Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Apple Watch Series 7 coming in mid-October, says leaker that was wrong about redesign

In an uncharacteristic move, Apple hasn’t given the Apple Watch Series 7 a specific release date despite revealing it alongside its iPhone 13 lineup and the iPad mini.

The tech giant still officially says that the Series 7 is coming “later this fall.”

However, it looks like eager Apple Watch fans won’t have to wait much longer for the Series 7. According to Jon Prosser (Front Page Tech) — a YouTuber with a checkered record when it comes to leaks — the Series 7 will release in the middle of October.

It’s important to note that Prosser is also the key source of the rumours surrounding the Apple Watch Series 7’s squared-off redesign that didn’t actually happen.

Though nothing has been confirmed yet, it’s likely that pre-orders for the Series 7 will launch in early October and that the wearable will release towards the middle of the month. AppleTrack backs up this claim based on a notification from Hermès that says pre-orders for the series 7 will start on October 8th.

Overall, the Apple Watch Series 7 is a very expected update to the Series 6. For example, the only significant new features are a slightly bigger and brighter display with minimized bezels, and a more curved design.

It’s unclear how much the Apple Watch Series 7 will cost in Canada, but it will likely be priced in the same range as the $529 Series 6.

Source: Jon Prosser (Front Page Tech), AppleTrack

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Mobile Syrup

Logitech finally dropped the number pad from the MX Keys

Logitech has released a new keyboard targeted at people who enjoy using chiclet-styled keys and appreciate a minimalist keyboard setup.

The keyboard, called the MX Keys Mini, is just a smaller version of its popular MX Keys keyboard. Both the legacy keyboard and the newer/smaller option are great for people who want a keyboard to match their Apple products or to emulate the feeling of an Apple Magic Keyboard on Windows.

The keyboard also includes backlit keys and the ability to switch quickly between up to three devices.

For years, I used an MX Keys on my main Windows PC at home and loved it. However, I often wished Logitech would have made it without the dumb Numpad. I found the dimples on each keycap and the simple low-travel design appealing as someone who also used a MacBook full time.

My opinion soured a little bit on it after a few years, however. Dirt got stuck behind the left arrow key, and when I removed it to clean it out, I never got it back in. When I contacted Logitech about it, they offered me a 30 percent off coupon towards a new keyboard and didn’t even try to help me fix my broken one.

At the end of the day, I really liked using the MX Keys and would recommend it to most people who want an excellent chiclet keyboard for Windows. Just be aware that it might not last forever. If you have a Mac, you’re still likely better off with Apple’s first-party keyboards.

Logitech’s MX Keys Mini is available on the company’s website for $129.99.

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Mobile Syrup

Another Pixel 6 Pro benchmark score shows improved performance

Another rumoured Pixel 6 Pro benchmark score has surfaced on Geekbench with improved performance.

Google’s semi-announced Pixel 6 series previously showed up in Geekbench listings in September with a disappointing single-core score of 414 and multi-core score of 2,074. However, this new listing spotted by PhoneArena shows a score of 1,034 and 2,756 in single- and multi-core respectively. The listing also confirms there will be a 6 Pro configuration with 12GB of RAM. It backs up previous information that the Tensor chip will use two ARM Cortex-X1 cores at 2.80GHz, two intermediate cores at 2.25GHz and four power-efficient cores at 1.80GHz.

That’s a significant jump over the previous Pixel 6 Geekbench test, but still not as good as other Snapdragon 888 flagships. The Samsung Galaxy S21, for example, scored 1,112 and 3,378 in our tests. The Z Fold 3 scored 1,109 and 3,185. The OnePlus 9 Pro also sports a Snapdragon 888 and scored 1,071 and 3,282.

It’s also worth comparing the alleged Pixel 6 Pro scores to previous Pixel devices. If accurate, the Pixel 6 Pro outperforms the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765G (589 and 1,603) and the Pixel 4’s 855 (695 and 2,339). In other words, it looks like the Pixel 6 series may offer improved performance over older Pixels, so if you’re still holding onto a Pixel 4 or older, you’ll get a speed bump this time around.

