Archive for June, 2012

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iPhone Hits Five Years Old…… RIM Stock Plummets 20%…. Happy Birthday

Posted in Commentary with tags , on June 29, 2012 by itnerd

Five years ago today the iPhone was released. RIM looked at the iPhone and considered it to be “impossible” at the time. So the fact that RIM stock took a 20% hit today is beyond ironic. It’s just a highlight of how far RIM has fallen. Here’s some other signs of how far RIM has fallen. As of late May, Blackberry held a paltry 6.4% of the smartphone market worldwide. Compare that to Apple who has 23% of the market and the big winner is Android who has a grand total of 59% of the market.

Sucks to be RIM.

There cannot be any way back for RIM now. It will either die or it will be sold in whole or in part. That’s too bad. But that’s what happens when you don’t take potential threats seriously.

Speaking of threats, Google announced a new version of Android and a new tablet this week. It really sucks to be RIM.

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Class Action Lawsuit Against Canadian Cell Companies To Proceed

Posted in Commentary with tags , , , on June 28, 2012 by itnerd

Today, The Supreme Court Of Canada decided not to hear a class action lawsuit launched against Bell, Telus, and Rogers where the central issue is the charging of so called “System Access Fees” which were billed as government or regulatory charges by the cell companies in question:

Class-action lawyer Tony Merchant alleges that wireless carriers created the appearance that the fees were collected on behalf of a regulatory body when they instead went back to the carriers. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Mr. Merchant calls it the largest class-action the country has seen. If the case as won, every Canadian mobile user may have a stake.

The total value of the suit is $19 billion. Not a small amount. Now, there might be one issue. Mr. Merchant the lawyer behind this was suspended for three months by the Law Society of Saskatchewan for conduct “unbecoming” of a lawyer. Will it slow this lawsuit down? I hope not as Canadians deserve not be screwed over by their telecom companies.

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RIM Loses $518 Million, Slashes 5000 Jobs And More…. Stick A Fork In Them, They’re Done

Posted in Commentary with tags , on June 28, 2012 by itnerd

Mark today on your calendar. Today is the day that RIM officially died. They announced (Warning: PDF) their Q1 numbers and they were stunningly bad. The company lost $518 millon and they will cut 5000 jobs. But that’s not the worst news. The worst news is that BB10 which was supposed to save the company is pushed back until next year. That delay quite frankly will kill the company as with no new product, there’s no incentive to buy RIM products. Here’s how Thorsten Heins, President and CEO sees things:

“Our first quarter results reflect the market challenges I have outlined since my appointment as CEO at the end of January. I am not satisfied with these results and continue to work aggressively with all areas of the organization and the Board to implement meaningful changes to address the challenges, including a thoughtful realignment of resources and honing focus within the Company on areas that have the greatest opportunities,” said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO. “Our top priority going forward is the successful launch of our first BlackBerry 10 device, which we now anticipate will occur in the first quarter of calendar 2013. In parallel with the roll out of BlackBerry 10, we are aggressively working with our advisors on our strategic review and are actively evaluating ways to better leverage our assets and build on our strengths, including our growing BlackBerry subscriber base of approximately 78 million, our large enterprise installed base, our unique network architecture and our industry leading security capabilities.”

The market clearly doesn’t have a good feeling about their prospects. As I type this, their stock is down 16% in after hours trading. Seeing as the stock has lost 90% of it’s value in the last year and half, I’m guessing it’s about to lose the most of what’s left in the next few days. That will likely lead to a sale of the company in whole or in part… Assuming that the company doesn’t die first.

As for me who has been using RIM products for the last 7 years, time to look at an iPhone or an Android phone as that’s clearly where the future lies.

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Cisco Announces A Pile Of News

Posted in Commentary with tags , on June 27, 2012 by itnerd

Today must have been a banner day for Cisco as they sent me three separate press releases. First they sent me news on their first 802.11 ac Router:

The new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router with AC technology is backwards compatible with prior wireless networks and devices using 802.11a/b/g/n. This assures consumers can upgrade to the new Linksys 802.11ac products and still have full interoperability with legacy Wi-Fi devices. As new 802.11ac devices such as smartphones and tablets enter the market, consumers will be able to take full advantage of the new capabilities and power with their Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router that offers 802.11ac performance.

The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router EA6500 contains six internal 3D antennae that are designed to insure the same performance whether placed on a desktop or mounted against the wall. Additionally, it features an elegant new design that was inspired by the award-winning Linksys E4200 model to complement any home décor.

