Monday, October 05, 2009

Vonage Mobile iPhone and BlackBerry apps available for download

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/vonage-mobile-iphone-and-blackberry-apps-available-for-download/


You remember Vonage right? The trailblazing VoiP company is still around and appears at first glance to have instigated a bit of coup in the battle for VoiP calls over AT&T connections. Unfortunately they haven't, at least not yet. See, the free Vonage Mobile app just added to the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch has been approved for making international calls over AT&T's cellular network (take that Skype) in addition to WiFi. Unfortunately, we're not talking about SIP calls over EDGE/HSDPA data. Like the rejected Google Voice app, if you're out of WiFi range but still have voice service then Vonage Mobile will redirect your international call (entered directly into the App or selected from your address book) to a local access number in the US -- you're then using your AT&T minutes while being charged Vonage Mobile's discounted worldwide calling rates. The app is strictly pay-as-you-go for the moment and will not give free global calling to those who subscribe to Vonage's $25 per month Vonage World plan -- Vonage says that will come before the end of the year. The Vonage Mobile app for BlackBerry only works over your carrier's voice network while the iPod touch app only works over WiFi, naturally. Also, BlackBerry users will revert to Vonage's lower rates anytime they make an international call whereas iPhone users must launch the Vonage application first.

[Thanks, Ricky B.]

Vonage Mobile iPhone and BlackBerry apps available for download originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, October 04, 2009

Google AdSense leaks Apple's refreshed iMac, Mac mini, Macbook?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/04/google-adsense-leaks-apples-refreshed-imac-mac-mini-macbook/

This one is for all you online tea leaf readers and Apple SKU / crystal ball aficionados: Further confirming our suspicion that something more affordable may be on the horizon, Google AdSense this weekend started serving users in the Netherlands with ads for new iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac minis. Pointing to a dead link at the country's Apple Store, the ads read (via Google Translate): "Apple's Newest MacBook. Thinner, lighter and faster! Free delivery. Order today," "The Brand new iMac. Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only €1099 (roughly $1,063). Apple Store," and "Apple's New Mac mini. Faster and more affordable than ever. From only € 499 ($723). Order immediately." (For a little perspective, that's €100 ($145) less than the cheapest Mac mini currently on the Netherlands online store.) Granted, whenever peeping purported translations from foreign tipsters we're always half-afraid that we're actually reading Celine Dion lyrics or dialogue from Caddyshack, but this one seems to be the real deal -- for whatever that's worth.

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Google AdSense leaks Apple's refreshed iMac, Mac mini, Macbook? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Pure now on sale -- with Windows Mobile 6.5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/04/atandt-pure-now-on-sale-with-windows-mobile-6-5/


Well hey, look at that -- AT&T's riff on the HTC Touch Diamond2, the Pure, has quietly gone on sale, meaning Windows Mobile 6.5 just hit the world a couple days early. The glory won't last long, though: the nicer Imagio is hitting Verizon on the 6th, and the Leo's looming. Still -- WinMo 6.5 is here. Let's get crazy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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AT&T Pure now on sale -- with Windows Mobile 6.5 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola CLIQ / DEXT exhaustively photographed, previewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/04/motorola-cliq-dext-exhaustively-photographed-previewed/


The Motorola CLIQ hasn't gone on sale yet, but that hasn't stopped a few units from leaking out here and there -- Eldar at mobile-review just posted up one of the most thorough photo previews of the chunky slider we've seen yet. Interestingly, the keyboard continues to draw mixed reviews -- while we rather liked it when we tried it out, m-r says it's just "okay" and that the five-way rocker "wasn't very handy." We'll have to use this thing a while for ourselves before we make up our minds, but for now, we'd direct you to the read link for a ton more photos.

[Thanks, MrArgie]

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Motorola CLIQ / DEXT exhaustively photographed, previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Look at Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Beta [Screenshot Tour]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/2k12TDrb7UY/

The beta release of Karmic Koala, the next version of Ubuntu Linux, just arrived on the net. Wondering what's new inside the open-source operating system? We took a tour and brought back these screenshots.

Update: An earlier version of this post used screenshots from Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 6, which, while feature-complete, did not include the artwork overhaul included in the 9.10 beta. We've re-toured Karmic Koala and replaced the screenshots, as well as added an item to note the changes. Apologies for any confusion—or disappointing design schemes.

In general, Ubuntu 9.10, or Karmic Koala, doesn't have a whole ton of new-new features over what we saw in 9.04. That's because a lot of the focus has been on more nuts-and-bolts areas, like boot-up management, application security, and other deep-down bits.

That said, there is some new stuff worth checking out. Click on the thumbnails below for a bigger picture and description of each feature. Want it all one one page? Here's the non-gallery version. Like what you see? Found something else new in Karmic Koala we didn't see? Tell us in the comments.

Faster, slicker boot-up

As previously noted, Ubuntu 9.10 uses GRUB 2 and its graphical boot loader if you're using more than one OS, boots faster than 9.04 (from casual observation), and doesn't give you an antsy feeling by splashing a lot of ke! rnel tal k on your screen during startup.

New looks

They hadn't shown up for any of the alpha releases, but new icons, themes, wallpapers, and controls are present in 9.10 beta. The art team has promised further refinements, as this was a rush release to meet deadline, but long-time Ubuntu users will be happy to see change, any change, in the looks of their Linux, and generally for the better.

Refined installation

Ubuntu's partition editor better explains what's happening when you're choosing a spot for it. The installation dialog offers smarter picks of auto-login, password protection, or even encrypted home folder protection. While actually copying the files, Ubuntu's installer shows a few of the OS' features—shades of the very familiar Windows XP installation.

New IM client

For whatever reason, both the default GNOME desktop and Ubuntu decided to switch from Pidgin to Empathy for a default instant messaging client. Unfortunate for those who got to know Pidgin so well, but Empathy seems like a pretty remarkable simulation of the look and layout, if without the many, many preferences and menu options.

Ubuntu Software Center

We asked for it, it was already in the works, and now it's here. The looks are a bit, well, My First Software Store, but it's definitely a more simple, streamlined installation tool than the Synaptic or "Add/Remove Software" tool. Each app gets a screenshot and text description, along with a link to its official web site. You can queue up multiple apps for installation, and choosing or adding new software sources still allows you to browse while the repositories are being refreshed.

Ubuntu One

We still think it looks like a less feature-rich Dropbox, but having it installed by default and integrated into the file system might make regular Ubuntu users a little more familiar and trusting of the 2 GB of free space given to every Ubuntu user.

Disk Utility

Now, this—this is neat. A full read-out on all the disks in your system, including USB and CD/DVD, with health and temperature gauges and simple tools to change partitions or format, if you so choose. You might still want to do the heavy lifting in the GParted app, but this is a good tool to have handy.

Disk display in Nautilus

Speaking of! drives, the way they're laid out in the file browser is a bit more convenient for those working with multiple partitions or a lot of drives. The size is listed first, then the section you're accessing. Small, but really helpful tweak.

Unsure if everything's got the right driver and running fine on your system? A system test tool in the System->Administration menu runs step-by-step through audio, video, and other hardware tests, giving you bug report and help look-up options when something's not quite up to snuff. It's not brand new to this version, but more prominently placed.



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