Top Ten Bell TV Tips

Here are our Top Ten Bell TV Tips for satellite receiver users.

1.  Make a Favourites List :

Bell TV Tip - Create a Favorites Channels List, ICT North tell you how

How to make a favorites List using Bell TV Electronic  Programme Guide - Bell TV

2.  Make the Remote Work for You

How to program a Bell remote to your TV

3.  Prevent EarAche 

Providing you were successful with Tip 2

Press the mute button, on the remote to lower volume.  

Bell TV Tip: Adjust volume level quickly

Or  Press the Pause button on the remote of your PVR receiver

Quickly lower the volume on your PVR

4.  Increase Your Viewing Opportunities

Take advantage of Time Shifting.  Watch a show in an earlier time slot then when you watch it again in your own time slot you can amaze your friends with your what happens next guesses.   Alternatively if you see part of a show whilst visiting friends, you might be able to see the whole show in a later time slot when you get home.  Three shows on at the same time that you want to watch - no problem.

5.  HD Viewing  - one click away

To find out if the program you are watching in standard definition is on on High Definition

 press the Search button on the remote

6.  Search Smarter

Use the remote keypad to enter Search Terms instead of the up down left right keys

7.  Look To The Future Today

Jump forward 24 Hours in the online guide.

Standard Definition Receiver users read our On Screen Guide Tip

Or if you have a high definition PVR model receiver press Skip button on the remote control

(Skips 24 hours each time you click it)

8.  Get The Latest Software
Update Bell TV while you sleep

9.  Recover Lost TV Guide Info 
Like A Bell Technician

Remove and reinsert the smart card Or 

Pull the plug from the power socket, replug in after 20 seconds


10.  Restore your Satellite TV Signal 
The Easy Way

After a power outage 

Press Menu 613 on the remote

Select run a check switch 

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

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.

2000 - 2010, 10 years of Technology Holiday Gifts

Still thinking about what to give, here's 10 years of Technology must have gifts that were given between 2000 - 2010 Holiday Season

2000 - Pdas,(personal digital assistants - RIm 850).   Rio mp3 players, Computer Speakers, USB Thumb drives, iMac G3 Computer.

 2001 - SMS (short messaging services) was introduced. Headsets and ear buds for mobile phones, Handspring Treo smart phone (pds and phone combined into one).  Flat panel computer Monitors, Flat Screen LCD TV's (20 inch.).  iPod - "1,000 songs in your pocket" portable minidisk cd players.  Microsoft XBox. Bell ExpressVu 5100 PVR (Personal Video Recorder).

2002 - Bell Mobility launched, flip, swivel or sliding keyboard Mobile Phone with camera and internet connection were now available to customers.  Hot buy -  BlackBerry 5810 with thumb controls,  Sanyo cell phones.  Surround sound speakers and wireless computer routers, Windows compatible iPod, Nintendo Game Cube. Kodak Easy Share Digital Camera.

2003 - Bell TV Dual Tuner Digital Receiver.  Portable DVD players. Handheld video  cameras, BlackBerry 7230 smartphone. Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner

2004 -  Bell TV 6100 High Definition TV receiver.  Digital Sony Viao S260 Notebook.  Wide Screen TVs. Motorola Razr, iPod Mini, Samsung, Sanyo. LG and Nokia cell phones. USB Flash Drives. 

2005 - iPod Shuffle, BlackBerry mobile phone.  With a 100 song limit - Motororola Rokr incorporating iTunes, Sony VAIO Fj Notebook, wide screen laptops.  Sirius Satellite Radio. X Box 360 .
Handheld games Playstation  Portable and Nintento DS console.
Home Theaters - projectors and surround sound. 

2006 - Mini Camcorders, BlackBerry Pearl, Cell phones including email capabilities with built in camera and audio/video player.  Nintendo Wii.
In car DVD players. 

2007 - High Definition Plasma or LCD TVs, Sony Playstation3, Wii Fit, iPhone, iPod Touch, Canon EOS 400D aka the Canon Digital Rebel  XT Camera. Bell 9200 HD PVR Plus (Dual Tuner) Satellite Receiver.

2008 - Digitial Cameras, 8 GB iPod Nano in black, BlackBerry Curve/ Bold 9000. Bluetooth headsets, iPhone 3G.  Mac Book Air.

2009 -  Canon and Nikon Digital Cameras, iPads, Kindle, Palm Pre smartphone (exclusive to Bell) iPhone 3GS, video calling via the Samsung Galaxy S.

