IT World Canada

Kaspersky’s new channel chief and how Barrett’s Privateers relates to IT security

Jeff Jedras — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:29:00 GMT

The major news out of Kaspersky Lab’s North American partner conference this week was the long-awaited launch of its managed service provider program, but the security vendor also introduced its new North American channel chief and provided an update on emerging security threats ...(read more)

Android Ice Cream Sandwich for the Tablet S, Galaxy Note

Sean Carruthers — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

In the wake of CTIA, a number of Android devices have gotten updates to Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

First up there’s the Sony’s Tablet S, which I’ve always thought to be one of the nicest Android tablets going thanks to its combination of multimedia features tapping into Sony’s consumer-electronics expertise. According to Sony Canada’s announcement, this upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich adds a panoramic camera feature, enhanced gallery, native screenshots and more. The update is already rolling out, so if you have the Tablet S and haven’t gotten an update notification, you can head into your settings to look for it manually.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note is also receiving the Ice Cream Sandwich update. Before its launch several months ago, many thought the Note would come with Ice Cream Sandwich already onboard, since the Galaxy Nexus has already launched with the newer OS, and were therefore disappointed to see it shipping with Honeycomb. Even though there doesn’t seem to have been an official announcement yet, this update is already starting to roll out, so keep your eyes on your Note for the update.

Asus also made an announcement over its Twitter account that the Eee Pad Slider SL101 is also starting to receive ICS in the US. Again, it should be an over-the-air update, so if you have this unit and haven’t received a notification, you can try to head into the settings to look for the update manually.

Meanwhile, you know who won’t be getting the ICS immediately? Users of the LG Optimus 2x, if we’re to believe the comment left on Facebook by LG Mobile Singapore, indicating it’ll be Q3 before users see the update. (The smiley face tacked onto the end of that post is a pretty good object lesson as to how NOT to deliver bad news to customers, incidentally.)

And the fun continues.

Research round-up: Tablets increase your chance of office romance

Jeff Jedras — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Root canals vs. cloud migration, desktop virtualization for SMBs and tech-fueled office stress ...(read more)

CTIA gets underway...and there's an Android in my TV

Sean Carruthers — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Once a year the mobile industry gathers for the CTIA Wireless show, North America’s premiere mobility conference, held this year in New Orleans. Vendors roll out a number of new products, with the hopes that everyone will go ooooh and ahhhh.

Among the fun announced so far this year:

· Kyocera has released the Hydro, a new waterproof phone running Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s yet another addition to the list of waterproof phones out there, an area where Kyocera already has some experience.

· US carrier Verizon has announced a “blank slate” initiative for enterprise customers. This will allow enterprise customers to customize the Android tablet experience with apps suitable for that company’s particular industry, and sometimes ruggedization for outdoor use. The reason? There’s still a level of discomfort with tablets at the enterprise level, especially because tablets being brought into the office are often personal devices, complete with the security issues that come part and parcel with same. If this US-based initiative actually makes enterprise customers south of the border more comfortable with Android in the workplace, it will obviously have implications in Canada, too.

· Unnecto has announced the Quattro, an inexpensive unlocked dual-SIM phone. While dual-SIM isn’t really that big a thing in North America yet, it’s becoming more popular in areas of the world where mobile has largely displaced the landline (or leapfrogged it altogether). By having two SIMs in the same phone, you can have both your home and work number in the same phone, or share a single handset between more than one member of your family, without having to share the same number.

There’s more to come from the CTIA floor over the next two days, undoubtedly, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Lenovo has launched their K-series televisions--powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich--into the Chinese marketplace. Shown earlier this year at CES, the televisions will be available in a 42-inch model (6,499 yuan, or roughly $1,030 CAD) and a 55-inch model (14,999 yuan, or roughly $2,378 CAD).

Television models from other manufacturers are, of course, already starting shipping with built-in apps like Skype and YouTube, so this seems the natural next step for our entertainment hubs, rather than continuing to have to bolt on an external device like the AppleTV or Boxee Box for a fuller experience. And the flexibility of Android makes it well suited for the task, especially with the tie-in to Google Play and its media library. But it does make me wonder: with all of the recent stories of Android becoming a target for malware, it means that you might have to start worrying about your TV becoming a vector for evil activity. Even when you’re not watching Jersey Shore, that is.

Hackers provide fraud-as-a-service with Web analytics

Brian Bloom — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:59:00 GMT

Like every other service provider, phishing sites need market insight in this difficult economic climate ...(read more)

RIM appoints new CMO, COO

Howard Solomon — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:34:00 GMT

Research In Motion has finally found a new chief marketing officer.

