Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Pixel Watch has me excited about Wear OS again

Earlier this week, reviews for Google’s new Pixel products dropped, including for the long-rumoured Pixel Watch. In general, the response has been mixed. Reviewers seem to like the smartwatch’s design, but have quibbles with the software, Fitbit integration, performance and battery life.

As I said in my Pixel Watch review, there’s a lot of pressure on Google to get it right. On the one hand, there’s the Pixel hardware aspect — having a good smartwatch can help bring together the Pixel ecosystem in a way that few other tech companies (outside of Apple and Samsung) have managed to do.

However, the more important part in my eyes is the pressure to get Wear OS right. Whether or not the Pixel Watch succeeds, Wear OS will have a much wider impact on the non-Apple Watch smartwatch market because, frankly, there aren’t any other real players.

There’s Fitbit, but aside from now being part of Google, the company’s fitness trackers-turned-smartwatches haven’t really been that smart (and worse, have gotten less smart as Google strips away features for the Pixel Watch).

Likewise, Withing’s wearables — as much as I like them — are just fitness trackers that can also show some incoming notifications. Garmin has options, but I’d argue they’re at their best in the niche extreme fitness world. And I’m sure Samsung could go back to Tizen if Wear OS doesn’t work out, but did anyone actually like Tizen?

Suffice it to say that Wear OS needs to succeed.

Promises, promisesWith the Pixel Watch, Google has shown renewed interest in Wear OS. There was the Wear OS 3 update, which breathed new life into the stagnant wearable operating system. Plus, with its own skin the game, Google will likely develop new features for wearables on a regular basis.

But anyone familiar with Google will be skeptical. The company’s penchant for shuttering projects hangs over it like a miasma. That hasn’t stopped Google from working to dispel fears that its renewed interest in Wear OS might be fleeting. On multiple occasions, Google folks have reiterated commitments to both the Pixel Watch and Wear OS, even going so far as to promise annual updates. That will hopefully prevent Wear OS from stagnating again.

From left to right: LG G Watch, Pixel Watch, Fossil Gen 6

Earlier this year I tried out a Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch and was surprised to find Wear OS 2 had not meaningfully progressed since I had last used it (which happened to be on an LG G Watch in the mid-2010s when it was still called Android Wear). The Pixel Watch and Wear OS 3 are much, much better, although still not perfect. In some areas, Google’s still playing catch-up with the competition.

Still, this improvement gives me some hope for the future of Wear OS. The wearable operating system is closer than ever to the competition. At this point, I’m less worried about whether Google will stick with Wear OS than I am about the company’s ability to make Wear OS a viable option for wearable makers. If Google can do it, Android’s wearable options might finally rival the Apple Watch.

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Mobile Syrup

Are there hidden gems in Dollarama’s tech section? [Part 1]

Be it a fear of a looming recession or you’re just running low on cash and want to scratch that itch of getting a new gadget, Dollarama has a wide variety of tech products, ranging from wireless speakers, headphones, PC peripherals to wireless chargers, smart lights, power banks and more for under $5.

However, it’s important to remember that quantity never equates to quality, and while there are several tech products available at Dollarama, most of them are either going to offer bad build quality, sound flat, or not work at all, making you feel like you shouldn’t have shopped for tech at a dollar store. However, if you do a little bit of digging, you might be able to find a hidden gem or two.

I scoured my local Dollarama a week ago, and here’s what I found.

Tech1 wireless Bluetooth speaker

Tech1 is going to be a common occurrence in this article, as it supplies a bunch of tech products to Dollarama. Tech1’s Bluetooth speaker is one of the few products I can get behind, although it has some considerable limitations.

The speaker is available in Black and Blue colourways (from what I could find) and costs $4.75. The company highlights the speaker’s waterproofing, so I tested it in the shower.

It has a suction cup that lets it attach to almost any surface, and the speaker holds on well. I haven’t had an issue with the suction cup giving up and the speaker falling down (yet). The occasional water droplets landing on the speaker haven’t caused an issue, though I would be wary of submerging the speaker or letting it come in direct contact with a stream of water.

