Nov. 1 & 2, 2025 Show Notes
World Series / Time Change / Día de los Muertos / Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon PT
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm on C-FAX
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
Your crew this weekend:
Terry Sirup
Computer Tech and Store Sales Manager at Priority 1 Computers
3960 Quadra, across from White Spot
Terry@Priority1.ca
store +1 250-475-7510
Jay King
Audio/Video Specialist at Atlas Audio Video Unlimited
966 Yates Street at Vancouver
store +1 250-385-2712
The Podcast
Listen now:
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Tech Talk – November 1st, 2025 by Tech Talk with Alan Perry
From home entertainment to computer upgrades, this week’s Tech Talk has it covered! Alan Perry chats with Jay King from Atlas Audio Video Unlimited and Terry Sirup from Priority 1 Computers about the latest gadgets, tech fixes, and listener Q&As.
Or, you can subscribe to "Tech Talk with Alan Perry" (it's free) on any podcast app including these…
1) Watch out for scam emails supposedly from Outlook warning that your device is at risk
Watch out for scam emails like the one on the left, claiming that your device is at high risk of being infected with viruses.
The emails are coming from overseas accounts (this one was from an address @iwbza.com) and have lots of bold red words and symbols.
If you hover your mouse over the "How to remove virus" or "Security Check" buttons, or hold your finger on either of those buttons on a phone or tablet, you'll get a pop-up showing that they'll take you to a web-page at semimaration.ro — that's in Romania.
Those links go to a fake Microsoft sign-in page, where scammers are hoping you'll type in your email address and Microsoft account password, so they can immediately begin stealing your identity and money.
NEVER click on links in emails or texts like this!
2) Watch out for scam emails claiming you've won a $500 Petro-Canada gift card
The emails come from "Petro Canada Winner" with no email address, and say (see screenshot) that "you've been selected as one of the lucky few for an opportunity to receive a Petro-Canada $500 gift card.
If you click on the "Start Survey" button, it takes you to a fake Petro-Canada web-page (hosted on a website in Germany) where you have to answer three basic demographic questions and then pick a prize box. No matter which box you pick, you won't "win". But, they'll give you a second chance, and no matter which box you pick, you will "win". You pick your prize, and then they'll ask for your contact info and mailing address, and then you'll be asked to give them your credit card info to pay a $5 "shipping fee".
If you give them your credit card info, within minutes, the overseas scammers will be racking-up fake charges on your card. But even if you don't, by that point, you've already given them your contact info and mailing address, which they can use to try to steal your identity.
NEVER tap on buttons in pop-ups like this! Just force-close the app or web-browser, or if necessary, restart your device.
4) AI browsers are a cybersecurity time bomb
Web browsers are getting awfully chatty.
They got even chattier this week after OpenAI and Microsoft kicked the AI browser race into high gear with ChatGPT Atlas and a “Copilot Mode” for Edge. They can answer questions, summarize pages, and even take actions on your behalf.
The experience is far from seamless yet, but it hints at a more convenient, hands-off future where your browser does lots of your thinking for you.
That future could also be a minefield of new vulnerabilities and data leaks, cybersecurity experts warn. The signs are already here, and researchers warn that the chaos is only just getting started.
5) Heads-up if you own an Apple device: OS 26.1 is expected to be released this coming week. bringing new features and bug fixes
Six weeks after Apple released its suite of version 26 operating systems, the company is expected to release 26.1 updates this coming week, fixing more bugs, but also adding more promised features and expansions of new features in the original 26 releases.
It'll likely also contain some new security fixes.
You can check for the release of the 26.1 update on an iPhone or iPad by going to Settings, General, Software Update.
Updates are usually released just after 10am Pacific time.
Join Terry Sirup for a free presentation on upgrading to Windows 11 10-11am on Nov. 4th & 18th, at Saanich Silver Threads, on Hampton near Tillicum Centre.
