December 2006

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Another Top VoIP Bloggers List

December 29, 2006

Alec Saunders just compiled another list of the top VoIP bloggers, which he titled "The Ultimate VoIP Blogger Rankings" using Text-Link-Ads "Juice Calculator". I'm flattered to be ranked 6th out of 71 and ahead of such notable VoIP bloggers - Jeff Pulver, Rich Tehrani, Andy Abramson, and more. Though technically I think I should be 5th since I don't consider MobileCrunch (ranked 5th) a "VoIP blog". Of course you could make the same argument for Om Malik's Gigaom which covers much more than VoIP.

Posted in Reviews, VoIP

Tagged: blog, bloggers, voip : Related Tags: bloggers, ranked

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What Was Under Your Tree?

December 26, 2006

So what did you get? What did you get?

(Do I should juvenile or what?)

Actually, just want to know what gadget was under your tree yesterday?

Was it the gadget you craved or something else?

LCD TV, Cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, digital camera, Bluetooth, stereo system, computer, laptop, computer speaker system ...

Interested to hear about what gadget got you excited yesterday -- or what gadget you gave as a gift really got someone else excited.

After all ...

... 'tis better to give than to receive ...

Posted in Gadgets

Tagged: gadget, xbox 360 : Related Tags: yesterday gadget, gadget

There's Only the Weekend Left!

December 22, 2006

We're all heading into "Last Call" land for gadget purchases before the end of the holiday shopping season!

Only have the weekend left -- but there will be plenty of extended store hours to fill up on gadget goodies!

Don't miss out!

(That tree in Rockefeller Center is always amazing!)

Posted in Gadgets

Tagged: gadgets, rockefeller center : Related Tags:

Are You Dreaming of a Gadget-filled Christmas?

December 21, 2006

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with visions of sugar plums -- no, I mean gadgets -- dancing in their heads with Christmas only a few short days away.

(But it seems so far ...)

Big gadgets, small gadgets, gadgets that you can play with, gadgets you can communicate with, gadgets you can take photos with, gadgets you can play music on, gadgets you can ...

(Sure are all types of gadgets, aren't there?)

So, what's your No. 1, Numero Uno choice for a gadget this holiday season?

The phone lines are open ...

Posted in Gadgets

Tagged: christmas, gadgets : Related Tags: gadgets gadgets, gadgets, gadget, watch, christmas

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PSP Video Service Coming

December 21, 2006

Now we're starting to make sense, as in synergy, or convergence as Sony likes to say (or at least at one time was interested in).

Make sense? Yes, as in Sony is planning to launch a PSP video download service for its cool portable gaming platform early next year.

This service will enable PSP owners to download a film from the Internet to a PC and then transfer a single, legal version of the film to a Sony device.

Posted in Video Games & Gaming

Tagged: psp, sony, sony pictures, video downloads : Related Tags: converter convert, video converter, video, converter, service

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Interview with WowWee Robots CEO

December 20, 2006

Robocommunity has an interesting interview with WowWee CTO Davin Sufer. If you've been living under a rock, or perhaps you just don't have kids, then perhaps you're not familiar with WowWee robots. Heck, I have a daughter that is too young to play with robots, yet I'm familiar with WowWee's cool robots. You can't miss them if you walk into Bed Bath & Beyond - or maybe it was Linens and Things.

Posted in Home Entertainment

Tagged: roboraptor, robots, wowwee : Related Tags: defective product, familiar wowwee, interview wowwee, wowwee robots, wowwee, robots

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Playing Xbox Games on the Xbox 360

December 20, 2006

Nice that Microsoft included the ability to play your existing Xbox games on the Xbox 360 -- or at least many of them.

You can download the list at the Xbox web site, and this backwards compatibility runs the alphabetical gamut -- from A (Air Force Delta Storm) to Z (Zapper) -- with 4 x 4 EVO 2 actually topping the list.

Now while this is great, it's sad to see titles that didn't make it. Woe is my EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005.

