Samsung officially unveils Galaxy Note 20 series, Canadian pre-orders and pricing revealed

The sufficiently leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is now official and available for pre-order starting August 5. There are two versions of the Galaxy Note 20: the regular Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra. 

The regular Note 20 comes with 128GB storage in the new colours Mystic Bronze, Mystic Green, and Mystic Grey for $1,399. Meanwhile, the top-tier Note 20 Ultra comes in Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, and Mystic White with either 128GB or 512GB storage options, costing $1,818 and $2,029, respectively. Those who pre-order starting August 5 until August 20, get a bonus gift of either a Galaxy Buds+ (for the Note 20), Galaxy Buds Live (for the Note 20 Ultra), or a Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Bundle. The Xbox Bundle includes three months free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, MOGA XP5-X+ Controller, and a Wireless Charger Pad.

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Google to start Play Music shutdown in September

We finally get a target date of when Google Play Music will be shuttered. The shutdown will start in Australia and New Zealand in September, with the rest of the world following a month after. Users won't be able to stream from the app and the web by then. But you can still transfer out music and data from the service until December 2020, whether you import it to YouTube Music or use Google's Takeout tool to retrieve your music uploads and purchases. After December, the data will be purged.

Google also plans to take out music from the Play Store completely, so you will no longer be able to buy songs and albums from the company directly. This change will come in "late August."

Source: Engadget

Disney+ tries out new VOD model for 'Mulan'

Disney

Disney is using the perceived popularity of its upcoming live-action remake of Mulan to try a new strategy for Disney+. The company has thrown in the towel of attempting to secure a theatrical release of the film in the US. What the company plans to do now is offer the movie there and anywhere else Disney+ is available, starting on September 4. The caveat is that Disney will be asking viewers to shell out an additional US$29.99 (around CA$40) to watch the film.

It will still show the movie in theatres in markets where theatres are open. But for those where it isn't safe to open cinemas yet, this is supposedly a one-off approach to bring the blockbuster to viewers. It will also be useful to attract subscribers to its streaming service, which can help Disney earn back what it spent to make the film. And if all goes well, we wouldn't be surprised if Disney tries this model with other big movies, too.

Source: IndieWire

Google teases fall release for Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5

With the delayed release of the Google Pixel 4a, it isn't surprising that the company opted to share what's in the pipeline. So, during the Pixel 4a's launch, we also get some teasers on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 5G. Both will be launched in the fall, and both will be coming to Canada.

The teaser image shows two different-sized devices, one with a matte black finish and another smaller handset with a sparklier exterior. The Verge speculates that the larger handset is the Pixel 4a 5G, while the regular-sized handset will be the Pixel 5. Google promises to share more about these devices "in the coming months."

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