Author: Mobile Syrup

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Twitter reportedly working on paywalled video feature

Unsurprisingly, things continue to change at Twitter under Elon Musk at a breakneck pace. One of the latest developments is a plan to paywall video content on the social platform.

The details come from The Washington Post (via The Verge), which obtained an internal company email. According to the email, users would be able to enable a ‘Paywalled Video’ feature after adding a video to a tweet and could select from preset prices, such as $1, $2, $5, or $10. Moreover, other users would still be able to retweet the video without paying to view it.

The Post also noted it’s unclear if the video plan predates Musk’s acquisition. It certainly sounds like it could — as The Verge notes, Twitter has long been exploring ways to increase revenue outside of advertising. Alternate revenue sources include things like Super Follows, which let users pay for subscriber-only content, and the Twitter Blue subscription.

Regardless of whether the paywalled video idea predated Musk, his Twitter acquisition appears to have accelerated the feature — Twitter employees reportedly have just one or two weeks to launch the video paywall feature.

However, the tight deadline may lead to other problems for Twitter. It reportedly would leave the company’s internal review team as little as three days to evaluate the risks of charging for video content, such as what happens if a user uploads copyrighted content and charges for it.

The Verge also highlights potential issues with Twitter’s porn community. Twitter remains one of the few major social media platforms to allow adult content, and while the community might benefit from a paywalled video feature, it could also cause problems with advertisers and payment providers (as a reminder, payment providers have caused problems for other adult content platforms like OnlyFans).

Source: The Washington Post Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Musk pulled 50 Tesla employees to work on Twitter code

After completing his $44 billion USD (roughly $60 billion CAD) acquisition of Twitter on October 28th, Elon Musk has reportedly brought in 50 of his trusted Tesla Autopilot software engineers to review Twitter’s code, as reported by CNBC News. 

According to internal records reviewed by CNBC News, employees from Musk’s other companies are now allowed to work at Twitter, with 50 from Tesla, two from the Boring Company and one from Neuralink already switching.

It is currently unclear whether Tesla employees are expected to split their schedules between working at Twitter and Tesla, or if they are expected to dedicate their full time to the social media company. Added to that, these employees are reported to have little to no experience in the field of social media coding, and use a different programing language from the one used at Twitter.

Tesla software engineers use Python programing language, while Twitter runs on the Scala programing language.

Further, Twitter employees have been asked to show technical documentation to justify the work they do at Twitter to prove their value to the company. Employees have also reportedly been working unsustainably long shifts since Musk’s takeover to meet deadlines, with the news that Musk intends to trim Twitter’s headcount significantly looming over them.

“The employees said they are worried about being fired without cause or warning, rather than laid off with severance,” reads the CNBC News report.

In addition to ‘fixing’ Twitter, Musk has also asked software engineers at Twitter to look at Vine’s code in an attempt to revive the app. Twitter acquired Vine for $30 million USD (about $40 million CAD) in 2012, only to shut it down in 2016. Read more about it here.

For the latest on the Musk x Twitter happenings, check out all our coverage here.

Source: CNBC News

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Mobile Syrup

Entitled Call of Duty player heads to Activision studio to appeal bans

A Call of Duty player claims he went to an Activision studio to contest a ban he received in the recently released Modern Warfare 2.

In a since-deleted post in the r/activision subreddit, the gamer says he was “wrongfully banned” on Battle.net on October 28th and his appeal was “autodenied.” This led him to purchase a second copy of the game on Steam and make a new Battle.net account on October 29th, but this was also “wrongfully banned.” Notably, the user never cited any apparent reason for the ban.

In the end, he says these frustrations led him to travel to Activision’s Austin, Texas office to complain in person, only to be stopped by a security guard in the parking lot. He adds that the security guard told him he wouldn’t be able to speak to anyone in the studio but would relay his message. Upon doing so, the officer returned to say the team is short-staffed and “it will take a few weeks for unwarranted bans to be resolved.”

Naturally, The Gamer™ wasn’t happy. “I voiced my frustration due to the fact that I spent 140 dollars (70 + 70) and am left unable to play and the security guard told me to ‘not allow myself to get mad about a video game’ and told me that ‘I can be patient and wait,’” he says.

As mentioned, it’s unclear why this user was banned in the first place, so it could have been something legitimate like hate speech. But even if it wasn’t warranted, that obviously doesn’t justify him heading to the actual studio. Given the amount of abuse developers already take online, it’s concerning, to say the least, that an upset gamer wanted to just march right into a studio.

As The Gamer points out, concealed carry is even legal in Texas, so it’s scary to think of how a situation like this could have gone down. After all, we continue to see how violent acts — like the recent assault of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband — are carried out by people radicalized by GamerGate.

Therefore, it should go without saying, but please do not ever attempt to go to a studio to air your grievances, even if they are legitimate. Take the security guard’s advice and maybe chill out a little.

Note: Activision-Blizzard is currently facing ongoing legal issues regarding harassment and workplace culture. The company has been accused of enabling “frat boy culture.” Legal proceedings and investigations remain underway. Meanwhile, CEO Bobby Kotick is also under the microscope for allegedly covering up reports and allegations. New reports continue to filter in regarding sexual harassment allegations at the company.