Silver Threads
Home
Presented by Priority 1 Computer Service. Here is a chance to learn about Windows operating systems. This October Windows 10 will no longer be updated and has been upgraded to Windows 11. Come and hear from the experts what this means, what to look for, and increase your understanding of cybersecurity and privacy. Dates: Tuesday, November 4th or Tuesday, November 18th Time: 10:00am to 11:00am Cost: No Charge Presenter: Terry Sirup, Priority 1
Tech Deals This Weekend
Malwarebytes Premium: on sale for $15 off at London Drugs
We're big fans of Malwarebytes Premium anti-malware, because it's simply the best at keeping malware out of your computer or Android device (not needed for iPhones or iPads), and it doesn't slow down your device.
This weekend through Nov. 13th, you can get a one-year licence good for use on three devices — any combination of Windows or Mac computers and Android phones and tablets) for $40 — that's a $15 saving — at London Drugs stores or online.
Motorola Moto G Play 64GB smartphone: $160 at Staples
If you're looking to get a good basic smartphone, and can't justify the $900 minimum cost of an iPhone, Motorola's Moto G Play is a great choice, and its on sale for $40 off this weekend at Staples.
It's a 64GB model, which means it has twice the storage of the base model, and it's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 680 processor, so it's quite powerful for a budget price.
It has a 6.5" HD+ display, large, loud stereo speakers, and an impressively good two-lens camera system which lets you add a background blur to turn a snapshot (or a selfie) into a professional-looking portrait, and takes great low-light photos too.
StaplesCanada
Motorola moto g PLAY 2024 Cellphone - 64 GB - Sapphire Blue
Feel your phone respond instantly to every touch, tap, and swipe with blazing-fast Snapdragon 680 4G performance – bringing you brilliant photography, smooth streaming, and amazing audio. Plus, 4GB of RAM5 makes multitasking a breeze.
Atlas Audio Video Unlimited will be hosting its annual Tech Event next Friday and Saturday, with Black Friday pricing
Atlas Audio Video Unlimited
2025 Tech Event
Free Parking: We will pay for your City of Victoria street parking while you are attending our Tech Event or shopping at Atlas. Simply jot down or take a picture of the 4-digit stall number and tell us when you arrive. We will pay for you parking with the Parking App.
Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) Time change: we 'Fall Back' for (hopefully) the last time!
Most of us change our clocks back an hour on Saturday night, as we shift back to (Pacific) Standard Time.
(The Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, and some border pockets of BC and Quebec don't fall back, because they run on Standard Time year-round.)
BC agreed years ago to scrap the time-change in tandem with Washington, Oregon, and California, and those three states all agreed. But in the USA, states require the approval of the US Congress to do that. Although the 'US Sunshine Protection Act' has had bipartisan support for three years now, the feuding in Washington DC has prevented it from being brought up for a vote.
FYI, in the European Union, DST ended on the last Sunday in October, which was October 26.
In Australia and New Zealand, where their seasons are opposite ours, Daylight Saving Time started in Australia on the first Sunday of October, which this year was October 5. In New Zealand, DST began a bit earlier, on the last Sunday of September, which was Sep. 28.
Trivia: did you know that Australia has nine time zones, including two that are half-an-hour off the neighbouring one, and one (ACWST, or Australia Central Western Time), which is 45 minutes off?
11) How to watch the Toronto Blue Jays vs. the LA Dodgers in the winner-take-all World Series Game 7 at 5pm PT on Saturday
If you don't have a cable TV or satellite TV subscription, you have a couple of options to watch the deciding Game 7 of the World Series, which starts at 5pm PT…
The game is being carried on the Rogers-owned CityTV+ streaming service, and If you have a subscription to Amazon Prime, you can get a seven-day free trial of CityTV+ through the Amazon Prime Video app. If you go this route, remember to cancel your trial before the week is up, to avoid being charged the $10/month subscription.
