Version 2.0.0 of Skype for iPhone went live today in the iTunes store. The main new feature that was added to the VoIP software includes the ability to now make Skype calls over 3G. This means the previous restriction forcing you to use WiFi has now been removed.

Currently there is no charge to make calls over 3G although in August 2010, a subscription charge will be made whereby you’ll be charged a small monthly fee to use the service.

In testing, the application works as good as any other VoIP app and if signal and cell area is right, you get a decent call. If not, it will be a little choppy sometimes. However, the ability to make cheap calls overseas with a 3G connection is a great addition, even if it is a little bit behind the times so to speak. Other VoIP software has had this ability for a while now. [Read more…]

The image of two keyboards shown here is supposedly a comparison of the Motorola DROID and the DROID 2. Of course we can easily confirm the top keyboard as this device has been out for half a year now.

As you can see there is quite a difference between the two with the obvious drop of the D-Pad. An addition of some arrow keys have arrived on the bottom right of the QWERTY and due to the dropping of the D-Pad it also looks like the keys are slightly larger, assuming that both devices are at the same scale.

The key depth has also been changed with each key being slightly raised rather than being flat like on the original DROID. [Read more…]

The new Apple iPhone 4G is said to have a very high resolution screen with reports indicating 960 x 640 pixels.

If those reports are true then the screen will use IPS technology that has been seen in the new Apple iPad along with FFS (fringe-field switching) to make even clearer images. With the 960 x 640 resolution and the 3.5 inch screen size, this indicates a 320ppi making it a lot finer than other screens on phones such as the Google Nexus One.

The screen somehow landed in the hands of a company in the Czech Republic although it seems like they just got a screen and not a phone. They were unable to power it on, so the images captured are not lit by the screen. [Read more…]

Some rumours about the new iPhone OS using Bing as the default for search are going around at the moment although in an update to TechCrunch they were told it’s a little more complicated than just switching over.

The original rumour said that Bing would replace Google as the default next month when Apple [AAPL] launch iPhone OS 4.0, but the updates said that it wont happen next month due to the complications. It isn’t clear if this means there are delays to iPhone using bing, or if it’s not happening at all.

A few months ago we heard that Google [GOOG] pay Apple somewhere in the region of $100 Million a year to be the default search on iPhone although TechCrunch also hear that Google aren’t paying anything like that. [Read more…]

Yesterday a rumour about Steve Ballmer speaking at WWDC 2010 for 7 minutes surfaced from an analyst. Microsoft [MSFT] quickly shot the rumour down saying it was false. So now when we hear things from analyst’s we also have to take it with a pinch of salt, just like this next rumour.

We now hear that Verizon [VZ] will be getting the Apple iPhone in November, just in time for the holiday season. The information comes from Ashok Kumar who said the Verizon iPhone does and will exist. A company called Pegatron will be making the iPhones ready for shipping late this year. We have heard before that 10 million iPhones are being prepared for shipping on the Verizon network, so it’s not a new rumour. [Read more…]

Starting June 6, AT&T [T] will offer a new product called MobileProtect. MobileProtect is basically iPhone Insurance that protects your expensive gadget from damage. The cost of the insurance is $13.99/month and will be made available for purchase through the Apple app store with billing going direct to the card you have on file with Apple [AAPL]. The insurance plan is run by a company called Asurion.

When purchasing a new iPhone you need to opt in to take advantage of the insurance within 30 days of purchase.

The downside of course is that the insurance costs in the region of $168/year to protect your phone which is fairly steep if you ask us. I’d be inclined to just take more care of your phone at that sort of cost. [Read more…]

The Nokia N8 went up on the Vodafone UK store yesterday allowing users to register their interest in the new Nokia smartphone. With Vodafone putting up the details so early we were hoping for an earlier release as we had heard it isn’t due for launch till August.

Pocket-Lint reported today that the date is still “unfortunately” August and August 25 to be exact. It’s unclear why Nokia announced the N8 so early as phones that get leaked or announced months before launch tend to lose the interest of people.

As for technical specs the new N8 has a 12 megapixel camera that can capture HD at 720p. It runs the new Symbian^3 OS and looks to be an impressive phone. [Read more…]

The Motorola DROID Shadow leaked out a few days ago thanks to a Verizon employee using the Verizon staff gym.

From what we read, the Motorola DROID Shadow will launch in July along with another DROID device although which DROID device it is, we don’t know.

The Shadow is an exclusive on the Verizon network although we are unsure if the second DROID device will be also exclusive. [Read more…]

Skype is coming to Google Android smartphones in the near future. Right now, only those on Verizon can download the Android Skype app due to a deal with Skype and Verizon [VZ].

We learn today though that this is changing and that Skype will be launching an Android (and BlackBerry) application that will not be restricted to just Verizon, ie, any carrier in the world can be used. The information comes from a chat that Skattertech had with someone at Skype who said the following…

Skype envisions a world where video plays a larger role in the way we communicate. The next generation innovation involving video calling will not be bound to the computer. We’re seeing a proliferation of video calling shared between all kinds of connected devices. It’s on computers (today 1/3 of all calls on Skype happen via video), televisions (Skype bringing video calls to living rooms via Panasonic, Samsung & LG partnership), and it will eventually be coming to mobile devices too. We’re betting big on video, and we intend to set the bar on mobile video calling, and it’s something we’re going to do this year.

We will be bringing a direct to consumer app to the Android marketplace later this year. This application will be available for all consumers globally to download regardless of carriers. (i.e. similar to how we offer the iPhone app today)

Brianna Reynaud, Skype PR

[Read more…]

For those who are daring with their Android smartphones, you can now get a working Alpha launch of Android 2.2 for the T-Mobile G1 / Dream, Magic / Sapphire.

The build comes courtesy of Cyanogen, Chiefzreloaded, Zenulator (XDA), ts0cha0tik, punkkaos and Azuske who have worked on the G1 port since the ROM was available for download.

With the build being alpha, there’s obviously some things that do not work just yet. The list of things that do work includes calls, 3G, LEDs, call audio, gapps and the notification bar. [Read more…]

BGR has a long history of getting things right in terms of getting inside information about new products.

The website today is reporting that the Apple iPhone 4G will be launching in June and not July. Also the information given to them indicates that we would see it earlier in June rather than late June.

The Apple iPhone 4G is expected to be announced at WWDC 2010 on June 7 at the Steve Jobs keynote. With all the leaks that have recently happened, we only really need to know when it will be launched and how much it will cost. If BGR get it right, we could be seeing it shortly after WWDC (if not right away). [Read more…]

Yesterday we heard a few bits of information about an Android smartphone spotted at the Google I/O event last week. The phone is the Acer Stream where we found out very basic details in that when it launches it will run Android 2.1.

An official announcement has now been made which covers the details of the new smartphone. We learn that the Acer Stream will have a 3.7 inch WVGA AMOLED display that is capable of showing 1.67 million colours. The contrast ratio of the screen is 2000:1 that allows the screen to be viewed in light conditions. Also with the display being AMOLED it helps increase battery life due to a lower amount of power being taken from the screen.

For connectivity the Acer Stream has 3G+ allowing for 7.2MBps HSDPA download speeds. The wireless feature allows it to connect up to 802.11n networks. Bluetooth is also included on the device. [Read more…]