May 9 & 10, 2026 Show Notes
Mother's Day / Esquimalt Buccaneers Day / Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon PT
on C-FAX 1070 in Victoria and
on CKFR AM 1150 in Kelowna
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm PT
on C-FAX 1070
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
anywhere you get your podcasts
Your crew this weekend:
Charles Martin
Guest Co-host
Victoria Mac and iOS Users Group Program Director and London Drugs In-Home Tech
Phone +1-888-718-4598
Join Charles, Aitan, and me for the May meeting of the Victoria Mac and iOS Users Group, on Zoom, at 7pm this coming Wednesday, May the 13th.
If you're not a VMUG member, take part as our guest using this link:
1) If you get a phone call from Rogers offering you a cheaper mobile phone plan plus a free iPad, it's a scam!
This is not a new scam, but it's happening again, and it's expensive and stressful, so we're warning you again.
The scam starts with a phone call from an alleged Rogers employee, who explains how you can get a cheaper phone plan with a free iPad.
The employee explains how to sign up for the promotion on the Rogers app, and a couple of days later, the iPad arrives in the mail, followed by a phone call from another person in the Rogers activation department.
You get upset because you were told that this was a free iPad, and there weren’t going to be any charges, but it turns out there’s a $120 monthly bill for the iPad with the data plan.
The Rogers employee tells you that if you just return the iPad with the shipping label they'll email you, you won’t be charged.
However, the returned iPad never goes back to Rogers — it goes to the scammer. And you didn’t sign up for a new phone plan; you actually signed up for an iPad financing agreement. Now you’re on the hook for this $2,350 iPad that you have to pay off over the next couple of years, and Rogers won't forgive that bill, because you did order the iPad.
The key is the return shipping label — it goes to a vacant apartment or an AirBnB which the scammers rented so they could collect the returned iPads, which they then can sell.
Never agree to purchase a device over the phone or online, from someone who calls you. Contact the company directly to see if the offer is legitimate.
And if you're returning something you ordered, double-check the address on the return shipping-label. If in doubt, contact the company directly to confirm the address is theirs.
CBC
They thought they were getting a deal from Rogers. Instead, they were scammed into financing iPads | CBC News
Rogers customers are on the hook for a $2,300 iPad after scammers got them to unknowingly sign up for a two-year iPad financing plan. Rogers offered some help as a goodwill gesture, but the victims are disappointed the company won't fully reverse the charges.
3) If you get an email about an Estée Lauder privacy class-action lawsuit settlement — it's NOT a scam
Some of you may have received a long email that begins with what's shown in this screenshot…
This is not a scam…and there's nothing for you to do — yet.
In May 2023 and again in July 2023, the Estée Lauder global cosmetics conglomerate suffered two prtivacy breaches in which customer data was stolen by hackers.
The firm has now agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the firm didn't do enough to protect custmer info. Estée Lauder has agreed to pay just over $1.5 million CAD, with $454,000 of that earmarked for the lawyers.
Under terms of the settlement, Estée Lauder customers here in Canada who had their personal info stolen in the first breach, can expect to get at least $150, and $300 if your info was also stolen in the second breach. You could get more if fewer people apply for compensation once the settlement is approved. A settlement hearing is scheduled for June 5 in Quebec Superior Court.
If you were an Estée Lauder customer in the 2020-2023, check your email and see if you got an email from the lawyers at no-reply@conciliainc.com. Check your Junk Mail folder, and if it's there, more if to your Inbox, and then wait for another email after the June 5 court date.
You can also check the Estée Lauder Class Action website, at EsteeLauderSettlement.ca/en…
4) Canadian government to pay $8.7M to settle data breach class-action involving CRA accounts
Thousands of Canadians impacted by a major cyberattack targeting Canada Revenue Agency accounts are set to receive compensation after the federal government agreed to an $8.7 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit linked to hacked CRA accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The settlement closes a years-long legal battle tied to cyberattacks that exposed sensitive financial and personal information belonging to more than 47,000 Canadians in 2020. Hackers allegedly exploited weaknesses in government login systems to access accounts and fraudulently apply for pandemic relief programs such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit and the Canadian Emergency Student Benefit.
More than 47,000 people had their personal and financial info compromised that summer alone, from social insurance numbers and home addresses to details of their bank accounts.
