Moscow with Kaspersky Lab – In Pictures

MOSCOW - I was recently invited to the Kaspersky Lab International Press Tour in Moscow, headquarters for the well-known antivirus company. More than three dozen journalists from around the world attended the three-day event in which Kaspersky analysts shared their research on key Internet security threats. But it was not all work as our gracious hosts wined and dined us in Moscow hotspots like “The Old Tower” by Red Square and “The Most” restaurant. There was time for bus and walk tours in Moscow as well, including many colourful cathedrals and the Pushkin Fine Art Museum. Here are a few photo moments from the visit.

I chatted with co-founder Eugene Kaspersky about his push to unmask the Internet and take away its anonymity by getting passport-like ID for Internet users. Eugene’s discussion topics go all over the place and will be published soon. But his product foray in China got him into Chinese calligraphy as he quickly wrote the company brand name in Chinese. Eugene has many faces and likes to celebrate special company occasions, such as the tenth company anniversary in which Kaspersky management dressed up Native American. His co-founder and former wife and current chairman Natalya Kaspersky joined in the photo shoot.

Our workday started with reports from key Kaspersky Lab global analysts, like Stefan Tanase, top left and Dmitry Bestuzhev among others. After, we got our very own police escort through congested Moscow roads to Kaspersky Lab headquarters where research and a 24/7 global Internet security watch takes place, bottom right. On Christmas Eve, the night shift recalled a surprise festive visit by Eugene.

There was much to see and do in Moscow. A walk-about in the Kremlin grounds and cathedrals, top left, and your truly next to a huge Tsar Cannon, took us through Red Square, a double cloud exposure with the new Olympus EP-2. Romance was in the air in Moscow but our trusted guide, Mikhail Vasin, Kaspersky Senior Corp Manager, lower left, took us for a fascinating subway ride through spectacular stations (next montage). It was a full moon cold night at St. Peter Cathedral next to the Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky statue.

Moscow inside, showing architecturally diverse subway stations and the famous Moscow GUM shopping centre, all vertical panoramic photos were taken with taken with the Sony HX-1.

A memorable gala candle-lighted dinner at the popular “Old Tower” at Treatralnaya square had dozens of table pickings, honey baked duck and lamb shin stew. A dynamic singing group sang happy and sad love songs. Our Kaspersky Lab tour guide Yuliya Yudina, Kaspersky Corporate Communications and PR Manager, left and Maria Kokidou, of PC Magazine Greece.

The Race to be the Coolest PC

LAS VEGAS – Computers gone wild! That was the theme at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Years of boring desktop computers and predictable laptops got the most dramatic makeover from big and small-name manufacturers. The biggest engineering change was the use of smaller processors found in smart phones. If you think Netbooks were cool in 2009, then feast upon these innovative designs:

Hybrid Notebook - The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Notebook shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is unique in that it if two computer-in-one. In its clamshell mode it runs off an Intel Core2 Duo chip and Windows 7, but when the screen is detached in slate mode, it runs in Skylight mode, run by Linux and Qualcomm ARM Snapdragon processor as well as its own battery.

-Lenovo turned heads with the most impressive smart design in every kind of computer. HP and Dell should pay attention to the Chinese-once-IBM computer maker which is fusing the best designer minds from North America and China. Unquestionably, the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Notebook is unique in that it is two computers-in-one. In its clamshell mode it runs off an Intel Core2 Duo chip and Windows 7 Premium and keyboard. But when the screen is detached from its transparent outer shell, it becomes an ultra light slate running on a smaller Qualcomm ARM Snapdragon processor (used in smart phones) and switches to Lenovo’s new Skylight interface. In slate mode it runs on Linux but looks and feels like Windows. It has its own second set of batteries and can synchronize its files with the base unit when connected again. The high-resolution 11.6” LED backlight display, 16:9 widescreen with integrated wec cam is two-finger multi-touch in either mode. It 1.7kg in notebook mode and only 750 grams in slate mode. Very cool.

Ultra portable - Lenovo's Skylightsmartbook, shown at the Consumer Elctronics Show in Las Vegas is powered by a cellphone processors, runs on Linux, invisible to users and runs for more than 11 hours. It has WiFi and alwasy connected cellular 3G.

