Get to know Skype 4.0 beta

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 setup. 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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MacBook Air gets a leather catsuit

It's nice to see that someone is showing a little originality when it comes to cases for the MacBook Air. Until now we thought all of them would be some form of the interoffice envelope look, with the only variation being the occasional cowhide option.

Granted, Vaja's Ivolution Leather Suit does take the bovine route as well, but it's distinctly different from other models in some basic ways. Namely, it's meant to stay on at all times, hugging its charge like a wetsuit while allowing it to breathe through mesh vents sewn into the case, as Gizmodo notes.

It's really more like a phone case, which makes sense because the Air's perceived fragility would likely draw more owners to something like this than the hoi polloi and their standard workaday laptops. And true to Apple's design sensibilities, these cases are handmade to order from more than 1,000 colors--for prices that start at US$280.

Via CNET Crave

AMD eyeing Netbooks with low-power chip?

AMD took a big step toward improving its mobile offerings earlier this month, but it reportedly has other plans to match Intel's moves into this market.

Electronista spotted a post from a German site called Eee PC News on an AMD processor apparently known as the "BGA CPU", according to what appears to be a presentation slide authored by AMD. As The Register notes, the BGA CPU sounds an awful lot like a processor core called Bobcat that AMD first unveiled in 2007 but has said very little about since.

Bobcat was supposed to be a sub-10 watt processor core for things like thin notebooks and UMPCs, which have since evolved into the mobile Internet device concept. The BGA processor consumes 8 watts of power running at 1GHz, according to the slide, and uses an integrated memory controller. Eight watts is a little too much for handheld devices, but could work well inside a "Netbook" such as the Eee PC.
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Solar charge your MacBook now

My cubicle neighbour recently bought his brand new MacBook Air to the office (to show off) so the Apple Juicz may just be perfect for him, especially in sunny Singapore where there’s plenty of sun power to tap on. QuickerTek, which specializes in creating accessories for Apple devices, developed a portable solar charger which absorbs power from the sun to charge your battery.

The solar panels on Apple Juicz measure 60 x 42 inches when unfolded. The cells are made of thin film material, not the brittle silicone we typically see. So not to worry, the panels are flexible and won’t break or shatter easily.

Like all solar power devices, it probably could store the power to be use during the night even though QuickerTek didn’t state this on their site (actually, that is what I want to believe in).


The MagSafe adapter from your MacBook Air and Apple Juicz are connected by an inline connector plug. However, all three models need an upgraded MagSafe adapter, to strengthen the MagSafe which is prone to fraying and damage. So you will need to pay an additional US$25 to modify your MagSafe adapter. Alternatively, you can buy an already modified MagSafe adapter for US$100.
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Prezenter PSR makes presentations personal

Presentations are easy when you have a large screen and projector setup, but what if you're a traveling salesperson? Should you sit next to your client with your laptop, and potentially make him feel uneasy? Or turn the screen away and hope you have memorized the slides perfectly?
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