The class-action settlement reached last December was approved in court this past Tuesday. Some taxpayers can claim more than others, depending on how much they were affected.
People whose personal info was accessed in the relevant time period can claim $20 an hour for their lost time and "inconvenience," for up to four hours – a maximum payout of $80. If hackers used their info to apply for fraudulent CERB benefits or divert legitimate CERB payments, they can bill the government at the same rate up to $200.
Affected Canadians can claim up to $5,000 for out-of-pocket costs they might have paid in the year after the hack in relation to identity theft, like credit card charges or other fees.
The settlement will be administered by KPMG, which created the website below for the class action…
CBC
Ottawa settles lawsuit with Canadians whose CRA accounts were hacked for $8.7M | CBC News
The federal government will pay $8.7 million to settle a class-action lawsuit involving tens of thousands of Canadians whose sensitive information was compromised or stolen when hackers got into their accounts on government websites, including the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) portal.
5) UBC and SFU and many other universities — but not UVic — affected by ransomware attack on the CANVAS learning software
The University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) are among some nine thousand of learning institutions around the world that say a cyber breach of the Canvas learning software could affect students' personal info.
Canvas is used to access course info, submit assignments and participate in discussions.
The University of Victoria is not affected, because UVic uses the Brightspace learning management system. KLO in Kelowna and TRU in Kamloops are not affected either; they both use Moodle as their Learning Management System.
On Tuesday, the ShinyHunters hacking group got into the systems of Instructure, Canvas's USA-based parent company, and stole massive amounts of instructor and student data. The hackers are demanding millions of dollars in payment, threatening to dump all the info publicly online if the ransom is not paid in cryptocurrency.
ShinyHunters is believed to be a loose group of teenagers and young adults based in the USA and the United Kingdom. The group is believed to have been formed in 2020 and has been involved in previous high-profile hacking incidents including Ticketmaster last year, AT&T, Salesforce, and Rockstar Games.
CBC
UBC, SFU among thousands of universities affected by cyber breach of learning software Canvas | CBC News
The University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, B.C.'s two biggest universities by student enrolment, say a cyber breach of the Canvas learning software could affect students' personal information.
CTVNews
Canvas system is online after a cyberattack disrupted thousands of U.S. schools
Tens of thousands of students studying for final exams around the world Friday regained access to a key online learning system after a cyberattack had earlier knocked it offline, throwing schools and universities into turmoil.
Tech Deals This Weekend
Fido, Virgin+, Koodo, and Public Mobile have ended the mobile service price war, leaving only Freedom Mobile offering great deals
Flanker brands — Fido, Virgin+, Public Mobile, and Koodo — have all changed their wireless plans, cutting data and raising prices after a short-lived price war dominated by Freedom Mobile.
Earlier this month, the flanker brands rolled out $40/60GB plans, but now those deals are gone. They've now all upped their rates while cutting or entirely removing CAN/US/MEX options.
Fortunately, Quebec-based Freedom Mobile which is owned by Quebec-based Vidéotron, is still offering deals, although they've been cutting the size of the data buckets each week, and are no longer as great as a few weeks ago...
Two weekends ago, this was $45/month)
Freedom's plans all include Canada/USA/Mexico calling and data roaming, but also include a monthly allotment of "Roam Beyond" data good in 120+ countries, as well as unlimited calling in any included country and back to Canada. The best part is, all the plans are available to current customers as well as to new customers.
If you don't need a huge amount of data, Freedom also has a six-month prepaid plan that gives you unlimited Canada/USA calling and data roaming and 25GB of data, for $120 paid up front, which works out to $20/month. It renews every six months for the same price.
Freedom's coverage is also the best of the big four carriers, because the agreement that saw them sold by Shaw when Rogers bought Shaw, allows Freedom customers to roam seamlessly at no charge onto the networks of Rogers, Telus, and Bell when they're beyond the reach of the fast-growing network of Freedom towers. That deal will continue for seven more years to give Freedom time to build-out its nationwide network.
Starlink is offering Canadians satellite internet for $39/month for the first three months — if you sign up this weekend
If you sign=up for satellite internet from Elon Musk's Starlink this weekend, you'll pay just $39/month for their first three months, and then the regular $70/month thereafter. That gets you Starlink’s 100Mbps ‘Residential’ plan with unlimited data.
