Stories by Austin Blake

Looks like the earlier rumour has come true: Apple says it’s stepping up its investment in the U.S. economy, with plans to spend $600 billion over the next four years. That’s an extra $100 billion on top of what it had already promised. Most of the money will go toward expanding its supply chain and...

Bell looks to be expanding its 5G Standalone network rollout, as a new voice feature is being seen by iPhone users running iOS 26 beta 5. According to iPhone in Canada readers, once Bell has rolled out 5G Standalone to select accounts, within iOS 26 beta 5, you will see a toggle for on/off for...

Last month, Rogers officially launched its Starlink satellite texting for all Canadians, letting anyone get mobile service when they are in the middle of no where. Rogers says the addition of Starlink’s Direct to Cell service now expands its coverage to 5.4 million square kilometres in Canada. Rogers Satellite is included with the $100/250GB Ultimate...

Air Canada is making major changes to how its Aeroplan loyalty program works, shifting from a distance-based system to a spend-based model starting January 1, 2026. Under the current rules, members earn points based on how far they fly and the fare class, with additional bonuses for elite status. But hat’s about to change said...

Amazon Web Services (AWS) just made OpenAI’s new free-to-use AI models available to everyone on its platform. This means developers and companies can now use these powerful tools—called 'open weight' models—to build AI apps without needing to train their own systems or paying for them. These new OpenAI models are called gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b. They...

A recent privacy breach affecting Rogers customers in the Niagara region has triggered sharp criticism from The Canadian Internet Society, which says the incident is more than a technical hiccup—it’s a breakdown in trust. Some Rogers customers reportedly found themselves connected to private calls between strangers, with conversations including personal and medical details. In a...

Instagram has introduced a major restriction to its livestreaming feature: users now need at least 1,000 followers and a public profile to go live. The update was confirmed by Instagram to TechCrunch. Previously, anyone on the app—regardless of follower count or account privacy—could start a live video. Now, users who don’t meet the new criteria...

Two new cell towers are coming to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, B.C., despite concerns from nearby residents about health and proximity to homes. Telus plans to install two 15.7-metre antenna poles that double as streetlights on Shepherd Ave, just before Fifth St. in the Harewood neighbourhood. Nanaimo City Council approved a licensing deal at a...

If you’re looking to get support from Bell, don’t @ them anymore on X. According to Bell today, it says it’s now “unable to offer customer support on Twitter/X”. Bell blamed it on "technical issues with our social listening provider.” A social listening provider is a company that offers software or services to monitor and...

Google has rolled out its new “Deep Think” AI feature inside the Gemini app, but only for those subscribed to its top-tier AI Ultra plan—which costs around $339.99 a month in Canada. Deep Think is designed to take more time thinking through complex problems using a technique Google calls “parallel thinking.” Basically, it brainstorms multiple...

Telus is spinning off its cell tower business in a major deal with one of Canada’s biggest pension funds. The company announced it’s selling a 49.9% stake in its new tower operator, called Terrion, to La Caisse (CDPQ) for $1.26 billion. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, is a Montreal-based Canadian pension fund manager...

SaskTel says it’s extending support measures for customers affected by wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. The move comes as evacuations continue across the region. Residents from evacuated communities will not be charged for wireless data overages, and those with SaskTel Internet, maxTV Stream, or Home Phone services will see those charges credited. The support is now...