Author: Mobile Syrup

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Google Pixel Fold: News, leaks and possible release date

The Pixel Fold (the name we’ve been using for Google’s foldable) has been rumoured for several months — even years at this point. Rumours indicated we’d see the device last year, but that didn’t happen. Now, according to several sources, the upcoming Google foldable will launch in 2023.

Google is rumoured to reveal plenty of devices this year, including the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Watch 2 and — the device I’m most interested in — the Pixel Fold.

Let’s review some of the rumours and leaks we’ve seen over the past several months. We expect to see more rumours in the coming months, so we’ll continue to update this post with further information.

Specs

Pixel Fold

Display

Main Screen: 7.57 inches 120Hz 2K, Infinity Flex Display | Cover Screen: 5.78 inches

Processor

Tensor G2

RAM

12GB of RAM

Storage

N/A

Dimensions (in.)

158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (8.3mm with the camera bump)

Weight

Rear Facing Camera

50-megapixel primary

Front Facing Camera

two 9.5-megapixel hole punch cameras

OS

Android 13L

Battery

5,000mAh

Network Connectivity

LTE/ 5G

Sensors

Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

SIM Type

Nano SIM

Launch Date

Misc

Colours: White, Black, Folds

Display

Pixel Fold

Main Screen: 7.57 inches 120Hz 2K, Infinity Flex Display | Cover Screen: 5.78 inches

Processor

Pixel Fold

Tensor G2

RAM

Pixel Fold

12GB of RAM

Storage

Pixel Fold

N/A

Dimensions (in.)

Pixel Fold

158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (8.3mm with the camera bump)

Weight

Pixel Fold

Rear Facing Camera

Pixel Fold

50-megapixel primary

Front Facing Camera

Pixel Fold

two 9.5-megapixel hole punch cameras

OS

Pixel Fold

Android 13L

Battery

Pixel Fold

5,000mAh

Network Connectivity

Pixel Fold

LTE/ 5G

Sensors

Pixel Fold

Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

SIM Type

Pixel Fold

Nano SIM

Launch Date

Pixel Fold

Misc

Pixel Fold

Colours: White, Black, Folds

The Pixel Fold is expected to feature a 5.78-inch cover display supplied by Samsung Display, with mass production starting in July or August this year, according to a previous rumour. We’re also expecting a 9.5-megapixel hole punch camera on the Cover display. The Pixel Fold will sport a 2K 7.57-inch (though some sources say 7.69 inches) foldable panel with a 120Hz refresh rate display on the inside. Additionally, the phone is expected to feature an additional hole-punch selfie shooter on the right side of this foldable screen.

Howtoisolve reports that the phone’s dimensions will measure roughly 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (8.3mm with the camera bump) when unfolded.

The handset is also expected to sport a 50-megapixel primary camera similar to what’s available on the Pixel 7 series. The phone will reportedly come in ‘Silver’ and ‘Black’ colourways and comes with USB-C charging, 12GB of RAM, Tensor G2, Android 13L and more.

We don’t yet know the specifications of the other cameras, but it’s likely the device will offer one or two other 12-megapixel cameras. Further, we’re unsure of how much the phone will weigh, what its storage variants will be, and more.

Availability

It’s unclear when we’ll officially see the Pixel Fold. That said, there are a few possible launch windows. According to Android Authority, the handset will launch alongside the Pixel 7a, which we expect to see at Google I/O in May. However, other sources indicate that we’ll see the phone in Q3 2023, possibly alongside the Pixel 8 series, which means these phones could launch in late August.

So while we don’t have a definite date or release window, we can see the foldable in either May or Q3.

Pricing

The Pixel is expected to cost $1,799 USD (roughly $2,390 CAD at the time of writing).

Renders

Below are several renders of what the Pixel Fold could look like.