However, Starlink’s other plans are on sale as well. You can jump up to the 200Mbps plan for $79/month for three months (then $110/month) or the 400Mbps+ ‘Max’ plan for $109/month for three months ($140/month thereafter). The Max plan also includes a free Mini Kit which you can use when travelling, making it a compelling choice for people who need internet both at home and, for example, at the cottage or for their RV.
This three-month discount is only available to new customers and just this weekend.
Starlink is also offering a free ‘Standard 4’ satellite rental kit with no monthly cost, a $399 saving.
HyperFlex USB-C hubs on sale at London Drugs this weekend
if you have a computer or laptop or Mac that has USB-C ports and you wish it had more of them, London Drugs has four models of high-speed HyperFlex USB-C Hubs on sale this weekend…
You can choose between 4-port, 5-port, 8-port, and 9-port models, saving from $5 to $20.
CIBC cardholders in Canada can get a deal on Disney+
iPhone in Canada has shared how CIBC cardholders who want to subscribe to Disney+ can cut the monthly subscription cost in half for six months. The offer applies to the Standard with Ads plan, which costs $9 a month, as well as to the Standard and Premium tiers. You'll be charged the normal rate, but then CIBC will rebate half of the cost back to your account.
The offer is only available to new Disney+ subscribers or people who haven’t had an active subscription in the past 12 months, so existing subscribers are out of luck. You also need to pay directly through the Disney+ website using your CIBC card.The rebate shows up on your statement within 90 days of each monthly payment, and runs automatically for up to six consecutive months as long as your subscription stays active.
Most major CIBC card products are included, covering the Aventura, Aeroplan, Dividend, and Costco Mastercard lines. Authorized users on someone else’s account are not eligible.
You can click here to sign up for Disney+ with your qualifying CIBC credit card.
Students & teachers here in Canada can now get educational pricing on Apple Watch
Apple has updated its education pricing in several countries, now including Canada, to offer educators and students discounts on Apple Watch for the first time.
Starting on May 7, the online Apple Store will offer discounted pricing on Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to qualifying educational users. They include faculty and staff of higher education institutions as well as students who are enrolled or accepted into said institutions.
It should be noted that Apple has rolled out stronger verification of buyers claiming to have educational credentials; see item #20 in our Tech News section for details.
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) Bell has replaced its outlawed $80 Connection Fee with a new $40 Device Handling Charge, and the CRTC is not happy
Bell (full disclosure: Bell is the parent company of C-FAX Radio) is the first Canadian carrier to stop charging a connection fee after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) finally banned those types of fees. However, surprising absoluely no one, Bell has also introduced a whole new fee to replace it — and the CRTC is not pleased.
MobileSyrup spotted updates to Bell’s website, which no longer lists the $80 connection fee. Instead, they spotted a new $40 ‘Device handling charge’ deep in the website’s fine print. On a separate page that lists all of Bell’s one-time fees, the new fee with a description for it, is listed:
This new fee is only being charged when you buy a new phone through Bell, unlike the outlawed Connection Fee, which was also charged if you switched to Bell from another carrier and brought your own phone. However, unlike the Connection Fee which you could avoid by shopping online, Bell's new $40 Device Handling Charge is now being added onto all phone purchases, includine ones made online…
Bell insists this new fee is perfectly legal. The new CRTC rule prevents fees that discourage Canadians from switching, but doesn’t apply to “reasonable fees.” These can include things like fees for installing new services at a customer’s home, or fees for additional products or services. Bell appears to be takingf the view that purchasing a phone counts as an “additional product”.
However, the CRTC is taking a different view, writing to Bell's CEO...
“A phone is a device that is required for the delivery of the wireless service customers are purchasing. It would not appear that the device handling charge falls under the exemption considered by the Commission for optional services and products. A fee associated with providing a phone may be considered to be an activation fee that is prohibited under s. 27.04 of the Act.”
Moreover, the commission has suggested that Bell resolve the situation before the CRTC needs to start a formal regulatory action:
“It is my hope that this situation can be resolved at this stage and will not require more formal regulatory action on the part of the Commission once the prohibition comes into effect.”
The CRTC’s new fee rules officially come into effect on June 12.
11) Telus has started using AI to alter the accents of customer service agents working at its international call-centres
Telus has started using using artificial intelligence to alter the accents of its call centre agents in real time through its subsidiary Telus Digital, and the backlash has been swift.
