Roku finally coming to Canada in the next few weeks

Move over Apple, Roku will finally arrive in the next few weeks in Canada. Will it cause a large amount of people to drop their cable provider entirely?http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/04/24/roku-an-inexpensive-internet-fun-box/

Is Google GDrive any better than Microsoft SkyDrive?

Google 的貼牌冰箱（Google refrigerator） (Photo credit: Aray Chen)

So what really makes Google GDrive better than Microsoft SkyDrive? Probably not a whole lot; in terms of drive space. However what Google is achieving is synergy between all of its offerings. With the introduction of Google GDrive you can, in a sense, really live online. Of course there is the issue of privacy and trust, but it seems that people really don’t care. GDrive is available on all devices, with the nagging exception of the Blackberry; which I am blogging from at the moment. With GDrive live will ChromeOS take hold? What does this mean for Apple? Will Dropbox or Box.net get bought out? How about Facebook? The next few months will be interesting indeed!

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• Thanks Google, It Only Took You Six Years (techcrunch.com)
• The GDrive Plot Thickens: Google Docs Users Now Have 5GB Of Space (techcrunch.com)
• SkyDrive storage space land grab for grandfathers (sciencetext.com)
• Google ‘to launch GDrive cloud storage next week’ (digitalspy.co.uk)
• Thinking about GDrive for online backup? Consider YouSendIt instead (yousendit.com)

New Flashback variant silently infects Macs

New Flashback variant silently infects Macs

A new Flashback Trojan has been discovered that infects Macs without prompting the user for a password. If you haven’t updated Java on your Mac, or disabled it entirely, you could be a victim.

Related articles

• Flashback Trojan in the Wild – Protect older Macs (thegtapatriot.wordpress.com)
• Flashback Malware Still Infects 140,000 Macs, Not Dead Yet (webpronews.com)
• Flashback Trojan Hits 600,000 Macs and Counting (apple.slashdot.org)

Rogers Video no more, time to get an Apple TV device

The 2nd generation Apple TV (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rogers Video no more, time to get an Apple TV device

Are you looking to rent a movie? Apple TV makes the process simple and easy. You also get access to a host of other bonus features. With Rogers Video officially putting an end to their video stores it’s now time for you to consider alternatives. Devices like an ATV can help to mitigate the transition. Straight from Apple’s website “The new Apple TV with 1080p HD gives you access to the best content — blockbuster movies, TV shows, sports, your music and photos and more — right on your widescreen TV. You can even play content from your iOS devices on your TV using AirPlay. Best of all, Apple TV is just $109″. It connects to Netflix, Vimeo, YouTube, WSJ and other services. I’ve had it for 2+ years and have no complaints.

Related articles

• No more Rogers Video Stores.. (trishussey.com)
• Rogers exits video-rental business | FP Tech Desk | Financial Post (exitbusiness.wordpress.com)
• Cutting the cord through my over-the-air AppleTV and Netflix experience (thegtapatriot.com)
• Everyone should own an Apple TV (cdevroe.com)
• Good bye Blockbuster, Good Night Rogers Video Stores (resumedetective.wordpress.com)
• Rogers bails on video store business (ctv.ca)
• Could Apple TV streaming service arrive before Christmas? (ziggytek.com)

Finally a gaming device that won’t gather dust

Xbox 360 (Photo credit: emelgeek)

It’s amazing to see how we consume media. No longer to we care about cable and satellites dishes. Alright, I am exaggerating a bit, but there is a definite shift in the landscape. Gaming devices, like the Xbox 360 and PS3 have now turned into media devices. Microsoft claims that Xbox users are now consuming more music and video content. How long will it last? I suspect that this is a permanent change. We want to consume content on our own schedule. We don’t mind watching old content on Netflix, with the odd sprinkle of updated series.  We want Hulu and streaming radio. We want to watch sports on-demand. We are seeing people spend hours online searching YouTube and watching homemade content. I imagine that we may start to see a run on people simply buying these devices for media. With Roku, AppleTV, and other devices doing so well the only winners maybe broadband providers. The times are definitely changing and advertisers better figure out quickly where they fit in the new media device world.

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Flashback Trojan in the Wild – Protect older Macs

Most modern Macs have Java installed, so they could be vulnerable to the Flashback. While Apple posted a security fix for Mac OS X Lion and Mac OS X Snow Leopard, there are many millions of Macs running older software. Still there’s an easy way to prevent a Java drive-by attack, besides pulling the plug.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/quick-protection-for-older-macs-from-the-flashback-trojan/12712?tag=content;feature-roto

Cutting the cord through my over-the-air AppleTV and Netflix experience

Image via CrunchBase

It’s been more than 1-2 years and my over-the-air antenna, AppleTV and Netflix configuration has helped me to save a substantial amount of money. To be perfectly honest the experiment started when I began to observe that family members were not watching the TV; opting to go online to get their content. Paying for a monthly plan just did not make sense. There were really only two issues. How do I get my news and what about entertaining guest from time to time?

Starting with cable, with over-the-air HD quality signals I cut the cord. My HD 51 inch plasma TV already had a built in tuner. I purchased a Digiwave yagi antenna and 2 regular HD antenna’s; running them into my attic. The results, after going to TVFOOL.COM, was approximately 20-25 channels.

What about additional content? Well, since we were avid podcast followers the AppleTV seemed to be the perfect fit. We researched many others, but devices like the Roku was not available in Canada and GoogleTV unfortunately was not available either. I loved the Boxee, but not it’s price. I believe it was an error to sell it for so much. In any case I am happy with the ATV2. I can rent movies with ease, use the iCloud for my pictures, connect with YouTube, use Vimeo, the Wall Street Journal and a host of other items from one device.

