The Slingbox has been a rare case in that it has essentially offered the same core functionality and gone through few makeovers, yet has evolved enough on both the hardware and software sides to make the cost of entry more affordable with the M1.

Whether you’re a previous NHL GameCenter subscriber or not, you will notice that the service has gone through a makeover. Not only does it have a new look and feel, but in Canada, it’s also branded by Rogers as part of the 12-year, $5.2 billion deal it signed with the NHL. That means there are changes in how games are delivered to you, and here’s how it all works.

HTC hosted journalists from around the world in New York Oct. 8 at an event called "Double Exposure," where rather than launch a new flagship smartphone, or even a tablet, the company introduced a new portable video camera called the RE (pronounced ree), along with a more open camera app strategy.

BlackBerry’s fall from grace has been largely attributed to its lack of action and innovation in the face of stiff competition. An identity crisis between consumers and business users seemed to only hasten its freefall from relevance. The renewed focus on business users now comes in the form of the Passport, one of the most unusual phones we’ve ever laid our hands on. Fittingly, it’s the same height and width as an actual passport, yet with enough girth to make it feel a little like you’re holding a thick coaster.

Presentation software has long been key to visualizing information for audiences, yet its evolution has seemed stunted by a lack of creative options to keep eyeballs engaged. Prezi has tried to change that by infusing animations that go beyond typical transitions and basic slides, but does it work the way it should?

Consumer enmity towards cable and satellite subscriptions, coupled with the growing influence of online video streaming, has made cord-cutting a burgeoning trend. Over-the-air (OTA) TV broadcasts continue to be free, and there is a bevy of content available through those channels that can be streamed to smartphones and tablets. Two particular devices, Ottawa-based Nuvyyo Tablo and the Simple.TV 2, are set top boxes that essentially offer the same features, including PVR capabilities, though differ considerably in certain aspects of performance.

Looking for a fitness band these days isn't the problem you'll run into, it's which one to get that will do what you want it to. So, when a newcomer aims to compete, what are they delivering that's different?

Spotify's launch in Canada has raised the stakes for music streaming service competitors that had set up shop here long before. Chief among these is Rdio, a growing service and brand whose unique blend of music catalogues and curated radio is aiming to fight back.

If you’re not familiar with Spotify, you’re probably already familiar with the type of service it offers. One of the most popular music streaming platforms in the world has finally come to Canada, five years after the company originally said it was considering doing so. There is no shortage of competitors, so what is it about Spotify that has made it so sought after? I streamed tunes from it for over a month to find out.

The obvious convenience of an eReader has always been the fact that it’s a library of books in the palm of your hand. Kobo has long been a stalwart in the category, having come to market with numerous models and iterations in its lineup. The Aura H2O is the first to go waterproof, opening the opportunity to read while in the bathtub, hot tub, pool or at the beach without a need to worry about ruining it.

It is perhaps fitting that a company as maligned and battered as BlackBerry would launch a new smartphone that has one of the oddest dimensions and form factors seen in a handset to date. For a device that is supposed to reflect the notion of “serious business,” as company execs kept saying, this is a phone that is a head-turner, though it’s too soon to say whether it will turn the right heads.

BlackBerry launched its anticipated Passport smartphone at events in Toronto, London and Dubai, marking the first major release since CEO John Chen took the reins 10 months ago. The device’s appeal is largely aimed at business and productivity-focused users, rather than the average consumer, but its performance in the market could signal where the struggling company goes from here.

It was thought that the smartphone made wearing a watch almost obsolete, and yet, it may be the smartphone that changes what a watch ultimately is. While it’s still the early days of smartwatch development, they are still intriguing wearable devices that should uniquely meld fashion and function together. The jury’s still out on where the fashion side of things will end up, but as far as function goes, Motorola has crafted a solid entry with their Moto 360, perhaps the best Android smartwatch available right now.

Go into any big box electronics store, walk through the audio or mobile accessories aisles, and prepare to be bowled over by Bluetooth speakers. What started as a percolating entry point has turned into a full-blown fight for any flat surface a portable speaker can rest on. Now familiar names like Beats, Bose, Sony, Samsung, Logitech, Jawbone and Jabra (among many, many others) are coming to market with them. Then there’s Fugoo, a relatively unknown upstart looking to not only compete, but also sound better than the rest.

The digital age may have limited how much paper passes through your hands, but the concept of going paperless is something Fujitsu has tried to achieve with greater efficiency through scanners like the ScanSnap iX100.

The frequency with which new smartphones come to market, and the bevy of choice when it comes to Android-based handsets, in particular, means you will likely have to migrate all your data from one device to another sooner or later.

Now that Apple has released iOS 8 on the eve of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus hitting Future Shop shelves, the new update to the operating system is less the interface coat of paint that iOS 7 was, and more a pack of features that bring it up to speed with what competitors are doing, along with a twist here and there. It’s free to download and is compatible with iPhone 4S (and later), the iPad 2 (and later), both iPad minis and the fifth-generation iPod touch.

Retrofitting your home’s lighting is perhaps the least invasive form of renovation available to you, and your Wi-Fi network is one of the biggest reasons why. Philips Hue is a family of LED lights that can turn any of 16 million colours, adding more than just hues and shades, but entirely different settings, moods and ambience to any room. While I’ve looked at the Hue Starter Kit, Bloom and LightStrips already, the Iris and Lux are two more unique members to add to the list.

n the space of just a few months, smartwatches have become a mobile category unto themselves, with manufacturers clamouring to win over consumers' wrists. It is early days still, but Motorola's Moto 360 may be the best mix of design and functionality of any model currently available.

It's taken a little time, but the smartwatch has kicked offa race between rival manufacturers looking to win over consumers' wrists. The Samsung Gear S, LG G Watch and Motorola Moto 360 may be the front-runners on the Android side, though it's too early to pick one that actually finishes ahead of the rest. The AppleWatch will make things even more interesting.