Frank Boulben, who has held senior marketing and sales roles at a number of wireless carriers including Vodafone and Orange, was named RIM’s CMO on Tuesday.

The Waterloo, Ont. company also said Kristian Tear, former executive vice-president of Sony Mobile, has become chief operating officer.

Boulben has been executive VP of strategy, marketing and sales at LightSquared, which hoped to build a 4G wireless broadband network in the U.S. that would sell wholesale access to other operators. However the FCC ruled the $4 billion in spectrum it bought interfers with the GPS network, essentially killing the company.

“RIM is a pioneer in the mobile world and the BlackBerry brand is a global icon," Boulben said in a statement. "We all know how fast the mobile arena evolves and with the BlackBerry 10 platform, I believe RIM will once again change the way individuals and enterprises engage with each other and the world around them. I could not resist the opportunity to be part of that transformation."

He joins RIM at a time when the company is facing a juggernaut in Apple Inc.’s iPhone, falling global market share and tepid response in many markets to its new BlackBerry 7 operating system. Most importantly, there is a mountain of expectations that the company’s future relies on an exciting launch of its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system and handsets.

“They desperately need a single message going to market for their re-launch,” said Yankee Group analyst Carl Howe.

What he found significant is Boulben’s carrier background. “This is not a devices person, this is a services person. And maybe that’s a message: Yup, device is important, but really its going to be about services, and more importantly all about our [carrier] customers’ services. And I think that’s probably a good decision.”

Boulben might not be the right person to create an exciting message, Howe conceded – if that’s what RIM needs when BB 10 launches later this year. After all, Apple is renowned for creating memorable advertising. On the other hand, Samsung’s Android-powered Galaxy II smartphones are doing well, and who remembers a Samsung ad?

“They don’t need an exciting message,” Howe said of RIM, “they need a single message … one that’s easy to remember and the immediate reaction of people is ‘You’re with us or against us.’”

In announcing their appointment RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said that "Kristian and Frank bring extensive knowledge of the rapidly changing wireless global market and will help RIM as we sharpen our focus on delivering long-term value to our stakeholders. Most importantly, both Kristian and Frank possess a keen understanding of the emerging trends in mobile communications and computing."

Tear previously held a variety of operational leadership positions with LM Ericsson in Europe, Asia and Latin America. At RIM, he will oversee all operational functions for handhelds and services, including research and development, products, global sales, manufacturing and supply chain.

RIM’s stock [TSX: RIM] briefly blipped up when the Toronto Stock Exchange opened, then settled back.

(Howard Solomon is assistant editor of ComputerWorld Canada)

What we can learn from Windows Live

Dave Webb — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:54:00 GMT

Back in 2005, I had my first visit to Microsoft Corp.’s headquarters campus in Redmond, Wash., just outside of Seattle, with a group of journalists from around the world. We took in a Seattle Mariners game; the Asian journos went batty every time Ichiro Suzuki took to the plate, while I tried to explain to a group of Brits the rules of the game, which are surprisingly complicated when you try to spell them out.

Back at the campus, Microsoft reps were making what was intended to be one of its biggest branding initiatives ever: Windows Live. The platform (was it a platform?) boasted e-mail, Windows Live search, a mapping service, messaging, blogging platform and much, much more. One thing it didn’t boast was clarity. The assembled journalists couldn’t figure out what exactly Windows Live was (was it a platform?). Like baseball, it was surprisingly complicated when you tried to spell it out.

I reminisce for two reasons: I just bought a Windows Phone 7-based HTC Radar smart phone, which is thoroughly integrated with Live; and because Microsoft killed the Live brand the day after I bought it.

To be honest, it won’t affect Windows Phone users. While the service is built around your Microsoft e-mail account, like most others, I stuck with Hotmail rather than Live addresses. Live was really, as a pundit from U.K. tech site The Register put it, “the meaningless umbrella (for) a bunch of online services.”

Despite the marketing effort, Live really never gained traction. With the rebranding of Live Search as Bing in 2009, Live receded into the background. Microsoft had never managed to articulate what Live was meant to be, which was what Google is now: The portal to your online life, with apps, e-mail, search, social and more, all in one place.

This snapped into focus when I was selling the merits of Windows Phone to our IT manager, particularly its integration with Hotmail and the coming Windows 8 operating system. “That’s great,” Mat said, “but my life is in Google.”

That’s a powerful statement.

