“How can they be so good?”: The strange story of Skype

Skype went live on 29 August 2003, & revolutionized the world of telecommunications.

Recently, the organization was claiming 250 million users monthly, & one third of all international telephony.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/09/skypes-secrets/ / Skype millionaire Jaan Tallinn Tallinn, Estonia technology is 10 years old eternity Internet Age five children, sixth care about his creation August 29 2003 Skype went live for the first time 2012 Telegeography Skype accounted for 167 billion minutes cross border cross-border voice video calling year 44 percent % growth over 2011 increase in minutes more than twice that achieved all international carriers world combined is to say Skype today serious threat largest telcos planet made Jaan Tallinn other early Skypers rich something changed along the way no longer upstart refused to put signs on its offices dodged international lawyers kept kiddie pool boardroom real story how global brand truly began more detail than ever before by those who launched it encrypt compress algorithm communication /

Griffin PowerDock 5 Charging Station review

Credit: The Gadgeteer

If you have a lot of devices to charge & need to keep it tidy, this could be for you, but you'll need to stump up $100, plus provide all your own cables.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/09/01/griffin-powerdock-5-charging-station-review/#more-138801 / gadget gadgets charge everything dock docks market charge multiple gadgets Apple products Android gadgets mixture various operating systems OS phone phones tablet tablets Bluetooth headset headsets surge protector USB chargers gadget gadgets laying everywhere charge PowerDock 5 Griffin offers solution store your gadgets neatly charge from single power source box charger iPad iPhone iPod actually work any USB-chargeable gadget USB charging cables included charging station iOS devices Griffin included couple 30-pin 30 pin cables supply your own cables huge problem since gadgets come with charging cables this price couple cables power brick separate cable US style US-style plug other international plugs included cable to attach them to the power brick plugs have identical ports on the back cable included for them base made hard plastics black top white sides no status lights product branding charging base one side five standard USB jacks technical specs specification specifications jack jacks provide 5V at 2.1A Volt Amp Ampere enough power charge iPad Griffin port ports work with most USB-chargeable devices caution device devices may charge slower than normal expect more power Leah Hallet’s Asus TF101 tablet need needs needed more power Eagle Tech Neptor Battery pack recently reviewed could provide little groove in the bottom right side for the power cord to fit through upper left jack for the power supply pegs middle apparently to control extra length of the power cable review PowerDock 5 store your devices charge package contains 5 clear plastic plate plates snap groove grooves top dock form backrests charging devices device identica groove furthest away from the power cord channel special panel embossed with Griffin’s Griffin logo backplates in place between backplates room accommodate most iPad cases Martian Watches G2G smart watch gathered up cables everything devices fit into their spaces plug plugs socket sockets USB jacks worked power gadget gadgets simultaneously simultaneous lightning bolts battery icon icons o iOS devices charge charging red LED G2G watch charging screen went dark case cased iPhone nice compact setup charging multiple tablets phones other devices main problem charging dock little 4″ 4 inch Amazon’s Basics Lightning cable attached to the iPhone with the lighted screen just long enough plug phone cables are unsightly clutter Amazon Basics Lightning buying more cables /

Evolution of G (infographic)

1G, 2G, 3G, next G, 4G (5G?)

http://bgr.com/2013/08/31/wireless-technology-evolution-infographic/ / Wireless carriers process transitioning 3G 4G from fake 4G to 4G chatter surrounding eventual transition 5G carriers CommScope infographic history of cellular communications data VoIP perspective The evolution of the G infographic details history cellular networks starting 1G Japan 1979 modern 4G wireless networks 4G networks until the ITU International Telecommunication /

Can software ever be an invention?

