Skype video coming to Vita today
Totally trashing your opponents in multiplayer is always a satisfying experience. Now you can see their faces after you've done it on the PS Vita, as Skype will be available for the handheld later today.
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Vita will support Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and Skype
In addition to all the social features previously announced (and detailed) for the PlayStation Vita, Sony has announced that many popular social apps currently available on mobile phones will be made available for the Vita. Facebook, foursquare, and Twitter apps will all be downloadable for free directly from the PlayStation Store. In addition, Skype will also be making its way to the Vita, continuing Sony's support of the service since the PSP era. (Guess Microsoft's acquisition didn't get in the way, huh?)
Skype 'complementary' to Xbox Live, says Microsoft
When Microsoft bought Skype recently, it included the promise of Kinect and Xbox Live support, along with continuing to support existing platforms like iOS. Today, Don Mattrick shared some thoughts on the Skype functionality with CNBC.
"We think Skype is a great consumer brand," Mattrick said. "We've got about 170 million people using the product, they're adding a lot of people. We know that people love communication. Communication is core to what Xbox Live is all about, so it's very complementary and we're very excited about the future potential." Read more »
Microsoft buys Skype, adding Kinect and XBL support
Microsoft has announced that it will acquire the voice-over-IP company Skype for "$8.5 billion cash." The deal includes planned Skype support for a variety of Microsoft devices, including Kinect, and Windows Phones. Microsoft also says it will connect Skype users with established services like Outlook and Xbox Live.
The announcement also included word that Skype will still support non-Microsoft platforms. That means the iPhone, Mac OSX, and PlayStation Portable can still use Skype functionality and receive updates, despite belonging to Microsoft's two biggest competitors in the consumer devices and OS markets. Read more »
Steam voice quality boosted with Skype codec
Steam switched to the SILK audio codec, as used by Skype, in an update launched today. This brings "a significant improvement to Steam's voice chat quality," according to Valve.
While the old codec used a fixed 15kbps of bandwidth, SILK uses a dynamic bitrate which takes up between 8 and 30kbps, "depending on the range of data in the voice signal and current network conditions." Read more »
"With the front and back camera you can now do POV porn with reaction shots!"
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