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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft says Xbox products will be 100 percent recyclable in 38 countries by 2030

Microsoft has provided an update on its Xbox-specific sustainability efforts.

To start, the company says its Xbox products, accessories and packaging will all be 100 percent recyclable by 2030 in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Thirty-eight countries are members of OECD, including Canada and the U.S. The company says Xbox Series X/S consoles were recently deemed to be 97 percent recyclable in OECD nations based on the UL 2789 Environmental Claim Validation (ECV) Procedure, a standardized metric for measuring electronic product recyclability.

With respect to its ongoing cloud gaming efforts, Xbox says it will shift its Azure data centres to 100 percent supply of renewable energy. Xbox Cloud Gaming, the company’s Game Pass feature that lets more than one hundred games be streamed to mobile, PC and consoles, leverages these Azure networks.

Additionally, the company says it’s expanded the functionality of its Energy Saver mode feature, which consumes 20 times less power than Standby mode when the console isn’t in use or receiving updates. Now, system and game updates can be downloaded during Energy Saver mode for a more eco-friendly process.

Other changes include shifting to cardboard for prepaid Xbox gift cards (which it says reduces over 500,000 kg of plastic annually), making the Xbox Series S its first console to use a minimum of 28 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin for mechanical components and showcasing electric vehicles in last year’s Forza Horizon 5.

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

SaskTel expands its 5G network to Saskatoon

5G smart mobile telephone radio network antenna base station on the telecommunication mast radiating signal

SaskTel is rolling out its 5G network in Saskatoon for the first time.

The Saskatchewan-based telecom company says it has also given 5G access to 15 towers in Regina, including towers located in the downtown business district.

The company first announced the launch of its 5G services in parts of Regina in December. The company says its network will be further expanded to cover the majority of Regina and Saskatoon by year’s end.

SaskTel’s 5G network is powered by Samsung and delivers speeds up to 1.2Gbps. Once the network is fully deployed, there will be increased capacity and “ultra-low latency” allowing new uses of wireless technology for next-generation innovations.

“Today’s announcement is an important step forward as we strive to bring 5G service to our customers throughout the province,” Doug Burnett, SaskTel’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

“Combining unparalleled wireless data speeds with incredible network capacity and near real-time connections, our 5G network raises the standard for connectivity and paves the way for exciting technological innovations that will transform the way we connect to the world around us.”

To access the network, customers have to be within an area SaskTel’S 5G network covers, have a capable device, and use a compatible 5G wireless plan.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: SaskTel

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung starts rolling out promised fix for GOS app throttling

Samsung started rolling out its promised fix for the ongoing performance throttling issue plaguing its flagship Galaxy S devices.

XDA Developers spotted reports from Galaxy S22 series users in South Korea who received an update that adds a “Game Performance Management Mode” to the Game Booster app. That should allow users to override the Game Optimizing Service (GOS) performance throttling and eek more performance out of their handsets (as long as they’re willing to put up with some extra heat and reduced battery life).

At the time of publication, Samsung hadn’t provided a timeline of when the update would arrive in other regions.

It also remains unclear if the update fully addresses the problem.

Users accused Samsung of throttling the performance of some 10,000 apps with GOS, including games, social media apps, and more. In a recently published FAQ page, Samsung said GOS didn’t impact anything beyond games.

Samsung has been under fire for its implementation of GOS, particularly because the performance throttling didn’t apply to benchmarking apps. Some felt that by not applying throttling to benchmarking apps, results weren’t an accurate portrayal of real-world performance. The debacle resulted in GeekBench removing results for Galaxy S flagships dating back to the S10 line over “benchmark manipulation.”

Hopefully, the update from Samsung sufficiently corrects the problem. If not, the GOS debacle could continue to tarnish the company’s reputation going forward.

Source: XDA Developers Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel feature drops will now roll out early to beta users

Pixel feature drops aren’t monthly releases, but they still appear pretty regularly. Google is currently rolling out another Pixel feature drop, but this is one is for June 2022.

Google recently confirmed that you can get the beta versions of these quarterly drops as part of the Pixel beta program. So any device from Pixel 4 to Pixel 6 can receive feature drops before they release for anyone else.

