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What does Google voice mean for Canada?
Can Google Voice transform our cell phone industry?
Unlimited calling across Canada
What does Google Voice mean to Canadians? Quite simply the possibility of unlimited calling! Google Voice is a telecommunications service based on Personal numbering, which means that the service is independent of your cell phone, home phone or instrument and attached to you, hence personal. This means that you finally have a form of unlimited calling on your cell phone regardless of which cell phone company or carrier you use. This is the same sort of service that Wind Mobile is trying to achieve with its unlimited calling plans. Unfortunately Google Voice is only available in the US, although I have heard about a work around that can get it working in Canada, read on. Read the rest of this entry »
Purchasing Unlocked Cell Phones in Canada
3 Things you need to consider before your purchase
With Bell and TELUS having upgraded their network technology to HSPA it now means the Big 3 cell phone carriers (Bell, Rogers, Telus) have compatible 3G networks. For us – subscribers – we now have the ability to purchase unlocked phones and activate them on “any” of the carriers’ networks or take an existing compatible device and activate it with any carrier. So what’s the catch? Well, unless you are a tech wizard, this process can be very confusing. The good news, however, is that the stage is set for Canada’s cell phone gray market (i.e. swapping/activating of cell phones between carriers) to increase, but before purchasing an unlocked phone or having one unlocked, you must do your homework first. In addition to getting the technical details right other potential issues could be purchasing a stolen or fraudulently obtained device so if it’s too good to be true it probably is.
Navigating the unlocked cell phone market can be tricky for customers that aren’t tech savvy so let let’s break it down. The first thing you need to know is that all cellular devices sold by Bell, Rogers or Telus are locked to their network, hence the need to purchase an unlocked cellphone from some other source or have a compatible device unlocked in order to use it. In Europe it is illegal for a carrier to lock phones to their network but in Canada that’s not the case, so before you purchase that new cell phone you need to be sure it will work on the cell phone provider’s network.
Why you don’t want an Apple iPad!
10 reasons to skip the iPad this year
On Wednesday, Jan 27 – Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s new device the iTampon, I mean the iPad (sorry bad joke and it has been overdone) with alot of hoopla and media attention that no one does better than Apple. When the iPhone came out it was truly revolutionary – it changed the cell phone game but this device, the iPad is not likely to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor.
Why not? Well for one the smartphone market was (and still is) taking off and Apple entered the game late after RIM had demonstrated that the cell phone market was going to Smartphones in a big way. But the iPad is not a smartphone it’s a tablet PC or Apple’s iTablet. And tablet PCs have been around for more than a decade already and it hasn’t caught on. So Apple is attempting to drive a new category. What that category is – is not clear. I’ve heard – it’s not a smartphone and it’s not an eBook – so its a Smartbook. I’ve heard that it is in the netbook category and I’ve also heard of course that it’s in the tablet category. Whichever category it’s in, this is more niche that mass.
All You Need to Know About the Apple iPad
It’s the iPad, not iTablet
After much anticipation Apple has launched its long-awaited iPad, yes I said iPad (no jokes please). There are many blogs discussing the new iPad, here you will find everything you would care to know about Apple’s newest device. Our sources tell us that the Apple iPad will be available in Canada in late June or early July 2010. The iPad is a cross between an iTouch and a Laptop. It is not as functional as a Laptop, and a little more advanced then the iTouch. Surfing the web, sending/receiving emails, playing games, listening to music, reading eBooks and using many of the Apps that are available for both the iPhone and iTouch will be more enjoyable on the iPads 9.7 inch screen. The weight of the iPad is 1.5 lbs, a little heavier than the Kindle or Amazon’s eReader. It is only 1.3cm thick with a large black border framing the screen. Read the rest of this entry »
10 Blackberry Apps you can’t live without!
My Favourite Blackberry Apps
Any blackberry aficionado will tell you that in order to really get the true value of a blackberry you have to load applications. It’s simply a must! The blackberry app portal is growing daily with lots of cool apps from free to paid applications that would enhance your cell phone or smartphone experience. This list represents my favourite applications and includes some must haves.
Before I begin, in order to benefit from blackberry apps you should have blackberry app world installed on your phone. This is the easiest way to get find, download and use these applications.
One other point to note is that these applications leverage your data service on your device so it’s important to understand how much data your need so you don’t end up paying too much in the process.
HTC Maple (HTC Snap) Review
HTC Maple or HTC Snap – What’s the difference?
When I heard about the HTC Maple it looked very familiar to me. It looked a lot like the HTC Snap and it looks a bit like the Blackberry Bold!! What’s also interesting is that it has a very Canadian like name…the Maple. Given these similarities I wanted to find out more about this device just out of sheer curiosity.
Well it turns out that my hunch was correct, the HTC Maple is the pure GSM version of the HTC Snap (the snap also has GSM capabilities) with some minor differences. It’s slightly longer, but has all the similar features of the Snap. To learn more about the HTC Maple matched up against its cousin, the HTC Snap see the table below for key information about the differences.
More Eye Candy from LG with the New Chocolate BL40
LG Chocolate BL40 Cell phone Review
Before you test your taste buds, read on to see if LG’s latest Black Label cell phone, the New Chocolate BL40, lives up to the high quality standard of some of the past devices like the Shine and the Secret. Take your pick, the New Chocolate is available in the keypad-toting slider or the full touch screen with both handsets running LG’s S-class user interface.
The BL40 is not here just for the unique look but the quality feel of the user interface as well. The user interface and touch screen input is very smooth and sensitive, and commands are easily entered with the lightest of touches. Also, with the support for gesture controls, you can access menus by drawing simple icons on a touch pad and set up each of your frequently used menu items to be accessed by one of the twelve gesture icons stored in the handset.
Google’s Nexus strategy – what is it?
We all know Google as the lead of the search market and online advertising. This is its bread and butter.
Google's New Smartphone - Nexus One
But recently Google unveiled a new Smartphone called Nexus One – a rather impressive device that threatens to rival the iPhones and Blackberries of the world. With a 1GHz processor it packs enough punch to rival most desktop computers in the market. But the big question I have is why would Google enter the cell phone hardware market?
The New LG Bliss
LG Bliss
Like a flower just about to bloom, a pleasant scent while walking through the room. A lovely quote to start the day, laughter and fun not only at work but also at play. The LG Bliss is a good balance of attractive and functional characteristics that we’ve grown to appreciate with our touch screen phones.
A 3 inch screen with solid graphics that can be customized 4 ways lets you know that this is my phone. They provide shortcuts to your everyday functions, like contacts, multi media use and messaging.
Did I mention text messaging capabilities? Unlike other phones that provide one form of text messaging or IM, like the the Qwerty keyboard, or ABC texting found on most flip phones, the Bliss has the virtual Qwerty, virtual ABC but also a really cool letter recognition that allows you to hand write your messages for those of us who can still write. It does lack the auto correct feature but who makes mistakes typing anyway. Read the rest of this entry »
The Nexus One
Definition of Nexus - the means of connection between things linked in series.
So, what is this Nexus One? Rumour, hype, myth or legend? This phone is currently not available but is causing a buzz not heard since the Apple iPhone in 2007. Its being tested by Google employees and strikes similarities to the Apple iPhone, but will this be considered another iPhone killer?
