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Take part on Saturday morning when we're live:

The iOS/iPadOS 26.6.1 updates fix 21 security holes, including a couple which hackers have found and are actively exploiting, and also includes numerous bug fixes.

Depending on your iPhone/iPad model and configuration, the update ranges from 480MB to 3GB, but most are about 600MB. Get these updates by going to Settings, General, Software Update.

For older iPhones and iPads that can't run OS 26, because of the significance of the security holes which Apple has discovered, they've released special iOS/iPadOS 18.7.10 updates which fix a whopping 97 security holes! Get these updates by going to Settings, General, Software Update.

Because of the size of these Updates, older iPhones and iPads may not have enough free space to install the update…

If that's the case, as shown in the screenshot above, you can use the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC to download and 'hold' the update while it's being installed…

You can also use iTunes on a Mac to do the same thing…

In order to do this, your iPhone or iPad will have to already be running some version of iOS/iPadOS 26.

If your device is on an earlier iOS/iPadOS version, your only alternative is to have a certified Apple Service Centre factory-erase your device, and then do a clean install of 26.6.1 and then restore all your apps and content via iCloud. You must know your Apple ID and password in order for thsi to be done.

Get it by clicking on the Apple logo in the upper right, then on Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, and then select Install macOS updates.

Feel free to bookmark that page, as we'll keep updating it with screenshots of the latest scams!

Outright purchase prices range from $1250 to $2970, depending on the model and capacity you choose.

You can also buy a Google Pixel 10 for $700 — a $200 saving — this weekend at Best Buy.

As part of their Back-To-School specials, Freedom Mobile this weekend has the Samsung Galaxy S26 for $60/month all-in.

The $1250 phone is $10/month for 24 months, and then you either give it back or pay $360 and keep it, so that's an $850 saving! You'll be on a $50/month plan that includes unlimited Canada/USA/Mexico calling, 175GB/month of Canada/USA/Mexico data roaming, global texting, and 10GB/month of "Roam Beyond" data good in 120+ countries.

If you sign up for Freedom Home Internet this weekend, you'll get the Freedom Starter TV pack (26 channels) free for a year — that's a $19/month saving — starting on your second bill.

If you already have Freedom Home Internet, you can add Starter TV for $10/month for a year, then it'd be $19/month.

Be aware that Freedom TV service does not use a set-top box; you get it via a free app, so check your TV's App Store before signing-up to make sure you can get the app.

We're big fans of Epson Eco-Tank all-in-one full colour printers because they use bottles (not cartridges) of ink, and the bottles that come in the box with the printers last literally two to three years. Plus, a replacement set of four ink bottles costs about the same as a set of four cartridges from other brands that contain only a fraction of the ink.

You can also save a lot on the cost of the printer by buying a refurbished model through London Drugs; we've had no problem with the many dozens of them that we've helped people buy and install, and they come with a one-year replacement warranty. If you're an LD Extras member you can also buy a three-year extended waranty for 20% off, which we recommend.

This weekend, two of the newest models are on sale at London Drugs:

As we await the imminent activation of the the Hearing Aids feature for Apple AirPods Pro 2 and 3 here in BC, we're happy to report that the AirPods Pro 3 are on sale this weekend at Costco for $255 — that's a $30 saving off their regular price, and $74 off their price elsewhere.

Apple and other stores sell them for $329, but because you have to pay to be a member to shop at Costco, they're allowed to sell them for less.

We're big fans of Malwarebytes Premium anti-malware, but it usually only comes in three-device licences. Listener Brent asked if there are options with more and Staples has a one-year five-licence pack (any combination of Windows, Mac, Android; not needed for iPhones or iPads) on sale this weekend for $55 — a $25 saving…

The one-year/three device pack is on sale this weekend at Best Buy for $35 — a $20 saving…

You're invited to join Kyle and me next Sunday at Freedom Mobile's Hillside Centre store when they open an hour early at 10am next Sunday, August 30, for a back-to-school meet-&-greet.

