6 - 2013 | Lcolm Net

Skype video messaging announced for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Technology

Skype announce that video messaging is now coming out of preview as a full-fledged (and free!) feature in Skype for Windows desktop, Skype for Windows 8, Skype for Mac, Skype for iPhone, Skype for iPad, Skype for Android and Skype for BlackBerry. Just like the millions of users around the world who have already previewed video messaging, you too can now record and share a personal video message, even when your friends and loved ones are not available. The best part is that they’ll be able to view your video message as soon as they sign into Skype. Skype Video Messaging is easy and convenient, and only the contact you’ve chosen to receive your message can view it.

Video messaging is now available to all Skype users. You can send and receive as many video messages as you want – completely free of charge. Video messages can be received and viewed on any platform or device running Skype.

Skype Video Messaging adds another great way to keep in touch with friends and family during life’s most meaningful moments. Send a video message to your friends and family today-it’s easy. You can capture a fleeting memory, create a heartfelt reminder or simply tell a friend or family member “wish you were here” even when they aren’t online:

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 APS-C zoom lens

Technology

Sigma Corporation of America announced that its new Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens will arrive in the United States early July for the street price of $799.

Sigma 18-35mm f:1.8 APS-C zoom lens
“Sigma users are really excited about this lens. They’ve been watching the new Art line very closely – and their reaction to our initial announcement of this lens has been fantastic”

As the market’s first zoom lens to achieve a maximum aperture of F1.8 throughout the entire zoom range, the 18-35mm was created for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors, which translates to a focal range of 27-52.5mm on a 35mm camera. This lens will be available early July in Sigma and Canon mounts, with Nikon, Sony and Pentax mounts to follow.

“Sigma users are really excited about this lens. They’ve been watching the new Art line very closely – and their reaction to our initial announcement of this lens has been fantastic,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “More than 50 years of innovating with photography equipment has helped us build new generation lenses like the 18-35mm F1.8. We’re confident that photographers who focus on landscape, portrait, still-life, studio, close-up and casual shots will love this lens.”

The 18-35mm F1.8 is the latest addition to the company’s Art line of lenses, designed under the new Global Vision. The Global Vision lenses have a sleek new design with the manufacturing year stamped on the barrel, and are categorized by use into one of three groups: Art, Contemporary and Sports. The Art category delivers high-level artistic expression through sophisticated and abundant expressive power.

The new 18-35mm F1.8 lens features Sigma’s improved AF/MF switch and the use of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material, which has a high affinity to metal parts, consistently performs well at extreme temperatures, and reduces the size and weight of the lens. The lens’ Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images, even in backlit conditions. Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function, while its nine-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an attractive, round bokeh at large-aperture settings.

The 18-35mm F1.8 lens is also compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which is available for the street price of $59, enabling photographers to update lens firmware and adjust focus parameters from their computers.

For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.

Vodafone Smart Mini announced with Android Jellybean

Technology

The Vodafone Smart Mini is the latest and most affordable addition to the Vodafone Smart line-up, bringing you a sleek, compact smartphone without any compromise on performance – for just £50 on Pay as you go.

The Vodafone Smart Mini offers a large, 3.5 inch display and 2MP camera with digital zoom so you can easily capture all those precious moments. Plus, as it runs on up-to-date Android Jellybean you can enjoy smooth navigation and seamless browsing.

Full of powerful messaging features – including push email, Facebook integration and pre-loaded Twitter – the Vodafone Smart Mini lets you share your snaps with friends and family instantly, while the easy access online app store brings a wealth of games, tools, social apps and entertainment to your fingertips.

With Vodafone Freebees on Pay as you go, when you top up your new Vodafone Smart Mini you can get free calls, text and internet. Also, if you buy your Smart Mini before the end of July, to help you find your feet, you can use as much data as you like, for whatever you like for 30 days with our Freedom Freebee, so you can get to grips with your new smartphone.

The Vodafone Smart Mini will be available to buy on Vodafone.co.uk later today in either black or white, with a pink version coming soon.