You could also sign-up for a Sportsnet+ subscription, which is $30/month and includes NHL games and lots of other sports.
You can also listen to the game live on C-FAX 1070, or on Sportsnet 590, both of which you can stream on free apps like Radio Garden (radio.garden on the web).
12) Dictionary.com has chosen 6 7 as its 2025 Word Of The Year
Each year, Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year and short-listed nominees capture pivotal moments in language and culture. These words serve as a linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year. And for these reasons, Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year is 6 7 (pronounced 'six seven', and NOT 'sixty-seven'.
Searches for 67 experienced a dramatic rise beginning in the summer of 2025. Since June, those searches have increased more than sixfold, and so far the surge shows no signs of stopping.
The origin of this most modern use of 67 is thought to be a song called “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla. It was quickly reinforced by viral TikToks featuring basketball players and a young boy who will forevermore be known as the “67 Kid.” Within weeks, teachers were trading tips online about how to get their students to stop saying 67 all day long.
And now for the moment adults around the world have been waiting for: What does 67 mean? Well…it’s complicated. Some say it means “so-so,” or “maybe this, maybe that,” especially when paired with its signature hand gesture where both palms face up and move alternately up and down. Some youngsters, sensing an opportunity to reliably frustrate their elders, will use it to stand in for a reply to just about any question. (“Hello, darling child, how was school today?” “67!”)
Perhaps the most defining feature of 67 is that it’s impossible to define. It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical. In other words, it has all the hallmarks of brainrot. 67 shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation.
Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year Is… - Dictionary.com
Each year, Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year and short-listed nominees capture pivotal moments in language and culture. These words serve as a linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year. The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year. And for these reasons, Dictionary.com’s …
13) Freedom Mobile has added 18 new pay-per-use roaming destinations — but the rates are pricey!
Freedom Mobile's "Roam Beyond" service lets you use your phone in 120+ countries just as you would at home, at no extra charge, and that has prompted a lot of people who travel to switch to Freedom. The number of counties included in their "Roam Beyond" service has steadily grown, from 85 when it first launched a few years ago, to more than 120 now.
Now, Freedom has expanded its service to include pay-per-use coverage in 18 additional countries: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Egypt, Greenland, Kenya, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia.
These are countries where Freedom has been unable to negotiate a good enough roaming deal to include them in their no-extra-cost "Roam Beyond" plan, but at least coverage is now available.
While you can now use your phone in these additional countries, we'd recommend not doing that unless you absolutey have to, as it could be very expensive…
If you're going to one of these countries, we'd recommend keeping your phone on Airplane Mode and using Wi-Fi to stay in touch, and if you have to call or text someone, make sure cellular data is turned OFF, to avoid racking-up big data roaming charges.
For example, if someone was to send you say, four photos, by email or WhatsApp, and you were not on Wi-Fi, that could cost you $6 to $8 in data! Just checking Facebook on cellular could easily cost you $20 to $30 in data roaming.
14) Listener question: can I stream shows on Rogers TV when I'm staying at a different address from my home
If you're a Rogers, Telus, or Bell cable Tv subscriber, you can stream live TV and previously aired shgows on your smartphone, tablet or computer via their streaming apps or websites.
But, like Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services, you can run into roadblocks when trying to do this when you're not at the address on your cable TV subscription.
Francine, who's going to be taking care of her sister (who has no cable) while she recuperates from major surgery in Kelowna, wants to know if her Rogers/Shaw cable TV subscription from here in Victoria will allow her to watch shows while she's in Kelowna.
The answer is YES.
Rogers says two devices per registered account can simultaneously stream content, so you can stream shows on any combination of smartphone, tablet, computer and TV, but only two devices at a time can be logged-into Rogers streaming apps like Xfinity+ or CityTV+.
