Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 7/22-7/28

Canadian innovators smartARM win big at Microsoft's 2018 Imagine Cup

Here’s a better look at ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’

Rolls-Royce unveils its own ‘flying taxi’ concept that can be ready to take to the skies in a few years

Aston Martin debuts its futuristic-looking ‘flying taxi’ concept

Apple HomePod will reportedly let you make calls soon

Samsung updates AR Emoji to add more customization options

Report claims Microsoft is developing a low-cost, streaming-only Xbox

YouTube tries out Explore tab feature for iPhone users

Legendary International Basketball Manager is back on Steam for Summer 2018

Amazon Echo smart speakers can now control GM vehicles by voice

Facebook and Rockstar offer ‘GTA Online’ rewards when you watch livestreams

Google Docs to use AI to make sure your documents are grammatically correct

Microsoft reveals accessible packaging for Xbox Adaptive Controller

‘Fallout 76’ will launch a closed beta test in October

Qualcomm will not supply chips for the 2018 iPhone

Microsoft issues massive updates for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Laptop

Galaxy Note 9's improved battery life teased in new Samsung advert

Google set to unveil Android P name ‘soon’

Mouvement Desjardins announces “Coopérathon,” the World’s Largest Open Innovation Competition for Social Impact

Samsung's latest Galaxy Note 9 teaser hints at a solution for storage restrictions

Report: Video game arcades are making a comeback in Toronto

Android Oreo Go edition Alcatel 1 comes to Canada

Carrie Fisher is still part of ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

Spotify CEO claims Metallica tailors it shows depending on what fans are listening to

Spotify CEO claims Metallica tailors it shows depending on what fans are listening to

Embed from Getty Images

Metallica is reportedly using the data it gets from Spotify to help craft the setlists for their shows. At least, this is what Spotify CEO Daniel Ek claimed during the company’s earning call on Thursday (July 26). Ek said the band would check the listening habits on Spotify of its fans to create a setlist that will cater to fans of the city they’re playing at to add some of the most popular songs in that area. Metallica hasn’t confirmed the report yet. But it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they did. The band seems to be especially attentive to their fans. They even make recordings of live shows so fans can buy the audio files on livemetallica.com.

Source: NME

Carrie Fisher is still part of ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

In case you haven’t heard yet, Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Pictures have officially announced the cast for Star Wars: Episode IX and one of the names we were waiting to show up is back. The late Carrie Fisher’s name is still attached to General Leia Organa. They will be using previously unreleased footage. J.J. Abrams said, “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher. Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”

Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. The new members of the cast include Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Gosford Park, Hudson Hawk) and Keri Russell (The Americans). The other veteran Star Wars actors making a return include Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian. The film starts filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1 and this final installment of the Skywalker saga is set to come out in December 2019.

Source: Comingsoon.net

Android Oreo Go edition Alcatel 1 comes to Canada

If you want an optimized Android experience without having to spend an extravagant amount, you’d want an Android Go device. Luckily one is headed your way. TCL Communications just announced that its Android Oreo Go edition Alcatel 1 is coming to multiple carriers in the country. Starting at $89.99, you can get the phone from Bell, Koodo, Lucky Mobile, TELUS, and Virgin Mobile. It’ll also be coming to PC Mobile and SaskTel later this year.

The Alcatel 1 features a FullView 18:9 Display to give you a 5-inch screen in a 4.4-inch form factor. It features a unibody design with a soft suede finish. You get 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via microSD, 5-megapixel front and rear cameras, and a 2,000mAh battery. As an Android Go device, you have access to popular Google apps that run quickly and smoothly, including Google Go, Google Maps Go, Gmail Go and more. The Google Play Store will also suggest third-party apps tailor-made for Go edition devices, including Facebook Lite, Skype Lite and more.