Google dropped the closest look yet at its upcoming Pixel Watch wearable. A 51 second video posted to the ‘Made by Google’ YouTube channel shows off the watch from several angles and with several watch faces.
Called “The Design of Google Pixel Watch,” the short video really only includes about 30 seconds of actual Pixel Watch footage, with the rest of the video showing the Google logo and a collection of the company’s upcoming hardware, including the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
The video clip gives a good look at the rotating crown, while at the seven-second mark we get an excellent side profile view that shows off how thick the Pixel Watch is. There’s the curved glass top, the middle case, and the bottom sensor layer. That said, I’ll reserve judgements on the thickness until I actually get my hands on one since it can be hard to tell how thick it actually is from a short clip.
Continuing on, we get a side view showing where the band attaches to the watch, followed by another view showing the bands actually attaching to the Pixel Watch. What’s particularly interesting about this is the watch rotates a little before the bands ‘click’ into place.
After that, the video flashes through different watch faces and Pixel Watch styles, gives a closer look at the clasp on the band (which is nearly identical to the clasp on the Fitbit Sense), and that’s it.
We’ll likely learn more about the Google Pixel Watch and more at the company’s upcoming October event.
Amazon is having a blaster of a sale on SanDisk SD Cards and Flash Drives. One would call this a fire sale as the deals bring savings of up to 37 percent.
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On Twitter, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter confirmed that a new Pokémon-themed single, “Celestial,” will drop on September 29th. When Sheeran collaborated with The Pokémon Company last year on a special Pokémon Go performance, it was focused on existing, non-Pokémon-related songs. “Celestial,” however, directly leans into Sheeran’s love of the series.
He briefly teased “Celestial” earlier this week in a social media video offering a glimpse at his large Pokémon plushie collection. He also got a Squirtle tattoo in celebration of the song. As one Twitter user pointed out, Sheeran has even been publicly professing his love for Pokémon since at least 2011 when he described Pokémon Black as “wicked.”
It’s unclear exactly how Pokémon will factor into the song, but Sheeran did share a doodle of himself with a Pikachu on his shoulder in his tweet. Presumably, the music video will feature Pokémon visuals and other inspired flourishes, which is what we saw in previous Pokémon collab songs from the likes of Katy Perry and Post Malone.
Outside of Sheeran’s upcoming single, The Pokémon Company is gearing up for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which will launch on the Nintendo Switch on November 18th, 2022.
The new AirPods Pro feature upgraded sound quality, better battery life (6 hours), on-AirPod volume controls and an upgraded charging case that offers a built-in speaker and more precise ‘Findy My’ functionality.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s first rugged Apple Watch. Along with a bulkier and more durable design and a larger screen, the Apple Watch Ultra also features more accurate GPS, 36 to 70 hours of battery life, new Watch Bands like the ‘Alpine Loop’ and Apple’s updated S8 chip.
For more on the AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen), check out my review of the wireless earbuds. MobileSyrup will have a review of the Apple Watch Ultra in the coming days.
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.
We’ve been composting from the future for a few months now, and while Pela’s Lomi works extremely well at turning old food into dirt, it also suffers from a few issues that make it not work well with all kitchens.
The basic premise is that you fill this machine up with scrap food and compostable plastics, and then overnight, it tumbles the debris with heat to dehydrate and break down old food into a dirt-like substance.
On its website, Lomi calls this plant-friendly dirt, but it advertises itself as a composter. That said, experts sourced in a New York Times article claimed the Lomi isn’t technically a compost since the process of drying debris out takes away most of the nutrients. However, some nutrients are still present, so it might be better for your plants than random dirt, but it’s not going to allow you to revamp a garden in a short period.
Yeah, this is a real ad from the company – in Toronto, at least, none of this is accurate.
Where the Lomi really shines is how easy it makes cleaning up. Usually, I keep my compost in a bag in the freezer so it doesn’t smell, but being able to just toss scraps from a cutting board or plate straight into the Lomi was an exercise in convenience — especially since it doesn’t smell once the lid is locked on.
However, that convenience ends when you want to compost items like bones, fruit pits, nut shells, bioplastics and other things that can’t go into the smart composter or need to be altered before they go in. This means I still need to keep a backup compost bag in the freezer and use it a few times a week. This isn’t the end of the world, but it starts to paint a picture of the Lomi not being as seamless as it portrays itself.
The accessories
Other things that you need to manage are the charcoal filters, the time of each round and if you need to add any boosters to your cycle.
