Friday, December 31, 2010

Checking Your Heart Rate With iPhoneECG

#Alivecor #iPhoneECG See your heart rate http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Checking your heart rate with iPhone is possible now with iPhoneECG, an iPhone case from Alivecor. iPhoneECG will debut in CES 2011 in Las Vegas.

Alivecor via engadget

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Geimini, Android Trojan From China Attacks Android Devices.

#Geimini, #Android #Trojan http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
A Trojan called "Geinimi" has been discovered in the wild affecting Android devices according to mobile security company Lookout. The Trojan collects a lot of information from the device such as personal information, installed apps and other information to remote servers and exhibits botnet-like behavior (capable of being controlled by super droid somewhere), the security company report says.
Geinimi has been recognized as being originated in China, and is being distributed inside applications and games downloadable in third-party Chinese Android app stores. The Geimini trojan has successfully grafted in to legitimate apps, mostly games. Once the application is launched on the user's smartphone, the trojan collects location data, as well as the device's IMEI and IMSI numbers, and a list of all the apps the user has installed on his device. It then attempts to contact a remote server every five minutes, using one of ten embedded domain names. A subset of the domain names includes www.widifu.com, www.udaore.com, www.frijd.com, www.islpast.com and www.piajesj.com. If it connects, Geinimi transmits collected device information to the remote server.

Monkey Jump 2, Sex Positions, President vs. Aliens, City Defense and Baseball Superstars 2010 on Chinese App Markets seems to be infected while the same originals apps on the Google Android Marked are not infected.
Lookout has posted following guidelines, to keep your phone safe;

  • Only download applications from trusted sources, such as reputable application markets. Remember to look at the developer name, reviews, and star ratings.
  • Always check the permissions an app requests. Use common sense to ensure that the permissions an app requests match the features the app provides.
  • Be aware that unusual behavior on your phone could be a sign that your phone is infected. Unusual behaviors include: unknown applications being installed without your knowledge, SMS messages being automatically sent to unknown recipients, or phone calls automatically being placed without you initiating them.
  • Download a mobile security app for your phone that scans every app you download. Lookout users automatically receive protection against this Trojan.
Lookout

Verizon iPhone, A Death Ringer For AT&T?

#Verizon #iPhone, http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Might not be the death ringer but losing $6 Billion (Analyst prediction) or 10% of income is a big issue for AT&T. It had enough time but AT&T spent it's time scratching something than fixing the connectivity and network issues.I have not been happy with AT&T service at all for my iPhone(s), which we pay a hefty sum, each month. One reason that we switched from Sprint to AT&T was because we wanted iPhone experience.
The dissatisfaction with AT&T is not a remote issue, there are many people who are unhappy with AT&T, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey, 58,000 ranked AT&T to be the worst wireless carrier. I for one will go to Verizon, if I am to stay with iPhone. AT&T even hiked the early termination fee (more like an early termination scheme,) to $325 from $175, perhaps hoping to curb the flow. Well, I will still be leaving AT&T. AT&T still fail to see that people value, a good service and are willing to pay for it.
I am also wondering if Apple will add an "G" to the Verizon iPhone, making it iPhone 4G! That will throw all the analysts numbers regarding AT&T's loss out of the window, that the industry is now predicting. It will be fun to watch how Verizon will advertise "Girly iPhones".
There is a good article on Businessweek, if you are interested in the Verizon iPhone and it's effects on AT&T.

Skype For iPhone Update Brings Video Over 3G To iPhone

#Skype brings 3G #videocalling to the iPhone http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
If you were happy with Apple's facetime on the iPhone but wished it was there over the 3G network, you are in for a treat with the newly updated Skype for iPhone client.
The free iPhone app from skype allows you to make video calls even when you are away from a WIFi network, which Apple's facetime app can't do. Among other things the Skype for iPhone 3.0 brings in;
• Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G
• Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows, video phones like Asus) and other iPhone users.
• Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
• Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
• Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
• Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.
The real problem seem to be the bandwidth consumption. According to Washington Post's Pegoraro who tested the app on an iPhone 4, the app consumes about 3.2 MB a minute. This will eat up you 200MB (AT&T entry level data plan cap) in about an hour. The video quality seem to be at question too. So before jumping into video calling and showing you and your surroundings to your friends, take all these fact in to consideration.
But the audio seem to be of pretty good quality and so is the connection to desktops and other devices from Apple.
Perhaps Skype is riding on the net neutrality in releasing the Skype for iPhone with 3G video calling. The video calling feature for skype for Android is in the works.
Happy video calling during the holidays and beyond, just watch your bandwidth. Looks like it is infectious, watch the video!
 
