Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, ‘damaging our brand and reputation’ in the process

It looks like Fring’s recent decision to block Skype access to its iPhone 4 video app was the final straw for Skype, who charges that VoIP network was in breach of the Terms of Use and EULA for the Skype API. “Over time,” writes General Counsel Robert Miller, “Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers.” Although they’ve “been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably,” Friday’s action is being called “disappointing [for] our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.” He goes on to say that “Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.” Meaning, presumably, that in the case of more Fring shenanigans there will be some sort of red-hot legal action.


Bina48 is one humanoid robot you’re going to want to hang out with

The photo you see above is of Bina48, one of the most advanced humanoid robots around.


GamePark’s GP2X Caanoo handheld hits this August, picks up where the Wiz left off (video)

While we’re not sure just how we missed it, it seems GamePark was at E3 2010 in force, with a brand-new Linux gaming portable called the Caanoo. Though it’s got the same 533MHz ARM9 processor as its wizardly predecessor , GamePark’s doubled the memory to 128MB, and added a dedicated 3D GPU to power the larger 3.5-inch touchscreen.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 becomes everyone’s favorite midrange graphics card

It’s rare to come across a universally lauded product nowadays, but NVIDIA’s fresh new GTX 460 is just that sort of exceptional creation.


Acer’s LumiRead 600 hits the FCC with slow bursts of 2.4GHz radiation

Acer’s 6-inch LumiRead e-reader just hit the FCC, but there’s not a lot to learn — the company smartly withheld the user’s manual and detailed images, so all we have are the triplicate forms of stalwart government employees trying to irradiate themselves. Those thankfully painless tests reveal that the Kindle-alike will have standard 802.11b/g WiFi alongside its monochrome E Ink screen, and the whole 532MHz Freescale iMX357 kit will be powered by a 3.7V, 1460mAh battery.


Entelligence: Time for Microsoft to once again embrace and extend

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he’ll explore where our industry is and where it’s going — on both micro and macro levels — with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. A core part of Microsoft’s strategy from days gone by was known as embrace and extend.