Wrecked By Tech

On this week's episode we catch you up on the three most important things we missed over the holidays, plus a number of developments and crazy products from CES. We're back and more tangent-y than ever. TWENTY EIGHTEEN!

In this week's episode (minus Riley), the guys talk about a possibly precedent-setting case for pirates in Canada; a fake mobile version of Cuphead; Bell's attempt to circumvent CRTC rules about unlocking phones; Twitter's attempt to crack down on hateful, violent, or abusive content. Speed round: -Someone made a bunch of old games play as though they were Nokia Snake -No, a guy didn't make $1 million selling Chuck E Cheese tokens. -Plex came up with a Winamp player -There's a game on iPhone X you can control with your eyebrows -NBC might bring back the office

In this week's show, Dan and Riley (Marc is sick) talk about group texting, messaging apps, and fragmentation frustrations; Canada's wireless rates are still among the highest in the world; a former Facebook employee apologizing for ruining the world (and Facebook's response to him); Twitter's fun new feature; iPhones slowing down because of battery problem. Speed round: -iMac pro is coming out on Dec. 14 -Apple bought Shazam -Lyft started in Toronto today -Alexa is available in Canada as of last week -Precious few Android users are on the latest OS -A Canadian dude watched the same LOTR movie almost every day last year -Uber accidentally charged someone $18K for a ride that should've been $16

In this week's episode we talk net neutrality in Canada; Apple's latest software oops; Facebook's new Messenger app for children; CBC's new streaming app; Neil Young's catalogue, which is being released for free on — you guessed it — a streaming app; and Instagram's effort to combat animal abuse with pop-up messages during search. Speed round: -A dude live-streamed a pay-per-view UFC event by pretending he was playing a videogame -There's a Canadian app to sync streams so you can watch Netflix with people far away -Tesla built the world's largest battery -Microsoft Edge is now available on iOS and Android -Amazon has a patent for self-destructing drones

On this week's show, we talk about Apple's embarrassing security goof (and how to fix it); the Canadian government's release of its own open-source malware spotting tool; the Canadian launch of Facebook Fundraising; Waze's latest update, and Dan's new toys. Speed round: -Snapchat looks different now -Jim Beam made a "smarthome" thing -Apple says Qualcomm is a patent troll -As of Dec. 1, Canadians can call their mobile carriers and get their phones unlocked for free.

This week we talk about the Tesla event; the trivia app nobody heard of — until the CEO went bonkers; net neutrality in the US and how it could affect Canada; and Uber's latest difficulty. Speed round: -Google was collecting Android data whether you liked it or not -Canadian auditor general: this Phoenix pay thing is ridiculous -YouTube is going to block predatory comments on videos of kids -Apple finally talked about its autonomous vehicle research

Dan is away this week, but in the meantime Marc and Riley talk about Freedom Mobile's huge Black Friday deal; Amazon Cash in Canada; Lyft's first venture out of the US and into Canada; a "digital pill" that knows when you took it and what the dosage was; and Bose crowdfunding earbuds on Indiegogo. Speed round: -Microsoft supports gifting Xbox games in the Store -the SNES Classic will be available in select Toys R Us on Nov. 18

Marc's away for this episode, but in the meantime Dan and Riley talk about Twitter's new character limit, a Winnipeg school trustee who wants to change cell phone search and seizure rules in her division, Apple's face data going to developers, more Pixel 2 XL issues, the Razer phone, the next OnePlus phone, Snap Inc's current issues, and Facebook's proposed solution to revenge porn. Speed round: -Apple patched a bug that wouldn't let you type "I" -Apple officially won the "swipe to unlock" lawsuit against Samsung... -...but they're also getting sued for patent infringement over the dual camera setup they use -Doppler Labs, of the Here One headphones, are dead -Google's going to display wait times at restaurants in Maps now -Tesla is unveiling an all-electric semi truck on Nov. 16

On this week's show, we talk about Amazon Echo in Canada; Essential's price drop (probably due to its poor sales); major screen complaints about the Google Pixel 2 XL, and why that makes Riley sad; Amazon's HQ2 RFP; and the potential for Susan Fowler's explosive blog post as a movie. Speed round -Alphabet invested $1b into Lyft -Google is going to reward researchers $1,000 for reporting bugs in the Play Store -Xplorenet bought NetSet -Snap drastically overestimated demand for Spectacles -Only 53 cities are actually testing or thinking about testing self-driving vehicles

On this week's show, we talk about a major WiFi vulnerability that affects pretty much everything, and what it means for device security; a game about AI that's more philosophy than game (and also just a ton of fun); and Netflix's plans to bring their content to 50% original by next year. Speed round: -Facebook wants you to order food from it -Woz created a coding university -Facebook is going to be way more careful during the Canadian elections -Tesla fired a whole bunch of people -Facebook now owns tbh -Big Canadian CEOs think Amazon shouldn't come here -IGN now owns Humble Bundle

News was slow on the heels of the Google and Microsoft announcements, but we soldiered on nevertheless. This week we dive into Google's Home Mini mistake that recorded everything by accident; Saskatchewan's attempt to curb distracted driving; Uber's Apple-sanctioned ability to screen record you at all times; a Quebec court ruling on Uber's presence in the province; and the Pixel 2's lack of DAC. Speed round: -Feds give Bell $4 mil to improve Internet in 6 Ontario communities -Jeff Koons' augmented reality Snapchat artwork gets 'vandalized' -SanDisk now makes an "industrial" SD/microSD card that'll work in extreme Winnipeg winters -Porsche launches on-demand subscription for its sports cars and SUVs -Feds and Province of PEI help fund VR startup that'll allow you to play virtual board games -Dow Jones reported fake news about Google buying Apple -Yashica released a digital camera that makes you load fake film and wind it -Snap Specacles are available in Canada as of Oct. 10 for $169.99

On this episode, we discuss all the things Google announced on its Oct. 4 event, including two new Pixel phones, aptly named Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL; two new Google Home devices; a new camera device; wireless headphones; a fancy new Chromebook; and a whole bunch of AI stuff.

On this week's episode we discuss the announcements Microsoft made at its Mixed Reality Event on October 3, 2017. That includes availability, specs, and prices of the headsets; a VR-related business acquisition; a Halo VR experience, and several other things. Speed round: -Microsoft's mixed reality platform is now open to SteamVR -Groove Music is out, Spotify is in -Office 2019 is coming next year -Intel's building a Windows VR experience for the 2018 Winter Olympics

All our glorious recommendations Book: Dan — The Phantom Tollbooth: Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer (https://www.amazon.ca/Phantom-Tollbooth-Norton-Juster/dp/0394820371/ref=sr_1_1) Marc — The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (https://www.amazon.ca/Origin-Consciousness-Breakdown-Bicameral-Mind/dp/0618057072) Riley — The Gunslinger (https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Tower-I-Gunslinger/dp/1501143514), but just so you can understand what’s going on in The Drawing of the Three (https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Tower-II-Drawing-Three/dp/1501161814/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=11728PWH31T22PJEBK7F) TV Series / Movie: Dan — BBC Sherlock (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws) Marc — The Big Sick (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5462602/) Riley — Brooklyn Nine-Nine (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467372/) Outdoor Tech: Dan — Fiskars 7884 X27 36 Inch Super Splitting Axe (https://www.amazon.ca/Fiskars-7884-Inch-Super-Splitting/dp/B00B9BB83C) Marc — EcoFlow Mobile Power Station (htt

In this week's episode, we cover the disaster the "frank." phone turned out to be, and whether or not it was a con; Facebook's ad targeting permitting access to Nazis and other anti-Semites; augmented reality and what it'll mean when it gets to your iPhone, and later your computer. Honourable mentions to Apple's File System, Microsoft's Mixed Reality event on Oct. 3, and the most exciting innovation in computing in years. Speed round: -Comedians infiltrate Netflix dramas as ads for their upcoming specials -The Oregon Trail is coming to Minecraft: Educational Edition -Canadian team wins Hyperloop contest for Toronto–Montreal route -Waze and Spotify integration now coming to iOS -Samsung's Bixby button is structural bloatware -Poll: 70% of 10,000 surveyed say they'd rather re-map the Bixby button to Google Assistant.