802.11 ac Is the next generation of WiFi access. Devices will be moving to this standard over the next year or two. Thus, you should factor this into your purchasing decision. Next up is the news that there is a new cloud platform for Linksys routers:

Cisco also announced the availability of its Cisco Connect Cloud mobile app which provides easy access to Cisco Connect Cloud on a smartphone or tablet, while at home or on the go. One breakthrough feature with Cisco Connect Cloud is SimpleTap. SimpleTap lets consumers connect devices to their Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router with as little as one tap of a button or with a quick swipe or scan of a device or tag, making it easier than ever to add devices to the network.

Additionally, Cisco unveiled the first set of mobile apps from third party developers that provide extended experiences to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers. There are six new developer apps including an app that lets people search and “beam” online videos to a Smart TV or AirPlay® compatible device; an app that helps install home monitoring cameras and enables monitoring at home and on the go; and apps that give parents easy ways to keep their children safe online, even when mom and dad are not at home.

“We are changing the game when it comes to the connected home by ushering in a whole new level of experiences, simplicity and convenience,” said Brett Wingo, vice president and general manager, Cisco Home Networking. “The next-generation connected home is being brought to life for our customers with Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers, Cisco Connect Cloud, apps and our partnerships across the industry.”

This is clearly a shot across the bow of Apple and iCloud. That’s good for consumers as choice drives innovation. Finally, Cisco announced the fact that they are inviting developers to develop apps Services for Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers:

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers are powered by a unique cloud-based architecture that can be leveraged by developers as they create apps for any consumer electronic device. The community is designed to make the development of apps simple with an easy to use software developer kit (SDK), quick tutorials and sample code.

“We are on the cusp of a major transformation in the home where the network can enable experiences that consumers never dreamed possible. The sky is the limit for developers with our new software platform and Linksys Developer Community,” said Vikas Butaney, director of product management for Cisco Home Networking. “From simple experiences allowing consumers to manage their home remotely to complex solutions, developers can benefit by creating value-added solutions for consumers.”

Third party development is a good thing as it accelerates the advancement of the platform as a whole. It’s good to hear that Cisco is really pushing this along. It’s another thing that benefits consumers.

I wonder if another company will come out with this much news in a single day tomorrow?

 

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In Depth: Sony Internet Player With Google TV

Posted in Commentary with tags , on June 27, 2012 by itnerd

I spent the morning at an exclusive media event at the Sony Store at the Eaton Center in Toronto to have a look at the upcoming Sony Internet Player With Google TV. Even before I talk about the features that this product has, let me say this: Apple needs to be worried as this could easily take the breakfast, lunch and dinner from Apple TV. More on that later.

Let me start with the device itself. It’s small, thin and doesn’t stand out.

One of the big things about the device is that it has two HDMI ports. An input and an output. The basic premise is that it fully integrates with your TV so that you can surf the net, browse content while watching TV. Not to mention that it doesn’t use up an HDMI port on your TV. Nice.

The next thing is the remote:

You’ll notice that it looks like every other Sony remote out there, but it has a touch pad in the middle. This allows you to navigate and scroll with ease. Plus you can do things like pinch to zoom just like a smartphone. But the fun doesn’t end there. Here’s the back:

There’s a full keyboard with raised buttons and feedback. That way you can type URLs and the like easily. I should mention that there’s a tilt sensor in it as well. I’ll get to that in a minute. Another feature is that this remote can control all your devices. TV, cable box, etc. Nice.

The Sony Internet Player comes with Google TV installed. That means that because it’s an Android OS based device, you can install apps and have access to Internet enabled content. For example it comes with Chrome so that you can surf and do anything you would usually do from a tablet or a computer. The experience is exactly the same as any computer and that includes having Flash.

As you can see, I’ve got my blog displayed. But you’ll also notice that I have a picture in the top right corner. That’s the TV and it demonstrates the level of integration between the TV and the Internet Player. As for apps, it comes preloaded with the Sony Entertainment Network so you wan watch Sony’s massive library of movies (for a fee of course).

But unlike something like Apple TV, you have other options. For example, Canadians will get the National Film Board app preinstalled which gives users access to one of the best libraries of films out there. Apps for things like Netflix and YouTube are either already on the device or a download away. If you’ve got content of your own, no problem. There are two USB ports at the back that allow you to play content that way, or you can pull content from any DNLA compliant device via Ethernet as well as 802.11 B/G/N. And it can play pretty much any video, audio or picture format you can throw at it.

