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MobileSyrup’s Holiday Gift Guide for gadgets under $100 [2021 Edition]

The lead-up to the holidays is a time for fun and joy and there’s no need to be bogged down by narrowing gift ideas for those around you. Picking out that perfect gift can sometimes be stressful when going through all the options. That’s why we’re here for you.

Let us do the heavy lifting and take away the anxiety of what gifts to pick online. There are so many gadgets ranging from memory cards to Smart TV sticks, audio accessories, and everything in between.

Here is our selection of holiday gift ideas for gadgets that cost under $100.

SanDisk 128GB Memory Card for Nintendo Switch

Any owner of the Nintendo Switch can attest, there’s no such thing as having too much storage. The Switch console provides 64GB of internal storage to players. Between the copious indies and first-party titles, that can fill up quickly.

SanDisk has an inexpensive 128GB storage option for Switch owners. With a transfer speed of 100MB per second, the SanDisk memory card is a great option for Switch options with a growing library. Also, as it’s an officially licenced product from Nintendo, the card comes with a mushroom icon on the front.

Buy from Best Buy Canada for $39

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a great option for those within the Amazon smart home ecosystem. Additionally, it’s a great starting point for anyone considering the Amazon ecosystem as well. The Fire TV Stick dongle can connect to any TV and utilizes Alexa for voice commands.

This streaming device offers 4K Ultra HD visuals and supports HDR formats, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Audio. Plus, it has quick access buttons to favoured platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

Buy from Best Buy Canada for $54

Google Chromecast

Over on the Google ecosystem, the tried and true streaming platform is the Chromecast. For those who prefer Google, Chromecast enables 4K 60FPS streaming with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ on a variety of popular platforms.

Users can also stream content from their Android smartphones and tablets, Mac and Windows laptops too. As expected, users can also make voice commands via Google Assistant and integrate the Chromecast into their larger Google Home setup.

Buy from Best Buy Canada for $59

Xbox Wireless Controller

The new Xbox Wireless Controller has made some iterative improvements over Microsoft’s previous model. This makes it a great gift for anyone playing on Xbox or PC. Having a secondary controller is perfect for playing local co-op games or having a backup when the batteries on your primary gamepad are dead.

The new Xbox Wireless Controller features a textured and a more ergonomic design. However, the biggest improvement is the addition of Bluetooth connectivity and a media capture button.

Buy from Best Buy Canada for $79

Apple AirTag Loop

This year, Apple released its very own tracker device that can be attached to keys, luggage and other important items. In order to attach the AirTag to those items, a user will need a Loop to keep it secure.

Coming in a variety of colours, the Apple AirTag Loop stores the small tracker and can be fixed to an assortment of items. This way, the users can rest assured that their AirTag is always with the item, avoiding a loss. It’s worth noting, the AirTag Bluetooth tracker is sold separately.

Buy from Amazon Canada for $79

Oasisblossom Massage Gun

Massage guns have risen in popularity recently. Though, many cost an arm and a leg to get. An inexpensive alternative to the premium models is the Oasisblossom Massage Gun. This device provides a deep tissue massage, relaxing muscles and helping to relieve strain.

For fitness enthusiasts or those working from home in an office chair all day, a quick go of a massage gun can be perfect to unwind from the day. The Oasisblossom Massage Gun features six different speed options and four changeable heads so users can tailor their message to any pain points or tense areas. The battery is also said to give three to four hours of use on a single charge.

Buy from Amazon Canada for $60

Fire 7 Tablet

If you know someone looking for an entry-level tablet, the Fire 7 is a great option to consider. It features a 7-inch display and comes with a base of 16GB internal storage. A 32GB model is available as well for those expecting to load it up with apps and media.

The Fire 7 makes for a great Kindle eBook but can also be used to stream content off Netflix and check social media. Games and additional apps can be run on the tablet, with its 1.3GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. Plus, it has a 2MP camera on the front and back for video calls.

Buy from Amazon Canada for $69

Fitbit Inspire 2

Wearables are also a fantastic option this holiday season. If you’re buying for someone who is a fitness enthusiast or wishes to keep track of steps and calories, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is worth considering. It can track a user’s steps, distance, hourly activity, and total calories burned.

