- Digital Lifestyles Reference Guide
- Home Audio
- Audio Standards
- Dolby Surround Sound
- DTS Surround Sound
- THX
- MP3
- Windows Media Audio (WMA)
- Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)
- Digital Rights Management (DRM)
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Audio Analog/Digital Components
- Receivers
- DVD-Audio Players
- CD/SACD Players
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Audio Component Integration
- Standalone Components
- Internet Radio Receivers
- Connecting a PC to Your Home Stereo
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Home Video
- Video Standards
- DVD versus VCD
- MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
- DTV
- HDTV
- HDTV Buying Tips
- Video Out: Composite, Component, and S-Video
- CSS Explained
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Video Components
- Playback Components
- DVD Players
- Personal Video Recorders (PVRs)
- VHS
- Laser Discs
- Media Center PCs
- What's New in Media Center 2005
- Video-on-Demand (VoD)
- Screens
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- A/V Integration
- Home Theater
- Component Integration
- Universal Remotes
- Combining Home Theater with Home Computing
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Home Theater PCs
- Uses for an HTPC
- Components of an HTPC
- Windows Media Center PCs
- Build Your Own HTPC
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Rear Projection Televisions
- CRT Projectors
- DLP Projectors
- LCD Projectors
- LCoS Projectors
- Choosing the Right RPTV Technology
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Multimedia Networks
- Connecting Your PC Network to Your Home Theater System
- Investing in Media Center Software
- What if Your PC and Home Theater are in Different Rooms?
- Media Center Extenders
- Multimedia Appliances
- Making the Connection
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- PVRs, Consoles, and Media Extenders
- Finding the Right PVR
- Types of PVR Solutions
- Set Top Box PVR
- Portable PVRs
- DVD-Recorders
- Making Your Decision
- Getting the Most from Your TiVo
- Networking Your TiVo
- Transfer Video from TiVo to PC at Home
- Transfer Video from Your PC to TiVo
- Transferring Video from TiVo to a PC Anywhere
- Burning DVDs of TiVo Recording
- Watch TiVo Shows on a iPod Video Or Sony PSP
- Software PVR Solutions
- Required Features
- Optional Features with Advantages
- Software PVR Options
- Conclusion
- 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Xbox 360
- Xbox 360 Networking Tips
- Mobile Computing
- Notebook Computer Audio
- USB Audio
- FireWire Audio
- PCMCIA Audio
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Broadband
- High-Speed Internet Options
- Cable
- DSL
- Cellular Data Services
- Satellite
- Wireless ISPs
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Video Subscription Services
- Today's Options
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Voice over IP
- Softphone VoIP
- InformIT Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Home Automation
- Home Automation Applications
- Types of Home Automation Systems
- Automation Features
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Home Automation Security
- Making Your decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photography
- Digital Cameras
- Megapixels
- Camera Bodies
- Batteries
- Zoom Lenses
- Auto Focus vs. Manual Focus
- LCD Screens
- Exposure Settings
- White Balance
- Storage Formats
- Wi-Fi-enabled Digital Cameras
- Purchasing the Right Digital Camera
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photo Editing Tools
- Photo Organizers
- Photo Editing Suites
- Deciding Which App to Use
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photography Tips
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Editing Digital Photographs
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Prints From Digital Images
- Making Your Decision
- Digital Video
- Camcorders
- Camcorder Features You Shouldn't Be Without
- Recording Formats
- DV Camera Tools
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Video Editing Tools
- Features to Look For
- Popular Video Editing Software
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Using Video Vault to Port Content to Portable Media Players
- 10 Tips to Improve Digital Video
- Weblogs and Podcasting
- Overview of Weblogs
- Blogs as Text
- Blogs as Pictorials
- Blogs as Audio
- Blogs as Video
- Getting Started
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Blogging Tools
- Hosted Services
- Desktop Tools
- Hosting Your Own Blog
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Photo Blogging
- Photo Blogging Services
- Hosted Services with Photo Support
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Audio Blogging
- Blog By Phone
- Recording Your Own Audio Blog Posts
- Audio Hosting Services
- Podcasting
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Recording and Distributing Podcasts
- Recording Software
- Before Recording
- Recording Your Podcast
- Publishing Your Podcast
- Podcasting Features in Apple's iTunes
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Video Blogging
- Video Blogging By Webcam
- Creating a Video Blog From Scratch
- Video Hosting Services
- Distributing Video Blogs
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Attracting Traffic to Your Blog
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Blogging Rules for Revolutionaries
- How Blogging will Change the World
- Create a Link to This Site Campaign
- Meta Tag Your Revolution
- New Comment Posted
- Coordinate Your Efforts
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
- Portable and Handheld Devices
- Motorola ROKR: iTunes on Your Phone
- ROKR iTunes Features
- Cell Phone Standards
- Making Your Decision
- Manufacturer Resources
- Sony PSP
- PSP Navigation
- PSP as a Gaming Platform
- PSP for Movies
- PSP for Music
- Wireless Networking
- Bottom Line
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- Portable Digital Audio Players
- Types of Players
- File Formats
- Popular Models
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Integrating an iPod with a Car Audio System
- Auxiliary Line In Connections
- CD Changer Connection Integration
- Custom Integration
- Making Your Choice
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- Portable Entertainment Centers
- Screen Sizes
- Hard Disk Space
- File Formats
- Video Recording
- Battery Life
- Connection Options
- Additional Accessories
- Making Your Choice
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- PDAs
- Fancy Features
- Palm OS or Pocket PC?
