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Keanu Reeves movies to stream in Canada after John Wick: Chapter 4

Who doesn’t love Keanu Reeves?

For decades, the Toronto-raised actor has won the hearts of many for kindness, strong work ethic and varied career that includes big blockbusters, comedy, romance, video games and, even, reporting for the CBC.

His latest film, John Wick: Chapter 4, is arguably his best yet, delivering some of the most visceral, slick and well-shot action in recent memory. While Reeves is set to make an appearance in next year’s John Wick spin-off, the Ana de Armas-led The Ballerina, his future with the series beyond that remains in question.

For now, though, we can at least go back to his older work. So, if you want more Keanu in your life after Chapter 4, here’s where to watch a bunch of his most prominent movies in Canada (See here for a John Wick-specific round-up).

Bill & Ted trilogy

Reeves’ breakthrough role came as the titular Ted in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, a sci-fi comedy about two time-travelling dim-witted high school students. Alongside Alex Winter (Bill), Reeves would return for two sequels.

Constantine

While it received mixed reviews upon its release in 2005, this DC Comics adaptation has become something of a cult film ever since. In it, Reeves stars as John Constantine, a cynical exorcist with the ability to travel between Earth and Hell. It’s worth noting that Reeves and original director Francis Lawrence have also been trying to get a sequel made.

Unfortunately, Constantine isn’t on any subscription streaming service, so you’ll have to rent or buy the film on PVOD platforms like iTunes and Google Play (starting at $4.99).

The Devil’s Advocate

This supernatural horror film stars Reeves as a lawyer who joins a major firm only to discover that its owner, played by Al Pacino, is actually the Devil.

Stream The Devil’s Advocate on Netflix.

Man of Tai-Chi

Reeves’ directorial debut has him playing the antagonist in this story about a young martial artist in an underground fighting ring. Although it was a box office bomb, it did receive fairly positive reviews for its action.

Stream Man of Tai-Chi here.

The Matrix series

Arguably Reeves’ most iconic role pre-Wick saw him kung fu his way through the digital world to save humanity from an AI.

Unfortunately, only 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections — which saw Reeves reunite with fellow Canadian Carrie-Anne Moss — is on a subscription streaming service: Crave. The original trilogy — The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions — are only available to rent or purchase on platforms like iTunes and Google Play, starting at $4.99.

Much Ado About Nothing

In Kenneth Branagh’s romantic comedy adaptation of the eponymous Shakespeare play, Reeves portrays Don John, the evil half-brother of Denzel Washington’s character, Don Pedro.

Stream Much Ado About Nothing on Hoopla (free with supported library cards) and Tubi (free with ads).

My Own Private Idaho

A smaller and more intimate movie than many younger audiences might expect from the John Wick star, My Own Private Idaho stars Reeves as Scott, a young man who travels with his best friend Mike (the late River Phoenix) to find the latter’s mother.

Stream My Own Private Idaho on Amazon Prime Video and Crave (Starz membership required for both).

Point Break

In this iconic 1991 crime action film, Reeves plays an undercover FBI agent tasked with investigating a group of bank robbers, leading him to develop a complex relationship with the ringleader (the late Patrick Swayze).

Sadly, Point Break isn’t on any subscription streaming service, so you’ll have to rent or buy the film on PVOD platforms like iTunes and Google Play (starting at $4.99).

Speed

Pop quiz, hotshot: which high-octane 1994 action movie stars Reeves as an LAPD officer who’s trying to save a bus that’s rigged with a bomb that will detonate if it goes below 50 mph (80km)? Speed, of course, which co-stars Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper. Fun fact: it was also written by Reeves’ fellow Torontonian, Graham Yost.

Stream Speed on Disney+.

Toy Story 4

We might be a little biased here, but Reeves has arguably the best role in this animated “fourquel” as Duke Caboom, a larger-than-life Canadian daredevil toy.

Stream Toy Story 4 on Disney+.

Naturally, that only covers some of Reeves’ lengthy filmography and doesn’t include TV appearances or video game roles. On the latter front, he plays Johnny Silverhand in the massive RPG Cyberpunk 2077, a role he’s set to reprise in an expansion, Phantom Liberty, releasing later this year.

What are your favourite Keanu Reeves roles? Let us know in the comments.

Additionally, here’s where to stream other non-John Wick action movies in Canada.

Image credit: 20th Century Studios

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon starts showing warning badge next to frequently returned products

Nov 22, 2019 Palo Alto / CA / USA – Close up of Amazon logo and Smile symbol at one of their corporate offices located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco bay area

Amazon is introducing a new warning badge on its website to help improve the customer experience.

