MacLife.gr

Αυτή την εβδομάδα “χτυπάει” η ιστοσελίδα Gimzodo που αναφέρει ορισμένες λεπτομέρειες για το επερχόμενο Mac Tablet μέσω ανώνυμου “tipster”. O συγκεκριμένος υποστηρίζει πως είχε την δυνατότητα να δουλέψει σε mockup της συσκευής, η οποία μοιάζει μ’ ένα μεγαλύτερο iPhone. Επισημαίνει πως η οθόνη του είναι θα είναι 10″, το πίσω μέρος μοιάζει με του iPhone και διαθέτει ένα Home Button. Βέβαια ο “tipster” υποστηρίζει πως η εξωτερική εμφάνιση μπορεί ν’ αλλάξει μέχρι να διατεθεί η συσκευή. Ακόμη θα διατεθούν δύο εκδόσεις, μία εκπαιδευτική(?) και μία που θα διαθέτει web κάμερα.[next]

Related articles by Zemanta

• iPhone 3.0’s ‘broken’ push messaging caused by unlockers, dirty keys (engadget.com)
• Apple Releases iPhone Update To Fix SMS Hack (cultofmac.com)

ShareFlow é uma ferramenta criada pela Zenbe, empresa focada no desenvolvimento de webmails e listas colaborativas de tarefas que, agora, ataca com seu projeto mais ambicioso. O ShareFlow serve para melhorar o fluxo de conversações de projetos feitas através de e-mail e que envolvem diversos integrantes de forma colaborativa. O fluxo das informações postadas pode ser acessado em qualquer lugar via e-mail ou dispositivo móvel, os novos tópicos são facilmente criados e organizados, pode-se anexar arquivos de até 100 MB com visualização rápida, visualização de todos os envolvidos que podem ser facilmente removidos ou convidados, privacidade garantida pois somente os convidados podem participar, criação de eventos, calendário e chat, entre outros. Até a chegada do GoogleWave, o ShareFlow é a ferramenta.

Artigos relacionados:

• Shareflow: It’s Google Wave, But Available Now (readwriteweb.com)
• New Google Wave Will Change How We Email, Collaborate, Blog And Share Documents (pctechmojo.com)
• Top 20 Sites And Engines (butterflymedia.ro)
• ZenBe releases Shareflow, seems similar to Google Wave (downloadsquad.com)
• Shareflow shows the future of group communication – and it’s not email (digital.venturebeat.com)

Company: Mobile One / M1
Product: M1 Mobile IM
Mobile model used: Sony Ericsson W810i

I subscribed to this service via sms in Feb’09. I had difficulties using it, so I called up M1 for help. They suggested for me to unsubscribe from it and re-subscribe, but it still it didn’t work. Hence, I was asked to go down to their outlet to check my mobile phone. When I was there, the customer service staff did not know how to use the service on my mobile phone as well, they said they will call me up after further investigation.

A few days later, they called up and YES it worked!

I received my mobile bill and I was charged for the subscription. Called them up to verify as it said on the site that it’s 6 months free subscription. They said it’s free for the 1st time I subscribe but not the 2nd time, so I explained to them that I was told to unsubscribe and re-subscribe by their staff. So they have been waiving off the subscriptions for the past few months.


My promotion was for 6 months, currently they are only having a 3 month promotion. Need to monitor my bills closely.
So I received my bill yesterday and noticed it was pretty high. I called up and asked what’s that ‘mobile bundle’ thing they charged me for, the CS explained that it was a gprs charge.
GPRS huh..

as you can see above, they did not mention about gprs charges.
In fact, before I decided to subscribe I did ask the CS about it and they said you will only be charged for the monthly subscription (waved due to promotion) and per login and I will not have to pay for gprs usage.

By the way, each time you login if you do not type for a period of time you will get disconnected automatically.

I didn’t argue with the CS about the gprs charges, just not someone who’s good at it
BUT I really want to warn others about the charges, since it is not clearly stated on the site.

