Archive for July 11, 2017

eBay Launches Price Match Guarantee

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 11, 2017 by itnerd

eBay just announced the launch of a Price Match Guarantee in the Canadian market. Starting on Monday, July 10, this new eBay program guarantees that eligible deals will be offered at the best price online, or eBay will match the lower price of competitors, including Amazon.ca, BestBuy.caand Walmart.ca.

The launch coincides with eBay’s summer Deals event, running July 10-18 – no membership required!

What does this mean for you?

While eBay offers great deals all year round, consumers can expect deep discounts of up to 70% off on items between July 10 – 18. And, if they find a better deal elsewhere for the same item – they can let eBay know, and they will match the price. Here are a few examples of the deep discounts:

    • 50% off on LG Electronics 55” 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV
    • 20% off on Apple iPhone 7 128GB (Refurbished)
    • 61% off on Apple iPad 3 16GB Wi-Fi and Cellular (Unlocked)
    • 53% off on Cobra RC Toys 2.4GHZ Drone
    • 28% off on Hoverzon S Self Balancing Hoverboard
    • 52% off on Hamilton 22 Jet 6 Person Plug & Play Spa
    • 31% off on Senville 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

If a shopper finds a competitor offering the same product for less, once verified, eBay Canada will offer a coupon for the difference in price that can be used towards the purchase of the item. Items eligible for the Price Match Guarantee are:

  • New: Brand new, in retail packaging, and available daily in the Canadian eBay Deals program
  • Identical and Available: Both items must be exactly the same and currently in stock
  • Competitors: Amazon.ca, BestBuy.ca, Walmart.ca

Take a look at ebay.ca/deals to see what deals you can find.

Leave a comment »

Paby Launches Smart Pet Location and Activity Tracker

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 11, 2017 by itnerd

For dog and cat owners, there is nothing more important than keeping their furry friends safe and healthy.  Starting today, that will be easier than ever as Paby has introduced its wireless smart pet tracker that monitors a pet’s location and activity to provide owners with peace of mind when it comes to their furry loved ones’ safety and wellness.  Equipped with a combination of advanced 3G GPS, LBS (Location Based Services) and Wi-Fi technologies, Paby provides consumers with real-time, highly accurate tracking information, no matter where their pets are.

Paby, which works as a stand-alone device and requires a cellular network connection to properly track the owner’s pet, allows users to set “virtual fences” using their smartphones to receive real-time alerts when their pets leave the designated “zone.”  And, with a durable band that fits any sized collar (small/large), the activity tracker allows users to also monitor their pet’s number of steps, calories burned, sleep patterns and the intensity of their play time.

Paby is available now for $79.99 at www.paby.com.

Leave a comment »

China Cracks Down On VPNs

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 11, 2017 by itnerd

It seems that the Chinese government is not cool with VPNs as it gives Chinese citizens access to services that may not be approved by the government such as Google, Twitter and Facebook or news websites like The New York Times. I say that because according to The Verge that VPNs are pretty much verboten, or at least will be:

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports that the Chinese government ordered state-run telecoms to begin blocking VPNs by February 1st. Earlier this year, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that all VPN services would need to obtain government approval, as part of a “cleanup” of unauthorized internet connections.

Many Chinese internet users use VPNs to privately access websites that are blocked under China’s so-called “Great Firewall,” including restricted news sites and social media services like Facebook and Twitter. It is unclear whether the VPN block would affect foreign corporations, many of which use VPNs to secure data and circumvent web filters.

So how does this affect VPN providers? How does this affect tourists and visiting business users that may need VPN access to their companies? I reached out for comment from NordVPN and got this from NordVPN’s CMO, Marty P. Kamden:

“NordVPN stands for freedom of speech and free access to Internet around the world. When it comes to China, nothing is ever certain, and that’s the approach we took from the get-go. It’s not yet clear how the Chinese government is going to implement the ban from the technical point of view. However, we at NordVPN will do everything within our power to enable our users to continue enjoying the Internet freedom.”

We’ll have to see how this plays out, but if you’re going to China, plan accordingly.

2 Comments »

Windows Phone Is Dead….. Probably

Posted in Commentary with tags on July 11, 2017 by itnerd

If you’re someone who is one of the few users of the Windows Phone platform, I have some bad news for you. According to this document from Microsoft, the platform is dead as of today. What that means is that as of today, there will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates. In other words, you’re on your own if you’re a Windows Phone user. Now this really shouldn’t be a shock as Android and iOS dominate the smartphone market. And if you combine that with the fact that Windows Phone 10 is due to reach its end of support date in 2018, and the fact that Microsoft no longer makes its own phones, you have to think that the writing is on the wall for Windows 10. Probably. While it could yet rise from the dead like a Zombie, I wouldn’t count on it.

 

Leave a comment »