Skype via Voices (Washington Post)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

BlackBerry Tear Down Video Shows Rare Earth Metals Inside!

#BlackBerry Tear Down Video Shows Rare Earth Metals! http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Kidela, with it's connections to rare earth mining company Stans Energy Corp., produced a video goes inside a Blackberry to show where the rare earth metals are used. I bet you did not know that Europium that makes the color red in the LCD screen while Terbium makes green and  also responsible for the backlighting or that Yttrium is used in the camera, unless of course you are a chemical geek.
Now I look at my BlackBerry in a different war, my rare metal baby which plays heavy metal at times.
Kidela via Crackberry

Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone From VOX Communications

Ojo Vision Video Phone From VOX
#Ojo-Vision Digital #VideoPhone From #VOX  http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
VoIP IP Telephony provider VOX communications launched a new Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone and the service for it's customers today.
The Service and the Video Phone is targeting general consumers to SMB (Small and Midsize Business). The phone sports a 7" high resolution LCD screen and if that is not enough you will be able to connect the phone to an external TV. The contacts will have snapshot photos and the phone could be used as a digital photo frame when not in use.
The service plans include video calling, caller ID, call waiting and three way calling. It is also possible to conduct a three way video conference and have unlimited video calling.
"Based on the growing consumer and business demand – bringing the Ojo Vision to our customers this year was very important to us. We are very excited to become one of the first companies to be able to offer this incredible product to both our retail and wholesale customer base. We have seen many video products over the years, and until now, none came up to our rigorous testing standards of quality – it surpassed even our high expectations of what a video phone product should be. The user experience from the minute the phone is unboxed is painless and the device brings immediate satisfaction to the consumer from the moment it is powered on." said Chief Information Officer of Pervasip, which owns VOX, Mark Richards
Press Release;

WHITE PLAINS, NY – December 29, 2010 –, Pervasip Corp. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, VoX Communications Corp., a leading provider of wholesale Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone services and smartphone applications, has today launched the Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone and service as one of its core product offerings. VoX is one of the first companies to offer this unique voice and video solution as a home phone replacement to consumers and as a business-class commercial solution to small and medium size business customers.
Pervasip's Chief Information Officer, Mark Richards, noted, "Based on the growing consumer and business demand – bringing the Ojo Vision to our customers this year was very important to us. We are very excited to become one of the first companies to be able to offer this incredible product to both our retail and wholesale customer base. We have seen many video products over the years, and until now, none came up to our rigorous testing standards of quality – it surpassed even our high expectations of what a video phone product should be. The user experience from the minute the phone is unboxed is painless and the device brings immediate satisfaction to the consumer from the moment it is powered on."
In addition to the true-to-life video calling experience, each plan includes a full suite of traditional calling features like caller ID, call waiting and 3-way calling. Innovative features like 3-way video conferencing, connecting to a large screen LCD or TV and unlimited video calling are also included.
Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone features include:
  • High Quality Video over a seven-inch, high-resolution LCD digital screen
  • Simple plug-and-play installation
  • Works as a digital photo frame
  • Display to external TV or PC Monitor for enhanced calling experience
  • Enhanced contact list with snapshot pictures
VoX Digital Video Calling Plans starting from $9.95/month including:
  • Ojo Vision Digital Video Phone for $249.95 with no service contract
  • Unlimited voice calling in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico
  • Unlimited FREE voice and video calling to other VoX customers
  • Low rate international calling
For more information or to order the video phone visit: http://www.voxcorp.net/videophone/

