Kevin Costain
(re?) Introduced at TechCrunch Disrupt, Soluto was one of the big stars of the conference. There’s a good chance it will win the big prize at Disrupt 2010. What Soluto intends to do is allow the user to focus on the boot process, identify what applications are slowing down a computer and then let the user improve this by disabling certain items. Soluto has also embarked on creating what’s called the PC Genome which looks to map problems and solutions in a large database allowing for future streamlining of the solution process.
One of the First Apple iPads in Canada – Here’s What I Think
As one of the few Canadians who have had the chance to see and use and iPad, I felt honored to have it finally in my hands. This device will not be available here in Toronto until sometime in May – so imagine my joy at getting to play now. I really wanted to see what the hype was all about. I had heard and seen many reports – but for many, the mantra had been “You have to see it and touch it to understand how amazing it is”. So, today, I will do that.
First Impressions: Blackberry 8330 CDMA
Device: Blackberry 8330 “Curve”
Previous Device: Blackberry 8703
Provider: Bell
Base Price: $549.00
I’ve had this smart phone now for a day and so far I’m pleased with the new features and annoyed with some others.
Welcome to this new device are features like a camera, a gps device and the inclusion of media players as well as memory expandability. Some features not so welcome are the new keyboard layout, removal of the spinning wheel and addition of the track ball. Along the way, some unexpected surprises.
Integrating KeeWeb With Dropbox for Data Access [How-To]
By now, if you’re new to using KeeWeb, you should probably have read my really basic intro to getting KeeWeb working from a place you host. You may have decided to host it on your own server or computer, but I thought putting it in Dropbox was a good primer for what’s next: Integrating this tool into Dropbox’s API and using that for storage. This can seem really complicated at first look, but I’ll show you that it’s not as bad as you think.
A warning: This is a densely populated list of instructions. My intention is for you to follow this list and hopefully succeed in building this solution.
BitTorrent Sync Gets a Major Update With Version 1.4
What a difference a new version makes. BitTorrent’s has announced its Sync tool has undergone a serious revamp. This should be version 2.0, not 1.4. Gone is the previously sparse interface, and instead we’re treated to a more graphical easy to use interface. In 1.4, it also appears that they’ve renamed “secret” to “key”. This important piece of information is what identifies your sync folder to BitTorrent Sync and other devices.
Review: Drobo FS Network Attached Storage (NAS)
The storage space comprised of NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices is an interesting one. It appears to be growing in multiple ways – companies are downsizing away from the server they didn’t need, gamers are looking for that home data store, and businesses are increasingly using them for backup applications. I’ve seen great many of these devices, and today I was able to look at the Drobo FS, a five drive NAS device with one and two drive failover capabilities aimed at users and small businesses.
2010: The Best Of Blogging Calwell
Wow, 2010, what a year. This is my 96th blog post on Blogging Calwell – so you could say it was a good year! We all felt the pinch economically and personally this year, but technology was as interesting and fascinating as it’s always been. You may have already seen my Year In Review, so you know exactly how 2010 was (and how I think 2011 will unfold). Perhaps, though, you are new to this blog or just wondering what kind of stuff might be in those 96 blogs of 2010? Well, you’re in the right place, so let me show you.
How to watch for Kijiji scams with a critical eye
While posting a product online, I came across a well-developed scam. When I saw it, I wanted to humor the bad guys and see what information I might glean from the process. This is not something you should do, but the details I’ve gathered can help you look at these scams with a more critical eye to avoid them. Scam watching is more important today given how sophisticated they can be.
What Makes Your Writing Valuable?
That writing needs to hold some value is not a new concept. Those that write have some basic intuition that what they create needs to have some intrinsic value. Of course, if I want to write a science fiction story, it should entertain and enlighten those who read it. When I write on this blog, I carefully consider what use each post is to you. 700 articles later, I know some of them have been more valuable than others.
How to Get Back to Writing a Book After a Long Time
I’ve been writing a book for a very long time. In fact, I think I’ve been on this book for more than two years. Two years of going away, distracted by all that life offers, and returning to inch along, trying to add to my word count. One thing I’ve become very familiar with is returning cold to a book that’s been in some form of completion. Here’s how I approach this.