calling

On Call: Hanging up on 2008

Though many people dread the approach of the holidays, I relish them. And it's not because I have a thing for eggnog (except when it's served with brandy). Rather, the arrival of December means the end of the very busy fall phone season. Between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, most manufacturers release a torrent of new phones in preparation for the holiday-shopping season. Though it's certainly interesting to see all the new models companies like Samsung, Nokia, and LG have to offer, following all those phones can be a little exhausting. Now, with CNET's holiday break just a week away, I have the time to reflect on what this year brought us in the world of cell phones. And be sure to tell me what you saw this year, as well.

iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't lead off with the two biggest phones of the year: the iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile G1. Though the 3G version didn't quite reach the stratospheric hype of its predecessor, buyers still stood in line at Apple and AT&T stores on its July 11 release date. And despite some well-publicized problems with dropped calls and shaky 3G connections, buyers still flocked to buy the iPhone; Apple sold 5 million handsets in the third quarter alone. Apple continues to add new features through software updates, and I'm excited to see what 2009 will bring. I just hope one of the new features is something basic like multimedia messaging. And speaking of Apple, MacWold 2009 is only a couple of weeks away. We may just see an iPhone Nano.… Read more

The 404 247: Where Wicker Hollow is stuck in the Lincoln Tunnel

Back by popular demand, Wicker Hollow is in the studio with us today on The 404. Chris Leone and Chris Sparta join us to talk about their new album, "Wake Up Call," in stores and online December 20. Make sure you call into the show for a chance to win free tickets to their CD release party December 20 at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.

Justin Yu is gone for the rest of 2008, so now we can finally get some stuff done. That includes talking to the Wicker Hollow guys about a recent controversial Saturday Night Live skit, George W. Bush's ability to dodge shoes, N.J. marijuana laws, and what it's like playing in a punk rock band.

Editor in Chief Libe Goad from AOL's Gamedaily.com will join us tomorrow to talk about all things gaming, so make sure you tune in for that one.

EPISODE 247 Download today's podcast … Read more

iPhone Does Not Ring, Calls Go Straight to Voicemail

Several users have experienced an issue in which the iPhone 3G does not ring and calls are, instead, routed straight to voicemail. Of course, this can occur if the iPhone is off or the signal is weak or non-existent. However, several users have reported this behavior even with a full available signal.

Among the user reports from this Apple Discussions thread:

"Around November 15th, I started seeing some of the same problems on my iPhone 3G (calls not coming through, voicemails & texts getting delayed, unable to make calls / send texts)." "It seems totally random when it … Read more

Video game sales keep bucking recession trend

While you may think that the economic news is totally bleak, the video game industry seems like it may well be one very bright exception to the worldwide gloom.

Bolstering the theory that the industry may be recession-proof, or at least better positioned to weather the storm than most, the video game business posted a startlingly strong November, according to figures released Thursday by the analyst firm, NPD Group.

NPD reported that overall, the industry posted sales of $2.91 billion, up 10 percent from $2.64 billion in November 2007. And for the year, sales stand at $16.04 … Read more

On Call: Finding 3G

Q: I currently have an iPhone 3G but I'm considering purchasing the Sony Ericsson C905. This would be my first time using an unlocked phone and I'm a bit skeptical that it will work. What steps do I need to take in order to make the switch go as smoothly as possible? And will I be able to use AT&T's 3G network? - Nacor

A: Buying an unlocked phone needn't be complicated as long as you consider a couple of points. Most importantly, the phone will need to support the GSM bands used in the United States. Since the C905 is a quad-band GSM phone, you'll be able to make calls here without any problem. Just pop in your AT&T SIM card and you can start dialing. Yet, the 3G compatibility is another story. Sony Ericsson makes two versions of the C905, each with support for different 3G bands. The C905i will support only European 3G bands, while the C905a will work with AT&T's 3G network. So when buying your phone, you'll need to make sure you have the correct model.

Once you get the phone, you'll also need to program it with the correct multimedia settings to send picture messages and browse the Internet. The settings are unique to every phone and carrier but you should be able to download them from the support section on Sony Ericsson's Web site.

Q: I'm new here in the United States, and I would like to know if I can use a prepaid SIM from Verizon Wireless. Is that possible? - Chaya

A: Verizon Wireless is a CDMA carrier, which means that its phones don't use SIM cards. Verizon does offer prepaid phones, but you'll need to purchase a phone from the carrier if you want to use the service. And in any case, Verizon does its best to downplay its prepaid service. … Read more

The 404 234: Where we're bummed that Dad is home

Jeff is back to prove that father truly does not know best, but we're happy to welcome him back to the show. The OG crew is finally back together, so we get right back into the mix with stories about video game energy conservation, YouTube cheat tactics, Christian Guitar Hero, the weekend box office, and Jeff regales us with tales of the forgotten country of Canada.

Welcome back Jeff! Last week seemed to last forever without you buddy, and while guest hosts are always a good time, The 404 is almost too positive without your brand of bitter hatred for everything under the sun. So now that you're back and you've brought your gray cloud with you, we can get back to all things "normal" on the show. We're all about new and old movies, so I must recommend Let the Right One In, a new movie that takes an original look at vampirism. The story is about a young boy ostracized by his peers who finds friendship in a young neighbor...who also happens to be a blood-sucking vampire preying on other members of his community. It's an indie flick, so don't expect to see big budget explosions or crazy CGI, but the story is well-told and emotional. The movie is all in Swedish, so don't forget your reading glasses. I also just read that an American remake is in the works that will undoubtedly butcher the original. Just check out this one; I give it The 404 Seal of Approval, arf arf you won't be disappointed!

EPISODE 234 Download today's podcast … Read more

Google brings GrandCentral to the desktop with 'Vocito'

Google has released a new application for Mac users called "Vocito" that puts GrandCentral calling right on your desktop. It integrates with OS X's address book, Automater app, and third-party applications like Blacktree's QuickSilver to let you start a GrandCentral-powered call no matter what you're doing on your machine.

Similar to JaJah and Jaxtr, Vocito's system for setting up calls involves you first picking who you want to call, then choosing which one of your GrandCentral-connected phones you want it to be connected from. You then hit dial and GrandCentral does the rest. It'… Read more

Put a face to one-touch dialing

One-touch dialing isn't a feature that's innate to the iPhone, but add-ons like FaceCall make it possible. Turning a phone contact into an icon takes a few steps, though with clear direction, the set-up is surprisingly smooth. You'll be able to use a photo from the contact list or the camera roll as your icon image; if there are none, FaceCall will let you snap a fresh one from the application itself. After that, FaceCall's servers do the rest, leaving you unlimited new icons to position on your home screen. If you would only create a … Read more

First Look video: FaceCall for iPhone

Part speed dial, part icon-maker, FaceCall for iPhone ($2.99) is personalized productivity at its best.

Following the app's step-by-step directions, you'll be able to create unlimited photo icons to dial your contacts with a tap. If your address book is extensive, a speed-dial app like this one saves you time. Even if it's fairly manageable, FaceCall is a fun way to dot your home screen with the faces most important to you.

Check out this First Look video to preview FaceCall and see how to get started shrinking friends' photos into tiny home iPhone tiles.