Skype Supernode Outage Post-Mortem, Mega- Supernodes Helped

#Skype Outage Post-Mortem #Mega-Supernodes helped http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The massive Skype failure, and the root causes have been explained by the Skype CIO on their blog. Yet I am to read a complete explanation of supernode operations. Basically Skype is running their business on the back of the users, making them supernodes, whether they like it not. I certainly did not like being a supernode a few years ago and followed Fermilab Skype usage policy, not to become a supernode and stay within the Skype EULA. It was written for older operating system and oldervesion of Skype but it is so simple, any OS or Any Skype version should work. But it is up to you to decide to become a Skype Supernode or not by following  How to be or not to be a skype supernode!

Getting back to the Skype outage, the culprit seem to be Skype client 5.0.0.152 version. These clients crashed when a bunch of support servers got overloaded. All other clients were fine, including version 4.0 and newer 5.0 versions. But it seems that about 50% of Skype users were using .152. So with this many users crashing, so did the number of supernodes, which were responsible for establishing and maintaining connections in the Skype P2P network. About 30% of supernodes were knocked off and this accounted for bringing the Skype down. The other factor was, this many .152 clients restarting their Skype clients at the same time, more or less, overloading many other support servers. Basically;
Regrettably, as a result of the confluence of events – server overload, a bug in Skype for Windows clients (version 5.0.0.152), and the decline in available supernodes – Skype’s functionality became unavailable to many of our users for approximately 24 hours.
For it's credit, Skype describes how it recovered from the failure and how Mega-Supernodes launched to recover from supernode failure helped. But now that we know Skype can do manage to run Mega-Supernodes, hope it will keep them running all over the world and save users and their networks from overloading. Otherwise people will keep on Uninstalling Skype and finding other methods to communicate.
skype via twitter

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

San Francisco Blanketed By Clear 4G!

Clear iSpot For 4G On iPhone
#Clear #4G in the Fog City http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Usually San Franciscans wake up to a fog blanketing the city but as of December 28th, there is Clear 4G, covering and serving the city folks. Looks like I will have to add a lot more green dots on this Clear 4G Coverage Map
No wonder Me Too AT&T trying to create hot Zones in the city with outdoor WIFI services. Either way it is still, can you hear me? with AT&T in the city for me.
Welcome Clear! I already have your iSpot for my iPhone perhaps I should also opt in for another plan and a device, some thing like Pay as You go Clear 4G Service :)

Monday, December 27, 2010

Digium 2010, What A Year It Has Been!

Digium 2010 http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Digium Blog

Android iPod Touch? Samsung Galaxy Player Seem To Be One!

YP-GB1 Samsung Galaxy Player
#Android #iPod Touch? Samsung #GalaxyPlayer http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Riding the success of it's Galaxy phones and tablets, Samsung seem to be entering the field to challenge Apple's iPod Touch dominance as well.
Last night I saw an AD for Samsung Galaxy Tab for Japanese market and it was fantastic. I am sure it would have drown a few customers away from iPads.

The Samsung Galaxy Player, which seem to be as attractive as the rest of the Galaxy products will debut at CES 2011
The Galaxy Player itself is mostly the Samsung Galaxy S phone without the cellular technology. But apps like Skype for Android will work without any issues on the device and users will be able to make calls when ever there is a WiFi network.  The Galaxy Player code named YP-GB1, is 9.9 mm thin and runs Android 2.2 Froyo as the OS. The Galaxy Player sports a very capable 1GHz CPU, which is underneath a 4-inch Super Clear LCD screen supporting up to WVGA resolution (800×480). The Samsung's T-DMB, SoundAlive audio enhancing technology will enliven the sound while Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.2MP rear camera with front facing VGA camera for video calling will enhance the network activity. The GPS, HD video playback, microSD card slot, Android Market and Samsung Apps access makes it a sound competitor for iPod touch if Samsung makes the price point attractive to the audience that will look for such devices. The Galaxy Player is powered by a 1200mAh removable battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Player will come in 8, 16 and 32 GB storage capacities. The price is not known yet.
Samsunghub

Onkyo Releases SlatePad, an 10.1" Android Based Tablet.

