Tag: Tech

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Skype 3.0 for Windows and Unlimited Calling Plan

I have been using SkypeOut roughly since it was first announced. I really like this feature. Skype currently offers free SkypeOut calls within US and Canada. This special offer will last until December 31st, 2006. Fear not, because Skype is offering a cheap plan for its SkypeOut within US and Canada. I am signing up for it.

From Skype news:
http://about.skype.com/2006/12/skype_announces_new_skype_unli.html

Skype Announces New Skype Unlimited Calling Plan
Offers 12 Months of Unlimited Skype Calls to Any Phone Within the US and Canada for a Flat Annual Rate

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 13, 2006 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, is now offering U.S. and Canadian consumers the new Skype Unlimited Calling plan, a paid annual subscription service that allows registered users to make 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut™ calls to any phones within the U.S. and Canada.

…….

The Skype Unlimited Calling plan is available for a flat rate of $29.95 per year. People who sign up for the new plan before January 31, 2007 will receive a special discounted introductory rate of $14.95 per year – 50 percent off the regular price. While Skype to Skype calls will remain free, the new Skype Unlimited Calling plan is an easier and cheaper way for our growing number of SkypeOut users to stay in touch with friends and family over any phone line. Consumers can also choose SkypeOut’s pay-per-minute offering.

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In somewhat related news, Skype 3.0 for Windows is available for download.
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/helloagain.html

What’s new in Skype 3.0

  • Easier to use, more powerful and personal interface.
  • Connect with the world on Skype Public Chats.
  • Do more and share more with Extras.
  • Click to call ordinary phone numbers on any website (optional install).

Features

  • Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone else, anywhere in the world.
  • See who you are talking to with free video calls.
  • Send SMS messages to friends on the move.
  • Group chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to four.
  • Search the web with the Google Toolbar (optional install).

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Skype 2.5 Beta for Mac OS X is also available
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/25beta.html

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Microsoft Releases Updates for Mac Office (updated 12.13.2006)

UPDATE (12.13.2006):
Microsoft has withdrawn the update, citing that the release of the update was accidental.
The official announcement from Microsoft regarding the accidental posting of the security updates.

Microsoft is advising those who had applied the update to uninstall them. The problem is that they didn’t specify the method to uninstall the updates.

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Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.1 Update
(December 12, 2006)

This update contains several updates to enhance security and stability, including fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

Applies to: Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, Entourage 2004.

Before you install this update, make sure that the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.0 Update is installed on your computer

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Microsoft Office v. X for Mac Security Update (2006-12-12)

This update contains several updates to enhance security and stability, including fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

Applies to: Office v. X, Microsoft Word X for Mac, Microsoft Excel X for Mac, Microsoft PowerPoint X for Mac, Microsoft Entourage X for Mac.

Before you install this update, make sure that the Microsoft Office v. X for Mac 10.1.8 Update is installed on your computer.

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Aperture 1.5.2 Update

Apple releases Aperture 1.5.2 Update
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/aperture152update.html

Download Aperture 1.5.2 Update (129~131MB)
http://www.apple.com/aperture/download/

Valid Serial Number is required for manual download.
Aperture 1.5.2 Update can be obtained through Software Update.
From Apple Support:

Aperture 1.5.2 addresses issues related to overall reliability and performance in a number of areas, including:

  • Contact sheet printing
  • Smart Albums
  • Watermarks
  • Lift and stamp
  • Image export
  • Versions created using an external editor

This update is recommended for all Aperture users.

Note: If you haven’t already done so, it is strongly recommended that you also download the Digital Camera RAW Support Update 1.0.1, which is available on the Apple Downloads support page at http://www.apple.com/support/downloads.

The Digital Camera RAW Support Update provides RAW file format compatibility for the following digital SLR cameras:

  • Canon Digital Rebel XTi / 400D / Kiss X Digital
  • Nikon D80
  • Pentax *ist DS

The Digital Camera RAW Support Update also addresses the following issues:

  • Handling of large Canon RAW files (.CRW)
  • DNG compatibility on Intel-based Macintosh computers
  • Lines sometimes appearing in images exported from Aperture
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VideoLAN: VLC 0.8.6 is Released

VLC 0.8.6 is Released

VLC Download Page
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
From VideoLAN

Changes:
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Playlist:
* Vastly improved playlist support:
* Media library support
* “Live search”
* Shoutcast TV listings
* Audioscrobbler/last.fm support

Video output:
* Adjust, Invert and Distort (now splitted into Wave, Ripple, Gradient
and Psychedelic) video filters can now be streamed
* New puzzle video output filter

Interfaces:
* Windows/Linux
* Brand new interface for Linux and Windows, based on the Qt toolkit
* All
* Improved user interaction

(I’ll clean up this post later)