Stories by Austin Blake
Google Search Gets Smarter With New AI Mode and More
At Google I/O 2025, Google unveiled major AI updates to Search, introducing a new AI Mode designed to offer deeper, more personalized, and task-oriented results. The new experience builds on last year’s launch of AI Overviews, which the company says has already led to a double-digit increase in search engagement in key markets like the...
Gmail Will Soon Write Emails Using Your Own Style and Docs
At Google I/O 2025, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Gmail will soon gain personalized smart replies, an AI-powered feature that crafts responses in your own tone and style—using context from your past emails and files, with permission. Rolling out this summer for subscribers, the new feature taps into Gemini to help users respond more thoughtfully...
Google I/O: AI Usage Skyrockets, Google Beam Video Platform Coming
At the opening keynote of Google I/O 2025, the company revealed just how fast its AI footprint is expanding — and introduced Google Beam, a futuristic new video calling platform that aims to blur the line between virtual and in-person meetings. Since last year’s event, Google says it has released over 20 major AI products...
Apple Reveals WWDC 2025 Schedule
Apple has officially released the schedule for its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Of course, this comes just about an hour away from Google’s I/O developer conference. WWDC will run June 9 to 13 in an all-online format, though more than 1,000 developers and students will attend a special in-person event at Apple Park on...
Judge Warns Apple to Resolve Fortnite Dispute or Show Up in Court
A U.S. federal judge has given Apple a clear ultimatum: resolve its dispute with Epic Games over Fortnite’s return to the U.S. App Store—or explain the holdup in court. In a Monday court order, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple has until May 27 to cooperate, or an Apple executive must appear before...
Netflix, Amazon Push Back on CanCon Rules at CRTC Hearing
A group representing major global streaming platforms told the CRTC on Friday that foreign services shouldn’t be forced to meet the same Canadian content rules as domestic TV networks. The Motion Picture Association-Canada (MPA-Canada), which speaks for companies like Netflix and Disney+, said the CRTC should take a more flexible approach as it updates how...
Rogers Giving Out 40GB of Free Data to Some Customers
It’s not just Fido users that are getting free data, but parent company Rogers is also doling out freebies as well. Some Rogers customers are getting a surprise deal—40GB of free data every month. A user on RFD shared a screenshot of the message they got from Rogers. The message says: “We think you deserve...
Rogers $50 Global Roaming Deal—220GB for Select Users
Last month, Rogers launched a new global roaming plan with 250GB data but only in Quebec, priced from $75 per month. Now, we’re seeing Rogers offer special discounts on this plan for select customers. Rogers has also dropped prices in Quebec by $5/month compared to when we reported on the global roaming plan in mid-April:...
Public Mobile Hikes 10GB 5G Plan, Adds 20GB Deal
Telus-owned Public Mobile has revised its plans again, this time tweaking its 5G plan offerings with a slight price increase. On Friday, the company added a new $32 per month plan with 20GB of data, for use in Canada only. Meanwhile, the $29/10GB plan with 100 international minutes has increased in price by $1, now...
Epic CEO Slams Apple as Fake Fortnite Apps Hit iOS Store
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple has yet to approve Fortnite’s return to the App Store, even though Epic submitted the app last Friday. Speaking on X, Sweeney warned that iOS players in the US could miss out on a big Fortnite update set for this Friday if Apple doesn’t act soon. In the...
Fido Users: Check Your Account for 30GB Free Data
Rogers-owned Fido looks to be giving out free data bonuses again for select customers (if you're lucky). Some customers logging into their online Fido accounts are seeing the 30GB data bonus, on top of a free 10GB data bonus doled out previously, according to RFD. This is a monthly data bonus so that’s an extra...
Apple’s Next-Gen CarPlay Ultra Launches in Canada: What’s New
Apple has finally launched the next-generation of CarPlay, after announcing the feature back at WWDC in 2022. CarPlay Ultra is available today for drivers in Canada and the U.S. who order a new Aston Martin. Yes, even trying out CarPlay Ultra is expensive to start. In Canada, CarPlay Ultra will first be available on these...