Do you have any favorite Xbox games that aren't passing the test to Xbox 360?

Interested to hear about the ones that you're missing ...

Posted in Video Games & Gaming

Tagged: 4 x 4 evo 2, air force delta storm, ea sports, microsoft, mvp baseball 2005, xbox, xbox 360, zapper : Related Tags: games, microsoft, titles

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Hey Why Not? Amazon To Enter Music Download Biz

December 19, 2006

And why not indeed!

According to reports, shopping mogul Amazon is planning to launch its own music download store a la iTunes in the first quarter of next year.

And why not indeed!

Record labels aren't all too thrilled about iTunes cornering the music download market and consumers aren't all to thrilled about not having enough choices for where they can download music legally.

(Illegally is another matter ...)

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Tagged: amazon, ipod, itunes, mp3 : Related Tags: music download, download, music, amazon

Only 5 (Make That 6) More Shopping Days ...

December 19, 2006

Do I need to complete that thought?

Still plenty of time for last-minute gadget shopping for Christmas. (And for Chanukah, too, for that matter.)

(Why don't stores keep these long hours all the time -- much more convenient. )

Cool screensaver, hunh?

Check out www.DesktopXP.com.

Posted in Gadgets

Tagged: chanukah, christmas, gadgets, www.desktopxp.com : Related Tags:

The iPhone Arrives ... via Cisco

December 18, 2006

While all of us blogged on and on about the union of the iPod and the cell phone into something we all loved to call the iPhone, Cisco has quietly been watching and waiting, not saying a word, even though they filed the trademark application for the name 10 years ago.

Now that they have a real product, the iPhone seems less groovy coming from Cisco (or rather Linksys) than it would have coming from Apple -- even if the technology in each product was comparable.
(Note trad keypad and no wheel, alas ...)

Now that the dust has settled between Cisco and Apple over the iPhone trademark the Apple iPhone has finally arrived and is for sale, go check out some of these hot new iPhone accessories!

No doubt there will be a buying spree and a lot of the iPhones will end up selling for 200% markups on eBay. Might even put the PS3 buying frenzy to shame.

It's amazing what the coolness factor can do ...

Update. It looks like the iPhone has also arrived from Apple themselves. I wrote about their launch here and their how they kept the iPhone top-secret here.

Posted in Mobile Phones

Tagged: apple, cell phone, cisco, iphone, ipod, linksys : Related Tags: apple iphone, iphone trademark, iphone cisco, prevent apple, iphone, apple

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Wengo releases Flash VoIP client

December 18, 2006

Looks like Wengo beat Adobe to the punch in offering a Flash VoIP client. If you recall, both Om and I discussed how Adobe was planning on offering a Flash VoIP client.

Check out the news courtesy of Slashdot:
"Wengo, a French company specializing in VoIP and instant messaging, and patron of the OpenWengo project (previously featured in Free Software magazine and here on Slashdot), has just released WengoVisio — a Flash softphone that you can download and embed in your Web page, to allow readers to call you when you're available through their browser, without downloading any software. (Disclaimer: I work for Wengo, on the OpenWengo project.) It's functionally cut down from the full Wengophone, but it's enough to be able to make a phone call in a Web page for the first time."

Hat tip to Greg for forwarding.

Posted in VoIP

Tagged: adove, flash, voip, wengo : Related Tags: openwengo project, flash, wengo, client

Ringtone Maker: What an Idea!

December 18, 2006

Can you believe ringtones are such a big business?

Well, if you don't want to add a few more bucks to your monthly phone bill for a custom ringtone, then Magix's Ringtone Maker 2 might just be the product for you.

Ringtone Maker 2 lets you personalize your cell phone by creating your own ringtones from music and video hits without paying any subscription or download fees.

With Ringtone Maker 2, you can create as many ringtones as you like on your PC and then transfers them to your cell phone as a realtone or polyphonic ringtone.

