tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88898102024-03-07T02:40:54.191-05:00Beyond the Bleeding EdgeAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-244093458067579712011-01-06T22:12:00.003-05:002011-01-06T22:35:36.347-05:00Skype's Acquisition of Qik - it's all about the paid services<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/01/06/Qik_Icon2.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/01/06/Qik_Icon2.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Skype closed a deal today to purchase the mobile video broadcasting startup <a href="http://qik.com/">Qik</a>, for a <a href="http://gigaom.com/video/skype-qik-acquisition/">reported</a> 150M$. I actually had to do a double take on this one as I couldn't quite figure out why Skype would want Qik - outside of both companies being in video on mobiles the obvious synergies end pretty quickly.<br /><br />After a bit of thought I see a strategic move by Skype's new CEO Tony Bates here. As an ex-Cisco VP., Mr Bates understands a few things really well - the buy vs. build argument and the business services market. Qik represents a few things to Skype: a quick add of 60 really talented engineers, some killer IP, and most importantly some traditional brick and mortar highly scalable infrastructure, which is something that Skype sorely lacks.<br /><br />This lack of traditional server infrastructure limits Skype ability to add new premium services, and as a direct result its ability to increase revenue especially in the business arena which is Mr. Bates bread and butter and something that Skype has failed miserably on since its inception.<br /><br />The audio conferencing market is huge, but the video conferencing market is just starting to explode and has the potential to be much larger. The highly profitable premium services that are attached to traditional audio conferencing centre around recording and storage/sharing, businesses love to record and store conference calls - and they pay for the privilege. NO ONE is recording and storing video conferencing in any sizable scale, this is a very tiny market but IMHO will be the number 1 paid service that will accompany video conferencing, especially in business. Skype, with the aquisition of Qik, is now poised to be the global leader in not only desktop videoconferencing but also the paid for services that will accompany it.<br /><br />This is why they bought Qik - its gives Skype the ability to innovate and not only create the global desktop video-conference market but also the ecosystem of services that will surround it, starting with recording and storage and innovating from there. <br /><br />It is a very smart and bold move, Skype's new CEO is starting off with a big bang. Well done.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-38458269823394101992010-12-21T16:31:00.003-05:002010-12-21T16:37:58.044-05:00Skype's take on the Net Neutrality ruling.. or lack thereof.From the <a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/why-everyone-hates-new-net-neutrality-ruleseven-nn-supporters.ars">Ars</a> article:<br /><br /><blockquote>Skype's Christopher Libertelli, who said after today's vote, "In any complicated FCC rulemaking, there are going to be trade-offs and compromises. On balance, this decision advances the goal of keeping the Internet an open and unencumbered medium for Skype users."</blockquote><br /><br /><br />Um, what??? I suppose this is true if your definition of unencumbered means you are on say a mobile device, accessing the web through 3G or LTE or if your ISP decides that Skype video is too bandwidth intensive and charges your for less latency..<br /><br />Hire better lobbyists next time Skype.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-48683334187634901382010-04-08T15:27:00.005-04:002010-04-08T17:12:50.932-04:00Skype and iPhone OS 4.0 - this is sort of a big deal..<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2010/04/08/phpzdfjoCiphone40software135.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 184px;" src="http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2010/04/08/phpzdfjoCiphone40software135.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Apple today announced the upcoming features and road-map for iPhone OS 4.0. In short multitasking is supported. This means that you can make and receive Skype calls and presumably receive IM anytime the application is running in the background. Skype actually demo'd a VoIP call on stage during the event on an iPhone.<br /><br />This is a <a href="http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/04/voip-api-finally-skype-run-background/">gamechanger</a>.<br /><br />The adoption of Skype in Business is a no brainer now. With Verizon, 3 and iPhone supporting Skype calling on their platform and devices, businesses have to take Skype as a serious as they take the PSTN, do you really want to be the only business that doesn't accept incoming Skype calls? If you're competition is doing it, you better as well.