Author: Mobile Syrup

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Survey finds one in four Canadians want an EV, but price remains an issue

Image source: Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electric_vehicle_charging_station_at_Pippinger_Flur_10.jpg

A new survey shows that while a solid chunk of Canadians are interested in making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV), the cost of purchasing one remains a major barrier.

Out of a survey of 1,551 Canadians, nearly 26 percent said they planned on purchasing an EV, according to a post on Tesla North drawing on a recent Bloomberg article.

That said, a 31 percent of respondents in the Leger Marketing survey confided that price is the main reason why they would not be buying an EV.

Moreover, a whooping 59 percent of folks surveyed said while cost is not their primary barrier to buying an EV, the steep price tag is still among the list of considerations keeping them from making the purchase.

Lack of charging infrastructure, concerns about range, and worries about battery replacement and longevity clocked in at 18 percent, 16 percent and 13 percent respectively.

In the recent 2021 federal election, all the major political parties made significant commitments to EV vehicles and zero-emission laws.

For their part, the newly-reelected Liberal Party promised that a minimum of half of all passenger vehicles sold in Canada will be zero-emission by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035.

The party also pledged to build 50,000 charging stations, and offer $5,000 in federal incentives for people who purchase zero-emission vehicles, as well as $5,000 in grants and $40,000 in interest-free loans towards retrofitting initiatives.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Tesla North Via: Bloomberg

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Prices drop for Samsung, Dell, and JBL products at Best Buy Canada

Another batch of discounts from Best Buy has just launched, and it features all the usual suspects of smart TVs, gaming PCs, laptops, and wireless earphones and speakers. Check out the full list of deals below:

Insignia 42″ 1080p HD LED Smart TV – Fire TV Edition for $369.99 (save $30)

Samsung 65″ 4K UHD HDR QLED Tizen OS Smart TV for $1,899.99 (save $600)

ASUS ROG Strix G15DK Gaming PC for $2,199.99 (save $300)

Dell 31.5″ 1440p QHD 165Hz 4ms GTG Curved VA LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor for $449.99 (save $350)

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $199.99 (save $30)

JBL Live 300TWS In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $129.99 (save $50)

ASUS Vivobook 15.6″ Laptop for $549.99 (save $150)

ASUS VivoBook X515 15.6″ Laptop for $649.99 (save $100)

House of Marley No Bounds XL Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker for $89.99 (save $60)

Arlo Pro 4 Wire-Free Outdoor 2K HD Camera Security Bundle for $649.99 (save $100)

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic 46mm Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor for $449.99 (save $50)

Tineco Pure One S12 PRO EX Cordless Smart Stick Vacuum for $599.99 (save $100)

NETGEAR Orbi 8-Stream Tri-Band AX4200 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System for $449.99 (save $150)

Samsung HW-Q850A 5.1.2 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer for $899.99 (save $500)

Breville Barista Touch Automatic Espresso Machine with Frother & Coffee Grinder for $1,199.99 (save $300)

WD Easystore 12TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for $299.99 (save $50)

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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Apple’s iPhone 14 could feature 2TB storage option

Though the iPhone 13 series only just went on sale, rumours surrounding Apple’s next-gen iPhone — likely called the iPhone 14 — are already starting to appear.

This year, Apple doubled the base storage for the iPhone 13 mini/iPhone 13 from 64GB to 128GB and added a pricey 1TB storage option for the iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max.

With the iPhone 14, it looks like the tech giant could be planning to step up its storage game even further.

The China-based publication MyDrivers, a website with a spotty reputation when it comes to leaks, says that the iPhone 14 will switch to QLC flash storage, allowing Apple to increase the smartphone line’s storage to 2TB. If accurate, it’s likely only the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will offer this storage tier.

We’ve already seen several iPhone 14 rumours over the last few weeks, including one that the series will feature a significant change in design for the entire line. Rumours point to the iPhone 14 ditching the display notch entirely, sporting an in-display Touch ID sensor, and of course featuring the usual expected camera/chip improvements.