Similar rules apply to Telus and Bell cable subscribers,and for all of them, you can only stream shows within Canada. Some people try to get around that by using a VPN, but that;'s illegal, and the big three are getting good at detecting VPN usage, and that can lead to your account being terminated…
15) Fido has upped its prices and lowered its data — again
On the Fido homepage, the Rogers budget brand is advertising its latest deal, which includes mobile hotspot access and an extra 10GB of data. Wow! Too bad this is a terrible deal.
First of all, other carriers offer hotspot access for free, something which Fido used to also do. Plus, Fido is still only offering LTE speeds, and,last month its plans were actually $5 cheaper than they are now. In addition, all of the current Fido plans cost more for the same amount of data, even when you factor in the “bonus” data. Fido is presumably trying to inflate its plans now, so its Black Friday deals will appear to be better.
That said, the new plans are as follows:
$45 – 20GB, unlimited Canada calling/texting, 500 international texts.
$50 – 50GB, unlimited Canada calling/texting, 500 international texts.
$55 – 70GB, unlimited Canada calling/texting, 500 international texts.
$50 – 50GB, unlimited Canada calling/texting, 500 international texts.
$55 – 70GB, unlimited Canada calling/texting, 500 international texts.
You can do much better by going with other carriers such as Public Mobile or Freedom Mobile.
Telus-owned Public Mobile has a $40/40GB 5G Canada/U.S./Mexico lnan…
Even better, Freedom Mobile, which is owned by Quebec-based Vidéotron, has $34/10GB and $39/60GB plans, which include unlimited Canada/USA/Mexico calling and data-roaming, plus unlimited international texting…
16) Xpendy will cancel online subscriptions for you — for a fee
Joan in Colwood wanted to cancel her Netflix subscription and when she searched online for how to do that, Xpendy offered to do it for her, and also to cancel any other subscriptions she didn't want…
What Joan didn't realize is that Xpendy.com is a third-party service that charges you a fee to do this, and also automatically enrolls you (unless you uncheck the box) in a monthly subscription …
Is Xpendy.com a scam? No…they do precisely what they say they do.
Is it worth the money? Not for most people. You can use any AI agent like Copilot or Google Gemini to get instructions on how to cancel virtually any online account. If you do use Xpendy, though, make sure you uncheck the monthly subscription box!
17) Know what it means when you see someone with a sunflower card in a lanyard around their neck
The sunflower card signifies that the person has a hidden disability, such as being autistic or dyslexic, or having long COVID, PTSD, dementia, and may need additional support, help, or simply a little more time.
The Sunflower card was launched in 2016 at London's Gatwick Airport, and since then, its use has spread around the world.
Here in Victoria, sunflower lanyards are available at the YYJ Customer Service desk, and at some airline check-in counters.
Some people wear their Sunflower card on a lanyard where-ever they go, and some wear a customized sunflower card that explains what their hidden disability is, and how you can help them.
If you see someone by themselves who's wearing a sunflower card, be quiet and calm in their presence and give them space, and perhaps quietly ask if you can help them with anything.
hdsunflower.com
A symbol for non-visible disabilities
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally-recognised symbol for non-visible disabilities, also known as hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities. Some people choose to wear the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to discreetly identify that they may need support, help, or just a little more time in shops, transport or public spaces.
19) Despite absorbing hefty tariffs, Apple continues to set sales, revenue, and profit records
In its last quarter of the 2025 financial year, Apple has posted $102.5 billion in earnings, marred by a narrow miss on iPhone earnings — but not sales volume.
Here's a rundown of every mention of record-breaking metrics throughout the earnings call…
- Q4 2025 revenue is a record-breaking high at $102.5 billion
- Services all-time revenue record of $28.8 billion
- Earnings per share at $1.85 sets a Q4 record
- September quarter revenue records in the US, Canada, Latin America, Western Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, and South Asia.
