VOXOX Blog

Leaving the house without a full iPhone battery is unimaginable for some of us (especially for you Voxox Call users!), but sitting around waiting for a charge isn't always possible. If the thought of being off the grid due to a dead smartphone gives you an anxiety attack, maybe it's time to harness your body's own energy to power your devices!

You don't have to be a geek to use and love all the cool features Voxox has to offer, but since all of us behind the universal communicator are geeks at heart, we invite you to celebrate Embrace Your Geekness Day on Friday, July 13th! (That's Friday 13th - yes!)

What comes to mind when you think 4th of July? Here at Voxox we love the backyard BBQs, fireworks and ice-cold brews, of course! But this holiday is not just about good food and making memories, it's about celebrating our nation’s freedom and... um, animals dressed up in patriotic garb!

Like ice cream and sun tans, camping is a summertime staple. As a kid you were probably stoked to get out the tent and leave your Nintendo and Walkman behind in exchange for a lumpy sleeping bag and mysterious night crawlers, but with today's technology the meaning of camping has changed a little bit and iPods, iPhones and other gadgets are normal campsite companions.


A day in the woods can go from enjoying the great outdoors to dreading the great outdoors pretty quickly if we’re away from our routine for too long. So, for those of us who like to be one with nature, but also need the comforts of home at the campsite, there’s probably a gadget for that,  but how techy is too techy for a day in the woods?


Take a look at this summer's all new camping gadgets and decide if they’re techy or just plain tacky!


1. BioLite CampStove: Not all of us are Boy Scouts by nature and might need a little help from the the tech gods when it comes to cooking up a dinner in the woods, so it's BioLite CampStove to the rescue. Not only is it a safe, clean and easy option if a traditional campfire just isn't your scene, it also comes with an incredible perk – it collects escaping heat and converts it to electricity that can be used to charge your iPhone or iPod so you're never without your favorite apps!







2. iBottle  Opener: This is a new kind of multi-purpose tool. It doesn't have a blade for gutting fish or a fold-out pair of pliers, but it can protect your iPhone from gentle damage and pop the top of an ice-cold brew. Oh, and did we mention you can customize your case with a company logo or favorite college sports team?






3. Otterbox Defender Series iPhone Case: If the iBottle opener wasn't hardcore enough for your camping style, this case should do the trick... it isn't called the Defender for nothing! The Otterbox Defender Series provides heavy duty protection from even the worst environments. With triple-layer protection from dust, drops, water and anything else you may encounter on your next camping trip, you're sure to head home with at least your phone fully intact!







 

4. UMI USHI Solar Charging System: This charging dock can suction to your car window or be placed in direct sunlight to charge smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles or anything else you can plug into a USB cord. Use the light of day to fuel your gadgets -- it will come in handy for looking up your favorite campfire sing-a-long lyrics!








5. MiFi Dongle: This is more than a mobile hotspot, the Mifi dongle  is an Internet addicts dream! With just the click of a button you can send a wifi signal out for a 3 mile radius. Beware, campers in the area may offer up gifts of thanks in the form of hot cocoa and smores.






Whether you're a firm believer in traditional camping or a techy on the go, there's no denying gadgets are making their way into the woods! Do you own any of these or other fancy camping gadgets? Would you take these on your next outing or is technology best left at home? Be sure to tell us on the Voxox Facebook page!

Every day, people use Voxox for a variety of reasons and take advantage of unique features that makes their daily communications easier. From the foreign exchange student studying abroad in the United States who wants to stay in touch with her family without spending a fortune, to the super-connected social media-ite who likes to keep all her contacts in one place, to the businessman who wants the support of a personal assistant without well… actually having a personal assistant. There’s something for every kind of user.

