Stories by John Quintet

The Bank of Canada has announced an online public consultation to gather feedback on potential features for a digital Canadian dollar. The consultation launched today and goes until June 19, 2023. It aims to understand the preferences of Canadians regarding the design of a digital version of the national currency. As the global economy becomes...

The next Alert Ready emergency alerts test is set to land this week on May 10, as part of Emergency Preparedness Week. Back in February, Alberta announced it would be testing emergency alerts on March 1 with Alert Ready, the nation’s public alerting system. Normally, Alberta is part of the May nationwide test, but it...

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has unveiled its plan to “modernize" Canada's broadcasting system, with a focus on online streaming services. The plan will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase set to begin in Spring 2023. This phase aims to ensure that online streaming services make "meaningful contributions to Canadian...

Katie Cotton, the high-profile public relations expert who helped shape Apple's image during her tenure as vice president of communications, passed away at the age of 57 last month on April 6. A New York Times obituary for Cotton has been published nearly a month later and includes commentary from those that dealt directly with...

Microsoft Teams has released a major update to its in-app background library, offering users a wide range of virtual backgrounds for their video calls. The new backgrounds, which began rolling out recently, have been designed to address the concerns of the modern workforce, including collaboration, well-being, productivity, and focus, says Microsoft. Microsoft says Teams video...

During the company’s Q2 earnings call on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) and how the company is incorporating it into its products and services. While Cook did not comment on Apple's product roadmaps, he emphasized the importance of being "deliberate and thoughtful" in approaching AI integration....

Amazon has announced the US-wide launch of Inspire, its new in-app, TikTok-like shopping feed, according to the company in a statement to TechCrunch. The feature, which allows customers to browse and shop from content created by influencers, brands, and other customers, was initially introduced to a limited number of US users in December following experimental...

Travellers journeying from Sooke to Port Renfrew will now benefit from full cellular service, thanks to the completion of seven new cell towers on Vancouver Island in B.C. This development aims to improve connectivity and safety for local residents, workers, and tourists. A collaborative project led by Rogers and backed by an investment of nearly...

Bell has announced its intention to acquire FX Innovation, a Montreal-based firm specializing in cloud-focused managed and professional services, as well as workflow automation solutions. The deal is designed to accelerate digital transformations for business clients with integrated multi-cloud solutions. The acquisition pairs FX Innovation's expertise in cloud services with Bell's vast resources including its...

Ericsson announced today a continuation of its 10-year collaboration with Eastlink, aimed at fortifying 5G mobile network services across hundreds of communities served by Eastlink. A new three-year deal has been signed between both companies. Sweden-based Ericsson will provide 3500MHz mid-band radios and enhanced core network support for voice and data, following the successful launch...

Workers at the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland—the first unionized store for the iPhone maker—are calling for pay raises, increased time off, and the introduction of a tipping system for customers, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers represents the employees in negotiations with Apple, which are taking place on...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed changes to its 2020 privacy order with Facebook, alleging that the social media giant failed to comply with the order and misled parents regarding the control they had over their children's Messenger Kids app communication. The FTC also accused Facebook of misrepresenting the access it provided to certain...