Seen it? Heard it? Video-calling is hard to avoid and new webcams and services are making it easier to keep in touch.
Video-calling has been “the next big thing” for more than a decade. Ever since the world’s first webcam – trained on a coffee pot in a Cambridge University computer lab – was connected to the internet in 1993, the idea of being able to see as well as speak to people has threatened to revolutionise phone conversations.
Now, however, and with little fanfare, that quiet revolution is playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives. The availability of fast mobile-phone networks, broadband internet and miniaturised technology has united businessmen and grandmothers: conference calls using video-streaming and large plasma TVs are standard; and Skype and instant messaging mean that keeping in touch with family halfway round the world is straightforward and doesn’t break the bank.
Initially, video-calling was hampered by three problems. Image quality, and delays of transmission, meant that the benefits were wiped out by grainy pictures that added little to conversations.
The technology itself was often cumbersome, with endless tweaks required to make gadgets that looked like beige plastic spiders deliver anything approaching reasonable quality.
Finally, a sheer lack of familiarity made video-calling an improbable prospect. Without critical mass, the technology was stymied.
The solution, however, has come almost by accident. Now it’s hard to buy a laptop that doesn’t include a perfectly adequate webcam built in to a tiny bezel above the screen. That, and the greater ubiquity of WiFi connections, have done away with the ugly wires that made setting up a webcam and getting online so unattractive. Increases in web speeds, meanwhile, allow for higher-quality images to be delivered over a conventional broadband line.
The tipping point, however, came as MSN Instant Messenger and all its equivalents began to make less fuss of video, and simply put a “video chat” button as an option next to all their “conversations”. Google Mail users are now two clicks from a video chat with any of their contacts, so long as both users have the right equipment.
It’s unlikely, in truth, that video-calling will entirely replace other ways of communicating any day soon – mobile phones, for instance, are seldom used for the purpose, although some new devices, such as the watch phone from LG, do place an emphasis on video chat.
But in the debate about how technology is changing our lives, video-calling has genuinely marked a shift in the way we interact.
By Claudine Beaumont and Matt Warman
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Hey, Gang, Let’s Watch the Web Together
After I moved to the East Coast a few months ago, a few of my close friends and I became fans of video chatting via Google to keep in touch.
But as fun as it is to crack the laptop open alongside a bottle of wine while we catch up on gossip, there are some snags that make the experience less than pleasant.
For example, you can chat with only one person at a time — which, given my circle, means you aren’t getting the full, juicy recap of the previous night’s antics. And then there’s the problem of the dueling screens. Say one party starts watching a YouTube video during the chat. An irritating soundtrack blasts through the other end at full volume, sans the video stream. And even if your chatting partner sends you a link to whatever snippet she happens to be watching, you can’t simultaneously watch without audio interference.
Watchitoo, a start-up based in Israel and New York, offers a simple solution to that problem. On Tuesday, the company is publicly introducing a service that combines the concept of live video chatting with the sharing of content like videos — all in a single Web browser.
The service, which has been in private testing since May, allows Watchitoo users to create shows or rooms that can either be open to anyone or limited to a few invitees. So one member of the room can search for the latest Lady Gaga video or a clip from the BET awards on YouTube in the shared browser window and everyone can watch the video simultaneously — all while chatting via video or an instant messaging client embedded in the same browser.
“We’re taking the concept of collaboration from business and applying it to content,” said Rony Zarom, founder and chief executive of the company. “But beyond that, it’s about a new medium for watching TV and commentary on the Internet.”
Mr. Zarom, who founded Watchitoo in 2007, acknowledged that there were already a handful of competitors on the market, like Skype’s screen-sharing feature, Paltalk and View2gether.
The biggest drawback to using a service like Watchitoo is the lack of content: it’s great to watch portions of a show or a Keyboard Cat video with a friend, but it might not be enough of a lure to keep users coming back.
It’s also worth noting that several earlier social viewing initiatives introduced by CBS and MTV with a few of their hottest shows never really seemed to take off.
But Mr. Zarom is spurred on by the popularity of recent social viewing events, like CNN’s pairing of Facebook status updates with the live stream of President Obama’s inauguration. He hopes to eventually integrate his service with Twitter and Facebook, and broaden the slate of content partners, currently limited to Photobucket and Yahoo for sharing images, and YouTube for watching videos.
Mr. Zarom also says that Watchitoo’s patent-pending technology allows for a synchronized, stutter-free streaming experience that sets the service apart from the pack.
The service is free, but the company plans eventually to offer premium features for a fee.
Watchitoo is backed by seed funding from Decima Ventures, an investment firm established by Mr. Zarom in 2001, when he sold his first company, a mobile Web start-up called Exalink, to Comverse for $550 million.
