TechWrap now in 9 Languages!!!

So today, I was trying to translate the site into Spanish just for fun and because I wanted to increase visitors by offering it in a new language. Instead I ended up finding this amazing thing from AltaVista's BabelFish translator. So instead of the TechWrap being in English and Spanish it will be in 9 different languages!!!!

• English
• Spanish
• Italian
• French
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Korean
• German
• Portugese

So now people speaking these languages can get their TechWrap!!

Google Sued for Patent Infringement

Google is being sued for patent infringement over the VoIP portion of Google Talk.

You can find the full text (38 pages pdf) of the complaint filed by Rates Technology in October here.A copy of the court docket is posted here.

The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of New York.The suit includes two causes of action for patent infringement against Google.Rates Technology says that two patents they hold (awarded in 1995, 2001) for minimizing the cost of long distance calls using the Internet are being infringed upon by Google Talk.

Copies of these two patents along with one more mentioned in the filing are included in the complaint.

Rates Technology is asking for a jury trial along with:

• Enforcement of the patents
• Damages including the loss of profits so provide a royalty
• A preliminary injuction against Google
• Attorney's fees

( source: blog.searchenginewatch.com )

DivX Browser Plug-In: Must-Have!!

DivX has just released a beta of a browser plug-in for the following browsers:

• Internet Explorer (5.0 and above)
• Firefox (1.0 and above)
• Mozilla (1.7 and above)
• Netscape (8.0 and above)

Mac OS X and Linux versions are "just around the corner."

Download: Click Here

After you have downloaded:

Samples:

• Batman Begins Trailer
  
• X-Men 3 Trailer
• Underworld Evolution Trailer

Features:

• Playback DivX AVI files (DivX 5/6 video + MP3 audio) stored on a regular webserver live in your browser
• Save files to to disk so that you can replay them later with the free DivX Player
• Monitor your connection speed and the download buffer during playback
• Watch video in windowed mode or blow it up to fullscreen
• Seek and trick play into the download buffer
• Change preferences for the download behavior
• Check for updates and instantly update the plug-in (with prompting)
• Awesome™ playback performance

*All downloads etc. brought to you by DivX. TechWrap takes NO claims to any of these downloads just because they are on this site.

Yahoo to stream CBS shows for one week

Yahoo, from today (Tuesday) until Jan. 2, will be streaming two CBS Monday Night comedies on Yahoo TV. Those shows will be Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother. I've seen Two and a Half Men and it is pretty funny so definitely check that out. Both will be at NO cost and without commercial interruption. Also, the episodes shown will be the last two episodes aired on CBS. This will mark the first time that CBS will offer full length shows in its entirety with Yahoo (they previously had three episodes of Threshold on their site).

Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah

Personally, I just would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there. I started the TechWrap on October 9 of this year and since, we have been joined by 3 writers: draconar, g4m3fr34k, and Luke. Also, we have a brand new podcast that you can find almost anywhere on the web. We are currently listed in 8 blog directories and more to come. We update daily for all your Tech News no matter what.

I designed the TechWrap to be a one-stop-shop for everyone's Tech News. We provide the best info out there with only stuff that YOU want to hear about. So once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all of our readers and listeners.

Free Videos on iTunes

That's right folks there are two free video downloads on iTunes for everyone. All you need is an iTunes account and you have it free. Apple is doing the same here as they do with their free music download of the week. Links below:

Saturday Night Live: Lazy Sunday Video for Free

BattleStar Galactica: Free Video

VoIP Pay-Per-Call with Google Talk

As Google releases the Libjingle API suite, ADS-click, provider of private-labeled advertising solutions, announces it will expand its pay-per-call solution SKY-click to use Google Talk.

ADS-click will use Google's Libjingle API to expand its voice over IP solution SKY-click to Google Talk. SKY-click is a technology that already interacts with Skype to provide with private-labeled VOIP click-to-call contextual and search advertising.

