The Kii is the always with you iPhone charger

There a hundreds of tools you can hang on your keychain (USB drive, multi-tool) and now I would like to recommend that you add the Kii to your keychain. The Kii is a creative way to make sure you always have a charger with you all the time. 

It looks like a small USB drive with a USB connector on one end and dock connector or lightning connector on the other end. The product is made of a durable soft plastic

 

Source

New Google Maps coming to IOS soon

Google is the sultan of search and the master of maps. To ensure it keeps its number one position in maps, it released a completely refreshed maps interface for Android devices a couple of days ago. 
If you are on an IOS device, you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. What's new? A clean new location browsing interface which makes it easier and more visually appealing to find restaurants, retail stores and more.
The new version will also bring a WAZE-like traffic condition identification and rerouting system. The new Google Maps for IOS will require IOS 6 (which over 95% of all IOS users have so this shouldn't be an issue).
The New Google Maps brings a tablet optimized version.
 

Dropbox competing with iCloud

Dropbox held its first developer conference and surprised attendees by announcing that they have 175,000,000 users. The real  big news is something called the Dropbox Datastore API for developers.
The introduction paragraph in the announcement blog post says:
"Today, we're excited for you try out the beta release of the Datastore API — simple databases for your apps with Dropbox sync built-in! Use datastores to save your app's data — settings, contacts, or any other content that users create — and Dropbox will take care of all the syncing for you. People who use your Datastore-enabled app can be sure their information will always be up-to-date and available, no matter what device or platform they use."
You would be forgiven if you thought this sounds a lot like iCloud because it does. It is a direct attack on iCloud but brings many advantages like cross-platform/cross-app synchronization. I am happy when I see companies competing to provide better and mroe innovative technologies.
I love the concept of Dropbox but find them too expensive. If they cut their prices by 50%, I would sign-up in a second.

What info does Rogers shares with the Government

With all of the hoopla around Prism in the US, many Canadians may be wondering what Rogers' policy is about sharing customer data with the government.

Here is their position:

 

 

 I've reached out to Telus, Bell and Fido & am waiting for their responses

 

Single Malt... toothpicks?

Its time to stop picking at your teeth with your fingernails. There is a better way to get those food remnants out from between your teeth with something called a toothpick. But toothpicks have always been so boring: being a small, flat and flavourless piece of wood. 
Now Danesonhas finally released toothpicks worthy of being called exciting. Daneson sells toothpicks soaked in expensive, tasty and glorious single malt scotch. As you keep these adulty toothpicks in your mouth, the wonderfully delicate taste of the scotch slowly releases into your mouth where you will hopefully be refined enough to enjoy its valuable gift.
Daneson describes the scotch as :
"A recipe with barrel aged Islay single malt scotch from a 200 year old distillery is what makes our Single Malt Nº16 special. "
Each box contains at least 12 toothpicks and each order (costing $215.76 USD) comes with 24 bottles.
Feel free to order a couple of kits here.

Designer approved pen fits in any room

Every desk has a coffee cup with a bunch of pens that ruin your carefully manicured decor. Wouldn't it be great if you could keep your pens readily availble and make them visually pleasant? Your prayers have been answered with these functional yet somewhat ZEN looking glade of grass pens (called Pooleaf). 

The pens comes in 3 beautiful shades of green. Each pen is $5 so be prepared to spend $70-$100 to make your grasspens to look like a nice bunch in that vase.

You can buy it now here.

Apple App store giving away lots of premium apps for free

To mark its 5th aniversary, the Apple iTunes AppStore is giving away a bunch of (normally) premium IOS apps. Get these while the getting is good. 

Nokia to stream its 41 million reasons event July 11

Nokia has announced that it will livestream its big new york 41 million reasons event. I expect this event to be the worldwide lauch of the much rumored EOS Windows Phone with its massive 41 megapixel PureView sensor. 

I  love smartphone photography so this is very exciting news. I just wish (unrealistic I know) that Nokia would release this with Android.

Nokia's blog post is here.

CIBC may lose Aerosplan program to TD

Aeroplan started as Air Canada's frequent flyer program and has matured into a full featured loyalty programs with hundreds of partners. CIBC has been the banking partner for many years which means it can offer its customers Aeroplan points for using a credit card, getting a mortgage, etc.

The CBC is reporting that CIBC may be looking to create its own loyalty program and that TD may have bid $100M to become the new Aeroplan banking partner.

Source

 

Amsterdam is home to the only one person restaurant

Humans are social creatures and we dread eating alone (unless you are on a business trip of course). 
A new restaurant in Amsterdam called Eenmaal was designed [from the ground up] for single person dining. 
“Eenmaal is a restaurant like any other restaurant, but one thing is totally different: you only find tables for one person here. Eenmaal is an exciting experiment for those who never go out dining alone, as well as an appealing opportunity for those who often eat alone at restaurant.” - Marina van Goor, social designor
This is a social experiment as much as it is a restaurant. It will be open tomorrow (Thursday) for 2 days only in the Bos en Lommer district.

