Canadians, rejoice: Skype for iPhone is here – The Globe and Mail
Its about GD time! I downloaded the app and seems to work as expected. Now all we need is SkypeIn and for this to work on 3G. Good step though!
Canadians, rejoice: Skype for iPhone is here
Skype’s iPhone app is finally coming to Canada.As of Wednesday, Canadian iPhone and iPod Touch users will be able to join the 6-million-and-counting users who have already downloaded one of the most popular applications in the world.Skype’s iPhone app iTunes download is essentially a slightly more stripped down version of its desktop software that allows users to make free or relatively low-cost phone calls over the Web. The app allows users to make “Skype-to-Skype” calls – essentially, one Skype user calling another – for free. The app also enables calls to land lines and mobile phones at a rate lower than that of most major carriers.There’s a catch, though. You need to be in a WiFi zone to make a Skype call.While the app lets you send and receive instant messages over a 3G network, the calling features require WiFi. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped plenty of industrious hackers from trying to get Skype to run on 3G, even before Skype officially became available in Canada.
via Canadians, rejoice: Skype for iPhone is here – The Globe and Mail.
Copyright Consultation: WIPO treaties | Enterprise Insights
Copyright Consultation: WIPO treatiesThere are now only 5 days left to make your voice heard on this critically important issue. In recent years two different governments tabled copyright bills: the Liberal Bill C-60 on June 20, 2005 and the Conservative Bill C-61 on June 12, 2008. Note: Similar numbers only coincidence. When looking at these bills, both of which died on the order paper, you will notice that the majority of the bills dealt with ratifying two treaties Canada signed in 1996. We must look at these treaties to understanding what will likely form the bulk of the next copyright bill.There are a number of myths about these treaties. The most common is that signing a treaty creates an obligation to ratify. The reality is that signing is to ratifying like dating is to marriage. The Minister of the day, Sheila Copps, even asked whether signing created any obligation — and was told it did not indicate anything other than an interest to investigate the subject of the treaty.Another confusion is between the two highly controversial treaties authored in 1996 and WIPO copyright treaties generally. I have written on this blog in the past that there are 6 copyright related treaties. In that previous article I listed the dates when the UK, France, Canada and the United States either ratified or signed treaties, and whether neither was done. Canada signed the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms on October 29, 1971 and never ratified, and nobody is suggesting that this created some sort of obligation or that there is some mythical rush to ratify.
via Copyright Consultation: WIPO treaties | Enterprise Insights.
Canada’s cellphone rates among highest – The Globe and Mail
I have been saying this for a while now and still feel we are being ripped off royally by Canadian Wireless providers, however, there are some interesting details in the actual numbers in the article. The method of assessing cost in the analysis is somewhat slanted and would only cover an average “bundle” of services but does show where we Canadians sit in terms of what we pay for wireless compared to much of the western world.
Cellphone users in Canada are paying more for wireless service than those in most other Western countries, but customers here come out ahead when measuring prices for home phone service, according to a new study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.The annual survey by the OECD, a forum of 30 governments on social and economic issues, says telecom prices continued to fall last year, as features expanded and greater competition forced operators to think of new ways to sell their services.Across OECD markets, phone companies have moved to bundling their products, making it more difficult for consumers to price individual services. To deal with the growing complexity of pricing, the study’s authors worked with the carriers to create different baskets of services for the sake of international comparisons.
via Canada’s cellphone rates among highest – The Globe and Mail.
Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS
Introducing the Google Chrome OS
Throw out your windows folks! Google is officially challenging Microsoft AND Apple . They really want to rule the world and this IS a game changer. Time will tell…….
7/07/2009 09:37:00 PM
It’s been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we’re announcing a new project that’s a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.
via Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS.
CRTC tax could mean $100 million hike in cable tv rates
Here’s your government working for you. The CRTC are a bunch of outdated out of touch f’tards!
The CRTC today announced that it will tax cable and satellite companies 1.5% of their gross revenues in the upcoming broadcast year in order to fund its recently created Local Programming Improvement Fund LIPF.
The LIPF tax, which is expected to be passed on to Canadian consumers in the form of higher basic and satellite cable television rates, is expected to cost subscribers $100 million annually.
via Digital Home – CRTC tax could mean $100 million hike in cable tv rates.
Rogers iPhone 3G S Pricing for Existing Customers
So we have been asking since it was announced at WWDC what the cost would be for existing Rogers/Fido iPhone customers to upgrade to the 3G S. It has been answered and it’s not all bad. Considering we purchased a device on a three year contract subsidizing a very expensive device, Rogers could have just said “Meh, let em pay the full unsubsidized price”. Rogers is at least aware that there is a huge draw to the wireless revenue that this device brings and really doesn’t want to “shun” the early adopters/enthusiasts, etc. I would rather get the full subsidy, but “Meh”, it’s better than 700-800 Bones for a new phone that arguably does just a little more maybe twice as fast. Do I really need a 500$ compass?
