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Travelers Canada releases results of distracted driving risk survey

The 2023 Travelers Canada Distracted Driving Risk Survey results have been released by Travelers Canada, revealing data about distracted driving in the country.

A major survey result showed that Canadians often engage in risky behaviours behind the wheel despite recognizing the associated risks. Nearly one-quarter of respondents acknowledged that multitasking while driving was dangerous but did so anyway.

Paul Stone, the vice president of personal insurance, sales, distribution and marketing for Travelers Canada, said that distracted driving behaviour includes everything from texting, checking emails and driving while under emotional strain, all of which can lead to accidents.

The survey also showed that instances of distracted driving crashes are increasing, with 30 percent of drivers saying they have been involved in an accident due to their own distractions. That’s a 50 percent increase from last year.

The biggest causes of distracted driving remain: observing the behaviours of other drivers, talking on a phone (hands-free) and focusing on traffic, with 78, 63 and 62 percent accounting for each, respectively.

However, the survey did take the opportunity to ask respondents what it would take for them to be less likely to use a device while driving, with 90 percent answering “if a passenger asked them to stop.”

For more information about the survey, visit TravelersCanada.ca.

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Mobile Syrup

What’s new on CBC Gem in May 2023

CBC has unveiled the full list of movies and shows hitting its CBC Gem streaming service in May.

Below is all the content set to hit the platform:

May 1st

  • Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen (1×88, Documentary, directed by Daniel Raim, USA)Hidden Letters (1×86, Documentary, directed by Violet Du Feng, China/USA/Germany/Norway)
  • House Special (5×22, Docu-series, Black Rhino Creative, Canada)
  • On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi (1×40, Documentary, directed by Brandon Gross and Skyler Gross, Canada)
  • Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness (4×60, Docuseries, CNN, USA)

May 3rd

  • Lucky Grandma (1×87, Drama/Comedy, directed by Sasie Sealy, USA)
  • The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor (5×45, Docuseries, 72 Films, UK)

May 5th

  • Harlots Season 1 (8×60, Drama, Monumental Pictures, UK)
  • Malcolm is Missing (88 mins, documentary Channel original, directed by Robert and Jari Osbourne, Canada)

May 10th

  • Love, Leymo (12mins, directed by Randall Okita, Canada)

May 12th

  • Animal Control (12×30, Comedy, Fox Entertainment, USA)

May 17th

  • Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry on (20×30, Lifestyle, A Fresh One Production, UK)

May 19th

  • Everything You Love (7×25, Drama, The Oslo Company, Norway)
  • Tulipani: Love, Honour & a Bicycle (1×90, Comedy/Drama, directed by Mike van Diem, The Netherlands/ Italy/Canada)

May 26th

  • Colin & Justin’s Hotel From Hell (4×60, Lifestyle, Ricochet Television, UK)

May 29th

  • digi-ART (6×15, CBC Arts, Docuseries)

CBC Gem is free with ads, while an ad-free ‘Premium’ subscription is available for $4.99/month.

Additionally, CBC has also teased what’s coming to Gem in June:

  • Casa Susanna
  • Dear Flora (Pour Toi Flora)
  • Love Me Season 2
  • Marie Antoinette

Image credit: CBC

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Mobile Syrup

iRobot discounts its robot vacuums by up to 27 percent off

Robotic vacuum cleaners have changed the way we clean our homes by offering several benefits, including time-saving, convenience, improved air quality, and low maintenance.

The iRobot Roomba is on sale through Amazon and it’s one of the most popular brands that offers decent cleaning, smart navigation, options for scheduling, voice control, and low maintenance.

These deals are below and are more expensive that a traditional broom and mop, robotic vacuums can save money and time in the long run.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Amazon Canada

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Mobile Syrup

You may not have asked for it, but you’re getting a Call of Duty board game

The next time your disgruntled friend or family member flips over the Monopoly board, effectively eliminating your three-hour-long capitalist uprising, take the power back by reaching for Call of Duty: The Board Game to enact your revenge.

