Posts Tagged ‘apps’

Weekend Reading:Tech gift guide, tablet reviews, Windows 8, and mobile security Q&A

Some weeks are bigger news weeks than others, and this week was a great one for tech news – in fact, I had a hard time narrowing it down to my top picks this week! However, I finally settled on 4 I think you’ll enjoy – a gift guide for digital cameras, reviews on a top selling tablet (which is also sure to be popular this Christmas), and more info on Windows 8 and mobile security, which both remain hot topics as well.

Digital camera gift guide

Did you know: Christmas is only 37 days away?! As a result, we’re starting to see a lot of holiday gift guides being released, including a great one this week from Engadget. This week they released a gift guide entirely devoted to digital cameras, with emphasis on popular styles including point-and-click, mirrorless, and Digital SLR. Check out their list and start inquiring about what matters most to your shutterbug – since reading this you’re down to only 36 days and 23 ½ hours left for shopping!

Tablet Reviews: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

In our last Rogers Innovation report, we reported that 35% of youth believe tablets will replace textbooks within the next 5 years. We wanted to put that theory to the test so we asked La Lobana and Med Lab Maven to use the Samsung Galaxy tablet for a week and asked them if tablets could replace their textbooks. See how they fared in Lo Lobana’s post here, and Med Lab Maven’s post here.

See Windows 8 devices& read why you should upgrade

Connected Magazine recently put together two great guides for their readers – a hands-on introduction to Windows 8 devices, and another one highlighting the key differences between Windows 7.5 and 8. Start out by getting a crash course on the Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung ATIVS, Windows Phone 8X HTC, and Samsung ATIV smart PC. Once you’ve got a better knowledge of the hardware, take a deeper look into the software by reading up on features like Kid’s Corner, SkyDrive, and of course, mobile wallet.

Mobile payments and security

Speaking of mobile wallet, this week we were fortunate enough to speak with two leaders in the mobile tech industry for a Q&A on security – the Huffington Post’s Dan Tencer, and Gemalto security expert Paul Bradley.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what happens to your personal info when your phone is lost or stolen, how apps are secured to ensure your banking and shopping info is safe, or how to keep track of what data third party vendors have access to, you’ll definitely want to check out our Q&A here.

Kelly is a regular contributor for RedBoard

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Weekend Reading: Password protection, a social election, and more Windows 8 impressions

Rogers Weekend ReadingWere you one of many Twitter accounts whose passwords were reset this week? How did you hear about America’s new president? And have you seen the new Windows app store?

This week we update you on a Twitter security scare, how social media played a big part in the election earlier this week, and some great Windows apps headed your way!

The tweet that broke social media records

It was a big week for our American friends, as the world watched and eagerly awaited the news of who would be the next President of the United States.

Before social media, people would sit glued to their TV’s for hours on end awaiting the results, listen to the radio, or catch the highlights in the papers the following morning. This year was an entirely different story from the campaign to the winning results, starting with online campaigning encouraging people to vote, to presidential supporters showcasing their support, to the presidential candidates themselves tweeting to the people!

When the re-elected President Obama tweeted a picture himself and wife, Michelle in a loving embrace with the caption “Four more years,” it became the most tweeted-about political event in American history. According to Google, the tweet has been re-tweeted over 714,800 times as of mid-Wednesday, while the Facebook post with the same image and caption has garnered more than 3.5 million likes! We found more great stats in The Telecom Blog’s post on social media coverage as well.

Forbes called this “the first truly digital election.” What role do you think social media will play in politics in the next four years?

Twitter’s password faux-pas

Many people were affected this week by Twitter’s accidental reset of thousands of passwords after some accounts had been  compromised by a third-party site. When this happens, Twitter sends out an email warning you your account may have been compromised and automatically resets your password. It’s a good practice, except this week it led to more accounts being reset than were suspected to have been hacked.

Twitter has since issued a statement and apologized, but it’s another reminder that we need to be more diligent when it comes to online security. We noted similar points in our recent post on Cyber Security Awareness month in October, highlighting best practices for social networks, mobile banking and online shopping.

Twitter was also quick to point to their own tips on how to keep your account secure – if you have any tips of your own to share, let us know in the comments and help others benefit from your personal security measures!