It’s also a powerful strategy, and one that the IT department can emulate. When considering the architecture of your systems, remember that you want the user’s work life to be in your infrastructure. Building the experience around e-mail is a good start; do the end-user applications integrate with e-mail? Do they share a relationship with the user’s (and the enterprise’s) data? Can the user customize the end point experience to accommodate the way he or she works? Can you create compelling custom mobile apps that keep the user in the system rather than drifting off into the Googleverse?

(This last point, by the way, is also a powerful tool to retain at least some control in the face of the BYOD movement, notes veteran IT pro and analyst Bruce Stewart on our Blogosphere site at blogidol.ca. “Create some attractors: small, quick, cheap apps that provide useful services, but are only available for the platforms you want to support,” he writes. “Not platform — platforms. There has to be some choice left open. Simple apps that make office life easier are a good beginning. Room booking on the fly, for instance. You make these available for, let’s say, three platforms at most … Your apps, in turn, are the opening to the idea of even more app interfaces to your systems. Here’s where you can start to embed the security and integrity controls you need. Meanwhile, you’re producing things that are seen as valuable. That builds your reputation, and the battle shifts from control to, ‘Here’s some money, can you make me a …’ That’s a good place to be.”)

When your employees keep their work life in your systems, it’s suddenly easier to deal with issues like security, data loss prevention, data integrity, master data management … the list goes on and on. There’s a certain Zen to gaining control by letting it go.

Android gets Flashed (with a critical Adobe Flash update)

Sean Carruthers — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

When people start to list the reasons Android is better than iOS, one of the first things that typically comes up is Android’s ability to run Adobe’s Flash. While a lot of the web is moving to HTML5 for delivery of right multimedia content, Flash still powers a lot of web content, and if you’re not running flash on your phone, you’re not getting everything you can out of the web. The iPhone doesn’t do Flash, so score one for Team Android.

This past week, Adobe announced that the company was issuing a critical update for the ultra-popular application, as a vulnerability was discovered in Flash. This vulnerability could allow ne’er-do-wells to crash apps on a user’s computer, or even allow the computer to be hijacked.

While the majority of the people affected will be using Windows machines, the Android version of Flash is still considered vulnerable, and has therefore gotten a security update.

To update your copy of Flash, open up Google Play, tap on the menu button and then choose “My Apps”. You’ll see a list of apps you can update, including Adobe Flash, if you have it on your Android device.

Click on it, and then tap the “Update” button to start the update process. Tap “Accept & download” and your copy of Flash will be bumped up to the newer, secured version.

Of course, this is as good a time as any to mention that it’s worth checking regularly to see if there are any updates for your apps, using the same update process…even if you don’t hear about a critical update, there are often helpful updates available that add features (or game levels), fix bugs and, yes, plug potential security holes.

Kindling a desire for Android tablets

Sean Carruthers — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

While Android smartphone sales have been brisk – indeed, Android is top dog in the phone space – Android tablets haven’t really caught fire with the general public.

There are probably more reasons why Android tablets have lagged in the market than there are Android tablet models out there, but it’s easy to think of a few key reasons: some are overpriced, some are a bit junky looking, some are running older versions of the US, and in the eye of the general public, most Android tablets just don’t have the zest appeal of the iPad.

There is one exception however, and that’s Amazon’s Kindle Fire (which seems more and more to have a very fitting name). In fact, this little powerhouse has now grabbed over 50 per cent of the tablet market in the United States despite the fact that it’s been launched into the market as an e-reader. By comparison, second place Samsung is all the way back at 15 per cent.

The e-reader doubling as an Android tablet isn’t new, of course – when Barnes and Noble released the Nook Color, hardware hackers quickly found a way to turn it into an Android tablet by rooting it and loading the OS from the SD slot. At the time, it was the cheapest Android tablet available, even though its hardware wasn’t much to write home about. But for $200, who was going to complain about poopy performance?

Since that point, Amazon has launched the Kindle fire – also at a very competitive price point – and Canada’s Kobo has come out with the Kobo Vox. None of these tablets will win any performance contests, even though they’re getting better all the time.

But Amazon gets the nod here for pretty much the same reason that Apple does so well with the iPad: they have a content ecosystem to back up the hardware itself. Not only can you get e-books for the Kindle Fire, but if you’re living in the States, you also have access to Amazon’s multimedia content, such as movies, TV shows and music. Sure, there’s Google Play to fill in much of that content, but let’s be real: it’s no Amazon.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Barnes and Noble’s Nook down the road. The company has just settled with Microsoft after a year-long patent battle, with Microsoft entering into a partnership with B&N. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Android is going to disappear from the Nook, but it’s easy enough to envision a version of the Nook rocking Windows 8 down the road. While that will certainly increase the diversity of the tablet space, it could ultimately end up being a threat to Amazon, and a loss for Android.

