The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday, October 9, that the H1N1 virus was widespread in 37 states. Fortunately, vaccines are on their way, and seasonal flu shots are currently available (the map on the Flu.gov site helps you find a vaccination center near you).
The best way to avoid bringing the flu bug home with you from the office is to stay out of the office. If you have the flu, do yourself and your coworkers a favor: stay home and rest! Not sure if you have the flu? Check the CDC site for a list and description of the symptoms of both H1N1 and seasonal flu. You'll also find information on the CDC site for taking care of people with the flu, prevention for people at high risk, and travel updates.
One of the best ways to track the flu's spread is via Google Flu Trends, an interactive map that indicates the frequency of flu-related search terms in various countries.
The Google Flu Trends map tracks flu-related searches by country.
(Credit: Google)Additional information on flu trends is available for the U.S. and several other countries. For the U.S., you can compare yearly flu trends and view data for each state.
For several countries, Google provides more annual and regional flu data.
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Link to your office PC for free
In many work situations, there's no substitute for being face to face. But every year it gets easier to get your office work done from outside the office. One way to do so is via Windows' Remote Desktop Connection component, which lets you link to a PC that's on an office network, but only if the machine's running XP Professional or Vista/Windows 7 Professional, Business, or Ultimate.
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Skype, the solid chat, VoIP, and videocam software has been around for awhile now on the Mac and we have already sung its praises for its free computer-to-computer long distance. Call clarity has always been quite good and if you have one of many available USB handsets, you know it's just like talking on a regular phone. For a little extra money through the company's pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription services, you can call cell and land lines and the prices are fairly affordable. But today, Skype for Mac got some new features that definitely make it worth updating your client.
Skype 2.8 for Mac now offers a pay-as-you-go public Wi-Fi service, screen sharing, and even better-quality video and sound. The Wi-Fi service lets you use your Skype Credit to connect to public Wi-Fi. Simply add money to your Skype account, which is used for calling landlines as well, and you're ready to go. The screen-sharing feature lets you show your friend, coworker, or family member what's on your screen--great for when you're helping someone with a computer problem or sharing a design layout with a coworker, for example. The video and sound quality were already pretty good, but the update made both sound and video clarity noticeably better.
Use the Share button at the top of the chat window to show your full screen or just a portion with another user.
(Credit: CNET)Skype has always been one of our favorites for VoIP and video chat, but as has always been the case, Skype offers no emergency numbers so you should not use it as a replacement for your regular phone. Still, with all the features already available and the new additions, we think Skype is definitely worth a look for those new to the program and a must-download for current Skype users.
Those of you following the progress of Skype's beta series for version 4.0 already know that the seminal VoIP caller has been striving to get people interested in--and even aware of--Skype other features by rearranging its program's interface in time for version 4.0.
On Thursday, Skype released Skype 4.0 beta 3 for Windows, the third--and as far as we know, final--beta in the development series.
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In addition to Internet telephony, Skype wants to make it easier to switch among IM and phone conversations, to place calls to non-Skype users' mobile phones and landlines, and to jump on board its video chats, which, the company admitted, most users either weren't using or didn't know existed.
At each of the three stages, Skype has daubed on more features that build from its very rough first attempt. In version 4.0 beta 3, the ability to scroll and search through your history is the punchiest addition; you can also filter by activity type.
There's also a new download manager for file transfers, a subtle visual "chrome" treatment when you switch into compact view (from the View menu), and a bandwidth manager. To keep Skype stalkers at bay, the company has added the option to report blocked users as abusive. As always, use this feature with care.
Laying it out on the table
While Skype is still accepting feedback to influence the final design, the essentials haven't changed much from the beginning, and the next release will almost assuredly arrive as the final version. Yet, there are still some visual flaws and an empty storefront. Skype's engineers may run out of releases in which to test new functionality.
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Skype users, too, are calling for more visual personalization in the instant messenger, and are calling out against Skype's yanking of Skypcasts, which officially shut down in September 2008.
Beta number three is also missing birthday reminders and public chats, both slated for this release.
As seen from the air, Skype's 4.0 beta is shaping up into a communications tool that will fulfill its mission to streamline its app and make it more engaging on all fronts. Up close, however, the final release of 4.0 will need more cleanup if it's to really redefine how it's used.
If you don't like the new look, you can now switch to Skype's classic view.
(Credit: Skype)Skype 4.0 beta 2 (download) has done a lot of growing since the first beta for Windows rolled out this past June. While that release showed some success reorganizing Skype's services, we predicted that folks would protest the gawky layout. We were right.
