Marketnews Gadget Talk 

Google Chrome Experiment Lets You Relive Your Teenage Angst in HTML5

I was urged this morning to have a look at Google's latest project: an HTML "movie," if you will, that combines direction from Chris Milk, music from the band Arcade Fire, and the street you grew up in an interactive, browser display that brings back memories of your childhood as if you were watching the scene of a movie.

Okay, so you don't necessarily have to enter the address at which you spent so many of your younger years in particular, but the concept certainly lends itself best to doing so. Visit www.chromeexperiments.com/arcadefire, enter the address, including city and province, wait for it to load, and hit "play movie." (You don't necessarily need to have the Google Chrome browser: I viewed it in Safari and it appears identically to how it does in Chrome.)

So at what exactly will you be looking? The video begins with what appears to be a teenage boy (but also possibly girl) running along the dark, damp streets at night, with his/her head covered by a comfortable grey hoodie. Is that a younger version of you? Why, yes, believe that it is. A new window opens in the top, left showing birds flying across the sky while the sun comes up. The angst-ridden song from Arcade Fire, "I Used to Wait," plays in the background with haunting lyrics like "our lives are changing fast," and "how we used to wait for letters to arrive," and discussions of the "wilderness downtown" (which is, as such, the name of the project.) Throughout the song, windows pop up in various sections of the screen, as if you're getting a bunch of annoying pop-up ads. Except they display varying parts of the scene: different camera angles of "you" running; a pan down the very street with which you spent so much time (compliments of Google Street View); a bird's eye view of the entire neighbourhood (a la Google Maps). The idea is, of course, to make it look as though the youth is revisiting your street..or, as opined above, that the youth is, in fact, you traveling down that street once again.

The end result isn't Hollywood-worthy by any means, but it also isn't trying to be. The idea is to demonstrate the power and evolution of the Web browser, including developments made possible through HTML 5 audio, video, animated windows, JavaScript controllers, and "mash-ups" with Google Maps and Street View. At the end of the "video", you also have the chance to try out a drawing tool.
I encourage you to check it out, just to see the potential of the Web, and the way that it may be utilized years from now. If for no other reason, it'll be neat to punch in your old address and take a 4-minute walk (or rather run) down memory lane.

Published: 08/30/2010 03:22:48 PM UTC By Christine Persaud

Gadgets for Camping

Earlier this month, I headed out for my annual camping trip, with a healthy helping of gadgets in tow. I was thoroughly excited to try them out while enjoying the great outdoors, and then, of course, report back to readers on their performance. True, the summer is almost over, and camping season will be crawling into oblivion with it. But avid campers tend to head out even through the month of September. What's more, many of these gadgets are ideal for outdoor use in any setting; not just on a campsite. And it never hurts to stock up early so you're good and ready to go come summer 2011. So what gadgetry filled my trunk?

Back by popular demand was the Coleman 8D LED Quad Lantern. It's battery-operated, using 8 "D" sized batteries (hence the name). What really brings the "cool" factor to light with this $80 device is that each of the four side panels can be detached and used as individual flashlights with convenient carrying handles. Last year, I was most impressed with the brightness of not only the lantern with all four panels secured in place, but also each separate panel as it guided me to the washroom facilities, and around the campsite at night. But this year, I was more blown away by the fact that the leftover battery power from last year was sufficient for a full four nights' of use: I never had to change the batteries, nor let the individual panels sit on the base longer than 10 minutes, to ensure full brightness night after night.

One gadget that was sadly not back this year (but certainly not due to lack of demand), was Grace Digital Audio's Aqua Sounder ($190), a waterproof, floating ball-shaped speaker that communicates with a companion transmitter via Bluetooth to play back tunes from a connected player. The device had lovingly become known among friends as "Wilson," but somehow stopped working after an earlier summer pool event. It appears that a few pieces meant to hold the screws together inside were loose, or completely missing, and thus water got into the circuit board and fried it. I'm not sure whether I had a bad unit or the device is just badly constructed. Nevertheless, representative from Grace Digital Audio assure me this is not a common issue, and advised that a newer version of the ball-shaped speaker is actually in the works for launch later this year. I'll definitely be looking to try out this newer model; when we did successfully use the Aqua Sounder last year, it worked wonderfully, acting as both a great companion at the beach, floating in the water, as well as perched atop the picnic table on the campsite. It operates via AA batteries (six for the speaker, four for the transmitter; the latter can also be powered via AC) and connects to any compatible player via 3.5mm jack.

