Review: TomTom RIDER motorcycle GPS

Text and Photos by Simon Cohen

If you’re an avid two-wheeler looking for a dedicated GPS device, the TomTom Rider is an impressive, if expensive, piece of kit.

Some motorcycle riders might scoff at the idea of using a GPS of any kind – even the one built in to most smartphones. It’s too high-tech they would argue, and it reduces the raw, bugs-in-your-teeth experience that riding a bike is supposed to be all about. You’d never catch the boys from Sons Of Anarchy glancing down at a GPS screen, would you? They always know where they’re going!

And, to a certain extent, I buy in to that mentality. But a much bigger part of me likes the idea of having a device that can not only find a great riding route for me, but also guide me via voice or screen-based directions so that I’m free to concentrate on the road and the scenery – the two reasons I ride.

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Microsoft to open 9th retail store in Canada on November 20 at the Eaton Centre

Microsoft is opening its latest flagship store in downtown Toronto on November 20 at the Eaton Centre. Taking over where the old Sony Style store stood for many years, the new Microsoft Store will likely replace the tiny pop-up store that seems to have served as a placeholder for when a bigger, better location was available. This will be the 9th Canadian store and the 109th store in North America.

Part of the celebrations include a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Hockey superstar Tie Domi will be on hand to play Xbox with lucky visitors. Attendees will also be able to purchase a Dell Venue 8 Pro 32 GB for just $99 or an Xbox 360 for only $99. This offer is limited to one per customer while supplies last.

Scarcity driving price of Microsoft's Band wearable way up

Microsoft recently released their first modern wearable device, the cross platform Microsoft Band for US $ 199. The device has over 10 sensors and is geared towards health tracking but is also flexible enough to manage email, notifications and for Windows Phone users, has a mic for interacting with the Cortana personal assistant. Since it is only available in Microsoft Stores in the US as well as online, the scarcity of the device has them selling on eBay for up to US $500. What sets this wearable apart from the rest is that it works on iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

Here's something to consider if you're jonesing for this wearable, it comes in three sizes. Simply buying one from eBay doesn't guarantee the Microsoft Band would fit. No word when this will be made available outside the US, but if Microsoft is serious about making an impact in the health and productivity wearable space, they need to take advantage and have this device out in time for the holiday shopping season.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts intros smartphone-powered keyless room entry

This latest news from Starwood Hotels & Resorts might put an end to one of the biggest pain points of travelling, which is glitchy magnetic door keys. SPG Keyless is the hospitality industry’s first mobile, keyless entry system allowing guests to use their smartphone as a key.

Rolling out to Aloft, Element and W Hotels around the globe, SPG Keyless makes its official debut today in 10 hotels in markets including Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles and Doha. Hit jump to read more.

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