Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: DW on December 18, 2009, 01:54:11 PM

Title: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 18, 2009, 01:54:11 PM
Has anyone used the Skype App on an I-pod touch?  I am looking for a cheap way to keep in touch with my family while overseas.   I'll be heading  to Singapore where WIFI is plentiful, so free contact with the wife and kids would be  [bacon].








Also, it gives me an excuse to get a nifty new I-pod. [bacon] [bacon]
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: Buckethead on December 18, 2009, 02:39:55 PM
I haven't used it myself, but I was on a ferry across the Bay of Fundy and the girl sitting next to me pulled out her iPhone, hooked into the ships free wifi and used Skype to call her friend vacationing somewhere in the Mediterranean.

At that point, I realized that technology had come too far and that we're all doomed.

I also thought it was really cool.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: ZLTFUL on December 18, 2009, 02:57:49 PM
Skynet became self aware at....er wait....wrong thread.  ;D

I haven't used it but I will try it out on mine. While I make fun of IPhone users, the IPod Touch is a whole other beast.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: muskrat on December 18, 2009, 04:34:45 PM
you can use it on the Iphone.  gives you an excuse to get the "upgrade" if you will  :o
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: sert duc on December 18, 2009, 06:54:24 PM
I've used it to make free phone calls over Wi-Fi to my brother in Denmark. Works great.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: Raux on December 19, 2009, 12:50:00 AM
guy in the office has iPod Touch with Skype. easy as pie he says.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 19, 2009, 03:35:22 AM
Here is the thing on the I-phone.  I don't want something with me that has the ability to rack up huge charges trying to receive email, texts, and calls while roaming in a foreign country.  A former coworker of mine managed to hit several thousand dollars in one month.  I plan to drop in to an AT&T store to find out if there is a way around that. (Airplane mode?)  I just don't want anything that will set a trap for me if I screw up.

I-pod Touch looks like it will do anything I actually would want it to.  I appreciate all the first hand experience comments.

How poor is the battery life?  I've gotten used to my Nano lasting all day, but was guessing that it would more like a cell phone running that screen.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 25, 2009, 10:14:33 AM
Sooo, I got the 32gb I-pod touch for Christmas!  Only issue is it won't open any websites [bang] [bang]
I connect to my WIFI, it shows a good connection, but will not open anything.  I either get an "invalid argument" message or it just locks up trying to open the website. 
Here's what I've tried so far:
1) I verified my WIFI is good with my company laptop.  Re-started the modem a couple of times just in case.
2) I had the I-pod "forget" the WIFI network and re-connected several times.
3) I restored the software on the I-pod 3 times.
4) I've messed around in settings for both Safari and general.

Any idea's?  This was supposed to keep me occupied all day in a good way, not frustrated.  I leave on a trip tomorrow and wanted this thing working before I left.  No support available from Apple until Sunday.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 25, 2009, 12:17:44 PM
Never mind, I finally got it to work.  It kept saying that it was connected, but I was having modem issues afterall.

Life is  [bacon] and  [drink]
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 25, 2009, 12:43:18 PM
In fact, this has been posted from my iPod!!!
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DarkStaR on December 25, 2009, 01:03:35 PM
Too late now, but when I leave the country, I throw it in Airplane Mode, and don't get charged for anything.  WiFi becomes your best friend.

Only issue I had was most hotels don't have WiFi in the rooms, wired only.  Wish I had a travel size wireless router like this:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ATF38JBEL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)


Quote from: DW on December 19, 2009, 03:35:22 AM
Here is the thing on the I-phone.  I don't want something with me that has the ability to rack up huge charges trying to receive email, texts, and calls while roaming in a foreign country.  A former coworker of mine managed to hit several thousand dollars in one month.  I plan to drop in to an AT&T store to find out if there is a way around that. (Airplane mode?)  I just don't want anything that will set a trap for me if I screw up.

I-pod Touch looks like it will do anything I actually would want it to.  I appreciate all the first hand experience comments.

How poor is the battery life?  I've gotten used to my Nano lasting all day, but was guessing that it would more like a cell phone running that screen.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: Kopfjäger on December 25, 2009, 09:42:56 PM
How do you make phone calls on an I touch?
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 26, 2009, 04:20:58 AM
Quote from: kopfjäger on December 25, 2009, 09:42:56 PM
How do you make phone calls on an I touch?

Application called Skype.  You have to have an internet connection and a set of earphones with a mic.  Skype is free.  Rates to regular phones look very good, skype to skype is free.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: somegirl on December 26, 2009, 08:25:22 AM
Quote from: DarkStaR on December 25, 2009, 01:03:35 PM
Only issue I had was most hotels don't have WiFi in the rooms, wired only.

Really depends on the country (and the hotel).  There are many places where you can only find (crappy) WiFi and no wired connections.

In general I see more WiFi-only places in Europe, and more wired-only in Asia, but that's not true across the board.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: cyrus buelton on December 26, 2009, 09:27:36 AM
If you are traveling there on Business, won't they pick up your phone bill?


If not, that's pretty shitty of them.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: somegirl on December 26, 2009, 02:24:57 PM
Quote from: cyrus buelton on December 26, 2009, 09:27:36 AM
If you are traveling there on Business, won't they pick up your phone bill?


If not, that's pretty shitty of them.

Mine does, but if it's going to be many hours of conference calls while I am overseas, I still try to use Skype (through my laptop) to save them money. *shrug*
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DW on December 29, 2009, 01:48:59 AM
Quote from: cyrus buelton on December 26, 2009, 09:27:36 AM
If you are traveling there on Business, won't they pick up your phone bill?


If not, that's pretty shitty of them.
[/
Problem is that everyone has their own idea of what a reasonable amount of time per day is.  I've got two young kids, so to me that means about an hour each day on the phone with them and my wife.  At about $2 per minute for my company phone that adds up to $3,600 in a single 30 day trip.  I would just rather take care of some things myself rather than raise the questions.  Especially when it can be done for free. 

Also, what about talking to friends?  Company doesn't really see much need to pay for that.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: slowpoke13 on December 29, 2009, 02:44:24 AM
I've got Skype on my iTouch and iPhone. With the iTouch, I had to pick up one of those headsets with the mic built in. Wasn't really an issue. Works fine. But, sucks battery juice. Also, you have to stay in the application. You can't exit it and wait for the phone to ring. It just means you can't do other things while you wait for the call.
Title: Re: I-pod and Skype
Post by: DarkStaR on December 29, 2009, 08:42:44 AM
Quote from: slowpoke13 on December 29, 2009, 02:44:24 AM
I've got Skype on my iTouch and iPhone. With the iTouch, I had to pick up one of those headsets with the mic built in. Wasn't really an issue. Works fine. But, sucks battery juice. Also, you have to stay in the application. You can't exit it and wait for the phone to ring. It just means you can't do other things while you wait for the call.

+1  That's what sux about it.  It seems better to use it to make calls, rather than receiving...but even then...the online list doesn't always update correctly.  :-\