Canada makes the U.S. piracy list, again

JD Speedy — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:21:00 GMT

Hey guys! We made the list! We made it! I know some people said we couldn't do four years straight, but we did it!

Ok, ok. I'll stop with the goofing, but seriuosly, who isn't a little giddy at the fact that we've annoyed U.S. privacy policy makers enough to add us to its "priority watch list." We once again join the ranks of Russia, China, Chile and the Ukraine, the worst offenders in failing to prevent copyright theft.

Luckily, for both the states and Canada, that list doesn't really mean anything. It's an attempt to shame countries into following copyright practices and enforcement set in the U.S. No sanctions are attached so it's really just business as usual.

For an example, Russia has made the list for a record 16 years in a row and it's had seemingly little effect on its financial standing or reaction to piracy.

According to the U.S. Trade Representative - via the FP Tech Desk entry - this years figures are...significant.

"This year’s Special 301 Report is more significant than ever in light of recent U.S. Government data showing that IP-intensive industries support as many as 40 million American jobs and up to 60% of U.S. exports,” U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in a statement.

What we should do with this information, aside from ignoring some of the key issues that keep pushing piracy forward - like digital locks and outdated piracy laws - is not clearly stated but at least we're on a list!

Then again, maybe Bill C-11 was in part a reaction to our condemnation.

Original article: Canada lands on U.S. ‘priority watch list’ for copyright piracy for fourth year (FP Tech Desk)

RED calls out entire industry for shoot-out

JD Speedy — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:07:00 GMT

Things are getting pretty salty in Hollywood. The CEO of RED - the all-digital camera that is wowing in part due to its price and also because of the amazing quality it can shoot - has invited "every camera company," to join RED in testing their best cameras and equipment side-by-side.

From the post in the RED user forums:

Each company can bring their own cameras and techs to supervise the testing. Each camera company can take their resulting footage and process the best way they know possible.

It's not completely unheard of for these kinds of challenges to be issued but it's a little startling just how clandestine Jim Jannard, CEO of RED is about it. He seems to honestly want to inform the public as to which camera performs best in which environment, though with a bit of confidence, naturally.

Now, that said, the footage will be screened not on 1080p quality screens - which are in every living room in America right now - but new 2k and 4k screens. I'm not sure if this gives any one company an advantage, as I'm sure they're all at least experimenting with the new formats, but it would seem to lend itself to RED's massive input lens.

Lannard also mentions in a later post how he'd be disappointed if other camera companies don't sign on for the June 4th shootout at RED's studio but it might take a bit more publicity than a forum post to guilt or shame other companies into participating. When it's just the CEO calling out other companies on the Internet, it's easy to ignore.

Original article: RED proposes camera shoot-out on June 4th (SlashGear)

Barnes and Noble, Microsoft, join for eBook deal

JD Speedy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:42:00 GMT

Coming in just after the ebook pricing scandal is underway, Microsoft has joined with Barnes and Noble to secure its own stake in the ebook industry.

The first project of the agreement is a new arm for Barnes and Noble, hosted by Microsoft, for college textbooks.

The latter part will see a Nook app for Windows 8 - hinting at Microsoft toeing the water of ebook sales and Nook getting more ties to Windows platforms.

According to the Canadian Press article - posted to CBC - there has been increasing scrutiny of the fiscal viability of the Nook hardware lines from B&N shareholders, so getting in to bed with Microsoft might be exactly what it needs to assuage those concerns.

No doubt any agreement of this type will involve an exchange of money and, if there's enough, might secure some type of exclusivity.

But for now, it's just interesting to see Microsoft choosing this particular point in ebook history to get involved. Seems like the wrong time to me, but maybe it was the right deal at the wrong time.

Original article: Barnes & Noble, Microsoft join to sell e-books (CBC Technology & Science)

Blackberry 10 prototype showed off at Blackberry World

JD Speedy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:22:00 GMT

While Blackberry's annual event - Blackberry World 2012 - has a lot of draws, there is a bit of a pallour on this year's festivities.

RIM hasn't had the best last couple of years so it's understandable that it might be harder to draw a large crowd of developers to their event and to the platform in general.