<br /><br />Kudo's to Apple for opening the platform, RIM has some serious competition coming - they need a refresh of the OS in a BIG way...Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-41912880052578470022010-02-11T12:13:00.002-05:002010-02-11T12:29:16.475-05:00Tungle & Skype are two peas in an "interconnected flat world pod"I have been using <a href="http://tungle.com">Tungle</a> a lot lately. It simply rocks, if you work like I do in multiple time zones, scheduling meetings is a royal pain in the a$$. I actually dread the emails that come into my inbox that copy 4 people and ask "whats a good time for all of us to meet?". The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and the dog hides under the couch.<br /><br />Tungle solves all that - I can set up a Skype conference call in 1 email, with 5 persons globally in different time zones. I can't put a value on this, everyone I work with I push to Tungle now. There is no other way to solve this problem as elegantly as Tungle does it. Oh, by the way - Tungle is FREE. Click here to see my tungle me link. <a href="http://tungle.me/AndrewHansen">My Calendar</a>.<br /><br />Anyway - Tungle is running a '<a href="http://blog.tungle.com/tungleblog/2010/02/5-questions-we-want-to-ask-you.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Tungleblog+%28Tungle+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">ask the customer contest</a>' and I wanted to share my answers to the 5 questions, as I am a sucker for a free T-shirt.<br /><br /><br />Q. What made you decide to start Tungling?<br />A. I work with a Virtual team in almost all timezones on the planet, there is no way to schedule calls efficiently - Tungle solves this.<br /><br />Q. What’s one thing we do better than any other productivity app out there?<br />A. You solve a real world problem, and you don't force me to change anything I am not already doing.<br /><br />Q. What’s one thing we could do to create a better experience for you?<br />A. You need to take a long think on how to manage trade show/conference calendars. In this scenario Tungle is helpful but not perfect, usually you have a group of people all sharing the same calendar.<br /><br />Q. Do you refer Tungle.me to others? If yes, why?<br />A. Yes all the time, if you want to meet with me you have to book it through Tungle - also I want a free <a href="http://blog.tungle.com/tungleblog/2010/01/share-tungleme-win-a-kindle.html">Kindle</a>.<br /><br />Q. What would you Google to find an app like Tungle.me?<br />A. Probably - Time Zone Calendar Synch or free exchange calendar<br /><br /><br />Thanks Tungle team!!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-87967020732667346942009-12-28T13:11:00.002-05:002009-12-28T13:22:19.136-05:00Interesting Skype Mobile Facts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/03/26/iphone_splash.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 197px;" src="http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/03/26/iphone_splash.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Russ Shaw, General Manager of Skype Mobile, has a great <a href="http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/12/2009_in_mobile.html">blog post</a> recapping some of the stats Skype and its carrier partners have collected on Skype mobile usage.<br /><br />The two I found most interesting are:<br /><br />Skype for iPhone push notifications are coming!! Skype is working on it and as soon as the process is perfect it will be released. <br /><br />Skype on 3 in the UK with the INQ phone, has been a amazing success as well. Most importantly the stats 3 has observed is that revenue from a Skype customer is 60% higher than other customers and provides 3x the SMS revenue as well. I've said it before, 3 gets it.<br /><br /><br />Hopefully Apple will remove the restrictions on 3G calling VoIP apps., in 2010. Mobile VoIP is hot, and must be a fun sector to be working in.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-14406701147095300722009-11-23T10:31:00.007-05:002009-11-23T11:40:11.117-05:00Skype on the Nokia N900 - WOW!!!My Xmas list just got a little bit longer, the Nokia N900 has Skype completely integrated into the OS.. I am drooling.. <br /><br />More information on the integration <a href="http://skype.com/go/nokia">here.. </a><br /><br /><object width="460" height="172"><param name="movie" value="http://download.skype.com/share/videos/player.swf"><param name="flashVars" value="&sharePageUrl=http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/11/video_demo_skype_for_nokia_n900.html&shareHtmlCode=true&videoThumb=http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/11/23/Skype on Nokia N900.jpg&videoUrl=http://download.skype.com/share/videos/n900/n900_mark_douglas.flv "><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://download.skype.com/share/videos/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&sharePageUrl=http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/11/video_demo_skype_for_nokia_n900.html&shareHtmlCode=true&videoThumb=http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2009/11/23/Skype