Author: Mobile Syrup

Categories
Mobile Syrup

New trailers launch for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus

Two trailers have launched for Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. 

The Pokémon Legends: Arceus trailer shows off the new Noble Pokémon, including powerful boss fights and Pocket Monsters becoming ‘Frenzied.’

Additionally, the trailer showcases how riding Wyrdeer, Basculegion, Braviary can get you across different terrain in the game. The trailer also reveals Jubifife Village, a town where you’ll be able to update your appearance and take pictures in a photography studio.

It looks like there are Warden’s around the region that you’ll have to battle, giving us our first glimpse at trainer battles in Arceus. Finally, the trailer shows off Kleavor, a Bug/Rock-type evolution of Kanto’s Scyther.

A new trailer also dropped for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, showing off the return of Pokétch with the Dowsing Machine and Hidden Moves (like Fly, Cut and Surf).

In the trailer, the game shows off how to create Poffins and that you’ll be able to run around with all six of your Pokémon in Amity Square.

Unfortunately, there are still no signs of Mega Pokémon coming to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launch on November 19th, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus releases on January 28th for the Nintendo Switch.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Amazon makes a fitness band that looks like a Fitbit

Amazon is stepping up its fitness game with a new fitness tracker with a screen that looks like a Fitbit Charge device. Beyond that, the company is also creating a fitness subscription platform and a new service to help people eat healthier.

Amazon really pushed into the health and fitness/tech space in a weirdly big way at its fall event, but if these products make their way to Canada remains to be seen. The first Amazon Halo fitness band never did.

The new band has a screen that can track sleep, monitor blood oxygen levels, workout tracking and more. It’s also waterproof and has a skin temperature sensor. The device is called the Amazon Halo view and costs $79.99 USD (roughly, $101 CAD).

The following product is an app called Halo Fitness that offers subscribers hundreds of guided workouts similar to Peleton or Apple Fitness+.

Amazon also dropped Halo Nutrition. This is a subscription service that helps you plan out healthy meals and grocery lists.

More to come…

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Amazon is getting into solar and wind to offset its device energy usage

Creative Commons

Amazon says its trying to offset the energy usage of some its flagship devices by investing in wind and solar power.

In a virtual product event on September 28th, the company announced that by 2025, all the energy used by Ring, Echo, and Fire TV devices around the world will be balanced out by energy generated via wind and solar power initiatives funded by Amazon.

2025 is an environmental benchmark year for the company.

In a press release, Amazon announced that it’s on track meet its 2025 goal of reducing the “average lifecycle carbon emissions per device unit” for all Amazon devices in half.

Amazon also released its first smart home thermostat with Alexa voice controls.

Click here to read more of our coverage from the September 28th Amazon event.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Amazon has a new giant smart display that you can wall-mount

Amongst the many new Amazon hardware announcements, the company also revealed its biggest smart display yet, the Echo show 15.

This giant display was touted on stage as being a good family hub and a kitchen TV. Beyond being able to be well-mounted, its main gimmick is that it also has a new software widget feature. This allows users to write digital sticky notes, check the weather at a glance and other valuable tools.

Notably, the shared calendar on the device is likely quite useful for families. I’ll also say that I use my smart displays more when they’re moved up to bar height or shoulder height, so I think that the fact that this can be wall-mounted is a really smart call.

The smart display has a 15.6-inch screen, but Amazon hasn’t shared what the PPI is yet, but I’d assume it will be above 1080p, which should be alright for a device of this size.

The device also has a webcam in its frame, which looks suspiciously like a Facebook Portal, that can recognize who’s using it and tailer what it’s showing to them. This replicates Amazon’s existing voice recognition services that it uses on its other smart displays but allows it to use it without having the user talk. While this makes sense since the sizeable 15-inch tablet is very touchable, it’s also likely a privacy concern for some.

The device also has Amazon’s new AZ2 processor, so it should be the fastest smart display the company has so far. This sounds like a meaningless spec on smart displays, but anyone using an older laggy smart display or in-car screen will know that lag can create a frustrating experience.

The device is listed for $249 USD (roughly, 349 CAD). It’s unclear if this device is launching in Canada.

More to come… 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Bell MTS moves fibre broadband network into Manitoba’s Pembina Valley

Bell MTS — a Manitoba-based subsidiary of BCE — plans to expand its fibre internet infrastructure and services in the Pembina Valley over the coming months.

The expansion will affect 4,500 locations in Altona, Plum Coulee, Emerson and Morris.

According to the press release, residents in these regions can expect to begin gaining access to Bell’s broadband fibre network starting this fall.

