Archive for August, 2015

Apple And Cisco Announce Enterprise Tie Up

Posted in Commentary with tags , on August 31, 2015 by itnerd

Apple put out a press release today announcing that they have entered a partnership with Cisco to create a “fast lane” for iOS business users through the optimization of Cisco networks for iOS devices and apps:

“iOS is the world’s best mobile platform, and nearly every Fortune 500 and Global 500 company today has put iOS at the center of their mobile strategy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone and iPad have become essential tools for the modern workforce and are changing the way work gets done. Together with Cisco, we believe we can give businesses the tools to maximize the potential of iOS and help employees become even more productive using the devices they already love.”

There are likely some execs at Google who are none to happy about this. That’s because they’ve been trying to get into the enterprise using Google For Work. But Apple seems to have neutralized this with this partnership and a partnership with IBM. This may be the beginning of Apple becoming the player in the enterprise space.

Ashley Madison Claims To Have Signed Up Females To Its Site……. Yeah Right

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 31, 2015 by itnerd

Days after this look at the Ashley Madison data dump showed that almost no females frequented the site and this look at the Ashley Madison source code shows an effort to create “bots” or software that would pretend to be women, comes this press release that had a few interesting tidbits:

Recent media reports predicting the imminent demise of Ashley Madison are greatly exaggerated. The company continues its day-to-day operations even as it deals with the theft of its private data by criminal hackers. Despite having our business and customers attacked, we are growing. This past week alone, hundreds of thousands of new users signed up for the Ashley Madison platform – including 87,596 women.

Some journalists have turned the focus of the criminal act against Ashley Madison inside out, attacking us instead of the hackers. Last week, a reporter who claimed to analyze the stolen data made incorrect assumptions about the meaning of fields contained in the leaked data. This reporter concluded that the number of active female members on Ashley Madison could be calculated based on those assumptions. That conclusion was wrong.

Last week alone, women sent more than 2.8 million messages within our platform. Furthermore, in the first half of this year the ratio of male members who paid to communicate with women on our service versus the number of female members who actively used their account (female members are not required to pay to communicate with men on Ashley Madison) was 1.2 to 1. These numbers are the main reason that Ashley Madison is the number one service for people seeking discreet relationships.

Okay. Except that anything said in this press release is unverifiable because they are a private company who doesn’t have to produce proof about anything they say. So I take this statement with a grain of salt. Besides, if Ashley Madison did have fake women on the site and an army of “bots” to make it look like there were women on the site, that would be fraud on a massive scale. And the last time I checked, fraud was illegal. Thus the need to make some sort of statement to introduce some degree of uncertainty. What seems to make this plausible is the fact that this leaked e-mail from the last Ashley Madison data dump shows how much money they were making off of “bots.”

It looks like to me that Ashely Madison is circling the drain at the moment.

Another Reason Not To Jailbreak Your iDevice… “KeyRaider” Malware Is On The Loose

Posted in Commentary with tags , on August 31, 2015 by itnerd

Apple has a very tightly controlled ecosystem when it comes to iOS, which annoys some people as Google’s Android OS is the exactly the opposite of that. That leads some people to “jailbreak” their devices or open them up so that they can do anything that they want. I’ve always said that “jailbreaking” and iOS device is not a good idea as it potentially opens yourself up to a world of hurt. Case in point is the “KeyRaider” malware that is in the wild. Here’s what it does according to researchers at Palo Alto:

KeyRaider targets jailbroken iOS devices and is distributed through third-party Cydia repositories in China. In total, it appears this threat may have impacted users from 18 countries including China, France, Russia, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Israel, Italy, Spain, Singapore, and South Korea.

The malware hooks system processes through MobileSubstrate, and steals Apple account usernames, passwords and device GUID by intercepting iTunes traffic on the device.  KeyRaider steals Apple push notification service certificates and private keys, steals and shares App Store purchasing information, and disables local and remote unlocking functionalities on iPhones and iPads.

KeyRaider has successfully stolen over 225,000 valid Apple accounts and thousands of certificates, private keys, and purchasing receipts. The malware uploads stolen data to its command and control (C2) server, which itself contains vulnerabilities that expose user information.