The connection of this service is not bad, you do get some disruptions but it is VERY RARE, maybe 1 in 10. Useful if you chat often with your overseas friends, if not I do not recommend it. The M1 staffs were polite and helpful as well.

my rating for this product: 2/5

Wat tools and facilities do we need to provide for our employees if they all need to work from home. This subject suddenly becomes urgent now with the flu starting to rise everywhere.

1. Reliable internet connection with enough bandwidth, a mobile UMTS connection is nice to have as a backup
2. Laptop, with microphone and preferrably webcam
3. Remote access to the company network and fileservers  such as a VPN
4. Communication and collaboration tools such as phone (VOIP, softphone), mobile phone, email (webbased and VPN), instant messaging and chat, web conferencing with colleagues but also clients

Which web conferencing solution should we choose:

1. WebEx, market leader, expensive, feature rich, got a direct reply from customer service
2. Adobe Connect, free version available, subscription only possible from US?, feature rich, not expensive
3. Citrix GoToMeeting, expensive, feature rich, could not find a way to contact sales
4. DimDim, cheap, SAAS, lacks a few features such as decent application sharing
5. Microsoft LiveMeeting, expensive, feature rich, office integration, both inhouse hosted and SAAS

And which instant messaging solution should we choose:

1. Microsoft Office Communication Server,  expensive, usable via client and web, hosted inhouse, good voip and video, secure, standards based, application sharing, active directory integration, office integration
2. MSN, is used by a lot of employees, free, usable via client or web, reasonable voip, video and application sharing, available everywhere but not secure, no active directory integration, not standards based
3. Skype, free, usable via client, available everywhere, good voip, video and application sharing,  secure, no active directory integration, not standards based
4. Google Talk, free, usable via client and web, available everywhere, good voip and video, secure, standards based, no application sharing, no active directory integration
5. Lotus Sametime, expensive, usable via client and web, hosted inhouse, secure,  no application sharing, active directory integration
6. Openfire XMPP, free, usable via client and web, hosted inhouse, good voip and video, secure, standards based, application sharing, active directory integration, can gateway to other networks such as MSN

For those of you who were unable to make yesterday’s opening workshop we have uploaded copies of the powerpoints we used to SlideShare and have embedded copies in this post.

Opening workshop presentation

Week 1: Blogs

Key points from the workshop:

Instant messaging

We introduced IM as a way of communicating with your fellow participants – please do have a go at using it – though do be clear who you are accepting as friends. See the Instant Messaging post on the programme blog for further information.

We will be emailing a list of participants and their hotmail/live email details to enable you to add them to your list of contacts.

People in the workshop had problems with MSN/Live web messenger – we’re still not 100% sure what caused it – but hopefully when you get back to your desk you won’t have the same problems. Some people got around it by using Firefox (a browser) – another option may be to download the full version of MSN/Live messenger.

Let us know if you are still having problems and we’ll try and sort them out.

Learning groups

We have introduced learning groups this year to facilitate better interaction both between participants and between participants and the Learning 2.0 team.

You have been assigned to a group – for these details see the Learning groups page on the programme blog. Two members of the Learning 2.0 team will be overseeing each of these groups and acting as mentors.

We ask that you follow what your fellow team members are doing, and make the effort to engage with them by commenting on their blogs or instant messaging them. For information on how to comment on a blog, see Katharine’s opening presentation above or take a look at the blogs post on the programme blog

Please also email the Learning 2.0 team your hotmail/live email and blog details ASAP if you haven’t already done so!

It pays to read the fine print. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out if at all.

Sprint’s ‘Unlimited’ Messaging Package Charges You Per Message [Sprint]: ”

Sprint offers an ‘Everything Messaging Family’ package that promises ‘unlimited nationwide, text, picture and video messaging to anyone on any network.’ The catch? Unlimited seems to mean ‘you have the capability to send messages, but you’ll still have to pay for each message you send.’ Erica has called in twice to clear up the mistake, but the CSRs are telling her it’s not a mistake. Oh. Well then, is it a lie?

