Skype Gear

Skype for iPhone reviewed on Slate Video

2009-05-20T16:40:00Z

Farhad Manjoo, one of my favorite technology columnists, recently reviewed Skype for iPhone in his Killer Apps segment on SlateV:

If you have an iPhone but haven't tried Skype on it yet, you can download it here. You can also check out Manjoo's columns on Slate here.

Gear News Roundup

2009-05-14T09:52:15Z

What people have been saying about Skype online recently:

On Gear

Nice write-up on the Ipevo SO-10 Desktop Skype Phone on jkOnTheRun: "a pretty useful phone for the home worker or small office."
Gizmag likes Skype on the Brando USB VoIP Speakerphone.
The Telegraph has a look at 3's INQ1 mobile phone: "It means that you can make free calls to other Skype users wherever you are, at a time that's convenient for you, rather than simply when you're in front of your computer. It's a fantastic way of catching up with loved ones, and it won't cost you a bean."

Skype and Family

A father got to see the birth of his son while away in the military, and a mother and baby saw each other while the mother had to be away.
One expert suggests Skype to spend quality time with the kids when parents can't be there.
An author uses Skype to keep in touch with his wife (and parrots) while traveling
A coach in America's National Football League uses Skype to keep in touch with his family and his players.
Grandparents are connecting with distant family and reconnecting with old friends through Skype.

Skype at School

A young student in New York with a heart condition can stay in touch with her class from the hospital
Students missing school because of swine flu could still prepare for their exams with their teacher over Skype.
Students in North Carolina compete in a school-district-wide 'Battle of the Books' over Skype.

Miscellanea

Doctors are offering cosmetic surgery consultations over Skype: "The main reason for using the Skype/iChat platforms for our virtual consultation is that they are user-friendly and hence patient-friendly."
Speaking of healthy bodies, a personal trainer is offering her training services remotely over Skype.
A Rotary group in Florida was able to thank soldiers serving in Iraq over Skype.
When they can't send love letters, Keira Knightly and her boyfriend stay in touch over Skype.
A girl scout in Ohio helped sick people in hospital connect with loved ones over Skype.
When a young friend moves away, Skype can help bridge the gap.

Skype Gear Roadtest: Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Headset

2009-05-11T09:18:44Z

A new headset? That sounds like a good idea--especially when it's the new Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Headset. It's the first headset to support Skype's SILK super wideband audio codec, which was introduced with Skype 4.0. Is the sound from the .Audio 655 SILKy smooth? Read on for my review...]]> First Impressions

The first thing I noticed about the Plantronics .Audio 655 headset is how comfortable it is to wear. It's certainly on the large side, but the big ear pads fit my head comfortably and the sides easily adjusted to fit just right. The earpads cover your ears but they don't isolate noise, so you can still hear a little bit of what's going on around you. The fit is tight enough to be comfortable but loose enough to ensure that your ears don't get too hot. They have a long cable (2m), so you have some freedom to move around, and they're quite lightweight (however they don't fold, which makes them a bit less convenient to travel with but more comfortable to wear in my opinion). Setting up the headset with Skype was a breeze--I just plugged it in and Skype immediately recognized it and automatically adjusted my mic level.

Functionality

I tested out the Plantronics .Audio 655 for over a week in my office, using it for long and short regular Skype calls, SkypeOut calls and conference calls. My longest call was over 90 minutes and headset remained comfortable the entire time--I barely noticed I was wearing it. The noise cancelling 'QuickAdjust' microphone boom comes down on the left side of your face, and very conveniently mutes itself when you push it up and out of the way. There are also volume controls on the left side of the headset, so you don't need to fumble within your computer's audio settings or Skype to adjust your volume quickly.

The Plantronics .Audio 655 is the first Skype Certified headset that supports Skype's SILK super wideband audio codec, and I could notice the difference that SILK made. The sound quality during my calls, particularly for Skype-to-Skype calls, was really good--people nearly sounded like they were in the room with me. The speakers in the .Audio 655 headset are 40mm and are of very high quality--they reproduce bass really well and never sounded tinny.

Conclusion

All in all, I thought this was a great headset. I generally prefer USB headsets over regular headsets because they bypass your computer's sound card--I find that the digital connection tends to sound better. This combined with the enhanced audio from the SILK super wideband audio codec makes the Plantronics .Audio 655 truly somethinig worth getting excited about. Hopefully we'll see more headsets taking advantage of the SILK codec soon. You can learn more about the Plantronics .Audio 655 on Plantronics's site here, and in a review on Pocket Lint here. The Plantronics .Audio 655 will be available in the Skype Shop soon.