Still, this all indicates Google’s customer Tensor chip may actually hold its own against Qualcomm’s venerable Snapdragon line. We also haven’t seen much in the way of machine learning or artificial intelligence performance, which is supposedly where Tensor will shine.

That being said, until the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro actually launch, it’s not worth putting much stock in benchmark numbers. For one, things can clearly change — the previously leaked benchmark scores are much lower than these new ones. The performance may even increase before these phones launch. But we won’t know until reviewers get hands-on with devices and put them through their paces.

And the second issue with benchmark scores is they often don’t reflect real-world use. Day-to-day performance using apps, making calls, sending texts can have a different impact. Plus, I regularly see ‘budget’ devices that score poorly on benchmarks operate without issue in real-world testing (for example, the Pixel 4a). So, don’t read too much into the benchmark scores.

Source: Geekbench Via: PhoneArena

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Mobile Syrup

USB-C cables get new identification icons to show power and speed

Several new USB-C identification symbols for cable and port packaging just dropped. Companies can use the symbols to help consumers tell which USB-C cables, ports and charging bricks can do what.

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), a group that maintains the USB standard, created the new icons, which work alongside the USB4 and 240 watt (W) power standards.

While ultimately it’s good to have symbols to help identify which USB accessories can do what, the new icons exemplify an ongoing issue with USB-C: it’s confusing.

USB-C was supposed to be much simpler. One port to rule them all, everything just works, etc. Except, that’s not the case.

Seasoned tech veterans likely won’t have an issue here (the new identification symbols generally do a good job communicating what a cable can do). But for those not immersed in the tech world, trying to figure whether you need the USB4 40Gbps cable or the USB Type-C 240W cable or the one that does both (or the one that does neither) could be confusing.

The Verge points out that the new branding ties into the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) 3.1 specification announced earlier this year, which confusingly lives under the USB Type-C Release 2.1 specification. Ultimately, all these things are trying to communicate the power level that cables and charging bricks can deliver, now up to 240W with the correct cable and brick combination.

I would argue that having identification symbols is better than not having them. It’s also arguably better than having several different port types, although in many cases, people still need USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort and other kinds of ports (we are definitely not in a one-port world yet). And don’t get me started on the variety of proprietary charging hardware from laptop manufacturers that use the Type-C port but don’t fall under any USB spec.

When you compare to another specification that uses the USB Type-C port — Thunderbolt 4 — it’s clear that USB is much more confusing. Anyone shopping for a Thunderbolt 4 cable just needs to look for the Thunderbolt 4 logo, and then they know it can handle everything in the specification.

To me, that’s the ultimate solution — one standard that works for everything I need. Charging, video, data transfer, etc. Maybe USB will get there one day.

Source: USB-IF Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Konami working on revivals of Metal Gear, Silent Hill and Castlevania: report

Konami is developing new games in the Metal Gear, Castlevania and Silent Hill franchises, according to VideoGamesChronicle.

Per the outlet, the first of these titles is a “reimagining” of Castlevania that’s being developed internally at Konami Japan with assistance from local external studios.

The next Metal Gear, meanwhile, is expected to be a remake. However, while some fans had speculated that Demon’s Souls remake developer Bluepoint, which was recently acquired by PlayStation, was working on a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid, VGC notes that it will be a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Support studio Virtuous is said to be working on this. Eurogamer corroborated VGC‘s report, stating that the remake will use elements from Japan’s MGS3 pachinko machines. Ahead of this remake, Konami is planning to release remasters of the original MGS games for modern consoles, per VGC.

Finally, VGC reiterated its previous reporting that multiple new Silent Hill games are in development. One is said to be a more traditional Silent Hill horror experience from The Medium developer Bloober Team, while another is expected to be a more experimental title from a “prominent Japanese developer.”