Oddly, the March 2022 Pixel drop was delayed for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but if you’re part of the Android 12 QPR beta program, you’ll get the June Pixel feature drop. This means Pixel 6 users can access the June feature drop before the March one.

Google hasn’t said exactly what’s available on the new drop, but it’s likely an official blog post will appear soon. You can sign up for the Android 12 QPR beta, here. 

Source: Google Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Nvidia’s RTX 3080 tier for GeForce Now is finally available in one month increments

Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud streaming service recently added a new RTX 3080 subscription tier that provides a low ‘click-to-pixel’ latency of 56 milliseconds, and a boost in framerates and overall performance. Nvidia claims that the RTX 3080 membership provides seven times greater performance than the most popular home PC configurations and 13 times better performance than an M1 MacBook Air.

However, one deterring factor behind the new tier’s launch was the fact that users could only go for a six-month subscription at the minimum, which comes in at $129.99 for the full course of the plan. People who wanted to try out the new tier before dropping a bag for a six-month commitment were seemingly left behind.

That is no longer the case.

Nvidia today announced that its RTX 3080 subscription tier is now available for $24.99 per month. You end up paying about $19.95 extra if you resubscribe to the one-month plan for six months in a row ($149.94 if you subscribe to the one-month plan for six months vs. $129.99 if you go for the six-month plan right off the bat), but its great that people who want to try out the 3080 tier’s prowess before committing to it.


Here are Nvidia’s GeForce Now additions for March


Here are Nvidia’s GeForce Now additions for March

Nvidia has announced the 27 new games it will be adding to its GeForce Now cloud streaming service over the course of February.


Read now

Source: Nvidia

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Mobile Syrup

A Mini LED Studio Display Pro might or might not be in the works

It’s been just two days since Apple revealed its new Studio Display, and rumours and leaks surrounding its successor are already spreading.

According to often-reliable Display Supply Chains Consultants CEO Ross Young, we might see a Studio Display Pro later in June this year. June would indicate that Apple plans to unveil the Pro model of the Studio Display at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event, which has predominantly been focused on software rather than hardware.

The rumoured Pro model is expected to feature a ProMotion-enabled Mini LED display, and according to Young, its panel is already in production. He expects the Pro model to be revealed alongside an M1 Mac Pro.

On the other hand, long-time credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a Twitter account now) quotes that supply chain issues paired with cost concerns would deter Apple from releasing mini LED products this year.

Additionally, as Young pointed out, he expects the Pro display to be released alongside the new Mac Pro. According to Kuo, Apple will focus its attention on releasing an upgraded Mac mini this year, whereas the Mac Pro will release sometime in 2023. According to that timeframe, Kuo could be correct, and we might not see the Pro display sometime this year.

As always, it’s important to keep in mind that these are just rumours and Apple’s Studio Display Pro might not actually exist. With WWDC right around the corner, we won’t have to wait long to know for sure.

Source: @DSCCRoss, @mingchikuo

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Mobile Syrup

Activision confirms Call of Duty: Warzone is coming to mobile

Activision has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: Warzone is coming to mobile.

Notably, the announcement came via a tweet from the official Activision Twitter account about job postings.

Specific details on the battle royale game weren’t provided, although the wording in Activision’s blog post — an “all-new, AAA mobile experience” and “built natively for mobile” — suggests it will be standalone and different from the console and PC version of Warzone.

That said, Call of Duty Mobile still offers a robust, fully-featured multiplayer suite that’s quite similar to its console/PC peers. COD Mobile also has its own battle royale mode which draws inspiration from the mainline games but is otherwise its own experience.

Notably, one of the studios that Activision lists are hiring for the untitled Warzone mobile game is Beenox, the Quebec City-based team behind Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered. The Canadian developer has also helped out on other COD titles, including 2019’s Modern Warfare and 2020’s Cold War.

A release window for the mobile game wasn’t revealed, but we do know that a new Warzone title for consoles and PC and a sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare are set to release sometime this year. No gameplay has been shown from either title.