This week we recorded on Tuesday, Sept 12 — the day of the big Apple event. We discuss news on Apple TV, the new Apple Watch Series 3, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and iPhone X (all in Canadian prices, naturally).

On this week's episode, we talk about the 17-year-old Canadian who's crowdfunding a mid-range Android phone; Andy Rubin's rookie mistake with the Essential phone; Canada's government body for handling telecom/television complaints; open-sourcing government projects in Canada; and the death of Juicero. Speed round: -the NYPD has to replace 36,000 Windows phones -the RCMP is using Outlook instead of a custom email system because Bell is the worst -The Ontario government really wants to give people smart thermostats -Google Assistant now comes in fridges

The boys are back! It's the first episode with all three of us in nearly as many weeks — in it, we talk about: Cineplex's limited-time offer of half-priced movies for a week; Sony's permanent price cut of its VR platform in Canada; Microsoft's Mixed Reality controllers, and how they work without a camera; Apple's rumoured fall event; the Fitbit Ionic, and what it represents for the wearable company; a PSA about Game of Thrones; and how, as one author put it, "data is clearly the new oil." Speed round: -Dan is now in the top 0.5% in Egg, Inc. -Amazon started selling the Echo in Whole Foods on the first official day of ownership -Apple and Amazon are taking donations for Harvey relief -An art project in New Zealand is fake recommending tourist attractions -Spotify might be doing an IPO soon Recommendations Marc — Nifty Battery Pack (https://www.mynifty.com/) Dan — Waze (https://www.waze.com/) Riley — Leuchtturm1917 Daily Planner (https://www.leuchtturm1917.us/daily-planner-2017-english.html)

Marc had a chest cold, so while he was away, Riley and Dan talked about: Riley's mechanical keyboard project; a comment/prompt from a listener on our Facebook page; NFC payments in Canada; tech companies getting into television; Elon Musk's new crusade against AI; iOS 11's new bonus privacy feature (and what it means for crossing borders. Speed round: -Shooting a picture of the sun will literally melt your camera -Xbox One X is available for preorder now, including a special "Scorpio design" edition -Android 8.0 Oreo is out and apparently it's pretty good -The Essential Phone is out too and apparently that's pretty good -Machines taught by photos learn sexism Recommendations Dan — Last Day on Earth: Survival iOS (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/last-day-on-earth-zombie-survival/id1241932094?mt=8) | Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zombie.survival.craft.z&hl=en) Riley — Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 (https://www.amazon.ca/Fujifilm-Instax-Mini-Share-Printer/dp/B01GTKG5Z8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qi

Dan's away again, but on this week's episode Marc and Riley cover a drone film festival in Toronto; a smart lock company that made it dumb with a software update; solar eclipse glasses that Amazon warns will hurt your eyes; a new Tile product (and maybe a new future based on their plans). Speed round: -US Senate hearing uses Canadian tech to record testimony -Facebook launches M in Canada Aug. 15 -HTC is making the Pixel 2 and it's squeezable -UE Boom and Megaboom are getting Alexa -Instagram is now sorting comments into threads -Angry Birds might have an IPO and it might be worth $2 billion Recommendations Marc — Phillips OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver (https://www.amazon.ca/Philips-OneBlade-electric-QP2520-21/dp/B01FG2RLOE) Riley — Western Digital My Book 4TB (http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/western-digital-wd-my-book-4tb-2-5-usb-3-0-external-hard-drive-wdbbgb0040hbk-nesn-wdbbgb0040hbk-nesn/10482142.aspx)