#Onkyo Releases #SlatePad, http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
While I was waiting for CES to find the best Android tablet, which is of same size of iPad or bigger, Onkyo have decided to add two Android tablets to my list.The two models, TA117C3 and TA117C1, which seem to be the same except the memory capacity. the TA117C1 has 512MB memory and 8GB NAND storage while  TA117C3 sports 1GB memory and 16GB storage capacity. For the rest they both have a 10.1-inch touch panel (1024 x 600 resolution), Android 2.2, NVIDIA's Tegra 250 (1GHz), 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a microSD expansion slot, USB 2.0 connectivity (x2), HDMI out and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera.
Onkyo(Japanese PDF) via Engadget

Patent Law Suit Against Skype.

#Patent #LawSuit Against #Skype http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Just as Skype is picking up pieces from the recent massive Skype service outage, (Perhaps leading more people are looking to uninstall Skype, what the use of it if you could not send that lovely X-MAS message.), a company Gradient Enterprises, known to be a patent troll has filled a patent infringing suit against Skype in US courts.
The trolls are basically telling that they invented the network monitoring to which USPTO in it's wisdom granted the patent this year (the patent was filed in 2004). The U.S. patent no. 7,669,207, “METHOD FOR DETECTING, REPORTING AND RESPONDING TO NETWORK NODE-LEVEL EVENTS AND A SYSTEM THEREOF” Hopefully something good will come out of this law suite, for all of us.
The skype supernode network, which we have been advising and telling "how to be or not to be a Skype Supernode", so Skype need to be a supernode and get it's lawyer gears up and fight.
via TechCrunch

Texting While Driving, It Certainly Can Wait. Don't Text & Drive!

Texting While Driving, It Certainly Can Wait http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Usually I do not have much good things to say about AT&T. But the following video, promoting not to text while driving, part of a campaign launched by AT&T makes a difference.
People "it can wait" "do not text while driving:, do not kill yourself and do not kill others. Even for regular texting, get an app like StartTalking for Android which allows sending texts and receiving texts without touching the phone.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Happy Holidays!

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Happy Holidays to everyone. We all are off to our homes where our parents are. See you after holidays. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. (Some of us will be back before the New Year :)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

LG Optimus 2X, Worlds First, Fastest, Nvidia Dual-Core Powered Smartphone Relesed.

LG Optimus 2X
LG Optimus 2X, Worlds First, Fastest, Nvidia Dual-Core Powered Smartphone Relesed By LG http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
LG released the world’s first smartphone with a dual-core proccesor , a 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2, featuring a 4-inch WVGA screen, 8 GB of memory (expandable up to 32 GB via microSD memory cards), a 1,500 mAh battery, a 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p recording capabilities and a 1.3-megapixel front camera for video calls.
LG Optimus 2X will ship with Android 2.2 but will later be upgraded Android 2.3, the latest OS codenamed Gingerbread. The device will first be available in Korea next month, followed by a later launch in more countries in Europe and Asia.
 
LG Press Release;

LG LAUNCHES WORLD'S FIRST AND FASTEST DUAL-CORE SMARTPHONE 

LG Optimus 2X with Tegra 2 Offers Top Multimedia Features for a Better User Experience 

SEOUL, Dec. 16, 2010 -- LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled the LG Optimus 2X, the world's first smartphone with a dual-core processor. Along with more powerful multimedia features, the LG Optimus 2X's high-performance Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and applications and lets users multitask with virtually no screen lag. 

"Dual-core technology is the next leap forward in mobile technology so this is no small achievement to be the first to offer a smartphone utilizing this technology," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, CEO and President of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "With unique features such as HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) mirroring and exceptional graphics performance, the LG Optimus 2X is proof of LG's commitment to high-end smartphones in 2011." 

