It’s the first time that I’ve returned to Toronto after the “Wireless World” piece aired on CBC. I’ve stopped for a coffee on Queen, and I pop open my laptop to see if the hotspots I found and revealed to CBC viewers on TV are still there. They sure are, but they are now password-protected. Good on ya, linksys.
It’s good to see people implementing the sound advice in the Marketplace clip, which, briefly put, was to put a password on your wireless network if you don’t want to share your connection. Returning to this spot after the clip aired, I admit it may have been a little sweeter to see people renaming their networks “free for everybody” and “come on in” as a welcome mat to those endowed with wireless cards roaming the city. But the choice remains with the owner of the network, and no one is obliged to share the peanuts.
Over in Montréal. meanwhile, some good community-minded people are starting an initiative called “Île Sans Fil” that is opening wireless hotspots around the city, which are free to use. I met with one of the founders and I foresee good things happening with Île Sans Fil – not just free internet access, but exciting, cool, community and creatively oriented stuff. Keep your eye on them.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep walking down the street and see what I find so I can post this entry.
2 replies on “As Seen On TV”
You can find lots of stuff walking down the streets of Toronto.
Last night i was walking on Yonge at Richmond, going to the Tim Hortons. There were three cops lying on top of a homeless guy. The guy was yelling "I want justice". I went into Tim Hortons and got a coffee. I came out and they were still on top of him, he was still grunting, but it was a strangely silent struggle. I crossed the street and watched. A minute later 4 or 5 more squad cars came. Then I went into the Bay, not to shop, just to cut through.