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Skype Plus Facebook: Friends Or Frenemies?

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As any geek worth their page rank knows, Skype and Facebook have joined forces in an attempt to make it easier for friends and family to connect with each other via status updates or VoIP.

We’ve integrated the Facebook News Feed and Phonebook into Skype, making it easier to stay connected with the people and communities you care about. We’ve revitalised the look and feel, making voice and video calling, instant messaging, screen sharing and file sharing intuitive and easy to navigate. And you can now bring even more of your family and friends together with the new group video calling feature available in open beta. (Official Skype Blog)

While this geek is extremely happy for the two tech titans finally working together (as it makes it easier to call my friends half way around the world), the alliance seems to be more of a defensive move against their common foe (hint: Google). [Read more…]

Originally posted on October 14, 2010 @ 3:06 pm

Verizon iPhone Coming In March?

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With all of the rumors swirling about the Verizon iPhone, it looks like the grape vine (which is Yankee slang for rumor mill) is now saying that Verizon’s “white knight” will be arriving around March instead of January.

“In our opinion, it is looking less likely that the Verizon iPhone will be a first-quarter launch based on the lack of supply-chain movements, but we still expect it during 2011,” says Tavis McCourt, an analyst with Morgan Keegan & Co. in Memphis.

Verizon and Apple declined to comment.

There has been tremendous anticipation and debate about when the iPhone might be available at Verizon, the nation’s largest cell-phone carrier. Gleacher & Co. analyst Brian Marshall says he thinks the iPhone is still on track for a March launch at Verizon. (Chicago Business)

While iPhone’s appearance would help delay the inevitable exodus of many iLovers, it may also seal Apple’s doom as Android is already activating more than 200,000 new units a day (with reports as high as 250,000).

Although not as large as Verizon, Steve Jobs could consider releasing the iPhone upon T-Mobile which is not only GSM friendly (so altering the chips wouldn’t be that hard) but also help accelerate demand for the iDevice.

Ironically Apple’s belated appearance upon Verizon may also help out Microsoft, whose Windows Phone 7 would have plenty of time to build up market share before the inevitable iWave once again sweeps over America.

Originally posted on October 18, 2010 @ 4:32 pm

Gmail Submits To Haters, Unveils “De-Conversations” Option

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In an attempt to appeal to the masses, Google is giving users who loathe Gmail’s conversational threading feature the option to disable it within their account without having to apply various hacks.

And just as an outspoken minority has banded together in unison to declare their distaste of one of nature’s most delicious herbs, some of you have been very vocal about your dislike of conversation threading. So just like you can order your baja fish tacos without cilantro, you can now get Gmail served up sans conversation view. Go to the main Settings page, look for the “Conversation View” section, select the option to turn it off, and save changes. If you change your mind, you can always go back. (Official Gmail Blog)

In my honest opinion threaded conversations is one of the reasons why I love Gmail so much as it saves me from hunting down replies and forwards (as not every email program pastes previous conversations underneath).

Along with priority inbox and Google Voice integration, I personally find threaded conversations a must have feature, and is one of the main reasons why I avoid using rival services like Yahoo! or Hotmail.

Truthfully though this option should make Gmail much more appealing to the “anti-threaders” (what I affectionately call my friends who hate Gmail’s conversations), and may give users one more reason to switch to Gmail.

Originally posted on September 29, 2010 @ 1:31 pm

Skype Plus Facebook Equals Death To Google Voice?

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With the search engine giant ramping up Google Voice to challenge Skype’s VoIP supremacy, it looks like Skype is looking to align itself with the search king’s nemesis who despises all things Google.

Actually, according to sources close to the situation, Facebook and Skype are poised to announce a significant and wide-ranging partnership that will include integration of SMS, voice chat and Facebook Connect. […]

Facebook’s goal, according to sources: To mesh communications and community more tightly together and add more tools to allow users to do so.

Since it was not going to create an Internet telephony service of its own–kind of like not creating a mobile operating system–Facebook has apparently turned to the Web’s Internet telephony leader. (All Things Digital)

Unless Skype can somehow integrate its video chat service within Facebook chat, I’m highly skeptical whether this deal will help Skype compete against Google Voice’s (as users do not have to pay to own a phone number unlike Skype).

Facebook on the other hand could benefit from this alliance as it would give users a reason to utilize the chat service, especially if they integrate Skype within Facebook’s web interface.

According to All Things Digital Skype’s Facebook feature will be accessible in version 5.0 which is only available for Windows users (sorry Mac fans), although the company is working on a version for iFans in the not-too-distant future.

(Image Credit: All Things Digital)

Originally posted on September 29, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

Out: Blackpad. In: Playbook? (RIM Tablet)

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After showcasing their Blackberry Torch, it looks like the smartphone giant has decided against calling their tablet “blackpad” (which was a stupid name truthfully) and has instead embraced Playbook. Yes, seriously.

The tablet thus far seems eerily familiar to the iPad, although unlike Steve Jobs greatest creation the Playbook can view flash websites which should make up for RIM’s anemic app store.

It also boasts a 3 MP front facing camera (note: iPad 2.0 will probably receive this as well), as well as a 5 MP rear camera which should help give the Playbook some distinction in the tablet wars.

Unlike the iPad however, I’m seeing no mention of a built in 3G service, although they do say you will need a Blackberry smartphone if you want to surf the net outside of WiFi.

Either way it’s smart that RIM is debuting the Playbook now before the world goes ga-ga over the iPad this holiday season.

Note: Unfortunately for HP, Playbook’s debut makes it all the harder for them to make a webOS comeback with PalmPad (although their HP Slate should keep the company relevant through 2011).

Originally posted on September 27, 2010 @ 6:28 pm