Specifications:

Dimensions (mm) 115 x 62.3 x 12.2
TouchScreen 320 x 480 HVGA Capacitive
Processor 1 GHz MT6575 single-core
Screensize (inches) 3.5
RAM & Internal memory 512 MB + 4GB / 2.4GB End user (microSD up to 32GB)
Camera 2MP
Operating system Android Jellybean

EE announces flat-rate unlimited broadband and call packages

Internet

EE, the UK’s digital communications company, has launched a range of new unlimited home broadband and call plans designed to make it as simple as possible for customers to choose a great value bundle to meet their needs.

Available immediately across all EE channels including retail shops and online, customers can now choose between one of six unlimited home broadband packages – with the entry level bundle starting from just £5 per month plus line rental. All customers need to do is to choose how fast they want their broadband (between a choice of up to 14 Mbps over standard broadband or up to 38 and up to 76 Mbps over superfast fibre), as well as whether they require only ‘weekend calls’ or an abundance of calls included in their plan (‘anytime and mobile calls’) for only £7 more a month.

Plans with unlimited weekend calls include 0845 and 0870 numbers and for those who want a more inclusive home phone calling option, ‘anytime and mobile calls’ covers unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines and 30 international landline destinations, plus 1,000 anytime minutes to all UK mobiles.

EE’s fibre broadband service now covers more than 50% of UK households and offers speeds typically ten times faster than today’s average broadband speeds**. Fibre broadband from EE allows customers to stream films in HD with plenty of broadband left for the whole family to play games, browse their favourite online shops, or chat to their friends on Facebook – all at the same time. Unlimited Fibre Broadband and calls plans now start from £15 per month plus line rental, making it the best monthly price in the UK for this speed, up to 38 Mbps. What’s more, until the end of June mobile customers can try Fibre for free for the first 3 months – all they have to pay for is line rental and out of bundle call charges if they make any.

The refresh is part of EE’s commitment to offer the best value home broadband packages for mobile customers. All plans come with a year of McAfee Family Protection, EE’s award-winning Bright Box wireless router, and access to a great range of EE benefits, including 2-4-1 cinema tickets as part of EE Film.

BBC announces weather app on Android and iOS

News

BBC Weather today launched a mobile application for iOS and Android devices in the UK. The free app enables you to keep ahead of the weather by taking BBC Weather’s accurate and in-depth information with you on-the-go.

BBC announces weather app
As soon as you open the app it will automatically detect your location and give you an instant overview of the weather conditions wherever you are. It also gives quick access to the 5-day forecast with the option to look up further detail such as hourly UK forecasts, and three hourly forecasts for international locations, for the next 48 hours. You can find other destinations from the UK and abroad with a simple search and save them to a customisable list of your favourite places.

The app lets you make the most of this summer’s big events with Glastonbury, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix all approaching. With regular updates for the weather and other information including UV, pollen count, wind speed and humidity, you’ll always know when to take out the brolly, put on the sun screen, or stock-up on hay fever supplies. And when the summer has been and gone, you can still keep ahead of the snow, sleet and showers.

The app follows a huge increase in users accessing BBC Weather’s services from mobile devices over the last year, and brings the breadth of its highly trusted information into a simple, clean and intuitive design. The look and feel is consistent across iOS and Android with subtle differences, such as navigation and search, that are designed to be instantly familiar to users of each platform.

All information and data can be found in either version of the app, but Android users can also add a widget on the device’s home screen and share favourite locations over NFC (Near-Field Communications) by simply touching two compatible devices together.

Liz Howell, Head of BBC Weather, said: “The new BBC Weather app is the perfect companion for this summer’s great British sport and music events. We know that our audiences really want that at-a-glance forecast when they’re out and about, with the option of digging for further detail when they need or want to. That’s exactly what we’ve delivered, squeezing in all of our trusted data into an app that’s simple to use and looks fantastic.”

James Metcalfe, Senior Product Manager for Weather, BBC Future Media, said: “We’re making BBC Weather truly mobile with the launch of our new app. As so many of our audiences access BBC Weather from iOS and Android devices, we can now offer them an even better way to keep ahead of the weather on-the-go. This represents a significant milestone in our commitment to provide a world-class weather service to audiences across four screens – desktop, mobile, tablet and connected TV.”

The app is freely available to download now on iOS from the Apple iTunes App Store and on Android via Google Play.