Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup - 2/4- 2/10

Disney and Epic Games team up to craft new 'games and entertainment universe'

Google’s Bard AI tool to reportedly get a Gemini makeover

Apple’s spatial audio royalty shift sparks controversy among indie labels

AI features are coming to OnePlus 11 and 12 phones in China

Pixel 8 series gets Circle to Search

Two fees, one game: 'Final Fantasy XIV' on Xbox

YouTube has an Apple Vision Pro app in the works

Android Auto now adds 3D buildings to navigation by default

Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset improves Personas to make them more realistic 

Google's Bard makes way for Gemini

Windows 11's major update arrives this year, not Windows 12

Trudeau slams Bell Media layoffs, citing harm to local journalism

Trudeau slams Bell Media layoffs, citing harm to local journalism

Image: Bell

Prime Minister Trudeau blasted BCE Inc.'s layoffs at Bell Media, including cuts to local newscasts and radio stations, calling it a "garbage decision." He expressed his anger at a press conference, citing a $140 million decline in Bell Media's advertising revenue and $40 million in annual news division losses.

Bell Media announced on Thursday it would end multiple television newscasts and other programming following its parent company's job cuts. It also put on sale 45 of its 103 regional radio stations.

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Windows 11's major update arrives this year, not Windows 12

Image: Microsoft

We have good news for Windows 11 users but bad news for those expecting Windows 12. Microsoft confirms a major update for Windows 11 (version 24H2) will launch in September or October 2024. This AI-focused update emphasizes user experience and quality-of-life improvements.

Experts speculate Microsoft wants to avoid further user base fragmentation (especially with Windows 10 still popular) and is waiting until Windows 10 support ends in 2025 to transition users to Windows 11 and possibly Windows 12. So, 2025 may be the earliest we'll get the new operating system.

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Disney and Epic Games team up to craft new 'games and entertainment universe'

Image: Disney and Epic Games

The entertainment world is shifting, and video games are taking center stage. This week, Disney and Epic Games announced a groundbreaking partnership. Disney is investing US$1.5 billion in the gaming giant, and both companies are collaborating on a multi-year project to create an entirely new "games and entertainment universe."

This union signifies a significant moment for entertainment, with two industry titans joining forces. Disney and Epic possess vast repertoires of beloved characters and worlds, setting the stage for exciting possibilities. Imagine exploring the worlds of Disney princesses, venturing further into Kingdom Hearts, or immersing yourself in Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar like never before—all within the context of video games.

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