I had a great time at our last one on July 12, but it was really busy, so manager Darren has invited us back for another one, coinciding with back-to-school specials.

Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!

Canada's communications regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission (CRTC) is changing its rules preventing the sale of locked phones in Canada after complaints from Bell and Telus.

Essentially, the CRTC has temporarily suspended the ruling that mandates devices be sold unlocked. Now, any Canadian wireless provider can sell a device in a locked state. However, it must be automatically unlocked within two business days. Further, customers must also be able to request that the device be immediately unlocked. The two-business day lock will remain in place until the CRTC reaches a full decision.

The change comes after Bell and Telus separately sought changes to the device locking rules, claiming that selling unlocked phones increased incidents of theft and fraud. Phone locking refers to the practice of binding a phone to a specific carrier’s network, preventing it from being used on other networks. The CRTC banned this practice in 2017 and eliminated unlocking fees, removing hurdles that prevented Canadians from easily switching providers. However, even back then, the Big Three were complaining about the impact the move would have on theft and fraud.

Bell has been leading the charge on this issue since as far back as 2018, when it started locking phones it stored at retail locations. At the time, the carrier would unlock devices at the time of purchase. Last year, Bell started locking phones for 60 days after purchase as well, which the CRTC said was a violation of the wireless code. Despite the CRTC ordering Bell to stop the practice, it continued selling locked phones.

In May, Telus filed an application with the CRTC asking it to implement a new 60-day device locking period to address fraud and theft issues, and even said it would implement the change on July 30, 2026, but held-off on getting word that this topgap decision was coming.

It's not clear how long it'll take for the CRTC to issue a long-term decision on the issue.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has dismissed several procedural demands made by Bell, Rogers and Telus, who ahave been trying to stall a probe into their efforts to circumvent a ban on junk fees.

The CRTC launched an investigation after finding that newly added fees appear to conflict with Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-43. That decision from earlier this year modified both the Wireless Code and the Internet Code to allow Canadians to change or cancel telecom services without paying penalty-like fees.

The incumbent telcos are facing scrutiny over specific customer charges, which came to life after the CRTC banned junk fees such as the dreaded $80 connection fee.

Bell debuted a $40 device-handling fee for customers buying phones on a plan. Telus added a $15 SIM card or eSIM charge. Rogers introduced three separate costs, which the CRTC took aim at, including a $40 device setup charge, a $25 shipping charge and a SIM fee.

CRTC staff warned all three companies prior to the proceeding that those fees appear to violate the ban on switching barriers, according to its August 14 decision.

Before the probe began, staff “noted that charging fees for device handling, device setup, or the purchase of a SIM card does not appear to fall within the exemption for optional services and products set out” in its policy.

Rogers, Telus and Bell face hefty possible fines alongside possible compliance orders by the CRTC. Previous deadlines suspended in late July have been rescheduled, with initial intervention submissions due August 31, 2026, followed by final reply filings in September.

12V sockets that used to be commonly used for cigarette lighters provide what's known as 'dirty power' because the power levels — and even the voltage — can fluctuate, especially when the engine is started or turned-off.

Those fluctuations can easily damage both the charger and your phone, which is why we recommend you never charge your phone or any electronics via a 12V vehicle socket.

If your vehicle has a USB or USB-C jack, that's a much safer way to charge it, especially on electric vehicles, which have much higher-quality power feeds.

And regardless of where the power comes from, we recommend you only ever use a quality branded charging cable, as cheap ones not only tend to short out easily, but also lack the tiny power management circuits that are in the end of the cables by the jack.

In order to board a domestic flight in Canada, you're required to show government-issued photo ID, and that can be photo ID issued by the federal government or by any province or territory, such as a driver's licence, or provincial ID card, or First Nations status card.

However, it's a very good idea to use — or at least carry — your Canadian passport, in case your flight gets diverted for some reason to an airport just across the border in the USA.

This happened recently to "Tech Talk" listeners Reg and Maureen from Saanich, when their flight home via Toronto was diverted to Detroit because of a mechanical problem.

