May 30 & 31, 2026 Show Notes
World Oceans Day / World Hockey Championships Finals / 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:
Kyle Wilson
Colwood-based IT Specialist, Wikipedia Administrator, and a Business Insider contributor
X & BlueSky: @KWilsonMG
The Podcast
Listen now: (podcast will appear here once its been uploaded)
Or, you can subscribe to "Tech Talk with Alan Perry" (it's free) on any podcast app including these…
2) If you get an email about someone sharing an online document with you, check with the sender before you try to access it!
This scam begins with an email that you receive from someone you know (as shown in the screenshot below), and you check, and the email address is theirs…
If you check the Open link in the email, it'll show as being a cloud storage link such as OneDrive or Google Drive or iCloud Drive, which is what you'd get if someone really was sharing a file with you.
In this case, the link began with… https://drv.ms/o/c/34c87f59b5d09c83 followed by a long strong of authentication code. That Open button takes you to…
…which looks real. The web-address of this page looks like something you'd get if a friend or a colleage was sharing a file or files with you…
If you click/tap on VIEW DOCUMENT, you're taken to a website showing this…
…bit if you type ANY email address in the box (I typed scammer@scam.com) and click/tap on Verify & Access Document, it takes you to another webpage hosted on a website in Hong Kong as shown in these screenshots, where you're asked to provide your Micrsosft account password…
…if you earlier typed in your real email address, and now type in your real Microsoft account password, you'll get a message (from the scammers) advising that for security reasons, Microsoft is going to send you a security code by text or email, and asking you to type that code in the box that will appear on the screen. If you do that, you just gave the overseas hackers what they needed to reset your Microsoft account password and lock you out of your own account so they can then steal your identity and use that to steal your money!
If anyone ever shares a file or files with you, before clicking on any links, phone or text the supposed sender (do NOT email them in case their email has been compromised) to find out if it's really them sending it.
And if you're asked tp provide a security code that's sent by text or email, don't do that, as thay's a sure-fire sign of a scam!
5) Google Chrome is downloading a 4GB AI model onto your device without asking for your OK; here's how to remove it
Even if you aren’t using Google Gemini, it might be using your device. Security researcher Alexander Hanff, also known as “That Privacy Guy,” has discovered that Google’s widely used Chrome web browser is quietly storing an on-device AI model without explicitly asking for your permission.
According to Hanff, Chrome secretly stashes about 4GB of AI model files on Chrome users’ devices, in a hidden folder called OptGuideOnDeviceModel. The largest part of that folder is a file called weights.bin. Hanff claims that the weights are for Gemini Nano, Google’s lighter-weight, on-device version of its large language model.
Hanff says the Nano model is installed on any device that meets the minimum hardware requirements to host it. Google Chrome reportedly does not offer any prompt for the user to affirmatively agree to install the model, nor is there any setting to opt out or remove the files. If you track down the files yourself by parsing through Chrome’s install library, you can manually delete the model — but Hanff says it'll automatically be redownloaded the next time you restart Chrome, without any indication that it’s happening. Hanff has demo'd this happening on both Windows and MacOS devices.
The closest you’ll find to Google explaining this to the user is in Chrome’s terms of service. Within that text, Google states: “We’re constantly developing new technologies and features to improve our services. For example, we use artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide you with simultaneous translations, and to better detect and block spam and malware. As part of this continual improvement, we sometimes add or remove features and functionalities, increase or decrease limits to our services, and start offering new services or stop offering old ones. When a service requires or includes downloadable or preloaded software, that software sometimes updates automatically on your device once a new version or feature is available.”
So, what exactly can you do about this huge on-device AI model that Google is storing for you?
First, check to see if it is actually on your computer. You can do this by visiting chrome://on-device-internals via the Chrome omnibar, where you’d enter a URL or search term. This'll tell you if the model is on your device and how much space it takes up.
From there, removal will depend on what is available in your browser.
