Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 4/15-4/21

Fitbit Versa is now available in Canada for $249.95

Google’s new search tool draws answers from book passages

Sony launches Xperia XZ2 Premium

Microsoft OneDrive on Android will let you restore recently-deleted files

Spotify’s upcoming event puts focus on mobile app

Analysts: iPhone X made up 35% of smartphone profits in Q4 2017

Sonos & HAY to unveil exclusive new design collaboration at Salone del Mobile

Apple looking to launch a 'Netflix for news' after its Texture acquisition

‘Dear White People’ Season 2 gets release date, teases season in new trailer

Casio outs a cheaper version of the Pro Trek smartwatch

Facebook's looking to develop its own chips

Honor 10 unveiled in China with dual-camera and notch on display

For Earth Day, Dell is vowing to help end plastic pollution

Apple adding donations to its Earth Day recycling initiatives

Microsoft celebrates Earth Day by empowering anyone to protect the planet

Huawei developing virtual assistant that provides ‘emotional interactions’

Google pauses development of Allo, focuses on Android Messages

New documentary pays tribute to Apple's Newton PDA and the people who love it

Pro photo hosting service SmugMug buys Flickr

After Flickr’s fate has been put up in the air with Yahoo’s sale to Verizon and being joined with AOL in Verizon’s Oath subsidiary, professional photo hosting service SmugMug wanted to help out. The company has just bought Flickr for an undisclosed amount. The photo service hasn’t been able to mount a successful comeback with tough competition in its space because of services like Instagram. But SmugMug is confident it can thrive still. SmugMug CEO Don MacAskill told USA Today “Flickr has survived through thick-and-thin and is core to the entire fabric of the internet.”

Now, whether SmugMug can revive the service is something we can’t say yet at the moment. The company promises to keep Flickr as a standalone community and will supposedly get the focus and resources it needs.

‘Limited number’ of non-Touch Bar 13-inch Apple MacBook Pros need to have batteries replaced

Apple has just launched a free battery replacement program for some non-Touch Bar-toting Apple MacBook Pros. The company claims a “limited number” of these units have had their batteries expand. These supposedly affect those that were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017 and is due to a fault component that causes the battery to expand.

The linked page above will ask you to submit your computer serial number to check if you’re eligible for a replacement. Those that qualify can bring their MacBook Pro to an authorized dealer or retail store or mail the unit to Apple’s repair center. If you’ve already gotten the battery replaced, you can contact Apple to see if you can get a refund. Apple notes that any damage that might inhibit the battery’s replacement will need to be fixed first and this program does not extend the computer’s standard warranty.

New documentary pays tribute to Apple's Newton PDA and the people who love it

Love Notes to Newton (Preview) from Noah Leon on Vimeo.

A lot of the features we enjoy on smartphones and tablets came from PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants) like the PalmPilot. PDA's owe a lot to Apple's Newton, a mobile computer that captured a lot of hearts and loyal users even if it was derided for failing at writing recognition. Still, this was Apple innovation at its finest. A fearless and fun to use personal device that resonated with users to such a degree they are still using them today. Love Notes to Newton is a cool, nostalgic look at a landmark product which was the first to be killed of when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997.