Technology & Business
Samsung may unveil a Chromebook Pro
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Image courtesy of ChromebookUnboxed [/caption] Chromebooks are a divisive discussion. Some people love them while others consider them wasteful spending. I see more and more people embracing them and the truth is Chromebooks are a fantastic solution for the general public. They offer zero-maintenance use and no worries about malware or virus'. Samsung, the electronic giant known for its fire creating Note7 line, is about to release a new Chromebook pro. So say the writers at ChromeUnboxed .
What's the best SD card?
SD Cards are everywhere. Whether you are using them in your video gear or camera, choosing the right one can make all the difference in the world.I needed to find the best SD Card I could buy and am sharing it with you. In tech, there is always something better if you are willing to pay more. So what I was looking for was the best value proposition. What to look for in a SDCard ? When evaluating any external memory, you will typically use the same evaluation criteria :
How to watch Apple's iPhone event tomorrow
It's that time of the year again when we all gather around our web browser and watch Apple's masterfully choreographed launch of the next iPhone (we believe the iPhone 7). It is safe to assume that with the Phone, they will also launch some ancillary products like the Watch or maybe even a new Macbook Pro. Regardless of what they launch, you should be planning to watch the livestream starting on September 7 at 10 am PT (1pm ET). Browser You can go to the Apple Events page and watch the livestream there.
The Trackr Bravo Review
The Trackr Bravo is a small watch battery sized Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) device that promises to help you locate your lost or misplaced items. The device costs about $US29 each and you attach it to your keys, put it in a bag, wallet or anything else you may want to locate (think pet collar). You can use the Trackr apps to locate the item on a map and make it ring (if you are within Bluetooth range). You can also press the tiny button on the Trackr and make the app ring (even if the phone is set to silent) to locate it.
HTC Desire 530 Android Smartphone review
Customer Reading most online device review sites will make you dizzy. It seems reviewers (professional and amateur alike) are chasing the next big phone. They want you to buy the beefiest phone currently available with crazy specs and a crazy price. Truth is that not everyone needs the latest and greatest, especially when it typically costs $800-1000. I know a bunch of readers purchased the Motorola MotoG 2015 last year when I recommended it and this phone competes in that space.
How Android N will save you money on your monthly data plan
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2467”] Image by Gord Webster used under creative commons license [/caption] Android N (Nougat) has a handful of new very useful features but nothing catches my attention like a feature that can save you cold hard cash. This witchcraft is a result of a feature called Data Saver. One thing most mobile carriers are good at is charging you top dollar for any data overage you incur. This is true whether you are at home and especially abroad.
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.
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.
Are Apple's best days behind it?
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“1200”] Image by Dominik Fusina used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Apple stock took a tumble even though the company made boatloads and boatloads of cash last quarter. Why? Because some investors believe Apple's profitable run has lasted too long and obviously it must eventually come to an end. They saw the reduced growth rate in iPhone sales as a bad omen. Unfortunately this is not how the world works and it isn't how statistics work. This misguided belief actually has a term and its called the "
Major shift in loyalty incentives needed for programs to survive
Users have a love or hate relationship with loyalty programs. You either love them, because they deliver amazing value, or hate them because you think they’re a worthless scam. A 2014 McKinsey report showed that companies with loyalty programs (55 publicly traded North American & European companies were surveyed) had the same or less growth than those that had no loyalty programs : 4.4 vs 5.5% per year since 2012. Companies with strong visible loyalty programs seemed to also have EDITDA margins 10% less than companies without loyalty programs in the same sector.
Pushbullet takes customers hostage
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“1200”] Image by PSParro used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Pushbullet is an immensely popular multi-platform (Chrome, Firefox, Windows, Mac, Android, IOS) app that allows you to push content from one device to another one (or multiple other ones). As a free service, it quickly became a de facto app on most power-user devices. Watch any technology podcast and you are sure to hear at least one of the hosts talk about it every now and then. It has over 170,000 installs on the Google Play store.