calling

Move over, Skype. Watch your back, Line2. Good news, iPad and iPod Touch users. The new MagicJack app lets you make unlimited free calls to the U.S. and Canada, no strings attached, no credit card required. 

That means if you're a heavy gabber, you could theoretically drop to the cheapest available iPhone voice plan--and keep on gabbing. Of course, it also gives iPad and fourth-generation iPod Touch users an option for totally free phone service.

The first time you run the app, you get three choices. If you already have one of the famed MagicJack voice-over-IP gizmos, you can sign into your account, use your existing number, and access all of your associated contacts. That effectively gives you a second phone line for your iPhone--complete with its own voice mailbox.

If you're not already a MagicJack customer, you can quickly sign up for an account, and get a new phone number (sort of) in the process. That "number" is actually a 10-digit code that callers need to punch in after calling a main MagicJack number--a fairly major hassle, and a fact that's not explained anywhere within the app. (Nor is the number listed; it's 305-848-TALK.)

Alternately, you can skip both options and just start making calls. That's how I started my MagicJack testing, though later I linked the app to an inactive (but still operational) MagicJack account.… Read more

Hoping to tap the expanding online fashion market, eBay this week launched Fashion Outlet, a virtual U.S. outlet mall that lets brands and designers connect directly with eBay customers. Think of that outlet mall in the boonies without the drive down some random highway.

The launch of the fashion outlet follows the debut of eBay outlet sites in the U.K. and Germany. The fashion items sold through the "Buy It Now" feature are priced at 20 percent to 65 percent off retail price, making them comparable price-wise to items found at outlets, Miriam Lahage, eBay's … Read more

This week on preGame, we're sitting down with one of the year's most anticipated games, Gears of War 3. Tune in for a chunk of live gameplay from early on in the game. Then, we'll put the pedal to the metal in Burnout CRASH!, the latest downloadable title from EA's Criterion Games.

But before we hit the demos, we'll run through this week's news including new details on the Battlefield 3 beta, the PS Vita's battery life, and hands-on impressions with Batman: Arkham City.

Finally, make sure to listen carefully this week as we're giving away free digital copies of one of Mark and Jeff's favorite games of all time, Resident Evil 4, for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network!… Read more

A couple months back I told you about Mr. PhoneTree, an iOS-only app that can automatically call every person in a group and play a recorded message--a huge time-saver for anyone who manages, say, a soccer team or social group.

Although the app came with 25 call credits to get you started, you had to purchase credit bundles after that. If you're looking for a cheaper solution and have minimal automated-call needs, check out DialMyCalls for Android and DialMyCalls for iOS.

The app is buggy and confusing in places, and much more limited than Mr. PhoneTree, but it does have one ace up its sleeve: it allows you one free phone blast per week (up to 30 seconds long and to as many as 25 people).

DialMyCalls comes from the Web-based service of the same name, but obviously it's far more convenient to set up and launch an automated call on your smartphone. The process is fairly straightforward--record your message, choose the recipients, then send the message--but the app suffers from numerous annoying quirks.

For starters, I couldn't create a new account on my iPhone; for some reason the app rejected my Gmail address as "invalid." Fortunately, I was able to set up an account on DialMyCalls.com, then sign into it on my phone. But the app requires your password every time you run it, with no option to remember it.… Read more

Gamers rejoice. At Call of Duty XP, an event for fans of the game this past weekend, Activision announced that Microsoft will release a Modern Warfare 3 Xbox 360 bundle.

Like various other game-themed consoles, such as the Gears of War Xbox or the Tron controller, the bundle's design will resemble the theme of Infinity Ward's newest game.

The entire package will consist of two custom wireless controllers, a 320GB hard drive, a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a month's membership to Xbox Live Gold (for you to rack up your kill count), and custom startup/disc loading sounds (yes, the sounds are from the game).

There's no Kinect unit included, however. You'll have to purchase one separately to be able to have some Dance Central action when you're out of the war zone.

The bundle will be available on November 8 in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand and will retail for $399. Preorders are already being accepted.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

LOS ANGELES--Thousands of devoted Call of Duty fans gathered here this weekend for the first Call of Duty XP, a convention devoted to the game's past, present, and future.

Activision secured the huge airplane hangars of Playa Del Rey in the shadow of Loyola Marymount University and a sniper's shot from Electronic Arts' Los Angeles headquarters. Howard Hughes used those hangars to build his concept aircraft, but they became multiplayer gaming centers and conference halls for Call of Duty XP 2011.

Activision used the event to unveil the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 to a hangar absolutely packed with fans eager for the game's November 8 launch.

Players could enjoy the multiplayer levels in preview play while David Vonderhaar, design director; Phil Tasker, senior level designer; Alex Conserva, lead programmer; and Dan Bunting, online director filled in on Q&A before unveiling special rollout trailers to foreshadow the missions to come.

The centerpiece of the event was the international Call of Duty 3: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer tournament. The four-man team Optic Gaming (William "BigTymer" Johnson, Blake "Vengeance2T" Campbell, Joseph "Merc SD" DeLuca and Matthew "NaDeSHoT" Haag) will split the $400,000 grand prize. … Read more

The Department of Justice doesn't want to see AT&T end up with T-Mobile, but would it stop Sprint Nextel from making such an acquisition? What about MetroPCS or Leap Wireless?

Earlier this week, the DOJ stunned many people in the wireless industry when it filed suit against AT&T to stop its $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA. The agency said that allowing AT&T to buy T-Mobile would likely result in higher prices and a loss of innovation in the wireless market.

The news has sparked speculation about what will happen to T-Mobile if … Read more

Skype has launched its own app store, offering third-party apps that can integrate with the company's online calling and messaging service.

Third-party apps have been available through Skype in the past, but its App Directory is the company's first effort to host a more official place where people can search for, browse, and download the software they want. The store officially opened Wednesday.

Skype users can browse a list of all apps; the store offers … Read more

In case you didn't hear, last week was a busy one in the tech world. First, Google announced its intention to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion and then just three days later, HP said it was ending development for the WebOS mobile operating system and WebOS devices.

Both developments left a lot of people gobsmacked, but it was the HP news that appeared to hit the hardest. Some folks were upset that they couldn't get their hands on a $99 HP TouchPad, but more saw the value of WebOS and hated to see HP cast it … Read more