There have been several updates with Skype during the last couple of weeks, when I was not around. So, it might perhaps be a good idea to cluster all the distributed platforms into this one single post. As of now, the latest releases of Skype are:

1. version 3.2.0.175 for Windows
2. version 1.4.0.94 for Linux (still beta)
3. version 2.6.0.151 for Mac OS X

Download (or upgrade) to the latest version now. It contains security fixes and bug fixes.

Download links
Skype for Windows
Skype for Linux
Skype for Mac OS X

Joost has released the latest version - 0.11.0 - also called Joost - Now For Friends. The edition is still currently under beta development but has shown to work pretty well with vast improvement over the last couple of releases.

Users may realise that previous versions can no longer work, and that is because of the programmed code to ensure users constantly upgrade to the latest Joost version, to ensure it maintained bug-free. Some of these updates can be found on the release note.

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With AddMovie, several movie files can be concatenated into a single piece of movie. This application supprots various input formats, including Quicktime movies.

Since the output format is also configurable, it also supports format conversion from MPEG-4 to 3GP, which can be displayed and playback on Bluetooth phone.

The software is supported on Mac OS X 10.4 and above. To use the application, simply drag-and-drop the files into the main window, re-order them and click on Generate to create the single movie file.

Download Application
AddMovie 1.2.1

Just released only, Linux users can only be happy to receive the news that they are not forgotten by the Skype developers. Skype 1.4.0.74 Beta for Linux has just been released.

In order to run this version on your computer system, the following hardware requirement is necessary:

• * 400 Mhz processor or faster.
• * 256 MB RAM.
• * 20 MB free disk space on your hard drive.
• * Microphone and speakers or headset.
• * Internet connection (broadband is best, GPRS is not supported for voice calls, and results may vary on a satellite connection).

In addition, the software requirement for this application is:

• * Qt 4.2.1+
• * D-Bus 1.0.0
• * libsigc++ 2.0.2
• * libasound2 1.0.12

Binaries for various distributions, e.g. SuSE, Ubuntu, Debian, etc.., are available for download from this site.

Democracy Player seems to be capturing a lot of attention from the public. My last post on Democracy Player was probably a few months ago, but the latest version of Democracy Player 0.9.6 is already released.

Nicholas Reville claimed that this version contains huge update, with a lot of new features, bug fixes and improvement. In addition, it will also be the last version ever of Democracy Player, as the next release will be under the new name, Miro.

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The last time I discussed about SMPlayer is probably one and a half month ago. SMPlayer is a very used multimedia (video) player in Linux. To compliment the use of this utility, SMPlayer is developed as a complete front-end for MPlayer. Now, the latest version of SMPlayer 0.5.2 is released.

This application uses MPlayer as the engine, and has the capability to play the most known video and audio formats without the need of external or third-party codec. It has some of the basic features, such as playing DVDs and VCDs, to advanced features such as MPlayer filters.

With SMPlayer, it has the ability to remember the settings of all the files you have played. Therefore, you will resume the movie from where you have stopped, and there is no need to worry about having to open that movie and configure the settings, e.g. audio track, subtitles and volume, etc.

Download Link
SMPlayer 0.5.2 (Windows)
SMPlayer 0.5.2 (Linux)

Downsizing or resizing a video file, e.g. AVI file, is almost as easy as resizing an image file. The Avi Resize Tool, as discussed by Softpedia, is a software application that simply resize an AVI file.

The batch process is relatively easy;

1. simply upload the file you want to resize
2. and then choose the output dimension.

Information, such as frame rate and resolution, is available for users so that users know what to change. Output formats, e.g. VCD, SVCD and DVD, are available.

Download File
AVI Resize Tool 1.0

Similar to Skype, the Gizmo Project is an Internet telephony service that also provides functions, such as instant messaging.

With Gizmo Project, users can make all the calls from the desktop and talk for free. Below are some of the reasons of why users should choose to use Gizmo.

Why?

• * FREE!
• * FREE calls to any Gizmo Project, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, or Windows Live user
• * Free Voicemail and Conference calling.
• * Super clear call quality
• * Inexpensive add-ons that let you make and receive calls from any mobile phone or landline

I just received an email from them today. This time, Gizmo Project is offering an All Calls Free Plan.

…Get 40 minutes of FREE calling to mobile and landline phones in over 60 countries by participating in the All Calls Free plan. No commitments and no hidden fees….

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Just released not long ago, Skype 2.6.0.140 for Mac OS X is now available for Macintosh users. I don’t think there is a need for an introduction of what Skype is about. Basically, it uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) technology to allow connections between users who would like to share files, chat and even see over video cameras.

Secured with end-to-end encryption, the calls also have excellent sound quality. It works well behind firewalls and NAT routers, therefore there is no hassle needed to configure any network devices.

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It started initially as a research project at Delft University of technology and De Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tribler has now gone ahead and become one of the peer-to-peer (P2P) softwares that is efficient in its function.

The project is known to be funded by the I-Share project that is part of the Dutch Freeband Program, which itself is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of The Netherlands.

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