Windows tips and tricks for navigating their app store

CNET put together a great piece this week not only reviewing Windows 8 and answering readers FAQ’s, but also highlighting some cool new features in the Windows Phone app store. After joining forces with Microsoft for Windows 8 devices with exclusive apps, we’re naturally anxious to share any additional tidbits we come across with our customers.

Boasting over 120,000 apps, CNET noted you can create a theme to customize groups of apps and the software will actually detect and make recommendations based on preferences and location as well. Want to know more? Check out their full article here and let us know other features you’re loving or excited about!

Kelly is a regular contributor for RedBoard

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Weekend Reading: Windows 8, smartphone shockers & Halloween tech

Many of you are probably focused on Halloween next week, getting last minute costumes and candy ready for the big night. It’s a fun and chaotic holiday, which makes it difficult to keep up on the latest tech news – but fear not, we’re here with another Weekend Reading edition to fill you in on Windows 8, smartphones vs. water and hydro, and some fun Halloween themed apps.

Top Windows 8 features

Last week, we announced that we teamed up with Microsoft to bring you the largest selection of Windows 8 devices from a Canadian carrier.

A week later and people are still talking Windows 8, eager to share their thoughts on the exciting new platform and what features they’re most excited about. Across all Windows 8 devices, you’ll now have a complete cross-platform experience making it easier to switch between your smartphone, your PC or your tablet.

Wired hailed the intuitive interface and ability to pin and share anything, while CNET Asia published their own Top 5 reasons to upgrade to Windows 8 including reset and refresh options. IT Business Edge highlighted some features businesses will love like faster boot-up times and enhanced architectures. If you’re looking for a more detailed analysis of the Windows 8 features, ReadWrite Enterprise is compiling a series focusing on the Top Windows 8 Features with a whole article dedicated to each feature. They are counting down the final three but if you scroll to the bottom you can read up on the rest.

What do you value more – your smartphone, or water and electricity?

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, these kinds of stats never cease to surprise me. Our very own Rogers Innovation Report back in May revealed what kind of things people were willing to sacrifice for internet access, including coffee, chocolate, and even sex for 6% of us!

Now just this week, Business Insider revealed that More People Have Mobile Phones Than Electricity Or Drinking Water! What else do smartphones dominate over? Check out the full article to see and let us know where your priorities lie – smartphone, or relying on good old fashioned daylight?

Get into the spooky spirit with Halloween tech

Forget the candy and costumes, Mashable put together this great post summarizing some awesome Halloween themed apps. Use Pic Monkey to create a creepy zombie or vampire themed avatar, or play fun games like Pumpkin Pops or Ghost Radar. Good for kids, or the young at heart.

Kelly is a regular contributor for RedBoard

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The long weekend menu: turkey, stuffing and the best Thanksgiving-themed apps

You’ve agreed to host your first Thanksgiving dinner for the family, but your cooking skills consist of Kraft Dinner and a mean grilled cheese – what do you do?! You’re headed to grandma’s three hours away and need to keep the family entertained in the confines of a vehicle – what do you do?! The answer to both: you consult your beloved smartphones and tablets!

Whether you’re playing host or seeing family out of town, we’ve got you covered with our picks for the best apps to arm yourself with this weekend.

Dinner

Chow

Not only is Chow a great app for regular dinner recipes, but it also has a handy “Thanksgiving Dinner Coach” to walk you through prepping a delicious full course meal. Simply select your dishes, and Chow will summarize the ingredients you’ll need with a step-by-step guide on preparation. Consider this app a staple whether you’re a seasoned chef or first time turkey tamer!

Price: Free

Available on iPhone

Decor

Celebrate the Holidays with Better Homes and Gardens

Your turkey is in the oven and all the side dishes are prepped – now it’s time to decorate. This handy app from Better Homes and Gardens will show you how to put together beautiful centerpieces and arrangements for your home with speed and budget in mind. The app includes 24 party plans with games and decorating ideas, planning tips from professionals, and links to customized playlists for the occasion!

