Comments for Umbral Echoes Blog http://blog.umbralechoes.com Ghostly Echoes in the Void Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:10:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on One Mortgage is Better Than Two by Norco 71300. http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2008/02/09/one-mortgage-is-better-than-two/comment-page-1/#comment-46492 Norco 71300. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:10:25 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2008/02/09/one-mortgage/#comment-46492 <strong>Norco homes for sale....</strong> Norco medication. Fire web site for norco california. Norco 10 325 xanax fedex overnight us pharmacy. How to buy norco without prescription.... Norco homes for sale….

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]]> Comment on Character Creation by Umbral Echoes Blog » Successful Game Mastering 101 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/02/05/character-creation/comment-page-1/#comment-44193 Umbral Echoes Blog » Successful Game Mastering 101 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:16:51 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=437#comment-44193 [...] it seems that I’ve decided to go on a tangent about my thoughts on [...] [...] it seems that I’ve decided to go on a tangent about my thoughts on [...]

]]> Comment on Character Creation by Umbral Echoes Blog » Character Creation, Part 2 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/02/05/character-creation/comment-page-1/#comment-43814 Umbral Echoes Blog » Character Creation, Part 2 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:49:48 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=437#comment-43814 [...] Last time, I outlined a few ways that I’ve seen people go about creating characters. So this time, I’ll go over how I do it. [...] [...] Last time, I outlined a few ways that I’ve seen people go about creating characters. So this time, I’ll go over how I do it. [...]

]]> Comment on iPhone Voice Apps Over 3G? by Mike http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/01/31/iphone-voice-apps-over-3g/comment-page-1/#comment-43436 Mike Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:13:07 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=433#comment-43436 Well color me corrected. Seems silly that AT&T wouldn't have blocked it on their servers, since that would be a simple and effective way of blocking VoIP over 3G (even jailbroken phones wouldn't have been able to get around that). But I guess it's less technical work for them to just tell other people not to do it, and work on the honor system (in combination with Apple's approval process). Still, this move seems more prompted by AT&T than by Apple; it's obvious why AT&T would want to block it, but why wouldn't Apple want VoIP over 3G? Well color me corrected. Seems silly that AT&T wouldn’t have blocked it on their servers, since that would be a simple and effective way of blocking VoIP over 3G (even jailbroken phones wouldn’t have been able to get around that). But I guess it’s less technical work for them to just tell other people not to do it, and work on the honor system (in combination with Apple’s approval process).

Still, this move seems more prompted by AT&T than by Apple; it’s obvious why AT&T would want to block it, but why wouldn’t Apple want VoIP over 3G?

]]> Comment on iPhone Voice Apps Over 3G? by George http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/01/31/iphone-voice-apps-over-3g/comment-page-1/#comment-43413 George Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:17:22 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=433#comment-43413 I can actually say for certain that it is the application developer and not AT&T who is blocking VOIP over 3G by the fact that you can make a skype call on your iPhone over 3G if you use Fring as your client, but not if you use the native skype app. It definitely is app dependent. Also, VOIP over 3G has been available on jailbroken iPhones for a long time. I can actually say for certain that it is the application developer and not AT&T who is blocking VOIP over 3G by the fact that you can make a skype call on your iPhone over 3G if you use Fring as your client, but not if you use the native skype app. It definitely is app dependent.

Also, VOIP over 3G has been available on jailbroken iPhones for a long time.

]]> Comment on iPhone Voice Apps Over 3G? by Mike http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/01/31/iphone-voice-apps-over-3g/comment-page-1/#comment-43411 Mike Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:42:45 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=433#comment-43411 AT&T has actually allowed VoIP for a long time, just not VoIP over 3G. I only say that it's a switch on AT&T's side because Fring and Skype could already do VoIP over WiFi connections, but not over 3G, and from the perspective of Fring/Skype, it's the same data coming in on the same ports through the same protocols, so (as far as I know) there's no difference on their end between 3G and WiFi. However, on AT&T's side, it would be easy to block VoIP ports over 3G connections. Additionally, AT&T has a vested interest in not allowing VoIP over 3G. Also, the post you reference says this (emphasis mine): <blockquote>We’re very excited about AT&T’s announcement today (confirmed by Apple) that <b>its 3G wireless network</b> will be open to third-party Internet voice applications on iPhone.</blockquote> That would seem to be another indicator that it was AT&T's network that was the blocking point. I could easily be wrong, but it just seems that if I'm AT&T, and I can very easily block VoIP over 3G, I'm going to do that instead of saying, "Apple, please tell people that are developing apps for the iPhone to disallow VoIP over 3G, though WiFi is okay." Then again, it's also possible that they did both. AT&T has actually allowed VoIP for a long time, just not VoIP over 3G. I only say that it’s a switch on AT&T’s side because Fring and Skype could already do VoIP over WiFi connections, but not over 3G, and from the perspective of Fring/Skype, it’s the same data coming in on the same ports through the same protocols, so (as far as I know) there’s no difference on their end between 3G and WiFi. However, on AT&T’s side, it would be easy to block VoIP ports over 3G connections. Additionally, AT&T has a vested interest in not allowing VoIP over 3G.

