Gift Card Offers
Select Real Canadian Superstores are offering 10% discounts on $30 iTunes gift card multi-packs until March 17th, 2016. Consult your local flyer for details.
While you’re at your local store look for specially marked Coca Cola products offering the Buy 1 Get 1 Free Movie Offer for Cineplex Cinemas. This offer starts on the 7th and ends on June 30th, 2016. Details can be found clicking here.
Free Music Gift Card Reminders
I’ve received an email from Stouffers Rewards today saying their points program will be ending on September 1st, 2016, when all points will become null and void.
$25 iTunes gift cards can be obtained by redeeming 18,000 points until that date so mark your calendars and make sure you redeem your points before September 1st.
BTW, you also have until March 16th, 2016 to Roll Up The Rim To Win online for free music downloads from Universal Music – They’re giving away 50,000 three download packages but i’ve only managed to win coffee for myself and a friend, three times. 🙂
Predictable…
Some of the cable companies have managed to get their way on skinny basic.
Yes, you will be able to get your local channels, the major American networks and the CRTC mandated channels for $25. But depending on your provider you could pay from $4 to $7 for the individual channels you choose extra, causing many to pay as much as they do now by simply choosing five or six extra individual channels.
Some of the providers are also limiting their skinny basic to standard definition, forcing their customer to pay more for the high definition channels. And one has to wonder how much they will charge for the rental of their boxes and extra outlets.
Those getting cable television over the internet don’t fare better either. To watch television they must subscribe to a high speed service and rent or buy modems, which adds to the bottom line. And in the end most will simply be offered an existing package by the customer service representatives, who were asked to downplay skinny basic.
Unfortunately those wishing to cut the cord have also been subjected to off the air signal reductions, requiring outdoor antennas
Vmedia is one of the few IPTV providers to offer their services nation wide but Ontario and Quebec are also serviced by Beanfield, Distributel, Vianet Canada, and Zazeen. And many of these providers are expanding.
Apple TV is also an option, as are streaming serves like Netflix, Crave TV and Shomi, although the streaming services are still catching up on content.
I’m personally waiting for the dust to settle and for my contract with my cable company to expire to investigate my options. But i’m leaning towards cutting the cord if the shenanigans continue.
Tim Cook Issues Press Release
Apple has issued a press release in regards to the United States Government’s request to unlock iPhones and access their user’s data. It can be read by clicking here.
Paypal Says No To VPN
In response to potential copyright issues Paypal has decided to stop offering their services to VPN services. And unfortunately that means that those of us who want to secure our tablets, laptops and phones whilst traveling or using public wi-fi will need to pay using other methods.
The first VPN company to receive notice was Canadian company UnoTelly, whose account have been limited by Paypal on the third of this month. And although other VPN providers appear to still be offering Paypal as a payment option, they are expected to be limited soon.
VPN services are not illegal but their use to view copyrighted content that has been limited to a specific country is technically illegal, even when payment has been provided to legitimate services like Netflix.
Netflix is working on providing more material to Canadians but people will always be tempted to use VPN to access the American version of Netflix as long it provides more content.