Lomi comes with enough charcoal to get you through the first 3-6 months of use, but after that, it costs $30 USD (roughly $40 CAD) or more to fill it up to help manage the smell. You can also use a subscription that costs $26 (roughly $31 CAD) every three months, so you’ll always have fresh charcoal. There’s also a light on the machine that notifies you when it’s time to swap out. It’s not hard to do, but putting dusty black charcoal into a stark white device means there’s going to be a lot of wiping down after.
The other accessory is called LomiPods. These are small tablets that you can add to a Lomi cycle to give the dirt it creates added nutrients so it can actually be used as a compost substitute. These cost $35 USD (about $47 CAD) and come with enough tablets for 90 cycles. The company claims that the microorganisms within these pods help break down food. When you use them, you also have to keep the Lomi in ‘Grow mode.’ This takes more time (16-20 hours) but uses less heat to keep said organisms alive.
Three types of food crushing
This Grow Mode is actually the only real compost-like solution the Lomi offers. The fastest setting is ‘Eco-Express Mode,’ which takes between 3-5 hours to break down your food waste. There are more limitations regarding what can go in this mode, and the company says that you can add this dirt to a real compost pile, bin or standard trash instead of directly to plants. This means the device will shrink your food waste but not really deal with it.
The next mode is called ‘Lomi Approved.’ This cycle-type takes from 5 to 8 hours and works with most types of scraps. Once again, the company doesn’t recommend adding this to plants; especially since this mode allows bioplastics.
Grow Mode runs for 16-20 hours, and it uses less heat when it’s trying to break down the food to retain as many nutrients as possible. This seems like the mode you’d want to use all the time, but the Lomi is quite loud, so we found the quick overnight modes that can run while you’re sleeping more useful.
The smart kitchen appliance isn’t intrusively loud, but it reminded us of the gentle rumble you might hear when the dishwasher is running. It’s loud enough that you can hear it but not loud enough to disrupt any of the other rooms in my apartment. Ideally, because of this, it seems like the type of thing that might be better off in the basement, but having to ferry compost up and down the stairs a couple of times a day gets old fast.
Keeping it on the counter is a good option, but it takes up about as much space as a microwave, and you can’t stack anything on top of it. With this in mind, if you live in an apartment with limited kitchen space, the device could be really out of place. If you have ample counter space, this won’t be an issue, but small kitchens, be warned.
Is the Lomi for you?
At the end of the day, the ad embedded above from the company paints a somewhat clear picture of who the Lomi is for: people who can’t compost.
The City of Toronto has a relatively robust composting system, and many people have backyard composters, so the Lomi definitely isn’t for everyone. It’s too much of a hassle to remember what can go in, where the dirt can and can’t go in the end, and having to listen to it.
Sure it’s kind of gross to have to carry a frozen bag of compost for one minute outside to the compost bin and then drag the bin to the curb once a week, but in the end, it’s easier than using a Lomi and takes up a lot less counter space.
If you live in a place without a composting program or don’t have access to a place to naturally compost, the Lomi is a decent option. But even then, the energy it takes to dehydrate your food scraps every night might be an issue for the eco-conscious market this device is aimed at.
The Lomi is a weird product. It markets itself as a composter, but the more you dig into it, the less it seems to compost. When we first got this machine, we didn’t know about all the limitations, and it seemed wonderful, but the more we used it and found out how only the Grow Mode makes compost, its flaws started to be revealed.
A significant portion of Canadian businesses is seemingly not doing enough to help keep their data safe and secure.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) inaugural Cyber Savvy Report Card, just 34 percent of small and medium-sized business (those with fewer than 500 people) employees said they get mandatory cybersecurity awareness training.
This was one of the key findings of the report, which surveyed 1,525 Canadians aged 18 and over in August 2022. The goal of the report was to analyze Canadian workers on their cybersecurity knowledge and practices, and ultimately, they got a “C” letter-grade.
Other factors that contributed to this grade include 50 percent of employees saying their organization hasn’t introduced multi-factor authentication for increased security and only 24 percent of respondents reporting that their employer conducts phishing email simulations to promote awareness. All the while, 42 percent of employees said they’ve seen an increase in cyber scam attempts over the past year.
As part of the report card, IBC identified various worker behaviours that could make data more susceptible to cyber criminals:
27 percent of respondents use just one password to access multiple websites they use for work
23 percent access public Wi-Fi from their work computer
19 percent download software/apps on their work devices that weren’t provided by their employer
7 percent allow friends and family to share their work computer
5 percent share their work login credentials by email or text
Per the report, 72 percent of employees said they’re guilty of at least one of these behaviours.