But as fun as it is to crack the laptop open alongside a bottle of wine while we catch up on gossip, there are some snags that make the experience less than pleasant.
For example, you can chat with only one person at a time — which, given my circle, means you aren’t getting the full, juicy recap of the previous night’s antics. And then there’s the problem of the dueling screens. Say one party starts watching a YouTube video during the chat. An irritating soundtrack blasts through the other end at full volume, sans the video stream. And even if your chatting partner sends you a link to whatever snippet she happens to be watching, you can’t simultaneously watch without audio interference.
Watchitoo, a start-up based in Israel and New York, offers a simple solution to that problem. On Tuesday, the company is publicly introducing a service that combines the concept of live video chatting with the sharing of content like videos — all in a single Web browser.
The service, which has been in private testing since May, allows Watchitoo users to create shows or rooms that can either be open to anyone or limited to a few invitees. So one member of the room can search for the latest Lady Gaga video or a clip from the BET awards on YouTube in the shared browser window and everyone can watch the video simultaneously — all while chatting via video or an instant messaging client embedded in the same browser.
“We’re taking the concept of collaboration from business and applying it to content,” said Rony Zarom, founder and chief executive of the company. “But beyond that, it’s about a new medium for watching TV and commentary on the Internet.”
Mr. Zarom, who founded Watchitoo in 2007, acknowledged that there were already a handful of competitors on the market, like Skype’s screen-sharing feature, Paltalk and View2gether.
The biggest drawback to using a service like Watchitoo is the lack of content: it’s great to watch portions of a show or a Keyboard Cat video with a friend, but it might not be enough of a lure to keep users coming back.
It’s also worth noting that several earlier social viewing initiatives introduced by CBS and MTV with a few of their hottest shows never really seemed to take off.
But Mr. Zarom is spurred on by the popularity of recent social viewing events, like CNN’s pairing of Facebook status updates with the live stream of President Obama’s inauguration. He hopes to eventually integrate his service with Twitter and Facebook, and broaden the slate of content partners, currently limited to Photobucket and Yahoo for sharing images, and YouTube for watching videos.
Mr. Zarom also says that Watchitoo’s patent-pending technology allows for a synchronized, stutter-free streaming experience that sets the service apart from the pack.
The service is free, but the company plans eventually to offer premium features for a fee.
Watchitoo is backed by seed funding from Decima Ventures, an investment firm established by Mr. Zarom in 2001, when he sold his first company, a mobile Web start-up called Exalink, to Comverse for $550 million.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Long distance Rakhi celebrations
The custom of tying a sacred thread, embellished with lots of love and affection, by a sister on the hand her brother has prevailed since time
immemorial. As history has it, Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to Humayun, the Mughal Emperor, praying for protection against Bahadur Shah, an invader from Gujarat.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is dedicated to the love and affection shared between a brother and a sister. On this day, the sister ties a rakhi on the wrist of her brother, with this the brother promises to protect his sister from harm. In return, the sister prays for the well-being of her brother.
As tradition would have it, a brother sister duo should ideally take time out to celebrate the day together. But with today’s changing lifestyles and increasing distances, this festival has turned long distance as well. Apt rakhi cards, virtual rakhis and E-mails, leaving Rakhi wishes on each other’s Orkut and Facebook profiles are increasingly becoming popular.
Although most siblings still try and get together on this auspicious day, but sometimes it may be impossible. As Ridhi Kanwar, settled in the US, puts it, “I would love to meet my brother on this day, but how does one traverse the distances?”
But more than the gesture, it’s the sentiment which matters the most, affirms relationship expert Anu Goel. She says, “irrespective of distance and one's busy schedules, one can bond with their siblings if one is emotionally attached to them. You don’t need a day or a reason to express your love for your brother or sister. The feeling of affection comes from within and should not be saved for a particular day.”
Echoing similar views, Manish Jha, a Delhi-based banker adds, “my elder got married about ten years ago and shifted to Bhopal from Delhi. Ever since, we never had the opportunity to celebrate the festival together. Although she religiously couriers the rakhi every year on the occasion, we definitely miss out the celebration part associated with this festival. But nevertheless, our sentiments are still intact. She knows that I will be by her side whenever she needs me.”
So does distance really affect the brother-sister bond? We explore ways to make your sibling feel special on Rakhi, if you’re away -
Internet to the rescue
In an age of technology, the internet can play a vital role in diminishing physical distance and bring two individuals closer. Mahima Chawala, who is the manager of web/wap portal, has a unique style of celebrating Rakhi with her brother who is settled in Australia. “On every Raksha Bandhan, I mail a rakhi to my brother and we make it a point to celebrate the day by video chatting and sharing the virtual gifts through Twitters."
immemorial. As history has it, Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to Humayun, the Mughal Emperor, praying for protection against Bahadur Shah, an invader from Gujarat.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is dedicated to the love and affection shared between a brother and a sister. On this day, the sister ties a rakhi on the wrist of her brother, with this the brother promises to protect his sister from harm. In return, the sister prays for the well-being of her brother.
