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That's a big iPhone

Dave Webb — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:07:00 GMT

Just finished watching multiple live blogs covering the launch of Apple Inc.'s "newest creation," as it was billed to the press. Quelle surprise! It's a tablet (or "slate," as all the cool kids are calling it now).

Steve Jobs debuted the long-rumoured iPad to journalists and industry watchers today -- half an inch thick, 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7-inch touchscreen. If the word "tablet" conjures up the tablet PC form factor you've become accustomed to over the last few years, give your mental Etch-a-Sketch a shake. Think outsize iPhone instead.

Because that's definitely what the iPad is. Sure, it's got a custom Apple A4 1GHz processor under the hood ("It screams," enthused Jobs); it can handle a little more robust applications, like Apple's iWork suite; put the multi-touch screen, landscape/portrait, synch-to-your-desktop, download-your-apps experience is all iPhone. First impressions:

1. Jobs called the pricing "aggressive"; Wi-Fi-only models start at $499 U.S., 3G models $629. Pundits had predicted a $999 price point. There's a reason for that.

The price of an iPhone is largely subsidized by wireless carriers in exchange for a long-term contract. Apple's deal with AT&T in the U.S. calls for $24.99 a month unlimited data, on a pay-as-you-go basis. No contract, no subsidy. Apple had to price aggressively to make sure these puppies move.

2. All 3G iPads will ship unlocked. That, along with the no-contract deal, gives users a lot of flexibility, and will force carriers into cutthroat competition when everyone and his dog has one.

3. Both of the above have profound implications for the Big 3 Canadian carriers. They're all on the same network technology now; the iPad experience will be essentially the same on any one of them. There are no subsidies to offer, no contract to imprison customers. If Jobs can make this model fly in Canada -- and it's easy to envision recalcitrance on the part of carriers grown fat by seducing customers into long-term contracts with subsides -- competition should be intense. If someone isn't offering all-you-can-eat for less than $30 a month when the 3G iPad launches here, possibly as soon as June, then I'm calling collusion.

4. Speaking of launching here, the Wi-Fi-only models will ship worldwide in 60 days. That's a substantial acceleration compared to the iPhone, which left fanbois panting for six months in the U.S. -- almost a year and a half here -- after its announcement.

5. The impact on the smart phone market is impossible to determine at this point. Those who want to do real work on a connected-everywhere mobile device are going to take a hard look at whether they'd rather squint at a 3.5-inch screen or carry a light slate and a dumb phone (is that actually a category?). I know what my answer would be.

6. Policy-wise, IT is going to have to treat the iPad like a smart phone, not a computer. This will never be hardwired into the network (I don't believe there's an Ethernet port, though I could be wrong. The closest it'll get is synchronization with a desktop.

7. I want one. Now.

Rogers Rocket Hub roundup

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:56:00 GMT

Rogers product manager Todd Williamson summed up everything you need to know about the new Rogers Rocket Hub in under two minutes at a Rogers holiday party last night.

http://video.itworldcanada.com/?bcpid=7044989001&bctid=53984352001

The Rocket Hub, targeted to small businesses and home offices, provides users in rural locations with a new option for placing mobile calls and receiving high-speed Internet access.

It provides connections for up to 15 devices andfeatures Wi-Fi, four Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 port and a telephone jack. Plans start at $35.00 per month plus the hardware.

Click here to read Joaquim Menezes’ story on what the Rocket Hub means for small business.

Preparing for the cell phone ban: Sony Ericsson headsets and car kits

Jennifer Kavur — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:33:00 GMT

Ontario’s cell phone ban goes into effect today. Under the new law, which makes it illegal to operate a phone with your hands while driving, you can continue to make and receive calls if you are using a hands-free device.

Sony Ericsson is “fortunate enough to have a really broad range” of products that meet all sorts of price points and appeal to every tier, said Ed Hutchinson, director of Sales and New Business Development at Sony Ericsson.

Battery life is a significant strength across Sony Ericsson’s line, according to Hutchinson, and one reason its Bluetooth products stand out from competitors. “Our Bluetooth headsets are best in class when it comes to battery life,” he said.

The company also has a long lineage with Bluetooth technology itself, Hutchinson pointed out. Ericsson pioneered the Bluetooth standard back in 1994 and “were the innovators of the technology,” he said.

“Overall awareness is starting to skyrocket,” said Hutchinson. “I’ve seen more people with Bluetooth headsets than before and the aesthetics are such that you don’t have the geek-factor … we’ve managed to deal with that by making it much, much smaller.”

