Archive for May, 2018

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In An Epic Flip Flop, President Trump To Try And Save Jobs At ZTE

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 13, 2018 by itnerd

Multiple media outlets are reporting that US President Donald Trump is working to save jobs at Chinese phonemaker ZTE. This after the Trump Administration has been working to smack them around pretty hard. As is typical for Trump, he said this via a Tweet:

The only thing that could be responsible for this is the upcoming meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jon Un. He likely needs the Chinese to help him get the North Koreans on side with the rest of the planet. Like many things that this administration does, this could flip on a moments notice, thus we’ll have to see what happens next. Because anything could happen.

UPDATE: Another possibility is that ZTE is a bargaining chip in trade talks between the US and China.

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Apple Being Sued Over Dodgy Keyboards In MacBook And MacBook Pros

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 12, 2018 by itnerd

First there was a petition that as I type this has over 17,000 signatures. Now there’s a class action lawsuit here. that was filed in Northern California that argues that  “thousands” of users have suffered from problems with the butterfly keyboard. Not only that, any amount of dust and debris can make them problematic and Apple only offers temporary solutions that don’t lead to fixes. The lawsuit seeks damages, legal fees, and calls for Apple to disclose the keyboard flaws and replace defective units, including reimbursement for the initial laptop purchase.

Apple now has a problem on its hands. The fact is that these keyboards suck. I don’t recommend these notebooks to my clients and I have held off buying a replacement for my 2015 MacBook Pro with a newer model because of the keyboard. Apple really needs to step up to the plate here and address this because their usual behavior of just ignoring stuff like this is not working.

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Today is Science Rendezvous!

Posted in Commentary on May 12, 2018 by itnerd

Join Science Rendezvous, Canada’s biggest science festival, for events across the country on May 12. This FREE, one-day, family festival celebrates feats in science   and engineering with more than 300 simultaneous events across 30 cities, and thousands of mind-blowing, demonstrations and activities.

Hosted by universities and colleges across Canada, this will be the most ambitious edition of Science Rendezvous to date. From St. John’s to Vancouver, to the edge of the Artic, to a five-block street festival in downtown Toronto, Science Rendezvous is focused on giving the public one-of-kind experiences with Canadian research.

Science Rendezvous takes science and engineering out of the lab and onto the street and community spaces for you to discover and experience. It’s uniquely designed and run by Canada’s scientists, innovators, and the next generation of creators!

Experience augmented reality demos, hovercrafts, large-scale experiments and Science Chase races. There’s so much to see and explore, it will be the most fun your family has with science all year, and it’s FREE for everyone.

The Science Rendezvous theme this year is Full STEAM Ahead!  On Saturday, May 12, you are invited to celebrate with us across the country as we feature art in science as part of this Canada-wide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) showcase. Science Rendezvous is a marquee event and signature partner of Science Odyssey, Canada’s 10-day celebration of discovery and innovation.

For more information about Science Rendezvous events in your city visit: http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/event‐sites/

 

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YouTuber Mini Ladd Livestreaming 24hrs This Weekend To End World Water Crisis

Posted in Commentary on May 12, 2018 by itnerd

This weekend, popular YouTuber, Craig ‘Mini Ladd’ Thompson will be live-streaming for 24 hours to raise money for Thirst Project – The world’s largest youth water organization. With a big heart and passion for giving back, Mini Ladd has made it a point to include his followers in campaigns to help various organizations – and the goal this weekend is to raise at least $48,000 which is enough money to build 4 wells in Swaziland to provide clean water there to those who do not have it!

Mini Ladd will be going live for 12 hours on Saturday 5/12 and 12 hours on Sunday 5/13 – and will have fun with his fans with giveaways and challenges and they celebrate milestones along the way.

With over  4.6 million subscribers and 2.8 million social followers, Mini Ladd has landed himself in the Top 3 most popular YouTubers in Ireland, and #1 in Northern Ireland. Often collaborating with his friends and creating lifestyle videos, Mini Ladd’s rapid success has boosted attention for his channel worldwide. As he surpasses 1 billion views on his YouTube channel, Mini Ladd consistently keeps his content fresh for viewers of all ages.

Link to stream: https://www.twitch.tv/miniladdd

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CBS All Access Comes to Roku Devices in Canada

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 11, 2018 by itnerd

CBS All Access, CBS’ direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand service, is now available on Roku streaming players and Roku TV models in Canada. The service, which launched in Canada in April, marking its first expansion into an international market, offers Canadian viewers more than 7,500 commercial-free episodes on demand spanning full current seasons of select CBS series, entire previous seasons and classic shows, as well as the ability to live stream CBSN, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming news service.