Technorati Tags:
CellPhone, cellphone, Cellular, Current Events, Digital Age, Digital Pictures, InstantMessaging, iPhone, Nextel, price, pricegouging, Samsung, Social Media, Social Networking, Sprint, stress, video, unlimited nationwide, text messaging, picture messaging, video messaging, Unlimited

I just finished reading an article on Insider Higher Ed.  It is entitled, “When IM is the Best Way to Stay on Top“.

In the article, Ivy Tech Community College is highlighted (along with Grand Rapids Community College) in the use of Wimba Pronto as a way to better connect with students.

The new Wimba Pronto includes a set of features that will enable faculty and students to better communicate during office hours.  The new features such as: video, application sharing, and instant message queing will allow faculty to have effective online exchanges with students.

In additon, there is potential for campus departments, tutorial labs, and help desks to leverage instant messaging for student support services.

The support for students, and their learning, is extensive.  Students can get support for their learning well beyond the typical “email” interchange by using any of the following channels:

1. Questions in the Face to Face Classroom
2. Questions in Discussion Boards (Blackboard)
3. Face to Face Office Hours
4. Online Office Hours (Wimba Pronto)
5. Face to Face Tutorial Lab Visits
6. Online Tutorial Lab (Wimba Pronto)
7. Face to Face Library Visits
8. Online Library Support (Wimba Pronto)
9. Face to Face Help Desk Support
10. Online Help Desk (Wimab Pronto)

The possibilities for leveraging Wimba Pronto is almost endless. Especially if you roll in the application sharing, some whiteboard technology, video, and voip.

Next up… how do we do this entirely on the web?  Without client support.  Or perhaps… how can we add a mobile technology spin, say, txt messaging and mobile web browsing and IM?

Website: www.aim.com
iPhone site: N/A
App Store link: [1]
Cost: Free
Uses: Network

Until Push technology is implemented, I hate AIM on the iPhone. In the best of times, I only pop in and out of IM. That’s cause I’m usually online at weird times, like 3 am on my nights off. You will have much better luck using something asynchronous such as email or twitter. AIM you have to keep the program open. And frankly I don’t want to just sit there with my phone powered up with AIM sitting on the screen in case someone wants to IM me. Just ain’t going to happen.

Pidgin ist ein Multimessenger, der mehrere IM-Konten gleichzeitig anzeigen und bedienen kann. Neben ICQ, MSN, Jabber und Konsorten kann man mit Pidgin über ein Plugin auch Skype nutzen. Das wollte ich mal testen.

Ich nutze üblicherweise die portablen Versionen von Skype und Pidgin, d.h. Versionen, die man auch ohne Installation (also auch z.B. von einem USB-Stick aus) nutzen kann. Zu finden sind die PortableSkype und PortablePidgin wie auch andere portable Programm bei Portableapps.com.

Zurück zum Plugin. Das Plugin findet sich hier. Die Installervariante funktioniert bei den portablen Versionen von Pidgin nicht, da muss man händisch die Anpassungen vornehmen. Dazu die libskype.dll runterladen und in das Plugin-Verzeichnis von Pidgin (das wäre PidginPortable\App\Pidgin\plugins) kopieren. Dann – so fern es läuft – Pidgin beenden. Skype und anschließend Pidgin neu starten.

Unter Konten -> Verwalten eines neues Konto mit dem Protokoll Skype hinzufügen, Benutzername und Passwort von Skype eingeben und speichern.

Anschließend wird Skype meckern, dass jemand Unbekanntes zugreifen möchte. Das bestätigen und schon sollten die Skypekontakte in Pidgin auftauchen. Skype muss allerdings immer im Hintergrund laufen, sonst funktioniert der Zugriff nicht.

To enable you all to have an additional means of communicating both with each other as well as with us, the Learning 2.0 team we will be teaching you how to use MSN web messenger.

To use MSN web messenger, you need to have set up your own hotmail account (see the pre-workshop preparation post on this blog).

Step by step instructions to using MSN Web Messenger

1. Go to the URL http://webmessenger.msn.com/

2. Click on Start MSN Web Messeneger

3. Type in your hotmail/live email address and your password and click on Sign In – the MSN Web Messenger window should appear

4. The first step is to look for people you know – those of you who do not make it to the workshop we will circulate details of people’s email addresses

5. Click on Add a contact and type in an email address to the window that appears.  They should now be added to your contacts list.

