Seattle Geek Week is coming up quick and pii2010 - privacy identity innovation will be part of it.
Taking place from August 17th to 19th, pii2010 will explore how emerging technologies and business models are impacting data creation, sharing and aggregation, and how to strike a balance between protecting sensitive information and enabling innovation.
CBS News technology analyst Larry Magid will emcee pii2010 and the speaker line-up features over 30 leading experts including:
The conference will also serve as the official launch pad for pii Labs, an open forum for learning and collaborating that will take place August 19th at Seattle's famous Space Needle building.
Other special activities at pii2010 include an Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam co-hosted with Guidewire Group where eight promising entrepreneurs will deliver their best 5-minute pitch -- if you know a startup that wants a chance to participate, they can apply here.
Tickets start at $345 and you can save 20% when you enter 4vibe in the discount code field. You can also buy a special pass to pii2010 and its partner conference Gnomedex, which is taking place in Seattle August 19 to 21, for only $600. Visit http://pii2010.com to sign up and get more information.
While this time of the year is very, very slow for tech events, it looks like plenty of companies are hiring for the fall. Here are five job opportunities that caught our eye on the Techvibes Job Board this week. Check out the full job descriptions and be sure to apply if you're interested.
If you're hiring and would like your job opportunities profiled here, add them to our Vancouver Job Board and we'll see what we can do.
Founded in 2006, QuickMobile has quickly emerged as a leading mobile technology and services company. Our expertise in mobile technologies, brand... [more]
Strangeloop Networks develops and delivers a family of network appliances purpose-built to accelerate Microsoft ASP.NET and AJAX applications. The... [more]
Goldbeck Recruiting is a leading headhunter and recruitment agency based in Vancouver BC, Canada. Goldbeck's recruiters specialize in executive... [more]
Community Living British Columbia [CLBC] delivers support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. CLBC... [more]
Wenco provides GPS-based fleet management systems for open pit mines worldwide. The system provides sophisticated automatic dispatching to maximize... [more]
In case you missed it—and we forgive you, as the debacle was short-lived—Canadian wireless provider Telus called customers "broke deadbeats" on its own website. Roughly an hour later, the paragraph was completely removed.
I attempted to reach out to Telus by contacting a local PR rep by email. I have not received a response. This was the original text, copy and pasted from the website (plus brackets for clarification):
[Consumer:] Why do I need a credit check?
[Telus:] You may be broke, therefore highly unlikely to pay your bill.
We just don't want to lose money, you dead beat. You know how it is...
But why was it there in the first place? Here are four theories.
1. The misguided humour of an underpaid or frustrated employee. Perhaps one who was quitting that day anyway, and decided to exit with a bang. If so, let this be a lesson to businesses: pay well those who write your copy!
2. A hacker with things on his mind other than money. Perhaps some tech-savvy basement dweller that Telus cut off services for because he wasn't coughing up the dough. A creative mode of revenge, admittedly, and sophisticatedly not-over-the-top to boot.
3. A placeholder passed on through production. This theory would suggest that Telus likes to thoroughly insult its customer base behind their backs, as opposed to using generic alphabet or "lorem ipsum" text. Thanks, guys! Well, they learned the hard way there are risks involved with this method of web design. (Oh, and let me guess: a customer service rep wrote the placeholders.) *Note: this is believed to actually be a very accurate theory by the rumour mill.
4. Telus was telling it like it is. Maybe they really did want to credit check everyone because they believe they attract a clientele of broke deadbeats. I mean, the part about not losing money is pretty logical, isn't it? Then they realized their wording could have been a little more gentle, so they took it down for a re-write by somebody who doesn't have anger oozing from under his fingernails.
No matter the reason, it's an oddly worrisome mix of humorous and crudely insulting.
Raise your hands, broke deadbeats of the world! And rebel against credit check demands!
(A screenshot highlighting the section of the webpage.)
