Tom Keating : VoIP & Gadgets Blog
Tom Keating
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Gadgets

Gadgets

Ooma Telo installed - Ooo Look, Shiny Bright Blue LEDs!

April 26, 2012

I received the latest version of the Ooma Telo along with the Wi-Fi dongle for a product review. I'll have to ask Ooma for the Bluetooth dongle to test since that seems like a cool mobile integration feature. Ooma competes with magicJack and netTALK offering low-cost phone service leveraging VoIP.

I hooked up the Ooma Telo in front of my Cisco Wi-Fi router and in addition to having an eerily similar size, shape, and color they both sport bright blue LEDs. Ooo... Ahhh...

This is just a preview of my forthcoming review, so for now enjoy the blue. You know you like it...

 

Skype@Home Telephone Products Coming?

April 20, 2012

Today, Rich Tehrani wrote about Microsoft "working on Skype Everywhere Initiative" based on another Microsoft-careers.com job listing. Just a few days ago I wrote about a Microsoft job listing was pointing toward Microsoft and Skype building a HTML5 Web version of Skype.

Rich believes there are some good synergies with Microsoft and Skype that can result in a whole like of Skype at home phone products (Skype@Home?) including DECT 6.0 phones. The problem with DECT wireless phones over WiFi phones is you need a base unit, which adds to the cost. Wi-Fi phones can just connect to the Wi-Fi access point with no additional hardware necessary.

However, what if the next XBox 360 has a built-in DECT transceiver?



netTALK DUO Wi-Fi Review

April 4, 2012

netTALK DUO Wi-Fi is the latest generation of their VoIP product which brings low-cost phone calling to consumers and competes directly with the popular magicJack plus product. I reviewed the original netTALK DUO last year and was very impressed. When I heard a new Wi-Fi version was in the works I was looking forward to checking it out. First the unboxing:

ZANGI New Mobile VoIP & Video App Launching Soon

March 29, 2012


ZANGI is a new mobile app that supports free SMS, voice and video calls, multi-user conferences, instant messaging, file sharing, screen sharing, integration with other programs and more. ZANGI is still in "stealth mode", but I'm told their offering is coming out next month with support for multiple mobile platforms including OS, Android OS, Symbian, Windows PC, or Windows Mobile. It can also be used via web interface or through social networks like Facebook, Google+, etc. How integrated with these popular social networks remains to be seen.

NetZero Unveils Free Wireless 4G mobile Internet service

March 19, 2012

Remember NetZero, the company best known for offering free dial-up Internet service? Well they're back! NetZero today launched a free 4G wireless that offers a year of free mobile Internet and a free data plan through a partnership with Clearwire.

netTALK Launches Wi-Fi VoIP Device

March 15, 2012

netTALK today launched netTALK DUO Wi-Fi, launching exclusively first in Target stores nationwide. Check out my review of their original non-Wi-Fi netTALK DUO, which required an Ethernet (wired) connection. Their new wireless product will be available starting early April at Target stores nationwide, with other retailers being added soon.

“We are truly making history with the launch of netTALK DUO WiFi,” said Anastasios ‘Takis’ Kyriakides, President and CEO.

Swann Unveils MP3 DJ Doorbell

March 13, 2012


With the Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell - nostalgia aside - you can say goodbye to the days of the boring "ding-dong" doorbell. The Swann MP3 Doorbells lets you customize your doorbell and play your favorite music in MP3 or polyphonic formats as your visitors arrive. Scare your trick-or-treaters with some scary music or play some Christmas music when your Christmas guests arrive. Certainly putting custom holiday-themed music on your doorbell with make you the envy of your neighbors.

The MP3 DJ Doorbell sports a doorbell unit, backed with double sided tape for mounting in your doorway and a wireless speaker unit for mounting inside in your living area, kitchen, hallway etc with screws in the pack.


New iPad - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

March 7, 2012

Apple launched their new iPad today. Here's a run down of all the cool new features in the new iPad, which was rumored to be called the iPad 3, iPad 3rd Generation, or iPad HD. The Apple keynote launch is still going on and they haven't announced the final name, so we'll just call it iPad X. Personal hotspot (Cool!)

The new iPad will be available in black & white colors. There are two wireless options available: 4G LTE or Fast 3G HSDPA and DC-HSDPA.

Cheap Gadget Insurance Saves the Day

March 6, 2012


Protect Your Bubble, a new specialty insurance brand, launched today in the U.S., offering affordable and comprehensive gadget insurance for those pricey gadgets starting at $2.99/month. Perhaps more importantly Protest Your Bubble guarantees 24-hour turnaround for a replacement phone or tablet. So now you will only have to feel gadget withdrawal for 24 hours. Hey, if Jack Bauer can survive 24 hours fighting terrorists, being tortured, with barely time enough to check his Facebook, then surely you can wait 24 hours to have your gadget mailed to you.

Apple 7.85" Tablet Targeting Kindle Fire Will Fail

March 1, 2012


Apple is reportedly going to ship 7.85" iPads in the 3rd quarter, squarely targeting the 7" $199 Kindle Fire, which scorched up holiday sales. This new mini-iPad also targets the Barnes & Noble Nook, though the Kindle Fire is the more popular of the two. The Register is reporting that Steve Jobs' death cleared the way for this new 7.85" iPad, since Steve Jobs was opposed to a mini-iPad.

Regardless of the reason Apple has changed their minds and decided to attack the ~7" tablet market, this is one area where Apple will fail. First, the cost.


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