call

Skype beta updated to 1.0.0.49 with a long list of tweaks

If you haven’t tried out Skype for voice chat and telephony, you really should do so. In fact, it is what the Wizards of Technology use to pull off their coast-to-coast podcast every week. If you have used Skype and have the beta, then you’ll want to update your software. The developers have added new features, bugfixes and improvements…too many too list…well, okay, what the hell…
What’s New in Version 1.0.0.49:

  • feature: Carbon interface for Skype API

  • feature: drag & drop contacts from contact list to ongoing call to add them to the call
  • feature: animated emoticons in chats
  • change: alerts of undelivered chat messages are removed when messages are finally delivered
  • change: profile data of MC participants who haven’t authorized you is now loaded via RefreshProfile
  • change: added confirmation dialog on Quit Chat command
  • change: implemented /leave, /call, /history chat commands
  • change: added View Chat History to MC drawer item’s context/popup menus
  • improvement: improved handling of incoming chat messages that reduces amount of sound notifications during chat synchronization
  • change: idle timer starts only from “online” and “skype me” state
  • change: if you have enabled Quick Answer panel, then it will be shown even when Skype is the active app and its main window visible
  • change: multiple selection to initiate calls and chats also works in the call list now
  • change: now chats in MC window drawer are appended to the end instead of alphabetical sort
  • change: debug log files are created into /Logs folder, one file per Skype login
  • change: offline functionality improved (enabled some menu items, a la view chat history, view profile)
  • change: updated EULA
  • change: renamed “Leave Chat” command to “Quit Chat”
  • bugfix: fixed handling of non-ascii characters in HTML chat history (seems it was broken on Tiger)
  • bugfix: idle timer was not working on Tiger
  • bugfix: Send IM toolbar item was disabled, when a contact was selected in the call list
  • bugfix: sorting of the contact list in the “add to chat” dialog improved
  • bugfix: new incoming chats do not steal focus any more
  • bugfix: last online status was not saved sometimes and it was set to “online” when logging in next time
  • bugfix: after adding a new contact Skype crashed often
  • bugfix: 5th digit of some misc error codes was cut off
  • bugfix: the number of new voicemails was sometimes two times the correct number
  • bugfix: there was a flood of Growl notifications about buddys coming online, when reconnecting to internet
  • bugfix: it was not possible to add a contact to a conference call with an ongoing 1-to-1 call
  • bugfix: sometimes busy tone was played for a very long time
  • bugfix: call list didn’t remember previously selected items after new calls had been added to the list
  • bugfix: double-clicking on contact in search window now calls/sends IM
  • bugfix: default chat history length was incorrectly set to 3 days if user just view’ed chat preferences and did not change it
  • bugfix: chat history length was set to 0 days when user selected None, actually 0 days means forever
  • bugfix: when no phone numbers were set in the profile, N/A was inserted instead
  • bugfix: it was not possible to remove birthday from your profile
  • bugfix: current name is now automatically selected, when you start renaming a contact
  • bugfix: call buttons disappeared sometimes when resizing the main window
  • bugfix: own full name change was not immediately reflected in chats
  • bugfix: Edit Profile window didn’t pop up, after logging for the first time with a new account
  • bugfix: Skype API: Skype didn’t obtain focus when a call was initiated
  • bugfix: it is now possible to cancel login attempts
  • bugfix: Skype opened too many files simultaneously
  • bugfix: sometimes there were empty names in the call list
  • bugfix: blocked contacts are now sorted with unauthorized contacts instead of offline contacts
  • known issue: switching emoticon packs does not refresh the Emoticons menu under Edit menu.

I told you there were a lot of changes.
Note:

Mac Design Conference gives out ”free” passes

The Mac Design Conference & Digital Photography Expo is opening it’s Tech Expo to the public for one day only on Wednesday, June 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The expo provides unique training opportunities from some of the industries top trainers and offers the opportunity to get hands-on demonstrations right on the expo floor from companies that include Adobe, Wacom, B&H, CDW, and HP exhibiting their latest products and gear. This year’s expo will be the first opportunity for many to get hands on training with Adobe CS2 and test drive Mac OSX Tiger. There is still time to register for the entire three-day Mac Design Conference & Digital Photography Tech Expo. Go online or call 877-622-8632.

The “free” part:
This year’s expo admission is $20 per person at the door, or interested parties can go online in advance of June 22 to reserve a “free” pass.

Note:

Ovolab releases Phlink 2.2

In what is mainly a tweak and bug fix update, Ovolab has released an update to Phlink that refines their Tiger integrated telephony app. Ovolab Phlink, combined with Ovolab’s Telephone Adapter, answers telephone calls and identifies the caller using Caller ID and Apple’s Address Book. After answering a call, Ovolab Phlink records a message and stores it on your Mac for later retrieval.
Phlink’s Dashboard widget allows you to view the last five incoming, outgoing and missed calls, dial your Address Book contacts, dial phone numbers using an onscreen keypad or remote control any Phlink running on another Mac on the network.

Phlink is Spotlight enabled which will help you to instantly find information about past telephone calls, search caller names, phone numbers, or call duration.

Through Automator, Phlink can call your cell phone and play a message or call a list of contacts automatically and play a prerecorded message.

Ovolab Phlink sells for USD$149.95.

Changed in Phlink 2.2

  • Improved the visualization of information in the call log window.

  • Slightly changed the behavior of the play/ff/rew buttons, so that they are properly dimmed when a recording can’t be played (for instance, because the selected call does not have any associated recordings).
  • Failed outgoing calls now have their own icon in the call log.
  • Phlink can now be set to answer on the first ring, even if caller ID hasn’t been sent by the phone company yet.
  • The duration of a call is now 0 until the line goes off hook – therefore, missed calls will now have their duration properly set to 0.
  • Searching for calls whose timestamp is “exactly” x now finds all calls made on the same day as x.

Note: