Good news! Skype have just updated their iPhone app to take full advantage of iOS 4, bring the much sought-after functionality of backgrounding the app. That’s right – you can now have Skype permanently running in the background on your iPhone! Ok, so I’m the only one who’s genuinely excited about that, but it is a handy feature, and is not noticeably detrimental to battery life (on which I keep a keen eye, so I’d have noticed!).
Skype will also let you receive calls while the phone is locked. If you hadn’t downloaded the Skype App for your iPhone yet, you should know that the app allows you to make calls over WiFi and 3G, and of course instant message over either, as well. One last thing to note, folks – as backgrounding an app obviously requires multitasking, this will only be supported on the iPhone 3g(s) and iPhone 4.
The guys at istartedsomething.com have made a fantastic video demoing the latest build of Windows Phone 7 , Microsoft’s newest offering to the smartphone market. I have to say I think it’s coming on rather nicely, certainly looking forward to trying it out on some real hardware.
For more thoughts and a second video demoing the ring tones you can read their article here.
Loads of keyboards and laptops include buttons which allow you to skip or pause tracks, launch your web browser or simply alter the volume. When I moved to the Microsoft Arc Keyboard I was surprised by how much I missed some of these keys, specifically the skip and pause track options (note – the Arc keyboard does have volume controls built in). So what can you do about it?
I don’t know about you, but there’re plenty of keys on a keyboard that I hardly use,for instance why are there so many function keys?! I decided that it was high time I changed them to something more useful. However I had no intention of running some resource hungry, flea ridden monstrosity of a background application to do it. There is in fact a much better (and easier) way. (Windows only I’m afraid, although I’m sure there are similar methods for other operating systems).
My bag has been a semi-permanent home to a couple of pendrives since I finally managed to replace my detested floppy discs. Little did I know I haven’t really been using them to their full potential…
They can be used for a lot more than storage, something I always kind of guessed but for whatever reason never really got around to experimenting with. A few days ago I set about creating my self titled “Pendrive of Gold”, it’s nothing completely mind blowing but it certainly improves my productivity, especially when I’m away from home.
…. And we’re back! Actually, that’s not fair – Ben is the only one around here with a good excuse not to have been posting regular articles recently! I’m sure you’ve all missed me – and you won’t find any sarcasm around here (see what I did there?)! Anyway, I digress. Today I’ll be filling you in on, you guessed it (or read it in the title, durrrr), a sweet online service which will allow you to remote-desktop any computer you fancy installing it on. It’s called LogMeIn. Kinda catchy, I guess. That’s beside the point. I guess I am easily distracted, huh?
Exams are over, coursework is done and the celebrations are a mere (and slightly fuzzy) memory, all of which means one thing… I can finally start writing again! What, no applause? Anyway, this is just a quick one whilst I’m winding things back up, Google Chrome extension “Auto HD for YouTube”. (Geek points to BE77Y [Euan, for the uninitiated] for finding this).
If you’re like me you always play YouTube videos at the highest quality available, but when first loaded a lower quality is always selected. Two clicks and a reload later and you’re laughing, but should that really be necessary? Not in my book at any rate, so what can be done about it?
Good news! Skype have just updated their iPhone app to take full advantage of iOS 4, bring the much sought-after functionality of backgrounding the app. That’s right – you can now have Skype permanently running in the background on your iPhone! Ok, so I’m the only one who’s genuinely excited about that, but it is a handy feature, and is not noticeably detrimental to battery life (on which I keep a keen eye, so I’d have noticed!). 
