Response to Flow Barbados Blocking “Unauthorized Content”

Barbadians awoke to news that its telecommunication provider, (FLOW Barbados) is threatening to block contents on its network that would affect set-top boxes that access off-market television and/or movie streams.

The telecommunication giant stated “we wish to reiterate that C&W does not monitor what a customer accesses on the internet, nor do we know what they are watching. We are simply preventing unauthorized contents from entering the region on our networks.”

In my opinion, this smacks in the face of a monopoly.  And, the questions beg to be asked; where are the net neutrality laws envisioned to protect the Barbadians rights to their choice of network viewing? Where are those individuals, vested with the power to ensure that there are no arbitrary changes to Internet-based Over-The-Top (OTT) applications that would put the common man at a disadvantage? Has FLOW Barbados gone through due process in arriving at this decision?

I firmly believe that this decision was made solely for the purpose of destroying the growing market for the alternative choice of live streaming of Internet-based Over-The-Top (OTT) applications.

Additionally, I believe that FLOW Barbados is afraid of the challenges these set-top boxes and their providers would pose to FLOW and its profits margin.

The nation of Barbados should realize that this is unfair on their path and that they should fight for net neutrality laws to be implemented to prevent this from happening.

Reference:

http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/78376/flow-blocks-pirates

Summary on article "Print Your Hike! 3D Keepsakes Memorialize Mountain Conquests"

Hikers can now memorialize their impressive conquests in 3D-printed sculptures made from GPS tracks.

According to the online article “Print your hike! 3D keepsakes memorialize mountain conquest” by Denise Chow, Sci-Tech Editor, (24 March 2016, 3:36 p.m. ET), a computer science Ph.D. candidate named Oscar Ardaiz, based in Barcelona, Spain, started a project called Nice Trails to create models or “trophies” that feature GPS tracked hiking trails, cycling trails and or other mountainous routes in three dimension. Models include details such as lakes, snow covers, grasslands etc.

Ardaiz came about with the idea after he climbed Mount Rainier and was extremely proud and happy of his accomplishment, but according to Ardaiz, “the line on a map on my phone didn’t quite represent the awesomeness of the day spent conquering the top. I wanted to view my track in 3D, to see the crests and valleys that I crossed.”

To obtain one of these models a user can simply upload and save their GPS track to the projects website, allowing them to create a 3D replica of the path and surrounding terrains.

These models, according to Nice Trail, are made with a gypsum-based powder bound with adhesives, it can take about 2 weeks to produce each customized trophy and the prices vary based on the three available sizes.

Image of what the trophy looks like:

Reference:

http://www.livescience.com/54163-nice-trails-3d-printed-mountain-models.html

Summary on Why Apple Halts iOS 9.3 Updated for Older iPads and iPhones

Apple pauses iOS 9.3 update for its devices after complaints about activation issues.  According to Mikey Campbell on an online article “Apple halts iOS 9.3 updated for older iPads, iPhones after activation issues” users updating older iPhones and iPads are complaining about their devices being unusable after updating the newly released Operating System iOS 9.3.

Statements that were provided mention the problem being in the password authorization phase of the process. “Updating some iOS devices (iPhone 5S and earlier and iPad Air and earlier) to iOS 9.3 can require entering the Apple ID and password used to set up the device in order to complete the software update” Apple says. “In some cases if customers don’t recall their password, their device will remain in an inactivated state until they can recover or reset their password.”

Apple tried offering workaround suggestions to pass that phase of the process, but users have found limited success with the suggestions given.

Because of this problem, apple temporarily pauses download for the affected models while it works on a fix.

Reference:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/03/24/apple-halts-ios-93-updates-for-older-ipads-iphones-after-activation-issues