Rogers Throttles Internet More Than Any Company on the Planet

Turns out Rogers is officially the world’s worst internet throttler based on research derived from the initiative known as the Measurement Lab (MLab), backed by Google. Results of the study reveal that based out of all the internet providers on earth, Rogers throttles internet more than any other ISP out there, notes TorrentFreak. As we’ve covered before in the past, internet speeds mean a lot to Canadians.

These results were based on data derived from Q2 2008 to Q2 2010. Out of all tests, Rogers internet traffic showed the most evidence of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI).

Here’s the breakdown of the percentages by year of throttled Rogers traffic:

2008 Q2 – 80% of tests showed DPI
2008 Q3 – 80% of tests showed DPI
2008 Q4 – 85% of tests showed DPI
2009 Q1 – 90% of tests showed DPI
2009 Q2 – 93% of tests showed DPI
2009 Q3 – 83% of tests showed DPI
2009 Q4 – 80% of tests showed DPI
2010 Q1 – 78% of tests showed DPI

So more than three quarters of Rogers internet traffic remains throttled, with no end in sight based on the data above. Compare this to Videotron, with only 3% of traffic slowed down in 2010 Q1.

The Rogers Network Management Policy states:

High-volume, low time-sensitive traffic (such as P2P file sharing) is
limited to ensure all customers have a high level of service for
time-sensitive tasks like sending email, requesting web pages, video and
voice applications.

One U.S. researcher, Milton Mueller from Syracuse University told the CBC Rogers throttling could be in breach of Canadian net neutrality rules:

“Under the regulations that the CRTC promulgated for reasonable internet traffic management practices, I think 100 per cent, 24/7 throttling is not conformant…

…So I think consumers would have a basis to complain and the CRTC would have a basis to act.”

Rogers responded to the CBC with that its network management “is in full compliance with CRTC regulations”.

Are you a Rogers internet customer? Have you experienced throttled internet speeds?

Apple Releases iOS 5 with Notification Center, iMessage, Twitter, and More

In line with Apple's announced schedule calling for a release today, iOS 5 is now available to download for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users. Users can obtain the update by connecting their devices to iTunes and clicking the "Check for Update" button. It may take a few minutes for the update to propagate to all users, however.








iOS 5 brings more than 200 new features, including Notification Center, iMessage, Newsstand, Reminders, and systemwide Twitter integration.








iOS 5 is compatible with the iPad 2, original iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and third- and fourth-generation iPod touch. It will also ship on the iPhone 4S, which launches on Friday. An iOS 5-based version of the Apple TV software, labeled software version 4.4, is also available.

'Find My Friends' Debuts in App Store Ahead of iOS 5 Release

Apple's Find My Friends app, which was announced last week when the iPhone 4S was unveiled, is now live in the App Store [link opens iTunes]. Find My Friends requires iOS 5, which is scheduled for release today.

Find My Friends allows you to easily locate your friends and family from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Install this free app on your iOS 5 device and sign in with the Apple ID you use with iCloud. Adding a friend is easy – just send a request to see their location. Once your friend accepts using the Find My Friends app, you will then be able to see that friend's location on a list or on a map.

Find My Friends is a universal app compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As previously mentioned, it requires iOS 5 and is therefore limited to the models capable of running the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, which include the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 3rd- and 4th-generation iPod touch, and the iPad and iPad 2.





Apple's new Cards app, which was also announced last week, will be released today as well.

'AirPort Utility' for iOS 5 Hits the App Store

Apple continues to make preparations for today's iOS 5 launch with the release of its new AirPort Utility [App Store] app to allow users to administer AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, and Time Capsule base stations.

Use AirPort Utility to manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and TimeCapsule – right from your iPad, iPhone, ir iPod touch. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or manage advanced features such as security modes, wireless channels, and more. AirPort Utility works with all Apple 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule.

Apple appeared to originally be preparing to integrate AirPort Utility directly into iOS 5, but apparently decided to break the functionality out into a separate app. Users entering the Wi-Fi portion of the Settings app in iOS 5 will be offered the ability to download the app to manage their networks. AirPort Utility is a universal app compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and requires iOS 5.