Price: $0.99

Available on iPad

Navigation

Waze

With long weekends come long lines of traffic. What makes Waze unique from other traffic apps is its social element – if you see a pileup, construction, or general heavy traffic, let others know on Facebook, Foursquare or Twitter. Spreading the word will hopefully send some good karma your way and save you precious time spent in the car with your loved ones instead. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Price: Free

Available on iPhone, Windows and Android

Photography

Leafsnap

If you’re headed north for a scenic drive amongst the beautiful fall foliage, be sure to check out Leafsnap. Stop for a break and take photos of the different leaves you encounter on the way – Leafsnap will identify the tree species from your photographs! Not only will this make for a nice break from the car, but it’s a fun and educational app the whole family can enjoy.

Price: Free

Available on iPhone and iPad

Fun & Games

Thanksgiving Coloring Book

As if there wasn’t enough to prep for between the food and travel, parents also have to think of ways to keep their kids happy amidst all this! Thankfully in this new era of technology, “Are we there yet?” can be replaced with “We’re there already?” with the right apps to keep them busy. The Thanksgiving Coloring Book is a great time filler for kids, whether they’re doodling in the car or at the kitchen table. Kids can finger paint with over 60 colours to choose from and a gallery full of images sure to keep them busy until dinner time.

Price: Free

Available on iPhone and Android

Bonus

Love Food Hate Waste

When the last slice of pumpkin pie is gone and all the guests are home with full bellies, there’s still one last task to be done – cleanup. Part of cleanup is sorting through all the leftovers, and this app is great for helping you maximize your food. Here you’ll find over 350 recipe ideas, a portion planner to eliminate excess food, and a meal planner to focus on purchasing only what you need.

Price: Free

Available on iPhone and Android

On behalf of everyone at Rogers, we wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Kelly is a regular contributor for RedBoard

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Weekend Reading: the back to school season begins

School supplies and fall clothes are springing up everywhere, which to many signifies the end of summer. When summer ends, another school year begins – but how well equipped are your tech savvy kids as they gear up to head back to class? In this week’s edition of Weekend Reading, we check out what kids are really hoping they’ll get out of your back to school shopping, and which Android apps will put them at the top of their class.

What Kids Really Want When Back to School Shopping

We’re starting to see a trend when it comes to shopping for loved ones. We saw it earlier this year when we looked at gift ideas for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Not surprisingly, we’re now seeing the same trend with the younger generations for back to school: tech gadgets are what everyone wants!

While 43% of parents think their kids want a new wardrobe before heading back to school, 42% of those surveyed would rather have a new smartphone, laptop or tablet. These stats and more are available in Mashable’s infographic, Tech or Threads.

Tech Vibes Henry Truong had similar thoughts on the subject when writing his own post, How Technology Has Changed Back to School Season Forever. In it, he compares his own experience as a college student over half-a-decade ago with the life of students today. He marvels about how much mobile technology has advanced over the last 6 years when it comes to things like note taking, and studying, not to mention freedom from lugging heavy textbooks around campus.

Where do you think we’ll be in another 6 years? Tell us below in the comments!

Get Your Kid Set up with Top Android Apps for School

If your kids already have the latest and greatest in Android devices, make sure they’re set up to make the most of them! Mashable posted a great article with 5 Android Apps for Your Straight-A Student. Without giving anything away, their picks cover course basics such as spelling, Spanish and math, while aiding with study habits and schedules. Surely a must read for any student on an Android device!

For another great list of Android apps for education, check out this blog post by Ali from Android Authority, where apps like Advanced English and Thesaurus and Formulas Lite top the list.

Which Android app for students is your favourite?

Kelly is a regular contributor for Redboard.

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APPealing apps for Father’s Day

fathers day apps from Rogers RedBoardLast month we honoured moms everywhere for Mother’s Day by dedicating a post to showcase 5 essential apps for tech-savvy moms. So with Father’s Day around the corner, we had to pay equal tribute to all the great tech-savvy dads out there too!

