Reviews

Windows Vista update

October 17, 2005

Microsoft released an update to the test version of Windows Vista, the next edition of its flagship operating system.

The Windows Vista release is is the first in a series of monthly updates to the Community Technology Preview (CTP). Unlike previous betas, Microsoft is releasing more releases on a monthly basis to garner more feedback from those partiipating in the CTP. The update includes a number of new features, including changes in Internet Explorer 7.

It will also include:
• a "Network Center," a central place for managing network connections, replacing the "My Network Places" and "Network Neighborhood" from Windows XP
•� early version of Windows Media Player 11

I think I'll get my Windows Vista beta copy from BitTorrent since it'll probably download a heck of a lot faster than Microsoft's FTP servers, which are sure to be overloaded.

Posted in Microsoft, Reviews

USRobotics Skype Phone

October 16, 2005

It seems to be a busy week for Skype phones coming to market. First, was my exclusive review of the Linksys CIT200 Skype phone and now as of Monday, USRobotics is offering a Skype-compatible phone. I should point out that this is an OEM'ed version of what appears to me to be the IPFones USB Skype phone that I reviewed a little while back. USRobotics confirmed it was indeed an OEM product, but they did not confirm if it was IPFones or not.

Posted in Gadgets, Reviews, Skype

Interesting new VoIP product

October 10, 2005

I have a very cool new VoIP product that I will be doing a full product review on. It's under NDA, but it expires at midnight, so check back here to see this very cool VoIP product. The only hints I can give are it's consumery and it's wireless. You'll just have to wait till midnight to see!

Posted in Reviews, VoIP

Yahoo podcast service

October 10, 2005

Yahoo launched their own podcast service http://podcasts.yahoo.com that will let users download and review online radio programs. It also allows users to search for podcasts or browse from a podcast directory with tens of thousands of podcasts. Erik Lagerway, TMC's latest blogger addition, is a huge fan of podcasts, so maybe I'll go see if his podcast is listed and give him a favorable review!

Linksys CIT200 Skype phone review

October 10, 2005

Linksys CIT 200 'Skype' Phone

Linksys has partnered with Skype to offer a cordless DECT 1.8-1.9Ghz phone complete with a backlit color display, backlit keyboard, and other features, called the Linksys CIT200 Cordless Internet Telephony Kit. The Linksys CIT200 is tightly integrated with Skype utilizing the Skype API for not just making and receiving calls but also accessing your Skype contacts and profiles. At some point today (Tuesday), Skype and Linksys will officially announce their partnership and the official launch of the Linksys CIT200.

A USB base station acts as the "go between" communicating with both the PC (running Skype) via USB and with the CIT200 using the DECT standard. Linksys gave me an exclusive first look at the Linksys CIT200 and I have to say the Linksys CIT200 is probably one of the coolest if not the coolest product that works in conjunction with Skype. One of the coolest features is that you can scroll through your Skype contacts using the Linksys CIT200's color display and you can see their current Skype presence (online, offline, etc.).

Posted in Mobile Phones, Reviews, Skype

SIPThat joins TMC bloggers

October 5, 2005

Erik Lagerway has joined TMC's esteemed list of bloggers and moved his popular SIPthat.com blog to TMC's web server running MovableType. Between Greg Galitzine, Rich Tehrani, Erik Lagerway (http://blog.tmcnet.com/sipthat/), myself, and several other TMC bloggers, TMC certainly has its share of VoIP pundits with plenty of opinion and analysis!

I actually helped get Erik setup and designed his templates, which you may notice look eerily similar to mine. Hey, ya just don't mess with a great design! Am I right or am I right?

Let's welcome Erik by checking out his very first blog post where he talks about Eyeball’s exclusive IM beta testing and review program. Welcome aboard, Erik!

Posted in Reviews, VoIP

Linux softphones reviewed

September 30, 2005

Linux.com took a look at four Linux VoIP softphone clients and did some comparative analysis. The Linux softphones included Kiax, Linphone, Twinkle, and CounterPath's X-Lite. Three of the four softphones use the standard SIP protocol with Kiax being the one exception - it uses Asterisk's IAX protocol. Check out the full review of the Linux softphones.

Posted in Asterisk, Linux, Reviews

AOL TotalTalk

September 20, 2005

It would appear that AOL is going after the broadband VoIP market with a product called TotalTalk to be rolled out October 4th- look out Vonage and Skype! I should point out that AOL rolled out TotalTalk in Canada awhile back and now it appears they are bringing their broadband VoIP service to the U.S. Their Unlimited Calling Plan is $29.99 per month (plus taxes and additional fees) and includes unlimited domestic long distance and Canada.

Some highlights:

Softphone client for PC-to-PC and PC-to-PSTN (i.e. SkypeOut)
ATA (analog telephone adaptor) device for connecting to regular phone for Phone-to-Phone dialing
Voicemail
Video using On2 video codec for high-quality videoconferencing
GIPS codec for Skype-like quality (in theory)
IM
Local Plan: $18.99 per month (plus taxes and additional fees) for
unlimited local calling, plus $.039/min for domestic long distance
Unlimited Calling Plan: $29.99 per month (plus taxes and additional fees) includes unlimited domestic long distance and Canada
Global Calling Plan: $34.99 per month (plus taxes and additional fees) includes unlimited domestic long distance plus low international rates

What the release doesn't say is what sort ATA (analog telephone adaptor) device you can use with TotalTalk, and checking www.totaltalk.com reveals an AOL page "under construction".

Posted in Reviews, VoIP

Keep your eye on Eyeball Networks

September 19, 2005

"I sense a shift in the force." As most in the VoIP blogosphere already knew, Eyeball Networks, a developer of VoIP and video telephony software for service providers and device manufacturers, hired Eric Lagerway, as their Chief Operating Officer. Eric runs the popular SIPthat.com VoIP blog and was formerly with Xten, another softphone company. TMC Labs did one of the first, if not THE first review of Eyeball Networks product back in 2001, which you can check out here.

Eric has always been a big proponent of open-standards and he promised me that he will push Eyeball Networks in that direction. Admittedly, Eric stated that Eyeball Chat is still proprietary but "before Xmas this year it will be SIP and open standards through and through." Part of my role here is to instill open standards and new product strategies.

Posted in Google, Reviews, Skype, VoIP

Logitech G5 Laser Mouse

September 6, 2005

According to my pals over at Everything USB, Logitech's G5 Laser Mouse is Logitech's first corded laser pointer, with a full speed USB interface capable of a whopping 2000 dpi and 500 USB reports per second. It features a unique adjustable cartridge weighing system, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gaming feet, in-game sensitivity adjustment, tilt wheel plus zoom and bunch of programmable buttons.

This is not your father's mouse! Heck, this isn't my mouse. This baby is capable of image processing at 6.4 megapixels per second! Adobe Photoshop users and hardcore games take notice and read Everything USB's full review of the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse.

Posted in Gadgets, Reviews

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