Tech Time: VoIP Me

In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save money.  One answer is VoIP technology.  Voice over Internet Protocol allows us to bypass the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) in favour of using the Internet for our voice calls.  In simple terms, VoIP converts our analogue voice signals into digital data, compresses it and reverses the process on the other end.


I know you have heard of Internet calling before.  You may have even tried it and been turned off by the ridiculously long delays and poor quality connections.  Discard that impression and welcome to yourself to 2010.  Blazing (every pun intended) fast Internet makes VoIP calling practical.  Depending on your service provider, today’s VoIP calls are clean and clear.


Living on an island with as many nationals off the rock as on it means that as a nation we make lots of international calls. For us, VoIP calling is especially practical.  In addition to the cost savings and clarity, VoIP calls can offer many of the customary phone features we have gotten used to – caller ID, call waiting, call transfer, repeat dialling and conference calling are all available on VoIP calls.  Your VoIP provider may even offer online access to voice mail messages and the ability to attach the voice mail messages as an audio file to your email messages.


We can dial in or log on to VoIP in three different ways.  We can hook up a hardwire-dedicated device to our Internet connection and plug our phone into that device which is called an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter).  This is reliable, but generally, it is fixed.  You will be locked into a provider and the account you established with them.


Alternately, you can purchase and install an IP phone.  This special phone plugs directly into the Internet and can be configured to make calls online.  You’ll have to have an internet connection everywhere you want a phone extension, as these phones generally won’t work on the PSTN lines.


Skip the specialised equipment by using a ‘soft phone’.  Using software installed on your PC/Mac, your can ‘convert’ your computer into a phone using the built-in sound card and modem and with a headset as the only peripheral.  


Now, here comes the really exciting part.  VoIP is now available on select mobile phones.  Imaging, using a cell phone to make calls on the Internet!  So far, VoIP is only available for select smart phones like iPhone and Blackberry.  And even then, only in some markets … and Jamaica is not one of them sadly.  When we get access to the service, callers with 3G, WiMax or Wifi access will be able to route their calls through either the mobile network or the internet for the clearest, cheapest calls imaginable.


Of course, nothing is perfect.  VoIP does require a high-speed connection and electricity to even be considered.  With our frequent power outages, you may be left without any calling capability if you rely solely on VoIP phones.  Faxing is possible, but not yet practical and calls are hackable.  Oh well.


Disadvantages aside, VoIP is an exciting and cost effective option to keep us talking.
  

Interface with us:
Online: http://trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Tech Time: Favourite iPhone Apps

I am not afraid to say it … even though I have a Blackberry for everyday use, I think the iPhone is the “coolest” smart phone on the market. Yes, there are other smart phones out there, like the Palm Pre (I used to love my Palm Tungsten), the Droid and the ever-reliable Nokia. But the productive Research In Motion (RIM) Blackberry and playful Apple iPhone continue to rule as the smartest of the smart phones.

The iPhone leads the Blackberry in several respects, most notably apps (small applications designed to run on computers with limited powers, i.e. smart phones). Before you hurl your criticism – yes, the Apple Apps Store is not perfect, but it puts the Blackberry App World to shame with the shear number and range of apps it can boast. With absolutely no scientific backing, I offer my personal list of favourite apps starting with recreational apps.

I am a simple girl, with simple tastes. So my game list includes Brain Challenge, Simon Classic, Tetris and my personal favourite, Monopoly. Sure I’ve got SIMS installed on my iPhone, but real life is hard enough, I haven’t got time to lead two lives at once.

I love music and books, so my iPhone has single handedly replaced my CD player and my bookshelf. The ability to search, browse, chose, download and experience tones and text in real time while moving is nothing short of remarkable. The iPhone makes this happen with iTunes, iPod and Kindle. Mad!

I can share my excitement with my friends using IM+, Facebook and Tweetdeck, or I can get serious and catch up on news with USA Today. And it’s all FREE! With all these apps, 4,000 songs and pictures of my nieces and nephews, I barely have space for more. So cool apps like Virtuoso Piano, DrumKit Lite and My Guitar (so I can have my own personal band), CNN, WebMD and the official Delly Ranks App will have to wait.

For me, this is one of the biggest drawbacks of the iPhone, form over function. The iPhone doesn’t have expandable memory, a replaceable battery or a “relatively” durable screen. The first time you drop your iPhone, and the screen breaks, so too does your heart.

Try as I might, I have not gotten the hang of email on my iPhone. To me, Blackberry is a superior mail reader. But BB forces me to think ahead … to add a password to my phone from now, in case I lose it later. iPhone allows me to remotely find, or wipe, the information from my phone if it's lost or stolen. Yet another reason why the iPhone is “cool”.