If you're one of the users who have had an opt-out rolled out to your browser, you can simply open Chrome, go to the Settings menu, select System, and choose Turn On-device AI on or off.
If you don’t have that option, there are some workarounds others have found…
- To disable the necessary flags, open Chrome and enter chrome://flags in the address bar.
- Search for Optimization Guide On-Device in the search bar at the top.
- In the drop-down next to the option, select disabled. That should stop the 4 GB model download in the background.
- Restart Chrome to apply the changes, and you'll also need to delete the weights.bin file if you haven't already. That's in %LOCALAPPDATA% > Google > Chrome > User Data on a Windows machine. On a Mac, you'll find the file in ~/Library > Application Support > Google > Chrome. We've tested this entire process on a Windows 11 laptop and a desktop running Windows 10. Other users have reported that this works on Mac as well. If you're using an iPhone, Apple warns that you should stop using Chrome altogether.
That Privacy Guy!
Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent. At a billion-device scale the climate costs are insane. — That Privacy Guy!
Google Chrome is downloading a 4 GB Gemini Nano model onto users' machines without consent, with no opt-in, no opt-out short of enterprise tooling, and an automatic re-download every time the user deletes it. The pattern is identical to the Anthropic Claude Desktop case I wrote about last month, but the scale is between two and three orders of magnitude larger. This article does the legal analysis and, for the first time, the environmental analysis. The numbers are not small.
Tech Deals This Weekend
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: just $50/month all-in, at Freedom Mobile this weekend; Samsung Galaxy S25 FE for $58/month all-in
If you want a great new Android phone, Freedom Mobile has a super sale this weekend on Samsung's Galaxy S25 FE phone: get the phone for free when you sign up for their $50/month 175GB/month Canada/USA/Mexico plan with 10GB/month "Roam Beyond".
At the end of two years, either return the phone, or pay $359 and keep it. As the S25 FE costs $920 if you buy it outright,you're saving $561 if you keep it!
Freedom is also offering the Google Pixel 10 Pro for $8/month for 24 months, on the same $50/month plan. At the end of two years, either return the phone, or pay $408 and keep it.
As the Pixel 10 Pro costs $1349 if you buy it outright,you'll save $749 if you keep it!
Freedom Mobile is the only carrier still offering great mobile 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.
Last 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 their rates are not as great as they were a few weeks ago...
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.
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.
Lenovo refurb T480 laptops: $300 & $430 at Tesseract on Monday
If you're looking for a basic laptop at a great price, Gary at Tesseract Computers has just received ten Lenovo T480 refurbished business-grade ThinkPad laptops, which he'll have available when Tesseact re-opens after the weekend on Monday. …
These are 14" Windows 11 Pro models, and come with new solid-state drives in two configurations:
- 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD: $299
- 16GB RAM and a 500GB SSD: $429
These are excellent starter laptops, great for surfing the web, doing emails, and watching YouTube, Netflix, etc..
Ten only, available on a first come, first served basis, on Monday at Tesseract Computers, 715 Broughton near Douglas in downtown Victoria.
New models of refurb Eco-Tank printers on sale at London Drugs
We're big fans of the refurbished Epson Eco-Tank printers which are exclusive to London Drugs, and come with a full one-year warranty. Many of you bought a refurbished ET-2850 for more than $200 off the price of a new unit, and we've had virtually no problem with them. The 2850's and its bigger cousin, the 3850, are now all gone, but Epson is now providing newer refurbished models, also at hefty savings…
London Drugs stores are carrying three models, all of which come with bottles of ink, enough for literally three years of printing for most people, and two of them are on sale again this weekend…
ET-2988: $210 (reg. $400) which prints wirelessly only, 100-sheet tray
extra $30 saving this weekend
ET-3958: $250 (reg. $530) which can print wired/wireless has ADF, 250-sheet tray
extra $70 saving this weekend
If you bought one earlier this month before they went on sale, take your receipt back to the store and they'll refund you the difference!