The Bluetooth range on the speaker isn’t significant, though it should be more than enough for most. I was able to go roughly two average-sized rooms away before the audio started distorting. It also comes with a microUSB cable to charge. The battery life on the speaker isn’t great, though; I was able to get just over an hour’s playtime on a full charge.

The speaker’s volume is loud, though the bass is non-existent and the vocals on it sound flat and lifeless. It’s great if you want background noise playing during shower sessions, or if you’re someone who likes to listen to podcasts in the shower. Either way, you can’t really go wrong with this $4.75 investment.

Tech1 gaming mouse

If you’re serious about PC gaming, you should not buy this mouse. Tech1 has given the mouse a complete gamer look with RGBs and a gamer-esque design, but this thing is far from what a gaming mouse actually is.

The mouse costs $4, so it not being wireless isn’t the biggest of my concerns.

The mouse features an optical sensor, though the way it tracks makes me feel like I’m using one of those old mice that had an egg-yolk-looking ball under it. There is a considerable delay between when I move the mouse and when it moves on the screen. I’d attribute that to an extremely low polling rate. The clicks on the mouse feel forced and have a noticeable delay that makes it almost impossible to play shooter games without getting triggered.

The scroll wheel also makes a ‘plasticky’ sound when clicked or scrolled, and I’m sure if the mouse had side buttons, those would sound abysmal, too.

Meanwhile, its size is similar to the Viper V2 Pro, so I didn’t have to adapt much to a different size. The RGBs are bright and the braided cable is decent and doesn’t interfere with the mouse moving.

Regardless of the few positives, I wouldn’t recommend that you pick up this mouse, even if you’re just starting your PC gaming journey.

Xtreme Lit Hexalite

Xtreme Lit’s Hexalites are one of the nicer finds at Dollarama. One pack contains one hexagon light and costs $4.50. I bought four packs and spent $18 on the lights in total.

The lights are battery-operated, with each one taking three AAA batteries (not included). They come with a hexagon metal sheet that has a 3M adhesive on the back. You simply attach the metal sheets on your wall in whatever pattern you want, and the lights magnetically attach to the sheets.

The lights have an on/off button on the rear and are touch-activated. The Hexalites offer seven colour options and are bright enough to be clearly visible even in a well-lit room, a great choice for someone looking to get in the hexa-light game without having to spend upwards of $200 on Nanoleaf or Phillips’ hexagon lights.

Tech1 wireless charging pad

I have no complaints about Tech1’s wireless charging pad. It charges all qi-enabled devices with 5W speeds, making it a great investment for overnight charging or for using it on your work desk.

It features a faint LED that glows red when it is laying dormant and blue when it is charging a device. It doesn’t come with an AC adapter, though it does have an attached USB-A end wire that you can plug into any owned adapters.

The pad charges my iPhone 12 Pro in roughly four hours, and is powerful enough to charge the phone without me having to remove its silicone case.

When sorted by low to high price on Amazon, wireless chargers start at roughly $8. Considering that Tech1’s 5w wireless charger costs just $4, and works as intended, I’d easily recommend it.

Tech1 webcam cover

There’s nothing much to see here. It’s just a $1.75 webcam cover from Dollarama that works as intended.

The pack comes with three webcam covers, each with a peel-off adhesive. The cover has a sliding mechanism that allows you to reveal or hide your laptop’s webcam.

The ‘sticky-ness’ on the covers is impressive, as it hasn’t fallen off or come loose after continuously fiddling with it.

If you’re paranoid about your privacy and would like to take the extra measure to cover your laptop’s webcam when not in use, $1.75 is pocket change for three webcam covers that are likely to last you a long time.

What didn’t work

Honestly, I expected more products to not work, but only two turned out to be duds: Electra’s Vortex Stereo Headphones and Stereo Earbuds.

I really wanted to try out the earbuds, considering they have a Skullcandy-ish look to them. The stereo headsets I wasn’t too excited about. I tried both products with an Android phone and on my PC, but they failed on both fronts.