Air Canada arranged for passengers to be put up at a hotel near the Detroit airport and a flight to Vancouver was scheduled for the next morning. But, because Reg didn't have his passport with him, US Customs and Border Protection officers wouldn't allow him to leave the airport, and instead he had to spend the night in an international holding area at the Detroit airport.

As well as always carrying your passport when travelling, use your smartphone to take high-quality pictures of the front and back of your passport, and other photo ID.

And travel with your passport kept separate from your wallet or purse.

If you're going to be flying to New Zealand, be aware that you won't be allowed to board your flight unless you've first gone online and obtained a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority(NZeTA), and you've also paid for an IVL — an International New Zealand Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.

You can get an NZeTA either via the official app or via the website, but it's faster and cheaper on the app — $14 CAD ($17 NZD) vs. $20 CAD ($25 NZD) on the web. Most people will have it issued within minutes, but it can take up to two days.

You buy a $100 NZD IVL — which is $82 CAD — at the same time.

There are now more than 40 of them, and they're in a separate Travel Tech Tips notes, which you can find on our Home Page, or on the toolbar at the top of any of our Notes.

Many Bell subscribers who've logged intop their account online say they've been greeted with a message advising that their monthly rate will be goinmg up by $6/month in October…

If you feel you're paying (or about to pay) too much for your service, back-to-school is a great time to shop around and see if you can get a better deal.

The best plans currently continue to be those offered by Quebec-based Freedom Mobile, which includes Canada, USA and Mexico calling and data-roaming in almost all its plans, plus "Roam Beyond" service that lets you use your phone in more than 120 countries at no extra cost…

People here in BC now have stronger protections against automatic contract renewals, high-pressure direct sales and other business practices that can lead to unexpected costs.

Amendments to the BC Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act came into effect on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, introducing rules to prevent people from being charged for unwanted renewals and protect against one-sided terms that allow businesses to unilaterally change the terms of a contract. The changes apply to any business that offers subscription services, including internet, phone, streaming, food delivery and other renewable services.

Changes include:

Many of us were taught when growing up to turn things off when we're not using them.

But that does NOT apply to printers and other tech gear — in fact, quite the opposite.

Don't turn off your printer — let it go to sleep!

When you go to print something later, it'll automatically wake-up and print, without having wasted any ink, and in sleep mode, it'll use only a negligible amount of power.

If you have an older Canon printer that turns-off on its own, go into the Settings and navigate to the Eco Setting, and turn off auto-power-off. Canon had that turned-on by default on older printers, because that saved you power. But the few cents a month you save in electricity costs are vastly outweighed by the amount of money have to pay for new ink cartridges which will run-out much faster if the printer is regularly being powered-off and back on!

We also suggest you not power-off your computer — but for different reasons.

One reason is that powering-on a computer after you've powered it off, is hard on it. It's somewhat akin to taking the engine out of you car when you park it in the garage or driveway. You can do that, but it's really hard on the components.

Another reason is that computers are designed to wake up periodically when they're sleeping and do scheduled maintenance and updates so they don't slow you down when you're using them. If you power yours off when you're not using it, they get behind, and either struggle to get caught up while you're using it the next time, or they get out-of-date and things stop working.

Choose the duration that works best for you, but we generally recommend setting your computer to gfo to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity when plugged-in. Laptops can be set for much shorter steep triggers when on battery power. If you're in the habit of closing the lid on a laptop when you're finished using it, be sure to go into the Settings at least once a month to check for updates to keep it current.

If you don't print very often, you can avoid having to waste a lot of ink through a head-cleaning by regularly printing a colour test pattern.

You can download and save the PDF below and print it when you haven't printed anything lately…

You can also avoid having to waste a lot of ink cleaning your heads by regularly printing in colour, even if you're mostly printing documents and emails. A tiny amount of colour ink will be used along with the process black, and that keeps the colour heads moist.