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) Make sure you know how to cold boot your phone or computer if it starts acting-up, as this quickly fixes most problems
This is definitely the most-useful tech tip we can share: whether its a phone, laptop, tablet, computer, printer, or cable-box, many frustrating problems can be easily fixed by doing a cold boot.
A cold boot is not the same as re-starting your device.
A cold boot clears-out all hardware-state memory and start menu commands and builds a fresh list of what's supposed to happen when the device restarts. In other words, its clears out electronic dust-bunnies and glitchy commands. In human terms, its like telling a cranky loved one to go to another room and not to come back until they're prepared to behave better!
It won't fix all problems, but when people contact us for help with something that's not working, a cold boot usually fixes at least 90% of the problems! so, here's how to do a cold boot…
- on a Windows PC or a Mac: hold down the power button for 20 seconds. It'll go off after about six seconds, but hold it down for 20 seconds, then release it, wait a second, and press the power button. (It'll take longer to come back to life, as it builds a new Start Menu.)
- on an iPhone or iPad with Siri enabled: say out loud, "Siri, restart my (iPhone or iPad)". She'll reply, "Just to be clear, you want me to restart this device?". Reply, "Yes", and you'll hear a ding, and the screen will go black. After about 10 seconds, you'll see an Apple logo, and when it goes away, you can enter your passcode to unlock your device and it should be good to go!
- on an iPhone without Siri enabled: on the left edge of your iPhone, give a quick push to the Volume Up button followed by a quick push to the Volume Down button. Next, hold down the Sleep/Wake button on the right edge of the iPhone until the screen goes black and an Apple logo appears. After about 10 seconds, the logo will go away and you can enter your Passcode.
- on an iPad without Siri enabled: Locate your volume buttons on the edge of your iPad, and then give a quick push to the Volume Up button followed by a quick push to the Volume Down button. Next, hold down the Power button until the screen goes black and an Apple logo appears. After about 10 seconds, the logo will go away and you can enter your Passcode.
- on an Android phone or tablet: the exact button combo varies slightly from brand to brand, but we'll start with the one that works on most Android devices: hold down both the Power and Volume Down buttons for 20 seconds. The screen should go black, and then the device will restart out of cold boot with the manufacturer's logo. When that happens, release the buttons.
- on an internet modem: remove the power cord for two minutes, then plug it back in and wait two more minutes for the modem lights to cycle through the reboot and reprovisioning process.
- on a cable TV box: remove the power cord for 30 seconds, then plug it back in, and wait for the box to reinitiate and re-authenticate with your cable TV provider. The on-screen program guide may take a few minutes to fill back in with all the channels and programs.
- on a printer: remove the power cord for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Press the printer Power button. You may get a message on the printer screen about the power having been lost; you can dismiss this. If there were several print jobs waiting that wouldn't print, they may now start printing. If you tried to print the same document several times, you can press the printer's STOP button three times to cancel all remaining print jobs.
A PDF of this Note is below: we suggest you print it out and put it somewhere where you'll be able to find it, when one of your devices starts acting-up!
11) If you're a Koodo customer and have a 5G-compatible phone, your internet speed is being boosted at no extra cost
Koodo, which is owned by Telus, is trying to come up with ways to keep customers from jumping ship to other carriers.
One way Koodo is doing this is by doubling the speed cap on its 5G plans to 1Gbps, to match Fido and Virgin+.
Koodo says all its customers on 5G planswho have 5G-compatible phones will have this automatically happen over the next few months, at no extra cost.
If you're on an older phone that is limited to 4G LTE, you'll still get speeds up to 250Mbps, which is great for most people.
iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
Koodo Bumps 5G Speeds to 1 Gbps at No Extra Cost
Telus flanker brand Koodo is bumping up 5G speeds for both new and existing customers at no extra cost. New customers on a Pick Your Perk plan with a 5G-compatible device will get speeds of up to 1 Gbps right away. Existing customers on the same plan will be upgraded automatically over the next six
13) Gmail Live will soon let you ask questions and have it find the answers in your email — for a fee
BGoogle is adding a new AI-powered and subscription-based "Gmail Live" feature to Gmail that'll let you speak or type a question (such as, "what day and time am I supposed to pick up my sister at the airport?"), and Gmail Live will find the answer in your email.
