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 :

• Speed
• Reliability
• Warranty
• Price

Many android phones will test the SDCard  speed while preparing it for use and will warn you if it is believed to be too slow. A slow SDCard can make the entire phone slow and sluggish. Also you should be saving your photos and videos directly to the memory card so a slow card mean slow click to click speeds.

The smartphone has become the primary camera for many users and since you are storing your important memories (photos and videos), reliability is important. Nothing frustrates more than losing your memories because of a technical issue. SDCards have become incredibly reliable but choosing a strong brand is important to protecting these memories.

Electronics die. Sometimes an SDCard will live for 10 years other times it will die within 90 days of first use. You just can't tell so it is important to chose a product that is backed by the manufacturer.

Price... Price...Price... When choosing the best SDCard, price was an important factor. You could always pay more to get better (faster, bigger, etc) but most people want a card that is good enough.

The tests

I tested 12 of the best known brands (Including Toshiba, Transcend, Samsung, PNY, Lexar, and some lesser known Amazon brands). 

The SanDisk Extreme Pro came up on top every time. It tested as the fastest,  when reading and writing from a desktop, which means your camera will spend less time writing and your post photo workflow will be much faster. 

Most modern cameras will take pictures faster than SD Cards can record them (typical dSLRs save pictures at 200MB/s and some point and shoots in the low 100MB/s.) Obviously the faster the card the faster your camera will be able to offload pictures from its internal memory to the card thus preventing the dreaded slow shutter to shutter issue.

As for videos, most device record at between 30-100 MB/s, so you should be ok with this card even at 4K resolution. 

What I especially liked about it is its weather proofing. I snapped pictures then dunked the card in water (outside of the camera of course) for 1 minute. Lat the card dry up and it worked like a charm. I often use my Olympus Though waterproof camera so if the unthinkable occurred, I would likely be able to save my images (at least).

SanDisk also bundles its cards with a limited Lifetime warranty. 

My second pic would be the Samsung PRo Plus (if the SanDisk is not available).

How many SD Cards should I buy?

The other question I get asked is regarding what size of card to buy. I typically recommend that you carry multiple cards and rotate between them. Nothing would ruin your day more than losing all your pictures because of a malfunction. Buy the largest size you can afford as long as you can buy at least one-2 extra cards of the same capacity.

Most of my cards are 32-64GB in size and on a multi day trip, I will typically have 1 card per day. If the unthinkable happens, I only lose 1 day of memories. 

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. As long as you do it from an IOS device running IOS 7 or better, a Mac using the Safari browser of a Windows PC using the Edge browser (this last one still perplexes me). 

After the fact

If you miss the event (and you really have no excuse to miss it), then Apple will make the livestream available later on the same link of via the Apple Events podcast channel (which should work in most podcatchers).

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. 

The final trick the Trackr Bravo can perform is initiating a separation alarm (if you enable it). As an example, you can set the separation alarm to on when in a restaurant so if you walk away without your keys, it will ring. 

The last promise Trackr makes is that if you do lose an item and it comes within range of any other user with the Trackr app open (even in the background), you get a location ping for your lost device. 

Its main competitor is the Tile and I'll also draw some comparisons. 

Let's get physical

I bought a 3 pack from Best Buy Canada for $50 (was on special - regular price was $79). It is a small plastic disc that measures 1.2 inches in diameter and is 0.2 inches thick. It weighs a mere 0.3 ounces. 

It is smaller and lighter than the Tile. 

The Trackr Bravo has a small ring on top to attach it to a keyring and comes with round double sided tape if you want to attach it to something like a bicycle or other belonging. 

There is a Trackr logo on one side (in the middle) and a small pairing / alert button under it.
I paired it with my trusty iPhone 6s Plus using the Trackr apps and it took all of 30 seconds. 
The device is expected to run for one year on the included CR1616 battery (which is user replaceable). Unfortunately my 6 Trackr Bravos came with dead batteries. I sent a support request via email (following the directions on their site) and never received a reply.

This is my first big issue. I sent them a tweet and 2 emails. Nothing. So I bought replacement batteries from Amazon which cost me $20 (for 10 batteries). This was my first annoyance. We are not over 1.5 months since I made my support requests providing proof of purchase and I have not received a response.

The apps did not warn me that the batteries were low (even though it does provide battery level in the device settings tab). I was able to paid my devices but they soon stopped responding. This is problematic if you batteries are low when you misplace or lose your item.

Tile does not allow you to replace the batteries but does warn you when the batteries are running low.

Because the Trackr has a user replaceable battery, it is not waterproof. My 3 pack included a plastic sleeve to make it more water resistant but this is a cheap flimsy plastic and my wife's Trackr fell out somewhere (before I had a chance to replace its battery) and we couldn't find it. How ironic. We lost the Trackr which is supposed to help us find lost items.

Usability

The separation alert (if enabled) does warn you if one of the paired items goes missing. I had a trackr in my wallet and enabled separation alert. When I purposely left the wallet with a friend and walked away in a restaurant, the alarm on my phone rang. The opposite also worked. I took my wallet and left my phone, my wallet started ringing. 

