Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung thinks it was first to make green phones

At Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ event, the company unveiled two new colour variants for its flagship iPhone 13 series, ‘Green’ and ‘Alpine Green.’ After the announcement, Samsung’s official Twitter handle poked fun at Apple:

Samsung’s tweet is about the company releasing the S22 series in green. The tweet is amusing, and Samsung loves to poke fun at Apple, but come on, Samsung, you didn’t make green phones.

Apple’s iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 also come in a green colour variant; it’s a brighter green, but a version of it nonetheless.

Other smartphone manufacturers also have green phones. Google’s Pixel 5 and Pixel 6 come in a green colour variant. Last year’s OnePlus 9 also launched in a green that’s a pretty close match to the iPhone 13’s Alpine Green. There’s even an LG Rumor from more than a decade ago that’s green. And don’t get me wrong, Samsung’s had green phones for years as well, like the S20 FE and S21 FE.

And then there’s this:

Showing one of Apple’s first-ever green products that came out 24 years ago. So, in theory, everyone is copying Apple. Also, pointing out that Apple’s Studio Display is faster than all of Samsung’s phones is just rude 😂 (although not exactly wrong).

Speaking of Samsung copying Apple, the South Korean company loves to roast Apple, but then proceeds to copy the Cupertino-based phone maker. Previously, Samsung has poked fun at Apple for ditching the headphone jack and the in-box phone charger, but that didn’t stop Samsung from doing the same.

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Mobile Syrup

Dirty Pipe exploit could let someone take over your phone, fix is on the way

There’s a new Linux vulnerability out there that could give attackers full of control of your Android smartphone.

However, the exploit goes beyond just Android phones — it potentially impacts anything running Linux, including Android phones, Chromebooks, smart home devices, and more.

Although it sounds dire, it’s worth keeping in mind that most people don’t need to panic. For one, the issue has already been patched (although the fix may not have reached your devices yet). The exploit also only impacts some newer Android phones, such as the Pixel 6 series and the Galaxy S22 series (more on that below, along with a way to check if your device is affected).

The exploit, dubbed ‘Dirty Pipe,’ impacts the Linux kernel. The kernel is the core of an operating system and typically acts as an interface between apps and hardware. Because of that, any app that can read files on your device can potentially use the exploit to mess around with files, run malicious code, or gain administrator privileges. Ultimately, attackers could use the exploit to take over a device.

Max Kellermann discovered Dirty Pipe, but also found a way to fix it and already submitted the fix to the Linux kernel project. Additionally, Dirty Pipe was reported to Google’s Android Security team, who introduced the fix to the Android source code. Similarly, the Chrome OS team seems to have a patch poised to roll out in a mid-cycle update to Chrome OS 99. In other words, the Dirty Pipe fix is ready, it just might not have hit your phone or laptop yet.

How to check if my phone/laptop is at risk

Thankfully, checking whether your device could be exploited using Dirty Pipe is fairly easy. We’ve included instructions below:

  • Android: Open Settings > About phone > Android version > Look for Kernel version. If the number is 5.8 or higher, your device is potentially at risk.
  • Chrome OS: Open a new tab > Type ‘chrome://system’ in the address bar > Scroll to ‘uname’ > Look for the ‘Linux localhost’ text and check if the number is higher than 5.8.

In both cases, the number represents the Linux kernel version. Dirty Pipe was introduced in Linux kernel version 5.8 back in 2020, but the exploit wasn’t found until recently. If your device has kernel version 5.8 or higher, it’s potentially at risk for Dirty Pipe (unless you’ve received a patch for it already).

Most Android phones use an older version of the Linux kernel and likely won’t be impacted. However, as mentioned above, the Pixel 6 series and the Galaxy S22 series are impacted. 9to5Google noted that Android devices that launched with Android 12 have a chance of being impacted.

How to protect yourself from Dirty Pipe

Although there are no known instances of attackers using Dirty Pipe to gain control of phones or computers yet, it’s likely only a matter of time before it starts to happen. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to make sure your devices are up to date.

As mentioned up top, there are already Android and Chrome OS patches, but they haven’t rolled out yet. Hopefully, they roll out soon — keep an eye out for new security patches and make sure to install them right away.