on Nokia N900.jpg&videoUrl=http://download.skype.com/share/videos/n900/n900_mark_douglas.flv " allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="172"></embed></object>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-8865347258124175672009-11-04T09:40:00.001-05:002009-11-04T09:40:33.471-05:00Great new Skype Video on Skype.com/magic<object width="554" height="304"><param name="movie" value="http://download.skype.com/share/videos/player.swf"><param name="flashVars" value="&videoXML=http://download.skype.com/share/videos/cnn-adv/video4.xml&lang=en"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://download.skype.com/share/videos/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&videoXML=http://download.skype.com/share/videos/cnn-adv/video4.xml&lang=en" allowfullscreen="true" width="554" height="304"></embed></object>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-19027093987217777912009-10-23T05:14:00.003-04:002009-10-23T05:19:21.260-04:00VodBurner - A skype video podcast tool<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIIUtHg8toWZQHQnXOowBS7xr29jA4L61aNQVSvFvt8KZJLy4ugc2fr9GwKu0t0vv_G3YUjbKu1L23VmHTETTPxNrmbcAreUnIjh9P_yWpDJdvnbgvYwWWUCvKVBqx7RBPZu7tQ/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2009-10-23+at+11.14.45+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIIUtHg8toWZQHQnXOowBS7xr29jA4L61aNQVSvFvt8KZJLy4ugc2fr9GwKu0t0vv_G3YUjbKu1L23VmHTETTPxNrmbcAreUnIjh9P_yWpDJdvnbgvYwWWUCvKVBqx7RBPZu7tQ/s320/Screen+shot+2009-10-23+at+11.14.45+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395722106587145858" border="0" /></a><br />A hearty congratulations to guys at <a href="http://www.netralia.com/">Netralia</a>, for their latest product VodBurner. VodBurner is launching on Oct. 29th and promises to be a fantastic tool for creating, editing and uploading Skype video calls - into first rate podcasts.<br /><br />I look forward to trying <a href="http://www.vodburner.com/welcome/">Vodburner</a>, you can sign up to be one of the first to get it at Vodburner.com.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-75605392803056232422009-10-05T10:25:00.003-04:002009-10-05T10:40:56.442-04:00Skype Video Opens up - The developer program evolves...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwFcj32bNyMGuZOYw33YP9_p7oMI-hRqQZMUEmDJpBlNn0NmmDLSGbigXsYS2hT2RXlFa7obt9c5yJp3GraX8EGKm0yhPBd5fZXmcu1qohWXBeDLElKHWKthHOAD-i7OU0LIM4w/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2009-10-05+at+4.28.47+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwFcj32bNyMGuZOYw33YP9_p7oMI-hRqQZMUEmDJpBlNn0NmmDLSGbigXsYS2hT2RXlFa7obt9c5yJp3GraX8EGKm0yhPBd5fZXmcu1qohWXBeDLElKHWKthHOAD-i7OU0LIM4w/s400/Screen+shot+2009-10-05+at+4.28.47+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389125694368853682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.lifesize.com/en/Products/Video/LifeSize_Passport.aspx">LifeSize</a>, the fantastic HD video conferencing solution provider has just released an absolutely fantastic business product for Skype. The LifeSize Passport.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Passport is the only product to ever allow for Video interop to the Skype network. This is the first in a what I think will be a series of products allowing for features that have never been possible working with Skype as a platform, the recently scaled back client API developer program that Skype had fostered is being reworked into something that can create real solutions for business and end users. First Digium with Skype for Asterisk, and now LifeSize with the Passport have worked with Skype to do a true network interop, that is scalable, easy to use and maintain.<br /><br />Kudo's to LifeSize, I am anxious to see the Passport in action.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-56465581121635758342009-10-02T13:20:00.005-04:002009-10-02T13:24:39.433-04:00Skype Headset Giveaway!!!<a href="http://www.frugalupstate.com/2009/09/giveaway-skype-headset-1-year-skype-service.html">Frugal Upstate</a> is giving away 3 Skype Everyman Headset Packages with Unlimited Calling to NA but you have to hurry. Comment or tweet to enter on the Frugal Blog!<br /><br />Only 3 days left to enter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa225/fowlerjenn/Headsets_TALK-5115_Everyman_287.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 287px;" src="http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa225/fowlerjenn/Headsets_TALK-5115_Everyman_287.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-39775603268910103412009-10-02T13:11:00.003-04:002009-10-02T13:20:12.719-04:00Skype's Brand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mzu4HwJh4g5kwmYQu07ThXYgz_Z8VFKPJra9hazTAjbhVoy3Nacq2GyslUhKoETjvNZTA_zxyIVWl4tdOFXGIkwZQSZMnzpZl0vwMl8bvCOOalTRB_YLWud1V8VrwNWYGYCGJg/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2009-10-02+at+1.08.46+PM.