Here is my second problem with The Trackr Bravo : The alarm is very weak. 

There is an alarm and it does work but you may have trouble hearing it in a noisy restaurant. You can also set a custom alert tone using any MP3 on your device.

The Tile has a much louder alarm that makes locating lost items easier.

If you press the black pairing button the Trackr, it will sound the alarm on your phone (to help you locate it) and you can ring the trackr token from your phone's Trackr App. 

As a test, a colleague hid my keys somewhere in the office (which is large enough to be out of bluetooth range). As soon as I opened the app, it showed me the last location if key the Trackr token was in but showed it greyed out (aka out of range). The bottom of the map screen shows the Bluetooth strength which is used to indicate how close or far the token is from the phone.

The Tile and Trackr are about the same here but the Tile has a more granular strength meter which is more useful. 

As I walked around the office (and got closer to my token) the app started to show I was getting closer and switched the dull grey location to a green one. I then force the alarm (using the app) and I heard it sound but it was so low I had trouble identifying the location.

The Trackr says the alarm is 85db but it sounds much more muted to me. The Tile has a 90 db alarm but the sound is sharper and easier to identify. 

I know the trackr website says a community of trackr users will help me find my lost items but I couldn't figure out how this works. A tweet requesting clarification just said "It works automatically". What does that mean? How? How do I ask the network of user to "search" for my lost item. Not much information is provided and Twitter support was less than useful. Again an email to support requesting help for this feature went unanswered. Surprise... Surprise...

Conclusion

Having used it for close to 1.5 months and having shared it with family, what do I think? It is worth the investment? The idea is good and I love the fact the battery is user replaceable but it had a tone of shortcomings. 

My biggest complaint is the lack of response from support. Why did I have to buy replacement batteries for something I just picked up? Why is documentation so scarce and features like the global lost and found not clear?

The alarm is low and the location information is often too wishy washy to be useful. They have a home pluggable device called the Atlas which is supposed to help you locate the tokens with more accuracy but I couldn't get my hands on one to test it.

 If you check out the Amazon reviews from verified buyers, you will see that many echo the same complaints I had. Poor battery life. Poor support. Low alarm. Slow reconnect when you do get close to the token. So my conclusion is to pass on The Trackr Bravo. Maybe the next iteration will be good enough to justify the $US29 price tag but this version certainly isn't.

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. It is a decent mid-range phone for someone that wants a basic smartphone to browse the web, watch videos, listen to music and read the occasional PDF or Amazon book.

And it can be purchased online from HTC unlocked with minimal bloatware.

Specifications

• 5" 720p display in the front
• 1.1 GHZ quad-core Snapdragon 210 processor
• 1.5 GB of RAM
• 16 GB of internal storage
• Micro-SD card expansion (up to 2TB)
• 8MP camera in back
• 5MP camera on the front
• 2200 mAH battery

If you want a slight spec bump, you can always opt for its bigger brother the Desire 626 which comes with some small and welcome improvements.

Let's get physical

The Desire 530 is a mid-range budget smartphone with a polycarbonate body and has a design reminiscent of previous desire phones. HTC is using a unique "pain splash" on the back they call MicroSplash. Microsplash is said to be unique for each phone and is a way to make the phone look unique and hip. 

You can add lanyards since the phone comes with a lanyard loop hole (a grey one is provided in the box). 

The power button is orange and nicely textured which means you can identify it with feel only. The plastic volume rockers feel very plastic but are functional and tactile.

The SIM and SDCard slots are behind a plastic flap (on the left hand side) and the flap feels flimsy and I was worried about breaking it. Ultimately being careful, It came off and was put back on without a hitch but you have to be careful. 

HTC is known for its impressive sound quality. Although the HTC Desire 530 has 2 speaker grills on the front, the top one is the earpiece (for phone calls) and the bottom is the speaker. This is where I had high expectations. For me, good sound is a signature feature of HTC devices and here I was a bit disappointed. Whether I was playing OGG, MP3, local videos or clips streamed from youtube, the internal built-in speaker sounded very tinny with little bass (even for a smartphone).

The screen has a black border which makes the screen feel bigger than it actually is. I handed the phone to a bunch of friends and colleagues and many of them liked the smaller size of the phone. Many preferred the easy to hold one handed usability of this device compared to the gargantuan monsters being peddled by Samsung and Apple. I'm a big guy with big hands so I prefer a slightly bigger screen on my everyday carry devices. There is an option in the settings that allows you to hide the navigation buttons so you recover some extra space that way.

The screen is 720p and ultimately this isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lower display resolution means you should get better battery life (which is more important to the average user) but don't expect to use this phone with Google Cardboard. Additionally even at full brightness, the colors left a lot to be desired but it isn't any worse than the Motorola MotoG. 