Activision has teamed up with the board game company Arcane Wonders as well as Genuine Entertainment and Evolution to make the game. Call of Duty: The Board Game is set to be a fast-paced mix of tactical planning, strategy and ‘combat.’ A brief but official announcement trailer has also been released as if the hype wasn’t big enough without one.

So far, we know that apart from being an instant draw for teenage gamers, players will take on the role of soldiers and battle others throughout the game with various weapons and tactics. Arcane Wonders also says there are several scenarios and gameplay modes to choose from, with the game set to include maps from former Call of Duty titles.

While we don’t have any information on killstreaks, a potential zombies mode or if a campaign is included yet, we do know that pre-orders for Call of Duty: The Board Game will start this fall on Kickstarter.

Image credit: @ArcaneWonders

Source: Activision Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

BMW owner’s can finally use Digital Key Plus with Android devices

BMW owners are celebrating the company’s move to make its Digital Key Plus app compatible with Android devices, making it possible for users to lock, unlock, and start their BMWs while leaving the phone in their pocket.

The Digital Key Plus app was originally only compatible with iOS devices such as iPhones and Apple Watches. Now, the company has enabled the app to work with Android devices version 13.1 or later, bringing the German car giant closer to “identical functionality across all platforms.”

The car company also began offering cross-platform sharing of the standard Digital Key functionality via email and messaging applications. Its next step is to offer a full range of comfort access functions” on both operating systems.

Although initially planned to be available to all BMW models produced from November 2022, a future update will allow for use in vehicles with earlier production dates.

The app can be downloaded directly on Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, effectively replacing BMW’s physical key. Through ultra-wideband technology, users can allow their vehicles to lock and unlock when they approach and walk away automatically, as well as start the engine and turn on the car’s lights. The lock/unlock feature even works if the user’s phone is dead within a limit of five hours.

BMW users can also add up to five other users, giving access to the app’s features to family members or anyone else driving.

For more BMW news, check out the company’s colour-changing i Vision Dee concept car.

Image credit: BMW

Source: BMW Via: Carscoops

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Mobile Syrup

AI expert sounds the alarm on possible new spam mail arms race

Credit: Tumisu via Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/email-marketing-online-marketing-2362038/#

Artificial intelligence is all the buzz these days, spurred on by the recent popularity of ChatGPT and Microsoft’s new Bing search engine. The technology is exciting – but also ripe for abuse by bad actors.

Director of the Advancing Human and Machine Reasoning lab John Licato has taken to Gizmodo to voice his concern. AI-powered spam mail might be reaching your inbox soon, he says.

Traditionally, spam mail has used deception to fool users into clicking unsafe links, installing malware, and giving out personal information. With the increasing availability of large language model technology, deceptive tactics are becoming easier to initiate than ever.

Spammers are likely to benefit from more detailed user information without needing as much data to work with, says Licato. Lifestyle, social values and political leanings are all factors that could be better deciphered and used for deceit.

The silver lining in all this? Spam filters will also benefit from AI in the same way the spammers will. The hope is that more sophisticated ways of flagging junk mail will be enabled by harnessing the power of large language models.

It’s unclear just how long it will be before this new spam arms race kicks off. If Licato’s predictions are correct, we might not have to wait very long to find out.

Header image credit: Tumisu via Pixabay 

Source: Gizmodo

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Mobile Syrup

Thousands of Disney employees to be laid off in second round of job cuts

Significant expansion after the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the entertainment industry, with Disney being no exception.

After announcing the layoff of 7,000 employees back in March, the entertainment giant has begun the second of three rounds of company-wide layoffs aimed at getting the company back on solid financial footing, as shared by Reuters, via The Verge. 

The new round of layoffs will help the company save $5.5 billion USD (roughly $7.4 billion CAD) in costs, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The layoffs will affect multiple departments across the company, including ESPN, Disney Entertainment, the products division, and Disney Parks’ corporate leadership. However, frontline hourly workers at Disney’s parks and resorts are not expected to be affected by the cuts.