 Lenovo’s Ultra portable Skylight smart book, is also powered by efficient cell processors most of us have never heard of. It runs on a Lenovo user interface on Linux, although you wouldn’t know it when using it. One battery charge gives you 11 hours on the go. It has WiFi and always – connected cellular 3G. It basically bridges what has been missing between smart phones and Netbooks.
The Lenovo IdeaCenter A300 desktop is the first serious contender to iMacs. It features the thinnest all-in-one desktop 21.5″ screen and the computer guts are built in the swivel base. The optimized boot and shutdown process, rich multimedia capabilities including a face tracking web cam and HDMI in and out and easy system maintenance tools. With up to Intel® Core™2 Duo processors, the A300 comes with wireless Bluetooth keyboard and as well as the Lenovo Rescue System software to quickly and easily recover data if a document is lost or becomes corrupt.
-HP’s (and Dell’s) comeback attempt to re-introduce the now eight-year old Tablet PC got a boost when shown as the only new device by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during his keynote address at CES. Too bad it wasn’t the  much awaited and rumored Microsoft Courier Tablet PC. But neither “slate” will be

around nor will  pre-empt  Apple’s soon-to-be anounced tablet.  Industry observers called the hastily assembled Windows-based  Slates an attempt to head off Apple’s expected announcement of its first tablet.If you check Apples’ screen touch patents over the past two years, which go past traditional multi-finger touch to body and hand gesturing, you can imagine how advanced their Tablet will be, likely to be announced at a media gathering called by Apple on January 27.

The Alex eReader, an elctronic book reader on steroids, featuring a companion colour LCD touch screen that goes online like a PC.

-The most impressive eReader comes from springdesign.com and is ahead of its time. Called the Alex, it sports a 6-inch Electronic Paper Display and a fully functional 3.5-inch 320×480 LCD touch screen which can be turned off/on separately. This means WiFi Internet connectivity, web browsing, music and video to accompany the monochrome book screen. The ingeniously designed eReader also features built-in stereo speakers and will be available in February for $350 US. It includes 2GB or external microSD memory and headphones.

THE NEW GOOGLE NEXUS PHONE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

Here are my two bits on Google’s new Nexus One mobile “super phone”.

Yes, it’s one cool piece of hardware running on Google’s newest Android version OS, just as powerful as a four-year old laptop and with cool features like large OLED screen, built-in compass, position sensor, voice commands for every app for hands free use and much more. You can read all that on www.google.com/phone.

But here’s what this Nexus One is not. It’s not cheap, and will disappoint many shoppers used to actually seeing and touching a real phone in an old fashioned cellphone store…before buying one.

Why? Because according to Google, at a by-invitation-only Nexus One press conference announcement on Tuesday morning, this is a new and simple way to buy a cellphone…online. Welcome to the Brave New World…Google’s World. Don’t expect TV advertizing and other traditional marketing. That will save money and get the lower prices, Google claims.

Folks south of the boarder (Canadians have to wait) can go on the Google website, buy the phone, choose a growing number of American carriers to activate with for as low as $179, select the custom two-line engraving message and wait for their phone to be shipped at their door, and activate online. Or, they can pay the full retail price of $529 and get an unlocked phone they can use anywhere they want with their own SIM cards.

But this model only runs on the Edge network, now the second fastest network in Canadian GSM networks…so don’t expect the greatest online experience that today’s HSMA phones enjoy with all majour Canadian carriers. The iPhone does that, as do other models.

Don’t expect the coolness and plethora of apps Apple phones enjoy, having recently announced the three billionth application download mark. By the way, the Nexus doesn’t do dual touch, so no on-screen squeezing. It doesn’t tether yet either. Picky? No, just trying to water down the “super phone” part.

So, while we Canadians will have to wait a bit before jumping in the web to buy a Nexus One, we can see just how Google does with its online phone store. In a way, I feel sorry the carriers have been shut out from actually carrying the Nexus One, in-store. This is the second time a non-phone company, Apple being the first, has called the shots on cellcos.

