Electronic-Geek.com » canada http://electronic-geek.com Your Electronic Source Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:00:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Vimpelcom moves forward with $6 billion Wind Mobile merger, intends to hurdle regulatory snags http://electronic-geek.com/vimpelcom-moves-forward-with-6-billion-wind-mobile-merger-intends-to-hurdle-regulatory-snags/ http://electronic-geek.com/vimpelcom-moves-forward-with-6-billion-wind-mobile-merger-intends-to-hurdle-regulatory-snags/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:19:00 +0000 Darren Murph http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/vimpelcom-moves-forward-with-6-billion-wind-mobile-merger-inte/ If you thought Verizon Wireless and Alltel's marriage underwent a good bit of scrutiny, you'll soon be swearing that Vimpelcom and Wind Mobile are on some sort of global watch list. The Amsterdam-based Vimpelcom has taken a giant leap towards the completion of a $6 billion merger with Wind Telecom, the latter of which has around 117 million subscribers spread across Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, North Korea and Canada. If and when the two link hands, the combined effort will be home to a staggering 173 million customers, creating the fifth largest mobile operator by subscriber count. Wind Mobile's head honcho seems more than enthused about the news, and he's hoping that the tie-up will allow prices to sink for just about everyone involved. Claiming feats such as "more access to international cooperation for roaming and long distance services" and the ability to utilize "more leverage and increased scale" to drive down prices, Anthony Lacavera isn't showing any public signs of worry when it comes to regulatory hurdles. In months past, the CRTC took issue with Globalive Wireless -- operator of Wind Mobile -- starting up in Canada, primarily due to the company's largest lender (Orascom) residing outside of the Great White North. As of now, things seem to be sailing right along, but you can bet this marriage won't be formally recognized before a borderline-obnoxious amount of investigating goes down behind the scenes.

[Thanks, Kelvin]

Vimpelcom moves forward with $6 billion Wind Mobile merger, intends to hurdle regulatory snags originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWind Mobile  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/vimpelcom-moves-forward-with-6-billion-wind-mobile-merger-intends-to-hurdle-regulatory-snags/feed/ 0 Bell’s Motorola Atrix also has HSUPA disabled, Canadians frown upon 400kbps uploads http://electronic-geek.com/bells-motorola-atrix-also-has-hsupa-disabled-canadians-frown-upon-400kbps-uploads/ http://electronic-geek.com/bells-motorola-atrix-also-has-hsupa-disabled-canadians-frown-upon-400kbps-uploads/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:34:00 +0000 Richard Lai http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/bells-motorola-atrix-also-has-hsupa-disabled-canadians-frown-u/ If you happen to reside just north of the American border, you might have heard that Canadian carrier Bell is now offering the Motorola Atrix from $169.95 on a three year commitment, all the way up to $599.95 sans contract. While this groovy smartphone is a welcomed addition for local Android fanatics, the early adopters have learned that -- much like its AT&T counterpart -- it lacks HSUPA. This is confirmed by xda-developers members who see a mere 400kpbs upload speed on their maple syrup-flavored Atrix, which is bad news for YouTube celebrities and the likes on Bell Mobility. Alas, we've yet to hear from the carrier regarding this issue, but let's just hope that the Atrix will be set free before Bell's headquarters gets taken over by furious green robots.

[Thanks, Steve and @Shift3r]

Bell's Motorola Atrix also has HSUPA disabled, Canadians frown upon 400kbps uploads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileSyrup  |  sourcexda-developers, Bell Mobility  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/bells-motorola-atrix-also-has-hsupa-disabled-canadians-frown-upon-400kbps-uploads/feed/ 0 RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video) http://electronic-geek.com/rixrover-is-the-cheap-rc-car-controlled-by-a-rather-more-expensive-arduino-and-netbook-combo-video/ http://electronic-geek.com/rixrover-is-the-cheap-rc-car-controlled-by-a-rather-more-expensive-arduino-and-netbook-combo-video/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:36:00 +0000 Tim Stevens http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/rixrover-is-the-cheap-rc-car-controlled-by-a-rather-more-expensi/ RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video) Driving RC cars never gets old, but driving them over the internet is truly something magical. Welcome to the RixRover, the creation of Quebecer Pierric Gimmig. It's a cheap RC truck fitted with big knobby tires that's had its ABS body removed, replaced by an Arduino board and a netbook. The car itself cost about $45, the Arduino about $30, and Eee PC 1005-series netbook about $200. But the result, being able to drive the car over remotely via streaming video, why that's quite simply priceless. Video after the break and, if you want to try your hand at this, there's some source code on the other end of the source link.