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mzu4HwJh4g5kwmYQu07ThXYgz_Z8VFKPJra9hazTAjbhVoy3Nacq2GyslUhKoETjvNZTA_zxyIVWl4tdOFXGIkwZQSZMnzpZl0vwMl8bvCOOalTRB_YLWud1V8VrwNWYGYCGJg/s400/Screen+shot+2009-10-02+at+1.08.46+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051544188934626" /></a><br />Quite simply put, I love this. courtesy - <a href="http://www.fuelyourbranding.com/skypebrand/">Fuel your Branding</a>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-14307106184811598702009-08-13T06:19:00.000-04:002009-08-13T06:19:41.305-04:00Skype For Business Winners Announced<a href="http://www.ipcom-insights.com/blog/jon/2009/08/skype-for-business-winners-announced.aspx">Skype For Business Winners Announced</a>: "I've been meaning to post this since Monday, but the Smart Grid Summit is just keeping me too busy. Anyhow, I've been a <strong>Skype</strong> follower from the beginning, and try to keep up as best I can. I don't have the dedicated focus of Skype Journal or Jim Courtney's blog, and those are the places to go for the in-depth low down on what Skype is up to.<br><br>That said, I get asked by the media a lot about Skype for business in particular. It's always been a bit of a conundrum, as you don't always think of Skype as a business application, even though it's so widely used in the office. Problem is, most people associate Skype with PC-based telephony, but of course, it's so much more.<br><br>Aside from the Summit activity, we're off on vacation tomorrow, so I don't have the luxury to time to give you any real analysis of the purpose of this post. Basically, on Monday Skype announced <strong>the winners of their global Skype For Business Competition</strong>. The results were <a href="http://share.skype.com/sites/business/2009/08/winners_announced_skype_for_bu.html">posted on Stefan Oberg's Skype blog</a> that day, and you can review them all there. I don't know how many entries were submitted, but it's great way to get the Skype developer community focused on real world applications that add value for business users.<br><br>It's great to see the global breadth of the winners, although it's too bad there were no Canadian winners! Anyhow, just a quick scan indicates there are business applications that go beyond basic voice calling, and hopefully Skype is takig some good steps forward to develop a suite of features that can be monetized with business users. There's lots of latent opportunity for building on everyday Skype features and extending that to collaboration, and there are some examples of that in the posting.<br><br>What really stands out for me, though, is how many winning apps have to do with language translation and learning English in foreign countries. Skype sure is a natural tool for that, and all Skype users get their share of random requests from people who just want chat to learn English - I know I do. The international community is probably the one thing Skype has over all the other IM platforms, mainly because they are largely U.S. in origin. By extension, I would think this could be the pot of gold for Skype as a business tool - either to support multinational businesses or as a platform to enable international business, regardless of language. That's my two cents for now, and if you have another take, I'd love to hear it. <br><br>All told, though, congrats to the winners, and I sure hope this is a sign of good things to come for Skype in the business world.<div><img width="1" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/111625888449512416-3312142014056744346?l=www.ipcom-insights.com%2Fblog%2Fjon%2Fdefault.aspx"></div>"Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-8852207700943381782009-07-22T10:34:00.002-04:002009-07-22T10:56:26.130-04:00Voxeo + Tropo + Adhearsion = $Some really great news today from the folks @ <a href="http://adhearsion.com/">Adhearsion</a>. I have <a href="http://beyondthebleedingedge.blogspot.com/2009/01/adhearsion-great-name-great-project.html">spoken</a> about Adhearsion in the past, it is very impressive - it goes beyond telephony toolkit or Voice API's, and with today's announcement puts it in a class of its own when it comes to Voice applications.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voxeo.com/about/press_reader.jsp?date=072209_voxeo_labs.jsp">Adhearsion has joined Voxeo</a> to launch Voxeo Labs. Essentially what this means is now the 'Sandbox' Adhearsion once sat in, has the power of the Voxeo network to draw on for applications.<br /><br />To put this in context, I can (in probably less than 2 days) build a customized and interactive Voice Recognition front end tied to an ecommerce engine with an interactive telephony driven website. Doing something like that even 2 years ago was a 6 month build - this is child's play for Adhearsion. It is really groundbreaking stuff.<br /><br />The challenge <a href="http://blogs.voxeo.com/voxeolabs/">Voxeo Labs</a> has is clear. Make decision makers understand the value add Voxeo Labs can bring to their business. They need (and I know they will build) sample apps. to demo the network, and recruit an army of business saavy developers to make the apps that will drive the traffic on the network.