Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Apple Maps now offers parking information in Canada

Apple Maps now features parking information for more than 8,000 locations across Canada and the U.S.

It’s available through a partnership with the digital parking marketplace SpotHero. On iPhone or Mac, open the Maps app and search for a destination. From there, tap on the ‘More’ button and then select ‘Parking’ to bring up SpotHero integration. You can then book parking by entering hourly or monthly times and proceeding to payment.

Two of the supported locations include Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden. In addition to information on standard parking spots, you can also toggle filters for wheelchair accessibility, electric vehicles and more.

This is the latest in Apple’s efforts to revamp Maps, including better road coverage and cycling directions. Last summer, Apple was also driving across Canada to improve its mapping data.

Via: MacRumors

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel’s Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 is now available

Google has dropped the Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2, giving users a look at what to expect for the March Feature Drop.

The QPR2 beta comes with new tweaks like new Unicode 15.0 emoji that include a light blue heart, donkey, shaking face, goose, jellyfish, wireless, blackbird and more. The Google Home app icon shows up in the device controls. ‘History’ now replaces the ‘Manage’ shortcut in Quick Settings, and the media player lava lamp effect has been removed.

The QPR2 resolves issues in the Android 13 QPR2 beta 2:

  • Fixed an issue with the System UI that sometimes caused the Home screen to become unresponsive.
  • Fixed an issue where, after switching back to Normal video capture mode from Slow Motion mode in the Google Camera app, the app continued capturing slow-motion video if the capture speed was changed between 1/8x and 1/4x while in Slow Motion mode

Here are the already-known issues:

  • The list of Recent apps sometimes becomes unresponsive if the screen orientation is changed while the list is open.
  • In some cases, when entering and exiting Picture-in-picture (PiP) mode from an app after changing the screen orientation, the system Settings app crashes with a “Settings keeps stopping” message and then the system Settings app can’t be opened.
  • An issue with the System UI can sometimes cause it to crash from a null pointer exception.

You can download the update on devices from the Pixel 4a to the Pixel 7 series here. 

Source: Android Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft reportedly experimenting with GPT in Word, PowerPoint and Outlook

It looks like Microsoft is jumping on the GPT bandwagon.

According to The Information, Microsoft has added an unknown version of OpenAI’s GPT technology to Word and is working on integrating it further. It’s also being experimented with other applications, including PowerPoint.

OpenAI’s GPT computer program makes up ChatGPT, a tool that answers user questions with detailed, written responses.

In Outlook, Microsoft is reportedly using the technology to improve search results, allowing users to find emails without using keywords. The organization is also reportedly looking at how the technology could reply to emails.

As pointed out by The Verge, one of the challenges Microsoft faces in incorporating GPT is inaccuracy and bias. Privacy is another issue, a factor The Information says Microsoft has been working to address.

Source: The Information Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

NHTSA has questions for Tesla after Musk tweets about removing FSD safeguard

Unsurprisingly, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has questions for Tesla after CEO Elon Musk tweeted that a future software update would remove a driver monitoring safeguard from the company’s vehicles. The safeguard requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel when using the Autopilot Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

First reported by the Associated Press, an NHTSA spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that the agency had reached out to Tesla to gather information about Musk’s tweet. Moreover, the information gathering is part of a broader investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system, which has been linked to over a dozen crashes involving stationary emergency vehicles.

It’s worth noting that Tesla made its FSD Beta available to everyone in North America who requests it (assuming they’ve bought the feature) in November.

The Musk tweet in question was posted on December 31st in response to a tweet from Omar Qazi, a Tesla shareholder that tweets under the handle ‘@WholeMarsBlog.’ (You may remember this account as the one that sought actual children to stand in front of a Tesla vehicle to prove the Autopilot system would stop before striking them.) Qazi suggested Tesla owners with over 10,000 miles on the FSD Beta should be able to turn off the “steering wheel nag.” Musk replied, “Agreed, update coming in Jan.”

However, regulators and safety experts have long wanted Tesla to improve its driver monitoring systems, not degrade them. Tesla’s FSD Beta is a ‘Level 2’ advanced driver-assistance system, despite Musk’s repeated promises that it would soon be fully autonomous. That means the driver must remain fully engaged in operating the vehicle.

Other vehicle manufacturers, like General Motors and Ford, include camera-based eye-tracking systems in their vehicles. These systems are meant to ensure drivers pay attention when using driver assistance features. Tesla, on the other hand, uses torque sensors in the steering wheel to make sure drivers keep their hands at the ready. However, some have found ways to trick this system, with Consumer Reports discovering that a heavy chain could be used to simulate hands on the wheel.

The FSD Beta has proven controversial as Tesla has increased availability. Aside from the ongoing NHTSA investigation — which could be headed toward a recall — there’s also a U.S. Justice Department investigation, and Tesla is facing a lawsuit claiming it mislead customers about the capabilities of FSD.

