- @lbpyyz Agreed! People may have a Twitter / Facebook / Instagram addiction, I'd agree. But not food! ^eo
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
: Weekend Reading: Password protection, a social election, and more Windows 8 impressions
Were 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
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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Are you ready for the next big thing? Rogers welcomes premium Windows 8 devices with exclusive apps
Like you, we’re always excited about embracing what’s next in technology. Rogers was first to bring Canadians the BlackBerry, first to bring the iPhone, and the first to launch an Android smartphone.
So what’s the next big thing? Today, we’re excited to join forces with Microsoft to bring you the largest selection of Windows 8 devices from a Canadian carrier all powered on our blazing fast LTE network.
Across all Windows 8 devices, you’ll now have a complete cross-platform experience making it easier to switch between devices to easily access your best friend’s phone number from your tablet, grab your photos from last night’s party from your PC or quickly email your late assignment from your smartphone. Windows Phone 8 also includes great features such as multi-core processing, improved display resolutions, NFC, microSD storage expansion, and lenses for getting creative with your pictures.
Select Windows Phone 8 smartphones and an exclusive Windows 8 tablet will be available on Rogers LTE network and launching in the coming weeks. Here’s a rundown of what to get excited about:
- Nokia Lumia 920: Offered exclusively from Rogers in black, the Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 captures the best pictures and video ever seen on a smartphone. The Nokia Lumia 920 makes it possible to take clear, bright, professional-looking pictures and video indoors and at night.
- Samsung ATIV Smart PC and ATIV S Smartphone: Samsung is releasing a line of Windows 8 OS devices including a tablet – the ATIV Smart PC (available exclusively to Rogers customers) and the ATIV S smartphone. The ATIV Smart PC was designed with a classy, sleek finish, and you’ll get the same Windows 8 experience you’re used to on your PC with the portability of a tablet. The S™ smartphone is a high performance device with a range of content sharing and productivity options.
- Windows Phone 8X by HTC: Available from Rogers in a Blue 16G and exclusively in a Black 8G, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC offers Beats Audio™ technology provides authentic, studio-quality sound whether you’re listening to music, playing a game or watching a video.
Existing customers can reserve the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Windows Phone 8X by HTC Windows 8 now by using the Rogers Reservation System in MyRogers on rogers.com.
We’re also very excited to provide Rogers customers our exclusive applications on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platform like:
- Rogers My Account on Windows 8 tablets: Launching with the Samsung ATIV smart PC available exclusively to Rogers customers, My Account allows you to manage your wireless account directly through an application on your Windows 8 tablet. With My Account, you can quickly select and activate a mobile internet plan, check your plan usage, plus view your account balance and make payments without having to call customer care or visit a Rogers retail location. For more info on the app, check out our blog post here
- Rogers Anyplace TV Live for Windows Phone 8 and Rogers Anyplace TV (on demand) for Windows 8 Tablets: With the Rogers Anyplace TV Live app for Windows Phone 8, you get live games like Barclays Premier League soccer, Blue Jays baseball, Raptors basketball, hockey and tennis, and real-time news like CityNews. Rogers Anyplace TV Live is a mobile app with a $5 per month/5 hour subscription. Currently there is a special promo waiving overage charges until April 30, 2013. With the Rogers Anyplace TV (on demand) app for Windows 8 tablets, you get on demand channels, including Citytv, CBC, W Network, TMN, Treehouse, Teletoon, Family Channel, free movies and trailers, and more. Rogers Anyplace TV is also currently available on Xbox to Rogers customers.
- Rogers One Number for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 Tablet: With the Rogers One Number app on your Windows 8 tablet, you can use your existing wireless phone number to talk, text and send picture messages and video chat with other Rogers One Number users, all from your tablet. Sync your contacts with the Rogers One Number app on your Windows Phone 8 to seamlessly synchronize all of your contacts no matter where you are.
We’ll continue to update you on pricing and launch timing here on RedBoard. You can also follow our Twitter account, @RogersBuzz for more information and the latest updates. Stay tuned!
What Windows 8 device are you most excited about?
Michelle is a regular contributor to RedBoard
See www.rogers.com/coverage for full details on Rogers LTE network coverage.
The information in this post is current at the date of posting and is subject to change without notice.
: 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
Last 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
: Talking Families with @GingerMommy and @KatiaMillar: being connected
For 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?
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 iPhone, Android, 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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November 17th, 2012 a 11:22am
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