Cartridge refill kiosks used to be in virtually every shopping mall, but they've almost all disappeared, and there are several reasons for that. I've detailed the reasons why we don't recommend refilling inkjet ink cartridges in a PDF which you can download and share…

We often get panicked calls from people who've just drowned their phone and want to know what to do. The advice used to be to put it in a Ziploc bag of rice to try and dry it ot, but that can actually hasten the death of your phone, so much so that Apple and Google both say right in their online support pages, not to do that!

So, what should you do?

After consulting with several phone techs, I've created a step-by-step guide…

Apple Music will launch labels on songs created with artificial intelligence later this year, the company has said in an email sent out to industry partners.

The new labels come months after Apple Music launched transparency tags back in March, available for record labels and music distributors to disclose when content uploaded was “materially generated using AI”.

With the upcoming AI labels set to make those tags visible to Apple Music labels, “content providers will be required to include AI Transparency Tags in any instance where AI was used to create a material portion of the content, including tracks that are AI platform generated,” Apple Music said. “We define AI-platform-generated content as anything that is primarily derived from a generative AI service.”

Apple Music didn’t include any details on how the requirements will be enforced.

Spotify announced earlier this month that it would soon start labeling AI artists on the platform, and the company said those artists would not be included in editorial or algorithmic recommendations.

Spotify’s new labeling does not technically label the songs themselves but rather the profiles attached to them. Spotify had also launched a new AI song labeling feature back in April, though disclosure on individual songs is voluntary and not required.

Virgin Plus has announced that it'll be stop offering prepaid service on January 15, 2027.

The Bell flanker brand says customers will have to migrate to one of Virgin’s mobile plans before that date to retain service. The company invites customers to either call 866-875-5028 or visit a store for assistance in changing over.

Those who don’t switch over to a monthly plan before January 15, 2027 will lose access to their phone number, voicemails, calls, texts and data.

Virgin Plus isn’t the first Canadian wireless provider to shut down prepaid; Rogers and Fido ceased prepaid services in December 2024, and Telus no longer offers prepaid either, but its flanker brand Koodo still does. Bell’s Lucky Mobile brand and Rogers’ Chatr brand also still have prepaid options, as does Freedom Mobile, which currently has the best prepaid rates:

A 24-hour coffee shop has been open for just one day in Beijing, China, and it has already blown the rest of the barista game out of the park by immediately setting a world record of most cups of coffee served.

How did they manage it? Well, the entire staff are made up of coffee making robots!

Several videos of the robot baristas in action (see item #40 below) show the creepy coffee maker clad in a grey-and-white jumper as a sort of uniform. It had accessorised the look with a grey cap, headphones - as if it had anyone to talk to - and silver chains around its neck. Most concerningly, it wasn't wearing any trousers.

The robot served an eye-watering 202 cups prepared and served in 60 minutes, setting a Guinness World Record for the most cups of coffee served by a robot-operated store in one hour.

And all of that with an average wait time of less than 30 seconds per cup. One customer said her coffee was “pretty well-balanced” while her partner marvelled at how it took no time at all to get his cuppa despite a massive throng of people vying for a cup.

Apple has begun selling ads on Apple Maps and is offering incentives to advertisers to get it going. Just don't bother if you're a plumber or politician.

Firms here in Canada and in the US can now enroll in what Apple is calling "Ads on Maps." There are various conditions to do with the size of companies, but eligible ones that order by October 11 will get a discount.

For users, Apple has insisted that the ads will be a help rather than a hindrance. "Maps with ads is just as private as Maps without ads," a spokesperson said, adding, "Personal data stays on your device, is not collected or stored by Apple Ads, and is not shared with third parties."

What Apple is telling advertisers is that there are already over a billion searches for businesses on Apple Maps every month. It says that around 50% of such searches result in the user in some way engaging with the business, such as getting directions to drive to retail sites.

Political parties are not allowed to advertise on Apple Maps. There'll also be no alcohol advertising, although supermarkets are allowed. Apple will refuse religious ads, gambling, medical aids and more. One still not explained category of ads that will not be accepted is the home services one. No plumbers or electricians can advertise on Apple Maps.

Andrew in Aistralia asked Anthropic's AI assistant Claude to try to book him a spot in one of his gym's coveted morning classes.

