Canada

Canadian police have had BlackBerry’s global decryption key since 2010

Cody Lee ∙ April 14, 2016

Canadian police have been in possession of a BlackBerry's global decryption key since 2010, reports Vice. The site says recently released court documents reveal that the key was used in a criminal investigation to intercept over 1 million BBM messages.

The documents were made public after members of a Montreal crime syndicate pleaded guilty to their role in a 2011 murder, and they shine some light on the extent that BlackBerry, as well as telco giant Rogers, is willing to cooperate with investigators.

Apple rumored to open R&D facility in Canada

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 6, 2017

Citing several sources, Ottawa Business Journal reported yesterday that Apple has leased office space in the G. Best Building located at a business complex in Kanata, Ontario, which is a suburb of the Canadian capital Ottawa and also home to BlackBerry’s automotive division, QNX Software Systems.

The 22,100-square-foot suite at 411 Legget Dr. in the Kanata Research Park will be reportedly devoted to research and development, marking Apple's first such facility in Canada.

Apple Pay hits Canada with American Express

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2015

A year following its October 2014 debut in the United States, Apple's mobile payments service is now available to American Express cardholders in Canada, the company said on Twitter.

“Cardmembers can earn the same rewards they already enjoy using Amex with Apple Pay,” said the financial services corporation. In addition to the US and UK, where Apple Pay launched this summer, this marks the third country where the service is available.

Apple Watch hits Best Buy in Canada and Harvey Norman in Australia

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2015

Keeping true to its promise, Best Buy Canada today began carrying the Apple Watch in its retail stores throughout the country. The electronics retailer's online store in Canada is now selling Apple's watches, too. In addition, the Apple Watch is now available through the Australian department store Harvey Norman's outlets in Auburn, New South Wales.

Best Buy will offer Apple Watch in Canada beginning August 14

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 31, 2015

Best Buy has not offered the Apple Watch since its April 24 debut, but now the American consumer electronics retailer is at last making room on its store shelves for Apple's wrist-worn device.

The Wall Street Journal recently said that Best Buy will begin to offer the Apple Watch in more than a hundred U.S. retail stores, and online, on August 7.

Just a week later, the device will hit Best Buy stores in Canada, according to MobileSyrup. This will expand the device's footprint in Canada, where it's been available exclusively through the online and retail Apple Stores from day one.

T-Mobile rolls out unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data in Canada and Mexico

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Deutsche-Telekom owned T-Mobile on Thursday announced another Un-Carrier move in the form of a brand new service, called 'Mobile Without Borders' and available starting July 15 in select Canadian and Mexican markets.

T-Mobile's U.S. business and individual customers with Simple Choice postpaid and prepaid plans will be able send and receive unlimited phone calls, text messages and use 4G LTE data, to and from Mexico and Canada, at no additional cost.

iOS 9 Maps gives traffic avoidance warnings, transit coverage in Canada better than anticipated

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2015

Following Monday's announcement that Maps will gain Transit directions and other new features when iOS 9 launches this fall, some folks are reporting that the feature actually works in even more cities than Apple has said, as discovered by MacRumors.

Not only that but navigating with Maps provides en route traffic and construction warnings, including voice turn-by-turn suggestions for alternate routes, according to information shared with AppleInsider.

Apple Pay reportedly launches in Canada in November, banks mulling secondary authentication

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2015

It appears that the rumor which asserted that talks about bringing Apple Pay to more countries were stalling isn't entirely accurate after all. As CNBC tweeted out on Friday, based on a Dow Jones report, Apple aims to launch Apple Pay in Canada this fall, marking the start of its international expansion of the mobile payment service.

Apparently, the Cupertino firm is in talks with the country's six biggest banks about a potential November launch for Apple Pay's first venture outside the U.S.

Apple Watch featured in May issue of Canadian fashion mag Flare

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2015

Following a barrage of editorials and photo shoots published by prominent lifestyle and fashion magazines around the world, Apple's wearable device has now graced the cover of the May issue of Flare, a Canadian fashion magazine, as first noticed by MacRumors.

The magazine's two separate covers feature Academy Award nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld who poses wearing an Apple Watch Sport in both Silver and Space Gray, accompanied by a featured article providing a closer look at the Watch's many features outside of the usual timekeeping and health and fitness tracking functions.

Apple institutes app price hikes in Europe, Canada and Russia as iPhones get more expensive in Brazil

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2015

As reported by AppleInsider, Apple has raised minimum prices of iPhone and iPad applications in the App Store in Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway and in the European Union.

As a result of the changes, customers in Canada will now see a minimum app price raised from $0.99 (USD$0.83) to $1.19 (USD$1.01). In the United Kingdom, the new minimum tier has gone up from £0.69 ($1.04) to £0.79 ($1.19) and €0.99 ($1.17) in the European Union, up from €0.89 ($1.05) before.

In addition, smartphones, tablets and other gadgets Apple sells in Brazil saw their prices skyrocketing by an average of 10 percent due to the steady devaluation of the country's currency, real.

Apple cuts maximum iPhone trade-in value to $225

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 2, 2014

Less than 24 hours after extending its in-store and online iPhone trade-in program to Italy (and coming to Australia later this week), word on the street reaches us that Apple Stores have now slashed the maximum trade-in value of eligible iPhone models, as part of its Reuse and Recycle program, to a new low of $225 for good condition iPhone 5 units...

Upcoming ‘Castaway Paradise’ is an Animal Crossing-like game for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 17, 2014

It doesn't look like Nintendo is going be bringing any of its games over to iOS anytime soon—despite pleas from both fans and critics—so iPhone and iPad gamers are going to have to make do with the titles they have. Fortunately, that list will soon include Castaway Paradise, which looks and plays a lot like Animal Crossing.

For those unfamiliar with Animal Crossing, it's a cluster of community simulation games developed by Nintendo. Set in a village of talking animals, players are tasked with carrying out a variety of activities in an open-ended storyline. And if you consider yourself a fan, you should check out Stolen Couch's 'Castaway Paradise.'