After "Wilson's," demise, I realized just how important background music is during a camping trip. So I hustled to snag some other options.

One is my Lifepop speaker bag, but I won't tempt you with more details about this wondrous creation since the company that made it is unfortunately no longer in business. (Such a shame: can't anyone duplicate the ingenious idea?)

Providing powerful sound for listening to tunes during the day, then subtle ambient music for the night time fireside chats, was the Soundcast Outcast Jr. wireless, weather-resistant speaker. Sure, it isn't the most affordable option at more than $700; but if you also have a backyard patio to justify its purchase and use at home (or the cottage) as well, this speaker might just find its way into your car for the next camping getaway. The speaker supplies multi-directions stereo sound from a connected audio source, either wired, or through the separately purchased $150 wireless transmitter. We used a wired connection, with an iPad, iPhone, iPod nano, and BlackBerry as rotating music sources, all connected via 3.5 mm headphone jack. Keep in mind, however, that this baby isn't really much of a baby at all: it weighs a whopping 16.4 lbs. and measures 10 x 10.5" in diameter and is 19.5" tall. It's also not battery-operated, which means you'll need an electrical campsite in order to enjoy it beyond the nine hours worth of continuous listening time. As an alternative, a 12V adapter is also available, provided you're drawing power from the car for lenthy periods of time.

Surprisingly, I managed to be out-gadget-ed this trip by a device a friend brought along as a music alternative. Called the Kaito Voyager, it's a multi-purpose radio meant for emergencies and disasters. But it made a great camping companion. Powered by three "AA" batteries, the sun, or hand cranking, the device includes a five-LED light and LED flashlight; plus a USB jack for connecting and charging portable gadgets (it actually comes with six tips for the most popular mobile phones,) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. We connected the same portable audio players to this unit as were connected to the Soundcast, and used it for background tunes as well.

But that's not it for this paperback novel-sized radio. The Voyager's main purpose is as a seven-band weather radio, with a weather alert feature. Naturally, then, it can bring in standard AM and FM stations; from 520-1717 KHz on the AM band, to 88.00-108.00 MHz on the FM band. The US$70 radio comes in a choice of colours: green, black, red, yellow, and blue. In terms of a device that can "do it all," I'll admit defeat here: this one takes the cake. And it's handy to have around the house all year round, given the ability to power up by, when all else fails, the rapid cranking of your hands.

A waterproof camera is a must for any trip that involves the chance for dirt, water, drops, bumps, and scratches. On this trip were two Olympus models, including the old (but still going strong) Stylus 790SW; along with a new, updated Tough Series version. When it comes to trips that involve the great outdoors, beaches, or plenty of sand, rain, or snow, I'll always opt for a waterproof camera above all others. Note, however, that there are plenty of companies that make waterproof housings for cameras that can also be used to keep them protected from the elements.

You really wouldn't consider a portable breathalyzer to be a gadget to take camping; but I saw the event as the perfect, ultra-safe setting, to put the BACTRAK S80 through its paces. The $200 device comes with a nifty carrying case, and six mouthpieces for measuring a person's blood alcohol level (BAC). Turn the battery-operated unit on, and press the "Start" button. When the counter gets to two seconds remaining, take a deep breath. When it reaches zero, wrap your lips around the mouthpiece and blow continuously until you hear two consecutive beeps: that'll take about five seconds. Then, wait for the calculation to appear. BAC is determined using Xtend Fuel Cell technology, and recorded with accurate percentage-based measurements, like 0.015, 0.081, 0.223, and so forth. I sometimes found results to be inaccurate: for example, a 0.08 rating after just a few sips of one beer. But note that the measurements can be affected drastically by a number of factors: for example, you cannot drink anything 20 minutes prior to taking a measurement, nor can you smoke. The best way to get an accurate measurement, then, is to wait at least 20 minutes after your last glass of wine, beer, or whatever your drink of choice may be, then take the test. Naturally, residue left in the device can build up over time, which is why BACtrack recommends the unit be recalibrated every 6-12 months. And of course, new mouthpieces should always be kept clean (new ones can be purchased for $11 ea.) Keep in mind that while the S80 does, when used properly, provide a good rough estimate as to your BAC levels, it shouldn't be used to definitively proclaim one's ability to operate a motor vehicle. Users should always err on the side of caution.