Image credit: Activision

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Mobile Syrup

Musk says it’ll be ‘a few more weeks’ before Twitter re-platforms banned users

Elon Musk, the rich guy so hopelessly addicted to Twitter he bought it for $44 billion USD, says it will be “at least a few more weeks” before people banned from the platform will be allowed to return.

In a tweet (it’s always a tweet), Musk explained that he wants a “clear process” for allowing people previously banned from Twitter to return to the site. Creating that process will take a “few more weeks.”

Musk’s desire to bring back banned users hasn’t exactly been a secret. Musk previously called Twitter’s ban of insurrectionist and former U.S. President Donald Trump a “mistake,” and made it clear he would lift the ban after gaining control of Twitter.

Moreover, Musk said last week that there wouldn’t be any “major content decisions or account reinstatements” until Twitter had formed a content moderation council with “widely diverse viewpoints.” Following his tweet about creating a clear process for re-platforming banned users, Musk noted that the content moderation council will “include representatives with widely divergent views, which will certainly include the civil rights community and groups who face hate-fueled violence.”

Finally, Musk tweeted that he had talked with leaders from organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, NAACP, Free Press and Color of Change, about how Twitter will “continue to combat hate & harassment & enforce its election integrity policies.” Free Press co-CEO Jessica J. Gonzalez told CNBC in a statement that the conversation with Musk was “productive” and noted the new Twitter CEO promised the re-platforming process would be transparent. Moreover, Gonzalez said Musk planned not to reinstate accounts that violated Twitter’s trust and safety rules before the U.S. midterm elections on November 8th.

Admittedly, this appears to be somewhat good news for those worried about how Twitter would change under Musk. In the early hours of Musk’s Twitter takeover, the site saw an increase in hate speech and harassment from users emboldened by Musk’s free speech views. Meanwhile, Musk worked to assuage the concerns of advertisers, writing that Twitter wouldn’t turn into a “free-for-all-hellscape.”

For the latest on all the Musk x Twitter news, check out our coverage here.

Source: @elonmusk Via: CNBC

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Mobile Syrup

HBO’s The Last of Us to premiere on January 15

HBO has announced that its live-action TV adaptation of The Last of Us will premiere on January 15th, 2023.

The premiere date seemingly leaked earlier this week, but HBO is now confirming it via a poster on its official social media accounts for the series.

In September, Bell confirmed that its Crave service will stream the series in Canada on day one.

Based on the PlayStation video game series of the same name, The Last of Us follows a hardened survivor named Joel as he must escort a young girl, Ellie, across a post-apocalyptic America. Notably, the TV show was filmed in Calgary and is believed to be the largest television production in Canadian history.

Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) star as Joel and Ellie, respectively, while original stars Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson will play yet-to-be-revealed new characters. Neil Druckmann, the co-writer and director of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us games, has also teamed up with Chernobyl‘s Craig Mazin to adapt the series.

In related news, PlayStation recently released a PS5 remake of the original game.

Image credit: HBO 

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Mobile Syrup

Judge’s request to reach compromise on Rogers-Shaw deal prior to hearing disregarded

The hearing between Rogers-Shaw and the Competition Bureau over the former’s merger plans will start in a week, and attempts to streamline the process are failing.

Representatives from both sides have been going back and forth in front of Chief Justice Crampton. Crampton asked the two sides if they could reach a compromise. The most recent case management conference between the parties shows that it likely won’t be possible.

In a Tuesday meeting, the Competition Bureau said it wouldn’t accept anything less than entirely blocking the merger. Anything other than that “would not eliminate the substantial prevention and lessening of competition that arises from this transaction,” Derek Leschinsky, a lawyer for the Competition Bureau, said.

The bureau said the acquisition would lead to several problems for Canadians, including less competition in Canada’s wireless market. Rogers and Shaw said they would sell Freedom Mobile to Vidéotron to appease concerns. However, the move hasn’t won the favour of the bureau.

“There is no world in which Rogers will acquire Freedom Mobile,” Kent Thomson, a lawyer representing Shaw, said. “Freedom will be gone, in the hands of an independent company called Vidéotron, before Rogers acquires a single share of Shaw.”

The hearing begins on November 7th and will last four weeks, with a one-week extension if need be.

Via: The Globe and Mail 

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Mobile Syrup

Fujifilm’s X-T5 is a return to form for photographers

Hot off the release of the game-changing X-H2s, Fujifilm is back with the compact photography-focused X-T5.

The new camera features the same 40-megapixel sensor as the X-H2 and the upgraded autofocus system as the other new cameras from 2022. This is notable news since it means this camera is a significant step above anything with an X-Trans 4 sensor, in my experience.

The X-T5 is a photography-focused camera instead of the video tendencies built into the X-H line. That’s not to say that it won’t excel at shooting video, but think of it more as a successor to the X-T3 than the X-T4.