The Seattle-based e-commerce giant is bringing the badge to its platform to address the issue of frequently returned items. It reads, “Frequently returned item: Check the product details and customer reviews to learn more about this item,” next to products that customers often return, as shared by The Information. The badge is intended to help customers make more informed purchase decisions and prompt sellers to modify their listings or products.

The move follows a surge in e-commerce returns during pandemic lockdowns, which has led to rising costs for retailers. On Amazon, customers can return an unused item within 30 days from the date of purchase. Further, these returns are generally free for the customer, which means Amazon pays to have the product shipped back. Considering the added costs of returns that Amazon has to incur, it makes sense for the company to crack down on returns.

It’s worth noting that the warning has already started appearing on products like certain record players and dresses, though the warning tag isn’t visible to all users yet. Also worth noting is that the products with the warning tag are those from third-party vendors fulfilled by Amazon. Some sellers say that their customers return items at a higher rate on Amazon than when bought from other outlets, a discrepancy they say is due to Amazon’s easy checkout process and fast Prime shipping.

“We’re currently showing return rate information on some product detail pages to help our customers make more informed purchase decisions,” said Amazon spokesperson Betsy Harden in a statement given to The Information. 

Amazon’s new warning badge is a step towards addressing the issue of frequent returns, with the hope that it will help customers make more informed decisions. It remains to be seen how effective the new badge will be in helping Amazon cut costs on frequent returns. We are also uncertain as to when the badge will roll out widely, and if it will be available for Amazon Canada users.

Image credit: The Verge

Source: The Information

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 5 user reportedly gets April security patch a week early

A Canadian Pixel 5 user has managed to get Google’s April security update a bit early. Reddit user ‘-BEA5T- ‘ posted that they received the update early and even proved it with a screenshot.

The screenshot shows that their ‘system is up to date’ and includes the date of April 5th. The update will hit these devices next week, so seeing it roll out early is interesting, especially since some users are only receiving the March 2023 update.

-BEA5T-  shared that their Pixel 5 is running on build number ‘TQ2A.230405.003.’

Comment
by u/-BEA5T- from discussion Pixel 5 received April 5 2023 security patch this morning
in GooglePixel

It’s not unheard of for a smartphone company to release a patch early. Samsung does it occasionally; however, it’s also possible that this is just a glitch.

Google hasn’t released anything official about anything about April’s security update.

Source: Reddit ‘-BEA5T- ‘ Via: Android Authority 

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix’s Love is Blind contestant wants to name baby after Elden Ring boss

During a recent episode of Netflix’s reality TV show Love is Blind, a contestant suggested he’d like to name his future kids “Godfrey” or “Godrick,” outing themselves as a big Elden Ring fan.

On Love is Blind, contestants have a short period of time to fall in love without seeing their future partner. If this sounds like a silly gimmick that often makes for boring reality TV, you’re on the right track. Despite this, Love is Blind remains one of Netflix’s most popular reality TV shows.

On this particular episode, the couple in question, Irina Solomonova and Zack Goytowski, recently got engaged on Love is Blind. They’re sitting on a beach, enjoying a dinner date, when Goytowski brings up what they could name their children, just after stating that Solomonova looks “kind of like Megan Fox.”

Then, out of nowhere, Goytowski suggests “Godfrey” and “Godrick” as possible names for their fictional offspring. In his defence, her name options aren’t much better and include “Zion” and “Gideon.” For a complete look at this important reality TV-Elden Ring crossover moment, check out the clip below:

For those who are unaware, Godfrey, The First Elden Lord and Godrick the Grafted, are two of Elden Ring’s most challenging bosses. Godfrey is a late-game boss you need to take down to push the Elden Ring’s story forward.

For the record, while reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine, I’ve never been able to enjoy Netflix’s take on the genre. It always feels like it’s trying too hard and full producer-pushed plot lines. Yes, I know all reality TV is fake, but at least most TV shows (Vanderpump Rules, for example), take a page out of the WWE’s book and practice kayfabe.

Image credit: FromSoftware

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Mobile Syrup

iPhones on Rogers or Bell get 5G+ icon with iOS 16.4

Apple dropped iOS 16.4 on March 27th, and among other things, the update brought a new 5G+ icon to iPhones on the Rogers and Bell networks.

As highlighted on Reddit, iPhones on iOS 16.4 will show a 5G+ icon next to the cell signal indicator in the status bar. In the Control Center, it also lists the carrier name (though this isn’t new behaviour).

The new icon is in line with branding introduced by Bell and Rogers last year when the carriers started rolling out 5G networks based on 3500MHz spectrum.