That’s $4.25 lost on the headphones and $3 on the earbuds.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix is adding a $5.99 per month ad tier — are you interested?

Netflix is introducing an ad-supported subscription tier on November 1st that costs $5.99 per month.

‘Basic with Ads’ features access to the majority of Netflix’s catalogue, but there are “a limited number of movies, and TV shows that won’t be available due to licensing restrictions.” Meanwhile, an average of four to five minutes of ads will run per hour, both before and during a movie or TV show. They’ll last for 15 or 30 seconds.

This new low-cost membership only supports up to 720p (HD) streaming quality, and you won’t be able to download content.

To compare with the current options:

  • Netflix Basic — $9.99/month, up to 720p (this is now the standard quality for Basic, up from 480p), can only stream on one screen at the same time
  • Netflix Standard — $16.49/month, up to 1080p, can stream on up to two screens at the same time
  • Netflix Premium — $20.99/month, up to Ultra HD (4K HDR), can stream on up to four screens at the same time

What do you think of Netflix’s new ad tier are you interested in switching over on November 1st? Let us know in the comments below.

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Mobile Syrup

Lost your AirPods again? Here’s how to find them

If you’ve lost your AirPods or are trying to understand how to use Apple’s ‘Find My’ network, you’ve come to the right place.

All AirPod models can be tracked in the Find My app, but depending on the model, advanced tracking features might be available.

Whether your AirPods are separated from their charging case will determine if you see them as a set or as separate items within the Find My app.

From there, you can trigger the AirPods to play a sound or open Maps to get directions to your earphone’s last known location. That said, only the AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd-Gen) and AirPods Pro (all models) can be found with proximity detection if they’re within Bluetooth range.

Like an AirTag, you can use Apple’s high-end Precision Finding to track your case’s exact location using the embedded U1 chip. There’s also a speaker on the case to make finding it via sound possible. If you lose earbuds a lot, this may be your best bet to find them again.

You can also enable a feature in the Find My app that will notify you if you’ve left your AirPods behind, which can also be helpful.

What if I can’t find them?

If you’ve searched and can’t find your lost AirPods, there is one last hope. You can place the earbuds into ‘Lost Mode.’ Just swipe up on the device’s page within the Find My interface and mark them as lost.

When this happens, your earbuds will send a notification to your phone the next time they’re near an Apple device that’s connected to the Find My network. It also prohibits others from using the earbuds, which might deter theft.

Finally, this mode will trigger a message to pop up on whoever’s iPhone finds the earbuds to help them return them to you.

This feature isn’t available on the first generation of AirPods but should work on everything else.

Source: Apple

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Mobile Syrup

Streaming in Canada on Apple TV+, Crave, Disney+ and Netflix [Oct. 10-16]

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 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Apple TV+

Shantaram [Apple Original]

In the 1980s, a fugitive travels to Bombay to escape, only to get caught up with an enigmatic woman that forces him to choose between freedom and love.

Based on Gregory David Roberts’ novel of the same name, Shantaram was created by Eric Warren Singer (Top Gun: Maverick) and Steve Lightfoot (The Punisher) and stars Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Richard Roxburgh (Rake), Radhika Apte (Lust Stories) and Alexander Siddig (Game of Thrones).

Apple TV+ Canada release date: October 14th, 2022 (first three episodes, new episodes every Friday)
Genre: Drama thriller
Runtime: 12 episodes (around one hour each)

Stream Shantaram here.

An Apple TV+ subscription costs $5.99/month in Canada.

The full list of what’s coming to Apple TV+ Canada this month can be found here.

Crave

Avenue 5 (Season 2)

Five months after failing to reroute the vessel, the crew struggles to deal with the increasingly unruly passengers.

Avenue 5 was created by Armando Ianucci (Veep) and stars Hugh Laurie (House), Josh Gad (Frozen), Zach Woods (The Office), Rebecca Front (Lewis) and Suzy Nakamura (The West Wing).

Crave release date: October 10th, 2022 (first episode, new episodes every Monday at 10pm ET)
Genre: Sci-fi comedy
Runtime: Eight episodes (about 30 minutes each)

Stream Avenue 5 here.

