Sep 16

Vision Digital Video Phone marks underwhelming return of Ojo

Posted in: Today's Chili, VoIP

Well, this answers that. Back in early 2008, we wondered whether or not Ojo had gone dark once and for all, but it seems as if the video calling outfit has been brought back from the grave… for no apparent reason. The Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone is now on sale through the company’s revived website, offering a 7-inch color LCD, a video output and a design that simply had to have been ripped straight from 1994. Of course, it’s not like we haven’t been to this rodeo before — Verizon itself gave it a whirl (twice!), and promptly decided that its funds would be better spent elsewhere. We suppose not everyone is ready to move right along to mobile video calling, and if that’s you, the source link has all the details on monthly plans. Just grab a paper grocery bag to wrap the unit itself in, okay? Trust us, it’s for the best.

Continue reading Vision Digital Video Phone marks underwhelming return of Ojo

Vision Digital Video Phone marks underwhelming return of Ojo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceOjo  | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 15

Gemtek’s Moorestown tablet comes with a DECT phone, runs MeeGo and controls your home

Posted in: hands-on, intel, meego, phone, tablet, tablet pc, TabletPc, Today's Chili, VoIP

OpenPeak brought us one of the first Atom-based tabletphones at IDF 2008, but it may have passed on the torch in more ways than one — this year, it’s Gemtek’s turn to show off a Moorestown machine with Linux on board that shares a host of design cues. Who-copied-whoms aside, we have to say the “IP Media Phone” is a mildly intriguing device, combining a DECT cordless handset with a 7-inch MeeGo tablet, the latter ready for both VoIP and video chat thanks to an integrated webcam and mic, and has full home automation controls thanks to 4Home software and a built-in Z-Wave radio. 802.11 b/g/n WiFi connects it to the base station / charging dock, which has room for two USB ports, an ethernet jack, and an SD card slot, while the tablet itself features mini-HDMI, mini-USB and a headset adapter plus an SD card of its own. Though the glossy fingerprint magnet of a capacitive touchscreen left much to be desired, laggy to respond to our press, we were told the tabletphone’s an early prototype with wholly unfinished hardware. If history’s any indication, expect to see the final form thoroughly rebranded when it likely arrives in the first half of next year.

Gallery: Gemtek’s 7-inch Moorestown tabletphone at IDF 2010

Gemtek’s Moorestown tablet comes with a DECT phone, runs MeeGo and controls your home originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 08

Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount

Posted in: Apple, case, cellphone, hack, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, mobile phone, MobilePhone, mod, now shipping, NowShipping, phone, reviewed, ship, shipping, ships, smartphone, Today's Chili, us, usa, VoIP

Build it, and they will come. We suspect the same is true with shipping papers. Go Solar USA most certainly hopes so, as it has just inked a deal with Chinese developer Yosion to bring the much-hyped Apple Peel 520 to the US of A. For those unaware, this slip-on case effectively turns your iPod touch into an iPhone, as it equips your PMP with a SIM card slot and the software needed to make / receive calls and texts. Granted, it’s not without its flaws, but for “around $60,” it’s not a half-bad alternative to handing over your cellular soul to AT&T. Both companies have reportedly agreed to work together to distribute it in the United States, but it’s unclear when those shipments will start and how much it’ll retail for once it arrives. Oh, and don’t hold your breath for compatibility with the latest and greatest touch — just sayin’.

Continue reading Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount

Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGo Solar USA  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Sep 06

Five Hacks to Give Your Old iPod a New Life [Hacks]

Posted in: Apple, Hacks, ipod, IpodTouch, Linux, mods, phone, Today's Chili, top, VoIP

After last week’s Apple announcements, your previous-gen iPod probably isn’t looking so hot. Cheer up! We’ve got five mods that’ll breathe new life into the little guy, so you don’t have to feel guilty about picking up a shiny replacement. More »

No Comments | Tags:
Aug 30

Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy

Posted in: Today's Chili, VoIP
Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy

The early days of VOIP calling required a lot of patience, as the half-second or more delay between you speaking and your conversation partner receiving often turned the convo into a start and stop mess. Those days are gone for voice, but we’re right back there again when it comes to HD video calls. However, random product researcher Fraunhofer is working on a new device to kill the lag and speed up your two-way monologues. It’s basically an encoder card able to do hardware squashing of HD video via H.264 and audio via AAC, not unlike the sort of tech Skype requires for its SkypeHD-compatible video cameras. Fraunhofer’s tech is also said to remove boomy room echoes and even handle network hiccups to keep you streamin’ in style. The result is said to be sub-100ms lag, which would be more or less playable for a shooter. Expect more on this development soon from IFA.

Continue reading Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy

Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Aug 18

Verizon quietly pushes Skype Mobile onto select non-smartphones

Posted in: carrier, cdma, skype, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, VoIP

Back in February, Verizon Wireless made it quite clear what phones could be used with Skype Mobile, and the whole lot were smartphones. Sometime between then and now, however, it seems as if the carrier (or Skype… or both) has had a change of heart, as today a select few non-smartphones are showing up in its database as being compatible with Skype Mobile. Samsung’s $20-on-contract Reality, LG’s $80-on-contract Chocolate Touch and the enV Touch are all displayed as being in support of Skype Mobile, leading us to believe that an even larger stable of VZW handsets may soon hop onboard. Meanwhile, perfectly capable Android phones like the Nexus One can’t find a decent Skype client to save their life. For shame.