Developed by graphics processor powerhouse NVIDIA?, the dual-core Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip found in the LG Optimus 2X runs at a clock speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio. Users will experience faster web browsing and smoother gameplay compared with single-core processors running at the same speed as well as instantaneous touch response and seamless multitasking between applications. 

The LG Optimus 2X offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to full HD quality. The LG Optimus 2X can connect wirelessly to any DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible digital device such as HD TVs for a console-like gaming experience taking full advantage of the phone's HDMI mirroring, accelerometer and gyro sensor. The smartphone also includes both rear- and front-facing cameras, microSD memory expandability, Micro-USB port and a hefty 1500mAh battery. 

The LG Optimus 2X will be available in Korea next month with countries in Europe and Asia to follow. The phone will initially be released with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). The upgrade schedule will be announced in local markets in due course.

Key specifications: 

- 1Ghz Dual-core Processor (NVIDIA Tegra 2) 
- 4-inch WVGA screen 
- 8GB memory (up to 32GB via microSD) 
- 1,500 mAh battery 
- 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front camera 
- HDMI mirroring 
- 1080p MPEG-4/H.264 playback and recording

Friday, December 17, 2010

Skype For Samsung Galaxy S (Skype For Android Updated)

#Skype For Samsung Galaxy S  http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Skype just updated it Skype fro Android App to support Samsung Galaxy S provided the phone is running Android 2.2 or later. Look for link below for how to upgrade you Samsung Galaxy S OS.
The update will also allow you ro store the Skype for Samsung Galaxy S on your phone's SD card (memory card). Even if the Skype for Android App is stored on the SD card, it will require internal memory to run the app, which Skype says will amount to 15MB for most users.
To get the updated Skype for Android App follow the link below or scan QR code, also below.

How to update Samsung Galaxy S phone
Get Skype for Android at skype.com/m

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Mobile Maps NG, Google Maps 5.0 for Android, Is Here Today.

Mobile Maps NG, Is Here Today. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Google Mobile maps have been so useful that it feels as if it has been there for ages. But it is only five years old and have saved me from having to use GPS, making my life easier by helping to learn about my localities better. When Click2call was introduced it took away the need of having to flip through the likes of yellow or white books for day to day tasks like finding a new pizza parlor and placing an order.
But we all did that on a north up bound flat map, which misbehaved when the connection to internet was lost.
Well you can be happy now. The maps are not flat anymore also they are not fixed on north up mode anymore either. It is a great relief for me as now I can get my maps to show where the true right and left is! :). You can use compass mode to get yourself oriented.
Best of all is that it will continue to work, even if you lose the Internet connection. Great for those Xmas travels.

Google Mobile Maps 5.0 changes what you are used to with mobile mapping,
The new 3D assisted by vector graphics to draw the maps dynamically on your screen brings in a pleanty of new capabilities;

  • Tilting: Drag down with two fingers to tilt the map. Tilt while zoomed in on one of the 100+ cities around the world with 3D buildings to see a skyline spring to life.
  • Rotating: Twist with two fingers to rotate the map. After tilting to see 3D buildings, rotate around them to gain a new perspective from any direction.
  • Smooth zooming: Slide two fingers together or apart, and see the map and labels continuously scale to any zoom level, stopping when your fingers stop.
  • Compass mode: Center the map on your location, and then tap the compass button in the top right corner. The map will flip into 3D mode and start rotating to match your perspective, while still keeping all the labels upright and readable.
I think most will come to appreciate the Google Maps 5.0 for Android. The vector graphics based maps mentioned above allow to pack more area into a less data so Google will cache ahead based on where you use your maps most.
I used to trace my routes earlier, hoping it will cache data and makes drawing of maps faster. Now I know for sure, it will. It will help me to have a greater locality (My weekly drives to Mountain View from East Bay, like the author of the blog post linked below) right in my phone, which is going to be, a new Google Nexus S, as soon as my company approves a new Google Dev phone for me. But the best part is that Google mobile maps will help me to become truly mobile.
The offline routing feature will really help people like me who uses Google Maps Navigation to get around. I never really liked GPS devices until I came across Google Maps Mobile. The same dynamic vector graphics helps to cache more data so you will still be guided when the internet connection is interrupted while traveling. This makes Google Maps mobile have the true GPS capabilities plus live traffic, imagery, richer map details and all the other features from Google Maps.
So go get Google Maps for mobile 5.0 by searching for Google Maps in Android Market (or Clicking This link from your phone). All Android 1.6+ devices can get Maps 5.0, but 3D and offline features require Android 2.0+, and some features may not be supported for all devices or countries.
Happy traveling.