38 at the Garden

Frank Chi (RBG) directs this documentary about point guard and former Toronto Raptor Jeremy Lin’s landmark 2012 season with New York Knicks.

Crave release date: October 11th, 2022
Genre: Sports documentary
Runtime: 38 minutes

Stream 38 at the Garden 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.

Disney+

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War

Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki returns to the battlefield after a new enemy appears.

The Bleach sequel series features the returning voices of Masakazu Morita (Ichigo), Fumiko Orikasa (Rukia), Yuki Matsuoka (Orihime), Noriaki (Uryu) and Hiroki (Yasutora).

Disney+ Canada release date: October 11th, 2022 (first episode, new episodes every Tuesday
Genre: Anime
Runtime: 52 episodes (around 30 minutes each)

Stream Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War here.

Welcome to Wrexham [Star Original]

This docuseries follows Vancouver’s own Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)  as they try to run Welsh soccer team Wrexham FC, the third-oldest club in the world.

It’s worth noting that a second season is in the works.

FX release date: August 24th to October 12th, 2022
Disney+ Canada release date: October 13th, 2022 (all episodes)
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 18 episodes (21 to 45 minutes each)

Stream Welcome to Wrexham here.

A Disney+ subscription costs $11.99/month or $119.99/year.

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

Netflix

Easy-Bake Battle: The Home Cooking Competition [Netflix Original]

Montreal’s Antoni Porowski (Queer Eye) hosts this series about home cooks competing to make the best fast and easy dishes for a cash prize.

Netflix Canada release date: October 11th, 2022
Genre: Reality competition
Runtime: Eight episodes (36 to 38 minutes each)

Stream Easy-Bake Battle: The Home Cooking Competition here.

Island of the Sea Wolves [Netflix Original]

Narrated by Toronto’s Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Island of the Sea Wolves explores the nature and wildlife of beautiful Vancouver Island.

Netflix Canada release date: October 11th, 2022
Genre: Nature documentary
Runtime: Three episodes (40 to 46 minutes each)

Stream Island of the Sea Wolves here.

A ‘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.

This week in Netflix news: Netflix revealed a Canadian release date and pricing for its low-cost ad-supported membership tier.

Premium video on demand (PVOD)

Clerks III

After surviving a massive heart attack, Randal Graves teams up with fellow clerks to make a movie about the Quick Stop Convenience store.

Clerks III was written and directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks) and features returning Clerks stars Brian O’Halloran (Dante), Jeff Anderson (Randal), Trevor Fehrman (Elias), Rosario Dawson (Becky), Jason Mewes (Jay) and Smith (Silent Bob).

Original theatrical release date: September 13th, 2022 (limited release)
PVOD release date: October 14th, 2022
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Clerks III can be purchased for $14.99 on PVOD platforms like iTunes and Google Play.

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

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

Image credit: Disney

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s what Razer announced at RazerCon 2022 today

During Razer’s RazerCon event earlier today, the Irvine, California-based company announced new gadgets, accessories and software, alongside updates to existing fan favourites, including the Razer Kraken Kitty, Razer Barracuda wireless gaming headset and the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL optical gaming keyboard.

Let’s start off with the new releases:

Razer Edge

The Razer Edge is the company’s new 5G Android handheld gaming device that has “thousands of compatible AAA games from day one.”

The handheld features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 144hz refresh rate at 2400 x 1080 FHD+ pixel resolution. It’s currently unknown if the refresh rate is adaptive or stable at 144. It’s built on Snapdragon’s G3x Gen 1 Gaming Platform, and runs on a 5,000mAh battery for extended gaming sessions.

The handheld can take advantage of all android gaming from the Play Store, while also being able to stream games on the cloud through Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) and Nvidia GeForce Now. Further, games can be played via touchscreen or through the Razer Edge’s tactile controls

The handheld will be available in 5G (powered by Verizon) and Wi-Fi versions.