Well, I am actually not really sorry…Canadian cellcos are doing well, thank you.

Should I wait for the “free” Google version, like all free things Google got us used to? According to them, that will be some time. The Nexus One is not an iPhone killer. But it is a media advertizing revenue killer, hoping to better Apple on the power of the Net and customers who know what they want.

I still want to buy my cellphone like I buy my shoes… in an analog store, one foot at a time.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I spent some time with the Nexus One during a brief three hour showing at the Digital Experience show in Las Vegas.

Needless to say, the phone is quality throughout, no surprise there, considering HTC built with Google’s input. I found the touch screen, not much different than an iPhone, although I did miss the lack of iPhone’s two-finger and pinch touch.

The touch keyboard was responsive as was the switching between horizontal and vertical modes. The five virtual desktops, and HTC specialty, that are a finger swipe away worked well.

But my ultimate Internet experience, watching YouTube movies online, was disappointing. Due to the slower network connection, the image quality was below average and adjusting it to the highest quality, froze the unit.

If you want Internet performance, the iPhone is still king. Time will tell if the Nexus will dent iPhone sales.  

Interestingly, in the third hour of the Digital Experience show, the Google booth was almost empty, as if the several hundred reporters who initially crowded the booth, lost interest halfway through. I think there is a message there.

Hey folks, check out my first stevoidstickcam ride in YouTube on Epson’s new eneloop hybrid electric battey-run bike at Showstoppers at the CES show in Las Vegas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snNrUV4ciH8

INTEL KEEPS PUMPING OUT NEW CHIPS WITH SURPRISING RESULTS

Intel's Micro ATX Desktop Board DH55TC Media Series motherboard, combined with the new Clarkdale processors and integrated graphics, offers impressive and HD graphics, Blu-ray and multi-channel audio. It features three graphics outputs, including HDMI for 1080p flat panel TVs.

Just when we all got familiar with Intel’s popular Core 2 Duo processors, which have the lion’s share of Apple and Windows computers, along comes a new family of Intel chips, codenamed Clarkdale.

They consist of a newly designed processor chip, the i3 and i5 family and they are based on Intel’s new 32 nanometer technology (about 3,000 transistors across a human hair).

To consumers this means smaller, smarter and as it turns out, more powerful and capable computing.

The Clarkdale chips are Intel’s third generation of “i” processors, and the most affordable.

What is great about them?

The 3.33 GHz Core i5-661, Intel sent me to try out for the past month, along with the new Micro ATX Desktop Board DH55TC Media Series motherboard is a veritable package that offers affordable computing for the masses with exciting multimedia capability.

Not just fast processing, with four core hyper-threading but automatic on-demand TurboBoost technology which runs the CPU up to about 10 per cent faster, when needed.

How fast is the 3.33 GHz Core i5-661? In my tests, it outperformed the current Core 2 Duo 8500, even nipping away at Core 2 Quad processors.

What impressed the most though was the integrated graphics, not so much the PC gaming ability, equivalent to a $100 add-on graphics card, but the ability to play HD movies and multi-channel audio formats.

In fact, right-out of the box on default settings, the Blu-ray playback quality on my Samsung 1080p plasma TV was more eye-pleasing off the Clarkdale PC than the image from several Blu-ray consoles I tried on the same Blu-ray Baraka title. The blacks were deeper with richer mid tones and just as sharp and just as smooth.

I used Samsung’s newest internal SH-B083 Blu-ray combo drive (DVD/DL/CD R/RW) as well as LG’s external USB-connected external Blu-ray R/RW combo. Both played movies seamlessly.

Intel’s recommended test Blu-ray titles, Night at the Museum (first one) and Resident Evil Extinction, had challenging scenes with fast camera movement under harsh lighting conditions and wide shot pans. They all passed the muster.

What really impressed was comparing Intel’s fastest “gaming” Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition i-965 3.2 GHz processor equipped with a respectable upper-mid level NVIDIA N-275 graphics card with the new cheaper and simpler Clarkdale technology.