More Skype on 3

2009-05-04T08:50:59Z

Some excellent news for people who use Skype on the move on the 3 mobile network in the UK: there are now no data charges or top-up fees for either contract or pay-as-you-go customers who use Skype on 3's network. Pay-as-you-go users no longer need to top up at least £10 per month to use Skype on the go. The change is in effect for 3's current lineup of phones (including the 3 Skypephone S2 and the INQ1 phone), and by the summer Skype will be available to anyone on 3 with a compatible 3G phone, whether the phone came from 3 or not.

I'm really excited about this--3 really seems to understand the importance of being able to use Skype wherever you are. It means free calls from your mobile to other Skype users (or SkypeOut calls using your Skype credit) without having to top up your phone. If you and a friend are in the UK and both have Skype-enabled phones from 3, it's free to talk to one another forever. You can learn more about calling for free on 3 in the UK here.

Gear News Roundup

2009-04-10T09:23:24Z

Skype in the news:

Skype for iPhone has been quite well received.
IPEVO news: WiFi Phone for Skype gets reviewed and Desktop Phone is released.
Skype CTO Dan Berg gave a talk in Wisconsin about Skype and where it's going.
Journalists recommend and overcome their fear of using Skype.
Familes continue to use Skype in interesting ways -- people are connecting with grandparents and kids and family members abroad, watching their child's birth and participating in weddings when they can't be there.
Sienna Miller and her sister use Skype to work on their clothing line when they're apart.

Skype for iPhone!

2009-03-31T10:47:21Z

There's been a torrent of news about the new Skype for iPhone client -- it's been a long time coming and now it's finally here.

In case you missed Peter's post on the main blog (with a nice walk-through video), you can now download it here for your iPhone or second generation iPod touch with headset.

My first impressions are pretty similar to what other bloggers are saying -- it's a great way to use Skype on the go. Here's what you need to know:

You can make and receive Skype calls at any WiFi hotspot (calls don't work over 3G/EDGE, but you can have text chats and set your Skype status and mood message over 3G/EDGE),
There's great iPhone integration with your contacts (to make SkypeOut calls easily) and camera (to set your photo).
Sound quality is excellent, and chats work well with individuals and groups.

My favorite thing about the application is how simple it is -- the only icons across the bottom are Contacts, Chats, Call, History, and My Info. There isn't a settings button -- it's not necessary.

One drawback compared to other versions of Skype on mobile phones is that Skype can't run in the background on the iPhone--the application has to be running and active to make and receive calls. Skype Lite for Android, Skype for Windows Mobile as well as the 3 Skypephone and INQ1 phone can all receive calls when Skype is running but not in the foreground. If you receive messages or calls when Skype isn't running on your iPhone, you'll be notified next time you run the app.

Have you tried out the app yet? Share your thoughts in the comments or in the iPhone area of the Skype Community.

Gear News Roundup

2009-03-18T11:40:36Z

Some recent Skype stories:

Gear

A nice comparison of the 3 Skypephone and INQ1, both of which allow you to Skype very easily on the go.
Another video review of the Asus Eee AiGuru SV1 Videophone for Skype.
SkypeSync (which I've mentioned before here) has been updated; here's a good review on Skype Journal.

Soldiers

National Guard mom surprises son at school--they normally keep in touch over Skype.
A couple depends on Skype to stay close while one is away with the US Navy.
Soldiers in Tennessee and Oklahoma talk to young students about their experiences over Skype.

Family

A father in Poland gave away his daughter at her wedding in the US over Skype.
Using Skype is a good way to keep a long-distance marriage healthy.
Electronic apron strings: an American mom is talking to her daughter abroad in Africa over Skype more often than when they lived in the same house.

Business

Skype helps cross-border telecommuters.
A hair salon in Boston USA is using Skype for at-home consultations.
A staffing company uses Skype to interview potential job candidates.
A company is offering language lessons over Skype.

Misc

A woman in Maine has helped over 200 sick children get laptops so they can use Skype and educational computer programmes.
Learning to play the harp over Skype.
Some tips for ex-pats on using Skype to stay in touch.
Older women are using Skype and other technologies to enhance their lives.

Learning Spanish with Skype: Video

2009-03-13T10:26:14Z

I've mentioned Skype in the classroom in many of my Gear News Roundups--often it's used to help sick students participate from the hospital, or to connect students from different countries to help them learn language skills.

Here's a great video about a dual immersion program at Marquette University in the USA run by Colleen Coffey. It shares student perspectives about language and culture exchange, and it really shows the benefits that video chatting can bring to the classroom. As Colleen says in the video, "Twenty-one countries speak Spanish, and all of them are on Skype."