Update: Ah, ha! Now it’s official, with Skype confirming that Skype Mobile is now available on VZW multimedia phones on the BREW platform.

Verizon quietly pushes Skype Mobile onto select non-smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Aug 15

MagicJack announces software for completely free internet-to-phone calls, places femtocell on hold

Posted in: Android, app, apps, BlackBerry, free, ios, ipad, iPhone, skype, Software, Today's Chili, VoIP

For $40 (plus $20 per year), MagicJack’s USB VoIP dongle will let you make free unlimited telephone-to-telephone calls, but this week the company’s announced MagicTalk, a piece of software for internet-connected phones and computers that will waive even those upfront costs. The Associated Press tracked down one of our favorite ruthless salesmen, MagicJack CEO Dan Borislow, who described a service much like Google Voice and Skype, number portability and all — except it adds the whole allowing-free-calls-to-regular-ol-telephones bit by charging the companies that carry incoming calls. The service will reportedly be available on Windows and Mac next week, with iOS, Blackberry and Android by October, but speaking of promises, Borislow said plans for the company’s legally-ambiguous femtocell are now on hold — the device can’t legitimately muster up enough power without a cellular carrier on board.

In other news, NetTalk announced last week that its pair of competing VoIP boxes now support free video calls. We imagine the timing (and naming) of MagicJack’s new service isn’t making ’em feel too good.

MagicJack announces software for completely free internet-to-phone calls, places femtocell on hold originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAssociated Press  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Aug 07

Skype Surpasses 10 Million Simultaneous Users

Posted in: Today's Chili, VoIP, Web Sites

This article was written on October 18, 2007 by CyberNet.

myspace with skype Yesterday, VoIP service Skype took a minute to point out on their site that they had just reached a major milestone by servicing 10 million simultaneous users. On the announcement they talked about previous milestones and how it was just three years ago on October 20, 2004 that they celebrated one million simultaneous users. Three short years later and they’ve gained an additional 9 million users. While Skype has been criticized recently and told that they weren’t such a great buy for eBay, 10 million simultaneous users is certainly something that they should be proud of, and the are.

This big milestone came shortly after the announcement that Skype is hooking up with MySpace to provide an integrated Skype service in MySpace IM. The one click calling which will be free for users is likely to be welcomed by the 110 million monthly MySpace users.  No download from Skype will be required to use the service, but users will have to wait until a new version of the IM client called MySpaceIM with Skype is released sometime in November. If users want  to make calls to and from land lines and mobile phones, they will have to pay.

According to GigaOm, this new service will be available in 20 countries and will likely benefit both sides.  Om Malik says, “The new client will give a big boost to both communities and is a net positive for both Skype and MySpace,” and I agree. I don’t think either party has anything to lose out of teaming up. This move will certainly help Skype reach new milestones once MySpacer’s start using the service, and now it leaves me wondering when Facebook is going to try and sweep up a VoIP service so that they can offer something similar?

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

Related Posts:


No Comments
Aug 05

Apple Peel 520 gets reviewed: turns your iPod touch into an iPhone, but quirks exist

Posted in: Apple, case, cellphone, hack, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, mobile phone, MobilePhone, mod, phone, reviewed, smartphone, Today's Chili, VoIP

No one expressly said that the Apple Peel 520 would change your life, but if you play your cards right, that’s not entirely out of the question. The mysterious doodad — which wraps around your iPod touch and holds an extended battery and SIM card — has caused quite the stir since being revealed late last month, and now it has undergone a full review overseas. Put simply, the device does work as advertised, turning one’s iPod touch into a device fully capable of making / receiving calls as well as texts. ‘Course, you’ll need to jailbreak your device first, and you’ll have to deal with a static (read: impossible to adjust) call volume, quirky SMS delivery and blanked messages for missed calls, but hey — a small price to pay for the upgrade, right? Hit the source link for the full skinny and a video to boot.

Apple Peel 520 gets reviewed: turns your iPod touch into an iPhone, but quirks exist originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceM.I.C. Gadget  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
Jul 22

Skype for iPhone Now Runs in Background, Replaces Phone App

Posted in: iPhone, Phones, skype, Today's Chili, VoIP

One of the “tent-poles” of Apple’s iOS4 is multitasking, and one of the biggest features of iOS multitasking is letting VoIP applications continue to run in the background, alerting you when a call comes in, for instance. Until today, though, this has been largely moot as the big daddy of VoIP – Skype – had not been updated to use this new feature.

Now you can all but replace you regular cellphone service. Skype v2.0.1 will run constantly in the background, listening for calls and messages, and will alert you when one comes in. To answer, you just tap the button that pops up. And while Skype doesn’t (yet) have access to the front-facing camera for video calls, it will work over 3G. In fact, Skype has abandoned its plans to charge for calls over 3G in the future.

With many cellphone plans offering so many voice minutes that they seem almost endless, you may wonder why Skype is worth the bother. The main benefit is in making cheap international calls using Skype Out, which lets you call regular phones. And when iOS 4 finally lands on the iPad, you’ll be able to make calls wherever you are, without any kind of phone contract.

The new Skype is available now, as a free download in the App Store.

Skype [iTunes]

Skype now supports multitasking, no additional charges for calling over 3G [Skype Blog]

See Also:

Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter..




No Comments