2014
We are responsible for our actions and our salvation
The above comes from the Buddha. In simple terms, it means we are responsible for our own actions. The Buddha can't save us. Only we can save ourselves through learning, discipline and self-control.
Take the first step to a brighter tomorrow
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. " Lao Tzu What first step did you take today to prepare for a brighter more enjoyable tomorrow?
Gratitude is the key to happiness
When I sit down and analyze most of my days, it seems that I am bombarded by hundreds of pieces of bad news for every 1 piece of good news. This constant harassment by the world can quickly take its toll and turn even the most positive person into a grumpy world-hater. Not only is grumpiness annoying to those around you, but it really and truly has an impact on your ability to succeed. "Accept that your view of today shapes your tomorrow"
Apple reveals TouchID secrets in new document
In a new document published by Apple (link), we finally learn the details about bout TouchID functions and the exact process of the TouchID finger recognition system. Since the release of the iPhone 5s, we have seen a steady stream of information explaining TouchID and its security level. We know the scanned information is stored in a non-reversible fashion on a special "enclave" built into Apple's latest A7 chip. We know from experience that even the cable is authenticated with its paired TouchID sensor to prevent man-in-the-middle type attacks.
New MotoX Coming this Summer
Q from twitter: When is next version of Moto X? A: Keep posted - hint - late summer. #MotoMWC — Motorola Mobility (@Motorola) February 25, 2014 Since Motorola Mobility is now a Lenovo company, many asked if Motorola would be updating its aging MotoX and during a Twitter Q&A, we learned that the answer is yes. Expect the updated version sometime late summer. Thats all we know but expect rumours to drop out of China as the release gets closer.
The Goophone Samsung Galaxy S5 knockoff available
The creative and hardworking team at Goophone have managed to clone the Samsung Galaxy S5 in about 2 days. What did Goophone name this clone/copy/tip-off/fake? They called it the Goophone S5. It comes with a 5" 1920x1080 screen 2GHz octa-core MediaTek processor GSM, WCDMA (HSUPA, HSDPA) 2GB RAM 2800mAh battery 13 megapixel read camera 5 megapixel front camera Available in white, black, gold and blue Dual-SIM card slots Android 4.2 (with Google Play) All of this for only $299.
Whatsapp to add voice Services
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“531”]Image by abulhussain under Creative Commons License [/caption] Read up about Telegram Messenger, a solid Whatsapp alternative (link) Whatsapp was swallowed by Facebook in exchange for a cool $19B. To keep it exciting and in the news, the CEO, Jan Koum, announced that they will be bringing voice services to market. Sure you can send voice notes today but they want to bring actual voice calling functionality to their users. Is this something that excites you? Do you really need another VOIP client?
Telegram Messenger is a nice Whatsapp alternative
Now that Whatsapp was bought by Facebook for $19B, many users are searching for a new instant messaging platform to use. Enter Telegram Messenger (link). Telegram Messenger is the brainchild of russian technology magnate Pavel Durov. Pavel is rich enough that he can pretty much do whatever he wants and said he wanted to build an easy to use, secure and free instant messaging platform that he could share with the world. After all of the Edward Snowden NSA revelations, tech users have been searching for a more secure non-US based IM system and Pavel believes his Telegram Messenger is the perfect answer.
Government makes 5.27B$ from wireless auction
Now that the Canadian wireless auction for the 700 MHZ band is over, we can list the winners and losers. The first big winner is the Canadian government making a cool 5.27B$. The biggest surprise was Videotron by winning licenses in Ontario, Alberta and BC. Which clearly means they have expansion plans like I wrote about here (link). The biggest spender was Rogers with 3.3B$ next was Telus spending 1.1B$. Rogers spent more than Telus and Bell combined because it bought the largest number of paired blocks.
BBM Coming to windows Phone
Wahoo! BBM coming to #Lumia! #NokiaMWC — Nokia (@nokia) February 24, 2014 Stephen Elop just announced (at the Mobile World Mobile Conference in Barcelona) that Blackberries popular cross-platform mobile messenger app is coming to Windows phone "in the coming months". BBM them sent a press release clarifying that BBM for Windows Phone will be available this summer. Additionally we learned that BBM will also be available for the new Nokia X Android phone also. The press release also confirms that all BBM 2 features will be available at launch (BBM channels, voice, video, etc).
