What's On Tech?

KELCOM and TELUS have been working hard to bring you the latest and greatest in smart accessories over the last year. Now, we are in the toy business! No we didn't hire elves or even open a toy shop. TELUS has partnered with some great technology companies to bring these app inspired gadgets: WowWee MiP $109.99 WowWee MiP is your new robotic friend. MiP can dance, fetch and battle. This robot is perfect for children or the "young at heart" shopper. How Does It Work? Drive MiP yourself or draw a path using the downloadable application on your smartphone or tablet. You can also record videos with MiP's onboard camera, fetch a canned drinkl, play your favourite music or challenge other MiP to a battle (Rock'em Sock'em style) Sphero SPRK $149.99 Sphero SPRK is a smart, programmable toy that is easy to use. This toy is perfect for young people who enjoy creating or building. How Does It Work? Combine SPRK's moves, like spinning, rollin...

You heard it right. TELUS and Kelcom are keeping the beat in August. What exactly does that mean? Well, we decided to discount some of our hottest music and audio solutions so you can get good quality sound to pair with your smartphone. In celebration of this occasion I have created a top 5 list of must have Music accessories: JBL Flip 2 $129 The award winning sound of the JBL Flip 2 is breathtaking. A small compact speaker that blows your ear drums with crisp highs and thunderous low tones. This speaker is also capable of taking conference calls so you can hear your conversation loud and clear. Braven BRV-1 $139 Braven takes wireless speakers to the next level with this rugged and waterproof speaker. Not only does this speaker produce great tones with no distortion, it also can be fully submerged underwater. This is a great speaker to have on the patio or on the boat during the summer time. Beats Audio PowerBeats $197 One of the biggest problem fo...

Since the introduction of the Rogers "Roam Like Home" package and competitive carriers such as WIND, more and more customers are seeking a plan that covers them when they are travelling in the US. For residents in border towns this is almost a requirement to fit into our life style. We have been waiting a long time for TELUS to come to bat with something and now they have. US Easy Roam is a $7/day feature that gets added to your monthly bill when you are travelling in the US. This feature takes your current rate plan and makes it borderless. For example if you have 1GB of data in your plan, you will be able to use the data in the US without getting dinged for roaming charges. TELUS customers can add the Easy Roam feature by text or through their TELUS My Account online. This is not a feature that is automatically incorporated to every plan. Once you have the Easy Roam feature added, you can Roam Free. The $7/day fee is only charged when you use your phone in the US, so n...

Distracted driving is becoming one of the leading causes of death. Drivers engaged in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash event compared with non-distracted drivers. (Source: Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 2010) The RCMP has partnered with TELUS and other great organizations to create the "Leave the Phone Alone" campaign to spread awareness of the dangers of Distracted Driving. Join me and other Canadians by taking the pledge to stop Distracted Driving https://leavethephonealone.ca/pledge-form.php #TELUSWISE #LeaveThePhoneAlone

I remember not too long ago the idea of a camera phone was a revelation, yet the quality of the picture was always lacking. Now we have replaced our digital cameras and sometimes even SLR professional cameras for our cell phones. The convenience of having one device that pretty much does it all is something that we have come accustomed to. With every new device that is launched, another Megapixel is added. The quality of smartphone cameras is beautiful. It's about time we see some great accessories that enhance that quality. For the month of July Telus and Kelcom will be discounting all Mobile Photography accessories. Here are some of my favourite picks: PureGear Selfie Stick (MSRP $34.99) This great addition to the Selfie stick lineup is light weight and compact, so it's easy to store for travel. It features a built-in battery and shutter button so you can snap a selfie from any distance. The PureGear Selfie Stick is compatible with both iOS and Android devices runni...

I often have customers come in to the store with the fear that their smartphone has been compromised by malicious software. Although viruses are more common on desktop computers, they still can exist on our mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. How Do You Know If You Are Infected? One good way to tell if you are the victim of a mobile virus is an unusual increase in mobile data usage. If you are a moderate data user and one month you get a bill for massive overages, this could be potential virus behaviour. A mobile virus has the ability to rapidly drain your phone's battery, delete personal data or even take control of certain features of the device. Depending on which virus it is, it could potentially send unwanted text messages, make long distance phone calls or take unauthorized videos and pictures using your camera! How Do You Stop It? Best case scenario, do a factory wipe. There are plenty of applications that claim they will remove viruses, adware and ot...

Some really exciting news for TELUS clients went live yesterday morning via an e-mail distribution. If you are a TELUS customer you can now apply for a CIBC TELUS Rewards Visa . I know what you're thinking, just another credit card that I don't need. Well, here some a great benefits of the TELUS Visa that will help you get into a new device much quicker without cancelling your contract. You can use your points to: - Pay down your Device Balance (remaining of contract) - Save on the upfront cost of a device (without changing your plan or term) - Redeem for other great products and services (for a full list see  http://telus.com/rewards ) How do you earn points? - Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend - Earn 1.5 points on gas, groceries and purchases in a TELUS store . - Earn 1.5 points on your monthly bill when you sign up for Pre-Authorized payments There are some really great benefits for TELUS customers and even more if you sign up before June 1, 2015. You will...

