Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video)
We all remember kicking it in anonymous chat rooms masked behind the safety of a screen name, but today Fring announced a new way to engage with randoms — this time with video. Playground lets users start their own video chat or join an existing room based on topic, with friends or complete strangers. We’ve seen four-way video from the app before, but the new feature takes it a step further — similar to joining a Hangout in Google+, only on a mobile phone. Although it does sound creepily Chatroulette-ish, it’s free (unlike Skype’s group video calling) and works on iOS and Android Phones — so go ahead, take a peek and see what’s actually going on in “Voldemort’s Death Eater” channel. Check out the demo and full PR after the break.
Continue reading Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video)
Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fring optimizes its four-way video calling app for smiley iPad 2 owners
Sure, you could have fired up Fring to make four-way video calls from your iPad 2 this whole time, but you’d have saddled with an iPhone-sized interface on your 9.7-inch IPS screen. And, as we say around the Engadget compound — tablet optimized or get the frack out. OK, we don’t really say that, but everything is better when it’s designed for the screen you intend to use it on. So, we’re very pleased to tell you that Fring has been updated with proper iPad support (cue cheers). Basically there’s no reason to use Facetime now, with its lame single-caller and WiFi only limitations. Hit up the source link if you’re in the group video chatting mood.
Fring optimizes its four-way video calling app for smiley iPad 2 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Fring Group Video goes live, enables four-way mobile video calls for free
If you missed the opportunity to get your hands on Fring’s limited Group Video beta, fret not, because the free service has just gone live for everyone on this planet. What this means is that all Fringsters on compatible iOS 4.x and Android 1.5+ devices (1GHz and above recommended) can now have up to three friends on one video call, and as before, you can do so over either WiFi, 3G, or 4G. Hit your nearest app market for the software update to join the fun, and head past the break to see how Group Video works.
Continue reading Fring Group Video goes live, enables four-way mobile video calls for free
Fring Group Video goes live, enables four-way mobile video calls for free originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fring launches fringOut calling just as Skype opens up to Android
Late last month Fring announced fringOut calling — cheap calls to regular telephone numbers from the Android client. And it’s now available (coincidentally on the same day Skype opened up to the rest of Android) in an updated Android app. FringOut allows you to call phones worldwide for as low as 1 cent a minute. Not only does that make their pricing extremely competitive, it also makes it so reasonable that it’s hard to justify passing up a deal like that up. Of course, if only Fring and Skype would kiss and make up, it’d make this a much more interesting story.
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Free up with fringOut (coming soon to Android)
What do you get when you take an application we’ve all fallen back in love with (since the Skype gaffe) and add worldwide calling for mere pennies? You get Fring’s brand-new, fringOut service! FringOut hopes to turn your Android phone into a mobile, worldwide calling powerhouse boasting the ability to call more than 200 countries from one cent a minute, landline or mobile! At the moment, fringOut is only available supported on Nokia devices but fring promises that support for Android devices isn’t far behind and will be integrated seamlessly into the fring app. You can view the trailer for their new service after the break. [fring]
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Fring receives a minor update — but Skype remains missing
Fring received a minor update today, which should address many user reported issues, but it appears the feud with Skype is still going strong. Some of the updates include:
- "Significant" audio improvements
- The echoing is fixed (fixed, fixed)
- Supports new Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S using the front camera
- Many more bugs fixes
Seeing support for new devices is great, and we always love to see bug fixes and better quality, but please Fring and Skype, bury the hatchet and work together, video calling is so much more viable when it can be used with a cross-platform desktop program.
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Fring-Skype relationship hits feud status as access pulled (updated)
When last we saw Fring, the VOIP app was touting its popularity after an update to its iPhone client and how it had to "temporarily reduce support to Skype" because of it. Looks like there may be a bit more to this story, however, as this morning Fring took a major backhand to Skype, complaining that it’s Skype that is not allowing the access.
But it gets a little weirder than that. On one had we have a pretty straightforward press release detailing Fring’s side of things. And on the other is a pretty inflammatory post on Fring’s blog that openly calls Skype "cowards" for "trying to muzzle the competition." (Also a line used by Fring’s CEO in the press release.) That’s a long way from last week, when things seemed more like a small technological bump.
We’re hoping to get Skype’s side of the story soon. We’ll go out on a limb here and hope that this is a precursor for Skype shirking its Verizon exclusivity and finally bringing a proper app to the Android Market. But in the meantime, we’re all going to have to sit back and watch this one unfold. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Update: The plot thickens, as Skype just got back to us and tells us that removing access was all Fring’s doing. Here’s the quote:
“Skype has been in discussions with Fring regarding our belief that Fring is breaching our API Terms of Use and End User Licence Agreement. Skype is disappointed that an amicable resolution was not possible but Fring’s decision to withdraw Skype functionality immediately was of its own choice. Skype encourages developers to build products that work with Skype in accordance with our various API licences. However, Skype will rigorously protect its brand and reputation and those companies that do not comply with our terms will be subject to enforcement.“
Update 2: Here’s Skype’s blog post on the whole thing.
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Fring fraks Skype access, iPhone blamed
Yeah, so by now Fring users likely have noticed that Skype access has been pulled. And, you guessed it, we have the iPhone to blame. Fring recently updated its iPhone version, which allows cross-platform chatting (see our demo with Rene from TiPB) and sure enough, the gathering horde borked it for the rest of us. Here’s Fring’s official response, from its forums:
This is absolutely amazing. Since the release of our latest iPhone version yesterday we have seen a huge jump in fring video calling.
So, to free up some room for more fring-to-fring video calling, we are temporarily reducing support to Skype. Be patient, we’ll have some more updates soon.
These things happen, but surely just about everybody saw it coming. Anyhoo, hang tight, folks, and hopefully Fring will have things up and running soon enough. [Fring via Android Central Forums] Thanks to everybody who sent this in.
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Fring updated so Android and iPhone can play together
The Fring app for the iPhone got an update today (see our previous Android-related hands-on) that lets it play nice with Android (and Symbian, too). That means us Android users can have video chats with our misbegotten friends who shelled out for the new shiny thing from Apple. We recommend you show off using your Android phone left-handed, in the middle of a large city, while installing whatever you want. Just to give ‘em a hard time, ya know?
Want to see it in action? Check out the video after the break (and check out TiPB’s here) where we chat it up with TiPB.com’s Rene Ritchie on his newfangled iThingy. [Fring]
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Fring updates with new look, features
Fring (Market link), the popular all-encompassing VOIP/chat/Skype/all-things-communications app, just updated its Android application, bringing a new look and new features.
- High up on everybody’s wish list was an honest-to-goodness dialer, and it’s there now.
- The buddy list has been updated and now shows your friends’ pictures and mood line (from either Skype or Fring).
- You can now personalize your profile with a picture, and edit your mood, e-mail address and phone number.
- There also are a number of voice improvements, links now work and the chat screen, plus other bugfixes.
Fring is free. Update your current version now, or you can download from the Android Market. [Fring]