Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 7/10 – 7/16

Review: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother

Ubisoft finally shares release date for 'Skull and Bones,' coming this Nov. 8

Leaked ASUS Zenfone 9 teaser shows side scroll key

Oculus won't require a Facebook account (finally)

Pinterest adds Shop Tab on Business Profiles, plus more merchant features

Twitter rolls out 'unmention' feature to all users

Twitter launches custom Toronto Caribbean Carnival emoji

This Nokia feature phone has a hidden charger for earbuds

Nothing debuts first smartphone, the phone (1)

'Wordle' stats can soon be linked to an NYT account

Spotify buys music trivia game 'Heardle'

Razer Stream Controller competes with the Stream Deck

You can play 'Wordle' as a multiplayer board game soon

Netflix partners with Microsoft for its ad-supported tier

Hasbro can 3D print your face onto action figures from Marvel, Star Wars, and more

Hasbro can 3D print your face onto action figures from Marvel, Star Wars, and more

Source: Hasbro and Formlabs

Action figures are about to get personalized. Hasbro partnered with 3D-printer company Formlabs to announce a Selfie Series of action figures. According to its website, it's coming to the Hasbro Pulse app this Fall 2022 exclusively in the US for people 16 years and older. It'll allow you to use your face or that of a loved one to turn you into a character from big franchises like Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Ghostbusters.

You will need the app to scan your face. It will then convert that data into a 3D model and upload it to Hasbro, which will print it out as part of a personalized action figure. Hasbro plans to sell these for US$60 (around CA$78). Hasbro will keep the 3D face scan data for 60 days after it ships in case a replacement is needed. According to the company, it won't use the data for any other purpose and deletes it after the 60-day period ends.

Source

Netflix partners with Microsoft for its ad-supported tier

Source: Netflix and Microsoft

Netflix recently announced it picked Microsoft to become its technology and sales partner for its new advertising-supported tier. This new tier should be a more affordable option for viewers while also drawing in additional revenue for the company. Its slowing growth has forced the streaming service to look at new ways to attract subscribers. And it is one solution it announced back in April after reporting a drop in its subscriber base.

The company set a tight time frame for this rollout, so it needed a third party to handle the sales and technology. Netflix has reportedly met with Google and Comcast, but these companies have rival streaming services. Microsoft will now be the exclusive server and seller of ads on Netflix. While Microsoft doesn't come to mind when you think about advertising sales, it generated US$10 billion in ad sales last year and bought Xandr, AT&T's ad business.

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Review: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother

For coffee lovers like ourselves, there are many wonderful ways to make our ideal brew at home. We became espresso lovers ever since our first real morning espresso in Paris over 30 years ago. It seemed so simple and elegant. That experience changed how we consumed our coffee. No longer where we consuming caffeine to stay awake. No way. Espresso became a morning ritual to be enjoyed with intent. It was then when I first heard my husband say “now that was made with love!”. A phrase that we often say when someone puts care into every aspect of something  even as simple as the humble single espresso. The perfect temperature and flavour served in an ideal espresso cup made by someone who takes great pride in what they do -- a lesson in appreciation. 

That set us on our life long coffee journey. It left a lasting impression and influenced how we try to do things on a daily basis.

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