Switching to a new phone can be extremely painful and scary. Making sure that all your data is transferred successfully is almost impossible. Here are some great tips for making the switch to the Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge this Friday. For Android Users: Get yourself set up with Samsung Smart Switch - You can either download this directly from the Google Play Store OR onto your PC or MAC computer. This app transfers most of your data (Contacts, Calendars, WIFI Passwords, App Data, Music, Alarm Clocks, Pictures and Videos) Use Cloud Services - It's a pretty good idea to jump on the Cloud bandwagon. Cloud storage ensures your content is backed up and accessible on multiple devices. If something goes wrong with your phone and you can't access the touch screen, no problem. Use things like your Google Account to back up your personal data, Google Drive for your Photos, Videos and Documents and lastly create Samsung Account so you can Lock, Track and Wipe your device...

It's not what you may think at first. Most people think Wireless Charging is the ability to charge your phone wirelessly much like connecting to a Wi-Fi hot spot. That statement isn't entirely accurate. Although the term wireless charging would lead you to believe that you do not need any cord, there are some "wires" involved. Wireless charging is a hassle free charging solution that allows you to charge your phone by resting it on a surface or mat. That charger is then plugged into the wall. What is the benefit of that? Think about how many times you plug a cable into the charging port of your phone. Now think about how much that is wearing down the inside of the port eventually making the connection loose. Wireless charging solves the problem of putting the charging cable in the wrong way. Keep in mind, not every device is wireless charging compatible. There are two types of wireless charging; PMA which requires an attachment on the back of your device bef...

Fitness trackers have been out there for a while. From the pedometers that you could put at the bottom of your shoe to the heart beat sensor that you strap to your chest, people have been interested in their fitness progress. With all the access to technology that we have at our finger tips today, it's hard not to give it a try. It can actually be a little addicting, which is not a terrible addiction to have. Here are some great reasons to jump on the fitness tracking bandwagon: Sleep Detection Some great heavy hitters like Fitbit and Jawbone do this very well. The tracker automatically detects your sleep by measuring your movement. If you haven't moved for an hour, the tracker assumes that you are sleeping. This data is then transmitted to your device or computer to let you know how many times you were restless in the night and how many minutes you were awake. You'll be surprised how many times you actually toss and turn in the middle of the night. For best results...

Great news for TELUS customers today, especially those of us who live so close to the border. TELUS has eliminated the 60 cent fee for incoming text messages while in the US. Outgoing text messages will still be charged the regular 60 cents/text rate. This will be the standard for all Consumer and Business TELUS accounts. Unfortunately, TELUS Corporate and Corporate EPP accounts will be excluded from this offer until further notice. What do you have to do to get in on this rate? NOTHING! Just keep doing what you're doing. TELUS will automatically adjust the feature into your rate plan. No need to call in or go to a store to have it added on. For more information go to www.telus.com/travel 

BlackBerry has suspended the release of update version 10.3.1.1581 due the update causing several issues with devices. For now, TELUS is working with BlackBerry to: ensure repairs sent regarding this issue are not classified as No Fault Found, and to determine if BlackBerry will support out-of-warranty repairs for impacted devices. Details Affected devices:    BlackBerry Q5    BlackBerry Q10    BlackBerry Z10    BlackBerry Z30 Potential issues experienced after updating to software version 10.3.1.1581: Device does not:    connect to a network.    boot up.    accept a charge   receive email notifications Device experiences increased battery drain. Action If you are experiencing nay of these issues, please attempt the following: 1.      Attempt a  Factory Reset . 2.      If the issues persist and the device is under wa...

TELUS and Cyber Safe have partnered together to create the #BeAppSafe campaign, an online resource for keeping Canadians safe in their digital lives. As a TELUS WISE Ambassador, this is a great opportunity for myself to talk about what to look for before entering the wireless world. Here are 6 ways you can #BeAppSafe: 1.     Only download from apps from trusted sources, such as App Stores: You should never be downloading an app from a Third Party source. Any app that is download from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Blackberry World, etc are scanned and tested for malware before being uploaded. These apps approved by the manufacturer and are safe to download. Did you know? 65% of Canadians play games on their mobile device. 2.     Keep your operating system up to date: You know those pesky notifications that we get almost daily for app updates or software updates? Do them! Most of them contain security updates and bug fixes that will help make...

The first SIM enabled SmartWatch has landed at KELCOM and TELUS . The latest gadget from Samsung, the Gear S has hit the stores earlier this month.  In addition to the powerhouse line up of Gear SmartWatches, Samsung’s Gear S takes it to the next level. So what is different about Gear S? The watch does your typical SmartWatch functions such as reading emails, sending text messages, answering phone calls, counting your fitness metrics (steps, calories, distance, heart rate), but now with the ability to have an active SIM in the watch, you can leave your smartphone at home. TELUS is now offering data and minutes packages that pair with your existing TELUS rate plan.  Share Your Smartphone’s Data $5/month Share Your Smartphone’s Data and add 100 Minutes of Voice $15/month The SIM based Watch has it’s own dedicated phone number that is forwarded from your cell phone number. It also has 3G data speeds so you can connect to all ...

