Skype Gear

FREETALK has been on a roll lately, coming out with a number of new headsets for Skype, including the Everyman. Now they've released a new and improved version of their wireless headset, the FREETALK Freedom Wireless USB Headset. I reviewed the older version of this headset when it came out, and liked it a great deal because it worked well, much better than wireless bluetooth headsets I've used. Is this newer FREETALK Freedom Wireless USB Headset an improvement on the older headset? Read on to find out.

Continue reading "Skype Gear Roadtest: FREETALK Freedom Wireless USB Headset" »

Some recent Skype stories:

• Gadling reviews a trio of IPEVO phones: the ST-4RT.1 Universal VOIP handset, FR-33.1 USB Skype handset, and TR-10 Portable conference phone
• 3's INQ Mini 3G recently launched, with integrated Skype, Twitter and Facebook. Engadget Mobile has a full review
• The Asus AiGuru SV1T Skype videophone with touch screen has launched -- look for a review of the device on this blog soon.
• Senior citizens are keeping in touch with friends and family over Skype
• A tip on using Skype as a pet monitor while you're away from home
• A consultant in Australia uses Skype to work smarter and from anywhere
• Christopher Libertelli, senior director of government relations for Skype, talks about network neutralty and the Federal Communications Commission in the US with the Washington Post
• Time's Cheapskate Blog discusses how to save money on your mobile bill with Skype. The Irish Times also offers similar money-saving tips, and the Telegraph offers tips on saving money when calling home from abroad
• The New York TImes's Gadgetwise blog tackles etiquette while multitasking during Skype conversations
• Chicago blogger Billy Dec speaks to CNN over Skype from Russia

Video calls on Skype are a great way to connect face to face with far away friends and family--it adds a whole extra dimension to the conversation. While you do get to see the person's face, it sometimes can be difficult to see the person "eye-to-eye", because webcams are placed above screens, so as you're looking at the other person on your screen, the camera captures you looking down. I think this is a minor annoyance that comes with the territory, but a few companies are trying to solve the problem.

When I first heard about Iris2Iris, I assumed it would be a type of periscope attachment (like this) that would clip onto your laptop or over your existing webcam. Actually, it's a whole different beast, an entire second montor with its own stand, built-in webcam and speakers, and a mirror that reflects the webcam so that it captures where you're looking on the screen. Iris2iris sent me a prototype unit for several weeks to try out.

First Impressions

The Iris2iris unit is huge; it is composed of an audio/camera unit, a mirror system for reflecting the camera, a 14 inch monitor, and a base. It was necessary to assembly these parts, and while not difficult, it was a bit more work than I was expecting. Some of the pieces didn't fit together perfectly the first time (though I was testing a prototype so this may have changed in production). Soon enough it was all together, a somewhat imposing figure on my desk.

The Iris2iris connected to my computer via VGA and USB -- it was easy to install the webcam driver and get the monitor working with my computer (though I did have some difficulty hooking it up to my computer at first, but I blame my computer's finnicky video settings rather than the Iris2iris). I set the Iris2iris to be an extended desktop, so that applications could be dragged to it and then maximized there.

Functionality

Even before using the Iris2iris as a communications device, I found it really useful as a second monitor. It sits quite high on its stand and was easy to glance at next to my regular laptop. I could put my work email on the screen then easily keep an eye on it as I worked on my main screen. But where Iris2Iris worked best (as you might expect) was on Skype calls.

For most of the day I would keep Skype maximized Skype on the Iris2iris's monitor, and then when I made or received video calls, I could just just make the video go full screen and start talking. It was that easy -- I didn't have to fumble with a headset because the built-in mic worked well (though you can use one if you want).

The people I spoke to said I sounded great (without any echo) and looked great because they could see my eyes looking directly at them. Above is a screen grab that Peter from the main blog took while I was chatting with him.