The bigger question surrounding Activision, however, pertains to how it handles its ongoing controversies. With Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard facing investigations and regulatory approval, all eyes are on the Call of Duty maker and its alleged toxic workplace environment. Last year, the company was sued by California over allegations of a “frat boy culture,” which CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly tried to cover up. More than 1,000 employees soon called for Kotick to step down, although he’s set to remain with the company through the Microsoft acquisition and receive a massive payout.

Source: Activision

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Mobile Syrup

RBC launches new tool to summarize customer savings, rewards, on mobile app

TORONTO, CANADA – October 21, 2019: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) sign at the base of their downtown Toronto headquarters.

RBC customers using their Vantage offering now have access to a new tool called The Vantage Snapshot.

The tool offers a summary of savings and reward points accrued through RBC Vantage on the mobile app. The program is the bank’s everyday offering that allows customers to earn rewards points and monthly fee rebates.

“The Vantage Snapshot is part of our commitment to continuing to enhance our everyday banking offering while giving our clients the opportunity to receive more value and benefits every day,” Jason Storsley, RBC’s senior vice president of everyday banking, told MobileSyrup.

“By seamlessly integrating the Vantage Snapshot into the RBC Mobile app, we’re able to easily demonstrate the value that our clients receive from their day-to-day banking activities while fostering digital engagement at the same time,” he said.

An example of what the new tool looks like. Image credit: RBC

RBC Vantage launched in April 2021 on select debit accounts. Storsley says account holders need to enroll in the value program within RBC Vantage to earn reward points through their debit purchases. Since its launch, 1 million customers have enrolled in the program.

It’s one of the bank’s investments to improve client relationships, Storsley said. “The innovations that we’ve built, combined with all of our existing assets, truly offer our new and current clients a differentiated and seamless banking experience in the market today.”

The Vantage Snapshot will appear on eligible accounts that have collected $2 in savings or earned points. More information is available on RBC’s website.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

For a limited time, get directions by Christina Aguilera on Waze

To celebrate Women’s History Month in the United States (October in Canada), Waze is adding American singer Christina Aguilera, a long-time girl-power advocate as an experience in the navigation app.

You can set Aguilera’s voice as the chief direction-giver in the app, and as an extra, she will also drop words of wisdom and advice she’s learned along the way in English and Spanish.

“International Women’s Day is a significant reminder that we are still fighting against gender bias and stereotypes,” Christina says in the Waze release. “Partnering with Waze has allowed me to unify my voice with a community of people who care about helping one another.”

To take advantage of the full Xtina experience, you can choose one of the four new moods, which include ‘Magical,’ ‘Feisty,’ ‘Sweet,’ or ‘Strong’ and set your vehicle icon as a ‘Dirrty Bike’ or a ‘Pinkup Truck.’

You can enable the new experience by navigating to the ‘My Waze’ section of Waze’s settings and clicking on the “Drive with Christina Aguilera” banner. Alternatively, you can enable the setting by opening this link directly from your mobile.

The Xtina experience on Waze launched March 1st and is available for a limited time only.

Image credit: Waze

Source: Waze

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Mobile Syrup

Telus proud of broadband expansion ahead of Rogers-Shaw merger

Telus is accelerating its broadband program to grab market share before government bodies approve the Rogers-Shaw merger.

Tony Geheran, Telus’ executive vice-president and chief operations officer, told Cartt.ca the company wants to “accelerate our opportunity to grab market share because we’re very successful at getting market share with our fibre investments.”

The publication notes that Telus pulled forward investments planned for 2023 and 2024 through a May 2021 announcement that invested $1.5 billion over 18 months.

“We knew the timeline for… going through the process of approval was 18 months to two years, and then they’ve got a post-acquisition integration effort,” Geheran said.

But he believes the competition will have to work hard to make fibre investments to compete with Telus.

“I think the challenges ahead of… Rogers and Shaw together are significant, and it makes me wonder how they’re going to make the business case work because of the magnitude of challenges ahead of them.”

He says he’s happy with Telus’s progress to expand its fibre footprint and how resilient the network is.

“The infrastructures we put in is really resilient and we’re constantly working to look at what we need to do to make that ever more so,” he said. “A lot of Telus’ investment and intellect goes towards ensuring that the contingency and the availability of our network is planned for so that we can always be up when our customers need us.”

Source: Cartt.ca