“With the Razer Edge 5G and Verizon Ultra Wideband you’ll have, in your hands, a full mobile gaming system with a reliable connection that can push ultra-fast speeds, with low lag,” said Brian Higgins, SVP, device and consumer product marketing at Verizon. “In other words, you’ll soon be able to smash the competition, all while giving your favourite gaming chair a bit of a break for the day.”

The handheld has Wi-Fi 6E support for when you want to game at home, alongside a webcam, allowing you to stream directly from the device.

The device comes bundled with the Razer Kishi V2 Pro, though, unfortunately for Canadians, the device is launching in the U.S. only. Canadians would either have to cross the border to pick one up, or wait until the handheld releases in Canada.

The Razer Edge 5G will be available exclusively from Verizon, and the Razer Edge Wi-Fi will be available exclusively at Razer.com and RazerStore locations in January 2023.

The Razer Edge Wi-Fi will cost $399.99 USD (roughly $555 CAD), while the 5G model’s pricing is yet to be decided.

Kraken Kitty V2 Pro

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is a direct upgrade of the Kraken Kitty edition headphones, now with interchangeable ears.

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is a wired headset with support for Razer’s Chroma RGB lights, that now comes with extra bear and bunny ears, in addition to the original cat ears. Directed at streamers, the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro comes with all three ear types in the box, so you don’t have to spend any extra money to customize your headphones.

Further, with support for Chroma RGB, the ears can react and light up in real-time to whatever is happening on your stream, be it emotes, alerts, and new subscriptions and more.

The headphones feature a detachable cardioid mic, and come with Razer’s TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers for 7.1 digital surround sound support.

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro will be available for preorder in Q4 2022, starting at $199.99 USD (roughly $277 CAD) at Razer.com, RazerStores, and select retailers. Razer is yet to provide Canadian pricing.

Razer Blue Screen

Razer says the green in its products is similar to the green used in regular green screens, which cause its products to become invisible in stream and videos, thus, the company has released a Blue Screen that functions just like a regular green screen would. “Crafted with premium fibers, the Razer Blue Screen allows streamers to create their own worlds and display the most seamless and immersive backgrounds on a wrinkle-free backdrop,” says the company.

Razer’s Bluescreen is completely height adjustable and can stand as tall as 94-inches, which is more than enough for a home streaming setup. Additionally, it is collapsable, can be quickly deployed and has a carrying handle for easy portability.

Razer’s Bluescreen is available now for $149.99 USD (roughly $208 CAD) at Razer.com and Razer Stores.

Razer Kaira Series headsets

At RazerCon, Razer unveiled three new Kaira series headsets designed for the PlayStation 5.

“The new Razer Kaira X, a wired headset, as well as the new Kaira HyperSpeed and Kaira Pro HyperSpeed, which are wireless multi-platform gaming headsets, deliver immersion and untethered freedom,” wrote the company in its news release about the new products.

The new wireless headsets can connect to your console over a 2.4GHz wireless connection to ensure seamless and low-latency audio with a 30-hour battery life on a full charge. Whereas the Razer Kaira Pro HyperSpeed exclusively features haptic feedback powered by Razer HyperSense, “allowing gamers to feel what they hear.”

All three new Kaira headphones feature Razer’s TriForce 50mm drivers for 7.1 digital surround sound support, added clarity and rich, full-range audio, alongside a detachable cardioid microphone.

The Razer Kaira Pro HyperSpeed is available now starting at $199.99 USD (roughly $277 CAD)  at Razer.com and at select retailers. Razer is yet to provide Canadian pricing.

The Razer Kaira HyperSpeed is available now starting at $129.99 USD (roughly $180 CAD) at Razer.com and at select retailers. Razer is yet to provide Canadian pricing.

The Razer Kaira X is available now starting at $59.99 USD (roughly $83) at Razer.com and at select retailers. Razer is yet to provide Canadian pricing.

Razer Axon PC Wallpaper app

Razer Axon is the company’s new PC wallpaper application that works hand-in-hand with Chroma RGB-compatible devices. The application offers a range of animated and static wallpapers that react in real time with the company’s Chrom RGB devices. The wallpapers comprise but aren’t limited to, images from video game franchises, Razer wallpapers, specially curated photos and more.