There are also rumours indicating that Apple will kill off the mini line in favour of offering a cheaper version of the larger Pro Max.

With the iPhone 14 series’ official reveal roughly a year away, it’s important to note that Apple’s plans regarding the smartphone line could change drastically in the coming months.

Source: MyDrivers Via: MacRumors 

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Google Japan shows off Pixel 6 Pro in new video ad

I looks like Google Japan is very excited about the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. 

The 30-second video below doesn’t reveal much about the Pixel 6 Pro, but it confirms the phone’s ‘Material You’ user interface, and it’s clearly the 6 Pro featured in the ad.

Additionally, there’s a two-second reminder that the phone utilizes Google’s Tensor chip, the company’s proprietary processor.

The messaging in the video’s description read that the phone is “Coming Soon,” so we’re, unfortunately, still waiting on an official reveal and release date.

That said, we do know that Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are scheduled to launch this fall. 

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it looks like Samsung finally stopped showing ads in its Galaxy phone apps

Samsung promised to stop showing ads on its One UI apps in the summer and, surprisingly, the company actually followed through.

According to reports from both The Verge and 9to5Google, ads no longer show up in the Samsung Weather, Pay or Health apps. I asked MobileSyrup’s resident Samsung user, Dean Daley, about the status of ads on his Samsung phone, but he said he never really saw them to begin with.

It’s great to see Samsung go through with the change. Ads in pre-installed apps were particularly frustrating, especially on Samsung’s most expensive, premium flagship phone. The company received a lot of flack for doing it.

If you’ve got a Samsung phone, it’s worth noting you may have to force-close an app to get it to stop showing ads.

Although Samsung has received the most flack, it’s not the only company that displays ads in software on its devices. For example, Apple regularly advertises its own services in the Settings app, although people seem less bothered by that.

Either way, no apps in Samsung apps is a win.

Source: The Verge, 9to5Google

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iOS 15’s ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’ bug fix for iPhone 13 is now available

Apple has dropped an update that fixes the iPhone 13’s ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’ bug that prevents the feature from working.

According to the iOS 15.0.1’s notes, the update doesn’t seem to include anything else beyond a fix for that particular bug. Apple launched unlock with Apple Watch alongside watchOS 7.4 earlier this year to allow the iPhone to unlock while you’re wearing a face mask.

While the feature continued to work on older iPhones after updating to iOS 15, Apple recently acknowledged it was broken on all iPhone 13 devices.

While it’s frustrating Apple dropped the iPhone 13 series with this bug, it’s great to see the tech giant move relatively quickly to fix it.

To download the update, navigate to ‘Settings,’ ‘General’ and then ‘Software Update.’

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Mobile Syrup

iOS 15’s ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’ bug fix for iPhone 13 is now available

Apple has dropped an update that fixes the iPhone 13’s ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’ bug that prevents the feature from working.

According to the iOS 15.0.1’s notes, the update doesn’t seem to include anything else beyond a fix for that particular bug. Apple launched unlock with Apple Watch alongside watchOS 7.4 earlier this year to allow the iPhone to unlock while you’re wearing a face mask.

While the feature continued to work on older iPhones after updating to iOS 15, Apple recently acknowledged it was broken on all iPhone 13 devices.

While it’s frustrating Apple dropped the iPhone 13 series with this bug, it’s great to see the tech giant move relatively quickly to fix it.

To download the update, navigate to ‘Settings,’ ‘General’ and then ‘Software Update.’

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Mobile Syrup

The best mechanical keyboards for your at-home workstation

Whether it’s because of the pandemic or not, it’s important to have a workstation that’s both ergonomic and functional if you’re working from home. While, yes, chairs and second monitors are important, an essential component for any workstation is a good keyboard — especially if you do a lot of writing.

Mechanical keyboards might be more expensive than your average keyboard, but in return you get a more satisfying and durable accessory that’s fully customizable and easy to repair. If you haven’t uses one before, a mechanical keyboard has a tactile, almost typewriter-like feel to it. Most of the time you can get a solid mechanical keyboard for just over $100, so it won’t break the bank.