6. To send an instant message, click on a contacts name – as long as they are online a message box should appear.  Click in the bottom box, type your message and click on send.

Further reading

Spanbauer, S. (2004) Internet tips: A grown-up’s guide to instant messaging. [Online] Available from http://www.pcworld.com/article/114161/internet_tips_a_grownups_guide_to_instant_messaging.html [Accessed 24th July 2008]

Some of you probably already have a hotmail account, but if you don’t we ask that before you attend next Thursday’s opening workshop, that you please set up a hotmail/live email account.

To do this, go to: http://uk.msn.com/ and click on sign up/sign in on the right hand side.  Then click on Sign up and follow the instructions.

If you have any problems, please Email the Learning 2.0 team

After reading Lifehacker’s article on the Five Best Instant Messengers I am willing to predict that Digsby is the new kid on the block when it comes to Instant Messengers. After reading the post, I was overwhelmed with the positive feedback posted by readers about Digsby as I had never heard of it (probably because I am a mac user). However, I am now waiting with excitement for the mac version to come out! If it can do all it says it can with the one application – just thinking about that makes me excited! How good would it be to have an IM client that you can use to chat with multiple IM accounts, email notifications for email accounts AND…… Social Networking notifications. I’m hyperventilating thinking about it!!!

Still, meebo is the best bet here in the library for our support Instant Messenger because there are issues with changing passwords every 45 days to get through the proxy server!

Such an awesome idea, wish I had thought of it!

Somewhere in the last six months, the iPhone overtook the MacBook Pro as my primary computer. I don’t know when it happened—it was an imperceptible, gradual shift in the way I organized my life. I intended my iPhone to be used as a lifeline for those times I didn’t have WiFi for my laptop. I knew this included all of the time I spent at work, but I’d gotten along fine for the prior three years being disconnected from my personal communications during the business day. I thought would be using the iPhone’s email capabilities for “emergency” communications: last-minute Toastmasters meeting coordination and the like¹.

Now, I use the iPhone every day and it handles my the majority of personal computing needs. It’s convenient and (generally) a joy to use. I don’t appreciate being sent to my secondary computer for tasks I should be able to accomplish on my primary device. I don’t like opening my MacBookPro to surf the Web. Or to read email, record appointments, update contact information, or even to tweet. In fact, I only look forward to using my MBP for coding, blogging, writing documents, and image manipulation. For my everyday online activities, I far prefer using my iPhone. When I have to use my MBP for an “iPhone activity”, I get irritated.

The irritation has been increasing over the last couple of months. Mostly, my irritation is incited by Web sites that don’t lend themselves to ease of use on the iPhone (for example, my beloved Highrise)—or worse, completely disrespect the fact that I’m on a low-bandwidth EDGE connection (for example, Grub Hub, which I saw advertised on the CTA but had to dismiss because the home page took more than three minutes to load).

With the release of the SDK, the iPhone is graduating to become a full computing platform. It will move beyond email and Web sites². I anticipate that the coming year will see the release of all the applications I need to avoid cracking open my MBP for any of the mundane stuff. Finally, I’ll get to use my iPhone for instant messaging, enjoyable Twittering, Highrise, and WordPress.com administration.

Even if I have to build those applications myself.

¹ Of course, looking back on it, I note that my first mobile phone was purchased “for emergencies”, but very quickly became my primary phone service. Perhaps this is a general pattern for adoption of new technologies.

² To be honest, Web applications have really carried the iPhone farther than I expected. There are some very talented and dedicated people out there who pushed the Web on MobileSafari far beyond what I imagined possible.

This weekend I’ve installed Mac OS X 10.3.9 on the Apple Powermac “Quicksilver” I’ve found abandoned in a magazine at work, since newest releases of the Apple operating systems (but most probably Spotlight) isn’t too kind over an ATA66 hard disk connection.

A bunch of software isn’t kept up to date with the mainstream release with this platform, so for example I couldn’t use the latest Adium for instant messaging. Fire is also a dismissed software so I choose to use my long time favourite PSI instant messaging client to manage this task.