Additionally, it has up to 10 hours of battery life for monitoring and can be used to track REM sleep during the night. Plus, for those swimming, the Fitbit Inspire is water-resistant to 50 meters. Users will also get a 1 year trial of Fitbit Premium, featuring personalized guidance and support.

Buy from Amazon Canada for $89

Anker Soundcore Life P3

Wireless earbuds can also be fairly inexpensive. Anker’s Soundcore Life P3 is available in a variety of colours and provides quality features as well. Users can gain noise cancellation and quality bass while listening to music.

The noise-cancelling feature can also be customized based on the environment ie: outdoors, transport, etc. Anker Soundcore Life P3 also supports six microphones to algorithmically tune your voice for the most optimized quality when taking calls.

Buy from Amazon Canada for $99

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

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Local organizations proposing project to bridge digital divide brought on by COVID

blue stripes digital laser 3d hologram symbol of divide 1 render on old metal sci-fi pad background

The digital divide has always existed, but it was the spread of the novel coronavirus that brought the issue to the forefront.

The gap between those who have access to the internet and those who don’t has usually concluded with conversations on connectivity in urban areas compared to rural communities.

But a recent list of studies from the National Capital FreeNet (NCF), a not-for-profit internet service provider, and Social Planning Council (SPC) of Ottawa show the picture, at least in Canada’s capital city, is different.

Connectivity challenges also exist in urban areas and are largely tied to women, low-income communities, those living with a disability, or residents who are Black, Indigenous, or people of colour.

These studies focus on how digital equity can be increased in Ottawa to ensure everyone can have access to the internet.

Challenges in urban connectivity

When the pandemic hit, libraries, coffee shops, and government buildings, places where free Wi-Fi is available, were forced to close down. Those who relied on these places to access the internet, largely people from low-income backgrounds, were left behind.

The shutdown highlighted a number of challenges.

The first was a lack of access to devices. Connecting to the internet is impossible without a compatible device. Research shows seniors and low-income residents are most likely to not have access to an appropriate device. While this issue existed prior to the pandemic, it wasn’t given its due importance given access could be sought in public places, such as libraries.

Supplies were also often available through organizations refurbishing donated devices. This was largely impacted as people started to work from home and the demand grew. Social distancing also made it difficult for staff to continue working on any refurbishment projects. While numerous organizations donated devices, gaps still existed.

The second challenge was a lack of digital literacy. This focuses on knowledge specific to devices, software and the internet.

The third challenge was to improve the digital capacity of volunteers organizations. Non-profit programs are important for dealing with inequities, but connectivity brings challenges of its own. The findings note many organizations faced challenges shifting their operations online during COVID.

The fourth challenge was the divide that exists in urban communities, as many living in the city don’t have adequate access to the internet. The report highlights affordability as an issue in Ottawa, leading many to make tradeoffs.

“During the lockdowns, people needed to access school, work, medical appointments, social services, and to stay in touch with friends and family online. If they didn’t have affordable home internet, a connected device like a tablet, or the digital skills to use these tools, they were left out,” Dianne Urquhart, executive director of SPC Ottawa, said in a statement.

The report provides a number of recommendations to solve these challenges. For the lack of access to devices, programs focusing on lending devices should be expanded to allow more people to have access. Community members can also be thought how to refurbish donated computers to increase supply. To increase digital literacy, learning opportunities can be shared with community members and more programs can be offered. Improving affordability will further help the volunteer sector get access to programs giving them more access. This will also help bridge the urban divide.

A community mesh network

NCF has been examining ways it can provide faster internet access at a lower cost for those that need it in the Ottawa area.

It has come up with the proposal of piloting a community mesh network. This is a wireless network where infrastructure devices, known as nodes, connect with other nodes to transmit data.

This project would be completed in partnership with Ottawa Community Housing. Broadband solutions will be offered to tenants and pricing is currently being examined. Public Wi-Fi access will also be available free in community spaces.

The organization is currently looking to fund this project and a starting date is not available at this time.

Image credit: ShutterStock

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Metrolinx to start testing two double-decker electric buses this week

Metrolinx announced today that it would begin testing two new zero-emission battery-powered double-decker Go buses in Toronto this week.

The buses, which look identical to current Go buses, have been modified to include nine batteries, producing a total of 648-kilowatt hours of power.

While the new electric buses are ready to test on-road, they won’t be available for riders until 2022, and the current tests will be performed without passengers on board.