On mobile, you’ll find the same waveform icon used by Gemini Live in the search bar. This launches a fullscreen experience with a waveform that hugs the edge of your screen.
You’ll see a transcript of what you asked and Gmail’s responses. Buttons at the bottom let you mute the microphone and exit.
Questions can be phrased naturally with support for follow-ups and switching topics in the same conversation. It’s very much like Gemini Live but optimized for Gmail.
Gmail Live is rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US (English) this summer on Android and iOS, with Canada and other countries to follow later this year.
Google AI Pro costs $27/month here in Canada.
14) Tin Can is a new Wi-Fi-powered corded basic phone for kids, which only lets them talk with people approved by their parents
When to allow children to have their own phone is a big topic for parents these days, but there's a new option that should make the question a lot easier to answer.
It's called the Tin Can, and its a screen-free corded phone that lets children make and recieve calls only to and from with pre-approved people, so no strangers, and no scam calls.
A Tin Can phone costs $135 CAD, and the base just has to be plugged into an AC power outlet. The Tin Can phone makes and receives calls over Wi-Fi to and from numbers that are controlled by the Tin Can app on the phone of the parent or parents. The app can also be used to set "quiet hours" for when the Tin Can cannot be used.
It's free to talk with other Tin Can phones (belonging to a child's approved friends or to grandparents) and for an optional $13 CAD/month subscription, it can be used to make and recieve calls to other approved traditional phone numbers (mobile and home phone).
A review is below…
The first batch sold out in weeks; a second batch is expected to be available in July. More info, including FAQ and ordering info, is below…
There's a video with the co-creator in Item #41, below…
16) Heads up: July 13 is a critical date for anyone using old versions of Microsoft Office, or running older operating systems
Starting July 13, some users may notice that Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or OneNote) can open and print files, but cannot edit, save, or create new files – called “reduced functionality mode”. This happens when support for Microsoft Office apps is no longer continued for older operating systems or devices.
This issue will affect both Microsoft 365 subscribers on macOS, iPhone, and iPad, and those with non-subscription software, including Office 2021 or Office 2019 on macOS.
For most users, updating your OS, and updating your apps will resolve the problem.
There are two important issues to be aware of here:
- Using older unsupported version of Microsoft Office. Office 2019 for Mac stopped being supported in October 2023, and you won't be able to continue to use it to edit, save, or create new files after July 13. The same will be true for Office 2021 after October 13 of this year. In both cases, all your files will be safe; you can either use Microsoft 365 Online for free to work with them, or you can get a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Using current versions of Microsoft 365 on older operating systems. Starting July 13, in order to continue to use current versions of Microsoft 365 apps, if you have a Mac it'll have to be running macOS Monterey or later, and if you have an iPad or iPhone, it'll have to be running iOS/iPadOS 17 or later. Updating your device's operating system will enable you to continue to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Microisoft 365 apps. If your device is too old to be updated, you'll be able to continue to work with your files using Microsoft 365 Online, which is free.
support.microsoft.com
Update Microsoft 365 or Office on your macOS or iOS device - Microsoft Support
Starting July 13, 2026, some users may notice that Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or OneNote) can open and print files, but cannot edit, save, or create new files – called “reduced functionality mode”. This happens when support for Microsoft Office apps is no longer continued for older operating systems or devices.
17) Shell has joined Scotiabank's Scene+ loyalty program used by Cineplex and Thrifty Foods
Shell has joined the Scene+ membership program nationally and will now offer opportunities to earn, redeem, and save at the pump, striking another blow to the previous loyalty leader, AirMiles.