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For $5.99 CAD, CBS All Access brings thousands of episodes of CBS’ leading programming to digital platforms, making it simple for fans looking for more CBS content to get it in one easy-to-use, multiplatform service. CBS All Access includes the following on-demand programming in an advertising-free environment, with more to be added:

  • Current, building seasons of nearly 20 primetime shows including NCIS, BULL, SEAL TEAM, MACGYVER and INSTINCT, with new episodes available seven days after they are broadcast.
  • All past seasons of 15 primetime series including NCIS, SURVIVOR, ELEMENTARY, MADAM SECRETARY and more.
  • CBS All Access original series including season one of THE GOOD FIGHT and comedy series NO ACTIVITY, with more to be announced.
  • Ability to livestream CBSN, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming news service featuring live, anchored coverage and original reporting.
  • Current episodes of select daytime and late-night favorites including THE TALK, RACHAEL RAY and THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT.
  • More than 30 CBS Classic series including all episodes of hits like CHARMED, THE GOOD WIFE, HAWAII FIVE-0 and CSI.

In addition to today’s launch on Roku streaming players and Roku TVs, CBS All Access is also available in Canada at cbsallaccess.ca, on iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices, and on Apple TV and Chromecast. CBS All Access will be launching on additional connected devices in Canada in the coming months.

To sign up for CBS All Access in Canada visit: cbsallaccess.ca

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Want The Latest Windows 10 Update & You Have An Intel SSD? Then You Can’t Have It

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 11, 2018 by itnerd

Apparently the issues with the latest Windows 10 update are getting worse for Microsoft as the company is blocking some devices that use Intel SSDs from receiving the latest Windows 10 April 2018 update. Specifically the Intel 600p Series or Pro 6000p Series SSDs as that configuration causes crashes galore among other ill effects.

When attempting to upgrade to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, select devices with Intel SSD 600p Series or Intel SSD Pro 6000p Series may crash and enter a UEFI screen after reboot,

And

We are working with OEM partners and Intel to identify and block devices with Intel SSD 600p Series or Intel SSD Pro 6000p Series from installing the April 2018 Update due to a known incompatibility that may cause performance and stability issues.

Maybe they should have kept this update in their QA department a little bit longer? Because after running into freezing issues with Chrome, and the update leaving some PCs unable to boot, it’s pretty clear that this update is a mess. My advice is if you haven’t updated yet, don’t. It may not be worth it at this point.

 

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Bluesound Adds Design Flare & Functionality with FLEX SKINS

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 10, 2018 by itnerd

Bluesound has announced the availability of the FLEX SKIN for their affordable PULSE FLEX speaker. Available in four colours (White, Black. Deep Blue and Charcoal) the FLEX SKIN is made of durable, water-resistant silicone rubber and is easy to install, remove or clean. Precise engraved controls are designed into the surface allowing complete control and functionality. Bluesound’s FLEX SKIN is shipping in May with a U.S. MSRP of $29 each.

The FLEX SKIN is made of durable silicone rubber so it protects the speaker’s surfaces from the elements. Though not waterproof, it does add an extra layer of protection to the surfaces to guard against scratches and grime. The SKIN is easy to clean with a damp cloth and is even dishwasher safe. The SKIN is easy to install with no tools and easy to remove as well.

The SKIN is available in four popular colours (White, Black, Deep Blue, Charcoal) chosen to match a wide range of decorating scenarios. Users can mix or match colours to suit the room, their individual taste or the season. SKINs can be easily changed as desired.

For ease of use, precise controls are etched into the SKIN’s surface that match the touch-button controls on the PULSE FLEX itself while the back panel is left available for connections and functionality.

 

Key Features of the FLEX SKIN for PULSE FLEX:

  • Four different colours – Black, White, Deep Blue and Charcoal
  • Colours complement wide range home decorating scenarios
  • Engraved Controls – match perfectly with touch-button controls yet leave back panel available for connections and functionality
  • Durable – tough silicone rubber is water resistant and provides basic level of protection for PULSE FLEX from the elements
  • Easy to install, remove or clean. Dishwasher safe

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Udoq Wins Mom’s Choice Award 2018

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 10, 2018 by itnerd

udoq announced today that it has won the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award – Gold Award for udoq, the first worldwide patented universal docking station for all mobile devices of every brand and generation. After rigorous evaluation by a panel of Mom’s Choice Award (MCA) evaluators, udoq won a best for family-friendly media, product, or service. See the udoq award winning entry at: https://store.momschoiceawards.com/index.php?entry_id=7436.

udoq400 - lifestyle desk

Just in time for Mother’s Day, udoq is a one-size-fits-all station for charging and docking all Android, Apple, and other smartphones, tablets, music players, smartwatches, eReaders, and other devices. Created by the minimalist designers of Porsche and other brands according to German engineering standards, udoq uses an elegant sturdy high-grade aluminum built to last. Mothers love udoq’s fashionable design and innovative patented process which lets the whole family quickly and neatly move and slide back and forth charging cables from multiple devices in one station without the mess and disorganization of tangled cables and lost devices.

