Mar. 29 & 30, 2025 Show Notes
Stanley Cup Century Celebration / Juno Awards / Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm on C-FAX
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
Your crew this weekend:
Terry Sirup
Computer Tech and Store Sales Manager at Priority 1 Computers
3960 Quadra, across from White Spot
Terry@Priority1.ca
store +1 250-475-7510
Jade Nixon
Producer
Jade.Nixon@Bellmedia.ca
1) Watch out for scam political polling texts
Now that the federal election campaign is officially underway, lots of polling companies are texting us to gauge support for the various parties.
Most of them are legit, but here's a screenshot from one we recommend you avoid.
If you reply, "Sally" will reply back asking for your Postal Code, and also your first name, supposedly so they don't text you back again.
The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC), a polling industry association, has clarified that ERG National Research is not a member of their organization and does not adhere to their standards. CRIC has received numerous complaints about ERG's lack of transparency, as the messages do not clearly state their purpose or provide contact info. There's some suspicion that ERG will use your replies to match you to voting records and then offer to sell that info to political parties and candidates.
If you get one of these texts, do not reply STOP, as that'll let them know they've reached a mobile number that's currently in use. Instead, block the number, or forward it to 7726 (+ SPAM) and let your carrier block them for everyone.
www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca
ALERT: ERG National Research | CRIC
We have been receiving complaints from the public regarding a company called ERG National Research that has been sending out a text message (SMS) asking which federal party you would vote for in the next federal election. Those who respond are then asked to provide their postal code.
2) If you get a text about an unpaid parking ticket, it's a scam
This scam is not new, but in recent days, many people here, and in Vancouver, have been getting texts like the one in the screenshot.
The link in the text takes you to a fake ticket-payment website which uses the logo of the City in question, and asks you to put in your licence plate number.
No matter what plate number you put in, it'll confirm that you have an unpaid parking ticket, and offer to reduce the price if you pay it online.
Tapping on the "Pay Now" button takes you to a different web-page where the scammers are hoping you'll give them your credit card info. If you do, within minutes, the scammers will be using that info to buy items online which they can later resell online.
NEVER click on links in texts or emails like this!
Here are two other variations of this scam…
ANY text about an unpaid parking or speeding ticket is a scam.
4) How to easily find-out if Call- and Text- Forwarding is turned-on on your phone
When a woman had her identity stolen and money taken out of her bank accounts, authorities later discovered that scammers had taken her phone when she put it down in a food court without locking it, and turning-on call- and text- forwarding, and then giving the phone back to her, saying she'd dropped it.
The scammers then had security codes texted to her — which were forwarded to their number — giving them access to her bank accounts, email, Amazon and other accounts.
The chances of this happening to you are slim, because the scammers have to physically get access to your phone when it's unlocked.
But, if you want to check to see If you or anyone else has turned on call- or text- forwarding on your phone, there's an easy way to do that: go to your phone's keypad, and tap in *#21# (as shown in the first screenshot below) and then tap the green Call button. After a couple seconds, you should see a screen like the one in the second screenshot below…
If any call- or text- forwarding has been activated on your phone, it'll show there.
To turn it off, go back to your phone's dial pad and tap in ##21# and tap the green Call button. Then repeat the *#21# call to confirm it's off. If that doesn't work,call ##002#
To turn it off on an iPhone, you can also go to Settings, Apps, Phone, Call Forwarding.
On most Android phones, you can also open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu (usually in the top-right corner) and select Settings. Under "Supplementary Services" or a similar category, tap on Call Forwarding. You'll see options like "Always forward", "Forward when busy", "Forward when unanswered", and "Forward when unreachable". Tap each one and select "Turn off".
Tech Deals This Weekend
Windows 11 refurbushed laptops and desktops: $599 at Priority 1
If your computer is too old to be worth upgrading to Windows 11 (see item #10 below), Priority 1 has lots of refurbished business-grade Lenovo laptops and desktop PC's. They have new 1TB (1000GB) solid-state drives (SSD's), 16GB of RAM, and are powered by 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processors, so they're good for pretty much anything except high-end gaming and 4K video-editing.
They'll be available for just $599 when Priority 1 Computers re-opens on Monday. Data-transfer from a Windows 10 PC is just $129 when you buy one of these refurbished computers.
Freedom Mobile Flash Sale: 150GB Canada/USA/Mexico + 25GB of 106-country Roam Beyond for $55/month
If you're a heavy data user, and/or if you're planning to do lots of international travelling this year, Freedom Mobile has a great flash sale giving a whack of extra data this weekend.
These are the two plans in particular that stand out:
- $55/month gets you 150GB a month of Canada/USA/Mexico data, unlimited Canada/USA/Mexico calling, international texting, and 25GB of Roam Beyond data and unlimited calling in 106 countries
- $45/month gets you 100GB a month of Canada/USA/Mexico data, unlimited Canada/USA/Mexico calling, international texting, and 15GB of Roam Beyond data and unlimited calling in 106 countries
You have to be on the plans for a minimum of three months; you can drop down to a cheaper plan after that if your overseas travelling is done for the year.
