chatting

Research In Motion is said to be prepping cross-platform versions of its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) application for release later this year. According to multiple sources close to Boy Genius Report (BGR), an Android version "is definitely a go" with an iOS counterpart also on the horizon. Android Atlas reached out to RIM to confirm the report, but spokeswoman Marisa Conway responded that "RIM's standard policy is to decline comment on rumors and speculation."

One theory is that a stripped-down, lighter version of BBM will allow Android users to communicate across platforms with other clients, … Read more

Mac owners can now download FaceTime for video chats with friends.

Apple said today that FaceTime for Mac is available in its Mac App Store for 99 cents. With the help of the app, those using Mac OS X Snow Leopard can engage in video chats with people using the FaceTime app on the iPhone 4, the latest iPod Touch, and other Macs.

Apple first announced FaceTime for Mac back in October. At the time, the software was in beta. As of today, it is officially out of beta.

FaceTime for Mac lets people see video in standard definition or … Read more

WhatsApp Messenger has been around for quite a while, but it's still an app that's extremely useful to texting addicts. With this chat app installed on your iPhone, you'll save a considerable amount of money on text charges through your carrier. The only catch is that you'll have to persuade your most frequent texting partners to download the app, too, but once they see WhatsApp's advantages, they'll probably pony up a buck.

Much like the texting app that comes on the iPhone, WhatsApp Messenger shows your chats in little text bubbles, gives you a … Read more

An interesting news item over at AppleInsider caught my eye the other day, but I'm not sure how I would feel about this particular rumor if it turned out to be true. Apparently Apple is investigating the use of hover gestures on its devices as an alternative to multitouch. A few of the ideas include the ability to make the OK gesture with your hand or use hitchhiker thumb gestures to navigate around. As a tech writer, I can't wait to see how something like this would be implemented, but as an iPhone user who will be using … Read more

Recently we were contacted by a MacFixIt reader who has not been able to record video chats in iChat on his new MacBook Air laptop. While video chats work fine, for some reason the "Record Chat" option in the "Video" menu does not work and the program will not allow video chats to be recorded. This is in contrast to both prior MacBook Air models, all other Mac systems that support video chatting.

MacFixIt reader "Joseph" writes:

"I've just discovered that the new MacBook Air, unlike every other current-vintage Apple laptop and … Read more

Skype, a powerhouse in the area of voice and video chat over the Net, said today it's acquiring Qik, a mobile video specialist.

The move stands to expand what Skype can mobile phones. Today it's got apps for voice chat, but Qik brings video to the party with applications that run today on Android, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.

"Together, Skype and Qik will focus on providing a richer, more integrated experience that will allow people globally to share experiences in real-time video across different platforms, as well as store those moments so they can be … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Skype's official CES press conference isn't until tomorrow, but there's a lot we already know, thanks to Nvidia. During a press conference today, the Tegra 2 chipmaker confirmed what we've been speculating for weeks, that Skype will introduce two-way video calling for Android devices.

The announcement came casually, as Nvidia President and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang welcomed Manrique Brenes, Skype's director of Business Development, to the stage to show off Skype video chatting on an Android tablet running one of Nvidia's dual-core chips.

Choked bandwidth caused Huang to scrap the demo and move … Read more

The word you're looking for is "finally." As in, "Oh look, Skype has finally stepped up to the competition by adding two-way video chatting to its VoIP iPhone app!" Indeed, this anticipated addition is one for which Skype-watchers and users have been thirsting since Fring's two-way video calling app nosed into the iPhone app store this past July, following Apple's introduction of its own Face Time video chatting software. But more on that later.

What iPhone users worldwide first need to know is that starting today, an update to the free Skype for … Read more

Software and services aren't the main attraction at CES 2011, but that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of innovation at the show for the coming year. Of course, we won't know exactly what that innovation will be until we get there, but you can bet we have some ideas about it. Most notably, we'll be seeing even more of a shift from the computer to mobile devices, with companies aiming to keep you connected and entertained on the go.

The cloud expands

Mobile devices are great for both business and pleasure. There's just … Read more