My Netflix experience is extremely positive. I have no complaints. Content is fine, albeit it would be nice to get more British media. Integration in the AppleTV is seamless. There are a few other features available with the AppleTV, which I have not used. In particular iTunes Match. I may get to it one day. Other bonuses are online radio and the ability to purchase movies and TV, ala cart, from iTunes and have it available from iClould.

All in all the Apple created a simple and easy to use experience. There were a lot of nay-sayers, in regards to my over-the-air antenna. However I can happily say that I have found other uses for the cash. Ironically Netflix did not affect have 60 GB limit as much as I thought it would. Online, through a browser, radio seems to use more bandwidth and bytes. If you want to cut the cord first evaluate what is important to you. It’s not for everyone. However, if you find, like me, you are doing more online it maybe time to look at spending a bit more on bandwidth and cut the cord.

Related articles

• For Apple TV, subscription video service still missing (news.cnet.com)
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RIM closer to releasing BB10

Image via CrunchBase

RIM plans to give developers prototypes BB10 in May. With slumping sales, BB10 could not come any sooner. It’s unfortunate that RIM has such a slow product development process. With both Google and Apple moving at lightening speeds, can the famed Blackberry survive? Up to 2,000 of the BlackBerry 10 test models will be given to developers.  Playbook 2.0 gave us a preview of what we can expect to see with the new BB10 phone. The question is, will it be enough? In Canada, RIM recently lost its top place. Canadian’s support RIM, however how much longer can they wait? My own experience with the new Playbook 2.0 has been delightfully good. It’s a great tablet, at the price point. However it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the Apple ecosystem. We can only hope that RIM maintains its strong hold on the business market. RIM has excellent products, however only time will tell if it’s enough to stem the slow burn.

Related articles

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Steve Jobs has passed away – May he Rest In Peace.

Apple chairman and co-founder, Steve Jobs, who pioneered the personal computer; changing the way we used and interacted with the PC, died today. He was a visionary and great innovator. He will be greatly missed by everyone. May he rest in peace! At 56 years old, he is survived by his wife, Laurene, and four children.

• Remember Steve at http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/
• TEDs Talk by Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

GlobalMedic – Rahul Singh has joined Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2010

My sincere congratulations goes out to Rahul Singh, who is now one of the most influential people in the world. Truly an Angel walks among us! Andy MJ

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Rahul Singh - Global Medic

Indo—Canadian paramedic Rahul Singh has joined US president Barack Obama, talk show queen Oprah Winfrey and Apple boss Steve Job in Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2010.

The Toronto—based paramedic, who founded GlobalMedic in 1998 to help disaster—hit people, has been the face of Canadian relief efforts around the world, including the quake—hit Haiti, in the past 10 years. Calling his on—going relief work in Haiti “a shining example” of “selfless effort”, the magazine said, “Singh and his group of volunteers wasted no time in arriving in Port—au—Prince and setting about providing clean drinking water and medical aid wherever it was needed.

“Over an eight—week period, his team distributed 2.4 million gallons of clean water, while GlobalMedic’s two inflatable field hospitals brought medical assistance to more than 7,000 people. They also trained a local team of Haitians to take over the work, and right now that is just what they are doing.”

Speaking to IANS, Montreal—born Rahul Singh said, “I am excited to get on Time’s list. But this recognition is not about me, it is about our volunteers.”

Singh, whose parents migrated to Canada from Delhi’s Maharani Bagh, said he founded GlobalMedic after seeing the ravage caused by mudslides in Nepal in 1998.

“Travelling around the world, I was in Nepal when the mudslide disaster happened. There were inefficient relief efforts. I decided to do something to ensure efficient and immediate relief to disaster—struck people. After returning here, I founded GlobalMedic,” said the burly Mr. Singh.

In the last five years, he said, he and his hundreds of volunteers, including paramedics, police officers and firefighters, have mounted more than 50 relief operations around the world.

Read more

10 Essential iPad Tips & Tricks

With the release of the Apple iPad I found this link, which I thought would be quite useful to everyone!

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Any idiot can use an iPad at a basic level. It’s designed that way. But even still, there are things that you’re just supposed to magically know—things no one ever necessarily tells you. So we’re here to help.

http://gizmodo.com/5508399/10-essential-ipad-tips–tricks

How Apple is killing Adobe Flash and remaking the web in Steve Jobs image

Steve Jobs while presenting the iPad in San Francisco 27th January 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Apple’s iPad could make it the king of old media, arbiter of taste and technology alike. So magazines and newspapers have begun a series of countermoves that could turn the quietest dogfight in media into the most vicious.

In one sense, the iPad‘s January unveiling was a nerd climax, a landmark for obsessive gadget freaks. But in another it was one in a series of Apple chess movies that will determine how much influence the company wields over the future of magazines and newspapers. If the tablet device and Apple’s associated online shops become popular enough, the company could have a chokehold over publishing technology and content itself. It could become as central to the future of print media as it has become to the future of music, where Apple’s iTunes Store dominates online sales. And it could use that position to promote its preferred technologies over those of rivals, most notably Adobe’s Flash animation software, now ubiquitous on websites.

But Apple is but one player in this game; old media are making moves of their own. Apple’s refusal to work with Adobe, whose software is central to most art departments, makes publishers uneasy.

Read More

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