The Blackberry Torch 9800. So here is the deal Blackberry has announced they are coming out with a torch! cool. Here is my personal opinion of the Torch 9800 I think it's going to flop just like the Storm and here is why:

1. It is a Slider phone, most sliders flop!
2. Blackberry is know for their flat sleek looking phones like the 9800 Bold.
3. They are experimenting with something new which is Sliders

I think it's just a cheap shot at apple, just like they are going to attempt with the Blackpad. Don't let me discourage you from Blackberry products I have a Blackberry! they are great phones, but I simply don't know in regards to a slider phone.

Blackberry also claims that their WebKit new browser will simply rock this world. The new Blackberry torch will come with Blackberry 6 software which is the new software for the Blackberry. I personally think this phone will be a flop and i feel it's a cheap shot at apple let's see and wait.

You can check out the specifications at: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrytorch/torch_specifications.jsp

Who is going to carry the phone?

Bell Mobility is expected to carry the phone this fall. People are saying iPhone 4G will be torched, I highly doubted. If Research in Motion wants to compete with Apple they must come up with better marketing campaings, advertising Blackberry Messenger is not going to claim them as leaders.

They needs to have physical locations with nice layouts that attract people just like Apple has done in malls all over the world, people come in touch and feel the product in the actual store. I understand they tried doing that but they are simply to slow with this attempt.

So it looks like the third competitor has entered the market!. Remember a few months ago i was talking about http://mobilicity.com

and now they launched their plans, take a look at the plan chart it doesn't look so bad!. But the coverage is still only in Toronto other cities to come include:

• Vancouver
• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Ottawa

Here is the look at their plans:

I think Mobilicity has a good competitive edge compared to Wind Mobile. But in comparison to Public Mobile, I don't see Public mobile being able to compete, we are going to wait and see where this unfolds

Check out bu.mp!. Just type http://www.bu.mp. This little app for iPhones is cool basically you pump your hands together holding you iPhone and can exchange contact information very quickly.

Here are some videos on how this technology works:

Right now bump is supported by Android and iPhone sorry Blackberry people like me!

Neofonie is pumping out a Android device called WePad.

Neofonie is a German based technology company and WePad is coming out of Germany. Concentrating on e-publishing having WeMagazine reader, which should make it more efficient and effective when it comes reading media on your WePad. (more info here on that).

Here is the technical specifications of the WePad, compared to the iPad.

The first thing that is obvious is this beast has USB ports. and also Flash and Adobe Air and 1.3mega pixel camera build in. The processor is also faster. This unit is specificially made to compete with the iPad.

How does this thing look? Well not that bad!

WePad is trying to demonstrate that even blonde's can use this thing! (lame joke!). But if you can't wait to jump on the WePad you can get informed right here when you can actually pre-order the unit:

Berlin Baby!

I am not actully sure when the unit will be released, but it will try to compete head-to-head with iPad. Rumours say it the WePad will run about 400euros about (550 canadian, at current exchange rates)

Does this little machine have enough marketing to push this product world wide like the iPad?. I do not think they do Apple always kills the competition with swift marketing, but alot of power users might want this thing instead of anything else out there.

Ok, so Google has launched a Nexus One version that will finally have full speeds in Canada

The price still is sitting at $529USD but this is a unlocked phone, and now it's capable of getting 3G speeds on the following carriers:

• Fido
• Rogers
• Bell
• Telus
• Wind Mobile (If you want Wind Mobile full speeds you need to grab the other US version of the phone)

Wind Mobile has the cheapest data plans as of now. The Nexus One comes unlocked

All the Canadians can grab their Nexus One freely now without having to ship it to USA at http://www.google.com/phone

The Nexus One supports three 3G/UMTS bands 850/1900/2100mhz and the following GSM frequencies (850/900/1800/1900).

When you order online now you can have a custom message engraved on the back of your phone:

If you are still wondering why I should get Nexus One, here is the simple answerw.

