Antarctic scientists are growing veggies without dirt, sunlight, or pesticides

You don’t have to be a pamphlet-distributing, faux leather-shoe wearing militant vegetarian to realize that vegetables are going to be pretty important in space. Whether it’s long periods of time spent on the International Space Station or the eventual dream of colonizing other planets, the ability to grow veg outside of Earth’s atmosphere is going to be crucial for our survival. Or, at least, our ability to enjoy life in the stars without suffering from a massive lack of fiber and assorted nutrients.

Fortunately, science is here to help. Scientists in Antarctica this week announced that they have successfully grown the first crop of vegetables without the help of earth, daylight or pesticides. This was achieved using cutting-edge hydroponics techniques — including replacing the soil with nutrient-rich water and using LED lighting to double for sunlight. While the experiment took place on Earth, the scientists believe that the demonstration will help pave the way for future astronauts to cultivate fresh food on other planets.

Investigators working at Germany’s Neumayer Station III research station picked 3.6 kilograms (eight pounds) of salad greens, 18 cucumbers, and 70 radishes. These were grown in a high-tech greenhouse, which kept the soon-to-be food at temperatures considerably in excess of the chilly negative-4 degrees Fahrenheit found outside. The German Aerospace Center DLR, which is in charge of coordinating the project, claims that from next month scientists will be able to harvest an even more impressive four to five kilograms of fruit and vegetables. In the future, they plan to expand their crop to include a large number of other varieties of green. The project began in January when the greenhouse arrived in Antarctica.

This isn’t the first time that we have heard about scientists growing space vegetables. Earlier this year, NASA reported that the crew of the International Space Station successfully harvested greens. These included mizuna, aka “spider mustard,” red romaine lettuce, and Tokyo Bekana cabbage. That’s pretty impressive in its own right (and, you know, has the added benefit of having actually been carried out in space!). However, according to a DLR spokesperson, the Antarctic project promises to produce a much wider range of vegetables.

Suddenly life in space just got a whole lot more appealing. Unless you really, really hate salad!

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Sparkmaker review

Research Center:

SparkMaker

Back when 3D printing was just beginning to make its way into the mainstream, the only printers available to consumers used a technique called Filament deposition modeling (FDM). It’s the type of 3D printing you’ve probably seen before: A printer feeds a strand of plastic filament through a hot nozzle, then carefully deposits the molten goo onto a build plate, layer by layer, to create a 3D object.

This is by far the most popular and widely available style of 3D printer, but lately, a technology known as stereolithography (SLA) has been on the rise. SLA printers create objects by flashing light into a pool of photo-reactive resin, which hardens when struck by UV light. Due to the precision of this technique, SLA printers typically create much better parts than FDM printers do.

The only problem, however, is that these kinds of printers have been prohibitively expensive for the past few years, and therefore been out of reach for the average consumer — but that’s beginning to change.

Case in point? The $300 Sparkmaker printer. Born from a Kickstarter project that launched in early 2017, the Sparkmaker is one of the first SLA/DLP printers to break the $500 barrier – so we got our hands on one to see how it stands up to the competition.

Standout Features and Specs

The first thing you’ll notice about the Sparkmaker is its diminutive size and weight. Tipping the scales at just six pounds, and measuring a slim 6 x 11 inches (it’s a cylinder), it’s easily one of the smallest printers on the market. So while it won’t be hard to find a spot for the little guy, it does come with a downside.

Lifting the orange UV-blocking hood reveals the printer’s tiny 4 x 2.2 x 5 inch build envelope. While that’s certainly not the smallest build area we’ve ever seen, you shouldn’t expect to do any huge prints on this machine. On the upside, Sparkmaker does feature a removable resin vat, which makes swapping materials a breeze.