<br /><br />Most importantly however is this - This platform gives developers an opportunity to really make money $$, the apps. created on this network will be affordable and powerful, this really levels the playing field for small developers and gives them an excellent opportunity to reach a global audience for their applications much in the same way that the App Store has done with the iPhone. <br /><br />Congrats to the Adhearsion guys and kudo's to Voxeo for seizing this opportunity.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-63712546292860209772009-06-11T12:17:00.004-04:002009-06-11T13:14:00.208-04:00Note to Jim Balsillie: Forget the Coyotes, get me a bloody BB Desktop Manager for Mac before I buy an iPhone.Here is a public note to <a href="http://www.rim.net/">RIM</a>, Jim Balsillie and anyone else in that organization that will listen. <br /><br />Why do you hate Mac Users? <br /><br />Herein lies the problem (as you don't seem to understand it) and the reason for my tirade, you don't have a Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac. You license an application called PocketMac which 'sort of works' but not really.<br /><br />The incredible lack of foresight and business strategy by ignoring 11% of your customer base is astounding, it is almost criminal. I can't explain it, the only possible reason for your utter contempt for Mac users is that no one in RIM uses a Mac. <br /><br />Here is an important piece of information for you - the only reason I haven't switched to an iPhone is because of Google Sync. If it wasn't for Google Sync, I would have no way to reliably sync my calendar and contacts to my Mac and I would no longer be a Blackberry user. And let me be clear, I don't want to use an iPhone - it doesn't run background apps., it doesn't support UMA, it doesn't have a program like BB messenger and I really don't like typing on the softkeyboard.. but what is important to remember is it doesn't do these things YET...<br /><br />I currently run Windows 7 on my Mac in a Virtual Machine (a <a href="http://www.berryreview.com/2009/06/10/another-case-where-rim-does-not-really-care-to-support-macs/">feature</a> you don't support btw, which just lights my fire even more). I am running the Windows 7 beta which runs out in exactly 1 year. At this point, if I wish to continue to run Windows I will have to pay. The ONLY reason I run Windows at all, is to have the ability to update, backup and maintain my BB . I am NOT going to buy a Windows license just so I can continue to use my BB. I will be forced to switch to an iPhone.<br /><br />Your strategy to not support Apple is astoundingly poor. Last year you spend a bunch of money developing Media Manger for Mac.. A completely useless piece of software, that does NOTHING as drag and drop works perfectly, and is actually easier to use. <br /><br />Mac users are early adopters, influencers, bloggers, and the people whom are passionate about technology. I can't tell you how much I drive my peer group nuts blabbering on about how much the BB is the one and only work solution. I don't think you can afford to lose 11% of your customer base to Apple, it is completely unnecessary, hire a Mac team - and let them loose. You will be surprised at the unexpected benefits... <br /><br /><flame off>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-82101890296113276272009-06-02T14:19:00.000-04:002009-06-02T14:20:02.459-04:00The Beatles on Rockband!! This trailer is amazing..<embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=14294513&downloadURL=http://xbox360movies.ign.com/xbox360/video/article/988/988631/beatles_rb_trl_e3_flvlowwide.flv&allownetworking="all%"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360'></embed><div style='width:433;'><a href='http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/142/14294513.html'>More The Beatles: Rock Band Info</a></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-12682117967892105452009-04-01T11:49:00.002-04:002009-04-01T11:51:34.208-04:00Puddle Jump FailTotally unrelated to technology, but please vote for this picture on Failblog of my buddy Jean Marc attempting a puddle jump - it is a one in a million picture.<br /><br />It is at the bottom of Page 3 of the <a href="http://failblog.org/vote/page/3/">voting page</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://failblog.org"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15885" title="fail-owned-pondjump-fail" src="http://failblog.wordpress.com/files/2009/04/fail-owned-pondjump-fail.jpg" alt="fail-owned-pondjump-fail" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />more <a href="http://failblog.org">fail, owned and pwned pics and videos</a>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-32509359559221777072009-03-31T11:46:00.013-04:002009-03-31T16:47:56.965-04:00Create a US iTunes Store account to get Skype for iPhone in Canada<span style="font-weight:bold;">Confirmed, this works! </span><br /><br />I <span style="font-style:italic;">can't confirm that this works</span> (please someone let me know, <a href="http://macgasm.net/">thanks</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/macgasm/">MacGasm</a>!) but apparently you can register for a US iTunes account separately inside of iTunes to get the Skype for iPhone application.<br /><br /><br />Link to Apple Support on how to do this <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://tylerconium.wordpress.com/">Also</a> - thanks to <a href="http://twitter.com/tylerconium">Tyler</a>: for the following link follow the instructions here and you are in business: <a href="http://techwiredau.com/2008/09/grab-a-free-itunes-account-for-any-country/">Step by step</a> instructions to creating an iTunes account in other countries. <br /><br />Also - the imminent release of Skype for Blackberry will also be affected with a different version that is IM and inbound Skype call only - due to some <a href="http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/skype/skype-for-iphone-blocked-in-canada.asp">patent issue</a>. Because you can load BB applications via a desktop loader, that really won't do much to prevent CDN uses from getting the full application.. <br /><br />I don't think jailbroken iPhones have this geo-issue as you should be able to load any application on it, I imagine it is just a matter of time till someone releases the iPhone app. to the jailbreak community.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-28004305895089105652009-03-31T11:27:00.002-04:002009-03-31T11:32:02.111-04:00Skype tries TV AdvertisingSkype PR and marketing have finally made the decision to start using mainstream media to get the word out. Adoption rates are likely to soar in markets where these ads are running. Viral marketing has a place, and built <a href="http://share.skype.com/sites/uk/2009/03/skype_steps_into_the_world_of.html">Skype</a> to what it is today; strongly on a free calling proposition, but today it is so much more than what it was when it started. I hope these ads run in the US and Canada too in the near future.<br /><br />This is the first, in what I hope is a series - it is fantastic. I don't think you could capture Skype in 30 seconds better than this ad does.<br /><br /><div><object width="480" height="291"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8rvn1_skype-4d-conversations-tv-advert_tech&related=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8rvn1_skype-4d-conversations-tv-advert_tech&related=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="291" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8rvn1_skype-4d-conversations-tv-advert_tech">Skype 4D Conversations - TV Advert</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/SkypeConversations">SkypeConversations</a></i></div>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-55376046844886775262009-03-03T08:19:00.005-05:002009-03-13T14:42:28.348-04:00Skype makes a small ripple, but no Splash with new VM features.Over a year ago, I talked about a <a href="http://beyondthebleedingedge.blogspot.com/2007/02/skype-and-spinvox-i-guess-its-sort-of.html">Skype/Spinvox deal</a> and I was admittedly lukewarm to the idea. I have been critical of Skype's Voicemail Strategy (VM) and I think for good reason.<br /><br />Skype's VM service is proprietary and closed, this severely limits its usefulness, and for some reason Skype refuses to add any significant resources to this feature. You can't listen to a Skype VM message unless you are logged into your client. It has remained unchanged for the better part of 3-4 years, until now.<br /><br />Today, Skype has made some 'upgrades?' to this service - announced @ Ecomm (I think) Skype has (finally) integrated with the Spinvox API, and now allows Voice to SMS transcribing of your messages for a cost of .25cents PLUS the cost of up to 3 SMS messages depending on the length of the transcription. There is no email option (which would be trivial to add) so you have to pay the piper twice. I don't think this will be very significant in the long term, it is far too expensive, and the nature of Skype's VM service limits its usefulness anyway.<br /><br />The other news regarding Skype's VM feature upgrade, is the ability to receive txt ($) and email (free) alerts that you have a VM waiting for you. This is a welcome upgrade, but frankly still falls far short of what would be expected of a Voice 2.0 service today. You can also call a Skype to Go number to listen to your VM if you live one of the 11 countries that has Skype To Go numbers.<br /><br />I am (I think) rightfully critical of Skype's VM strategy. In other posts I have asked for the following as a minimum.<br /><br /><blockquote>A web interface and portal of my messages would really tie me to Skype as a communication tool, even when I am not logged onto the p2p. Every other VoIP solution currently offered in NA/or the world provides this basic form of Unified Messaging.