Those of us living in metropolitan areas don't think twice about our ease of access to medical care, but those in rural areas don't enjoy such easy access to a doctor. Abhijeet Kalyan and Shravan Narayan from McGill University in Canada are aware of this problem, and came up with a way for doctors to diagnose and treat patients from afar. Called Project Neem, it's got a hub and spoke organizational structure that puts a healthcare worker in every village and leverages the power of Windows Phone to connect them with medical staff in distant cities.

Participating healthcare workers are given basic medical training and a handheld loaded up with a custom app that identifies patients by scanning their national ID card and stores their pertinent medical info -- from temperature and blood pressure readings to a variety of symptoms. The app has a virtual human body on board that lets users tap parts of the anatomy to bring up a series of symptoms that can be selected to provide treating physicians with the info they need. That information is stored in the cloud and accessed by doctors through a Windows 8 app, who then can relay appropriate treatments to the local healthcare worker. Now all we need is someone to make a real-world tricorder, and we'll truly be able to bring medical care to the masses, wherever they may be.

McGill University student plan provides healthcare to rural areas with Windows Phone and Win 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, it was revealed that the HTC EVO 4G LTE likely supports simultaneous voice and data connections on Sprint's network, Samsung's Galaxy Ace 2 landed at Three in the UK and Vertu revealed a refresh to its Constellation series of luxury phones. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 21st, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of May 21st, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 21st, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Verizon Wireless brought its LTE service to 28 new markets and expanded its reach in 11 additional areas. We also saw Straight Talk introduce the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, and it appears that Rogers will soon offer the HTC One S. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 14th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of May 14th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 14th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canadians sometimes can't catch a break: while NFC payments have been relatively common for Americans, Europeans and certainly the Japanese, Canucks have had to largely make do paying with ye olde credit carde. Rogers and national bank CIBC want to put an end to these antediluvian ways: starting later this year, CIBC card holders will just need to swipe an NFC-equipped BlackBerry like the Bold 9900 (Bold 9930 for CDMA-loving Americans) at a matching terminal to pay at a given store. The only special requirement is a secure SIM card that gives customers the freedom to change phones, even if it does create problems switching banks or carriers down the line. We're just hoping that Android and other platforms get the same treatment and let more of our Canadian friends pay for poutine that much faster.

Continue reading Rogers and CIBC make joint deal for NFC mobile payments in Canada, let you check out with your BlackBerry

Rogers and CIBC make joint deal for NFC mobile payments in Canada, let you check out with your BlackBerry originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 02:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

RIM is utterly devoted to the physical keyboard, but how do you deal with sausage-fingered emailers who can't pick out individual keys? Thanks to this newly-granted 2009 patent, the company has the solution -- a trapezoidal keyboard designed to offer easier access of type-weary thumbs and wider keys for better accuracy. We hope that in a windowless office in Waterloo, some engineer will combine elements from all this patenting activity and come up with the next generation of mobile telephone.

RIM patents trapezoidal BlackBerry keyboards for slanty-thumbed texters originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you live north of the 49th parallel, you're no doubt frustrated that Samsung teased a summer launch for the Galaxy S III in North America but made no initial mention of its Canadian plans. Don't fret, as virtually every Canadian carrier and its mother has now pledged to carry the giant Android 4.0 smartphone while you're on your summer vacation -- the first carrier commitments in North America that we've seen. Bell, Rogers, Telus, Virgin Mobile and Wind Mobile have all stepped up as national providers, while regional carriers such as SaskTel and Videotron have also signed on. The Galaxy S III is a special milestone for Virgin, as it's the first 4G LTE phone on the Bell-run budget network. We're still waiting for Mobilicity and other cellular services to hop on the Galaxy S III bandwagon, and details like pricing and exact ship dates are still elusive, but odds are that Canucks will have a wide choice of carriers when the 4.8-inch flagship hits stores. Update: Sure enough, Mobilicity is also onboard, which along with Wind Mobile makes it pretty clear that T-Mobile-friendly AWS frequencies are baked in.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III gets a Canadian girlfriend as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile line up

