Category: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel Tablet spotted on Canadian Radio Equipment List and FCC

Google unveiled the Pixel Tablet at its 2022 hardware event, where we learned the tablet will launch at some point in 2023.

Since then, we’ve seen leaks regarding the upcoming tablet, but we’ve yet to get official word from Google regarding a release date. Now, we’re seeing the device on Canada’s Radio Equipment List and Federal Communications Commission’s website.

The tablet was approved by the Canadian government on April 4th and had the model number GTU8P. As for the U.S.’s FCC (via 9to5Google), the tablet has the same model number, but it’s described as an Android handheld device that lacks cellular connectivity.

The FCC listing indicates the Pixel Tablet features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ultra-wideband support. An ultra-wideband connection could give the HomePod-like handoff0like functionality similar to how Apple’s iPhone can connect to a HomePod just by being close to it. Ultra-wideband could also be used with the Pixel Tablet’s dock, which turns the tablet into a Nest Hub Max.

It’s still unclear when Google will launch the Pixel Tablet; however, with the Pixel Tablet showing up on Canada’s REL and the FCC, it’s possible we’ll see this device at Google I/O on May 10th, alongside possibly the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series selling better than its predecessor in multiple markets

Back in February, it was revealed that Samsung’s S23 series preorders squashed the S22 series’ sales numbers in multiple markets.

The data showed that the S23 series was selling better than its predecessor in markets like Taiwan, India, South Korea, France and some Latin American countries.

Now, Samsung has confirmed that the S23 series is indeed selling better than its predecessor by 1.7 times in Latin America, 1.5 times in Europe and the Middle East, and 1.4 times in India. It’s unclear how well the smartphone is selling in North America, including Canada.

The S23 series surpassed the one million sales mark in South Korea in a similar timeframe as the S22 series, and is offering KRW 100,000 vouchers or damage compensation to celebrate this milestone.

The flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra accounts for 60 percent of the total sales, while the Galaxy S23 and S23+ each contribute 20 percent. Although Samsung did not disclose the exact numbers, the company’s pre-order bonuses, the inclusion of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy and a 200-megapixel camera have certainly contributed to the series’ success.

Learn more about the S23 series here.

Find out how the S23 series compares to last year’s S22 series here.

Via: GSMArena

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Mobile Syrup

Tesla workers reportedly found to be sharing sensitive images recorded by customer cars

Tesla has some explaining to do after reports of employees from the company privately sharing invasive videos and images recorded by customers’ car cameras.

The discovery was made through interviews conducted by Reuters with nine former Tesla employees.

The content in question was shared between 2019 and 2022 and ranged from bizarre and mundane to inappropriate and morbid. One such incident saw a Tesla customer approach a vehicle completely naked.

In a more extreme case, videos of crashes and incidents of road rage were shared. A video from 2021 showed a Tesla driving at high speed striking a child in a residential area. An ex-employee from the company stated that the video spread “like wildfire” through one-on-one chats in a Tesla office in San Mateo, California.

If that wasn’t bad enough, some videos were not just shared but also turned into memes, with employees adding their own commentary or captions before sharing. Several ex-employees say that although some posts were only shared between two people, others were seen by many more.

Tesla’s online “Customer Privacy Notice” states that “camera recordings remain anonymous and are not linked to you or your vehicle.” This is not the case according to former employees, who told Reuters the computer program they used could show the location of recordings.

This even opens the possibility of revealing the home addresses of Tesla owners.

Shockingly, one former employee said that some recordings appeared to have been made when vehicles were parked and turned off.

“We could see inside people’s garages and their private properties,” one ex-employee said. “Let’s say that a Tesla customer had something in their garage that was distinctive, you know, people would post those kinds of things.”

Tesla did not respond to detailed questions about the report, says Reuters.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Reuters

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Mobile Syrup

Discord Nitro introduces a soundboard, themes and super reactions

Discord has made the prospect of subscribing to its paid-tier subscription, Discord Nitro, all the more tempting by introducing a handful of new features.

One implementation that stands out above the rest is the ability for Nitro members to access a soundboard, allowing users to send audio reactions to voice channels. The soundboards will be filled with audio files supplied by Discord or uploaded by managers of each individual community.