The Sparkmaker owes its low price point to its relatively simple printing technique. Instead of using a laser like Formlabs’ printers, Sparkmaker uses a UV backed LCD screen to project an image up into a vat of resin, which causes it to solidify – a process known as DLP. Despite having a few minor drawbacks, this printing method provides the Sparkmaker with a maximum resolution of ten micrometers. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s ten times more detail than your average FDM printer, and about 1.5 times more detail than the $3,500 Ultimaker 3 – arguably the best consumer-level FDM machine on the market right now.

Setup and Configuration

Unlike FDM printers, the Sparkmaker only has one moving component and doesn’t require any assembly, so it’s extremely simple to set up. After plugging it in, all you have to do is pour some resin into the tank and make sure the build plate is level. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to print.

You definitely won’t find another SLA/DLP printer that can match Sparkmaker’s $300 price tag.

Then there’s the software. Like many printers these days, Sparkmaker has its own proprietary slicing program that can be downloaded for free on the manufacturer’s website. It’s called Sparkstudio, and compared to most other proprietary slicing programs, it’s one of the most intuitive and approachable ones we’ve ever used.

Unfortunately, we did encounter a few bugs that soured the experience (more on that later), but broadly speaking, this printer is a cinch to set up.

Design and Build Quality

Sparkmaker is inexpensive for a reason. Most of the body is made of plastic, and the parts feel a bit flimsy and cheap. The creators definitely cut some corners during manufacturing, and it shows.

The biggest misstep in the machine’s design is a tiny component called a “lead screw.” It’s a little threaded tube that keeps the build plate moving smoothly along the Z axis — or at least that’s what it was supposed to do. Due to this component’s faulty design, the build plate’s up-and-down motion is prone to periodic jerks and jumps, which causes issues during the printing process.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

There is a fairly simple workaround for this problem, though. Following some advice from the Sparkmaker Facebook group, we used a different 3D printer to print a new lead screw. This simple replacement drastically improved the printer’s success rate and overall consistency. If you intend on buying this printer, you should definitely plan on replacing that screw.

Aside from the faulty lead screw, the rest of the printer works fairly well. The removable resin tank is easy to take out and replace, and the build plate itself is secured via a single knobbed screw, which streamlines the process of getting your finished print out of the printer.

Another bonus is that, generally speaking, the Sparkmaker is incredibly easy to take apart and work on – which is good, because it definitely requires some tinkering.

User Interface and Software

Sparkmaker’s on-board user interface is practically nonexistent, and is comprised of nothing more than a single push knob. However, unlike other printers that utilize this design, that’s all the Sparkmaker gives you. It doesn’t have an accompanying screen for you to navigate with, so the machine lacks a variety of helpful functions as a result. These include: being able to pause a print, the ability to adjust machine settings without plugging in to a computer, and the ability to select specific files on your SD card for printing. The latter is particularly annoying, as you’re then forced to either remove old files or rename them. Sparkmaker will only recognize sliced files named “Print.wow.” It’s not the worst problem you could ever have, but it’s definitely one of those bothersome quirks that make the machine a pain to work with.

Due to software bugs and hardware flaws, this machine has a woefully above-average failure rate.

Luckily, the accompanying desktop software, Sparkstudio, partially makes up for these issues with a stellar interface that’s simultaneously feature-rich and easy to navigate. In other words, it’s simple and approachable for beginners, but also provides deep print customization options, so intermediate and advanced users aren’t left out to dry.

Much to our delight, Sparkstudio also features a tool that’s generally only available on high-end slicing software: customizable supports you can manually place or remove. If that’s not your bag, the software still includes automatic support placement, which you can then modify posthumously. It’s really neat, and we wish more slicing programs offered this kind of functionality.

