Apple bolsters News app initiative by hiring New York magazine's Laura Kern as 'Editor in Chief'

Apple is apparently setting out to do for news what it has done for radio in Beats 1. The company reportedly hired New York magazine editor Laura Kern to serve as Editor-in-Chief for Apple News. Kern has worked at the popular magazine as well as for the New York Times, and while there's no official announcement from either party or any detailed job description, Kern could be called in to add a critical eye to the curation of the news and editorial direction of the News app.

In the wake of 'Fake News,' proliferating social media, most notoriously on Facebook, many technology companies are taking a more proactive approach to the news and features that run through their services. The Apple News app is pre installed on iPhone and iPads, it is an aggregator of news and features but an editorial team led by an editor of Kern's calibre could ensure snafus and fake news items are minimized and thus creating a better reputation for Apple News as a go-to source of trustworthy information.

Source: AppleInsider

Interview with GM Canada's Steve Carlisle on Bolt EV

GM Canada President and Managing Director Steve Carlisle: "The goal of the Bolt EV program was a car that would have mainstream appeal and the technology will only make a difference if it is in the hands of a lot of people.”

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

As the 2017 Canadian International Auto Show kicks off in Toronto this weekend, I went back to an interview I did at the Detroit International Auto Show with GM Canada's President and Managing Director  Steve Carlisle about the 2017 Bolt EV, which was the first electric vehicle to win North American Car of the Year, as well as some of the current trends in the Canadian automotive market. Hit jump for the full interview.

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Amazon Prime Video streaming now showing in Canada

It took a while but the Amazon Prime Video streaming service is available in Canada to Amazon Prime subscribers. This means they are able to watch such acclaimed shows as The Grand Tour (only the most pirated TV show in recent history), Mozart in the Jungle and Transparent as well as a wide variety of other programs. The range of movies and TV shows is limited right now, certainly looks very sparse compared to Netflix, here's hoping for more parity to the US version of Prime Video.

Exisiting Amazon Prime Canada subscribers get the video streaming with their $79 yearly subscription. And, just like with Netflix, subscribers can download episodes for offline viewing.

Source: The Toronto Star

iPhone 5c credited for saving man from shotgun blast

An iPhone 5c took the brunt of a shotgun blast that was fired to kill a 25-year old British man. The iPhone 5c's polycarbonate case was deformed but not punctured, and while it received much of the impact, the victim was still seriously injured. 

"[The attacker's] actions that night were extreme and shocking - the victim went outside to speak to the group about the fact they had turned off the water supply resulting in the defendant shooting him with a powerful weapon," Cheshire Police Detective Inspector Gary McIntyre said in a statement.

Launched in 2013, the Apple iPhone 5c features coloured plastic case but is reinforced with a steel frame.

Source: AppleInsider