For starters, what’s Dad hoping for this year? We found an infographic on Silicon Republic for dads with equally revealing stats that may surprise you – for instance, according to Tech Bargains, 65% of dad’s would rather receive NO gift at all than a tie! Tech ranked high with moms in May, and it looks like dads are no different –48% want tech gadgets, but only 23% will get them. For those lucky 23% we’ve picked 5 more essential apps to deck out dad’s gadgets with – for the other 48% there’s still time,so get shopping!

iHandy Carpenter – $1.99

This app is a staple for any how-to dad for house repairs or remodeling projects. The app includes a surface level, a bubble level bar, a protractor and a ruler for all his measurement needs. For $2, you give dad a 5-in-1 surprise that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, orAndroid

Live sports on your smartphone for only $5/month

We’ve got dad covered this year with our Rogers Anyplace TV Live app for smartphones. Bonus: with this app, your dad can stream unlimited hours until October 31st! Watch live games on the go– your dad’s ticket to every Blue Jays game of the season no matter where he is! Plus we’ll be serving up the Rogers Cup soon, Canada’s premiere tennis event! For more info on this app, check out our post here.

Available on iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry.

Bonus – get the MLB Full Count app for iPhone or iPad

The Home Depot – Free

With over 100,000 products to browse and purchase, the app offers essentially everything the brick and mortar stores do right at your fingertips! Once dad finds an item he likes, he can even check his store’s inventory and scan UPC codes.

Available on iPhone, Android and Windows

Grill-It! XL – $1.99

Summer is many things, but to most men – it’s BBQ season! Featured in Maxim magazine,Grill-It has new recipes added every week. From burgers to steaks to sausages, this app is sure to satisfy dad’s primal instincts.

Available on iPad

Garage Buddy – $0.99

This app is the most basic necessity for any enthusiastic motorist. Providing users with all the tools needed to calculate, measure or convert, your dad will be ready to build cars for sport, or take on basic repairs.

Available on iPhone and iPad

If you insist on getting dad a tie this year, at least show him how to use it with this handy How To Tie a Tie app! Happy Father’s Day everyone!

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

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Talking Families with @GingerMommy and @KatiaMillar: being connected

Rogers Ultimate Unlimited Family PlanFor the next installment of the Talking Families series we caught up with @GingerMommy from Tales of a Ranting Ginger and @KatiaMillar from Positive Fabulous Women to see how they’re making out being fully connected. Here’s what they had to say:

How does being connected with your family improve your relationships with each other?

@KatiaMillar – Being connected definitely facilitated connection with all members within our family as it allowed us to stay in touch at all times.

@GingerMommy – It is nice to be able to contact my children if and when needed. Having instant access is really comforting for us and so convenient for them. Especially when they change their plans on me at the last minute.

The Rogers Family Plans provide the convenience of a single bill. Is this something that is important to you?

@KatiaMillar – Yes absolutely — we have enough to juggle and manage in our lives, so this is one less thing to deal with.

@GingerMommy – Yes it is. I find it easier to keep track and no surprises. Easier to pay too.

What device features do you find are most important to your kids? To adults?

@KatiaMillar      For kids: Big screen. Micro SD slot. Removable battery. Fast processor. HD camera. For me: Ability to sync easily with desktop (Mac). Camera.

@GingerMommy – One son loves the games on his phone, the other loves the BBM. Texting is big for our entire family as we use it to communicate most often. Me and hubs like the data and being able to check email and online social media.

What types of non-traditional features do you use your phone for? (i.e music, grocery lists, voice recorder, e-reader, etc).

@KatiaMillar – Grocery lists. Password storage.

@GingerMommy – Our kids love to listen to music on their phones, no need for additional music devices. I like games and weather updates.

What are your favourite apps? Your kid’s favourite apps?

@KatiaMillar – TuneIn Radio. Cozi. Kids favourite apps: Facebook, Twitter, Reddit.

@GingerMommy The weather network and my social media apps (Twitter and Facebook). Kid’s favourite: Facebook and Tumbler and various games for my one teen. TSN for my sporty teen and Angry birds for my youngest.

What advice would you give other parents who are considering giving their children a cell phone?

@KatiaMillar – Talk to your kids first. Set limits and boundaries. Remind the kids that this is a privilege that can be taken away at any point. Remember that some kids are more responsible and disciplined with phones than others – so it’s a very individual decision.