And while you can build your own mechanical keyboard from scratch, if you’re just looking for a keyboard that feels good to use and looks great, these pre-built options will serve you well.

Keychron K2 Single LED Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Keychron K2 Keyboard

Keychron is one of the most popular names in the mechanical keyboard space, especially for those investing in their first one. The company has a wide range of accessories, but the K2 wireless mechanical keyboard is a particularly great option for anyone who needs a wireless keyboard that’s built to last. The keyboard is compact thanks to its 84-key design that removes the numeric keypad. It charges through USB-C, making it perfect for those looking for a versatile keyboard that charges quickly and works with almost any workstation.

Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard – $150.90 (save $32 until October 2)

SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

SteelSeries Apex 5 Keyboard

SteelSeries is a popular accessory brand for gamers. They’re well known for their affordable-meets-quality offerings, especially when it comes to keyboards. The Apex 5 hybrid-mechanical gaming keyboard is a perfect low-cost option for gamers and typists alike. It combines the tactile feeling of a mechanical switches with the membrane feeling of other popular keyboards. With lots of customizable options such as backlight colours, an OLED smart display and multimedia controls, it’s arguably one of the best keyboards for gamers on a budget.

SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – $109.99 (save $20)

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed

Razer BlackWidow Mini

Another accessory manufacturing company known to gamers is, of course, Razer. In addition to full-sized keyboards, Razer has recently released the Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed. This 65 percent keyboard has been building a name for itself thanks to its a portability, strong build quality, and satisfying feel. As with most Razer products, the LED backlights are customizable, and can be synced with other Razer accessories. It also features fully programmable keys, a battery life of 200 hours, and the option to pair through 2.4GHz (for lower latency) or Bluetooth. It may be a bit pricier than the SteelSeries Apex 5, but it’s a solid option for gamers who want a feature-rich compact keyboard.

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Keyboard – $229.99

AZIO Retro Classic

Azio Retro Classic Keyboard

While the functionality of a keyboard is important, it helps when it makes your workstation look great too. Available in black or brown, the AZIO MK Retro Classic is inspired by old-fashioned typewriters. The travel distance of the keys is designed to be higher than your average mechanical keyboard to make it sound and feel more like a typewriter, making the keyboard a joy for the eyes, ears, and fingers. It also has removable keys that make it compatible with Mac and Windows. And though it’s on heavier side, the attention to detail on the keyboard is well worth the added weight.  The only downside to the design is that it’s wired only. There is a wireless option available, but it comes at a higher price.

AZIO Retro Classic Keyboard – $131.77

AZIO Retro Compact

Azio Compact Keyboard

If the Retro Classic sounds appealing to you then the AZIO Retro Compact might also be up your alley. Though priced a bit higher, AZIO’s Retro Compact still has the same great build quality—yes, that’s genuine leather—but with a smaller footprint. The numeric keypad has been removed, while wireless functionality has been added. It also features swappable feet to adjust the height as does swappable feet for adjustable heights. It’s a great choice for writers who want to bring that vintage typewriter look to their office setup

AZIO Retro Compact – $269.99

Ducky One 2 Mini

Ducky One 2 Mini Keyboard

No mechanical keyboard list would be complete without a Ducky. Along with Keychron, Ducky keyboards are among the most recognizable names for pre-built mechanical keyboards thanks to their durability, customizability, and aesthetics. With Cherry MX switches, a detachable USB C cable, RGB lighting, and PBT double-shot seamless keycaps, this is easily one of the best mechanical keyboards you can buy for its price. It has a 60% design, which might be a big step for those coming from a full-sized keyboard, but if you can get used to not having arrow keys, this might be a great fit for you. If you’re interested in getting into the world of mechanical keyboards, you can’t go wrong with the Ducky One 2 Mini.

Ducky One 2 Mini Keyboard – $149.99

This is just the tip of keycap pile when it comes to mechanical keyboards. If you’re interested in learning more about mechanical keyboards, keycaps, switches, and customizable boards, leave a comment below.