Sure, tasks on the Extreme setup where completed 30% faster, and graphics-intensive games ran at four to six times higher frame rates, but all that, with a processor that costs five times what the i5-661 does and the added $300 for the NVIDIA card, itself a very capable HD-capable GPU.

The Blu-ray looked similar on both computers, but the Clarkdale and DH55TC Media Series motherboard with HDMI out and integrated graphics still won out on smoothness, even a simple end-of-movie credit roll looking noticeably smoother than my gaming machine.

Even more impressive, was running a CPU-intensive PhotoShop action file while playing a Blu-ray movie. The Clarkdale ran the movie smoothly, thanks to the dedicated HD graphics, reserving the traditional part of the CPU for the PhotoShop task. In fact, the CPU barely peeked past 6 per cent when just playing Blu-ray movies, obviously leaving room for more tasks.

In comparison, the Extreme Edition enthusiast gaming PC had glitches running both programs with frequent playback glitches. I doubt most folks would run their PCs the way I did, but these are examples of how much better processors are getting.

The Clarkdale line of processors will offer a selection of i3 and i5 32 nanometre chips for the right job, ranging from full Hyper-Threading and TubroBoost, to plain versions, still faster and more energy efficient, with integrated graphics, for consumers and businesses looking at price value and energy saving performance.

Unless you are an extreme gamer, a quiet and small, shoebox-sized Clarkdale PC, whith CPUs staring at about $100, is all you need for great Windows 7 experience, media playing and uncompromised HD graphics on your flat panel TV. 

For more information go to: www.intel.com

BATTLE OF THE MICRO FOUR THIRDS CAMERAS

 

Panasonic's LUMIX GF1, with shutter preview effect, left and Olympus PEN E-P2 with high-def digital eyepiece, offer much, from cool features, quality to extreme portability.

It’s not often that two digital camera makers introduce new competing models using the same underlying technology standard.

Although both models were in my last Journal Gift Guide, it’s challenging to pick the better of the two. Because they share the same mechanical standards, it’s like comparing apples to apples.

The new Olympus PEN E-P2 and Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 “hybrid” cameras are unique in that they use an agreed upon technology by several manufacturers in their body and lens design. It’s called the Four Thirds Micro, which allows interchangeable lenses between them, as well as lenses from Leica and Sigma.

They will also accept all older Four Thirds lenses from their larger full size DSLR sibling cameras with adapter rings. Micro lenses are smaller and lighter and just as sharp. Another advantage of all the Four Thirds cameras, lenses and flashes is that they can be updated by simply plugging the body with a USB cable to an Internet-connected PC using included software.

What makes these new cameras so special?

They are not DSLR cameras, which means no flipping mirror or prism, so they are smaller and lighter. When equipped with their ultra-flat, fixed focal length “pancake” lenses, they easily fit in a coat pocket.

They also use the same size image sensor as the same brand DSLR models for exceptional picture quality rivalling bulky mid-level DSLR cameras. They rely on a large, live-view screen for composing and instantly seeing the pictures you take. They have powerful features like follow focus, customized settings and an all-important complete auto setting.

These camera types are not cheap. The bodies start at about $850, while an E-P2 with 17 mm f2.8 pancake lens and electronic viewfinder retails for $1,199.99, compared to the GF1 with 20mm f1.7 pancake lens and live view finder for $1,299.99.

Which is better? Like all things digital, each model has its own strengths, so here is what stands out for each model.

Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 megapixel:

— It has a faster sequential frame mode, which is good for sports.

— The seven live art filters, applied to stills and movies simply rock, with stunning Photoshop-like effects.

— Multiple exposures, during shooting or after, with selectable layer transparency, let’s you get infinitely creative on combining images together, even planning how you will shoot them beforehand.

— The optional VF-2 90-degree flip digital eyepiece viewer is sharper than the rear-view screen, perfect in bright places and magnifies the image more. It’s like being in the front row of a movie theatre screen. The rear-view screen has the best side-view quality when holding the camera high or low for creative shots.

— Menu screens can be challenging, but several options for changing your settings are the fastest in any camera.

— The additional noise filter makes for cleaner pictures when shooting in high ISO settings.