My iPhone replaced my CD player, my books, my handheld game console, my electronic organiser, my photo album and my newspaper. But in truth, it hasn’t replaced my Blackberry. It might as well be a Touch iPod, because when I need to actually make a call, I reach for my Blackberry.

Interface with us:

Online: http://trivialonfame.blogspot.com/

On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com

On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Tech Time: Blackberry Tips

There are a lot of smart phones out there, but in Jamaica, Blackberry reigns supreme as the most popular smart phone. Here are some quick, general tips to help you get the most from your BB.

General Tips

1. Insert an @ sign or period in the email field simply be pressing space. Pressing space twice in most other fields inserts a period

2. Insert a special character by holding down the corresponding letter key and scrolling with the trackpad/trackball

3. Capitalise a letter by holding the corresponding letter key down, this is often easier that than simultaneously hold down the ‘shirt’ key and letter key

4. Move to an item in the menu by pressing the corresponding first letter

5. Select a line of text by holding the ‘Shift’ key and rolling the trackpad/trackball

6. Move up or down a screen by pressing ‘Space’ or ‘Shift’ and ‘Space’

7. Dial a number with letters (such as 876.878.FAME) by holding the ‘ALT’ key and corresponding letter

8. Send your PIN easily my typing ‘MYPIN’ in an email or text field, your PIN will automatically appear

Crackberry addicts can bear the thought of having their smart phone battery die. Consider the following tips for preserving battery life.

1. Charge your phone with a wall charger as much as possible until fully charged

2. Reduce the speaker volume on the phone, use headsets where possible and disable EQ settings

3. Close your browser and applications completely when not being used, not just running in the background

4. Reduce the backlight timeout and brightness settings

5. Set audible roll and keytones to mute

6. Turn off unused connections such as WiFi and Bluetooth ® when not in use

7. Disable your camera flash

All the above tips work on all Blackberry models, but if you are inclined to upgrade, consider the new Blackberry Bold 9700. The new Bold is sleeker, sexier and more durable than previous BBs. The handset features all now traditional features like the high resolution screen that displays 65,000 colours, but “one-ups” old BBs by adding a light sensing display. The once revolutionary trackball has been replaced by the innovative trackpad. Expandable memory and easy to navigate multimedia options take full advantage of the long battery life. Forget pictures; shoot video with the on board 3.2 MP camera with auto focus, digital zoom and image stabilization. Then, upload your footage instantly to the internet using 3G or WiFi.

Interface with us:

Online: http://trivialonfame.blogspot.com/

On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com

On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Tech Time: How To Be a DJ

At every FAME Road Party, I see the FAME DJ’s on the 1’s and 2’s blazin’ it up … and think to myself, I can do that!

Being a professional DJ takes a significant investment and talent. Wired Magazine posted a great article by US based DJ Ron Swift that spells it out perfectly. On the investment side, turntablists spend a lot on equipment. Speakers, headphones, needles, records, software, a mixer and yes turntables are all necessary to make partygoers dance. Professional DJ’s then master the arts of mixing, scratching and juggling. And this takes talent.

For us laymen, such an investment in gear and time may be too much, but we can still pretend to be DJ’s at home with great software and a PC.

Available software differs greatly in price and features. Popular software options include: Sertao Scratch Live, Tracktor Scratch, Virtual DJ and MixMeister. The first thing to consider when purchasing DJ software is price. Non-professional options can cost as much as US$300, but cheaper options are available.

Next up, let’s look at features such as input/output, performance and support. Great DJ software can read a variety of file formats, not just MP3; it can also output in a number of ways, like making a mix CD for your favourite girl or church party. Advanced software can also import a variety of music files, process and improve the quality of the tracks. The only scratch on a track should be intentional.

Speaking of scratches, dropouts, freezing, kinks and any kind of pause can upset your flow and ruin your set. So use a programme that has superior performance and is well suited for your PC processing power to ensure seamless transitions for tracks.

Many software programmes offer online support, or even real life technical support, but I have found the best support is other users. Using a popular option means that you can probably find a friend to turn to for guidance, verses using an obscure programme. Start by downloading some free to try software and test your talent.

Home DJ’s can forgo the expensive turntables, mixers and other equipment that the professionals use, by mixing and scratching on screen. You can step it up with semi-professional equipment as your skills improve. When you are ready, perhaps pit your skills against others in competitions like the Heineken Green Synergy. Rise to the top and maybe one day, you too can play at a FAME Road Party event.

Interface with us:

Online: www.FAME95FM.com

On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com

On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)