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Mobile Syrup

McDonald’s launches new loyalty reward program in Canada

As MobileSyrup’s go-to McDonald’s reporter after having $2,000 pilfered from my bank account through the app a few years ago, I’m here to bring you news that the fast-food chain is launching a new loyalty rewards program in Canada.

The new program allows “McUsers” to earn 100 points for every $1 they spend on menu items through the restaurant’s mobile app. McDonald’s says that users will receive 5,000 for their first purchase through the app and that customers need to present their “MyMcDonald’s Rewards Code” every time they pay for their order to get their points added to the app automatically.

Rewards include free coffee, fries, sandwiches and surprisingly, even full meals. Below is a detailed breakdown of what you can get for free with different point amounts:

2,000 points

  • Premium Roast Coffee/Tea/Iced Coffee (any size)
  • Hash Brown
  • Vanilla Cone
  • Two Li’L Donuts

4,000 points

  • Fries (any size)
  • Sausage McMuffin
  • Cheeseburger
  • Latte (any size)

    6,000 points

  • McDouble
  • McMuffin breakfast sandwich (choice of Egg McMuffin, Bacon’ N Egg McMuffin, or Sausage’ N Egg McMuffin)
  • Junior Chicken
  • Snack Size McFlurry

10,000 points

  • Big Mac
  • McMuffin Extra Value Meal (choice of Egg McMuffin, Bacon’ N Egg McMuffin, or Sausage’ N Egg McMuffin Extra Value Meal)
  • 6-pc Chicken McNuggets
  • Happy Meal (any)

    14,000 points

      • Quarter Pounder with Cheese Extra Value Meal
      • Big Mac Extra Value Meal
      • McChicken Extra Value Meal
      • 10-pc Chicken McNuggets

    The fast-food restaurant’s loyalty rewards program launches on November 16th. McDonald’s says that this new program replaces the current rewards program available through its app that allowed customers to get free beverages and fries. The new rewards program will be available directly in the McDonalds Canada app.

    To be fair, I did get my stolen money back through my bank, but McDonald’s, at least to my knowledge, has not improved the security of its iOS or Android app. Common ordering app features like two-factor authentication, location-aware ordering and more could go a long way towards making the app more secure.

McDonald’s mobile app is available on iOS and Android.

Source: McDonald’s

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Mobile Syrup

One-of-a-kind USB-C iPhone X sells for over $100,000

Remember the world’s first USB-C iPhone? The one that was listed on eBay not too long ago? Well, the modded 64GB iPhone X went through a bidding war and has finally sold for an insane marked-up price of $86,001 (about $108,240.43 CAD).

The modded device, designed by robotics engineering student Ken Pillonel, can utilize the new port for charging and transferring data. However, Pillonel warns that whoever buys the USB-C iPhone can’t “restore, update or erase” the device and that they must confirm they won’t open it or use it as a daily-use smartphone.

Further, Pillonel has open-sourced his project on Github and has uploaded a new YouTube video, walking you through the modding process.

The open-source initiative will help others expand on Pillonel’s efforts, whether by creating unique USB-C iPhone X versions or applying the same concept to other iPhones models. It’s worth noting that even with the walkthrough video and the project being available on Github, the process isn’t easy and requires a certain level of expertise.

Now that the modded one-of-a-kind iPhone X has been sold, Pillonel intends to improve the USB-C iPhone design in the future, with ambitions to support faster charging, waterproofing and possibly compatibility with USB-C accessories.

Source: eBay

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft partners with Gucci for Limited Edition Xbox Series X bundle

Gucci is a long way from Mountain Dew and Doritos.

The rather unique Xbox and Gucci collaboration includes an Xbox Series X console with the iconic GG-pattern laser engraved in it, two Xbox Wireless Controllers in ‘Carbon Black’ featuring Gucci’s Web stripe in red and Blue and a hard case for the console inspired by the fashion brand’s traditional colours. The case itself features ‘Xbox’ on its lid and, of course, “Good Game” in yellow on the bottom.

As expected, only 100 “numbered sets” of this collaboration will be released, so expect to see the bundle appear on the reseller market rather quickly for ridiculously expensive price tags.

The set will be available on November 17th on gucci.com, and at select Gucci stores, including the following: New York’s Wooster, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Moliere Palacio de Hierro in Mexico City, Beijing SKP, Shibuya Parco in Tokyo, as well as Gucci Circolo locations in London, Berlin and Milan.

Almost amusingly, no pricing has been revealed yet for the bundle, likely because if you have to ask, you can’t afford it, right?

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Mobile Syrup

Start your holiday shopping with the Top Deals on headphones from Best Buy

I don’t want to alarm anyone, but the holidays are right around the corner. It may still be mid-November, but with online shopping being more popular than ever, it’s a good idea to get any gift buying out of the way early. Alternatively, you could also take advantage of these Top Deals on headphones from Best Buy because the savings are incredible. With sales on Sony truly-wireless headphones up to $100 off their regular price, this week’s deals are worth a look.

Check out our curated list below:

Jabra Elite Active 75t In-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $169.99 (save $70)

Skullcandy Dime In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $29.99 (save $10)

Sony WF-1000XM4 In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $349.99 (save $50)

Sony WF-C500 In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $99.99 (save $30)

JLab JBuds Air Sport In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $79.99 (save $20)

Sony In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones (WF-1000XM3) for $199.99 (save $100)

Happy Plugs Air 1 Zen In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $69.99 (save $30)

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships and publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Start your holiday shopping with the Top Deals on headphones from Best Buy

I don’t want to alarm anyone, but the holidays are right around the corner. It may still be mid-November, but with online shopping being more popular than ever, it’s a good idea to get any gift buying out of the way early. Alternatively, you could also take advantage of these Top Deals on headphones from Best Buy because the savings are incredible. With sales on Sony truly-wireless headphones up to $100 off their regular price, this week’s deals are worth a look.