Source: @elonmusk Via: The Verge, Associated Press

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix says new ad-supported tier is doing well so far

Netflix claims its lower-cost, ad-supported membership has been performing well so far.

Speaking to Variety during the just-wrapped CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Jeremi Gorman, Netflix’s president of worldwide advertising, spoke more about how the ‘Basic with Ads’ subscription has fared since its November 2022 launch.

According to Gorman, Netflix is “pleased with the growth we’re seeing” in regards to Basic with Ads. For $5.99 CAD/month, the membership plays around four to five minutes of ads per hour across the majority of movies and shows.

Per December Antenna data, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, only nine percent of U.S. Netflix sign-ups in November were for Basic with Ads, making it the least popular option. The company was also said to have failed to meet its minimum viewership guarantee to advertisers, leading it to have to return money to them.

Basic with Ads launched in many countries beyond the U.S., including Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan. Therefore, assuming the Antenna data is accurate, it does only cover one market, and in the first month, no less. That said, without Gorman providing any actual data, it’s hard to see through the marketing speak. (At one point, she simply told Variety “You would be able to see if I was a concerned human [regarding Basic with Ads’ performance] — I wear it on my face.”)

In any case, Basic with Ads came amid an indisputably rough patch for Netflix in which it saw first-ever subscriber losses and increasingly stiff competition from the likes of Disney+ and HBO Max. The company has also developed a reputation for cancelling shows, which has only further alienated some consumers. Therefore, Basic with Ads is intended to help drive growth by bringing in new members.

Netflix’s next quarterly earnings report is set for January 19th, so it’s possible the streamer may talk more about the ad-supported tier then.

Source: Variety

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft says Surface Duo is still ‘important’ despite Duo 2 stock issues

Microsoft claims it’s still committed to the Surface Duo line despite ongoing stock issues making it hard to find a Duo 2.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen this all play out before. Back in September, rumours suggested Microsoft had discontinued the Surface Duo 2 but the company said the Duo 2 was out of stock due to “supply constraints.” Moreover, Microsoft definitively said the Duo 2 hadn’t been discontinued and that the company would “continue to update and to innovate on this form factor.”

Fast forward a few months and Windows Central is back with reports that the Duo 2 is running out of stock in multiple regions. In Canada, the Surface Duo 2 page listes the device as “currently not available,” and the ‘Build your device’ button is greyed out. However, there’s another ‘Build your device’ link on the page that, when clicked, goes to a blank page that says “this product currently has no configurations available.” (Back in September, the ‘Glacier’ variant of the Duo 2 was in stock and discounted by $600).

Microsoft offered the following statement to Windows Central when questioned about the lack of Duo 2 availability:

“We are aware supply is currently falling short of demand in several markets. While we do not have inventory information to share at present, Surface Duo remains an important part of the Surface portfolio.”

Windows Central also noted that Microsoft wouldn’t confirm if it ended production for the Surface Duo 2. However, it certainly appears like Microsoft stopped production given the device isn’t available in several regions. Plus, the Duo 2 is over a year old now, likely making it a tougher sell to those looking for a foldable phone.

Alongside Microsoft’s statement that Duo is still an important part of the Surface family, Windows Central noted that its sources confirmed Microsoft is working on a “third generation” Surface phone running on Android. Unfortunately that was all that was shared about the new Surface phone.

While intriguing, I won’t be getting my hopes up about a new Surface phone just yet. Microsoft has a history of working on new products that never see release. For example, in July 2022, images of an unreleased mid-range Surface Duo emerged online. And need I mention the Surface Neo?

Source: Windows Central

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Find My Device network to soon let you find offline Fast Pair devices

Since last year Google has been working on a ‘Find My Device’ network, and now it looks like more information about the feature has surfaced on the web.

Well-known senior technical editor of Esper, Mishaal Rahman, found some strings of data in the latest Google Play Services build about the Find My Device network. The string of code includes the “last known location reports” feature in Find My Device that can track your Android device even when it’s not connected to the internet. The app will now store your device’s last known offline location, which will be encrypted and securely stored with Google.

You’ll be able to access the data by entering the password of the Google account linked to the phone or the device screen lock. Google plans on expanding its Find My Device network to include Fast Pair accessories. While you can already track Fast Pair accessories, this only works when they are connected to your phone. Now, if they are offline and out of range, you’ll still be able to track their location.

The Find My Device network will enable other compatible accessories to broadcast the encrypted location of nearby Android devices, then relay that information to Google’s servers.

It looks like Google is trying to beat Apple’s Find My network, and it should go live sometime this year.

Source Android Police, Mishaal Rahman

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Mobile Syrup

Spark Mail gets a new look with Android 13 Material You support

Readle Inc.’s Spark email application is getting an Android 13 Material You facelift.

The email platform now supports Material You themes, a themed app icon, an Android 13 photo picker and “per-app language controls introduced with Google’s latest OS,” as reported by 9to5Google.

