14 ingear TECH & NET timesonline.co.uk/ingear 07.09.08 15

JARGON BUSTER

Voip The routing of a voice call over the internet to a landline or mobile. Voip software encodes your voice as data to TALK JUST GOT CHEAPER send either over wi-fi or your mobile network. Services offering “free” calls may incur charges from your mobile provider, unless you’re on an unlimited data plan Allows to be There have never been so many ways to make low-cost and even free calls over the internet sent between individuals on same network using Voip technology. Guy Clapperton puts five of the best services through their paces For full price details, see relevant websites

BEST FOR THE iPHONE BEST FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING BEST FOR WI-FI ONLY BEST FOR EASY INSTALLATION BEST FOR INSTANT MESSAGING TRUPHONE ON THE NIMBUZZ ON THE SONY COMS.NET ON THE ON THE FRING FOR THE NOKIA N95 APPLE iPHONE ERICSSON W950i NOKIA E90 S2 SKYPEPHONE Call costs: free but wi-fi and mobile network data charges may apply Call costs: landlines from 1p/min; Call costs: free but wi-fi and mobile network data Call costs: UK landlines from 1p/min; UK mobiles Call costs: from free; subscriptions mobiles 15p/min charges may apply from 10p/min from £2.24/month Fring uses the Nimbuzz model of free Truphone Voip software works on Nokias Nimbuzz, a new service, offers free calls This is a business-targeted application with If you don’t want the hassle of downloading calls. However, it is more limited than but comes into its own on Apple’s wi-fi but includes much more than Voip, with no extras such as chat or social networking, and setting up a Voip service, the S2 Nimbuzz, with a focus on instant beastie — where the free download and instant messaging and group chat from no 3G, and only phones in the Nokia E-series Skypephone, exclusive to the 3 mobile messaging: , MSN Messenger, installation is simply a matter of clicking various providers, plus 23 bookmarked (such as the E90 Communicator) are network, comes with Skype software ICQ . . . they’re all there, but if you use the application in the iTunes store. Open social networking sites. But if a mobile officially recommended. Call quality was pre-installed. Free with a contract on 3 and more than one, you’ll rue the lack of the software with a touch and the screen network connection rather than wi-fi is good (you’re confined to using high-speed with Facebook, separate folders for each service’s looks just like the one you’re already using, used with Nimbuzz you will rack up big wi-fi), and there’s an easy download option and Bebo software also in place, it worked contacts. The Fring software works on except it’s green with Truphone written on bills, unless you’re on an unlimited data available using text messaging. In fact this straight from the box. The handset had a Nokia and Windows Mobile phones, it. There’s nothing new to learn, there are plan. Nimbuzz is versatile and works with Voip service will work with most Windows clear sound over 3’s high-speed HSDPA and it automatically logs on to wi-fi no snags and it’s a very clear tone. You top numerous handsets, the best having a big, Mobile handsets once you’ve set up and network (available in most major cities), but hotspots where detected. up your account via the web — look out for bright screen (like the Sony Ericsson paid into a Coms.net account online. wasn’t so good over 3G. Skype offers many Verdict: Easy to use and a genuine a £7.49 deal that buys 1,000 call minutes W950i) for viewing sites such as MySpace. monthly plans that include free calls to UK Verdict: A neat application that helps you money-saver — even on a to the US and Canada at 1p per minute. landlines, and to UK mobiles at about 16p a pay-as-you-go mobile data plan the Verdict: You’ll either welcome all the extra keep track of your calls and spending, but a minute. Verdict: Easy to install and great call bundled bits or greet them with a shudder very basic service compared with more cost of sending an instant message is quality. Choose this if you have an iPhone — this is for the hardcore networker consumer-friendly rivals Verdict: The simplest way to get Voip minimal. HHHHH HHHII HHIII HHHHI HHHII www.truphone.com www.nimbuzz.com www.coms.com www.skype.co.uk www.fring.com Plain Picture