As tradition would have it, a brother sister duo should ideally take time out to celebrate the day together. But with today’s changing lifestyles and increasing distances, this festival has turned long distance as well. Apt rakhi cards, virtual rakhis and E-mails, leaving Rakhi wishes on each other’s Orkut and Facebook profiles are increasingly becoming popular.
Although most siblings still try and get together on this auspicious day, but sometimes it may be impossible. As Ridhi Kanwar, settled in the US, puts it, “I would love to meet my brother on this day, but how does one traverse the distances?”
But more than the gesture, it’s the sentiment which matters the most, affirms relationship expert Anu Goel. She says, “irrespective of distance and one's busy schedules, one can bond with their siblings if one is emotionally attached to them. You don’t need a day or a reason to express your love for your brother or sister. The feeling of affection comes from within and should not be saved for a particular day.”
Echoing similar views, Manish Jha, a Delhi-based banker adds, “my elder got married about ten years ago and shifted to Bhopal from Delhi. Ever since, we never had the opportunity to celebrate the festival together. Although she religiously couriers the rakhi every year on the occasion, we definitely miss out the celebration part associated with this festival. But nevertheless, our sentiments are still intact. She knows that I will be by her side whenever she needs me.”
So does distance really affect the brother-sister bond? We explore ways to make your sibling feel special on Rakhi, if you’re away -
Internet to the rescue
In an age of technology, the internet can play a vital role in diminishing physical distance and bring two individuals closer. Mahima Chawala, who is the manager of web/wap portal, has a unique style of celebrating Rakhi with her brother who is settled in Australia. “On every Raksha Bandhan, I mail a rakhi to my brother and we make it a point to celebrate the day by video chatting and sharing the virtual gifts through Twitters."
Saturday, August 1, 2009
VZOmobile Video Chat
Mobile video chat for Windows Mobile.
VZOMobile is a Videophone program for Windows Mobile. Mobile video call tool is easy to use and completely free. Allows you to make video calls to other communicators and to ordinary PC`s using the Internet connection. Register on VZOchat web site and use video chat in your own way. Your friends will be able to call you from VZOchat.com even if they are not registered on VZOchat. Also you can place web widget for video calls on your own web page. Functions: turning on/off camera and microphone in a conference, camera switching (before the conference) , an address book, Today screen and Outlook integration, selection of the Internet connection, automatic bitrate tuning to a real bandwidth of your Internet connection and low bitrate requirements. Changes: Improved interface and usability, settings were moved to main program, added extended support of a video capture rotation. Many new devices were supported. With this program you will be able to show the most important details of things that around you. Video calls are supported on phones with Windows Mobile 5 and 6.x. 400Mhz or better CPUs are recommended.
VZOmobile uses the same technology platform as VZOchat video service. It uses scalable distributed architecture that has a lot of servers around the world: America, Europe and Asia.
VZOMobile is a Videophone program for Windows Mobile. Mobile video call tool is easy to use and completely free. Allows you to make video calls to other communicators and to ordinary PC`s using the Internet connection. Register on VZOchat web site and use video chat in your own way. Your friends will be able to call you from VZOchat.com even if they are not registered on VZOchat. Also you can place web widget for video calls on your own web page. Functions: turning on/off camera and microphone in a conference, camera switching (before the conference) , an address book, Today screen and Outlook integration, selection of the Internet connection, automatic bitrate tuning to a real bandwidth of your Internet connection and low bitrate requirements. Changes: Improved interface and usability, settings were moved to main program, added extended support of a video capture rotation. Many new devices were supported. With this program you will be able to show the most important details of things that around you. Video calls are supported on phones with Windows Mobile 5 and 6.x. 400Mhz or better CPUs are recommended.
VZOmobile uses the same technology platform as VZOchat video service. It uses scalable distributed architecture that has a lot of servers around the world: America, Europe and Asia.
Friday, July 31, 2009
TinyChat Twitterfies Video Chatrooms
We’re big fans of TinyChat (TinyChat) (in fact we use it to power the Mashable Lounge). Their live broadcasting web-based platform enables anyone with a webcam to create video chatrooms with social integration.
Today they’re announcing some pretty big updates to the service that will not only improve function, but also enhance their feature set. The freshly released updates will let users better control their own live show, benefit from better video quality, private message other chatters, and have access to the previously Mashable (Mashable)-only feature that can give your chat room a big boost — tweet your chat.
