High-tech hot topics: Skype VoIP video calls, Amazon Kindle, Samsung Galaxy Player

(Apple)

Hot topics in the tech blogs for the week ending December 31 include Skype VoIP video calling for iPhone, the record sales of Amazon's third-generation Kindle, details of Samsung's Galaxy Player leak, iPad 2 rumors and an increase in iPhone shipments.

Skype VoIP video calls for iPhone
Skype announced that a new version of its iPhone application was available for download. The updated app enables users to make video calls on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over WiFi and 3G connections. Bloggers also wrote about China's plans to make non Chinese VoIP services "illegal" within the country.

Third generation Kindle Amazon's best selling product
Amazon's third-generation Kindle replaced Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (book seven of the Harry potter series) as the best-selling product in Amazon's history during the week. Not wanting to be left out, book retailer Barnes & Noble released a press statement saying its Nook e-reader was the company's best selling product too.

Samsung Galaxy Player at CES
Manufacturers started "leaking" details of new products set to be unveiled at CES this week. The most talked about CES product was Samsung's Galaxy Player, a media player built to rival Apple's iPod touch. Samsung confirmed the news to technology blog Samsunghub.com saying its Galaxy Player will run on Android 2.2, will come in 8,16 and 32GB storage capacities and will have a 4 inch Super Clear LCD.

iPad 2 rumors
A DigiTimes report entitled "Apple prepares three versions of iPad 2 for 2011, says sources" resulted in a whole new round of iPad 2 rumors flying around the blogosphere. Journalists questioned if Apple would create a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) version of the second generation iPad.

Apple increases global iPhone shipments, readies CDMA version
A DigiTimes report was responsible for a second wave of Apple product rumors this week after suggesting the consumer electronics company had "raised the global shipment goal for its iPhones for first-quarter 2011 from 19 million units originally to 20-21 million units." The report also said Apple will launch CDMA iPhones in North America and Asia Pacific in the first quarter of 2011.