Fathom The Future

NEWEGG COMES TO CANADA!! WOO!

fathomthefuture — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:25:28 +0000

Finally, the belovid american online only tech store is coming to Canada! I’m so glad that now we dont have to get our eyeballs gouged out by unfair canadian technoogy pricing. Newegg is known for having the ab

solute CHEAPEST brandname products.

What i find a it funny is that with this new competition Canada computers, and to a lesser extent Tigerdirect, will be taking a huge hit in the Canadian tech market, with Newegg stealing up a good portion of it’s market share.

Some more details from www.newegg.ca after the break!

Meet Newegg:

We are an online technology retailer committed to becoming the most loved and trusted marketplace on the web by offering customers the best shopping experience, lightning fast shipping, and stellar customer service. We are the second-largest online-only retailer in the US.

We define an excellent shopping experience to be one that combines unsurpassed product selection, abundant product information and fair pricing. With thousands of tech products in stock and numerous tools to help customers make informed buying decisions (detailed specs, how-to’s, customer reviews and photo galleries), we have earned the loyalty of tech-enthusiasts and novice e-shoppers alike.

When it comes to shipping, it does not get better than Newegg. Proud to offer lightning fast delivery at ground prices, we ship 99% of approved orders within 24 hours. With over 1,000,000sq.ft of warehouse space and cutting edge logistics, we have established ourselves as an industry leader.

Our slogan is simple but undisputable: “Once You Know, You Newegg”. It has been embraced with strong loyalty by millions of customers who have consistently ranked us among the best in the industry. We are a strong believer in customer service and have built an outstanding team of associates who go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction with short response times and close to 24/7 availability via chat, phone or e-mail.

WordPress for iphone!!

fathomthefuture — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:04:54 +0000

WordPress has finally released an app for iPhone! Woo especially since I’m writing this from my iPhone, I’m going to be updating my blog more often ( hopefully with pictures).

Anyways, iphone review still coming up and I have some interesting stories about upcoming gadgets that you’ll die for.

iPhone Review Coming soon.

fathomthefuture — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:59:45 +0000

I could just give you all a meta-reviewd post on the iPhone 3g… OR i can write a review myself, I havent gotten my Computer back from the tech shop yet, but as soon as i do, this post will be edited into a glorious iPhone review.

PEACE

Rogers Caves a little, I cave a lot.

fathomthefuture — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:45:07 +0000

So I’ve Decided to get an iPhone. Between my phone breaking, the news with bell and telus and Rogers giving us a very small break, i think that Karma is telling me something. (i think it’s whispering 3G)

The Way I see it is i’m going to get the best plan with the 6 gigs of data. So on Rogers thats

- $30 for the 6 gigs of data a month (not unlimited but whatever)

- $30 for 200 daytime minutes, network calling (including landlines) and unlimited evenings and weekends starting at 9pm

- $20 for the iphone value pack that has

10,000 text messages
Call Display
Who called
2,500 Call Forwarding Minutes
6pm Early Evening Calling
and some stupid ringtone useless thing

So that adds up to $80. If i wanted to add unlimited local incoming calling i could add another 10 bux to my plan, but i think i’ll be ok for now.

$80 + 7.45 (system access, 911) + tax = 98.82

is it worth it? all i have to say is I’m getting an iPhone bitches!

ROGERS FINALLY CAVED! 6 gigs 30 bux!!!!

fathomthefuture — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:51:54 +0000

We bitched and complained, and rogers listens… a little. but hey,m it’s better then nothing. If you sign up for a three year contract before August 31 you get 6 gigs of data for $30 bux combined with any other voice plan. It’s not unlimited, but it’s a start. The whole press release after the break or go to this link

Calling all iPhone 3G fans!

Select Rogers Plus stores to open early coast-to-coast on July 11
Launch promotions to include limited time 6GB data offer

TORONTO, July 9 /CNW/ – In anticipation of iPhone 3G launch on July 11,
Rogers Wireless today announced plans to open the doors of select Rogers Plus
retail stores across Canada in advance of regular hours. Starting at 8:00 am
July 11, Canadians will be able to purchase the new iPhone 3G at special
launch day events to be held at six Rogers Plus stores across the country. Be
among the first in Canada to get the next generation iPhone 3G and have the
choice of a 6GB data plan through a limited time promotional price offer.
“As Canada’s leading wireless carrier, Rogers is excited to bring iPhone
3G to Canadians even sooner, allowing our customers to be amongst the first in
the world to experience this amazing mobile innovation,” says John Boynton,
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. “To
celebrate its launch on Canada’s fastest wireless network, we’re rolling out
the red carpet with special events at six Rogers Plus stores and a limited
time price promotional data offer from coast-to-coast.”
iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G
networking that is twice as fast(*) as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS
for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which
includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of
third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

