Opera 9.2 with Speed Dial released!

Post ImageI just installed the latest version of Opera on my desktop and tablet. Version 9.2 adds two major features: Speed Dial and Developer Tools. The full changelog is here (for Windows). Here’s what Opera says about Speed Dial:

Now you have a new way to access your favorite Web sites. Just open a new tab to get your Speed Dial. It’s easy to populate and addictive to use.

It’s actually quite neat (I pay attention to the dev builds so I knew it was coming). You can setup nine “speed dials” that can then be accessed either by clicking the corresponding thumbnail, or pressing CRTL and any of the numbers 1 through 9. It looks somewhat similar to IE7’s Quick Tabs feature, except that it displays websites you specify, not the tabs you currently have open.

The one change in 9.2 that I don’t like is that the Start Bar (the little bar that appears if you click on the address bar) has been disabled by default. To enable it, right click on the address bar and choose Customize, then simply click the “Start bar” checkbox.

You can download Opera here.

Read: Opera

Chicken Snack Wrap

Post ImageI haven’t been watching much TV lately, so if there were commercials for McDonald’s new Chicken Snack Wrap, I didn’t see them. The first time I had heard of the sandwich was when I stopped in for a quick dinner last night. Apparently I had good timing, because this press release is dated yesterday!

In an effort to meet increasing demands from Canadian customers for quality food they can eat on-the-go, McDonald’s Canada today introduced a highly-portable snacking option with the launch of the new Chicken Snack WrapT.

The new Chicken Snack Wrap, available at participating McDonald’s restaurants across Canada beginning April 10 for only $1.79 plus tax, has warm, juicy seasoned and breaded all-white chicken breast meat, topped with a creamy ranch sauce, crisp lettuce, shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, all freshly wrapped in a soft, flour tortilla.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I gave it a chance. And I quite enjoyed it! It tastes real, as bad as that sounds, not like something you’d normally get at McD’s. According to their nutrition calculator, the Chicken Snack Wrap will set you back 320 calories.

The only thing I would change would be to make it $1.39 like all of the times on the Real Deal menu.

Read: McDonald’s

Brain Dump for 4/11/2007

Time for a brain dump:

  • Happy Birthday Megan!
  • The new and improved look for Facebook is now live. I like it so far…here is the redesign tour and associated blog post.
  • I kind of like Jaiku. For one thing, it’s a heck of a lot faster than Twitter. Once they have a properly working API, things will get interesting. Here’s my page.
  • Details on Zune 2.0 have been leaked!
  • I quite like the song “You Are the One” by Shiny Toy Guns. Apparently it is used in the soundtrack for FIFA 07.
  • Justin.tv probably pissed a lot of people off tonight. He finally did something interesting (he got laid) and he didn’t even show it! Audio only haha. I was one of the 3000 people who saw the camera get turned away – thanks to the chatter on Twitter that alerted me to the drama (okay Scoble was right, Jaiku lacks the community that Twitter has).
  • I wish Edmonton had a 24-hour Starbucks!
  • I have a final exam tomorrow…

Canadian Mobile Data Access Sucks

Post ImageI readily admit I am simply echoing the chamber with this story, but it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. Mobile data service in Canada is horribly expensive. As Boris said, “this pricing structure is stifling mobile innovation in Canada.”

Here’s a graph that Thomas Purves made (click for the photo page):

Thomas explains:

The motto of the CRTC, Canada’s telcom regulator is “Communications in the Public Interest”. Right. If you live in Canada, write to your MP. The CRTC, as an institution, needs to be taken out and shot.

I would like to say that Canada is a 3rd world country when it comes to Mobile ICT, except you can clearly see from this chart that even *Rwanda* has orders of magnitude better Mobile Data service than Canada.

This is just sad. Certainly the CRTC is at fault, but the companies themselves deserve some of the blame as well. Write to your MP, but also write to your service provider.

Read: Thomas Purves

Ikea to sell electronics?

Post ImageMaybe the next time you visit Ikea, the computer sitting on the desk will be a real one that you can buy. Maybe you’ll see a beautiful HDTV perched atop a familiar Ikea TV stand. It could happen (via Agenda Inc.):

Ikea could be next in a long list of retailers to move into the electricals market after Anders Dahlvig, chief executive, said that the company is considering adding electricals to its iconic furniture. In light of electricals’ positive market outlook, Ikea’s brand strength and its vast store footprints, selling electricals could prove a sound move by Ikea.

I think we have enough electronics retailers already, but I have to admit, it does make a lot of sense for Ikea. You can already buy an entire room (furniture/decoration at least) from Ikea, why not the stuff that goes in it?

Read: CBRonline.com

O'Reilly's Code of Conduct – Stupid!

Yesterday, Tim O’Reilly posted a blogging code of conduct. It was created as a result of the Kathy Sierra thing. Quite a few people think it’s a good idea, other’s don’t. Mike Arrington is part of the latter group:

The code of conduct and the mass of bloggers lining up behind it scares me a lot more than the hate comments and death threats I’ve received in the past. I won’t support it.