However popular some of Voxox’s features are, like personal assistant, dead-end calling and text translation, people often ask about our built-in faxing capabilities -- “Why fax when I can just email?” So, to put an end to this burning question, we have found three reasons why you may prefer to fax instead of email:



1. Emails can be blocked or lost in spam... but not faxes!     


Most company networks and individuals have filters that scan and reroute messages directly to the junk mailbox. If you send an attachment that’s too large, poorly named or from an unknown email address, it could be lost in the interwebs forever without you nor the recipient being the wiser. With fax, there’s no SPAM box to eat messages; in fact, documents are automatically printed for review.



2. Email attachments can harbor viruses -- faxes don't.


These can seriously harm your computer! Online security researchers have found that most common email attachment file formats – Adobe PDFs and even Word and Excel documents -- are susceptible to viruses. With attachment sending becoming more common, people often aren’t careful and infect their computers before they know it. Fax machines, on the other hand, can’t read these messages so no hardware is at risk.



3. Faxes can keep sensitive information private and offline.


Without the added security of encryption, most email isn’t protected from the prying eyes of anyone with a knack for computers --  hackers or even your company’s IT department! However, since faxing is inherently encrypted, it’s impossible to hack and decode your fax message.


For everyday correspondence, email is probably still your preferred communication, but faxing is a fantastic alternative when information security and computer safety are a concern. Remember to keep the above reasons in mind when sharing sensitive documents!


If you didn’t know that your Voxox phone number doubles as a fax number, you’ll have to try it out. Faxing with Voxox is very inexpensive (and free for inbound!) and there’s no fax machine required! Plus, the Voxox Call iPhone app just launched last year — fully equipped with a  free fax viewer / ability to receive faxes as well as  outbound faxing capabilities! Go get your free Voxox number now and be sure to tell us what your favorite feature is. Whether it’s faxing or one of our many social integration tools, share your faves with us right here or on our Facebook page!



 

With the arrival of summer come backyard BBQs, trips to the lake and days spent enjoying the great outdoors. Back in the day, a Walkman and a few speakers may have impressed your friends on these outings, but this is 2012 -- so with a little help from Mashable, we tracked down the hottest gadgets to help you make the most of your days in the sun.


No matter what type of activity you're into -- work, play or maybe a little bit of both, we've got something here for you. Check out these must-have goodies:

1. Make an Office Out of Any Room!

All work and no play? Not on our watch! We believe that working shouldn't slow down your sun-seeking travels, so here's a stylish and compact tool that lets you make an office out of any room.  If you have a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or phone you can hook up to the Jawbone Jambox for wireless, portable audio and speakerphone calls.

2. Project Movies, Video Games, etc. from Your Smartphone or Tablet

Who needs a cramped theater and overpriced popcorn when you've got movies streaming in your backyard? The WowWee Cinamin Slice Pico Projector hooks up to your smartphone, computer or tablet and projects movies, video games and photos onto your walls, ceilings or even the side of your house!

3. Blast Tunes Straight from Your Phone

Eton Rukus Solar is a wireless boombox that plays tunes straight from your phone. Since it runs off the power of the sun, as long as you can get a tan, you can rock out.  Adios, batteries. Hello, Dougie!

4. Access Your Favorite Fitness Apps From Your Watch!

This watch is still in production, but that hasn't stopped smartphone users (the kind who love to bike, run, swim and basically sweat) from sending it to back order! The Pebble Watch is the first watch to sync with iPhone and Android devices, allowing access to fitness apps -- making the perfect outdoor accessory for any physically active techy who doesn't want to risk ruining their smartphone during a workout!

5. Stay Connected While on the Go with Voxox Call for iPhone

So how do you stay in touch when you're on the go this summer? Voxox of course! With Voxox Call on your iPhone you can call, text and even fax for super cheap. Forward your work number to your Voxox account and you could make your next work-from-home-day a day at the beach without anyone being the wiser!

There you have it folks, a list of the most-desired gadgets for summer 2012. Do you already own one of these fancy gadgets or are you do you have another tech must-have in mind?