Whether this is for better or for worse is yet to be seen, but the idea of responding to your friends with a duck quack or the classic air horn blare seems like something that fits in perfectly with Discord’s atmosphere.

Other Nitro perks include ‘super reactions’, which give certain emoji reactions a little more flare than normal. These will be limited to five per week for Nitro subscribers and two per week for Nitro Basic and Classic subscribers.

Five new themes are also being added for members:

  • Retro Storm
  • Strawberry Lemonade
  • Aurora
  • Sepia
  • Neon Nights

Subscribers will also have the ability to dress their avatar’s up with limited-time decorations, such as adding hats, flowers or mushrooms on top of their portraits.

The company will be giving two super reactions to all users to test out the new feature, even if they aren’t subscribed.

Source: Discord Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

A new Michael J. Fox movie is set to premiere on Apple TV+ this May

Apple Original Films has released a trailer for the upcoming film ‘STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie‘, which stars Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan.

Directed by Academy Award-winner, Davis Guggenheim, the film recounts Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words as seen through documentary, archival and scripted elements.

The movie will dive into Fox’s rise to stardom in the 1980s, elements of his public life throughout his time in Hollywood and his diagnosis with Parkinson’s’ disease in 1991.

The film, labelled as a mix of adventure, romance, comedy and drama, sets out to chronicle Fox’s personal and professional triumphs and travails throughout both his professional and personal life.

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie is set to premiere globally on Apple TV+ on May 12th.

Image credit: Apple

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Mobile Syrup

Rogers’ $26 billion Shaw takeover, Nothing’s Ear (2) and MobileSyrup’s mysterious video project [SyrupCast 275]

On this week’s SyrupCast, Patrick O’Rourke, Brad Bennett and Jon Lamont chat about Rogers’ $26 billion takeover of Shaw (we’ll record a dedicated SyrupCast telecom episode soon), Nothing’s new Ear (2) wireless earbuds and the secret video project Brad Bennett’s been working on for the last few months.

As always, you can listen to the podcast below or stream it on your favourite audio platform:

Subscribe on Spotify

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft introduces its Bing Chat AI to Swiftkey on Android

Thanks to Microsoft, Bing Chat AI is now available on its SwiftKey Keyboard for Android.

The addition launched on April 5th and allows SwiftKey Beta users to access Microsoft’s Bing chatbot with one simple tap in any app with SwiftKey.

The keyboard is capable of learning users’ writing styles and will allow text to be rewritten and web searches for answers to be made.

To access the new Bing Chat addition, users will need to download the beta version of SwiftKey from the Google Play Store. There is currently no word on when SwiftKey iOS users will be able to access a beta test.

Microsoft’s CTO of mobile and commerce, Pedram Rezaei took to Twitter to confirm that the feature is slowly being rolled out.

Microsoft did quickly return SwiftKey to the App Store after discontinuing support for iOS last year. At that time, Rezaei said Microsoft will be “investing heavily in the keyboard.”

Although updates have been rare for the iOS version of SwiftKey, the addition to Android could mean that it’s only a matter of time before Bing integration appears on the iPhone keyboard.

For now, Android users can enjoy Bing Chat AI through the SwiftKey beta.

Source: @pedram_re Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Win a trip to New York to celebrate the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Show us what makes you Canada’s biggest The Legend of Zelda fan for your chance to win a trip to New York City to celebrate the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in style. Win a two-night stay at a hotel in New York City for 2 guests, including round-trip airfare, so that you can pick up your physical The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector’s Edition game in person from Nintendo New York, over the launch weekend.

Plus, everyone who enters will have the chance to win a secondary The Legend of Zelda prize pack, including a The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, a The Legend of Zelda Triforce light, a The Legend of Zelda compact stand and a The Legend of Zelda-themed pro controller.

To enter the contest, follow @MobileSyrup on Twitter and post a photo with a short message explaining why you think you’re Canada’s premier Zelda fan with the hashtag ‘#BiggestCanadianZeldaFan.’

