How to get free inbound calls with Gmail
With Gmail’s new integrated voice service, you’re able to make outbound calls for free. However, to get inbound calls working, you’ll have to sign up for a Google Voice account. When you sign up with Google Voice (free as well), you’ll receive a phone number that you can link to your Gmail account. Once the accounts are linked, you’ll be able to receive free phone calls in Gmail with your new Google Voice phone number. Here’s the link to enable free inbound calling in Gmail.
http://www.google.com/support/chat/bin/answer.py?answer=187936
Netflix Streaming on the iPhone / iTouch
Netflix streaming is finally available on the iPhone and iTouch. Hooray!
Google Rolls Out Free Calling Through Gmail
Google announced today that they are rolling out free domestic phone calls from within the Gmail application. Just to emphasis that again, you can now call any landline or mobile number in the United States and Canada for free using just a web browser, speakers, and microphone. In order to get the call button working from within Gmail, you will have to install the free voice and video chat plugin found here, http://www.google.com/chat/voice/
Don’t worry if the Call Button doesn’t show up immediately within Gmail. A Google spokesman has stated that the roll out is still on-going and that most Gmail users in the US and Canada will be voice-capable within a few days.
Viewing 3D Without Glasses
Toshiba announced today that they are developing a television that’s capable of displaying 3D without the need for glasses. The technology is based on something called a parallax barrier. In essence, the parallax barrier is a thin barrier with precision slits in front of the display that allow different sets of pixels to be displayed at different angles. Time the pixels correctly, and your two eyes will see two different images (thus allowing 3D video) since your eyes are seeing the display from slightly different angles. The upcoming Nintendo 3DS will also be able to display 3D without the need for glasses. Read on to see a visual demo of how the parallax barrier works and what the Nintendo 3DS could look like.
How to Get McAfee or Norton Antivirus Free
Here’s a tip for all you broadband users, you can probably download Norton or McAfee antivirus for free from your ISP. Check your internet provider’s website or read on to see the free antivirus links for a few major ISPs.
Daily Rant ~ WTB Cheap Backlit Keyboard
So I just put together a new computer and was thinking a backlit keyboard would be a great way to finish it off but when i went to go look for one, I was kinda surprised to see that there aren’t too many out there for people on a budget. Now I’m thinking, here we are, living in 2010 and no one’s managed to manufacture a quality backlit keyboard for under $50 bucks. Anyhow, I found this video of the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard. You can get on sale at Staples for $50 but I’m gonna pass for now. Someone let me know when the prices come down…
World Record for Fastest Text Message Broken… Again
25.94 seconds. That’s how long it took Melissa Thompson of England to write: “”The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.” She did it on a Samsung Galaxy S using a text input application called Swype. The previous Guiness Book of World Record for fastest text message was 35.54 seconds, set on a Samsung Omnia. Click the video to see how the swipe-to-text application works. Sorry Andrew, better luck next time…
Visual Multitasking with the iPhone and iPad
The folks over at multiflOw have developed a new multitasking interface for iPhone and iPad iOS 4 users. While multitasking is native to iOS 4, users of the new operating system have complained that the feature is slow and unwieldy. Enter Multifl0w visual multitasking, now available through Cydia as an add on to your iPhone or iPad device. Read more to see videos highlighting the differences.
Acer Aspire AZ5600 all-in-one touch-screen PC
So I was at Microcenter last week and this PC caught my eye, the Acer Aspire AZ5610. It’s an “all-in-one” desktop PC meaning the multi-touch LCD and the computer are integrated into one package. Neat…
Google Chrome OS Tablet PC?
Rumor has it that Google and Verizon plan to release a Chrome OS Table PC on November 26th of this year (Black Friday). The HTC manufactured device “could be based on NVidia’s Tegra 2 platform and sport a 1280×720 multitouch display, 2GB of RAM, minimum 32GB SSD, WiFi/Bluetooth/LTE connectivity, GPS, webcam, and possibly expandable storage via a multi-card reader.” Thanks go out to Geek.com for the HTC Advantage pic..
