VoIP: Easy as 1-2-3

Disclaimer to whomever is in charge of Mr. Jackson's estate: please do not sue us for the title of this blog. We are alright people, and one time we even did a Thriller video in the office. Not really, but how cool would that be?

Anyway, the other day I was talking to my mom, who just recently purchased a new laptop. One of the features she was the most excited about was being able to video chat and Skype with other relatives. Yes, I just used Skype as a verb. Now, my mom is not a tech-savvy person in the slightest, so it was interesting to hear her talking about this, particularly with the amount I've been hearing about Skype, Google Voice and VoIP in general these days. I think it says a lot about the potential and growth of VoIP.

For the uninitiated, VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.What makes people so excited about VoIP is its ease of use and potential savings benefits over some long distance carriers.

TV and the 3D Question

The tech-minded among the WhiteFence blog readers are no doubt aware that a major event is happening in Las Vegas this week and throughout the weekend. Well, at least major to geeks like me. CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, happens every year around this time and it's pretty much the summit for techies and gadget-o-holics.

Like last year, this year's focus seems to be on bringing 3D to the home TV center, allowing viewers to wear dorky glasses and become immersed in movies and shows in a new way. No, it's not really that new. Yes, it's just like what happened in the 50's and the 70's, only in your house and all the time.

My question is this: given that HDTVs are just now starting to hit a 50 percent adoption rate among US households, is 3D TV really the way to go? Now that people are just starting to get warmed up to the idea of buying new TV sets, are we going to really want to drop the money on even newer sets?

It's not just the TV manufacturers pushing this, either. There are already 3D TV channels being talked about. Last night, the Texas/Bama game was being watched in theaters in 3D at several places across the country (I watched it in a theater myself, though in boring old regular 2D).

The message from the entertainment industry is clear: 3D is coming, whether we want it or not. So how do you feel about it? Are you excited about viewing 3D content in your home, or are you OK with where things are right now? Tell us in the poll and in the comments!

Comcast Launches Fancast Xfinity Internet Video Service

Comcast has launched a nationwide beta program for Fancast Xfinity, the company’s new initiative to allow subscribers to watch TV on their computers. The beta is open to Comcast customers with a bundle that includes both high-speed Internet and television service.

Subscribers simply log in at fancast.com and can watch any content that they currently subscribe to via their television package. Content available now weighs in at about 2,000 hours from 30 networks, including HBO and the Discovery Channel.

Programs like these are really the future of the entertainment industry. Computer and television content will continue to merge, giving providers a wider catalog of services they can sell to a wider market. They are also great for consumers, as they open up new ways to enjoy the programming they are paying for.

A few years ago we were all watching standard-definition television on bulky CRT televisions on the strict schedule of the broadcasters. Now, we can enjoy HD programming on our own schedule on anything from a massive plasma TV in our home to a laptop in a coffee shop. Just imagine all the crazy ways the next generation will be able to watch content.

Verizon FiOS Internet Named Reader's Choice by PCMag.com

For the fourth consecutive year, PCMag.com readers gave high praise to Verizon FiOS Internet service, earning the online magazine's Readers' Choice award. It's also the third consecutive year that FiOS has finished at the top of the Web site's annual Internet Service Provider (ISP) Service and Reliability Survey.

The survey, conducted between June 15 and July 17, asked PCMag readers to rate their ISPs in 11 categories ranging from speed and reliability to initial setup and overall satisfaction.

FiOS Internet scored 8.7 out of 10 in its overall rating and led all competitors in scores for initial setup, speed, reliability, e-mail, technical support, repairs and likelihood to recommend. It topped all cable companies when it came to needing the fewest repairs.

See if Verizon FiOS Internet service is available in your area

Powering Up with Microsoft Hohm

We've written a few times in the past about the myriad of energy tracking tools available on the Web for consumers looking to beef up on their energy efficiency.There's Google PowerMeter of course, as well as EnergyCircle, a tool that helps parents show their kids about conservation. One of the newer entries into the bunch happens to be from software giant Microsoft.

Microsoft Hohm is a service that allows you to monitor your energy usage for the purpose of saving money.As someone that's interested in that, I thought I'd sign up and give it a whirl.

I think one of the more interesting features of Hohm is just how thorough it is when evaluating your home energy situation. It asks for information about your house, including the year it was built, the structure, what kind of insulation you have, the surface area of the windows, etc. The information is organized in a way that's easy to use and surprisingly fun to fill out.

Once you're done with that, you move on to your heating/cooling and lighting, where you input the amount of light fixtures in your house and the kinds of bulbs you use. It's actually kind of eye opening to think about each room and where you could be saving money by just swapping a few bulbs or by leaving the lights off more.

