Messaging apps: What are the differences and which is best for you?
By Michel Baril, your Pro Messaging apps are incredibly popular. In fact, WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger and the like have been downloaded billions of times. This success is due in part to our desire to communicate instantly—and at no cost—without having to actually place a call. Even though these apps generally have the same basic features, each has its own unique characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, which mean they aren’t necessarily interchangeable. So how do you get your bearings navigating the selection? Which one should you choose? Here’s an overview. Good old text messaging Text messaging aka texting or SMS (short message system): This is the most well-known messaging app. It’s included in practically all smartphones and doesn’t require an Internet connection because communication goes directly from one mobile phone to another. Pros: This application is very easy to use and Internet is not required (unless you want to send an attachment). Cons: You need to know the mobile phone number of the person you wish to reach. You can’t send heavy files (heavy videos, large documents, etc.). The ever-handy email Emails are well-known and as effective as ever, but they’re also associated with the 1990s emergence of the Internet. Even though email may no longer be the choice means of communication for social connections, it’s still first for business. And it continues to be a great choice for long messages. Pros: Privacy, as there is no personal information linked to the application. Plus, emails can be accessed via several platforms with no need to install a special program. Cons: Email isn’t as instantaneous as other applications. You also need to know the email address of the person you want to contact. There may be size limits on outgoing files, depending on the server that’s used. Messenger: The other face of Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s private messaging service. In addition to supporting written texts, Messenger allows you to make calls, with or without video, or to send voice messages directly via the app. Pros: This app is really comprehensive and gives you a lot of options, including group conversations. Cons: Messenger follows the same privacy rules as Facebook, so depending on the settings you choose, the people you contact may be able to see your profile in whole or in part. WhatsApp and Viber: Two comparable competitors These applications aren’t quite twins, but with many things in common, you might call them kissing cousins. WhatsApp and Viber are a lot like Messenger, but one major difference is you need someone’s mobile phone number in order to reach them. Pros: Both have numerous features, are easy to use and offer a wide range of emojis, which is a real advantage in today’s communications! And one of their biggest strengths is that you can send large files such as videos. Cons: Since you need to know the cell number of the person you want to contact, WhatsApp and Viber aren’t ideal when it comes to privacy. Skype: More than just calling Skype has become extremely popular by offering free worldwide calling—but it’s much more than just a telephone app. With features similar to those on WhatsApp and Viber, Skype has the distinct advantage of working on any device, including computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. Pros: Privacy is a big one, as the people you contact can only see your email address and city/country. Skype allows VoIP (voice over IP) calls, meaning that for a small sum you can call a telephone directly, even if the recipient of your call doesn’t use Skype. Cons: Since this app is often used for overseas calls, the sound quality is always dependent on the quality of the Internet connection. Snapchat: The king of instant Snapchat is a leader for instant video sharing. Represented by a cute ghost icon, this easy-to-use app allows you to text friends in a snap or send them photos or brief videos, all of which disappear shortly thereafter. Pros: Your contacts only have access to your profile name. Snapchat lets you text your friends and offers all kinds of augmented reality options for maximum personalization. Cons: This app has more limited usage options. It’s essentially used for sending short-lived photos and videos to your followers. And the winner is... If you want to know which app(s) are best for your needs and lifestyle, the best thing is to try them out for yourself. This will give you the chance to check out their interfaces and features, and to see how many of your contacts are already using the app. Last but not least, I’d like to throw in a good word for a new app that I really like called “Kik.” It simplifies group conversations, includes tons of emojis and, as the cherry on top, it lets you make your own animated GIFs. Explore. Text. Test!All about Club illico mobile
Several Videotron Mobile plans include the Club illico mobile service. What is it? How do you install it on a device? What kind of content does it feature? Find answers to all your questions below. What is Club illico? Club illico is a streaming platform for content in French. It features a variety of original series produced in Québec, as well as hit French-language shows and movies. New content is added each week. What is Club illico mobile? Club illico mobile is a feature included in most Videotron Mobile plans, including All-Inclusive plans. It lets you access all Club illico content on a phone or tablet, no matter where you are in Canada—even when you’re on the go. How to use Club illico mobile on a device Subscribe to a plan that includes Club illico mobile, like the All-Inclusive plans. Download the Club illico app on Google Play or the App Store. Log in to the app using your Customer Centre credentials. Enjoy your entertainment experience! Note that Club illico mobile is a simplified version of the full app, which you can access when you subscribe via the TV service. The Club illico mobile version has some limitations. Learn more about viewing methods and limitations. Want to enjoy the full experience on a big screen? Find out how to add Club illico to your TV service.OK Google – Six Months Into Our Relationship
For the past six months, my family and I have been testing Google Home, an intelligent personal assistant for your home. It’s like a smart, internet-enabled speaker that responds to voice commands. Still not clear on what it does? Imagine if your Siri, Cortana or Google Assistant jumped out of your phone and into a speaker in your house. The device itself looks unobtrusive, like a decorative vase or candle with a fabric finish around the base. But inside there are two microphones and speakers, allowing the device to hear you and talk to you. The top portion is a smooth, touch-sensitive surface that allows you to control the device with touch commands. Configuring Google Home is easy and takes just a few minutes using the application. Then you’re ready to give instructions or ask questions starting with “OK Google” or “Hey Google”. The Google Home has been available in the United States since November 2016, but the French-Canadian version came into my life last June, just days before my second child was born. The device proved very helpful while my hands were busy prepping bottles, changing diapers or cuddling my little bundle of joy. Since Google Home is compatible with various applications and