What will be Rogers pricing for the new iPhone 3G S models?
With 3-year voice plan with 3 year data planNEW 16GB iPhone 3G S: $199
NEW 32GB iPhone 3G S: $299Device-only pricing (no term)
NEW 16GB iPhone 3G S: $699
NEW 32GB iPhone 3G S: $799Rogers.com online pricing – As of June 19th and for a limited time, the below device-only pricing applies if you buy online via Rogers.com
NEW 16GB iPhone 3G S: $680
NEW 32GB iPhone 3G S: $780If I already have an iPhone 3G from Rogers and wish to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G S are there any special offers?
Yes. For a limited time, if you are an existing iPhone customer who does not yet qualify for an upgrade, you will be able to take advantage of the below two offers for upgrading to a new iPhone 3GS.Offer 1:
If you are an existing Rogers iPhone 3G customer who has minimum tenure of 6 months since your activation/last upgrade, you can receive $250 off the no-term, device-only price, for a new iPhone 3GS provided that you have a data plan and extend your service agreement by 1 year. This offer does not apply for upgrading to an iPhone 3G.Offer 2:
If you are an existing iPhone 3G customer who activated or upgraded to your iPhone 3G from July 11-Sep 30 2008 and have consistently spent on average of $100 or more each month on your Rogers wireless services you will get $500 off the no-term price of an iPhone 3GS, provided that you have a data plan and extend your service agreement by 1 year. This offer does not apply for upgrading to an iPhone 3G.No-term Offer 1 Offer 2
iPhone 3G S 32 GB $699 $449 $199
iPhone 3G S 16GB $799 $549 $299These offers are available wherever Rogers’ smartphones are sold or by calling Rogers’ customer care. These offers are valid until July 31st.
Is there a limit to the number of iPhone 3GS that I can purchase?
Overwhelming customer feedback indicates there’s great demand for iPhone 3G in Canada so to ensure as many Canadians as possible can get one as soon as possible, we are limiting purchase at launch to a maximum of two devices per customer until further notice.Will I still be able to purchase an iPhone 3G?
Yes. See below for pricing.
Term pricing
16GB iPhone 3G: $149 (while supplies last) with a 3-year voice, and 3 year data plan as of June 19th, 2009
8GB iPhone 3G: $99 with a 3-year voice, and 3 year data plan as of June 19th, 2009Device only pricing
8GB iPhone 3G: $599 as of June 19th
16GB iPhone 3G: no device-only pricing availableRogers.com online pricing – As of June 19th and for a limited time, the below device-only pricing applies if you buy online via Rogers.com
iPhone 3G 8GB: $580
Twitter Stream from @RogersHelps
- The no-term price at both Rogers and Fido is $699 for the 16GB 3GS and $799 for the 32GB 3GS4 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Rogers Wireless customers who aren’t eligible for these promotions can buy the 3GS at our cost ($680/$780) at rogers.com for a limited time6 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- All Fido customers can use their Fido Rewards to upgrade to 3GS. The $100 topup applies to iPhone customers only.10 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Fido customers can use their FidoDollars towards the purchase of a 3GS. Fido will provide an extra $100 to customers exercising this option15 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Fido a special offer of its own for its existing iPhone customers.18 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Rogers Wireless customers who bought the device before Sept 30, 2008 and spend $99 a month get a $500 savings off no term price.19 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Rogers is offering all Rogers Wireless customers who bought an iPhone in 2008 a minimum savings of $250 savings off the no term price19 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Qualifying Rogers Wireless iPhone owners can acquire the 16GB 3G S for as low as $199 and the 32GB version as low as $299.20 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Rogers Wireless will be discounting the iPhone 3G S to provide savings of between $250 and $500 for current qualifying iPhone customers.22 minutes ago from TweetDeck
- Rogers is happy to announce big savings for our existing iPhone customers looking to upgrade to 3G S.
Update: Here is a link to some updated pricing details over at BoyGenius.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/06/18/rogers-fido-official-skinny/
Digital Home – CTV has breached public trust say television distributors
Enough already! I for one am not paying more for TV that already sucks.
CTV has breached public trust say television distributors E-mail
Friday, 22 May 2009
CTV has breached public trust say television distributorsBell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers and Telus and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. CCSA, today filed a complaint with the CRTC saying that CTV has violated the Broadcasting Act by airing one-sided and unbalanced coverage of its own advocacy campaign.
CTV, in order to pressure the government and the regulator to impose a Fee-for-Carriage tax on Canadian consumers, has been promoting a “Save Local TV’ campaign across its media television properties.