Udoq won The Mom’s Choice Award based on MCA’s propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements, including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal, and cost. In presenting udoq the award, The Mom’s Choice Awards said, “udoq is the first worldwide patented universal docking system for mobile devices of any brand, size or generation. Various movable and exchangeable udoq connector cables adapt to your Smartphones, Tablets, eReaders, Music Players, Battery Banks or other USB Devices.”

The MCA evaluation program is designed to incorporate the expertise of scientists, physicians, and other specialists, as well as parents, children, educators, and caregivers — experts in knowing what is best for their families. MCA evaluators are bound by a strict code of ethics not only to ensure objectivity, but also to ensure that the evaluation is free from manufacturer influence. The product samples are submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final review and approval. After evaluation, the samples are donated to schools, libraries, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations.

Available immediately from https://udoq.com/shop-2/, udoq is priced starting at $95, customizable at: https://udoq.com/configurator/. For more information on udoq’s Mom’s Choice Award entry, see: https://store.momschoiceawards.com/index.php?entry_id=7436, website: www.udoq.com.

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The IT Nerd 2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Posted in Commentary on May 10, 2018 by itnerd

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I have a short list of suggestions of a high tech nature that mom would love. If you think that there’s something else that should be on the list, drop me a note and let me know.

Linksys Velop Intelligent Mesh Wifi System – $129.99 USD (1-pack), $199.99 USD (2-pack), $299.99 USD (3-pack)

A great gift for Mom that will benefit the whole family, VELOP sets up in minutes and delivers flawless, ultra-fast, full-strength signal throughout your home. Because not every home is the same, this modular system lets you buy as few or as many VELOP nodes as you need, and place them wherever you need them, making dead spots a thing of the past. With powerful dual-band mesh technology, you’ll get seamless roaming and maximum speed right out to the edge of your network, even when everyone’s streaming their favourite shows. Read the review here.

Telus Drive+  ($50 CAD w 2-year term plus $10/month)

ZTE has entered the connected car space with the Drive +, now available at Telus. Just connect this little gadget to your car’s diagnostic port (standard on all cars since 1996) and you’ll receive helpful maintenance reminders and instant notifications about car trouble, unlocking information to help you keep your vehicle safe. Keep your family safe real-time location updates for peace of mind that your teen driver made it safely to their destination. Driving behavior analysis helps you become a safer driver and minimizes wear and tear on your car. Drive+ also works as an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, perfect for GPS and allowing your passengers to stay connected even while on the road. Read the review of the ZTE connected car device here.

Roku Streaming Stick + – $89.99 CAD

With brilliant picture quality, 4x the wireless range, and a new voice remote, the new Roku Streaming Stick+ is just like Roku’s portable Streaming Stick®, super-charged. The Streaming Stick+ offers high-performance portability and is compatible with 4K and HDR TV’s. The convenience of this streaming player can allow Moms to stream from any location that offers wireless internet. Read the review here.

Roku Express – $44.99 CAD

The new Roku Express is five times more powerful than its predecessor, and offers easy HD streaming at an affordable price. Easy to set up and use, the Express comes with a remote control that makes finding something to watch a snap. And with over 150,000 movies and TV shows available (including lots of free content), Mom and the kids will never run out of things to watch! Read the review here.

Pulse Mini Speaker-$599 CDN

For something more versatile and capable of playing anywhere in the home, the PULSE MINI is more powerful and clear than many players twice its size. With Bluesound you can access and connect to internet radio stations, cloud music services, and your own local music library. Mini setup is simple, easily expandable and portable.

Nomad Universal Cable-$29 to $34 USD

The Nomad Universal Cable is a very practical gift option for mom as you can give her a cable that allows her to charge and sync any device, but her friends can do the same regardless of what device they have. Plus the cable is designed to survive anything. Read the review here.

Hex Brand Transit Tote-$99 USD

My wife had a look at the Hex Brand Transit Tote and described it as a “stylish tote bag hits all the check marks for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone.” Plus her friends loved the look. Thus it’s a safe bet that Mom would love it too. Read the review here.

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Emergency Alert System Tests In Canada Are A #Fail

Posted in Commentary with tags on May 10, 2018 by itnerd

All this week, different parts of Canada have been running tests of the new Alert Ready emergency alert system that is supposed to alert you of anything from an Amber Alert (a missing child) to natural disasters. Alerts are supposed to show up on radio, TV, and as a notification on your phone, as was the case with your truly:

The problem is that I was one of the lucky ones apparently. Some people didn’t get the alert while the person next to them did. Here are some examples:

https://twitter.com/poor_choices/status/994308391366344704

And in the case of anyone in Quebec, nobody got the alert. Though that was due to an employee screw up. But what is clear is that this system which is supposed to keep the public safe doesn’t work. Thus I suspect that there will be a lot of explaining to do by those who put this together, and likely more tests. I for one hope that they get this sorted quickly as emergencies don’t wait until your systems are perfect before they hit you.

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