The HTC Desire 530 allows you to use the SDCard as flexstorage (aka Adoptable storage) on Android Marshmallow. This means you can add the SDCard capacity to the built in 16 GBs... well... sort of.. kind of.. This is an Android issue. Apps aren't all automatically copied on the SDCard (even if you use a fast one) and there were times when I filled the internal memory and the adoptable storage had GB of free space yet the phone kept giving me out of storage space warnings.My recommendation for all Android devices is to use SDCards as external storage to host large collections of music, movies and pictures.

Having used the HTC Desire 530 as my primary device for a couple of days, I noticed that there was slight lag when browsing a web page, scrolling a home screen with a couple of widgets. Opening apps takes a bit longer than I would hope and the phone slows down a bit with multiple apps are open in the background. 

I tried playing a few games and the experience was ok. Strategy and role playing games worked well once loaded but more complex games like car racing either weren't supported or didn't work well. 

Using the phone like a typical mid range consumer (some emails, some web browsing, some music with the screen off and a handful of calls) meant the device lasted a full day (8am - 9pm). This is probably the result of the 7209 screen and lower end processor. As long as you don't play too many games, the device should get you through the day. A clear win. 

The stock camera app is basic with selfie, normal, panorama, HDR modes and video modes. I could complain that it isn't very customization but most users want to click a button and take a picture. Pictures taken in low light indoors or outdoors come our noisy and grainy. Images taken outside in good light are flat and not very engaging. I'm sure HTC can improve this with some software tweaks. 

Software

The phone I am holding in my hands is running Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 with the June 2016 security updates. Security updates make me happy. HTC has layered their SenseUI on top of Android and it will be familiar to anyone that has used an HTC phone in recent years.

SenseUI has the vertical scrolling app drawer, blinkfeed and a relatively clean user interface. 

I then loaded my Google tools such as the Google Now Launcher and Google Keyboard.. which is how I prefer to use Android devices. SenseUI isn't bad but nothing is quite as good as vanilla android.

The phone I received had no bloatware... None... Nada... Ziltch... Way to go HTC. This is something that can't be overstated. I love clean phones and love the fact chose this route. They could have made some extra cash by crapping up the phone with garbage apps but they didn't. Thank you HTC!

I asked HTC PR 2 questions:

1. Will HTC delivery Android Nougat to the Desire 530? If so when?
   "We have not made any announcement re Nougat to HTC Desire 530."
2. What is HTC's commitment to delivering Android Security Updates?
   "We are aligning resources around our most popular products where the most customers will benefit, and the roll-out may vary by regions and operators."
    

Conclusion

So what is my overall verdict? I think this is a decent phone for the price ($US179 or $CAD199). I know many people that have smartphones without any additional apps installed and that are looking for something affordable and usable. The HTC Desire 530 is a decent option for these people. 

A second market could be travelers that want a second unlocked phone that can be used with a local SIM at the destination.

My other gripe is that we don't know if the Desire 530 will receive Android N (Nougat) or how regularly it will receive security updates. Security updates are more critical for me than an upgrade to Nougat.

In the above 2015 presentation, security researchers broke the secrecy around a protocol called SS7 and explained how a technically proficient user can "break it" and easily compromise your mobile phone call data and text messages. Seeing an opportunity, 60 minutes produced a popular segment  that scared viewers and I still receive emails from readers asking if this is "a real thing".

Let's take a look at this together.

What is SS7?

SS7 is short for Signalling System 7 and is a carrier interconnect technology that allows one mobile carrier to connect to another and send calls and SMS to each other. It allows allows you to roam on another carrier's network when travelling. It is an old (1975) technology developed before the world went security crazy and thus is has much more basic security built in.

What can hacker access?

A skilled hacker can use SS7 to gain a huge amount of insight into the victims use of a mobile device. It will allow him (masculine being used for simplicity) to listen in on phone calls, forward phone calls, collect call metadata, ability to intercept SMS messages and ability to track the phone. 

Think of all sites using SMS as a second factor authentication tool. Any bank, social network or other site using SMS to authenticate users are jeopardizing your security. Always choose another authentication option (other than SMS).

No one would be surprised if a government performed these types of tracking activities but SS7 makes it possible for anyone to do this.

Am I vulnerable to the SS7 hack?

Anyone using a smartphone (anywhere in the world) is vulnerable to the SS7 hack when using traditional mobile phone service (phone calls, SMS messages, etc), 

How can I protect myself from the SS7 hack?

If you don't use traditional mobile phone services, your information can't be hacked with SS7. The only way to protect yourself is to use alternatives (which in most cases are better anyway).

As an example, instead of sensing plain SMS messages, you an encrypted messaging service like WhatsApp, Apple Messages, Google Hangouts/Allo, or any other encrypted messenger. To be clear, each of these has its own security issues which can lead to compromise but they are immune to the SS7 attack. 

What about phone calls you ask? Many of the above text messaging alternatives also provide voice calling services which would also be immune to SS7 hacking because they use an encrypted data channel instead of the traditional mobile phone voice system. My favorite encrypted calling app is still Signal (which was even endorsed by Edward Snowden).