ADS-click will also release a 100% VOIP Skype and Google Talk call center during first quarter 2006. It will feature full call center capabilities, such as operator settings, language management, call history and integration with Customer Relationships Management systems. This call center will allow big and small companies to provide customers with live sales, support and training using video, voice and text messaging. ( martketwire.com )

Google Talk to soon talk with AIM

For those of you that have not heard. Google recently bought about 5% in AOL stock giving them a huge chunk of the AOL pie. Because of this announcement, Google Talk users will soon be able to talk with AIM users. Stay tuned to the TechWrap for when this is possible.

Google Talk...Libjingle?

Well a couple of days ago Google released Libjingle, "a set of components provided by Google to interoperate with Google Talk's peer-to-peer and voice calling capabilities." (Source) So what is in store you ask...

• Voice calls between other PC IM/VOIP clients such as Gaim, Adium, Psi, etc. and Google Talk.
• Voice calls between mobile devices and Google Talk!
• Peer-to-peer applications.

This is huge news and a giant step for Google...good things come in small packages.

Listen to the PodCast.

New ABC show on iTunes

And it is......Commander in Chief. I believe it is already up so if you like the show then you can get it now legally and for your ipod. Also, as we mentioned earlier NBC is planning on releasing more shows for iTunes in the coming weeks. Still no word on what....

Rumors have it that Microsoft plans to roll out a subscription video service to take out Apple. Personally, I think Microsoft is too late in the game but who knows.

TechWrap looking for MORE writers!! Pay possibly

Currently, we have 4 writers, myself included. This is all well and good but I want the TechWrap to be a well-oiled efficient machine that can do everything!

So I have revamped my efforts and have introduced a new part of this equation.

Once the site becomes big enough and revenue starts drawing in then I will pay writers. That is correct folks I will be PAYING writers.

Conditions for payment:

1. Payment is based on the number of articles that you post
2. There will be a limit to the number of article per week that you can get paid for.
3. If I have to ever edit something on the post such as a picture (a couple of grammar miscues is ok but not too many) then you will not receive payment for the article.

All of this is based on when the TechWrap starts drawing in a ton of readers and creates a substantial revenue.

Oh, also one more condition. If you join the team now then your pay will be greater per post than someone that joins up after the payment begins. Most likely it will be 2x greater!

Gmail for your cell phone, officially!

You can now access your gmail account from your cell phone. Basically, I was pretty bored and it's late at night, so I figured I'd post something (anything).

Go to http://m.gmail.com from your mobile phone and you are set. Also, it can handle photos and .pdf files.

Google is taking over our lives...

HBO interested in having shows on iTunes

HBO is considering putting their shows on iTunes for the Video iPod. Just another TV group trying to get on iTunes...

New Google things and new NBC news

This was first broken in on the podcast and here is the news for today:

1. Gmail Group Contacts just released
2. Gmail vacation reply feature up
3. Google Music Searches, If you search for a band then you can click the first link and find info about the band, places to buy, and lyrics
4. NBC is planning to offer a couple of new shows on iTunes in the coming weeks (no clue what).

DivX Codec 6.1 released!!

Quote from DivX Labs:

Single CPU will run anywhere from 14 to 80% faster than the 6.0 codec depending on the quality mode selected. At the same time, brand new support for HT, SMP, Dual Core, and Dual Core + HT CPUs allows for gains of up to 300%!

For any of you that do not have DivX then GET IT NOW!!! It is an amazing video format and it is better then anything you could ever get (I can't really say the other good things...for...lagel (backwards) reasons).

300,000 XBOX 360s to come to U.S. in next week!!

That's right folks the X360 is coming to the U.S. again. About 300,000 of them. All within the next week. Need I say more??

Ok I will, basically this is about the same number that was available here for the launch so this is great for all the people that have been waiting forever for new shipments (includes me).

Also, another thing expected is for video game publishers are expected to slash prices/have sales so that they can get games moving more. So just wait for the sale until you get the game you are dying for.

Microsoft is aiming to sell 2.75-3 million Xbox 360s in the first 90 days of its release and supposedly they are "on track." We'll see...

(*Note: Pic is Peter Moore handing a Japanese woman an xbox 360)

Update in gaming news: Dreamcast relaunch, and xbox 360 fails in Japan

About 40% of the xbox 360s were sold in Japan. Of course there is good reason with only about 6 launch titles and not one of them is a RPG. C'mon microsoft,
Japan + RPGs = GOOD

I hope this shows Microsoft that multi-tiered nation launches aren't a good idea. The U.S. NEEDS xbox 360s NOW!!

