No more typewriters

Since the mass production of typewriters in 1868 the manual typewriter with it's carriage return bell, inky ribbons and finger nail breaking key spacing has been used to produce menus, letters and literary masterpieces. In fact, anything that could be written was typed out.


Electric:
The IBM Selectric typewriter (IBM Golfball) model which was introduced in 1961 was the epitome of modern.  It featured a fixed platen, multi font capability and a rotating type ball that along with the ribbon moved from side to side. 


Electronic:
Technology crept into the office with the advent of the electronic typewriter back in the late 70's. The first versions where as large as standard electric models and had very touch sensitive keys.  Later versions featured mini lcd screens, so that the typist could proof read the text, before printing it onto paper.  


Computers with their word processing power, have become common place in offices and homes around the world. Texting and e-mails are now sent in place of telegraphs, telexes, letters and phone calls. The end of the typewriter era is here -  the last typrewriter manufacturing company - Godrej and Boyce (Mumbai, India)  will no longer be  supplying traditional bodied typewriters, due to lack of demand.  The factory is rumoured to be set to become a refrigerator manufacturing plant. 


The Swintec  company based in Moonachie, New Jersey, however, still manufacture clear body typewriters for governments, prisons, training and correctional facilities around the world.

First Space Tourist - 10 year anniversary

On  the 28th April 2001, American,  Dennis Anthony Tito became the first Space Tourist, his destination the International Space Station.

Mr Tito, who is a millionaire and aerospace engineer  was  70 years old when he joined the  Soyuz TM-32, Russian Space Agency, crew.

During the mission which lasted 7 days and 22 hours the spaceship orbitted the earth 128 times.

Since then there have been six more "personal space explorers"



Image Credit :
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons

Royal Wedding on Bell TV

On the 29th April the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton is going to be covered by TV Channels all over the world.  Of course the royal wedding will be shown on  Bell satellite TV, the ceremony is schedule to take place at 6am EST. Guests will begin arriving around 3am EST at Westminster Abbey. The wedding service will last 1hr 15 mins approximately. 

The newly weds will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at 8.25am EST and the flypast at 8.30am EST by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight signals the start of the wedding reception and time for the TV channels to begin their post wedding programing.  

In southern Ontario (Eastern Canada) you can watch event coverage on these channels : 

Royal wedding coverage on Bell TV (satellite) - 29th April 2011

Bell TV Tip: Change the language on a Bell Receiver

Bell TV Tip : Here's how to change the language on your Bell 4100, 5900 or 6100 Model Bell TV satellite receiver

1. Press Menu on your remote
2. Then key in the number  618 (System set up, instalation, language)
3. Select the language of your choice - English or French
4. Select Save

To change the language on any of these satellite receiver models :
5200, 6131, 6141, 9200, 9241 and 9242


Follow the above instructions, but key in number 616 instead.

What to do with your used mobile phone

When your mobile phone is replaced with a newer model,
what do you do with your old one.

The answer - Recycle your mobile phone at the Bell store






Image Credit:
Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Where to find upcoming Pay per view movies on Bell TV

Bell TV Tip

“

     Find Upcoming Movies Tip:
             To find out what movies will be
              coming to Pay-per-View: tune into Bell TV.
               channel 481 (English) or channel 122 (French).

”      

Game of Thrones - HBO Channel 360

Game of Thrones Starting April 17th at 9 pm on HBO Channel 360.  Watch weekly as The Houses (Tryell,  Targaryen, and Lannister) make their bid for power whilst at the North Wall "Winter is Coming".    - which family will rule Westeros  - you'll have to watch to find out.

Can't wait -  Read the fantasy series books -
George RR Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire series

Lifebook X2 Concept Notebook - Folds into quarters

Designer Park Hyun Jin shared images of his concept Fujitsu Lifebook X2. The unique design, the notebook folds into quarters, allows for the computer to be used as a full size notebook or an "ultra widescreen palm top"  both feature a full QWERTY keypad.  

In notebook mode the horizontal screen join will probably take some getting used to.  When folded it takes up a relatively small space which means it will slip into pockets, handbags and purses for ultimate portability.