SparkMaker Compared To

Monoprice Mini Delta

Ultimaker 3

Zortrax M300

Robo C2

FormLabs Form 2

NewMatter MOD-t

M3D Micro

MakerBot Replicator (5th Gen)

Pirate3D Buccaneer

3Doodler 2.0

3D Systems Cube

Ultimaker 2

Formlabs Form 1+

However, even with all the good, Sparkstudio suffers a couple of crippling flaws that sour the experience. First, there’s a scaling bug that randomly adjusts the length, width, height, or size of the objects you slice – without giving you any clues or warnings that it’s done so. During our testing, this resulted in a 3DBenchy tugboat that was twice as tall as it should’ve been, and a skull that was roughly one tenth the height we originally set for it. This bug, combined with an inconsistency in what caused our prints to fail, pushed us to use a different slicer program entirely. We ended up using SLAcer: a user-made slicer that eliminates Sparkstudio’s aforementioned bugs, but also lacks many of its best features – including the custom support placement feature.

All things considered, Sparkstudio has tremendous potential, but is held back by a couple glaring flaws. It’s possible that WOW! might fix these issues in the future, but in its current state, the software is frustratingly buggy. So until those problems get fixed, you’re stuck using a more dependable but less feature-packed slicing program.

Print Performance

Despite the issues with consistency and slicing bugs, the Sparkmaker prints surprisingly well – (when it finishes, that is). With its maximum Z-axis resolution of 10 microns, this little machine can print some amazing detail and super fine geometry. There’s a slight amount of voxeling visible on some of our test prints (a consequence of the printer’s DLP printing technique), but the effect is only noticeable if you’re looking for it.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Overall, the Sparkmaker’s virtues outweigh its flaws when it comes to print quality. It’s definitely not on the same level as, say, the Formlabs Form 2, but let’s not forget that this is a $300 printer we’re talking about here. It’s one tenth the price of a top-of-the-line machine, yet offers only slightly lower quality. That’s pretty impressive.

Print quality is only one part of the equation, though. Consistency and reliability are the other part of it, and unfortunately, that’s where Sparkmaker falls short. Due to the aforementioned software bugs and hardware flaws, this machine has a woefully above-average failure rate.

Even with all of its flaws and shortcomings, we did enjoy this printer.

Even after we had addressed the lead screw issue and switched to a less-buggy slicing program, we still experienced a high number of botched prints. By our count, you’ve got a 50/50 chance that the print won’t adhere properly to the build plate. You can mitigate this issue by printing with an improvised “raft” on the bottom of your object – but that raft won’t be removable, and there’s still a good chance it won’t stick anyway.

All in all, we’d say that the Sparkmaker produces impressively detailed prints about 30 percent of the time. The other 70 percent, you wind up with something that resembles postmodern glitch art. We’ll continue working on it though, and will update this article if we figure out how to get better, more consistent prints.

Our Take

Even with all of its flaws and shortcomings, we did enjoy this printer. Its compact, it’s quiet, and it’s the only printer we’ve ever tested that didn’t drive everyone in the office crazy with its fumes or noise. It’s also highly affordable, relatively easy to upgrade, and occasionally produces stellar prints.

That said, Sparkmaker definitely isn’t a good printer for beginners. In its current state it’s too flawed, too buggy, and too unreliable for us to recommend to anyone who is just breaking into the 3D printing scene. However, if you enjoy a little challenge and aren’t afraid of getting your hands dirty, the Sparkmaker is a fixer-upper that might be worth your time.

Is there a better alternative?

You definitely won’t find another SLA/DLP printer that can match Sparkmaker’s $300 price tag. However, there are a couple competitors out there that you can snag for around $500 – such as the Wanhao Duplicator 7, which boasts a slightly larger build volume, and a built-in screen for menu navigation.

If you don’t have your heart set on an SLA/DLP printer, there’s a handful of good FDM printers on the market you can get your paws on for around $300. For bugdget buyers, we highly recommend Monoprice’s $160 Mini Delta printer. It can’t match the Sparkmaker’s print resolution, but it does boast a larger build area, and is far more reliable.

For those who don’t mind spending a bit more, you can also get yourself a Monoprice Maker Select Plus for $400. It’s a bit more expensive, but for that extra $100, you’ll get considerably larger build area and a wide range of high-end features.

How long will it last?