These bonus-data plans are only on sale till the end of business on Monday.
A century ago, the Victoria Cougars won the Stanley Cup in Oak Bay
That was the first — and last — time a BC team won the Stanley Cup!
The centennial is being marked this weekend with a raft of events -- called the Century Celebration — including your opportunity to have your picture taken with the real Stanley Cup…
Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) Reminder: Windows 10 support ends this October
Microsoft will stop issuing security updates for Windows 10 on October 14 of this year. After that, when bad guys figure-out how to hack your PC, Microsoft will not be issuing patches to fix that.
That's why, if your computer is running Windows 10 and is not new enough to be auto-upgraded to Windows 11, expect to see a full-screen message from Microsoft every month…
Despite what the message says, computers less than 12 years old can be upgraded Windows 11 — it just has to be upgraded by a computer tech via a clean install. It's usually not worth doing that, though, unless your computer is less than eight years old, as the technology in older computers will struggle to keep pace with the expectations of today's websites, apps, and software.
If your computer still has an old spinning hard drive, this would be a good opportunity to also upgrade to a much faster solid-state drive. They're not expensive and can avoid you having to buy a new PC.
You can dismiss the Windows 11 splash screen by clicking on "Remind me later", but it'll pop-up again next month!
Priority 1, Tesseract, and Gizmo's in Langford will do the upgrade and data-transfer for you for $200, or they'll do the data transfer for $129 if you buy one of their refurbished Windows 11 PC's.
Which-ever option you choose, please don't leave it till October, as we'll all be way too busy thenn to help everyone!
11) What's the big deal about the Signal private messaging app that's been all over the news?
Although Signal is not approved for discussing classified military operations, it's a superb free encrypted messaging app for you and me, with higher-quality video and audio than WhatsApp, and it's private, and not owned by Meta, as WhatsApp is.
Signal is available for free for iPhones, iPads, and Android phones, as well as for Windows computers.
Signal also lets you lock it with a different PIN code from the one used to unlock your phone, and its available for Windows computers, as well as on iPhones, iPads, and Android phones.
12) Apple to unveil new operating systems and more at its 2025 WorldWide Developers Conference WWDC on June 9
Apple will be unveiling its new iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems on the first morning of its annual WorldWide Developers Conference, which this year will begin on Monday, June 9th.
There'll be more that the usual attention on this year's keynote, after Apple was forced to admit last month that a lot of the Siri Intelligence features that were showcased at last year's WWDC, are being delayed till later this year because delivering them is proving more challenging that initially anticipated.
13) Genetic testing firm 23andMe is going bankrupt, and if they tested your DNA, make sure you delete it from their database
The once-popular genetic testing ferm 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, and is in the process of finding a buyer for its assets — which includes the DNA test results of its millions of clients.
The company says the filing does not change how it stores, manages, or protects customer data. But privacy experts are recommending anyone who's used 23andMe delete their data, given concerns not only about a potential buyer getting access to sensitive info, but also hackers who might take advantage of the upheaval to try to gain access to it.
If you have a 23andMe account, delete your data by logging-in and going to “Settings”, and then scroll down to the section called “23andMe Data”.
Then, click “View”, download your DNA data if you want a copy, and then go to the “Delete Data” section and click “Permanently Delete Data”. 23andMe will email you to confirm you want to do this, and you'll need to follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
If you previously asked 23andMe to store your saliva sample and DNA, you can also ask that it be destroyed by going to your Account Settings and clicking on “Preferences”. And you can withdraw consent to third-party researchers being allowed to use your genetic data and sample under “Research and Product Consents”.
Do this ASAP, before your data is sold!
14) Tap and Chip functions are now at opposite ends of some credit and debit cards
Tapping is a much more secure way of paying with your credit- or debit- card, because there's no way for anyone to see what your PIN code is.
Debit cards are limited to a maximum transaction of $100, while credit cards will allow taps of up to $250 on all cards — and higher on some credit cards, at some stores.
But if your card doesn't always work for Tap-to-Pay, it may not be the card — it may be how you're holding it!
On most cards, the Tap-to-Pay symbol (which looks like a WiFi signal icon on its side), is right next to the Chip which you insert into a payment termanal when paying with your PIN.
But on more and more newer cards, the Tap icon is now at the other end of the card, and sometimes on the back.
If that's how it is on your card, hold the card by the Chip end and tap the Tap-to-Pay icon on the payment terminal.
By the way, if you're using one of those foil-lined RFID-blocking card shields which you still often see advertised on Facebook and other social media, you're getting ripped-off!
For many years, the info on your card has been encrypted and useless to anyone who holds a scanner near it. While its technically true that someone with a handheld payment terminal could trigger a transaction and hold it near your wallet to trigger payment, they'd have their terminal deactivated as soon as the fraud was discovered, and you wouldn't lose any money.
15) How accurate are the health measurements in smartwatches, and which are the best models to buy
More than five million Canadians have a smartwatch, and its a market segment worth about $903 million CAD a year. Many smartwatch owners buy them for fitness tracking, with health monitoring such as fall detection or heart irregularities another big reason.