In presentations before the CRTC earlier this month, the private network says that without the new tax, which could cost Canada’s ten million cable and satellite households more than $720 million annually, is necessary for its survival. The cable, satellite and IPTV distributors argue that Fee-for-Carriage is nothing more than a “tax rewarding broadcasters’ poor performance.”
via Digital Home – CTV has breached public trust say television distributors.
Tech consumers frustrated by Canadian roadblocks
I’ve been saying this for some time now…… Waited a year for iPhone, still waiting for a Kindle!
Tech consumers frustrated by Canadian roadblocks
by Paul Jay, CBC News
When Amazon released the Kindle 2 earlier this year, Canadians still weren’t able to buy even the original reader.When Amazon released the Kindle 2 earlier this year, Canadians still weren’t able to buy even the original reader. (Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)On Monday, Google Inc.’s YouTube announced Disney/ABC would be launching its own channel on the video-sharing website, making episodes of television shows like Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives available in May.
On Tuesday, Skype introduced a version of its voice-over internet phone service for Apple’s iPhone, and as the company reported Thursday, it had already been downloaded more than one million times in the first two days.
What do these two product launches have in common? Neither is available in Canada.
For consumers who follow technology product launches, this isn’t particularly shocking, but rather the latest in a series of disappointments.
Canadians waited over a year before Apple’s iPhone was sold north of the border. Microsoft Corp.’s Zune, the software company’s answer to Apple’s iPod, arrived in Canada two years after its U.S. release. Earlier this year, Amazon released Kindle 2, the second version of its e-book reader; Canadians still haven’t been able to purchase the original Kindle.
As well, many websites, such as the internet radio service Pandora and movie downloading website Hulu, are all blocked to Canadians because of distribution rights or copyright issues.
Technology consultant Mark Evans may have summed up the mood of technophiles in this country with a blog post he wrote Monday, entitled “Tired of Being a Digital Peasant.”
“The general theme is frustration,” Evans told CBC News. “We live in this country where high-speed internet access is ubiquitous and mobile phone penetration is growing, and yet we can’t keep up. We’re watching from the sidelines.”
via Tech consumers frustrated by Canadian roadblocks.
Skype app for iPhone to launch Tuesday, but not in Canada
Screwed for being Canadian AGAIN! GDamit!!
CBC News
EBay Inc., is planning to launch its Skype voice-over-internet phone service for the iPhone on Tuesday and for Research in Motion’s BlackBerry handheld devices in May as part of its expansion from desktop computers to wireless devices.
But while iPhone owners around the world will be able to use the Skype application to call and message other Skype users for free using the Wi-Fi connections on their smartphones, Canadians won’t be among them.
Chaim Haas, a public relations representative acting on behalf of Skype, said the application is available in every country in which the iPhone is on sale and in which Apple has an iTunes Store — with the exception of Canada.
Haas said this is because of patent-licence restrictions but would not elaborate except to specify that it is a patent issue related to Skype, not Apple.
Skype, which has more than 400 million users, is already available on Nokia phones, phones using Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and phones based on Android, Google Inc.’s mobile system. But the iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry devices remain among the most popular advanced handsets.
Founded in 2003 and owned by eBay Inc. since 2005, Skype offers software that people can download and use for free in order to call other Skype users over the internet.
The company also offers a paid service, Skype Out, that allows users to call regular phones from their computer using their Skype account. For the latter service, which generated 8.4 billion minutes of calls in 2008, Skype contracts wholesale long-distance carriers to connect its traffic to the telephone network.
via Skype app for iPhone to launch Tuesday, but not in Canada.
Retailer resells computer drive full of personal files
I find these accusations disturbing and placing the responsibility of wiping data on the reseller is wrong. All individuals need to take responsibility for THEIR data. If I was to return a Hard Drive, or any media for that matter, I would make darn sure said data was eradicated. Its not that technical and people need to realize their responsibilities and ensure their data is safe. In this particular case, it would have been nice for Staples to wipe the data from the hard drive before reselling, but it’s really not their responsibility. For all we know, the “lad” who used the drive could have “formated” the drive and thought the data was gone and Staples would not have know the content or classification of the data on the returned drive. People need to stop blaming others…….
via Retailer resells computer drive full of personal files.
Retailer resells computer drive full of personal files
By Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News ServiceMarch 22, 2009 9:01 PM
OTTAWA — The country’s largest office products store sold a returned computer hard-drive on clearance containing hundreds of personal files on it — a move privacy experts say violates key provisions of a privacy law requiring businesses to safeguard personal information of customers.
The transaction occurred recently at a Staples Business Depot store in Ottawa, one of about 300 across the country. When the purchaser booted up the Maxtor mini, he found hundreds of files on the external hard drive.
The files, totalling about 400, belonged to Jill Vickers, a retired political science professor from Carleton University. They included some research papers already in the public domain, but some were sensitive documents.
via Retailer resells computer drive full of personal files.