2017
Bose QuietComfort 25 Review (QC-25)
TL;DR: I have tested dozens of headphones over the last 12 months and the QuietComfort (QC-25) 25 is still the most comfortable headphone with excellent noise cancellation and good sound reproduction. Comparing the QC-25 to the QC-35 The QuietComfort 35 (QC-35) is the wireless bluetooth version of the QC-25. The QuietComfort 35 (QC-35) offers slightly better noise cancellation and a slightly different noise profile. If you need bluetooth (iphone 7 or iphone 7 Plus) then get the QC-35 otherwise I would recommend getting the cheaper QC-25.
Review of encrypted email provider Protonmail
Why would anyone use Protonmail instead of Gmail or Hotmail? SECURITY Email is inherently insecure and if you are a political dissident whose online communications can mean the difference between living and dying, don't use email. For everyone else looking for an easy and secure email solution, keep reading about Protonmail. “Everyone needs to understand that SMTP was not designed to be secure and will always have security weaknesses.” We use email because we don't have a choice and everyone agrees it won't be displaced tomorrow.
Review of SpiderOak encrypted online storage
Right or wrong, Edward Snowden has become the poster child for online privacy. He has been adamant that anyone interested in true online security should stay away from the name brand online services : Dropbox, Facebook, Google, etc. Trust No One Security Before we talk about SpiderOak, this is a good time to write about TNO (Trust No One Security model). This is a philosophy that dictates that anytime security is needed, strong encryption must be applied and the keys to that encryption must be kept in the hands of the user.
Why you need a Glo-toob LED powered Glow Stick
Each year, I test hundreds of new and different items that compete to find a place in my everyday carry kit (EDC). To be clear, my EDC is build for the urban environment and not wilderness survival. 4 years ago, I tested and fell in love with the Glo-toob lights and it has been part of my kit ever since. I just realized I have never written about it an wanted to share it with you. Why not use a cheap glow stick?
Encryption isn't just for terrorists
It seems every time there is a terrorist attack, governments around the world use it as an opportunity to chip away at encryption. The latest attack was the UK Home secretary, Amber Rudd, who called WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption "completely unacceptable". She then adds that there should be “no hiding place for terrorists”. Encryption is publicly known mathematics and there is no way to put the "cat back in the bag". If encryption is banned for law abiding Joe and Jane public, it makes everyone less safe but terrorists will simply use their resources and public encryption libraries to write their own encrypted programs and do their evil work.
Your ISP is always watching, tracking and profiling you
The media loves stories about how Google, Facebook and Microsoft are tracking users and profiling them. These stories sell papers and draw in eyeballs. What they don't tell you is that your ISP actually has more visibility into what you do online than any of those giant service providers. If you don't see what the big problem is, read this article : How Target knows you are pregnant through data analytics. You may not realize it but the bread crumbs you leave behind are incredibly valuable to marketers, insurers and anyone else interested in using psyops to trick you.
New US Border Control rules for Canadians
Since the tightening of US border entry rules, readers have been emailing asking: “What should I do when crossing the USA / Canada border?” Canadian readers (and non-US) travelers to the US wanted to know what the new tighter controls mean when crossing into the US. The first important truth most travelers need to accept is that "entering another country is a privilege and not a right". Although the controls may have tightened a bit, they haven't changed materially.
The hidden dangers of using public WIFI
There are plenty of reasons to love WIFI (over wireless). It's free, fast and usually reliable. Often times though, its not a WIFI network you control (think coffee shop, retail store, mall, fast food joint, etc). Sure WIFI is ubiquitous but most of it is controlled by someone else which means is could and should be considered a hostile environment. “WIFI is a hacker playground” Man In The Middle Attack A Man In The Midle (MITM) attack is an oldie but goodie.
Invizbox GO Review
As we learn more about how much data the intelligence community collects and what their capabilities are (Vault7), it reinforces the mantra of having good security hygiene. If you weren't using VPN while on (untrusted) WIFI connections, then you should be. I consider untrusted any WIFI network I don't directly control. I even use VPN (normally) when on LTE because I don't trust my wireless carrier. VPN hardware galore Appliances properly designed and maintained should make most tasks easier and safer.
The Workflow IOS Automation app is now free
Automation can be help with simple tasks like converting a webpage to PDF or can become a complex monster saving you hundreds of hours a year. Until the Workflow app came to IOS, true automation was an Android only benefit. The $5 app is now permanently free because Apple acquired them. The Workflow app has been around for a couple of years and is a distant cousin (functionally) to IFTTT. It allows users to string together a series of actions, tasks, conditions and inputs and perform all kinds of useful tasks.