The app is compatible with user-added wallpapers, so you can add whatever you’d like to be displayed on your monitor, and the app will sync it with the RGB on your Razer-owned devices and manage it for you. “Gamers with multiple monitors can enjoy Razer Axon too, with its multi-monitor support, letting gamers truly customize their set-ups like never before,” wrote Razer in its release about the new products.

The app is available to download now. 

Upgrades to pre-existing devices

A range of older Razer devices are now available in new colourways.

Razer’s Barracuda wireless multi-platform gaming headset and the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL optical gaming keyboard are now available in Quartz colourway. Additionally, the Razer BlackShark V2 X wired headset, Razer Orochi V2 mobile wireless gaming mouse, and Razer Strider Hybrid mouse mat in large size are also available in Quartz colourway.

The Razer Barracuda Quartz Edition is $159.99 USD (roughly $222 CAD) and will be available in October 2022 at Razer.com and at select retailers. The headset in its original colourway is available for $229.99 CAD.

The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Quartz Edition is $159.99 USD (roughly $222 CAD) and will be available in October 2022 at Razer.com and at select retailers. The keyboard in its original colourway is available for $199.99 CAD.

The Razer BlackShark V2 X Quartz Edition is $59.99 USD (roughly $83 CAD)  and will be available in October 2022 at Razer.com and at select retailers. The headset in its original colourway is available for $79.99 CAD.

The Razer Orochi V2 Quartz Edition is $69.99 USD (roughly $97 CAD) and will be available in October 2022 at Razer.com and at select retailers. The mouse in its original colourway is available for $89.99 CAD.

The Razer Strider Quartz Edition in Large is $29.99 USD (roughly $41 CAD) and will be available in October 2022 at Razer.com and at select retailers. The large-size mat in its original colourway is available for $39.99 CAD.

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox’s Accessibility Showcase is such an important initiative

The second-annual Xbox Accessibility Showcase was held on Thursday, October 13th, spotlighting the gaming giant’s various efforts to make games more inclusive.

During the showcase, which was hosted by Canadian accessibility consultant and content creator Steve Saylor, Xbox boss Phil Spencer spoke about the importance of “making gaming accessible to the over 400 million players with disabilities.” It’s something that a lot of people don’t think about, but it’s nonetheless essential.

After speaking to Steve last year, I’ve come to be more empathetic about the many barriers that disabled communities face in gaming, be it illegible text for the visually impaired, full captions for the deaf or hard of hearing or complex button inputs for those with motor limitations. Many of us take for granted that we can just pick up a controller or keyboard and enjoy a game, and it’s heartbreaking to think of all the reasons why others are less fortunate.

Therefore, I love seeing the industry-leading work that Microsoft does with accessibility, and nowhere is that more apparent than in this showcase.

For context, here’s some of what was revealed at this year’s event:

An image of one of the accessibility features in the game Pentiment, which allows you to choose the type of font.

One of the accessibility features in Pentiment allows you to choose the type of font. (Image credit: Xbox)

This is all wonderful. While the gaming industry has slowly been adopting accessibility, there are still many areas of improvement. For example, in a 2022 Game Developers Conference survey, only 39 percent of respondents said they had implemented accessibility measures into their games. One respondent even “there is still a lot of pushback in implementing accessibility features.” Microsoft doing its part to try to educate more developers about accessibility and make it easier for them to enable it in their games can go a long way — both through the above initiatives and hosting events like Toronto’s #a11yTO conference.

Likewise, more transparency about Xbox and PC games with accessibility features helps disabled players significantly. As Steve told me, accessibility is often an afterthought to companies, and players often don’t find out what assistive features, if any, are included in a game. This means they often have to take a chance on a game in hopes that they can play it, and sometimes, that can result in a waste of time and money when they come across unforeseen barriers.

