jules.ca

telecom, technology and the occasional floobergeist

I’ve got an abundance of bits and pieces of canadian telecom and internet experience, and I am thrilled to be in a place in time when all is changing, technology is developing, and the status quo is being disrupted. 

Floobergeist is a word that is beginning to defy definition.  The more I roll that smooth pebble around, the more it becomes to mean. Floobergeist started out as the magic dust that turns dreams into ideas.  And then it began to encompass the zing that happens when you have conversations about those ideas. And now, it’s the whole evolution from dream to conversation, with each step improving the later and the former along the way.

Everyone aspires to good conversations. They can lead you to adventures you’ve never imagined, and to people you can twig with.

Let’s have a good conversation…

welcome.

Filtering by Category: tech news

Dodocase Extinction --- iPad 3rd Gen DodoCase Review

​I'm an uber geek when it comes to cases for my devices. My iPhone has a Mophie Juicepack, which is beyond fantastic. I've had a few different iPad cases, as I've upgraded and changed usage requirements. I've had cheap cases and expensive cases. I was excited about the Dodocase.

IMG_2615.JPG

The constant advertisements and decent ​reviews for the Dodocase made me take a more in-depth look at this case in November 2012. The marketing got me, I'm guilty. I liked the idea of a case that resembled a book, and the colours were eye catching. The case is constructed of bamboo and book binding fabric and seemed to be a great solution.

It's now the middle of February. I've had the case for about 3 months.​

Within the first 4 weeks of purchase, the material started fraying.​ 

Within the first two months, the book binding started fraying and ripping. I use my iPad predominantly at home, for reading, watching videos and social media activities. I don't travel much with it, or put it into a larger bag to tote around. It doesn't get wet, or have a very challenging life.  I'm disappointed by the quality, but in hindsight, I'm not terribly surprised. I had hoped that the material was of higher quality, and that the manufacturer had done a better job with ensuring that the material didn't fray. I'm saddened that a $70+ case only lasted 3 months. In another month, I expect the front cover to come detached from the body of the case.​

IMG_2614.JPG

I'm researching the next case, and I'm leaning towards the Mophie case. It doesn't have a battery extender, (Mophie, please make an iPad case akin to the awesome iPhone battery cases you make!!!!) but I know that their products are high quality, and great value.​

If you're looking for an innovative case for your iPad, keep looking, the Dodocase is on the verge of extinction.. :-(​

IMG_2613.JPG
IMG_2612.JPG

Path --> The Way Facebook Should Have Been

My heart soared today.

I stumbled across Path. Some have touted it as the anti-social network, and I can tend to agree. 150 friend limit makes sure you choose your friends wisely. It’s been described as an intimate bbq with your closest buddies… and indeed, that’s exactly what it is.

You won’t find arduous privacy settings, games or advertising. It’s not a web app, it’s a mobile app only —- iOS and Android. Pundits are loving it. Amber MacArthur likes it. Gizmodo has a wickedly delightful review, and that’s what tweaked my interest.

I’m the sort of person who has a dozen different friend lists on Facebook. On Path —- that’s irrelevant. It’s just your friends. Your *close* friends. Not the obscure people you haven’t seen in 20 years but thought it would be a kick to add them to your Facebook. Real friends… full stop.

The biggest question will be whether or not the people I actually like keeping in contract with regularly have room for another app in their social world.

I hope so.

 

I heart Wikileaks

I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never paid all that much attention to what Wikileaks has been publishing over the past few years. Sure, some bits and pieces I will scan; obviously more people than I have been taking it very seriously.

This week I’ve never been more *proud* to be a customer. I’ve had my DNS with EasyDNS since 2006. They’ve been put in a very precarious position and have done marvelously in the face of uncertainty.

Paypal, Mastercard and Visa haven’t done marvelously in the face of uncertainty. They’ve just pandered to a government who is pulling an infantile temper tantrum.

 

 

“Given that no one has proved that Assange is guilty of the offences he is accused of and that Wikileaks is not implicated in any of those,” the website also urged that credit card giants Visa and Mastercard rescind their decisions to cut off payments from the whistleblowing website’s supporters.

- The Raw Story

 

How is it possible that the US, using the UK as a defacto puppet, can get away with this sort of shenanigans in this day and age? Of course, grassroots movements are protesting, hackers are hacking, and the digitial world is divided on legal definitions, transparency, freedom and security….

I’m thrilled that Wikileaks is still publishing, and I’ve got a feeling that now that they are indeed front page news, more and more of the *average population* will take notice and read what Wikileaks has been trying to tell us for years now.

Pay attention, don’t fall into complacency, don’t blame the messenger.