services, I found it easy and practical to ask it to “play some U2 songs” or “play my list of Baby #2 songs.” The Google Assistant does this by accessing my Spotify or Google Play accounts. It works the same way with radio, because Google Home is compatible with Tune In. It goes without saying that the Assistant “speaks” with ease to Google Chromecast, meaning I can use my accounts to watch videos on line. Since I did all these entertainment operations using voice commands, I never had to dangerously juggle my newborn and smartphone. For my other child, who is three, Google Home is a source of information, a learning tool and a jukebox. She and I are both amazed by the educational games available through Google Home. For example, our family has had tons of fun taking quizzes in which each family member has to answer questions asked by Google Home. These days, people rarely gather around audio devices with no screen. My daughter also enjoys learning more about real people and fictional characters by asking Google Home “Who is Santa?” or the less-cute “Who is Donald Trump?"An easy way to keep kids like my daughter entertained is by asking Google Home what sounds animals make. Listen for yourself: Wondering about Google Home for grown-ups? I mainly use Google Home to play music. Paired with my Spotify account, the Google Assistant plays all my special requests and the sound quality is surprisingly good given the size of the device. It won’t get a party started in a school auditorium, but it does a really good job for a large room in your house. Also, Google Home is connected to practically all the other information in my Google accounts. I can use it to check the weather, events in my calendar and traffic. It can even set a timer or calculate how long it will take me to get to work. I recently started using it to place calls and to control my recently purchased smart lighting systems. I should clarify the version of Google Home I use is not a French translation of the U.S. version. It’s a decidedly Quebecois version. The device understands my accent and even uses some regional expressions. In fact, the team behind its development taught it some pretty funny answers—the sort of thing that will make your French-speaking friends chuckle when they come over. If you set your user settings to French Canadian, try out these commands: OK Google… Quelle est ton équipe de hockey préférée? OK Google… J’ai un garage, un gros garage. OK Google… Chante-moi une chanson. OK Google… Dis-moi une expression québécoise. Checking my Google Home usage, I learned that 70% of my requests were for music (or radio), 15% were for weather, 10% were for my agenda, and 5% was for miscellaneous (games, quizzes, animal sounds, general queries, news headlines, etc.). Intelligent personal assistants may still be a curiosity, but they’re sure to become mainstream in 2018. The French-Canadian version of Google Home isn’t as versatile as the U.S. version, but with updates, there will be more and more services for us too. Already, I feel that Google has given me a head start. What about you? Are you interested in trying this type of assistant?Google Home for every personality
Google Home was clearly one of the most popular gadgets during the holiday season. Maybe you were lucky enough to get one for Christmas! With multiple features and voice commands, Google Home can adapt to suit any personality type. Whatever your interests are, your device will find ways to keep you happy! Here are some tips and tricks that will make you love Google Home even more, no matter what you're into. If you’re a sports fan Google Home could be your best sports buddy if you need quick updates on your favourite teams or if you don’t have time to watch all their matches. Here are some commands sports fans can use: OK Google... When is the next Habs game? What's the score for the Packers game? What place are the Pittsburgh Penguins in? Who won the Stanley Cup in 2003? How tall is Lebron James? When is the next FIFA World Cup? What are tonight’s NHL games? Whether you're in front of your TV screen, talking sports with your friends or just too busy to watch the game, Google Home is there to help keep you up-to-date! If you’re always in a hurry Lots of people wish there were more than 24 hours in a day. Luckily, Google Home can help you make better use of your time while keeping your hands free. Share your mental load with Google so you can relax a little! To improve your experience, make sure you’ve properly synced your Google account on your phone. OK Google... Tell me about my day. (The Google Assistant will tell you about things like the weather, any events on your calendar, how long it will take you to get to work, and more.) Remind me to call mom tomorrow at 6 p.m. (The Google Assistant can sync the reminder to your phone and also include it on your schedule when you ask it to tell you about your day). How long will it take to get to Montreal? Where is the nearest pharmacy? Remember that my keys are in my purse. (When you need them, just say “OK Google, where are my keys?”and Google Home will tell you what you asked it to remember.) Find my phone. (Google Home will ring your phone inside your house.) For those of us who like to be as efficient as possible, these voice commands make Google Home a helpful assistant! If you’re a music lover One of the best features of Google Home is that it can play music using an integrated speaker. But since it’s a smart speaker, it can do much more with your music than just play it. Here’s how you can take your musical experience to the next level. You’ll need a premium subscription to Google Play Music or Spotify to request specific songs, albums or artists. The free service can only play music inspired by your request. OK Google… Turn the volume up to 7. Play music for house cleaning. Play some relaxing music. I like this song. (The song will automatically be saved in your favourites.) Who sings this song? Have you bought several Google Home speakers for your house? You can use the Home app to create groups of speakers and give each group its own name. For example, the living room and basement speakers could be in a group called “Social areas.” Then try this: OK Google… Play some Imagine Dragons in the social areas. (The music will play from all Google Home devices that are part of the “Social areas” group.) It will make for a seamless and pleasant musical experience! If you want to impress your guests If you already own a Google Home, you’re probably one of the first people in your social circle to get one. This is a great opportunity to impress your guests. Here are a few features that are sure to wow your friends. OK Google… Tell me a joke. Let’s play a game. (Google Home will suggest games, including group quizzes.) Sing me a song. Do you have a Chromecast device connected to your T.V.? If so, try this… (You can assign a name to your Chromecast using the Home app). OK Google… Play a Bruno Mars YouTube video on the living room T.V. Show my photos of Florida in the living room. (You need to make sure you have synced your photos with the Google Photos app.) With these voice commands, your guests will be very impressed with your smart speaker! These features represent just a fraction of Google Home’s potential. This smart speaker is constantly improving—it gets even better as you use it. That said, I hope these tips will help you get familiar with your new toy and its wide range of possibilities!