“The senior leadership teams have been working diligently to define our future organization, and our biggest priority has been getting this right, rather than getting it done fast,” Disney Entertainment co-chairs Alan Bergman and Dana Walden said in an internal staff memo.

The third round of layoffs is “anticipated” before the start of summer, according to Reuters. “We recognize that it has been a period of uncertainty and thank you all for your understanding and patience,” said Bergman and Walden.

Source: Reuters, Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung reported to launch Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 ahead of schedule

Samsung is reportedly planning to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 earlier than expected, with a possible release date towards the end of July.

As reported by SamMobile, Samsung is preparing to hold an Unpacked event during the last week of July 2023, likely between July 25th and July 27th.

Last year’s launch event for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 was held on August 10th, making this year’s rumoured launch date roughly two weeks sooner than expected. One reason for the earlier launch could be the competition. Google is reportedly launching the Pixel Fold at Google I/O next month, with a release planned for June. Additionally, OnePlus is launching its first foldable in Q3, likely in July or August. By launching the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 in July, Samsung can stay ahead of the competition and not follow them.

The report contradicts industry leaker  Jon Prosser, who said that the Galaxy Fold 4, Flip 4 and Watch 5 series will launch at an Unpacked event on August 10th.

From what we know so far, the Z Flip 5 will launch in beige, gray, light green and light pink, and the Fold 5 will come in beige, black and light blue. Samsung will also have some ‘Samsung Experience’ exclusive colours and bespoke versions that allow you to mix and match. Further, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will likely have a larger inner display and an improved hinge mechanism, while the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to have a bigger external display and a better camera setup.

With the foldable market expanding rapidly, Samsung’s earlier launch could be a strategic move to stay ahead of the competition and maintain its position as a leader in the foldable phone space.

Source: SamMobile

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Mobile Syrup

Report finds Chromebook e-waste to be a serious problem

Chromebooks have become ubiquitous in the education sector. Ease of use, accessible pricing, and simple deployment make them a compelling option for school.

However, a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) titled Chromebook Churn is raising concerns over the unnecessary electronic waste they are producing.

The main issue at hand is what the PIRG refers to as a “built-in death rate.” Google offers software and security support for Chromebooks at a standard rate of eight years from the release date of each laptop.

The PIRG points out that schools often buy Chromebooks that have already been on the market for months or even years. This means that realistically, many of these laptops are out of support sooner than that eight year window would imply.

“When technology like Chromebooks reach their expiration date, only one-third of this electronic waste is properly recycled. If it isn’t designed to last, our environment pays the price,” says Lucas Gutterman of the PIRG.

The PIRG makes several suggestions in the report, calling on Google to take action. These suggestions include extending software support to ten years, as well as allowing for the installation of non-Google operating systems like Linux.

The report is also critical on the hardware front, suggesting Google strive for better standardization of Chromebook replacement parts, and to make these components more readily available.

Whether Google will see eye-to-eye with the PIRG and reduce “Chromebook Churn” is something we will have to keep an eye on.

Source: U.S. Public Interest Research Group Via Engadget 

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Mobile Syrup

Chrome redesign for large-screen Android devices in the works

Android tablet and foldable users are in for a visual refresh if they use Google Chrome. Experimental flags in the latest stable build include interface tweaks that can be enabled with some fiddling, as uncovered by Android Police.

It looks like Google is working on incorporating elements of its Material You design language into its mobile browser. When enabled, the strip of tabs at the top becomes visually separated from the address bar. The “new tab” button, represented by a plus sign, is now filled in with rounded padding as well.

To top it off, the updated interface now appears to follow Google’s custom accent colour system. First introduced in Android 12, the system pulls from a colour palette that dynamically adjusts based on the wallpaper in use.

These changes aren’t groundbreaking by any means, but they do a good job of freshening up the look of the browser. With the flags enabled, everything looks an extra bit polished compared to before.

It is unknown when Google plans on pushing out these changes to the stable build of Chrome for Android. The company is currently also working on a visual refresh of the desktop version of its web browser.

Source: Android Police Via: 9to5Google