Let us know what tech brings your outings to the next level in the comments or on the Voxox Facebook page!

Do you ever find yourself  mid-phone conversation without a clue what you're saying uh huh to? Do you give vague answers or shy from the truth when a conversation turns awkward? Do you fib or embellish a little to make your conversations more exciting? If you answered yes to any of these, you're not alone!

With all the ways we interact and share information in this digital era, we have developed unwritten etiquette for varying types of social interaction. Norms on one social site may be taboo on another and face-to-face interaction can provoke different emotions than less personal communication like email, but did you ever think one outlet could make you more or less honest than the next? As crazy as it sounds, a  recent study from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research shows that this is in fact the case.

So, what makes us spill the beans? A few years ago we might have agreed that a few too many glasses of Pinot Noir would do the trick, but now-a-days it's something more common than happy hour -- it's texting.





According to the study, in which researchers compared respondents' answers to questions texted to them versus those asked to them in a phone interview,  people are more likely to disclose sensitive information via text message.

"This is sort of surprising," Fred Conrad, leading cognitive psychologist in the study says. "Many people thought that texting would decrease the likelihood of disclosing sensitive information because it creates a persistent, visual record of questions and answers that others might see on your phone and in the cloud."

Not only were people more likely to tell the truth via text, they were also found to give more precise answers. Researchers believed this is because with texting, people are not under pressure to give an answer -- there is no one standing in front of them or waiting on the line for a response -- giving them more time to arrive at more accurate answers.

"We're in the early stages of analyzing our findings," says Michael Schober, a professor of psychology involved in the study. "But so far it seems that texting may reduce some respondents' tendency to shade the truth or to present themselves in the best possible light in an interview."

Are you more honest when texting? Voxox minds want to know if you're more candid on one form of communication versus another!  Comment here or post on our Facebook page -- no fibbing!

As the unofficial kick-off to summer, people everywhere are on a mission to hit the road, celebrate and have a good time on Memorial Day. Roadtrips are planned, plane tickets are bought and bus seats are sold, but where is everyone going?

Earlier this month we celebrated moms. This made us think about how a service like Voxox can be handy for new parents. So, we asked Heidi S., a new mom and Voxox user to share her experience.


Here's Heidi's story in her own words:


I live life two hours at a time. That’s how long it is between each of my infant daughter’s naps. In those two hours I change her, feed her, play with her, take her on walks, and encourage her growth and development. Then she goes to sleep, and the whole cycle starts again.

Spare time? I’ve forgotten the meaning of the term!


As every parent knows, a baby takes nearly every second of free time you have, free time you used to take for granted and spent however you pleased. The hours I used to spend online or on the phone are now reduced to a mere log on, check in, shut down scenario.


No spare time: that’s just a fact of parenting!  The question is: how to make the most of what little free time I have?


That’s where Voxox comes in.


I don’t have time to log into several different accounts simply to let people know what I’m up to or fire off an email. So I log into Voxox and take care  of everything all in the same program!


During naptime, I quickly chat with friends on multiple networks all in one window, and update my status on each of those networks. While she plays, I send off an email or Tweet about her latest antics. With her in my lap, I make a video call with grandparents so they can see her brand new tooth.


Thanks to Voxox, I don’t waste a second of those precious snippets of spare time.


Not only that, I use Voxox to make calls and send texts, saving money and cell phone minutes and avoiding fumbling with my phone or searching for its charger.


A stay at home mom struggles to find time to stay connected to the outside world. The baby is her entire world. Her nonstop focus. The baby is her job, 24/7! We don’t mind, but any tool that makes this job even a little bit easier is the equivalent of a miracle.


Voxox saves me time, which keeps me connected to my friends and family. Being able to connect with those around me helps me feel more like who I was before I became a parent, which makes all the difference in the world.


Any other Voxox parents out there who'd like to share their experience?  Comment below or on our Facebook page.