Needless to say that if you haven’t jailbroken your iDevice, you have nothing to worry about. Now this piece of malware comes on the heels of the Hacking Team iOS malware that only works if you have a “jailbroken” iDevice. Thus underscoring the fact that you are much better of running the default software that came with your iDevice. It’s not as interesting, but it’s way safer.

The IT Nerd’s Back To School Guide – 2015

Posted in Commentary on August 31, 2015 by itnerd

It’s that time of year again: Back to School! I’ve put together a list of great products from Belkin, Linksys, Roku, Prezi, Sonos, ViewSonic, and Kristall to make sure students have everything they need to head back to the classroom with confidence and style.

QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2 – $119.99

Take notes, work on that paper or reply to emails without the bulk of a laptop:

  • Full protection of a case, convenient detachability of a cover and keyboard experience of a laptop – what you need, when you need it
  • Case works with the keyboard or by itself
  • Includes premium metallic Lightning cable to charge your iPad in style

MIXIT Power Pack 4000 – $29.99

Stop hunting frantically for a power outlet when your phone’s about to die half-way through a class:

  • Two built-in USB ports to charge your smartphone and tablet at the same time
  • Comes in five different colours to suit your style
  • Compatible with any USB-powered device

WRT1200AC Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router – $179.99

Fast, reliable Wi-Fi and open-source flexibility:

  • Fast wireless-AC speeds to keep even a house full of students happy
  • Smart Wi-Fi apps to control your network from your phone
  • Built-in USB 3.0 port for easy file- and printer-sharing
  • Open-source firmware ready

RE6700 AC1200 Amplify Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender – $119.99

No more Wi-Fi dead zones or weak signal! Keep all your devices connected and fast:

  • Easily boost the range of your existing wireless router – works with any model
  • Delivers increased wireless coverage area of up to 10,000 square feet
  • New innovative Crossband technology for a more consistent, stronger Wi-Fi signal
  • Spot Finder technology: unique visual guide lets you use your smartphone, tablet or laptop to find the perfect spot to set up your range finder

Roku 3 streaming player – $109.99

Endless entertainment made easy:

  • Over 1,400 channels of entertainment, including Netflix, Crackle, NHL GameCentre Live, Cineplex Store, YouTube and more
  • Find what you want fast with Roku Search – search across top channels by title, actor or director, or use voice search with the included remote or free Roku mobile app
  • Built-in headphone jack on the Roku 3 remote lets you binge-watch your favourite shows all night without waking your roommate!

Take a look at my Roku 3 review here.

Play:1 Wireless Hi-Fi speaker – $219

All the music on Earth at your fingertips – perfect for studying, partying and everything in between:

  • Deep, crystal clear Hi-Fi sound in a compact design
  • Easy to set up, easy to use: control it with your smartphone, tablet or laptop
  • Play music from your personal library, 100,000 radio stations from around the world or streaming services like Songza, Deezer and Google Play Music

Take a look at my Play:1 review here.

Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K 24” Ultra HD Monitor – $469.99 (US MSRP)

The ultimate monitor for gaming and entertainment (and school work too!):

  • Stunning Ultra HD resolution
  • Crystal clear, blur free performance for gaming and movies
  • Flicker-Free and Blue Light Filter technology to help eliminate eye strain from long hours spent on school work, gaming and watching videos (in no particular order, of course)
  • Future proof connectivity options, including DisplayPort 1.2a, MHL and HDMI 2.0

Kristall Liquid Screen Protector – MSRP $29.99 to $34.99

Students take their smartphones and tablets everywhere, usually in pockets or tossed in bags where they often end up with scratched screens. Kristall Liquid Screen Protector is fast and easy to apply without bubbles, is invisible once installed, and resists nicks and scratches with 9H hardness (equivalent to sapphire).

Check out my review on the Kristall Liquid Screen Protector here.