Preventing phone location tracking is more complicated. Anytime your phone is on, a network operator can track your location using triangulation. The only option here is to turn it off and maybe even store it in a Faraday cage bag (like the ShieldSak which I will review). A less abrupt technique (good but not perfect) is to turn off connectivity to the mobile network and only use WIFI.

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. It is true whether you are in Canada, the US or Hong Kong.

Most of the time users don't realize they busted their data cap until it's too late. Overage can happen because of excessive streaming (music or movies) but it can also happen because some apps aggressively update data in the background without you realizing it....

Google wants to help you tame the data monster intelligently. Instead of just reporting on data usage or cutting off data at a certain threshold, Data Saver can prevent background processes from downloading data when on a metered connection. 

Data Saver is a feature that users will have to enable but luckily it isn't an all or nothing option. By turning it on, it prevents almost all background apps from consuming metered data but you can add apps to a whitelist if you want.

There are some apps, by their very design, that must connect in the background to function (think of instant messaging apps, VOIP, etc). For these special cases, developers will be able to ask the user to be added to the whitelist during installation. 

Hopefully developers will make these Android N (Nougat) changes intelligently and modify the operation of their apps to minimize background data usage when they detect Data Saver is enabled but they are granted a slot on the coveted whitelist. Unfortunately we'll see some lazy developers just ask for the permission then continue as usual and hopefully users will uninstall those apps sending a strong signal to the developers.

As a Canadian, I am envious of my american friends on one of those beautiful Sprint or T-Mobile unlimited plans. They can ignore this new feature and continue guzzling huge amounts of glorious data.  For the rest of us, we should turn this feature on immediately. 

My main phone has been an iPhone since the iPhone 3G days (even though I always have other phones available). Until recently, IOS was still superior to Android but not anymore. With the latest changes introduced by Google in Android N (Nougat), I truly feel Android has become a more cutting edge platform and Data Saver is a clear example of that. Hopefully most of you are on devices that will eventually receive Android N. 

I can already see the emails flying in asking what devices will be upgraded. We won't know for sure until a manufacturer publishes a statement but here is my bet:

• Samsung - Expect most devices since the Samsung Note5/Galaxy S6 to eventually get updated.
• LG - LG G5 is probably the only one
• Motorola - All 2016 devices will get upgrade and probably the 2015 Moto G
• OnePlus - Expect the OnePlus 3 to eventually get updated but don't expect it soon. My guess is sometime mid next year.Don't expect other OnePlus devices to receive Android N
• ZTE - The ZTE Axon 7 seems to be a huge hit (I'm trying to get one to review). I expect it to receive an Android N update but like the OnePlus 3, I wouldn't expect it soon

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.

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

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). What's surprising is that Samsung would do this kind of bundling deal on its premium $800+ flagship smartphone.

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).

Sound Signature

The JLab Epic 2 in an in-ear style exercise Bluetooth headphone and the sound signature is clearly aligned with that target market. The sound is tuned to enhance bass (not as much as Monster or Beats headphones) to keep you pumped during your exercise session. If you are looking for a more neutral / balanced sound then this is not for you.

Design

The Epic 2 can be stealth (black version) or very flashy (blue/grey or teal). I opted for the blue/grey. 

You expect sports headphones to be able to handle a much higher level of abuse and the JLAB Epic 2 doesn't disappoint. The product is certified IPX5 which means you can rinse it off after a workout and it can handle sweat and light rain. Just make sure you leave it out to dry otherwise you will shorten the devices useful life.

IPX5 means it can handle water being sprayed on the product from any direction. It does not mean you can wash it with a pressure washer (won't protect from strong jets of water) and you can't dunk it (it is water resistant not water proof). No other major brand can come close to the protection offered by JLAB (not even the venerable Jaybird which labels its products only as sweat resistant).

The material directly around the headphone (aka the part that goes behind your ear) is more rigid which means it will hold a hook shape and stay in place. Couple this with 8 different types of eartips in different shapes & sizes and you are sure to get a very secure fit. 

The JLAB Epic 2 has a small control box that houses the battery, a flap covered USB charging port, a microphone and the usual buttons. Pressing the up/down arrow adjusts the volume. Pressing and holding them skip's or rewinds the song. Pressing and holding the middle multi function button turns the device on/off. Pressing and releasing the middle multi function button pauses the music. 

The antenna

JLAB has spend a lit of marketing space promoting their "RADICAL SKIP-FREE SOUND WITH BEACON™ SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY". I compared reception (or lack thereof) to different Bluetooth headphones from Jaybird, Monoprice, MPOW, Motorola and Beats. I tested it by holding the phone in different places:

• In my left/right hands
• In my left/right/back pants pockets
• In my dress shirt pocket
• In my shoulder laptop bag

Each test was performed with an iPhones 6s Plus and a Motorola Moto G (Android). I walked outside at least 5 minutes with each pair of headphones in each location. Does the JLAB Beacon signal technology make a difference? Not really. It worked perfectly where the others worked perfectly and it skipped where other products also skipped. 