But how accurate are they, and which are the best models?
Accuracy first…here's a detailed US study from last fall…
As for which models are the best, the Apple Watch Series 10 comes out tops in virtually all studies, including PC Mag's 2025 Smartwatch Buying Guide (prices in USD)…
If you're a member of Consumer Reports, their 2025 Smartwatch Buying Guide is here…
16) Samsung and Google have good new mid-range phones: Galaxy A36 for $530 and Google Pixel 9a for $679
Samsung's new Galaxy A36 phone is good value for money; it has a 50MP primary camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, and a 6.7" display.
It also has Google’s Circle to Search, New Song Search, and Best Face, which can make sure everyone looks good in pictures.
Google's new Pixel 9a, which was delayed while they fixed some issues, will be available on April 10.
Compared to last year's model, the Pixel 9a offers a much larger battery, camera upgrades, and more. But the $679 price tag remains unchanged.
17) Some Westjet planes now have faster, free onboard internet — if you don't mind that it's provided by Elon Musk's Starlink
Bad timing: in a move that Westjet thought would be very popular when they made the deal last year, the airline has started upgrading onboard Wi-Fi service on its fleet to a new generation of much-faster free internet Wi-Fi in partnership with TELUS.
The only catch is that Telus is providing the upgraded service by using satellite internet receivers from Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk, who is persona non grata for many Canadians because of his involvement in the Trump administration.
16 of Westjet's 140 planes have the upgraded service now; the rest are slated to get it in the coming months. It's free for all passengers; you just have to have a Westjet Rewards account to access it.
iPhone in Canada Blog • Leading Tech News for Canadians
WestJet and Telus: Free Starlink Wi-Fi Now on Select Flights • iPhone in Canada Blog
WestJet is now offering free in-flight Wi-Fi on 16 of its 140 planes (Boeing 737-900 aircraft) using Starlink, the satellite internet service run by SpaceX. The airline confirmed the rollout today in an email, saying it received federal approval and has started activating the service, according to The Canadian Press. WestJet plans to finish installing
19) Windows 11 now has optional built-in spellcheck and auto-correct
Spellcheck and autocorrect is included as an option in many Microsoft apps like Outlook Mail and Word, but now Windows 11 has optional across-the-board spellchecking and auto-correction.
You can toggle either or both options on or off at will.
Type Settings into the search-box at the bottom of your screen and click/tap on the Settings app.
When it opens, on the left, click/tap on Time & Language, and then on Typing, and you'll see this…
Toggle-on Highlight misspelled words, and then decide if you want Windows 11 to automatically correct those misspellings, or just flag them for you to fix.
21) We've also started compiling a list of our favourite phone apps
The "Our Favourite Apps" list — which will have a lot more added in the coming weeks — is on our home page, and you can also get to it by going to Tech-Talk.ca/apps.
22) Elon Musk's xAI startup has bought X (formerly Twitter)
Elon Musk says his xAI artificial intelligence startup has acquired the X platform, which he also controls, at a valuation of $33 billion, marking a surprise twist for the social network formerly known as Twitter.
For Musk, the deal streamlines his businesses and solidifies the relationship between the former Twitter and xAI, which has used information from the social network to hone its chatbot. The deal also offers a resolution to X’s other backers following months of uncertainty over the state of their investment as Musk’s changes led to an exodus of users and advertisers.
“XAI and X’s futures are intertwined,” Musk posted. “Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent. This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach.”
Remembering Rick Wiertz, who hosted "C-FAX Online" from 2007-2009
Rick Wiertz — 1956-2025
Rick was also a news anchor at C-FAX and the Ocean, and also News Director at CHEK-TV, Legislative Reporter at CKVU-TV, as well as the General Manager of CompuSmart Computers and the original Tesseract Technologies, and Vice-President of ParetoLogic.
Rick died this week in RJH with his family at his side, after a brief, valiant fight against cancer.
McCall Gardens Funeral and Cremation Service | Victoria, BC
Richard (Rick) Wayne Wiertz | Obituaries | McCall Gardens Funeral and Cremation Service | Victoria BC
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Richard (Rick) Wayne Wiertz on March 27, 2025, in Victoria, BC, after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Born on December 3, 1956, in Surrey, BC, Rick was a cherished father, grandfather, husband, friend, and mentor whose warmth and kindness left a […]
On Thursday, we said "Sbohem" (Goodbye) to Lucie, the mom of our international student Klára from Czechia, as Lucie flew home to Praha (Prague) after spending a wonderful Spring Break with us…
Along with Elodie (R), our new international student from Switzerland, we enjoyed showing Lucie and Klára's brother Matteo (who flew home last weekend for his midterm university exams) around our island, and we look forward to seeing them again in July when we visit them in Prague!
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
Likely someone here for this weekend's live Victoria Symphony's screening of "The Princess Bride".
If this means nothing to you, watch the movie — it's a classic, and then you'll understand!
And so it goes…