Here is what Scotiabank and Tangerine cardholders get:
- Instant savings of three cents per litre on all grades of fuel for Scotiabank customers with an eligible credit/debit card linked to a Shell Go+ account (automatically applied and visible at the pump)
- Extra four cents per litre in savings on Shell V Power with an eligible Scotiabank credit card linked to a Shell Go+ account
- Earn and redeem Scene+ points on fuel, car washes, and eligible convenience retail purchases.
If you're a Scene+ member, you can get:
- One Scene+ point per litre of fuel
- One Scene+ point per $1 on eligible convenience and car wash purchases
- Can redeem 1,000 Scene+ points for $10 off fuel, car wash, or eligible convenience items
As you may have noticed, there are a few restrictions with the new program. Some of the benefits (especially fuel discounts) are only available to Scotiabank or Tangerine customers with an eligible debit or credit card.
Shell Go+ members can also combine the cents per litre savings mentioned earlier, and bonus rewards when linking Scene+ memberships in the Shell app, which include: 10 per cent more bonus points on Shell regular, plus diesel, 2x more bonus points on Shell V-Power, and 10 per cent more bonus points on eligible convenience retail and car wash purchases.
18) Intel announces ARC G Series processors for handheld gaming
Intel has announced new Intel ARC G-Series processors that are designed for “next-generation handheld gaming systems.”
Launching with the Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme processors, this new series builds on the architecture of the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (aka Panther Lake) and brings optimized performance and power efficiency to the handheld market.
There aren’t many technical specs yet, but the new chips are set to feature two power cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power cores. Intel also noted that there will be support for Wi-Fi 7 R2, dual Bluetooth 6, and Intel Thunderbolt 4 with support for Thunderbolt Share with up to 40Gbps bandwidth.
More details will come out about the chip, but Intel says the new chip will be used in Acer’s Predator Atlas 8, MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and the OneXPlayer. Time will tell if other mainstream handhelds (Xbox ROG Ally, Steam Deck) will switch to the chip.
20) We're getting a first look at what Apple's revamped Siri may look like on iPhones and iPads this fall
A revamped Siri is expected to be unveiled at Apple's forthcoming WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 8, but Bloomberg has now mocked-up screenshots of what the latest rumours suggest it will probably look like.
These are not final screenshots, and not even Apple screenshots. Instead, they've been created based on descriptions and other info from Marrk Gurman's unspecified sources.
If the images are correct, then one of the biggest changes will be how Siri launches. Instead of the iPhone being bordered with a rainbow color, it's said that Siri will spring out of the Dynamic Island with a Liquid Glass appearance.
The claim is that as well as just speaking, users will be able activate Siri by swiping down from the top center of the screen. This will get them a Search or Ask interface that can then be swiped down further to launch a Siri chatbot.
Siri is also going to become part of the Camera app, as previously rumoured. That suggests that Visual Intelligence is going to be replaced, meaning photos can be analyzed without going through a separate interface.
Visual Intelligence is currently launched in different ways, depending on whether an iPhone has a Camera Control or not. This would simplify the feature, and by making part of the familiar camera, presumably see it being used more.
We'll find out on June 8!
21) Suppliers are racing to keep up with orders for Apple's incredibly popular MacBook Neo
Amid ongoing MacBook Neo shortages, Apple has reportedly tasked suppliers with doubling its original order to 10 million units in an attempt to satiate demand.
Buying a new MacBook Neo today remains an exercise in patience, with deliveries taking multiple weeks. The 13", $799 CAD laptop has proven hugely popular among students and mobile workers alike, so much so that Apple can't keep up.
Now, a report by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple has told its suppliers to produce more MacBook Neo's than ever before. After an initial five-million-unit order, Apple has now doubled the figure to 10 million units.
The MacBook Neo first went on sale on March 11, 2026, and almost immediately saw expected delivery dates slip by weeks and months. Delivery windows haven't improved much since.