Rogers Launch Promotions
—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-
The following Rogers Plus stores in these cities will open their doors at
8:00 a.m. (all times local) on Friday, July 11 for advance purchases of the
Apple iPhone 3G:
Toronto: 112-10 Dundas Street East
Montreal: 1015 rue St. Catherine Ouest
Ottawa: 690 Bank Street
Halifax: Unit 265, 7001 Mumford Road
Calgary: 5244 Falsbridge Gate, NE
Vancouver: 2097 West Broadway

Customers attending launch day events at these Rogers Plus stores will be
treated to a free early bird breakfast and have a chance to win Rogers
Wireless prizes.
Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers
who activate by August 31 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of
6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any
in-market voice plan. For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit
35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes
of YouTube videos each and every month.(xx)
New Canadian iPhone 3G customers will also have the choice to select from
Rogers Wireless’ existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional
features to best suit their needs, or from Rogers Wireless’ value bundled
plans specifically for iPhone 3G. Existing Rogers Wireless customers can keep
their current voice service plan and select a separate data plan to meet their
needs or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade
eligibility.
Starting July 11, iPhone 3G will be available at participating locations
across Canada, including select Rogers Plus, Rogers Video, and Rogers Wireless
retail locations and at the following specially selected authorized Rogers
Wireless dealers: WirelessWave, TBooth and Wireless etc. iPhone 3G can also be
purchased online at www.rogers.com and through Rogers’ customer service at
1-888-764-3771. For a complete store listing, visit
http://your.rogers.com/mq/mqlocator.asp. Due to anticipated high demand, there
is a maximum purchase of two iPhone 3G per customer.

(*) Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds may vary due to a variety
of factors.
(xx) Based on live trials of iPhone 3G on Rogers HSPA network, July 2008

Bell and Telus to CHARGE for incoming text messages!!! WTF!?

fathomthefuture — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:04:11 +0000

Early today i found out that Bell and Telus will start charging for incoming text messages. And to think rogers was my biggest worry. SO Far how it’s been in Canada is that you pay for the text messagse that you send and everyone gets free unlimited incoming text messages. For some insane reason Bell and Telus (the ones who want to give us unlimited, inexpencive data) want to start charging for incoming text messages. Why is something telling me this is just some kind of publicity hoax to get people to stay with rogers after so many people are dissatisfied with service. It’s almost like we have no where else to go.

‘Bell Mobility will begin charging customers 15 cents per incoming text message on Aug. 8. Telus Mobility is moving to the same billing practice effective Aug. 24. Until now, their pay-per-use customers who send text messages have been charged a 15-cent fee per message, but it hasn’t cost anything to receive them.’

Why is this stupid?

you can’t control who your getting text messages from
it’s not like a phone call where there is time being wasted, this is instant
The Canadian Telecommunication industry is steeping to a new low, further emptying our pockets in pursuit of greed

Telus Mobility spokes person AJ Gratton implies that the increased usage of text messaging in the past few years is the cause of this new charge.

“The growth in text messages has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Ms. Gratton said, noting Canadians send more than 45 million text messages per day. “This volume places tremendous demands on our network and we can’t afford to provide this service for free anymore.”

Granted Canada has a more sparce network then the US but why are these telecomm companies so interested in selfishly collecting every fucking penny that the canadian consumer has. The canadian covernment set aside 40 megahertz out of a total 105 so that smaller companies could fill the gap and compete against the three big boys and their little brothers.

So far no one has the balls.

Judge Orders YouTube to Give All User Information to Viacom

fathomthefuture — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:55:08 +0000

Today the decision has been made that Google (owners of YouTube) will have to fork up every record of every video watched by youtube users, including their usernames and ip addresses. Viacom filed suit against Google in March 2007 wanting more than $1 billion dollars in damages for “allowing clips of it’s copyright videos to appear on YouTube”. Viacom says that copyright material is more popular than user created content, increasing Google’s liability if found guilty. Google also has to hand over any Google however DOES have a system in place allowing any user to flag any video as copyrighted material then allowing it to go through a screening process and eventual removal. Google also argued that turning over this private data is a complete invasion of users privacy. The Judge described this as ‘speculative’ aswell as saying that IP addresseds of computers arn’t personally revealing in and of themselves. As with most things in this digital age laws revolve arround one thing, money. Copyright is no exception to that even if the whole country has to spy on us, what the hell is going on.

internet = police state: no thanks.