Posted in Mobile Phones

Tagged: emusic, magix, ringtone maker 2 : Related Tags: ringtone maker, phone sherpa, ringtone software, gadget lover, ringtone, phone

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Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser: Now That's What I Call Wireless!

December 15, 2006

I'm talking across-the-room wireless connectivity, not just short range like other wireless keyboard/mouse combo kits.

With the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser, you get leading-edge performance, comfort and style as well as things you never thought you could do from your keyboard.

Now, I can take advantage of my PC's great media and communication capabilities, even if I had Windows Vista.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Tagged: logitech cordless desktop mx 3200 laser, windows media center, windows vista, wireless keyboard/mouse : Related Tags: cordless desktop, logitech cordless, mouse keyboard, laser mouse, internet calling, mouse

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Can't Anybody Get a Gadget Right?

December 15, 2006

Hey, I'm not picking on Sony this time, but Nintendo, which is facing a silly Wii situation where the strap that holds the do-hickie on your wrist seems to break too easily.

The BBC (aka "The Beeb") has all of the details here.

If you want to find out how to replace your strap, click here (link will take you to Nintendo web site).

Posted in Video Games & Gaming

Tagged: bbc, nintendo, sony, wii : Related Tags:

Laptop and Video over IP captures would-be Thief

December 15, 2006

According to a Reuters report, a burglar who broke into a home and was attempting to steal stuff was captured through the assistance of a laptop connecting to a remote security system installed in the home, which included a video camera hooked up to the Internet.

A Brazilian businessman traveling in Germany watched by live video as a burglar robbed his house in Brazil. He received an alert on his cell phone from his home security system, booted up his laptop and using video streaming over IP he watched the robber in his home. The police were alerted, surrounded the home, and arrested him.

Ain't technology grand?

Posted in Digital Cameras

Tagged: camera, home security, laptop, surveillance, thief, video : Related Tags: security system, video, laptop

Father of the Hard Drive Passes On

December 14, 2006

Yes, I do believe it's worth a moment to pause and reflect on what Al Shugart (founder of Seagate) and his invention of the hard drive meant to the whole world of gadgets.

Obviously, a key component in the rise of the PC, but look what it spawned with hard drives of various sizes, shapes and technologies residing in Oh! so many gadgets that we know and love today -- from MP3 players to cell phones to digital cameras to ... and the list goes on and on ...

Nicknamed Maverick, Spin Doctor, Computer Pioneer and the Disk Drive King by industry journalists, he was renowned for his unconventional thinking and straightforward manner.

Check out another tribute here.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Tagged: al shugart, hard drive, seagate : Related Tags: drive

Gamers: Big Brother Would Like To Watch

December 14, 2006

With video games going more and more mainstream -- and with plenty of demographically prime mid-20s players -- it should come as no surprise that TV viewership honcho Nielsen is planning a service to gauge who's playing games.

Next year, Nielsen Media Research will launch its GamePlay Metrics service, which will collect ratings for video games. The numbers should help add greater credibility to the developing in-game ad market, which is forecast to reach $730 million by 2010, according to The Yankee Group.

That's a lot of quarters ...

Posted in Video Games & Gaming

Tagged: gameplay metrics, nielsen media research, the yankee group : Related Tags: video games, games

Kapanga Mobile Edition for mobiles and smart phones

December 13, 2006

Today Kapanga did the beta launch for Kapanga Mobile Edition. According to their release, a 30-day trial beta can be downloaded for free from Kapanga Softphone's website (http://www.kapanga.net). Once installed, Kapanga Mobile users can establish simultaneous voice and video communications through a software PBX or VoIP provider using the mobile device's 802.11 WiFI connection. Kapanga Mobile can also communicate directly to another SIP client device.