(From September 2nd)

(From November 14th)

Image Credit: Howtoisolve 

Sources: Jon Prosser, Digital Chat Station (Weibo), Android Authority, OnLeaks, Howtoisolve, The New York Times

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s how to easily schedule Text Messages on Your iPhone

Last year, Apple unveiled its new iOS 16 operating system for iPhone that brought the ability to schedule emails directly in the Mail app, which is useful for moments when you’re done writing an email but want to send it out at a specific time. Similarly, users have been requesting the ability to schedule texts on iMessage, but Apple hasn’t added the feature — at least not yet.

However, there’s a workaround, and you can schedule texts natively from an iPhone without having to download any third-party application. However, it does have its limitations. The workaround requires Shortcuts, which was introduced back in iOS 12 and comes pre-installed in all iPhones now.

With the Shortcuts app, iPhone users are able to… well, set shortcuts, record voice memos, Shazam songs, manage smart home devices and more, without having to go to their dedicated apps. Similarly, you can set “Automations” from the Shortcuts app, which can run actions based on events, such as time of day, arrival at a location, or the opening of a specific app. A standard shortcut can only be executed from the Shortcuts app or the Shortcuts widget. Automations, on the other hand, are triggered by events, locations, communications, or settings.

Here’s how you can set up an Automation to schedule texts on iMessage:

  • Open the Shortcuts app and tap on ‘Automation’ in the bottom-aligned tab.
  • Tap on ‘Create Personal Automation’ and tap on the first option that reads “Time of Day.”
  • Select the time you want to schedule the text from the slider, and tap on either Daily, Weekly or Monthly.

Once the timing and frequency are set, you will define the automation action that the iPhone has to take. You should see a screen that looks like the first screenshot (extreme left) below.

  • Tap on “Send Message” under ‘Next Action Suggestions.” If you don’t see the suggestion, tap on ‘Add Action’ and type in “Message.”
  • Select the content of your message within the first set of quotation marks, followed by who you want to send it to in ‘Recipients,’ and tap on Next.
  • You should be on a screen that looks like the third screenshot below. Enable the toggle to ‘Ask Before Running’ if you’d like your iPhone to ask your permission before sending out the message at the specified time. I have this toggled off, considering I don’t want to receive an extra prompt.
  • You can enable ‘Notify When Run.’ This will push a notification to you once the message is sent.

Now, your scheduled message is ready, and it will go out at the specified time. It’s worth noting that the same message will go out to the same person at the same time, depending on the frequency you selected. If your aim was just to schedule a one-off message, then you can delete the automation so it doesn’t send the same message to the recipient daily/weekly/monthly.

To delete an automation, head to ‘Shortcuts’ and tap on ‘Automation’ in the bottom aligned tab. Swipe left on the Message automation and tap ‘Delete.’

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Streaming in Canada on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Crave and Netflix [Jan. 16-22]

Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.

Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video, Crave and Netflix, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ are mentioned when relevant. Premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms are also fair game as movies continue to come to digital early.

Finally, we’ll highlight shows or movies that are made by Canadian companies, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.

Amazon Prime Video

The Legend of Vox Machina

Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: January 20th, 2023 (first three episodes, three new episodes every Friday)
Genre: Animated fantasy
Runtime: 12 episodes (around 30 minutes each)

Vox Machina must stop the Chroma Conclave from spreading its evil across Tal’Dorei.

The Legend of Vox Machina is based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons webseries Critical Role and features Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Taliesin Jaffe, Marisha Ray and Sam Riegel reprising their respective roles.

Stream The Legend of Vox Machina here.

An Amazon Prime Video subscription is included at no additional cost with an Amazon Prime membership, which is priced at $99/year.

The full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada this month can be found here.

Apple TV+

Truth Be Told (Season 3) [Apple Original]

Apple TV+ Canada: January 20th, 2023 (first episode, new episodes every Friday)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 10 episodes (around one hour each)

Poppy’s latest case involves the disappearance of several young Black girls and the lack of mainstream media attention each case has received.

Based on Kathleen Barber’s 2017 novel Are You Sleeping, Truth Be Told was created by Nichelle Tramble Spellman (The Good Wife) and stars Octavia Spencer (The Help), Gabrielle Union (She’s All That) and Mekhi Phifer (ER).

Stream Truth Be Told here.

