Skype vs. Fring: Let the Battle Begin

VS.

Now that Skype has been fully unleashed onto the Android Market, what does this mean for other similar apps like Fring? How do these two apps measure up against each other?

Well to start, Fring allows you to make calls over Fring, Skype, MSN, and Google Talk. It also allows you to make calls over 3G, GPRS, and Wifi, without using minutes. They also allow you to use chat over a well plated variety of messengers like; AIM, MSN, and Yahoo. It also had a recent update in July, making it run smoother and more efficent when making and receiving calls over 3G and Wifi.

Skype also has similar features like free Skype to Skype calling and text messaging over Verizon's network which is a real plus and its at no cost to your plan's minutes. They also have instant messaging to any of the Skype contacts you may have in your contact list. Skype does however, only allow Wifi usage in the US where as Fring allows Wifi abroad. Skype seems to have built alot of anticipation built up as its coming out to Android has drawn a nice following, but when compared to the rating of Fring on the Android Market, its down by a half a star. I know that isnt much but its still a difference.

Skype still has some bugs to work out as well so it may be only a matter of time before they become a solid staple in the VoIP era. To make things a little more challenging on Skype is the fact that Fring has launched their FringOUT service, allowing worldwide phone calls for as little as 1 cent a minute. That puts some crunch on Skype to match well in pricing. Skype charges 2.6 cents per minute plus surcharge and connection fees. It may be an uphill battle for Skype but thats for you, the consumer, to decide.

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Keyboard-less 'Mansion' from palm? With a 800x480 screen? Say What!!

This one is still very much a rumor, but PreCentral is reporting that it's heard from a "very reliable tipster" who says that Palm is prepping a new phone codenamed "Mansion," which may or may not be the same device that recently turned up in a certification database under the name P102. The real kicker, however, is that the phone is supposedly a touchscreen-only device, and that the screen is said to boast a fairly high 800 x 480 resolution -- no word on screen size, unfortunately. Not much more than that to go on at the moment, but the "Mansion" codename itself does at least make a bit of sense -- as a PreCentral commenter has noted, the Pre was originally codenamed "Castle."

My personal take on this matter is that this will put palm back in the Race of smartphones. The Web OS is beautiful. If they were able to add the OS with the Android market and put it on the evo 4g they would have a gold mine in their " palm".

For this phone to take off they will need to drop the commercial add of the pale lady that looks like she is going to die at any moment. Research In Motion also need to show the power that the phone has. I also believe that the battery life needs to be a main focus. I say this because if you have a smartphone where all of the features can be used without having to cut everything off, that would make alot of people take interest in that phone.

Source: Pre Central

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Skype Finally available in the Android Market

For those who have been looking for a good calling alternative, Skype is now available in the Android Market. You do, however, have to be running 2.1 and up in order to see it and download it from the Android Market. Skype allows free Skype to Skype calls, instant messaging, and allows you to make phone calls over Wifi.

Another plus is that it is unrestricted in the U.S., but if your calling from outside the U.S., you can still make phone calls over 3G. Another thing the company has mentioned is that its still not available in China or Japan. So go ahead and download it and enjoy all that Skype goodness.

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Blindtype aquired by Google, Typing community rejoices

Over the weekend, Google made an acquistion that may have the potential to make there Android phones even better. Google went and had a talk with the Blindtype team about there innovative keyboard software. This software increases the accuracy of correct typed words and absorbs the users typing habits to better adjust to the users typing style (kind of like a smart keyboard for your smart phone.) It was increases correct spelling even if the user is typing and not looking at the keyboard itself, and I think that is even cooler.
With an acquistion like that, this could make the stock Android keyboard a whole lot more interesting. So congratulations to the Blindtype team for making a quality product, and hopefully, we smart phone users will get the chance to get our hands on it in a new smart phone release.

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Kombat App Review: Achievement More Pro

I'm sorry readers, I know I was suppose to have the review up yesterday and I would first like to apologize for my slow speed. I do want to make this a Friday event in regards to reviewing apps for the readers for their enjoyment. Thanks for checking us out and please continue to do so. Hopefully I can make up for it with this review Your gonna like this app if you are a true Xbox 360 gamer.

Are you frustrated looking through site after site trying to find info for the missing achievements that you want to add to your score? Tired of sitting at your computer while trying to play your 360 at the same time, looking for videos and posts on how to get the achievements? Well look no further than your favorite smart phone!

Check out Achievements More Pro! This app was created by developer Tim Collins and put a lot of thought and work into this one to make it one of the highest rated apps on the Android Market.

Achievement More Pro allows you to sync you're own Xbox live account to the app and allows it to link up your gamer profile's gamer score and achievements list. You have to use your regular log in information in order to sync to the app (E-mail and password). It also keeps a correct record of your current score and points achieved for each game that you have played or are currently playing. It also shows you how many achievements you have left until you have completely maxed out a video game.

When you press on one of the games that you are looking for, you can find a detailed list of the achievements that you have already gotten for the game, the points that you have for that achievement, and a checkered flag that shows all the achievements that you have gotten already for that game. It also gives a small detailed description of what you have to do to get the achievements and the points that you can gain from each achievement.

But what if I want to see how someone got the achievement that I'm looking for? Well look no further. Once you find what achievement your looking for, long press on the achievement and you gain another window that allows you a few more options; Video, map, and guide. Video allows you to watch a video via YouTube to show you how to gain the achievement. Video's not your thing? Then hit the guide button and it sends you to a host of google links that show you how gain the achievement through readable material and comments from other gamers. Maps allows you to get a floor ground blueprint of whatever your looking for on a stage that you may be on.

All in all, this is a very good app. Its $1.99 for the Pro version and there is a free version on the Android Market as well but if your a real gamer then you'll get the Pro version, trust me. And if you ever have any issues with the app, Tim the developer is very helpful and immediate with his responses to questions, comments and problem solving. That sounds like a good job all around in my book. Go to the Android Market and give this baby and spend and let me know what you think.

Total Rating- 5 out 5

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5 reasons why I love my Evo 4g.

1. If I am at a wedding and I don't want to be their my evo will show me a movie and take my mind off the fact that I just spent 100 bucks on a gift that I could use in my own house.
2. If I was kidnapped and only had my phone. My Evo would use Google map or Sprint navigator and alert my wife where I am and how to get to and make reservation to the nearest hotel until help arrives.
3. If my children have a moment and I want to remember it for ever I can record it in 720p and post it to you tube for the world to see. Or take my phone to my mothers house and connect it to her tv via hdmi mini cable port.
4. Whenever I have to go colthes shopping with my wife, my evo entertains me with games from gameloft or E.A. or playing poker live with people I never will meet.
5. At night when I go to sleep my Evo tucks me in and wishes sweet dreams.
........ okay I made the last one up but if my wife is at work I can blow her a kiss in real time and she can do the same with the front facing camera.

These are my 5 reasons I love my Evo 4g. Why do you love your phone

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App Reviews Later Today

Its been kind of a slow day today as far as Android news goes aside from the whoopla over the Car mode app getting put on the Android Market then getting taken off, and then being put back up again. So I'm going to do a few app reviews today and try to make it an every friday event.
Later on today I'm going to do The Achievements More Pro app and the Lithium Music Player app.......SO STAY TUNED FOLKS! Hopefully you guys will like it and give them some download love after the review.

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