Syrupcast

This week, Daniel and Douglas get into it about BlackBerry's acquisition of rival Good Technology. Is John Chen in it for himself, or does he have the best interests of BlackBerry in mind? And it's IFA, so bring on the smartwatches, smartphones and other mobile detritus. How does the new Moto 360 compare to the Samsung Gear S2, Huawei Watch and the Apple Watch? Finally, Rogers just unveiled its Share Everything+ plans: are they good for the industry, or just widening the gulf between good service and mediocre? Show Notes BlackBerry acquires competitor Good Technology for $425 million in cash Hands-on with the new Moto 360: Choice matters Samsung announces Gear S2 smartwatch in two versions , coming to Canada in October Apple Watch review Rogers announces Share Everything+ plan strategy to push further into premium experiences Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas SoltysDuration: 1hr 29min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Douglas and Daniel stay firmly in the warm confines of Canadian telcos with an exploration of what's happening at Videotron and Wind Mobile. With Videotron launching a new policy that exempts some streaming music services from counting towards its customers monthly bandwidth, will customers come in droves? Or will the CRTC pounce at the opportunity to ban the process of zero-rating in yet another instance? And Wind Mobile has reduced its subsidy from $150 to $100 in response to the popularity of Bring Your Own Device? Confusing as it might be, the move points to a decision by Wind to pass along the actual cost of devices to its consumers rather than increasing monthly plan prices. It's a great show with some excellent debate, so tune in! Show notes Videotron launches Unlimited Music streaming that doesn’t count towards data caps Wind Mobile responds to bring-your-own-device popularity with reduction in WindTab subsidy Wind takes on Rogers, Bell and Telus with new data sharing option This is how Ro

This week, Daniel and Douglas talk about the big topic they missed last week: Alphabet. What spurred the move, and will it make Google a better-run company? And why did Google decide to start making routers, anyway? Also on the show, Star Trek vs. Star Wars vs. Ignorance, and the launch of the Many Smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, the Galaxy S6 edge+, the Moto X Play, and the OnePlus 2. Which one would you take to a deserted island for a month (along with your one significant other)? Show notes: Google is now Alphabet Android M is Marshmallow, coming soon as Android 6.0 The OnePlus 2 is great, but it's also flawed Samsung's two latest smartphones are now in Canada -- are you buying? The Galaxy S6 edge+ is a really bad name Shomi is now available to all Canadians Rogers and Fido to launch WiFi calling with iOS 9 The Moto X Play is really good Kik is now valued at $1 billion after $50 investment from WeChat owner  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