Fujitsu Lifebook X2 - Folding Notebook

Stylish - Yes
Practical - Yes
Folding - Yes




Would you buy it : 
           Only you know that
Source: Yanko Design

First Orbit - The Arts Junction: Yuri Gagarin, the First Man in Space - Tuesday, April 12, 1961

First Orbit a free film to download & share

created to celebrate the first 50 years of human spaceflight.
The movie depicts the 108 minutes of the historic space mission and includes original footage and narration.




Full informationation :

The Arts Junction: Yuri Gagarin, the First Man in Space - Tuesday, April 12, 1961

Original article and movie by firstorbit on Mar 9, 2011 

Yuri Gagarin the first man in space

Fifty years ago, Yuri Gagarin became the first cosmonaut in space on the 12th April 1961.  Shortly after his 27th birthday, he boarded the Russian Vostok 1 spacecraft and completed a 108 minute orbital flight.  He was born on the 9th March 1934 and died March 27th 1968. His ashes were buried in the walls of the Kremlin, Red Square.

Without the space program being pursued by Russian and the USA, satellite tv, mobile phones and GPS (global positioning systems) might never have been invented. 

Google buys Toronto startup company PushLife

It was officially anounced today that PushLife Inc the Toronto company that makes apps for non Apple phones has been bought by Google.

Their app is designed for non-Apple platform phones, ie mobiles running Android or  BlackBerry systems. The app makes it possible to sync with iTunes and Window Media Player libraries making it easier to share, play, categorize and buy music.

Indian Premier League Cricket

Sportsnet now carry Indian Premier League Cricket (IPL) on Bell Satellite TV.




Channel 1409 for HD and channel 419 for standard definition programming.









Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

iPad2 a popular Qing Ming offering

iPad 2 paper replicas sold out.  Participant in the  Qing Ming Festival, China 4-6th April, to honor their dead ancestors, bought fake paper money, iPads, smart phones and clothing as gift for their loved ones in record numbers. 


To celebrate Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day) families gather at the graveside and tidy up the area, plant new flowers, shrubs.  This is followed by leaving offering of food. The burning of paper gifts (representations of prosperity and wealth).  Burning the gifts helps with the transfer of the items to the ancestors.

Sprockets -2011 Trailer

A sample of  the international childrens films being shown at  the Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Bell Lightbox

Sprockets at Bell Lightbox

Sprockets is the Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth.  The festival runs  from April 5th to the 17th,  2011. The films are for children between 6 and 18 years of age so it is advisable to read the reviews.


This year the festival opening evening will include the World Premier screening of  Pixar’s  Hawaiian Vacation AND a sneak peek at the sequel to Cars - Cars 2. 


Last years Audience Award Winner - The Crocodiles (Christian Ditter) will be showing the sequel - The Crocodiles Strikes Back (9th, 10th, 11th and 12th April).  The German movie is sub titled but will be narrated on the 9th and the 12th.


There are 28 countries taking part this year and the movies range from animated fun - Reel Rascals shorts -  Fishing with Sam, The HappitsL In The Kingdom of the Sun and the classic Mary Poppins to more serious topics; aids (Life, Above All), bullying (Finding Kind), weight issues (Big) and environmental concerns (Fuchsia, the Mini-Witch).  The films not in 


Public Weekends - 9th & 10th April,  16th & 17th April 2011 are opportunities to watch the movies, discuss them with the directors and try film-craft for yourself. Tickets for the public weekend start $8.50 child, $9.50 Seniors and Students and $12 regular and a family Ten pack costs $75.00


Full Sprockets Schedule

Samsung R330

Specifications for the  Samsung R330
	Specifications Compatible with the EVDO network 1.3 megapixel camera Text and picture messaging Mobile Browser Bluetooth® 2.0 Speakerphone Internal memory: 30 MB Battery times: Standby: 525 hr; Talk: 8.8 hr Dual-band : 850 / 1900 MHz Tools: memos, alarm clock, calculator, calendar Available Colours: Black