Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

New Apple TV 4K features A15 Bionic chip and HDR10+ support

Alongside its new iPad Pro (2022) and entry-level iPad (2022), Apple has revealed an updated version of its Apple TV 4K set-top box that includes a more powerful A15 Bionic processor and support for HDR10+.

Apple’s refreshed streaming device comes in a Wi-Fi-only version with 64GB of strange and a Wi-Fi + Ethernet model with Thread compatibility and 128GB of storage. Apple’s Siri remote hasn’t been altered with this refresh. Finally, Apple says that the new Apple TV 4K features a “more compact design” than its predecessor.

Though the Apple TV (2021)’s A13 chip is plenty powerful already, the tech giant claims that the A15 chip offers a 50 percent boost in performance.

Pre-orders for the Apple TV 4K (2022) are available now and the streaming device launches on Friday, November 4th. The Wi-Fi-only model costs $179 and the ethernet + Wi-Fi version costs $199.

More to come…

Image credit: Apple

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.

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Lenovo shows off vertically rollable concept phone

At Lenovo Tech World 2022, the company showed off two new rollable concepts. The first is an unusual design, a device that rolls vertically instead of horizontally, unlike other rollable concepts.

While rollables typically turn smartphones into “tablets,” this concept turns a 4-inch device into a standard 6.5-inch smartphone. Motorola says that this design allows users to have a premium smartphone in a compact size.  It’s interesting as it’s the same idea behind the modern Motorola Razr.

The company is also looking at rollable technology in laptops. A concept of a rollable laptop was shown, revealing a display that can get taller. The President of Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group said the vertical display can help with multitasking, browsing and other applications.

I wouldn’t expect any of these concepts to come to fruition anytime soon, but hopefully, they show up at some point.

Source: Android Police, Lenovo Research 

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Mobile Syrup

Apple officially reveals M2-powered 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Apple Pencil hover

Following months of rumours, Apple has revealed its M2-powered 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

The new tablets offer the same M2 chips featured in the MacBook Air (2022) and 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022). Alongside the new chip, Apple’s high-end tablet can now detect the Apple Pencil when it’s hovering up to 12mm over the tablet’s display, opening up the possibility for new iPadOS features. Apple says that the functionality will also be available in third-party apps.

More to come…

Source: Apple Image credit: Apple

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft laying off people hundreds of staff in various departments

Tech giant Microsoft is laying off hundreds of employees.

According to Axios, one of the multiple news organizations that confirmed the layoffs, the figure sits under 1,000.

Business Insider states the layoffs impact a variety of departments, including Xbox and government tech.

“Like all companies, we evaluate our business priorities on a regular basis, and make structural adjustments accordingly. We will continue to invest in our business and hire in key growth areas in the year ahead,” Microsoft told Axios.

Microsoft follows in the footsteps of various other tech companies that announced similar staffing cuts, including Snap and Shopify.

Source: Axios, Business Insider

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 7/7 Pro free Google One VPN coming in December

Google’s fancy new Pixel 7 and 7 Pro arrived with a ton of new features, but a few won’t actually arrive until later this year. One of the more notable delayed features is the free VPN, but thanks to a support document, we now know it’ll come to Canada in December.

As spotted by 9to5Google, a Google One support document, ‘VPN by Google One’ will be available for free to Pixel 7 and 7 Pro devices starting December 2022:

“As of December 2022, *Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro consumers can access VPN by Google One at no extra cost on those devices through the Google One app without a Google One subscription. All other Google One membership benefits are sold separately.”

Moreover, the support document includes a list of countries where VPN by Google One is supported. That list includes Canada, so Canadian Pixel 7/7 Pro owners should get access to the feature.

Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. The support document goes on to note that current Google One premium members who already have access to VPN by Google One won’t see an impact on “the price or benefits of Google One Premium plans.” In other words, if you already pay for a 2TB or higher Google One plan, which includes the VPN service, you’re not getting any discount on your One plan for using the free VPN from the Pixel 7/7 Pro.

Additionally, there will be some limits to VPN availability depending on your Google account. According to the support document, Workspace and some supervised accounts (such as child accounts) aren’t eligible for the free VPN.

As 9to5 points out, it seems odd that the VPN by Google One feature won’t arrive until December, given that it already exists and works for people with 2TB+ Google One plans. The publication posits there could be some level of deeper integration between Pixel 7/7 Pro devices and the Google One VPN, which is why there’s the delay.

However, it could just be that Google’s trying to beef up its December Pixel feature drop with a few more goodies. The feature drop is expected to bring Android 13 QPR1 with some small changes like animated Quick Settings tiles and a change to the media player scrub bar, among other things. Clear Calling is set to arrive in the future, although it’s not clear if it’ll be with the feature drop or not.

Google brought VPN by Google One to Canada in August 2021, and earlier this year it expanded to iOS earlier this year.

Source: Google Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

4K Chromecast with Google TV gets Android 12 update

Android 12 is now rolling out to the 4K Chromecast with Google TV, reports 9to5Google. The operating system update reached the more affordable HD model earlier this month.