22) An internal AI model from OpenAI has solved an Erdős math problem that has stumped humans for 80 years
The math world is excited by the counterintuitive (and human verified) proof—or, rather, disproof—of one of the famous Erdős problems that have stumped math for more than a quarter century. To accompany the finding, OpenAI released 19 pages of companion remarks from prominent human mathematicians, including a winner of the Fields Medal, one of the highest honours for human mathematicians.
This problem is also known as the unit distance problem. According to the Wall Street Journal article, it "goes something like this: If you put n dots on a sheet of paper, how many pairs of dots can be exactly one unit apart?" Erdős had contended that, in 1946, he had found a near perfect arrangement (a grid) and that no arrangement could do better. OpenAI's private model found one that does.
It has been suggested that mathematicians have been stumped for so long by this problem because they were generally looking to prove his conjecture rather than disprove it, combined with how mathematicians at a high level become extremely specialized, and might not have the persistence to stick with a method for as long as AI before trying another. The solution for this math problem requires "pulling from both algebraic number theory and discrete geometry," which the Journal says "have about as much in common as the marathon and pole vault."
The cost? Though no formal numbers were released, a former OpenAI researcher suggests that it took "less than 32 hours and $1,000 in tokens".
OpenAI is optimistic about the future of human mathematicians and their ability to provide essentially new calculators for them. Human mathematicians are learning from this discovery and already building upon it to solve other longstanding math problems.
This problem is also known as the unit distance problem. According to the Wall Street Journal article, it "goes something like this: If you put n dots on a sheet of paper, how many pairs of dots can be exactly one unit apart?" Erdős had contended that, in 1946, he had found a near perfect arrangement (a grid) and that no arrangement could do better. OpenAI's private model found one that does.
It has been suggested that mathematicians have been stumped for so long by this problem because they were generally looking to prove his conjecture rather than disprove it, combined with how mathematicians at a high level become extremely specialized, and might not have the persistence to stick with a method for as long as AI before trying another. The solution for this math problem requires "pulling from both algebraic number theory and discrete geometry," which the Journal says "have about as much in common as the marathon and pole vault."
The cost? Though no formal numbers were released, a former OpenAI researcher suggests that it took "less than 32 hours and $1,000 in tokens".
OpenAI is optimistic about the future of human mathematicians and their ability to provide essentially new calculators for them. Human mathematicians are learning from this discovery and already building upon it to solve other longstanding math problems.
AI is still a long way from a super intelligence.
23a) Use ArriveCAN to pre-clear Customs when returning to Canada
You can use the ArriveCAN app (or website) to quickly pre-clear Canada Customs, if you're arriving at the Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, or Halifax airport -- but NOT yet in Victoria.
The time it saves is enough to enable you to make a tight connection if your incoming flight is late!
When you scan your passport at an Immigration kiosk, it skips the Customs part and gives you a receipt, and you're on your way.
Make sure you have the latest version of the ArriveCAN app, also, make sure you know your ArriveCAN account password, as the app signs you out after 10 days, and you'll need your password to sign back in if you're going to be aware for more than 10 days!
The ArriveCAN app is avilable free on the Apple and Google App Stores, and you can also submit your CBSA Declaration in advance online…the link to do that is in the webpage below…
23b) Use MPC app to pre-clear Immigration when heading to USA
If you're heading to the USA (including Hawaii and Alaska), US Customs and Border Protection has a free app which you can use to save a lot of time at the border — and this can be especially valuable if you have a tight connection.
It's called MPC (Mobile Passport Control) and it replaces the third-party Airside Mobile Passport app.
It can be used by Canadians, Americans and prople from many other countries, and it can also now be used at airports like Vancouver, where you pre-clear Customs and Immigration when flying to a major US airport. More here.
26) 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.
27) Kathryn's Paleontology News Item of the Week: a rare ostrich-like dinosaur fossil has been found up on Denman Island
Paleontologists have recovered a dinosaur tail vertebra from 75- to 80-million-year-old marine rocks on Denman Island off the coast of Vancouver Island, providing the clearest evidence yet that bird-like ornithomimosaurs once roamed the ancient Pacific coastline of North America.
