Skype 5 for Mac out of beta - iChat copy

Skype has released the latest version of its communication software; it's out of beta and ready for download. The beta version of Skype 5 for Mac has been available for a little while now, but this is the final version they've settled on, featuring a more minimal interface with simpler views, less whitespace and more information about contacts and communications all condensed in one place.

The group video calling that was available for free in the beta has been moved into the Premium subscription model, where it's included with customer support calls for a day pass of US$4.99, or an $8.99 per month subscription. New users get to use the service for free for seven days, so if you just want to try it out, you can do that.

When you can iChat or Face Time for FREE, might be a stretch to pay for a subscription.

Verizon dishes on iPhone hotspot pricing

Earlier on Tuesday, Verizon announced that its unlimited data plan will stick around for a little while after the iPhone’s launch. Speaking toMacworld later in the day, Verizon Wireless’s Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Brenda Raney, also confirmed pricing details about the mobile hotspot option the carrier announced at the Verizon iPhone’s introduction earlier this month.
http://bit.ly/dVmXZN 

Viber App for iPhone Updated

An update to Viber has hit the app store today. The first release of this free VOIP client came out early last month. The voice quality, and the notifications are one of the best apps on the market. The audio quality of Viber is heads above Skype, and the nice option is it doesn't have to be running to get a call notification. The person you're calling doesn't have to have Viber, the call will be placed using your regular phone - but if you invite your friends to use Viber, all your calls are free.

Most of the update to Viber is for bug fixes, and there is also an update to the privacy policy. Viber servers get a copy of your address book names and phone numbers so the app knows which of your contacts uses Viber without seeing your contact notes or email addresses. New features include a call quality monitor, better Bluetooth support, and fixes to international dialing.

Viber is become the app of choice for our miltary soliders who are frequent calling back home. Viber is voice only, no video calling for now.

Swiss Army Knives with SSD and Flash Drives

It seems that Victorinox is not happy to settle for making some of the most coolest (if impractical) multipurpose knives, but also want to make some of the coolest (if also a tad impractical) flash drives! They just announced Victorinox is a 256GB flash drive with a USB 2.0 / eSATA combo interface. Victorinox claims it is the smallest "Solid State Drive" in the world and it certainly is awfully darn small for such a big flash drive... but we don't know if we would go as far as saying it is the smallest or not! Sadly, while it is an eSATA enabled device (as well as USB 2.0) the performance specifications of this drive are also small. Victorinox claims it is only capable of 100MB/s reads and a down right anemic 35MB/s write speed. This really is one of the few times we are glad a drive is NOT SuperSpeed USB enabled as USB 3.0 would be wasted on this poor performer.
While the ultra small size coupled with ultra LARGE storage capacity is certainly nice to see, what really sets this apart from the typical flash drive is the inclusion of a small 96 x 48 pixel monochrome e-ink display for personalization! Even better still is the fact that you can fully customize exactly what is and is not displayed on this itty-bitty display. Victorinox Secure SSD includes some examples such as displaying your "Documents information's, Drive information's, folder structures, backup information's, graphics and others." but we are sure that your imagination is going to be the real limiter. Throw in free backup and synchronization software and Victorinox may just have a funky winner on their hands. Though it really is shame that the performance of this drive is lacking. There is no word on pricing or availability, but we are sure the 256GB version will be uber pricey but available pretty soon.

Apple releases updates for iDVD, MacBook Air sleep release

Apple has two new updates that you'll see in Software Update right now. iDVD is first -- it's now upgraded to version 7.1.1, and the upgrade improves overall stability, as well as compatibility when bringing in slideshows directly from iPhoto. And the MacBook Air has a fix for some issues with the system going to sleep.

iTunes to merge with Safari? Be a web-only app?

Not much for Rumors, but today there's one that might make sense.

Rumor is that Apple is preparing to discontinue the iTunes software application found on Macs and PC’s and replace it with a web-only application that is exclusive to Safari. The move is said to incorporate Apple’s new technology from Lala and leverage their new North Carolina data center. You will potentially download all your iTunes content from the web and play it through new iTunes controls in Safari. The move would bring a large new market to Apple’s Safari web browser, and the browser’s market share will probably climb significantly.

Three Guys and a Podcast claims the new iTunes/Safari application will be unveiled later this year at Apple’s annual Fall music event. The report’s source claims “moving iTunes organizational side-bar into Safari isn’t a monumental task.”

On the eve of what most people might not realize is that the iTunes App Store is poised to reach the 10 billion app mark in less than half the time it took for iTunes to sell 10 billion songs.

Say tuned, I'm sure things will get more interesting...

ClickToPlugin stops Web Annoyances from Loading

If you’re familiar with ClickToFlash and it’s Safari 5 extension ports, you’ll be familiar with the concept behind ClickToPlugin. Instead of just blocking Flash content from loading, this Safari 5 Extension halts Flash, Java, Silverlight, Windows Media, and QuickTime content from loading automatically.