If you’re unfamiliar with TinyChat, it’s a live broadcasting and video conferencing service that pre-dates the new live video for Twitter (Twitter) services (think TwitCam (Twitcam)), and allows multiple users to do live video chat, invite others to view and participate in the chatroom, and record and download sessions (for pro users).
TinyChat’s has just pushed out a few new goodies, including two new commands/options that give room owners even more control over their broadcasts. The newly implemented changes mean you can control who can come on or off camera during your broadcast, and assign room owner controls to other users. The end result is that you can now manage a dynamic live show with very little effort.
Today they’re announcing some pretty big updates to the service that will not only improve function, but also enhance their feature set. The freshly released updates will let users better control their own live show, benefit from better video quality, private message other chatters, and have access to the previously Mashable (Mashable)-only feature that can give your chat room a big boost — tweet your chat.
If you’re unfamiliar with TinyChat, it’s a live broadcasting and video conferencing service that pre-dates the new live video for Twitter (Twitter) services (think TwitCam (Twitcam)), and allows multiple users to do live video chat, invite others to view and participate in the chatroom, and record and download sessions (for pro users).
TinyChat’s has just pushed out a few new goodies, including two new commands/options that give room owners even more control over their broadcasts. The newly implemented changes mean you can control who can come on or off camera during your broadcast, and assign room owner controls to other users. The end result is that you can now manage a dynamic live show with very little effort.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
LG Mobiles rolls out a new GB210, GB270 and KP265 phones in India
Indian mobile enthusiasts can gear up for the latest mobile phones by LG. The company’s latest launches include the novel GB210, GB270 and KP265 handsets. A distinct combination of communication and productivity, this new range of phones offer to literally get the entire world in a user’s pocket, right at their fingertips.
The new mobile phones are modeled keeping in mind luxury and intelligence. With fashionable looks and in attractive designs, the handsets should be convenient for everyday use as well. They aim to take the stylish Indian mobile users mobile experience to new levels.
“Our new range of mobile phones will continue to deliver superior experiences with its innovative designs, features and also the affordable price range. With these launches, we aim to strengthen the bond with our consumers and also reach out to those who love to stay connected to their peers and desires a phone with good looks,” shared Anil Arora, Business Group Marketing Head, Mobile Communication, LG Electronics Pvt Ltd.
The LG GB270 boasts of being one phone with two different styles. The handset includes a changeable design cover and themes that allow users to enjoy a business plus casual look with the phone. Featuring a dual GUI theme, each time users’ choose to change the cover; a pop-up option lets them decide among the Business or Casual theme. Users can also to Sketch, Engrave or Emboss their photos captured with the phone’s smart VGA camera. The phone additionally includes the option of recording or putting on alarm their favorite Radio Stations thanks to scheduled FM Recording & FM Alarm feature. It sports a 2.0” inch LCD screen, 1,000 mAh battery, call Conversation Recording and memory of up to 2GB. The free changeable cover is accompanied by a 1GB card.
Upping the style quotient is the LG KP265 phone. Adorning a stylish Slider form factor, the device is dressed in an eye-catching red silver and black color combination. It is equipped with a 1.3 MP camera featuring 4x zoom and continuous video recording. Packed with an MP3 player with equalizers, the handset also includes Scheduled SMS, Bluetooth 2.0 with an option of sending free messages using Bluetooth Messaging, Wireless Music with A2DP and large frontal speakers that have 21 sound levels. Boasting of an array of data applications and games, it comes with a free 1GB card inbox.
The new mobile phones are modeled keeping in mind luxury and intelligence. With fashionable looks and in attractive designs, the handsets should be convenient for everyday use as well. They aim to take the stylish Indian mobile users mobile experience to new levels.
“Our new range of mobile phones will continue to deliver superior experiences with its innovative designs, features and also the affordable price range. With these launches, we aim to strengthen the bond with our consumers and also reach out to those who love to stay connected to their peers and desires a phone with good looks,” shared Anil Arora, Business Group Marketing Head, Mobile Communication, LG Electronics Pvt Ltd.
The LG GB270 boasts of being one phone with two different styles. The handset includes a changeable design cover and themes that allow users to enjoy a business plus casual look with the phone. Featuring a dual GUI theme, each time users’ choose to change the cover; a pop-up option lets them decide among the Business or Casual theme. Users can also to Sketch, Engrave or Emboss their photos captured with the phone’s smart VGA camera. The phone additionally includes the option of recording or putting on alarm their favorite Radio Stations thanks to scheduled FM Recording & FM Alarm feature. It sports a 2.0” inch LCD screen, 1,000 mAh battery, call Conversation Recording and memory of up to 2GB. The free changeable cover is accompanied by a 1GB card.