Official Google Blog: The next generation of mobile maps

Documents To Go 3.9 For Android,

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
DTG 3.0 or Documents To Go 3.0 for Android allows one to edit and create Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files as well as view Adobe PDF files on an Android-powered smartphone. And since it is full featured yet easy to use, Documents To Go is one mobile office suite that makes good business sense. The app is also available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Maemo based smartphones.
The free version is capable of reading Microsoft documents like Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and attachments,
Get app at the Android Market for free or the paid version for $14.99 (regularly $29.99) or from Dataviz website.
Dataviz via Diordna

Unlocked Google Nexus S at Best Buy! (Also Locked Version From T-Mobile)

Unlocked Google Nexus S http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The Nexus S will be available Thursday, December 16, 2010 from Bestbuy stores.That is today. Online sales of Nexus S began already prior to in store sales, at 8 a.m. Eastern which coincided with the opening of Best Buy stores on the East Coast. Best Buy stores also have have adjusted their holiday hours to open at 8 a.m

The Nexus S from Google is an unlocked phone and without contract could be purchased for $529. But you are also free to purchase the Nexus S for $199 with a T-Mobile two-year contract and qualifying voice and data plan. The phone is also available for $249.99 for add-a-line activations.
Since this is a Google phone, you will receive all the updates to OS before anyone else. Also this will be the replacement for Google Phone, T-Mobile G1. Hope I get money to upgrade my Google Dev phone with this one.

The box of Google Nexus S contains;

  • Nexus S from Google
  • Battery, charger
  • Data cable, stereo headset
  • Owner's manual
The features of Google Nexus S listed by Bestbuy are
  • Android 2.3
    Packed with the latest Google features.
  • 16GB of built-in memory
    Lets you store contact information, phone numbers and more.
  • Contour display
    With a comfortable, smooth grip provides maximized visibility and usability.
  • Built-in hotspot capability
    Share an Internet connection with others.
  • The latest Google features
    Including YouTube 2.0, Gmail and more.
  • Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n network
    For Internet capability (additional fees may apply).
  • Virtual QWERTY keyboard
    For quick and easy text messaging.
  • 4" WVGA display with 480 x 800 resolution
    For clear viewing of your text messages, photos and videos.
  • 5.0MP digital camera with autofocus and flash
    Lets you snap photos to share with friends and family.
  • Google Maps and Google Mobile services
    For improved phone functionality and navigation.
  • Built-in MP3 player
    Lets you enjoy your favorite tunes.
  • Built-in video player
    Lets you watch movies, TV shows and home videos.
  • Easy scroll
    Makes Web browsing simple.
  • * Phone activation required before use.

And the specifications for the Google Nexus S as supplied by Bestbuy are;

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Personalize Google Voice Search!

Google Voice Search http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Google voice search has been serving people for just over two years now. The initial releases were developed to support a wide range of users of different gender, age, and accents, or variations in pitch, pace, and other factors. It was because Google wanted it to work with minimal input other than your voice.
It works fine, even with my heavily accented voice. But sometimes, it misses the mark. But I am planing to do away even with that! How?
Because Google Mobile team has released Personalized recognition! If you opt in for personalized recognition, your uttering will be associated with your Google Account to build a personalized vocabulary model, just for you.
You are able to turn on off the feature anytime from your Google Voice search settings on your mobile phone. You can even disassociate your voice recordings from your Google Account dashboard.
The new option is only available in English and in USA only but Google says it palns to widen the reach other countries.
In order to do the wonders you need Android 2.2 or higher and need to download the latest Voice Search App from android market.
Scan the code below;


Voice Search gets personal - Official Google Mobile Blog

Charitable Browsing With Google Chrome.