- Palm OS Models
- Pocket PC Models
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Smartphones
- Different Types of Smartphones
- PDA/Phones
- Phone-Based Smartphones
- Cool Ways to Improve Your Windows Mobile Smartphone
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Cellular Network Technologies
- FDMA
- CDMA
- TDMA
- GSM
- iDEN
- PCS
- Dual Band and Dual Mode Phones
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Hi-Speed Wireless Data Plans
- Cingular Plans
- Verizon Wireless Plans
- Making Your Decision
- Low-Tech Alternatives to Cell Phone Feature Overload
- High Tech Watches
- Smart Watch Technology
- MSN Direct
- Popular Smart Watches
- Other Types of High-Tech Watches
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Portable Audio Recording
- Features
- Editing Features
- Effects
- Devices
- Making a Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Handheld GPS Receivers
- GPS Features
- ABCs of GPS
- Making A Choice
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Portable Gadgets for Holiday Giving
- PDA Accessories
- Portable Music Players
- iPod Accessories
- Headphones and Earbuds
- Other Cool Portable Gadgets
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Automobiles
- Satellite Radio
- How Satellite Radio Works
- XM Radio Programming
- SIRIUS Satellite Radio Programming
- XM Radio Receivers
- SIRIUS Receivers
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Satellite Navigation Systems
- How GPS Works
- Doing the Math
- Using the GPS Data
- Popular Automobile GPS Systems
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- In-Car Computers
- Software
- Cases
- Power Interface
- LCD Screen
- Human Interface Options
- Storage Media
- Networking
- Audio
- Video
- Bluetooth
- Making Your Decision
- Online Resources
- E-Commerce
- Find Free Music — Legally
- Record Label Sites
- Blogs
- Podcasts
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Subscription Audio Services
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Digital Wallets
- The History of Digital Wallets
- What is a Digital Wallet—and How Does It Work?
- Who Offers Digital Wallets
- Books and Online Resources
- Identity Theft
- How Your Identity Can Be Stolen
- What an Identity Thief Does With Your Personal Information
- Preventing Identity Theft
- What to Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Online Shopping Fraud
- Why Online Shopping Is (Generally) Safe
- Reporting Online Shopping Fraud
- Top Ten Tips for Safer Online Shopping
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Online and Desktop Mapping
- Web-Based Maps
- Desktop Maps
- Making Your Decision
- eBook Formats and Readers
- Formats
- eBook Hardware
- Sources of eBooks
- Making Your Decision
- 10 Google Maps Hacks
- Robotics
- Robots You Can Buy (or Build) Today
- Toy Robots
- Home Automation Robots
- Do-It-Yourself Robots
- Industrial Robots
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Additional Resources
- Predictions for 2006
- Jake's Digital Lifestyles Reading List
- Jake's Top Ten Digital Lifestyles Web Resources
- 10 Things on the Digital Lifestyle Holiday Wish List
- 2006 Consumer Electronics Show Preview
Voice over IP (VoIP) is person-to-person voice communication over broadband Internet connections. VoIP is available in a variety of formats, including software interfaces requiring a microphone and speakers connected to a PC or Mac, proprietary hardware solutions, and hardware capable of adapting traditional phone equipment to a VoIP network.
VoIP Telephone Services
VoIP telephone services are designed with a user experience similar to traditional POTS (plain old telephone service) phone networks. These services rely on custom network hardware or adapters for traditional phone hardware to supplant the phone network as call originator and terminator. For a monthly fee, VoIP phone services provide a phone number, unlimited long distance within the United States and most of the features typically offered by POTS services. Like traditional phone companies, VoIP services support 10-digit dialing, 7-digit dialing within your local area code and country code assisted dialing.
Vonage
Vonage is currently the most well known VoIP telephone company, with a massive marketing campaign in the U.S. and hardware integration with Linksys networking gear. The service is priced at $24.99 per month, including unlimited long distance in the United States and Canada. Service is available to Canada, Mexico, parts of the United Kingdom and the United States. A Web interface configures features like voicemail, caller ID, *69 and call forwarding. Voicemail is optionally routed to an email inbox, eliminating the need to dial in for messages. Hardware adapters for Vonage service are often available for $9.99 after rebate through CompUSA and Best Buy, making it affordable to integrate with existing phone hardware in your house. Because phone service is connected through this hardware, it can go on the road with you allowing your home phone to ring from anywhere you have access to broadband. One negative to Vonage is an additional charge for using their software phone interface.
Lingo
Lingo offers a full complement of telco standard features, like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail. Similar to Vonage, Lingo works with specific hardware designed for compatibility with the Lingo network. Currently, it's difficult to find Lingo compatible hardware in retail outlets, instead requiring you to wait for shipment from the company on service activation. Lingo is possibly the most comprehensive VoIP service for international calling, with unlimited calling to the U.S., Canada and most of Western Europe (as defined in their terms of service). In addition to the base phone number for $19.99 monthly, an International number in selected countries is available for $10 per month.
VoicePulse
VoicePulse is the most expensive of the VoIP telephone networks to setup, with a number of one time fees during the setup process for things like the hardware adapter and various initial setup options. Monthly pricing is comparable at $24.99 for the unlimited plan including free long distance, a traditional 10-digit phone number and access to common features. The added expense comes with additional flexibility, like the option to purchase a phone adapter capable of supporting traditional POTS service and VoIP if you're not ready to completely cut the telco cord. Voicemail is available via dialing an access code or email. For the uber-geek, VoicePulse offers an option to point the phone number(s) you lease from them at your own telephone routing server.