Stories by Austin Blake

Rogers announced in its recent third-quarter earnings a big move, that it would be selling part of its network for $7 billion. This part of the network, known as the “backhaul,” is what connects its cell towers to its main network and keeps everything running. The plan is to use the money to pay off...

Google is introducing new generative AI tools for Google Maps Platform and Google Earth to help developers and city planners use the latest location data for creating apps and planning urban spaces. For developers, Google Maps Platform now offers “Grounding with Google Maps.” This new feature lets developers use real-time data from over 250 million...

Nintendo has announced Nintendo Music is coming out shortly, a new app for streaming soundtracks from nearly 40 years of Nintendo games on your phone or tablet. If you’re a Nintendo Switch Online member, you can dive into iconic tunes from classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and...

Independent internet service provider TekSavvy has expressed disappointment over the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) new interim wholesale fibre rates, stating they fall short of expectations. The company’s Vice-President of Insight & Engagement, Peter Nowak, shared a company statement on Tuesday. "TekSavvy has been waiting a long time for realistic wholesale fibre rates that...

Apple today has shared the final M4 presentation of the week, which brings the newest chip family to the MacBook Pro lineup. The company has shared a nearly 17-minute video detailing the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max in the MacBook Pro family. "MacBook Pro features the most advanced lineup of chips ever built for...

Aside from debuting the M4, M4 Max and M4 Pro for the MacBook Pro line, Apple quietly added in that the MacBook Air now comes with double the memory as standard, with no extra cost. Apple says the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air is the “world’s most popular laptop” and now starts with 16GB of...

Volvo and Polestar are expanding their electric vehicle (EV) charging options by giving drivers access to over 17,800 Tesla Supercharger stations across the U.S. and Canada. After announcing a partnership earlier this summer with Tesla, we now have a more exact access date to Superchargers. Starting in 2025, new models like the Volvo EX90, EX40,...

Rogers has updated its Ignite TV app, now calling it the Rogers Xfinity Stream app this week. The company also re-branded its previous Ignite TV Shaw app as well, with both updates coming on Tuesday in Apple's App Store. This revamped platform allows users to watch live TV, access On Demand content, and stream or...

Apple introduced the new M4 Mac mini today, its smallest computer yet, powered by upgraded M4 and M4 Pro chips. In a major redesign, the new mini shrinks down to 5 by 5 inches, offering huge performance in a smaller form factor. This tiny desktop features front and back ports for easier access and, for...

Google will now contribute $100 million each year to Canadian news publishers, with payments adjusted for inflation. This agreement, made in 2023, allows Google to avoid direct negotiations with individual publishers under the Online News Act. The Online News Act, which became law last year, requires big tech companies to pay publishers for news content...

Late last week, the CRTC announced its interim wholesale rates that smaller internet companies will pay incumbents, for access to their fibre networks, nationwide. The CRTC boldly proclaimed cheaper internet and choice was coming, thanks to its interim rates set for Bell, Telus and SaskTel. These would be areas in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan (SaskTel)....

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) paid over $6 million in fraudulent tax refunds this year after hackers apparently used stolen credentials from H&R Block Canada. Fraudsters accessed personal CRA accounts, changed direct deposit details, and filed fake returns to steal public funds—without the public ever being told, reports CBC News. The scheme was uncovered by...