Author: Mobile Syrup

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Rogers to release internet with 8Gbps symmetrical speeds this summer

Rogers says it has completed new fibre broadband tests that will deliver up to 8 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of download and upload speeds.

The Toronto-based telecom giant says the speed is “double the fastest published internet speeds” of any leading provider in the country.

Testing took place through labs and consumer trials. The new Ignite Internet will be available to customers in select areas of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland this summer.

“Fibre-powered networks are the foundation of building world-class connectivity solutions for our customers, and it is critical that the network technology delivers on the reliability and speed our customers need,” Robert Dépatie, president of Rogers home and business division, said.

Rogers says the move is the next step in its journey towards 10Gbps as it continues to expand its network in communities across the country.

The company’s last expansion announcement brought its fibre network to 314,000 homes and businesses in New Brunswick. 

Source: Rogers

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Telus’ new streaming service bundles Netflix Premium, Apple TV+ and Discovery+

Telus has introduced the only streaming bundle in Canada.

Stream+ offers Netflix Premium, Apple TV+ and Discovery+ for $25, all on one bill.

A bundled option is something Telus customers have wanted for some time.

A survey commissioned by the company found 87 percent of respondents use at least one streaming service, and 90 percent of respondents would bundle the platforms if they could. 83 percent also believe it would be convenient to have all the services billed together.

Jim Senko, president of mobility solutions, confirmed to MobileSyrup the bundle only has one price tier.

Stream+ offers up to 20 percent in savings per month ($84 a year), compared to paying for each service separately.

The monthly cost for Netflix Premium alone is $20.99. Apple TV+ costs $5.99, and Discovery+ runs a price tag of $4.99 a month.

Customers with subscriptions to these platforms can transfer their billing to Telus. Doing so won’t change their preferences, history or user profile.

“Once their Stream+ account is activated, customers are redirected to the different platforms’ landing pages where they can enter their existing user ID to continue watching,” Senko said.

Customers who don’t subscribe to one or more streaming services can create accounts after signing up for Stream+.

The service is available to new and current Telus customers. Combined with one of Telus’ plans, it will allow customers to access the service at all times in 5G. Users can watch from multiple devices at one time.

“This is important for busy households where everyone has a different favourite show, and means everyone can stream what they want and at the same time,” Senko said.

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Crave announces production of Indigenous-led drama series Little Bird

Crave has announced that production is underway on a new original drama series called Little Bird.

Little Bird is a six-part, one-hour limited series that follows an Indigenous woman on a journey to find her birth family and learn the truth about her past.

The series is led by a cast of Indigenous actors, including Darla Contois (Dhaliwal ’15), Ellyn Jade (Letterkenny), Osawa Muskwa (World Ends at Camp Z), Joshua Odjick (The Swarm), Imajyn Cardinal (Tribal), Matthew Strongeagle (Blackstone) and more.

“Crave is committed to telling compelling stories that resonate with all Canadians, and Little Bird is a powerful story that must be told,” said Justin Stockman, vice president, content development and programming, Bell Media, in a press statement.

Additionally, award-winning filmmakers Máijá Tailfeathers (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open) and Zoe Hopkins (Run Woman Run) each direct three episodes, while Hopkins wrote three of them.

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Netflix announces Exploding Kittens mobile game

Netflix is making a new mobile card game based on the Exploding Kittens board game and upcoming TV series.

In the title, players will play as many action cards as they want before a drawing and hoping it’s not the Exploding Kitten card. Action cards will let players shuffle the draw deck, look at the card on the top of the deck plant their own Exploding Kitten card to mess with the competition.

The series itself will hit Netflix in 2023 and stars Tom Ellis (Lucifer), Abraham Lim (The Boys), Lucy Liu (Elementary), Ally Maki (Toy Story 4), Mark Proksch (What We Do In The Shadows) and Sasheer Zamata (Woke).

The game, on the other hand, will launch on the Netflix Games app in May, and will work similarly to the physical card game, but the Netflix version has a couple of exclusives.

The Exploding Kittens board game had a huge Kickstarter, making $8.7 million USD (roughly $6.8 million CAD) in 30 days with 219,000 backers.

Source: Netflix

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This Final Fantasy VII Remake alarm clock costs $250

Square Enix has unveiled a special, insanely expensive Final Fantasy VII Remake-themed digital alarm clock.

Shaped like protagonist Cloud Strife’s iconic Buster Sword, the clock features an LCD display that shows time in various colours inspired by materia, the magical orbs used in the world of FFVII. Further, the alarm functionality features five songs from Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s incredible soundtrack:

  • The Airbuster
  • Aerith’s Theme — Home Again
  • Let the Battles Begin! — A Merc’s Job
  • Main Theme of FFVII — Sector 7 Undercity
  • One-Winged Angel — Rebirth

However, there are some significant shortcomings to this device. First, it’s $200 USD (about $250 CAD), which is outrageous for a digital alarm clock. What’s more, for a device that costs so much, you’d expect fairly pristine sound quality, but this clock unfortunately lacks even that.