Labour advocates are calling the practice deceptive, and the federal government is being urged to require disclosure whenever the technology is used.
A Globe and Mail report reveals that Telus is running offshore agents’ voices through speech-to-speech AI models that modify how they sound to Canadian customers. The software, built by a company called Tomato.ai, is designed to reduce what Telus describes as “accent-related friction.” The company says it also helps protect staff from harassment.
Union representatives aren’t buying it, as they say the tool is fundamentally deceptive and masks not just accents but the location and identity of the person on the other end of the line. The concern isn’t just about transparency with customers. Critics say it raises deeper questions about what it means to strip away a worker’s voice and replace it with something more palatable to a domestic audience.
iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
Telus Uses AI to Change Agent Accents. Rogers and Bell Won’t | iPhone in Canada
Telus is using artificial intelligence to alter the accents of its call centre agents in real time through its subsidiary Telus Digital, and the backlash has been swift. Labour advocates are calling the practice deceptive, and the federal government is being urged to require disclosure whenever the technology is used. Rogers and Bell, meanwhile, say
12) Heads-up: we expect Apple will release OS 26.5 updates next week — and they're going to be large!
The 26.5 suite of operating system updates for Apple products will likely be released early next week, and although they'll only bring a few new features, people who've been testing the Release Candidate version say the iPhone and iPad versions were more than 8GB in size, which is huge!
As for what's new, Apple highlights three iPhone changes that users will notice once they install the update, and each one targets a different part of the iPhone experience…
- End to end encrypted RCS messaging
Messages sent between iPhone and Android devices will gain an extra layer of security when carriers support it, and this ensures that conversations stay private while they move between devices, which addresses a long standing gap in cross platform messaging.
- Suggested Places in Apple Maps
Maps will show recommendations based on what is trending nearby and your recent searches; this this section will sit at the top of results to help users quickly find popular locations without typing detailed queries.
- Pride Luminance wallpaper
Apple adds a new dynamic wallpaper that reflects a spectrum of colours, and the design will change slightly as you interact with the device, which ties in with the company’s annual Pride collection.
You can check for the 26.5 Update (most expect a Tuesday May 12th release) by going on an iPhone or iPad to Settings> General> Software Update.
MacRumors
iOS 26.5 Coming Soon With These New Features
iOS 26.5 is expected to be released next week, following more than a month of beta testing. The update is relatively minor, but there are a couple of new features and changes across the operating system that we have recapped below. iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for end-to-end encryption for RCS in the Messages app and ads in the Apple Maps app, and it will include a new Pride wallpaper and a few other changes. Below, we outline all of the notable additions in iOS 26.5.
13) Apple has agreed to pay Americans $250 million for overhyping Siri AI; we here in Canada just get to watch (for now)
Apple has agreed to a $250 million USA settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit involving delayed Siri features originally promised for the iPhone 16. The legal challenge accused the company of false advertising and unfair competition, claiming that Apple promoted a smarter version of Siri that was not actually available when the new phones launched in September 2024.
The lawsuit alleged that Apple misled consumers about the performance of Apple Intelligence. While Apple has not admitted to any wrongdoing, the company says it has chosen to settle the matter to avoid further legal costs and time spent in court, saying…
“Since the launch of Apple Intelligence, we have introduced dozens of features across many languages that are integrated across Apple’s platforms, relevant to what users do every day, and built with privacy protections at every step. These include Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Clean Up and many more. Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”
The settlement will provide eligible device owners in the USA with a payment of $25 US per device, though this amount could rise as high as $95 if fewer people than expected file claims.
People who bought an iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025 in the USA, may be eligible. Owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max purchased during that same window are also included. Those Americans who qualify should look for email notices regarding the claim process over the next 45 days.
Now that a settlement has been reached in the USA, it's possible a matching class-action lawsuit will be filed here in Canada, but we're not aware of any at this point.
14) Important update if you're going to Europe: their new EES system is causing massive delays on arrival at many airports, but some countries are now suspending or easing EES to minimize the waits
EES is Europe's new Entry/Exit System, and you only have to register it once every five years. It's free, and you do it on arrival on your first visit. But registering involves you getting your passport, face and fingerprints scanned and you entering in some personal info. Because it just took effect in April, people flying into airports in Europe have recently reported registration lines of two hours and more, causing many to missing connecting flights and trains.
