Skype 5.0 for Windows busts out of beta, integrates your Facebook friends
October 14, 2010 No Comment
Nope, it’s not a Facebook “phone,” but it’s probably the closest you’re gonna get to one right now. Skype has just unleashed the no-longer-in-beta version of its 5.0 Windows software, and not only has it drastically tided up the interface, but just like the rumor said , it’s taken advantage of Facebook Connect in a big way. The new version, which will apparently be available for public download within minutes of this post hitting the internet, still has a familiar look and feel, but the most noticeable changes are the addition of photos to the contacts list and the new Facebook tab. Logging into your Facebook account within the program populates your regular News Feed, but also attaches Skype call / SMS buttons next to friends that have either their Skype handles or mobile phone numbers listed on Facebook. Hit one of the buttons and you’re, well, connected ! There’s also an option to view your Facebook Phonebook, which basically lists all your contacts’ mobile phone numbers — though, oddly, it doesn’t list Skype handles within that area. Of course, the final version still allows for 10-way video calls and includes the automatic call recovery feature, which brilliantly reconnects dropped calls as if the drop didn’t really happen. If and when these features will hit Skype’s mobile version, your guess is as good as ours — a company spokesperson told us there’s nothing to talk about on that end right now. Of course, we could go on and on about the new software, or you could hit the source link, download it yourself, and let us know what you think about it below. Update : The source link should work — even though it says it’s Skype 4.2, the software is 5.0. Gallery: Skype 5.0 screenshots Continue reading Skype 5.0 for Windows busts out of beta, integrates your Facebook friends Skype 5.0 for Windows busts out of beta, integrates your Facebook friends originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …This is going on both in Illinois and New York: The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the state of Illinois missed the deadline for mailing absentee ballots to members of the military and other overseas American voters as part of a new federal overseas voting law. Cris Cray, Director of Legislation at the Illinois State Board of Elections, says not all of Illinois’ 110 jurisdictions were compliant with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE). The law requires every state to mail their absentee ballots 45 days prior to Election Day to overseas troops, government employees and other Americans who want to vote from abroad. Cray says she is currently compiling data from each of Illinois’ jurisdictions to determine which were compliant and which were delinquent. Cray said it’s possible the ballots may not be counted because the state was tardy in sending them out. Of course, military ballots tend to lean pretty far to the right. They would be fairly reliable votes for GOP candidates, but if they can manage to keep them from counting, Democrats will benefit. This reminds me of the 2000 Florida recount when Al Gore’s lawyers went to court and managed to get thousands of military ballots thrown out because they didn’t have a postmark on them, something that isn’t required for military mail coming from ships and posts overseas. It probably cost George Bush a significant number of votes and hurt his margin of victory.
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It might not be the Apple-Verizon tie-in you are most anxious to see happen, but the big red network has gone official with its plans to offer the iPad in its brick-and-mortar stores starting on October 28. VZW will be bundling the WiFi-only iPads with its own MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot with pricing set at $630, $730 and $830 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants of Apple’s tablet, respectively. There’s only one access plan on offer for now, granting users 1GB of monthly data allowance in exchange for $20 and no contractual commitments. AT&T will match the release date and upfront prices for each model, although its iPads will be of the WiFi + 3G variety, eschewing the need for a bundled MiFi. Full press releases follow after the break. Continue reading iPad going on sale in Verizon Wireless and AT&T stores October 28 iPad going on sale in Verizon Wireless and AT&T stores October 28 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Beanie Bean Sprouter. Photo Credit: David Henshall I love fresh sprouts all year round; they are healthy and taste great on toasts, in salads and in soups. However I don’t like ugly, bulky and over-designed objects in my kitchen in order for the seeds to germinate. It should be quick and easy. At the London Design Festival this year, the exhibition Bristol Air at Designersblock had some good designs on show, and it was there that I spotted the Beanie Bean Sprouter by
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A teenager from Nepal just over two feet high is standing proudly as the world’s shortest man. Khagendra Thapa Magar had his status certified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator on his 18th birthday Thursday. (Oct. 14)
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See that tiny black box? It’s a streaming audio hub, designed specifically for the hard of hearing who have Siemens earphones buried in their lobes. Connect special Tek transmitters to traditional TVs and stereos, or hook it up directly to a phone, audio player or PC over Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack, and the matchbox-sized, two-ounce remote will wirelessly stream stereo audio from two devices for up to five hours a time. (It’s also apparently got an integrated coil for induction loop audio.) Just don’t expect it to come cheap — it’s a medical product, you know. [Thanks, Klaus] Siemens pumps streaming audio to hearing aids with miniTek remote originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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TI helped talk down jumper in Atlanta; Academy says no big change for 2012 Oscar date; Mulligan and Knightley give London Film Festival a glamorous opening. (Oct. 14)
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Photo credit A.Streeter via flickr and Creative Commons. New Seasons, an upscale Whole Foods-style grocery store that has enjoyed massive success in Portland, Oregon, is opening its seventh store this week. The newest store, in the dense (watch the web cam to see how dense) inner-city Hawthorne Street neighborhood, has something of a surprise. Rooftop parking for cars, and rows of bright blue staples in front of th… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Dean Liou, the same fellow responsible for the ToiletPC and LovePC, has just concocted what’s likely his most splendorous mod yet. The ArcadeDock Laptop Dock is a half-height arcade machine, complete with a flame job from a dark corner of 1994, a full-on joystick + large button splay and a secret cabinet for a touchpad-equipped keyboard. Put simply, this rig is designed to hold an IdeaPad Y560 , and when plugged in and connected via USB, the controls you’re peering at above function exactly as you’d expect them to. Toss on a couple of your favorite ROMs ( Street Fighter II , anyone?), grab a Go-Gurt and settle in — a demonstrative video is after the break, and feel free to tap that Lenovo link below if you’d like to vote this mod up above the competition. Continue reading ArcadeDock converts Lenovo laptop into retro gaming machine (video) ArcadeDock converts Lenovo laptop into retro gaming machine (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Hurricane Paula is inching across the west coast of Cuba, dumping heavy rain on the island’s famed tobacco fields even as it weakens. (Oct. 14)
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