3 Skypephone Video

2009-03-09T16:36:37Z

Here's a video about the 3 Skypephone that Skype President Josh Silverman used in his keynote at Mobile World Congress last month:

It's great to see so many people using the Skype on the go and saving so much money while doing it.

Gear News Roundup

2009-02-27T11:58:21Z

Some recent Skype stories:

Here's a good review of the Asus Eee AiGuru SV1 Videophone, with video.
Skype President Josh Silverman was recently profiled by the UK's Independent. He's also was also nominated as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum this week.
American students were able to participate in the politcal process, speaking with a Congressman over Skype video.
A six-year-old cancer patient uses Skype to stay in touch with her friends at school.
Skype video is a good way for business travelers to see their children when they're away, and for family and friends to avoid homesickness and keep in touch when they move. It's also being used at libraries by people who don't own computers.
Internet hug! A pair of photography enthusiasts who met over Flickr use Skype to keep in touch across an ocean.
The end of alone: Skype is one way to keep in constant contact for pleasure or work, though a work telecommuting strategy needs to be carefully considered to be successful.
A soldier in Iraq and a music industry executive use Skype for interviews with the media.

A look at Skype 2.5 for Windows Mobile

2009-02-20T11:06:31Z

It's been a busy week for Skype in Barcelona at this year's Mobile World Congress. As you might have seen on the main blog, there were 2 big Skype-related announcements: A new partnership between Skype and Nokia which will put Skype on Nokia NSeries phones (starting with the Nokia N97 later this year), and the release of Skype 2.5 for Windows Mobile (as well as a Skype Panel for the Windows Mobile-based Sony Xperia 1).

I'll hopefully be able to try out Skype on the N97 when it's out later this year. For now, here's a look at the new version of Skype 2.5 for Windows Mobile:

]]> Windows Mobile devices vary a great deal--I tried Skype 2.5 out on a Samsung i600 running Windows Mobile 6 Smartphone (no touchscreen). It has a relatively small screen, so Skype on this phone may look a bit different from Skype running on newer Windows Mobile phones with larger screens.

After typing in your username and password, Skype signs in as you'd expect:

Across the bottom of the screen you see icons for your Status, Contacts, Dial phones, Chats, and History. The Status screen lets you edit your profile and shows you how much Skype credit you have (among other things):

The Contacts list shows your friends' icons and statuses:

Dial phones is straightforward:

Active chats are easy to access:

And the history shows recent calls and chats:

Making calls works as you'd expect. On this particular Windows Mobile phone, the audio comes out of the back speaker, so Skype works like a speakerphone. You could also use a headset for more privacy:

And there you have it--another way to use Skype on the go. One particularly nice thing about the Windows Mobile version of Skype is that it can use WiFi or 3G to make calls directly, without having to use your phone's minutes like Skype Lite.

You can download Skype 2.5 for Windows Mobile from this page--point your phone's browser to it or download the CAB file to your computer and install via ActiveSync.

The next version of Skype for Windows Mobile, version 3.0, will be out in beta next month. I'll show it here when it's released.

Skype on MIDs

2009-02-13T17:36:43Z

MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices) are an interesting product category--they're portable, with big touch screens (5-7 inches generally) and often no keyboard. They tend to have Intel Atom processors and run a flavor of Linux. They're even smaller and more portable than netbooks. Skype has been available on MIDs for quite some time now, and I finally had the chance to play with Skype on two different MIDs this week. The ways you can use Skype on the go keep growing, with the 3 Skypephones, 3 INQ phone, Skype Lite on Java-enabled phones and Android, WiFi phones, Nokia N800/N810, Windows Mobile... the list goes on. These Linux-based MIDs provide another great way to use Skype wherever you are.

]]> The two MIDs I tested were the Benq S6 (currently available in Italy) and the Lenovo Ideapad U8 (currently available in Asia). Both have similar form factors and specifications: a 5.8 inch touch screen, Linux-based OS, Intel Atom processor running at 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, WiFi, bluetooth and 3G connectivity. The Lenovo U8 adds GPS, a numeric keypad, cameras on the front and back (including a neat 'face detection' logon feature), and a cool Olympics theme. The Benq S6 has a handy 'kickstand' on its back side to prop it up on a desk or table.

Because the Lenovo is focused on the Asia market, I found its English menus to be a little unpolished, but it was still really easy to use my finger or the included stylus to navigate to and fire up Skype. It was even easier to get Skype running on the Benq S6.

The experience of using Skype on a MID is very similar to using Skype on other mobile platforms. After connecting to my WiFi network, I was able to log in and see my contacts:

You can view your chats, the dial pad, settings and other options by clicking on the icons on the left. Here's the settings menu:

On the upper right, there's a useful notifier showing you any unread messages, missed calls and birthdays:

Making calls on the MIDs was easy as well. On the test calls I made on both devices, people were able to hear me fine, without any echo, using the on-board mic and speakers. I'd imagine if I were using the MID regularly I'd want to use headphones and the built-in mic, or perhaps a bluetooth headset.

