Skype to roll out five-way video calling next week, remote partying to surge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/skype-to-roll-out-five-way-video-calling-next-week-remote-party/

Well, it's taken long enough, Skype! Starting next week you will finally be able to video call with up to five people using the company's Group Video Calling feature. The beta, which will be available sometime for download during the week of May 10th, will initially be free, but Skype plans to start charging for the multi-party video fun later in the year. We're not sure if it will support HD calling, but you can bet your bottom dollar that corporations may consider replacing their surely complex videoconferencing setup with this. In other Skype news, the company is rolling out new calling plans to more than 170 countries -- from the looks of the PR after the break, it seems like it could end up saving you big time in comparison to the pay-as-you-go rates. We like savings, sure, but we'll be even more stoked should this ever land on camera-equipped smartphones and tablets.

Continue reading Skype to roll out five-way video calling next week, remote partying to surge

Skype to roll out five-way video calling next week, remote partying to surge originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey says: most teens don't have a data plan, almost all send texts

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/survey-says-most-teens-dont-have-a-data-plan-almost-all-send/

Microsoft and Verizon might think all the kids want to do with their new Kin phones is pay absurd data rates for a half-baked Twitter experience, but it turns out Generation Upload is still actually just Generation Text Message. That's at least the word according to a Pew Internet Research survey published on April 20th and neatly summed up by a new Flowlogic infographic published today -- only 23 percent of American teenagers with cellphones use social networks with their phones, while 72 percent of all teens use text messaging. You might argue that Kin seeks to flip that balance, but Pew found that 63 percent of teens with cell phones don't have data plans and the vast majority of teen cellphone plans are part of a larger family plan, so the Kin's $30 / month data rate might be a hard sell to Mom and Dad.

We also thought voice calling on the Kin seemed like an afterthought to texting and social networking, but it turns out more and more older kids simply turn to the phone: 77 percent of 17 year olds text each other, but 60 percent of them call each other's cell phones -- and only 33 percent of them connect over social networking sites. Perhaps most damningly, Pew says nearly half -- 46% -- of teens play games on their phones, but Kin has no games at all. The report is actually full of other interesting tidbits like this and the infographic is quite nice, so hit the read links to check 'em out -- perhaps Microsoft and Verizon should do the same.

Survey says: most teens don't have a data plan, almost all send texts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ's Enyo may be the sexiest USB 3.0 external SSD this world has ever seen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/oczs-enyo-may-be-the-sexiest-usb-3-0-external-ssd-this-world-ha/

OCZ actually slipped this one into its CES 2010 reveal lineup, but at the time, no official product name was mentioned. All we knew was that an ultra-sleek external SSD was on tap, and we couldn't wait to wrap our sickeningly sweaty palms around it. Fast forward to today, and OCZ has finally slapped a certified moniker and even a shipping status onto the Enyo, a downright gorgeous portable SSD with a native SuperSpeed USB interface. Encased in aluminum, this beaut will ship in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB flavors, with speeds of up to 260MB/sec (read) and 200MB/sec (write) promised. The company says that these are making their way out today, but mum's the word so far on pricing. Not like it matters.

Update: We've received pricing direct from OCZ for the US market. The 64GB model will run $229.99, while the 128GB demands $409.99 and the 256GB version places a $819.99 dent in your credit limit.

Gallery: OCZ Enyo USB 3.0 solid state drive

Continue reading OCZ's Enyo may be the sexiest USB 3.0 external SSD this world has ever seen

OCZ's Enyo may be the sexiest USB 3.0 external SSD this world has ever seen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia-Microsoft partnership bears first fruit: Communicator Mobile comes to E52 and E72

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/nokia-microsoft-partnership-bears-first-fruit-communicator-mobi/

Last time we used "Nokia" and "Communicator" in the same sentence, we were talking about a giant QWERTY clamshell with roots dating back to the mid '90s -- but yeah, that's most definitely not what looking at here. Instead, we're seeing the first results of Nokia's newfound friendship with Microsoft, a build of Communicator Mobile that's all set up to run on the S60-based E52 and E72. Granted, an enterprise instant messaging utility isn't something we can all use, but that's just as well since it's limited to just two devices in Nokia's range at the moment; eventually, it'll be preinstalled on "select" devices and be available to a broader selection of phones already in the lineup. This is awesome, guys -- now let's get cracking on Office, shall we?

Nokia-Microsoft partnership bears first fruit: Communicator Mobile comes to E52 and E72 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/roku-teases-revamped-netflix-channel-user-interface-on-video-co/

With the introduction of Netflix on so many devices, it's now up to everyone to battle it out for supremacy in user interfaces. We were actually duly impressed with the implementation on Nintendo's Wii, and it seems that the pressure has convinced Roku to retool their own UI. A new teaser has been released today by the company showing off the new Netflix Channel, and while the overall look and feel is certainly slick, it's a few key additions that have us most excited. According to the company, the update will allow users to search the entire Netflix Watch Instantly library right from their screen, as well as the ability to browse and add titles to one's queue for later playback. We're told that the update will be pushed out in "transparent" fashion to users in June, but an exact release date isn't yet available. Hop on past the break and mash play, won'tcha?

Continue reading Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June

Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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