As you can hear in Square Enix’s official trailer for the clock, the audio sounds echoey, which is jarringly juxtaposed with the sound clips from the game that play in the same video. Finally, there’s bafflingly no snooze button.

If none of that is an issue for you, the “Final Fantasy VII Remake Digital Clock — Buster Sword” is available for pre-order on Square Enix’s website. It’s expected to ship in January 2023. Final Fantasy VII is my all-time favourite game, but unfortunately, this clock — however cool it does look — simply costs too much for me to justify a purchase.

Outside of the clock, 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII, and as part of those celebrations, Square Enix says it hopes to share more information on the currently untitled second installment in its FFVII Remake series. Remake was originally released on PS4 in April 2020, with a PS5 version following in June 2021 and a PC port landing that December.

Via: The Verge 

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12 best iPad accessories for creatives

Apple’s iPads are powerful devices for content creation. So whether you’re a student taking notes or a content creator editing video — if you’re a creative, you’ve at least considered how an iPad could be added to your workflow.

Apps like Procreate, LumaFusion, and Ferrite have made tasks like illustration, video editing, and audio production streamlined and efficient on such a portable device. I’ve actually written about 12 apps every iPad owner needs to check out.

Apple’s iPad lineup is known for being lightweight and having incredible battery life. With Apple adding the impressive M1 chip into the iPad Air and its iPad Pro models, the company is seriously investing in performance on such a mobile device. Combine these great features with cellular capabilities, and you’ve got an amazingly flexible workstation. However, the iPad alone is just a tablet. If you’re creating content or working on the go, you’ll need some accessories to beef up your iPad experience.

Here are 12 accessories every iPad owner needs to check out:

Apple Pencil and Logitech Crayon

Whether you’re taking notes or using the iPad as a digital canvas, you’ll likely need a stylist. So, let’s take a look at the iPad’s best friend — the Apple Pencil and its less famous cousin, the Logitech Crayon. Apple offers two generations of Apple Pencil depending on iPad compatibility. So what iPad works with one Apple Pencil won’t work with the other. Meanwhile, the Logitech Crayon uniquely works iPads that support either generation of Apple Pencil.

All three stylists connect to an iPad via Bluetooth, feature palm rejection, and offer incredible low latency with their companion iPad making your writing feel as vivid as writing on paper. Which one to buy really depends on your iPad and price point.

First, we have the Logitech Crayon. This carpenter pencil-shaped stylist is the least expensive of our three recommendations. The Logitech Crayon was designed for children, offering the most straightforward pairing by simply pressing the power button. The Crayon then connects to any nearby compatible iPad. The Logitech Crayon also charges using a female lightning port and comes in either orange or grey. If you’re concerned about the Crayon’s tip being removed, don’t be. Unlike the Apple Pencil, the Logitech Crayon’s tip can only be removed using a special tool.

The Logitech Crayon is compatible with iPad (6th generation and above), iPad mini (5th generation and above), iPad Air (3rd generation and above), iPad Pro 11-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and above).

Next, we have the Apple Pencil (1st generation). This sleek white stylish features pressure sensitivity for artists and designers and tilt support like the Logitech Crayon. The Apple Pencil (1st generation) offers an easy removal tip and charges awkwardly via an iPad or a lightning adapter, using its male lightning connector under its cap.

The first-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with iPad (6th generation and newer), the iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), and iPad Pro 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch, and 12.9″ (1st and 2nd generations).

Lastly, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) improves on the Apple Pencil (1st generation) by flattening a side of the stylist. Like its predecessors, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) still features palm rejection, tilt support, and pressure sensitivity. In addition, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) improves on the Apple Pencil (1st generation) by removing the cap and featuring a flattened side. This flattened side allows the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) to magically attach to compatible iPads for pairing, storage, and charging. The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) also features a new double-tap gesture where users can switch between their illustration tool and the eraser. Finally, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) also has the option to be engraved when purchasing from Apple’s website for a touch more personalization.

The second-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with the iPad Air (4th generation and above), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and above), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and above), and the iPad mini (6th generation).

Buy the Logitech Crayon for $89.95, the Apple Pencil (1st generation) for $129, or the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) for $169, all from Apple.

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad and Logitech Touch Keyboard

Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad is perhaps one of the best iPad accessories I’ve ever purchased. The Magic Keyboard for iPad features a backlit, tactile keyboard and built-in trackpad for easy navigation. In addition, the keyboard’s floating iPad design allows for up to 130-degrees worth of tilt. There’s also an additional USB-C port for full-speed 30W pass-through fast charging for the attached iPad.

