ChargeSAFE Project - preventing laptop to floor damage

When using a laptop with the power cord a big fear is the charger/power cord becoming entangled with either an object or a person and the laptop getting dragged to the ground.  The ChargeSAFE project provides the solution to this problem.  A connector that disconnects your power/charger safely whilst leaving your laptop at it's current location.



The only thing worse than seeing your laptop slam to the ground are the heart stopping moments when you pick it up and assess the immediate damage.  Even then there's no guarantee that the laptop well perform as it should.

Jeff Gamelsky and  Pierre-Andre Mugnier are the designers and developers of ChargeSAFE, they are currently looking for funding and hope to start production in June 2012.  If you think this is a worthwhile project why not Help Fund the ChargSAFE project

NOTE
Apple® laptops have had the Magsafe® system for years, which uses a magnetic breakaway connector to attach the power/charger cord, which has long been the envy of laptop users.

Game of Thrones Season 2 on Bell TV

Game of Thrones returns to HBO (Channels 306 and 307 on Bell satellite TV)  1st April 2012.

Mobile TV Data Plan and App - Bell TV

Want to watch TV on your smart phone.  Bell TV Mobile Data TV Plan and the Bell Mobile TV App for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android, Windows Phones and other devices.

Download  Bell Mobile TV App

Lord of The Rings - Lego Style

The LOTR Lego Construction Set Release date  has not yet been announced for Canada.  The mini figures and construction sets will start a rolling global launch June 2012 according to the LEGO Group Press Release  (16 December 2011) in North America.

The LEGO Group The Lord of The Rings™  constructions set is a collabaration between The LEGO Group and Warner Bros.   Consumer Products.


The building sets are being designed around on The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and the two films based on The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey and There and Back Again.  


Photo Credit: LEGO® Group

Thorsten Heins named new RIM CEO and President

MIke Lazaridis  and Jim Balsillie have stepped down as  co-CEO's and Co-chairmen of RIM (Research in Motion), Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  Their new positions are Vice Chair of the Board's new Innovation Committee and Board Director respectively.

Thorsten Heins has been named the new CEO and President, he has been with the company  since 2007 as was the Senior Vice President of the Blackberry Handheld Business Unit.  His appointment to RIM's Board is also took immediate effect.

Read full RIM Press Release

Bell TV Remote PVR - App for iphone

The Bell TV Remote PVR App has been updated for iOS.5.0 users.
Managing and scheduling  a Bell HD PVR when away from home is now possible via the online program guide.

Bell TV Remote PVR App

How to keep your phone number Private on a Bell home phone

TIP


To prevent your home phone number being displayed to the person you are calling.  Before entering number you are calling:

• if you are using a digital phone press *67  
• if you are using a rotary phone dial 1167 

your call will now show as "Private Name Private Number" on the receiving phone.


Use this tip each time you want to keep your phone number private on a Bell home phone.

Bell Let's Talk Day 2012 launched

Bell today launched the 2nd Annual Bell Let's Talk Day. The campaign highlights  Mental Health issues and is designed to encourage conversations about mental health, thus raising awareness and removing the stigma attached to mental health.


Bell Let's Talk Day is 8th February 2012
Bell will donate 5 cents from all long distance and each text made to the mental health fund.

Bell Community Fund 2012 applications open today – $1 million in grants for community and grassroots mental health programs across Canada.

Read the Bell Press Release

Video: Courtesy of Bell and Newswire.ca

Russian probe crash lands off the Chilean Cost

The unmanned Russian probe, Phobos-Ground, came down off the Chilean coast in the southern Pacific Ocean about 1,250 kilometres west of Wellington Island 15th January 2012 at 1.45pm ET.

Read more: 

CES 2012 - 5 Top Trends

The CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2012, which was held in Las Vegas, is a showcase for the manufacturers to announce, display and demonstrate the latest in electronics.  Our pick for Top Five Trends for 2012 :


1. Thin TV's
LG's 55EM9600 OLED* 55 inch tv was a show stopping thickness of less than 4mm and compared well to rival the Samsung "Super OLED" model.   The LG OLED 55 inch tv weighs 16 pounds and is expected to be in stores in the 3rd quater of this year. The actual price and release date have not been released yet for either model.


2. UltraBooks
The term Ultrabook is being used to define laptops that are both thin and lightweight. Dell (XP13S) and Acer (Aspire S5) being two of the thinnest, both weigh less than 3lbs.  The XP13s ultrabook from Dell weighs a mere 2.99 pounds and tappers from 18 to 6 mm thickness and is scheduled to go on Sale in February 2012 with a $999.00 plus tax price tag.