In the meantime, 9to5 suggests only running apps that you trust on your device. Moreover, it may be a good idea to avoid installing new apps until the patch is made available.

Source: Max Kellermann Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Roku adds 15 free and new channels to the Roku Channel

Roku today added a wide variety of new and free live TV channels to its Roku channel. From sci-fi channels to ones dedicated to french-Canadians, Roku has added 15 new channels in total.

Check out the new offerings below:

  • AfroLandTV – Watch hundreds of African movies, Nollywood, and TV shows from Africa and its diaspora.
  • Cops – On the beat with the men and women of law enforcement.
  • Cowboy Way – American lifestyle and contemporary cowboy entertainment.
  • Caught in Providence – Judge Frank Caprio takes an emphatic approach to a variety of traffic, parking, and other violations.
  • FigTree TV – Movies and series to uplift and inspire the human spirit.
  • FimRise Canadien – A collection of classic series such as Highway to Heaven and Black Books, all dubbed in French.
  • FilmRise Made in Canada – Watch hit Canadian shows and movies with national stars like Elliot Page and Natasha Henstridge.
  • FilmRise Sci-Fi – Explore otherworldly series like the cult-hit Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction and supernatural favourites Being Human, Blood Ties, and more.
  • Gravitas Movies – A collection of independent films and award-winning documentaries.
  • Homeful – Featuring some of the most well-decorated faces in home design TV; this channel features real estate, renovations, and transformations that are binge-worthy.
  • Kin – The leader in celebrity-driven lifestyle programming for diverse women’s audiences.
  • MagellanTV Now – Top documentaries on science, history, nature, mystery and more, curated by award-winning filmmakers.
  • Real Life – The home of all things lifestyle.
  • Spark TV – Light and Love – Romantic and family-friendly movies and series that uplift, inspire, and warm the heart.
  • Supermarket Sweep – Three teams of two battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win cash prizes.

To access live channels on Roku, press ‘home’ on your Roku remote and select ‘Streaming Channels.’ Select ‘Search Channels’ and look for the Roku Channel.

In other Roku-related news, the service was 2021’s most-streamed TV platform in Canada according to a survey. Check out the story below:

Source: Roku

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Mobile Syrup

8BitDo unveils wired Xbox controller

8BitDo has announced a new controller for Xbox consoles.

Dubbed the ‘Ultimate Wired Controller,’ the gamepad features an Xbox-specific button layout and customizable Elite Controller-esque back paddles. Black and white models are available for $45 USD (about $58 CAD).

Currently, the controller is available for pre-order from Amazon U.S., but not Amazon Canada. We’ll update this story if and when Canadian information becomes available. Shipping begins on May 31st for Amazon U.S.

Via: GameSpot

 

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Mobile Syrup

6 apps to help you better understand your financial health

Let’s be honest — personal finance can be scary. Personal finance experts say parents should talk to their children about managing their money.

Meanwhile, the simple truth is most adults don’t know how to do that for themselves. There’s no high school class on money management, investing or taxes. My only “formal” money management lesson was the last week of math class in tenth grade. Sadly, that’s more than what most Canadians can say. 

FinTech or Financial Technology has become a big business. Even though our wallets don’t always feel that deep, many companies want to help us spend, track, and invest what we do have. It wasn’t long ago that most consumers felt that financial products were out of their reach. Today, FitTech products give Canadians access to several excellent apps and services that will help them better manage and invest their money.

Here are six apps to help you better understand your financial health:

Credit Karma

Credit scores are numbers that most Canadians don’t understand. They’re mysterious and not incredibly easy to get your hands on. Yet, they have severe influence when taking out a loan or even financing a cellphone. Credit Karma is an app that aims to provide everyone free and easy access to their credit score.

Once you sign up for Credit Karma, the app will provide your credit score and update it weekly. In addition, a secondary tab gives you a breakdown of all of the balances currently attached to your credit report and the last time your credit was checked.

Using Credit Karma does not impact your credit score. Additionally, the app is free because Credit Karma serves you non-invasive credit card offers within the app. Credit Karma has a 4.7 in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You can learn more about Credit Karma on their website or download the app the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Mint

Mint is perhaps one of the most popular expense tracking and budgeting apps available. That’s not surprising given how well-designed and straightforward to use the app is. Mint allows you to connect accounts from nearly every financial institution to automatically track your income and expenses. 

