Canada Archives

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

Telegram Block in India Sparks Surge in Demand for VPNs and Alternative Messengers

The Indian government has temporarily restricted access to the Telegram messaging platform, leading to a significant increase in demand for VPN services and alternative communication applications. On the day the restriction was implemented, VPN app downloads in India reached a record high since the start of 2025, with daily downloads rising by 49% from an average of 139,000 to 208,000. Proton VPN saw a 113% increase in downloads on the Apple App Store and a 64% rise on Google Play, while Windscribe reported an 89% increase in downloads. Additionally, downloads of the Signal app surged by 322% on Google Play and by 72% in the App Store, and Viber downloads increased by 216%. The government's decision to restrict Telegram was made to combat fraudulent activities related to the NEET entrance exam.

BetaBeacon

June 17, 2026

XREAL’s Android XR glasses launch ‘this fall’ with Project Hail Mary & Fallout games, $99 reservations open

XREAL's Android XR glasses, Aura, will be launching this Fall with reservations open today. The glasses operate as a mixed form factor powered by Android XR and have optical passthrough to the outside world. The launch will include Best Buy Stores in the US, the UK, Canada, South Korea, and Japan, with European markets coming soon after. Customers can pre-order the glasses with a registration deposit and some of the confirmed apps and games include Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars and Fallout: Factions.

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

5 phone plans you should sign up for instead of Cash App Mobile

Last year, AT&T expanded its partnerships with app-based services, launching Cash App Mobile, which offers unlimited talk, text, and 5G priority data, along with 10GB of hotspot access and international usage in Canada and Mexico. However, the monthly fee has raised concerns due to AT&T's inconsistent coverage in some areas. Cricket Wireless, a premium prepaid carrier owned by AT&T, offers limited support and discounted phones, with pricing that includes taxes and fees and multi-line discounts. US Mobile supports all three major networks, providing plans with unlimited data and international calling, with competitive pricing and double the hotspot data compared to Cash App Mobile. Visible offers plans backed by Verizon's network, with high-priority data and unlimited hotspot capabilities. Metro by T-Mobile provides competitive pricing for unlimited data and hotspot access, especially for customers with unlocked devices. Google Fi offers a plan with a promotional rate, including 50GB of hotspot tethering and international data in over 200 countries, operating on the T-Mobile network. Each carrier presents unique advantages that may better serve potential customers compared to Cash App Mobile.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Meta outage affecting Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, according to user reports

Users across multiple countries experienced difficulties accessing Meta platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger on Friday morning. Reports indicated widespread disruptions characterized by login failures, unexpected logouts, error messages, and incomplete page loads. Issues were reported from the United States, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The outage-tracking website IsDown noted a surge in user-reported issues by 9:42 a.m., classifying it as an outage, while Meta had not publicly acknowledged the extent of the disruption at that time. It is unclear if all of Meta's services, which also include WhatsApp and Threads, were affected by the outage.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Facebook and Instagram suffer global outage

On June 12, users of Facebook and Instagram faced significant access issues, with over 62,000 incidents reported for Facebook and more than 8,000 for Instagram by Downdetector.com as of 2:10 PM GMT. The problems began around 1 PM GMT in Singapore, with users receiving error messages on both Facebook Messenger and the main app. Meta's spokesperson acknowledged the disruptions, stating they were working on resolving the issues. Users from various countries, including the Philippines, India, Australia, Canada, and the United States, reported difficulties, highlighting the global impact of the outage.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Samsung Wallet now holds your passport: Where it works (and where it doesn’t)

Samsung Wallet now allows users to store a TSA-approved digital passport for use at TSA checkpoints in the U.S., thanks to a collaboration with CLEAR. The wallet is available in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the U.K., and the U.S., and supports various features such as storing debit, credit, and loyalty cards, passwords, and digital keys. However, the digital ID feature is only valid for domestic travel within the U.S., and travelers must carry their physical passports for international trips.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

MyGOV Malaysia app to stream World Cup 2026 matches

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available for streaming via the MyGOV Malaysia app for users registered with MyDigital ID. The app will feature live broadcasts from TV1, TV2, and Okey TV. Launched in 2025, the MyGOV Malaysia app consolidates services from various government agencies and currently offers 51 services from 19 agencies, with over 2.2 million users. The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, with RTM and Unifi TV as the official broadcasters in Malaysia.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

Malware campaign targeting Minecraft users infects over 116,000 systems

A recent investigation by McAfee researchers has identified a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) operation called WeedHack, which targets Minecraft users. Since its launch in January 2026, WeedHack has compromised over 116,000 systems, with 2,000 to 3,000 new infections daily. The operation uses YouTube and SEO poisoning to distribute malware, promoting Minecraft mods and utilities through videos. WeedHack is accessible for free, with premium features available at low costs. The malware targets Minecraft session IDs, collects system information, and extracts credentials from various platforms. It includes a web-based dashboard for tracking infections and offers tools for injecting malware into legitimate mods. The operation has also been linked to incidents of cyberbullying among its users. McAfee advises caution when engaging with Minecraft-related content on YouTube.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

New 13+ Content Settings for Teen Accounts Expanding Globally on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger

Last October, Instagram implemented a default 13+ content setting for teen accounts in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, resulting in 90% of teens choosing to remain in this setting. The company is now expanding these settings to teen accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger globally. The new default setting filters inappropriate content and restricts interactions with unsuitable profiles, pages, and groups. A Limited Content setting will also be available on Facebook and Messenger later this year. Feedback from hundreds of thousands of parents indicated that fewer than 2% of posts recommended to teens were considered inappropriate. Instagram is exploring ways to limit the frequency of certain types of content, such as nutrition and mental health, to enhance user experience. An external assessment by Alice (formerly ActiveFence) found that Instagram Teen Accounts under the 13+ setting encountered 68% less mature content compared to a competitor, with those in the Limited Content setting experiencing 96% less. When mature content was present, it was less intense than on the competitor's platform. Instagram effectively blocked more mature search terms than its competitor. The assessment identified areas for improvement, leading Instagram to enhance protections against interactions with age-inappropriate accounts and update guidelines to restrict certain trends like "car surfing." Although Instagram drew inspiration from the MPA's public guidelines, it did not collaborate with them or involve them in the rating of content settings.

BetaBeacon

May 29, 2026

MODERN JET FIGHTERS ONLINE NOW AVAILABLE IN CANADA ON iOS AND ANDROID

Modern Jet Fighters Online is a fast-paced multiplayer air combat game available for free on iOS and Android in Canada, with plans for a worldwide rollout. It features competitive gameplay, deep aircraft customization, and cinematic aerial warfare. The game is designed for mobile devices with intuitive controls and quick matchmaking.