Dell Promoting Windows 7 PCs (instead of Win 8)

It's funny how Dell is promoting Windows 7 PCs instead of Windows 8.
I guess they know what is likely to sell more

84% of Kickstarter projects ship late

Kickstarter is the most popular crowd-sourcing site and since its inception of 2009 has funded $376 million dollars for 34,000 projects. For product inventors, Kickstarter is the promised land where you they can fund their dreams quickly.
CNN Money conducted a review of the 50 most popular Kickstarter projects and found that things get ugly, very very ugly.
  • 8 of those 50 projects meet their delivery commitment deadlines
  • 15 of those 50 projects had not shipped yet (very very late)
  • 27 of those 50 projects were delivered late (usually 2 months but some were as late as a year)
Unfortunately it seems Kickstarter is more interested in taking its 5% cut and moving on rather than helping project supporters get fair treatment. Many analysts (yours truly included) have been asking Kickstarter to take a much more active role to ensure projects are delivered on time or to implement penalties for late deliveries.
Don't forget that the worst case scenario is that your project may never actually materialize and the project creator has no obligation to refund your investment. Unlike a credit card or Paypal, you have no claim of refund for abandoned projects.
My hope is that eventually enough people will be aware of these shady situations and will take their money elsewhere forcing Kickstarter to re-evaluate its position. I think consummer protection should be at the forefront of its mission statement.

Carbon Monoxide detection iPhone case

We all know its a good idea to protect your iPhone with a good smartphone case.
We all know Carbon Monoxide is bad and can kill you (its colorless, odorless and very deadly. 
Someone has had the idea of combining both into one product. The case detects carbon monoxide and can alert you via sound and vibrations. 
I love everything new and shiny but this is where I draw the line.
Source: here

Air Canada iOS app now supports in-flight streaming entertainment

Air Canada released an update to its IOS app (iPhone and iPad) to add its new low cost carrier (Rouge) and customers will be able to stream in-flight entertainment to your device on selected Rouge aircrafts when you connect to the planes on-board WIFI network. 

Introducing player, Air Canada rouge's In-Flight Entertainment System

Air Canada rouge is redefining the way you experience in-flight entertainment with player. You can now stream movies, TV shows and music directly to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch! Simply connect to the wireless network on Air Canada rouge flights to get started.

Air Canada App for iPad
You can download the app from the iTunes store here or you the appstore update on your device.

Clean your smartphone with your shirt

We all know that the 2 certainties in life are death and taxes. We can now add a third certainty and it is screen smudges. Now high end VoyVoy brand Oxford shirts with a specially designed microsuede patch built into the front shirt tail. 
Can you think of a better feature a shirt can offer?
You can buy the shirt from the Voyvoy website here.

Chinese anti-pervert protection stockings

Can you think of something more unattractive than very hairy legs? Well an entrepreneurial Chinese group is selling "hairy leg stockings" for girls meant to keep perverts away (and countless other people).
Keep this in mind when travelling to China. Maybe someone will import these to North America?
source: article 

The biggest party cup you'll ever see

A party just isn't a party without disposable plastic cup ( fill with your product of choice). Now Fred Flare is selling a 72 oz "disposable" red cup (normal plastic cups hold 16 oz) to make your party that much better. 
This gigantic party cup is made from ceramic so it will offer many years of party use (unless you drop it of course).

Videotron to offer free WIFI and charging stations at Just for Laughs

Just for laughs is an incredibly popular festival in Montreal and is scheduled to take place July 13-28 this year. We learn that Videotron is back as a key sponsor. The most exciting result of this sponsorship for a tech enthusiast is that they will be offering free wifi and free charging stations. 
"To help offer the best possible entertainment experience, Videotron will install mobile phone charging stations at the Festival site. Festival-goers will be able to recharge any type of mobile device (Android, BlackBerry, etc.) and access free Wi-Fi at the stations."
You can read the press release here.

iPhone 5s may sport an A7 processor

As soon as Apple finished announcing IOS 7 at WWDC, rumors started swirling about the iPhone 5s. We all expect Apple to announce the next iPhone sometime near the end of September. Based on past history, everyone expects the iPhone 5s to be a small incremental upgrade (compared to the iPhone 5) with a faster processor, better GPU and a slightly improved camera.
We have seen a slow trickle of rumored part photo leaks and so far we have seen a bigger battery and a dual-color LED. Now a new leak claims the iPhone 5s will come with a brand new Apple A7 processor built by Samsung competitor TSMC.

 

The iPhone 5s is on the left.

Pebble Android app brings Google Hangout Notifications

With Google moving all of its communication tools to the new Google Hangouts system, Pebble has updated its Android control app to provide notifications for it on its smartwatch. 

If you own a Pebble and use Android, download the update now from the Google Play store.

Change log

 New in 1.8.2:

  • Support for Google Hangouts
  • Various stability improvements
  • Enhancements for third-party app developers