Chrome For a cause. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
It is the holiday season and all of us look forward to be charitable, in our own ways during this festive season. Some time it is difficult due to financial matters or time restrictions. But this year, you have a friend along to help you to awaken your charitable nature. Just by "donating" your tabs that you open on your favorite browser, Chrome.
What? Chrome is not your favorite browser? then you are wasting your time on the internet, no you are wasting time, wasting time on the internet. Because Chrome is the fastest browser and it ia open source project and best of all it got Google's might behind it.
So how is this "donations" work? Pretty easy,  first of all you need the Chrome For A Cause extension, From today 15th to 19th browse the web with Chrome as you always do and just open tabs on your browser. Once you are done browsing for the day click on the extension to donate your tabs. Here you will be presented with five charities whom you want to donate your tabs.
Based on everyone's tab count, up to a million dollars will be donated to five causes that stand to make many people healthy, happy and educated. For all the tabs you open;
  • 10 tabs = 1 tree planted
  • 10 tabs = 1 book published and donated
  • 25 tabs = 1 vaccination treatment provided
  • 100 tabs = 1 square foot of shelter built
  • 200 tabs = 1 person's clean water for a year

You can read more about the project Chrome for a cause.
Official Google Blog: Browse the web for a good cause
Google Chrome Blog: Browse for a good cause

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Email Privacy Protected by Fourth Amendment! The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

#Email #Privacy Protected by Fourth Amendment! http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Email Privacy Protected by Fourth Amendment! in the criminal appeal of U.S. v. Warshak case.
The court has ruled, the government must have a search warrant before it can secretly seize and search emails stored by email service providers sighting that email users have the same reasonable expectation of privacy in their email as they do in their phone calls and postal mail.
Given the fundamental similarities between email and traditional forms of communication [like postal mail and telephone calls], it would defy common sense to afford emails lesser Fourth Amendment protection.... It follows that email requires strong protection under the Fourth Amendment; otherwise the Fourth Amendment would prove an ineffective guardian of private communication, an essential purpose it has long been recognized to serve.... [T]he police may not storm the post office and intercept a letter, and they are likewise forbidden from using the phone system to make a clandestine recording of a telephone call--unless they get a warrant, that is. It only stands to reason that, if government agents compel an ISP to surrender the contents of a subscriber's emails, those agents have thereby conducted a Fourth Amendment search, which necessitates compliance with the warrant requirement....
Since I am no lawyer and as this is a sensitive matter please follow the link below, which is to EFF, which has published a very descriptive post with links to many documents that is relevant to the case.
EFF Breaking News.

iPad & iPod Touch Gets Google Voice app

#Googlevoice for #iPad and #iPod http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Since the launch of Google Voice for iPhone that we have been waiting for ages (while it in the Que for approval, the game that Apple lost) a lot has been happening.
 A new version of Google Voice for iDevices are out and the biggest news is that now it supports iPad and iPod Touch.All the features except making cellular calls are available for these devices. But you can use your home phone or cellular phone to complete the calls you initiate with the Google Voice App with click2call
On the whole, the other improvements to the app received are :
  • When you enable Push Notifications, we will automatically disable Text forwarding for you, so you won’t receive multiple notifications.
  • Want some quiet time? You can send all callers straight to voicemail by turning on Do not disturb in the Settings tab.
  • We made it easier for you to place calls from the address book by adding a dedicated Contacts button to the Dialer tab.
  • Sending text messages is now more streamlined since you don’t need to press the OK button anymore. 
Happy GVing with your iDevices

Google Voice Blog: Google Voice app now supports iPad & iPod Touch

What Comcast's Connections To The Internet Look Like? Congested Like LA Traffic

#Comcast Greed http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Ever wonder how Comcast's connections to the Internet looks like? Now you do not have to wonder because a person has stumbled on to some graphs of connection to one of Comcast's Internet providers. TATA.
Yes according to the graphs, yes it is congested and ...
Yes you can read the whole report and intelligent comments at Slashdot! I am too tired already of this malpractice. Will it is looking like I will be with AT&T for a while.
Slashdot

Comcast Tests Combo Set top Box For Cable TV and Internet.