— Hand-held, available-light shooting with slower shutter speeds are sharper with three built-in image stabilization options which work on any lens.

— The video movie shooting quality is superior — 1280 x 720 with demonstrably better audio, but it takes up more room, requiring one GB of memory for four minutes of video.

— Includes more powerful picture editing software.

The Panasonic GF1 12.1 megapixel:

— The opposite from Olympus, it has an exceptionally sharper rear viewfinder screen but lacklustre optional Live View Finder.

— You can see the pictures you just shot sooner and shoot single images more frequently, as well as scroll through your photos faster.

— There are 27 physical buttons or wheels you can use directly to change settings.

— The Panasonic built-in flash adds more value compared to the optional but more powerful flash for the Olympus E-P2.

— There is a better, more expensive selection of LUMIX lenses, but all are interchangeable between brands.

— The camera body is lighter.

— There are seven choices of motion video shooting quality, the best being AVCHD Lite/H, which can record better than DVD quality movies requiring one GB of memory for ten minutes of video.

THE SKINNY

The GF1 is a complete camera with built-in flash and more responsive shooting, while the E-P2 has better anti-blur image stabilization, artistic and creative features.

For more information go to:

www.panasonic.ca

www.olympuscanada.com

www.four-thirds.org

SAMSUNG’S NEW DESIGNER NETBOOK STANDS OUT FROM THE NETBOOK CROWD

NETBOOKS ARE DANGEROUSLY CROSSING INTO NOTEBOOK PRICING

Samsung’s newest Netbook, the N310, $499.99 pushes the envelope on design fashion over form factor in this most misunderstood laptop computer category. Sure it looks cool, with a simple, yet elegant design by international award winning designer Naoto Fukasawa.

What does it have going for it?  

-An easy-to-use pebble stone keyboard with more space between the keys making it easier to type and is only 7 per cent smaller than a standard keyboard in size.

-The longest lasting battery in its class. Samsung claims 11 hours, but realistically closer to ten, still, great portable technology on one battery charge.

-The other goodies are onboard video camera, WiFi and Samsung’s own ECO certification mark, attesting to the absence of hazardous substances and materials; optimized energy efficiency; and, effective material usage.

It actually looks more powerful than what it really is: another Netbook running on an Intel Atom processor, one MB RAM, like dozens of other brands, including previous Samsung models.

If you are a first-time portable computer buyer or existing Netbook fan, you will love it…it’s like the new Volkswagen Beetle, with generous rubber-like curves and attractively different from other models.

But there’s something about Netbooks that are irritating me and I can’t put my finger on it yet.

I think Netbooks are a computer phase that happened at the right place and time.

Call it a perfect storm. They are noticeably smaller and lighter than notebooks, cheaper and arrived during an economic downturn, making them an attractive buy. Stores don’t like them because they make less money than they do on regular notebooks, which in turn, have better performance and value.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told me in an interview at the recent Windows 7 that Netbooks are many things to many people, but that computer makers will soon counter back with smaller and lighter notebooks that will do more than casual computing and Internet, the de facto category for Netbooks.

Take Toshiba’s upcoming Satellite T110 or larger SatelliteT130 for example. Literally arriving Christmas week, these thin-and-light notebooks are ultra portable and will run circles around Netbooks. The T110 for $699, has a much more usable 11.6 inch display, is 24.9 mm thin, has  2GB of fast and efficient DDR3 RAM, weighs less than 1.8kg and includes an Intel Pentium Ultra Low Voltage Processor and hard drive impact sensor. These are all quality features, until now reserved for much more expensive notebooks.

Can Netbooks do that? I doubt it. That would make them notebooks…or Not-Netbooks, right?

Check out my weekend Edmonton Journal Column on computer buying tips at:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Price+doesn+dictate+computer+performance/2335964/story.html

CUT YOUR PHONE CORD…AND YOUR INTERNET CORD!