Posted in Mobile Phones, VoIP

Tagged: christmas, h.264, kapanga, mobile phone, smart phone, voip : Related Tags: kapanga mobile, mobile edition, mobile, kapanga, video

The (Video) Eyes Have It

December 13, 2006

Remember when video eyewear looked like huge black things right out of a 1950's horror movie? You know what I mean -- really large, really noticeable and really strange.

(Who would wear these things?)

Now we are finally starting to see the introduction of video eyewear that is almost three times lighter.

Posted in Video Hardware & Software

Tagged: ps3, relaxview 4.0, video eyewear, xbox 360.wii : Related Tags: video eyewear, video, eyewear, really

Microsoft Goes Mr. Roboto

December 13, 2006

Everybody wants to rule the world ...

(Tears for Fears, anyone? But wasn't "Mr. Roboto" a Styx song?)

Anyway, looking beyond Microsoft, Bill Gates is now discussing converging technology trends that he believes will make robots a nearly ubiquitous part of our day-to-day lives in the not-too-distant future, just like he viewed PCs 30 years ago.

Posted in Microsoft

Tagged: bill gates, microsoft robotics studio, mr. roboto, scientific american, styx, tears for fears : Related Tags: robotics studio, microsoft robotics, microsoft, robotics

Skype's free ride is over

December 13, 2006

According to TMCNet.com Skype today announced that it is offering U.S. and Canadian consumers the new Skype Unlimited Calling plan, a paid annual subscription service that allows registered users to make 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut calls to any phone within the U.S. and Canada. This is the first time that Skype is making an annual subscription calling plan available.

The Skype Unlimited Calling plan is available for a flat rate of $29.95 per year.

Posted in Skype

Tagged: free calling, jajah, raketu, skype, skypeout, voip : Related Tags: skype unlimited, unlimited calling, annual subscription, skypeout calls, skype, calling

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I Want MyTVPal.com

December 12, 2006

MyTVPal.com is the world's first 1080P HD streaming Video on Demand (VOD) and IPTV service for PC Player and IPTV receiver set top box (STB) clients.

(How about that description!)

The service starts with more than 700 free IPTV channels from more than 70 countries, including Standard Definition and HD channels to any broadband user with 1.5 Mb/sec speed or higher.

A wide range of VOD titles will be offered for a low monthly fee in the months to come with new TV channels and VOD titles being added each month.

Posted in Video Hardware & Software

Tagged: iptv, mytvpal.com, vod : Related Tags: mytvpal, channels, service

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Fix Scratched DVD problems

December 12, 2006

A scratched DVD can certainly leave you frustrated, especially if it's one of your favorite movies, but at least the DVD can be replaced. Now imagine the scratched DVD is a home video of your most cherished family memories and you have no backup copy. This is pretty bad. Now imagine the scratched DVD is your wedding video, you then try the backup DVD and the backup DVD also fails with sector errors.

Posted in Home Entertainment, Video Hardware & Software

Tagged: dvd, h2cdimage, isobuster, isopuzzle, problem, scratched, sectors, video : Related Tags: sector errors, wedding video, polishing wheel, primary master, plastic layer, wedding

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Zoom VoIP Freedom web-based SIP chooser utility

December 11, 2006

One of the pains of most current ATA devices is that you lock you into a specific vendor by password-protecting the firmware. So even though the ATA is SIP-based, you can only use it with the VoIP provider you initially chose. If you ever want to switch, you're left with an ATA brick. Even if the ATA isn't locked, unless you are a VoIP geek and now how to configure SIP settings, you might be a bit daunted to try and switch providers and leverage your existing ATA investment.

Fortunately, some ATA manufacturers have seen the light.

Posted in Reviews, VoIP

Tagged: sip, voip freedom, vonage, zoom technologies : Related Tags: phone service, landline phone, service providers, freedom device, automatically configure, service

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Number 9, Number 9; Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 Suite

December 11, 2006

Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned ... hey, not that Nero. I'm thinking about Nero because Roxio is alway bumping heads with that company when it comes to more than all-in-one suites that offer CD and DVD authoring, burning, photo, video and music applications.

