Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

SHAKEN/STIR technology goes into effect, promising a reduction of spam calls

Canadians can now benefit from new technology that will let them know if incoming calls are spoofed.

Service providers now have to verify if an incoming call can be trusted by verifying the information for Internet Protocol-based calls.

SHAKEN/STIR technology, a framework that authenticates caller ID, is being used to implement the change. Secure Telephony Information Revisited (STIR) enables providers to validate an incoming call. Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information using Tokens (SHAKEN) is the larger framework used by network providers.

The change was implemented by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

“Bad actors who have no interest in following the rules [and] have been contributing to an erosion of confidence in the telecommunications system,” CRTC chair, Ian Scott, said at the Canadian Telecom Summit on November 15th.

The CRTC has taken numerous other steps to stop these types of calls. This includes encouraging providers to offer call-filtering services and asking them to block specific calls. The organization is currently working on a process to trace scam calls back to their original point of origin.

The CRTC warns, however, that all calls will be verified by the new technology because of device and network capabilities.

“This new caller ID technology will empower Canadians to determine which calls are legitimate and worth answering, and which need to be treated with caution. As more providers upgrade their networks, STIR/SHAKEN will undoubtedly reduce spoofing and help Canadians regain peace of mind when answering phone calls,” Scott said of the new change.

Source: CRTC

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s our best look at Razer’s Qualcomm-powered Switch-like handheld yet

Qualcomm is working with gaming accessory maker Razer on a Nintendo Switch-like handheld video game console built on its Snapdragon G3X chip.

Leaked slides presumably set to be shown off during Qualcomm’s annual Tech Summit in Hawaii that VideoCardz obtained, show off a device called the ‘Snapdragon G3X Handheld Developer Kit.’ With the portable’s name in mind, Qualcomm and Razer could be trying to more directly target developers with this device.

Other notable features related to the handheld include a USB-C Port, DisplayPort support over USB-C, a 6,000mAh battery and a 1080p webcam. The portable’s screen is reportedly an HDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and 5G mmWave.

While Razer’s handheld console bears a striking resemblance to the Switch, it also looks a lot like Valve’s upcoming Linux-based Steam Deck. The Steam Deck’s release was recently pushed back to 2022 due to supply-chain issues.

It’s unclear if this will end up being a consumer product or is a proof-of-concept offering an example of how hardware makers could take advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3X chip for portable gaming devices. For example, the chip maker adopted a similar approach a few years ago with a concept virtual reality headset.

VideoCardz also says that Qualcomm’s next flagship smartphone processor will be called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

With the Snapdragon Tech Summit currently underway, we likely won’t have to wait long for more details regarding Razer and Qualcomm’s handheld gaming project.

Image credit: VideoCardz

Souce: VideoCardz Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Behold this AirPods prototype that lets you see through it

Welcome to another episode of ‘look at this prototype you’ll never be able to buy,’ this time featuring an AirPods prototype with a translucent body.

Shared by Apple device collector Giulio Zompetti on Twitter, the prototype’s stems reveal the AirPods’ internal circuits along with what looks like hardened adhesive, whereas the top part — the part that goes in your ear — looks like a regular AirPod.

From the looks of it, the prototype could be a first or second-gen AirPods model. Translucent shells are commonly used during product prototyping to allow engineers to examine the internal design more closely.

Along with the transparent AirPods, Zompetti recently shared images of a 29W Apple Charger prototype, which also, unsurprisingly, sports a translucent shell.

Earlier this month, ‘DongleBookPro,’ a YouTuber who has featured several other prototype videos on his channel, shared a new hands-on video with an extraordinary iPhone 4 prototype with several variations from the final public-released iPhone 4.

What primarily set the prototype apart from the regular iPhone 4 was that it sported a Death Star logo on the backside.

Source: @1nsane_dev

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Mobile Syrup

Some 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) users are reporting charging issues

While Apple’s M1 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) has been widely praised by most for its thicker port-filled design and powerful ‘M1 Pro’ and ‘Max’ chips, it appears some users are experiencing charging issues.

As first reported by AppleInsider, several Reddit users are reporting that when their 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) is shut down completely, it doesn’t charge.

You can view the full Reddit post from ‘Trillionaire’ below:

According to the Reddit user, even after following Apple Support’s troubleshooting steps, the issue reappears after the 16-inch MacBook Pro is shut down. Apple seems to be aware of the issue based on a follow-up post by Trillionaire and is currently looking into a solution. A simple solution to the problem would be to charge the laptop while the display is open and not in sleep mode, but given the MacBook Pro (2021)’s expensive price tag, issues like this aren’t something owners should need to deal with.

It also appears that this charging problem only occurs with the 140W charger that comes with the 16-inch M1 Pro and M1 Max, which explains why the problem doesn’t affect the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021).

For what it’s worth, I haven’t encountered this issue with the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) with an M1 Max chip that I’ve been using for the last few months, though this makes sense given it features a 96W charger. For more on the MacBook Pro 2021, check out my review of the laptop.

Have you run into this charging issue with your 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Reddit (Trillionaire) Via: AppleInsider

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Mobile Syrup

DJI apps failing to work with Pixel 6 phones

If you own a DJI drone, the new Action 2 or Pocket 2, and a Pixel 6, you’re not in for a good time. Not only do Android users need to download some of DJI’s apps from its website instead of the Play Store, but Pixel 6 users can’t even use the apps at all.

Several Pixel 6 users are reportedly only seeing a black screen, but can still access some settings. This pretty much renders the drones useless since you need to see them when you’re flying. If you have an action cam or the Pocket 2, this is less of an inconvenience since both devices feature small built-in displays.

