Xobni is for E-mail Pack Rats

Normally, I don't like installing third-party apps on my computer. But being a notorious e-mail packrat, an application to help organize e-mails in Microsoft Outlook caught my attention this morning. Called Xobni, it provides comprehensive search tools, and complete "profiles" on everyone you e-mail, from their phone number, to your most recent conversations with them, mutual contacts, and even a history of attachments shared between the two of you. I'm often trying to weed through tons and tons of e-mails to find things, and Outlook's own search function can only do so much. So I thought I'd give Xobni a try.

I downloaded the service from http://www.xobni.com/ (it took a matter of seconds), and instantly, it began to scan my e-mails to build its database. After about 8 minutes, I was notified that all of my recent e-mails had been scanned, and the rest would scan "when I wasn't using my computer". (Yes, I have that many!) During the wait time, however, little interesting tidbits of information popped up, like the fact that, by 2009, we'll reportedly spend 49% of our work time managing e-mails, and that my colleague Robert is my third most-emailed contact (funny considering we have offices beside one another!) Note: you must have Windows XP or Vista and be using Outlook 2003 or 2007 for it to run.

The Xobni panel sits on the right side of the Outlook window. If you highlight an e-mail, all of that person's information automatically pops up. You can also search for a person by name or look up a keyword in Xobni's own search tool (results appear as I type). I pulled up data on our Website designer, and found that we most often converse via e-mail in the mornings, we have 39 mutual contacts, we've had over 1,000 conversations, and recently exchanged 18 files between one another. Neat!

The service is still in its beta stage, so there are definitely some kinks to be worked out. For example, it can extract phone numbers from e-mail signatures or text to automatically populate the phone number field for a contact. This, as you can imagine, can't be foolproof. What if I send an e-mail to someone saying "you can reach Bob Smith at 416-555-5555". Will Xobni then think that's MY number? I've already noticed a discrepancy here: in an e-mail note this morning to a contact, my phone number was included in my signature, but the recipient's wasn't. As a result, the phone number that appears as hers is actually mine!

The appeal with Xobni is, no doubt, the cool factor, but it can also work as a useful tool. I'm often searching for old e-mails to find a high-res photo attachment or correspondence on a particular topic. Outlook has its own search function: true. But Xobni helps you make links that aren't possible with Outlook. For example, I'll, from time to time, contact the wrong PR person at a company for information, because I simply don't remember who deals with which account. Through Xobni, I can search for the first name I recall at that company, check our mutual contacts and a history of conversations, and find out who's the right person to call for what I need. Here's another example: if I need to call someone, I'll often sort my Outlook e-mails by name, then scan recent e-mails to find one where the person mentions a cell number, or where a number is included in a signature. With Xobni, I just punch in the person's name, and a phone number automatically pops up if it was ever included in a note.

I've only just started using Xobni, so I can't confirm that it's the be-all-and-end-all of e-mail organization. And it certainly isn't for everyone. But if you're averse to deleting e-mails like I am, and tend to keep e-mails in a somewhat disorganized manner, it's definitely worth a try. But beware: some are calling it "social networking" for Outlook, so you might just end up replacing the time you spend searching for e-mails with checking the "rank" of each of your contacts (who do you e-mail the most?) and other interesting facts about your contacts!

Happy Searching!

Tech Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 11, and my inbox has been flooded with mom-themed pitches of all kinds. You'd be surprised at how many technology-related items could put a smile on mom's face, whether she's your own mother, your wife, sister, family member, or friend. Here are some gift ideas, and suggestions on how to make them mom-friendly:

Digital photo frames: To make a gift like this more personal (and easier) for the mom on your list, buy a memory card with the frame and load it up with photos that she'll love. This way, the frame is ready to go and show off to all of her guests. This also leaves room for gift ideas going forward: imagine giving her a new memory card loaded with recent pix at every occasion (with another gift, of course!) A 64 MB card costs peanuts these days, and you can fill that up with tons of images to be displayed electronically through a digital frame. If she has her own digital camera, she'll also appreciate being able to display her own photos quickly and easily.

