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Harrison Ford tapped to star alongside Jason Segel in Apple TV+ series Shrinking

Harrison Ford is making the leap to television as the acclaimed actor is set to join the Apple TV+ series Shrinking.

Shrinking was first announced late last year with Forgetting Sarah Marshall‘s Jason Segel set to star and write. Ford joins the cast in a leading role alongside Segal. It’s said thatFord has been cast to play Dr. Phil Rhodes, a sharp and down-to-earth shrink with a blue-collar edge to him.

Based on reports, Rhodes is a leader in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has built a successful practice alongside two proteges Jimmy (Segel) and Gaby. However, Rhodes has been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This diagnosis brings new challenges into the life of the doctor and his relationship with friends and family. Moreso, the series will also look at themes of one’s legacy.

Of course, Ford is best known for his theatrical roles in blockbuster films Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and more. More recently, Ford can be seen in The Call of the Wild. In the near future, the actor will star in Indiana Jones 5.

However, aside from a short appearance during the Star Wars Holiday Special and various other TV projects, Ford has not ever been in a starring role on television.

Alongside Segel, Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence and star Brett Goldstein will write and produce the series. Being a fan of Ted Lasso, it’ll be interesting to see how some of that comedy can translate to Ford’s performance.

Shrinking is said to have a 10-episode run on Apple TV+, though release information is still up in the air. However, given that the production is still putting together casting, it may be likely that the series premieres sometime in 2023.

Apple TV+ is available in Canada for $5.99CAD/ month.

Image credit: Disney

Source: Variety

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Mobile Syrup

Ian Scott says CRTC supportive of Bill C-11 and its enforcement powers

Ian Scott is doubling down on the government’s message that Bill C-11 won’t impact user-generated content.

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) chair said suggestions the bill would impact this kind of content are “just not true.”

“As it’s drafted at the moment, the bill draws a distinction between the users of social media, and the platforms themselves. It’s clear to us that the bill’s intent is to exclude individual users from regulation,” Scott said in a speech to a media class at Ryerson University.

Also known as the Online Streaming Act, the bill aims to promote Canadian content, govern streaming services with the same rules as broadcasters, and give the CRTC power to make this happen.

But many have taken issue with what these changes could mean for individual creators.

A recent briefing from YouTube said the bill might cause Canadian content creators to lose foreign revenue if they’re forced to promote local content.

Questions also remain as to what power the CRTC will have. While Scott said the bill would modernize “the CRTC’s enforcement powers,” he doesn’t speak about what this could look like.

However, he does address the lack of details in the legislation, saying “being too specific in the legislation” can have problems of its own. Doing so could disclude many issues that arise years down the road before legislation is looked at again.

Scott said the CRTC can only enforce powers consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that the organization has “always strived to adopt a light-handed approach to regulation.”

“The CRTC has a long history and a strong track record of implementing effective policies and adapting its approaches over time to meet the evolving needs of Canadians and of the broadcasting system,” Scott said.

“We’ve been doing it for more than 50 years. And we will continue to do so under the new Broadcasting Act regardless of the platform, and only when regulation materially contributes to the objectives of the Act.”

The legislation is currently in its second reading.

Image credit: CRTC/screenshot

Source: CRTC

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Mobile Syrup

Ontario government to support $2 billion investment to create full-scale EV manufacturing facilities

The Ontario government has made a new step toward supporting electric vehicles (EV).

Today, the Government of Canada announced that it is supporting a hefty $2 billion investment being made by General Motors of Canada Company. The investment is a part of a bid for Canada’s first full-scale commercial EV facility.

GM aims to transform its Oshawa and CAMI facilities. The plan sees $259 in grant support given by the Government of Ontario. Ontario and Canada as a whole continue to hit new milestones in their investment in the EV industry.

This plan will kickstart production once more at GM’s Oshawa Assembly Plant. Once operational again, it opens up thousands of new “well-paying, high-quality jobs” for those in the area. In 2019, operations ceased at the plant and have remained so to this day.

“This vote of confidence by General Motors in Ontario is more proof that by attracting game-changing investments our government is securing our auto sector for the next generation of workers,” Premier Doug Ford said in a media statement. “This investment will secure 2,600 jobs here in Oshawa and is a huge win for the people of Durham and Ontario’s auto sector. It shows once again that the cars of the future will be made right here in Ontario, by Ontario workers.”

The CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll is transforming as a part of this investment. This transformation is vital and allows the plant to become Ontario’s first full-scale commercial EV production facility.

GM’s EV600, the company’s first commercial EV utilizes BrightDrop technology. By the end of 2022, GM’s technology will be produced by the Ingersoll plant.