Now back to the remote control for a second. I mentioned earlier that it has a tilt sensor in it. That means that you can use it to play games that are built for that feature, or you can do what Sony did and run a drone off it:

This is the Parrot AR Drone. Using an app from the Android Market, Sony showed that you can use the tilt sensor in the remote control to fly the drone and also stream video over WiFi to the Sony Internet Player:

That’s a really great example of how open this platform is. Compare that with Apple TV where unless you get something that is Apple approved or you “jailbreak” your Apple TV, you can’t do something like this.

The price is going to be $199 CDN and the product is shipping in mid-August. I’ve already requested one for a more detailed review. But even without the ability to review in depth I will say this much. Sony has a game changer on it’s hands. This is a device that will get Apple’s attention and give the Apple TV a run for it’s money. I would encourage anyone who is looking for a device like this to seriously consider the Sony Internet Player With Google TV as it is a platform that will change the way you watch TV.

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Review: Jabra EASYGO Bluetooth Headset [UPDATED]

Posted in Products with tags on June 27, 2012 by itnerd

Frequent readers of this blog will know that I have very bad luck with Bluetooth headsets. I’ve lost one in airport security and another I lost another one somehow. My latest one got caught in the wash because I didn’t check my shirt pockets. Well, that’s a #fail.

Thus my new Bluetooth headset de jour is the Jabra EASYGO. Now it’s affordable priced at $50. but it does have a fair amount of features. For starters, it’s a lightweight headset that you can customize the fit. If you spend the time to figure out what earpiece is best for you and if you need an earhook, you can have a headset that is extremely comfortable. I can wear it all day without even feeling it. Second is the battery life. You can expect to get 6 hours of talk time and 8 days of standby time. I can say that I can get at least five hours of talk time which is excellent. The sound from the earpiece is extremely good and the the person on the other end of the conversation have reported that my voice sounded natural and clear with the odd echo. One thing that I like is the fact it recharges either through an included AC adapter or via a MicroUSB cable similar to one that a Blackberry uses. That means I can leave the charger at home and use my Blackberry cable to recharge it. The best thing that I like is the fact that it’s small and discreet with no flashing lights as I prefer not to look like a member of the Borg when wearing one of these things.

Gripes? Only one. The on off switch is in a dumb place. You have to move the earhook out of the way to access it at the top edge of the headset next to the earpiece. Other than that, you should seriously look at this headset. You’re not going to find anything at this price point that’s as good.

Now, let’s hope it survives.

UPDATE: I almost lost it at a client’s location today. Good thing I was able to retrieve it. See, I really don’t have luck with Bluetooth headsets.

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Rogers Announces Contest To Celebrate The First Birthday Of LTE

Posted in Commentary with tags on June 26, 2012 by itnerd

LTE on the Rogers network is one year old and to celebrate, Rogers has announced a contest where all you have to do is tell Rogers why you love LTE. Some really cool prizes are up for grabs which include:

Prizes include:

  • A Samsung Galaxy Note
  • A Samsung Galaxy 8.9 LTE tablet
  • A Samsung Galaxy SIII 16GB
  • A Sierra Wireless LTE Hotspot Prize Pack including a Sierra Wireless LTE hotspot, backpack, water bottle and jacket.

More details can be found on Redboard. But you should hurry. The contest ends Thursday.

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US Based Islamic Group Takes Apple To Task Over Racial Profiling

Posted in Commentary with tags on June 26, 2012 by itnerd

The Council on American-Islamic Relations along with a number of of Iranian-American and civil liberties organizations called on Apple to train its entire sales staff on the proper application of U.S. sanctions laws targeting Iran. The group sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook with the following:

“We understand that Apple’s official company policy at issue in the abovementioned incidents is almost verbatim taken from the Iranian Transaction Regulations (‘ITR’), specifically 31 C.F.R. [section] 560.204, and is in line with U.S. economic sanctions targeting Iran. However, at issue here is the correct application of that policy by Apple’s employees …

“If the Apple employees’ conduct was based upon the mere fact that the individuals mentioned above were speaking the Farsi/Persian language and Apple’s policy is to deny sales to customers merely based on a foreign language being spoken, this would be at best a gross misinterpretation of the sanctions targeting Iran and a violation of federal law at worst …

“Of additional concern is the inconsistent manner in which Apple is attempting to enforce the embargo law. Is Apple asking all customers about the ultimate destination of its products? Is Apple relying on customers volunteering that information? Is Apple’s policy that customers may purchase whatever items they like as long as they do not mention or imply the destination of the items? That is, is Apple training its retail employees to enforce a policy that inherently requires its employees to determine the nationality of a client in a manner that violates federal civil rights laws? To ensure consistency in enforcement, we ask that Apple adopt standardized practices that would apply to every customer at the time of purchase …

“We therefore ask that you take the necessary steps to properly investigate the incidents reported and train your entire sales staff about the proper application of Apple’s export compliance policy. We also ask that you issue a formal apology to any customers who may have been harmed by the application of your current policy referenced above for the harm caused to them by any Apple employees.”

