Hasta La Gadget!

Skype now does video-calling on iOS devices. The new update to Skype’s iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app, version 3.0, allows users to make video calls between their iDevices, as well as with desktop computers — in other words, with any other Skype user. The calls can be placed over both Wi-Fi and 3G.

To make and receive video calls, you’ll need to have an iPhone 3GS or better, and you must be running iOS4. If you have both front- and back-facing cameras, you can use either. The 3GS can only, obviously, use the rear cam, since it doesn’t have a front-facing camera.

And if you have an iPad or a last-gen iPod Touch? You’re not left out, even though your device doesn’t have a camera. You can still receive video calls, but of course you can’t send any video.

Skype has a big advantage over FaceTime, Apple’s own video-calling app, as pretty much everyone already uses Skype. FaceTime requires a camera-equipped iPhone or iPod Touch, or a Mac running beta software. And it only works over Wi-Fi.

This is big news, especially for people wanting to replace computers with iPads. If a camera-equipped iPad goes on sale this year, as expected, then people like my parents could ditch their hard-to-administer PC for an iPad.

There is still one limitation to Skype’s iPad version of the software. This update, despite adding video, still requires you to pixel-double the app to get a full-screen view. Hopefully Skype’s next update will bring us video in the iPad’s full, native resolution.

Skype 3 for iPhone – With Video Calling [Skype Blog]

See Also:

• Skype Finally Breaks Free on the iPhone
• Skype for iPhone Now Runs in Background, Replaces Phone App …
• Ears-On With Skype for iPhone
• Skype Comes to Android: Free Voice, Text Over 3G (But Not In US …

Skype well on the road to recovery, group video calls restored originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, how exactly does a voice app work on devices without any cellular ties? Glad you asked! Google has just updated the iOS Google Voice app to include support for the iPod touch and iPad, but neither of them can make cellular calls directly. Instead, you can use the app to initiate GVoice calls with a nearby phone. The process is known as Click2Call — users simply click any ‘Call’ button within the app and then choose which of their phones they want to ring. It’s probably more time consuming than just grabbing your phone from the start, but hey, there it is. In other news, the app now disables text forwarding when you enable Push Notifications (to avoid double alerts), and there’s a new Do Not Disturb option in the Settings tab for those who’d prefer to disconnect. Hit the iTunes link below to get your download on, and let us know how things shake out in comments.

Google Voice app now supports iPad and iPod touch, brings Click2Call originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, don’t knock the naming engineers — “Clear Modem with WiFi” just works. Indeed, that’s the official title of Clear’s new at-home WiMAX modem (the same one that flew through the FCC back in September), designed to bring the 4G superhighway into one’s home for as little as $35 per month. According to the operator, it’s an all-in-one solution that’s “around the size of a book,” offering 4G reception as well as an internal 802.11b/g/n router to distribute those waves across your home without the need for a separate WLAN router. It’s available today from your local Clear store, with a $120 outright price or a $7 per month lease rate. Furthermore, Clear home service customers can add home voice service, with unlimited local and long distance calling in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, for an extra 15 clams per month. Oh, and if your math skills are a tad fuzzy, we’d recommend buying it if you’re planning to keep the service for greater than 17 months. You’re welcome.

Continue reading Clear launches new at-home WiMAX router with integrated WiFi

Clear launches new at-home WiMAX router with integrated WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, finally! That’s right, you no longer have to be jealous of your friends who’ve all been group video calling using Skype 5.0 for Windows for months — Skype’s new Beta 5.0 for Mac finally brings the ability to video chat with up to ten of your Skype contacts to OS X client. Obviously, that’s the premiere feature of the new release, but the software has also been retooled to mesh more with the look and feel of the OS — there’s even a cover flow-like contact window — and a new pop-out call control bar that can be moved anywhere on the screen or be kept open while in another program. We just downloaded the beta and it’s certainly a lot better looking than the previous version, but we also noticed that it integrated our Mac address book right into the contacts pane and when we initiated a call it automatically muted the song we were listening to in iTunes. Naturally, we went searching for that Facebook integration that we just saw rolled out in the Windows version, but it’s nowhere to be found at the moment, and Skype tells us it’s focusing on video and UI tweaks for the Mac version. We could go on and on about the new software, but it’s available for download at the source link below, so run along and throw your own virtual cupcake party!

Continue reading Skype 5.0 Beta for Mac finally available, includes group video calling

Skype 5.0 Beta for Mac finally available, includes group video calling originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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