Without going into too much detail, there are three main factors that make this camera stand out from Fujifilm’s other new devices this year.

It features a tilt screen that can’t flip around when you’re filming yourself, unfortunately. On the plus side, for photography, the tilt-screen is better since it’s quicker to use and can tilt up and down easily to make shooting from low or high angles convenient. My current X-T3 camera features a tilt screen, and I love it when I’m taking pictures, but as my role at MobileSyrup moves more into video, I think the next camera I buy will need a fully articulating LCD.

Beyond that, the camera is tiny. As someone worried that Fujifilm cameras were trending bigger with the X-T4 and the X-H2s, the small size of the X-T5 is a relief. The camera comes in much closer in size to my beloved X-T3, and Fujifilm says it’s the same size as the original X-T1. Small cameras are fantastic, and this size-to-performance ratio has me excited to see what the company makes next.

The third thing Fuji fans will be excited to see in the X-T5 is the return of classic dials. Having a dedicated knob for ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation is great and a much-loved Fujifilm design.

Combining the new autofocus and 40-megapixel sensor with this small photo-centric body might not be my dream camera, but this is a substantial upgrade for many people. Anyone using an X-T3 or older for photography should be excited about this upgrade.

The camera comes in at $1,699.95 USD (roughly, $2,320 CAD). MobileSyrup will update this story with Canadian pricing when that information is available.

Image credit: Fujifilm

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Mobile Syrup

Paramount+ subscription climbs to $9.99/mo in Canada

The price of Paramount+ in Canada just went up.

According to a support page on the Paramount+ website, new Canadian subscribers will need to pay $9.99/mo or $99.99/year starting November 1st, 2022. Existing subscribers will see their costs go up with the December 2022 renewal.

“Paramount+ is in the process of getting even bigger, with many additions of blockbuster movies, new originals and exclusive series, plus a wide variety of hit drama, action, reality, comedy and kids shows. It’s a mountain of entertainment,” says the support page. Beyond that, the support page lists a variety of content that’s available on Paramount+ in an awkward attempt to justify the higher cost.

Details from the Paramount+ support page.

The price change marks a significant increase from the subscription service’s previous $5.99/mo price in Canada.

If you’re not interested in sticking with Paramount+ after the price increase, you can cancel by heading to the Paramount+ website, going to the account page and clicking ‘Cancel Subscription.’ From there, follow the steps to complete the cancellation.

The Verge reported that Paramount CFO Naveen Chopra sees “opportunities” to raise the Paramount+ price in the U.S. as well.

Paramount+ joins other streaming services in raising prices for Canadians, like YouTube and Apple. Amid record inflation, it seems every company is taking advantage and raising prices.

Source: Paramount+

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Mobile Syrup

Sony’s PS VR2 headset and Sense controllers launch Feb. 22 for $750

PS VR2, Sony’s upcoming virtual reality (VR) headset for the PS5, will launch on February 22nd, 2023 alongside its new Sense controllers.

The virtual reality bundle, which includes the VR headset, controllers and stereo headphones, costs $749.99 in Canada.

The PS VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle that adds a voucher code for the Horizon Call of the Mountain costs $819.99. The charging station, which allows users to charge the PS VR2 Sense controller through a click-in design without having to connect to a PS5 console, costs $64.99. For comparison, the PS5 costs $519 and $649 for the disc-less Digital Edition and standard model, respectively.

PS VR 2

Standalone titles, including Horizon Call of the Mountain, will also be available for pre-order starting this month, with more details coming later, says Sony.

PS VR2 Sense technology includes key features that offer unique gameplay experiences, such as headset feedback, eye-tracking 3D audio, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback via PS VR2’s new Sense controllers. Further, the VR device offers enhanced headset-based controller tracking and high-fidelity visuals thanks to its 90Hz/120Hz 2000 x 2040 pixel resolution displays. It also only uses a single cable, compared to the several that are required for the existing PS VR headset.

Sony also mentions that the PS VR2 has been designed with “comfort in mind,” emphasizing that it includes a lighter design and an integrated vent for more airflow.

Image credit: PlayStation

Source: PlayStation

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Mobile Syrup

Telus expands program supplying at risk Indigenous women with smartphones to Ontario

Telecom giant Telus says it will provide free smartphones and wireless services to Indigenous women in Ontario who are at risk or are surviving violence.

An expansion of Telus’ Mobility for Good program, the project is in partnership with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) and Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT).

The program will supply smartphones and talk, text, and data plans to  Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people. In Canada, Indigenous women and girls represent 24 percent of female homicide victims, despite only compromising four percent of the country’s female population. They are 12 times more likely to be missing or murdered than other women in Canada.

“Through the pandemic and continuously, the community faces barriers, disconnection, and through provision of devices, we can maintain interactions,” Pamela Hart, NWRCT’s executive director, said. “It is more than a phone or device, it’s connection to community, learning, culture and sometimes, a lifeline.”

The Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk first launched in 2021, helping Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Alberta and B.C. The program has supported almost 1,000 people so far, and Telus says it has plans to expand the program across Canada.

Source: Telus