Newest Wireless HSPA Internet Hubs Rock
Cutting the cord on landline phones, in favour of cellphones, may soon not be the only cutting going on.
Folks who get Internet via cable or ADSL may be cutting those cables too.
Why? Because of some pretty cool new technology from Bell and Rogers that is making fast Internet access easier, even possible in rural areas. Imagine downloading a 100 MB movie file in two minutes, wirelessly!
Rogers’ Rocket Hub, $149.95 with a plan, for example, is a cellular device in disguise. It looks like an upright modem with a power cord, four Ethernet connections and a phone plug. It uses Rogers HSPA network, like cellphones, for data-based wireless Internet from anywhere. Up to ten WiFi equipped computers (including four Ethernet cable desktop PCs) can access the Internet for email, surfing, gaming and more, at speeds equal, if no better to my current Shaw or Telus land connection.
You need to subscribe to a very reasonable data plan from Rogers, starting at $35 monthly for up to 3 GB, up to $60 for up to 10 GB. If you lowball your subscription, Rogers simply charges you the next level for going over for the month.
But it gets better.
You can plug any home phone into the Rocket Hub and talk and receive calls. You can port your home phone number to it and subscribe to a Rogers combo data-voice plan, starting at $50 for up to 3 GB data, unlimited local calling, voicemail, caller ID and call waiting.
Can your current home phone and Internet service beat that?
Rogers is selling the Rocket Hub for folks who live in fringe cellphone coverage areas with less capable and pricier Internet options. I think its for anyone who needs a “phone” and Internet package at a good price.
BTW, one GB of data get’s you 5,000 text emails + 1,000 web pages + 400 photo upload/downloads + 50 minutes on YouTube.
The MiFi 2372 from Bell, $99.95 with a plan, doesn’t have as many features but is ultra portable. It is rechargeable and works with up to five WiFi equipped computers. It comes with a USB cable and software to connect to desktop PCs too. The micro SD slot can hold up to 16 GB of memory as well. It doesn’t do voice (other than Internet based calls you run on computers) but you can carry it in your pocket wherever you go in Bell’s HSPA cell coverage area and have Internet access for computers and cellphones with WiFi capability.
The one downside to extreme portability for the MiFi is its data plan, considerably higher than Rogers, at $30 for 500 MB, $40 1 GB, $65 3GB and $85 5GB.

Which is faster? I tried both units from various parts of my home, as well as parking in different areas in town. Overall, I found the Bell MiFi to be a bit faster (maximum download speeds of 650 KB/sec versus 580 KB/sec.) The MiFi only dropped to 450 KB/sec when locked in my car’s trunk, parked inside my garage. Impressive. But the Rogers Rocket Hub did a better job of keeping connection speeds up, when hooking up several laptops with simultaneous downloads.
So, if you are not a hardcore Internet user, consider the convenience these unique hubs offer.
Both units come with pre-configured security, with passwords printed on the back or battery cover. After all, you don’t want your neighbours running down your data plan, do you?
For more information got to:

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/internet-mobile/rockethub

http://www.bell.ca/shopping/Novatel-Wireless-MiFi-2372/69136.details

Check my cellphone gift guide roundup in today’s www.edmontonjournal.com

CELLPHONE HEAVEN IN CANADA

Finally, cellphone heaven in Canada!

With this week’s launch of the Telus and Bell HSPA wireless network, Canadians can finally enjoy, not just a blazingly fast network, but a great choice of new phones, previously available outside Canada, even North America.

Also known as 3G+, the new network will show a doubling of performance to previous networks, all things being equal. Like faster media downloads, faster mapping programs and for HSPA “stick” models, faster browsing on laptops.

But, some explaining on how the HSPA works, is in order. HSPA phones will only work on the new HSPA network, pretty much covering what the older existing Edge network does.  In Europe, it will work with the growing HSPA network, and revert back to Quad Band Edge when not available.

This means when you go to a Telus or Bell store, you need to decide which network you want to be on. Your deciding factour will likely be based on the model phone. If you like the BlackBerry Storm for example and the yet-to-be officially confirmed Storm 2, you will have to forgo the HSPA network, which for a lot of folks is not a big deal.

But if you want HSPA for the fastest online experience, BlackBerry offers the new Bold 9700 available at  Telus and Bell. They will still appeal to current RIM fans with its improved keyboard layout, smooth touch pad instead of ball, faster processor and more memory.