Hutchinson expects further ramp up after Ontario’s law goes into effect. “I’m certainly seeing more people wearing Bluetooth headsets and more people using wired headsets in the car, but inevitably, changing behaviour doesn’t happen overnight. It’s going to take some time,” he said.

Here’s a roundup of Sony Ericsson’s hands-free headset and car kit line. All the products listed will connect wirelessly to any make and model of cell phone that has Bluetooth functionality.

VH310

Entry-level, budget-conscious $40 headset

The lowest priced hands-free option, this entry-level headset supports noise cancellation and features 11 hours of talk time or 500 hours of standby. The VH310 includes voice activated dialing and remote voice volume control.

HBH-PV715

Headset in black or white, for $70

This second step in the headset lineup provides slightly better noise cancellation and sound quality, but the difference is mostly aesthetics. The PV715 is available with either a black or white finish. Battery life is 10 hours talk time or 700 hours standby.

HBH-PV720

Adjustable comfort and looks, for $99

This headset model comes with removable faceplates, a neck lanyard and earhooks that can be removed and reversed to fit any size or shape of ear. Additional faceplates and earhook options are included in the box. Battery life is up to 11 hours talk time and 800 hours standby.

HBH-PV740

Top-of-the-line corporate headset, for $130

This model, available in black or silver, includes perks such as a battery life indicator and an attractive charger designed to sit on your desk. Talk time is 11 hours, with 800 hours standby.

HCB-108

Entry-level car kit, for $99

For those who prefer to keep both ears open, in addition to two hands on the wheel, this entry-level car kit clips to your visor and hits the sub-$100 price point. You’ll get 25 hours of talk time and 700 hours of standby, which equates to about one month of power. It also comes with a power adapter that plugs into your cigarette lighter, should you need to re-charge in your car. An auto-pairing feature connects the device to your phone in seconds, and works nicely with the iPhone. The HCB-108 also doubles well as a desktop speakerphone.

HCB-150

Top-tier car kit that talks to you, for about $180

This high-end model uploads all your contacts from your address book and tells you exactly who is calling. It also has a display, making it easier to manage calls.

REVIEW: Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse

Jennifer Kavur — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:35:00 GMT

Logitech revamped its V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks this summer with a series of new colour options. Priced at US $29.99, the compact mouse features a 1000 dpi optical sensor, six month battery life, cross-platform compatibility, horizontal scrolling and zoom, an ergonomic design and rubber grips.

Its small size demands much less space than a full-size wireless mouse, making it well suited for travel. To prevent the mouse from accidentally operating within your bag and draining the battery, an on/off switch is located on the underside of the device.

The bottom of the mouse also includes a slot for housing the USB receiver so it doesn’t get lost. The mouse automatically shuts off when you slide the receiver into the slot, which is another preventative measure against battery drain.

The mouse works with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X, which is very nice if you move back and forth between platforms. There is no need to download or install any software – you simply plug the mini-receiver in your computer’s USB slot and within seconds the mouse is operational.

Even the packaging is pragmatic. You don’t have to worry about slicing your hand or scarring the product with a box cutter in order to get the mouse out. Its “bend corner to open” design allows you to simply push the top right corner of the packaging and the corrugated plastic unfolds.

One AA battery is included in the package, which is required to get the mouse up and running. A single battery should last for about six months of use, according to Logitech.

I tested the V220 for a couple weeks, during the day on Windows XP and bringing it home to my Mac at night. The housing slot works, but could use some improvement. Carrying the duo around in my bag, there were a few occasions where I’d find the mouse and receiver had separated.

The mouse worked effortlessly on both platforms and operated well within a range of at least three feet. The V220 doesn’t have Bluetooth and relies on the USB receiver to operate, so you need to sacrifice a USB port in order to use it, but in exchange you don’t need to fuss around with settings and potentially weak signals.

I found the mouse too small for long-term daily use, but very easy to operate considering its size due to all the tactile feedback you get from its design. The V220 has an ergonomic shape, rubber side panels (which provide a great grip) and ridged centre wheel. Overall, the mouse is very comfortable to hold.

The centre wheel tilts side to side and features side-scrolling capabilities, so you can scroll to the right or left of a page depending on which direction you tilt the wheel.

You can engage the zoom feature, which allows you to increase or decrease the viewing size of a page by scrolling up or down on the wheel, by pressing down on the centre of the scroll wheel. A second press releases the zoom function and allows the mouse to revert back to its standard functionality.

Overall, the V220 offers the right amount of features for a very decent price. It performs well and is well suited for students who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a wireless mouse or travelers who want a comfortable device that works on multiple platforms with little fuss.

The mouse is available in solid red, pink, purple, blue and black or red and blue patterns.

