Viber Releases a Desktop App with Video Calling

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Viber is taking a stand on app messaging; they are releasing a desktop app for their wildly popular messaging platform. Starting today, Viber’s 200 million+ users will have access to their Viber contacts from both mobile and desktop.

Viber is also releasing new updates to its mobile apps, but the bigger story is the desktop app.

The ambitious company is breaking ground on video calling today; but unfortunately, only from desktop to desktop. Hopefully, mobile to mobile, and then even mobile to desktop will be arriving on the scene soon.

Other than that, the desktop version has just about everything the mobile version has, including messaging, stickers, etc.

To start, you must be a mobile user of Viber, so if you don’t have a number that’s already associated with the service, the desktop app will ask you to download the mobile application. From there, you simply input your number into the desktop app, enter a pin which is sent to your mobile device, and you instantly have access to all the contacts you know on Viber.

All of the Viber apps will sync messages with each other as well. This is yet again another weakness in Apple's iMessage: It doesn't sync. All of these app messaging services are fighting with iMessage as well as regular SMS for market space.

Viber is also taking a leap forward with its mobile apps, but Android and iOS, as always, are the main focus of this mobile updgrade. Both will receive video messages, a new assortment of stickers, a new photo experience, a new voice engine, and then some other minor stuff.

Viber has been growing steadily, announcing growth to 200 million users, up from 175 million in February.

This latest advance really only works for those with multiple devices, but it will be interesting to see how the market responds to this new leap forward in app messaging.

MTA Hackathon Photos

Congrats again to the winners of the MTA and AT&T Hackathon this weekend. Check down below for photos from the event.

 

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MTA App Quest Hackathon Recap

Wow, what an amazing hackathon! There were great apps built this weekend; I am very impressed with what was built. These developers only had 24 hours to build their apps and have something ready to show off. Congratulations to the first, second, and third place prize winners; SubCulture.Fm, MTA Sheriff, and ACCESSWAY. These apps will truly impact the New York City's mass transit in a bright way. Check out below for a quick summary of what's cooking in the app division of NYC public transit.

SubCulture.Fm is an iOS app that allows you to interact with subway musicians. The app mostly works through QR codes. Each artist would have a QR code that the user would scan. This would give the user information about the artist; such as social media, albums and songs, etc. You can share information about the musician using Facebook or Twitter. The app also allows you to track nearby musicians, and even where your favorite musician will be playing. SubCulture.Fm won first place at the hackathon.

MTA Sheriff is a quick and easy gamified way to report issues within the MTA's system. As you report more issues, your character upgrades until you become the "MTA Sheriff".

ACCESSWAY is an iOS way-finding app to help visually-impaired or wheelchair-assisted New Yorkers find their way in the NYC Subway. It allows you to track elevator and exit status. The app currently looks pretty good, but should try and implement real time status updates.

Time Warner: I built a mini Aereo all by myself!

Time Warner Cable announced today that they will be pushing an update to their TWC TV app tomorrow. This will allow subscribers to watch live TV from their iOS devices. TWC appears to be creating their own version of Aereo in house. However, this replica is very dummed down. If you aren't watching TV on your home wifi network, the number of channels you can watch takes a staggering drop. If you want to watch TV on the road, you will hit a red light. Only Verizon 3G/4G LTE customers will be able to stream live. But even that will have to wait until Quarter 4. The idea of watching live TV with real channels is coming closer; just at a snail's pace.

Snooze: The iPhone turned Alarm Clock

Snooze: The iPhone turned alarm clock. Literally. Snooze, an iPhone alarm clock dock is an alarm clock for your iPhone. It comes with a charging cable, so your phone won't die over night. The accessory also has a large snooze button on top, that you can just slap if you feel like going back to sleep. The alarm clock uses a free app by Snooze as the alarm clock. It's Snooze on the app store. So, if you hate your old 1990s alarm clock, this may sound like something for you. See you tomorrow!

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