Canoe Technology

Square mobile payment system gets invoicing

July 19, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Strolling through Old Strathcona last Saturday during Edmonton’s Whyte Avenue Art Walk 2014 I noticed something different this year. More vendors were accepting payment by credit card – VISA, MasterCard, American Express – many through the magic of this micro-payment system called Square. It’s changed the way small businesses do their transactions. And now here in Canada, they’ve taken it one step farther with the introduction of invoices allowing complete secure payment transactions when not dealing face-to-face.

Invoicing is certainly a logical extension to the Square payment system with many potential benefits. In fact, people like Kat Doell, an emerging artist and illustrator finds Square payments handy, particularly for high ticket items welcome its extended functionality.

“I haven’t used the invoices yet, but all the new options look perfect for small business,” says Doell.

Read more…At CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: Business, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, In the news, Taking care of business · Tagged With: credit cards, micro payments, small business

USB powered air purifier and fan cleans and cools

July 16, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

I do keep my office reasonably clean, but truthfully my office is usually covered wall to wall with gadgets, cables, books, magazines, manuals, boxes and more. I’ve never really thought about all the dust bunnies and other allergens that might be lurking in the dark crevices behind and beneath all my gadgetry. Enter the 2-in-1 Satechi USB Portable Air Purifier & Fan. It can eradicate the bunnies, remove those nasty allergens and provide for a little breeze or air circulation.

It looks like a small desktop speaker, measuring 11 x 11 x 9 cm, small enough to be portable and weighs a mere 350g so you can use it in the home, in the office, on the road and even in your car.

No drivers to install; it’s plug and play and runs off 5V USB, so you can power it from a USB compatible wall charger or even your computer.

It has two modes – compressed and expanded. When compressed it takes on the role as a purifier, designed to grab those ultra-fine particles like dander, dust and pollen from the air; when expanded by pulling out the front, it runs like a personal fan.

Applebee’s quietly going “No Tech Tuesday”

July 13, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If you’re tired of hearing the people on their smartphones at the next table yelling at the top of their lungs, you’ll be happy to know that one restaurant chain in the U.S. is planning on doing something about it – at least for one day of the week. Applebee’s plans to introduce “No Tech Tuesday” to all of its 1,800+ restaurants in the US. In fact, according to reports, the company is filing an application to trademark the phrase.

Installing 100,000 Tablets

What’s perplexing is that back in December 2013, just over seven months ago, the company announcedthat by the end of 2014, it would have completed installation of 100,000 Intel-based E la Carte Presto tablets in their restaurants, so customers can order their meals, pay their bills, play games and have other social media interactions.

There doesn’t appear to be any detailed information as to how the scenario will play out and whether of not those tablets will go dark – on Tuesdays only. I do find it interesting that on one hand the chain is taking a leap forward embracing new technology but on the other hand, totally doing away with it for one day of the week.

Read more…AT CanoeTech BLOG

Filed Under: Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, In the news, Signs of the Times, Taking care of business · Tagged With: Technology

Skype 5.2 for iPhone adds Voice Messaging Support

July 8, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

It seems that since the release of Skype 5.0 for iPhone less than a month ago the good folks at Skype have been really listening and taking user feedback to heart. According to their blog, Skype 5.1 for iPhone added some additional capabilities including the ability to edit a message, delete a conversation and add a contact filter that selects Skype contacts only. And now, the newly minted Skype 5.2 for iPhone adds a few more features and returns old ones that people have been asking for.

The first is voice message support, something that was lost with the revamped 5.0. When you get a new voice message it will automatically show up in the conversation. All you need to do to listen to it is press play.

Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: Apple, Apps Alive, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, In the news · Tagged With: communication, update

The perfect pouch for the TruRunner

July 5, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

As the mercury climbs, we do away with the hoodies and tracksuits and opt for T-shirts and shorts we find ourselves with fewer pockets and places to keep our keys, smartphones and the like as we head out and about for a walk or a run. One solution to avoid a knapsack or a bulky fanny pack is the TruRunner by Bracketron, a sturdy diminutive lightweight waist pack to store the necessities you need to carry.

TruRunner has a fully adjustable elasticized belt that hugs nicely to your body. Its pleated in-line pocket, may not look like much, but actually expands quite nicely allowing you to store things like your iPhone, keys and perhaps another small personal item or even a granola bar. It’s lining is weather resistant to keep your electronics dry and a weatherproof sealing zipper can help avoid leaks.

I wholeheartedly resist calling TruRunner a fanny pack, for the simple reason that that term conjures up images of the 1990s humongous multi-zippered leather pouch that looked more like a life preserver than a portable storage pack.

Read more… At CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Hands On, New Product, Product review, travel · Tagged With: accessories, fitness, sports

Survival Sidekick might just save your life

July 2, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Today, in a suburb just outside Minneapolis, Bob Renning, a Good Samaritan, somehow found the strength to pry open the door of Michael Johannes’ burning Chevrolet TrailBlazer and saved him from certain death. Now after seeing the footage at Canoe cNews, it made me rethink the usefulness of features on today’s emergency gadgets that we think we’ll never use, but in actual fact could one day save our life.

One such feature is the glass breaker found on the new Champ Survival Sidekick 8-in-1 (Emergency Preparedness) Multitool by Voxx Accessories. Johannes had mentioned that he was unable to get out of his vehicle as the electrical system was disabled and he couldn’t unlock the door. And without his good fortune that someone like Renning just happened to be around, he may not be alive right now to tell about it.

The Survival Sidekick 8-in-1 actually looks like a very large flashlight, and a flashlight it is. It features three LEDs that can keep shining brightly for up to five consecutive hours. Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, Hands On, New Product, Product review · Tagged With: emergency, safety, travel

iPod touch prices down as Apple refreshes 16GB model

June 27, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

While all the Apple talk seems to be focused on the rumoured big screened iPhone 6, there was good news out today for many iPod touch fans as Apple introduced slight changes to the iPod touch lineup. This is a good thing, as the iPod touch in essence gives you a number of features of the iPhone, like the ability to use apps, but without the phone.

World’s smallest 12W charger – Scosche superCUBE

June 24, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

While some people like to carry around extra batteries or the factory chargers that came with their devices, others just want something small, compact and universal. And Scosche has just the gadget for that. No, in fact, they have two – the superCUBE and superCUBE flip – and they’re 40% smaller than others out there.

Scosche superCUBE is a 12-watt wall adapter for USB powered devices that the company claims is the smallest in its class. It features a single standard USB port, which has a 5V output at 2.4A. So not only will it fast charge most USB powered devices like the iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy and most cameras, it also has enough power to charge larger, more power-hungry tablets like the iPad Air. Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product · Tagged With: accessories, chargers

Review: iRig Voice & EZ Voice unleash your inner singer

June 19, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

IK Multimedia, known for specializing in gear for musicians and artists released iRig Voice today. This affordable microphone designed for basic voice recording and ideal to pair with popular music apps, karaoke apps and in particular IK’s new EZ Voice – which allows you to sing along to your favourite tune and hear your own voice.

Read more… AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: accessories, Apple, Apps Alive, Audio, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, Hands On, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: Apps, Karaoke, music, Singing

Apple rolls out new budget 21.5-inch iMac

June 18, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

21.5-inch iMac (left) 27-inch iMac (right)

Much to everyone’s surprise, there were no new hardware announcements at WWDC 2014 earlier this month, despite the rumour mill being flooded with them. Now today, two weeks later, although this one was probably already in the works, Apple unveils a new entry-level budget 21.5 inch iMac.

Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: Apple, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, In the news, New Product · Tagged With: Apple, iMac, New product