19 years. Never forget.
Here are a few of the tech stories that caught my eye over the last couple days.
Galaxy Watch Active 2 Receives Many Galaxy Watch 3 Features
Samsung has been very, very good in supporting its smartwatch range. This trend is continuing with the new update to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Samsung is updating the watch to support many of the new features it launched in the Galaxy Watch 3, with only the EKG feature seemingly missing. As someone who owns a Watch Active 2, I’m quite interested in this update. It will likely take a couple weeks to roll out, so I’ll be mashing the check for updates button every 15 minutes until I see it.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/10/21430868/samsung-galaxy-watch-active-2-3-ekg-missing
Bose Announces Two New Pairs of Wireless Earbuds
Bose has announced two new pairs of true wireless headphones, The QuietComfort and the Sport. The Quiet Comfort are $280 USD and feature Active Noise Cancellation, while the Sport are $180 and are designed more for working out.
This is not Bose’s first attempt at wireless earbuds, but the first attempt was not very good. These look much better. Personally, Bose headphones have always fit my ears the best. Back when our phones still had headphone jacks I had a pair of QC 20 headphones that I adored. I’m really interested to see reviews on these.
Canadian Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Lower Wholesale Internet Rates
The Federal Court of Appeal has issued a landmark ruling that helps protect smaller, independent Internet Service Providers in Canada. These smaller providers have to lease their capacity from the big ISP’s Rogers, Bell, Shaw, and Telus. This is called the wholesale rate. The wholesale rate is set by the CRTC, and in August 2019 the CRTC ruled that the rate was too high, and lowered it. The big ISP’s have been fighting the CRTC in court ever since.
This is a win for consumers, as it means that the smaller ISP’s can remain more competitive in the market, which in turn means the bigger ISP’s also have to remain competitive. As we all seek lower internet pricing, any good news is welcome, and the Federal Court of Appeal offered some this week.
Telus Makes $9.95 Internet For Good Initiative Easier To Access
I’ve written previously about Telus offering Internet access to low income residents in BC and Alberta, and now the company is expanding the program to offer it to K to 12 students in need through school boards. Individual schools will be able to give out vouchers to students and families in need that can be redeemed through Telus for the $10/month internet plan. This simplified approach should mean that more people in need should be able to get affordable access to internet, which in 2020 is as important a basic utility as electricity is.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/09/10/telus-simplifies-access-9-95-internet-program-students-need/
President Trump Offers Conflicting Statement on Tik Tok Timeline
President Donald Trump did was President Donald Trump does. When speaking about Tik Tok this week, he said he would not extend the company’s timeline to sell past September 15th, and that if they do not sell by then he will order the service banned in the United States.
However, this does not match the executive orders this President has signed. The first executive order stated that Tik Tok had until September 20 to be sold, and a few days later a second executive order extended that deadline into November. It is unclear what his statement means, or what it is based on.
It also remains unclear how Tik Tok can actually be banned in the United States.