“Working with our government partners, we have reopened GM’s Oshawa plant, creating thousands of new jobs and recruiting a record number of women in production roles.” Marissa West, GM Canada President and Managing Director, continued. “This partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada is helping GM build a more diverse, innovative and sustainable industry and EV supply chain for the future – and we are proud to be doing that right here in Canada.”

In Canada, the automotive industry supports nearly 500,000 Canadian employees. It also contributes $16 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product and is one of the country’s latest exports.

Image credit: General Motors

Source: Government of Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Iconic point-and-click adventure series Monkey Island returns in 2022

One of the most iconic point-and-click adventure games ever will return in 2022.

Return to Monkey Island, a new entry in the log running Monkey Island series from original creator Ron Gilbert, has been announced. Gilbert left Lucasfilm Games after the release of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge in 1991, but is credited as working on 2009’s Tales of Monkey Island from Telltale Games.

With Return to Monkey Island, Gilbert is back alongside Monkey Island series veteran Dave Grossman as one of the key creative minds behind the upcoming title. Michael Land, Peter McConnell and Clint Bajakian, other key names that have worked on the franchise in the past, are also back, according to the brief reveal trailer (seen above).

The game is currently in development by Gilbert’s development studio Terrible Toybox alongside Developer Digital and Disney-owned Lucasfilm Games. Little is known about Return to Monkey Island beyond the fact that it seems to — as you may have guessed — involve a return to Monkey Island. It also seems that Return is a “follow-up” to the first two entries in the series.

Gilbert has tried for years to get the rights to Monkey Island from Lucasfilm Games, and it appears he was finally successful.

I haven’t enjoyed a classic point-and-click adventure title in a long time, but the Monkey Island series is special to me. It’s one of the first video games I’ve ever played, and I credit it with encouraging my interest in pirates and boats as a child. I’ll also never forget the puzzle with the giant Q-Tip and a concrete monkey head or that stupid magnetic compass.

More details about Return to Monkey Island will likely be revealed in the coming months. It’s unclear when the game will release in 2022 or what platforms it’s coming to.

Image credit: Devolver Digital (YouTube)

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Mobile Syrup

Kirby is now a Grammy winner — sort of

When he’s not sucking up entire cars, Kirby’s been busy taking home a shiny statue. Or, rather, musicians are earning that gold in his name.

That’s what happened during the 64th annual Grammy Awards on April 3rd, where musicians Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman won a Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or Acapella for their cover of Meta Knight’s Revenge from Kirby Superstar. 

You can check out the song below:

The arrangement was performed by 8-Bit Big Band, a 25- to 65-member orchestra that remixes songs from classic games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Final Fantasy VI.

 

This isn’t the first time that video music has popped up at the Grammys. In 2011, Civilization IV took home Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, making it the first win (and even nomination) for a video game song in any category. One year later, Austin Wintory’s score for Journey won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

It’s rather fitting, however, that Rosen and Silverman have now won for Kirby, given that the pink hero is celebrating his 30th anniversary this year. As part of that milestone, Nintendo recently released Kirby and the Forgotten Land on the Switch and is also planning a special free virtual Kirby concert in August.

Image credit: Nintendo, The Recording Academy

Via: Nintendo Life

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Here are the new games hitting PlayStation Now in April 2022

PlayStation has revealed the new batch of games coming to its PlayStation Now streaming service in April.

Leading this month’s lineup is Outer Wilds, developer Mobius Digital’s critically-acclaimed time loop, open-world mystery game. The other three games are racer WRC 10 FIA World Media Championship, adventure game Journey to the Savage Planet (made by the now-defunct Montreal studio Typhoon) and the action-RPG Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Earthblood.

These four games, which are all PS4 titles, will join the PS Now catalogue on April 5th.

Find out what came to PS Now in March here.

It’s important to note that PS Now is changing soon. Currently, the company is only selling a $12.99 CAD/one-month membership on its site. This is in preparation for the June launch of the all-new PlayStation Plus, which will merge the existing service of the same name with PS Now.

Image credit: Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive

Source: PlayStation

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Mobile Syrup

Telecom complaints decreased over the past year, the CCTS reports

Telecom complaints are down 26 percent, according to a recent report from the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services (CCTS).

The report examines complaints received between August 1st, 2021 and January 31st, 2022, and compares them to the last mid-year report.

The CCTS accepted 6,682 complaints on 14 providers, with a 88 percent resolve rate.

The recent report shows complaints decreased by 26 percent, a change from the last report, which reported an increase.

Bell accounts for 17.7 percent of all complaints, Rogers 15 percent, Fido 11.3 percent, Telus 8 percent and Virgin Plus 7.6 percent.

Bell has the largest decrease, with 36 percent fewer complaints than the year prior. Fido follows with 20 percent. Rogers and Telus reported close declines, with 16.5 percent and 16.9 percent, respectively. Virgin Plus saw nearly 10 percent fewer complaints.