Cineplex brings motion effects to moviegoers by installing D-BOX movie theatre seats

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:03:00 GMT

If you’re looking for something to do over the long weekend and live in the Toronto area, my suggestion is to visit the Cineplex Odeon Queensway in Etobicoke and watch the latest Harry Potter movie in one of the theatre’s new D-BOX motion seats.

The Queensway is the first and only movie theatre in Canada to offer motion effects through new movie theatre chairs from D-BOX Technologies Inc., a Montreal-based company known for developing similar chairs for the gaming and home theatre markets.

The seats are equipped with D-BOX Motion Code, an immersive technology that draws you into the film using vibrations and motions that sync with what is taking place on screen - you literally feel the movie.

The seats were unveiled to Canadians on July 15 with the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but launched in the commercial movie theatre market last April at two theatres in the U.S. – one in Arizona and one in Hollywood – with the release of Fast & Furious 4.

Only certain films will work with the chairs, which have been installed in one row towards the back of one of the Queensway’s auditoriums. They are activated by inserting your ticket, which tacks an extra $7 on top of the movie ticket price.

But it might be the first time you find splurging in a movie theatre worthwhile – and definitely worth more than that popcorn/drink combo. Even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to stay put in your seat.

A full article on the D-BOX technology, “Canadian technology offers movie goers a moving (seat) experience,” is available at ITBusiness.ca.

Cineplex brings motion effects to moviegoers by installing D-BOX movie theatre seats

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:35:00 GMT

The seats are equipped with D-BOX Motion Code, an immersive technology that uses a complex motion script tailored to the film that draws you in with vibrations and motions that sync with what is taking place on screen. You literally feel the movie.

A full article on the D-BOX technology, “Canadian technology offers movie goers a moving (seat) experience,” is available at ITBusiness.ca.

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Social networking for shareholders

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:34:00 GMT

CorpFreeSpeech is a new social networking site that aims to increase transparency into publicly traded companies and bring shareholders out of the dark.

Launched in May by Laurent Rulinda, a former KMPG International consultant with 25 years of corporate world experience, the site targets the business community by facilitating discussions between corporations, their shareholders and employees.

The site also list current financial information, including stock charts.

The latest, loudest and most popular “free speeches” are listed on the homepage. At the time of writing this post, the hot topic is Coca Cola.

Membership to the site is free and required to post a comment, but non-members are welcome to read the discussions. Posts remain anonymous and display no personal information other than your selected username.

Comments are only moderated for offensive content. Official company responses are clearly indicated to avoid miscommunication and fraudsters.

A Webcam that records in 3D

Jennifer Kavur — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:33:00 GMT

Take your Skype or Windows Live Messenger videoconferences to another level with Minoru – a Japanese 3D Webcam now available through Hammacher Schlemmer for US$99.95.

The bendable arms allow the device to hang over the top of your monitor, while the two eyes contain separate cameras that record video at 15 frames per second. You can also use Webcam to take 3D photos and record 3D video clips. To view the images in 3D, users need to wear a pair of standard 3D glasses. Five pairs are included with the device.

Minoru connects to your PC via USB and requires Windows XP or Vista. A dual core processor is recommended. You can also use the Webcam for standard 2D video.

Sony Ericsson’s first smart phone arrives in Canada today via Rogers

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:33:00 GMT

The Xperia X1, which marks Sony Ericsson’s entry to the smart phone market, is now available for purchase in Canada through Rogers Wireless. And it works with Skype.

The X1 was first announced in 2008 and released in the United States in February this year. Unlocked versions were available to U.S. customers through Sony Style.

Rogers is the first cellular carrier to offer the X1 to Canadian customers. Pricing starts at $249.99 with a 3-year contract.

Users have several options for interacting with the device: a 3-inch WVGA touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, an optical mouse and a stylus.

The stylus is handy for navigating through cells in an Excel spreadsheet, pointed out Farhad Esmail, channel and product analyst for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, during his demo of the device.

The X1 features panels instead of apps and the interface is designed to display nine panel options at once. Twenty five panels are displayed on Sony Ericsson’s site, but ten are Oxford phrasebooks, one is an update to an existing panel and two are listed as “coming soon.”

But the existence of a Skype panel might make up for all of this.

While the Skype app remains unavailable to iPhone users with Canadian iTunes accounts, Canadian Xperia X1 users are free to download and use the Skype panel from Sony Ericsson.