You can use the app to track income and spending from your bank account, credit cards, investments, and loans. Within Mint, you can customize the budget categories and make manual edits to incorrectly categorized expenses. 

Mint will even notify you when subscriptions increase. In addition, Mint can help monitor your credit score and allows you to set bill payment reminders. You can learn more about the Mint app on its website or download the app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

TD Easy Trade

TD Easy Trade is perhaps the newest app on this list. Many financial products are available to Americans that Canadians can only envy. Robinhood is a popular US stock trading app for DIY investors.

TD released the Easy Trade app in January, which offers wannabe investors a cheap and user-friendly way to get started. TD Easy Trade doesn’t charge any account fees or require any account minimus. Additionally, every year you receive 50 commission-free stock trades. Compared to the $9.99 per trade set by a traditional trading account offered by TD.

TD Easy Trade offers “how-to” videos, live classes, webinars, FAQs, and a contact centre with licensed investment representatives to help early investors. You can learn more about the TD Easy Trade app on its website or download the app for free on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Acasa

If you have roommates, you may find it awkward or annoying to get their share of the rent or bills. Acasa is an app that aims to reduce that pain. Upon setting up Acasa, you create a “house” and profiles for everyone who lives there. 

Roommates then accept emailed invites to the house. Once they’ve joined the app, they can get notifications and make payments within the app. Anyone within the household can add an expense, whether groceries, rent or a utility bill. That cost can then be divided equally or custom percentages for different people. 

Acasa will easily show who owes how much on the Home Screen. This app helps you ensure that everyone is paid up fairly and quickly. You can learn more about Acasa on their website and download their app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Wealthsimple Tax

Formerly SimpleTax, the service was bought by Wealthsimple in 2019 and rebranded into Wealthsimple Tax. The service has kept its defining characteristics: a simple user interface and costs nothing to use. Wealthsimple Tax has been a popular alternative to tax software like TurboTax. 

Wealthsimple Tax feels user-friendly and attempts to make doing your own taxes less daunting. Personally, I’ve been using the service for years and have always had a really great experience. Using a search engine-like box, you can search for the forms you need. The Wealthsimple Tax then guides you to fill out the boxes required. Wealthsimple Tax will let you print off the documents or Netfile them with the CRA for you. 

Wealthsimple Tax is a free service that you can opt to pay any amount at the end if you so choose to. You can learn more about Wealthsimple Tax on its website or download the Wealthsimple Tax app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Moka

Many of us have trouble with saving money. Perhaps we want to save for a trip, pay down some debt, or start investing. In any case, it can be hard to save money at the end of the month. Moka is an app that works to help us save more of our money. 

Moka’s premise is pretty simple—connect your bank accounts and credit cards, and every transaction you make will be rounded up. Then, Moka will take that rounded-up difference and put it towards debt repayment, savings, or investments. 

Moka can also help you set up a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), make donations with your space change, and give you access to a financial coach. Moka is a free app but does have a paid service for $3.99 or $15 per month. You can learn more about Moka on their website and download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

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Mobile Syrup

This $10 bundle of nearly 1,000 games supports Ukrainian charitable efforts

A slew of game makers has teamed up to offer their works as part of a special charity bundle in support of Ukraine amid Russia’s unlawful invasion of the country.

As organized by Necrosoft Games, the ‘Bundle for Ukraine’ is intended to raise money for two charities: International Medical Corps (will provide medical assistance in Ukraine) and Voices of Children (a support group for children coping with the war).

The bundle is being offered for a minimum of $10 USD (about $12.88 CAD) and features nearly 1,000 games from more than 700 creators, including:

  • A Mortician’s Tale (Toronto’s Laundry Bear Games)
  • Backbone (Vancouver’s Eggnut)
  • Celeste (Vancouver’s Extremely Ok Games)
  • CrossCode (Radical Fish)
  • Lucifer Within Us (Montreal’s KitFox)
  • SkateBIRD (Glass Bottom Games)
  • Superhot (Superhot Team)

The full list of games, as well as where you can purchase the Bundle for Ukraine, can be found here.

