Skype 4.0

Are you using Skype 4.0 yet? If not, go download it now! I'm a big fan, but I'm not the only one--a bunch of people had some nice things to say about it this week, including David Pogue of the New York Times, Andy Abramson of VOIP Watch, Alec Saunders, and CNET among others.

Gadgets

• Pocket-Lint and ITPro had a closer look at the Asus Eee AiGuru SV1.
• Here's an ingenious way to set your computer up to automatically give you a wakeup call via Skype.

Family

• A deployed army mother and a soldier son use Skype to keep in touch with family, as do grandparents.
• Celebrating Chinese New Year over Skype.
• Using Skype to to help with homesickness after a move to South Africa.

Business

• Skype can be used to avoid business travel.
• A recent study found that video can help workers collaborate better.
• A professor discusses how information technology, including Skype, is influencing workers.
• Sewing instructions via webcam help out remote islanders.