May 7 update: Several European countries are now suspending or easing the EU’s new EES biometric border checks, after weeks of chaotic queues, missed flights, and mounting pressure from airlines and airports. Updated info is below…
Wego Travel Blog
EES Biometric Checks Suspended: Which European Countries Are Easing Border Controls? - Wego Travel Blog
Several European countries are now suspending or easing the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric border checks, after weeks of chaotic queues, missed flights, and mounting pressure from airlines and airports. Here’s exactly which countries are doing what and what it means for your next trip to Europe. Which Countries Have Suspended or Eased EES […]
If you'll be flying into Europe soon, it's recommended that you make sure a connecting flight or train doesn't leave within 3 to 4 hours of your scheduled arrival — especially if you're flying into one of the worst affected airports.
You can download the free Travel to Europe EES pre-registration app from the Apple or Google App Store, which will let you go in an Express Lane, but there's a catch…
As of May 1st, it'll only save you time if you're flying into Sweden or Portugal, although other countries are expected to start accepting pre-registration in the coming months.
Here are some tips on how to minimize the impact of the EES rollout…
- Fly into a smaller or less-affected Schengen airport where possible — secondary hubs typically have shorter non-EU queues than mega-hubs like CDG, MAD, AMS and FRA
- Avoid the 6–10am arrival window at major hubs, when long-haul waves from Asia, the Gulf and the Americas stack up simultaneously
- Pad connections generously. Especially if you’re transiting through Pairis, Frankfurt or Amsterdam to onward Schengen destinations, aim for a minimum three-hour layover right now
- Keep your boarding pass handy. Some airports are triaging passengers with tight connections, so having your onward boarding pass visible may help you get fast-tracked through a manual lane.
- Consider routing via a non-Schengen hub like Istanbul (IST), Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH) or London Heathrow (LHR) if your itinerary allows, so EES only happens once at your final destination
VisaHQ
EU Allows Temporary Suspension of Biometric Border Checks to Ease Schengen Entry/Exit Queues
Brussels has authorised Schengen countries to pause obligatory fingerprint and facial scans during peak traffic, letting officers fallback to manual passport stamping. The change, announced 4 May 2026, aims to cut hour-long queues that have dogged the new Entry/Exit System. While Ireland is not in Schengen, the measure affects Irish travellers transiting through EU hubs and requires mobility managers to update connection-time advice.
16) Apple responds to Canada’s Bill C-22, saying it ‘will never’ add backdoors to give law enforcement secret access
Apple is warning that Canada’s Bill C-22, commonly called the Lawful Access Bill, could undermine the privacy and safety features it builds into its products.
The Lawful Access Bill seeks to update Canada’s legal frameworks around accessing digital information related to criminal investigations and national security, among other things. However, many of the bill’s components concern experts, particularly around the bill’s potential impact on privacy.
Apple focused on a few red flags related to Part 2 of the bill, the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA), which in its current form could allow the federal government to secretly order companies to weaken encryption and create backdoors. The company stressed that creating a backdoor would weaken encryption for all users and potentially create new vulnerabilities for cyber criminals to take advantage of.
Apple shared the following statement about Bill C-22:
“Apple believes privacy is a fundamental human right. It’s one of our core values, which is why we design our products from the ground up to protect our users’ personal data and prioritize their privacy. At a time of rising and pervasive threats from malicious actors seeking access to user information, Bill C-22, as drafted, would undermine our ability to offer the powerful privacy and security features users expect from Apple. This legislation could allow the Canadian government to force companies to break encryption by inserting backdoors into their products – something Apple will never do. We will continue our longstanding cooperation with governments to help protect public safety while also advocating tirelessly against any measures that would put users’ personal data at risk.”
Moreover, if the bill becomes law in its current state, Apple indicated it might not be able to offer some of its products in Canada since it refuses to add backdoors. The company has a history of doing this, such as when it stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature in the U.K. after the government sought access to the encrypted data.
Apple also raised concerns over the secrecy aspect of the bill, noting that it would mean any challenge it made to the law, would also be secret.
17) Meta says it's testing using AI to scan height and bone structure for age verification, instead of using controversial facial analysis
Meta says it has started testing a new AI-powered tool to determine if Instagram and Facebook users are underage.
