Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

All things PC are discounted at Newegg right now

Newegg is currently live with its “Don’t Delay, Start Playing” promotion with several PC parts, computers, laptops, storage and memory products and gaming accessories up to 35 percent off.

Check out some notable deals from the sale below:

Laptops

Monitors

PC Parts

Storage

Peripherals

Check out all the deals in the “Don’t Delay, Start Playing” promotion here.

The promotion is available until Monday, March 13th.

Source: Newegg

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Mobile Syrup

Messenger is finally coming back to the Facebook app

METAVERSE META FACEBOOK. Silhouette of smartphone with Facebook, Messenger, whatsApp, Instagram, Oculus apps and blurred META logo on background. Rebrand of Facebook. Stafford, UK, October 28, 2021

Meta has confirmed that Messenger will be re-added to the Facebook app after several years away.

In 2016, the company made the controversial decision to remove in-app messaging functionality to drive people to its dedicated Messenger app. The return of the feature is being tested among some users now and will be expanded “soon,” Facebook chief Tom Alison wrote in a blog post.

“Over the coming year, we’ll build more ways to integrate messaging features in Facebook,” said Alison. “Ultimately, we want it to be easy and convenient for people to connect and share, whether in the Messenger app or directly within Facebook.”

The move comes as Meta is looking for new ways to compete with TikTok. As part of these efforts, the company has been trying to position itself as a platform for entertainment and discovery, rather than simply social networking. For example, TikTok allows users to share videos directly through in-app messaging, so Meta undoubtedly wants to do something similar with Facebook.

Interestingly, this news was tucked away in a larger blog post about Facebook’s future, which coincides with new reports that the company is planning thousands of layoffs. This also follows Meta’s announcement in November that it plans to cut around 11,000 employees. During all of this, Meta also reportedly lost nearly $14 billion USD (about 19.2 billion CAD) on its plans for the metaverse.

“Contrary to reports otherwise, Facebook is not dead nor dying, but in fact alive and thriving with 2 billion daily active users,” claims Alison. “People are using Facebook for more than connecting with friends and family, but also to discover and engage around what is most important to them.”

Interestingly, Alison didn’t even mention the metaverse in the blog post and instead looked toward AI. “Our investments in AI are unlocking new ways for people to discover great new content on Facebook and share it with the people they care about,” said Alison.

“As our world-class Meta AI research teams continue to make advancements in AI, particularly generative AI, Facebook — and Meta more broadly — will look to bring this transformative technology to billions of people and allow them to create and share in new ways.”

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Meta

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Mobile Syrup

New Hyundai Kona EV boasts 17 percent more range than its predecessor

Hyundai has unveiled its 2nd-gen Kona electric vehicle (EV), a sleeker and more powerful version of the entry model compact electric crossover.

The Kona EV now comes with a higher capacity 65.4kWh battery option that provides an estimated 304 miles (489.2km) of range using the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) testing cycle.

For reference, the current Hyundai Kona has a max range of 258 miles, or 415km. Further, Hyundai claims that battery preconditioning improves charging times and cold weather range, alongside vehicle-to-load support that allows you to power devices both inside and outside of the car.

For a smoother and more efficient driving experience, the Kona now supports “i-Pedal” one-pedal driving, allowing you to accelerate and slow down your vehicle with the accelerator pedal only.

It’s worth noting that a higher range doesn’t equate to faster charging speeds. The Kona doesn’t have the 800V architecture of the Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6, so it will take roughly 41 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent. The Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6, on the other hand, can go from 10 percent to 80 percent in roughly 18 minutes.

The vehicle has also received slight upgrades to its interior. The vehicle offers more storage, a frunk (front trunk), and plenty of in-cabin tech.

Hyundai hasn’t revealed Canadian or U.S. pricing for the upcoming Kona EV, but the automaker says it will still be available in combustion-only and hybrid versions in addition to the electric variant.

The automaker and Natural Resources Canada recently revealed that its upcoming Ioniq 6 EV is capable of driving 581km per charge.

Learn more about the EV here.

Image credit: Hyundai

Source: Hyundai

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Mobile Syrup

Avatar: The Way of Water digital release arrives March 28th

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is a bonafide box office success. After becoming the third-highest-grossing film of all time, the sequel to the 2009 sensation is getting a digital release this month.

On March 28th, the Avatar sequel will be available to purchase digitally. Paid downloads of Avatar: The Way of Water will be available across platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Films & TV, and more.

The Avatar sequel was helmed by James Cameron, who also directed the original film. Alongside Cameron, the film was written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The movie stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and more.