But Andrew was shocked by what happened next. 

Claude found a way to book the gym class months further in advance than the gym allowed, thanks to a vulnerability it discovered in the booking software.

But then it went even further, kicking someone out of the waiting list who was ahead of Andrew — something it was not asked to do. 

This accidental hack is the first known Australian case of an emerging risk from a new generation of AI capable of behaving in unexpected ways. It has led experts to sound the alarm about the breakneck pace of development and prompted questions about who bears responsibility for an AI agent that goes rogue.

How the hack happened

Earlier this year, Andrew, who works for an Australian company that sells AI products to businesses, began experimenting with OpenClaw, a popular AI agent software that he used Anthropic's Claude AI service to run.

AI agents combine a chatbot's ability to answer questions with tools that let them access the internet, email, credit cards, as well as planning and carrying out multi-step tasks. 

Andrew decided to use the AI agent to book the class for him.

Minutes later, his AI agent reported it had discovered a way to book Andrew into classes several weeks in advance, far beyond what was supposed to be possible.

Andrew, who was sitting fourth on a waitlist for a class later that week, asked if it was possible to move him to the top of the list. 

The agent came back and told Andrew that it had kicked another gym-goer off the list as part of the testing of its capabilities.

Alarmed, Andrew asked the agent to undo this. "Bad news — I can't add them back," the AI agent replied. 

Ahead of back-to-school — one of the largest shopping moments for electronics — Canadians are rethinking what “new” means to them when buying tech. A new report from Best Buy Canada found that 63% of Canadians have purchased refurbished, open box or traded in devices in the past year, but openness varies by generation, pointing to a growing divide in how Canadians purchase technology and what draws them to supporting the circular economy in the first place.

The 2026 Back-to-School Tech Shopping Report, conducted by Best Buy Canada, found that 71% of Gen Z have purchased recirculated technology (open box, refurbished, or trade-in) in the past year, with millennials and Gen X trailing slightly behind at 65%, followed by 55% of boomers.

While consideration across all age groups is high, the why behind each purchase differs. Saving money remains a top motivator across all age demographics, including 81% of Gen Z and millennials, but reducing environmental impact is the second most important factor for Gen Z (44%), millennials (40%), and Gen X (30%), compared to only 24% of boomers.

This gap points to how young Canadians think about technology ownership. For Gen Z and millennials, buying isn’t just a budget decision; it’s weighed against their own values. Extending a device's life, keeping it out of the landfill, and ensuring it is responsibly recycled at the end of its lifecycle are becoming key considerations for young Canadians throughout the circular product journey.

Tips from us:

TikTok has reached a $400 million settlement with the US Department of Justice, ending a 2024 lawsuit alleging the company violated federal children’s privacy laws.

The Justice Department said Friday that TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree against its predecessor company, Musical.ly.

Since the Justice Department’s lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm. In January, the social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok USA joint venture.

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.

Check out our new YouTube Favourites playlist #2:

YouTube.com/playlist?list=PLOKnlVLuXE5URgg0ou8uGg4CnHXcou1UA

Our original Favourites playlist maxxed-out at 5000 videos; it's here…

YouTube.com/playlist?list=FLPPpa_PY8rxt-z1RoYZ7QJ

Videos start at #40, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more tech news items above!

40) Watch robots at work in the coffee shop in Beijing that just set a new Guinness World Record for the most cups served in an hour…

41) Watch the PulseForge Tech crew show how China has developed a 6G breakthrough, which delivers internet at speeds 100x faster than 5G…

42) Watch a compilation of some of the best new Guinness World Records that have been set so far this year…

43) Watch a rotating live feed of 1200 webcams from around the world…

44) Watch Alex Vilera speak, and see if you can understand him as he seamlessly switches between English, French, and Spanish…

45) Watch Andrea Bocelli join Ed Sheeran live on stage at Wembley Stadium for a beautiful duet of "Perfect Symphony"…

This is a drone shot by my friend John, about 90 minutes before the screening…