For the Judges Complete Ruling click here.

Because of the fact that North Americas whole economy is based on intellectual property all the bigwig studios and music companies are shitting their pants from the internet. Call me crazy but get ready, things are going to change.

Why i’m not getting an iPhone in Canada

fathomthefuture — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:21:40 +0000

Rogers has ruined it all (as suspected), and it looks like the data erartes have been finally revealed to the world thanks to our friends at engadget. Rogers will NOT be offering unlimited data plans (and thus all my ideas of 3g exploitation have been crushed). What a terrible birthday gift rogers BOO.

Heres the link with detailed information on the plans:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/27/rogers-announces-iphone-3g-plans-unlimited-data-isnt-one-of-th/

here is just a small excerpt if you dont want to link. I think its really funny how rogers tries to tell you how many pictures of web pages you can go to. Just another step back for Canadian advancements in technology.

Sent Text Incoming Text Visual
Price Voice Data Messages messages Voicemail
————————————————————————————————————–
$60 / 150 minutes + unlimited 400 MB 75 Unlimited Unlimited
month Evening and Weekend
————————————————————————————————————–
$75 / 300 minutes + unlimited 750 MB 100 Unlimited Unlimited
month Evening and Weekend
————————————————————————————————————–
$100 / 600 minutes + unlimited 1 GB 200 Unlimited Unlimited
month Evening and Weekend
————————————————————————————————————–
$115 / 800 minutes + unlimited 2 GB 300 Unlimited Unlimited
month Evening and Weekend
————————————————————————————————————–

Monthly
Data Usage Online Applications
————————————————————————-
400 MB up to 200,000 text emails or 3,100 web pages or 1,360 photo attachments
————————————————————————————————————————
750 MB up to 380,000 text emails or 5,900 web pages or 2,560 photo Attachments
————————————————————————————————————————
1 GB up to 524,000 text emails or 8,000 web pages or 3,500 photo attachments
————————————————————————————————————————
2 GB up to 1,048,000 text emails or 16,000 web pages or 7,000 photo attachments
————————————————————————————————————————

3G iPhone in Canada July 11th!?

fathomthefuture — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:46:07 +0000

SO after this mornings 2 hour keynote, only one thing impressed me: iPhone in Canada July 11th. now that i’ve finally been able to get on the apple.ca website you can clearly see that the ‘where to buy’ button leads to this page.

After a talk with a buddy from rogers and searching the rogers homepage i’ve come up with both misleading and unusable information. For now we are just going to have to trust apple and hope that they don’t let rogers completely screw up the iphone release in canada. Maybe apple is going to change our data rates to be a little cheaper then third world countries.

Edit: After i’m sure being notified by rogers that it was ok to tell people that indeed July 11th is the release date for the iphone, i got an un-surprising txt message from my esteemed rogers friend, confirming that infact rogers will be distributing the 3G iPhone 8 gig for $199 16 gig for $399. No other details as of yet for (maybe new) data price structures and plans.

i have an odd feeling Telus is going to lose more then just me.

WWDC and iphone Rumor Roundup and Predictions

fathomthefuture — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:22:40 +0000

Sold out for the first time ever, WWDC has approached faster then i thought. Tomorrow at 10:00AM PT / 1:00PM ET the world will finally find out what steve jobs has had up his sleeve for the past 6 months. What we know for sure is that we are getting a 3G iPhone with GPS, but there are new rumors floating about that are saying apple will allow the phone companies to subsidies costs lowering the price of the new iphone to roughly $200. It has also be rumored that we are going to be getting an update of osx 10.6 with improved stability, speed and proper multi-touch support.

Rumor Roundup: From Most likely To least Likely

2.0 Firmware With App Store
3G
GPS
Two Cameras for Video Conferencing (using Apple’s rather useless iChat – if your in canada that is)
thinner or thicker (The leaked case images give thinner a better case)
32 Gb model or higher
Copy and Paste
a Flash for the Camera
godly powers

I think that out of all the leaked pictures these ones look the most credible.

I hope steve doesn’t pull a rediculus stunt like shafting old iphone users somehow or ipod touch users, But i guess this is apple we are talking about.

Tomorrow I will be posting a followup on the realities of WWDC.