Jason Unger

Vonage's iPhone App is Pointless, Thanks Google/Apple/AT&T

Posted by junger - 10/21/09 at 07:10:21 am

Even before we got our first iPhone (Debbie's 2G), I've been talking about the major impact an app like Vonage could have on the device.

Think about it. For us Vonage users, with a mobile app, we could:

• automatically forward our landline to our cells while on the road
• get access to all of our digital voicemails and transcriptions
• see our latest inbound and outbound calls
• even make calls on our cellphone through our landline number

It'd be an amazing app. But it's not even close to the one we got. Yes, I know you can do most of these things by visiting their website, but it's slow, not mobile-friendly, and does more than an app needs to.

Instead, Vonage puts out a Skype-like mobile calling app, targeted at non-Vonage users who want to be able to make calls over WiFi (and now 3G). So you have to buy minutes to make calls. And can't do anything whatsoever related to your landline account.

It's totally pointless. Why would Vonage ignore their current users by making an app that doesn't do anything useful for them at all?

Well, there may be a legitimate excuse. But it's a total cop-out. And I doubt it's the actual reason they used to justify making this pointless app.

The ideal Vonage app sounds a lot like Google Voice. You know, the app that currently has Apple/AT&T/Google under scrutiny from the FCC. Being able to have "one number to manage them all" is great for users … not so much for telecom providers. Especially if it's not their number.

Considering they've never been an especially cash-steady company, Vonage doesn't have the ability to get caught up in a legal mess. But it's a dumb argument, since all of the app features are currently available — just in an annoying, non-usable fashion.

I don't know who to blame for this, so in a spirit of fairness, not only will Vonage take blame for being wimps, Google, Apple and AT&T also need to be called out for causing this situation.

Looking For: iTunes Movie Server, Streaming Capabilities

Posted by junger - 11/13/08 at 11:11:47 pm

I need your help.

Here's what I want to do:

• Setup a NAS or "home server"-type product to store all of my movies, maybe managed through iTunes?
• Stream them to clients throughout the house — probably Apple TVs, so podcasts can come through too
• Not use my iMac as the server

What's the best way to set this up?

I was thinking Drobo, since it can run an iTunes server – but it looks like it can only do music, not movies.

I like the idea of an Apple TV because I can watch my podcasts (at least the HD ones) on the plasma.

But, I'm open to all suggestions.

Little help?

10 Fresh Tips for New Mac Users

Posted by junger - 09/19/08 at 03:09:47 pm

Big news: I bought my first Mac.

After years of using PCs, I'm testing out the waters with a new iMac (20", 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB ram, 320 GB hard drive) but need your help.

I'm looking for 10 fresh tips to get the most out of my new Mac.

I need tips like:

• essential software
• speeding up the system
• what to avoid

If you're an Apple fanboy (or just want to help), leave a comment with a tip for new Mac users like me.

Is Internet TV Ready for the Living Room?

Posted by junger - 07/31/08 at 10:07:06 pm

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of watching video podcasts on my computer. It just doesn't make sense.

Even though I've got two screens running — one of which I use for "passive" applications (like IM, Twitter and podcasts) — having a video running while I'm working is awfully distracting (DUH).

This content needs to be on my TV. I didn't spend $2,500 on my Pioneer plasma to neglect it.

Of course, this is what Internet TV really is — using the Internet pipes to deliver video to your TV. It's NOT watching video on your computer.

We're starting to get there. Now that Netflix is coming via the Xbox 360 and LG's new Blu-ray player (called here first), the pipes are starting to get used to deliver content to the living room.

When any of those devices gets access to Hulu content, that'll be another big step forward.

In order to make the move into the living room, I've been thinking a lot about getting an Apple TV. I'm already locked into the iTunes universe. It's just one more step to my Apple-fication.

TV content is meant to be enjoyed in a passive setting, not when you're leaning over the keyboard.

iPhone Mixed Family Plan Pricing Revealed

Posted by junger - 07/01/08 at 02:07:24 pm

Got a first-gen iPhone you want to mix with a new, 3G unit in an AT&T family plan?

Here's how it's going to be priced, according to an AT&T CSR I spoke to today (this is assuming you go with the lowest, 450/700 minute plan):

- The phones share a voice plan ($69.99 for 2 units)
- The 3G model pays a monthly $30 data fee
- The EDGE model pays its normal $20 data fee
- The EDGE model still gets its 200 text messages built in
- The 3G model can add text messages at the indidividual rate ($5/month for 200, $15 for 1500, $20 for unlimited)

Total that up — for a 2 person family with one 3G iPhone and one EDGE iPhone, both at the lowest plan:

$69.99 (voice)
$30 (3G data)
$20 (2G data)
$5 (200 text messages for 3G)
=
$124.99

Presumably, you will pay the data rate for each additional iPhone added and $9.99 more for voice, so another EDGE phone would be $29.99 more and another 3G phone would be $39.99 more.

Compare that to the 2 line, 3G-only FamilyTalk plan.

At first, it seems reasonable — but consider that two individual plans would cost you only $10 more and you'd get 200 more voice minutes.

When I spoke to the CSR today, she had to go to a higher-up to find out this info — so hopefully AT&T gets their act together and distributes it to store reps soon.

Now that Debbie has an iPhone, this is most likely the route we're going (especially since she gets to keep her text messages).

iPhone 3G: What you need to know (AT&T)