With its cheap parts and plastic chassis, the Sparkmaker’s lifespan will likely definitely depend on how you treat it. Without regular maintenance, we’d be willing to bet things will fail after a year or two. However, if you keep it tuned up and well-oiled, it’ll probably keep on ticking past the age of 5 – assuming that WOW! keeps pushing out firmware updates and bug fixes.

On the plus side, Sparkmaker’s community is brimming with guides for fixes and upgrades. We found endless support through their Facebook as we encountered problems, both from other users and the developers themselves.

Should you buy it?

If you’re new to 3D printing and you want something that’s easy to use, definitely don’t buy this printer. We guarantee it will make you pull your hair out.

However, if you’re ready to get messy and have the gumption to make a few DIY upgrades, then Sparkmaker might be up your alley. With a bit of tinkering, you can definitely make this machine shine.

Windows 10’s Mail app may display an Office 365 ad for some users

guteksk7/Shutterstock

Windows 10 devices owners are now jumping on Reddit to complain about an advertisement showing up in the platform’s built-in Mail app. As shown above, it appears as a banner hovering above the Mail, Calendar, and People buttons on the menu stating “Get Office 365.” The only way to remove the banner is to close the menu altogether. 

We loaded up the Mail app, listed as version 17.9126.21425.0, and didn’t see the Office 365 banner. Many other Reddit members jumping into the complaint thread aren’t experiencing the advertisement either. But in our case, we do have an Office 365 subscription, yet many Reddit users aren’t Office subscribers and still don’t see the advertisement in the latest version of Mail. 

That said, Microsoft could be testing the feature with random customers. The move wouldn’t be surprising given that the company advertises its baked-in Microsoft Edge browser on the taskbar and notifications panel if you’re using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or some other browser. 

Advertisements on Outlook.com are understandable: It’s a free online service, and Microsoft prefers you take advantage of its money-making software suite. But customers are purchasing Windows 10 along with their device, and although all first-party apps are provided free of charge, advertising on paid software degrades the experience and service. We have enough advertisements scattered all over the web. 

“Windows isn’t free. Either you’re paying for it, or the OEM/systems integrator is paying for it,” one Reddit user argues. “Why is there a need to serve ads in a product which isn’t free? The money has already been made — ads are just milking it for more.” 

Google’s platform is different. On the internet, it’s backed by an advertisement system, investments, paid services, and so on. Android and Chrome OS are free, open-source operating systems fueled by advertisements, device sales, app sales, and data collection. Advertisements on free, open-source platforms are expected, like Gmail, not on a paid copy of Windows 10. 

Microsoft’s push to sell Windows as a service seems to be intensifying. Just last month, the company revealed that it is testing a new Mail app feature in a preview build of Windows 10 that automatically opens links in Microsoft Edge. Forget whatever you have set in Windows 10 as your default browser: All links in Mail will be pushed to Microsoft Edge. The company says it’s merely “testing” this feature. 

Microsoft’s in-app advertisement is an interesting turn given the company launched a campaign in 2013 targeting advertisements in Google’s Gmail service. The search engine giant was accused of using an algorithm to scan Gmail messages and generate custom advertisements based on discovered keywords. Microsoft jumped on the Gmail-bashing bandwagon.

“Outlook.com believes your privacy is not for sale,” Microsoft’s Stefan Weitz said at the time. “We believe people should have choice and control over their private email messages, whether they are sharing banking information or pictures of their family or discussing their medical history.” 

That choice and control should also include locking out Microsoft’s advertisements, even Microsoft Store app suggestions, on its paid operating systems. 

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Backpage.com was seized by the federal government

Classifieds website Backpage.com has been seized and disabled by the federal government. When you visit the website now, you’ll see a message saying it and all affiliated websites have been taken over “as part of an enforcement action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, with analytical assistance from the Joint Regional Intelligence Center.” The message goes on to name a handful of other enforcement groups involved in the action and states that more information will be provided by the US Department of Justice later this evening. Backpage is the second largest classifieds website.