The Wireless Code

Wireless complaints represented almost half of all complaints the CCTS accepted, with ‘disclosure issues’ in the lead. Conflicts with contracts and agreements were the most complained about aspects.

The CCTS found 24 breaches of the wireless code, down from the 28 reported last year.

9 of these breaches stem from providers failing to give customers reasonable notification and relevant information before disconnecting services.

4 of the breaches were because the service provider didn’t supply the customer with a paper or electronic copy of the contract listing all relevant information to the wireless code.

3 of the breaches are related to ‘critical information summary’ where providers must give customers a document containing the most essential parts of the contract.

“We continue to observe problems with service providers failing to disclose important information to their customers when signing up for a new phone, internet or TV service,” CCTS Commissioner and CEO Howard Maker said. “This can lead to complaints if bills or services don’t meet the customer’s expectation.”

Source: CCTS

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Mobile Syrup

Epic Games’ new ‘RealityScan’ app uses the iPhone’s camera to build 3D models

Epic Games, the developer and publisher behind Fortnite, has revealed a new app called ‘RealityScan’ that utilizes the iPhone’s camera to scan and create 3D models.

Epic says that the app was created using technology from Capturing Reality, a company it acquired in 2021.

“As more creators and hobbyists embrace 3D photogrammetry, we want to make our technology even more accessible, so anyone can bring ultra-detailed, digital models of real-world objects into their virtual projects,” reads a press release from Epic.

The app needs at least 20 different shots of the item you’re scanning from various angles to create the 3D object. Other requirements that improve results include good lighting and a clean background. Completed 3D objects can be exported to Sketchfab, a popular app Epic says is often used for 3D, AR and VR content.

RealityScan is currently only available to 10,000 users in a limited Testflight beta on iOS. Epic says the app is launching first on iOS and then Android later.

Image credit: Epic Games

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Mobile Syrup

After complaining about free speech on Twitter, Elon Musk buys 9.2 percent stake in the social media platform

Elon Musk now owns a stake in Twitter.

The SpaceX CEO, freedom convoy supporter, and frequent bad meme tweeter purchased 9.2 percent of the social media platform on March 14th.

News of the purchase was released Monday morning through a Securities and Exchange Commission 13G filing.

This led to Twitter’s shares increasing more than 21 percent. According to CNBC, Musk’s stake is worth $2.89 billion USD (roughly $3.6 billion CAD), based on the social platform’s closing numbers Friday.

He now owns almost 73.5 million Twitter shares.

A little over a week ago, Musk launched a poll asking users if Twitter “rigorously adheres” to the principle that “free speech is essential to a functioning democracy.”

A day later, he asked his 80.2 million followers if “a new platform is needed?” Hours later, he tweeted that he was “giving serious thought” to building a new social media platform.

Musk has previously gotten into trouble for his tweets.

In 2018, he tweeted that funds were in place to take Tesla private if shares reached $420 USD (about $523 CAD) each. No such deal was in the works.

As a result, Tesla lawyers have to approve his tweets. Musk is currently trying to get the agreement thrown out and is (questionably?) using quotes from Eminem to get his point across. 

Image credit: Dan Taylor/Heisenberg Media 

Source: CNBC

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Mobile Syrup

Eligible low-income families and seniors can soon access internet for $20/month

Internet connection with IP routing background

The Government of Canada is partnering with 14 internet service providers (ISPs) to bring $20 a month internet to low-income families and seniors.

The partnership is through the government’s Connecting Families initiative. According to the government’s website, ISPs participate in the program “voluntarily and without and without government subsidy.”

Access Communications, Bell, CCAP, Cogeco, Hay Communications, Mornington, Novus, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw, Tbaytel, Telus, Vidéotron, and Westman Communications are participating in the program.

“Many low-income Canadians are still facing barriers that prevent their full participation in the economy,” François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said.

“By working closely with internet service providers across the country, we are increasing accessibility and providing all Canadians with affordable and reliable internet.”

This announcement is the second phase of the Connecting Families initiative.

Families receiving the Canada Child Benefit and Guaranteed Income Supplement are eligible for the program. The program includes 50Mbps download speeds and 200GB of data usage each month. If 50Mbps is not available, it will consist of the fastest download speed in the region.

The first version of the plan, Connecting Families 1.0, which offered a $10 internet plan, is still available.

Eligible families should keep an eye on their mailboxes. They’ll receive a letter from the government with an access code needed to sign up for the program.

The offering is part of the government’s plan to ensure 98 percent of Canadians have high-speed internet access by 2026. The government has also made significant investments in the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to achieve this goal. A map of all UBF funded projects can be viewed here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada