Posts tagged Skype
Do your Fring
33 years ago
As a infrequent IM user I haven’t felt the need to install any Instant Messaging apps to my iPhone. I did try the AIM app so that I could log-in to my iChat account, but uninstalled it soon after knowing I’d rarely use it.
I heard about a free app called fring for the iPhone/iPod touch last Friday, enabling you to make free calls to fellow fringsters or your Skype contacts over wi-fi. You can also access your buddies on MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM® via fring. I downloaded it from the iTunes App Store and got it up and running in no time. I made a test call to a Skype contact via fring and the sound quality was great. One thing I have noticed is after adding a new contact on Skype (using the desktop client) it has not updated in fring on my iPhone to show this new buddy. Not quite sure why that is but hopefully it will be addressed in a future update. Not a bug afterall, it turned up in my Fring list today.
Here’s a video showing how fring works on the iPhone.
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You may remember me writing a review for the Cyberphone W Mac handset for Skype some weeks back. Our time together was shortlived as unfortunately that piece of hardware started to give my iMac frequent Kernel Panics. It was uninstalled immediately. fring is going perfect for Skype VOIP calls for me now. Great logo too.
Cyberphone W Mac
113 years ago
About 18 months ago I was approached by an Executive Producer in the US (who has worked on some very funny sitcoms over the years) about doing some work on his new web project and just to have a chat about the web site I was running dedicated to one of the shows he produced. He asked me if I had Skype so we could chat (for free) over that. I only had a Mac Mini at the time so I had no microphone or a compatible handset. Instead he had to call my landline which meant a considerably shorter chat than we would have enjoyed since the $’s were clocking up!
Since then a few Skyping opportunities have passed my way, mostly to give/receive some minor tech help, so I thought it was about time to invest in a decent handset that I could plug into my USB port for when those moments arise. I have a built-in mic in my iMac, but being able to chat through a handset feels more personable, to me at least.
After a bit of a search I discovered the Cyberphone W Mac. Nice Apple-white stylish design and best of all the handset features work so you don’t even have to touch the Mac to make a call if you don’t wish to. I shopped around, seeing prices ranging from £30 to £40. Then I hopped on eBay and saw it for £15 with £5 postage from VOIP Voice.
Included in the box was a voucher for 30 free SkypeOut minutes. I tried to activate it but the site said it was invalid – a quick look at the back of the card revealed the voucher expired June 2008. I figured that was one of the reasons for the low price and wasn’t too bothered as I’m mostly going to be Skyping across computers anyway. SkypeOut credit, should I need it at any point, is very reasonably priced anyway.
The installation is really simple, as you expect from products designed for Macs. Pop in the disc and drag the VOIPVoice app to the Application folder, that’s it. Then just simply plug your Cyberphone W Mac into the USB port as and when you want it. I have mine plugged in all the time and placed on my desk. When you open the VOIPVoice application, a telephone icon appears in the menubar. If you have the handset plugged in with the Skype app open, the icon will be green. If you have it plugged in without Skype open the icon will change to orange. There is a preference pane within the app so you can tell it to start VOIPVoice when you log in and Start Skype when VOIPVoice is opened. It has a voice menu so you can tell it to speak Caller Name and Online Status and you can also store up to 9 numbers for Speed Dial.
I created an extra Skype account on my PowerBook so I could make some calls to that from the Cyberphone. I tried that with the help of my Mum who was sitting infront of my PowerBook awaiting my call and she informed that the sound quality was excellent. So, we did a swap and I got my Mum to call my account on the PowerBook so I could listen to the quality while she was speaking through the handset. Very clear quality, most impressed. It was like she was in the next room. Oh, wait, she was!
There is a blue neon button on the handset which flashes when a call is incoming and illuminates when you are on a call. I shot a quick 10 second video of this so you can see and hear it in action.
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It will also flash when there is new Voicemail so you can simply press that and listen to your messages. The handset has a lengthy 2.1m USB cable and is compatible with USB 1.1 or 2.0, requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and you’ll need 150MB free hard disk space.
I haven’t used it extensively yet, but if you have any questions then fire away as I have a nice bumper pdf file User Guide which I’m sure will answer any queries you may have.
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