Performance

I tested the audio quality with on device AAC high powered bass heavy songs and with FitRadio steamed mixes. The first thing I noticed was that the JLAB Epic 2 can get very loud, and that's a good thing. Even with a high bass songs (AAC & streamed) at maximum volume, I didn't notice any distortion. Testing music at more reasonable levels, the bass still stays strong. 

Using the song Africa by Toto (don't judge my music selection), you can hearthe bass enhanced tuning of the Epic 2 (compared to the other Bluetooth headphones). The only other pair with more extreme bass was the Beats (which has a sound signature I dislike).

Using opera, you can again hear how much it emphasizes the bass. This gave me an idea. I love listening to talk radio, podcasts and audiobooks. I realized the enhanced bass also enhances male voices, which made listening to these types of content very enjoyable. 

At no point during my testing did the music sound muddy, garbled or sub-par.

The Jaybird Sprint, Jaybird X2, MPow and Monoprice bluetooth headphones deliver a more neutral sound signature. 

Comparing the Jlab Epic to the Jlab Epic 2

If you already own the JLAB Epic, what does v2 bring to the table? It brings improved water resistance (IPX4 to IPX5). The circuit board in the control unit is now coated to protect the headphoneseven if moisture enters from the USB charging port through the flap. 

JLab also says the antenna is greatly improved but in my tests, I didn't notice it. 

The button arrangement is a little different (not good or bad just different).

The cable (connecting both ear buds) is coated in a matte feeling material JLAB says will minimize tangling and less rubbing sounds when you are working out. I can confirm that these statements are accurate. 

Jlab now includes 2 more tips in the original kit which could help if you had issues in the past. My ears are "normal" sized and I have never bought a pair of headphones that didn't fit.

The flaws

All Bluetooth headphones suffer from the fact that they add one more device you have to remember to charge. If you are forgetful, maybe opt for something with wires instead. JLab's EPIC 2 regularly delivered close to 12 hours of use per charge, which means it is much less likely to die during a workout [than most of its competitors] (Beats got less than 6 hours; Jaybird X2 got about 8 hours, MPow got less than 3).   

If you have large outer ears and deep ear canals, getting a tight fit might be difficult with the wrap behind ear design, but for most "normal" people, this isn't an issue. 

And that's it. I really had to think hard in order to find some flaws. This thing is well designed. 

Summary

Pro

• Light set of Bluetooth headphones that regularly get 11+ hours of play time per charge
• Water resistant design (aka rinsable to get the funk out) 
• Good audio volume with enhanced bass response
• Works with iPhone and Adnroid devices

Con

• Even for Bluetooth headphones, the sound quality could be improved (particularly clarity and mids/highs).

Conclusion

Jlab has produced something very impressive with the Epic 2. They are priced much more competitively than other high end sport headphones and the waterproofing/battery life is excellent. 

I just can't recommend these headphones enough. I love them and they have become my daily use headphones while commuting.

This isn't a news worthy item but it does visually show the struggle many iPhone users face daily while running out of space.

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). If you use it at home, in the office and coffee shop, you leverage existing WIFI. Anytime you are out an about, your cell uses one of the roaming partners to give you coverage. If you deplete your data allocation for the month, you can buy another $19 card and re-add 200MB or you can use your $19 credit to add 500MB of non expiring data.

Sugar Mobile uses Shoppers DrugMart (Pharmaprix in Quebec) and 7-11 stores accross Canada to sell its credit vouchers. 

How does it work

Unlike US hybrid carriers, Sugar does not offer specially configured mobile phones so you use their service on your unlocked phone via their app. This means you can't use the built in dialer or SMS app on your phone. The app first tries connecting via WIFI then fails back to the cell phone network (you can change this behavior if you want).

Think of Sugar Sync of a amped up Skype or Vyber. Where Skype and Vyber rely on the user to buy mobile data, Sugar leverages its existing relationships with carriers like Rogers to bundle VOIP calling with mobile data. 

The mobile data is too small to stream content, browse data heavy webpages or use navigation regularly. It is enough however (the company believes) to give 80% of its customers more than enough wireless data to make calls until the cows come home.

If you want voicemail and caller ID, you need to pay a one time $19 activation fee.

The app

Considering Sugar Mobile is targeting younger cost conscious pre-paid customers, I chose to conduct my tests on a 2015 Motorola Moto G (which is an entry level Android device which sells for $300 unlocked).

The app installation was fast and easy from the Google Play store and creating my free WIFI only test account took 5 minutes. The app is stable and never crashed during my testing. Any calls made to my Sugar Mobile number reliably rang my phone and allowed me to answer it.

Setting up a conference call is easy and reliable. You dial the second participant, click the join button and voila.

You also have a big red record button.