Mike is absolutely, unequivocally, 100%, DEAD ON.

The blogosphere doesn’t need a code of conduct. What a stupid idea.

Notes for 4/8/2007

Long time no post! My mind has been elsewhere, I guess. Still been Twittering though! Here are my weekly notes:

  • We launched a new Podcast Spot update yesterday.
  • I tried the new Dulce de Leche from Starbucks on Thursday. It’s not bad, but a little too sweet. Reminds me of the Caramel Corretto at Second Cup. I also discovered that PepsiCo bottles the Frappuccino drinks for Starbucks – never buying those again!
  • Jane’s gathering last night was fun! My photos are here, and there’s more on Facebook.
  • Sharon and I watched Jesus Camp on Friday. I won’t even comment on the content, but the film itself was poorly made in my opinion – it felt as though there was no direction whatsoever. On the plus side, it felt much shorter than 84 minutes.
  • We also tried Tzin, a new-ish restaurant here in Edmonton. It’s tiny, and expensive. Otherwise it was pretty good. I love their hours of operation.
  • Sensationalist headline of the week: Proof-of-concept iPod virus discovered. Puhleez.
  • Both Edmonton and Carolina will be watching from the sidelines during the NHL playoffs this year. It’s the first time in NHL history that both defending conference champs have failed to make the playoffs. Carolina is just the third team in NHL history to miss the playoffs the year after winning the Stanley Cup.

Starbucks in Edmonton – My Maps

Post ImageLast last night Google launched a new mapping feature called My Maps. Basically it makes it dead simple for anyone to create a “mashup” using Google Maps. Here’s what product manager Jess Lee had to say about it:

You can add placemarks, draw lines and shapes, and embed text, photos and videos — all using a simple drag and drop interface. Your map automatically gets a public URL that you can share with your friends and family, or you can also publish your map for inclusion in Google Maps search results.

I figured I’d take it for a spin, so I created a map of all the Starbucks locations in the Edmonton area:

I chose not to add licensed stores, such as the ones you find in Safeway. My map contains 30 locations, including 1 in Spruce Grove, 3 in St. Albert, and 2 in Sherwood Park. It also includes at least four locations that aren’t even listed on the Starbucks.ca site!

Take a look, and let me know if I’ve missed any stores!

Read: Sbux in Edmonton

Thoughts on the MySpace Presidential Primary

Post ImageTechCrunch posted yesterday that MySpace is going to be holding a presidential primary on January 1st and 2nd, 2008, which is before any of the official state primaries. Every member will be asked to vote for their favorite candidate. Michael Arrington makes a good point about why this should be done on Facebook instead:

Facebook’s user accounts are each tied to an email address or cell phone, resulting in far fewer fake or duplicate accounts. Given the low quality of the MySpace user base (multiple accounts, no identity check, etc.) it would be relatively easy for a campaign to create a significant number of fake accounts to stuff the ballot box in their favor. Facebook can also tie their users to U.S. residency much easier than MySpace.

I would add another reason: Facebook is not owned by News Corporation! Not that I would expect Facebook to be completely impartial, but more so than the owner of Fox News.

I don’t think anyone is going to take the results very seriously, but I like the idea regardless. Anything that might make politics more relevant to the younger generations is worth trying. So far Barack Obama has a massive lead in terms of the number of friends he has, but expect the other candidates to catch up.

Read: TechCrunch

ETS fares could rise drastically in 2008

Post ImageIf you think a $59 monthly pass for Edmonton’s Transit System is expensive now, wait a year. A proposed fare policy would increase the cost of a monthly pass to a whopping $74:

Coun. Mike Nickel supports the hike, arguing transit has to recover more of its costs through the fare box. He rejects suggestions that the increase would lead to a drop in ridership.

“No I don’t think it will discourage ridership. Actually, people have to measure their other modes of transit against the costs of ridership. Gas is costing more for your car, insurance is costing more for your car.”

Actually insurance is getting cheaper in Alberta, is it not? And Mr. Nickel neglects to recognize that lots people (myself included) don’t replace a vehicle with public transit entirely, they use both. I save most of my money not on gas and insurance, but on parking.

Here are the prices in a few other Canadian cities:

  • Calgary: $75/month
  • Vancouver: $69/month for 1 zone, $95/month for 2 zones, and $130/month for 3 zones
  • Ottawa: $71.25/month

Compared with those cities, the proposed fare for Edmonton feels like a rip-off does it not? Calgary and Vancouver for sure have better transit systems than Edmonton does (partially as a result of geography and population density). On the other hand, a monthly pass in Red Deer is $58, so maybe it’s not such a bad deal after all.

Any fare hike would not take place until 2008, and it has to get to city council first anyway (currently it is with the council’s transportation committee).

Read: CBC News