Overall I was pretty impressed with these MIDs--it's too bad they aren't more widely available. I didn't have the chance to try them over 3G, but over WiFI they worked really well. The screens are really big for a portable device--in addition to Skype they were very good for browsing the internet and playing back video. I could see myself using one as my 'lounging computer' on the couch or in bed, to say nothing of using one on the go. They definitely provide another cool way to use Skype wherever you are.

Gear News Roundup

2009-02-06T14:34:38Z

Skype 4.0

Are you using Skype 4.0 yet? If not, go download it now! I'm a big fan, but I'm not the only one--a bunch of people had some nice things to say about it this week, including David Pogue of the New York Times, Andy Abramson of VOIP Watch, Alec Saunders, and CNET among others.

Gadgets

Pocket-Lint and ITPro had a closer look at the Asus Eee AiGuru SV1.
Here's an ingenious way to set your computer up to automatically give you a wakeup call via Skype.

Family

A deployed army mother and a soldier son use Skype to keep in touch with family, as do grandparents.
Celebrating Chinese New Year over Skype.
Using Skype to to help with homesickness after a move to South Africa.

Business

Skype can be used to avoid business travel.
A recent study found that video can help workers collaborate better.
A professor discusses how information technology, including Skype, is influencing workers.
Sewing instructions via webcam help out remote islanders.

Skype + Twitter

2009-01-27T13:27:06Z

Are you using Twitter yet? It seems to me that lately everyone is talking about it. I think it's a very cool service, and you can use it quite easily with Skype.

If you haven't heard of Twitter, it's essentially a microblogging / group messaging service--you send a short, 140 character message out (via SMS, the web, a Twitter-specific program, or Skype), and people who elect to follow you will receive that message (in a similar number of ways). Anyone can follow anyone else (though you can set your Twitter updates to private so only those you approve can see them), and all your tweets can be viewed on a single page (here's mine).

Twitter's great because you can use it however you like--I use it primarily as a way to get status updates out to friends, and have those updates synced up to Facebook and Skype. Other people are using it to talk about things that interest them, to share links, to promote what they're doing, to network, to find jobs--the list goes on.

Twitter is easy to use on the go because your message has to be short and there are multiple ways you can send and receive messages from your mobile.

And if you're interested in a particular topic, searching for that topic on Twitter is a great way to see what people are saying. Increasingly news (like that recent plane crash on the Hudson River in NYC) is appearing online first on Twitter.

You can make Skype and Twitter work together in several ways.

On Windows, you can use Twype or SyncMood to make your most recent tweet become your Skype mood message (just make sure in Skype you say OK to giving the programme access).
On a Mac, you can link Skype 2.8 Beta to Twitter so that anything you type in your Skype mood message box also shows up on Twitter. It requires some file editing though; Dan York has instructions.
You can also use Twitter4Skype to send Twitter updates and receive them from people you're following within a Skype window. This option is particularly useful for people with 3 Skypephones or Skype Lite--then you can tweet in a Skype chat rather than having to sent an SMS.

Do you know of any other ways to use Twitter with Skype? Let us know in the comments.

Gear News Roundup

2009-01-16T09:42:28Z

Skype at CES

FierceVOIP has a nice roundup of Skype announcements, and several others mention Skype Lite on Android and phones that run Java.
Mr. Gadget from the Las Vegas Sun checked out Skype's booth at CES Showstoppers (52 seconds in).

Skype and Education

Here's a great wiki that lists different ways to use Skype in the classroom and classrooms that are interested in speaking with other classrooms. There's also a similar 'Around the World with 80 Schools' project.
A professor taught the first day of his class this semester from Iraq via Skype.
Students in the US from Boston are going to Washington DC to participate in next week's inauguration of Barack Obama, and will be using Skype to report back to their classmates.
Universities are using Skype to conduct interviews with potential students.

Skype and Show Business

Oprah has been using Skype for quite a while now to interact with her audience and have far-away guests on her show. She recently told Meryl Streep, on the show via Skype, she wanted a part in Streep's new film Doubt.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman recorded a voice part for an animated feature with the assistance of Skype.
Some comedians got their show together through Skype.

Skype and Family

Interesting story in the New York Times about families who work apart but use Skype to read to their children and keep in touch. A follow-up post on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reader blog has some other ideas for ways to use Skype with books.
An opera singer uses Skype to keep in touch with her partner while traveling.
A soldier son in Iraq gave his mother in America a 50th birthday present via Skype.