In a blog post, the company explained that the tech scans a user’s photos and videos for “general themes and visual cues” including height and bone structure. Meta stressed that this isn’t facial recognition as it “does not identify the specific person in the image.” This new tool will work alongside existing AI features that scan text and interactions in an effort to gauge the user’s age.
For now, the company is testing this visual analysis feature in “select” countries ahead of a broader rollout. It'll also be used to automatically place users into Meta’s Teen Accounts accordingly.
These initiatives come amid wider discussions surrounding regulating the use of social media among youth. This has led many countries, including us here in Canada, to consider a full-on ban for kids, with Australia having actually implemented one in December..
All of this also comes shortly after a USA jury found that Meta violated child safety laws on its platform by misleading users about the dangers of child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms.
18) Energizer reveals new Ultimate Child Shield coin batteries that are a lot safer for children if they swallow one
Energizer has unveiled a new line of coin batteries that are intended to be safe for children.
The company says the product, which is appropriately named Ultimate Child Shield, is the “world’s only coin lithium batteries that eliminate ingestion burns if swallowed.” The batteries come in coin sizes 2032, 2025 and 2016.
Energizer notes that more than 3,500 coin lithium battery ingestion incidents are reported in the U.S. each year, primarily among children ages 0-6 years, and the rate of these accidents is only increasing. Ingestion of lithium batteries is especially dangerous because their small size makes them easy to get stuck in the esophagus and cause burning within 15 minutes.
In addition to preventing burns, Energizer says the Ultimate Child Shield batteries sport the world’s first “Color Alert” technology, which dyes the mouth blue when contact is made with saliva to help alert adults that an ingestion may have occurred. The batteries also feature a non-toxic bitter coating and child-resistant packaging to discourage ingestion.
Energizer Ultimate Child Shield batteries are now available in stores here in Canada and in the USA.
Energizer Ultimate Child Shield Canada
Ultimate Child Shield Cells 13/03 - Energizer Ultimate Child Shield Canada
Power Lighting Responsibility Promotions Power Lighting Responsibility Promotions Superior Number Of Safety Features No-burn technology Color Alert Bitter Taste Secure Packaging Additional Safety Features: World’s Only Color Alert Technology Safety features that you can see Our Color Alert technology activates once saliva interacts with the battery, visibly dyeing the mouth blue in seconds to alert […]
19) If you have an Apple TV 4K, there are several new ways to customize what you see
Apple TV 4K users can now customize their experience with new settings in tvOS 26. Here are some of the new customization options available:
- Aerial Screen Savers: Customize your Apple TV's aerial screen savers by enabling or disabling individual categories.
- Subtitle Styles: Change subtitle styles directly from the video player, with options like Classic, Large Text, Outline Text, and Transparent Background.
- Profiles: Create and manage multiple profiles for personalized content recommendations.
- Appearance Settings: Choose between Light, Dark, or Automatic modes for the appearance of backgrounds and menus.
- PiP Mode: Use Picture-in-Picture mode to watch videos in a small window while navigating other apps, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
Instructions on how to take advantage of these new options are in the article below…
21) Apple has struck a deal with Intel (!) to make more chips for its more popular products
After more than a year of discussion, Apple and Intel have established a preliminary agreement that will see Intel return to manufacturing processors for Apple devices, in part due to exploding demand for some products, reports MacRumors.com. Before Apple created its own Apple Silicon, it used Intel-designed chips for its Macs — but had to deal with continual chip delays.
Apple previously used Intel chips in products in decades prior, but now uses Taiwan's TSMC to make its own series of chips. Intel is being added on as a chip foundry partner to help Apple meet accelerating demand.
Prior rumors on Intel's Apple talks have suggested Intel could make some of the lower-end processors used in Apple devices, including the lowest-end M-series chip used in select iPad and Mac models.
During Apple's latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said iPhone 17 models had been constrained during the quarter because Apple could not get enough A19 and A19 Pro chips from TSMC.
22) The iPhone 17 is the best-selling phone of 2026 so far
Apple’s iPhone 17 continues to dominate the mobile phone industry, earning the title of most used phone worldwide in 2026.
According to Counterpoint, iPhone 17 accounted for 6% of all phones sold in the first quarter. This is only the base model, not the Pro or Pro Max, which took second and third place in Q1 2026.