To combat this, RIM promised that developers who attend its Blackberry 10 Jam - which promised hands on time with the new OS - would walk away with a more handheld version of a Blackberry 10 device for testing apps in the new environment.

Mobile Syrup got some pictures of the prototype BB 10 device from an attendee and it looks...very different.

Admittedly, this is definitely just a prototype, mocked up for the event so that devs can start playing around with the new unified OS, but it looks pretty slick. It resembles, in many ways, a Playbook but scaled down to the size of your standard smartphone size. The only RIM branding is a bright silver Blackberry badge on the back. Subtle.

If RIM gets some decent touch tech in there, and capitalizes on the strengths of the brand, the looks and functionality could be a winning combo.

Either way, if you're curious, click through to see the very unofficial first BB 10 device.

Original article: BlackBerry 10 prototype device gets pictured, looks like a small PlayBook (Mobile Syrup)

Android gets revved up for Google Drive

Sean Carruthers — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Google Drive made its debut last week, finally bringing its cloud storage service to the masses, both on the computer and on Android devices. As expected, it comes with a capacity of five gigabytes for free, with the option of upgrading to a larger capacity for an extra monthly charge (25 gigabyte drive for $2.50, 100 gigabytes for $4.99).

As with previous Google launches, Drive is rolling out in waves – you can find out if your drive is ready yet by heading to http://drive.google.com and signing in with your usual Google ID. If it’s not ready yet, you’ll get an email telling you when it’s good to go.

The concept is similar to Dropbox – you install an app onto your PC, and onto your Android smartphone or tablet. Then you can start sharing files back and forth between your various devices.

The difference with Drive is that it comes pre-populated with the content you’ve already stored in Google Docs. (In other words, you already had cloud storage with Google. This just makes it official.)

When you set up Google Drive on your computer, it will create a folder on your machine – you’ll have the option of making everything you place into that folder available to your other devices, or you can choose to “sync” only very specific folders. Again, this is similar to those who have already used Dropbox.

I put “sync” in quotes there, because it doesn’t appear to be a true sync – instead, the mobile devices only seem to update the directory listing, and the content itself only seems to come down from the cloud when you ask for it. It’s a wise move – otherwise, a service like this could quickly eat up your data plan.

You can use the Google Drive app on your Android devices to create new documents, as well as view ones you’ve already created. These documents will then appear as a .gdoc file on all linked computers, but when you click on it, it will take you to Google Docs inside your web browser, just like before.

After you’ve installed the app on the mobile devices, Google Drive will appear as an option in the Share list. So, for example, you can take a photo on your smartphone’s camera, tap “share”, and immediately send it upstream to your Google Drive.

In the end, Google Drive doesn’t seem to offer much that isn’t already available through other services like Dropbox or Wuala. But by bolting right into the Google Docs service that many Android users already use, it simplifies the ecosystem somewhat, by keeping more of your digital life under a single umbrella.

One in five Macs have some type of Malware: Sophos

JD Speedy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:10:00 GMT

If Sophos can be trusted - and as a maker of security software, that's debateable - one in five Mac computers is infected with some kind of malware.

The good news, for Mac owners at least, is that the malware most of them carry is Windows malware. Much like how a cold for birds can be a crippling illness in humans, Windows malware can lie dormant on Mac systems, only to infect Windows systems they make contact with...or that same computer if they're running an instance of Windows using bootcamp.

Now, that's not to say this isn't a problem. Computers carrying malware are an issue anywhere, no matter what the symptoms are. Just be aware of where this advice is coming from.

As Macs get more popular too, it's a good idea to think about having some sort of security software, no matter who makes it. And trust me, as Macs get more adopted, options will start popping up.

But these stories are happening more and more often and it's getting tougher to root out the real scares from the trumped up stories.

That Flashback Trojan turned out to be an exploit in Java and not a vulnerability in the Mac platform, as it was initially reported.

Security firms have an interest in scaring users into buying their products, even if a lot of the information they utilize is true.

It's just easy to get swept up in it and disregard any kind of careful eye for why someone is warning you about viruses. Mac's aren't immune, that's for sure, but they're also less susceptible to viruses by the nature of being a closed platform.

That much is still true, no matter what anyone says.

Original article: One in five Macs infected with Windows malware: Sophos (FP Tech Desk)

Acer Iconia Tab models to get the Ice Cream Sandwich treatment

Sean Carruthers — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:30:00 GMT

An ongoing frustration for Android users continues to be the slow rollout of Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) updates for devices. But that frustration is nearly over for users of Acer’s popular Iconia Tab line of tablets, who are about to feel the love for this sweet treat in the upcoming week.

