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Netflix adds spatial audio to its top 700 titles

Netflix has announced that spatial audio is now available for more than 700 of its top titles.

This is a new perk for Premium subscribers ($21.99 CAD/month) at no additional cost.

With spatial audio, users streaming on devices with built-in stereo speakers or headphones will get more immersive, cinematic-esque sound quality. Spatial audio will be offered with movies and shows like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Stranger Things, Wednesday and Watcher. 

To find out which content supports the audio format, look for a special ‘spatial audio’ badge on each title. Alternatively, you can type ‘spatial audio’ into the Netflix search bar.

Additionally, Premium members can now download titles on up to six different devices, up from four.

Image credit: Netflix

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Mobile Syrup

How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Canada

Samsung is hosting its 2023 Unpacked Event today, Wednesday, February 1st, at 1pm ET/10am PT, and we have a pretty good idea of what the Seoul, South Korea-based company plans to unveil.

The event comes roughly six months after the company’s last Unpacked event, where it unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Flip 4, Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, Buds 2 Pro, and more.

From what we know so far, Samsung is expected to show off its latest S-series flagships at the event, including the S23, S23+ and the S23 Ultra.

The new S23 and S23+ are expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, alongside 8GB of RAM. The S23 will likely sport a 6.1-inch 1,080 x 2,340 pixel resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the S23+ will sport a 6.6-inch 1,080 x 2,340 pixel resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Further, the former is expected to feature a 3,900mAh battery, while the latter is likely to be powered by a 4,700mAh battery.

The main highlight of the year, however, will be the S23 Ultra. Based on rumours, the flagship will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and feature a 6.8-inch, 1,440 x 3,080 pixel resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The main highlight is likely to be its 200-megapixel primary camera, alongside its high-level specs and S-Pen slot.

Samsung’s Galaxy Book 3 is also rumoured to appear at the S23 reveal. There will reportedly be several Galaxy Book 3 variants, including the Book 3, Book 3 360, Book 3 Pro, Book 3 Pro 360 and Book 3 Ultra.

Further, while there haven’t been any leaks or rumours regarding a potential Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Buds reveal, we can never discount the possibility of Samsung making surprise announcements at the event.

Whatever might be the case, you can follow along with MobileSyrup’s coverage of the event on our homepage as well as on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or check the showcase out for yourself on Samsung’s YouTube page, Samsung’s website or via the stream embedded below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUM2wYKdxDA

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Mobile Syrup

LG’s 2023 17-inch Grams feature Nvidia’s RTX3050 GPU

LG has announced the latest in its line of 17-inch ultralight Gram laptops. The new 2023 variant will be available for purchase on February 1st on LG’s website and select retailers starting at $1,999 USD (roughly $2,660 CAD).

LG announced the new laptops at CES in early January. The laptops are expected to support variable refresh rates to conserve battery, alongside Dolby Atmos for surround sound-like audio. Further, the laptops feature Intel’s 13th-Gen processors, while last year’s Gram 17s offered 12th-Gen Intel chips.

LG is calling the new 17-inch LG Grams the “LG Gram Pro,” however, the laptop is labelled as “LG Gram 17” on LG’s website.

The website has two models listed, including one with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD for $1,999.99 USD (about $2,660 CAD) and the other with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for $2,299.99 USD (approximately $3,060 CAD). Both laptops feature Nvidia’s RTX3050 GPU for gaming on the go on the ultra light-weight laptop (3.2 pounds/1.45KG). Both laptops feature a variable refresh rate of 31Hz to up to 144Hz that automatically shifts depending on what you’re doing on the laptop.

Both laptops feature a 90Wh battery, compared to last year’s Gram’s 80Wh battery. It also offers multiple ports, including two Thunderbolt 4, two USB 3.2, one HDMI, one headphone jack, and a Micro-SD Card Slot.

Follow the links to learn more about the 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD LG Grams. It’s currently unknown if and when the laptops will arrive in Canada. LG’s Canadian website features no mention of the laptops.

Image credit: LG

Source: LG Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Logitech’s Project Ghost is where I want to conduct all my video calls

Logitech, a company synonymous with computer accessories, has plans to enter a new product category.

The accessory maker has revealed an ambitious prototype called Project Ghost, a video conferencing pod that integrates its suite of technology and hardware with the work of furniture maker Steelcase.

Project Ghost is designed to be a top-of-the-line video chat booth, mixing comfort and functionality with Logitech’s advanced technology to create a projection of the person you’re having a conversation with. Steelcase deals with the furnishing aspect, and provides a comfortable booth setting perfect for long calls.