Backpage has been the focus of law enforcement agencies for some time. The site’s co-founders have been hit with pimping, sex trafficking and money laundering charges multiple times and the site has been accused of knowingly playing host to sex and child trafficking. Last year, the website shut down its adult ad section ahead of a Senate hearing on its practices.

Backpage and sites like it inspired the controversial FOSTA-SESTA bills, which Congress passed last month. Touted as anti-sex trafficking legislation, the bill would impose criminal sanctions on websites that host loosely defined sex trafficking and sex work content. Many say it’s more about censorship than curbing sex trafficking and its opponents include the Department of Justice, the ACLU, the EFF, anti-trafficking groups and sex work organizations. Though it’s not even a law yet, some companies have preemptively made changes to their services. Craigslist shut down its personal section last month after Congress passed the bill.

An Arizona CBS affiliate reported that the FBI also raided the home of Backpage co-founder Michael Lacey today. The FBI has confirmed that law enforcement action is ongoing.

Via: BuzzFeed News

Twitter will show users its rules to discourage abuse

Twitter just promised to watch breaking events closely to curb trolling and fake news, but how does it stop users from getting trouble into first place? The answer might be simple: show people the rules before they do something wrong. It’s launching a study that will try publicizing its rules to see if it “improves civility.” Research shows that people are more likely to honor rules if they can clearly see them, Twitter argued, so it stands to reason that the same would be true for social networks.

The company wasn’t clear about how the test will work, but that’s intentional when publishing the details could theoretically skew the results. Twitter is keeping itself accountable by seeking approval from university ethics committees and submitting its strategy to the Open Science Framework. All results will be anonymized (there’s no risk of being singled out), and they’ll be published in an academic journal.

There’s no guarantee this will work, of course. A determined abuser could just ignore the rules and hope that Twitter fails to catch them (which, let’s be honest, happens often). A Russian bot operator certainly isn’t about to have a change of heart. However, this might dissuade ‘casual’ abuse by people who may only be dimly aware that there could be consequences for hurling insults and threats. As it is, this is just one part of a broader solution that includes better enforcement and technology — there’s no one obvious fix.

Via: The Verge

Source: Susan Benesch (Medium), Jack Dorsey (Twitter)

Best Buy may also have had customer data exposed

Yesterday, both Sears and Delta revealed that thousands of their customers may have had personal and financial information exposed. This was because the companies had entrusted data to the tech firm [24]7.ai, which itself suffered a several-week breach last fall and informed its clients last month. Lo and behold, another well-known corporation has had its customers’ data potentially compromised: Best Buy. Luckily, they anticipate that only a “small fraction” of overall online Best Buy shoppers may have had their information compromised.

In a statement, Best Buy confirmed that [24]7.ai provided a chat service that customers used from their phone or computer. The breach happened between September 27th and October 12th of 2017 and customer payment information from some of the tech firm’s companies may have been compromised, ergo those who used Best Buy’s chat service could have had their data exposed. The tech retail giant did not offer further information. Affected customers won’t be charged for fraudulent purchases and they will be providing free credit monitoring services if desired.

Via: CNBC

Source: Best Buy

Tim Cook outlines Apple’s view on privacy, encryption in MSNBC interview

During the “Revolution: Apple Changing the World” interview airing on MSNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook gives his two cents on many issues facing the tech industry, most notably ones affecting competing giants Amazon and Facebook. That includes privacy and how Apple’s approach to the issue differs from others, which Cook has addressed before. If you were hoping to hear more about the missing-in-2018 new Mac Pro this isn’t the place, but here’s what he’s saying now to Chris Hayes and Kara Swisher about the company’s recent tussle with the FBI over encryption.

Cook: The only way to protect your data is to encrypt it. There is no other way known today. And so, if I were you, I would do business with no one that wasn’t doing that. Now, it is a thorny issue from a law enforcement point of view, because they may want to know what you’re saying, and I don’t have access to what you’re saying. And my view is kind of simple, is I don’t think that you as a user expect me to know what you’re telling people, right?