[via downloadsquad.com]
Adobe Updates – Critical Patch for Flash and Reader
Today, a Security Bulletin has been posted regarding security releases for Adobe Reader and Acrobat. The updates address critical security issues in the products, including CVE-2010-2862 discussed at the recent Black Hat USA 2010 security conference and vulnerabilities addressed in the August 10 Adobe Flash Player update as noted in Security Bulletin APSB10-16. Adobe recommends that users apply the updates for their product installations.
Note that today’s updates represent an out-of-cycle release. The next quarterly security updates for Adobe Reader and Acrobat is scheduled for October 12, 2010.
Read about it on the Adobe blog here.
Intel to Buy McAfee for $7.68 Billion
SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intel Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire McAfee, Inc., through the purchase of all of the company’s commonstock at $48 per share in cash, for approximately $7.68 billion. Both boards of directors have unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close after McAfee shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary conditions specified in the agreement.
“Hardware-enhanced security will lead to breakthroughs in effectively countering the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow”
MobileASL – Sign Language Codec for the Deaf via Mobile Devices
Researchers at the University of Washington are working on a video codec that will help advance communication for the deaf over mobile devices. The “video compression metric [takes] into account empirically validated visual and perceptual processes that occur during conversations in ASL [American Sign Language]“. Pretty cool stuff. Read on to see the tube.
Read the rest of this entry »
Hitachi Launches 2 Terabyte HDD at 7,200 RPMs
Need I say more? Well, ok. It’s the Hitachi Deskstar 7k2000 hard drive. And it has 2 terabytes of storage, 3.5″ form factor, runs at 7200 RPMs, 32 MB cache, and uses a 3 Gb/s SATA interface. I would put up a picture but you all already know what a hard drive looks like right? Fine… I’ll put up a picture of a SSD and HDD side by side instead. For the official Hitachi press release, click here.
Mac X OS Update (v10.5.8)
“The Mac OS X v10.5.8 Update is recommended for Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard users and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.”
Read the full update details here.
Speedier Google Chrome Web Browser Beta Released
Google released a new beta version of the Chrome web browser today. According to the official Chrome blog, the beta shows over 30% speed improvement verses the current release. If you’re interested in giving it a run down, head on over to the Google Chrome blog here.
Netflix on the Wii and iPhone?
According to a Multichannel source, Netflix will soon offer streaming video on the iPhone, iTouch, and Nintendo Wii. Although there are iPhone applications that allow Netflix customers to search for movies and manage their queues, it is being rumored that a ‘Watch Instantly’ feature will soon be added that will allow users to watch actual Netflix content on their mobile device.
[via Multichannel]
BlackBerry Desktop for Macs Coming in September
Just a quick FYI for all you crackberry addicts: the Mac version of BlackBerry Desktop is coming in September.
“With BlackBerry® Desktop Software you’ll be able sync your iTunes® playlists and personal information like contacts, tasks and appointments; install new software, games, and more. BlackBerry Desktop Software will offer the best of both worlds by allowing you to manage aspects of your BlackBerry® smartphone from your Mac1.”
Click here for all the details.
HTC MyTouch 3G Android SmartPhone Now Available Through T-Mobile
It’s official! Google’s second Android smartphone is now on sale through T-Mobile. The HTC MyTouch 3G sports a 3.2″ touchscreen, virtual QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, and 4 GB microSD card. T-Mobile is selling the MyTouch for $199.99 with new 2 year contract.
TECHBYTE
Download the AppPack from T-Mobile’s website to get Visual Voicemail for your Android device!
Nikon CoolPix S1000PJ Projector Camera
I don’t normally cover digital cameras but this was one too cool to pass up. The S1000PJ from Nikon is the world’s first digital camera with a built-in projector. Not only does the camera sport 12.1 megapixels, it also features built-in VGA projector that’s able to display images up to 40 inches. Head on over to the Nikon USA Press Center to see a video of it in action.