Logitech’s Project Ghost sounds similar to Google’s Project Starline. The former brilliantly opts to use already-made devices in order to enhance a video call. Google’s project, on the other hand, is a bit out there, creating a booth where people interact with hologram-like projections. Logitech’s version, due to the technology used, is reported to be more similar to a teleprompter. Logitech uses a special slate of glass on an angle between a standard display, creating what’s known as the Pepper’s Ghost effect (hence Project Ghost).

Project Ghost is still very much in the early design phase. Renders of the booth have been released, and overall, it seems like a comfortable setup. Mixing comfort and functionality, Project Ghost offers a small loveseat for users to sit in with a side table. In front is a housing unit comprised of a display, camera, microphone, and speakers. It’s hard to say how soundproof the booth will be. There do appear to be enclosed sides to the unit as well as what appears to be a flip-down top. The outside of the unit is constructed of wooden slates, offering a pretty neat design touch.

Logitech says it aims to launch Project Ghost within a year. The company is currently showing the booth to the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) conference in Barcelona, Spain. Attendees will also have the chance to see the unit interact with Steelcase’s office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The closed event will see people in Barcelona have a video conferencing call with those in Grand Rapids.

As far as cost is concerned, Project Ghost will unlikely be a consumer purchase for the most part. Alex Mooney, manager of alliances and go-to-market for Logitech states that the MSRP for Project Ghost’s Rally system is $2,099 USD (around $2,799 CAD). Incorporate the costs of Steelcase’s furnishings, and the booth will likely cost over $10,000 in Canada. Therefore, Project Ghost will likely be more widely adopted in offices.

Image credit: Logitech

Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Ubisoft’s Valiant Hearts: Coming Home now available on mobile via Netflix

Ubisoft is launching Valiant Hearts: Coming Home on mobile exclusively for Netflix subscribers. In partnership with the streaming service, Netflix subscribers can access the sequel to 2014’s acclaimed Valiant Hearts: The Great War at no cost.

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is developed by France-based mobile game studio Old Skull Games and published by Ubisoft. After nearly a decade, Valiant Hearts returns with a new story and character, but the same unique aesthetic. In the original, players took on the role of four characters during World War I. Much of the game is completed by solving puzzles rather than focusing on the traditional combat most war games focus on.

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is set in 1917, shortly after The Great War. Once again, players take on the various roles of four characters. Fans of the original game may be delighted to see George enter the fray as a playable character this time around. Freddie and Anna are also due to return, as is the accompanying dog, Walt.

As seen in the trailer, each character crosses paths with one another throughout their journey.

Netflix’s gaming initiative offers a growing catalogue of games available to subscribers for free. Much like Valiant Hearts: Coming Home, these games are available to install on iOS and Android and access for as long as an active subscription is retained. Notable standouts include Oxenfree, Immortality, and Into the Breach.

Image credit: Ubisoft

Source: @Netflix

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Mobile Syrup

EA kills Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile

EA is pulling the plug on Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile.

The former game will shut down on May 1st, 2023, while the latter, which was still in development, has been formally cancelled.

In a blog post, developer Respawn said Apex Legends Mobile had fallen short of its “bar for quality, quantity and cadence.” Therefore, it made the “mutual decision” with development partner Tencent to axe the game one year after launch. EA says it will not refund players for any in-app purchases that have been made. However, Respawn will continue to support the main Apex Legends experience on consoles and PC.

In a separate post, Respawn parent company EA simply attributed the Battlefield cancellation to the ever-evolving games industry. Instead, EA says it’s still “hard at work at evolving Battlefield 2042” as pre-production on “future Battlefield experiences” remains underway.

The announcements come as part of EA’s Q3 2023 earnings release, in which it also announced the six-week delay of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor until April 28th.

Image credit: EA

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Mobile Syrup

Latest OnePlus security update bricking OnePlus 9/9 Pro devices

The latest OnePlus update for the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro seems to be bricking the smartphones.

OnePlus published a post on its community forum yesterday, January 30th, warning OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro users about the latest ‘OxygenOS 13 F.19 update.’

“During the initial rollout to a small subset of users, we noticed a few of them faced an issue where the update would not boot. To avoid having more users affected, we immediately stopped the rollout and started investigating the issue,” reads the post.

In essence, users aren’t able to boot up their device after the update, leaving the devices completely bricked. According to OnePlus, affected users should head to the nearest OnePlus service center. The staff there should be able to revert the affected devices to their pre-update state without any data loss.

“If you still see the update as available, please do not install it to avoid possibly being affected,” reads the blog post. “We are already working on a new build that will roll out to all users as soon as possible.”