Review: Thump Comfort Fit Earbuds

Posted in Products with tags , on August 31, 2015 by itnerd

Here’s the latest item from my iStore goodie bag which is the Thump Comfort Fit Earbuds. The whole idea behind these earbuds is that they fit comfortably and eliminate noise while delivering great sound at a really good price point. That’s good on paper. But how do they really work in real life? To find out, I enlisted the help of Marcus Masucci who is a 19 year old student at George Brown College studying marketing. In his spare time, his passions include playing music and singing as well as listening to music. Thus he’d be the ideal person to judge the quality of these earbuds. Here’s what he said about them:

The earbuds have a very good sound quality to them and I was very impressed with the bass levels coming through the buds. The earbuds were also able to handle high levels of sound and volume which is definitely a plus. I found the noise resistance was also very effective. In terms of the ergonomics of the earbuds, in my opinion I find that grip plastic piece of the earbud is a little too big. I find that it sticks out of the ear too much which gives it a bulky look when wearing them.

Overall I was impressed with the sound of the earbuds and would give them a 3.5 out of 5.

They sound like a quality product to me. What seals the deal is that you only have to pony up $17.95 CDN for them. Thanks for reviewing them for me Marcus!

Over Half Of Canadian Small Businesses are Run from a Smartphone: Intuit

Posted in Commentary with tags , on August 30, 2015 by itnerd

Intuit Canada’s has released their most recent Small Business App Study, and it reveals how the Canadian entrepreneurship experience has changed dramatically through increased tech adoption.

Mobile technology and cloud-based software solutions now empower any business with a Wi-Fi connection to tap into a global ecosystem of customers and employees – and operate anywhere at any time.

Thirty-one per cent of Canadian small business owners (SBOs) are adapted from the cloud (a six per cent increase from 2014), and only one third of Canada’s small business owners (SBOs) operate primarily from brick and mortar locations (down 20 per cent from this time last year).

Canadian SBOs are also becoming increasingly mobile – with more than half (55 per cent) running their businesses from a smartphone, they’re more tech savvy than our neighbours to the south, where only 43 per cent of SBOs operate the same way.

Here are some other key points from the study:

  • More than half (55 per cent) of Canadian small business owners (SBOs) use mobile apps to run their business.
  • More than half (55 per cent) of Canadian SBOs are now running run their business from a smartphone, and one in five (20 per cent) run their business from a tablet.
  • Thirty-one per cent of Canadian SBOs are adapted from the cloud (a six per cent increase from 2014).
  • Two in five (42 per cent) Canadian SBOs visit their clients in the field.
  • One in three (31 per cent) Canadian SBOs have an online presence and/or sell products or services online – a 28 per cent increase from 2014.
  • On average, Canadian SBOs use more than three (3.4) software solutions to run their business; 12 per cent use six or more.
  • Canadian SBOs currently spend an average of $1,000 per year on software, which is much higher than the U.S, where SMB owners spend about $630.
  • Eighty-five per cent of Canadian SBOs plan to invest in software solutions in the next five years, more than half (51 per cent) of whom expect to spend up to $1,000.

The study was conducted online between July 16 and 25, 2015, and involved 507 randomly selected Canadian small business owners, members of the Angus Reid Forum panel. Small business owners were defined as those who are employed full-time/part-time/self-employed and own a business with up to 99 employees.

Belkin Launches Fashion Inspired Lightning Charging Cables

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 30, 2015 by itnerd

Belkin has announced a new line of fashion inspired charging cables. MFi-certified to ensure iOS compatibility, these Lightning to USB cables are designed to conveniently clip on/off to any bag, purse or keychain, so that users are never without a cable to charge their iPhone, iPod or iPad. The new fashion cables are available in three design options: a leather tassel, a braided USB clip and a metallic keychain are available today just in time for back to school.

Functional and stylish, the new collection includes a leather tassel, a braided USB clip and a metallic keychain, all of which are designed to elegantly attach to virtually any style of bag, purse or backpack.

