Satellite tracking isn’t new… we’ve had G-P-S around for years. But you may be surprised at what they’re starting to do with the technology now. For one, you may be being tracked without your knowledge…. and no satellites are involved at all! Cell Phones: The New GPS This is an article from Tod Maffin, a social media [...]

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It’s over. The battle is won. There will be one format for high-definiton DVDs and it will be… Blu-Ray. But, is good news for the industry good news for consumers? The CBC’s national technology correspondent Tod Maffin thinks not. This is an article from Tod Maffin, a social media strategist, national broadcaster, and leading keynote speaker.

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Eventually, it’ll happen. Your computer will finally breathe its last byte and you’re now stuck with an expensive paperweight. But what to do with it now? It might be harder to get rid of than you think. Landfills won’t take them — even schools don’t want your old equipment! The CBC’s computer guru Tod Maffin has [...]

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If you find yourself unable to pull yourself away from the email, even at home in the evening… or you can’t NOT check your email when you hear the little “New Mail” chime, you’re not alone. You’re one of a growing number of people who have become psychologically addicted to the very devices meant to [...]

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If you were invested in technology stocks back around 1999… well, it’s probably a year you want to forget. The tech bubble burst, sending hundreds of Internet companies into the digital wastebasket. But now, there’s a renewed interest in the sector and, in particular, Canadian startups. But will history repeat itself? The CBC’s technology guru [...]

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Here’s the audio of the piece that will air on CBC Radio morning shows tomorrow. Why the 70s porno music? ‘Cause I was having a bad day and thought it would cheer me up. There. Now you know all of radio’s secrets. This is an article from Tod Maffin, a social media strategist, national broadcaster, [...]

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I like YouTube a lot. I’ve been to parties where the main attraction is people showing others their Favourites from YouTube. (I tend to go to geeky events.) By far, the most talked-about video in the last few days has been Marie Osmond fainting on live television, after her performance on Dancing With The Stars. Here’s [...]

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I spent an hour or so with the folks from Rogers this morning to find out about their new 3G network. I have to say, it’s pretty damned amazing. The live full-motion video calling looks like something out of the future. Here’s a detailed video that explains it, pricing, phones, and a demo of the [...]

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There?s a quiet grassroots movement growing in, where else, Vancouver. But this movement isn?t trying to stop clearcuts or educate people on climate change. No, these people are Internet philanthropists. They want to set the wireless Internet signal they pay for — free! So that anyone can use it. It?s a growing movement called Free The [...]

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After a brief stint in private radio, I began my career in public relations. I worked for a great little company called The Haibeck Group as director of new media. Back then, Netscape had JUST gotten background colours. People still used gopher. (<sigh> I miss gopher.) Anyway. One of the jobs I had to do was to [...]

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I’ve been pretty fascinated by SaskTel’s voicemail transcription service. In short, you can pay an additional fee to have your voicemails transcribed into text and sent to your phone via SMS. Awesome idea. Regina podcaster and comedian James Whittingham tried it out. First, have a listen to his recording of his voicemail (attached to this post). Then read [...]

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Maybe you’ve had this experience. You feel achey one day, a little bit sick. And so you make a quick appointment — with Dr. Google. If you find yourself turning to the Internet to try to diagnose your ailments, you’re not alone. The CBC’s technology columnist Tod Maffin has more on this growing trend of [...]

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Here’s sometime a little hard to imagine. Pretend that every half hour, you have to enter a little something about yourself and post it publicly on the Internet. What you’re eating at that moment, what project you’re working on, and so on. Sound crazy? Well thousands of Canadians are doing it, and it’s all because [...]

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This week’s CBC tech column was about My Spy — a great little Windows application that always checks your bank account balance and, if it spots a withdrawl (from an ATM or a pre-authorized debit) go through, it alerts you right away. A video of the full-length interview I did with Darren Stevens will be coming [...]

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You don’t need to spend too much time reading the papers to know that it’s getting harder for organizations to hire good people. Baby boomers are retiring, and there just aren’t enough Canadians willing to fill the jobs. It’s especially tough for the public sector. Nurses, politicians, civil servants, er — public radio hosts — [...]

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It may have been a long time since you’ve been in a classroom. And it may not surprise you to know things have become more high tech. But how are today’s students of the video game generation forcing their schools to keep up? The CBC’s technology columnist Tod Maffin explains. Links: BCIT and nGrain. This is an [...]

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Technology industry watchers are keeping a close eye on a unique movement in the geek community — a new kind of meeting form where technology enthusiasts show off what they’re working on. And many people think it’s where the next Google or Microsoft is waiting to be discovered. Good timing too, since Venture Capitalists are [...]

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From Facebook to Digg. From MySpace to YouTube. If the future of the Internet is in these social networking sites, then the future is very much in jeopardy. And it’s all thanks to robots, tiny marketing companies, and greed. At least that’s how the CBC’s technology columnist Tod Maffin sees it. This is an article from [...]

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First, it was Friendster. Then, MySpace. And now, the place all the so-called cool people visit on the Internet is Facebook. Another day, another Internet fad? Maybe not. Let’s find out, with the CBC’s technology guy Tod Maffin. Download/Listen to facebook.mp3 This is an article from Tod Maffin, a social media strategist, national broadcaster, and leading keynote [...]

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Earlier this month, an employee with the Toronto Star newspaper bought a used notebook computer on eBay. The fellow collects old computers as a hobby. But when he started it up, he discovered more than the usual. He found confidential information from the then-Canadian Alliance party. Turns out, it’s a common mistake. Many people just [...]

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Updated: This is the final version of the short package I produced on the topic. It will air Wednesday and Thursday mornings throughout Canada. Download/listen to tragedy_and_technology.mp3 Here is the “q-line” (line of suggested questioning) for my technology column on CBC Radio One morning shows. I’ll be on the air with the morning show hosts in the [...]

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Just when you think you’ve got your Internet connection at home figured out, along comes yet another technology. But this one promises more than just faster speeds. It might make traditional broadcasters obsolete. The CBC’s technology columnist Tod Maffin is here with the details. Download/Listen to tech_wimax_web.mp3 NB: The on-air version of this piece has Michael Jackson’s [...]

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Have you seen those billboards for Bell — in huge letters, it says “Watch Spiderman on your cell phone!” As if we’ve all been craving that feature. So I decided to find out how easy it was to find Spiderman and watch it on a movie-compatible Bell phone. Along the way, I explain why the [...]

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Here’s my technology column for CBC Radio this week (you get to listen to it a day earlier than it actually broadcasts). This will air on regional morning shows Thursday. My take: Sadly, the merger in the U.S. will probably go through. Which will mean a merger up here in Canada as well. I’m not really [...]

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