Also, the post you reference says this (emphasis mine):

We’re very excited about AT&T’s announcement today (confirmed by Apple) that its 3G wireless network will be open to third-party Internet voice applications on iPhone.

That would seem to be another indicator that it was AT&T’s network that was the blocking point.

I could easily be wrong, but it just seems that if I’m AT&T, and I can very easily block VoIP over 3G, I’m going to do that instead of saying, “Apple, please tell people that are developing apps for the iPhone to disallow VoIP over 3G, though WiFi is okay.” Then again, it’s also possible that they did both.

]]> Comment on iPhone Voice Apps Over 3G? by George http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2010/01/31/iphone-voice-apps-over-3g/comment-page-1/#comment-43400 George Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:14:16 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=433#comment-43400 Actually, "server side" means Fring's server, not AT&T's. In fact, <a href="http://www.wifitalk.ca/iphone/att-to-allow-googlevoice-and-skype-as-voip/" rel="nofollow">AT&T has allowed VOIP since October</a>, and immediately after, Apple <a>announced</a> they were going to update their licensing agreements to reflect this, but never actually did until last week. Soon after these announcements, <a href="http://www.wifitalk.ca/iphone/fring-working-on-3g-abilities-too/" rel="nofollow">Fring started work on a 3G version</a> which was ready to go and actually in users' hands all along. It was just that Fring wasn't allowed to let their server permit connections over 3G (however that works, I don't know). So they just had to reconfigure their server to allow this and boom, instant VOIP over 3G. Actually, “server side” means Fring’s server, not AT&T’s.

In fact, AT&T has allowed VOIP since October, and immediately after, Apple announced they were going to update their licensing agreements to reflect this, but never actually did until last week.

Soon after these announcements, Fring started work on a 3G version which was ready to go and actually in users’ hands all along. It was just that Fring wasn’t allowed to let their server permit connections over 3G (however that works, I don’t know). So they just had to reconfigure their server to allow this and boom, instant VOIP over 3G.

]]> Comment on Gadgetry, and a New Web Concept by Umbral Echoes Blog » Review: Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2008/01/24/gadgetry-and-a-new-web-concept/comment-page-1/#comment-42486 Umbral Echoes Blog » Review: Blueant Q1 Bluetooth Headset Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:04:55 +0000 http://umbralechoes.com/blog/2008/01/24/gadgetry-and-a-new-web-concept/#comment-42486 [...]  Yes, I know… all girlfriends should be that awesome.  I’ve owned the BlueAnt Z9 in the past, and I liked its performance a lot, though I wasn’t too fond of its look.  Well, that same [...] [...]  Yes, I know… all girlfriends should be that awesome.  I’ve owned the BlueAnt Z9 in the past, and I liked its performance a lot, though I wasn’t too fond of its look.  Well, that same [...]

]]> Comment on Roleplaying Via Google Wave by Mike http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2009/12/08/roleplaying-via-google-wave/comment-page-1/#comment-41702 Mike Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:50:29 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=422#comment-41702 It's a fair expectation to have -- that's what drives innovation. What's useful at this point, I think, is to answer the question, "What online tabletop replacement experience do I want, and what does Google (or some robot writer, or someone else with some other product) need to do to deliver that?" A few things come to mind for me, though a lot of these are dreaming big: * The ability to change your nickname (and maybe even avatar) in different waves, so that you can post as your character. * Integrated video chat/conferencing, with automated transcripts. This would be quite useful for business meetings/presentations/etc. too, but for roleplaying, it would solve a lot of the speed issue, while maintaining the session transcript. * Better collaborative mapping tools, to replace miniatures for systems like D&D 4e. * Some sort of character sheet integration. * More automation in general -- e.g. DM can issue a command to have everyone roll a Spot check, and it happens in one fell swoop. It’s a fair expectation to have — that’s what drives innovation. What’s useful at this point, I think, is to answer the question, “What online tabletop replacement experience do I want, and what does Google (or some robot writer, or someone else with some other product) need to do to deliver that?”

A few things come to mind for me, though a lot of these are dreaming big:

* The ability to change your nickname (and maybe even avatar) in different waves, so that you can post as your character.
* Integrated video chat/conferencing, with automated transcripts. This would be quite useful for business meetings/presentations/etc. too, but for roleplaying, it would solve a lot of the speed issue, while maintaining the session transcript.
* Better collaborative mapping tools, to replace miniatures for systems like D&D 4e.
* Some sort of character sheet integration.
* More automation in general — e.g. DM can issue a command to have everyone roll a Spot check, and it happens in one fell swoop.

]]> Comment on Roleplaying Via Google Wave by Justin http://blog.umbralechoes.com/2009/12/08/roleplaying-via-google-wave/comment-page-1/#comment-41686 Justin Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:15:05 +0000 http://blog.umbralechoes.com/?p=422#comment-41686 I have the same frustrations. I think my main frustration, though, is that I want the experience to be better than it is, which isn't an entirely fair expectation to have. I have the same frustrations. I think my main frustration, though, is that I want the experience to be better than it is, which isn’t an entirely fair expectation to have.

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