Avatar: The Way of Water is also arriving digitally with a ton of extras. In fact, there is over the same amount of bonus content as the nearly three-hour movie. Fans of the film can watch a feature on how Cameron and his crew created the world of Pandora, its creatures, and its environments. Fans can also look forward to learning more about how the stunt team used a performance tank for the many underwater sequences.

The bonus footage also spotlights the FX of the film. Using Wētā FX, Cameron and his team created uncanny facial performances, environments, and never-before-seen creatures. There are also spotlight features dedicated to the returning cast as well as the new generation of Avatar stars, including Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, and Jack Champion.

Avatar: The Way of Water was released theatrically on December 15th, 2023. It has since reaped a global box office of $2.28 billion. Cameron’s franchise now holds two of the three top-grossing spots. Avatar sits at the number one spot with a box office of $2.9 billion. Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame is the third with $2.79 billion at the box office.

Currently, there’s no word on when a Bluray release nor Disney+ streaming option will be available.

Image credit: Disney

Source: Gizmodo

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s where The Last of Us star Troy Baker says you should eat in Calgary

A few months ago, The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal told us that Canmore was his favourite place in Alberta, specifically citing its “really great fudge.”

Now, we’ve learned where Troy Baker, the man who originated the role of Joel in The Last of Us game, likes to eat in the province.

Speaking to Daily Hive, Baker, who plays a villain named James in the TV adaptation’s eighth episode, was asked about his favourite food spot in Calgary. Although he notes that he “spent a lot of time in downtown Calgary,” he says much of that was dedicated to the Charcut Roast House.

“I got to know the staff. I’m a guy who likes the Cheers factor. So, wherever I go if someone knows my name I’m going to spend a lot of time with those people,” Baker added.

He went on to praise the city’s “incredible food scene” and mutual love of wine. “So spending a month there, I got to know the town really, really well.” Baker’s character serves as the right-hand man of David (Scott Shepherd), the leader of a group of survivors that has a run-in with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in the woods.

On that note, Baker also spoke to Daily Hive about the cold but “beautiful” landscapes of the province. Many of his scenes took place outdoors in the Waterton Park area.

Notably, Baker’s The Last of Us co-star, Ashley Johnson (the original Ellie before Bella Ramsey), will also play a different role in the series. Specifically, Johnson will appear in this season’s ninth and final episode, March 12th’s “Look for the Light,” as Ellie’s mother, Anna. It remains to be seen what she might say about her own experiences in Alberta.

What we do know, though, is how much the cast and crew as a whole have loved the province. Jeffrey Pierce, who played Tomy in the games and Perry in the show, told MobileSyrup his time in Calgary was “maybe my favourite experience filming ever,” while production designer John Paino has said he was “shocked” at how “clean” Alberta was compared to the U.S.

The Last of Us is now streaming exclusively on Crave in Canada.

Image credit: PlayStation, The Food Network

Source: Daily Hive

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Mobile Syrup

iPhones accounted for eight of the best-selling smartphones in 2022: study

Apple’s iPhone sales in 2022 were extremely strong.

They were so good the company was able to capture eight of the ten spots in Counterpoint Research’s Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker.

Apple has been the only brand to achieve this.

The iPhone 13 was the most-sold smartphone of the year, according to the analysis, making up 28 percent of all iPhone sales. It reigned as the best-selling handset in China, U.S., U.K., Germany, and France.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max was the second best-selling device. Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max was third, followed by a break to award the Samsung Galaxy A13 as the fourth best-selling device.

“The iPhone 14 Pro Max sales were led by early adopters and those upgrading to a higher iPhone variant,” the analysis found.

“Major advancements in the iPhone 14 Pro series, such as dynamic island and faster processor, make it more attractive, as the base model is almost identical to the previous year’s model.”

The oldest device to make the top 10 was the iPhone 12, with the sixth-highest smartphone sales. The analysis notes price cuts due to new iPhone launches and its 5G capability played a role in its popularity.

The Samsung Galaxy A03 also made the list, marking its place as the 10th best-selling smartphone in 2022.

Source: Counterpoint Research 

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 might be more expensive this year

Samsung’s upcoming A series smartphones are reportedly getting European price hikes.

According to notable leaker, SnoopyTech, the A14 will cost €219, the A34 will cost €419, and the A54 will be priced at €519. This is up €50 from the A53 from last year.

Last year, A53 retailed at $589.99 in Canada, which was roughly 418€. This means the phone was a bit more affordable in Canada compared to its €449 price tag.

Now that we’re looking at an A54 that costs €519. With the current conversion rate, this means the device will cost roughly rate $753 CAD. As I mentioned, Samsung’s phone was a bit more affordable in Canada last year; however, if SnoopyTech is right, I can see the phone being priced at $700 or even more.

Hopefully, SnoopyTech is wrong, but only time will tell. Samsung announced the A53 and A33 on March 17th last year, so we can expect that Samsung may launch the handset any day now.