What the CIA Vault7 Wikileak really means for consumers
“Wikileaks Unveils ‘Vault 7’: “The Largest Ever Publication Of Confidential CIA Documents”; Another Snowden Emerges” — Zerohedge “It includes software that could allow people to take control of the most popular consumer electronics products used today, claimed WikiLeaks.” — independent.co.uk “Surprise, everyone, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) allegedly has the means to hack everyday electronics. ” — techradar.com Yes Wikileaks released a very large chunk of CIA information dubbed Vault7 that explains some of the hacking capabilities of the US intelligence service vis-a-vis consumer electronics.
My Everyday Carry Pen (EDC) - TI Arto Review
A question I receive regularly is about what makes up my EDC kit. The first article I wanted to publish was about my pen. This is no ordinary pen. It is a magical pen that accepts over 200 different types of ink refills (roller-ball, ballpoint or D1). It is a beautiful pen made from aircraft grade titanium, which makes it super durable, light and incredibly beautiful. I have used hundreds of pens from a cheap BIC all the way to an exclusive Montblanc.
Why I left Evernote
I have been an Evernote user since September 26 2008 (8 years 5 months 8 days). Many of those years were spent as a paying premium customer, but at the end of 2016, I decided it was time to leave. I wanted to share why I am leaving and my plans to replace it. The Evernote I loved From the very beginning, Evernote was a wonderful company to support. It was this scrappy upstart that was committed to building a "
Google allows you to receive 50MB email attachments
I've been a Google GMAIL user from the start and get excited when Google releases new features. The sultan of search has increased the inbound attachment limit to 50MB (from 25MB). Outbound attachment size is still capped at 25MB. “Sending and receiving attachments is an important part of email exchanges. While Google Drive offers a convenient way to share files of any size, sometimes you need to receive large files as direct email attachments. So starting today, you will be able to receive emails of up to 50MB directly.
CRTC prevents Sugar Mobile from operating on the Rogers network
Canadians don't have a lot of wireless connectivity choices and this sad reality is reflected in the high prices we pay. I have previously written about Sugar Mobile and their not for everyone mediocre but cheap offering. Today they have been dealt a blow by the CRTC (read the CRTC ruling here). The CRTC ordered Sugar Mobile to stop using the Rogers network (improperly) within 50 days. “Ice Wireless has improperly allowed the end-users of its mobile virtual network operator Sugar Mobile Inc.
Toronto's KnowRoaming partners with TCL Alcatel for SIMFREE global phone
Related Articles: Free unlimited video calling when you travel KnowRomaing cuts mobile costs when travelling At Mobile World Congress KnowRoaming (a Toronto based telecom company) has announced a partnership with global handset producer TCL Communications. “The integration of our SoftSIM in Alcatel’s Pop 4-6 4G, A2 XL, and A3 XL handsets gives Alcatel’s customers a seamless way to stay connected and use their device as if they were at home” — Gregory Gundelfinger, CEO KnowRoaming Three upcoming Alcatel handsets will have the KnowRoaming SoftSim embedded in the phones.
Armenia and Christianity
Armenia is a country located in the southern Caucasus region. Christianity is said to have first arrived in Armenia in the year 301 AD, making it one of the oldest Christian nations in the world. The Armenian king Tiridates III was converted to Christianity by St Gregory the Illuminator after being tortured and imprisoned by the king himself. St Gregory is also credited with curing the king of a debilitating illness. Christianity then quickly spread throughout Armenia and became the country's national religion.
Canada has 12th fastest wireless networks
OpenSignal uses its millions of mobile users to map and test global wireless connectivity and they just released their latest global review summary. The 2 main takeaways are that wireless connectivity speeds are improving globally and users are still leveraging WIFI when available. Canada is the only western country to reach 20Mbps wireless speeds, making us the 12th best in the world. Our wireless may be expensive but at least it ranks well for performance. As expected, South Korea has kept its crown as the king of wireless speeds.
Roam Mobility launches USA Monthly Plans
I've written about Roam Mobility before: Real World testing and Review of the Roam Mobility Service Roam Mobility now has US 4G LTE Service Roam Mobility Breeze unlocked GSM phone review Roam Mobility released new plans Comparing T-Mobile's Tourist plan with Roam Mobility Roam Mobility offers competitive US roaming for Canadians Today Roam Mobility is launching new monthly plans that include unlimited talk, text and data. It is a middle of the ground offering between their day plans and their 3-month snowbird ones.
5 best Random Password Generators
1 - Random.org Random.org has been one of my favorite sites for a long time. It uses atmospheric noise to generate its randomness which is much better than the logical pseudo-random generators used by many sites and service. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/05954edbbc.jpg" alt=""> You choose the password parameters you need and it generates wonderfully random passwords to use with your password manager of choice. Link 2 - Symantec Identity Safe Symantec has been a mainstay of the security market since the 90s and they bought a company called PCTools (and its Secure Password Generator).