Technology & Business
You can pickup a Blackberry PRIV for $299
Blackberry is one of the few Android devices where users are receiving regular security updates. You can pickup an unlocked AT&T version of the Blackberry PRIV for $US299 on eBay. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/991f3402f3.jpg" alt=""> This is a fantastic price for this device. It is the same price as the new DTEK50 but offers a larger screen and a physical keyboard. Great medium performance phone with a physical keyboard. Source : eBay
Samsung Note 7 to come bundled with McAfee security
Itell Security (formerly McAfee) announced that the Samsung Note 7 will come bundled with McAfee VirusScan mobile security. The press release claims "Samsung customers can enjoy better protection from more diverse and sophisticated threats in mobile world." Truth be told, I do not advocate using an antivirus on Android smartphones but you have to ensure you don't break any of the built in security features (like side loading apps). To me, this looks like the kind of bundling cash grab we see in the PC space (manufacturers get $1-$5 to bundle an app in the base image helping make the device a bit more profitable).
Review of JLAB Epic 2 bluetooth sport headphones
Introduction We are a couple of weeks away (probably) from the announcement of the next iPhone and rumors are swirling about the headphone jack being ejected. This means you will have to buy Lightning port headphones or Bluetooth (my vote is Bluetooth for everyday use). Who wants wired headphones that get tangled and caught on things? What attracted me to the JLAB Epic 2 was the promise of 12 hour battery life and a secure fit. Until this review, the most secure fitting headphones I have ever tried are the Jaybird ones (Sprint and X2).
Google Photos Video Ad shows the Issue of Running our of Space
This isn't a news worthy item but it does visually show the struggle many iPhone users face daily while running out of space.
Review of Sugar Mobile Canadian cell phone provider
As a Canadian, I wish we had more mobile phone competition to fuel innovation and drive down prices. Starting a new cell phone provider is expensive. You need licenses, towers and lots of equipment & people. Sugar Mobile is a Canadian mobile phone competitor that wants to use VOIP technology to "disrupt the mobile marketplace". Sugar Mobile leverages the VOIP infrastructure of its parent company Iristel and the cell phone roaming agreements of sister company Ice Wireless. The claim to fame is unlimited North American VOIP calling for $19 a month (which includes 200MB a month of 3G data anywhere in North America).
Hey Siri Cheat Sheet
All digital assistants are complicated creatures that force you to learn a new query language. Siri is no exception. It can do a mind numbing number of activities. How do you remember everything it can accomplish? A new site called Hey-Siri.io currently lists over 480 different commands with all of the different variations and permutations available neatly bundled in 35 categories. You can filter results with IOS or MAC and English or German. So far it looks like the site author will maintain the site as Apple adds new abilities to Siri.
Microsoft PIX is an AI powered free IOS Camera App
You can download Microsoft PIX from the Apple app store now for free. The claim to fame (according to Microsoft) is that it uses artificial intelligence to take the best possible shot every time without forcing the user to fiddle with any settings. This computer voodoo is possible because the app takes 10 pictures every time you press the shutter button. Some right before you pressed the button and some right after. It uses data from every shot to build the best possible image (Apple's default app also does this very same thing but it seems Microsoft is pushing the technology a little bit more).
Google deploying SPAM call protection to some Nexus devices
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] Nexus One image by closari used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Google's quest to squash SPAM isn't stopping with email. The sultan of search is now pushing an update to some Nexus and Google One devices to warn users when they receive a potentially SPAM call. The feature allows you to block the number or report it. The Use caller ID & spam protection will be turned on by default. The feature was launched with a post on the Nexus Google+ forum.
Company tests Drone delivery in Canada
As a Canadian, I read about cool new services available to our American friends with envy. Some eventually make their way north but many do not. When I read about Amazon testing its drone delivery service in the US, I was jealous. The thought of ordering a product and not having to wait 2-3 days is incredibly enticing and would dramatically change the way I shop. Imagine my excitement when I heard about a Toronto based company called Drone Delivery Canada that reportedly conducted a success test of its drone delivery service.
LinkNYC is the ultimate phonebooth replacement for modern cities and I want it
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“3586”] Image by Edward Blak used under creative commons license [/caption] See that sleek advertising billboard? It's actually a modern day replacement for the 1960's telephone booth. Meet LinkNYC. Each big beautiful device delivers 1 gigabit of glorious WIFI(serving hundreds of WIFI users simultaneously). To deliver this much high speed goodness, CityBridge is laying thousands of miles of fiber-optic cable). Since it is replacing the old style phone-booth's it's only fitting that the LinkNYC station also allow anyone to make free unlimited calls to anywhere in the US thanks to a deal with Vonage.