SyrupCast

This week, the BlackBerry Classic is on its way, and we're curious about why everyone is so interested in it. Is it mainly the nostalgia factor -- and the Classic name itself -- or is something else afoot here? Will the Classic manage to find success where the Q10 didn't?

We talk Android Wear 5.0 and the official Watch Face API: is this the update the smartwatch platform needs to go mainstream? Ustwo, the creator of best-mobile-game Monument Valley, is also creating watch faces for Android Wear. Sony's SmartWatch 3 is also discussed, as it is now available in Canada for $280. Is it too expensive?

Android 5.0.1 running on the HTC One M8 Google Play Edition is the best Android experience out right now, but others are likely not far behind.

We talk about the world's biggest sunglass manufacturer, Luxottica, partnering with Intel on a wearables platform, and how that will impact the next-generation Google Glass, which is reportedly going to run an Intel chip.

Then, discussion of the Supreme Court's decision to allow warrantless phone searches upon arrest, and Canada's Privacy Commissioner urges platform owners like Google and Apple to make privacy policies mandatory.

Finally, is Windows Phone dead? One of its biggest supporters appears to think so.

A note on our podcast this week. Due to some audio problems, we were forced to use the feed from our Google Hangouts session, which is not quite as clear as our regular stream. Rest assured this is only temporary and next week we will be back to normal. Thanks for your understanding!

Hosts: Jane McEntegart, Douglas Soltys, Daniel Bader

Duration: 1hr 19min

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the BlackBerry Classic is on its way, and we're curious about why everyone is so interested in it. Is it mainly the nostalgia factor -- and the Classic name itself -- or is something else afoot here? Will the Classic manage to find success where the Q10 didn't?

We talk Android Wear 5.0 and the official Watch Face API: is this the update the smartwatch platform needs to go mainstream? Ustwo, the creator of best-mobile-game Monument Valley, is also creating watch faces for Android Wear. Sony's SmartWatch 3 is also discussed, as it is now available in Canada for $280. Is it too expensive?

Android 5.0.1 running on the HTC One M8 Google Play Edition is the best Android experience out right now, but others are likely not far behind.

We talk about the world's biggest sunglass manufacturer, Luxottica, partnering with Intel on a wearables platform, and how that will impact the next-generation Google Glass, which is reportedly going to run an Intel chip.

Then, discussion of the Supreme Court's decision to allow warrantless phone searches upon arrest, and Canada's Privacy Commissioner urges platform owners like Google and Apple to make privacy policies mandatory.

Finally, is Windows Phone dead? One of its biggest supporters appears to think so.

A note on our podcast this week. Due to some audio problems, we were forced to use the feed from our Google Hangouts session, which is not quite as clear as our regular stream. Rest assured this is only temporary and next week we will be back to normal. Thanks for your understanding!

Hosts: Jane McEntegart, Douglas Soltys, Daniel Bader

Duration: 1hr 19min

News is thin this week, but it doesn't stop us from chatting up a winter storm.

Timestamps:

[Start - 13:05] YotaPhone 2 is one of the most interesting phones of the year, and a good representative of hardware innovation at a time when smartphones are becoming increasingly commoditized.

[13:05 - 24:00 ] The Galaxy Note Edge, Sonim XP7 and other devices are also really fascinating in their own ways, and prove that there is a market for more niche products, however expensive they may be.

[24:00 - 29:00] Xiaomi may be releasing its first North American-bound phone at CES this year, but is North America ready for China's rising star?

[29:00 - 37:00] Lenovo's new Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is a beast of a machine, but shows how far the manufacturer has come in such a short time. We're reviewing the AshTab right now -- does it hold up in testing?

[37:00 - 42:00] Android 5.0.1 is slowly rolling out to select Nexus devices. Why can't we have nice things, NOW?!

[42:00 - 55:00] CES is quickly approaching. We're gearing up to take it on, but there's a method to our madness, and it involves Snapchat.

[55:00 - end] Something something Microsoft. Something something Office 365.

Hosts: Jane McEntegart, Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys

Duration: 67 minutes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News is thin this week, but it doesn't stop us from chatting up a winter storm.

Timestamps:

[Start - 13:05] YotaPhone 2 is one of the most interesting phones of the year, and a good representative of hardware innovation at a time when smartphones are becoming increasingly commoditized.

[13:05 - 24:00 ] The Galaxy Note Edge, Sonim XP7 and other devices are also really fascinating in their own ways, and prove that there is a market for more niche products, however expensive they may be.

[24:00 - 29:00] Xiaomi may be releasing its first North American-bound phone at CES this year, but is North America ready for China's rising star?