Upping the style quotient is the LG KP265 phone. Adorning a stylish Slider form factor, the device is dressed in an eye-catching red silver and black color combination. It is equipped with a 1.3 MP camera featuring 4x zoom and continuous video recording. Packed with an MP3 player with equalizers, the handset also includes Scheduled SMS, Bluetooth 2.0 with an option of sending free messages using Bluetooth Messaging, Wireless Music with A2DP and large frontal speakers that have 21 sound levels. Boasting of an array of data applications and games, it comes with a free 1GB card inbox.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Video chat away from home
Q. I have a 90-year-old aunt in Brooklyn whose 84-year-old brother lives in Portland, Ore. Although they talk on the phone, they are both unable to travel and haven’t seen each other for years. It occurred to me that they could talk over a Skype video chat and at least see each other. My uncle has an Internet-connected computer with access to a webcam, but even though she’s used them before, my aunt doesn’t own a computer. Is there an easy way to set her up, say at an Internet cafe?
A. Finding an Internet cafe or computer-rental place like FedEx Office (or any place that has webcams and the Skype program for Internet phone calls and video chat) is one option to explore. Even just finding a computer with a working webcam at one of these places is a start — most free instant-messenger programs (AIM, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, etc.) can now handle basic video chat and at least one of the programs is probably installed already. Gmail also offers video chat at bit.ly/UmAs.
It’s also possible to have Skype video chats without a computer, although it may mean investing a few hundred dollars in equipment and finding a network connection to borrow or rent. The Asus Eee Videophone AiGuru SV1 has a 7-inch color screen and can make free Skype-to-Skype audio and video calls over a wired Ethernet or wireless network connection. The videophone costs around $260; more information and a demo video are at skype.com/allfeatures/videophones.
If your aunt is interested in getting an inexpensive computer, a netbook with a built-in webcam is another option. It won’t win any prizes for fluid video, but a Windows-based netbook with a 10- or 12-inch screen is usually less than $400 and can run Skype and popular instant messaging programs. At less than three pounds, most netbooks are light enough to tote easily to Internet cafes or places that rent computer and network access by the hour.
Personal Tech invites questions about computer-based technology, by e-mail to QandA@nytimes.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.
Source: NYT
A. Finding an Internet cafe or computer-rental place like FedEx Office (or any place that has webcams and the Skype program for Internet phone calls and video chat) is one option to explore. Even just finding a computer with a working webcam at one of these places is a start — most free instant-messenger programs (AIM, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, etc.) can now handle basic video chat and at least one of the programs is probably installed already. Gmail also offers video chat at bit.ly/UmAs.
It’s also possible to have Skype video chats without a computer, although it may mean investing a few hundred dollars in equipment and finding a network connection to borrow or rent. The Asus Eee Videophone AiGuru SV1 has a 7-inch color screen and can make free Skype-to-Skype audio and video calls over a wired Ethernet or wireless network connection. The videophone costs around $260; more information and a demo video are at skype.com/allfeatures/videophones.
If your aunt is interested in getting an inexpensive computer, a netbook with a built-in webcam is another option. It won’t win any prizes for fluid video, but a Windows-based netbook with a 10- or 12-inch screen is usually less than $400 and can run Skype and popular instant messaging programs. At less than three pounds, most netbooks are light enough to tote easily to Internet cafes or places that rent computer and network access by the hour.
Personal Tech invites questions about computer-based technology, by e-mail to QandA@nytimes.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.
Source: NYT
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Cisco to introduce video-chat feature for televisions
Cisco Systems, facing waning demand for networking equipment from businesses, is working with phone and cable carriers on products and services that let consumers hold video conferences through their televisions.
The offerings, which build on Cisco's TelePresence corporate-video conferencing system, will debut within 12 months. In addition to holding video chats, users will also be able to exchange messages and leave videos for friends, said Ned Hooper, head of the consumer business at Cisco.
Cisco, the largest maker of networking gear, is accelerating its push into the consumer market. In May, the company bought Pure Digital Technologies, maker of the Flip video camera, for $590 million. Cisco plans to use software from that company to expand in the market for home-networking gear, camcorders and video applications, which will grow 50 percent to $60 billion by 2013, Hooper said.
"There's a big opportunity for us," Hooper, 42, said in an interview. "You will start to see very big growth numbers on top of the base consumer business we report every quarter."
Increased use of video would also benefit Cisco's main business of selling routers and switches that direct Web traffic. Slowing demand in that business has resulted in back- to-back sales drops at Cisco in the past two quarters. Video, which Chief Executive John Chambers has called "the killer app," needs more bandwidth than voice and data, pushing service providers and consumers to buy more gear to accommodate the bigger loads.
Internet traffic will grow fourfold by 2013 as video consumption increases, Cisco said last month. Video now accounts for a third of consumer Web traffic and will jump to 91 percent by 2013, Cisco said.