An Apple TV+ subscription costs $8.99/month in Canada.

Find out what’s coming to Apple TV+ in January and February here.

CBC Gem

Offside: The Harold Ballard Story

Vancouver’s Jason Priestley (90210) examines the legacy of Harold Ballard, the controversial former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

CBC Gem release date: January 22nd, 2023 at 8pm ET
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes

Stream Offside: The Harold Ballard Story here. CBC Gem offers free streaming with ads or an ad-free experience for $5.99/month.

Crave

Ambulance

Original theatrical release date: April 8th, 2022
Crave release date: January 20th, 2023
Genre: Action thriller
Runtime: 2 hours, 16 minutes

After a heist goes wrong, two adoptive siblings turned bankrobbers hijack an ambulance and take two first responders hostage.

Ambulance was directed by Michael Bay (Transformers franchise) and stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez (Baby Driver).

Stream Ambulance here.

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen: A Journey, A Song

Directors Dan Gellar and Dayna Goldfine (Ballets Russes) take a look at the life and career of famed Montreal-born singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen (“Hallelujah”).

Crave release date: January 16th, 2023
Genre: Music documentary
Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes

Stream Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen: A Journey, A Song here.

Oldboy

After receiving rave reviews last year for Decision to Leave, Park Chan-wook’s iconic 2003 South Korean film is hitting Crave. (The movie wasn’t on any Canadian streaming service until it landed on PVOD platforms late last year).

Choi Min-sik (I Saw The Devil) stars as a man who’s released from captivity after 15 years and becomes tangled in a web of conspiracy upon seeking his revenge.

Crave release date: January 20th, 2023
Genre: Neo-noir action-thriller
Runtime: 2 hours

Stream Oldboy here.

A standard Crave subscription is priced at $19.99/month, with Starz costing an additional $5.99/month. A mobile-only subscription is also available for $9.99/month.

The full list of movies and shows hitting Crave this month can be found here.

Netflix

That ’90s Show [Netflix Original]

Netflix Canada release date: January 19th, 2023
Genre: Sitcom
Runtime: 10 episodes (22 to 29 minutes each)

Fifteen years after the event of That ’70s Show, Red and Kitty Forman (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp) spend the summer with their granddaughter, Leia (Callie Haverda).

That ’90s Show was created by Bonnie and Terry Turner (That ’70s Show), their daughter Lindsey and Greg Mettler (That ’70s Show) and also features the return of Topher Grace (Eric), Laura Prepon (Donna), Ashton Kutcher (Kelso), Mila Kunis (Jackie), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez) and Tommy Chong (Leo the hippie). Danny Masterson (Hyde) is currently facing rape charges and is not back for That ’90s Show.

Stream That ’90s Show here.

A ‘Basic with Ads’ subscription costs $5.99/month, ‘Basic’ Netflix subscription costs $9.99/month, a ‘Standard’ subscription (HD-supported) costs $16.49/month and a ‘Premium’ membership is priced at $20.99/month (4K-supported).

The full list of movies and shows hitting Netflix Canada this month can be found here.

What are you planning on streaming this week? Let us know in the comments.

For more suggestions, check out last week’s column.

Image credit: Netflix

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Mobile Syrup

Telecom news roundup: Telus employees prepare to strike [Jan 14-20]

An outage, potential strike action and more developments on Rogers’ merger with Shaw dominated telecom headlines this week.

As a recap, here’s almost everything that happened in Canada’s telecom sector.

Business

Some Bell customers in Ontario experienced a voice service outage earlier this week. The issue has since been resolved, and some customers had to toggle airplane mode to restore service.

A CBC Marketplace investigation found Canada’s telecom monopoly is causing Canadians to pay higher cellphone bills.

The House of Commons committee on industry and technology will examine the Rogers-Shaw merger for the second time on January 25th. The committee previously examined the merger in March 2022, recommending against it. The first session was before Rogers and Shaw said they would sell Freedom Mobile to Vidéotron, and the matter is expected to play a role in the second hearing.