According to 9to5Google, the security update was only rolling out in India, so Canadians shouldn’t be affected.

Source: OnePlus Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Canadian research team discovers widespread manufacturing flaw in most device batteries

An assistant professor at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia has come forward with a discovery that could change how batteries in personal devices are manufactured.

Micheal Metzger, part of a research team at the university, says that unexpected battery drainage is likely due to a widespread manufacturing flaw.

The group of Halifax-based researchers has determined that the problem stems from tiny pieces of tape that hold the components of the battery. These pieces are said to be made using the wrong type of plastic. According to Metzger, most batteries are experiencing a phenomenon known as “self-discharge.” This is caused by the battery’s electrons being unable to correctly flow through connected cables, powering a circuit, before returning to the battery. This causes the battery to be depleted internally and a device to lose its charge, even if it’s off.

“These days, batteries are very good,” Metzger said to the CBC. “But, like with any product, you want it perfected. And you want to eliminate even small rates of self-discharge.”

Dalhousie University’s battery lab is being used to test dozens of experimental battery cells. The research team is charging them and discharging them in hot environments, with temperatures upwards of 80 degrees Celsius. The team aims to learn why a battery fails over time in order to tweak its electrodes, whether positive or negative or change the electrolyte fluid.

Over the course of the team’s testing, the battery components were analyzed. As such, the team discovered that the inside casing of the battery was being held by metal, insulated coil, and tape. The sections of tape were comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), commonly found in water bottles and other items. As it turns out, the use of PET leads to self-discharge within the battery.

This discovery has been public since November 2022. The Halifax research team proposes the use of a slightly more expensive plastic compound in batteries to solve the issue. A durable, more stable option is polypropylene. This compound is commonly used in reusable water bottles and doesn’t decompose as quickly as PET.

Whether or not manufacturers pick up on this discovery and adopt new procedures is another story.

Source: CBC

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Mobile Syrup

Halo series development is reportedly ‘starting from scratch’

The Halo franchise might not be dead, but it appears support for Halo Infinite will be at least somewhat limited moving forward, with 343 Industries moving on to other projects related to the franchise.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, “at least” 95 jobs, including directors and key contractors, have been cut from the Halo developer. Further, the studio has reportedly switched to Epic’s Unreal Engine following issues with its proprietary ‘Slipspace’ engine for a new project codenamed “Tatanka” currently in development through a partnership with Certain Affinity, a developer with offices in Toronto and Austin, Texas.

Tatanka was initially rumoured to be a battle royale multiplayer title, but Bloomberg‘s report indicates it might “evolve” into something else. The report goes on to say that some developers at 343 Industries are concerned with how Unreal might affect how Halo plays but that Splipspace’s technical issues are too challenging to work through. For example, ‘Assault’ and ‘Extraction,’ two popular Halo multiplayer game types, have reportedly been finished for some time but can’t be added to Infinite because of technical limitations.

The report also mentions that several laid-off 343 Industries developers were working on Halo Unreal prototypes rather than new content for Halo Infinite. The decision to switch to Unreal was reportedly made after studio lead Bonnie Ross and engine head David Berger left 343 Industries in late 2022. Moreover, Pierre Hintze, the studio’s new head, wants the company to focus on “greenlighting,” while still expanding Infinite, though it’s unclear how much of a priority the latter is moving forward. It’s worth noting that several former 343 Industries developers have criticized the studio’s leadership on Twitter.

While Halo Infinite‘s core multiplayer mechanics remain extremely solid and the best the series has offered since arguably Halo 2/Halo 3, new content has been sparse, and the game still doesn’t even feature an overarching progression system. 343 Industries also has a history of botched releases, with Halo: The Master Chief Collection being the most notable example beyond Halo Infinite.

Image credit: Xbox

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Bell Aliant’s 911 landline outage on the East Coast came from 10-digit dialling change

Bell Aliant says a software update caused landline users in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I being unable to reach 911.

The issue lasted between 6am and 8:30am, local time. A “fall-back mechanism” in the telecom provider’s system meant the outage didn’t impact wireless devices, Katie Hatfield, a senior communications manager at Bell, told MobileSyrup.

“The root cause was a software update introduced at approximately 6:00am in preparation for 10-digit dialling for New Brunswick, which triggered unexpected call processing failures to 911,” Hatfield said.

The outage caused Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to tweet his disappointment, calling it “unacceptable.”

“As I have said before, Canadians expect and deserve reliable telecoms connection to access emergency services at all times,” Champagne wrote.

It’s unclear if the Minister will take any action against Bell. MobileSyrup has contacted the Minister’s office and will provide an update once more information is available.

Image credit: Shutterstock