Samsung Galaxy S III gets a Canadian girlfriend as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile line up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Samsung Canada begins rollout of ICS today

Samsung Canada begins rollout of ICS today originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A joint venture of Canadian carriers Rogers, Bell and Telus called EnStream is in final talks with the country's leading banks (likely CIBC, TD, RBC, Scotiabank and BMO) to bring a mobile wallet solution to the Great White North within six months. The system, which was demoed at the CWTA Wireless Showcase last September, enables mobile payments by storing a user's financial credentials on the SIM located inside their NFC-capable phone. It aims to replace credit and debit cards at first -- perhaps even driver's licenses and loyalty programs down the road. Carriers plan to charge banks a flat rate instead of a per-transaction fee.

According to Almis Ledas, EnStream's COO, "banking machines will become the payphones of the future". While we command this attempt to standardize mobile payments in Canada, the time frame seems rather optimistic in light of the slow progress AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have made with Isis in the US so far. Different countries, different rules of course -- still, we think it's going to take quite a while to make loonies obsolete. Maybe this is the perfect window of opportunity for Google Wallet and Square to jump across the border, eh? Time will tell. Check out EnStream's mobile wallet in action on video after the break.

Continue reading EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)

EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Much like within the US, the HTC One S has yet to invade the Canadian shoreline. While the smartphone is expected to arrive at a number of carriers, Virgin Mobile has never been one to pass up a promotional opportunity. Accordingly, it's launched a teaser page for HTC's brawny middleweight, along with a giveaway that promises a free handset to two lucky individuals. Curiously, it seems the contest rules may have outed Virgin's off-contract price for the One S, and while the $600 figure is no shocker, it certainly gives purchasers an idea of what to expect. In related news, the Bell subsidiary is also currently offering the HTC One S to five beta testers -- so, if you're feeling like a good samaritan, feel free to make your case in the second source link below.

Virgin Mobile Canada announces HTC One S giveaway, suggests $600 retail price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canadians looking to hunt down the smallest addition to HTC's One series are in luck. According to a MobileSyrup tipster, it'll arrive on Bell next week, in all its aluminum unibody glory. While the One X looks to be confined to Rogers in the Land of the Maple Leaf, both the One S and One V are going to be offered by Bell Mobility. The mole also hinted at pricing below CND $300, matching those entry-level credentials we've explored just recently. Not a fan of Bell? Don't get disheartened -- the Android 4.0 minnow will also make an appearance on Telus, so 'chin' up.

HTC One V coming to Canada on Bell, will reunite with One S originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Folks in Canada using Samsung's Smart lineup of home theater equipment have a new app to be excited about, thanks in part to Cineplex Entertainment. The two companies have teamed up for a video-on-demand app, dubbed Cineplex Store, which will allow owners of "select models of Samsung's Smart TVs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems" to purchase or rent videos from the comfort of their couches. Pricing is set from about three to five bucks for 48-hour unlimited play rentals (from the time you hit play within a 30-day period), while buying titles outright will cost ya between $10 and $20 -- all without any pesky contracts. Notably, for those prices you'll also be able to store your content in a "digital locker" and rack up Scene points with Cineplex. While it appears that there's nary mention of which Smart devices are compatible, you can hit up the source link below and the press release after break for more details.

Continue reading Samsung Canada launches Cineplex Store app, offers paid movies on 'select' Smart devices

Samsung Canada launches Cineplex Store app, offers paid movies on 'select' Smart devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Verizon announced that its LTE service now covers two-thirds of the US population, and T-Mobile dropped its 'nice girl' image in attempt to position its HSPA+ network as a viable competitor to LTE. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of April 16th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We know Yanks using AT&T's network will be getting their own flavor of the HTC One X early next month, thus it's only appropriate for the neighbors up north to get a taste of the same smartphone medicine. Thanks to Rogers, those of you in Canada will be able to get your hands on this Sense 4, ICS-filled handset as soon as today. Rogers says HTC's One kin is coming as an exclusive to its shop, currently listing it for $169.99 on "select" three-year deals or $624.99 without any attachments. Keep in mind, this specific model's loaded with the Snapdragon S4 chip, which is slightly different than the One we reviewed a few weeks back. However, if all those cores don't make a difference to you, then all that's left to do is head to the source below and pull the trigger.