The iPhone 16 also appeared at #6 on the list, with five of the remaining spots going to the Samsung Galaxy A Series, including the Galaxy A07 4G, Galaxy A17 4G and Galaxy A56. The 10th place spot went to the Xiaomi Redmi A5 (not available in Canada or the USA). The top 10 list accounted for 25%of the total sales worldwide during the quarter.
According to Counterpoint Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi, “iPhone 17 continues to outperform its predecessor owing to key upgrades like higher base storage, camera resolution and display refresh rate, bringing the smartphone closer to the Pro variants and providing overall value for larger market.”
23) Google unveils screenless Fitbit Air and Google Health app to replace Fitbit
Wearables have really come full circle. The early Fitbits didn’t have screens, but the move to smartwatches put a screen on everyone’s wrist. Now, Google’s newest wearable, the Fitbit Air, doesn’t have a screen, but it does have a suite of health sensors that pipe data into the new Google Health app. And if you want, Google has a new AI-powered health coach in the app ready to tell you what that data means (maybe).
The Fitbit Air itself is a small plastic puck about 1.4" long and 0.7" wide (3.6cm x 1.8cm). It slots into various bands that hold the bottom-mounted sensors against your wrist…
There’s no display pointing upward, so the entire device is covered by the fabric or plastic of the band. It’s a streamlined and potentially stylish look — in uncharacteristic fashion, Google has plenty of colours and style options available…
The Fitbit Air launches on May 26 for $135 CAD with the included Performance Loop band. There are also silicone Performance Loop and Elevated Modern Band options. Bands start at $45 CAD and come in various colours. A Fitbit Air purchase also includes three months of Google Health Premium (replacing Fitbit Premium), which now features Google’s new AI Health Coach.
As part of all this, the Fitbit app is getting a major makeover and a new name. An update in the coming weeks will transform that app into Google Health, featuring a new interface with edesigned menus and tabs. You also won’t see Fitbit branding in as many places — the Fitbit Premium subscription will become Google Health Premium.
Without a subscription, the app still does all the basic things, like tracking your health stats, automatically logging workouts, and showing it all in a pretty dashboard. With the Premium subscription, you get all the features from Fitbit Premium plus the new AI Health Coach. It’s a chatbot, so you can ask it about any health or wellness topics, and Google says the answers will be grounded in your health data.
24) Silicon Valley is spending $200M to test AI data centres floating in the Pacific, powered and cooled by the ocean
Later this year, a huge metal sphere atop an 85-metre long tube will be deployed off the Washington coast, to test whether it could be an effective floating data-centre — a move that coincides with the mounting challenges tech companies are facing in building AI data centres on land.
Instead of sending renewable energy to a land-based data centre, the floating nodes would directly power onboard AI chips and transmit the AI models’ outputs to customers worldwide via satellite links.
Panthalassa is building test nodes near Portland, using $200 million in funding from Silicon Valley investors, such as Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel.
Each node resembles a huge steel sphere bobbing on the water with a tube-like structure extending vertically down beneath the surface. The wave motions drive water upward through the tube into a pressurized reservoir, where it can be released to spin a turbine generator that produces renewable energy for the AI chips on board.
Panthalassa claims the node’s AI chips would also get cooled using the surrounding water, which would offer another big advantage over traditional data centres.
But there are plenty of challenges to overcome before Panthalassa can attempt to transform the world’s oceans into AI computing resources. Relying on satellites to transmit data between the nodes and customers means dealing with limited bandwidth and signal delays — that's why data centres still use fiber-optic cables to transmit large amounts of data quickly while reserving satellite links as backups.
The idea of placing computing resources and data centers in the ocean has surfaced before in other projects. The most well-known example comes from Microsoft’s Project Natick, which experimented with putting data centre servers underwater in 2015 and 2018. The underwater trials showed that sealed, seawater-cooled systems could achieve lower failure rates than land-based systems, but Microsoft eventually decided against commercializing that vision, for now. But Chinese companies have gone ahead with deploying underwater data centers near Hainan Island and off the coast of Shanghai. There have also been several attempts to build floating data centres, with one of the most recent being the company Keppel starting construction of a floating data centre for Singapore.
25) Videogame retailer GameStop offers $56 billion USD for eBay, but struggles to explain how it’ll pay for it
In a surprise move, videogame retailing chain GameStop is making an unsolicited offer to buy eBay for $55.5 billion USD.