Continue reading RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video)

RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRixRover  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/rixrover-is-the-cheap-rc-car-controlled-by-a-rather-more-expensive-arduino-and-netbook-combo-video/feed/ 0 Xperia Play and Xperia Arc confirmed for Rogers in Canada (update) http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-and-xperia-arc-confirmed-for-rogers-in-canada-update/ http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-and-xperia-arc-confirmed-for-rogers-in-canada-update/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:41:00 +0000 Joseph L. Flatley http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/xperia-play-and-xperia-arc-confirmed-for-rogers-in-canada/
In case you missed the announcement, a recent press release has confirmed what we already knew: Xperia Play is coming to Canada, exclusively to Rogers. Set to hit shelves sometime this spring in late March alongside the Xperia Arc, both of these bad boys will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with prices to be disclosed at launch. Remember when we used to call Xperia Play the "PlayStation Phone?" That was fun. PR after the break.

Continue reading Xperia Play and Xperia Arc confirmed for Rogers in Canada (update)

Xperia Play and Xperia Arc confirmed for Rogers in Canada (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-and-xperia-arc-confirmed-for-rogers-in-canada-update/feed/ 0 Xperia Play coming to Canada, exclusive to Rogers? http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-coming-to-canada-exclusive-to-rogers/ http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-coming-to-canada-exclusive-to-rogers/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0000 Joseph L. Flatley http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/xperia-play-coming-to-canada-exclusive-to-rogers/
O2, Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile UK... who else is getting Xperia Play, you ask? Anyone in North America, perhaps? Looks like the once (and in our hearts always) PlayStation phone has popped up on Sony Ericsson Canada's site, and will be exclusive to Rogers -- that is, if a certain tip that Mobile Syrup has received is to be believed. Either way, it looks like it's less than a week until we get all the sordid details.

Xperia Play coming to Canada, exclusive to Rogers? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMobile Syrup  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/xperia-play-coming-to-canada-exclusive-to-rogers/feed/ 0 White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space http://electronic-geek.com/white-iphone-4-starts-to-get-best-buy-the-source-shelf-space/ http://electronic-geek.com/white-iphone-4-starts-to-get-best-buy-the-source-shelf-space/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:18:00 +0000 Chris Ziegler http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/white-iphone-4-starts-to-get-best-buy-shelf-space/ This shelf tag was apparently spotted this weekend at a Best Buy in Houston, and it speaks for itself: white iPhone 4, AT&T, $599.99 off contract (the same price as the black). Of course, we all know this thing is coming within the next few weeks at this point -- there's just too much evidence pointing in that direction -- but the fact that we've got big box retailers printing and placing tags for it now suggests that it's coming sooner rather than later. Oh, and in case you're wondering, that QR code link is dead at the moment -- we've linked it below in case you want to give it a shot.

Update: Looks like The Source (Canada's version of Radio Shack) is also making room. See for yourself after the break. Thanks, Anonymous!

[Thanks, Joel P.]

Continue reading White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space

White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBest Buy (dead link)  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/white-iphone-4-starts-to-get-best-buy-the-source-shelf-space/feed/ 0 Newfangled lab-on-a-chip technology gets more health data from less blood http://electronic-geek.com/newfangled-lab-on-a-chip-technology-gets-more-health-data-from-less-blood/ http://electronic-geek.com/newfangled-lab-on-a-chip-technology-gets-more-health-data-from-less-blood/#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:59:00 +0000 Darren Murph http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/newfangled-lab-on-a-chip-technology-gets-more-health-data-from-l/ It's a nightmare of epic proportions: the finger prick. Anyone who detests 'em completely understands, and they'll also be supremely appreciative of the work being done by Dr. Karan Kaler and co. at the University of Calgary. Kaler's team has created a new lab-on-a-chip technology, which uses a wireless microchip to analyze nanolitre-sized samples of blood. That's far less fluid than is currently needed to run a gauntlet of tests, and this fresh take is also far more efficient. We're told that it "involves creating a structure called a micro-emulsion, which is a droplet of fluid captured inside a layer of another substance." From there, the emulsions are positioned precisely on the chip, and after tests are ran, the results are piped wirelessly to a computer. The potential here is far more impressive than the existing iteration; the long-term vision is to "create handheld devices for patients to use at home for testing fluids, such as blood and urine," which would prevent extensive wait times and enable patients to get vital information faster. There's no telling how long it'll take to escape the lab and land in the hands of those who need it, but we're sure the folks involved are cranking just as hard as they can.