Panels that are available as of today also include the following:

On the Road: uses GPS to
determine traveling speed, length of travel and track your route on Google
Maps
Evernote: share and sync files
between phone, PC and Web
Dashwire: backup and sync phone
contacts and settings with PC and Web
Cool Hunting: daily update on
art, design, culture and technology
Slideshow: for slideshows
Windows Live
Facebook
Spb Mobile Shell: an
alternative interface
Spb Traveler
Spb Weather

Auto-rotate capabilities allow users to watch movies, for example, horizontally. Stereo Bluetooth helps make watching a feature film on a cell phone more exciting, as users can wirelessly connect the X1 to a pair of portable Bluetooth speakers like Esmail did for the demo.

The X1 features a 3.2 megapixel camera with a touchscreen UI, touchscreen focusing and image stabilization. The phone also allows for videorecording.

The 3G/Wi-Fi device runs on the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform and includes Microsoft Mobile Office and support for Microsoft Exchange as well as remote wipe capabilities. There is also an open SDK for developers.

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MyKey lets parents program safety features into car keys

Jennifer Kavur — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:32:00 GMT

Ford’s new MyKey technology, which imposes restrictions on young drivers through programmable car keys, is coming soon to Canada.

Richard Neumann, technical support manager at Ford of Canada, provided a demo of the technology for Computer World Canada at Ford Canada headquarters in Oakville. (Watch the video below.)

The 2010 Ford Focus will be the first model to feature MyKey, said Neumann, but the technology will extend to all 2010 Ford vehicles as standard equipment.

When you insert the key into the ignition, the car identifies whether you are the administrator or the MyKey driver and applies the corresponding settings.

MyKey settings include limiting speed to a maximum 130 kph, hearing chimes at designated speed points, limiting radio volume and preventing the driver from turning off other safety features.

But the best part of MyKey, according to Neumann, is that the radio won’t play if the seat belt isn’t buckled.

“It takes the place of the parent in the passenger seat and it does those three things that the parent would say: buckle up your seat belt, watch your speed and turn the radio down,” he said.

Another feature is advanced warnings. A vehicle that normally indicates low fuel at 80 km to empty, for example, will provide a warning in advance, he said.

Even the most tech-savvy kids can’t crack the technology, according to Neumann. “They’d have to use the same software and computers that the dealerships use to reflash the modules within the computer, so they‘d have to be Ford technicians pretty well to do that,” he said.

But even if they did, MyKey also tracks mileage, so parents would know. “If they have borrowed your key or let’s say they’ve made another one, the system would not accumulate the MyKey miles, so [you] would know that they are using the vehicle but the miles aren’t accumulating,” he explained.

MyKey also keeps track of how many keys are programmed to the vehicle. “If they bought a third key, it would tell me they are using three keys and I would know they are bypassing the system,” said Neumann.

A peak inside the high-tech, eco-friendly 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Jennifer Kavur — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:31:00 GMT

Now arriving in dealerships across Canada, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid introduces a new Ford technology called SmartGauge that swaps traditional dashboards with a customizable LCD screen.

The screen indicates how “green” you are driving by adding leaves to a tree. “The more economy driving you do, leaves grow,” said Christine Hollander, communications manager at Ford of Canada. “You can have up to maximum of 23 leaves on your tree.”

The hybrid model is also the first to feature Blis with Cross Traffic Alert, a blind spot information system that beeps and lights up indicators in your side mirrors when a car is approaching as you back up or hidden in your blind spot.

The hybrid is packed with other Ford technologies, including a navigation system, reverse view camera and Sync for hands-free operation of your cell phone, listening to music, accessing the GPS system and adjusting the climate.

Eco-friendly features include a regenerative breaking system, which takes the heat released from braking to generate power and recharge the battery.

“The fuel economy is 4.6 litres per 100 km in the city and 5.4 on the highway, which gives it a combined of 5 litres per 100 km, which makes it the best mid-sized sedan in terms of fuel economy in Canada,” said Hollander.

SmartGauge is available exclusively on 2010 Fusion Hybrid. “Because it’s a hybrid, people want to drive green … this gives them insight on how to drive more eco-friendly,” Hollander explained. Blis with Cross Traffic Alert and Sync are standard or optional features on other Ford models

Hollander gave us a first-hand tour of the car’s interior at Ford of Canada headquarters in Oakville:

6 days left until iPhone OS 3.0, 8 days remain for the iPhone 3GS

Jennifer Kavur — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:31:00 GMT

On Monday, Apple released details on the latest iPhone model and new OS. The iPhone 3GS will go on sale in Canada and the United States on June 19. Consumers can choose between a 16GB or 32GB model. The 3GS will also run iPhone OS 3.0, which is scheduled for release on June 17. According to Apple, the new operating system has over 100 new features.

