Comments for WhatsYourTech.ca

Comment on Google’s Search to Become More Social by I am Steve Tay!

I am Steve Tay! — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:21:41 +0000

Google is a free service and you are free to walk away.

That being said I think from Google’s perspective this change in policy and action makes a lot of sense. Google makes most of its money from Advertisers (http://bit.ly/A3lCIG) and that’s who will benefit from this change.

Google will be able to utilize the information gained from individuals to leverage a better and more accurate value of what that individual is worth to advertisers. Advertisers will be able to better target the people who are more likely to be interested in what they are pitching. Because of this they will be happy to pay the increased price.

As an advertiser who uses Google’s AdWords service I look forward to having the ability to better target people with highly relevant ads.

As an individual it’s a tougher call, and will take some time for me to decide if the trade off is worth it. In the best case scenario the search results I receive because of this change could be the most relevant yet.

However any company having that much info on individuals becomes a target for attack (Think Sony in Q2 last year) and the potential for Google to abuse the power itself. Time will tell if it’s worth it but for now I’m being optimistic.

Great article Hessie! Thanks for posting.

Comment on Surveillance by Design: Government Rules, Business Practices Threaten Canadians’ Personal Privacy by Ed

Ed — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:43:33 +0000

We cannot continue to depend on the Internet as a free, open and neutral space.

Governments and businesses are winning the ‘struggle for Internet freedom’, as described in an interesting read:

Consent of the Networked
The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom
by Rebecca Mackinnon

Comment on New Wireless and Mobile Services for Pro Sports, Top Concerts, Live Event Venues by GazaM

GazaM — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:52:45 +0000

Ive been to one of these with a few pals it was brilliant don’t miss out if you get chance enjoyed every minute whoever thought up the silent disco is a genius

GazaM

Comment on Telus will unlock any of its phones for $50 fee by Ted Kritsonis

Ted Kritsonis — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:22:38 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Dan. In looking into this for you, and the others who posted comments for this story, I wrote an updated article on this issue that was posted today:

http://whatsyourtech.ca/2012/01/27/unlocking-phones-what-the-carriers-will-and-wont-do/#.TyMGP0rGJgC

The gist of it is that Telus has exempted the iPhone from its unlocking policy because of “technical limitations”, though they tell me that they’re working on making it happen. Rogers and Fido are the only two carriers in all of North America that offer iPhone unlocking.

While we at WhatsYourTech don’t openly advocate for unlocking services, there are third-party ones online that do offer iPhone unlocking, regardless of the carrier, for a fee.

Hope this helps you all.

Comment on Televising the Revolution – Occupy Protests Use Streaming Media Tech Tools by Vlad T

Vlad T — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:15:38 +0000

Good article – but a minor correction – globalrev studios were indeed attacked and evicted on January 3rd, but the channel never stopped broadcasting. GloabRev is a global collective and there were plenty of editors in other centers that kept restreaming and curating content from the worldwide uprising for equality even as the new york center was shuttered by the new york authorites.

Comment on Five Social Media business trends for 2012 by Hessie Jones

Hessie Jones — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:27:17 +0000

thanks Suse. Pinterest is a very simple site, but amazing in terms of spreading this simplicity especially in this beta stage. It’ll be interesting to see how this grows.

Comment on Five Social Media business trends for 2012 by Suse Barnes

Suse Barnes — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:29:38 +0000

Thank you Hessie, I enjoy your thoughts. I agree with all five of your trend predictions and would like to add that with all of the increased budgets, focus on reputation, mobile payment options, local expansion, and privacy concerns will be a need to become even more targeted and niche oriented. With the huge growth in interest on Pinterest, I suspect we’ll see some changes in the way sites are designed so that images can be shared most easily on through pins and new communities will be forming around specific interests. It’s starting to look very much like online Meetup for Business through Pinterest.

Comment on Telus will unlock any of its phones for $50 fee by Dan Witthoeft

Dan Witthoeft — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:57:34 +0000

Hi Guys
My son has just been exchange student in Canada, where he bought an iPhone 4s, now he is back in Denmark, but he can’t use the iPhone, as it is locked to Telus.
We have called and written to Telus, but they say that they can’t unlock the phone.
Is is amasing, that a company can get away with that. We have called several danish telephonecompanies and they all say, that it is a simple procedure, that Telus needs to do.
In Denmark we would just have to write the Imei number at the phonecompanys website to get the phone unlocked, but Telus say they can’t do it. I just think that they won’t do it.

A frustrated custumer. Apple ought to contact Telus and force them to make unlocking possible for their cutomers. I don’t mind that they take money fore it.

Comment on CES celebrates evolution of digital media, consumer electronics by SurfEasy Internet Secuirty

SurfEasy Internet Secuirty — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:59:07 +0000

CES 2012 is going to be amazing, finally the super bowl for the tech world. I can’t wait for the full line of goodies being revealed & launched. CES Las Vegas is a must for everyone at least once. Thanks for the post.

Comment on Canada’s Small Business Invests in High Tech, Seeks More Service by Zack Lamoureux

Zack Lamoureux — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:31:24 +0000

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.