Portable photo printer: If the mom on your list owns a digital camera and knows how to download photos from it, a portable photo printer would make a great idea. Imagine being able to take photos at a family event, then print out copies right on the spot to give away to guests. Kids get loot bags, so why shouldn't adults get them, too? There are plenty of these on the market from manufacturers like Epson, HP, and Sony.

Universal Remote Control: A universal remote control is a convenience that anyone can appreciate. Although dad might like this gift more than mom, it's a neat idea to help simplify her day when she wants to watch TV, movies, or just listen to music while doing chores around the house. One of my favourites is the Harmony One, but even as easy as this remote is to program, no one wants a gift that requires work. Program it for her, and have it ready to go immediately out of the box, and she'll love you for it.

Nintendo Wii: Lots of moms are looking to get fit, and a Nintendo Wii gaming console can help make this arduous task more fun. Out of the box, the unit comes with the Wii Sports game that can occupy you for hours on end. It includes activities like bowling, tennis, golf, and baseball, as well as a fitness "test" that tells you your "Wii age", giving some great motivation to improve. With the upcoming launch of the Wii Fit game, this console is an even more attractive for mom. Keep in mind, however, that if the mom on your mind has young kids, they'll likely benefit from this gift just as much as she will!

PVR/DVD Recorder: Let's face it: every mom on the planet is busy, whether she works full-time, part-time, or as a stay-at-home mom. Given this, it's often tough to catch all of her favourite shows on TV. I've had a PVR for years, and don't know how I ever lived without it! Using one of these devices, whether from a cable/satellite provider, or third-party company like TiVo, moms can record all of her shows, then catch up on them when she has the time.

Portable GPS Unit: These litte gadgets are hot, hot, hot these days, and the latest models employ neat features like traffic updates, text-to-speech that dictates actual street names, and Bluetooth so they can be paired with your phone and used as an in-car speakerphone device. They're also pretty affordable, and would be a welcome addition to anyone that drives to city streets.

Vehicle Security/Remote Starter: Moms can always use extra security for the car, and a remote starter is always appreciated, especially during the cold winter months. Viper has a limited edition model that comes in pink: yes, to appeal to women, but also because proceeds from the sale of each one will go toward breast cancer research. Any mom will appreciate a useful device, especially if she knows that part of what you paid for it will go toward a worthwhile cause.

Movies that Mom Will Like: Plenty of mom-friendly movies have just been released on DVD, including 27 Dresses and P.S. I Love You. If mom likes movies, scan the new releases for ones she might like.

If you have your own ideas, please leave them in the comments section here. I'm sure there are plenty of shoppers out there looking for the perfect gift for mom, and will appreciate the suggestions!

Blown Away by GTA IV...and I Haven't Even Played it!

If I was to be considered a "gamer" at all, I would be lumped into the category that likes "fun" and family-friendly games, like Mario Kart, Bust-A-Move, and, of course, Bejeweled. Not exactly your traditional Xbox 360 or Sony PS3 customer. But having observed my partner play Grand Theft Auto IV for a few hours (and asked question upon question as he moved along) I'm amazed at the detail. Even if you're not into gaming, it's worth it to watch someone play this game for a few hours just to truly understand how complex and involved something that was once considered kid's play has now become.

First, there's the story line. It's like a movie, with a character that you actually begin to relate to (in some ways, not all!) You're the protagonist, deciding when to eat, when you go home to sleep, which car you steal, and who you kill. You "date" and make "friends", and at some point, these relationships might not turn out to be what they seemed (I'll refrain from getting into detail so as not to ruin the experience for anyone!)

Then there's the incredible detail. Everything from street signs to cars, to the contours of character's faces. Each car's exterior is accurately designed, while bumps and hits are shown to spec as soon as you run into a pole, or another car, or perhaps even a person on foot (who might yell at you for hitting them, or just go flying into the air!). The Liberty City radio and TV stations are even chocked-full of funny dialogue, from jokes about the social networking site "MyRoom" to a TV show that spoofs Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (or another like show). If your character pops into the bar for a couple of drinks (maybe to play some darts or arcade games as well) don't think you'll get off easy: he will leave inebriated. This means that your entire screen bobs up and down, and no matter how hard you try with the controller, he simply won't walk a straight line. All you can do is wait until he (i.e. you) sober up.