Hayes: Right.

Cook: I’m not eavesdropping on your messages and on your phone calls, and don’t think I should be in that position. And so, if they tried to compel us, as they did 2 years ago – they tried to force us to create a piece of software that would have it stolen, opened hundreds of millions of iPhones in the world. We said, “Hey, there’s lots of things technology can do. That one shouldn’t be done. It should never be created.” And so we refused. They said, “You can’t refuse. We can make you do it.” We said, “No, you can’t. It’s against the Constitution.” And – and right before they went to court, they dropped the case. And – and so if that same circumstance rose again, we would fight. Because this – this, again, is a value of America, right? You should not be able to compel somebody to write something that is bad for civilization. Right? This is a fundamental wrong.

Naturally, he also spoke directly about Facebook’s privacy flap, saying that if he were Mark Zuckerberg, he wouldn’t be in this position, and that it’s Apple’s view that the kind of detailed profiles at issue shouldn’t exist. When it came to Amazon, the discussion turns to a possible location for Apple to create a new site, beyond its HQ in California and facility in Texas. Basically, wherever it will be, you shouldn’t expect to see the kind of contest atmosphere that’s surrounded Amazon’s search for a city to host its second headquarters.

You can view the entire interview on MSNBC starting at 8 PM ET, with more information on MSNBC.com and Recode.com.

Apple Facing Lawsuit Over Heart Rate Sensor in Apple Watch

Apple is facing a lawsuit from Omni MedSci, a company that says Apple is infringing on its patented technology with the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor, reports Axios.

Omni MedSci claims to have met with Apple from 2014 until 2016, but Apple ultimately ended discussions for a partnership and then reportedly used Omni MedSci’s patented technology.

Omni MedSci filed a lawsuit in the Eastern district of Texas today, claiming that Apple willfully infringed on its patents and asking for an injunction against Apple along with damages.

Apple first introduced the Apple Watch in 2015, and since its debut, the Apple Watch has featured a built-in heart rate sensor. Heart rate sensing is a key feature of the wrist-worn device, and recent studies have suggested it can be used to detect a wealth of health problems, like atrial fibrillation, early signs of diabetes, hypertension, and more.

Omni MedSci, the company suing Apple, is owned by Mohammed Islam, who in 2015 was described by a Detroit news site as a “poster child for a patenting professional.” He owns six companies and has collected more than 150 patents.

“There’s getting a patent and there’s getting a patent that will withstand litigation,” he told the site. “It’s an art form.”

Islam has expertise in optical and laster technology and appears to hold several related patents. His patent holding company, Cheetah Omni, has levied lawsuits against companies that include Fujitsu, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Nokia, and Siemens.

In 2015, Islam said that Omni MedSci was working on a wearable glucose monitor that uses lasers to monitor blood sugar levels. At the time, he said that he had met with Apple about the product.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook on MSNBC Tonight at 5:00 PT/8:00 ET

Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to appear on MSNBC tonight at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time or 8:00 p.m. Eastern time in an interview called “Revolution: Apple Changing the World” with MSNBC’s Christopher Hayes and Recode’s Kara Swisher.

Much of what Tim Cook had to say was already covered in news stories earlier this week as the interview took place on March 28 and was covered by reporters who attended it live.

It will be well worth watching in its entirety, however, as Cook had a lot to say during the segment. He covered favored topics like education and coding, but he also commented on the current political climate in the United States and talked extensively about the ongoing Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal Facebook is facing.

Cook had some inflammatory words about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for example, stating “I wouldn’t be in this situation” when asked what he would have done in Zuckerberg’s shoes.

We could make a ton of money if we monetized our customers. If our customers were our product. We’ve elected not to do that. …We’re not going to traffic in your personal life.

Cook also said Apple’s customers are not the company’s product, and that “well-crafted” regulation “is necessary” to prevent another Cambridge Analytica-style scandal.