And to be clear, it’s not just Microsoft doing this. PlayStation has been making big strides with accessibility through the likes of The Last of Us and God of War: Ragnarök, while Ubisoft and Square Enix have done similarly strong work in this area. Hopefully, seeing what Microsoft and these other companies are doing helps inform both the industry and consumers about the significance of accessibility.

With that in mind, I recommend watching the showcase if you have the chance. Plus, with the gaming industry usually being so secretive, it’s cool to follow Steve as he visits the company’s Inclusive Tech Lab and shows you the innovative work that’s being done there. It’s also absolutely worth checking out Steve’s other work — he’s really knowledgeable and likable, so you can learn a lot while being entertained.

Additionally, our interviews with Eidos Montreal and Naughty Dog are remarkably insightful; the developers I spoke to helped teach me a lot about accessibility. In particular, they smartly brought up a few examples of how accessibility features like adjustable subtitles and button remapping can help even those who don’t have disabilities.

Finally, other helpful resources include Can I Play That?, Ubisoft accessibility lead Aderyn Thompson, the AbleGamers charity and the DAGER System.

Image credit: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter is working on a mention-limiting feature

Twitter is working on a new feature that allows you to limit who can mention in Twitter posts.

Found by reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, the feature lets users to toggle three different mention settings.

  1. Anyone can mention you
  2. Only people you follow can mention you
  3. Turn mentions off completely

Further, according to The Verge, Twitter privacy designer Dominic Camozzi confirmed in a Tweet that the feature is currently in development, only to delete the Tweet later.

The new feature is sure to help users on the platform avoid unnecessary confrontations and make bullying less prevalent on the platform.

Other similar privacy-focused Twitter features include the ability to ‘Unmention’ yourself from conversations, and limiting who can reply to your Tweets.

Source: @wongmjane

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s rumoured VR headset might let you make payments with your eyes

Given you can already validate payments with Face ID, Apple’s facial recognition system on iPhone, it’s not surprising the tech giant’s often-rumoured virtual reality/augmented reality (AR/VR) headset could utilize iris scanning technology for logins and payments.

According to The Information, which cites two people familiar with the headset, the iris scanning system aims to make it easier for the wearer to use the headset with their own accounts. Though still unconfirmed, this could be a key factor that separates the device from the recently announced Meta Quest Pro. If you’ve used the Oculus Quest 2, you’ll know how finicky it can be to log into accounts or make payments with its motion controller.

Meta’s Quest Pro, which costs an astounding $2,299, features cameras inside it that track the user’s face motion and eyes. The Information says that Apple’s headset will take this approach one step further with downward-facing cameras that capture the users’ legs.

Apple’s mixed reality headset has been in development for years and is rumoured to have a $3,000 USD price tag (roughly $3,736 CAD).

Finally, The Information says that Apple’s VR headset will be lighter than the Meta Quest Pro and that it will feature mesh fabric, aluminum and glass in an effort to look more high-end. The headset will likely be powered by a chip similar to Apple’s M2 processor, and reports indicate it will be compatible with magnetically attachable prescription lenses.

It’s unclear when Apple’s mixed reality headset will finally release, but most rumours point to 2023.

Source: The Information Via: 9to5Mac 

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Mobile Syrup

City of Hamilton ‘regrets’ exposing emails and names of 450 voters

The City of Hamilton, Ontario experienced a privacy breach, exposing the names and emails of approximately 450 voters.  The City’s statement about the breach said it “regrets the error and any distress.”

“Multiple email addresses were inadvertently entered in the to: line of the email instead of the bcc: line, exposing email addresses to all recipients of the email message,” says the cit. This affected all who registered to use the ‘Vote by Mail’ process.

The City of Hamilton sent a follow-up email to the original recipients and said that “immediate steps were taken to recall the message; however, the email was not successfully recalled by all of the recipients,” reports CTV.

Hamilton is also asking those who’ve received the original message to delete it from their inbox and deleted folders.

If you have any complaints about this situation, you can reach out to City Clerk’s Division – here at 905-546-2424 ext. 2743 or email clerk@hamilton.ca.

Source: City of Hamilton, CTV