Roxio's Easy Media Creator 9 is a substantial upgrade to that company's comprehensive suite, including more than 100 new features and trend-anticipating capabilities such as mobile entertainment support, Blu-ray Disc (BD) recording, Microsoft Windows Vista compatibility and HD video creation tools.

Posted in Computer Software

iPod vs. iTunes: The Guessing Game

December 11, 2006

While the iPod and iTunes are inevitably linked (they're both Apple products, right? and they are linked on the Apple web site), interesting New York Times article today on the ratio between the number of songs downloaded from iTunes as compared to the number of iPods sold.

Anyone care to play the guessing game?

What's your answer to the question? Is it:

A: 1 to 1

B: 5 to 1

C: 10 to 1

D: 20 to 1

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Tagged: apple, ipod, itunes, new york times : Related Tags: itunes

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Talkster launches public beta

December 11, 2006

Talkster today announced that their closed/invite-only beta is now open the public. Talkster essentially lets you place free calls from your regular cell phone to instant messaging clients such as MSN Messenger, Google Talk, and Gizmo Project. What's nice about Talkster is you don't have to have a telephone number to reach someone - you simply use their buddy (contact) name. Further, Talkster is convenient because it consolidates 3 popular communications services people and allows you to leverage them to make VoIP calls to any of these services using your mobile phone.

Posted in Mobile Phones, Skype, Technology and Science, Wireless

Tagged: jajah, mobile phone, rebtel, skype, talkplus, talkster : Related Tags: local gateway, using talkster, yahoo partner, james mentioned, phone number, talkster

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Grinch, CTI, VoIP, Seinfeld, Newman, Darth Vader, and all that stuff

December 8, 2006

Back in 1998, TMC had a publication called CTI Magazine which covered the convergence of the Computer and Telephony - or Computer Telephony Integration. At the time, Richard "Zippy" Grigonis worked for Harry Newton's publication CT Magazine, TMC's arch-rival publication. Zippy was like my Newman (Seinfeld's arch-rival). Similar to what I do for TMC Labs, he wrote some reviews and did a good job writing technical articles on CT/CTI.

At one point Zippy called me and said that CT Magazine was interested in hiring me away from TMC.

Posted in Personal and Humor

Tagged: christmas, cti, darth vader, grinch, newman, seinfeld, voip : Related Tags: grinch hated, computer telephony, internet telephony, grinch thought, telephony magazine, grinch

Signate, an Asterisk provider, bites the dust?

December 8, 2006

Signate is a provider of Asterisk-based solutions that apparently is going through major problems. I've been getting lots of emails asking if I know what is going on with them, so I did some research. Word through the grapevine is that they are about to go belly-up - but this is still unconfirmed. Their former CEO left and when I tried to reach their new CEO Paul Mahler and I got an automated voice message telling me to email Paul@paulmahler.com.

Posted in Asterisk

Tagged: asterisk, asterisknow, digium, fonality, ip-pbx, signate, voip : Related Tags: tried reach, phone service, asterisk, signate, garrett, voice

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More Battery Woes

December 8, 2006

Yes, the year of bad batteries continues!

Today, we have news from the New York Times that Sanyo (no, not Sony) is recalling more than 1 million handset batteries that could overheat.

All of this can make you kinda nervous about anything with batteries as a power source -- and how many gadgets today don't rely on batteries?

Maybe time to rethink the holiday gift list?

Nah.

Posted in Mobile Phones

Tagged: sanyo, sony : Related Tags: batteries

Laser Printers, Laser Tag; Why Not Laser TVs?

December 8, 2006

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas --- 2007, that is.

While we're all jazzed about LCD and plasma TVs this year, a report in Technology Review notes that Mitsubishi and Samsung are expecting to have laser TVs on store shelves by Christmas 2007.

The TV features a flat-panel display that uses high-powered lasers to light up the screen.

(No, not like the laser in Goldfinger; thanks www.imdb.com.)

