technology

This is just in, Pinger has released their Textfree app for computers. As all you know, Textfree is a free app in the app store that lets you send free text messages via Wi-Fi or 3G. This is a great app for anyone that doesn't want to pay for texting when they have a good data plan to use text on!


Even though this has just been released, the interface looks similar to the TextFree application on the iOS devices. Textfree for the computer doesn' really have as many features as I suspected, but it is in the early stages and will most likely improve.

To text from your computer now, simply go to this site and login or register then you know!

This looks really awesome, Skype is preparing for a big surprise for iPhone and iPod touch users, according to Engadet, it appears that a new update is coming to Skype which allows the iPhone and iPod touch users to make a video chat with all Skype users even they were using a Skype desktop version.

How do I make video calls with Skype for iPhone?
The following questions and answers will help you get started with using Skype video calls on your iPhone.

To make video calls with your contacts, you will need an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, 3rd generation iPod touch, 4th generation iPod touch or an iPad. Your contacts will only be able to see you if your device has a camera. Make sure your device is running iOS 4.0 or above and that you are using Skype for iPhone 3.0 or above.
The contacts you are calling must be using one of the following Skype clients:

* Skype for Windows version 4.2 and above
* Skype for Mac OS X version 2.8 and above
* Skype for iPhone 3.0 and above

You can make Skype video calls by using a WiFi or 3G connection*. The quality of the video will depend upon the available network conditions.
*Additional data charges may apply. Check with your operator for details.
If you have an iPhone or iPod touch with two cameras – front and rear – you will be able to switch between them during a Skype video call. If you have an iPhone 3GS it will always use the rear camera.
If you turn your device into landscape mode, the camera picture will automatically rotate.
In both portrait and landscape mode double tapping anywhere on your screen will zoom the picture to take up the full extent of the screen. Double tapping again will take the picture back to its normal size.
While on a Skype video call the sound will always be played through the loudspeaker, unless a headset is plugged into the device.
During a video call tap your screen to display the camera and microphone controls. Tap and hold down the microphone button to put the call on hold. To resume the call, simply tap thehold symbol on the screen.
Yes, at any time during a Skype video call you can choose to turn off the video. Tap theCamera button and select the No Cameraoption. To turn the video back on tap theCamera button again and then tap the camera you want to switch on.
When your iPhone is processing a lot of video its CPU (Central Processing Unit) has to work very hard and makes the iPhone become warm to the touch. You will experience the same thing if you stream videos through applications like Netflix or YouTube.
Yes, you will be able to receive screen shares from people using Skype for Windows or Mac OSX. You cannot share what is on the screen of your iPhone with other people and you cannot receive a screen share from another iPhone user.
No, you will be switched to audio only, as Skype for iPhone does not support group video calling.
The quality of the video you send and receive from your iPhone will depend upon the quality and bandwidth available on the WiFi or 3G network you are connected to. For best results, make sure you have nothing else running that might use up your bandwidth.

I know that most of your are waiting eagerly for the untethered jailbreak solution on iOS 4.2.1 for new-generation iOS devices. As most of you know, the iPhone Dev Team already has the backup plan to achieve iOS 4.2.1 untethered jailbreak for Christmas Eve.


Just a few minutes ago, the iPhone Dev Team has confirmed the release of untethered iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak for the Christmas Eve and asking for Mac OS X owners to help them with testing the the backup plan.

Over the Christmas weekend we’ll be releasing a version of redsn0w that implements the “backup plan” to the 4.2.1 untethered jailbreak. We’re seeking your help to test this redsn0w and find any bugs before we do a general release!

(If you have an iPhone 3G, or an old-bootrom ipt2g or iPhone 3GS, you already have an untethered jailbreak! Just use the latest public redsn0w.)

To keep things manageable, this will be a Mac-only test program. We also request that any volunteers *NOT* need the ultrasn0w unlock (in case things go very wrong).

Right now, the “backup plan” requires that you have the 4.2b3 IPSW on your Mac, and that Cydia has your 4.2b3 SHSH hashes. Please don’t pirate that 4.2b3 IPSW! (We’re also working on a way that this technique might apply to all those with 4.1 IPSWs, but that’s not the first goal right now.)

To survive in this, you must be a Mac owner, got iOS 4.2 beta 3 SHSH blobs on your Mac or that Cydia has your 4.2b3 SHSH hashes that was automatically saved (in the status bar), and have a new-generation iOS device (i.e. iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, iPod 4G, 3G).

If you fit all the above qualifications, so you can follow @redsn0w_testers on Twitter and give the Dev-Team a comment in this post to get the backup plan right now ! Let us know how does it go with you. Also stay tuned for a Christmas launch for public.

You may don't need to restore or re-jailbreak your device to get the new iOS 4.2.1 untethered jailbreak, according to this tweet from Comex. This means that you'll not need to install Redsn0w and use it to get the untethered jailbreak, it should be added a Cydia package on some repository like BigBoss or ModMyi on Cydia.

comex: it's probably going to be a Cydia package. if I can get it to work.

However, comex's untethered jailbreak is delayed and won't be released by the Christmas Eve so you have to take in mind that the iPhone Dev Team has it's own backup plan that requires iOS 4.2 beta 3 SHSH blobs to be able to get the untethered jailbreak. More updates as they come ! Stay tuned !