The update comes in at 722MB and “upgrades Android TV OS from 10 to 12.” Additionally, it brings the July 2022 security patch to the device. Further, it comes with a privacy update that lets you disable or enable the camera and mic access for all apps. And it comes with user settings that let you control HDR format and surround sound with the ability to match content frame rate.

The release notes include:

  • Upgrades Android TV OS from 10 to 12
  • Additional user settings lets you control HDR format and surround sound
  • New! Match content frame rate allows you to switch between refresh rates
  • Increased Security and Privacy
  • New camera and mic privacy toggles let you disable or enable camera/mic access for all apps
  • Android security patch level has been updated to July 2022
  • Other bug fixes and performance improvements

To download the update, head to your profile avatar in the top right corner > Settings > Systems > About > System update.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Custom Xbox Elite Series 2 gamepads start at $149 in Canada

Following the ‘Core in white‘ Elite Series 2 gamepad, Microsoft has revealed more details about its custom Elite Series 2 Xbox Design Lab option.

According to Microsoft, “nearly all” of the external parts of the Series 2 can be customized, including its body, back case, D-pad, bumpers, triggers, thumbsticks and buttons. In an Xbox Design Lab first, you can also select between a cross-shaped or faceted D-pad and customize the colour of the thumbstick and base ring. Like other Xbox Design Lab controllers, you can add a 16-character message to the gamepad.

Microsoft’s new custom Elite Series 2 starts at $149 for the base controller that doesn’t include back paddles or additional sets of thumbsticks. That said, ‘Elite Accessory Packs‘ with various thumbsticks, paddles and case options will be sold separately. On the other hand, a custom Elite Series 2 gamepad that includes paddles, extra thumbsticks, D-pad option and a carrying case/charging pack, starts at $209.99. If you don’t already own an Elite Series 2, this is likely the gamepad most people will be interested in.

The Elite Series 2 Xbox Design Lab option is coming to Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, most Western European countries, and select Southeast Asian countries.

While I once really liked Microsoft’s Elite Series 2 gamepad, the high-end controller has been plagued by hardware issues, and I’m on roughly my eighth gamepad currently (I keep getting it replaced under warranty). If it’s not the ‘A’ or ‘Y’ button only working 75 percent of the time, the right bumper or the joystick button stops working properly. I’ve even encountered problems with the Series 2’s back paddles and the gamepad constantly disconnecting.

With the release of this new Series 2 custom option, I’m hoping that Microsoft has finally ironed out the Xbox Elite Series 2’s several issues because if this gamepad features the same hardware as the current version of the gamepad, it’s not worth buying.

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Mobile Syrup

A U.S. jeweller is transforming the way the Apple Watch Ultra looks

The Apple Watch Ultra is massive. It features the largest battery, compared to other Apple Watches, at 542mAh. The device is targeted towards those practicing active sports, like scuba diving and rock climbing, and has features like the yellow rubberized ‘Ocean Band’ designed for those activities.

However, some might not be satisfied with the Watch Ultra’s look. But as Digital Trends reports, there’s always more that can be done. In this case, people can enlist De Billas Lux as an option. In a YouTube video, the U.S.-based jeweller used its polishing treatment on the device, making it look like raw metal. The company paired it with a matching link band, completely transforming the Apple Watch Ultra.

“We start by very carefully preparing the watch to be treated with an electrolytic solution in order to remove the paint and previous finish. After this, we carefully start polishing the watch with our special equipment in order to achieve the mirror finish you see,” De Billas Lux told Digital Trends. 

But the transformation comes with a steep price tag of $1,499 USD (roughly $2,052 CAD). It’s unclear if the transformation will void the device’s warranty or impact its use for active sports.

Take a look at the video for yourself:

Image credit: De Billas Lux/ screenshot

Source: De Billas Lux/ YouTube via Digital Trends

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Mobile Syrup

WhatsApp is working on a message edit button

Following in Twitter’s footsteps, WhatsApp is looking to add an edit button to the messaging app.

The new feature is rolling out in WhatsApp ‘Beta 2.22.22.14,’ as first shared by WABetaInfo.

With the addition of the ‘Edit’ feature, any messages that have been changed/fixed after being sent will be denoted with an “Edited” tag, as seen in the screenshot below:

Image credit: WABetaInfo

Additionally, WhatsApp will give users precisely 15 minutes to edit a message, and the message may not appear to be edited for the recipient if they do not check the message within a specific amount of time (probably, a day or a little more, says WABetaInfo.)

The feature is currently under development, and we don’t have an estimate as to when the feature would widely roll out, however, it’s neat to see the most popular global mobile messenger app finally offering its users a way to rectify typos or wrongly worded texts.

Source: WABetaInfo

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon Echo Show and Echo Dot bundles are up to 50 percent off

Following up on the big 2-day Prime Early Access Sale last week, Amazon has continued to discount some of its popular products. This time around, the Alexa-enabled Echo Show and Echo Dot has been bundled with a number of other smart home devices, such as Blink, Ring and eero Mesh Wifi Routers.

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