This project is funded by a $1.7 billion Canada-wide investment from Bell aimed at improving its infrastructure and services on a national level.

The same investment footed the bill for a 900 location network expansion in the Nova Scotian Municipality of Barrington, which Bell also announced today.

Source: Bell

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Bell pure fibre internet is coming to Barrington, Nova Scotia

Bell is expanding its pure fibre internet services in the Nova Scotian communities of Barrington Passage and Brass Hill.

According to the carrier’s press release, 900 locations in the Municipality of Barrington will soon have access to the carrier’s all-fibre broadband network.

Earlier this month in the Maritimes, Bell made a similar announcement regarding New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula.

Specifically, the telecom giant said it was building new fibre broadband infrastructure in the N.B. communities of Lamèque, Miscou Centre, Saint-Raphäel-sur-Mer, Haut-Shippagan, Le Goulet, and Pigeon Hill.

Both of these broadband expansions are funded through a $1.7 billion Canada-wide investment from Bell, which the company announced back in May 2021.

Source: Bell

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Amazon announces its own smart thermostat

Amazon is moving into the smart thermostat game to more directly compete with Google in the smart home space.

During the event, the company announced the Amazon Smart Thermostat that works with Alexa voice controls and ambient computing which means it can cool down your home when you’re away or asleep.

The thermostat is being made in conjunction with Honeywell so it should work with many existing HVAC systems.

It’s also going to start at $60 USD (roughly, $76 CAD).

More to come…

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Netflix launches website to show where in Canada its content was filmed

Netflix has debuted a new website that lets users learn more about the Canadian filming locations of various Netflix Originals.

On the ‘Netflix in Your Neighbourhood’ site, you’ll find a video highlighting some of these Canadian productions, as well as interactive maps breaking down specific filming spots per province or Netflix Original. The site will even mention cities where specific episodes were filmed.

Some of the featured titles include Anne with an E (Ontario and Prince Edward Island), The Umbrella Academy (Ontario), To All The Boys trilogy (British Columbia) and Locke & Key (Ontario and Nova Scotia).

The website even highlights programming that was predominantly filmed in other countries but partially shot in Canada. One example of this is The Queen’s Gambit, which was largely produced in Germany but had some scenes shot in Toronto and Cambridge, Ontario.

Finally, the site has a document that goes into how Netflix Originals have increased tourism in various parts of Canada.

What are some of your favourite Netflix Originals that were filmed in Canada? Let us know in the comments.

Image credit: Netflix

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here are the free games hitting Xbox Games with Gold in October 2021

Xbox has revealed the four games that will be offered at no additional cost to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in October.

It’s important to note that Xbox 360 titles offered through Games with Gold can be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The Series X/S can also play all of the Xbox One and Xbox 360 games that are made available through the program.

In Canada, an Xbox Live Gold subscription costs $11.99 for one month, $29.99/three months and $44.99/six months.

However, Xbox Live Gold is also included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is priced at $16.99/month and also offers Game Pass for Console and PC, Cloud Gaming (mobile streaming) and EA Play.

Image credit: Capcom

Source: Xbox

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here’s what’s coming to Disney+ Canada in October 2021

Disney has revealed the full list of movies and shows hitting its Disney+ streaming service in Canada in October 2021.

Some of the month’s highlights include Marvel’s Black Widow becoming available for all Disney+ subscribers and the Halloween-themed Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales. 

October 1st

  • Alita: Battle Angel [Disney+ Star]
  • Among the Stars (all episodes streaming) [Disney+ Original]
  • Disney Just Roll With It: You Decide Live!
  • Disney Princess Remixed: An Ultimate Princess Celebration
  • Disney The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
  • Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales [Disney+ Original]

October 6th

  • Black Widow (available for all Disney+ subscribers at no additional cost following a $34.99 CAD Premier Access release earlier this year)
  • Fauci

October 8th

  • Muppets Haunted Mansion [Disney+ Original]

October 13th

  • Just Beyond (all episodes streaming) [Disney+ Original]

October 20th

  • Marvel Studios: Assembled — “The Making of Black Widow” [Disney+ Original]

October 22nd

  • Black-ish (Season 4) [Disney+ Star]

October 27th

  • Marvel Studios: Assembled — “The Making of What If…? [Disney+ Original]

It’s important to note that Star content is typically more adult-oriented fare from Hulu and other Disney-owned brands. If you’re looking to keep Disney+ family-friendly for your kids, you can read more on parental controls here.

A Disney+ subscription costs $11.99 CAD/month or $119.99/year.

Find out what came to Disney+ Canada in September here.

Image credit: Marvel Studios