In the app, you can change these recording settings:

• ask the service to record All voip calls
• you can record multi-channel audio (each participant has their own channel in the WAV file)
• you can choose to have recordings auto-deleted after an elapsed time
• you can ask the app to make an audible beep when recording is started
• you can send recordings via email. 

Does it work?

I loaded up the free VOIP only version on a dedicated  Android 2015 Motorola Moto G device (freshly installed Android 6 with no other apps). I loaded and configured the Sugar Mobile app and tested it on a commercial grade internet connection with commercial wireless Cisco gear and a 100MB synchronous internet connection. I wanted to make sure my internet connection didn't introduce any issues.

Before testing Sugar Mobile, I ran a bunch of network tests to ensure the connection was stable, performing optimally and had sub 3 millisecond latency. 

I tested the SMS feature and it worked flawlessly. Messages went back and forth quickly. SMS is easy.

I then made a handful of calls to landlines and cellphones. This is where I encountered the dreaded VOIP calling issues. Skype uses advanced codecs to create a beautiful natural sounding reliable connection (for voice at least). But Sugar Mobile was more like the traditional run of the mill Voip services like Fongo, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Vyber, Telus Extend, etc. 

Sometimes the other person heard me perfectly, other times they couldn't hear me at all. Sometimes the sound was crystal clear other times my partner said I sounded robotic. 

Therein lies the issue with all VOIP providers. Quality isn't a constant. This isn't a Sugar Mobile issue and I experience worse performance from the Telus Extend VOIP app.

Conclusion

I think the concept is good and this makes a decent cheap second line as long as you have regular access to reliable WIFI and have an extra unlocked smartphone. $19 isn't too expensive considering you get 200MB of mobile 3G data a month to use when out and about. Unused data rolls over to the next month and you can always buy more data for $19/500MB.

I have to conduct some more tests but if I want to make a VOIP call and already have access to WIFI then I'll rely on Google Hangouts or Telus Extend (both free). 

I just can't see me using Sugar Mobile as my primary mobile phone service.

Update 1

Shortly after publishing this article, I started having issues with the app. It started crashing and even after a fresh device reboot, I started having login issues (kept saying registering). After 4 reboot attempts, I gave up and uninstalled / reinstalled the app and it started working again. 

When people think about the TOR network, they either think its a means for criminals to buy illicit products or for fugitives trying to hide their online activities from the law. Tor is much more than that. It is a mechanism to protect your online activities when needed.

Sitting at home, my packets bounce through dozens of different routers before they arrive at their final destination. I just performed a traceroute and had 11 hops between my computer and the Facebook site. Facebook has implemented a handful of security tools to protect your communication with it, but ultimately anyone in that chain knows where my packets are coming from and where they are going. Facebook also knows my source IP which allows it to pinpoint my (fairly accurate) location. 

There have been many highly publicized cases where twitter handed over location and IP information to law enforcement. It is safe to assume Facebook is in the same boat. Anything these companies can log could be turned over. 

Even if you log into Facebook and they know you are, by using TOR with Facebook, you prevent your ISP or Facebook's upstream ISP from cataloging your behaviour and then selling it for marketing purposes. You also prevent Facebook from knowing exactly where you are (unless you've given them the permission to use your smartphone's GPS). 

Prior to Facebook implementing a TOR presence (https://facebookcorewwwi.onion/), accessing it usually meant you had a slow performing site that typically didn't render properly. This access issue stemmed from the fact that the Facebook's site management system viewed all TOR traffic as malicious botnet traffic and treated it accordingly. (Accessing Cloudflare protected sites or many Google properties via TOR will see you be given a challenge, to prove you are not a bot trying to attack their systems). 

But Facebook understood that there are people that needed to use their service without leaking identification information like IP address, physical location or access route. You could be a Tibetan freedom supporter but still need to communicate with your Facebook community in the diaspora. You are less worried about Facebook knowing you and are more concerned about others knowing that you are accessing Facebook.

I tested the new site and compared it to using the regular Facebook site via TOR and the new purpose built solution is much better. In this case better means faster, more responsive and works as expected.

Facebook supporting TOR also legitimizes TOR and allows others to follow in its footsteps more easily. As an example, it was the first time a major Certificate Authority (Digicert) issued an encryption certificate allowing a site to setup an HTTS connection.

Now to be fair, this generated a tone of debate inside the security community because technically TOR offers secure communication by default without needing a certificate from a Certificate Authority.  Many security researchers saw this as a cash grab by certificate authorities but others supported it as a move towards a more private internet. Since we (the security community finally) have  brainwashed people into thinking https good - http bad, we don't want to start breaking that important habit.

Benefits of a .onion address

A .onion address is the equivalent of a .com on the normal web except it brings with it 3 main benefits.

1. A TOR service uses TOR circuit technology which makes locating the endpoint very difficult.
2. The .onion address is a hash of the site key which means it is self authenticating. When you visit a .onion address, your browser automatically authenticates that you are actually talking to the site you think you are talking to.
3. There is a process called rendezvous which provides end to end encryption for all traffic using a tor service even for unencrypted apps. This is why the communicate had a heated debate when Facebook implemented a TLS certificate for its TOR site.