Compatible iPads magnetically attach to the keyboard and connects via their rear smart connector meaning there is no need to charge the keyboard separately or connect via Bluetooth. Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad comes in black or white.

It is available for the iPad Air (4th generation and above), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and above), and the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and above).

Suppose you have a regular iPad or not looking to spend as much on a keyboard. In that case, Logitech makes some very compelling alternatives. Logitech’s Combo Touch Keyboard Case with Trackpad for iPad features a backlit keyboard and trackpad like Apple’s Magic keyboard for iPad. Additionally, the Logitech Combo Touch offers four adjustable viewing angles with up to 50-degrees of tilt and a holder for an Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon. In addition, the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case features a smart connector to avoid charging and Bluetooth.

The Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard case is available for iPad (7th generation and above), iPad Air (4th generation and above), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and above), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and above).

You can purchase the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air or the 11-inch iPad Pro for $399 from Apple. The 12.9-inch version is also available from Apple for $449.

The Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard case costs $199.95 for the iPad (7th generation and above), $249.95 for an iPad Air (4th generation and above), $249.95 for iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and above), and $289.95 for the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and above).

Satechi Foldable Aluminium Stand

Whether you’re sketching out your next design or watching an Apple Fitness+ workout, you’ll want a stand to prop your iPad on. Satechi makes a stellar-looking space grey aluminum stand for iPad. This premium stand allows you to adjust your iPads height from a low sketching profile to a higher video viewing profile or to whatever angle is most comfortable. Additionally, this stand folds up into a small form factor for easy travel. Finally, it has small rubber grips to protect your iPad from damage.

Apple sells the Satechi Foldable Aluminium Stand for $54.95 on its website.

HoverBar Duo

Twelve South is known for making a lot of great accessories for Apple devices. The HoverBar Duo is a unique stand that allows you to connect near any iPad and raise it off the ground. The HoverBar Duo can sit on a counter on a foot or be mounted to a bar. You can get numerous viewing and sketching angles from the HoverBar Duo, making it an incredibly flexible stand for some niche use cases.

You can purchase the HoverBar Duo from Apple for $109.95.

Paperlike Screen Protectors

Screen protectors are a standard accessory for every Apple device. However, Paperlike’s screen protectors are a little unique. Their anti-glare screen protectors offer a nanodots surface making the iPad’s screen feel more paper-like. Paperlike’s screen protectors are an excellent option for users who want to transition away from paper or miss the friction of actual paper.

You can purchase a two-pack for any modern iPad for $49.99 on Amazon.

Anker Nano II

Apple’s iPads can fast charge using a 30W power brick. However, iPads ship with a 20W brick and Apple’s 30W brick is a separate $59 purchase. The Anker Nono II is a USB-C power brick that can charge your devices at 30W. Additionally, Anker’s power brick is 59% smaller than Apple’s, comes in black instead of white, and is $9 less expensive.

Purchase an Anker Nano II for $49.99 from Amazon.

Mcdodo 100W USB-C to USB-C Fast Charging Cable

Now that you purchased a new fast-charging brick for your iPad, you might also want to replace Apple’s white USB-C cable. Mcdodo offers a braided black USB-C charging cable making it more durable and colour matched to your space grey devices. What’s unique is this cable features an LED screen that shows the charging speed that your device is receiving.

This 4-foot cable is available on Amazon for $18.99.

UGreen USB-C Hub

Owning a USB-C iPad like the latest generation iPad mini, iPad Air or iPad Pro, you may want to connect additional devices storage or an external display. Enter UGreen’s USB-C hub. This 6-in-1 USB-C hub is built out of space grey aluminum and features three USB-A ports, an SD card slot, a micro SD card slot, and an HDMI port.

Amazon is selling the UGreen USB-C hub for $32.99.

Satechi Bluetooth Extended Numeric Keypad

Suppose you’re a numbers or spreadsheets person who enjoys working on their iPad. In that case, you may have found not having a full number-pad impact your productivity. Enter the Satechi Bluetooth Extended Numeric Keypad. Satechi has made a separate Bluetooth numeric keypad that you can connect to any iPad. Once paired, you can type more efficiently by having your numbers right at your side. The Satechi Bluetooth Extended Numeric Keypad offers 50 hours of battery life on a single charge and is rechargeable via USB-C. The keypad is available in silver or space grey and is built out of aluminum.

Grab the Satechi Bluetooth Extended Numeric Keypad on Amazon for $59.99.

USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter

If you’ve upgraded to a USB-C iPad, you may have noticed that these devices are missing a headphone jack. Although I love my AirPods, some of us have high-end wired headphones for top-notch quality audio. So grab Apple’s USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter to allow you to connect wired headphones to a USB-C iPad.

You can buy the USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter from Apple for $10.