While we'd all love to completely disconnect from technology while enjoying a camping trip, it isn't always possible. Keeping a car on and draining its battery in order to charge up a cell phone is not the best way to go. Of course, we used devices like the Voyager to recharge smartphones that were out of juice. But I also tried the Scosche solBAT 11, a portable, solar-powered charger that connects to USB devices (cable not included.) Unfortunately, I didn't bring it out until there wasn't much time left. And with a necessary 18 hours in the sun in order to gain a sufficient charge, the hour I left it out in bright sunlight did nothing for helping to power up my iPhone. Oddly, I had charged the unit up via USB a few days prior in the office. Somehow, it did not manage to keep that charge. Then again, it's possible the "on" button was depressed accidentally whilst in my purse. So I'll give the unit the benefit of the doubt until I'm able to try it again. Stay tuned.

All in all, each of these devices played a part in ensuring that we were all...wait for it...happy campers, by the end of the trip. Until next year!

Published: 08/27/2010 03:06:59 PM UTC By Christine Persaud

Google Voice No Big Deal

The talk of the tech town this week is all about Google and its new Gmail service that allows subscribers to call standard landline and cell phone numbers through the online portal using a virtual, on-screen keypad and the computer's mic and speakers (or a pair of 3.5mm headphones.) Call me a skeptic, a pessimist, a cloud of despair hanging over the head's of tech enthusiasts everywhere, but what's the big deal?

Google Voice offers essentially the same thing that services like Skype, Vonage, or virtually any VoIP-based calling service (even that cool Bud Phone I wrote about last month!) has been offering for some time now. The only difference here, in my eyes, is the six letters that come before the "voice."

Nevertheless, those six letters may very well give Skype, arguably the global leader in online VoIP-based calling, a run for its money. To ramp up interest in the Google Voice service, which was officially made available yesterday, Google is offering call to the U.S. and Canada for free for "at least the rest of the year." Calls made to other countries range in price, but are reasonable, with most popular countries at just $0.02/min. For example, a call to landlines in Japan, South Korea, and China would cost two pennies per minute. Where calling services are available to mobiles, however, pricing can jump significantly. For example, it'll run you $0.02/min. to call landlines in Mexico; but $0.19/min. to chat to someone via mobile phone there. In Germany, a call to a mobile is $0.23/min. versus the standard two-cent rate.

Google is clearly taking a jab at Skype by undercutting its pricing ever-so-slightly: calls from Skype to Japan start at 2.3 cents-per-minute; and to China and South Korea, 2.1 cents. That means after five hours' worth of chatting, you'll save about a buck. If you were to chat for an hour every day, 365 days a year, you'd save about $65. Er, not really a major incentive to switch, if you ask me.

To make a call using Google Voice, log in to your Gmail account, than click on "Call phone" in the chat list on the left-hand menu. Punch in the 10-digit phone number, or enter the person's contact name.

If you should so desire, calls can also be received via the service. When someone calls the dedicated number (which can easily be discovered via Caller ID to your first call recipient), a call window will pop up on screen, along with a ringtone. Click on the "answer" button and talk away. Don't want to chat? Just hit "ignore." One really cool feature: the ability to screen calls, and listen to the person leaving a voicemail. If you have a change of heart and want to talk after all, just hit "answer" and he'll be immediately connected with you. There's also a call forward feature for seamlessly switching from a Gmail conversation, for example, to mobile. Press "*" and the call will ring through to your mobile, allowing you to continue to conversation as you head out the door. Unfortunately, Google Voice is only available in the U.S. thus far. Canadians can only enjoy outgoing calls for now.

The service is certainly enticing, and poses an affordable option to contact friends and family in other provinces or countries while at home; or even to keep in touch with people back home while traveling. Imagine being able to call your family from the hotel room while on a business trip without having to incur long distance charges from the room's phone; or roaming fees from a cell. But there are plenty of services that offer this already; several of which I've already mentioned.

And of course there are always the multitude of text-based alternatives for staying in touch; from e-mail to SMS, BlackBerry Messenger (or other instant messaging services), social networking Websites like Facebook; or even posting personal videos on YouTube (a service that Google also owns.) Of course, as many would argue, in certain situations, none of these methods can truly compare to hearing someone's voice.

So what really sets Google's service apart? I tried it out, and the process was very familiar. It's just like all the other services. The software takes up 20+ MB on your computer (it requires Windows XP+, Mac OS X (10.4+) or Linux), and installs within minutes. Upon making the first call, I discovered what my Google Voice number was. Calling into it, however, just brings up a generic voice message that notifies me that the person I'm calling dialed me from a computer using Gmail. Drats. I forgot: that part of the service, as noted above, is not yet available in Canada.