But more choices of phone models with more operating systems, will make choosing the right phone challenging.

Some HSPA phones are exclusive to either cellco. The new LG New Chocolate from Telus, for example,  is exclusive in North America. This is not a phone for the timid. “This is the phone for the person who want’s to be noticed,” said Hilen Wong, director of director of Product Marketing at TELUS. It’s thin, narrow and long with a stunning 4.12” multitouch  touchscreen that shows full width web pages. The HD video play impresses.

Competition between cellcos now is good for the consumer, especially on the popular iPhone 3Gs which now availabe in from three cellcos.

TELUS and Rogers, offer cheaper (but less data and voice) than Rogers. This competition is opening the doors to cool new and cheap services for consumers. Bell is offering the Video Calling service for just 5$ per month, or included in several plans.  Users get Unlimited Video Calling with no data charges and it doesn’t come out of your voice minutes. Concurrently, Bell’s Facebook app  lets users receive video calls from friends from anywhere in the world. All they need is a Web cam. There is no cost to the friend and there are no long distance charges. Sweet.

Folkd who live in rural areas will be able to have affordable and fast access on their PCS, by tethering their HSPA phones for speedy Internet access.

Here is a brief rundown of the new HSPA phones I previewed with TELUS before launch this week.

HTC Hero – This new version leaps ahead where it left off in its Rogers version. It has seven panels to choose from with lots of smart widgets for more personalizing. Running on Google’s Android, it has everything at your fingertips and lets you take all the great things about Google in your pocket.

BlackBerry Bold  - This is an expensive phone , but it’s the  BlackBerry flagship.  It’s used by most of the RIM brass, with many big and small improvements that will likely be noticed and appreciated by current Bold users. The fret keyboard is slightly curvier and easier for most fingers (mosly thumbs) to hover over while the touch pad is awesome and looks like it will never break down. The screen is crisp and the battery life is longer. This is a fast phone that snaps on your command.   

LG New Chocolate – As mentioned above, this a fashion and geek magnet. Unusually long, thin and narrow, it’s awesome on HD movies, great full width web experience, and even has room for dual frame display when handling your email. Nice.

Nokia E-71 – Similar to Rogers version this smartphone is indeed clever, an example of Nokia’s craftsmanship, engineering and practicality. It features two home pages, one for office and a switchable home version, each accommodating the demands or work and play. It has a crisp screen, a well laid out QWERTY keyboard even fat fingers can use.

Sierra Wireless 306 Mobile Internet Key – You know what this does. Plug into your laptop USB, the built-in software installs and you now have fast Internet. It even accommodates micro-SD cards, currently maxing at 32 GB, for carrying your digital stuff around.  

BELL to come soon, as I get my hands on some of their phones.

Ballmer defends the company, talks Netbooks and misses Bill Gates

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's Canadian key note had no "developers, developers, developers", but there was a "Windows, Windows, Windows" Kodak moment. Steve Makris Photo (Sony HX-1 on Anti-Motion Blur)

TORONTO-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer met with Canadian partners and industry leaders this week taking part in a one-day-early pre-launch of Windows 7 before heading south of the boarder for the official October 22 launch of the new operating system.

He didn’t shout “developers, developers, developers” in his keynote but did throw his fists in the air saying “Windows, Windows, Windows” in an exchange during an audience Q&A.

I was invited with a small group of journalists to sit down for a chat with Steve after his Canadian keynote, my first meeting with him. Compared to interviews with Bill Gates, Steve is the opposite. He gets worked up and almost shouts in his public keynotes but is very calm in private interviews, even when I poked him with this question.

Q. Does it bother you when analysts, even some of your co-workers, call Microsoft a version 2.0 company? They get it right the second time around. What are you doing to change that perception?