Also, in the gaming world...

SEGA Direct will be selling Dreamcasts in Japan (all refurbished). Ahh, I could so see all the little Japanese men from the Godzilla film running towards Dreamcasts...

TechWrap podcast unveiled!!

Ok, the podcast is officially up here:

http://www.TechWPodcast.blogspot.com

the RSS feed is here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TechWPodcast

Currently, it is on Yahoo! and it is now on iTunes!!Just search for Technology Wrap and you should be good!!

UPDATE: It is now on iTunes just search for Technology Wrap!

New Website for Google Talk Users

This website was made to allow people using Googles free Instant messenger tool with VoIP to make profiles and store them at this site so people can meet other Google Talk users. It includes the ability to make your own profile, upload a picture, have a friends list, and a blog service.


Check it out.

TechWrap podcast coming soon....

A TechWrap podcast will be coming soon!! For the first episode I just did a little bit about each article. Basically, from here on out though I will be making one FOR EACH of the articles and you can hear my voice, my opinions, and just basic in depth nature about EVERYTHING in the Tech World!!!!

After we get some reviews going I will be sure to add those as well!

It will be on Yahoo, iTunes, and ODEO (possibly this one, not sure yet). Also, beyond all this I will be sure to provide the basic feed link for anyone that has a podcast program beyond what is already named.

Stay tuned guys!!!

NBC, SciFi, and USA hop onto iTunes, ESPN next?

Basically folks, NBC, SciFi, and USA are now offering some programs on iTunes (check pic for some shows from NBC). Shows that I know of will include the Office and the tonight and late night shows with Jay Leno and Connan O'Brien repectively.

This hopefully means that more and more channels will be providing content. FOX has recently said that they are open to talks about such a thing and I think this will help push it along. Furthermore, the ESPN CEO (whats his name) has said that he would "mull" over such an idea about adding content onto iTunes.

I think this will get the ball rolling even more and may eventually lead to a REAL video iPod. :D

New Mac Mini in January? DVR included?

ThinkSecret reports, via one of their sources:

Apple's Mac mini will be reborn as the digital hub centerpiece it was originally conceived to be, Think Secret sources have disclosed. The new Mac mini project, code-named Kaleidoscope, will feature an Intel processor and include both Front Row 2.0 and TiVo-like DVR functionality.

Also, ThinkSecret says that it will be released in January at MacWorld.

ThinkSecret is the group that was wrong about the new iPod but they were also right about the Mac Mini originally being released. So take this with a grain of salt.

Skype 2.0 out. Has VIDEO support

Skype 2.0 is now officially out. Like always click the title and it'll take you to the product site.

Skype, for those of you that do not know, is a way of talking to your friends on the web. It was recently bought by eBay so I'm guessing this is the main reason for the big upgrade. Skype uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to allow you to talk with other Skype users for free.

Also, Skype has a service, that for a small charge, you can call "regular" phones and talk to them.

It is a pretty good service. I've tried it and liked it but I didn't really have a use for it. This is probably going to be the best service for video communication in the PC World (haha, Apple iChat AV owns all).

Firefox 1.5 officially released

Has many new features such as moving tabs and it loads A LOT faster then the old one. Also, the cache is a lot better and browser is much more improved. Like always click the title to get to the link.

Revolution to be unveiled: May 9, 2006

That's right folks. The Revolution with its new controller (which I think is really neat) is going to come out on May 9, 2006. This is HUGE news and especially if this means that the PS3 beats it to the market. Who knows and we'll just have to see when that time comes...

PSP Firmware V 2.6 Out. Details HERE

Adds RSS support and WMA playback. Nothing special and I DON'T recommend an update. Being able to downgrade/play homebrew is a lot better.