"The consumer market is very critical to Cisco," said Erik Suppiger, an analyst at Signal Hill Capital Group in San Francisco. "Enabling consumer devices to connect to the Internet is more strategic for Cisco than being a provider of the device itself." Suppiger rates Cisco shares "hold" and doesn't own any.
The consumer TelePresence products will integrate software from Pure Digital, Hooper said. The Flip software automatically uploads video to the Web when users plug the camera into a personal computer's USB drive. Hooper, who also runs Cisco's mergers and acquisitions team, said Cisco may provide a product that includes a camera and allows two-way video conversations.
While Pure Digital had sold more than 2 million Flip cameras, Cisco bought the closely held company mostly for the software, Hooper said. Cisco will focus less on delivering devices and more on helping customers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications offer video conferencing to consumers, he said.
Verizon's FiOS television and Internet services can already deliver video chat on televisions, said Eric Rabe, a spokesman for the New York-based company. "We think there's some great potential there," Rabe said. "It's certainly something we're interested in."
AT&T, based in Dallas, is also studying video chat, spokesman Fletcher Cook said. Both AT&T and Verizon declined to say whether they are working with Cisco and said they aren't ready to announce a service.
Cisco may struggle to challenge services such as eBay's Skype, said Jayanth Angl, a Toronto-based analyst with Info-Tech Research Group. Skype, which lets people make voice and video calls from their computers, has more than 443 million users and increased its revenue 21 percent in the first quarter.
Cisco will also face competition from consumer brands such as Apple, which offers videoconferencing through its iChat service, and Google, whose Gmail program includes video chat.
By Rochelle Garner
Bloomberg News
The offerings, which build on Cisco's TelePresence corporate-video conferencing system, will debut within 12 months. In addition to holding video chats, users will also be able to exchange messages and leave videos for friends, said Ned Hooper, head of the consumer business at Cisco.
Cisco, the largest maker of networking gear, is accelerating its push into the consumer market. In May, the company bought Pure Digital Technologies, maker of the Flip video camera, for $590 million. Cisco plans to use software from that company to expand in the market for home-networking gear, camcorders and video applications, which will grow 50 percent to $60 billion by 2013, Hooper said.
"There's a big opportunity for us," Hooper, 42, said in an interview. "You will start to see very big growth numbers on top of the base consumer business we report every quarter."
Increased use of video would also benefit Cisco's main business of selling routers and switches that direct Web traffic. Slowing demand in that business has resulted in back- to-back sales drops at Cisco in the past two quarters. Video, which Chief Executive John Chambers has called "the killer app," needs more bandwidth than voice and data, pushing service providers and consumers to buy more gear to accommodate the bigger loads.
Internet traffic will grow fourfold by 2013 as video consumption increases, Cisco said last month. Video now accounts for a third of consumer Web traffic and will jump to 91 percent by 2013, Cisco said.
"The consumer market is very critical to Cisco," said Erik Suppiger, an analyst at Signal Hill Capital Group in San Francisco. "Enabling consumer devices to connect to the Internet is more strategic for Cisco than being a provider of the device itself." Suppiger rates Cisco shares "hold" and doesn't own any.
The consumer TelePresence products will integrate software from Pure Digital, Hooper said. The Flip software automatically uploads video to the Web when users plug the camera into a personal computer's USB drive. Hooper, who also runs Cisco's mergers and acquisitions team, said Cisco may provide a product that includes a camera and allows two-way video conversations.
While Pure Digital had sold more than 2 million Flip cameras, Cisco bought the closely held company mostly for the software, Hooper said. Cisco will focus less on delivering devices and more on helping customers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications offer video conferencing to consumers, he said.
Verizon's FiOS television and Internet services can already deliver video chat on televisions, said Eric Rabe, a spokesman for the New York-based company. "We think there's some great potential there," Rabe said. "It's certainly something we're interested in."
AT&T, based in Dallas, is also studying video chat, spokesman Fletcher Cook said. Both AT&T and Verizon declined to say whether they are working with Cisco and said they aren't ready to announce a service.
Cisco may struggle to challenge services such as eBay's Skype, said Jayanth Angl, a Toronto-based analyst with Info-Tech Research Group. Skype, which lets people make voice and video calls from their computers, has more than 443 million users and increased its revenue 21 percent in the first quarter.
Cisco will also face competition from consumer brands such as Apple, which offers videoconferencing through its iChat service, and Google, whose Gmail program includes video chat.
By Rochelle Garner
Bloomberg News
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Video chat startup TokBox fires half its engineers
San Francisco video chat startup TokBox has cut six of its 12 engineers, and the last of the company’s founders has left, a company spokesman has confirmed.
The terminations were not “layoffs,” and the company immediately posted eight job listings in operations, engineering and product development, said Tom Suiter, a Grow Marketing representative speaking on behalf of the company.
