and swing set, just by pointing the iPad around. They use Apple’s FaceTime (99 cents in the iTunes store), which works very well, and as you’d expect for an Apple product, it’s easy to set up. However, it only works with other Apple devices that also run FaceTime, and you can’t call land lines (ordinary phones) with it. Skype, however, is universal. It runs on virtually any device. It does video calls and it calls land lines. If you want to call land lines, you have to buy credits, but the rates are reasonable. A pay-as-you-go plan costs about two cents per minute for local calls. Long-distance calls are a fraction of the cost of typical home phone service. For example, Telus calls to South Africa are $2 per minute, whereas a Skype call is only seven cents a minute. Skype-to-Skype calls are always free. Most current computing devices include the necessary hardware. Typically, you need a front-facing camera (or a webcam), speakers (or headphones), a microphone (which is typically built into a webcam), and an Internet connection. SKYPE CAN’T CALL 911 To get started, install the program from Skype.com. It will walk you through the steps of creating an account, and then configuring and testing your hardware. The voice and video quality will depend on many variables. You will get best results using a direct Internet connection instead of wireless. This means using a computer that has a cable connected directly to your Internet Service Provider’s modem or router. Also note that ISP upload speeds are much slower than download speeds. That means if Mom has a slow connection, the video signal she is uploading may not look so good when it reaches you. Similarly, the picture quality she sees will depend on your upload speed. To check your speed, go to Speedtest.net and run its test. To send a reasonable video, you should have a minimum upload speed of 1.5 Mbps. Call your ISP if you think the signal might not be fast enough. You might also be able to improve the signal by using a newer external webcam. Prices range from $30 to $80 for a good model from Microsoft or Logitech. They include a disk that walks you through the set-up process. Do you think you might like to receive Skype calls from land lines? That’s also possible: you can get a subscriptionbased online Skype phone number for $60 a year. One last point: Don’t toss your POTS system out yet. The Skype website emphasizes, “Skype is a not replacement for your ordinary telephone.” That’s because you can’t use Skype to call 911. You should always have an analog phone line available in case of emergencies. Merry Christmas! VB Darryl Gittins is a computer consultant who specializes in turning complex computer jargon into information that makes sense for real people. He lives in Victoria with his tech-savvy wife and kids.
“I have been with Narina for 10 months and with her encouragement and wonderful knowledge base I have been able to lose weight, and INCHES!!! 27 INCHES that is!!! I’m in the best health that I’ve ever been in.”
Janet F, Victoria, B.C.
A bold statement, but it’s the real reason we are here at Victoria Wellness. When Victoria Wellness first opened in 2001, we felt there had to be a place in the community with an environment that demonstrated that someone truly cared about the people here and would support their fitness needs as individuals. Today there are many fitness choices, but our mission remains the same; to be the one choice that offers our members a fun, supportive place to workout and achieve their goals. We make it easy to get fit and stay fit. More than just those standard gyms, we offer our members the best in functional training, personal training for groups or individuals, nutrition support and meal design in order to reach their goals faster. Thank you for your support and for allowing us to continue our mission to change lives and help our members live a higher quality of life through fitness. We hope we’ll see you soon.
Get started with...
30 days $89! *
for only
*Hurry! Offer expires soon! Some restrictions may apply. See club for details.
Call today! (250) 382-2355 #211-1551 Cedar Hill X Road (at Shelbourne)
www.victoriawellness.com 95