Source: SnoopyTech

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Mobile Syrup

Niantic’s Tamagotchi-like Peridot is now available for pre-registration on iOS and Android

Niantic built a name for itself with Pokémon Go and is soon launching its own original take on the “catch em’ all’ formula, Peridot. The title is an original IP from the studio and focuses on collecting and attending to an array of colourful new creatures.

Peridot has long been in development following several not-so-successful releases from Niantic. Following titles like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, Pikmin Bloom, and other licenced games, Niantic is pivoting to an original concept.

Niantic’s title soft launched in beta in Malaysia last year. This revealed a lot of information about the game, offering insight into what players will experience. Rather than a straight clone of Pokémon Go, Niantic appears to be instilling more Tamagotchi-like mechanics into Peridot.

In Peridot, players start with one creature. From there, they’ll be able to interact with other active players and breed their Peridot to spawn new creatures. In turn, the offspring inherit traits from their parent creatures, making them unique. However, breeding and growing a roster of Peridots is only one component of the game.

Much like Tamagotchi, players must actively take care of their creatures. This means you’ll be tasked with petting, playing, and feeding your Peridots. Additionally, you’ll need to go on walks with your creature to keep them happy.

Naturally, Niantic aims to introduce augmented reality (AR) elements into the game. Much like its other mobile titles, Peridot will bring the creatures to the real world through the use of a smartphone. Players can tap the screen and draw to interact and entertain their creature.

It remains to be seen whether Peridot will be a smashing success like Pokémon Go was upon its launch in 2016. However, not being tied to a licence could give Niantic some much-needed flexibility in its ongoing support of the game.

Preregistration for Peridot is available now on iOS and Android. The game will be available in Canada and worldwide on May 9th.

Image credit: Niantic

Source: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Facebook’s Large Language Model leaks on 4Chan

Facebook’s LLaMA, short for Large Language Model Meta AI is an Artificial Intelligence model that leaked for the public to download last week.

As reported by Vice, the language model was initially available only to approved researchers, government officials or members of civil society and was shared for research purposes to evaluate and improve the model, but was shared as a downloadable torrent file on 4Chan last week.

The exact implications of the leak still aren’t clear, though it is worth noting that this is the first time a major tech company’s proprietary AI model has leaked to the public.

“To date, firms like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have kept their newest models private, only accessible via consumer interfaces or an API, ostensibly to control instances of misuse,” wrote Vice.

In a statement given to Vice‘s Motherboard, Meta did not deny the leak, and said that it stands by its approach of sharing the LLaMA model among researchers:

“It’s Meta’s goal to share state-of-the-art AI models with members of the research community to help us evaluate and improve those models. LLaMA was shared for research purposes, consistent with how we have shared previous large language models. While the model is not accessible to all, and some have tried to circumvent the approval process, we believe the current release strategy allows us to balance responsibility and openness.”

In a blog post from February, Meta wrote access to the AI model will be granted on a case-by-case basis, however, that’s gone to ruin now. Meta is currently filing takedown requests to have the model torrent file taken down, and it is unclear if it has made any progress.

Learn more about LLaMA here.

Source: Vice

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Mobile Syrup

Man travels to Pedro Pascal’s favourite Alberta town to recreate scenes from The Last of Us

Gabriel Luna and Pedro Pascal in a bar in The Last of Us

For Canadians, part of the fun of watching The Last of Us has been to spot all of the acclaimed HBO series’ Alberta filming locations. However, one fan has taken that admiration to another level.

On Instagram, Irish-Canadian photographer Mark Cogan posted images of Canmore, the town featured prominently in the series’ sixth episode, “Kin.” As part of this visit, Cogan held up stills from the show to match them with where they were filmed on the actual 8th Street in Canmore. These scene recreations include when Joel (Pedro Pascal) has an emotional reunion with his brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna), and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel on horseback. In the show, Canmore stood in for Jackson, Wyoming.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mark Cogan (@skymanblue)

Cogan also shared them with blogger Andrea David, whose larger audience helped the photos catch the attention of none other than Ramsey herself.

It’s unclear why Cogan picked Canmore, specifically, to visit, but it’s possible he was taking cues from Pascal and Ramsey themselves. The pair told MobileSyrup that it was their favourite place to visit in Alberta, with Pascal even calling it a “magical little town.” The most recent episode of The Last of Us, “When We Are In Need,” took Pascal and Ramsey to another snowy area, Waterton Park.

It’s worth noting that the season finale premieres on March 12th. The show has already been renewed for a second season, although it remains to be seen whether production will return to Alberta.

The Last of Us is now streaming exclusively on Crave in Canada.

Image credit: HBO