Every witty detail has been thought out, right down to Web pages accessed via a computer (you log on via one of many Internet cafes throughout the city). There's a spoof site for IKEA, as well as one for Starbucks, along with a few dating sites. Craigslist is also spoofed, with some hilarious listings, and an even more hilarious "About Us" page. And when you check your e-mail, don't think that you're free of spam: you get that in the game, too!

You probably wonder what all of this has to do with a game about stealing cars, fighting gangs, selling drugs, and making money. The answer is nothing. But it does have to do with building a virtual city and story line that's believable enough to make players really, truly get into the spirit of the game. And that's what it's all about, right?

With that said, this game is definitely not for kids. The way I see it, if you let them watch TV shows like The Sopranos or gangster movies like The Departed, then let them play the game. The content is pretty much the same, except with the game, he makes the moves rather than sitting back and watching actors make them. And if you can look past the gang references, bad language, and drug paraphernalia, you'll find a wonderfully immersive experience that was able to wow even a non-gamer like me.

[Note: Click Here to see some video footage from GTA IV, along with footage from the midnight Best Buy launch event of the game last week.]

Music File Sharers: 1, RIAA: 0

In the continuing battle to shut down illegal peer-to-peer music sharing Websites, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which represents the U.S. recording industry, has been dealt a blow. The District Court of Arizona has ruled in the case of Atlantic vs. Howell that simply keeping music in a "shared" folder on one's PC doesn't constitute illegal file sharing. In addition, the court called the act of downloading content from someone's PC "secondary copyright infringement" rather than "primary", since that person would be taking a copy of a copy, and not a copy of the original. Do you follow? The Court adds that the definition of "distribute" within the Copyright Act is not made clear enough to determine if simply making music available to others in itself can be considered "distributing" it.

At the end of its decision, the Court stated that it "is not unsympathetic to the difficulty that Internet file-sharing systems pose to owners of registered copyrights. Even so, it is not the position of this court to respond to new technological innovations by expanding the protections received by copyright holders beyond those found in the Copyright Act."

This makes sense. If someone steals something from me, how is it my fault? The owner of a stack of CDs in his car isn't considered at fault if a thief breaks in and steals them, even if he accidentally left the door unlocked. So why should someone be considered at fault if he fails to protect his PC hard drive, and others steal content from it?

It's true that, in some cases, people will purposely leave music in a "shared" folder in order to ramp up P2P site offerings. But in other cases, it could be an honest mistake. I'll bet that my parents make all their music available through a shared folder and don't even know it!

In this particular case, the Howells had over 4,000 music tracks available through the online P2P site KaZaA, many of which were digitally ripped copies of original recordings. However, although they admit to purposely sharing other content via KaZaA, they claim not to have intended to share the original recordings.

This could be a groundbreaking case in the issue of music distribution online and P2P sharing, which has plagued the music industry for years. Many artists have been taking the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" stance as of late, doing things like offering music tracks for free online in hopes of gaining consumer support. What's your stance on this issue?

What Will They Think Of Next?: Power More Gadgets in the Car

My boss brought to my attention a neat gadget mentioned in today's edition of the National Post, and the first thing that came to my mind was "that's neat - why on earth didn't I think of that?" It's a 12V adapter from a company called Maxsa that plugs into the 12V socket in your car, and has three 12V outlets attached to the end of it. This means that, rather than only being able to connect one device in the car, you can now connect 3!

You might ask yourself why you'd ever need to do that, but I've found myself in situations many times where I could have used something like this. The most common instance is when both myself and my passenger want to recharge a cell phone during a long road trip. Other times, I'll be using my portable GPS unit to navigate to a destination (plugged in, since I always forget to charge it up!), and my partner will want to unplug it so he can charge his cell. When it comes to parents, I can imagine that there are tons of ways they could find such a gadget useful to help entertain the kids on long drives. It comes with a 16-foot extension to reach to the backseat; and can handle a maximum load of 120-watts.

Of course, many of the latest vans and trucks come with extra outlets in the back anyway. But for small car owners like myself, I'd love to have something like this in my glove compartment.