<br /><br />Personally I wouldn't pay for the SpinVox solution, if it was free I would probably use it - I imagine more text/SMS centric people will think differently. But as a member of the Blackberry faithful I would rather just get an attachment sent to my mobile/email, that I can then store and forward a la' Apple's new Visual VM for the iPhone.</blockquote><br /><br />Messaging could be major area for revenue @ Skype, they have the ability to create something much better than what Google offers with <a href="http://www.grandcentral.com/howitworks/mobile_overvw">Grandcentral</a>, and users will gladly pay! I don't know why; but they dip their toes into the messaging pool, rather than <a href="http://www.cannonballchampionship.ca/">cannon balling</a> off the high dive. They need to make a huge splash, not a ripple.<br /><br />Jim Courtney's thoughts here: <br /><h1 class="entry-title"><a href="http://voiceontheweb.biz/2009/03/skype-voicemail-to-text-via-spinvox-tell-me-why/"><span><span style="font-size:100%;">Skype Voicemail to Text via SpinVox: Tell Me Why?</span></span></a></h1>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-64632896504525936952009-01-29T10:09:00.004-05:002009-01-29T10:34:05.740-05:00Adhearsion - Great name, great project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqKxxwoohIvAuCPIZyc0LB9WWy45n3fpECdwzyg7E2qSBWpiX_lvwBCmpK7gy9I2tNJOk9cUFfTGSIV1O9eT27ROTA75Q1k0-2JRuDZ7nbHnoT4xDVE5QulPQvUEJcEPCSwM2-g/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 38px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqKxxwoohIvAuCPIZyc0LB9WWy45n3fpECdwzyg7E2qSBWpiX_lvwBCmpK7gy9I2tNJOk9cUFfTGSIV1O9eT27ROTA75Q1k0-2JRuDZ7nbHnoT4xDVE5QulPQvUEJcEPCSwM2-g/s200/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296736879244398482" border="0" /></a><br />The Adhearsion project (which I have been following for a while) has some big news today. A new site <a href="http://adhearsion.com/">Adhearsion.com</a> and a new member of the team, and friend of mine <a href="http://blog.goecke.net/">Jason Goecke</a>. Jason knows call centres and telephony probably better than anyone I know - this guy gets Voice and Web 2.xxx. Jason is excited about Adhearsion, if I knew nothing else about the project that would be good enough to get me interested.<br /><br />Adhearsion (from the site):<br /><br /><blockquote>is a new way to write voice-enabled applications. It's not just an API or library — it's a <strong>fully-featured framework</strong>, the first of its kind, designed for maximal code reuse and intuitiveness. The name "Adhearsion" is a combination of "adhesion" and "hear" because Adhearsion shines best when integrating technologies with voice.</blockquote><br /><br />I will be watching very closely what is coming out of the Adhearsion project. This is something completely different in a very hot market segment. <a href="http://public.ifbyphone.com/?gclid=CJ7e9dOLtJgCFRJ4xgodD11UUw">IfByPhone</a>, <a href="http://www.ribbit.com/">Ribbit (now BT)</a>, <a href="http://www.voxeo.com/">Voxeo</a> are all sucessfully entering/defining the market with unique voice services platforms. Adhearsion is something a little bit different - marrying Asterisk with Ruby without any of the complications.<br /><br />Adhearsion will make the 'cool voice stuff' mainstream - I have been a long proponent of IVR becoming web/visually based - Adhearsion is the first step to that reality. I encourage you to check it out, play in the Sandbox and start combining the web and voice together in the most complicated; yet simple ways easily.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-83141036660234501422009-01-27T13:15:00.001-05:002009-01-27T13:18:11.984-05:00Superbowl - Etrade BabyIt is almost that time - the big game is on Sunday, E-trade has a teaser video out of some of the video that didn't make the cut for this years commercial.<br /><br />Classic stuff - hat time <a href="http://www.rimarkable.com/etrade-baby-superbowl-commercial-outakes">Rimarkable</a>.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U8Ev5HgGACg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U8Ev5HgGACg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-61062588783605613522009-01-05T23:44:00.003-05:002009-01-05T23:51:41.606-05:00Skype for Mac beta 2.8 with ScreenSharing!<a href="http://www.disruptivetelephony.com/2009/01/skype-28-beta-for-mac-os-x-provides-screen-sharing-wifi-access-chat-features-and-twitter-like-mood-messages.html">Dan York</a> has the scoop on the new Skype for Mac beta 2.8. Probably the most interesting for me is the Screensharing feature. This has been a favourite of Skype developer partners for some time, and it is now native to the Skype for Mac client. It even supports dual monitors!! full screen and application only.<br /><br />It was announced at the Showstoppers event this evening - pre MacWorld.<br /><br />New features (from Dan's Blog):<br /><ul><li> Skype Access </li><li> Screen Sharing (awesome)<br /></li><li> Improved chat management: ability to sort chats in the drawer and set priorities to chats </li><li> Quick Add: much easier to add people to chats </li><li> Mood message chat: mood message updates from your friends as chat messages </li><li> Large avatars: 256x256 pixels </li><li> Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests </li><li> Ability to add your own notes to contacts </li></ul>You can check out the UI on Dan's podcast.