Instead, you’ll see a grey placeholder box that can be activated with a click. After activation, the plug-in content works the same as it would sans-extension. This is a great way to save CPU cycles, battery life, bandwidth, and hassle. I can’t recommend this extension any higher.

If you would like plug-in content to load on specific URLs, you can easily add them to the “Greenlist.” The opposite is true if you add a URL to the “Redlist” — that blocks all plug-in content on specific domains. Also, there are a good handful of setting you can tweak as far as h.264 replacement goes for Flash content. Auto-play, maximum size, and buffer settings are all up to you.

http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/

iOS 4.3: New Gestures, Orientation Lock & Mobile Hotspot

iOS 4.3 is coming for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch bringing Mobile Hotspot, restoring the screen orientation lock on the iPad to what is now the ringer and new multitouch gestures.Following the iPhone’s launch on Verizon is news that AT&T is now considering mobile Hotspot support and the feature would be added to iOS 4.3.

The ringer button will once again control screen orientation lock. Apple changed the ringer button’s function to mute the device that outraged many users. IOS 4.3 will revert the changes Apple made. To mute the device, you’ll have to hold down the lower volume button.

New touch gestures are coming to the iPad for App switching. The latest beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps.

Apple iPad 2 maybe here by April

iOS 4.3 beta is out and the rumors a flying about the new features the next-generation iPad. iPad 2 is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on either April 2 or April 9, 2011. Since the inaugural iPad dropped on April 3, 2010, it would stand to reason that the second model would appear about one calendar year later.

So will the new new iPad will have a Retina display (although most Apple pundits agree that there's no way it can match the 326 pixels per inch resolution of the iPhone 4 and latest iPod touch), front and back cameras, and a USB port.

Much of the other information in the post is similar to what we've seen happen to the original iPad over the past year. MacNotes.de says their source believes the new iPad will sell only in the U.S. for three months, and will be sold only through Apple Stores for up to half a year. International sales begin in July of 2011, but other U.S. retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart may have to wait until October or so to sell the new model. Here we go with the build up...

iRig Mic: Handheld Condensor Microphone for iPhone or iPad

The first handheld microphone for iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®
With the iRig Mic, you can make quality vocal and audio recordings anywhere for your iOS device. It is ideal for the singer, vocalist and songwriter on the move, but also perfect for recording speeches, instruments, performances or any other sound sources in the studio, on stage or in the field...

The Verizon iPhone

The arrangement between Apple and AT&T was groundbreaking at a time when carriers tightly controlled the appearance and function of their phones, and put Silicon Valley companies like Apple and Google in the wireless industry’s driver’s seat.”

While Apple feels it has had tremendous success through its exclusive relationship with AT&T, it recognized that it needs to partner with other carriers i.e. Verizon to grow sales faster in the US.” 

Verizon has partnered with HTC and Motorola over the last year to promote Android phones in a hedge bet against BlackBerry’s inability to deliver a worth competitor to the iPhone. However, the carrier has since seen a drop in Android interest with the arrival of iPhone 4.

But AT&T isn't going away, the test will be if Verizon network is large enough to handle all the new iPhones and then will see if AT&T's GSM-based network is faster than Verizon's legacy technology.

Mac App Store

Apple today announced that over one million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in the first day. With more than 1,000 free and paid apps, the Mac App Store brings the revolutionary App Store experience to the Mac, you buy them using your iTunes account, download and install them in just one step. Today, the arrival of Aperture on the App Store is  a direct shot at Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom software. Aperture has a massive price cut, and it can be downloaded for only $79.  Adobe's Lightroom currently retails for $199 as a physically purchased product. Which software is going to dominate? An easy-to-find, $79 direct download or a physical copy of software for $199... Boxed software sounds pretty silly."

Convert video to iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV easily with Handbrake

Convert video to iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV easily with Handbrake. The HandBrake Project released HandBrake 0.9.5 on Tuesday with support for unencrypted Blu-ray discs. HandBrake is a Mac OS X application that lets users convert DVDs into video files that can be played on computers and portable media devices like the iPhone and Apple TV.- http://bit.ly/hubXeJ

Cycle Open Applications and Close with Two Keys

Holding the Command key (aka the Apple key) and pressing Tab will cycle through your open applications. It's easier to Cmd-Tab if you are Copy (Cmd-C) and Pasting (Cmd-V) to and from various applications. As you hold down the Command key you can close the application by pressing the Q key.

iPhone - iPad Search Tip

It's called Inspect Link, when you do a search in Safari a list of results will appear in your window, hold your finger on it to see where it goes. You can also choose to copy it, open it in the current window or open it in a new window. This will work on any link you view in Safari.

Emailing in Safari

Here is a fast and easy way to email web pages or links using Safari. Under the File Menu and choose Mail Contents of This Page or Mail Link to This Page.

or on the iPhone: