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Archive for August, 2009

Slow Flashplayer in OSX

by Administrator on August 9, 2009 in Apple, Computers, Hacks, Technology with No comments

Did you upgrade to v10 of Flash Player and now your browser runs really slow especially when trying to play any sort of flash video?

If so then maybe you should downgrade to v9. I run an older G4 Powerbook and was running into this issue until a friend of mine emailed me a few files to downgrade my flash player to v9. Now my browser runs much nicer.

Here are the files:
Flash Player Uninstaller OSX

Flash Player v9 Files OSX

Run the uninstaller, then copy the two files in the flashplayer9r159 disk image to /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/

That’s all. I hope this helps!

Google Voice Applications & Scripts

by Administrator on August 3, 2009 in Hacks, Programming, Telephony with No comments

2009-07-15_google_voice_fluid_previewI like most other users LOVE Google Voice and have found some useful apps that I would like to share with other Google Voice users.

1) Firefox Google Voice Add on
This is a nice little app that makes it possible to make phone calls, and text messages from your Google Voice account with out having another open window.

2)Send one message to multiple contacts with ContacTexter

This is a neat little app that was written using Java so it’s cross platform. The interface isn’t too pretty, but it works, and it’s FREE!

3) Get the BEST number on Google Voice Script
This guy figured out how to access google voice number search via a script, and run queries to grab the JSON file. This is definitely worth taken a look at if you are a developer/programmer of any kind. Unfortunately it is a script that was built for OSX 10.5 but is possible to modify and run in 10.4.

4) Scott’s SMS via Python for Google Voice Script (Everyday Scripting)
This is a neat little script to send text messages using Python.

4b) Scott’s NEW AND IMPROVED Python Script for Google Voice (Everyday Scripting)
This script allows you to send mass sms or mass call in an iterative fashion. Keep up the good work Scott!

5) How to write a Google Voice App
Well not exactly, but does give some insight in how Google Voice works since there is no API as of yet.

6) How to use Google Voice as your voice mail instead of your cell provider
This is basically instructions on how to forward your voicemail to google voice. This should help users with the Google Voice Transition.

7) How to enable Google Voice push notifications on iPhone 3GS

8 )One click International Calling with Google Voice

9) Another Google Voice Python Script
pygooglevoice brings the power of the Google Voice API to the Python language in a simple, easy-to-use manner.

10) Using Google Voice with Fluid (OSX Only)

11) Google Voice Grease Monkey Growl Script

12) Place Google Voice Calls directly from contacts on iPhone (Apple Script)

The script works by adding numbers to contacts in Address Book that dial your contact via Google Voice. The new number is prefixed with your Google Voice number, your pin, and the number two. It dials into your Google Voice number and places the call to your contact.

13) Google Voice Bookmarklet Generator (iPhone or iPod Touch)
Those of you who follow tech news know that there’s been quite a dust-up recently over Google Voice apps on the iPhone. First they were allowed, but now they’re banned. So until they work things out, or Google comes up with a more elegant web-based solution, placing a call using Google Voice on the iPhone is a long and drawn-out process. So Ironic Sans came up with this solution.

14) Google Voice Mobile Web Version
This is the mobile web version of Google Voice. I figured it would be good to note on here.

15) Import Facebook Contacts into your Google Voice Contacts (Script)
Facebook’s API + FBConnect is great but it has some severe limitations. Notably, it doesn’t expose all the functionality available on the Facebook site. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to copy a dump of my friends’ names and phone numbers off the site to load into a fresh cell phone. Unfortunately, looking at the API this isn’t possible. Never fear – Greasemonkey provides enough of a hook into Firefox that it would be possible to write a UserScript to accomplish this.

16) Turn Google Voice into a OSX Friendly Application
Google Voice’s web site is nice, but keeping it open in a browser tab can be cumbersome. Mac users, however, can get Growl notifications, complete with transcript previews, and app badge updates with the handy Fluid app. Unfortunately the Fluid App is only available for 10.5 and greater. This was enough reason for me to update, so maybe you should too.

17) Google Voice Dashboard Widget for OSX
Are you looking for an easy way to call or send SMS messages to your contacts using your Google Voice number right from your fingertips? GV Connect is your answer: a Google Voice widget which allows you make calls and send SMS messages from your GV number to your Address Book and Google contacts right from the Dashboard

18) Google Voice Notifier Windows and OSX
A simple system tray notifier for Google Voice. Lets you know when you have unread text or voice messages. The project is written in java and uses Google Voice’s REST service calls. This notifier will work on any platform that supports the java system tray icon.

How I Call from S. Korea to the U.S. for (almost) FREE

by Administrator on August 2, 2009 in Computers, Technology with No comments

When my wife and I decided that we were going to be living over seas for a year or more, I knew I had to find a way to call home for almost nothing. I also wanted a way for them to call us without having to use a calling card. This led me to researching something known as VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. This is simply described as using the internet to make your phone calls instead of using traditional phone lines. Also I didn’t want to buy another piece of hardware to lug around known as a VOIP phone, I wanted to use our laptops and a piece of software instead.

1) Download X-Lite
After some trial and error using different pieces of VOIP software I ended up deciding on X-lite as my program of choice.
X-Lite is stable, free, and available for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux. So I would highly recommend it. But there are other software choices available, but I won’t list them here.

2) Choose a VOIP provider like voipcheap.com
I don’t have a whole lot of nice things to say about voipcheap other than they offer inexpensive VOIP service with free incoming calls. Also their international call rates are the cheapest I have seen. One thing to note is to make sure when you go to their website to sign up click on the MAC & LINUX USERS CLICK HERE link so that you aren’t forced to download their crappy VOIP software. The way voipcheap works is you Pay 10 Euros and you have a maximum of 300 free outgoing minutes during any given 7 day period for 3 months. Voipcheap calls this “Free Days” and the free outgoing only applies to some countries like the U.S. Please look over their calling rates for “Free Days” if you want to call somewhere other than the US. Once your 3 months of “FREE DAYS” is up then you are charged .01 Euro a minute to call to the U.S. But….you get free incoming calls, which brings us to the next part.

3) Sign up with IPKall for a FREE Incoming voip phone number (Washington State)
This is an awesome service, and the only one that is free as far as I know. The only drawback is that you can lose your number if you don’t receive an incoming phone call for 30 days. IPKall get’s a small amount of money for every phone call to an IPKall number, which is why they can offer this service for free. As of writing this IPKall offers free phone numbers in the following area codes: 253, 206, 360, and 425. It takes about 7 days to receive your phone number.

4) Sign up with Voxalot for FREE voicemail
Not much to say here, except Voxalot is a great free service.

All of this is kind of a pain in the butt to set up at first, and can be confusing for new VOIP users. I hope this helps some people make the transition from land line telephone to VOIP Telephony.