VGC‘s report is particularly notable since all three franchises have been dormant for a number of years. The most recent Metal Gear game was 2018’s Survive, a poorly received offshoot of Metal Gear Solid V that featured zombies. Meanwhile, the last major Castlevania was 2014’s Lords of Shadow 2.

But the inactivity surrounding Silent Hill is perhaps the most painful for fans, as Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro had been working on the promising Silent Hills game until its cancellation in 2015. Otherwise, the last Silent Hill was 2012’s Book of Memories on the Vita.

Instead, Konami has largely shifted focus to mobile games, its annualized Pro Evolution Soccer series and other businesses like casinos and health and fitness clubs. For these reasons, it has been unclear what — if any — premium AAA-quality console/PC games the company might have been working on.

According to VGC, the disappointing performance of recent in-house Konami titles like Metal Gear Survive and Contra: Rogue Corps have led it to become more willing to at least contract outside studios to work on its major franchises. The company’s recently restructured western publishing division is also intended to help with this, reports VGC.

Konami will reveal these projects sometime next year, according to VGC, pandemic permitting.

Image credit: Konami

Source: VGC

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in Canada in October 2021

Every month, Amazon brings a number of new series and movies to its streaming service, Prime Video, and October is no different.

Below is everything set to hit Amazon Prime Video this month:

October 1st

  • All Or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs: season 1 (Amazon Original)
  • My Name is Pauli Murray
  • Matando Cabos 2
  • Bingo Hell (Amazon Original)
  • Black As Night (Amazon Original)
  • The Father
  • Limetown: season 1
  • Kill Bill: Vol. 1

October 7th

CSI: Vegas (requires StackTV membership for $12.99)

October 8th

  • The Manor (Amazon Original)
  • Jessy and Nessy: season 1, part 4 (Amazon Original)
  • Pan Y Circo: season 2 (Amazon Original)
  • Justin Bieber: Our World (Amazon Original)
  • Madres (Welcome to the Blumhouse) (Amazon Original)
  • The Kids In The Hall: seasons 1-5

October 10th

October 11th

October 12th

October 14th

  • One Mic Stand: season 2 (Amazon Original)

October 15th

  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: season 2, part 4 (Amazon Original)
  • Chaos Walking
  • G.E.O Más Allá Del Límite (Amazon Original)
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer  (Amazon Original)
  • Spiral (requires a $5.99/month Starz membership)

October 17th

October 20th

October 22nd

  • Fever Pitch: Rise of the Premiere League: season 1
  • The Unholy
  • Voyagers (Amazon Original)

October 26th

October 29th

  • Why Women Kill: season 1
  • Unheard: season 1
  • Minari
  • Fairfax: season 1 (Amazon Original)
  • Maradona: Blessed Dream: season 1 (Amazon Original)

Here’s what’s leaving Prime Video

  • After (October 2nd)
  • Honey Boy (October 8th)
  • Hellboy (October 17th)
  • Escape Plan: The Extractors (October 18th)
  • Black Water (October 20th)
  • Marianne & Leonard (October 20th)
  • The Kid (October 24th)
  • Manthan (October 24th)
  • My Spy (October 24th)
  • My Spy (October 24th)
  • Ajinkya (October 24th)
  • Black and Blue (October 29th)

Amazon Prime is priced at $79 per year with a 30-day trial period. The trial isn’t available for those in Quebec, but Prime Video costs $79 for a 13-month subscription, giving you one extra month for the same price.

Amazon Prime Video is available on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox and more.

A full roundup of what came to Amazon Prime Video Canada in September can be found here.

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Mobile Syrup

Competition Bureau issues request for information about Rogers-Shaw deal

Canada’s Competition Bureau has issued a request for information (RFI) to gather facts about Rogers’s proposed Shaw Communications acquisition.