2010 - Netflix subscriptions, media centre, blu-ray players, Bell Mobile TV.  3D TV sets, 3D Movies (Chanel 1933  3D Vuon Bell TV) iPhone 4

Photographer credit -
Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

IPod Shuffle - image Credit :  Courtesy of Apple

Satellite TV brought to you by the War

Wars have always been fought and we are saddened by the loss of life and injuries to both soldiers and civilians.  Wars do, however, foster advances in science and technology.  War inventions that make their way into our everyday lives.

Things we take for granted today like the weather forecast (Francis Beaufort and Robert FitzRoy) which was possible due to the invention of the telegraph system back in 1835.  The wrist watch (1880) was found to be more battle friendly than it's predecessor the pocket watch.

World War I  saw the invention of tinned food, preserved food had previously been stored in glass jars which weren't  all that portable.  The necessity for swift communications saw the advent of the radio.  Sonar - echo location was invented by Paul Langevin just prior to the end of World War i it put to use in later years.

Self absorbent wood pulp dressings and tissues  (cellucotton) was invented to replace cotton bandages and is still used in sanitary products and surgical dressings.

World War 2 brought us the mass manufacture of synthetics like rubber and nylon and the first microwave ovens (Percy Spencer) were major breakthroughs.

Penicillin and antibiotics, Pepto Bismol, Chloroquine (anti malaria tables) and bug spray in aerosol cans were the latest medical marvels.  

Children were entertained by the Frisbie (aka Pluto Platter), Silly Putty (James Wright,) and the much loved Slinky (Richard James). 

Top secret Inventions that are common place now were; Radar - radio detection (Robert Watson-Watt,), the Jet Engine, Night Vision and of course the computer to help with code breaking.

More recently 

Thermal Imaging, GPS (Ivan Getting) used in iPhones and other electronics that are Satellite Navigation system enabled, wireless communication,  The Chemical Laser now used for precision cutting  and sculpting of many materials.  Video games, game consoles and the internet (1969).

Image Credit: Commander James McDivit, NASA

The Space Race during the cold war demanded better communications. Innovative information gathering and transmitting satellite.   Television, video, rockets, astronauts, remote control and navigation systems. Miniature cameras, robots, satellite signals, global broadcasting and satellite tv.


Most of these products are worthy of being on a top 10 inventions list and are still used everyday by millions of people around the world.


Computer Image Credit: Image: Exsodus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Top 3 iPhone Games

Playing games on your iPhone is something most owner do at some time

The top three games, in no particular order, worldwide are:

• Angry Birds
• Little Wings
• The Heist

Download them from the App Store (Canada)

Top 5 Technology Movies - ICT North's List

The 83rd Oscars were lacking in  sci fi movies this year.  ICT North blog's top 5 technology movies are :

1.  Hitchhicker's Guide To The Galaxy 
The Earth destroyed, traveling through the universe with a towel our hero's make One big discovery coincidence is no coincidence.

2.  Matrix
Real, imagined or a continuous loop.  Every day routine for 'Neo' will never be routine.


3.  Tron 
Back in 1982 computers were "New Technology"  This movie explains how a computer works and it's vulnerabilities.  Worth watching for the graphics, it doesn't matter if you are viewing Tron Legacy (2010) or the original version.


4.  Transformers
Who doesn't want a car that's a robot that's a car.


5.  The Terminator
Protecting the future from within the past, complete with a cyborg that you definitely want on your side.






Love movies then you'll love this :
We Connect you with the world: tiff. - Bell Lightbox

Top 7 Posts of 2010 - ICT North Blog

Here are the top seven blog posts on ICT North's blog for 2010:

1. International Channels on Bell TV
2. How to program a Bell remote to your TV
3. Existing Bell TV Moving to a new house
4. Parental Controls or Channel Locks
5. Free Bell PVR iPhone App
6. Satellite TV Ontario - Bell
7. Bell Fibe

2010 Top Five iPhone Apps

Here are our Top 5 iPhone Apps for 2010

Angry Birds - Help the Angry Birds to survive. Their enemies the green pigs need stopping.


Shazam  - This free application when installed allows the user to hold their iPhone to the source of the music (tv, stereo etc) and Shazam will identify the music and tell you what the tune or song is called, who the artist is and even where you can buy it.  The information can be emailed to yourself and your contacts.


Net News Wire  - Stay up to date with the latest news with the NetNewsWire  RSS feeds reader.


Google App for the iPhone  - Search the internet, contacts, applications etc.,  Smart search is included in Google App, to save on typing, search results can be stored for later reference.


eReader  -  Free ebook reader.  The eReader store besides being where you can download this app also lists available books.