Ted Kritsonis

Whether you realize it or not, your smartphone keeps tabs on your location almost all the time. That may not be an issue for you under most cases, but if you’re connected to an unfamiliar Wi-Fi network, or you just like flying under the radar, using a VPN (virtual private network) is one way to make that happen.

If the term “never leave home without it” applied to any one material item or product, it would have to be the smartphone. Some estimates suggest the average user looks at their smartphone screen as many as 1,500 times per week. Travelling without a handset in tow seems to be getting increasingly difficult, simply because of everything it can do. From taking photos at some exotic locale, uploading them to Instagram and messaging friends and family back home, the smartphone is a versatile tool anywhere and everywhere.

The code of conduct the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) set down for the wireless industry ensures that consumers can cancel their three-year contracts after 24 months without paying a fee, meaning that as of June 3, three-year cell phone contracts are effectively dead. If you signed a contract on June 2, 2013 or earlier, then you are free to renew or go without a contract. You have options to consider now that you’re on your own to decide, and here’s a look at some of them.

Being ubiquitous has its advantages, and like music, photos and video, it’s just as easy to take a library of your own books wherever you go, too. Kobo has its line of eReaders, but it also has a dedicated app that brings the experience of reading, browsing and downloading new books to a number of devices and platforms. It’s a free app that aims to appeal to those who like to read on their smartphones and tablets.

One of the things about flying a drone is that each flight seems to elicit something new. As drones become more sophisticated, they offer more each time in the air, adding to the payoff of learning and improving as a pilot. The DJI Phantom 3 is built to last, outfitted with some of the latest features any consumer drone can offer. I took it for a test drive for over a week, and shot a short video to go with it.

Battery life is one of those bugaboos that’s always a concern with smartphones, and the iPhone 6 is no exception. Protecting a phone from a nasty fall is another thing altogether, so when a case comes along that can take care of both, it may be worth a look. LifeProof’s pedigree has usually been in making quality waterproof cases, and the Fre Power takes that and adds a large battery to keep the iPhone going double the time.

LG has proven that it can manufacture a really good smartphone, much like it already did with devices like the Nexus 5 and G3. Last year’s G3 made considerable improvements on the software side of things, improving the user experience in tangible ways, yet it still didn’t go far enough in standing out from the crowded Android pack. The G4 deviates little from an overall design standpoint, but offers an excellent camera upgrade and simpler software for a compelling contender.

It’s sometimes hard to qualify what can be described as a “family tablet”, and yet, that is precisely how Samsung sees the new Galaxy Tab A. Large enough to enjoy video or to be productive, this is a tablet that attempts to mix a little business with pleasure, albeit in a way that caters to the average consumer. It’s really supposed to be a tablet for the everyday user, but how does it perform on a day-to-day basis?

When Google released Android 5.0 Lollipop, it was designed to not only give the mobile operating system a new coat of paint, but also add some neat additions to make usage easier. Eventhough it initially rolled out last fall, many changes have been introduced—it is currently in version 5.1.1; the changes and fixes found in the current version have helped make Android smartphones and tablets easier to use.

For Blue Jays catcher, and resident Canadian, Russell Martin, being a cover athlete for a video game is a case of coming full circle. A childhood fan of the Jays and Expos growing up in Montreal, and a gamer at heart, the two-time All-Star catcher talks about being on the cover of MLB 15: The Show and what it’s like playing the game.