Conclusion

To take the best advantage of Iris2Iris you'd need two units: one for you to benefit the person you're speaking to, and one for the other person for your benefit, but even with just one I found Iris2iris to be a really easy way to have video chats -- the dedicated monitor and built-in mic/speakers made starting up video conversations over Skype even easier. And Iris2iris's usage isn't limited to Skype--I could also see it working well for video bloggers and news readers -- using teleprompter software, you could be looking right at the camera while reading a script.

Bottom line: Iris2iris is a really interesting gadget that solves a problem you might not have known you even had. While my prototype unit was a bit difficult to set up, it performed very well. The production units look to be quite expensive, but if you're a hardcore video chatter, you may find Iris2iris's benefits worth it. You can learn more about Iris2iris (including purchasing options) on their website here.

Earlier this month Philips announced its latest Skype phone, the VoIP855. This DECT cordless phone combines Skype and regular landline calling without the need for a PC, and is a follow-up to the very popular Philips VoIP 841 Cordless Phone for Skype. It automatically syncs with your Skype contacts, has XHD sound, and is Skype Certified, meaning it's been through the wringer testing-wise and should provide a great user experience.

The Philips VoIP855 will be available for purchase in the next few weeks. For more information you can check out Philips's press release [PDF link] and spec sheet [PDF link], and I'm going to be posting a full review of the device here on the Gear Blog soon.

Illustration by Marc Rosenthal on School Library Journal

Using Skype in the classroom is a great way to make learning come alive for students. Howard on the US blog recently mentioned how in the US authors are visiting classrooms to meet students and students are learning about islands around the world. What else can Skype do in the classroom?

Well, Ms. Ward, author of the Teacher Et Cetera blog, mentions these uses in this informative blog post on Skype in the classroom:

• Connect your class to virtual penpals
• Help students hear native speakers when learning a foreign language
• Collaborate with another class on a joint research project
• Bring authors into your classroom via Skype
• Learn about another culture by connecting students to a classroom from that culture
• Learn about geography from students living in an area you are studying
• Bring professionals from your content area to "speak" in your classroom
• Conduct interviews
• Create pod- and screencasts with students from other parts of the world
• Study the same book with another class and hold web book talks
• Have students in your class create virtual presentations for students in other schools
• Attend a webinar with your students

Other great sources of information include the Global Education Collaborative, the Skype in Schools wiki, this article on School Library Journal, and this list of international classrooms interested in participating.

Classrooms are using Skype across the world--like this class in the US who caught up with a former classmate who had moved to Kenya with her family--to across the city, like these classes of third and sixth-graders in Waltham, MA telling each other stories (via Skype Journal):

Do you know of any other great uses for or examples of Skype in the classroom? Let us know in the comments!

Have you tried screen sharing yet? The feature has been around for Skype users on the Mac for a while now, and it was recently added to Skype for Windows. It's a really great way to collaborate.

Once you turn screen sharing on (by clicking on Share -> Share Your Screen in the conversation window while you're on a call), the person you're speaking to sees your screen. He or she can then comment as you edit a document, see a presentation you're giving, or can instruct you on how to troubleshoot a computer issue. I haven't done this with my parents yet, but I can imagine it would be much easier than trying to troubleshoot with them describing what they're seeing on screen.

This week mobile devices blog jkOnTheRun wrote a nice post about using Skype to collaborate across the US and across the Atlantic. James Kendrick said:

We accomplished in 30 minutes what would have taken us hours going back and forth via email. This collaboration made it seem as if we were in the same room working together, which in a way we were.

He goes on to say:

I have tried many different tools for collaborating remotely, and I must say that Skype's implementation of desktop sharing is the best by far. It has been consistent in quality, and I've experienced no issues yet. Throw in the bonus of it being free, and Skype has created a winner.

Thanks James! You can check out his whole post here. And if you haven't tried screen sharing yet, what are you waiting for? Give it a try!

While headsets are not always the sexiest bit of kit, having a good one is a very important thing. If a headset sounds great, makes you sound great, and is comfortable to wear for a long time, it can make you much more pleasant to speak with. OK, perhaps that's stretching it a bit, but if you have a headset you like, I think it is fair to say that you'll wear it more and it will be easier to make and receive Skype calls, which is certainly a good thing.

