Canada as “Most Connected Nation”
Posted by admin on Oct 2, 2009
Taken from CRN Magazine, September 2009 Edition
Ten years ago, the government of Canada set itself the goal of leading the Internet revolution by making this country the world’s “most connected nation”. With a legacy of telecommunications innovation, from telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell through to the world-leading Anik A satellite, Canadian policymakers saw few obstacles to reaching this goal. Under the banner of “Connecting Canadians”, the government launched six initiatives: Canada Online, Smart Communities, Canadian Content Online, Electronic Commerce, Canadian Governments Online and Connected Canada to the World. Not to be outdone, provincial premiers and territorial leaders meeting in August 1999 acknowledged in their post-conference statement “the importance of the ongoing construction of th ‘information highway’ to Canada’s future development and to its global competitiveness is clear to all premiers and territorial leaders. Today, according to the International Telecommunications Union, about 85% of Canadians use the Internet – almost 30 million people. However, according to the World Economic Forum’s measurement of “technological readiness”, released in July, Canada only ranked 13th.
Moore’s Law In Action
Posted by admin on Oct 2, 2009
Taken from CRN Magazine, September 2009 Edition
Ten years ago, Time magazine wrote that computer prices were plummeting so fast, vendors were “practically giving them away”. An article cited a Compaq desktop (without monitor) selling for $560. Average retail prices were about $1000. Today, of course, personal computers are almost free. Last year, Royal Bank was giving away netbooks to customers who signed up for certain kinds of accounts, while this year, telecom providers are bundling netbooks with mobile internet packages. Those deals may not be free, strictly speaking, but they do illustrate the point that more and more, computers are just the wrapper – the candy is in the content.
RIM Changes Everything
Posted by admin on Oct 2, 2009
Taked from CRN Magazine, September 2009 Edition
Ten years ago, a Waterloo startup called Research in Motion Ltd., formally launched a new product which it described as a “two-way pager with a real-time link to desktop email”. The device had a 32-bit processor, 2 megabytes of onboard memory, a complete if compact keyboard and ran on a single battery. There were already a number of two-way wireless handheld email devices ont he market, but RIM had the advantage of a seamless, secure connection to corporate Microsoft Exchange email servers. Today, with annual revenue of more than $11 billion in 2008, an increase of 84% from the previous year, RIM sells more than 25 million BlackBerry devices annually.
Networking has been made easier
Posted by admin on Jun 26, 2009
If you can plug in a power cord and ethernet cable, you can set up a powerline network. Start by plugging a powerline adapter into a wall socket. Don’t use filtered power strips or surge protectors, though, because they will interfere with the network connection. Next, run an ethernet cable from the powerline adapter to a free LAN port on your router.
Now plug a second powerline adapter (or a powerline switch containing multiple ethernet ports) into a wall socket in an y room where you want access to the powerline network. After a few seconds, the two powerline devices will recognize each other and become connected.
You can then connect any device that has an ethernet port to your network. In the living room, for example, you can hook up a video game console, DVR, Windows Media Extender, or network media player. You can even hook up a Wi-Fi access point to bring coverage to a previously dead area.
The only installation issue you are likely to have is poor performance due to bad circuitry. In an older home, outlets that do not have proper grounds or shielding may have severe interference problems.
Click her for more information…
Windows 7 – Are you ready?
Posted by admin on Jun 24, 2009
So, when Vista was released, most of you decided to wait until the next version of Windows before you upgraded. Was that a smart idea? Maybe.
Basically, Windows 7 is Vista was some enhancements. Our in-house tests have proved that it is much faster than Vista and has some really neat new features. There is a machine here on display with Windows 7 installed if you want to come in and check it out.
Two neat additions is the Remote Media Streaming (allows Windows 7 PCs to share media with the outside world) and Windows XP Mode (is a free add-on that runs a full virtual copy of XP within Windows 7).
To find out if your computer is ready for Windows 7, you can use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft.