Apparently, not in New Zealand.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/08/in-historic-vote-new-zealand-bans-software-patents/ / patent bill passed vote New Zealand's Parliament five years of debate banned software patents relevant clause patent bill states computer program not an invention get around the wording of the TRIPS intellectual property treaty requires patents available for any inventions products or processes in all fields of technology processes patentable computer program merely way implementing patentable process patent claims that cover computer programs not allowed some leeway computer programs directly tied to improved hardware bill includes example better washing machine improvements are implemented with a computer program the actual contribution new improved operating washing machine gets clothes cleaner uses less electricity patent awarded Member of Parliament deeply involved debate Clare Curran quoted head heads software firms complaining patenting process allowed obvious things patented in general software patents are counter-productive quoted one developer near impossible software developed without breaching some of the hundreds thousands patents granted around the world for obvious work heavyweight heavy weight heavyweights new economy in software development head of New Zealand's Institute IT Professionals Paul Matthews celebrated passage bill tweeting "Software patents are now disallowed in New Zealand #Historic #Awesome #Yay Matthews new law new patent applications existing software patents continue apply stand New Zealand open question other countries will take up New Zealand's example outright ban on software patents in the US seems unlikely given the large corporation corporations tech oppose unprecedented concern about patent trolls six bills introduced Congress addressing issue in last several months. /

Oppo shows first plug-in mobile camera lenses: OIS & up to 15x zoom

Credit: Oppo/ phoneArena.com

Absence of optical zoom is the biggest single shortcoming of a phone camera IMHO. Problem solved. Optical image stabilization (OIS) is a plus too.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Oppo-shows-first-plug-in-mobile-camera-lenses-OIS-and-up-to-15x-zoom_id46888 / Oppo Chinese company hearing smart phone smartphone photography Oppo teased plug in plug-in camera lenses lens switch attach to its smartphones first batch of plug-in lenses uses 16-megapixel Sony CMOS sensors support optical image stabilization OIS two lenses planned initially smaller with up to 10x 10 x zoom larger one supporting zoom of up to 15x 15 x new flagship smartphone Oppo N1 support NFC expandable storage via microSD micro SD cards whole Oppo teaser plug-in lenses ends with a hashtag #Oppo N1 Oppo N1 release date September 23rd lenses appear great camera first smartphone touch panel back /

Samsung smartwatch to appear 04 September (screenshots)

http://www.phonedog.com/2013/08/29/screenshots-of-samsung-gear-manager-app-leak-out-ahead-of-smartwatch-s-sept-4-debut/ / Samsung executive company Galaxy Gear smartwatch more details upcoming wearable, the exec spill many other details device rumor mill screenshots Gear Samsung Gear Manager posted Twitter @evleaks Galaxy Gear connect NFC-enabled smartphone tapping the device charger connect phone watch Bluetooth pair pairing second screenshot reveals model number SM-V700 list of apps settings user Clocks Find my watch hard details Samsung Galaxy Gear available possibility unveiling /

Spigen Slim Armor View Case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 hands-on (video)

Credit: Spigen

How to make the perfect case for the Samsung Galaxy S4?

Spigen's take is to start with their dual layer (TPU & polycarbonate) Slim Armor Case & add a hinged screen cover with a window to take advantage of the S4's S-View capability. Finally, they've added a clip to keep the screen cover closed.

Does it work? Some think so:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Spigen-Slim-Armor-View-Case-for-the-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-hands-on_id45045

http://youtu.be/plT3Ng2eRfs

http://youtu.be/ZWV2OjVz9Vs / Samsung Galaxy S4 owners versatile cases premium accessory maker Spigen popular case series Spigen Slim Armor series Ultra Flip View Spigen Slim Armor View case part protective case S View cover solution owners waiting official S View cover smart phone smartphone front cover flimsy Ultra Flip View case cheaper better protection Sammy Spigen Slim Armor View case sturdy sturdiness Spigen’s Slim Armor case dual layer dual-layer dual-layered case design level of protection polyurethane thermoplastic urethane material hard polycarbonate front scratch resistant viewing window held hold closed clip latch S View cover alternatives form fitting soft touch coating case ports and buttons easily accessible cutouts earphone ear bud earpiece home button viewing window front provides some pertinent information time date notification battery level $49.99 rather expensive, viewing cover protective encapsulating nature justified original S View cover should’ve been like from the outset /