It has been close to a month since I strapped on the Fitbit Charge. I wanted to use the device extensively to make sure that I was giving it a fair review. I have to say I am quite impressed with it's functionality thus far and am still using it to this day. Let's deep dive into the Fitbit Charge with the good, and the not so good: What's Good? Accuracy - This fitness tracker is one of the most accurate when it comes to counting steps and floors climbed. The Fitbit is based on movement, so shaking your wrist uncontrollably will not give you very many extra steps. Comfort - The charge is very comfortable. This is really important for the sleep function. You want to be able to sleep in comfort and with the Charge you don't really notice that it's on. Functionality - Fitbit has done a great job not only with the device but with their application. You can track anything from steps, your runs, your meals even your water intake. This app also connects wi...

With the rise of microbreweries and craft brew houses, the popularity of unique, great tasting beer is a growing phenomenon. Beer drinkers have evolved and the days of going to the Beer Store and grabbing a 24 case of your favorite Molson or Labatt brand has turned into going to the expanded beer section of the LCBO and grabbing a variety of tall boys. Untappd is a great application that brings beer lovers, beer snobs and everything in between together to share their thoughts on beers from across the world. From stouts to lagers and IPA's to pilsners, Untappd has it all. Search from an expanded database of beers to rate, review and check in the beer you are drinking. You can also see what other people are saying about it too and get suggestions to try new beers with similar characteristics. Another great feature is the rewards. You can earn badges by completing certain achievements (try 5 beers from England, try 5 ciders). Untappd makes drinking beer fun. Work for brewe...

Most of us have either started our New Year's resolution to get fit, but some may still be on the fence. At TELUS, the focus for 2015 is Fitness. Here are some great apps that can help you kick your butt into shape: Fitbit With the use of any Fitbit device, the Fitbit app can track distance, steps, floors climbed, calories burned, food/water intake and sleeping patterns. Use this app to challenge your friends to a walk off and get badges for achievements. Fitbit keep you motivated all day long. Available on Android and iOS My Fitness Pal My Fitness Pal is the most popular app n the market for tracking your meals. Use the barcode scanner or enter your foods in manually. The catalogue on the app is quite extensive, even including franchise restaurant nutritional information. You'd be surprised to see how many calories are in a Non-Fat Frap! My Fitness Pal also tracks your daily exercise and deducts those calories from your daily goal. If you have iPhone, the app wil...

It has been discussed for over three years now that one day TELUS would shut down the beloved MIKE network. At one time the MIKE network was the peak of technology. The ability to have a Push to Talk solution that worked seamlessly across borders was revered by the competition. Sadly, with no additional expansion and lack of data devices, the MIKE network will officially be shut down January 29, 2016. TELUS has been loading offers for MIKE clients to jump ship to the LTE network for a while now, but the switch is more important than ever now. If you are still on the MIKE network here's some information that you need to know to ensure you have no interruptions in service: When is the official shutdown date? MIKE customers will continue to receive IDEN service throughout 2015 until the shutdown on January 29, 2016. If you wait until after the shutdown date, you will have a loss of service Can I use my MIKE phone on the TELUS network? You will not be able to use a MIKE devi...

I have been watching CES 2015 like a hawk. This is by far the coolest year for technology and future advancements. I couldn't be more excited to see all the new innovations from some of the leaders in the industry. Here are my favourites as it relates to the wireless world: Digitsole Digitsole is a Bluetooth enabled ergonomic sole for your shoes. These soles not only are really comfortable, but also count your steps and calories as you walk on them throughout the day. This is quite possibly one of the most accurate ways of tracking since it's your feet literally doing the walking. Another great feature is the ability to heat your feet via the Digitsole application which is available on both Android and iOS (Windows soon to come). The temperature can be modified through the app as well. Petcube If you are an animal lover like myself, you will love Petcube. It's a digital box that sits in any room of your house and monitors your furry family. You can see what...

Ever wanted to have a security camera or baby monitor without dumping a lot of money on an expensive security system? Now you can.  This is a great Do It Yourself rig for setting up a security camera for seeing what your kids or pets are doing or just to see what is going on in your house. What do you need? - A current iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad) - Another iPhone, iPod or iPad connected to Wifi - Manything App from the Apple App Store Manything allows you to connect multiple iOS devices for security streaming and recording. All video gets stored on the Manything Cloud, so you can actually go back and see what happened hours ago.  The Manything app is a very painless set up. Simply create an account using your Facebook login or your E-mail address. Once this is created log in with the same account information on all iOS devices you are using. Now you can set up your Old iOS device (this will be your camera). For best results use a ...