It’s clear to me that something, some large profound change is needed… I’m personally not a big fan of regulation because sometimes regulation can have unexpected consequences to it, however I think this certain situation is so dire and has become so large, that probably some well-crafted regulation is necessary.

Cook also commented on criticism over the fact that the iPhone is manufactured in China. “It’s not true that the iPhone is not made in the United States,” he said, referencing U.S.-based component manufacturers like Corning and Finisar. Cook also said Apple is always focused on job creation and doesn’t need political pressure to do the right thing.

“We know that Apple could only have been created in the United States. We know that. This company would not have flourished in any other country in the world. We love this country. We are patriots. This is our country and we want to create as many jobs as we can in the U.S. We don’t need any political pressure for that.”

Cook also discussed DACA, a fourth major U.S. campus that’s in development, the importance of coding, technology in education, lifelong education, and more.

We already have a full, detailed recap of what Tim Cook discussed during the interview, but should there be other interesting comments that were missed in earlier coverage, we’ll update this post.

We’ll also plan to provide an update if Recode and MSNBC make the interview available to watch for free after it airs. To watch the interview as it airs, you will need to tune into MSNBC through your cable package.

You can also watch on the NBC website or through the “Live” section of the NBC app, but cable authentication is required.

Tag: Tim Cook
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Fido Canada network review – a closer look at Fido plans

In 2004, mobile provider Fido was bought by its sole GSM competitor, Rogers, but it has remained a separate service ever since.

Fido currently runs on an LTE network with a 700MHz signal.

If you want to save some cash and stay away from the bigger (read pricier) providers, Fido is a tried-and-true discount brand. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the better Fido plans!

Fido mobile rates

Talk and text plans

Fido offers talk and text plans from $35 per month.

That’ll get you 500 minutes of calls and unlimited text when you bring your own smart or basic phone. Bump that up to unlimited calls for $45 per month.

If you’re looking for a new device, Fido can help there too. For additional monthly fees, you can save $300 to $500 on a new device. You can score some even bigger savings with a two-year contract, including some free phones from Samsung and LG.

Fido Pulse

If you want talk and text as well as data, Fido Pulse plans are what you’re looking for — why Fido chose to trademark a name for something as commonplace as that is anyone’s guess, but here we are.

Every Pulse plan comes with unlimited talk and text, with variations in data offerings.

A basic 1GB plan costs $50 per month when you bring your own phone. If you want a new phone, a “small” plan will cost $60, but get you up to $300 off a new phone, while a “medium” plan goes for $65 and saves you up to $500.

At higher price points, you can also get “large” and “extra large” plans. For example, a 5GB plan costs $70 per month when you bring in your own phone. With a “large plan, you’ll pay $100 per month and save up to $700 on a new phone. With an “extra large” plan, you jump up to $110 per month and save up to $900.

Data-only Fido plans

If you just need data for a tablet or to use Fido hotspots, you have options too. Get a Fido SIM card, put it into your device, and you’ll be all set to use your choice of two data plans.

Fido home internet

Fido home internet is currently only available in Ontario. (Canada’s favourite child always gets special treatment!)

If you’re the type of internet user who just checks their email and reads the news online (hi, dads of the world), Fido has a bare bones plan for $35 per month. What will that buy you? Not much. You’ll have 50GB of data and download speeds up to 5Mbps.

Moving up the food chain, you can have download speeds up to 30Mbps, with unlimited data, all for $50 per month.

To jump up to 75Mbps, still with unlimited data, you’ll be looking at $65 per month. If you want speed without needing unlimited data, $60 can also get you 75Mbps, with a data cap of 200GB (still not exactly skimpy on the data).

Final thoughts

Fido certainly isn’t your one-stop shop if you want a provider that does it all. With home internet only available in Ontario and no sign of TV offerings, it’s pretty safe to call Fido a mobile provider above all else.

Still, depending on what you’re looking for, Fido is a great way to save money while still having solid service and even getting a free or cheap phone thrown into the deal.

What do you think? Any Fido customers want to jump into the comments with their own first-hand experiences?