Rogers, Shaw and Vidéotron filed their response to the Competition Bureau’s Appeal, calling it “collateral attacks.” The bureau is opposing the Competition Tribunal’s decision to support Rogers’ merger with Shaw and Vidéotron’s acquisition of Freedom Mobile. The parties will face the Federal Court of Appeal on January 24th.

Telus employees are getting ready for a potential strike. According to the United Steelworkers union, employees have been in the bargaining process for 14 months without any resolution. The union seeks job protection, local job creation, and higher wages.

TekSavvy is asking the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Committee (CRTC) to investigate Rogers’ deal to lease its broadband network to Vidéotron at a lower rate than wholesale. TekSavvy says the move violates the Telecommunications Act.

A group of Canadian startups have completed work at Verizon and Centech’s 5G Development Hub. The program provides tools for 5G and Mobile Edge Compute. The projects focus on manufacturing, transportation and energy industries.

Globalive has launched a new public appeal against Rogers’ merger with Shaw. NoMerger.ca allows Canadians to send messages to MPs asking them to tell Minister Champagne to oppose the merger. Globalive previously offered to buy Freedom Mobile for $3.75 billion.

Deals

Koodo and Virgin are offering a $10/month discount for 12 months for Lunar New Year. More details are available here.

Koodo will increase customer bills by $5/month in February. Learn more here. Earlier this week, Bell emailed former customers with a $55/20GB plan offer. Check your email to see if you received the win-back offer.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

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Get the Beats Studio Buds $50 off at Best Buy with this coupon code

Best Buy Canada is offering a $50 off coupon code for the Beats By Dr. Dre Studio Buds.

Regularly available for $189.99, the headphones would cost you $139.99 after the coupon, marking a 26 percent discount on the truly-wireless earbuds.

It’s worth noting that the coupon is only applicable on the ‘Red,’ ‘Black,’ and ‘White‘ colourways of the Studio Buds. Other colours, including ‘Ocean Blue,’ ‘Moon Grey,’ and ‘Sunset Pink’ are not offered under the coupon.

The coupon code for the $50 discount is STUDIO50, and it needs to be applied in the ‘review your order’ of checkout. Once you fill in the payment details and click through to the next step, the space for the code the discount summary will appear.

Also worth noting is that the code is only valid until Sunday, January 22nd, at 2:59am ET or until quantities last, whichever is earlier.

Learn more about the buds here.

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: Best Buy

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Google is getting ready to respond to ChatGPT

Google will reportedly release more than 20 artificial intelligence products this year in response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

According to reporting from The New York Times and coverage from The Verge, Google will also “demonstrate a version of its search engine with chatbot features.”

It’s unclear when the 20 products will be released, but The Times reports some of the projects could be introduced at Google’s I/O event in May. These products reportedly include a photo studio that “creates and edits images” and a prototype testing app.

It’s unclear if Google’s chatbot, which will focus on “getting facts right, ensuring safety and getting rid of misinformation,” will be part of the May release.

Google execs were reportedly concerned that moving too fast to produce something like ChatGPT could harm the company and its reputation. However, Google appears to be putting a greater focus on AI. Earlier today, the company laid off 12,000 employees and said it would shift its focus to artificial intelligence.

The Times further reports Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have provided advice, ideas, and approved plans when discussing ChatGPT with company executives at the request of CEO Sundar Pichai.

Source: The New York Times, The Verge

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Samsung Display shows off futuristic waterdrop hinge that folds in and out

Samsung has shown off a prototype display revealing a smartphone that can fold 360 degrees. Samsung Display, the division of the company that focuses on screens, showed The Verge a new prototype screen and hinge at CES 2023.

The “Flex In & Out” display can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to fold it, as you may have already assumed, in and out. Further, the foldable screen features a different hinge design, which creates a significantly less visible crease. This new hinge design, often called the “water-drop hinge,” lets the screen form a looser shape. It also enables the ability to fold in and out. According to The Verge, this hinge type also creates less stress on the panel.

