Canadas flawed do not call list

Canadas flawed do not call list

Author JoeDigital | 23.04.2009 | Category Canada

Well its apparent that the Canadas Do Not Call List is a total bust, not only was the whole controversy over the DNC list being sold to telemarketers outside of canada that do not have to follow our rules. Ever since signing up for the do not call list many users have complained that they have gotten even more telemarketers call from outside of canada then ever before. Another embarassment to the canada do not call list is is de-registering your number from their system, Aparently the call display feature in their automated system is broken, when you call in to delist your number many users have complained that the number read back by the system is somthing totally different then the number they are calling from. We all hoped that the DNC registry would be helpful but it now seems that we would need a joint venture DNC list between the USA and Canada, is this possible? one can only hope.

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When good websites turn bad users revolt

Author JoeDigital | 30.10.2008 | Category Canada, World Wide Web

Anyone in Canada knows when searching for a new home to use http://www.mls.ca. Well, they did, until the recent changes that have been made to “enhance” the site. But now, many of their previously dedicated users are turning elsewhere, with valid complaints about the new features that have replaced standards people have been using for years. Kludgy maps are the predominant complaint, but a look around the site reveals other changes that have been made recently which also detract from the user experience.

Recent changes to the website’s design and usability has virtually rendered the site useless leading to the revolt of many users to switch to http://www.realtylink.org . Has the internet and usability factor become so disconnected that designers and companies no longer go through user testing or beta testing? to me this is becoming more common place to see good websites take a turn for the worse. Further more is there no accountability for a site so widely used by the general public for a market that is literally worth billions of dollars?

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Canadian DNC list is Up, Down, Up Again

Author JoeDigital | 30.09.2008 | Category Canada, Telecommunications

At Midnight Tuesday night, the Canadian Do Not Call (DNC) List began accepting sign ups.  And even though authorities had expected more than 50% of the nation’s eligible callers would sign up over the next two years, they were caught completely off guard by the sudden rushes of applicants.  Phone-in applicants totaled more than 2230,00, but an estimated 1 million tried to call in to the over worked and under-managed lines.  Meanwhile, the official website for the Canadian DNC list had overloaded and crashed by 9am, although it was returned to service sometime later.

The DNC List is operating by Bell Canada, who struggled to get equipment on track as the calls came flooding in.  THe irony was that even though most Canadians were expected to sign up, no one had anticipated how popular the service would be its first day in operation.

Be warned however, that once you are signed up for the DNC List, it may still take up to 31 days before you stop getting calls, and some rganizations will be exempt, and may continue calling even after your phone number has been added to the list.

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The Apple in Canada’s iPhone

Author JoeDigital | 11.07.2008 | Category Canada, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, Mac/Apple

Today was the big day for Canadians and Apple’s iPhone.  For over a year, we’ve waited for iPhones to be available, and, even though it’s still surrounded by a lot of controversy, the time has come.

The uproar was that Rogers Wireless, the largest Canadian service provider, and the only authorized Canadian carrier of the Apple iPhone, planned to charge exceedingly high rates, and lock buyers into long service contracts.  Many people felt this was unfair, and protests and petitions were flying.

At the end, Rogers gave in somewhat, and the 3 year contract rates were dropped to $30/month, or less than a third of the original proposed pricing.  This came as a relief to many, but it may not have come soon enough for the tastes of consumers.  With limited crowds of anxious shoppers lining the sidewalks, most locations had less than 100 people queued for the latest in techno-gadgets.  But even those less than record-breaking numbers were enough to quickly exhaust the limited stocks available.  Before noon, most stores had sold of their stock on hand, and were issuing numbered tickets to those who had stood in line only to have the products sell out.

Only time will tell how the situation finally works out, but at least for now there are a lot of happy Canadian iPhone owners, and lot more happily awaiting the future delivery their newly purchased prize cell phones.

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Canada says no to Ipod tax

Author JoeDigital | 12.01.2008 | Category Canada, Consumer Electronics

A big relief for music listeners all across Canada today. The Canadian Supreme Court won’t hear a case involving extra fees for iPods and other MP3 players in that country, ending a dispute over a so-called iPod tax, but rekindling debate over the legality of file swapping. With this new proposed tax by the Copyright Board of Canada, said in late 2003 that iPods and other hard-drive players were being used to copy music as well, and imposed a fee of up to $25 on the devices. In my opinion this would have further increased our already expensive MP3 players/ipods and promote more cross boarder shopping and hence would only hurt Canadian retailers in the long run. Full article at CNET can be found here

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Nalgene Bottles and Hard Plastics

Author JoeDigital | 09.01.2008 | Category Canada, Science, Technology

I know a lot of people have probably heard about this, but just to warn you of potential health risks. In our quest to cut down on waste and consume less resources we may have done this at risks to our bodies. Recently information was released that claims the popular hard-plastic water bottles we’ve used and loved for many years are made from plastics that are potnetioally doing our harm to out bodies. Full Article

But don’t worry people you can still save the environment because GLASS and METAL water bottles are still SAFE, for now!!!

Here’s a good link that contains some useful information of what plastics to avoid.

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VoIP is in high demand in Canada

Author JoeDigital | 09.12.2007 | Category Canada, Consumer Electronics, Telecommunications

VoIP demand in Canada has reached an excellent position and is in very much demand.

Report made about this shows that 1 in every 12 Canadian is enjoying on the benefits offered by VoIP. Well, it is not a surprise to see this increase in trend considering this feature rich technology benefits offered. Different providers for VoIP instruments plus the solutions available in Canada is witnessing this increase overwhelming for demand of VoIP services among the Canadians. Not only is this demand of VoIP beneficial for the providers but even the instrument providers’ benefits from it. It is observed that there is increase in number of companies, individuals and businesses that are home based approaching for VoIP services. Services offered by VoIP to home based businesses and companies are with service phones. They are usually cost effective solutions incorporated digitally over internet. VoIP phones lately come along with features added like PBX, call queuing, voice mail and auto attendant, just to highlight few.

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Canada opens wireless industry to new competition

Author JoeDigital | 29.11.2007 | Category Canada, Telecommunications

The Canadian government on Wednesday paved the way for new cellphone companies by announcing new rules for an auction of radio airwaves designed to spur competition in the wireless industry. About 40 per cent of the spectrum will be reserved for new entrants with the remainder open to all bidders, including Canada’s big three providers — Rogers, Bell, and Telus. The government will also mandate roaming area agreements which will force existing carriers to share their networks with newcomers for five years, plus another five if the new entrants can build up their own networks nationally.”

This is big relief to cell phone users all across Canada as we can all finally have a choice in a carrier that isn’t already owned by the big 3, and hopefully cell phone plan costing will also go down to the rates of our American counterparts (**COUGH/COUGH** Fido…) full article can be found here: http://canadianpress.google.com

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The state of the Vancouver tech job market

Author JoeDigital | 28.11.2007 | Category Canada

Recently with the company that I work for we have tried to hire a new intermediate sysadmin, we must have gone through about 500 resumes and interviewed 10+ people for the position. My major disappointment was to find that almost none of the applicants we interviewed had a strong mix of technical and interpersonal skills. Has the Vancouver job market become so diluted that we cannot even find a single decent sysadmin with skills in more then just windows desktop support? its been 6 months…

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