How did Facebook get its .onion address?

In the above list, item 2 says the .onion address is a hash of the site key. Then how did Facebook manage to get something as memorable as https://facebookcorewwwi.onion/ ?

After all typical TOR hidden service addresses don't look that "normal". The TOR hidden service address for the DuckDuckGo search engine is http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/  It isn't as easy to remember as the Facebook one is it?

They didn't bribe anyone and they didn't break the rules. They actually tested thousands of keys. They started testing keys where the hash of the first 40 bits would generate "facebook". Once they found this, they used the remainder to find keys that would generate memorable works (in this case settling on "corewwwi").

So Facebook played by the rules and still got what it wanted, a memorable TOR hidden service address.

Securely Access Facebook via TOR on Android

As more and more of Facebook's customers access the site via mobile device, the security team decided to accommodate them and did the unthinkable: Facebook added TOR access to its mobile app using the wonderfully simple TOR gateway Orbot. 

To use this feature, download Orbot :

• from the developer as an APK
• from FDroid
• from the Google Play store

Once it is installed and activated, go back to the facebook app and browser the settings screen until you see App Settings then turn on the TOR functionality.

Only weirdos would use TOR for Facebook. Right?

On April 22, Facebook announced that 1M people had used Facebook via TOR during a 30 day cycle. 

1M users is just a small sliver compares to Facebook's overall user population but it is still 1M people that probably wouldn't have been able to use their service. And use of TOR for Facebook has been increasing steadily since its launch.

TOR is slower

The one complaint I hear from TOR users is that TOR is slower than the "normal" web and this is true. When driving from A to B, the fastest route is always the direct one. If you take 12 detours, your trip will be much longer. The same is true for TOR traffic. To protect the identity of the source and destination, every packet is whirled through many different TOR nodes across the world and encrypted/decrypted. This is a necessity but does slow down browsing.

Donate to the TOR project

The TOR project is a 501(c)(3) USA not for profit research organization and it depends on donations to keep going. If you believe in what they are doing, why not throw a couple of dollars their way and help them continue making TOR faster, better and more stable

Donate here. 

Images

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. 

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). Even though it selects the best possible shot and discards the rest, it uses data from app the pictures (even the ones it will delete) to reduce noise, brighten faces and ensure it has captured colours as accurately as possible.

Another cool trick up its sleeve is motion analysis. If it believes there is motion in the series that could enhance the image then it will animate that worthwhile section and create a "live" photo. It could do this for a sparkler on a cake or hair blowing in the wind or a beautiful waterfall behind the subject. 

All of the intelligence is hidden from the user. There are no settings to change or configurations to optimize, everything is taken care of for you. It is the kind of app even your mother can use.

It is smart enough to detect faces and optimize the settings for it/them. It will detect open eyes. I started playing with this app a couple of hours ago and so far like it enough to put it on the first page of my iPhone next to the default camera app.

You can checkout this Microsoft Research page to learn more about the cool tech behind the app.

Research has shown that people can rarely self-assessment accurately. If the person self-assessing has low self-confidence, than this will be reflected on his/her self assessment. Also there are cultures where self promotion is negatively viewed and this too may lead someone to completing a less than positive self review. Lots of characteristics may impact how one self-assesses: race, gender, beliefs, religion, etc.

On the other side of the coin are individuals raised in competitive environments where self-promotion is not only welcome but encouraged. In these cases an individual may take credit for group work in an attempt to "win points".

If your company forces you to conduct evaluations based on self-rating then it is important you consciously determine your employees tendencies and use that knowledge to erase over/under self-evaluations in an attempt to be fait, objective and manage with integrity.

I have spoken to some organizational researchers and have read hundreds of reports, I can find no objective research that shows that sharing self-assessments before the formal manager-employee review contributes to a better or more accurate evaluation outcome. 

On the contrary, there seems to be research showing that these self-evaluations may actually bias the reviewing manager and that any bias adjustments made (if at all) are inadequate to compensate for the actual gap. 

Knowing this, I believe these self assessments are a historic relic of days gone by and should be completely abolished as an HR practice. What do you think?

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.. Yes Google+... Yes THAT Google+.

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. We don't have too many details but they did state that the delivery time and ability to carry the planned payload exceeded their expectations.

As a new Torontonian, I was excited to learn that the company is working with shop.ca and the city of Vaughan to setup commercial delivery services. 

The company did state that they will expand testing and work closely with Canadian regulators as they expand their functionality to Beyond Line of Site. 

Pokemon Go is an incredible phenomenon encouraging people to get outside, walk and socialize. For all its faults, it has tones of positive attributes. The challenge (and what keeps the game interesting), is the fact you never know where Pokemon are going to pop up. 

Here is the stampede that ensued when a rare Vaporeon Pokemon showed up in central park. Notice the guy that just leaves his car in the middle of the road and rushes in.