Image credit: Eggnut/Raw Fury

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Mobile Syrup

Governments of Canada and B.C will jointly fund high-speed internet projects in the province

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 10, 2018: Canada Wordmark, the official logo of the Canadian government, on an administrative building next to a Canadian flag waiving

The Governments of Canada and British Columbia are working to close the province’s digital divide with an $830 million investment.

The funds will go towards projects improving high-speed internet access in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities throughout the province.

Each level of government is investing $415 million. The initiative will help the federal government reach its target of connecting 98 percent of Canadians with high-speed internet by 2026 and 100 percent by 2030.

With funding from the B.C. government, the province’s target is to reach 100 percent by 2027. The agreement will provide 115,000 underserved communities in the province with high-speed internet.

“We know how important connectivity is to every British Columbian to support our growing economy and ensure we are putting people first,” Lisa Beare, the province’s Minister of Citizens Services, said in a statement. “That’s why, with the launch of our new program, Connecting Communities BC, we’re committing to accelerate the target in our province to close the digital divide and connect all of B.C. by 2027.”

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Canada is the 17th best Wordle nation in the world: study

According to a new study by Wordtips, Canada is the 17th best nation in the world when it comes to solving Wordles, one spot ahead of the United States. And if that wasn’t enough, the data also reveals which Canadian cities are better at Wordle than the others.

Wordtips analyzed Twitter data from all over the world to deduce which countries and cities host the most proficient Wordle-rs, and it turns out that Swedish people are great at guessing words. On average, it took only 3.81 guesses from Swedish Wordle-rs to solve the puzzle. Canadians, who come in at the number 17 spot globally took about 3.90 guesses on average per Wordle.

Within the nation, Toronto Wordle-rs should be considered wordsmiths as it only took them 3.81 guesses on average per wordle, with Vancouver coming in a close second at 3.84. Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton follow to close out the top five spot at 3.87, 3.91 and 3.92 guesses on average, respectively.

Don’t get too ahead of yourself though. On a larger scale, Toronto comes in at spot 25 when compared to cities around the world, with Canberra, Australia coming in at first with 3.58 guesses per puzzle on average.

Cities that follow closely are Jerusalem, Malmö, Durban and Paris at 3.63, 3.66, 3.66 and 3.69, respectively.

Wordtips gathered this data by analyzing 195,248 Tweets with “#Wordle” in them using the Twitter API in January 2022. As a collective, the worldwide score comes in at 3.919 guesses per wordle.

Check out this Wordle-inspired battle royale game below:


We have a battle royale version of Wordle now


We have a battle royale version of Wordle now

The head-turning crossword-like word guessing game Wordle now has a battle royale version. But instead of eliminating others with guns and grenades, you use your wit and agility.


Read now

Image credit: Wordtips

Source: Wordtips

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Mobile Syrup

PlayStation’s Essential Picks sale offers games up to 75 percent off

The PlayStation Store has launched a set of deals offering games like Last of Us Part II, Dead by Daylight and Diablo III: Eternal Collection at a discounted price.

These games are on sale until March 16th.

Here are some of the games available:

You can check out the complete list of games here.

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Mobile Syrup

Start using Face ID and a mask next week with iOS 14.5

Apple’s hotly-anticipated iOS 15.4 update is slated to drop next week alongside the launch of the new ‘Green’ iPhone 13 on March 18th.

Apple hasn’t shared an exact release date, but the new iPhone SE will launch with the software, so it’s expected that the full rollout will also happen then.

This update is notable because it will allow users to unlock their iPhone with Face ID while still wearing a mask. Before this update, you needed to also be wearing an Apple Watch to enable this functionality. This feature has been working well in the iOS 15.4 beta, so we’re expecting it to be pretty seamless when it launches.

Alongside the new Face ID updates, iOS 15.4 also includes a new ‘Tap to Pay’ feature launching in the United States. There’s also a new gender-neutral voice for Siri available for people using U.S. English as the language on their phones. I’d expect this option to roll out to more languages in the coming months.

Apple is also updating the iPhone to better detect AirTags to prevent unwanted tracking. Finally, there are 36 new emojis included in the update.

This update is available on iPhones all the way back to the iPhone 6s, the original iPhone SE and the 7th-gen iPod Touch.

Source: Apple Via: The Verge