How to Send SMS for FREE

I have been using Chikka for quite awhile already. On the Mac and Linux, you have to be satisfied with their Java applet to access their free SMS services. The Java applet, imho, was badly written because the entire user experience is not pleasant. I challenge you to try it out and tell me what you think about their Java-based solution.

Anyway, I am glad that Chikka interfaced with Google’s GTalk. With that interface, it became easier for non-Windows users to use a messaging client other than Chikka’s Java applet. So, here’s a quick rundown of how to do it using Mac OS X applications.

iChatAV version 3 (Mac OS X 10.4)

1. Open Preferences and select Accounts
2. Add A New Account and name it GTalk
3. Enter your Google username and password in the Account Information
4. Use talk.google.com and port 5223 in the Server Settings and then save
5. Press CMD-3 to open the Buddy List for your GTalk account and go online
6. From your GTalk Buddy List Window, you may now add (Shift-Cmd-A) the phone numbers using the format <number>@chikkatalk.com

AdiumX

1. Open Preferences and select Accounts
2. Add a New Account and select GTalk
3. Enter your Google username and password in the Account Information and then Save.
4. Select Contact or hit Cmd-D to add your buddy
5. Select Contact Type as GTalk and then use <number>@chikkatalk.com format.

Gizmo Project

1. Select Contacts then Add Contact
2. Select Contact Type as Jabber and then use <number>@chikkatalk.com format.

Example format: 639209202222@chikkatalk.com

I am sorry but I do not use other IM clients apart from the above. So, if you have other IM clients that support GTalk, chances are you will be able to configure it to work with Chikka.

You may now send free SMS to your friends who are subscribed to any of the following telcos:

1. USA – Cingular Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, Alltel and Verizon
2. Thailand – DTAC
3. Saipan – Saipancell
4. Japan – NTT Docomo, AU and Vodafone
5. Guam – Guamcell
6. Philippines – Globe Telecoms, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular

Have fun! If you think that this helps you, please digg it.

Technorati Tags: chikka, gizmo project, iChatAV, adiumX, sms

iChatAV Test Accounts

From BlogShots

Have you ever wondered if your iChatAV works? I am sure that new MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac owners want to test it but either could not find a buddy online or worse (buddies are all using Winblows!). Now, add appleu3test01, appleu3test02 and appleu3test03 – all AIM (not .Mac) accounts – as your buddies and you can test iChatAV.

From BlogShots

I find this very useful specially when you are connected to the internet using a public hotspot or using someone else’s network (a client? work?). At least you can test if the problem is with your connection or not. With these test connections, I am sure that my home network is perfectly capable of video conferencing!
To the new UP Mac owners, try this to see if the firewall allows video conferencing with peers outside of the university network. Maybe it is time to request that some ports be opened.

Numbler

Writely is a cool online word processor. Now, we have an online spreadsheet called Numbler. Will test its features and then post a review here.

Google’s Mac Support

Google just released a couple of cool Dashboard widgets namely, Blogger, Gmail and Search History. Get ‘em now!

Hotspot Must-Do

If you are like me, a road warrior of the techie kind, of course, then wifi hotspots are a must-have when you go looking for a venue for a long business meeting. These are some tips that may help you keep your computer safe and secure. However, before even connecting to a hotspot, make sure that the hotspot is from a known provider. There are access points or pseudo access points that may just log all packets passing through it for future post-processing, i.e. deciphering username and passwords, etc. Heck, it can even be a simple computer pretending to be an access point.

1. First is to turn on your firewall. Built-in or otherwise, make sure that a firewall is always running in the background, regardless of whether you are accessing via a private or public hotspot or even a wired connection.
2. Turn off File Sharing. On the Mac, you can turn it off by going to System Preferences-Sharing. Frankly, I have it turned off by default. I have found several computers in my college with File Sharing turned on (on Windows, of course). You’d be surprised to find out what kinds of files they have on their computers.
3. Use VPN. If your company provides a VPN service, make sure that you use it before doing anything that requires internet connection. This ensures that all communications are encrypted. If you do not have VPN access, try publicVPN, not free but it is better than having your identity stolen.
4. Avoid using Mail.app. There are some mail services that do not support secure connections (POPS, IMAPS or Authenticated SMTP). You are better off using web-based email service such as Gmail. Web-based email services should only be accessed using https.
5. Use encrypted IM. Instant messaging is extremely popular. However, most of the IM services out there do not support encryption. I recommend that you use iChatAV and enable encryption (comes with your .Mac account) or AdiumX.
   And oh, make sure that you do not accept any unsolicited file transfer requests!
6. Turn off iTunes Sharing. Since iTunes is very popular, users tend to share their music with their peers. I advise that you turn this off as well.

If you have other tips, don’t hesitate to send them to me so I can include them here as well.

Happy wireless surfing!

Travelling light

In a few weeks, I will be travelling down south for the JEDI Night party. Since I will only be spending one night there, I have decided not to bring my notebook and simply bring my iPod (for entertainment) and my digital camera.

Without my notebook, I may need to access the ‘net for email and news. I already have Cross-platform Portable Firefox on the iPod shuffle along with Portable OpenOffice.org 2.0.1. For some strange reason, however, I can’t copy Portable Adium – it spits out an error message. Apart from OpenOffice.org, all the other portable apps run on the Mac. Anything else I missed?

How to Fix a Dead Pixel

I had my previous powerbook replaced due to tons of stuck or dead pixels (thanks, Apple!) – yes, more than 10. I don’t know – they just appeared like zits!

Anyway, I still have a powerbook with a single dead pixel but I will try this tip and see if it will magically disappear.

Adium!

I just dumped Yahoo! Messenger and instead installed Adium. Before, I did not want to use it because I couldn’t set my status to invisible. Now that it is supported, I am now using it exclusively as a Yahoo! Messenger client. I still use iChatAV, of course.

Adobe Lightroom beta 1.1

Check it out!

MySQL Database Replication

Interesting how-to. Will prove useful specially for our iLib project.