If Apple is doing this, then this is racial profiling. Plain and simple. This is problematic as I didn’t think that Apple is that sort of company. I would love to see Apple’s response to this as I think some sort of response would help to clear the air. If they don’t respond…. That would be unfortunate for Apple and suggest that they’re not the company that the public thinks they are.

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Review: Samsung Galaxy Note – Part 2

Posted in Products with tags , on June 21, 2012 by itnerd

I took the Samsung Galaxy Note down to my favorite place to get photos. The High Park Zoo. First I did some stills, the Samsung Galaxy Note comes with an 8MP model and the pics are pretty good as you can see below (click to enlarge):

Then there’s the video capabilities. The camera will do video up to 1920×1080 which is HD resolution. Just make sure you set the video quality to HD and watch it full screen to get the full video quality:

But the default setting is 1280×720. Here’s what that looks like. Again you want to set the video quality to 720P and watch this full screen:

Now you’ll need to pop a MicroSD card into it to fully leverage HD recording. The Galaxy Note will take up to a 32GB MicroSD so that translates to hours of videos.

One thing that I did try to do is to upload these videos to YouTube via LTE but it wouldn’t let me and I had to do it in the parking lot of a McDonald’s over their free WiFi. I know that’s kind of lame, but I wanted to get the videos online as soon as possible. Hint to Samsung and Rogers. If your customers want to spend a small pile of cash to upload videos to YouTube over LTE, let them. It’s money in your pocket after all.

Now let’s talk about battery life. I got 7 to 8 hours of heavy usage which isn’t bad. On standby it lasts about 30 hours. Again, not bad. So you can expect the phone to last for a day to a day and a half which is pretty good.

So, as I wrap this up here’s what I think. I’ll address the elephant in the room first. It’s a big smartphone. It won’t fit in your pocket, but that’s not a bad thing. The size makes it easy to use and it’s got a great camera and a pretty good array of software on it and it’s FAST on Rogers LTE network. Not to mention that it took everything that I threw at it. I really like the fact that I could type easily on this screen. In fact, I would say that this is the best smartphone that I have tried to type on. I would seriously consider this smartphone the next time I’m in the market for one.

I just have to make sure that I get a case for it and a man purse to carry it in.

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Review: Samsung Galaxy Note – Part 1

Posted in Products with tags , on June 20, 2012 by itnerd

This week, “my best friends at Rogers” have provided me with the Samsung Galaxy Note. Is it a tablet? Is it a phone. It’s billed as the best of both. Here’s why. It’s bigger than your average smartphone. So big in fact that when I used it as a phone, I felt like I had got a thinner version of my first cell phone from Motorola which was a best described as a brick. It also makes pocketing the phone next to impossible. However it is wafer thin and won’t take up a lot of space in your bag. Just get a case for it.

But size does matter and the size of the Galaxy Note gives it a really clear and sharp 5.3″ screen with vivid colors. It also includes a stylus called the S Pen that allows you to bang out quick memos, make screenshots, do annotations, and general navigation through the user interface. All of this while also serving as a precise text input and drawing tool. You can also use an on screen keyboard just like any other smartphone to enter text. I found this easier to use than say an iPhone or a lot of other smartphones. I credit the larger screen size for that. It also has haptic feedback so that those who learned to type on typewriters (like me) can be comfortable with typing on the phone.

The Galaxy Note runs Android 2.3, but Rogers has customized it with a number of apps that allows you to check your account, get music, watch Rogers On Demand Online for example. But being an Android phone or tablet depending on your view, you can get your own apps from the Android Market. It supports ActiveSync so that you corporate types can ditch your Blackberries and use this as your smartphone. Besides the Rogers supplied apps, you get the usual array of navigation, browsing and e-mail apps. Speaking of browsing, I found the browser to be impressive. There didn’t seem to be anything that it couldn’t handle. Another thing that I should mention that is that this phone is an LTE phone, and it’s FAST from a data perspective. I don’t think I’ve tested a smartphone that was faster at surfing the web. As long as you’ve got LTE coverage and the right plan, you’ll love surfing on this phone.

Tomorrow, I’m going to cover the camera which is an 8MP model that also does 1080p video as well as stills. I’ll also talk about things like battery life and give you my impressions of the smartphone along with some closing thoughts.

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