Saskatchewan is joining other Canadian locaitons and will be adopting a new area code soon. The CRTC already announced 10-digit local call dialing is coming February 25th, 2013, but now says residents can expect to see area code 639 be introduced as well. the 639 area code will be officially implemented May 25th, 2013. The reason for the new area code is similar to what Toronto and BC are experiencing, phone numbers are running out. According to the Canadian Numbering Administrator “Saskatchewan is expected to run out of telephone numbers by August 2013″.
This one comes with a health warning: even if the leaked screenshot above is legit, it’s easy to over-interpret. Nevertheless, it purports to show the account setup page from BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0 and it distinctly lacks any option to sync with BlackBerry Enterprise Server or Internet Service. Instead, you’re able to configure Exchange/Active Sync, IMAP, POP, CalDAV and CardDAV accounts, which suggests that RIM is switching to the same integrated email, contacts and calendar solutions as everyone else. Of course, it could be that the BES/BIS simply isn’t enabled on this particular device, or that it’ll be added in a later version of the OS. Then again, we can’t help but recall those Colt rumors which also hinted that RIM’s in-house service would be incompatible with QNX.
Another juicy tidbit: a second screen shot after the break reveals a green robot icon in the far left. So, even if its Android integration has been delayed, at least it hasn’t been forgotten.
The Toshiba Thrive quietly found its way into Canadian retailers. This Android 3.1 tablet comes in 3 variations and price points: 8GB ($399.99), 16GB ($429.99) and 32GB ($499.99). When Toshiba announced the Thrive would be coming to Canada they stated different pricing: 8GB was $429; 16GB was $479 and the 32GB version was $579. So the price reduction is welcomed and Toshiba possibly is taking a note from the HP TouchPad.
Specs of the Thrive has it coming with a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 10.1-inch touchscreen display (resolution of 1280 x 800), Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel. This comes in black but the back covers can be swapped out in various colours: Blue Moon, Raspberry Fusion, Lavender Bliss, Silvery Sky and Green Apple.
A crowd of Canadians watched, applauded and sang O Canada as late NDP leader Jack Layton’s casket was carried out of Parliament Hill Thursday afternoon.
The Saskatchewan government will be spending $5 million over five years, working with Hitachi Ltd. on nuclear research — including some design work on a small nuclear reactor.
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” ~ Steve Jobs More »
Less than half of Canadian cellphone and tablet users put password locks on the devices or adjust settings to limit the sharing of personal information stored on the devices, a poll commissioned by Canada’s privacy commissioner has found.
Americans are in step with the worldwide trend to wait longer to marry for the first time, taking that initial walk down the aisle six years later than they did four decades ago.
Tired of typing? Without using your keyboard, you can now talk into Google Maps to look for places and get directions. If you’re using a Chrome web browser in the U.S. (English only for now), simply click the microphone icon and speak into your computer.
Click the mic and ask for a place to get started
Using voice search can make it easier to find hard-to-spell places (like Poughkeepsie or Liechtenstein) or simply get directions without typing (for example, say “Directions from Los Angeles to San Francisco”). Or if you’re interested in exploring the world through the Earth layer (using the plugin), you can just say where you want to go and fly over to that location directly within your browser!
Fly to places just by saying your query
If you didn’t already know, you can also use voice commands on Google.com, your Android device or on the Google app for your iPhone. Take a look at this video for desktop voice search to find out how voice actions can make your life easier.
Two years ago, some dudes set the world on fire with the Half-Life 2 fan film Escape from City 17. Today, they return with part two of that film. Considering this 15-minute video only cost $250 to make, I think that’s two years well spent. This is a high-quality piece of no-budget filmmaking, for sure.
One of the biggest gripes from BlackBerry users is the lack of apps, which is why RIM hopes to boost sales by adding Android compatibility in future devices — DroidBerry, anyone? According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter say RIM may add support for Android apps on future QNX-based devices, enabling access beyond RIM’s relatively limited App World. The feature is said to go live in the QNX-powered PlayBook tablet by the end of the year, but there’s no word yet whether the 2012 line-up of QNX phones will get a Google-friendly makeover. Rumor has it that anyone who bought the most recent batch of BlackBerrys won’t get to have a taste of Gingerbread, Honeycomb or any other mouth-watering Android flavor for that matter. Guess they’ll have to settle for plain old vanilla.
This may be of no consequence to those of you who frequent XDA Developers, but obviously, not all of us are comfortable rooting Asus’ EEE Pad Transformer just to get Netflixsupport. Now you might never have to, thanks to a build lovingly named HTJ85B.US_epad-8.6.5.9-20110816. In addition to enabling sideloading support for the streaming service, this Honeycomb update provides a choice of cursor icons, improves boot times and adds the ability to enable or disable the virtual keyboard while docked. Hitting the update? Let us know how you fare in the comments.
Nothing warms our hearts quite like the thought of corporate suits and government workers pumping out the tunes of Iris DeMent and Amy Martin as they scurry throughout their busy days. As we’ve previously speculated, a new service for BlackBerry Messenger — dubbed BBM Music — has now become real official. For $5 per month, users may keep up to 50 songs in their personal library, which is kinda reminiscent of the wistful days filled with 128MB MP3 players. Fortunately, it gets better. A social component allows you to add BBM Music friends, which gives you access to their current 50 songs, too — and serves as a real incentive to grow your social circle. Once you get bored of your jam selection, up to 25 songs per month can be swapped out for new ones, and your current library can be stored locally on the handset. The new service begins today in closed beta for residents of the US, Canada and the UK, but more countries will be added down the road. Curious if yours made the list? Just hop the break for the full PR to find out.
The union representing education support workers in Saskatchewan says special needs in the classroom are growing while educational assistant jobs are being cut.