#Comcast wants #GoogleTVs and #AppleTVs and #Roku Off The Living Room http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Comcast is testing a set top box, that does a smattering of Internet Videos in addition to traditional streams of cable TV. It does offer Internet videos and some social networks but not web browsing.
Comcast customers in Augusta, Georgia are searching though both the mediums and watching TV using the new experimental set-top box and service codenamed "Spectrum" and "Xcalibur,".

"We are testing many technological approaches to understand how best to meet consumer interests, and this small trial is one of those experiments," a Comcast spokeswoman told WSJ in an emailed statement.
As a customer planing to use Comcast Triple Play, I am happy to have the capability to watch internet content (am I?) while on the couch or bedroom, I doubt, Comcast to give me all the internet Videos to me on a platter. It is not in their best interest.
Other traditional TV service providers like DirecTV and new Digital TV services like. Verizon Communications are on the go as well to provide Internet to the TV. Verizon's Fios TV service offers apps for YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. AT&T Inc.'s U-verse has TV apps for sports, yellow-pages and other functions, and is testing some for social media. DirecTV is offering Internet-connected digital-video recorders that can record television shows and provide other services such as accessing Flickr and more.
I hope they will have Google Fiber in Berkeley soon, like they are doing in Stanford University right now. I will be able to get all my TV, News and everything else from that pipe, hopefully without much choke.
WSJ via Gizmodo

999 subscribers, Who Is next?

#feedburner http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
While it is minuscule by the thousands or hundreds of thousands of subscribers some blogs have, I am very thankful to all my subscribers to VoIP RSS Feeds. (The count goes up and down but this is the first time I saw 999). Thank you very much again.

Ten Most Powerful Tweets Of 2010,

#Hindsight2010 @twitterhttp://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Folks at Twitter have gone and searched all the tweets of 2010 so far, 25 billion of them, to find out the ten most powerful tweets. Of course announced via a tweet.
These tweets extended from a reporter / journalist Ann Curry facilitating a landing of a plane full of Doctors without boarders in Haiti, after the 7.0 earthquake to lame Conan O'Brian road tour announcement.
It also had gems like (a real powerful tweet) FIFA World Cup Final which also used telepresence in a big way;
The FIFA World Cup final represented the largest period of sustained activity for an event in Twitter’s history: during the final game, people from 172 countries tweeted in 27 different languages. Twitter put fans in direct touch with teams, players and commentators--and when Spain celebrated its big win in the Final, defender Carles Puyol captured the zeal with a Twitpic of the scene from his perch at the victory ceremony.
I also like the tweet by Whitehouse welcoming Russian President to the Twitter
All in all, it was a good twitter year.
See all ten tweets here.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Retire "Where Are You?" With Google Latitude App For iPhone.

Google Latitude App For iPhone http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The eternal question that we ask from near and dear ones (Also get asked all the time by the same near and dear ones), will be a thing in the past for iPhone users.
Google has released Google Latitude App for iPhone and without asking, you can see where your near and dear ones. You too can share continuously, your where abouts without having to say it.
Since it's release almost two years ago, Google Latitude has attracted more than 9 million users, who use Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and windows mobile smartphone, together and be in touch where ever they are. The App allows users to;

  • See where your friends are
  • Share your location continuously with whomever you choose
  • Contact friends by phone, text message, or email
  • Control your location and privacy
and for those who worry about privacy, remember it is 100% opt in and after installing the app, you need to add friends or accept invitations from whom you want to share the location information with. And even those you can selectively control to your liking.

Using iOS 4's multitasking capabilities the app will update in the background, if you are running the app on iPhone 3G; iPhone 3GS and iPad 3G. The other devices like iPad and iPods will run the app without background updates. Download the app from App Store. The app will appear in 15 different languages in 45 countries.



Introducing the Google Latitude app for iPhone - Official Google Mobile Blog

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