According to Metrolinx, the new buses will run quieter, thanks to the lack of a diesel engine and will have USB ports for passengers to charge their devices on the go.

Further, the buses will have seatbelts for passengers, as part of new legislation and fewer seats, due to the batteries taking up space in the lower backside of the bus.

The new buses will be added to select routes west of Toronto, so expect to spot them somewhere around Mississauga, Etobicoke and Brampton, Ontario.

Image credit: Metrolinx

Source: Metrolinx

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Mobile Syrup

Save up to 57% on Amazon devices right now

Apart from its “epic” tech deals, Amazon Canada has also discounted some of its own products. There does not seem to be an end date, however, these could make a solid gift this year for yourself or your home.

Source: Amazon Canada

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

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Google finally rolling out Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro December security patch

Google’s December security patch is finally rolling out to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, according to 9to5Google and Reddit.

The update was delayed more than a week, but it’s here now and comes with 80 bug fixes and much-needed improvements.

Some of the standouts of this update include improved fingerprint sensor stability and performance, fixes for screen flickering, and full 23W wireless charging from the Pixel Stand 2.

Further, there are also some specific camera updates included as well.

  • General image quality improvements in camera preview / capture
  • General improvements for camera stability and performance
  • General improvements for auto-focus response in certain capture modes
  • General improvements for color consistency in viewfinder preview
  • Fix for issue causing blank viewfinder preview in certain conditions

You can check out the full list of fixes, here.

The patch also fixes several security vulnerabilities that ranged from moderate to high. To download the update head to ‘Settings’ > ‘System’ > ‘System update.’

It’s worth mentioning that I haven’t received the update on my Pixel 6 Pro and many others on Reddit are also waiting for the patch, so it seems as the update hasn’t hit everyone. Hopefully, it won’t take too much longer.

Source: Google (2), Via: 9to5Google

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Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed crossover explores the ties between Odyssey and Valhalla

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed’s Crossover Stories explores the ties between Kassandra from Odyssey and Eivor from Valhalla, with the two characters travelling thousands of years to come face-to-face.

The first portion of the DLC, ‘Those Who Are Treasured,’ will be playable in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey as a free download as long as you already own the base game. The Crossover Stories content in Odyssey will be playable after completing ‘Chapter 1,’ but Ubisoft recommends players finish the game first before diving in.

On the other hand, ‘A Fated Encounter’ is playable in Valhalla after you’ve unlocked Valka the Seer and reached settlement level four. In this part of the free DLC, Eivor and Kassandra meet up to stop an artifact from destroying the Isle of Skye.

It’s important to note that Odyssey’s Crossover DLC lets you continue as the character you initially selected, whether it’s Alexios or Kassandra. In Odyssey, you can also play as male or female Eivor, though Kassandra will always be a woman.

Assassin’s Creed Crossover Stories releases on December 14th, 2021. Alongside the Ubisoft Quebec and Montreal-developed Crossover Stories DLC, the developer also showed off Valhalla’s next significant expansion that is set to release next year, Dawn of Ragnorok.

As far as DLC packs go, Crossover Stories sounds rather interesting, and it’s impressive Ubisoft is releasing more free content for Odyssey several years after its release.

Image credit: Ubisoft

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Sony scrapped plans to bring PlayStation Now to mobile: report

PlayStation had once planned to bring its PlayStation Now game streaming service to mobile devices, according to a confidential Apple document.

The Verge, which obtained the file as part of the Epic v. Apple trial, explains that Apple had insider knowledge in 2017 of PlayStation’s plans to bring the service to mobile. PS Now originally streamed to the PS3 and PS Vita, as well as smart TVs and Blu-ray players, before shifting to PS4 (and, later, PS5) and PC. Otherwise, it’s never come to phones or tablets.

At the time, Apple was referring to PlayStation’s potential PS Now plans because it was preparing its own gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade. The Apple service was eventually launched in 2019, exclusively on Apple devices.

Given that this was an account from Apple, no reason was provided as to why Sony ultimately never brought PlayStation Now to mobile. It’s a particularly notable decision since rival console maker Xbox has been going big with its own game streaming service, Xbox Cloud Gaming, on Android and iOS. Further, services like Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now have launched over the past few years to offer their own approaches to game streaming on mobile.