The ability to switch into the classic compact view is one concession to user demand that shows up in Skype 4.0 beta 2. Now you can toggle between the expanded default view that fuses the contact list and active conversation, and the traditional view, which breaks them into separate windows. This change definitely improves the way users will experience this version of the VoIP calling application, though we think it's something Skype should have implemented from the start.
Skype's goals with 4.0 beta
Skype envisions a less cluttered version 4.0 that's easier for novices to pick up without any prior experience. Skype also wants the redesign to unearth functions other than VoIP calling to get more people placing video calls, using Skype's IM, and buying credit for its premium PC-to-landline calling and texting plan, Skype Out.
According to Skype's product manager for Windows, Michael Bartlett, the changes have been mostly successful, though people aren't glomming on to IM like Skype had hoped, and the application still doesn't have everything users have been asking for.
Changes in 4.0 beta 2
Still, Skype 4.0 beta 2 answers requests to instate an optional compact view, notifications for missed calls and incoming messages, and the ability to group contacts together. Besides switching views, you'll be able to resize most elements within the program window by dragging them, your profile photo or the size of the video screen on a video call included. Both are welcome additions that grant you more control over Skype's display.
In this beta, message alerts pop up in the system tray.
(Credit: Skype)Since users complained of missing too many messages in 4.0 beta 1, the second beta now displays an orange notification icon in your system tray whenever you receive a new message. A panel will also light up in the app's conversation window.
In other changes, the ability to simply drag and drop files into the conversation window has returned. So has the feature to organize contacts into groups, though the treatment differs in Skype 4.0 beta 2. Skype will honor any groups you've previously established (like coworkers), but also includes categories based on status, such as who is currently online, who you've recently contacted, and who you're trying to add as a friend. We don't personally find all these categories relevant, but you can easily delete any you don't want and create your own in the contacts tab. We give Skype kudos for letting us populate categories by dragging and dropping in names from the master list.
View contacts by Skype's categories, or delete them and add your own.
(Credit: Skype)Still to come: Skype 4.0 beta 3
Skype 4.0 beta has really shaped up in this release, adding many features that usefully let the caller customize the display. Yet the work isn't done. Skype plans to release one more beta before Skype 4.0 is deemed ready for prime time, and it will include call history, birthday reminders, and public chats, plus other changes that beta users will demand in chorus.
It's interesting that Skype choses to release three betas to users' scrutiny before unveiling the final version. The tactic is one we've just seen with well-established communications appYahoo Messenger, which just released version 9.0 after two public beta cycles, and with Windows Live Messenger beta, which advertises the competing messenger's new look. It could be risky laying out a rough draft of your software that's inevitably flawed, but in terms of starting a discussion with users and gaining valuable market research for free, it seems to be working just fine.
It's been a while since a major Skype release, and on Wednesday, the eBay-owned VoIP communication service will issue the first of several planned version 4.0 beta builds for Windows that are anticipated to drop over the next few months.
The biggest changes to come with Skype 4.0 beta (download) are visual and organizational. For the first time, the program contains complete prompts for running sound and Webcam checks within the program set-up. After two failed tests buffered by common troubleshooting suggestions, Skype will recommend hardware--like headsets and a Webcam--to reverse incompatibility errors.
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Redesigned interface
Skype 4.0 beta's redesigned interface may also get you blinking. Compared with its stable cousin, the new Skype beta's GUI has overflowed its banks, replacing tabs in the once-narrow interface with a second pane tacked on to the right. Four or five functions are flattened into this single window in an effort to make communications other than the voice chat staple easier to find and use. To wit, there's an IM bar deposited at the bottom of the communications pane and large buttons that prompt voice and video calls. Video calls are large by default, filling the program's communication activity pane.
Skype Out, the service offering competitive international rates for Skype users calling contacts' landlines instead of their computers, has also been chiseled out, by a large call-to-action button on the navigation bar. The button just below it opens a directory for finding people, businesses, and chat rooms. The toggle bar tucked away at the top switches from saved chat conversations to the contacts view, and rounds out the new additions.
Some functionality, like Skype Prime, will arrive in later builds.
(Credit: CNET Networks)Still more to come
Though there may be a placeholder for it, not every function in this first beta is live. The shop for Skype-approved hardware, while available from Skype.com, will not be activated in this iteration, nor will be the service on real-time advice, called Skype Prime. Automatic redial, call transferring, video presentations, and integration with Outlook contacts are also scheduled for roll-out in later builds.