While the most prominent issues seem to stem from Pixel 6 devices, it appears that a small number of Samsung devices might have the bug as well. I have only been able to test the app on a OnePlus 9 Pro and it worked flawlessly for me.

According to a report from Android Police, DJI is aware of the issue and is working on a solution.

For the time being, if you plan to buy a DJI product, especially a drone, I would do a quick Google search to see if anyone else has the same phone as you to make sure that the app is compatible. It’s also worth noting that you need to download the DJI apps from DJI’s website since they were removed from the Play Store in January 2021 for not compiling code in a modern way.

Source: Android Police 

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘Clarity Boost’ for better streams on Microsoft Edge

Xbox Cloud Gaming now offers crisper, less blurry pictures on Microsoft’s Edge browser through a feature called Clarity Boost.

In a blog post, Microsoft noted that Clarity Boost “uses a set of client-side scaling improvements to improve the visual quality of the video stream.”

Refer to the image below from the Canadian-made Gears 5 for an idea of how Clarity Boost looks in action:

Xbox Cloud Gaming Clarity Boost

For now, Clarity Boost is only available on Microsoft Edge Canary, but the company says the feature will come to all Edge users sometime in 2022.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with a $16.99 CAD/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription alongside Game Pass for Console and PC, Xbox Live Gold and EA Play. The service launched on Xbox consoles earlier this month and is also available on Android and iOS (via browsers).

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Government of Manitoba partners with Canada’s largest rural-focused broadband provider to improve 5G access in hundreds of communities

Thousands of Manitoba residents will soon be connected to reliable internet services thanks to an agreement between Xplornet Communications Inc. and the Government of Manitoba.

The Rural Broadband Expansion Agreement outlines an expansion of 5G technology to specifically include 350 rural and 30 First Nations communities, offering better connectivity to
work, school, and health care, among other factors.

Xplornet announced it’s ready to get shovels in the ground as part of the commitment and start construction to deliver 5G wireless broadband to 125,000 homes and businesses across the province.

The project will be completed by accessing 3,200 kilometers of fibre from Manitoba Hydro. Construction is expected to end by the end of 2023.

Xplornet is adding an additional 1,500 kilometers of fibre optic cable and equipping 224 towers with 5G broadband technology. The company focuses on delivering broadband services to rural and remote communities across the country.

“We are pleased to sign this agreement with the Government of Manitoba to achieve our shared goal of increased connectivity in communities across Manitoba,” Allison Lenehan, president and CEO of Xplornet, said in a press release. “This is an important milestone in our plan to connect rural Manitobans to fast, reliable and affordable high-speed internet using next-generation broadband technologies.”

This project is part of Xplornet’s larger initiative to invest $500 million by 2025 in scalable fibre and 5g technology specifically for rural Canadians.

Source: Xplornet

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Mobile Syrup

Rocket League Sideswipe now available on mobile

Rocket League Sideswipe, a new take on the popular vehicular soccer game, is now available on mobile.

The free-to-play title translates the Rocket League experience into the 2D space, rather than the 3D arenas of the main console and PC game. Sideswipe features a virtual joystick on the left side of the screen, while jump and boost buttons are found on the right.

To further streamline the experience, cars auto-regenerate their boosts, so there’s no need to seek out pads to do so like you would in the main game. The game also features a basketball-style “Hoops” mode on top of its signature soccer-focused offerings.

Sideswipe can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

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Mobile Syrup

3rd-gen iPhone SE to reportedly release in Q1, 2022

From credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo to Nikkei, we’ve heard it time and time again — the third-gen iPhone SE will release in 2022.

Now, a new report from Taiwanese research firm TrendForce suggests we’ll be able to get our hands on the device in Q1, 2022, adding strength to the longstanding claims.

“Apple is staying with the plan to release its third-generation iPhone SE in 1Q22 and four models under a new series in 2H22,” reads the report. “The third-generation iPhone SE is expected to be a major instrument in helping Apple establish a presence in the market segment for mid-range 5G smartphones. Its production volume for 2022 is forecasted to reach 25-30 million units.”

From what we know so far, the upcoming iPhone SE will feature the same 4.7-inch LCD display as the current SE model, with the only exceptions being a better processor and 5G support.

Earlier leaks also suggest that Apple plans to start producing the new iPhone SE in December and ship it to customers in 2022. This launch lineup makes sense, given the tech giant typically releases the SE version of its iPhones in the spring. The new device could be perfect for people looking to pick up a reliable 5G phone without having to burn a hole in their pockets.

Source: TrendForce Via: MacRumors

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Mobile Syrup

iRobot’s Roomba j7 robot vacuum can now avoid knocking over your Christmas tree

iRobot has dropped a new update for its j7 and j7+ vacuum that allows the recently released robot vacuum to avoid Christmas trees, shoes and socks.

This is an extension of the j7 Series’ object identification software that first released alongside the new robot vacuum a few months ago. Now instead of setting up a ‘Clean Zone’ or ‘Keep Out Zone’ manually, the j7 will identify your Christmas tree (or shoes and socks) and suggest you create a zone that best suits your cleaning needs.

In theory, this should prevent the j7 from accidentally knocking over your Christmas tree or attempting to suck up low-hanging branches.

iRobot says that the update should be rolling out now. Along with Christmas trees, socks, shoes and pet poop, the j7 and j7+ (which includes a clean base) can detect and avoid cords.

Finally, iRobot also says that smart mapping features can be transferred between robots, including the i6+ and S9+, though unless you’re like me and have three robot vacuums and the Braava Jet M6 mop roaming around your house, this particular feature likely won’t be useful to you.

iRobot’s Roomba j7 is currently on sale for $449 (regularly $649) and the J7+ is discounted to $649 (regularly $849).

Image credit: iRobot 

Source: iRobot