Sony also purchased cloud startup Gaikai in 2012 for $380 million USD (about $487 million CAD in 2021), as well as its competitor, OnLive, which makes its comparative quieter moves in the game streaming space all the more prominent.

That said, there is always the possibility that Sony could expand PlayStation Now to mobile in the future. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Sony is planning to combine PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus into a new tiered service that offers a catalogue of PS4, PS5 and retro games as well as streaming. While Bloomberg didn’t cite any plans to bring PS Now to mobile, it’s easy to see how the service — codenamed ‘Spartacus’ — could go down that route.

Beyond general speculation, what adds credence to the possibility of PS Now on mobile are recent comments made by PlayStation boss Jim Ryan himself. Back in October, Ryan lamented the fact that even PlayStation’s most successful games will typically only reach ten or 20 million people, given how many people own consoles.

“I would also like to see a world where the games that we make at PlayStation can be enjoyed by many tens of millions of people. Perhaps hundreds of millions of people,” said Ryan.

So far, PlayStation has begun to bring several once-console exclusives to PC, including Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War. But the biggest way to find an even larger audience, of course, would be through mobile. The company has also been hiring for key mobile-related positions over the past several months, although it’s unclear what, exactly, it has planned for them.

Source: The Verge

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Apple’s 27-inch M1-powered iMac Pro will release in spring 2022

Along with speculating when Apple could release its first foldable smartphone, reliable display analyst Ross Young (via MacRumors) says that Apple’s  27-inch iMac Pro with a mini LED display will launch in the spring of 2022.

With this in mind, there’s a possibility we might see the new iMac Pro revealed during Apple’s annual spring event. Young’s report says that the new iMac will measure in at 27-inches and that it will feature the same mini-LED display technology included in the MacBook Pro (2021) along with a 120Hz display refresh rate.

The report also mentions that the higher-end all-in-one desktop will be called the iMac Pro in an effort to simplify Apple’s Mac lineup. The new Mac is expected to feature the same M1 Pro/M1 Max chip as the current MacBook Pro. It’s unclear if Apple also plans to expand the iMac Pro’s port offerings with an SD card slot and an HDMI port like the company did with the MacBook Pro (2021). The current 24-inch iMac only includes USB-C/Thunderbolt ports.

Apple’s M1-powered 24-inch iMac released back in May of 2021. While the iMac is a little pricey despite its powerful M1-chip, its colourful design and sleek accessories remain impressive. For more on the 24-inch iMac (2021), check out my review.

Source: Ross Young Via: MacRumors 

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Apple likely won’t release a foldable iPhone until 2023 at the earliest

Like it does with most new technology, it seems Apple is taking a cautious approach when it comes to foldable displays.

According to display analyst Ross Young, as first reported by MacRumors, Apple won’t release a foldable iPhone until 2023 at the earliest, with 2024 being the more likely window.

We’ve seen rumours regarding Apple’s foldable smartphone plans several times over the past few months. For example, in May, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is working on an 8-inch flexible screen with a 2023 release date. Then in January, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was in the “early” stages of working with foldable technology.

While Samsung’s foldable smartphone lines — including the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 — have come a long way in a very short period of time, they aren’t flawless. For instance, the unsightly foldable display crease is still evident, and durability remains an issue with both smartphones.

With this in mind, if Apple does release a foldable iPhone in 2023, it will need to compete directly with either the 4th or 5th-gen version of Samsung’s foldables. With such a headstart on Apple in the space, it’s hard to see the tech giant’s first-gen foldable offering being able to match Samsung’s line.

Source: Ross Young Via: MacRumors

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If you’re a Public Mobile user, check your messages

Public Mobile’s holiday promotion that we talked about a few days ago seems to be in full swing.

The promotion, which offers 2GB of free data along with 500 minutes of international calling required you to reply with a ‘YES’ to a Public Mobile text messages.

Now, according to RedFlagDeals user ‘Dailen,’ users have started receiving the text messages.

The offer is available for new and existing customers. If you are an existing customer, expect to receive a text message from Public Mobile, similar to the one in the image above before December 31st. Reply with a ‘YES’ to the message and the promotions will be automatically applied to your account.

If you’re a new customer, activate a Public Mobile SIM card before December 31st, and the promotions will be automatically added to your account.

Learn more about the promotion and how to get started here.

Source: Public Mobile Via: RedFlagDeals