Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Google Stadia is bringing ‘Direct Touch’ gaming to iPhone and iPad

Google Stadia is finally bringing ‘Direct Touch’ gaming to the company’s iOS web app.

Direct Touch lets players directly interact with a game using a smartphone’s touchscreen, including tapping, sliding and pinching the screen. The feature will launch first with Sega’s Humankind turn-based strategy game.

As someone who has never used Stadia, it’s pretty shocking to learn this feature wasn’t available at launch, but its delay is likely tied to the fact that Google’s cloud servers need to accurately react to touchscreen presses.

To get the feature working you’ll need to head to a supported game (right now, this is only Humankind) through Stadia on your iPhone or iPad without a controller connected, and then Stadia offers the ‘Enable direct touch’ feature.

Direct Touch was originally only available through Stadia’s Android app.

Source: Stadia

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Mobile Syrup

Fortnite acknowledges Innersloth as inspiration behind Among Us game mode

Nearly two months after release, Epic Games has finally decided to credit Innersloth’s Among Us as the inspiration behind Fortnite’s ‘Impostors Mode.’

The Fortnite ‘Imposters Mode’ was released in August and was developed in traditional Fortnite settings and 3D environments, but substantially drawing from Among Us’ gameplay and mechanics.

At the time, Epic Games did not acknowledge Among Us or Innersloth as the inspiration behind the game mode, prompting members of Innersloth’s crew to call out Fortnite about having their work duplicated without acknowledgment or credit.

But today’s Twitter thread conversation between @FortniteGame and @AmongUsGame makes it clear that there is no bad blood between the two companies, and hints that they might collaborate “on something fun” in the near future.

Image credit: Fortnite

Source: @@FortniteGame

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix is looking into making a ‘Squid Game’ video game

Netflix has teased that a video game adaptation of its massively popular Squid Game series could be on the table.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s vice president of content for Asia Pacific, was asked about “what comes next” for South Korean survival drama series. In response, Kim floated the possibility of a video game adaptation.

“We’ve been getting an overwhelming but happy volume of requests from the organization [Netflix] — from the consumer product department, from the gaming group, from our other international teams. My team’s role is to really look at all of those opportunities together, to create that roadmap for the Squid Game IP,” said Kim. “We are looking at multiple different areas — from games, consumer product, and others — to really figure out what we can bring to our audiences to increase their affinity towards our content and give them more joy, while staying true to the world that our creator has built.”

Of course, that’s by no means a confirmation, but a Squid Game video game would make a lot of sense. As THR noted to Kim, gaming, in particular, seems like a natural fit for the property, especially given Netflix’s recent push into the medium. However, Netflix has said the bulk of its gaming efforts will be on the mobile front, so it remains to be seen what platform(s) game based on Squid Game would come to.

In terms of the type of game, the most logical genre seems to be a Fortnite-style battle royale. The series follows hundreds of cash-strapped players as they take part in deadly children’s games. Alternatively, a Fall Guys-inspired multiplayer game (think: Wipeout but even more chaotic and violent) also seems like it could work for Squid Game.

In any event, Squid Game is too big of a hit for Netflix to lay dormant. Therefore, it’s not a question of whether we’ll see more Squid Game, but rather what we’ll next see from it.

Image credit: Netflix

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon finally brings its Echo Buds 2 wireless earbuds to Canada

After announcing the second-gen Amazon Echo Buds back in the spring of 2021, Amazon is finally bringing its wireless earbuds to Canada.

You can pre-order the wireless earbuds on Amazon.ca for $154.99 in either ‘Black’ or ‘White,’ and they release on October 21st.

Amazon’s Echo Buds 2 feature active noise-cancelling, placing them in direct competition with the Galaxy Buds 2, Beats Studio Buds and other pricier wireless earbuds. The plus side with these buds is that if you’re a big Alexa user, you can access that digital assistant hands-free directly through the wireless earbuds.

Yes, they do look like smiling cartoon whales.

Amazon says that the Echo Buds feature five hours of listening and like all wireless earbuds, can recharge a few more times in the included case. To control play/pause behaviour each earbud features a touch-sensitive zone. While this isn’t my favourite way to control wireless earbuds, it typically works quite well.

The earbuds are also IPX4 rated, allowing them to withstand light splashes of water. Amazon’s first-gen Echo Buds didn’t release in Canada.

Source: Amazon 

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Mobile Syrup

All you need is a masters in robotics to create a USB-C iPhone

Despite years of rumours, it’s unlikely Apple will ever ditch the iPhone’s propriety Lightning connector for the more universal USB-C port without being forced by a powerful government body.

That said, the tech giant has slowly moved several of its devices over to USB-C, including the iPad mini, iPad Air and of course, its various Mac devices.

Since Apple will never make the jump, robotics engineer and YouTuber Ken Pillonel, took matters into his own hands to create the “World’s first USB-C iPhone.” In Pillonel’s video, he shows off an iPhone equipped with a USB-C cable capable of receiving power and handling data transfers through the port.

Pillonel says that he reverse-engineered Apple’s C94 connector to create a PCB with a female USB-C port over several months. To be clear, this isn’t something the average iPhone user will be able to handle themselves given Pillonel has a Master’s degree in robotics.

Still, it’s fascinating that someone was able to get this to work and reminds me that in an alternate universe, maybe there is an iPhone that features USB-C.

For more on this fascinating USB-C iPhone mod, check out Pillonel’s very detailed blog post.

Image credit: Ken Pillonel

Source: Ken Pillonel, Kenny Pi (YouTube) Via: AppleInsider 

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Mobile Syrup

Toronto-based Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat finally gets Siri access

After being shown off at Apple’s WWDC this past summer, Toronto-based Ecobee has finally launched its long-awaited Siri update for its SmartThermostat’s with voice control.