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AjJ0yGHu6R4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AjJ0yGHu6R4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-68818171039852607212008-12-03T16:04:00.003-05:002008-12-03T16:34:44.783-05:00Circumventing SMS - Nokia takes on Blackberry Messenger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mail_on_ovi_04_lowres-560x399.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 347px;" src="http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mail_on_ovi_04_lowres-560x399.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Nokia has launched a push email/IM service called OVI. It is a very smart move for Nokia, as they have 200M handsets worldwide and they have just opened the door to low cost or free federated text, media and presence connections between all of them.<br /><br />One of my absolute favourite features of my Blackberry is the <a href="http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/im/blackberry_messenger.jsp">BB Messenger</a> application - it is a great IM/File transfer/Voice Note Sender/presence app., exclusively for BB owners on any network anywhere, you exchange PINS and you're good to go. Until you start using it, it is hard to explain how handy and productive this application is. It provides INSTANT communication with other BB users, it is so handy in the office, a tradeshow or an airport - you can't believe it. The best part of course is it is completely free for anyone who has a Blackberry, no bandwith charges - only a small user fee per month on most carriers worldwide.<br /><br />Now that Nokia is rolling out this <a href="http://betalabs.nokia.com/blog/2008/12/03/mail-on-ovi-email-from-nokia-including-mobile-and-web-based-access/">OVI</a> service globally (Australia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela to start) it will take very little time for this to start resonating with there customer base - I expect Apple to follow suit with something for iPhone users as well. <br /><br />Long live the unfederated IM networks.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-2673606105383963632008-11-11T00:17:00.003-05:002008-11-11T00:36:13.155-05:00Gapless Playback is irritating...My love affair with my new Mac continues, but there are a few things that are a bit irritating. iTunes insists on running a process called "Determining Gapless Playback Information" - this process looks at all the albums in your collection and with some algorithm allows you to play them back with no crossfade gap. Good in theory, but bad if you have a 250 GB music collection on a shared network drive. There is no way to turn this feature off, and it basically renders iTunes completely useless while it runs.<br /><br />It will probably take 2 days to chug through my collection, and once finished; since I don't rip entire albums for the most part, it probably won't have much effect.<br /><br />I also have all the album art for my collection, but iTunes seems bent on downloading it again, I can't seem to get it to 'see' that it already exists.<br /><br />I think there are some ways to tinker with your iTunes folder, but I haven't figured out quite everything.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8889810.post-33268571124852377352008-11-07T22:14:00.006-05:002008-11-10T15:08:42.948-05:00Transfer your Skype IM history from PC to MacHaving recently made the jump to Mac (and loving it) the first thing I installed on my new MacBook was Skype. It is fantastic on the Mac by the way - with the built in iSight and screaming fast processor - the HD video and voice sessions on the Mac are incredible. The omni-directional mic is just fantastic. The Mac was built for Skype.<br /><br />Much like my <a href="http://beyondthebleedingedge.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-have-been-liberated-mac-switch-is.html">Outlook .pst file</a>, I wanted to transfer my chat/IM history to my Mac. It is quite simple and here are the steps.<br /><br />First - on your PC go to: C: > Documents and Settings > "username" > Application Data > Skype >"username"<br /><br />and copy the entire "username" file that you want to transfer.<br /><br />Copy this information to a thumbdrive and transfer it to your mac desktop to which you have Skype already installed. Place the folder on your Mac desktop and open Finder.<br /><br />Navigate to "Username" > Library > Application Support > Skype and then drag your username file from your desktop to the Skype folder and replace the folder with the new one you are dragging.<br /><br />Presto.. start Skype and you have your IM history.<br /><br />I did get an odd "password is incorrect" notice on my first boot of Skype, but after I entered it - I had my IM history intact.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14445481763530062547noreply@blogger.com7