Appletell

Apple has finally allowed a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) program to be made available for the iPhone. Fring is available now at the iTunes store for free, and allows users to make voice communications over a wireless network using Fring’s network, or “Skype, Skype-out or any SIP providers you chose.“ Users can also place calls to phone numbers using the service.

Fring also claims:

You will have one searchable contact list with all your instant messaging buddies from Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo! and AIM, so you can easily see whose available and where they can be reached before dialing or starting a live chat session.

The Fring user guide is also available as a PDF.

Product [Fring]

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I’ve never really used Yahoo! Messenger other than when I was probably 10 and wanted to play those cheap Shockwave (where did that go?) games with friends. However, the web giant is pushing their new Mac client, most noticeably in the UI field, where Yahoo! typically seems to care the least.

The third beta of the messaging client brings new features and new looks to compliment, giving an even balance of form and functionality. The biggest new feature is making free Skype-like computer to computer calls, but that’s not all. Right along with that, the client allows the user to call landline, mobile, and any other sort of phone using Yahoo!‘s Phone Out service. That’s right, Yahoo! just combined killer messaging and VoIP into one. It doesn’t end there, though. Why call a phone when you can text mobile phones as well? That’s right, they’ve tossed mobile texting in the basket as well. And if you weren’t excited enough, you can even receive calls using a Yahoo! Phone In account.

You may be saying to yourself “Holy crap, I’m an idiot for ignoring Yahoo! and their new client!“ And, my friend, you are, as it is truly a killer. Yahoo! is trying their best to match their Windows and Mac clients, which have been very different for many years. The company, however, now seems to realize that the Mac user base is growing, and that more of their users are switching over. Our friends at TUAW have put together a nice gallery, so check it out, and give the beta a spin.

[Yahoo! Messenger Beta] Via [TUAW]

• Yahoo finally getting their act together
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Yahoo! Mail will now be supporting Safari 3.0 on the Mac. The classic version of this popular email serving platform already support, however the All-New Yahoo! Mail will be adding supporting for Safari 3.0 in addition to Firefox for Macs. This key online service for many people now has fully accessibility for Apple’s next generation Web browser along with new features:

1. Download All for when there are multiple attachments.
2. Searching by clicking on the subject or on the sender.
3. Arrows for moving to next/previous emails in threads

Even though this has just been update to add compatibility, many users are still seeing bugs. Currently, Yahoo! has no word about support for the iPhone, but for now, this is a great improvement for the Mac community.

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Yesterday Yahoo! Inc. made official the widely expected declination of Microsoft’s $44.6 billion takeover bid.

The Yahoo! board of directors unanimously declined the bid, saying that it undervalues the internet search company. The reputation connected with Yahoo!, it’s users, services and ad base, seems to be worth a lot more than Microsoft’s offering, according to the statement.

Yahoo is working with financial institutions to determine the fairness of the deal, and is rumored to be looking for a Google buyout.

There has aso been murmurs around the Mac online community about how nice it would be for Apple to buy Yahoo. While it would drastically expand Apple’s online market, it doesn’t seems like the type of place Apple should go right now.

Via [Electronista]

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Like a media extender but worse, the Apple TV has been highly criticized several times this year. Recently, rumors have been spreading regarding the discontinuation of Apple’s media center in a box. And what a better time for Yahoo to include the product on their tech “Worst of 2007” list. What, you may ask, caused Yahoo to place this device on their list? Actually, Yahoo gave a few decent reasons. Videos aren’t purchasable over the box, Apple has failed to provide ample software updates, and the video selection is slim.

Yahoo is surprisingly right. I’ve never desired to own one, and for a couple of hundred bucks more, I can go out and purchase a full featured Mac Mini, with Front Row running on it for the same interface. Microsoft seems to have made their way to the living room quicker than Apple did. Their Media Center and Media Center Extenders are nearly full featured, with DVR functions included. Apple’s first-gen living room product seems to have failed to make it, and may not be seen ever again if discontinued.

Read [Yahoo] Via [TUAW]

• Yahoo finally getting their act together
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• Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang announces resignation