To find discussions of upgrading from XP to 7 visit find.pcworld.com/62985
To view Microsoft’s plans for rolling out the new OS, visit find.pcworld.com/62987
The Story of Stuff
Posted by admin on Apr 12, 2009
One of my customers told me to check out this site, and I have to admit, it is worth the 20 minutes to view the video.
Check it out at http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It answers a lot of questions, and does a really good job of explaining “planned obselesence” and how come a store can sell something for $4.99, that obviously cost more to manufacture and transport.
April 1st Virus
Posted by admin on Mar 31, 2009
I am writing this blog on March 31st… why did I wait until the eve of the dreaded release of the Conficker virus? Well, basically, because I have not had much to write about. From our research, the only computers that will be affected by this virus are ones that do not keep their computer protected and up-to-date. Since all of our customers keep their machines updated and protected, they should be OK. If you are running an illegal copy of Windows, or do not download and install all of the Windows Updates, or do not have an anti-virus program installed and updated… keep your fingers crossed!
My theory is that the virus is a hoax, and that no one will be affected. We will see in a few hours if I was correct. If this virus does become what the media has scared us into beleiving, then I will admit my error. For a great article about this virus, click here.
Stay tuned…
OK.. so it is now April 12th, and none my my customers have been adversely affected by this so called “April 1st” virus. So, was it just a hoax? I do not have enough information to make that assumption. What I can tell you, is that this scare has just reinforced the idea that it is important for every computer user to keep their operating system patched, and their anti-virus updated.
Protecting your children on the Internet
Posted by admin on Feb 20, 2009
The Wellington Advertiser has published several articles about protecting your children on the Internet. Click on the links below to read the articles.
Police offer some tips to protect children using Internt…
http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=detail&itmno=2749
Crime Stoppers puts internet warnings on web…
http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=detail&itmno=2737
x86 Turns 30
Posted by admin on Aug 27, 2008
Taken from MaximumPC, September 2008 Edition
Three short decades ago, Intel launched the 8086 processor to compete in the fledgling 16-bit general-purpose processor market. Little did the company know that this modest proc was destined to father the most popular CPU architecture of our time. Since 1978, Intel and its competition have extended the basic architecture multiple times, shipped literally billions of processors, and changed the world! Happy Birthday!
25 Days That Changed Everything
Posted by admin on Mar 11, 2008
Taken from PC World Magazine, March 2008 Edition
September 9, 1986 – The first IBM clone machine appears.
August 1, 1989 – Microsoft releases Office
February 19, 1990 – Adobe Photoshop is released
May 22, 1990 – Windows 3.0 hits the streets
May 24, 1991 – The Internet goes public
October 5, 1991 – Linus releases Linux
December 8, 1993 – Mosaic (the first graphical web browser) launches
April 12, 1994 – The first SPAM hits usenet groups
August 24, 1995 – Windows 95 “starts up”
September 4, 1995 – eBay bidding begins
March 1996 – Palm Pilots start the PDA revolution
October 30, 1996 – AOL offers flat-rate dial-up internet
July 9, 1997 – Steve Jobs takes back Apple
October 28, 1998 – Digital Millennium Copyright Act is signed
January 19, 1999 – RIM releases the Blackberry (er Crackberry)
March 29, 1999 – Melissa Virus spreads like wildfire
March 31, 1999 – TiVo (or PVR) transforms TV
January 1, 2000 – Y2K fails to wreak havoc
April 3, 2000 – US v. Microsoft monopoly case (Microsoft won)
July 26, 2000 – Napster is shut down
July 9, 2001 – Online grocery store “Webvan” closes shop
October 1, 2001 – Apple’s iPod goes on sale
November 9, 2004 – Firefox starts Browser War II
April 6, 2006 – YouTube turns PCs into TVs
June 29, 2007 – Apple’s iPhone changes the world.
What is in store for the future? We’re not sure, but we are excited to be part of the journey!