While Ecobee is the first company to take advantage of this new feature, it ideally means that more devices will start releasing that take advantage of Siri. The only catch is that you need a HomePod mini on the same network to process the requests.

This means that adding Siri to random smart home objects is possible, but it’s a lot more expensive and convoluted than when a device features Alexa or Google Assistant integration. Still, if you already have this particular smart thermostat and a HomePod mini, this is a welcome update.

The Verge says that the SmartThermostat’s Siri integration works great and is the same as having a Siri-capable device like a HomePod. The publication also notes that it’s hilarious to be able to AirPlay music through the tinny thermostat speaker.

The update is rolling out over the next two weeks, according to Ecobee. The company’s SmartThermostart with voice control costs $299 right now, while the HomePod mini costs $129.

Source: EcoBee Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Rogers expands 5G service to 11 regions in Greater Montreal

Rogers’ 5G internet service is now available to more people living in the Greater Montreal area.

The company announced that 90 communities in 11 cities and towns can now connect to Rogers’ 5G network .

The specific regions listed in the press release are Beaconsfield, Boucherville, Brossard, Dorval, Drummondville, Longueuil, Mascouche, Mont Tremblant, Saint-Constant, Saint-Lambert, and Terrebonne.

Interestingly, two of the regions listed — Dorval and Longueuil — are the home to major airports, including Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

This could affect the 5G service available in those areas to Rogers customers, as the federal government is restricting 5G service near some airports over concerns of possible interference between radio waves and aviation navigation tools.

To date, Rogers says it has improved wireless network connectivity in over 162 Quebec communities this year, and plans to boost connectivity in 360 communities total by the end of 2021.

Prior to this, Roger’s last 5G network expansion announcement was on September 23rd for the Nova Scotian regions of Dartmouth and Bedford.

Meanwhile, Telus — one of Roger’s main telecom competitors — recently announced a $90 million investment in 5G infrastructure, also in the Greater Montreal region.

Source: Rogers

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Mobile Syrup

Discovery+ to launch in Canada on October 19

Discovery has confirmed that its discovery+ video streaming service will launch in Canada on October 19th.

The platform was first launched in the U.S. in January as part of Discovery’s larger goal to bring it to 25 countries in its first year. Discovery says it’s expanded its existing partnership with Toronto-based media company Corus Entertainment to roll out discovery+ to Canada.

discovery+ will cost $4.99 CAD with ads or $6.99 for the full ad-free experience.

“The launch marks the first time Canadian viewers will have access to the most comprehensive collection of real-life programming available anywhere,” said Discovery in a press statement.

Specifically, Discovery says discovery+ will offer Canadians access to more than 200 original series and 60,000 episodes of current and classic shows from its various networks, including the Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Animal Planet and Magnolia Network, as well as natural history content from the BBC.

Canadian discovery+ titles will include Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, 90 Day: The Single Life and Naked and Afraid Of Love, Unseamly: The Investigation of Peter Nygard, No Responders Left Behind, Bobby and Giada in Italy, Queen of Meth and Love in Paradise. Programming featuring the likes of chef Guy Fieri, Canadian construction contractors Drew and Jonathan Scott (the Property Brothers), paranormal investigator Zak Bagans and dermatologist Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper) will also be offered.

Further, Discovery says more than 1,000 episodes of its “most popular” series will feature French subtitles, although specific titles weren’t mentioned.

Finally, here are all of the platforms that discovery+ will support in Canada at launch:

  • Android
  • Amazon Fire TV
  • Apple TV
  • iOS
  • Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices
  • Roku devices
  • Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and newer)
  • Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles

The service will support up to five user profiles and four concurrent streams.

Disclaimer: MobileSyrup parent company Blue Ant Media produces some content for discovery+.

Image credit: HGTV

Source: Discovery

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Mobile Syrup

Sketchy leak hints Apple could be working on a Switch-like gaming handheld

A somewhat dubious rumour suggests that Apple could be creating its own Nintendo Switch-like gaming handheld.

This rumour comes from iDropnews, a relatively unknown source in the Apple leaking space. The report states that alongside a new Apple TV, Apple is also considering releasing a handheld that resembles Switch that can be played in handheld mode or docked and used on a television.

iDropnews goes on to say that Apple will release big-budget games on the platform that rival the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Other information includes that Apple’s A14 chip will power the device and that it will launch in 2021 for between $449 and $549. The publication also lists the gaming device’s potential release dates as either “2020 or 2021,” which is strange given 2022 is just around the corner.

As far as Apple leaks go, I’m almost certain this one is not legitimate. The only gaming-related rumour we’ve seen regarding Apple in the past several months is that the company is reportedly working on a gaming-focused Apple TV and a dedicated controller, but the last we heard anything about those projects was back in December 2020.

Otherwise, Apple has only been involved in the gaming space through the App Store and, by extension, its $5.99/month Apple Arcade game subscription service.

Source: iDropnews

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Mobile Syrup

Apple announces October 18th event that will likely focus on Macs

Following months of rumours, Apple has announced a new hardware event set for October 18th.

It’s unclear what the tech giant will show off at this event, but it will likely be the often rumoured MacBook Pro redesign, a higher-end Mac Mini and the 3rd-generation AirPods. There’s also a possibility Apple could reveal a MacBook Air refresh at the event as well.

Apple’s new MacBook Pro is rumoured to feature a more powerful ARM-based chip called the M1X, the return of MagSafe, an HDMI port and even an SD card slot. The beleaguered Touch Bar will also reportedly meet a very timely death.

The new Mac Mini reportedly includes more ports and faster chip, and finally, the redesigned AirPods will look more similar to the AirPods Pro.

We’ll have more on Apple’s upcoming hardware event in the coming days.