No word on pricing, but don't you think it will be pricey?

(And after so many of us have stepped up to new TVs this holiday season, how many will be in the mood next year.)

Well, if you love gadgets ...

Posted in Video Hardware & Software

Tagged: goldfinger, laser tv, mitsubishi, samsung, technology review : Related Tags: laser

Hey, the iPhone Is Already Here!

December 7, 2006

Funny, how we all talk about the upcoming Apple iPhone ...

Even funnier that a Canadian company(Comwave to be exact), according to this report, has been using the name for two years!

Can you believe it!

You can follow the trail if you like ...

Now, this doesn't mean that Apple's iPod phone (when it gets here) won't have the iPhone moniker, just that is may take a little legal dancing to make it happen.

Posted in Mobile Phones

Tagged: apple, comwave, iphone, ipod : Related Tags: iphone

Cupertino and Redmond from Allsop

December 7, 2006

It's about time someone decided to come out with computer desk and media accessories that have some uniformed style and grace.

And that's just what the Cupertino and Redmond collections of computer and media accessories from Allsop offer.

Finding inspiration in the iPod (why not?) and other popular high-tech items, the collections are designed to complement the best of the consumer electronics market in both style and function.

The collections feature clean lines and a colors (Apple white in the Cupertino collection -- pictured at left) and more basic black in the Redmond collection).

Posted in Accessories

Tagged: allsop, cupertino, itunes, redmond : Related Tags: cupertino redmond, album holds, media accessories, cupertino, redmond, album

Buying a Tesla Roader could be Risky

December 6, 2006

The Tesla Roadster is one of the hottest cars on the planet. In addition to being an exotic looking vehicle, it's also 100% electric, goes 0-60mph in about 4 seconds, gets about 135 mpg (equivalent), 250 miles per charge, and Tesla claims it only costs about $0.01 per mile. Wow, fast and environmentally friendly, who couldn't love that? Puts my gas-guzzling V10 Dodge Viper to shame.

Posted in News

Tagged: dodge viper, electric car, roadster, tesla : Related Tags: tesla roadster, tesla motors, range acceleration, reservation payment, tesla roader, tesla

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Altec Lansing's Got the Phones ...

December 6, 2006

You know, not everyone is going to get a new iPod this year. (Or other MP3 player for that matter).

In fact, maybe it's just that the earphones have worn out.

Well, if it's replacement time and you don't want to blow beaucoup bucks on high-end 'phones, Altec Lansing offers an incredibly wide selection.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Tagged: ahp227, altec lansing, earphones, ipod : Related Tags: altec lansing, earphones

Record Companies Waking Up

December 6, 2006

Yes, indeed! It only took who knows how many years before a major record label decided to release "major artist" music as MP3 files.

Kudos to Blue Note Records (owned by EMI) and Norah Jones deciding to go the MP3 route for her new single.

Yes, as CD sales decline, doesn't it make sense to go the MP3 route (or download in general) ...

And/or isn't this a way to get around iTunes as the de facto standard for music downloads ...

(Cut out the middle and more dough for the big boys ...)

Read all about it here.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Tagged: blue note, emi, itunes, norah jones : Related Tags:

Hictu! online address book with presence

December 6, 2006

We all have problems with our multiple digital address books, multiple IM/VoIP clients, which affects productivity - both professionally and personally. Checking each client to see which buddies are online or to look for a specific buddy is a pain if you run multiple clients like most of us do. So I was intrigued when Luca emailed me a tip about Hictu! and pointed me to the news in his blog.

Posted in Microsoft, VoIP

Tagged: gtalk, hictu, im, microsoft, msn, presence, skype : Related Tags: abbeyphone sitofono, presence, hictu, address, features, multiple

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Office 2007 To Office Mac: Drop Dead

December 5, 2006

Not too nice to hear that Microsoft's newly released Office 2007 isn't compatible with Office 2004 for Mac and that no timeline has been established for when it will be.