Check out our curated list below:

Jabra Elite Active 75t In-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $169.99 (save $70)

Skullcandy Dime In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $29.99 (save $10)

Sony WF-1000XM4 In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $349.99 (save $50)

Sony WF-C500 In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $99.99 (save $30)

JLab JBuds Air Sport In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $79.99 (save $20)

Sony In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones (WF-1000XM3) for $199.99 (save $100)

Happy Plugs Air 1 Zen In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $69.99 (save $30)

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships and publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

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Mobile Syrup

Canadian government to test Alert Ready system on November 17th

The federal government has another Alert Ready test slated for November 17th, 2021.

That means on Wednesday, Canadians with a compatible mobile phone should receive a test alert on their phone. The Alert Ready system serves as a way for the government to quickly communicate critical, potentially life-saving information to people across the country.

For example, it could be used to warn about a natural disaster, like a dangerous storm or earthquake. In Ontario, it’s been used several times for Amber alerts. Unfortunately, those alerts also resulted in some of the less thoughtful among us tying up emergency resources by calling 9-1-1 to complain about Amber alerts.

Speaking of which, this upcoming test might be a great time for you to test out ways to mute the incoming alert if you find they often disturb you. I usually keep my phones on Do Not Disturb at night and I’ve never had an emergency alert wake me up (which may come back to bite me someday).

Anyway, for Ontario, the test alert will deploy at 12:55pm ET on November 17th. All the other provinces and territories will have alert tests on the 17th, but the times can differ. You can check out the full schedule on the Alert Ready website.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Canadian government to test Alert Ready system on November 17th

The federal government has another Alert Ready test slated for November 17th, 2021.

That means on Wednesday, Canadians with a compatible mobile phone should receive a test alert on their phone. The Alert Ready system serves as a way for the government to quickly communicate critical, potentially life-saving information to people across the country.

For example, it could be used to warn about a natural disaster, like a dangerous storm or earthquake. In Ontario, it’s been used several times for Amber alerts. Unfortunately, those alerts also resulted in some of the less thoughtful among us tying up emergency resources by calling 9-1-1 to complain about Amber alerts.

Speaking of which, this upcoming test might be a great time for you to test out ways to mute the incoming alert if you find they often disturb you. I usually keep my phones on Do Not Disturb at night and I’ve never had an emergency alert wake me up (which may come back to bite me someday).

Anyway, for Ontario, the test alert will deploy at 12:55pm ET on November 17th. All the other provinces and territories will have alert tests on the 17th, but the times can differ. You can check out the full schedule on the Alert Ready website.

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s a chance to win an iPhone 13 with MobileSyrup

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift next month to give your loved one, look no further than a free iPhone 13.

Apple’s iPhone 13 features a 6.1-inch display with a Super Retina XDR OLED screen with HDR10. It also sports a duo camera setup with one ultra-wide camera and both 12-megapixel sensors.

In Patrick O’Rourke’s review of the iPhone 13 he said that “even though the iPhone 13 is very much an incremental step forward, it includes useful new features like a more powerful processor, the excellent Cinematic video mode and a brighter display.”

The iPhone 13 that we have to offer is a brand-new 128GB ‘Blue’ iPhone 13 that typically costs $1,099. This contest will be running until December 9th, with the winner being selected on December 10th.

Subscribe to our newsletter using the form below for your chance to win the phone:

 

Note: The iPhone 13 will be in its box still, and is not the phone in the image above.

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Mobile Syrup

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro review episode [SyrupCast 249]

On this week’s SyrupCast, Brad Bennett and Patrick O’Rourke grill Jon Lamont and Dean Daley about their respective Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro reviews.

The pod squad talks about how the smartphones fit into the Canadian market, their significant refreshed designs and why Jon prefers the Pixel 6 and Dean is all about the Pixel 6 Pro. If you’re interested in an hour-long conversation about the Pixel 6 series (and honestly, who isn’t, right?), this is the SyrupCast episode for you.

For more on Google’s latest Pixel devices, check out MobileSyrup’s reviews of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

As always, you can listen to the show on your favourite podcast platform or watch the video version on YouTube.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link

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Mobile Syrup

Panic’s crank-powered Playdate handheld won’t release until early 2022

Panic’s funky little Playdate handheld that features a crank, has been delayed until early 2022.

According to the company, early Playdate units shipped with batteries that weren’t up to par with its standards, resulting in the company sending the devices back to Malaysia.

Panic says that it was also hit by the global chip shortage and that more units of the Playdate’s CPU won’t be available for two years. However, the company has plans to revise the handheld’s main board to utilize a different CPU.

If you pre-ordered a Playdate, you’ve likely received an email with a new estimated shipping date. That said, Panic says this estimated date could change.

In other handheld console-related news, Valve’s Steam Deck was also recently delayed to a February 2022 release following supply chain issues. Further, Nintendo has cut its Switch sales estimates and Sony is rumoured to be manufacturing less PlayStation 5 consoles.

You can find Panic’s blog post about the Playdate’s delay here.

Image credit: Panic 

Source: Panic