Google wants Android to map the world in 3D
Google took the covers off of a 5" smartphone prototype called Tango. This very special device is equipped with specialized sensors that allow it to "see" the world in 3D (taking 250,000 measurements a second). since the device is a smartphone phone factor (unlike the Microsoft Kinect) they have paid particular attention to designing the system to be low power consumption. Like most bleeding edge Google projects, this started with 2 questions: Can it be done? What can the world develop for it once its available?
Two-step verification for Apple IDs finally lands in Canada
Early last year, many countries were able to use Apple's two-step verification feature for their Apple IDs. It seems today, without much fanfare, Apple released this feature for a bunch of new countries Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, & Spain. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/ff31035e56.jpg" alt=""> Go to my apple id (link) <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/0ea1a8ac3e.jpg" alt=""> You can enable this new feature (and you really should) by following these steps: 1 - Select “Manage your Apple ID” and sign in.
Is it time for red wine in a can?
Lots of food products come in cans from soups to nuts to vegetables to cola. Now you can buy real Oregon based Underwood pinot in a can. Why would they "bottle" their wine in a can you ask? They feel this beerification makes the wine more accessible, easier to transport and more approachable (less pretentious or Nigel Mastercard-like). For my eco friendly readers, Union Wine also believes this is a more eco-friendly approach and it is also const efficient for them.
Eat your hashtags
Everyone is trying to capitalize on the success of Facebook and Twitter but this is the first time I see a food company trying to do it. BirdsEye is create a new product called Mashtags (Mas#tags). tIt is a potato based snack that will provide your government recommended daily intake of #, @, <3 and other familiar social media shortcuts. UK residents will be able to chow down on these gr8t treats in March for £1.75 a bag. Via : PocketLint
iCup for the ultimate iFan in your life
Apple has regular users that just find the platform more convenient then they have super fans. These are people that eat Apple, think Apple and dream Apple. They are the ultimate fanboys. One such fanboy is designer Tomislav Zvonaric who created the work of art you see above. It is his homage to Apple. In true Apple fashion, he has spent considerable time working out even the smallest of details (look at the spoon or the leaf handle). The saucer isn't just a regular plate.
Telus updates its Travel Pass for Cuba
Canadians love to flock south during the winter to thaw out and get some colour. One of our favourite destinations is Cuba because its close and cheap. Now Telus has updated its Travel Pass for Cuba (offering more for less). I am typically the first person to say "Unlock your phone and buy a pre-paid SIM when you land" but that simply isn't practical for Cuba so this is a nice option. $40 Plan - Get's you 50 minutes of talk, 50 text messages and 50MB of data.
Media reports SEA stole 1M Forbes accounts
The Syrian Electronic Army has now [reportedly] stollen 1 million user credentials from Forbes.com. Re/code (link) saw multiple tweets where the SEA took responsibility and published various screenshots as proof. Forbes has confirmed the compromise, they are recommending users change their password and they are implementing additional phishing controls (which is likely how they were compromised in the first place). #Forbes users table(1,071,963 user-email-password) was dumped successfully, Anyone want to buy it? pic.twitter.com/QniuVosvcM — SyrianElectronicArmy (@Official_SEA16) February 14, 2014 <img src="https://ekiledjian2.
How Target knows you are pregnant through data analytics
We read about the "horrors" of online tracking everyday. We hear about how our privacy is being invaded by "big bad data hungry" online companies and what they could be doing with all that data. Most consumers don't realize that they are handing over extremely personal information to retailers every time they do shopping. Retailers have jumped on the data analytics bandwagon and are collecting and analyzing this data in the hopes of determining what you want and when you want it.
Facebook knows when you're in love before everyone else
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by epSos.de under Creative Commons License [/caption] Facebook and Google are data companies. They use have some of the world's best data scientists analysis their user data looking for patterns. On Friday, Facebook announced (link) that they can predict when 2 users are about to change their relationship status to "in a relationship". 3 months before a couple updates their relationship status on Facebook to announced their undying love, there is a steady increase in the number of timeline posts shared amongst the 2 lovebirds.
Smart earbuds for music and exercise tracking
A Kickstarter project called ,The Dash, is offering the superhero of bluetooth earphones. The two small buds are packed with sensors such as an accelerometer, thermometer, capacitive touch, bone mic, Infrared LED and optical sensor and more. All of this so you can listen to music (from a phone or from the onboard 4GB of storage) and track your exercise (speed, pace, distance, heart rate, oxygen saturation, etc. It naturally blocks ambient sound (noise isolation) but can let through some sounds so you don't get hit by a car.