Ornithomimosaurs were a group of fast-running, bird-like theropod dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous period. They had long legs, long necks, slender bodies, toothless beaks and relatively small heads, giving them a strong resemblance to modern ostriches.
Some species, such as Gallimimus and Ornithomimus, could grow more than 4 m (13 feet) long.
Despite being theropods, ornithomimosaurs are thought to have been omnivores or opportunistic feeders, eating plants, small animals and possibly eggs.
They were likely among the fastest dinosaurs of their time, with some estimates placing their top speed at around 50-60 km/h (31-37 mph).
In their new paper, Dr. David Evans, a paleontologist at the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum, and his colleagues described a fossilized vertebra from the tail of an ornithomimosaur.
The fossil dates back to the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous, between 80 and 75 million years ago. The specimen was collected from marine sediments of the Cedar District Formation on Denman Island, off Nanaimo.
Sci.News: Breaking Science News
Rare Ostrich-Like Dinosaur Fossil Found on Canadian Island | Sci.News
Paleontologists in Canada say they have recovered a dinosaur tail vertebra from 75- to 80-million-year-old marine rocks on a small island off the coast of British Columbia, providing the clearest evidence yet that bird-like ornithomimosaurs once roamed the ancient Pacific coastline of North America.
Homework videos (a.k.a. "time well wasted"!)
Check out our new YouTube Favourites playlist #2:
Our original Favourites playlist maxxed-out at 5000 videos; it's here…
Videos start at #40, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more tech news items above!
40) Watch a demo of Gmail Live, where you ask a question and Gmail Live uses AI to find the answers in your email…
01:05
YouTube
Search your inbox with your voice using Gmail Live! Just announced at Google IO #Shorts 🔊
it’s a new voice-activated way to search your inbox and get answers, quickly. Rolling out to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers and in preview to business customers this summer. What is Google Workspace → https://goo.gle/45BsE1W Set up Google Workspace → https://goo.gle/4q8r3t1 Subscribe to Google Workspace → https://goo.gle/GoogleWorkspace Try Google Workspace with Gemini → https://goo.gle/45FrVNh Follow Google Workspace on X → https://goo.gle/3YpmHS0 Follow Google Workspace on Facebook → h
41) Watch a news segment on the popular new Tin Can phone for children…
42) Watch Mark Rober unveil a free $60 million dollar new science curriculum for teachers, to make science lesson fun for kids, so they'll want to learn…
43) Watch a profile of the new Swedish electric Candela hydrofoil ferries which are making harbour commutes fast and affordable in Europe…
44) Watch the unveiling of the Czech-designed Škoda DuoBell, a bicycle bell that emits two notes to cut through noise-cancelling earphones…
45) Watch the 90-second spell-offs that were needed to determine the winner of the 2026 the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the USA…
46) Watch "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd, played by Device Orchestra using electric toothbrushes, a steam iron, credit card machines, and a typewriter…
47) Watch Cambridge Math professor Hannah Fry answer why charging devices sometimes feel "buzzy"…
01:57
YouTube
Why devices sometimes feel "buzzy"
You can feel it on other people's skin too! If they hold a charging phone or tablet while sitting on a bed or somewhere with their feet off the ground (so they aren't themselves grounded) and you keep your feet on the ground and gently stroke their skin with your finger - you will feel them "buzzing" (as long as you're both sweaty enough of course...)
48) Watch a radio host pretend to be a (not great) AI Voice Assistant interacting with customers…
Remembering Pierre Gauthier
Canada's longest-reigning movie theatre manager, Pierre Gauthier, has passed away.
He ran the Odeon Theatre on Yates Street in downtown Victoria for decades.
Ten years ago, Michael Reid wrote a great profile on the "Mayor Of Yates Street"…
Our Grade 10 international homestay students, Sofía from Madrid in Spain, and Natsuki from Osaka in Japan, attended their final high school dance this week before heading home.
Here's Sofia and two of her friends, all dressed up for the dance…
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…