Technology is a key enabler for TELUS and our customers, providing advantage and differentiation in the marketplace. By managing the life cycle of... [more]
We may be seeing Cisco featured on the Lovely Package blog any day now.
Cisco has paired its wireless technology chops with a simplicity-in-design approach (thanks to the acquisition of Flip Video) to launch Valet in Canada - a breakthrough product line that makes home wireless simple and accessible to everyone.
Valet is designed to transform how families use the Internet in their homes so they can enjoy the freedom of wireless access without the usual frustration and complexity of setting up a home network.
While consumer demand for wireless products is on the rise with a tremendous array of new devices in the market, research from IDC Canada reveals that only 39% of Canadian homes are currently set up for wireless use.
“Valet is home wireless made easy,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products. “With complementary backgrounds and expertise, our Cisco and Flip teams have combined forces to change the rules for home wireless with a product line that empowers consumers to easily set up, enjoy and manage all of their wireless devices anywhere in the home.”
Consumers who have high-speed Internet access simply insert the included Easy Setup Key right into a USB port in their PC or Mac, and the Cisco Connect software takes over.
Once set up, Valet gives consumers a simple way to manage their family’s home wireless experience. The included Cisco Connect software makes it easy to: 1) add additional devices to the network, 2) set parental controls, 3) provide Internet access for guests on a separate guest network and 4) customize personal security settings such as passwords.
In addition, Valet makes it easy to set up guest wireless access when friends or family come to visit. With a completely separate wireless connection, guests can use their laptops or mobile phones around the house, while the main Valet home network remains highly secure and private.
The Valet product line is available at Best Buy, Future Shop, Staples, London Drugs, and The Source.
We think it's safe to say that the folks over at Eventbrite have created an event system that could be considered the "business version of the evite tool." But how useful is this service? Although both are free web based applications, can Eventbrite win the mass popularity of more personalized and consumer driven sites like evite? How is the company differentiating itself from its competitors and where have they been successful?
One of the consistent things about Eventbrite from a usability perspective is its integration in accordance to socially focused tools such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. The service allows users to create a unique webpage for their respective event which in turns provides a promotional platform for event creators to reach mass audiences and share information with friends, fans and followers. Sites like evite are more consumer focused and don't have the capabilites for add ons such as ticket sales that eventually lead to event monetization. Eventbrite's unique market proposition lies in its succint and viable user interface which in turn lends itself to a purchase based event model, thus widening its appeal in the marketplace drastically. Accordingly, its integrated promotional approach and its supported featured integration with PayPal Premium and Business accounts also make the service highly usable.
With evite reaching a potentially different audience than Eventbrite, who are some of the company's competitors? We're familiar with Eventbee, 123Signup and RegOnline as some of the players in the event management space, but where does Eventbrite stack up in comparaison to these web-based tools? Share your experiences using Eventbrite and tell us about the competitors you feel are making waves in this seemingly contested space.
It's official now that Research in Motion and AT&T are joint-hosting a big event in New York City next Tuesday, August 3rd. This event will very likely mark the official announcement of the new touchscreen Blackberry, as well as the mega-hyped OS 6.
But what looming tech announcement is complete without an early leak? Driphter has posted a YouTube video showing off some of the new OS 6 improvements and additions. (Note that it's a pre-release version, therefore no the final OS.)
BlackBerry (Research In Motion) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile... [more]
You're going to line up, aren't you? Despite the negative press the iPhone 4 has received south of the border. Despite BlackBerry's iPhone killer announcement. You will still line up. You will get there early. With time to kill. So, what is a social media consuming, gadget loving person to do? Here are five things we suggest you do as you wait in line on tonight and on Friday morning to buy the new iPhone 4:
1. Do a minute by minute play-by-play on your Twitter account. Anyone who is not getting the new iPhone will either be jealous and envious or they will unfollow you faster than you can say Steve Jobs.
2. Go to the nearest Tim Hortons and buy a dozen cups of double double. Re-sell it everyone in line for a 100% mark-up because you need the extra money. The 16GB iPhone 4 will cost you $159 with a 3 yr term. If you want the cadillac version be ready to fork over $269 for 32GB for a 3 yr contract. Repeat if neccessary.