Lucky Customers Already Receiving iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Deliveries In Germany [PHOTOS]

We reported earlier that iPhone 4S pre-orders have already started shipping in many areas including Canada. But here are some real lucky customers. As reported by MacRumors (via Macerkopf.de), some German customers have already received their new iPhone 4S handsets almost four days before the official launch i.e on October 14th. The German news source has posted several images of the new device from different readers.

Citing from the source:

“The first iPhone 4S deliveries have already started arriving in customers’ hands. Several German customers have received their new phones several days before the official launch. Macerkopf.de posts a several images of the new device”

Well now we know how recently posted iPhone 4S leaked video and performance benchmarks made their way on to the web. Since iPhone 4S officially goes on sale on Friday October 14th, all pre-orders are scheduled to be arriving on the same day. But if you get yours even a day before that in Canada, take a picture of it and email us right away. We’ll be happy to post it here with your name

iPhone 4S First Hands On Video, Details Siri “Raise to Speak” Feature & More

Over the next few days we’ll be seeing tons of iPhone 4S videos such as unboxing, hands-on impressions and other smartphone comparison videos all over the web and it seems that we already have the first one with us. Some lucky guy has already gotten his hands on a black iPhone 4S before its actual launch on October 14th and has shot a video of it showing some early benchmarks. As reported by MacRumors (via BluC0la), the video also reveals Siri settings interface which allows you to turn Siri On/Off, change Language Settings, Voice feedback, My Info and enable Raise to Speak.

The report says:

“To talk to Siri, press and hold the home button or raise the phone to your ear and speak.”

Early Sunspider marks show a total score of 2222.1ms and a BrowserMark score of 89567. For comparison, it appears that the BrowserMark score for an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 is 44856, so the new iPhone 4S benches twice as fast in the browser.

Even though some iPhone 4S pre-orders have already started shipping but there’s no word yet of any deliveries so far. It remains a mystery how this person secured a handset before time. Anyhow, go ahead and take a look at the first iPhone 4S hands-on video here.

iPad Generates Even More Web Traffic Than iPhones With 97% Of Total Tablet Traffic Share

In a recent study by comScore (via AppleInsider), smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices are now generating over 7% of total web traffic in the United States. Totaling web traffic from all iOS devices reveals a 58.5% slice from this 7% with iPad generating the most of it. The study also claims that 97.2% of the total web traffic from all tablet users comes from the iPad which clearly shows that competitors are not yet even close to producing a significant tablet competitor. Among iOS users, iPad now accounts for 46.8 percent of all traffic generated, making it now a more prolific tool than the iPhone for mobile web use, which represents 42.6 percent of iOS traffic.

The report also highlights why this growth in tablet traffic is so significant, noting that almost half of tablet owners have completed purchases using their tablet:

“Tablet owners exhibited significant use of their devices throughout the entire online shopping process, from doing the initial planning, conducting product and store research, making price comparisons, to finally transacting. In the past month, more than half of tablet owners looked up product or price information for a specific store (56 percent) and read customer ratings and reviews while on a tablet (54 percent).”

“The incremental reach through mobile and connected devices should not be underestimated. In August 2011, the additional mobile and connected device audience for Pandora accounted for more than half of their total cross-platform audience.”

While Apple has a minor lead over Android with iOS as a mobile platform in terms of its installed base (unique users), it has a major lead in the mobile traffic those users engage in.

[Update] Facebook iPad App Download Available Today

Update 1: The app is now live! Click here to download it.

The moment you’ve been waiting for is almost here. The official Facebook iPad app will be available for download in the App Store today, as noted by the NYT. A Facebook software engineer describes the new Facebook for iPad experience:

Mr. Dubinsky highlighted the use of multitouch gestures within the app, a feature that is not available on the Facebook Web site. “Use your fingertips to scroll through your News Feed. Give the screen a swipe to page through albums. Pinch a picture to zoom in,” he wrote.

Facebook highlighted other key features in the announcement: Photos and videos are given prominence in the app and can be viewed full-screen. Users can also capture photos and videos with the iPad and put them directly into the Facebook news feed. Gaming and Facebook Chat are also major components of the app.

This is a long time coming, especially after the iPad app was actually hidden in the iPhone version of the app. It is set to go live any minute, stay tuned.