While the A200 tablets have access to Ice Cream Sandwich for a short bit, that ICS update will now be rolling out to those with the A100 and A500 tablets already in hand. The update is scheduled to hit tablets starting on April 27, though Canadian users of the A100 will have to wait until May 3.

When the update is available, you should automatically get a notification that it’s ready for you to download.

If you think you may have missed an update, no matter what device you’re on, you can check to see if your tablet is ready for an upgrade by hitting up the Settings app, checking the “About Tablet” option (or “About phone” if you’re on a phone), tapping on “system update” and choosing “check now”.

If there’s an update ready to download it’ll let you know. If you’re still between updates you’ll see a message saying “Your device is up to date.”

If you’re unsure as to whether your device is scheduled to receive an update to Ice Cream Sandwich (or think you may have already missed it) you can also head over to this blog post at Computerworld.com which is keeping track of which Android devices have gotten the update, or are scheduled to get the update.

A medical lightsaber?

JD Speedy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:25:00 GMT

While my dreams of weilding an incredibly dangerous and potentially world ending - what would happen if you dropped a lightsaber straight down? - weapon are still fiction, it appears lasers that can make tiny, ultra-precise cuts is a reality.

Researchers at the Unversity of Texas, Austin are presenting a new endoscopic laser device at the Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics next month.

Surgical lasers aren't anything new, however, but getting one that is precise enough for the kinds of cuts required in more intensive surgeries has been an unreachable goal up to now.

The new mini laser technology developed by the researchers can deliver short, very powerful laser "shots" - my words, not theirs - lasting a mere 200 quadrillonths of a second.

That may sound less useful, but it actually is more useful as it lessens the effect on healthy tissue around the affected area.

The mini laser is mountable to endoscopic equipment - like the cameras used in colonoscopies - as it's a scant 23 millimeters long.

But don't get too hopeful. While it's hilarious to think of someone weilding a 23 millimeter high-powered mini laser as a weapon, it'll be five years before it can be approved as a mass-marketed laser scalpel. For now, we can still just picture the end result of this research. World domination, naturally.

Original article: 'Lightsaber'-like laser scalpels developed for surgery (CBC Technology & Science)

Canadians want Blackberry a lot less these days

JD Speedy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:14:00 GMT

According to a new Ipsos Reid poll, Canadians just don't want a Blackberry anymore. Or at least they want one a whole lot less than previously.

The polls were taken betwen January 2011 and 2012 and found that, as opposed to January of 2011 - where 58 per cent of the surveyed planned to buy a Blackberry - a year later that number was reduced to 40 per cent.

Those figures are best understood in relief against the number of smartphone owners in Canada growing from 24 per cent of the population polled in August 2011 to 34 per cent in January 2012.

That means that while the number of smartphone owners grew a substantial amount versus the total population, Blackberry is seeing a steep decline in popularity. People want to buy new smartphones but RIM has lost its grip.

Bearing that all in mind, this doesn't mean RIM is totally out of contention, but gains made by Samsung Android phones and the continuing popularity of everything Apple is pushing them to the brink.

JD

Original article: Share of Canadians who want a BlackBerry slips dramatically in survey (Globe and Mail Technology)

Riders on Boston transit will get to pay with smartphones

JD Speedy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:35:00 GMT

While it's becoming common practice in Europe to pay for things and prove payment with smartphones, in America we're still playing catch up.

Well, a test project in Boston might push that innovation - and comfort level - a bit faster.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is planning to launch an all-new smartphone ticketing pilot project this fall. That means that for Boston commuters, instead of having to rely on machines, or line up for ticket windows, they can buy their travel tokens on their smartphones. And when tickets need checking, they can use the ticket app to display a barcode that will verify paid travel.

The initiative will start on Blackberry, Android and iPhone smartphones, which make up most of the market at this time.

The good part for Boston commuters, and worth taking note for city planners everywhere, is that expanding to users phones means less ticketing machines need to be created.

If you've ever tried to buy tokens or a Metropass in Toronto on the first of the month, I'm sure you've experienced the horrific lines, angry people and constant dread of low stock. If you could buy that same stuff from your phone, the one piece of tech you always have on your person, likely infrastructure costs would drop and some of that fervent mob mentality on the first might be assuaged.

But I guess we'll wait to see how the program goes this fall.

