Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' smashes first day streaming records

Taylor Swift's Folklore is raking in its streams, breaking several first-day streaming records since its release on July 24. Folklore now sets the global record for first-day album streams on Spotify by a female artist with 80.6 million streams. On Apple Music, it's the most-streamed album in 24 hours with 35.47 streams. And it has set indie/alternative streaming records in the US and worldwide on Amazon Music, though we don't get official figures. Swift's representatives have confirmed that the album sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide within the first 24 hours of its release.

The pop star announced the surprise album on social on Thursday, July 23, which she was inspired to make and release since the coronavirus pandemic hit and affected her plans to tour her previous album, Lover. You can check out the lead single of the record in the music video above.

Source: NME

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 7/19 – 7/25

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Netflix promises to stop billing inactive accounts 

Microsoft no longer offers 12-month Xbox Live Gold plans 

Calm app turns into an HBO Max series 

Chrome for Android tests scheduled downloads 

Netflix is now available on Nest Hub devices 

OnePlus launches Nord 5G 

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Microsoft Surface Duo might launch soon 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is coming to Canada on Aug. 7 for $2,019 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is coming to Canada on Aug. 7 for $2,019

The first foldable device with 5G connectivity is here. Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy Z Flip 5G ahead of its upcoming Unpacked event on August 5. This new model comes just five months after the release of the original Galaxy Z Flip. It's launching in Canada on August 7, with a retail price of $2,019.99. Available in the new Mystic Bronze and Mystic Grey colours, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G will be sold at Samsung Experience Stores, through major Canadian carriers and retail partners, and online at samsung.com/ca.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G gets a processor upgrade with the 5G-capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset while retaining 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. In other respects, the foldable phone keeps the original device's features, too. It still has a 1.1-inch LCD screen in front, a 6.7-inch foldable clamshell display, and a 3,300mAh battery. But if you want the new chipset and 5G support, that might be enough to sway you to get the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.

Source: Samsung

Microsoft Surface Duo might launch soon

There are hints that the Microsoft Surface Duo might be ready to launch. The Verge reports that the dual-screen, Android-powered device has shown up in FCC and Bluetooth listings. Gadgets that appear in these pages are usually a few weeks away from launch. Recent reports claim the Surface Duo is launching this month, but that doesn't seem to be the case. However, that doesn't mean that it won't arrive soon. 

The Surface Duo and other dual-screen devices were supposedly going to be the focus at Build earlier this year. But plans shifted when the pandemic hit. As with the delay of Windows 10X dual-screen devices, the Surface Duo got pushed back, too. Developers were supposed to get early access to developer units, but the pandemic impacted this plan. But, if the reports are correct, it might still ship by the end of September.

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