Truphone upgrades its iPhone/iPod Touch application in the next 24 hr

Written on 26th January 2009                                                                                                              6 COMMENTS
Mircea Goia, Next Web US Webtipr

If you are using Truphone iPhone/iPod Touch application (it’s free, by the way) then you know that this software lets you place an international or local call by using the Internet as a carrier rather than using your regular carrier. In other words, Truphone for iPhone/iPod Touch is a VoIP application.

The iPhone application is useful especially when you travel abroad and you don’t want to pay your carrier’s sometime outrageous roaming fees (Truphone fees are much lower).
To use it you need to have Wi-fi access for you iPhone. If you don’t have Wi-fi access you can still use it using the carrier’s network but with Truphone prices (routing the call using Truphone Anywhere).

The application doesn’t run only on iPhone/iPod Touch devices but also on some other devices like Nokia, Blackberry, HTC, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola.

What’s the news here?

Well, Truphone will upgrade its application for the iPhone in the next 24 hours (automatically) by adding some requested features like:

1. Instant Messaging (IM)
IM will be added, meaning that you can have two-way IM conversations with MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk users.

2. Google Talk Calls
You can now make and receive calls using Google Talk.

3. Twitter Integration
Recently launched, if you have a Twitter account you can tweet to your heart’s content, and see your friend’s latest tweets.

The company also plans for Skype integration (calling and IM) in a next upgrade.

How to use the new features?
These are the steps according to Truphone:

a) Tap the ‘IM’ or ‘IM/More’ screen in the Truphone menu bar
b) Select ‘Setup’
c) Select the type of IM account you want to setup (GTalk, MSN and Yahoo!)
d) Enter your account details and sign in
e) Press the ‘Back’ button on the top left of the screen
f) Select ‘Friends List’ and then tap the required IM tab
g) Check that the friend you wish to chat to is online (their icon will show as green in the display), and start chatting away

You only have to do steps A to E once for each type of IM account. Entering the ‘IM’ or ‘IM/More’ screen after this will sign you in automatically.

To make Google Talk calls, select Google Talk, select your Friend from the Friend List, and then select the call icon.
Instructions on using Twitter can be found by selecting the Twitter ‘t’ icon in the ‘Tru Friends’ screen.

I used their application for placing calls from US to Romania (cellphone to cellphone) and I must say that their prices are near the international calling card I was using before (Truphone is a bit more expensive but not with much). The connection was quite good – only once I had a bad connection solved by calling again.

I’m looking forward to test their new software additions.
Do you use Truphone? What is your experience with it?

application, iphone, ipod touch, truphone, upgrade, voip

6 Comments »

Sure, jailbreak your iPhone. But be prepared…

Written on 13th January 2009                                                                                                              8 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief

ReadWriteWeb wants you to jailbreak your iPhone. Since “a non-jailbroken phone is only half the phone it could be”. You’re missing out on recording video, directly uploading to YouTube, live streaming, zooming in with your camera, and themes. Yes, you’ll break your warranty agreement, but you can always format the iPhone and start all over again.

I can understand that your willing to follow the advice of Sarah Perez, the temptation is too big. But please make sure you rule out of one the greatest risks.

Photo by the lovely iJustine

When you own a jailbroken iPhone, you can’t have anything to do with the iTunes store sync. Certainly not updating it via the infamous App Store. Unfortunately, after months of answering “yes” to every question Apple asks, you might click it without even noticing.

Start all over again

What you WILL notice, is that iTunes erases all your settings and files. There you go, an empty iPhone. What happens when you lose everything? You just start again, start all over again. There goes another hour of spare time.

If you’re the kind of guy or gal who clicks yes too soon, buy the Tune Blocker. With the flip of a switch, the cable allows you to choose whether you want to simply charge your your iPod or iPhone, or sync it to your iTunes library as well.

Now you can safely hack that shiny iPhone of yours.

[Via: Bright]

app store, Apple, iphone, ipod touch, itunes, Sarah Perez, Tune Blocker

8 Comments »

How an iPod can be the start of a glorious career

Written on 8th January 2009                                                                                                              3 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief

While Nicolas Negroponte tries to find an affordable solution for e-learning in developing countries, some educational institutes try to find one for the western world.

I know it’s not a Touch, but hell, what a funny pic

A class of year 8 students at Shepparton High School in central Victoria in Australia is currently participating in a global mobile learning project. They’re not using the XO laptop as their gear, but an iPod Touch. First results – whatever they’re worth, as it’s test group of 8 persons- show that school work has increased attendance and increased enthusiasm for homework.

After some time of getting used to – students weren’t as savvy as the initiators expected – kids used the shiny devices for searching the web, downloading music, participating in quizzes, submitting assignments and collaborating with a school in Singapore. Yeah! I’d have come to school for that too.

Founder of the project, Louise Duncan, says that the iPod is a lot cheaper than your average laptop. Plus it allowed students to tailor information and stay focused in class. I think it’s a brave and good step to find new ways that might appear scary – the thought of using an entertainment device -, but in the end make class more attractive for kids.

And it’s great promotion for Apple…

Apple, High school, ipod touch, Shepparton Victoria

3 Comments »

Another way to save money with your iPhone: texting through AIM

Written on 14th July 2008                                                                                                              7 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief

An iPhone 3G doesn’t come cheap, in fact, most monthly plans are pretty expensive. Yet bloggers are constantly writing about ways to save some money with the shiny object – such as VoIP calling (and not having to buy an iPod or GPS system). This morning I stumbled on a money-saving plan that concerns the most unfairly priced mobile technology of our time: SMS texting. It’s ridiculous how much we have to pay for transferring such a small amount of data. If we had to download a song from iTunes for SMS data costs, we’d pay €3,770 (based on calculations by Sam from a gthing science project).

So I don’t know about you, but I welcome every possibility to take away some money from this billion dollar SMS business. Here’s one:

• Download and install the free AIM client from the App Store.
• In your IM client, create a new contact whose AIM address is a plus sign and the mobile number of the recipient, such as “+31641510902″.
• Start texting away by looking up the new buddy on your AIM software. He or she will receive a SMS text message, yet the reply will end up in your AIM client.

Just so you know, this also works with an iPod Touch.

aim, im, iphone, ipod touch, shiny object, sms, texting, tips

7 Comments »