- All-time revenue record in India
- All-time revenue record of $416 billion for fiscal year 2025
- iPhone revenue record for Q4 at $49.02 billion
- All-time records in advertising, App Store, cloud services, music, payment services, and video
- All-time revenue records in the Americas, Europe, Japan, and the rest of Asia Pacific, and a Q4 record in China
- Products revenue Q4 record at $73.7 billion
- Install base of active devices has reached an all-time high across all product categories and geographic segments
- Operating cash flow Q4 record at $29.7 billion
What's particularly surprising is that Q4 has historically been one of Apple's quieter quarters.
20) Apple device recycling firm SellYourMac has expanded into Canada
A new way to quickly dispose of your old Apple products is now launching here in Canada: SellYourMac.com (SYM), a service dedicated to reusing, repurposing, and recycling used Apple products, has announced the launch of SellYourMac for the Canadian market.
Founded in 2006 and a part of the Other World Computing (OWC) family, SYM Canada buys and sells used Apple computers, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple accessories. The company says its mission is to help reduce e-waste sent to landfills and dumps, and to help individuals and organizations, such as schools and businesses, transition to newer technology by offsetting the high cost of new tech through the sale of old devices.
SYM claims that, because they restrict themselves to Apple products, their price point is “more accurate” than that of competitors, which allows the company to charge more for its devices.
Their Canadian website is SellYourMac.ca
21) Please replace surge-protecting power bars after three years!
Many people are unaware that most surge protector power-bars only provide protection for two to three years, on average. (Update: see below for ones that offer lifetime protection.)
This is why we recommend you use a felt pen to write the month and year on the bottom of almost any power bar you buy, and after three years (two, if you live in an area where there's lots of construction), replace it with a new one, and use the old one for lamps and other inexpensive gear.
If you have really valuable tech gear, or just don't want to replace your power bars every few years, check out PowerQuest audiophile-grade power bars by AudioQuest. They have special technology built-in that filters out power surges before they get to the surge protector, so they'll last for decades.
PowerQuest power bars by AudioQuest start at $329 for a three-outlet model and run up to $8900 for their most-expensive unit! They're available at Atlas AVU or SoundHounds here in Victoria, from Spinners Sound Centre in Vernon, or online from AudioQuest.com
23) Nvidia rides AI boom to become the first company to reach $5-trillion valuation
Nvidia made history this past Wednesday as the first company to reach $5 trillion USD in market value, powered by a stunning rally and global artificial intelligence boom.
The new milestone comes just three months after Nvidia breached the $4-trillion mark.
THis underscores the company's swift transformation from a niche graphics-chip designer into the backbone of the global AI industry, turning CEO Jensen Huang into a Silicon Valley icon and making its advanced chips a flashpoint in the tech rivalry between the U.S. and China.
Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Nvidia's shares have climbed 12-fold as the AI frenzy propelled the S&P 500 to record highs, igniting a debate on whether frothy tech valuations could lead to the next big bubble.
25) We've also started compiling a list of our favourite phone apps
The "Our Favourite Apps" list — which will have a lot more added in the coming weeks — is on our home page, and you can also get to it by going to Tech-Talk.ca/apps.
Our Grade 10 international homestay students — Natsuki from Osaka in Japan and Sofía from Madrid in España (Spain) — really enjoyed their first-ever Halloween! We took them to Michell Farm to pick out a pumpkin to carve…
We also took them, along with Sofía's cousin Adrián, to see some of the homes brilliantly decorated for Halloween, and to Galey Farms for their Halloween Train ride and very scary CarnEVIL haunted barn…
For Halloween itself, Natsuki volunteered to help keep Beacon Avenue merchants supplied with candy for Sidney's annual "Treat Street", while Sofía went Trick-or-Treating for both of them the first time, and they said they really enjoyed seeing all the creative costumes! We then took them to the great community bonfires and fireworks hosted by North Saanich and Central Saanich Fire/Rescue.
(That's me in the skeleton suit. And note the giant spider atop the Wain Road hose-drying tower!)
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…