Newfangled lab-on-a-chip technology gets more health data from less blood originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Physorg  |  sourceUniversity of Calgary  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/newfangled-lab-on-a-chip-technology-gets-more-health-data-from-less-blood/feed/ 0 Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing http://electronic-geek.com/canadian-goverment-vows-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-usage-based-internet-billing/ http://electronic-geek.com/canadian-goverment-vows-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-usage-based-internet-billing/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:26:00 +0000 Donald Melanson http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/canadian-goverment-vows-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-usage-based/ It's happened before when Canadian government overturned the CRTC's decision and allowed Globalive to enter the Canadian cellphone market, and it looks like Ottawa is about to again weigh in and reverse an even more controversial ruling by the regulatory agency. As confirmed by Industry Minister Tony Clement on Twitter, the government plans to overturn the recent CRTC decision that effectively imposed usage-based internet billing if the agency doesn't back down and "go back to the drawing board." Citing a senior government official, The Toronto Star further reports that the reversal could come as early as next week. As any Canadians reading this may well be aware, the issue of usage-based internet billing has been simmering for some time, but it reached a tipping point with the CRTC's decision last week that affected smaller internet service providers who rely on the major telecom companies' networks. Under the new ruling, those companies would be have been faced with increased costs that would drastically limit the amount of maximum amount of data they're able to offer to customers each month -- one such ISP, Teksavvy, had in fact already sent out notices to customers informing them that their current 200GB cap would be dropping to just 25GB on March 1st, with any additional data use to be charged by the gigabyte.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Toronto Star, @Tony_ClementMP (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/canadian-goverment-vows-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-usage-based-internet-billing/feed/ 0 Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video) http://electronic-geek.com/water-propelled-jetpack-is-no-dream-can-be-yours-for-99500-this-march-video/ http://electronic-geek.com/water-propelled-jetpack-is-no-dream-can-be-yours-for-99500-this-march-video/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:15:00 +0000 Vlad Savov http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/water-propelled-jetpack-is-no-dream-can-be-yours-for-99-500-th/ It's taken a long time since that 2005 patent was filed for, but Raymond Li is now finally ready to bring his water-propelled jetpack to the money-spending world. Nailing down a March 2011 launch date and a price of $99,500 hasn't been easy for the inventor, who says his efforts to procure capital and prototyping quotations were mostly met with incredulity -- "almost everyone thought I was crazy." His JetLev personal transporter relies on an engine and fuel tank (which remain on the water's surface) to pump H20 into a backpack that then shoots out streams of the drinkable stuff to keep your airborne. Top speed is 22MPH, max height is nearly 33 feet, and the fun factor is somewhere off the scale, whether you're talking metric or imperial. Levitate past the break for a video demonstration.

[Thanks, Suraj]

Continue reading Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video)

Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PopSci  |  sourceNew Scientist  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/water-propelled-jetpack-is-no-dream-can-be-yours-for-99500-this-march-video/feed/ 0 Visualized: the HP Slate’s new job http://electronic-geek.com/visualized-the-hp-slates-new-job/ http://electronic-geek.com/visualized-the-hp-slates-new-job/#comments Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:56:00 +0000 Vlad Savov http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/visualized-the-hp-slates-new-job/ Wondering where your HP Slate has been all these weeks since you ordered it? Well, at least one of those precious Windows 7 tablets has taken a little detour from its supposedly enterprise-centric destiny to make a cameo appearance... as a dashboard infotainment system. HP, in its inimitable wisdom, has decided to grace the opening of its Vancouver store last month with a customized GMC Yukon Denali truck, which is where we find the company's Slate casually showing off its Acrobat Reader and other big boy OS advantages. We wouldn't really say embedding the Slate into your dash is the worst idea in the world, though the rest of the characterful customizations to this Denali just might be.

[Thanks, lmwong]

Continue reading Visualized: the HP Slate's new job

Visualized: the HP Slate's new job originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWest Coast Customs  | Email this | Comments]]> http://electronic-geek.com/visualized-the-hp-slates-new-job/feed/ 0