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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Calling options keep growing like magic
By
Etan Horowitz
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
The line between a traditional phone and a cell phone continues to blur, which is good news for consumers. No longer do you have to sacrifice the comfort and stability of a land line for the portability and free long-distance calling of a cell phone or shell out the cash to have both.
This week, I'm reviewing two new options that fall somewhere in the middle.
The first will be instantly familiar to anyone who stays up late or likes to watch infomercials. It's the magicJack (magicjack.com), a cigarette lighter-size device you connect to your computer's USB port and a telephone for local and long-distance calling. The device cost $40, which includes the first year of service, and after that it's $20 a year for unlimited calling.
I've gotten lots of e-mails from readers wanting to know if the magicJack is too good to be true. It's not. Setup is easy and only takes a few minutes, and as long as the magicJack is hooked to a computer that is on and connected to the Internet, you can make and receive calls just as you usually would.
The best part about the magicJack is that it's so small and that all of the software you need for using it is built into the device itself. So if you were traveling overseas, you could bring your magicJack and your laptop, connect to the Internet and plug the hotel phone into the device to use your U.S.-based phone number.
It works on both Intel-based Macs and PCs and comes with free voicemail, caller ID and call waiting. I found the call quality to be better than a cell phone and comparable to a land-line or VoIP phone.
Since you can choose a number with an area code from another state, you tell the magicJack where you are physically situated so that emergency responders can find you if you dial 911.
There are a couple of downsides to the magicJack and things you should keep in mind if you are thinking about buying one. To use it, you must have the magicJack program open and your computer must be connected to the Internet, so if you use a laptop that runs out of power or crashes, it will temporarily cut off your phone service.
That's a key difference between the magicJack and many VoIP or digital phone services, which connect directly to a router or modem, allowing you to turn your computer off. The magicJack will still work if your computer is in standby or sleep mode, but it's probably easiest to connect the magicJack to a desktop computer.
When I hooked the magicJack up to an iMac, the caller ID appeared on the computer but not on my handset. This wasn't an issue when I used a PC. You can't port your current home phone number to the magicJack, but the company said it hopes to offer that feature soon.
If you have problems, magicJack doesn't have a tech-support phone number, and your only option for live customer support is to have an instant-message conversation through magicJack's Web site.
Despite these quirks, the magicJack is a pretty amazing product at an amazing price, especially if you travel a lot, want to make a few long-distance calls without using up all your cell phone minutes or just like the comfort of holding a traditional phone every now and then.
You could also give it to a relative who lives abroad and set it up with a local phone number.
Because it needs an Internet connection and a computer that is turned on, I don't know if it's the best choice as your only phone.
The Panasonic Link-to-Cell ($80, Panasonic.com) will appeal to anyone who gets cell phone service only in a certain part of the house or who hates to carry on long conversations on a small cell phone.
This device connects to your cell phone via Bluetooth and lets you dial and receive calls using a cordless phone. You can leave your phone in another room and have cell phone conversations while you walk around the house.
One of the nice things about this device is that you can connect two cell phones to it and set different rings for each phone. It has talking caller ID, so the phone will say the number, or if you have it saved in your phone book, the name that is assigned to that number.
The phone also has a traditional phone jack, so you can use it with other types of phone service and you can buy additional handsets to go with it.
The call quality was not any better than a cell phone, and in a few cases, it sounded a little worse.
Another annoying thing is that you can't beam your contacts from your phone to the device via Bluetooth, so unless you know your friends' numbers by heart, you have to enter your contacts manually, or just answer the phone without knowing who is calling.
If you hook two cell phones up, they can share the same contacts. Pairing the device with my cell phones was easy, but navigating through the Link-to-Cell's menus is a little cumbersome. General Electric makes a similar product called the "Cell Fusion," which costs $90.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
Previously:
Make call directly to voice mail
Pick the perfect meeting spot
Create, use e-mail templates in Outlook
Check cell phone coverage
Use technology to clear inbox, get things done
Transfer voice mail to your computer
Turn PowerPoint presentations into videos and post them online
Only print the portions of a web page you want
Set up a home wireless network
Access instant messaging programs without downloading anything (Good for workers or public computer use)
Avoid Registering For Web Sites
Send snail mail from your computer for free
Turn your camera phone into a portable scanner
Take screenshots on your computer
Automatically sync your Outlook and Google calendars
How 2 ... Make your cell phone battery last longer
© 2008, The Orlando Sentinel Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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