@GingerMommy – Set limits. Make sure you know your child’s phone as well as they do. I find my 12 year old to be helping me out more. As long as limits are set ahead time, they know what to expect. It is much easier to work and live within guidelines as well. The security and peace of mind having our family connected is very comforting.

 What’s your favourite part about being connected to your family?


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This Mother’s Day, we’ve got 5 ways to show mom you APPreciate her!

We don’t want to alarm some of our readers, but Mother’s Day is on Sunday, and this year Mom’s NOT looking for sweets or flowers! In a recent survey conducted by Tech Bargains and featured on iPhone in Canada, a whopping 91% of mothers are in favour of receiving a tech gadget over flowers!

In the spirit of this enlightening infographic, we thought we’d showcase some of the best apps for you to share with your mom for her gadgets. Whether she’s shopping for bargains or redecorating the kitchen, we’ve got you covered for tablets and smartphones!

Cozi Family Organizer – Free

Cozi is the ultimate family organizer for moms on the go. Manage the family schedule, organize shopping and to do lists, and capture favorite memories—all in one place. Best of all, the app is accessible from any computer, mobile phone or tablet, and you only need one account for the entire family!

Available on iPhoneAndroid, and Blackberry.

Big Oven – Free

This is a cooking app that pretty much thought of everything for mom – automatically convert between metric and imperial units, create shopping lists, and generate recipes from ingredients you already have! It’ll even tell you just how many calories are in each serving. With over 170,000 recipes, there’s plenty of user-generated information including review comments and photos and such too.

Available on iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, and Windows.

Food Gardening Guide – Free

Did you know you can harvest carrots, store them over the winter, and replant in spring to generate seeds? Now you do, thanks to the Food Gardening Guide app! Mom learn all about planting, harvesting and storage, saving seeds, pest and disease prevention, growing, and kitchen prep.

Available on iPhone or iPad, and Android.

ShopCatch – Free

Quite possibly the handiest shopping app period, your mom will love this intuitive tool. Get location based deals, keep tabs on your favourite retailers, and get exclusive deals to share with friends. With over 150 retailers listed, there’s something for every mom!

Available on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

SnapShop Showroom – Free

This app is pure genius – the concept? See what furniture will look like inside your home before you buy it. Take a photo of a room, browse the furniture catalogue and select an item, then place, size and position it in your photo. You can even browse the retailer’s sites without leaving the app. Now THAT’S convenient!

Available on iPhone and iPad.

What apps is your mom currently into? Did we leave any other dynamic ones off the list?

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Weekend Reading: Illustrate your knowledge with infographics

These days, infographics are all the rage online. They deliver facts in visual graphics that are easy to comprehend by using symbols and statistics. Not to mention they’re a fun and colourful way to share your knowledge!

We’ve been inspired to create a few of our own in our Rogers Innovation Report series, featuring Canadians Using Technology to Manage Personal Relationships, and exploring the Top Technology Trends for 2012.

Recently, iPhone in Canada also showcased a great one for Mother’s Day with some surprising findings. It turns out, mom’s not that into flowers on Mother’s Day – she’s into technology! 31% of mothers would prefer to receive a tech gadget, but sadly only 11% will get one. Now that you’ve seen the light, there’s still a week left to trade in those roses for a tablet – and spread the word!

We also came across a great one from Culture Label on global mobile trends. When it comes to mobile devices, it’s no secret that use of them has been, and will continue to be, on the rise. But did you know that of the world’s 7 billion in population, a whopping 5.9 billion are mobile phone users? Or that over 300,000 apps have been downloaded in the past 3 years? Find out other interesting facts including how much time we spend on our mobile devices and how we spend it here.

Another enlightening one was tweeted about through our @RogersBuzz Twitter account earlier this week on The Mobile Employee. We came across it on Visua.ly, one of the premiere online destinations for finding an abundance of infographics. In this one, according to a survey conducted by xcubelabs, 59% of mobile employees would get emotional having to work without their smartphone for a week. It may seem like a stretch, but even 10% of you anticipated feeling lonely as a result.

Of these infographics, I’m guilty of all 3! Which one(s) do you relate to the most?

Kelly Farrell is a regular contributor to RedBoard

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