Rogers and Fido subscribers get AI-powered spam call detection

Photo: Rogers

You no longer have to deal with spam callers or fraudsters with this new feature coming to Rogers and Fido networks. Spam Call Detect uses a proprietary "self-evolving analytics" engine that monitors calls coming into Rogers' wireless and wireline networks in real-time to evaluate if an incoming call is a spam call. Those identified as potential spam or fraud calls will flash a warning message on your phone saying "Likely Spam" or "Likely Fraud" to help you decide if you'll pick up the call. With time, this technology will get better at predicting whether a call is an unwanted spam or fraud. It's now available for Rogers and Fido wireless and home phone customers that have Call and Name Display functionality.

Hiya powers this service and builds on existing measures Rogers has implemented through its work with the CRTC to combat unwanted calls, including Universal Call Blocking, which stops incoming calls from telephone numbers that don’t comply with North American or International numbering plans, and STIR/SHAKEN, which authenticates caller ID information for Internet Protocol-based voice calls.

Source

Steam to halt Windows 7, 8 support in 2024

Image: Valve

Steam will officially stop supporting Windows 7 and Windows 8 (and Windows 8.1) starting January 1, 2024. According to Valve, the newest features in Steam need an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer works with these older versions of Windows. Plus, future versions of Steam will need Windows features and security updates available in Windows 10 and above. So, if you haven't made the shift to the newer Windows operating system yet and use Steam, now is the time to switch.

Source

Apple officially rolls out iOS 16.4

Image: Emojipedia

If you've been waiting for the Apple iOS 16.4 update, your wait is over. Apple has officially released updates for all of its major platforms (including MacOS 13.3, iPadOS 16.4 and WatchOS 9.4 updates). It introduces some more emojis and the pulled new HomeKit architecture is reintroduced with this update, among other new features. There's also a new accessibility feature that can dim the screen when it detects flashing lights or strobe effects in video content. You can now try out the new OS by heading to your device's settings app to update.

Source

Microsoft halts its $1 Xbox Game Pass trial offer

Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is stopping its $1 trial offer for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. This offer has been available for years, with brief periods where it wasn't available. But now, Microsoft says it's considering other promotions in its place. This $1 trial allowed users to sign up for Xbox Game Pass for a month before the full Xbox Game Pass subscription kicks in. It costs CAD 11.99 per month for the console and PC subscription and CAD 16.99 monthly for the Ultimate membership for console and PC, EA Play, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Microsoft currently offers a Friends & Family plan for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in some markets. It benefits up to four other friends or family members, with pricing starting at EUR 21.99 per month in Ireland (around CAD 32).

Source