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive

As a creative professional, you may need to move content on and off your iPad. Sometimes cloud storage isn’t feasible, or a wireless printer isn’t on the network. SanDisk has made a handy dual-ended flash drive with USB-C on one end and lightning on the other. This means SanDisk’s iXpand flash drive can work with iPads, iPhones, Macs, Windows PCs, and Android devices. The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.

You can purchase the SanDisk iXpand from Amazon starting at $53.99 for the 64GB model.

Whoosh!

Don’t lie. Your iPad screen is filthy. Being a primarily touch-first device means our iPads and iPhones get a lot of smudges on them. However, having a little bit of cleaning spray and a microfibre cloth can go a long way to keeping your devices clean and looking professional. Whoosh is the cleaning product used in Apple Stores to keep their demo devices looking fresh.

You can buy a 100ml bottle of Whoosh and a microfibre cloth off Amazon for $14.99.

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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Samsung S Pen now in mass production in several countries

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 4 is rumoured to be the first foldable with a dedicated S Pen holster. This leak seems more credible with the S Pen now in mass production in several Eurasian countries.

However, it’s unclear if this is a new S Pen that is compatible with other Samsung devices. The Fold 3 only supports the S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro. This S Pen features different frequencies that make it compatible with the Fold 3. Additionally, using the S Pen on other devices can potentially damage the foldable screen.

However, with news of Samsung developing a new type of Ultra-Thin Glass, the screen might be strong enough to work with other S Pens like the one available with the S22 Ultra.

The Fold 4 might launch sometime in August.

Source: SamMobile, Mukul Sharma

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Google Pixel 6a to lack Motion Mode camera feature

Google’s upcoming Pixel 6a will not support “Motion Mode” photography, according to a developer.

Android developer Kuba Wojciechowski discovered that the Pixel Tips app suggests Google’s phone won’t have Motion Mode.

The Pixel Tips app code reportedly excludes the “bluejay” Pixel 6a codename for the Motion Mode functionality.

Motion Mode in the Google Camera app can create effects to highlight the movement in a picture. Motion Mode isn’t the best feature, but it’s pretty cool. However, it’s probably not a feature I’ll miss on the Pixel 6a.

You can check out Motion Mode at work on my Pixel 6 Pro review, showcasing ‘Action Pan’ and ‘Long Exposure’ features.

Source: XDA Developers

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Former Twitter CEO criticizes the platform’s board amid talks about Elon Musk takeover

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is criticizing the social media platform’s  board after it issued a new shareholder rights plan to block the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, from taking the company private.

It all started with Initialized founder Garry Tan‘s tweet stating, “The wrong partner on your board can literally make a billion dollars in value evaporate,” to which Dorsey replied by saying “big facts,” indicating that he agrees with Tan.

@iHadrami_‘s reply to the tweet, which talks about Twitter’s early days being “mired in plots and coups,” specifically among its founding members, further riled up Dorsey, with him stating that said plots and coups have “consistently been the dysfunction of the company.”

It’s worth noting that despite resigning as the platform’s CEO, Dorsey still has a seat on Twitter’s Board of Directors until the end of his term next month.

The debate comes soon after Musk purchased 9.2 percent of the social network in March, making him the largest individual shareholder of the company. At the time, he was set to join Twitter’s board of directors before pulling out.

Then, earlier last week, Musk revealed a proposal to purchase Twitter outright and take the company private. In a letter to the board, Musk offered to pay $54.20 a share in cash, which turns out to be about $43 billion for the company. In response, the Twitter board of directors deployed the shareholder rights plan, which, in essence, allows shareholders to purchase additional stock, and would prevent Musk from seizing control of the platform.

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Jason Momoa to star in Minecraft movie from Napoleon Dynamite director

In what is perhaps the most random video game adaptation casting since Chris Pratt as Mario, Aquaman‘s Jason Momoa has been tapped to star in the live-action Minecraft movie.

If that wasn’t odd enough, Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker Jared Hess will direct. The film, which will draw from Microsoft’s massively popular Minecraft video game, is being produced by Warner Bros.

Interestingly, The Ankler reports that Momoa won’t star as Minecraft mascot Steve. Instead, he’ll voice Gabriel the Warrior, one of the antagonists from Telltale’s spin-off game, Minecraft: Story Mode. Gabriel was originally voiced by Dave Fennoy, best known for playing Lee Everett in Telltale’s The Walking Dead.

Otherwise, no details on the adaptation have been revealed. Given that the film is set to be live-action, it’s possible that it will feature human actors alongside CGI characters à la Pokémon: Detective Pikachu or Sonic the Hedgehog.

In any event, it makes sense that Microsoft would be interested in a Minecraft adaptation, as the sandbox building title is the best-selling game in history. The company has slowly been expanding into adaptations of its franchises, with Halo, a TV series starring Canada’s Pablo Schreiber, premiering on Paramount+ last month.

Via: The Hollywood Reporter