The update will allow users to match Spark with their phone’s wallpaper theme and colour scheme. You’ll also see a colour-adjusted app icon if you have the “themed Icon” toggle enabled in settings. “I am personally super excited about this update. Now Readdle is not just an Apple-first platform. We also make updates with android-specific features after the new OS version release. I am happy that our android users can now enjoy a Spark experience that matches their phone style and preferences,” said Alex Tyagulsky, Readdle co-founder and head of Spark, in a blog post.

To enable an updated, clean and personalized look on Spark, open the app’s settings on a device running Android 13. Select ‘Appearance’ and enable the “Match system colours” toggle.

Similarly, to enable colour-adjusted app icons, tap and hold an empty spot on your home screen. Choose ‘Wallpape​​r & style’ in a pop-up. Scroll down and enable the ‘Themed icons’ toggle.

Alongside the aesthetic changes, the Spark app now also features a more secure photo picker, alongside the ability to select a specific language for Spark, even if your phone is set to a different language. Learn more about the changes and how to enable them here.

Image credit: Spark

Source: Spark, Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Apple reportedly has minimal updates for Mac, iPad, and other products this year

Apple will reportedly offer minimal updates to its iPad, AirPods, Apple TV, and Apple Watch product lines in 2023 due to its focus on launching the long-rumoured and repeatedly delayed mixed-reality (MR) headset.

According to Bloomberg‘s reliable Mark Gurman in the latest Power On newsletter, Apple will have a “muted 2023” because the company has been pulling resources from several hardware and software engineering departments to work out the kinks with the MR headset. Apple is expected to reveal the headset, reportedly dubbed ‘Reality Pro,’ in the spring ahead of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The headset runs on xrOS, internally called ‘Borealis.’ The idea is that Apple will unveil the device, then use WWDC to get developers up-to-speed on the software and features ahead of the headset shipping in the fall.

Few major Mac changes save a possible 15-inch MacBook Air

As for Apple’s other products, Gurman listed out what he expects to see in 2023. Starting with the Mac lineup, Gurman says new MacBook Pros will come in the first half of the year with a processor bump to the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Gurman describes the chips as “marginal leaps” from the current MacBook Pros.

Gurman also noted that Apple reportedly cancelled the high-end configuration of the Mac Pro with 48 CPU cores and 152 graphics cores. Instead, the company plans to launch a version running on the M2 Ultra. The Mac Pro will reportedly look identical to the 2019 ‘cheese grater‘ model. Moreover, the Mac Pro will lose some expandability since RAM is tied directly to the M2 Ultra, but it should still have two SSD slots and expansion options for graphics, media, and networking cards.

Moreover, Gurman doesn’t expect Apple will launch a larger iMac Pro in 2023, while a spec bump for the 24-inch iMac won’t happen until the M3 chip is ready — Gurman says it’ll be late 2023 or 2024 at the earliest. Perhaps the biggest upcoming product is a rumoured 15-inch MacBook Air coming this year.

iPads, Watches, and more

When it comes to iPads, Gurman noted that Apple has been working on larger models but has been told not to expect them in 2023. Additionally, the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro updates won’t come until the first half of 2024 — the updates will likely include a new design and OLED displays.

As for other iPad models, like the mini, Air, and entry-level iPad, Gurman says any updates that come this year — if there are any — will just be spec bumps.

Moving on to the Apple Watch, Gurman doesn’t expect any major changes to the hardware. Instead, there will just be some minor performance improvements. AirPods also “won’t get any updates of note” this year, and there are no plans for a new Apple TV, either.

Finally, Gurman says the larger HomePod is still set to return this year, but likely won’t have “anything revolutionary.” Gurman expects a lower price, an updated touch control panel, and the S8 chip from the latest Apple Watches in a similar package to the 2018 model.

Gurman noted that upcoming Apple software updates, including iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14, will likely have fewer major features than normal due to the focus on xrOS.

Source: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

Steam sets new record with over 32 million concurrent online users

2023 is only a little over a week in, and Valve’s Steam is already breaking records.

The game distribution platform had a record-breaking weekend, surpassing its previous peak for concurrent online users. According to SteamDB, via The Verge, Steam hit 10,082,055 active in-game players and 32,186,301 concurrent online users on Saturday, January 7th.

Concurrent users are people who’ve logged into Steam, and have the application open on their PCs, but aren’t necessarily playing a game.

What’s more, in the 24 hours following the milestone, Steam had already set a new all-time peak of 33,078,963 concurrent online users, surpassing Saturday’s record by roughly one million users.

Steam’s trend of breaking concurrent online user records began around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when people were stuck inside their homes with little to do. In March of 2020, Steam set a new all-time record for concurrent users at 20.3 million. By March 2022, that number had increased to 30 million.

Now, the record sits at 33.07 million.

The two most popular games on Steam during this record-breaking weekend were Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and DOTA 2. Recent Among Us-like social deduction hit Goose Goose Duck took the third spot over the weekend, which reportedly had an all-time peak of 640,324 players.

Header image credit: Valve

Source:@SteamDB, Via: The Verge