[Thanks, Sean]

Continue reading HTC One X available today on Rogers for $170 with a three-year contract

HTC One X available today on Rogers for $170 with a three-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Looks like Canada just scored another mobile credit card payment system within its borders. It was back at CES when Intuit revealed its updated GoPayment dongle for our neighbors up north, and now the company's announced that the service has officially launched in the region. Once you're application is approved, you'll get the card reader for free without any contract -- and best of all, GoPayment works on a "pay-as-you-go" basis (3.3 percent if you enter the digits, 2.7 percent with a swipe). It's currently purposed for iDevices with a free downloadable app, accepting Visa and Mastercards, but Intuit notes that Android and BlackBerry compatibility is in the works. With services NetSecure and PayPal also claiming space in the country, we're still left to wonder when Square -- essentially the godfather of this type of thing -- will finally be joining the card-swiping party in the great white north. If you're curious for all the details or wanting to apply for yourself, head on down to the source link below.

[Thanks, Mike]

Intuit GoPayment goes live in Canada, more rectangular than Square originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just a couple of days ago, Canadian carrier WIND quietly outed its soon-to-be Nokia Lumia 710, and now it's Bell's turn to follow suit by teasing an upcoming device of its own. Unlike WIND, however, Bell isn't flaunting a Mango-flavored handset, but instead a Gingerbread-loaded Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE. As you may have guessed by the "LTE" stuffed in its relatively long dub, this Sammy slab will be able to surf through the Mobility network's Long Term Evolution waves. Sadly, the product page isn't showing us just how much cash you'll have to unleash, or how "soon" we can expect it to hit shelves around the True North. No worries, though, since Bell does have a signup page waiting for you to kindly place your name on it.

Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE listed as 'coming soon' on Bell Canada's site originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The latest update for Roku 2 and LT boxes is rolling out to all now, bringing the boxes to v4.6 and reportedly improving system navigation performance "by up to 50 percent". As noticed by Zatz Not Funny when it first started leaking out, this version includes the French language support required by Roku's Canadian launch (that's the channel selection for Canada pictured above) this week, while the official blog notes several other fixes and tweaks that should make launching channels like Netflix and BBC iPlayer a more reliable experience. As usual, it should be pushed to every box over the next couple of days, but you can speed up the process by manually checking for an update. Have an older Roku player? Don't worry, Director of Product Management Tom Markworth closes telling owners to "stay tuned" for future updates coming their way as well.

Roku 2 boxes updated for Francophones and English speakers alike originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What we're about to show you is decidedly low-tech -- it's essentially a projection screen with a sharp curve at the bottom -- but the resulting effect conveys a more realistic 3D image, for certain applications, at least. The Communications Research Centre of Canada was on hand at NAB to demonstrate a small variety of lab projects, with agency representatives hoping to make an impression on attendees, who will theoretically apply these concepts to actual products, with no licensing fee making its way back to the True North. This particular project employs an off-the-shelf Optoma 3D projector, active glasses and a white screen positioned with a dramatic curve, that essentially works to provide a platform for 3D subjects to stand on.

Believe it or not, the config really does make a difference, enabling a more immersive experience that makes 3D objects appear more realistic, assuming they're positioned in such a way that they're standing on the near-horizontal portion of the screen. Research Technologist Ron Renaud says that such a configuration would be ideal for video conferencing -- it's still no match for an in-person meeting, but it's certainly an improvement over the traditional approach. The demonstration projector wasn't configured to compensate for the curve, which theoretically makes it subject to warping, though we didn't notice any issues at the show. Like all 3D displays, you'll really need to see it for yourself to get an accurate impression of the experience, but jump past the break for an overview with Renaud, and a closer look at the screen.