Here is a quick specification of the phone. Google is refusing to have wireless carriers in Canada to carry the phone in the retail stores, so far they only have done this in the states with T-Mobile. If anyone is to reach a deal with google to carry the phone in it's retail stores it probably would be Rogers Wireless.

A good website to grab some apps for the Nexus One is at: http://www.nexusapps.org/.

Here is a list of  top 25 Nexus One apps you should grab:

1. Speed Test (for 3G speed testing)
2. Translate (for english to chinese dict)
3. Twidroid (heard the best twitter app)
4. Sogou Pinyin (for chinese input)
5. Google Pinyin IME (for chinese input)
6. Taskiller (for freeing memory)
7. eBuddy (for MSN messenger chat)
8. Live Scores (for live updates to sports scores - name Sportacular in iPhone)
9. Shopsavvy (for barcode scanning and price compare when shopping)
10. Google Sky Map (to find planets and stars on your Android phone)
11. Wikitude (World browser... not sure what it is yet)
12. gTasks (good task app that will sync with google tasks)
13. Flashlight (use your phone like flashlight when it dark)
14. Amazon (Amazon shopping place)
15. Pandora (Internet radio streaming)
16. Open Table (for online restaurant reservations)
17. Flickr/Photostream (for photo streaming off Yahoo Flickr)
18. MyBookmarks (for importing bookmark to Android phone)
19. Yelp (for restaurant guides and reviews)
20. Google Goggles (Amazing.. u gotta check it out yourself)
21. Fring (For Skype or VOIP calls)
22. T-Mobile My Account (For T-mobile Account information check)
23. Skype Lite (For Skype access)
24. NubiNews (For news reading)
24. Barcode Scanner (For QR code scanning)
25. RSS (For Google reader, RSS)

I bolded Shopsavvy because this is where we can save money!

Is anyone using the Nexus One phone yet in Canada let me know, I would like to use it on Wind Mobile because they are the cheapest so far for data plans in Canada. I hope Rogers Wireless can finally lower their plans and stock killing us with the high data costs.

There is a rumor going out that Google is working together with Sony, Intel, on Google Tv.

The rumor states that it would funnel search video, youtube, twitter, and other video sites and web applications through digital boxes into the TV.

The small rumor report states Google TV would make TV accessible on computers and mobile phones.

Most newer TV sets are capable to connect to the Internet and have build in web-based programming.

People are skeptical if Google will enter into the TV market. So far google is trying to enter into:

• Wireless Mobile market (Nexus One)
• Operating System Market (Chrome OS)
• Voip (Google Voice)
• Google Buzz (Social Networking)
• Media (Youtube)
• Photo Sharing (Picasa)
• Web Mail (Gmail)
• Blogging (Blogger)

There is probably more I didn't mention here, so we never know Google tries to play around in every kind of market.

Having 10,197,588billion cash on hand and superior intelligent young team of employees, Google is a threat to any market they enter into.

Fido has recently brought in a new IM/Email package, maybe they are feeling abit of competition coming in?

Here is a quick brake down:

Instant Messaging standalone add-on ― Send and receive unlimited Instant Messages - $5.00! (Includes MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger)

MobileMail email and Instant Messaging bundle - Send and Receive Unlimited Emails and IM for only
- $8.00! (Includes MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger)

For email the popular domain names are included like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.

Not bad, pretty cool but shouldn't these options be added already to a regular plan.

Toronto and Montreal public mobile is here!

So public mobile is officially here, i went to Dufferin Mall here in Toronto on Tuesday and had a quick chat with the guy at the booth and he told me they were releasing four phones and yes he was right it is four phones their website was updated today!

Well not here but the launch is excpeted to be in May. But anyone that signs up now will get unlimited long distance for life public mobile claims.

The phones public mobile is offering are:

ZTEC C78 - $70

Kyocera Tomo - $110

Samsung R312 - $125

Kyocera G2GO - $180

I like the public mobile coverage map, which can be found Here! (don't worry we will open it in a new window!)