The staff changes, reported earlier by online technology news site TechCrunch, were part of strategic overhaul of TokBox by new CEO Ian Small, Suiter said.
TokBox is advertising for eight positions in engineering and product development. Efforts to get comment from the company were unsuccessful.
TokBox offers a product that allows for multi-user video chat from a browser, but it hasn’t really managed to take off, much to the chagrin of the company’s investors who include Sequoia and Bain Capital. TokBox has raised $14 million to date, a lot of money for a video and chat startup, especially when similar sites have begun offering some of the same functionality.
Small is the company’s third CEO. Founder Serge Faguet was replaced by Nick Triantos last July, who in turn was replaced in May by Small, a former Mark Logic exec, according to TechCrunch.
TokBox’s last remaining co-founder, CTO Ron Hose, left the company in May to pursue other opportunities, Suiter said.
Source: San Francisco Business Times
The terminations were not “layoffs,” and the company immediately posted eight job listings in operations, engineering and product development, said Tom Suiter, a Grow Marketing representative speaking on behalf of the company.
The staff changes, reported earlier by online technology news site TechCrunch, were part of strategic overhaul of TokBox by new CEO Ian Small, Suiter said.
TokBox is advertising for eight positions in engineering and product development. Efforts to get comment from the company were unsuccessful.
TokBox offers a product that allows for multi-user video chat from a browser, but it hasn’t really managed to take off, much to the chagrin of the company’s investors who include Sequoia and Bain Capital. TokBox has raised $14 million to date, a lot of money for a video and chat startup, especially when similar sites have begun offering some of the same functionality.
Small is the company’s third CEO. Founder Serge Faguet was replaced by Nick Triantos last July, who in turn was replaced in May by Small, a former Mark Logic exec, according to TechCrunch.
TokBox’s last remaining co-founder, CTO Ron Hose, left the company in May to pursue other opportunities, Suiter said.
Source: San Francisco Business Times
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tweeting, video chatting atop North America
MOUNT EVANS, Colo.--It's the first day of summer, and I'm driving through a snowstorm.I'm here, on the highest paved road in North America, and my fingers are numb from the cold. But I'm online, and I have to say, that's pretty cool.
This was supposed to be a live-blog, but circumstances got in the way. More on that later.
I drove to just below the summit of 14,264-foot Mount Evans (see video below, with audio affected by heavy wind) on Sunday, the first official day of Road Trip 2009, my journey through the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains of the United States.
I got online via Inmarsat's BGAN mobile satellite modem, which, when pointed in the right direction, gets a pretty good signal. Good enough, in fact, that I was able to video chat with my wife and a friend. They said it was the "coolest thing ever." I don't know about that, but it is pretty sweet.
I tweeted from the top, as well, but I wasn't able to live-blog. It was quite cold, the wind was fierce, and I was sitting precariously on some rather uncomfortable rocks at the very top. I'd also hoped to take the Internet signal from the BGAN and share it via the MacBook Pro I'm using with the iPod Touch I've got with me. But for some reason, the Touch couldn't get online, even though it could see the signal coming from the Mac. I blame the rather extreme conditions.
Regardless of a few technical snafus, however, this was a pretty successful venture. As I perched atop North America, live-chatting with my wife and my friend, several people scrambled up to the top, saw me sitting there with my computer and the BGAN, and asked what I was doing. And that felt good.
But what felt even better was being able to pick up the computer while on the video link with my wife and moving it around so that she could see where I was. She can't be with me right now, but in this small way, I was able to bring her along.
by Daniel Terdiman
Source: CNET
Monday, June 8, 2009
LG Touch Watch Phone
A tiny video chat-enabled phone is just too coolPardon me, will you? I think my wrist is ringing.
Even if you're not old enough to remember comic strip cop Dick Tracy's two-way wrist radio, there's something about combining a phone with a wristwatch that seizes the imagination and doesn't let go. Surely flying cars and robot butlers can't be far behind.
But even Dick Tracy -- or for that matter, James Bond -- would probably be dazzled by the LG Touch Watch Phone, which not only functions as a mobile phone, music player and simple organizer, but can be used for face-to-face video calls. Can you see me now? Good.
It's the first device of its kind to meld all these functions into something that can be worn on the wrist, with a simple, intuitive touchscreen display. Now, we just have to hope it comes to Canada sooner rather than later, at a price that won't break gadget-lusting consumers' bank accounts -- and hearts.
"If we had full control over this, we'd like to see this priced for the masses," said Frank Lee, public affairs manager for LG Electronics Canada. The 3G-capable Touch Watch Phone will debut this July in the U.K. -- Europe always gets the cool stuff first -- but LG is in talks with Canadian mobile phone carriers and hopes to launch the device here sometime late this year or in early 2010.