5G+ icon on an iPhone | Image credit: Distinct_Display

Bell started rolling out 3500MHz spectrum under 5G+ branding in Ontario in June 2022 and later expanded it into Atlantic Canada. Similarly, Rogers launched 3500MHz 5G in several cities in June but didn’t add 5G+ branding until October.

It’s worth noting that Telus also offers 5G running on the 3500MHz spectrum, but comments on Reddit indicate a 5G+ icon isn’t showing up on iPhones just yet.

Of course, it’s worth keeping in mind that the symbol on your phone doesn’t always match up with the network you’re connected to. For example, in 2021, I tested an app from Opensignal that lets users view carriers’ 5G coverage, and according to the app, my phone was connected to Bell’s 4G network at the time, despite claiming it was on 5G.

You can learn more about connecting to 3500MHz 5G here.

Source: Reddit ‘Distinct_Display’ Via: iPhone in Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Rogers and Fido customers now have access to a new spam call detection tool

Rogers has rolled out a new feature to inform its customers if a call is fraudulent.

Spam Call Detect utilizes an analytic engine that monitors calls coming to Rogers networks to evaluate if they’re spam or fraud. If a call is identified as such, it’ll show up as “Likely Spam” or “Likely Fraud” for Rogers and Fido wireless and home phone customers that use call and name display.

Rogers is using Hiya to power the service, a company specializing in identifying spam and fraudulent calls.

Rogers says the measure is in addition to other steps it has taken to block unwanted calls, including Universal Call Blocking and STIR/SHAKEN.

“We are proud to bring Spam Call Detect to Rogers and Fido customers, equipping them with new technology to help combat unwanted calls,” Tisha Rattos, vice president of product and device, said. “In this era of 24/7 connectivity, nuisance calls are a distraction, and this is one simple way we are helping our customers get back to what matters most.

Source: Rogers

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Rear-wheel steering showcased in latest Tesla Cybertruck sighting

The Tesla Cybertruck was recently spotted in a new video, where its steering capabilities were being put to the test.

The video, which was shared by @klwtts on Twitter, via Electrek, shows the electric pickup truck executing a sharp U-turn using its rear-wheel steering, which creates a tighter and more precise turning radius. It was also seen making sharp left and right turns, something you wouldn’t normally expect to see in a truck of this size.

The video was then reshared by @MatthewDR, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied to the Tweet, saying that the Cybertruck’s turning radius would be better than that of the Model Y. For reference, the turning radius of a Tesla Model Y is 39 feet 8 inches (12.1 meters).

Rear-wheel steering is quickly becoming a popular feature for electric pickup trucks, with several automakers announcing plans to incorporate it into their designs. GMC demonstrated the feature on its Hummer EV, and Tesla announced that the Cybertruck would have the capacity for it as well. The addition of rear-wheel steering, paired with other trends in the industry, could make the Cybertruck a game-changer in the pickup truck market.

However, the truck has also been a source of frustration. The Cybertruck was first announced in 2019, and it was scheduled to enter production in late 2021. It faced delays supposedly due to battery shortages. Subsequently, in August 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk delayed the vehicle to sometime in 2022 before pushing it to January during a Q4 earnings call.

According to a report from July 2022, deliveries for the vehicle were expected to start arriving in mid-2023, but this did not occur. Tesla then promised that the Cybertruck would enter mass production at the end of 2023, but this also turned out to be an empty promise.

During a conference call with financial analysts in October, Musk mentioned that Tesla is preparing its Austin, Texas plant for the Cybertruck’s production, with “early production” planned for mid-2023. Now, during Tesla’s Q4 2022 earnings call, Musk said that mass production of the truck won’t begin until 2024. He did say that production of the vehicle will begin in some capacity this summer, though Tesla would only be able to initiate mass production in 2024.

The Cybertruck has recently been spotted in other locations as well, so it might be that the automaker is done with the delays and will stand good on its ‘mass production in 2024’ promise.

Source: @klwtts, Via: Electrek

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Mobile Syrup

Elon Musk is on a secret VIP Twitter list boosting certain accounts

Twitter has a secret VIP list, and it’s the reason why tweets from certain accounts are recommended so often.

“For months, the platform has maintained a list of around 35 VIP users whose accounts it monitors and offers increased visibility,” according to Platformer.

Besides Elon Musk, LeBron James, Ben Shapiro, and President Joe Biden are some of the people to make the VIPs. The list was “created to monitor the engagement received by Twitter power users,” Platformer reports.