A few restrictions come in play here Public Mobile is on G-band frequencies what does this mean?. Well it means that public mobile phones will not support roaming once out of the coverage area, some other services are also not offered like "411"

In Toronto going west we are pretty much covered about 1km past Sherway Gardens.

Going 401 east pretty much abit past 401 and Port Union Road. Not bad

Their plans, ok nothing much to talk about now they have one simple plan which is:

Unlimited Text and Talk - $40 dollars!

Includes Unlimited Local Calling/ and Long Distance within Canada!
Call Waiting
Unlimited Canadian and US Text Messaging
Call Waiting
Call forwarding
3-way Calling

If you want to dish out and extra $10 dollars you will have unlimited US and Canada calling!

and public mobile has a blog! just like this one cool! their blog can be found Here (don't worry we will go into a new Window!)

Check out what happends at public mobile on the roof top!

So this is pretty much it, if there is any new updates with public mobile please feel free to comment.

Now the question remains will Fido, Rogers, Telus, bend the prices? let's see. Right now with the coverage area Public Mobile looks to me just as a city phone nothing else!

There is rumors and speculation that the Apple 4G iPhone will hit one year from the release of  of the iPhone 3G.

Allot of features are expected from, the new iPhone which is rumored to be released around April, May, 2010. Keep in mind these are rumors no one knows which way the iPhone release will go.

Knowing from the rumors floating around and some info from the apple's website, the iPhone will have the following features:

• OLED display
• 5Mega Pixel Camera
• Build in flash! (weeeeeeeeeee, how about the iPad?)
• Dual Core CPU
• 802.11n
• Bluetooth 10n

now getting to the software side aspect, rumors have it it will have

• eWallet application (to keep all your personal information private!)
• combination lock

You stare and look at the combination lock and think in your mind, what is this "GUY" talking about. Well apple has recently applied for a patent that evolves around a “Motion Based Input Selection” technology a virtual combination lock.

So what the point?. Well right now you can lock the iPhone screen with a 4 digit passcode, same idea comes in play here except for the fact that the 3 digit combination lock will be RFID-based NFC (near field communication) compatible.

This means you will be able to do allot of things with it in the future if iPhone moves into this area. Examples could include opening your house door that has a electronic combination door lock, unlock your car with your iPhone 4G or maybe just pay for your purchase at the store with a 3-digit pin code.

The three digit passcode will be 0-45 which will allow for (46^3 combinations = 97,336) possibilities , counting the zero in. Apple iPhone 4G could be turned into a RFID transpored also.

Also on that note apple Bluetooth technology called BlueNFC and RFID brings a world of possibilities, the future looks sharp. We could see us using our iPhone 4G in the future for some of the following things:

• Ticketing (tickets to events stored on iPhone)
• Couponing (store coupons stored on our iPhone)
• PayTV (ability to purchase events, PPV with our phone)
• Payment like eWallet apps
• Tracking, how many times we entered our favorite department store

I know this is a big dream, ahead but the iPhone 4G should come with all technology that will be ready for the future, which is good news. It will take allot of years ahead until everyone adopts to these new technologies and actually starts using them.

Apple is basically applying for patents, into the future which is good news, they are looking ahead not behind this is why I think Apple will stay competative in the cell phone business.

Ok so it's time to do your taxes. Look no further I have used this software for the past three years. You don't need to go to the store and buy shrink wrapped tax software.

Simply check out: http://www.studiotax.com/. This software is free to download from their website, and updated accordingly every year. There is no limitations of how much you need to make (yearly) to be able to use the free version.

The full instructions are on the "Download" page of the website.  The install file is about 21.6MB in size.  The deadline for tax season is April 30, 2010 in Canada.

The cool part is that this software is completely free. I used it it works great, generates a tax file that is EFILE compatible. StudioTax is also extremley easy to use, as it has a Tax wizard that guides you step by step, throught the return process.

It asks several questions through the process to determine what exactly you may expense. I think this is probably the best Free software in Canada, I am giving it 10/10!

There is also a french version of this software, I tried QuickTax and StudioTax is better hands down.

This software is also CRA NETFILE approved!