Crave

Update: VoxOx has extended the deal from Thursday, April 9, at 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT. Also, $5 normally buys 500 VoxOx points, not 250 as previously stated.

Multiprotocol chat client VoxOx is offering a deal to CNET readers until 2:30 p.m. PST on Thursday, April 9. If you buy $5 worth of VoxPoints, instead of the usual 500 points, CNET readers will get 1,500 points. This is triple the number of points VoxOx is offering readers who sign on through VoxOx's own site. Each point converts to 1 minute's worth of talk time. New users will still receive the additional 120 free points, and can earn another additional 120 free points for referring a friend.

I reviewed the cross-platform VoxOx back in November, and it's been slowly improving on its potential to compete with better-known VoIP and multiprotocol chat clients. The most unique feature that it offers is CallBack, which users can initiate either from their computer or an SMS message to make international calls for the cost of a local one.

The program still struggles with stability and sluggish start-up times, and that makes it a hard sell. Still, if you need to talk internationally from your local cell phone, VoxOx offers an inexpensive solution. To take advantage of the promotion, enter "cnet1000" without the quotes when you download and install the program.

(Credit: iLane)

Ever since the State of California passed its hands-free driving law, I've actually started making more phone calls--in and out of my car--using my iPhone's earbuds and mic.

I guess the law made me more aware that I actually have a mic on my earbuds and walking down the street while seemingly talking to yourself is a great way to freak people out. Although not so much in San Francisco anymore.

Damn tangents. Anyway, the earbuds and mic are great for phone calls, but what about e-mail and voice messages? Well, IMS is saying it has you covered. On Wednesday, the company announced the North American availability of iLane, which we previously covered here.

iLane hooks up directly to the "majority" of smartphones (the iPhone, Blackberry 8000 series and newer smartphones running the Blackberry OS 4.1 included) and allows you to control your smartphone through voice command alone. No hands required.

The device comes with a Bluetooth headset, and reads e-mail, voice messages, and scheduled meetings out loud in what seems to be a synthesized female voice. Unfortunately, the voice has an American instead of a British accent, but I guess you can't have everything.

Like we needed another reason to work even more hours during the day. Well, at least now we won't have to risk our lives to do it.

The device is now available in North America at a suggested retail price of $599, plus $7.99 ($6.48) per month for the service.

Check out the demo here.

Make sure you know exactly what you install with AIM.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

The new update of AOL Instant Messenger, the AIM 6.8 Refresh, came out Tuesday with a new feature that allows you to send photos to cell phone users. I decided to try the new version out, mostly because I wanted to get rid of the annoying update notification.

Once the installation was done, I found out that the neat-sounding feature is limited to people using certain types of cell phones within the T-Mobile network.

None of my buddies meet the criteria so I didn't get to try it out, but I am not terribly impressed with the idea of this new feature, especially when cell phones these days can be used to easily check e-mail or receive multimedia messages. If anything, I am concerned.

The installation of the new AIM, much like that of any other instant-messenger app, still wants to significantly change the settings of your computer, including installing the terrible AOL toolbar, change the default home page to AOL.com, and change the default search engine to that of AOL (which is also terrible).

Make sure you pick the custom installation and uncheck all the boxes of features you don't wish to install before proceeding.

Favorites, groups of contacts, and background themes are new to Windows Live Messenger beta.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

If you're an avid Windows Live Messenger user, now's the time to convince your friends to make the switch to the new Windows Live Messenger beta. If they don't, you'll be wondering what the hubbub is about.

Unveiled on Wednesday, the new beta offers a bundle of fun, fresh features, the best of which can be taken advantage of only when you're chatting with another beta user. As a beta, there are a few known bugs, and probably more to discover, but the adventurous early adopters who aren't afraid of leaving Windows' Messenger 8 behind will be rewarded with functionality that improves on basic tasks and new baubles to color the chatting experience. We've got a few complaints, too.

A field to drag-and-drop favorite contacts and the ability to create chat groups of up to 20 participants are available in the newly-designed interface, which has a much lighter look that some may see as more cramped and less defined. Changing the color and background theme (or "scene," as it's called here) helps--if you know where to look. A paintbrush image appears when you scroll over its hidden position in the top right corner.

The chat window repositions pictures and gets some manners you may or may not like.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The chat window has also gotten a new coat of paint, but it may look off-kilter if your buddy is using an older version of Messenger. Contact images have been scooted over to the left, but when I first began chatting, they were hidden from view (if this happens to you, hover your cursor near the left edge of the window). The contact who initiates the chat defines the scene, so don't become confused if your interface and windows appear mismatched. Microsoft has done this in a bid to let you dictate the way you appear to your pals.

In chat behavior, you'll notice that conversations no longer snap you to the incoming message when you've scrolled up to review the chat, and that each new line is defined by bullet points. I see the logic in both changes, but am not won over by either and hope they're soon made optional, or that you'll at least be able to choose between marks. That incoming dynamic emoticons were often cut in half is an issue known to Microsoft's Messenger team.

The new, more dramatic look is just one of the new beta's customizing features. You can also set up a signature chime that plays for other friends on the beta client when you sign in, and even more lasting, you can create dynamic pictures or short videos with the Webcam that map your recorded moods with certain emoticons.

If you've got a Webcam, you can get moody.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The feature, called mood tiling, changes your profile picture to one of you smiling, winking, or looking sad or cool whenever you enter that emoticon. It's a fun and engaging trinket for socialites using the beta app, but the images are only stored locally. If you open Windows Live Messenger beta on another computer--simultaneous sign-in is yet another new capability--you'll need to reset your profile image, nevermind your dynamic one.

Less engaging, but certainly more practical, is the ability to drag-and-drop multimedia from a desktop folder into the chat window.

This beta upgrade would have been an excellent opportunity for the Windows Live Messenger team to overhaul the emoticons, which appear all the more coarse compared with the chat window's juicy new looks. It's also lamentable that the new beta doesn't switch the chat window to your theme when it detects you're talking to someone on a different version--instead you'll see the app's default blue.

If you give the program a try, let us know what you think. Love it, hate it? Leave your views in the comments, or rate Windows Live Messenger beta here.

(Credit: Altec Lansing)

We promised that a full review of Altec Lansing's just-announced Orbit MP3 iM237 was forthcoming--and now it's done. Here's the quick take with a link to the full review below.

The good: The Orbit MP3 iM237 is a compact, attractively designed portable single speaker that runs on three AAA batteries and comes with a protective carrying case; sound is OK for a speaker this small; integrated cable plugs into headphone jack of MP3 players and other devices.

The bad: While it's inexpensive, this model is a bit pricier than the previous Orbit; overall thin sound; distorts at higher volumes.

The bottom line: We like the new and improved version of Altec Lansing's portable single speaker, the Orbit MP3, better than the previous model--but it costs a bit more. Read the full review of Altec Lansing's Orbit MP3 iM237.

Altec Lansing inMotion Moondance GLOW iM402

(Credit: Altec Lansing)

Several of Altec Lansing's inMotion iPod speaker models have been among the favorites of CNET readers and editors alike, but it's been a while since we've seen a line refresh. That'll change in October, when two new inMotion models are released as part of Altec's brand relaunch.

First up is the inMotion Moondance GLOW (model number iM402, shown above). Designed for the nightstand, the GLOW is a clock radio iPod speaker system with dual alarms. It's so named because of its "unique multicolor, diffused illumination system" (according to Altec Lansing). In addition to a remote that enables playlist and song navigation from a distance, the GLOW includes a separate wireless "snooze remote" for alarm control.

(Credit: Altec Lansing)

It's the little iPod speaker that could. The Orbit, Altec Lansing's inexpensive mobile iPod speaker has a new design and new name: The Orbit MP3 iM237. We like it better than the previous model.

This single speaker, which is about the size of two hockey pucks stacked on top of each other, runs on three AAA batteries for about 24 hours and has a hideaway cord that plugs into the headphone jack on just about any MP3 player, including all the iPods and iPhones, as well as laptops and portable DVD players. The $39.95 speaker ships with a protective carrying case (with a convenient belt-clip carabiner) and a lanyard to strap around your wrist (I guess that's what it's for).

The understated iM237 now features a power button that lights when the speaker is on. On the earlier model, some people complained that without a light it was easy to forget that the unit was on and the batteries would run down. Doh!

As one might expect from a speaker this small, it doesn't sound all that good. But it also doesn't sound terrible, which is about all you can ask. We think it's worth more like $20 (the older Orbit sells for $30), but at $40, it's not exactly expensive.

Expect the new Orbit in stores soon. What do you guys think? Is it worth buying?

InTuch 5 allows you to access more than just address-related information of a contact.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

I remember my first cell phone being the Ericsson KF788. It had a three-line resolution on a black and white screen and an address book that had enough fields to store only a person's name and one phone number. If a friend had two phone numbers, I would have to create two separate entries. That was way back when, well, in 2001.

Cell phones have evolved so much since then, and, along the way, their internal address books have evolved right along with them. In the address book of today's smart phones, you can store almost any information about a person, down to even his or her daughter's birthday.

And yet, there's room for the address book to evolve even more.

Miyowa, an European Union-based global company that thrives on Mobile Web 2.0 technologies, announced today InTouch 5. This is the first mobile application designed to put people's complete digital life on their mobile device; by integrating the address book with other social content and applications, such as mobile IM, e-mail, user, social networks, file sharing and location services. For example, you can immediately connect to a buddy's status on Facebook, Flicker, or even instant message him/her just by accessing the contact's entry on your phone's address book.

From the service providers' perspective, InTouch 5 is to allow them to deliver an aggregated, robust Web 2.0 application over their existing infrastructure, while maintaining control of the services and user information. This also allows the provider to keep a backup of their customers' address book, as well as other content. This is helpful in case of loss or equipment upgrade: the user can get a new device with all of his/her digital life already set up on it. Together with InTouch 5, Miyowa hopes to get into the U.S. market, which has been trailing behind Europe in regard to mobile applications.

InTouch 5 is built around real user requirements and on a proprietary communications protocol that extends the IMPS standard to deliver Web 2.0 functionality. The solution works with most major mobile platforms, including Windows CE, Symbian, Java and BREW-based mobile devices via the world's thinnest client software. Miyowa claims that its proprietary communications protocol increases mobile-application responsiveness and reaction, resulting in a 50- to 80-percent bandwidth reduction on the carrier network, and significantly increased handset battery life.

Now the question is: is that really necessary to have this kind of highly integrated address book? Personally, I would say no, though it seems very cool, but I was pretty happy with the Ericsson KF788 so I kind of belong to a dated demographic here. What do you think?