Original article: Boston train riders to be the first in US to get smartphone tickets (SlashGear)

Nova Scotian gov't weighs in on Facebook passwords debate

JD Speedy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:12:00 GMT

The controversial business tactic that's been getting more widespread in the U.S. - of asking for Facebook account passwords during the vetting process for job applicants - has met further resistance in Nova Scotia.

The new democrat N.S. government is looking to adopt a Liberal sponsored bill that would make it illegal for bosses to ask for Facebook passwords.

Much like anyone with a shred of a conscience, they've realized that asking for the password to someone's private Facebook page is an absurd request.

From the CBC story, Andrew Younger, the Liberal MLA who tabled the bill:

"It would be no different than somebody saying, 'Listen, can I go back and look at the letters that you wrote in high school to your love in high school? Can I go and root through your mail for a few weeks so that I can decide whether I can hire you?'
"We don't accept that kind of stuff in Canada and I think this is a matter of having the Labour Act catch up with the digital age."

This adds yet another voice to the crowd shouting down this practice.

A few weeks ago, Facebook itself spoke out in defence of employees being asked for their passwords. Spokepersons for the social networking site said the company was considering going after terms of service breakers themselves in court if no legislation was enacted to stop it.

I still can't believe this even has to be entered into law. Who thinks it's alright to look at information you can't find in a Google search?

If your potential employee has the propriety to manage their privacy to the point that you can't find anything incriminating without using their own password to hunt it out, chances are they pose no risk to your organization anyways.

In reality, this just looks like snooping for snooping's sake. And bully-ish when that employer knows a candidate feels compelled to say yes rather than forfeit their chance at a job.

Gross.

Original article: N.S. joins debate on employers demanding passwords (CBC Technology & Science)

Swiss mind-control robot has 100 km range

JD Speedy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:46:00 GMT

Maybe that title is a bit misleading. It's a robot that can be controlled using the mind. Not a swiss robot that can control minds. At least not yet.

For this experiment, the aim was to help paralyzed patients interact with the world. A patient in Sion in the south of Sweden was able to control a robot's actions over a 100 km away at Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.

By just thinking about lifting his arm, the robot reacted by lifting its.

While there isn't much practical about this particular scenario, or special due to the range, it is an interesting premise when you tease it out to its natural conclusion. If an avatar were constructed and enough feedback delivered through cameras, sensors and other haptic feedback, it's possible to give back (simulated) mobility to a bed-ridden patient. For instance, in this experiment the patient was Tetraplegic. If just a few features were added to a finished robot design, this could a much needed outlet for patients with little to no contact with the outside world.

But this particular experiment is not the first of its kind, only the first to use non-invasive techniques to control said avatar. Instead of an implant to register brain activity and intent, signals were received using only a skull cap.

Ideally, projects like this could greatly improve the quality of life for patients who are often overlooked. There's only so much you can do for someone who has no control over his or her limbs. Perhaps a robot skeleton could be contrived to help people paralyzed partially or fully to get around. Or just allow them to sample outside life from the comfort (and safety) of their hospital room.

Original article: Swiss robot moves via mind control from 100 km away (CBC Technology & Science)

Here's how that crazy space-mining venture will (theoretically) work

JD Speedy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:26:00 GMT

Not sure if this was as big news as it was just plain crazy to hear but it sounds like some rich people might have watched Armageddon too many times.

A collection of billionaires and distinguished "advisors" - like Marians Trench explorer and 3D pioneer, James Cameron - have decided to conquer the last frontier, space.

Planetary Resources Inc., a new venture founded in Seattle, Wash., intends to mine asteroids for valuable resources. That's right. They're going to build a rocket, fly to outer space and come back with space minerals.

In a means of explanation for this new endeavour, the group issued a release detailing the methodology for this Indiana Jones-level of crazy:

Planetary Resources, Inc. announced today its plan to mine Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) for raw materials, ranging from water to precious metals...Resource extraction from asteroids will deliver multiple benefits to humanity and grow to be valued at tens of billions of dollars annually. The effort will tap into the high concentration of precious metals found on asteroids and provide a sustainable supply to the ever-growing population on Earth.

Ok. While in theory, this sounds a bit like a rambling interpretation of the future, there is some science behind it. According to the release, a single 500 meter asteroid could contain the as much Platinum Group Metals as has been mined in the history of earth. That, and water.

See, exploring space is complex in part due to the whole water issue. Humans need water for nearly every facet of life and it's already been proven that frozen water can be found in asteroids. By mining this water, deeper space exploration might be possible as one can theorize spaceships could "refuel" on asteroids when water is getting low. That, and it could help assuage the water problems here on earth.

