Airbnb, short-term rentals temporarily banned by Ontario govt. due to COVID-19

The Government of Ontario temporarily bans the operation of Airbnb and other short-term rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those allowed to operate include rentals that have "provided to individuals who are in need of housing during the emergency period." Hosts who do not comply with the order issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act could face fines of up to $100,000. The ruling doesn't cover hotels, motels, or student residences in the province.

Airbnb encourages its hosts and guests to follow the restrictions. The company recently launched a global initiative to offer free or subsidized housing to healthcare professionals amid the pandemic. And it noted that the new ruling wouldn't affect this program. Airbnb has committed US$250 million (around CA$352 million) to reimburse hosts for cancelled bookings. But it isn't clear if the temporary ruling means hosts in the province will receive assistance.

Source: MobileSyrup

LG V60 ThinQ 5G will be available in Canada starting April 9

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G launched a couple of months ago and will now be making its way here. Just like the G8X ThinQ and V50 ThinQ, the V60 comes with a detachable secondary screen to make it easier to multitask on the device. It is the first dual-screen handset from the company to offer 5G connectivity.

To celebrate its launch, LG Electronics Canada will give a free pair of LG Tone Bluetooth wireless earbuds at participating retailers and while supplies last. The LG V60 will be available for purchase online and through retail partners Bell, The Source, Telus, and Koodo.

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Apple Maps now highlights food deliveries, hospitals, pharmacies during COVID-19 pandemic

Apple Maps made a few changes to promote essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic better. The categories on the app now prominently feature grocery stores, nearby restaurants that are open and offer delivery options, pharmacies, and hospitals. The less practical categories have been relegated to the bottom of the list. Previously, Apple Maps prioritized Restaurants, Fast Food, Gas Stations, and Cafes.

Google Maps made a similar change earlier but with a few more tweaks. Google Maps adds a COVID-19 warning message when looking for medical facilities. The warning tells people to call their doctor first before visiting medical locations if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Google also makes it clear if businesses are temporarily closed because of the pandemic. These features aren't available on Apple's navigation app.

Source: 9to5Mac

Toronto Smartphone Film Festival will be postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19

Credit: Burak K / Pexels

Due to COVID-19 and the number of cases that continue to rise, the City of Toronto has cancelled all major city events until June 30. One affected event is the Toronto Smartphone Film Festival (TSFF). The 9th annual event was initially supposed to occur from June 12 to 14, but it's now postponed indefinitely. The organizers have already reached out to the applicants and thanked them for their submissions. The TSFF has been holding annual events since 2002, and it's considered the largest film festival in Canada. Unfortunately, that means it's one of many events that has been affected by the global pandemic.

Source: MobileSyrup