(Can't believe this!)

To see what a mess this makes out of documents, take a look at an actual Word document here.

Is this too much to ask for? It would be oh so nice if files could move seamlessly from one app to another ....

Posted in Computer Software

Tagged: microsoft, office 2004 for mac, office 2007 : Related Tags: office

Apple Rolling into Video Gaming Market?

December 5, 2006

Boy, those patent-reading Apple investigators have been busy, busy, busy! and now we can benefit from those that track Apple's hiring patterns.

Now we have a report that Apple has added video gaming expertise and is considering a move into the video gaming market.

(Didn't you think Apple was in this market already?)

(Reminds me when Sony was at the height of its powers and consumers thought of Sony for product categories that they weren't even in; at that heady time, Sony = gadget. Gone are the days ...)

Report goes into see-saw discussion about hardware sales vs. software (games) sales model. Can't have one without the other, but is the tail wagging the dog?

Posted in Video Games & Gaming

Tagged: apple, sony, video games : Related Tags: video gaming, gaming market, apple, market, video, gaming

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Who is redirecting trixbox/Asterisk@Home web traffic?

December 5, 2006

Have you noticed how http://www.asteriskathome.com points to http://www.asterisknow.org/, a site that promotes AsteriskNOW, a new software distribution that includes a customized version of Linux, Asterisk, the Asterisk GUI, and all other software needed for an Asterisk system. AsteriskNOW is promoted as an easy to install turnkey installation when it says, "AsteriskNOW includes all the Linux components necessary to run, debug and build Asterisk, and only those components, so installation is easy." Doesn't this turnkey Asterisk sounds eerily similar to the old Asterisk@Home project which was recently renamed to trixbox?

The site www.asteriskathome.com is offering a competing product to trixbox (Asterisk@Home), which is now owned by Fonality. Fonality is a company that sells PBXtra and is a competitor to Digium..

Posted in Asterisk

Tagged: asterisk, digium, fonality, trixbox, voip : Related Tags: trixbox asterisk, asterisk distro, protect legitimate, stating digium, legitimate trademarks, asterisk

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Calling All Cub Reporters!

December 4, 2006

Ever wanted to see your name in print (well it may be very small ...)

Cool idea by Yahoo! and Reuters to enlist all of the many camera phone-equipped population to send in their photos and videos of news events so that they can be posted online.

(Cool, but practical?)

For many more details, click here.

We all need more Jimmy Olsens and Lois Lanes in the world -- maybe the next idea will be send in your own news pieces for posting ...

Or how about a 21st Century Weegee?

(Thanks ICP.)

Posted in Mobile Phones

Tagged: camera phone, icp, jimmy olsen, lois lane, reuters, weegee, yahoo! : Related Tags:

Will iPod Phone Make a MacWorld Debut?

December 1, 2006

Albert Einstein worked in the patent office examining patents and look what happened to him.

Seems many today love looking at Apple's patent applications to see what they are up to, too.

With that in mind, how about this report (and speculation) about Steve Jobs announcing the much anticipated Apple iPhone at MacWorld next month?

(And love the phrase "patent moat" ...)

Well, that gives us plenty of time to blog on it ...

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Tagged: albert einsteiin, apple, iphone, macworld, steve jobs : Related Tags: patent

Get Sirius with Car TV

December 1, 2006

Or maybe it should be "get car TV with Sirius."

One of the two major sat radio players announced that it plans to offer live television in cars as early as 2007 (that would be next year) -- that would be Sirius.

Loved the idea of watching movies in cars to keep the kiddies quiet -- so why not take the next step and have TV shows available, too?

As a fall back, could always look out the window and enjoy the scenery ...

On the other hand, maybe there will be arguments on who sits in the back seat rather than who sits up front ...

Posted in Satellite Radio

Tagged: satellite radio, sirius : Related Tags: sirius

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VoIP & Gadgets Blog

December 2006