Samsung has been toying with a display that can fold in and out for several years, according to Tom’s Guide. However, earlier iterations featured an S design with one section folding in and the other folding out. Unlike that design, this hinge can do both.

The Verge indicates that it’s possible the Z Fold 5 could feature this hinge, as a previous leak indicates that the phone will offer a less visible crease this year due to a waterdrop hinge design. That leak also suggests the Fold 5 could feature a 108-megapixel primary shooter, similar to the S22 Ultra.

With the Galax Z Fold 5 likely not launching until this summer, we’ll have a long time to wait until we know for sure. Samsung is expected to reveal its Galaxy S23 series later this month on February 1st.

Image Credit: Samsung Display/The Verge

Source: The Verge

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Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ timeline is now default on Android

Twitter is rolling out its ‘For You tab on Android devices, following its arrival on iOS and the web.

The ‘For You’ tab will now be the default feed that shows up no matter which platform you use to browse through Twitter. The tab shows your feed as an algorithmic timeline of accounts you follow, with other accounts mixed in. According to 9to5Google, the tab is rolling out for Android users in an account-based, server-side update.

Users would be able to spot the ‘Following’ tab right adjacent to the ‘For You’ tab on their Twitter home screen. The tab shows your feed in chronological order from the accounts that you follow.

Twitter has been bringing major changes, not necessarily good changes, to Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The new features first come to iOS, like the updated subscription of Twitter Blue, for example, was available on iOS a month ahead of the Android app. Similarly, the For You tab has been available on iOS for the better part of January, and it is now making its way to Android. And even though the new feed is currently rolling out, it hasn’t appeared on all Android devices.

Do you prefer the new ‘For You’ feed, or was the original ‘Home’ feed better at showing you content that matters to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: 9to5Google

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Nintendo is ramping up Switch production leading up to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s release

Anyone hoping Nintendo would announce a successor to the Nintendo Switch in 2023 will be disappointed to learn the Japanese gaming giant plans to ramp up Switch production in the coming year — and with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom scheduled for a May release, this isn’t entirely surprising.

Sources familiar with Nintendo’s production plans told Bloomberg that Nintendo had informed its parts suppliers and assembly partners that it would increase Switch production during the company’s 2023/2024 financial year.

According to the publication’s sources, now that the component shortage is mostly over, Nintendo can finally produce the number of consoles the market wants. And with Tears of the Kingdom aiming to replicate the critical and sales success of Breath of the Wild, the anticipated game will likely again push Switch sales, just like its predecessor.

While Nintendo’s Switch remains popular, the console is headed into its 6th year and was released back in March 2017. Given Nintendo’s console release history, at this point, the company is usually ramping up to release a new system, or at the very least, its current console is entering its twilight years. In the case of the Switch, it appears the system is still going strong.

Rumours surrounding a Switch Pro or Switch 2 have circulated for years, but the closest thing that’s appeared so far is the Switch OLED model, a minor upgrade to the original home console-handheld hybrid system that features a larger, higher-quality display.

Source: Bloomberg

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Microsoft tests better Windows audio controls

The latest Windows 11 test build includes a new volume mixed that appears to borrow heavily from third-party audio tool EarTrumpet.

As spotted by The Verge, the test build features a hidden volume mixer that can be enabled through an experimental flag. The Verge notes that Microsoft hasn’t officially acknowledged the feature yet and that it might not ship, but we’re still in the early phases.

Initially designed for Windows 10, EarTrumpet adds several options for controlling audio, including the ability to adjust volume for classic and modern apps individually, quickly switch between default audio devices, and move apps between playback devices.

The tweaked Windows 11 audio feature brings quick access to switching audio outputs, and individual app volume controls to the taskbar, just like what EarTrumpet enabled.

Microsoft MVP Rafael Rivera, who helped create EarTumpet, cheekily pointed out that Microsoft was “catching up to EarTrumpet” on Twitter.

Despite the similarities between Microsoft’s test and EarTrumpet, it’s good to see Microsoft working to improve the audio experience on Windows. After all, people shouldn’t need to rely on third-party tools to fix core parts of an operating system.

Source: The Verge