Hasta La Gadget!

Rounds is doing the rounds (natch!) this morning with a significant update to its video calling and instant messaging app. The company teamed up with Channel.me to add co-browsing to an already broad list of features. Users can now browse the web together during a video chat and see / control the same page at the same time. In terms of security, the experience mimics two people surfing the web in the same location (usernames are visible but passwords are hidden. for example). While users can enter any URL, the app also includes an icon grid of compatible sites, such as Google (for search), Wikipedia, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Amazon and eBay — to name a few. As a refresher, Rounds lets friends watch YouTube videos and play games together during a video chat and even apply filters and scribble over each-others live video streams. It also supports instant messaging and photo sharing and ties it all together with Facebook Login. The app is available for most Android and iOS devices but is optimized to run on phones. Hit the break for the promo video and obligatory PR.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

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The mobile version of Tango’s video chat app has almost exclusively revolved around smartphones. It’s at last going a little bigger: an update to Tango’s iOS app is introducing full iPad support, expanding conversations to tablet size. Those who don’t need quite that grand a canvas can still make the most of what they have through the new release. Calls now use the whole screen regardless of OS, and iPhone users can touch up any soon-to-be-shared photos in Aviary. The talkative among us just need to snag Tango’s upgrade at the source link to eke a little more from their screens.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets

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Source: Tango

Dreaming of turning your HDTV into a George Jetson-style phone booth? If so, California-based electronics firm Biscotti might have what you’re looking for. Earlier today the company announced its new XS TV camera, which connects to any modern HDTV via HDMI. Available in March for $300, the set-top receiver features two dual band antennas for WiFi support, as well as an Ethernet port for those who prefer a hardline network connection. Biscotti’s new rig also ships with a full QWERTY remote control keyboard, a universal TV mount and a multiport power adapter with international power blades.

On the software side of things, the XS allows users to record and save video calls / messages via its MyBiscotti cloud services. In addition, the receiver plays nice with Google Talk’s video chat, so calls between TVs, tablets and smartphones are a go. However, if you’d like to continue making calls while wearing your leopard-print Snuggie — worry not! The XS also makes old-fashioned voice calls as well.

Continue reading New Biscotti XS brings TV video calling to the cloud for $300 this March

Filed under: Cameras, Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Biscotti

Public advocacy groups aren’t all that impressed with AT&T’s justifications for limiting FaceTime access over 3G and 4G to those who spring for its costlier Mobile Share plans. Free Press, Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute have served formal notice to AT&T that they plan to file a net neutrality complaint with the FCC within 10 days. It’s not hard to understand why, given the groups’ existing pro-neutrality stances: the Free Press’ policy lead Matt Wood argues that the carrier is unfairly pushing iOS users into plans they don’t need, a particularly sore point for iPad-only customers that have no AT&T phones to share. We’ve reached out to AT&T for comment, although we’re not expecting a change from its position that allowing app use over WiFi makes its restrictions okay. As for the FCC? It’s mum on the current situation. A literal reading of its net neutrality rules, however, doesn’t include a WiFi exemption and might not favor AT&T when Skype video is allowed and Verizon has no problems with unrestricted access.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Advocacy groups notify AT&T of net neutrality complaint with the FCC over FaceTime restrictions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember Airtime, the Facebook-integrated video calling / media sharing service with a Chatroulette flavor? Well if not, we don’t blame you — usage stats suggest it hasn’t quite taken off, but maybe the new features it’s testing will secure a few more fans. No longer is the service restricted to the here and now, as the major change is all about video posts. Use Airtime to record a message and you can post it to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or via a traditional email to get the conversation started. Friends can then reply to your message through Airtime with a video post of their own, and so on. Its buddy list has also been given a little love, so now it shows friends as online, idle or offline, and details your interaction timeline. Whether the features are enough to inspire wider uptake is questionable, but for the few that actively use Airtime, the updates are out in the wild now on a “limited public release.”

Filed under: Internet

Airtime testing new video post features, improved buddy list originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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