Has the FREETALK Everyman headset made me a more pleasant person to speak with? You'd have to ask all the people I've spoken to while I've been testing it out, but I think they'd say the answer is yes. The Everyman headset is a great performer at a great price -- read on for my full review.

Continue reading "Skype Gear Roadtest: The FREETALK Everyman Headset" »

It's been a big week for Skype software releases -- in addition to the release of Skype 1.1 for iPhone and Skype 4.1 for Windows, Skype 3.0 for Windows Phones was released. As Peter mentioned in his post, the biggest new features in the new version are the ability to send SMS messages and files from within the client.

Here's a short walkthrough video of Skype 3.0 for Windows Phones, demonstrated on a (very nice) HTC Touch Pro 2.

Some recent Skype stories in the news:

Gear

• The new Nokia N97, which will soon have a Skype client built-in, is among the new smartphones reviewed in the UK's Times.
• The USO (which provides on-site support for American soldiers abroad) will be installing the IPEVO S0-10 Desktop Phone for Skype in 18 of its service centers to make it easier for soldiers to call home.

Business

• Use Skype to work remotely, says Gina Trapani of Lifehacker on her Harvard Business blog. One commenter explains how he Skypes into his work computer all day to converse with coworkers.
• A handbag company is using Skype to show its wares to prospective customers.
• Preparation for job interviews and career coaching is being offered over Skype.
• First-time entrepreneurs shouldn't forget Skype to keep costs low.

Entertainment

• Michelle Pfeiffer keeps in touch with her family using Skype.
• A Baldwin brother uses Skype before departing from I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
• A theater group used Skype to collaborate on its latest play and hold its first read-through.

Health

• An Iraqi father and daughter being treated in the US keep in touch with family in Iraq through Skype.
• A cancer patient is able to attend his high school graduation through Skype.

Education

• A Durham University (in the UK) visiting professor from Australia isn't actually leaving Australia--she'll be using online tools including Skype to collaborate with Durham professors.
• Skype is among the tools recommended for teachers for collaborative projects.
• Two classes of middle schoolers compete in a reading challenge over Skype.
• A soldier uses Skype to answer a class's questions.

Family

• The new CEO of Best Buy watched a basketball game 'with' his sons over Skype while on a business trip.
• One American soldier uses Skype to keep in touch with family from Iraq; another got to see his newborn twins for the first time through Skype, and another his daughter's graduation.
• No more empty nest loneliness for parents who keep in close contact with their college-aged children through Skype. Here's a similar story from the student's perspective, and another similar story with some good tips.
• A weekly Skype call keeps far away grandparents in the loop.

Photo by Zebra Pares

It's June -- that time of year when weddings seem to occur every weekend. We've seen family members attending distant weddings via Skype before -- but actually getting married over Skype? Recently in Owatonna, Minnesota, USA and Iraq, a bride and groom really did tie the knot over the internet through Skype.

It's a really sweet story -- the couple, Breana Michel and David Luedtke, had first met eight years ago and had been together on and off until 2004. They then rekindled their relationship through Facebook in the past year, shortly before David shipped off to Iraq with the Marines. The couple decided they didn't want to wait until David was back, so after sorting out the paperwork they were married last month at Michel's father's house before a pastor, with Luedtke appearing on screen.

Said Michel: "We viewed it as an opportunity more than anything. We were like, 'Oh my God, we can do it over Skype? Let's do it!' We didn't want to wait. It's been seven years."

Was this the first Skype wedding? Weddings over the internet and by proxy are hardly a new idea. Howard over on the US blog previously noticed this wedding (in Brazil) between two people based in China and France, and another bride in Colorado recently married her fiance while he was abroad serving in Iraq.

I think it's great that Skype could bring so much joy to these couples. Has Skype allowed you to connect with someone in a way you didn't expect? Tell us about it in the comments.