, and the three did their research.
“We definitely watched a lot of stuff, and honestly, we watched the Young Bucks stuff,” Big E told GameSpot. “Absolutely, Young Bucks. We watched the other contemporaries, the older teams. As a bigger guy, I watched Legion of Doom. I don’t know if you look at my work like, ‘Oh there’s LOD. I see that influence.’ One of our biggest things is we didn’t necessarily want to be like, ‘Oh, you know, Doom is great. We want to be like them.’