While its a great game, many get too enthralled in the game and forget to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. This is why we have heard of a handful of issues from injuries to theft. Now the Ottawa police are urging Canadians to stay alert after an attempted theft Wednesday (reported by the Winnipeg Free Press).

Due to the unprecedented success of this game, police agencies have started blogging safety tips for players. The Regina Police have an interesting blog post. 

The Irving Police department released a hilarious Pokemon Go safety video

The moral of the story is go outside, have fun but stay alert.

The problem

As a "light prepper", lover of camping and traveler, I have been looking for the ultimate water filter/canteen/bottle for years.  I have tried over 50 different solutions over the last 10 years and although some did better than others, most left me wanting more. 

Most of my readers are young professionals so here is the scenario for you. You just finished a long day while travelling and finally came back to your hotel room. All the shops nearby are closed and you want some fresh clean water. Do you drink tap water (which often tastes bad) or do you pop open one of those $8 bottles the hotel strategically places in your room?

Now until recently, my solution was to use the Sawyer Mini in straw mode, that way I didnt have to trust the (likely dirty glass in the room) or the bad tasting water. It did a decent job but wasn't practical and didn't improve the taste of the water, 

Now imagine the situation when  you are travelling overseas. The water quality is often questionable. This meant I had to filter the water with the Sawyer mini first then zap it using Ultraviolet light (UV Sterilization) with my Steripen. Taste didn't improve, the solution didn't remove contaminants but at least I was unlikely to get sick. But my onebag travel (carryon only) means I sacrificed other comforts to make room for these 2 devices.

The Solution

Following the recommendation of a trusted acquaintance, I picked one up during one of my trips to the USA (I picked up the Quest model but all of them filter exactly the same way). The Grayl promised to filter and purify the water easily and in a compact package.

• Filtration: Filtration means the water is cleaned from contaminants
• Purification: Purification means the water is safe to drink

This one product is performing the same task as my Sawyer Mini and Steripen. All without any pumping, batteries or extra containers. They claim (and have independent lab tests to prove it):

•  Removes 99.9999% of viruses (e.g. Rotavirus, Hepatitis A)
• Removes 99.9999% of bacteria (e.g. E coli, Salmonella)
• Removes 99.999% of protozoan cysts (e.g. Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
• Filters particulates (e.g. sediment, dirt), many chemicals (e.g. chlorine, benzene) and heavy metals (e.g. lead, arsenic)

Now the level of filtration depends on which filter you attach, so let's talk about those...

The Grayl Filters

The Grayl water filter and purifier offers 3 very different filters (all filters will work will all models). The filters are Tap (blue), Trail (green) and Travel (orange).

I use the Tap (blue) $15US filter when in locations with known clean tap water to remove  some chemicals (e.g. chlorine, iodine) and heavy metals (e.g. lead, arsenic). Anywhere else, (Camping or travel), I use the orange $25US Travel filter that provides the maximum filtration. Using the tap filter costs about $0,10US/L while the Travel costs $0.17/L. Each filter is good for 150L. 

The Trail filter cost's $20 but is being discontinued.

I tried the Travel filter in a local lake and it worked like a charm. I tried it with very strong smelling well water (caused by Hydrogen sulfide) and the resulting water, using the Travel filter, was clean no smell fresh tasting water.

The Process

The process is simple and straight forward. No sucking, squeezing, or zapping. You fill the outer container with your tainted water, insert the middle section and press down. The Tap filter is easier to push and takes about 7 seconds. The Travel filter provides more resistance, more filtration and therefore takes a full 30 seconds.

You don't have to count, the resistance from the filter will guide you. You just press down with a reasonable amount of force and let it do its job. You can then drink directly from the top of the bottle or pour it into a canteen (which I don't do).

Important additional notes

You fill the outer shell with the "dirty" water then press the inner-core filter section down like a french press. It is important to make sure dirty water from your hands doesn't contaminate the inter tube (where the fresh clean water is stored).

If using water with lots of sediment, I recommend using a handkerchief or bandana as a pre-filter, to prolong the life of the filter. 

My version is the Grayl quest with a plastic outer shell and a stainless steel inner shell (weighs about 16 oz). The full stainless steel version ,the Legend, weighs in at 20oz. The new Ultralight is all plastic and weighs only 10oz. If you are an ultralight camper or traveller then go with the Ultralight but I prefer to store my water in a stainless steel vessel and am fine with a little extra weight,

The Grayl fits in a standard car cup holder or the bottle holder of most bags I have tried it with, so no worries for day to say use. 

Complaints

It was hard to find anything negative to say about the Grayl. It has become my everyday carry water bottle. 

There is no automatic reminder to change your filter. They say it is about 3 months of use when used 3 times a day but it will be easy to lose count in the field. I don't know how they can add a counter but it is something to keep in mind.

Because of the design, it holds less water than you would expect at first glance. It carries 473ML. This is in no way a show stopper but something to keep in mind if using it in areas with limited water, You may need to carry additional untreated water in another water bag.