Skype 1.5 for Mac Is Here

Attention all our family and friends. This is something I’ve been waiting on for some time now. If you haven’t used Skype yet, I suggest you check it out. Available for Windows and Mac, Skype is a VoIP client that lets you make telephone calls from your computer, as well as contact other Skype users. For now until 2007, calls to phones anywhere in the U.S. are free. A USB headset is recommended for placing calls to any phone.

With the video capability in Skype now, I’m not sure how well it works with our iSight yet… I’m hoping I can find out soon. Anyone want to help experiment? The Windows version already supports videochat, so hopefully there will be no more barriers to the videochat technology. Last but not least, keep in mind that the video-supported version is in beta status! Skype cannot make claims as to how stable it is, nor can I.

(Click the thumbnail for the full pic of me setting video prefs in Skype!)

Update: As you can see, Skype recognized the iSight just fine. The frame rate is slow compared to what I’m used to with iChat, but not abhorrently slow. It’ll be interesting to see how it handles a full videochat call!

This first link is to PCWorld.com:

PCWorld’s 100 Best Products of the Year

I loved reading about all the cool products, even though it was making me go green with gadget envy! Another plus: Apple has five products on the list.

This second link is to a rather scathing article by MacDailyNews, going on overload about Microsoft’s latest attempt at anti-virus tactics:

Mafiasoft launches Windows protection racket

I have to agree with a lot of comments on this article. Especially one user who said:

“It would be like buying a Pinto and Ford selling you fire insurance instead of fixing the flaw…. that’s just not acceptable.”

I DO think MDN’s comment went a little too far:

“If you’re stupid enough to pay Microsoft $50 per year to “protect” the operating system that Microsoft should have made secure in the first place, then you deserve to use Windows for the rest of your life.”

If not for that comment, Windows users around the world will likely become very peeved at MS in a relatively short amount of time!

… its use can be for ultimate benefit of mankind… or ultimate detriment of mankind.

I haven’t been living under a rock, so I know all about RFID chips, especially since the company I work for has been using them for inventory tracking for a few years now. That, in it of itself, is not a problem. I believe I’m completely objective when it comes to this technology being used for tracking and security, along with the fact that RFID is still relatively in its infancy. A taste of things to come, to be sure.

Do any search on Google, Yahoo, AOL, Lycos… whatever. Type in “RFID” in regards to clothing, currency and, more recently, security and implants. I won’t post any links here. I won’t spoonfeed info on this to everyone. I’m sure you all have been reading/watching the news lately. I encourage people to formulate their own opinions and thoughts on this matter. My only prevailing thought, when I see all that was before and what is now forecasted by our own society, is this:

Saints preserve us. God help us all.

Maybe I’m being a worry-wart… but I’ll be keeping a wary eye on this.

Update: I did say that I don’t want to “spoonfeed” information to everyone. However, here is an un-biased detailed report on a proposition for RFID policies by privacyrights.org. It seems to cover all bases, and I’m hoping no one finds any loopholes in it.

Multi-Touch Interaction Research (Link)

Watch the video on the linked page. If you look closely at parts of the presentation, you may notice it’s being driven by Apple’s OS X.

This could very well go hand-in-hand with the iPod rumour I wrote about in my last entry. I’m not thinking just for iPods, though. Current PDA’s and cell/smart phones using this technology would be killer. Let’s not forget about possibly having a desktop with no keyboard, mouse or tower… just a screen. Yes, I know there are tablet PC’s already, but just imagine what Apple would do with this refinement of technology.

I’ve already started this year’s Christmas wish list. This is the first item…

Portable feline-butt cauterizer

… So gimme!

Thanks in advance!

(Disclaimer: calling a laser by that name is just for inane humor’s sake. I would never advocate animal abuse, as I love cats and other animals. However, lots of birds and mice wrote positive responses to this post!)