Personally, I just can't wait for the next natural step after space mining; Moon colonies. If we can grow crops and mine water in space, what's to stop someone living out there like Sam Rockwell in Moon. I mean, without the whole conspiracy angle...

Original article: Here’s How Planetary Resources Plans to Mine Asteroids (Release) (AllThingsD)

U.K. funding elderly driving assist programs

JD Speedy — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:20:00 GMT

In the U.K., things are a bit crowded. It's hard to buy a house, it's hard to find an apartment and it's hard to just up and move.

So, for the growing senior population, it's a bit optimistic to ask them all to hand over their licenses the minute their eyesight starts going.

In light of this unavoidable truth, the program nicknamed "Granny Nav" is being developed to combat this. It uses visual cues to help better inform the driver (and the car) of where they are in order to avoid the necessity of last second decisions.

Researchers at Newcastle University tricked out an electric car with all of the sensors and monitors you'd want to outfit a mobile lab with and took the DriveLAB through it's paces. The result of that research is going to be the aforementioned "Granny Nav."

It's interesting to note that the rationale behind throwing tech at this problem, instead of the obvious solution - taking seniors off the road - is losing the ability to drive, and the independance attached, can be one of the first stages to "giving up". Seniors who can't choose where and when they go places are more liable to just settle in to a prescribed routine and fall into worse health than when they had the ability.

By giving them the option to drive longer - and hopefully safer - the idea is that they might maintain their independance and social life longer than seniors who were stuck living in an assisted care facility.

Hopefully the end of this story is a few seniors who are now driving safer if they drive at all, and not that this was a poor replacement for a young set of reflexes.

Original article: U.K. funds ‘Granny Nav’ tech to help elderly keep their cars (Globe and Mail Technology)

Woman caught smuggling iPhone's in empty beer bottles

JD Speedy — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:57:00 GMT

I guess, according to App Chronicles, iDevice smuggling in China isn't a new thing.

But this case was pretty novel.

An elderly woman tried to cross the border from Hong Kong to Shenzhen with over 200 iPhones. So how did she attempt to get them past the wily guards? In recyclables.

Since poverty is pretty widespread in China - hence the ongoing demand for factory jobs - transporting that amount of bottles is not all that surprising. What was surprising is that since the iPhones wouldn't fit through the mouth of the beer bottles selected, each bottle was carefully split in the middle, iPhone inserted and then sealed up with clear tape.

When officials spotted the tape, however, and noticed the wildly varying weights to the "empty" bottles, the whole lot of the contraband was found and seized.

The most interesting part, to me, is how this is a money-making scheme for anyone? How do the goods increase in value across borders?

Either way it's an interesting side to the Chinese situation for Apple.

Original article: Crafty Chinese Smugglers Put iPhones inside Beer Bottles, Still Failed to Cross the Border (App Chronicles)

Supreme Court to say Thursday if Wind Mobile case goes ahead

Howard Solomon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:46:00 GMT

It’s been just over two and a half years since the Harper cabinet overturned a decision by the CRTC, the federal telecommunications regulator, and issued an operating licence to the parent of Wind Mobile.Since then competitor Public Mobile has been trying to get the courts to recognize that was an unfair decision to other carriers.

On Thursday it will find out if Canada’s top court will take the case. The Supreme Court of Canada said this afternoon that’s when it will announce if it will give Public Mobile leave to appeal the case, which centres on the powers of the federal cabinet.

The startup, which operates a network in Toronto and Montreal, wants the courts to say the benefit Wind got from the cabinet should be available to all wireless carriers. In the first round, a Federal Court judge ruled in Public Mobile’s favour in February, 2011 and quashed the cabinet’s decision. But four months later the Federal Court of Appeal overturned that decision.

The fight started in the fall of 2009 when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said Wind's parent, Globalive Wireless Management Corp., hadn't proved that it wasn't controlled by its financier, Egyptian-basedOrascom Telecom.

Under the Telecommunications Act, foreign companies can directly and indirectly hold up to 46 per cent of a telecom carrier. But the act also says the carrier has to show it isn’t controlled by outsiders. In Globalive’s case, the CRTC said the fact that Orascom provided almost all of Wind’s financing, plus its brand name, gave it too much clout.

But prodded by then-Industry Minister Tony Clement – whose department had already approved Globalive’s carrier licence – the cabinet said that because daily control of Wind would be in the hands of Canadians it met the conditions of the law.

Orascom has since been bought by Amsterdam-based VimpelCom Ltd.