But there was a little problem, both the official PSI faq and the official GTalk faq gave me wrong information to correctly connect to the GTalk server.

As you can see in the (clickable) image above, I had to use the “default” 5222 port to connect to the talk.google.com server instead of the 5223 port mentioned in both faqs.

Hope this helps somebody!

Сегодня наконец-то нашёл время потестить ajchat. Наподобие Meebo, Gtalk и e-messenger.net, ajchat – служба доставки мгновенных сообщений, реализованная на технологии Ajax, которая позволяет отправлять сообщения как зарегистрированным пользователям, так и анонимным. Продукт бесплатный. Блог авторов ajchat доступен здесь.

На данный момент, похоже, что любой пользователь может присоединиться к любой комнате. Все комнаты доступны с главной страницы.

Есть также опция интеграции чата прямиком на Ваш собственный сайт, но похоже, что она не работает… Или я чего не так понял… Прикольная фича, хотя некоторые системы уже позволяют это делать довольно давно… например Userplane.

По материалам: Techcrunch

30 ноября был запущен Flash-сайт Gtalkr, позволяющий использовать интернет-мессенджер Gtalk компании Google в сети интернет. Этот сайт позволяет вам иметь доступ к вашему Gtalk-аккаунту, не загружая клиентского ПО, к тому же с любого компьютера в сети, где бы вы ни были.
Сравнение неизбежно будет проводиться с довольно популярным сервисом Meebo – аналогичным сервисом (также построенным на технологии Ajax), который позволяет своим пользователям одновременно иметь доступ сразу к целому набору интернет-мессенджеров (в число которых, в частности, включается и gtalk).

Gtalkr использует немного другой подход, концентрируясь только на Gtalk и добавляя различные дополнительные функции, тем самым побуждая пользователей использовать данный web-сайт скорее как свою домашнюю страницу или инструментальную панель. К примеру, вы можете читать свою Gmail-почту на этом сайте, использовать карты Yahoo (карты Google не имеют открытого Flash API, в отличие от карт Yahoo). Gtalkr также планируют использовать дополнительные сервисы, такие как del.icio.us и flickr. Независимые Flash-разработчики могут создавать свои собственные расширения.
В общем, это довольно полезный инструмент, и как и большинство Flash-приложений, которые я видел, также имеет хороший дизайн. Пока что не поддерживается голосовая связь (только текстовые IM сообщения).
См. блоги Brian Benzinger и Om Malik для дальнейшей информации.

Использованные материалы:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/11/30/gtalkr-flash-gtalk/

30 ноября был запущен Flash-сайт Gtalkr, позволяющий использовать интернет-мессенджер Gtalk компании Google в сети интернет. Этот сайт позволяет вам иметь доступ к вашему Gtalk-аккаунту, не загружая клиентского ПО, к тому же с любого компьютера в сети, где бы вы ни были.
Сравнение неизбежно будет проводиться с довольно популярным сервисом Meebo - аналогичным сервисом (также построенным на технологии Ajax), который позволяет своим пользователям одновременно иметь доступ сразу к целому набору интернет-мессенджеров (в число которых, в частности, включается и gtalk).

Gtalkr использует немного другой подход, концентрируясь только на Gtalk и добавляя различные дополнительные функции, тем самым побуждая пользователей использовать данный web-сайт скорее как свою домашнюю страницу или инструментальную панель. К примеру, вы можете читать свою Gmail-почту на этом сайте, использовать карты Yahoo (карты Google не имеют открытого Flash API, в отличие от карт Yahoo). Gtalkr также планируют использовать дополнительные сервисы, такие как del.icio.us и flickr. Независимые Flash-разработчики могут создавать свои собственные расширения.
В общем, это довольно полезный инструмент, и как и большинство Flash-приложений, которые я видел, также имеет хороший дизайн. Пока что не поддерживается голосовая связь (только текстовые IM сообщения). 
См. блоги Brian Benzinger и Om Malik для дальнейшей информации.

Использованные материалы:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/11/30/gtalkr-flash-gtalk/