Nevertheless, the cheery female voice urges me to use the service as well. She rolls off a Web address where I can find more information to "start saving money." Smart move, Google, in masking the fact that we can't yet accept incoming calls by forcing callers to listen to a 5-second advertisement when they try.

Aside from the fact that it has Google's brand name behind it, I don't see anything earth-shattering about Google Voice; at least not to warrant the barrage of media coverage it has received (I guess this post isn't doing much to help the issue.)

To me, this service just seems to be another notch on Google's belt that allows the company to say it has a hand in every sector of the online technology business. It's possible the power of the Google name, and the integration with the Gmail service, could entice people to switch. But Skype has such a stronghold on this market, that it's almost like trying to oust Tim Horton's from its spot as Canada's favourite coffee house. It's worth a shot. But at the end of the day (or rather at the beginning) most will keep getting their double-doubles at the home of the Timbit. And most will continue to Skype away once the initial excitement over Google Voice subsides.

Published: 08/26/2010 05:15:01 PM UTC By Christine Persaud

Toronto's Pearson Airport Finally Adds Free WiFi

From the desk of "geesh, it's about time!" comes the announcement that Toronto's Pearson Airport is finally offering travelers free access to WiFi service so they can check their e-mails and surf the Web while waiting for a flight.

I travel at least 3-4 times a year, always through Pearson (although I'm tempted to fly Porter since I hear good things,) and never have I been neglected access to my e-mails or Web surfing. Why? Because I use my smartphone and the 3G wireless network which, guess what airport authorities and paid WiFi services, is free! Well, it's not free. But I already pay one set fee for virtually unlimited access (6 GB worth). Granted, if I'm traveling to or from any other out-of-province or country airport that doesn't have free WiFi, it's absolutely frustrating. So anyone arriving from another province or country to Pearson will most certainly appreciate the ability to utilize free WiFi, even on a smartphone that's capable of switching to a WiFi signal, not just a notebook. Let's face it: we all know data roaming fees can really add up without some sort of travel package. So free WiFi of any kind is a good thing.

That said, while Pearson Airport (YYZ for you frequent flyers) is way behind the times in adding free WiFi, which will be provided by Rogers, it's a positive move that the airport has finally decided to join the growing pack and do just that. In a blatantly obvious statement, Pamela Griffith-Jones, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer for the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA), declares: "Our guests have told us that being able to stay connected while at the airport is important to them, and that they expect this service to be complimentary." Really? This is breaking news to you?

"We are delighted," she adds, "that we were able to make this possible, while maintaining our focus on reducing costs and improving value for money for our airlines and passengers."

But consider that while this decision will be positive for travelers, what does it mean for a company like Boingo Wireless, which has typically been the only option (paid, of course) for getting online through WiFi at Pearson? Boingo will continue to benefit from things like global WiFi packages that afford unlimited Internet access in a selection of airports around the world that don't have WiFi, or might have potentially dodgy connections. But the company will, no doubt, take a hit from this decision. And as more and more airports follow Pearson's lead, or rather Pearson's following of many others who have already taken the lead, companies like Boingo will find it harder and harder to justify services.

Pearson is a hub between many destinations. In 2009, the GTAA reports that 30.4 million passengers travelled through the Toronto airport. How many of those did, or would, use WiFi? Who knows. But chances are it's a large percentage.

As for me, the next time I'm at Pearson (which will coincidentally be in a month,) I probably will log on to the free WiFi if I have at least an hour's time before my flight departs; and will certainly report back to readers on how well it works. Now, if only hotels would follow suit...

Published: 08/25/2010 09:25:14 AM UTC By Christine Persaud

Apple's iPhone 4: It's About Time

Guest Blog by Robert Franner

Last Wednesday, I joined the list of lemmings who, while supposedly firm of mind, waited hours in line by the Apple Store for the privilege of forking out the better part of a G-note for an iPhone 4. The bill came out to $870.27: $779 for an unlocked, 32GB model, and our HST took care of the rest. But if time is money, that's only the tip of the iceberg.

My saga begins with our daily lunchtime trek to Sherway Gardens, a mall equipped with its own Apple Store that's just across the street from Marketnews' world headquarters in the southwest end of Toronto, ON. Every day, as we walked by the Apple Store, it was lemmings-a-hula, with disgruntled heads on slumping bodies extending behind stanchions adjacent to the Apple Store as far as the eye can see, fading beyond the dogleg into oblivion.