Maybe you have a room in your home dedicated to The Legend of Zelda series or a full arm sleeve of tattoos showing off your love of Gorons? Perhaps you’re a hardcore collector and own every game in the franchise, like The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition for GameCube?

Above all else, show us why you feel you’re Canada’s biggest Zelda fan! All before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches for Nintendo Switch on May 12 – available for pre-orders now.

All submissions are due by April 20th at 11:59pm ET. A winner will be selected and contacted on April 21st.

The contest’s rules and regulations are available here.

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Mobile Syrup

Shigeru Miyamoto says Dr. Mario can’t be trusted because he’s not a real doctor

Wait… What?

A man of many (often red) hats, Mario has been called out by his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, saying that the iconic character’s medical career isn’t just shady, it’s completely invalid.

Miyamoto spoke with IGN recently to discuss The Super Mario Bros. Movie which released on April 5th. The mastermind behind the Mario character seemed to be satisfied with the film, especially with the depiction of Mario as an everyman hero.

However, the discussion took a bizarre turn with Miyamoto taking shots at one of Mario’s most infamous roles, painting Dr. Mario as a corrupt, fraudulent and perhaps even illegal practitioner of medicine.

“Mario’s a blue-collar, he’s a regular person. So, even when he becomes Dr. Mario, there’s a sort of, like, shadiness, like ‘can I trust this person?’” Miyamoto said.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t that extreme a statement, but Miyamoto raises serious concerns about Mario’s pill-pushing persona. How many plumbers do you know that double as medical specialists? Something is definitely up.

For those who don’t know, Mario’s medical history stems from the 1990 puzzle video game titled Dr. Mario where Mario assumes the role of…you guessed it… a doctor.

Nintendo might have started to clue into Mario’s shady practices a few years back, when the mobile game Dr. Mario World was shut down in November 2021.

Thankfully, the Nintendo giant put his worries aside and praised Mario for his heroic evolution in the film.

“I think that’s the kind of image that’s carried down for generations as Mario. And to see that image kind of coincide, and then evolve into something of a hero is something that I’m really happy to see,” Miyamoto said.

Image credit: Flickr

Source: IGN

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Mobile Syrup

Apple-like handoff feature might arrive with Android 14

One of the primary benefits of owning Apple devices is the connectivity within the tech giant’s ecosystem of devices. For example, Handoff is a feature that lets you seamlessly transfer tasks and data between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

You can start writing an email on your phone and finish it on your laptop, or you can answer a call on your watch and switch to a different Apple device. Google has been working on improving the connectivity between Android devices and Chromebooks, but it still lags behind Apple in this area; however, this might change with Android 14.

Google might be ready to introduce a new feature that would allow you to hand off phone calls from one Android device to another.

According to @MishaalRahman on Twitter, in Android 14’s Developer Preview 2, there’s a new “SYSTEM_CALL_STREAMING role that only system apps targeting SDK 34 and which have a CALL_STREAMING_SERVICE implemented can hold.”

Rahman also uncovered references to CallControl and StreamingCall APIs in the documentation published by Google when Android 14 Developer Preview 1 was released in February. These APIs are related to the “nearby calling” feature that was spotted in Android 12L and the Google Nest Hub.

 

“What I suspect this’ll be used for is to stream voice call audio from an Android phone to an Android tablet. Imagine you get a call on your Pixel, but you’re near your Pixel Tablet. Tap the output switcher and select the tablet to begin streaming the phone call to your tablet!” wrote Rahman.

Since the API is available for all Android devices, it is possible that Google will eventually expand this feature to other device pairs, such as Chromebooks and Android phones. This would make it easier to switch between devices without interrupting your phone calls.

Google has not officially announced this feature yet, so it is unclear if and when it will be available or how it will work. What is clear, however, is that Google is trying to catch up with Apple in terms of creating a seamless ecosystem of devices that work well together.

From what we know so far, Android 14 will also bring separate live wallpapers for Home and Lock screens, alongside separate ring and notification volume settings in the new OS. Android 14 is expected to come out sometime this fall, so users wouldn’t have to wait too long to make use of the security feature.

Source: @MishaalRahman Via: AndroidPolice