SyrupCast is back! This week, Daniel and Douglas chat about the new Galaxy Note phones, Motorola's strategy, the OnePlus 2, BlackBerry's Security Summit, and we answer your questions! Show notes: Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 worth your time? Motorola's mid-range Moto X is really just a big Moto G The OnePlus 2 is actually a really good phone, despite the marketing hype Is BlackBerry a Canadian company anymore? The answer will surprise you Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas SoltysRunning time: 1 hr 10 minutes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Daniel and Douglas chat about Android's Nexus line, and how Google can get its groove back. We're hearing that Huawei is going to be the company creating (one of) this year's Nexus device(s), but can the Chinese OEM, known mainly outside North America, step up and deliver a great stock Android experience alongside Google? And what about BlackBerry? Now that it has teamed up with Google in the enterprise, is the prospect of a Waterloo-made Android device more or less likely? We delve deep into this one. Also: Is the Galaxy Note 5 coming a month earlier this year? How is Apple's iOS 9 public beta? What has Google changed in the latest Android M Developer Preview? And what's this new T-Mobile roaming plan that has everyone talking? That and lots more this week on SyrupCast! Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas SoltysDuration: 1 hr 21 min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Daniel and Douglas explore the many ways that Canadians roam. Rogers' Roam Like Home makes it very easy to roam in the U.S. and Europe, but is it actually a good deal? Also on the ticket is Sony's renewed investment in camera sensors, and whether Apple Music is worth the investment. Links Exploring roam choices for Canadians Rogers brings Roam Like Home to Europe Sony investing $4 billion in new camera sensor manufacturing Apple Music is here, but is it any good? Hosts: Douglas Soltys, Daniel BaderDuration: 1 hr 11 min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Daniel and Douglas are joined by telecom expert and friend of the show, Ben Klass, who guides us through the muddy waters of the recently Rogers-Mobilicity-Wind Mobile deal. There's a lot of stuff packed in here, but they also had time to chat a bit about RootMetrics' report on network speeds in Vancouver; MTS's new Total Internet plan; and BlackBerry's expansion into Internet of Health Things (IoHT). Links: Wind Mobile moves to a position of strength after Rogers-Mobilicity deal Telus and Bell rated most reliable networks in Vancouver BlackBerry's IoHT strategy takes shape with new partnership BlackBerry's Q1 2016 numbers disappoint MTS unveils new Total Internet Plan  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on SyrupCast, Daniel and Douglas talk about the new Wall Report and how Canadians are spending more on wireless this year than in 2015. Also discussed: The FTC's $100 million lawsuit against AT&T for illegal throttling of unlimited data plans What happens to Stephen Elop, and Microsoft, now that he's out of Satya Nadella's life? Why BlackBerry building an Android phone is a really bad idea – or is it? How does the Pebble Time stand up to initial scrutiny? And will Apple Music really make a difference to the streaming music market?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Douglas and Daniel go into Google I/O Rundown, talking about Google's strengths in machine learning and internet services. But do Google's smarts justify the rather creepy nature of its intelligence, especially when it comes to things like your photos? And what's next for Apple, which is under pressure to deliver a similarly impressive software update at WWDC. Links:  Now on Tap, Android Wear and how Google knows your future Lollipop is now on 12.4% of Android devices What’s new in Android M Google Photos - is it good or creepy? Apple is reportedly developing its own Google Now-like service for iOS Wireless Code of Conduct now applies to all Canadians  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Douglas is back!  What, you want more? Fine: we also have a great conversation. The topics this week include the end of three-year contracts and the so-called Double Cohort, which will allow millions of Canadians to leave their contracts on June 3rd without paying a dime. Also on the cards are the rise of unlocked phones, and they relate to the relative value of phone contracts; as subsidies decrease, customers are more aware of the often high cost of their smartphones. Low-cost, unlocked phones are changing the way Canadians buy cellphones. And because it is developer conference season, we chat about the upcoming Google I/O and WWDC sessions, and what's in store for iOS 9 and Android M.     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Daniel and special guest Matthew Moniz discuss the LG G4 and how it compares to the latest flagships from Samsung, the Galaxy S6 and Note 4. They talk about the state of wearables, and how Android Wear is doing in relation to the Apple Watch and Pebble, which is coming out with its own refresh, Pebble Time, in the next couple of weeks. Finally, they discuss Microsoft Build and how far the company has come since Windows 8. But will Windows 10 really have the results Microsoft is looking for? Hosts: Daniel Bader, Matthew Moniz Duration: 1hr 16min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, new MobileSyrup contributor, Eric Leamen, joins me for a fantastic conversation about the Apple Watch, including our first impressions of the wearable; Apple's recent Q2 earnings; how carriers are adjusting to the higher cost of iPhones; my first impressions of the LG G4; and whether the Galaxy S6 and LG G4 beat the iPhone 6 in camera performance. It's a really fun podcast, and you should listen to it all the way through. Hosts: Daniel Bader, Eric LeamenRuntime: 1hr 28 minutes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Daniel and Douglas dig deep into wearables, specifically focusing on the app potential of the Apple Watch and the upcoming Android Wear update. Also discussed is the tenuous relationship between HBO, VPNs and #takemymoney wannabees: does Bell's relationship with HBO prevent a service like HBO Now from ever coming to Canada? Facebook just announced it has reached nearly 1.5 billion monthly users across its core network, but its chat entities, Messenger and WhatsApp, combine for nearly that number of users. Where does Facebook go from here, now that its mobile transformation is well underway? The Xperia Z3 Compact is a great smartphone – we just reviewed it – but are small phones really worth getting worked up about? Are any phones really worth getting worked up about anymore? Daniel and Douglas explore that point through the lens of the recently-updated HTC One M9. We're in person this week, and there's laughter, beer, and a little bit of swearing. Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas SoltysDuration: 53 min