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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Amazon apparently sucks at blocking banned products

A new report showcases that if you’re an Amazon seller and the company blocks your products, you can relist without really needing to do anything.

The Verge discovered that banned brands from the parent company Sunvalley named RavPower, Vava and TaoTronics were being relisted as Rav, Vav and Taotronics, to get around their ban with basically zero effort on their part.

Another banned company called Choetech didn’t even change its name and was still able to relist.

The report from The Verge also mentions that even after it brought up the issue to Amazon, it took two more weeks for the company to vet and take down the banned products again.

The publication also states numerous other sellers are still selling these banned products on the platform. At the time of publication of this story, I couldn’t find any of the prohibited products on Amazon.ca.

It’s a little hard to be that critical of Amazon since it hosts millions of items, and there’s no way humans can keep on top of it. Still, this is yet another example of just how short Amazon falls when it comes to policing items sold on its platform.

Source: The Verge 

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Hot off election, Liberals promise to introduce three internet regulation bills

Source: Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centre_Block_-_Parliament_Hill.jpg

Attention all you Canadian digital policy wonks — this fall and winter are shaping up to be your seasons.

That’s because, over the next few months, Canada’s newly re-elected Liberal government is expected to introduce — or in some cases, revisit — three pieces of legislation that could significantly change the landscape of the Canadian internet.

For context, the Liberal party’s 2021 election platform included a promise to act on 10 pledges within the first 100 days of being sworn into office (which is expected to happen sometime in October).

Three of those pledges, as The Globe and Mail reports, would be pretty major adjustments to Canada’s existing internet rules.

Pledge #1: Expand the Broadcasting Act to include streaming services (Bill C-10)

First introduced back in November 2020, Bill C-10 would expand the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)’s jurisdiction to include media sharing and streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify.

The thinking behind the bill is that the CRTC’s existing rules about the creation and production of Canadian content should also apply to these online platforms.

For example, Bill C-10 could require a company like Netflix to ensure its catalogue always contains a certain amount of Canadian content, and direct a percentage of its production funds towards supporting Canadian films and online series.

Bill C-10 made it all the way up to the Senate, but all formal parliamentary discussion of the legislation paused after the federal election was called in August — though the bill itself was discussed in several of the federal parties’ election platforms.

Still, debate continues over how user-generated content would be handled under Bill C-10, and many experts remain wary that the new legislation could give the CRTC too much power.

Pledge #2: Create new rules to reduce “harmful online content” (Bill C-36)

The Liberals’ online harm legislation, Bill C-36, was introduced this summer right before the election kicked off.

The bill identifies five categories of “harmful online content” that the government would address via the creation of multiple new regulatory bodies.

The five categories are “terrorist content,” “content that incites violence,” “hate speech,” “child sexual exploitation content,” and the “non-consensual distribution of intimate images (NCDII).”

While there’s yet to be any Parliamentary discussion of the legislation, the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab recently published a letter addressed to the Department of Canadian Heritage commenting on the measures proposed in Bill C-36.

In the letter, the interdisciplinary policy research group urged the government to “rewrite the proposal from the ground up.”

Among several concerns raised by the lab was the fact that the five categories of harmful online content identified by the government “have little in common, beyond the fact they are illegal, and even then, the relevant legal analysis and basis for illegality is completely unique to each.”

The Citizen Lab recommends that “at the very least, the proposed measures should be broken up into two or more separate pieces of legislation,” in order to fully address the specific legal and ethical concerns related to each.

Pledge #3: Require that digital news-sharing platforms support Canadian media

The third pledge is a piece of brand new legislation that should be introduced in coming months, provided the Liberal party keeps its aforementioned 100-day promise.

The bill would force online platforms that turn a profit from the publication and sharing of news content — think Google, Facebook and Twitter — to redirect some of that revenue to Canadian news media outlets.

According to the party’s election platform document, the legislation aims to “level the playing field between global platforms and Canadian news outlets.”

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: The Globe and Mail