Dave's Blog

Toronto Hydro launches managed firewall to “protect” data network users

DJP — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:47:26 +0000

Operators of Toronto’s municipal WiFi network yesterday launched a managed firewall service, which they hope will protect users of its wire line data network service from a projected increase in online attacks in the coming year.

Toronto Hydro Telecom Inc. (THT), owners of the One Zone network that blankets more than six square kilometers of the city’s core, said its data network customers can now avail of a configurable security service to suit their business.

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Toronto residents wield Web 2.0 weapons to vanquish climate change

DJP — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:29:40 +0000

Social network-crazed Torontonians have a new Web 2.0 profile to manage – an Internet portal designed to help fight climate change.

Zerofootprint Inc. launched its Toronto-specific Web site yesterday in the city with mayor David Miller. The site contains an emissions calculator and other social networking tools such as forums, groups, a market place, and an events calendar.

“Toronto’s the first Canadian city to provide this tool to residents, and I hope not the last,” Miller says. “We can’t make greenhouse gas reductions as a whole without the help of every single Torontonian.”

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Toronto’s IT community: A who’s who

DJP — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:03:40 +0000

Toronto, fortunately, is served by a wide range of national and local groups all with the same purpose in mind: to put the city on the map as a recognized hub of IT innovation.

Perhaps the best-known up-and-comer in that category is the MaRS Discovery District, which bills itself as a convergence innovation centre dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of new ideas and new technologies by fostering the convergence of capital, science and business.

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CRM to TPH’s rescue

DJP — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:46:38 +0000

Before working with Brodie Computes and implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Live 4.0 Professional solution, The Printing House (TPH) had difficulty managing its large customer database collected from its over 70 corporately-owned retail locations across Canada.

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Getting your business ready for VoIP

DJP — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:04:45 +0000

Companies are adopting voice over IP (VoIP) more for the flexibility and choice it offers than for cost savings, experts say.

Open source VoIP software’s emphasis on non-proprietary tools has freed many a business from reliance on big telcos, said Henry Coleman, CEO of VoIP-PBX.ca, a telephony consulting firm based in Toronto.

He was speaking at IT360 Conference and Expo – an IT industry event held conference in Toronto earlier this month.

Coleman’s session was titled: A Gentle Intro to VoIP and SIP for Business.

“Thanks to open source VoIP software, firms can now bring their telecom requirements into their company IT domain without help from large telcos,” he noted.

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Toronto promotes its role as cluster of technology talent

DJP — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:21:41 +0000

When companies like Adobe and MasterFile want to find out who’s using their images illegally, they don’t hire a team of PR people to scan newspapers and magazines. Or at least, they don’t anymore. Instead, they turn to the services of a Toronto-area company recognized as a leader in the field of image recognition.

Google attacks! Latest prank talks up mission to Mars

DJP — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:13:47 +0000

When it comes to April Fool’s Day jokes, Google remains to king, or rather, the court jester. Today the company’s elaborate prank was the announcement of an invitation to establish a human colony on Mars, a souped-up version of their real Google Lunar X Prize.

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April Fool’s from Telus

DJP — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:10:35 +0000

There’s an interesting trend going on in the Canadian cellphone market – the country’s Big Three carriers are admitting their rates are too high. But before you think they’re finally coming clean, hold on a second: they’re doing it through indirect means. The worst offender so far: Telus Corp.

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Robot ‘the future of surgery’

DJP — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:42:54 +0000

At St. Michael’s, four-armed da Vinci is rapidly proving its capabilities at operating table.

A $4.5 million robot with the brand name da Vinci has been introduced to doctors to perform surgeries.

Cybernomics Presents ‘The Green IT Plan’

DJP — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:00:00 +0000

The focus of the event will be to discuss the practical implementation of Green IT, as well as the economic, business and environmental benefits of going green.