3. Connectivity
Streaming media - Netflix, Pandora, Amazon, Skype, connected tvs, media players, Boxee, Roku, Google TV, set top boxes.  SImple TV - connects to multiple device types.  Watch live or recorded programs on your TV, tablet etc., at home or away from home ala "Slingbox".  Shows can be recorded to your hard drive.  Scheduled to be available Spring 2012, price $149 plus service subscription fee.

4.  Thunderbolt
For storage and data transfer, Thunderbolt port technology adapters are now available to non mac users and can be found in hard drives (Le Cie Little Big Disk), routers and hubs thus bringing high-speed performance to the masses. 


5. Cloud Networking
When cloud computing was originally conceived it was envisions that it would be used as additional storage.  Today it is more likely to be used to extend home networks and control internet access.


*OLED - Organic Light Emitting Diode


Image:  Courtesy CES Media

Space Station Debris Avoidance Maneuver successful

The International Space Station (ISS) had to deploy the debris space avoidance maneuver Friday 13th January 2012 at 11.10 am EST.  Thrusters were burned to boost it's orbit in order to avoid a 4" diameter piece of broken satellite which was likely to pass within 0.6 to 15 miles of the ISS.  

The piece of space junk was from the Iridium 33 communication satellite that clashed with a Cosmos spacecraft in 2009, due to it's size the debris was being tracked by Nasa.

On the 28th June 2011 at 8.08am EDT the six astronauts manning the ISS had to shelter in two Russian Soyuz lifeboats when it was feared that a 10 centimetre diameter piece of debris would collide with and damage the International Space Station.

Image Credit:  NASA

ICT North Blog -Top 10 Posts (2011)

Top ten blog post for 2011 on ICT North's blog were :

1. Bell TV Receiver Error - satellite signal lost
2. Satellite TV Ontario - Bell
3. Bell TV MPEG2 to MPEG4 Receiver Swap
4. Christmas Music and Yuletide Fire Channels - Bell TV
5. 3 Million Pre order for Samsung Galaxy S2
6. How to program a Bell remote to your TV
7. Free Preview - Bell TV, Holllywood Movie Channels
8. 2000 - 2010, 10 years of Technology Holiday Gifts
9. How to modify the Favorite Channels List - Bell Fibe TV
10. Bell TV Remote PVR - App for iphone

Apple App Store 1 year old today

It is one year since Apple App Store was launched.

Steve Jobs would be pleased with the App Stores achievements.  On it's anniversary there are over  8,900 apps to choose from and a staggering 100 million plus downloads have been made (excludes Lion sales and App updates).

Visit the Apple App Store

Image Credit: Apple Inc

ICT North's Top 10 Dystopian Movies, the future is not so bright

It has been suggested that the world will end in 2012, these movies set in the future depict mankind restricted and demoralized. Luckily there is always one free thinker prepared to make a stand.  Here's our list, in date order,  of ICT North's top 10 dystiopian movies :

1.  Metropolis
Directed by Fritz Lang in 1927, the science fiction film portrays life above and below ground in the luxury city of Metropolis.  The difference between the extravagant lives of the managers and the harsh conditions endured by the workers prompts Freder, to confront his father Joh Fredersen, Metropolis's founder. Freder becomes involved in the workers struggle and becomes the long awaited mediator who will bring about necessary reforms.  The movie was remade in 2001.

2.  A Clockwork Orange

Directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1971.  Violence for fun is Alex's routine until he is enrolled in an experimental violence aversion therapy and returned to the world in which he can now be a victim in the damaged society he helped to create.

3.  Logan's Run

Directed by Michael Anderson in 1976.  Once you're 30 years old your will be terminated. Logan is the terminator but as his time to die nears he decides there must be more to life. Run Logan Run.

4.  1984

Directed by Michael Radford in 1984. Big brother is watching making it difficult for Winston
and Julia to escape the drudgery of their life.  In a world where word meanings are changed
and history is re written will anyone discover the truth before the Thought Police find them.

5. They Live

Directed by John Carpenter in 1988.  Special sunglasses allow Nada see the world as it is complete with subliminal messages that control the population and government officials who are aliens.

    

6. The Matrix

Directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski in 1999  Neo, a software engineer finds out that reality is not real, the truth is protected at all cost and now that he is aware he must stay ahead of his pursuers to unravel the deceptions he encounters on his path to enlightenment. 

7. Equilibrium

Directed by Kurt Wimmer in 2002.  The population are submissive thanks to  the drug Prozium.  Individuals who don't take their Prozium can be identified by their show of emotions and participation in sensory experiences, so of course the authorities must seek out and punish the law breakers.