The spread-out interface of Skype 4.0 beta for Windows will definitely take some getting used to, especially as it abandons the client's traditionally nimble, IM-styled build. However, it does succeed in calling out a wider array of communication services. This may give the Luxembourg-headquartered company a chance to deemphasize VoIP as its core competency and mark out new territory in Internet video, collaboration tools, and entertainment services.
As ambitious as Skype's new look and capabilities are, Mike Bartlett, the program's Windows product manager, confessed during our briefing that this design and the newly introduced features will be closely monitored for user backlash. It's likely that strong feedback from Skype's 309 million registered users will leave an impression on Skype 4.0 beta continues to take shape in the upcoming months.
ManyCam is the freeware tool users who need their Webcam for more than one chat program simultaneously. It creates a "virtual" Webcam that replicates your currently installed camera. It then lets multiple applications access the video stream without conflict.
ManyCam is compatible with Yahoo, MSN, CamFrog, PalTalk, ICQ, Skype, YouTube, and more. Once you've installed it, you need to set ManyCam as the primary input for program that you want to use. It'll automatically start when activate your Webcam through that program. The application includes a bunch of gimmicky features that let you change aspects of the background and foreground. You can map a new pair of cartoon eyes over your face, and they track pretty well to your movements, or you can show that your life is hell by replacing the background with flames.
There is an unfortunate toolbar that will install unless you opt out during setup, but other than that, ManyCam is worthy of a Webcam Oscar for cool and useful tech.
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One of the best choices for online telephony for Mac just got better. The latest Skype update pushes the program to version 2.7.257 adding support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and higher-resolution video for face-to-face video calls. The new default resolution is 640x480 pixels at 25 frames per second. You are only limited by your Webcam, so get out there and upgrade so that your friends and family can have a bigger, crisper view of your smiling mug on their desktop.
The chat client-like interface makes it easy to browse and call contacts.
(Credit: CNET Networks)Skype has always been one of my favorite applications for its familiar chat-like interface, and the capability to talk with users worldwide for free (provided they're also using Skype). For a little extra money, you can sign-up with Skype and make calls to anyone in the world (including land-lines) at a fraction of the price of regular long distance. Got a friend in another country? Skype might be just the solution you need.
What do you think? Have you made any video calls on your Mac? Do you chat with friends in other countries using Skype? Let us know in the comments!
Remember ooVoo, that iChat-like video conferencing and chat tool we took a look at back in June? Today they've launched a new version that has got a handful of useful, powerful tools that make it a viable alternative for small workgroups using conference calls and screen-sharing applications, such as WebEx.
First up is a new recording feature that lets users tape video chats with other participants. Since the video and audio are being recorded to the hard drive, the only time limit is how much free space the computer has. In testing, I managed to get a nearly 15 minute, four-way video conversation down to 95 MB file. The application took about 10 minutes to convert my conversation into workable FLV file that was at a full 1MB/S quality. It can also step it down to 256kb/s or 512kb/s if the file needs to be smaller.
Recorded video files can take up a surprisingly small amount of space. This one is just under 100MB and it's 15 minutes long at full quality. Setting the quality level down another two steps cuts down to just a quarter of the size.
(Credit: CNET Networks)The other really useful feature is a new conference calling tool that gives host and participants a landline number to call. Other ooVoo users who call this conference line get plugged right into the audio that's a part of the video chat, and just like the video recordings, this audio gets archived too. The new call in lines support up to six people, meaning users can have up to a dozen participants--including those on the video side. The call in service is free this month, but it is moving to a by-the-minute model in March.
Besides the video recording, the other new feature that I think people are going to like is an optional piece of software that's a companion for ooVoo's video player. The companion has two main uses. The first is a screen sharing application that lets users show off an entire screen, or certain zoom levels, to other video chat participants. Users can also drop media files, such as music, pictures, or video into the stream for other users to view. Secondly, it's got a built-in facial overlay tool, like Fix8, that applies digital overlays either to users faces or to replace backgrounds. It's great fun.
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Looking at previous iterations of Camfrog, the popular and free video chatting software, it was hard to deny that it offered a wide range of options and experiences for video chat aficionados. It was also hard to deny that the user interface was a disastrous mess of modular windows that made maneuvering through the program a frustrating and sometimes confusing journey. The new version of Camfrog has fixed that.
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If you're a social creature, Camfrog is a megapopular internationally-trafficked chat site that seamlessly integrates video and text chat, the Web 2.0 version of the old "party lines" that people used to call in to.
The schmoozing features include regular quizzes, as well as guitar instruction and deaf-specific chats, among others. Watch this First Look at Camfrog video to see if it's your kind of party.