A. I don’t worry about the perception. I just want the products to be right. If they are not right the first time I won’t hang up my equipment and go home. The goal is to get things right out of the chute. But I think it is important to also say you are willing to continue even if the first incarnation is not right. The first incarnation of many things are not right. SAP didn’t get it right the first time with ERP, Oracle didn’t get it right with databases, Google didn’t get it right the first time with search, didn’t really pop when they started the company in 9-95 …didn’t pop for seven years. Some things do take off from V 1.0 and the first implementation, that’s fine too, but weare trying to make sure we get things right as fast as we can and at the same time that we not be so impatient and immature as to assume that we can’t learn, from getting feedback . So, I am neither sad nor proud of the statement you said. I just think it is important to do great work and also to keep an open mind and listen and be prepared to respond to the feedback you get.”

Having survived that one, unscathed, I asked Steve about his take on Netbooks.

Q. Has the popularity of the Netbooks surprised you? The OEM makers tell me that in order to meet the low cost factour, which is the sweet price nowadays for people due to the economy, Microsoft has to give deep discounts on its operating system for Netbooks compared to notebook and desktop computers. Is that a viable business model or is it just a passing phase right now?  

A.” I think you are going to have a certain percentage of the world say look, I will take the compromise, capability and performance that the Netbook implies in order to get the price.

The thing that I think is a little silly right now is that people think, in some sense, is that to get long battery life and light weight you also have to be underpowered. I think there will be a lot of nice notebooks, that are not underpowered, that have long battery life and have light weight.  

If you ask 10 people what Netbooks mean, you will get a bunch of different answers…to some people  it’s going to mean an atom processor, to some people it’s going to mean cheap, to some people its going to mean light , to some people it’s going to mean small screen, You will get a variety of different answers.

We are going to have a diversity of different solutions…for the lowest cost machine we need to have an operating system that is priced…Windows 7 Starter Edition is that operating system. In fact if a user buys a Windows 7 based Netbook with Windows Starter Edition, all of the full Windows 7 is on the machine, they just have to give us a credit card to activate it.”

Always the salesperson, Steve even gave out his email, steveb@microsoft.com his keynote for folks who want to do business with Microsoft.

Surprisingly Steve has no issue with companies keeping their Vista machines if they are happy with them, instead of having to feel compelled to upgrade to Windows 7. Despite all the negative publicity on Vista, Microsoft feels that Vista was a good product launched in an unprepared eco system. After SP2 the software giant,  rightly so, believes Vista is still a viable solution for many companies.

But the most revealing thing Steve told me was about his long-time Microsoft associate Bill Gates, who as you know, has switched his daily Microsoft work regimen to part time, directing his energy to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Q. Do you miss Bill?

A. “I don’t miss him as a friend because, we are still friends. I miss him as a co-worker…he is in a couple days a month and he and I were able to launch a board meeting, but it’s not the same, it’s not the same.” 

Interesting.

Industry observers often criticize Microsoft as being run like a family business. Microsoft managers have told me Bill is not missed by all staffers, many of whom prefer the more horizontal style of management. None miss the BillG review, where a project’s success hinged on a one-person career-changing meeting with Bill, who would approve or nix a project. Now, larger groups get involved in project reviews in a more collegial style.

But what may be missed, is the one-two punch combo Bill and Steve ran in the good old days.

And, no one in Microsoft today, can sit down and talk about the entire company like Bill could.

Things change, even for old technology warriors.

Check out my consumer-friendly take in Windows 7 at:

www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Microsoft+lucky/2140057/story.html

Walk the Walk with Intel

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN BUILD A HOT PC?

Following Intel’s recent launch of its new mainstream i7 and Core i5 processors, the chip giant is hosting a face-off for the world’s top mod enthusiasts in the Intel Core i7 Custom Desktop Challenge. This international throw-down rewards mod masters for creating unique desktops that reflect the power of tomorrow’s technology – from awesome gaming PCs to outstanding platforms for home automation. The deadline to enter is November 16, 2009, so stock up on energy drinks and put your competitors to shame. Get more details at www.intelcorechallenge.com. Since the new kick-ass affordable processors won’t be showing up in Canadian stores for at least a few more months, computer enthusiasts have a chance to show the likes of HP, Dell and Lenovo, not to mention, all those mom-and-pop computer outlets, how it’s done. Geeks of the world…start your chipsets!