After all of that, there is even a field for you to share your electricity info, including the amount of kWh you use per month, and the rate you're paying. With all of this information, Hohm constructs a chart of your average utility costs, and what you can do immediately to make your home more energy efficient and save money.

All in all, I would definitely recommend checking out Hohm if you have been thinking about ways to lower your utility costs or how to upgrade your home. It's in beta right now, and you'll need a Windows Live ID but I'd say it's worth it to give Hohm a trial run.

Do you have any energy monitors that you use for your home? Which ones are your favorites?

The Green Wireless Charger

In this day and age, everything is going wireless. I remember the first time I used wireless Internet, and how I felt like I was in some kind of bizarre future world. The idea that data transmitted through the air baffled and fascinated me. But then again, I'm a nerd. Most people probably don't think about these things.

However, I'm sure this one will get the brain going. Two companies, WiPower and Green Plug, are partnering together to work on a green wireless charger. Yes, wireless power. How's that for the future? The technology they're working on would allow for a universal wireless charger, instead of all the proprietary ones that different manufacturers provide with their products. This is going to take some working together with manufacturers, but on top of the coolness of charging things without wires, it would also be very green.

How is it green? Every year, "millions of chargers are thrown away each year when people buy new devices and discard the old chargers".It could save millions in costs for those manufacturers, and also saves on the waste created by all the unused chargers. Hopefully this doesn't get too much push back. I'd love to see this technology in my home.

To read more, visit CNET. What do you guys think about a universal wireless charger?

Feds Offer Cyber Security Tips for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

As part of this initiative, the Federal Trade Commission has launched a new site focused on the cybersecurity. OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and technology industry to help consumers be on guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information.

Topics include computer security, broadband Internet, identity theft, Internet auctions, email scams, and social networking sites. The site also offers a variety of practical tips and tools consumers can use to be safe online, including a glossary of Internet terms, and tutorial videos on topics like spam filtering and wireless security. There is even a game, The Case of the Cyber Criminal, that teaches tips on how to protect privacy online.

For more tips on cybersecurity, also check out StaySafeOnline.org.

10 Easy Sun Projects You can do at Home

I'm not always the craftiest of people, but occasionally I like to try my hand at easy do-it-yourself projects at home. They don't always work out so great, but hey, what can you do?

However, I recently came across a post over on Lifehacker that demonstrated 10 DIY Projects that Harnass the Power of the Sun. For any of you sun nuts, there's a lot of great material here that you can easily spend a weekend knocking out. The projects range from using a magnifying glass to engrave cool shapes into wood to charging your iPhone with solar power. There's even a way to convert a lawnmower to solar energy and extend Wi-Fi to your backyard.

Who knew you could do so much with the sun's energy at home? I highly recommend checking out the cool list of do-it-yourself projects. To read more, visit Lifehacker.

Go to the Moon with Google Today

Forty years ago today, two guys got out of a spacecraft and then walked on the surface of the moon. The landing of Apollo 11 was a historic moment in our history.It is still quite incredible even today, though we've progressed in both years and technology.

So how is Google celebrating this occasion? By adding the Moon in Google Earth, of course. If you want to learn more about each of the Apollo missions, as well as browse over the moon's surface, Google Earth has expanded today with lots of information and added usability. There are videos, 3D images of the different craft that have flown to the moon, and general information that anybody can get into.

This is definitely a fun and interesting way to find out more about each of the lunar missions, and you can browse the information by landing sites. Anyone that's played with Google Earth knows how engrossing it can be and this only adds to it. Simply download the Google Earth application, and start clicking through to learn more.

Scientists Develop Synthetic Carbon-Capturing Trees

Ever see a decorative fake tree and wonder what its purpose was? Sure, it makes the hotel lobby seem a little more lively I suppose, but in the end, it doesn't contribute to the environment in the way a living tree does. Or even a synthetic super tree, apparently.

According to PhysOrg, scientists have developed a tree that traps carbon dioxide from the air, much like real trees. However, these synthetic trees capture carbon dioxide at a rate roughly 1,000 times that of a normal tree. The synthetic tree "could absorb one ton of carbon dioxide per day, an amount equivalent to that produced by about 20 cars, on average".

Oddly enough, they actually don't look like trees, but small buildings. While planting real trees is clearly the better route to go, these synthetic trees seem like they could be an alternative for crowded city spaces with high carbon dioxide emissions and no landscape for planting. Unfortunately, they cost about $30,000, so one wonders if we'll be seeing them any time soon.

To read more about the synthetic trees, visit PhysOrg.