There were also some general misunderstandings about common terms related to cybersecurity. For example, IBC notes that 56 percent of respondents incorrectly said “true” when asked if ransomware “refers to when a criminal steals your work computer and asks you to pay for it to be returned.”
To put all of this into context, IBC noted that the average total cost of a data breach to Canadian organizations was an estimated $7.3 million, per IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022.
IBC has published these findings ahead of Cyber Security Awareness Month, which falls in October. It’s also launched a website to provide various resources and help businesses gauge their own levels of cybersecurity.
IBC’s full Cyber Savvy Report Card can be viewed here.
Summer is slowly coming to an end, which for many marks the off-season for cottage goers. Even those with year-round cabins and property may not be able to continually make the trip up. The desire to keep watch over remote locations has never been stronger. Vosker’s V300 security camera enables users to monitor these areas, even under WiFi and power constraints.
Vosker has been developing and improving its lineup of surveillance cameras over the years. Alongside its V150 and V200, Vosker’s V300 enters the fold. The new V300 camera offers improved coverage and options so no matter the constraints, you can keep a close eye on your property. The V300 is an easy-to-set-up security camera, offering cellular connectivity and backed by solar power. Plus, Vosker is introducing a new live view mode, supporting Full HD video recording to the Vosker Cloud.
The Vosker V300’s single-screw installation easily mounts to a frame or fixture and can be pointed in any direction. It offers a 90-degree field of view thanks to its ultra-wide-angle lens. This can be used for automatic video recording on detection, photo alerts, and the new live view mode. The camera offers motion detection for up to 100ft away. Additionally, that same range is supported via its Night Vision Mode.
Knowing this, you can begin to let your imagination take over for how you wish to use it. While primed for monitoring your cottage, the Vosker 300 could also be used to look after construction sites, farms, and other locales. Using the camera’s secure monitoring, you can keep an eye on inclement weather rolling in while you’re away. Likewise, if your property is undergoing renovations while you’re gone, you can keep a close eye on the progress.
Whether you are monitoring a job site, a cabin, or any remote property, the V300 offers full HD photos and video recordings stored locally on the included 16GB MicroSD Card. Keep in mind though, that up to 32GB of expandable storage can be used. Upon motion detection, the camera takes a 10-second clip. If detection continues, another clip is recorded. Audio is also recorded so you can gain a better understanding of what triggered the camera.
For instance, you may be able to see or hear if an animal has managed to get into your boat house and you can take appropriate measures. Max streaming quality to the Vosker app is 1080p @15fps and 960 bitrates. Accessing the app, you’ll find a 640 x 360px JPG preview photo. Users can then decide whether to bring up a video clip depending on the event captured. Vosker’s app is supported on iOS and Android.
Currently, there is a limited range of security cameras on the market offering cellular connectivity. The Vosker V300 runs exclusively through 4G-LTE connectivity, available through Vosker’s monthly or annual plans. Rather than having to rely on regional telecom services, Vosker offers connectivity through its plan and an included SIM card. Monthly plans start at $10.
However, the $20 monthly Elite plan enables access to 2,000 photo alerts, 60 days of history, and 40 HD video downloads. Do note that the yearly subscription saves subscribers 10 percent. Finally, a single payment of $20 opens up 40 minutes of 1080p live streaming through the mobile app. The live streaming package is sharable with all active V300 cameras on the account. With a subscription to the Elite plan, you’ll have more than enough access to video and photo alerts.
Powering the V300 is a 14 000 mAh rechargeable battery. Thankfully, you’re able to remove the battery from the unit and charge it via USB-C. Additionally, the camera has a built-in solar panel. If power is a concern, Vosker is releasing a solar power bank. The power bank offers a 15,000 mAh capacity and offers an IP66 rating, perfect for weathering rain, snow, dust, etc. Despite its size, the device is built quite nicely. It is weather resistant so you won’t have to worry about sheltering it from the rain or Canadian winters. The V300 is able to continue operating in -30 degree weather during the winters and 50-degree summers (fingers crossed we never get to that point.)
The V300 can host a wide variety of advantages when it comes to remote security. You now have the opportunity to monitor your property even under Wi-Fi and power constraints. The V300 is built to withstand the Canadian season all the while presenting flexible solutions for users of all manners.