8. V For Vendetta

Directed by James McTeigue in 2005. The totalitarian future in Britain provides the backdrop for a young girl Evey to discover the truth about herself and the society she lives in.  Together with a masked vigilante, V,  who captures the underlying mood of the nation  and  inspires the citizens to revolt. Thus freeing the people from corrupt leaders and their severe social policies.

9. Children of Men 

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón in 2006.   Julian is carrying the first child for 27 years.  Theo keeps the mother to be safe, till she can reach sanctuary and the child is born giving hope of a future back to mankind.

10. 2081

Directed by Chandler Tuttle in 2009.  Everyone is equal and to ensure it stays that way everyone is handicapped to prevent anyone from taking advantage of their natural talents. Harrison Bergeron's one act of defiance changes the mundane lives of those around him as they learn to appreciate freedom and begin to understand that diversity gives meaning to their existence. Note - Harrison Bergeron, a made for TV movie was aired in 1995.

Free Preview Channel on Bell TV January 2012

Another two channel available on free preview on Bell TV until January 31st  2012


Sundance - SNDNC Satellite channel 613, Fibe TV Channel 613
Zeste - Satellite Channel 190, Fibe TV 190




More Free Preview Channels, Jan 2012 

Bell TV Free Previews January 2012

Satellite - Sportsnet World Channel 420 Channel 1414 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 420, 1420

Until 3 Jan 2012

Satellite - Addik TV Chanel 136  Channel 1868 HD

FibeTV - Channel 136 and 1136 HD

Until 8 Jan 2012


Satellite - Prise 2  Channel 153

Fibe TV - Channel 153

Until Jan 8 2012

Satellite - CASA Channel 154

Fibe TV  - Channel 154

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - MP (MusiquePlus) Channel 141

Fibe TV - Channel 141

Until  8 Jan 2012

Satellite - Disney Junior Channel 189

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - Canal D Channel 139  Channel 1872 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 139 and Channel 1129 HD

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - Ztele Channel 131 Channel 1858 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 131 and Channel 1131

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - Historia Channel 133 Channel 1862 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 133 and Channel 1133 HD

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - MusiMax Channel 142

Fibe TV - Channel 142

Until Jan 8 2012

Satellite - Canal Vie Channel 135  Chanel 1866 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 135 and 1135

Until 8 jan 2012 

Satellite - Series+ Channel 132  Channel 1960 HD

Fibe TV - Channel 132 and Channel 1132 HD

Until 8 Jan 2012

Satellite - VRAK TV Channel 140  Channel 1870 HD

Five TV - Channel 140 and Channel 1140 HD

Until 8 Jan 2012

Complimentary Free Movie -  Watch Kung Fu Panda2TM  on Bell Tv, Fibe TV or 

On Demand :

• Bell TV - Channel 316 (High Definition) or 355 (Standard Definition)
• Fibe TV - Channel  990 (High Definition) or 992 (Standard Definition) 
• On Demand -  Press the Video on Demand button, navigate to select the movie

Until 15th January 2012

Satellite - Teletoon English Channels 554 and 555

Fibe TV - Channels 554 and 555

Satellite - Teletoon  French Channel 139

Fibe TV French - Channel 139

Until 31 Jan 2012

Satellite and Fibe TV Channel 527 - T + E (Travel and Escape)

Until 31 Jan 2012

Satellite Nickelodeon Channel 559

Fibe TV Channel 559

Until 31 Jan 2012

Satellite - BBC Kids Channel 558

Until 31 Jan 2012

Satellite - EVASI Channel 134

Until 1 Feb 2012

Satellite - Discovery - DISCH Channel 1602

Until 1 Feb 2012

Satellite - SPACE - SPCHD Channel 1746

Until 1 Feb 2012

Satellite - BRAVO - BRVOH Channel 1734

Until 1 Feb 2012

Hollywood Movie Channels

WBF HD satellite channel 1270,  Fibe TV Channel 1315

MGMHD satellite channel 1271,  Fibe TV Channel 1316

HSRMH   satellite channel 1272,  Fibe TV Channel 1317 

HFSVH    satellite channel 1273,  Fibe TV Channel 1318

Until 19th February 2012

Satellite Mlle Channel 194
Fibe TV  Channel 194
Until  14 March 2012

Satellite Yoopa Channel 144
Fibe TVChannel 150
Until 14 Mar 2012




More Jan 2012 Free Preview Channels from Bell TV, Fibe TV