New to the iPhone 3GS:

hands-free voice control for making calls and operating
the iPod application.
a built-in digital compass
higher-quality graphics
longer battery life
video recording with editing capabilities that
allow you to trim the start and stop points of your clips
a 3 megapixel camera with macro focus and
tap to focus, which automatically re-adjusts focus and exposure
according to where you tap the screen
the ability to send photos and video by e-mail
or MMS
7.2 Mbps HSDPA support

Apple also introduced a new set of accessibility features on the iPhone 3GS. For the visually impaired, a Zoom function magnifies the entire screen and White on Black reverses colours for higher contrast. VoiceOver reads the display out loud so users can make calls, read e-mail, browse the Web, play music and run applications. For the hearing impaired, Mono Audio combines left and right audio channels.

New to the iPhone OS 3.0:

the ability cut, copy and paste
MMS
Spotlight Search
Landscape keyboard

Monday brought several other announcements from Apple, including the official release of Safari 4 for Mac OS X and Windows. The Web browser is available as a free download, but requires either Mac OS X Leopard v10.5.7, Mac OS X Tiger v10.4.11, Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista.

The company also unveiled the new Mac operating system, OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, and the new server operating system, Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard. Both are scheduled for release in September.

Apple also updated the MacBook Pro line, with notebooks available in 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models. The news focuses on the 7-hour battery, which Apple says will provide up to 40 per cent longer battery life.

Apple’s App Store remains the largest application store in the world, with over 50,000 applications. Over 1 billion apps have been downloaded by customers to date.

Fringe’s Joshua Jackson and Rogers introduce Android to Canadians

Jennifer Kavur — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Android arrived in Canada yesterday via the new HTC Dream and HTC Magic. Both phones are available immediately through Rogers Wireless, with pricing starting at $149.99 with a three-year contract. Rogers is offering a $30 6GB monthly data plan for those who purchase one of the two phones before July 1, 2009.

There are 3,200 apps currently available for Google’s mobile platform through the Android Market.

Fringe TV star Joshua Jackson was in Toronto this week to help Rogers promote the handsets. Watch editor Dave Webb’s video coverage below for excerpts from yesterday’s launch event or read his story, “Joshua Jackson helps Rogers launch Android.”

Blue Microphone USB mics and Webcams arrive at Best Buy Canada

Jennifer Kavur — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:29:00 GMT

Blue Microphones, known for their gorgeous line of high-quality microphones, is bringing a collection of consumer audio products to Canada.

Best Buy Canada is the first mass retailer in Canada to carry Blue’s products, starting with the Snowflake ($78.99) portable USB microphone with HD audio and the Eyeball ($112.99) plug-and-play USB Webcam with HD audio and video.

Finding a Webcam that emphasizes audio is rare, according to Laura Barnard’s PC World review. Macworld’s Scott McNulty pointed out the Webcam’s retracting capabilities, which lets users opt out of video and use the Eyeball for VoIP calls.

Blue’s full-size USB podcast microphone, the Snowball (($99.99), is available online at BestBuy.ca.

All consumer products from Blue are both Mac and PC compatible.

Blue Microphone was founded in 1995 by musicians Skipper Wise and Martins Saulespurens. The California-based company initially focused on producing microphones for pro musicians.

Sony Ericsson announces Walkman phone for Canadian YouTube addicts

Jennifer Kavur — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Sony Ericsson has remained relatively quiet in Canada’s mobile phone space since the fall of 2008, when Rogers Wireless released the silver W760 Walkman phone and Fido announced a prepaid T303 model.

(The W760 got a facelift in March 2009 with the release of a red colour model.)

But the company is back in the competition with two new mobile handsets announced yesterday – the W705 targeted to music lovers and the C905 for photo enthusiasts. Both are available exclusively on the Rogers Wireless network.

The first Walkman phone launched in 2005, said Farhad Esmail, channel and product analyst for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications International. Esmail provided a first-hand demo of the phone to Computer World Canada. (You can watch the demo in the video below.)

This latest model features improvements to audio with an increased frequency range and low distortion. Headphones are included with the handset and one step below noise cancellation headphones in quality, according to Esmail.

The handset comes with a 4GB Memory Stick, which is enough to hold over 1000 music tracks, but can support up to 8GB. A dedicated button connects directly to the MP3 player in the phone.

The W705 isn’t only about audio. It is also the only handset that lets you record video clips and upload them directly to YouTube with one click, according to Esmail.

The interface also targets Facebook users with status updates that automatically scroll across the main menu screen. The ability to upload photos directly to your Facebook account is provided as a one-click option right after you use the phone to take a picture.

Integration with Twitter isn’t supported.

Pricing starts at $149.99 with a three-year Rogers contract. Unlike the C905, which is available immediately, the W705 is coming “soon.”

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