With all the downsides I hear about Skype, I am surprised little attention has been given to a very competitive alternative in Google Voice. With a free phone number, free voicemail dictation service, and free calling to and from numbers throughout the U.S. and Canada, people really should start taking advantage of this service. The audio and video call reliability is stronger than Skype, and you can use the service directly from G-mail! Extending on that service, GrooVe IP is an Android app that lets you harness the power of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) to make dirt cheap calls from anywhere in the world.
Hai Tech Eric
eclectic musings
Massive Epic Trance, Anyone?
A State of Trance recently released their 550th episode on March 7, 2012 from Moscow, Russia, and I must say that this is one epic piece of work. Almost one and half hours of nonstop music. My favorite part has got to be the piece by W&W at 24:47 in the track, so if you listen to any of it, listen to those four minutes there!
Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
Having read Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow years and years ago, I recently restarted the Ender’s Game series with Speaker for the Dead, and after enjoying it immensely, moved on to Xenocide. Orson Scott Card makes some bold moves in his writing, culminating in a thought-provoking discourse. Unfortunately, the story must suffer somewhat as a result. Despite any shortcomings of the work, this book should be read by anyone with a desire to think outside of the box in regards to science, religion, and humanity. Continue reading
Taking Notes on Android
Today marks the release of an Android app that I’ve been waiting for since my college days. If you have ever explored the full breadth of programs that come bundled in most Office suites, you may have discovered the awesomeness that is OneNote. A virtual, searchable whiteboard notebook of sorts, OneNote is the best way I found to electronically catalog and organize my entire life. And now it’s available on Android! Honorable mentions to Catch notes Google Keep and Google Voice Commands.
Stop SOPA and PIPA now!
The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect-IP Act being proposed in both the House and the Senate has been fast-tracked. Why?
UPDATE: Round of applause to the 13 million people who stood up on protest day. PIPA and SOPA are tabled for now.