3. Laugh at the people walking by who are talking on their BlackBerry. Many iPhone users believe that if someone does not use an Apple product that they are using something inferior. Not to mention the bad rap BlackBerry caught as a result of this New York Times article. And although RIM is announcing a new OS and model on Tuesday, it won't be as good as the iPhone 4. Don't believe me? Ask any iPhone fanboy.
4. Get on Foursquare and check into the Rogers store. Every 5 minutes. Once you become the Mayor of the Rogers store move to the front of the line. Show people your Mayor Badge. Mayorship has its priviledges. Unless you're not an iPhone customer with Rogers.
5. Go online and search what people are saying about the Android OS. Then get out of line and get some sleep. The iPhone 4 may not be worth it. (And we didn't even mention their faulty antenna. Opps!)
About an hour ago Rogers announced on their website that they are "making a commitment to allocate the majority of inventory we receive from Apple to existing customers wanting to upgrade to the iPhone 4."
So what does this mean?
If you are a Rogers customer who has an older iPhone model, chances are you will be able to upgrade and or purchase the new iPhone 4. If you're a Rogers customer who does not have an iPhone or if you are not a Rogers customer you may not be able to get the iPhone 4: if you line up at a Rogers store.
Here's the deal:
...as a benefit of being a Rogers customer, we’re investing in a special iPhone 4 hardware upgrade offer to reward our customers for doing business with us, as long as they activated a Rogers iPhone on a term contract on or prior to June 7, 2010 – the day Apple announced iPhone 4 at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
For full details visit Rogers RedBoard.
My suggestion: If you must get an iPhone on Friday from a Rogers store make sure you line up early. And make sure you qualify.
We are a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are engaged in wireless voice and data communications services through Wireless,... [more]
Knowledge is useless if you choose not to have the courage to act on it.
These words ring through Oleg Kostour's ears. They're the words of a past mentor of his, and they resonate with him still today because they speak a truth that courses through the veins of his latest project, I Am My Ambition. IAMA is a campaign under Impact, which actively promotes entrepreneurship and leadership in Canada. But this project digs deeper than merely a campaign: If Oleg has any control over its influence, My Ambition will change lives.
"I want to see talented young people taking the risks necessary to accomplish something great with their lives, no matter what background they come from," Oleg tells me in a recent interview. Oleg is the Co-Director of I Am My Ambition and his passion for the project is all but evident. Perhaps that is so because as much as Oleg wants others to extract real value from My Ambition, he too is finding it self-empowering.
"I’ve learned the value of a team, the limit of my own abilities, and the incredible amount that can be accomplished when individuals band together," Oleg says. "Without the countless hours of hard work of those I’ve been privileged to lead, none of this would exist—it would just be where it started."
He note that teamwork has been an essential component to the success he has witnessed. "From working with an amazing partner like Sonya Jain, and talented team members such as Scott Tolksdorf, and the entire team of 10 volunteers working night after night, I’ve seen what passion looks like in others. When I launch my own studio in the future," he adds, "I will remember this. There is literally no one on my team who has not put in over a hundred hours unpaid, and no one above the age of 23."
While IAMA is only a single element of the overarching Impact, Oleg believes it is pushing the entire organization forward. "I think it is an innovation," he says. "Like any innovation, it will be the thing that inspires future members to step up and reach the bar we will set. I think it will bring the organization's image closer to its authentic form, as a vehicle for true personal development and direct contact with amazing individuals."
Not to roil in puns, but by now in the interview, it's become clear that My Ambition is, well, ambitious—and for that, its future is as bright as those of the people standing behind it.
"There is not even a question of whether or not we will stop," Oleg confirms confidently. "We set out such a vision that we have been fighting to plow through just the first few steps. When Sonya and I spoke to each other in January, we looked at all the footage we shot in 2009, and said, 'let’s make this bigger than the Impact National Conference itself.' We are working to make that happen."
Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery.
By the end of this year, Oleg says, IAMA will have memberships and in-depth footage available. "We can start linking together with programs and events held by Impact across Canada, as well as partner with other organizations to better give young people the tools to connect with each other and have their own entrepreneurial experiences," he adds. "That, and we plan to continue holding interviews, and let the program grow beyond our involvement as future generations of youth step up to take it to the next level."
The bigger and greater anything grows, often the more lost and faded its origins become. But because I Am My Ambition is founded on principals so simple and so pure—and because those principals are embedded into the very essence of IAMA—its origins remain vivid and in tact.
"First and foremost, it was the need to tell a story," Oleg says of what sparked My Ambition. "A story we were unable to communicate to so many people." Oleg suggests that our media-saturated environment has always been "filled with false models and facades," and believes it "was this inability to communicate genuine experience that sparked us to try to do it ourselves."
"I think success can be defined in extremely limited terms sometimes," he remarks, "and all it takes is knowledge of a person’s existence to prove a definition false. So we asked the question: 'If we know these individuals exist, why not show others what we see?'"
Impact's goal is to create the next generation of entrepreneurs and help young entrepreneurs realize their true potential. Impact connects people,... [more]
There are many questions to be had—and, besides perhaps "Why is Steve Jobs a egotistical, controlling jerk?" we at Techvibes can answer all of them. Here, we have compiled a list of 10 essential facts to keep in mind for tomorrow.
1. The iPhone is launching in Canada July 30th. That's TOMORROW. For the knowledge-nerds, it's also launching in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
2. The iPhone is available only in black. This special white model everyone has been chatting about is delayed. No white stallion for you, yet.
3. You can buy the iPhone 4 in a variety of places: Any Apple store, or any Rogers, Telus, Bell, or Fido store or dealer, including Futureshop and Best Buy. That is, if it isn't completely sold out from now until the iPhone 5 is announced. The Apple online store may or may not sell iPhone 4 units on launch day; it's as of yet unconfirmed. Same goes for online stores of the major carriers.
4. As implied by #3, iPhone can have a plan with a variety of different carriers. In fact, the iPhone 4 can be used with ANY carrier: You can buy an UNLOCKED version from Apple online or in-store for around $800 (yes, 800) which can be used with any (yes, any) carrier in the world. Please note that buying an iPhone from any carrier WILL be locked, whether on contract or not. And if you buy an iPhone from an Apple store on contract, it WILL be locked. You must buy it from an Apple Store at full price. Even pay-as-you-go SIM cards will work in the unlocked iPhone.
5. In case you've been too lazy to check, the iPhone 4 will cost $200 for the 16 GB model and $300 for the 32 GB model. These prices are with a standard, 3 -year carrier contract.
6. If you're in a scramble and forget your giant stack of twenties, fret not: the Apple store takes anything, from credit, to debit, to gift cards, and even those ancient things, called, um, oh yeah—cheques. As long you fork the dough over for a shiny new phone, they're happy.
7. Virtually all Apple Stores across the country will be opening bright and early on launch day at 7am. This may vary for Apple Stores stuck inside of malls.
8. While these solutions are considerably cooler than Apple's standard bumper, iPhone 4 purchasers WILL receive a "complementary" bumper to offset the terribly design antenna and its resulting issues. Third party bumpers may be supplied free of charge if Apple stock runs out.
9. If you want to be assured you'll actually come out of a store with an iPhone 4 in hand, you'll want to get there early. As in, at least a couple hours before the store opens. In fact, you should really be there now. Print off this list and get going!
Well, that's it folks! Enjoy your... oh, right, I said 10 things, didn't I?
10. The Apple iPhone is a phone. No, seriously, this is a legitimate point—don't knock over children as you bulldoze through crowds trying to be the first to walk through the antennagate. Your life will go on if you don't snag one the first day or two. Your techie friends may judge you, but this too shall pass.
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