Cellphones in class: Alberta won’t follow Ontario’s ban

Source: CTV News, March 13, 2019 As Ontario schools prepare for a blanket ban on cellphones during class time, the Alberta government says they’re not going to follow suit. In a statement, Alberta’s education minister David Eggen said the province is not considering implementing a similar ban. “Minister Eggen trusts Alberta’s teachers and school boards… Continue reading Cellphones in class: Alberta won’t follow Ontario’s ban

Not Getting Android OS Updates? Here’s How Google Is Updating Your Device Anyway

Source: Chris Hoffman, HowToGeek.com, March 1, 2018  Android updates are a still a point of contention among die-hard fans, because most manufacturers don’t keep updated with the latest offerings from Google. But just because your phone isn’t getting full OS updates doesn’t mean it’s totally out of date. While some major features still require full version updates,… Continue reading Not Getting Android OS Updates? Here’s How Google Is Updating Your Device Anyway

How to Make Calls and Texts From Your Smartphone Without Cell Service

Source: Cameron Summerson, HowToGeek.com, November 20, 2017  Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, and carriers know it—so they charge a lot of money for something they know you’re going to pay. But what if I told you that you could use your phone, including calls and texts, with nothing but Wi-Fi? It’s… Continue reading How to Make Calls and Texts From Your Smartphone Without Cell Service

How to Use Low Power Mode on an iPhone (and What Exactly It Does)

Source: Chris Hoffman, HowToGeek.com, September 30, 2017  Your iPhone has a “Low Power Mode”, which you’ll be prompted to activate it when your phone reaches 20% battery. However, you can enable it before that point to stretch your battery life further. Starting with iOS 11, you can also activate Low Power Mode right from the Control… Continue reading How to Use Low Power Mode on an iPhone (and What Exactly It Does)

Cellphone use surges, so do bills. Canadians call for an end to data caps

By Sophia Harris, CBC News, October 28, 2016  OpenMedia wants Canadians to have unlimited mobile internet access for a good price Our cellphones are so much more than phones these days. They’ve become a lifeline, the way we connect to everything from banking and breaking news to the loved ones in our lives. So it likely… Continue reading Cellphone use surges, so do bills. Canadians call for an end to data caps

Faster Wi-Fi will be in smartphones and laptops next year

By Jacob Kastrenakes, TheVerge.com, October 25, 2016  WiGig promises enough speed for wireless VR Wi-Fi is about to get much, much faster. The Wi-Fi Alliance is now beginning to certify smartphones, laptops, routers, and other devices that include a super-fast Wi-Fi standard called WiGig, which nearly doubles Wi-Fi’s current top speed. The Alliance says it’ll be… Continue reading Faster Wi-Fi will be in smartphones and laptops next year

Smartphone camera shootout: Google Pixel takes on the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

By Sean O’Kane, TheVerge.com, October 18, 2016  To put Google’s claims to the test, we decided to see how the camera stacks up against the current leaders in the field: the Galaxy S7 and the new iPhone 7. When Google announced the Pixel a few weeks ago, the company sounded extremely confident in the phone’s… Continue reading Smartphone camera shootout: Google Pixel takes on the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

How to Use Android’s Wi-Fi Assistant to Keep Your Phone Safe on Public Networks

By Cameron Summerson, HowToGeek.com, October 13, 2016  Public networks are inherently insecure If you aren’t using Android’s “Wi-Fi Assistant”, you should. It automatically secures unsafe public wireless networks by using a Google VPN, so attackers can’t access your data. Wi-FI Assistant was originally released with Project Fi, but now it’s available for all Nexus devices running 5.1 and above (in these countries).… Continue reading How to Use Android’s Wi-Fi Assistant to Keep Your Phone Safe on Public Networks

The Note 7 Meltdown Will Haunt Samsung for a Long, Long Time

By Brian Barrett, Wired.com, October 10, 2016  THE GALAXY NOTE 7, Samsung’s flagship smartphone, reached customers on August 19. Within two weeks, 35 of the devices had either caught fire or blown up outright, prompting a voluntary recall of millions of handsets. And now, with replacement devices suffering the same explosive fate, the company has… Continue reading The Note 7 Meltdown Will Haunt Samsung for a Long, Long Time