GameStop claims that eBay has underperformed and spends too much on sales and marketing and argues that it would become a stronger company if it cuts costs and is combined with GameStop’s 1600 physical retail locations across the USA.
GameStop’s proposal envisions a system in which GameStop staff inspect and verify items to be listed on eBay. “GameStop staff already inspect and grade hardware and trading cards every day. Sellers walk in, items are verified on the spot, and listings carry a trust badge,” the proposal said.
The stores will “serve as drop-off and shipping nodes,” providing “a national fulfillment network without incremental eBay capital expenditure,” GameStop said. The stores, according to GameStop’s plan, will “double as broadcasting studios. eBay supplies the inventory and the buyer base; GameStop supplies the physical footprint to compete in the live-commerce category.” This would apparently help eBay sellers use livestreaming to promote their products.
GameStop has a market capitalization of about $11 billion, while eBay is worth about $48 billion. GameStop’s offer for eBay is $125 per share, half in cash and half in GameStop stock.
As gamers shift to online downloads, GameStop has been winding-down its international operation here in Canada and in other countries,m and has closed more than 400 stores in the USA.
26) Camera-equipped AirPods enter advanced testing phase
Rumours that Apple will soon introduce AirPods with “cameras” in them aren’t really the privacy nightmare they sound like they might be.
According to an exclusive report by Bloomberg, Apple’s next-generation AirPods with built-in infrared cameras have entered into an advanced stage of development.
While AirPods have traditionally focused on high-fidelity audio and noise cancellation, this new hardware push suggests that the future of the product lies in spatial awareness and employing new uses for artificial intelligence … or Apple Intelligence, as the company calls their soon-to-be-upgraded version.
The primary innovation involves the integration of infrared (IR) cameras into the compact frame of the AirPods, notes iPhone in Canada. These are not standard cameras used for photography or video calls. Instead, they function similarly to the sensors found in the Face ID module on an iPhone or the advanced tracking systems in the Vision Pro headset, their report says.
The goal is to allow the AirPods to “see” the world around the wearer. By using IR sensors, the device can map the environment in three dimensions. This data is then used to enhance spatial audio, allowing the sound to shift and adapt based on where the user is looking or how they are moving through a room. It could also enhance spatial awareness and real-time information or descripitions for users with low or no vision via audio.
28) 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.
29) Kathryn's Paleontology News Item of the Week: ancient bite marks suggest Tyrannosaurs sometimes ate their own kind
New research led by Aarhus University paleontologists overturns the image of tyrannosaurs as pure apex predators. An analysis of 16 precisely mapped bite marks on a 75-million-year-old tyrannosaur bone reveals that smaller tyrannosaurs scavenged their own kind.
“Tyrannosaurs were the dominant terrestrial predators of the northern hemisphere in the Late Cretaceous,” said first author Josephine Nielsen, a Master’s student at Aarhus University, and her colleagues.
“Tyrannosaurids were megapredatory carnivores, with heavily built skulls well suited to withstand extreme bite forces and high stress. A bite capable of processing bone, even of prey much larger than themselves, as evidenced by coprolites containing bone fragments. Although such remains do not in themselves constitute direct evidence of bite force, and debate remains on tyrannosaur feeding strategies and how they might have interacted.”
The study provides insight into how nothing went to waste during the age of dinosaurs and that these animals were also scavengers.
The tough foot bones were likely eaten late in the decomposition process, after most of the meat was already gone.
“The bone shows no signs of healing after the smaller dinosaur bites into it,” Nielsen said.
“Since the marks are located on the foot, where there is very little meat, it suggests that the dinosaur was ‘cleaning up’ and eating the last remains of an old carcass.”
Last weekend, Sofía, our Grade 10 homestay student from Madrid, went kayaking in the Victoria inner harbour and up the Gorge Waterway with our good friends Rick and Zack, and loved it…
Natsuki, our other homestay student from Osaka, is a great swimnmer but not a fan of little boats in open water. However, after seeing how miuch Sofia enjoyed herself, she's accepted an invitation from Rick and Zack to take her kayaking in Brentwood Bay and Tod Inlet this weekend!
We also took the girls to meet the baby goats and other critters at the popular Children's Farm in Beacon Hill Park…
…and we introduced them to pinball (with pizza!) at Pinhalla on lower Fisgard Street in Chinatown; they'd never seen pinball machines before, but were surprisingly good at playing them…
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…