In a notice posted on the Bureau’s website this week, it welcomed market participants and Canadians to “submit relevant information to assist the Bureau with its investigation.”

Specifically, the Bureau says it’s investigating whether the proposed merger “is likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition for mobile wireless, wireline internet and broadcasting services.”

Additionally, the Bureau says it’s seeking information to assess the impact on competition in several areas, including mobile wireless services to consumers, consumer and small business internet services, fibre transport services, supply of programming to television providers and more.

Earlier this year, the Bureau said that it received a “higher than normal volume” of feedback over the proposed Rogers-Shaw deal — it later pledged to conduct a “thorough” review of the acquisition. In August, the Bureau also received court orders to advance its review of the deal.

The Competition Bureau is one of several regulators that must review and ultimately approve the proposed acquisition for it to move forward. Along with the Bureau, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will examine the transfer of broadcasting assets. The Commission will hold a public hearing about the proposed acquisition on November 22nd.

Currently, Rogers, Bell and Telus are arguing about the deal via submissions to the CRTC. Most recently, Rogers accused Bell and Telus of trying to block the acquisition to avoid competition.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) will also need to approve the transfer of spectrum licences.

Should Rogers receive regulatory approval, the Shaw deal will likely close in the first half of 2022.

Those looking to submit information to the Competition Bureau’s RFI have until October 29th, 2021 to do so. Further, the Bureau says it will keep any information shared with it confidential. You can make an RFI submission to the Bureau here.

Source: Competition Bureau

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Mobile Syrup

Lemnis Gate, Battlefield 1 Revolution and 12 other games added to GeForce Now

Nvidia has announced 14 new titles that have been added its GeForce Now cloud streaming service today.

Below is the list of new games:

Nvidia’s cloud gaming service offers two membership options. The first is the free route that gives you standard access to the platform with a one-hour gaming limit per session. Once the hour passes, you can queue again to get another hour of free gaming, although you may have to wait a while.

Nvidia also offers a paid membership option that gives you priority access to gaming servers without any session length limit. This subscription costs $12.99/month or $129.99/year.

Learn more about Nvidia GeForce and its subscription options here.

Image credit: EA

Source: Nvidia

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Mobile Syrup

iPhone 13/iPad mini reviews and Microsoft’s big Surface event [SyrupCast 247]

On this week’s SyrupCast, Brad Bennett, Jon Lamont and Patrick O’Rourke, once again, talk about Apple’s iPhone 13 and the iPad mini now that both Patrick and Brad have spent time with the respective devices.

Along with the Apple talk, the team also breaks down Microsoft’s Surface event, with Jon offering his thoughts on the Surface Duo 2, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8 and more.

As always, you can listen to/watch the SyrupCast directly in this story, or on your favourite podcast platform.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link

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Mobile Syrup

Canadian TikTok users can now use auto-captioning for their content

TikTok’s auto-captions feature is finally coming to users in Canada roughly six months after being available exclusively in the United States.

Canadian content creators can auto-generate captions on the editing page and display them on their short videos either after filming or after uploading.

Further, auto-generated captions can be disabled by accessing the ‘Share’ panel, tapping the ‘Captions’ button, and turning captions off.

@tiktokcanada

make your next video more accessible with ✨ auto-captions ✨ NOW available in Canada 🇨🇦

♬ original sound – TikTok Canada

TikTok says auto-captioning adds to multiple other accessibility features that the platform has added recently, including animated thumbnails, a photosensitive epilepsy ‘Creator Warning,’ a ‘photosensitivity feature’ that allows users to skip content and a ‘text-to-speech feature.

It’s worth noting that auto-caption functionality will be available in British English at first, with further language support coming in the months ahead.

This comes soon after TikTok announced that it had reached the one billion active users milestone. Adding such accessibility and inclusivity features will only drive the number higher, considering the auto-captions feature is also simultaneously rolling out for users in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Image credit: TikTok

Source: TikTok