The news comes alongside Musk’s latest money-making move, which will see For You recommendations limited to accounts subscribed to Twitter Blue.

According to Musk, the move “is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms.” Of course, this doesn’t apply to verified bots that are paying for a subscription.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Platformer Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

TD’s new accessibility tool will allow Canadians to personalize their online preferences

Toronto, Canada – May 6, 2019: TD (Toronto–Dominion Bank) office in downtown financial district in Toronto, Canada. TD is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services corporation.

TD is working to bring a new accessibility tool to Canadians.

TD Adapted Accessibility is a browser plug-in customers will soon be able to use to personalize how they see a website. Dark mode, font size and a dyslexia-friendly font are some of the options users will be able to choose from.

The point was to create a tool that was “designed for inclusion,” Rizwan Khalfan, TD’s executive vice president and chief digital and payments officer, told MobileSyrup. The widget “gives you an experience that is much more designed for you and what your capabilities are.”

The tool co-exists with other technologies, such as software that magnifies screens. It was born from an idea to create technology that was focused on inclusion and creating standards that direct the next generation of software engineers to develop inclusive technology.

“There’s a potential to go beyond [the banking] industry and include those standards as part of the learning [process],” Khalfan said.

The widget represents one of those standards, and the vision, he said, is to have technology investments in Canada embrace this standard.

Samantha Estoesta, a product manager at TD, led the team that came up with the innovation. Her approach was to take the idea past simply meeting accessibility requirements.

“For real inclusion, we should be looking at making experiences — experiences that some of us take for granted — seamless for everyone. With the TD Adapted Accessibility tool, we have an opportunity to do that in our online spaces.”

While the tool seems simple, it leads to questions about why TD has only now developed something of the sort. Khalfan points to two reasons. The first is browser technology and the changes it has experienced over the years. The second is that people are using a different way of thinking; instead of making changes to one application at a time, a plug-in allows for change to happen at once.

But that thinking also has its limitations. The accessibility widget will only be available on browsers, such as TD’s online banking system EasyWeb. However, it won’t apply to mobile apps at this time.

The problem goes back to the limitations once held by browsers. “Every app is built uniquely,” Khalfan said. Where a plug-in would bring the accessibility option to browsers, it wouldn’t be for mobile apps.

While Khalfan said it’s a problem the company wants to solve, they want to ensure it goes up to their core standard of inclusivity through an output that every app developer can adopt.

Khalfan said Canadians should be able to utilize the feature in “the coming weeks.”

The widget is undergoing a pilot project that allowed 6,000 internal TD employees in the U.S. being able to access the service. Disability:IN, a non-profit focusing on business disability inclusion, is also using the widget under the pilot to ensure the tool is ready for the market.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Rural, remote Canadians still lack affordable internet access: report

Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fiber-optical-cables-connected-optic-ports-1873340320

Despite the government’s recent boast that over 90 percent of Canadian homes had access to high-speed internet, a new report from the Office of the Auditor General revealed those living in rural and remote areas still lack access.

Auditor general Karen Hogan released the report Monday, detailing that only 59.5 percent of Canadians living in rural and remote areas had access to the government’s minimum internet speed targets of 50Mbps download and 10Mbps upload. The report goes on to note “the remaining households that did not have access to these Internet speeds represented 1.4 million unserved or underserved households.”

Access for  First Nations was even worse, with only 42.9 percent having access in 2021.

Availability of high-speed internet as of the end of 2021 | Image credit: Office of the Auditor General

The report also highlighted that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which have separated funding programs for rural broadband projects, didn’t measure whether access was affordable.

The report’s conclusion notes that neither ISED or the CRTC “could tell Canadians whether the affordability of Internet and mobile cellular connectivity had improved.”

The report does acknowledge that ISED tracks prices for telecom services but said ISED’s “strategy did not include any national indicators or targets to evaluate whether its affordability outcomes were being achieved.”

“When services are of poor quality, unaffordable or unavailable, people are effectively excluded from participating fully and equally in the digital economy, accessing online education, banking, medical care and government services or working remotely,” Hogan told reporters at a press conference Monday.

The report found that only 40 percent of the $2.4 billion in federal funding available for use by the 2022-23 fiscal year had been spent as of January 2023. At the press conference, Hogan explained that was due to how slowly ISED and CRTC approved projects — so slow that some service providers abandoned projects.

Finally, the report warned that the government should consider whether the 50/10 speed target will be adequate going forward. The government aims to connect 98 percent of Canadians by 2026 and 100 percent by 2030, but it should update the speed target for those goals if needed.

You can read the full report here.

Header image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Office of the Auditor General Via: National Post