Skype finally bringing video calling to iPhone 4, maybe other mobile platforms?
So let us set this up for you: Skype has been telling everyone that it'll be making a "series of video-related announcements" at CES next month... and it's participating in a panel called "Video Calling Gets Ready for Primetime," so yeah, needless to say, we'd have to guess that Skype's finally getting ready to enter the mobile video calling game in a big way. Anyhow, the final piece in the puzzle filtered into our inbox this morning: a help document on Skype's site detailing making video calls using Skype for iPhone. We don't know whether there's a corresponding document out there for Android, Symbian, or other operating systems, but we're certainly hoping so -- because if these guys come to the table at once with versions for all the major phone platforms, we've got a feeling they'll be dominating the mobile-to-mobile and mobile-to-PC video calling market in no time.
(Not going to work, unless they make the video windows smaller or downgrade the quality. The "ping" is too high over 3G and Skype over 3G alone has too much delays and echos.)
E2EK1EL
iPhone Dev-Team Announces Release Plans for 'Backup Plan' Untethered Jailbreak
The iPhone Dev-Team has announced plans to release their 'backup plan' untether this holiday weekend.
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Over the Christmas weekend we’ll be releasing a version of redsn0w that implements the 'backup plan' to the 4.2.1 untethered jailbreak. We’re seeking your help to test this redsn0w and find any bugs before we do a general release!
(If you have an iPhone 3G, or an old-bootrom ipt2g or iPhone 3GS, you already have an untethered jailbreak! Just use the latest public redsn0w.)
To keep things manageable, this will be a Mac-only test program. We also request that any volunteers *NOT* need the ultrasn0w unlock (in case things go very wrong).
Right now, the 'backup plan' requires that you have the 4.2b3 IPSW on your Mac, and that Cydia has your 4.2b3 SHSH hashes. Please don’t pirate that 4.2b3 IPSW! (We’re also working on a way that this technique might apply to all those with 4.1 IPSWs, but that’s not the first goal right now.)
If you fit all the above qualifications, please follow @redsn0w_testers on twitter for announcements, and use the comments section here for feedback. Thanks very much for your help, and Happy Holidays!
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We'll provide you with more information and instructions when it becomes available.
Comex is still working on his preferred untether but it looks like it won't be available by Christmas.
E2EK1EL
I don't know what to say .... Merry Christmas from a bunch iDorks?
E2EK1EL
Merry Christmas
E2EK1EL
Get ready Verizon
Ever get the feeling that these companies like to mess with us? After the reported Skype iPhone video conferencing ‘leaked help document’ Skype took the document offline. Today however, it is back up with some new company joining in the fun:
Verizon.
So there you have it: Skype, Verizon, iPhone. CES. Join us for coverage on Jan 6th.
Also, Skype is hyping an iPad only version of their software as well.
Even though the iPhone application is fully compatible with the iPad, we’re still always striving to bring the best to our Skype users, which is why we’re developing a Skype application designed specifically for the iPad. Watch the website for further updates.
E2EK1EL
A Find my iPhone Christmas miracle
A Wichita Falls, Texas Find my iPhone user shares his Christmas miracle:
Pretty amazing Christmas Story! Early this morning my 2005 Land Rover was stolen from the Marriott in Wichita Falls TX. The local police put me on hold, transferred me around and did nothing. My iPhone was in the car in between the seats and turned on. I tracked it using MobileMe Find My Phone to HWY 287 on the way to Decatur. When they exited the highway and headed on a Farm road for Justin TX a few miles away, I contacted the Justin Police and with the help of a very savvy operator we pinpointed the car at a Sonic. While I was on the phone with her, she said the officer sees your car and is going to make the arrest. A few minutes later she frantically calls me to start tracking the car again. The officer had handcuffed the suspects, sat one down on the curb while putting the other in the back seat. When he got back, the guy had Houdini’d the cuffs from behind his back to the front, fought with the officer and jumped in my car, dragged him and ran over him. I followed the car on the iPhone and directed the Highway Patrol to where he was – high speed chase ending with him flipping the Land Rover several times. The policeman is going to be fine – he is at the hospital with multiple bruises etc. The screenshot is where the car thieves ran over the policeman and escaped. I am just so thankful the policeman was not seriously hurt – I could care less about the car or the crook.
His story not only shows how helpful Find my iPhone is for finding your lost iOS device but also shows how helpful it can be for retrieving items like cars. If you read the account you will notice that a helping police officer was badly injured in the ordeal but he is now in stable condition. A double miracle.
E2EK1EL
E2EK1EL
Infinite Blade Bug
E2EK1EL
MUST WATCH - AT&T Don't Text While Driving Documentary
E2EK1EL
Apple will ship 21 million iPhones next quarter (5M CDMA iPhones), Foxconn remains exclusive iPad 2 maker
Digitimes reports that Apple will ship 20-21 million iPhones in Q1 2011 including 14-15 million WCDMA (what iPhones currently use) phones and 5-6 million CDMA phones. The report also backs up rumors pointing to a Q1 2011 launch for the Verizon iPhone. Interestingly, Digitimes also cites a CDMA iPhone for Asia meaning Verizon won’t be the only carrier getting the new iPhone next quarter. Digitimes also reports that Apple shipped a total of 47 million iPhones in 2010 with 15.5 million of them shipping in the fourth quarter.
Digitimes is also reporting that the iPad 2 is being exclusively produced by Foxconn. We recently reported that the iPad 2 is about 100 days away from shipping and it may include multiple cameras and a new back design.
Apple sued over apps that provide personal data to advertisers
Bloomberg reports that Apple was sued on December 23rd over claims that App Store apps are proving user data to advertisers without consent. The lawsuit claims that Apple’s iOS devices “are encoded with identifying devices that allow advertising networks to track what applications users download, how frequently they’re used and for how long.” The lawsuit also states that user information like age, gender, and political views are being sold to advertisers as well.
The lawsuit not only puts Apple up as a defendant but cites the creators of popular apps like Paper Toss, Pandora, The Weather Channel, and Dictionary.com as defendants too. Apple of course defends themselves stating that they review each App Store app to defend its user’s privacy and will remove and reject any that take users data for malicious or advertising purposes.
The filers of the lawsuit are hoping for their claims to turn into a class-action-lawsuit and say that anyone who has downloaded an App Store app to an iOS device since December 1st 2008 should be eligible for compensation. The App Store opened up on July 11th 2008 so we’re unsure where this December 1st date exactly stems from
(As Jerry Maguire said "show me the money!" That's why you need to "option out" to protect yourself)
Abercrombie
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Originally posted by E2EK1EL Skype finally bringing video calling to iPhone 4, maybe other mobile platforms?
I'm looking forward to this. I hope they can do a better job than Tango.
Speaking of Tango... I forgot my laptop and webcam at home when I spent Xmas at my parents near Guelph. Every year we MSN cam over my dad's rural dial-up.
I Tangoed with my brother in Moncton NB successfully over Tango and 1 to 2 bars on 3G, so Tango saved christmas :P
