The PhoneBoy Blog

VoIP is Still a Thing

19 Jun 2017

I don't write much about VoIP anymore. Of course, I don't write about much. Maybe if I string enough of my WhatsApp/SMS/iMessages together, I could write a book. In fact, I bet we all could :)

That said, VoIP is still a thing. Businesses are still looking for a way to lower costs and make it easier to connect their employees. What's surprising to me, at least, is that one name is still there from back when I was writing about VoIP on a regular basis: 8x8! The others are fairly new, though Ooma and Ring Central have "sponsored" radio-related things I've listened to recently.

Me, personally? The only VoIP app I use with any regularity is WhatsApp. Not sure how Facebook makes money off it. But clearly, the solutions below are making some money. And if you're in the market, they're worth a look.

Via: Phone.com Phone Systems

PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1182: Fifine USB Microphone

25 Mar 2017

The last few podcasts were recorded with a new USB microphone and a USB to Lightning adapter on an iPad. Still using Auphonic to post-produce the audio. What do you think?

Note the links below are Amazon affiliate links. On the off chance you purchase based on my link, I'll make a few pennies.

Links:

Download the audio file.

Visit https://phoneboy.com/ps for more information about PhoneBoy Speaks and to find past episodes.
Donations of audio processing time from Auphonic are welcome!
PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1182: Fifine USB Microphone

PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1181: Containers, Microservices, and Security

23 Mar 2017

Containers and Microservices are on the rise, and they are going to impact application security in a good way.

Links:

Using Containers to Build a Microservices Architecture – AWS Startup Collection – Medium

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PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1180: RoboFence

21 Mar 2017

Spam phone calls are still a thing. They're even more annoying on mobile phones, but there are tools that can help.

Links:

RoboFence

Download the audio file.

Visit https://phoneboy.com/ps for more information about PhoneBoy Speaks and to find past episodes.
Donations of audio processing time from Auphonic are welcome!
PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1180: RoboFence

PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1179: Do You Really Own Your Data?

19 Mar 2017

You have less control over your data than you think.

Links:

Troy Hunt: We’ve lost control of our personal data (including 33M NetProspex records)

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PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1178: The ADN Apocalypse

13 Mar 2017

App.Net is shutting down on the 15th of March 2017. This is my podcast to commemorate the occasion.

Links:

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PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1177: A Necessity, Not A Luxury

08 Mar 2017

Some politicians think smartphones are a luxury item. In today's world, they are essential. For those of lesser means, given everything they can do these days, even moreso.

Links:

The iPhone is not a luxury good —The Verge “This morning, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) suggested that the Republicans’ proposed Affordable Care Act replacement would require Americans to “make a choice” in order to pay for health care.”

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PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1176: Third Party Testing: It's a Data Point

03 Mar 2017

It's difficult to evaluate all the different information security products out there. There are the analyst firms like Gartner and Forester, and testing firms like NSS Labs. These firms get their share of criticisms from vendors and customers alike.

Links:

What makes for truly independent security product testing? – Naked Security

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PhoneBoy Speaks Ep 1174: Nokia is "Back" in the Mobile Phone Business

27 Feb 2017

Yup, there are actual phones with Nokia's name that are on Nokia's website announced at Mobile World Congress in 2017. They are made by HMD Global and, sadly, I don't see any of them coming to the US.

Links: