Internet – Page 11

Internet Explorer allows you to surf safer; no more information gathering

August 28, 2008 Danny X 0 comment

From Marketing Magazine, August 28, 2008: The next version of Microsoft’s web browser makes it easier for people to surf the Internet without leaving a trace. Companies that sell advertisements online now—including Microsoft—can electronically gather tidbits about web surfers’ habits, and then use that information to help decide what kinds of ads to show. However, in the newest beta test version of Microsoft’s forthcoming Internet Explorer 8, which was made available Wednesday, a mode called InPrivateBrowsing lets users surf without having a list of sites they visit get stored on…

On Facebook Yoda Can Not Be – For Some

August 28, 2008April 17, 2009 Doug Groves 3 Comments

From the “Stupid Copyright Nonsense” Department: Japanese author and translator Hiroko Yoda has been having problems setting up a Facebook account, as her last name is the same as a director George Lucas met in Tokyo a long time ago (but in this galaxy), which inspired the name of the worlds favourite little green Jedi master. Yoda is a fairly common Japanese last name, and after contacting Facebook about the problem, they had this to say in reply: Facebook blocks the registration of a number of names that are frequently…

Fan Expo: Mega64 Interview

August 23, 2008July 25, 2009 Doug Groves Fan Expo, FXC 2008, interview, Mega 640 comment

Alex talks with Rocco and Shawn from Mega64.com, in what is the funniest interview of the show (so far?). Everything from outside projects and bodily mutilation via Blendtec blenders is discussed. NSFW, but only if you work someplace where they take NSFW seriously.

Coolest. Clock. Ever.

August 15, 2008August 23, 2008 Danny X 0 comment

Some dude named Simon Heys has taken all his free time and put it to good use, so you too can now count your free time. Presenting the Word Clock, a free screensaver that works for both PC and MAC. It’s a word based clock that comes in 2 flavours, Block Text (pictured above) and Rotating Dial. I’d say this goes in the running for coolest screensaver ever. The only thing it’s missing is a groovy jazzy tune and some girls going gymnastics in a library, but I can live…

Bell To Charge Wholesalers Per Usage

August 10, 2008April 17, 2009 Doug Groves 2 Comments

Bell has recently announced that it plans to start charging its wholesale customers usage-based-billing (UBB). These wholesalers include popular 3rd party ISP provider TekSavvy, amongst others. This throws a new wrinkle in the relationship between the telco giant and the wholesalers, who are still waiting to for a decision from the CRTC regarding packet shaping. The limits imposed on the wholesalers would vary between 2 gigabytes (GB) per month for slower connections, up to 60 GB for higher speed connections, and overage costs would have to be passed on to…

Bell launches a new ad campaign, just in time for the Olympics

August 7, 2008August 10, 2008 Danny X 0 comment

Tomorrow Bell will unveil its new branding with a 60-second television ad during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics.“This is a significant rebrand from the basement up,” said Rick Seifeddine, senior vice-president, brand strategy for Bell during a conference call on Wednesday. In anticipation of the launch, Bell has been teasing the public in its major English-language markets since last week with outdoor media executions showing only the letters “er” with portions of larger blue letters at the edges. The number of executions increased over time, appearing in…

XBox Live Gold Now Free On The PC!

July 29, 2008August 2, 2008 Danny X 12 Comments

“For a limited time, Microsoft is offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross-platform play. This promotion won’t last, so we can encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can.” That’s the official quote from Microsoft regarding Xbox Live playability from your PC with others on 360 consoles. The promotion covers all titles that include Xbox 360/Games for Windows cross-platform play, and allows 360 users with an Xbox Live silver membership to play online free of charge. A paid Gold-level membership is…

Wireless Spectrum Sales Concluded In Canada: Cheaper Services To Come?

July 22, 2008July 25, 2009 Doug Groves CRTC28 Comments

The huge CRTC sale of new wireless spectrum concluded on Monday, bringing in about $4.25 billion dollars to the government, and possibly (finally?) putting a dent in the long running Great Canadian Telecom Duopoly of Rogers and Bell. One of the highest bidders to the new spectrum is Globalive Inc, which is best known for its Yak long distance service. The company has laid about $442.1 million for licenses in all provinces except Quebec, in an effort to build an all new national wireless provider. To maintain it’s stranglehold in…

Grassroots Growing Over Bill C-61

July 17, 2008July 25, 2009 Doug Groves CRTC, online rights1 Comment

In keeping up with the fight against Bill C-61, c61in61seconds.ca has launched. It’s a YouTube channel that’s giving users a central hub to post their opinions on the new Bill C-61 amendments that are going through the system here in Canada. Many people see these changes as little more than a Canadian version of the DMCA. An ever increasing number of Canadians are speaking out, however, and the with the summer delay of the Bill, the grassroots are getting some time to grow. The above video tells you how you…

The Great Canadian Telecom Duopoly roundup

July 9, 2008July 25, 2009 Doug Groves Bell, Rogers7 Comments

Yep. It’s the semi-weekly Great Canadian Telecom (GCT) Roundup, taking a look at what’s happened in Bell and Rogers are doing lately (this week there’s some bonus Telus news). To start it off, the Montreal Gazette is reporting (in a story who’s title “Consumers r skrood by ph compnEz – agn” can be considered either a painful attempt at 1337 speak, or a dig (not digg) at the literacy rate amongst internet users, that Bell and Telus are considering charging customers per sms received starting in August, with speculation that…

Canadians to Broadcasters: “I want my Web TV”

July 7, 2008July 7, 2008 Danny X 0 comment

In a recent study, it seems that more and more Canadians are turning to the Internets for their boobtube fix. But if you’re among them, and if you’re a fan of virtually anything not available on Canada’s major networks, and even then if that content is U.S. produced and not licensed for any distribution beyond your living room screen, odds are you’re getting your shows via non-sanctioned means.

Is the Canadian Wireless landscape ready for a change? Instinct says “maybe”.

July 3, 2008July 25, 2009 Danny X 7 Comments

As has been posted before, Rogers is not the only game in town when it comes to putting the internet in your pocket. The CDMA HTC Touch does the job remarkably well, and very affordably. But can it be called an iPhone Killer? Well, the jury’s kind of out on that, and the fact that it’s the only touch screen comparable wireless device available in Canada (either through Bell or Telus) keeps your options pretty slim. But as was inevitable, a whole slew of new devices is poised to flood…