On one occasion, I recall a line extending beyond the iPhone-availability cut-off point established by the blue-shirted Apple clerk. What could they be thinking? That somebody ahead of them might be rushed to the hospital, or die of natural causes? Not a bad call, given the length of the wait, come to think of it.

Fast-forward to last Wednesday, and walking by the Apple Store revealed an invitingly short queue. No more than 40-50 souls. And when the blue-shirted Apple dude indicated that there were more iPhones than lemmings, yours truly joined the line at 2 p.m.

I figured on losing maybe one hour, two at the most. This notion was reinforced when a blue-shirt, clipboard in hand, canvassed the line for quantity (a maximum of two per customer) and type (contract or no, and which carrier).

You could hear a steady chorus of "two, no contract," interspersed with only an occasional "Rogers."
Good! Closer to one hour than two! After all, with no contract, the transaction should consist of little more than swiping and authorizing a Visa card, and then trotting out with a white Apple iBag stuffed with an open microSIM card and the iPhone.

Any further dithering would take place between the user and the carrier.

Two hours later, the line has moved only a sixth of the way; only it somehow seems we are moving backwards. Much like walking towards the full moon, the entrance to the Apple Store seems to keep pace. What on Earth is taking so long?

Three hours later, the Marketnews office phones, justifiably registering its displeasure at my absence. But like the losers in Las Vegas who, having poured a small fortune into a one-armed bandit, figuring that it just has to pay off shortly, I refuse to budge.

At 10 to eight, I finally complete the transaction; emerging not the least wiser as to how or why the process should have taken so long.

But having wasted the better part of six hours, I have some pointed suggestions for Apple, and any agency that expects to encounter lineups for that matter.

How about letting us take a number, the way we used to in the old butcher shop? Step two would involve establishing a temporary Web site so connected individuals (which is almost everybody today) could see the number being served.

The onus would be squarely on the individual to make it back to what should be a comparatively compact line. Miss your queue, and to the back of the line you go.

There is no reason why I shouldn't have been able to return to the Apple Store to collect the phone after having returned to the office with no work interruption. Or shopped, eaten, read War and Peace, or finally figured out why the Roman Empire fell. No-one benefitted from my six-hour vigil. Apple isn't any richer for it.

As we approach the fall, and the inevitable call for flu shots for the masses, legions of suffering citizens will endure a similar penance for something far less trivial than a fancy phone.

We have the technology to eliminate most of this unnecessary time wastage. Won't somebody please implement it?

Eager customers line up outside of the Appe Store in Toronto, ON's Sherway Gardens shopping centre

Published: 08/23/2010 02:34:32 PM UTC By Christine Persaud

Canadian Book Launches Through iBookstore Before Hardcover

Is it a sign of the times? Or just a decision made based on the topic of the novel? Skyfisher, a book about the world's first Internet religion, is the first Canadian novel to launch through the Apple iBookstore before it's actually printed as a hardcover.

Written by Toronto, ON-based Dan Dowhal, the book is described as a "frighteningly exciting" look at what would happen if the Internet's power were used to virally spread malicious ideas and information based on a new world religion called Phasmatia. The book is published by Blue Butterfly Books.

Dowhal is intimately familiar with the technology industry, having worked for several years at IBM, and currently owning a computer-related business with his brother.

The availability of a book title digitally before it's actually printed could become a more common reality going forward; especially when it comes to up and coming authors who don't already have a loyal following of fans. Skyfisher, for example, is Dowhal's first novel.

Could this method become a way to test the waters before book publishers spend large sums of money to print copies that end up in a bargain bin? Will only major name novelists find their works made available through print? It's tough to tell what the implications of such a change could be. As with music, offering books digitally online versus through a put-together CD (or book) allows for much greater exposure and easier access, especially if it's offered for free or at a minimal price. Customers can become acquainted with a book while sitting on the couch versus having to locate it among shelves and shelves full of titles in the store. But as an online library can effectively be limitless in size versus a physical store that's limited by square footage, it means sifting through much more information than one would be used to. And an avid reader might not be willing to do that.

Then again, you run into the ability to do things like recommend titles that the reader might like; or that friends and family have also read; or that, as in an actual bookstore, have been listed on the top-10 lists.

Nevertheless, the decision to launch Skyfisher through iBookstore before actually creating a physical copy of the novel poses some interesting questions for the print book publishing business.

Published: 08/20/2010 09:37:52 AM UTC By Christine Persaud