portability — Microsoft has reinvented is fully cappuccino-proof. Microsoft is Plextor PX-MPM320U media drive NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT RECYCLING the home computer as a piece of “smart promising an affordable consumer £133 www.plextor-europe.com E-MAIL furniture”. This 2ft-high techno table has version in three years, pitching it as a GADGETS OF THE WEEK Recycled paper made up no keyboard or mouse, just a 30in family-friendly device ideal for managing WHAT IS IT? A portable 320GB hard drive with the ability to 79% of the raw material for touch-sensitive display that can be digital photos, videos and music. copy and play back movies, photos and music over all manner controlled by prods and pokes. But three years is a long time in Anton Gliders skis of hardware. To that end, it comes not only with the expected UK newspapers in 2007 FROM Underneath the acrylic top lurks a technology, especially when Apple PC USB connectivity, but also with audiovisual outputs and a From $1,850 (£1,038) www.antongliders.com Source: Pulp & Paper Information Centre Windows Vista PC in a powder-coated already offers most of the Surface’s Scart adaptor, making it compatible with standard televisions steel cage, using wi-fi to access the web. features and ease of use in a relatively WHAT ARE THEY? A new design of ski for the and hi-fi sets. Waiting on the disk is software able to handle AMERICA Built-in speakers and a subwoofer add affordable mobile phone. Controlling hard-packed, icy of most “groomed” slopes. The just about any audio or video format imaginable, and capable an audiophile sheen to music and video. computers through gestures alone may traditional ski design is best with soft snow, into which of upscaling the latter to 720p HD if you choose. The Unfortunately, you won’t find the well be the future, but Microsoft’s marvel the skis sink. They also bend on it, distributing your software is accessed via dedicated playback keys or the Mark Harris Surface in Ikea: it’s currently priced at looks like it’s surfacing a touch too late. weight along their length. But as soft snow is supplied remote control. Particularly noteworthy is IN SEATTLE — NEW TECH CITY around $15,000 (£8,400). I tried it in the rarely found at busy resorts, it’s usually only the the unit’s ability to cope with DVDs, though only Seattle Sheraton, where three units run a bit of ski directly under your foot that makes as long as they’re copyright-free. Transfer a virtual concierge service recommending proper contact, so the skis can be hard to film to the Plextor using your computer, and BACK ISSUES he Surface is Microsoft’s shops, restaurants and sights, complete control. The maker says the Gliders’ the drive will store not just the video, but answer to the iPhone. Its with phone numbers and directions on a front and rear flex adjusters all the associated extras, such as gloriously detailed colour pin-sharp digital map. With the flick of a and the use of special menus and chapters — previously Copies of The Sunday Times, display, intuitive touch-sensitive finger, you can switch to a satellite-image materials redistribute only possible if you manually whether you require very recent or controls and clever applications view, spin Microsoft’s Virtual Earth globe your weight to the converted each audio or video had me gasping when I tried and explore cities around the world — the skis’ ends, the format. very old, are available from Tone of the first commercial units here in ultimate digital “staycation” for result, apparently, Historic Newspapers. Seattle. The only problem is that instead financially bruised Yanks. being perfection for tight turns SHOULD I BUY ONE? It is expensive of being a pocket-sized handset, the Something tells me that Seattle would and racing. for a hard disk of this capacity — a computer expert could assemble Telephone 0844 669 9944 Surface is about as large and heavy as a love the Surface whatever the exchange suitable equipment and download similar freeware for perhaps half the coffee table. To be fair, though, it rate. A computerised coffee table is the SHOULD I BUY SOME? Not if you ski off-piste, where snow is better suited to regular skis. price. But for those among us who aren’t propellerheads, the Plextor is definitely a useful and very HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS actually is a coffee table. ideal product for this tech-savvy, Because they are custom-made in Colorado, you’ll need patience when placing an order, as well usable addition to the multimedia home. Forget miniaturisation, forget caffeine-mad city, and the tough Surface as a healthy bank balance. Matthew Bingham