Made from natural leather, the MIXIT Lightning to USB Tassel disguises itself as a purse accessory while cleverly hiding the premium metallic charging cable to enhance the elegance of an iPhone and ensure safe and rapid charging. Its fringe design takes a purse from bleak to chic, keeps the cable tidy and prevents it from getting tangled. Available in fog, camel, coral and black, the MIXIT Lightning to USB tassel effortlessly matches any purse or bag.

image008

  • 2.4A charging USB to Lightning connector cable
  • Braided cables designed to complement tassel colour
  • Cables concealed by tassel cords
  • Complementing metal hardware
  • Total length approx. 7″
  • 100% genuine leather
  • Easily clips onto your bag, purse or luggage
  • Product length 172mm with 118mm cable
  • Available in camel, coral, fog and black

The MIXIT Lightning to USB Keychain has a sleek, structured aluminum body and can easily be slipped onto a keychain, so that it’s always there when users need to charge. It conveniently rotates 360 degrees for effortless charging. The aluminum body also protects the Lightning connector from damage when not in use.

image009

  • 2.4A charging USB to Lightning connector cable
  • Flexible cable rotates 360 degrees for easy connection
  • Bends up to 90 degrees
  • Short rotating cord pivots for best angle
  • Housed within a sleek metallic keychain design
  • Product length 114m with 75.2mm cable
  • Available in 5 matte metallic colours: fog, silver, gold, pink and blue

Boldly and functionally designed, the MIXIT Lightning to USB Clip is the perfect companion for attaching to a backpack or everyday bag without compromising individual style. The braided multicolour cable comes in fun colour combinations including cool blue and mint, feisty pink and peach, fresh purple and mint, or minimal black and white.

image011

  • 2.4A charging USB to connector cable
  • Braided cable with graphic multicoloured weave
  • Soft cover slides down to secure cables and protect cable heads when not in use
  • Satin silver finish on hardware
  • Colour-matched mounting loop, sliding cover and cable connector heads
  • Durable cable connector heads with oversized strain reliefs prevent wear
  • Product length 148.3mm with 78.5mm cable
  • Available in black & white, blue & mint, purple & mint, and pink & peach

The new collection of fashion charging accessories is available now at belkin.com for an MSRP of $34.99.

Olixar Quicktap: The Smartest iPhone 6 Screen Protector

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 29, 2015 by itnerd

UK based online reseller MobielFun has launched the newest and most advanced Quicktap Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus including two new virtual buttons – maximum protection and maximum convenience. Called the Olixar Quicktap, it offers the ability to navigate menus from the bottom of your screen using active screen elements.

Here’s a video to covers the key features of the Olixar Quicktap:

You can order the Olixar Quicktap here.

99 Classics: The Ultimate Crafted Wood Premium Headphones

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 29, 2015 by itnerd

Introducing 99 Classics headphones. Meze Headphones has taken the headphones design to a new level by merging modern with hand crafted styles, using natural materials to deliver the user with the best premium sound experience built to last.

99Classics_pe_bej_2_v1_preparat_2015-08-11__1_

Meze identified the top 3 issues users faced with headphones and integrated them into 99 Classics:

▪ A headband that delivers even pressure for any head size
▪ Tuning a balanced natural sound
▪ Using soft memory foam in ear-cups

gfjgtguqbjrq2nfz3znp

Fully Serviceable
Besides the usual warranty everybody is offering we guarantee that the 99’s are endlessly serviceable if any parts would ever need to be replaced because we built these headphones to last.

Just like fingerprints wood grain is as unique, thus making each Meze Headphone pair a one of a kind. Early adopters can take advantage and pre-order a set for $199 on Indiegogo now

Magni Cable: The Fastest Snap On Micro USB Charger Adapter

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 29, 2015 by itnerd

With so many devices using micro USB charging cables, we know inserting the cable on the first try is nearly impossible. Smartphones, and Bluetooth speakers are just some devices that use Micro USB charging cables. Magni Cable will improve the user charging experience.

Magni_Cable_Gif_2

It’s the fastest magnetic charging cable ever: 1.5X faster than the traditional Micro USB charger. It connects to Micro USB devices in a snap thanks to its magnetic head charger and features a reversible head charger which can plug on both sides.

Magni_Cable_Gif_1

Magni Cable is live on Indiegogo. Early birds can pre-order a cable for $15