Note Vosker’s V300 is currently available in limited quantities in the US only and coming soon to Canada.
Image credit: Vosker This story is sponsored by Vosker. MobileSyrup publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.
To clarify, the reason for this pause is so our distributor can make it through the backlog of paid orders (in Canada), before we resume sending emails to folks in this region.
“Our distributor has hit a processing backlog for orders to Canada, so folks in this region will see a (very) temporary pause on order emails,” writes Valve. “We’re working on it, and are optimistic we can resume emails to Canada soon. This doesn’t impact emails or shipments to other regions.” That said, the company noted that it still anticipates being able to fulfill all reservations before the end of the year.
In a follow-up tweet, the company clarified that it’s made this temporary pause in Canada so its distributor can make it through the backlog of paid orders here. Once that’s done, it will resume sending emails to Canadian customers.
For the uninitiated, the Steam Deck purchasing process begins by making a reservation for the system with a small deposit via Steam. Later, you’ll get an email saying “your Steam Deck is now available,” at which time you pay the remaining balance and complete the purchase. While there’s no set time frame for when you’ll get the Steam Deck shipped, people online have said it’s generally been between 10 and 14 days from purchase to actually receiving the device.
However, it’s unclear what this backlog means for Canadians who have already completed their purchase. For example, MobileSyrup contributor Andrew Mohan and I both got our availability emails on Monday, September 19th and paid off the system that same day. We’re now awaiting a shipment email. Presumably, we and others in similar situations will be safe since we’re past the reservation stage, but that remains to be seen.
We’ve reached out to Valve for confirmation on who, exactly, is affected by these delays and will update this story once a response has been received.
Apple has acquired the next series from Vince Gilligan, the award-winning creator of Breaking Bad and co-creator of its prequel, Better CallSaul.
The new series, which is currently untitled, will see Gilligan reunited with Rhea Seehorn, who co-starred in all six seasons of Better Call Saul as fan-favourite character Kim Wexler. Gilligan has previously expressed interest in working again with his fellow Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul alums, so it remains to be seen who else besides Seehorn might come on board.
Per Deadline, the series will be a “blended, grounded drama” that’s been compared to The Twilight Zone in terms of how it “bend[s] reality and focusing on people and exploring the human condition in an unexpected, surprising way.” In a statement, Gilligan added that he’s looking forward to focusing on a more heroic character after 15 years of antiheroes.
While we otherwise know little about the series, it’s nonetheless a major get for Apple TV+., as Gilligan and Seehorn are just coming off last month’s critically-acclaimed conclusion to Better Call Saul, which is itself seen as a conclusion to the Breaking Bad universe. Seehorn was also just nominated for her first Emmy, and has garnered significant buzz for a second nomination next year when Better Call Saul‘s final episodes are eligible for awards.
According to Deadline, eight or nine studios were in the running to snag Gilligan’s series, but the creator’s previous work with Apple TV+ bosses Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul ultimately helped Apple win out.
It’s not yet clear when the new series is expected to release.
Otterbox has confirmed that it has temporarily ceased shipments to Quebec.
In a message at the top of its website’s home page, the Fort Collins, Colorado-based phone accessory maker says it has done so “due to the French language requirements of Bill 96,” the province’s recently enacted language law. When you click for more information, Otterbox explains on a subsequent page that Bill 96 “requires French language support across all sales and marketing touch points.”
Otterbox says it’s “working to comply with the provisions of this new law so we can resume shipments to Quebec as soon as possible.” In the meantime, though, the company says Quebec customers can purchase its products at the following retailers:
The controversial bill, which went into law on June 1st, stipulates that “the only official language of Quebec is French” and, therefore, reinforces the use of French in all facets of life. This includes business, the justice system, education, healthcare and even the province’s massive gaming industry.
With respect to businesses like Otterbox, the bill also presents a potential legal danger. Under Bill 101, retailers doing business in Quebec were required to provide websites in French, but consumers who felt their language rights were infringed upon could only file a complaint to the Office québécois de la langue française.
Bill 96, however, allows consumers to take companies directly to court in such matters, which opens them up to all kinds of litigation. In a statement to CBC News, an Otterbox spokesperson confirmed that legal counsel suggested it pause sales in Quebec for this reason.
That said, it’s unclear when various aspects of the law will be implemented, given the wide-reaching implications of its more than 200 amendments and sub-amendments. It also remains to be seen when Otterbox will resume direct sales of its products in Quebec.