This week on the SyrupCast, we chat about the LG G4 and the problems facing any Android company that isn't Samsung. Plus, the release of the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6; the return of the OnePlus One to Canada; Bell's privacy snafu; the 2,500Mhz spectrum auction, and lots more! Hosts: Douglas Soltys, Daniel BaderRuntime: 1hr 17 min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're still here! This week, Douglas and Daniel chat about the closure of Future Shop; the slow introduction of VoLTE; Koodo's and Fido's new colour palettes; how a $350 iPhone 6 will affect sales of it and the Galaxy S6; and lots more! Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas SoltysDuration: 1hr 10min  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we talk about a great many things, since variety is the spice of good podcasts. First, we tackle the upcoming Fido rebranding, which most people don't seem to like. Maybe they'll use our readers as an informal focus group. Then, we talk about Windows 10's summer release, and how Cortana's move to iOS and Android is as inspired a move as we've seen from the company in some time. We spent a bit of time talking about the Neptune Duo Suite, a new project from Canadian wearables company, Neptune. It has the potential for greatness, but is its ambition going to be its downfall? LG looks to be once again working with Google on an upcoming Nexus smartphone, which hopefully returns to reasonable proportions. In the meantime, though, the Nexus 6 appears to be greatly benefitting from Android 5.1. And finally, we share some sad news with the listeners. It's not fair to tease, I know, but this one's worth sticking around for. Hosts: Daniel Bader, Jane McEntegart, Douglas SoltysDuration: 1hr 28 min    

This week, wearables expert, Tom Emrich, joins Daniel, Jane and Douglas to talk about, what else, the Apple Watch. Who is it for? And why is everyone hung up on the Apple Watch Edition, which starts at $13,000 CDN. Tom says it's mostly a marketing tool, a way for Apple to penetrate the lucrative marketing mechanism of the high-end Swiss watch market. And when it's all said and done, Apple's presence in the market will actually boost smartwatch sales overall, as they did with smartphones and tablets. Also talked about is the CRTC's decision to regulate on-demand streaming services like Shomi and CraveTV. What are the consequences of the CRTC's decision? Will everyday Debbie be subscribing to CraveTV in the near future on a TekSavvy internet connection? Listen and find out! Hosts: Daniel Bader (@journeydan), Jane McEntegart (@janemcentegart), Douglas Soltys (@tron)Guest: Tom Emrich (@tomemrich) Duration: 1 hr 9m  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Jane and Daniel recount the many ways Mobile World Congress and Barcelona nearly killed him. They discuss the new devices announced at the event, including the HTC One M9 and both Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, each of which reveals pros and cons in their companies' respective strategies. They talk about the new Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, and whether it has a chance in the saturated mid-range market; and how Nokia, the once-king of Symbian and Windows Phone, plans to make its comeback through... Android tablets? The Apple Watch is launching next week, and we're going to be in San Francisco to cover all the mayhem. How much will it cost? What will its unannounced features be? And why the hell is everyone talking about Taptic Feedback? Finally, they chat about the newly-concluded AWS-3 spectrum auction, which saw WIND Mobile walk away with more valuable spectrum than anyone else. All that, and lots of Jamón ibérico, on this week's SyrupCast. This week's SyrupCast is brought to you by Shop MobileSyrup.

This week, Daniel, Jane and special guest and regular MobileSyrup contributor go all-in on automotive. We discuss the current state of the in-car dash -- it's a sorry state, according to Mr. Kritsonis -- and fall down the rabbit hole of automotive tech. Will the major automakers be able to keep up with the quickly-changing face of mobile technology, or will Google and Apple force them to become more cooperative, not only within their own organizations but externally? And finally, will Apple develop a car? Ted doesn't think so despite new reports that they are planning to release an electric vehicle in 2020. Hosts: Daniel Bader, Jane McEntegartGuest: Ted KritsonisDuration: 56 minutes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, it's all hardware. (Finally, they scream!) As Mobile World Congress approaches, Jane, Douglas and Daniel chat about the upcoming hardware we can expect from the show, including the Samsung Galaxy S6, the HTC One M9, and much more. We also talk about Jane's Nexus 6, two months on take, which left commenters with a lot to say. Finally, Windows 10 Technical Preview for Phones just got released, and while it's not finished, we chat about whether Microsoft got it right. Hosts: Daniel Bader, Jane McEntegart, Douglas Soltys Run time: 53 minutes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.