I just realized that this is #1 on google (subject to change of course) and we've been getting a lot of hits. So I thought that I should probably show you guys coming Google some more info. Here it is (official press release from googl):

		[RSS Channel] has been added as a feature under [Network].
		[Volume Adjustment] has been added as an option in the [LocationFree™ Player] control panel.
		[Simplified Chinese (GB18030)]* and [Traditional Chinese (Big5)] have been added as options to [Encoding] under [View] in the [Internet Browser] menu bar.
		*	The option has some limitations. For details, see "About the Internet Browser's Chinese fonts".
		Copyright-protected video data provided by a content provider or other services can now be downloaded directly to a Memory Stick Duo™ using the [Internet Browser].
			For details, contact the video content provider.
			Note that some content providers may charge fees for obtaining or using copyright-protected video.
			Downloadable copyright-protected video may not be available in all countries and regions.

		Music data in WMA (Windows Media® Audio) format can now be played under [Music]. (This applies to music saved on Memory Stick Duo™ media.)
			WMA9 Professional, WMA9 Lossless and copyright-protected WMA files are not supported.
			Note that you must activate the [Enable WMA Playback] setting to play music data in WMA format.

		[Enable WMA Playback] has been added as a setting under [System Settings].
			A connection to the Internet is required for the one-time activation of this setting. Note that no personal information is collected during the activation process. For details, refer to the user agreement that must be accepted as part of the activation process.

By the way, currently there is NO way to downgrade to a version where you can play homebrew so please don't update to this unless you have a good reason.

Rating: 1/5

Mozilla Firefox set for PocketPCs

This new browser is called Minimo and from what I can tell it will work on Windows Mobile (PocketPcs and CE). It will have tabs etc. and is trying to take over Pocket Internet Explorer. Click the title for more info.

Google Blog Search

Did anyone else know about this? I was just searching through google and saw the ad for a Google Blog search. I thought it was pretty cool. Look up TechWrap and of course you will find our site!

Please if you own a site then please mention us because that is how Google PageRank works. The more places around the web that links to your site then the higher your PageRank.

Currently, we just got indexed for the main Google site but we have got to get to the very top.

FreePay launches 3 new sites! Free Laptops, PS3s, and Gift Cards!

Basically, for those of you that don't already know. This company, FreePay, are the founders of the Free stuff world. It DOES work. Currently, I have received a PSP and ipod Nano (also, how I am getting the xbox 360 that we'll review).

Basically, you do an offer such as blockbuster online or something and you get some friends to do the same.

So anyways, the big news here is that they have launched a Laptops site (yay!), a PS3 site, and a gift cards site. My other site, that many of you know about (click here) is where I help people get free stuff through the use of ConGas (check out the main site on what ConGas are).

So yea here are links that you may use to get your Free Stuff!

Free Laptops!!!

Free PS3!!!

Free Gift Cards!!!

Play xbox 360 online WITHOUT Live

They had this same thing on the xbox and now they have got it for the xbox 360. The cool part though is that it came even before the xbox 360 is out :D. Basically, you hook it up to your router and you go through system link and start playing. It was a good idea for the xbox and it still is a good idea for the new xbox. Only problem is that it doesn't have all the benefits that xbox live does and also many people don't have headsets so it isn't as fun. Still though, this is a neat little "hack" that Team xlink was able to do, so hats off.

Intel iBooks due in January of '06??

This is a little bit of a rumor going around and it sure is enticing. Basically, the rumor is that new iBooks with Intel processors will be released. The Intel Macs are slated to release in June of 2006 so this comes as a great surprise.

Still though, many analysts say that for Apple to remain competitive with the $300 Windows laptops that they need to lower the price by about $300. Intel chips should be cheaper and should allow this to happen. Only Steve Jobs knows whether this will happen or not though.

XBOX 360 reviews so-so for now

Across the web the xbox 360 has been getting mixed reviews so far. Most seem more agitated by the steep price than anything else. Also, in my opinion the xbox 360 needs more games. It doesn't have the big blockbuster title from what I can see (should change when Halo 3 comes out). The look of the system seems to be amazing as well as the layout.

As soon as I get mine (for free!!) then I will post a real review with lots or pics and plenty of details (going to be our first official review).

On an other note, please welcome the newest TechWrap writer draconer! He wrote his first post below and I hope to see many more to come. If you want to be a writer then please contact me NOW!