Tag Archives: instant messaging

Rounds updates video chat app, lets users browse the web together (video)

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Rounds updates video chat app, lets users browse the web together video

Rounds is doing the rounds (natch!) this morning with a significant update to its video calling and instant messaging app. The company teamed up with Channel.me to add co-browsing to an already broad list of features. Users can now browse the web together during a video chat and see / control the same page at the same time. In terms of security, the experience mimics two people surfing the web in the same location (usernames are visible but passwords are hidden. for example). While users can enter any URL, the app also includes an icon grid of compatible sites, such as Google (for search), Wikipedia, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Amazon and eBay -- to name a few. As a refresher, Rounds lets friends watch YouTube videos and play games together during a video chat and even apply filters and scribble over each-others live video streams. It also supports instant messaging and photo sharing and ties it all together with Facebook Login. The app is available for most Android and iOS devices but is optimized to run on phones. Hit the break for the promo video and obligatory PR.

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Make Skype Calls Directly From Outlook.com Inbox, Preview Released in UK Today

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Today marks an event of utmost importance in history. Microsoft is joining Skype with Outlook.com thereby making communication a cinch. According to official Skype Blog, now all conversations can...
    


Make Skype Calls Directly From Outlook.com Inbox, Preview Released in UK Today

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Today marks an event of utmost importance in history. Microsoft is joining Skype with Outlook.com thereby making communication a cinch. According to official Skype Blog, now all conversations can...
    


WhatsApp Messenger: Now Free for iOS

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WhatsApp is arguably one of the most popular cross-platform messenger apps available out there. Though until now, WhatsApp hasn’t been free on iOS. You had to shell out $0.99 to get it on your iPhone. Well, for a limited time, WhatsApp is free.

whatsapp free

Other platforms could use WhatsApp for free, but for some reason iOS users had to pay up. This change will probably make many users download it, and it will boost the users of the service, which isn’t a bad thing. I wonder how the WhatsApp network will handle the additional load, though.

There are many other messengers, like Viber, Kik, Line, and more that are also free. These days, when you’re in range of a Wi-Fi network, you can definitely save money compared to your carrier’s messaging services, since these sort of messengers replace text and voice messaging very efficiently.

[via AppAdvice]

Microsoft to retire Messenger, begins migration to Skype

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Microsoft to retire Messenger, begin migration to Skype

We've heard plenty of rumors about Microsoft's plans for Skype. Finally the company is laying its cards on the table. After working diligently to bridge the gap between Messenger and its VoIP purchase, its aging IM platform will indeed be retired and users migrated to the more video-focused property. Redmond hopes to complete the move during the first quarter of 2013, after which Messenger will be retired everywhere except in mainland China. Users of both services will be able to merge their accounts and combine their contacts, while those with only a Microsoft account will have to transition to a Skype one. Though, rest assured, your Messenger buddy list will automatically be transferred. With the imminent death of this MSN descendant, it's clear that Microsoft is positioning Skype not just as a VoIP client, but as an all-in-one messaging solution meant to take on the likes of Google Talk, with its Voice and Hangouts features.

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Microsoft to retire Messenger, begins migration to Skype originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pressure-sensing PC technology knows when you’re busy, blocks notifications accordingly

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Pressure-sensing PC technology knows when you're busy, blocks notifications accordingly

We know better than most that when you're working to a deadline, constant pop-ups, notifications and pings can be a real pain. Our frustrations might soon become a thing of the past, however, with some help from boffins at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan. They are working on technology which monitors keyboard pressure and silences those distractions until it deems you're not busy, showing over 80 percent accuracy during volunteer testing. Understanding that quiet time is also appreciated for other tasks, they plan to use similar techniques to spot when you're staring intently at that report or -- more importantly -- attending to a beverage. It's still early days for the project, but if the stress-saving tech ever spawns a product, we'll take two please.

[Image Credit: Getty Images / Jean Louis Batt]

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Pressure-sensing PC technology knows when you're busy, blocks notifications accordingly originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNew Scientist  | Email this | Comments

Imo rolls out free voice calling for iOS users, hopes you’ll use it to talk about free voice calling

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Imo has no doubt gotten a bit of boost in the last couple of months, when Meebo finally shuttered its Messenger offering ahead of its social-boosting Google integration, and now the service is getting a bit more robust for iOS users. The instant messaging aggregator (AIM, Google Talk, Facebook chat, et al.) is bringing free voice calling to iPhones running iOS version 3.1 and higher, a feature already available on its Android offering. Interested parties can check out a press release and not particularly informative video of the new feature after the break.

Continue reading Imo rolls out free voice calling for iOS users, hopes you'll use it to talk about free voice calling

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Imo rolls out free voice calling for iOS users, hopes you'll use it to talk about free voice calling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naver’s Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone

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Navers Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone

Japanese Skype rival Line is branching out from its iPhone and Android garden to visit Windows Phone. Whilst the app will initially arrive with free calls disabled, the company has promised to rectify that issue in the near future. Still, WP7 users can enjoy all of that free messaging as soon as they've downloaded the app, available at our source link.

Continue reading Naver's Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone

Naver's Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBM staying exclusive to BlackBerry, says WSJ source

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BBM staying exclusive to BlackBerry, says to WSJ source

Been looking forward to porting your BBM addiction to iOS or Android in hopes of finally kicking that Crackberry to the curb? Take a seat -- it looks like RIM's private messaging service isn't going anywhere. According to a Wall Street Journal source, the firm's new CEO has shut down rumors of a BlackBerry Messenger port. "It was not up for discussion," the WSJ was told. According to a person "familiar with the matter," CEO Thorsten Heins decided that RIM shouldn't be pursuing licensing deals. Heins' apparent house cleaning might be a deal breaker for BlackBerry veterans looking to jump ship, requiring users to stick with RIM to maintain their dwindling BBM contact lists. Bummer? Sure is, but at least your pals don't need a security clearance to ping you.

BBM staying exclusive to BlackBerry, says WSJ source originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Messenger update makes it even harder to blow people off

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Facebook Messenger update makes it even harder to blow people off

Your friends just don't get it. While they're still bumming around in Nikes, dorms and doomed relationships, your life has recently become more serious. That's why you sometimes need to hide from their constant, mindless barrage of messages, and also why you probably won't install the newly updated Facebook Messenger app v1.7. In line with FB's "mobile first" strategy, it debuts key new functions on iOS and Android, including instant and compulsory "seen by" read receipts as well as optional "sent from" notifications. So, in addition to knowing how aloof you've become, they'll be able to track you down and slap your face.

Facebook Messenger update makes it even harder to blow people off originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2012 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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