We’ve all heard of Skype, the internet telephone software that allows you to make calls to landlines (now no longer free, however). It’s great, but in order to use it, you need to install some software. Gizmo Call improves on this by allowing you to make free VOIP calls from your PC using nothing more than your browser and a microphone. You only need to install a small Flash plugin and you’re allowed five minutes of calling per day unless you register, which bumps you up to 10 minutes. There’s the option of purchasing more minutes after that.

Also, sorry if that’s your phone number. I just typed in a random number that probably doesn’t exist.

With all the talk the Apple Stores are receiving, it seems like Dell wants to get in the action as well by constructing two 3000 square foot stores in the North Park Center in Dallas, Texas and the Palisades Center in West Nyack, New York. The Dallas store will open in late summer and the New York store will open in the fall of this year. The store won’t actually sell computers directly (they will not stock sellable computers in their inventory), but instead, will allow customers to get a feel for the Dell products a make a custom order in the store and receive the order in the mail (essentially a typical online Dell purchase). They will also be offering a Genius Bar (Apple Store) like environment where Dell users can get their computers repaired.

Ah, thank god it’s no longer that boomerang shape. Too bad there’s not much new here. It’s pretty much the PS2 controller combined with the Wii (Nintendo Revolution)…

Specs include X-Y-Z, pitch, roll, yaw, and lateral motion detection, bluetooth and wireless controls, and it’s lighter than the PS2 controller.

Looks like Sony just stole Nintendo’s originality.

In addition, pricing details of 20GB for $499 and 60GB for $599 have been released as well.

I’m so excited! After months of waiting, Verizon FiOS is finally available in my area. The Verizon guys have been here for the past few months installing and connecting cables, and it just today it has become available. I will probably be getting the 15mb/2mb plan (which completely owns my 6mb/768kb Comcast line at the moment). Insane BitTorrent speeds, here I come!

Also, on a side note, check out the spiffy new archive page I installed. Good for exploring content quickly (no refreshing of the page!). Still working on it a bit though.

Not to mention it’s also refurbished and adjusted to 2005 inflation, it’d be $8876.11.

#

It seems that Verizon (as of May 1st, 2006) is upgrading their FiOS fiber optic internet speeds for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The changed plans are 10/2 for $34.95, 20/5 for $44.95, and 30/5 for $179.95.

Currently, they’ve been installing the fiber optic cables for FiOS in my neighborhood (lots of digging for laying down the fiber underground and working on the poles at the end of the neighborhood). Not sure when it’ll be finished, but hopefully at the end of the year I’ll be able to enjoy some much needed new speeds. Comcast here (MD) is currently only providing 6/768k; for the same price going with FiOS I would be getting 15/2 (unless the change the plans for Maryland to 20/5)!

#