[29:00 - 37:00] Lenovo's new Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is a beast of a machine, but shows how far the manufacturer has come in such a short time. We're reviewing the AshTab right now -- does it hold up in testing?

[37:00 - 42:00] Android 5.0.1 is slowly rolling out to select Nexus devices. Why can't we have nice things, NOW?!

[42:00 - 55:00] CES is quickly approaching. We're gearing up to take it on, but there's a method to our madness, and it involves Snapchat.

[55:00 - end] Something something Microsoft. Something something Office 365.

Hosts: Jane McEntegart, Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys

Duration: 67 minutes

This week, how the mobile gaming market has been undone by piracy, freemium and consumer entitlement to digital content. Is there a road back from this mess?

There's talk of our recently-launched Smartphone Gift Guide and the best Black Friday deals around.

And, of course, the new Star Wars trailer... because we're geeks, too.

Finally, user feedback: what do you want to hear on the podcast? Leave your questions in the comments and we'll try to get to them next week. And, if you like the show, please leave us a comment and a rating wherever you downloaded it.

Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys, Jane McEntegart

Duration: 71 minutes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, how the mobile gaming market has been undone by piracy, freemium and consumer entitlement to digital content. Is there a road back from this mess?

There's talk of our recently-launched Smartphone Gift Guide and the best Black Friday deals around.

And, of course, the new Star Wars trailer... because we're geeks, too.

Finally, user feedback: what do you want to hear on the podcast? Leave your questions in the comments and we'll try to get to them next week. And, if you like the show, please leave us a comment and a rating wherever you downloaded it.

Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys, Jane McEntegart

Duration: 71 minutes

This week, TELUS's new Your Choice plans are discussed and dissected: why the change, and are there any consumer advantages?

Plus, Samsung's Gear S smartwatch, and whether Canadians -- consumers and carriers -- are ready for cellular-connected wearables. Apple Watch and its new WatchKit developer tools mean great things for iPhone users, but did Cupertino stay too conservative with its 1.0 release?

Finally, the Nexus 6 went up for pre-order this week, but did anyone actually manage to by one? And what do you guys think of Lollipop? We held a poll, and the response were quite enlightening.

Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys, Jane McEntegart

Running time: 72 minutes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, TELUS's new Your Choice plans are discussed and dissected: why the change, and are there any consumer advantages?

Plus, Samsung's Gear S smartwatch, and whether Canadians -- consumers and carriers -- are ready for cellular-connected wearables. Apple Watch and its new WatchKit developer tools mean great things for iPhone users, but did Cupertino stay too conservative with its 1.0 release?

Finally, the Nexus 6 went up for pre-order this week, but did anyone actually manage to by one? And what do you guys think of Lollipop? We held a poll, and the response were quite enlightening.

Hosts: Daniel Bader, Douglas Soltys, Jane McEntegart

Running time: 72 minutes

On SyrupCast 21, we talk about the Nexus 6, referencing our review and our first impressions of Android 5.0 Lollipop -- is it all it's cracked up to be?

We also discuss the Sony Xperia Z3 and its Compact counterpart, and whether a resurgent demand for "small" phones is inevitable. (The answer, I believe, is yes. The review's coming next week, so be patient.)

Then we delve into BlackBerry -- dry, I know, but bear with us -- and its enterprise aspirations. BES 12, BBM Meetings and more all sound boring on paper, but it's the best position the company's been in years. We also discuss the Canadian company's partnership with Samsung, which just held its own developer conference this week and announced a bevy of interesting -- and less interesting -- products and services.

We reference Microsoft's first official Lumia device branded under its own name; WIND's continued talks with Videotron; and, of course, Taylor Swift's rift with Spotify.

This is SyrupCast. Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On SyrupCast 21, we talk about the Nexus 6, referencing our review and our first impressions of Android 5.0 Lollipop -- is it all it's cracked up to be?

We also discuss the Sony Xperia Z3 and its Compact counterpart, and whether a resurgent demand for "small" phones is inevitable. (The answer, I believe, is yes. The review's coming next week, so be patient.)

Then we delve into BlackBerry -- dry, I know, but bear with us -- and its enterprise aspirations. BES 12, BBM Meetings and more all sound boring on paper, but it's the best position the company's been in years. We also discuss the Canadian company's partnership with Samsung, which just held its own developer conference this week and announced a bevy of interesting -- and less interesting -- products and services.

We reference Microsoft's first official Lumia device branded under its own name; WIND's continued talks with Videotron; and, of course, Taylor Swift's rift with Spotify.

This is SyrupCast. Thanks for listening.