[Photo courtesy of www.maxsainnovations.com]

Is VoIP Safe?

A recent and unfortunate incident in Alberta has caused people to re-evaluate the safety issues related to using Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, telephone services.

VoIP services, which are phone services operating via broadband Internet, have always made it clear that there are 9-1-1 emergency dialing limitations. Either a call is first routed to a centre that takes down your address and then routes the call to the nearest dispatch location; or uses the most recent address on file and sends someone out to that location. In the most recent case, the Luck family moved from Mississauga, ON to Alberta, but failed to fill in the necessary change of address information online for they're VoIP provider. The young toddler became ill, and an ambulance was unknowingly dispatched to the Mississauga house first instead of the Calgary one. In the end, the baby passed on, and it remains to be seen whether the baby could have been saved if the ambulance had arrived more quickly: reportedly, it took between 30 and 40 minutes for it to finally arrive.

On the one hand, you couldn't possibly think of blaming the parents for not updating their information. Were they even clearly told that they needed to do this if they moved when they signed up for the VoIP service? Or was this necessary information simply hidden away in the fine print on the bottom of the contract? Nor can you blame the ambulance or dispatcher. They take what information they have, and do the best they can with it. However, it was noted that the first call to 9-1-1 rang five times before someone eventually called back; and that the mother did in fact provide their Calgary address, but the call somehow got disconnected and the information not accurately heard.

In a perfect world, all 9-1-1 emergency calls would go directly to a local emergency services location. Of course with new technology like VoIP, where someone's location will be determined by an IP address, not via a landline set-up, this becomes a bit trickier. My advice? If you're going to use VoIP, make sure to get all the details from the company upon sign up about what is required of you if you relocate. In some cases, you may need to call and have your information updated; while in others, you can simply update an online customer profile. Also, since most of us have mobile phones these days as well, it might be in your best interest to rely on that device rather than a VoIP line when in an emergency situation. Of course, in the event of an emergency, we're never thinking 100% straight, and rely on those called upon to help us to be the ones to think clearly.

Hopefully this unfortunate event will urge VoIP providers to dedicate more time to improving 9-1-1 services, because the option really is a much more affordable, and convenient, method than traditional landline calling.

HD DVD is Gone, But Has This Really Helped Blu-ray?

It has been more than two months since Toshiba officially announced the end of the high-definition DVD format war by halting production of HD DVD players. The Blu-ray camp sighed a big sigh of relief, and poised itself for an increase in sales. But has Blu-ray really benefitted from winning the format war?

According to a recent study by The NPD Group, it hasn't; or at least not yet. Sales of Blu-ray players actually dropped 40% from January to February in the U.S. From February to March, during the time when the "war" had officially been declared over, there was only a 2% increase in sales.

"That standalone Blu-ray players haven't picked up significantly from HD DVD's loss shows that few consumers were dissuaded primarily by the 'format war'," declared Ross Rubin, Director of Industry Analysis, NPD. "When we surveyed consumers late last year, on overwhelming number of them said they weren't investing in a next-generation player because their old DVD player worked well and next-generation players were too expensive. It's clear from retail sales that those consumer sentiments are still holding true."

I've long said that, rather than focusing on becoming the winning format, both camps should have been more focused on convincing the customer that he needs to upgrade to an HD source, period. Either way, price will remain a factor with budget-conscious customer; not just of the Blu-ray hardware devices, but also software, which are often times almost double the price of a "regular" DVD movie. In fact, I think if the price of software were to drop down to become in line with standard DVDs, more people might be willing to fork over the extra dough for the player.

Interestingly, NPD notes that many consumers who are interested in a better viewing experience are quite content with upconverting DVD players. Sales of these such devices grew 5% during the first quarter of 2008 compared to 2007. Meanwhile, regular DVD player sales dropped a whopping 39%.

Nevertheless, it's only a matter of time before consumers finally pick up on high-definition DVD. Many are already enjoying HDTVs and high-definition TV viewing, so high-def DVD is naturally the next step in the equation. It's also important to note that this study only looked at standalone Blu-ray players: devices like the Sony PlayStation 3 gaming console, which includes a built-in Blu-ray player, has been selling like hotcakes!