Gallery: Curved 3D panel hands-on

Continue reading Curved panel gives more depth to 3D projections, we take a look at NAB (video)

Curved panel gives more depth to 3D projections, we take a look at NAB (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's now been a few months since we first laid our eager palms on Nokia's Lumia 710, and although it isn't getting any younger, some carriers are still adding the device to their lineup. We'd previously seen Rogers land the entry-level 710 as an exclusive in Canada, but now it's looking like the deal's expiring and WIND Mobile's ready to give its users a taste of the Mango-flavored handset. So far, WIND's keeping deets to a minimum, with the site only listing the device as "coming soon." One thing we do know, however, is that specs-wise it's likely to be a clone of any other network's variant. Needless to say, WIND may have to match, if not best, Rogers' prices in order to attract a new breed of customers to its white and orange shop. While you wait for the rest of the info to spill, you can always give those free Nokia covers a gander and decide which one you'd like to snag if the promo ever hits the True North.

Canada's WIND Mobile lists Nokia Lumia 710, says it's coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS launch today in Canada with over 100 channels

Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS launch today in Canada with over 100 channels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores

Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Royal Canadian Mint aims to kickstart digital currency with MintChip developer challenge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ceramic White Samsung Galaxy Note careens into Canadian hearts starting today

Ceramic White Samsung Galaxy Note careens into Canadian hearts starting today originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While its corporate parent Viacom continues to tussle with Google over who is liable for user uploaded content, Paramount Pictures has struck a deal to offer its movies for rental on YouTube / Google Play in the US and Canada. According to Google that adds up to around 500 new movies becoming available on the service over the next few weeks including hits like Ferris Bueller and The Godfather. Those catalog titles are currently available on 48hr joypasses for $3.99/$2.99 (HD/SD) each, while newer titles like Hugo are $4.99/$3.99. Also worth noting is that now the folks at Mountain View can count five of the six major studios (Fox is still out) among their offerings. We'll see if this signals a thawing relationship between Google and the studios upset that pirated copies of their content are so easily found via Google's searches (doubt it), but at least Android users can look forward to more easily accessible content.

Paramount flicks are coming to YouTube and Google Play despite Viacom lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You never thought that Canada would let the UK steal all of that gorgeous HTC One X limelight, did you? While Rogers can't compete with the phone's April 5th arrival at T-Mobile and Orange in the land of tea and crumpets, the Canadian carrier is currently offering HTC's flagship device for pre-order. Now through April 30th, customers may pick up the dual-core Snapdragon S4, LTE version of the handset for $170 on a three-year plan. Naturally, we're just as excited as you to put this variant through its paces, but if it performs anything like the HTC One S, we're certainly in for a wild ride.

Rogers offers HTC One X for pre-order in Canada, $170 on contract through April 30th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been nearly two months since Samsung's LTE Galaxy Note made its debut in the land of maple syrup Canada, and now Telus and Bell might finally begin stocking the white variant of the Gingerbread-loaded phablet. According to (supposed) internal memos leaked from both companies to Mobile Syrup, it appears as though Bell's planning to release the 5.3-inch device on April 10th, while Telus may let it loose as soon as tomorrow. Notably, the site also mentions that you'll be looking at an unchanged entry-fee of $200 with a three-year contract or $730 if you'd prefer the phone sans strings. It likely won't be long until this unicorn's northerly arrival gets confirmed for sure, but for now, drag your cursor over to the source links below for a shot of the Bell document and further insight.

Is Samsung's white Galaxy Note coming to Canada on Telus tomorrow, Bell on April 10? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of March 26th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of March 26th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Canada's Videotron finally delivers tru2way-based illico TV HD DVRs

Canada's Videotron finally delivers tru2way-based illico TV HD DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Could Fido be joining the Canadian LTE club? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading HTC One V for Telus goes on the record with Sense 4.0 (video)

HTC One V for Telus goes on the record with Sense 4.0 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone shipments overtake BlackBerry in Canada, RIM now runner-up in its hometown originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canada relaxes rules on foreign ownership of wireless companies, plans spectrum auction for first half of 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rogers confirms Lumia 900 pre-orders beginning 'next week': get your wallets ready, Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Virgin Mobile launches LTE for Canadian iPad users originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of March 5th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of March 5th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

LG Optimus L7 reportedly joining Rogers' budget lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.