We had a chance to go hands-on with the Touch Watch Phone this week and came away impressed. While it's certainly larger than the average wristwatch -- about 1.4 cm-thick, with a 3.6-cm screen that occupies most of the watch's face -- it doesn't feel uncomfortable or obtrusive on the wrist.
By default, the touchscreen shows one of several watch face layouts that users can switch between at will, ranging from traditional analog timepieces to artsy digital designs. Most of the Watch Phone's functions are accessed either through a set of three buttons on the side or by swiping a finger across the touchscreen to flip through virtual menu pages.
While it's possible -- and probably more sensible -- to use the Touch Watch Phone with a Bluetooth headset, especially since it supports voice-activated dialing, I couldn't resist making some test calls with the watch alone. The video calling functions weren't enabled on this prototype, but that's just as well . . . when I took a few test pictures with the built-in camera, I was a bit horrified by the unflattering angle that results from holding the watch at a natural chin height.
The voice quality on the calls was great, though, even if it meant enduring stares from passers-by wondering why I was talking into my wrist and grinning like an idiot. They were probably just jealous, right?
Hey, you'd be surprised. At the recent LG Innovators' Ball in Toronto, Lee was approached by a man who spotted the Touch Watch Phone on Lee's wrist. Lee explained that it wasn't on the market yet, and the man asked how much the one he was wearing was worth.
"I said, 'Well these are the working prototypes. As a research and development sample, they're a hundred grand each,' " Lee recalled. "And he goes, 'I'll take it.' "
Needless to say, Lee was in no position to sell the company's prototypes. But it does show how certain gadgets can skirt around our cynical "been there, seen that" attitude towards technology, and make us simply say: "I want it."
So hands off, Dick Tracy. I'm calling dibs on this one.
By STEVE TILLEY
Source: Canoe.ca
Saturday, June 6, 2009
iPhone spy photo reveals forward-facing camera
The folks at iSpazio have posted a spy photo taken recently showing what they claim is the next-generation iPhone--with a forward-facing camera. Rumors about a future iPhone having this ability along with a video version of iChat have been circulating in recent months.The rumors are more than likely the direct result of an Apple patent that was granted this past spring, which is one that could make this rumor a reality--but that does not mean much. Just like any patent there are features that may never see the light of day.
If the spy photo is the new iPhone, that forward-facing camera and video iChat would be a big surprise, especially if you consider how particular AT&T has been about apps like SlingPlayer with the potential to hog bandwidth on its network. AT&T says it has been working diligently to deliver a better and faster performing 3G network--so maybe we will have video conferencing on the go soon.
What do you think about being able to video chat on the iPhone? Will this iPhone be called the iPhone Video? Any ideas about what the rest of the sign says in the spy photo? Let us know in the comments.
by David Martin
Source: Cnet
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Dad Serving in Iraq Watches Baby's Birth through Video Chat
Technology brings a Lancaster County family together. Today, Allison Cuthie sat in her hospital bed at LGH’s Women and Babies Hospital. Cuthie had her 2-year-old twin girls on her lap, her baby girl, born Tuesday to her left, and her husband to her right, participating via video conference.Cuthie’s husband, Robert, is a Military Captain who has been serving in Iraq since January. He was able to witness the birth of his newborn through video chat. Today, he joined his family again and got to see his twin toddlers for the first time in about 5 months.
Allison says she appreciated the video conference more than she had originally anticipated.
“I could take it or leave it, I though, before hand, but when everything was going on, it was so neat to have him here. And even at this point with him being able to see the girls makes me feel better knowing they get to see him and he gets to see them,” explains Cuthie.
The video conference is possible through the non-profit organization “Freedom Calls”, meant to help soldiers virtually participate in family events, while deployed in a different country.
Copyright 2009 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
By Jenni Joyce
Source: whyptv.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Keeping in touch with family and friends on vacation
When gearing up for a long, arduous vacation, it's nice to know that you'll be able to keep in touch with friends and family from back home. Here's a few different ways of contacting your loved ones while abroad:- Facebook and MySpace - By using online profile sharing, you can easily update your friends and family on what's going on via status updates, new photos and wall posts.
- Instant Messaging - IMing is a great way to keep in touch without running up the phone bill. This allows for quick conversations online, and you don't even need to download a new program. Many online profile sharing websites, such as Facebook, have incorporated their own IMing system. However, using AIM, MSN and Yahoo messengers allow you to video chat as well.
- Video Chatting - Video chatting is a great use of technology to help relatives and friends contact each other without having to type conversations back and forth. For video chatting, it is recommended to use either AIM, Yahoo messenger, or Skype.
- E-Mailing - Like sending a letter, e-mails are written documents that are sent over the internet. This is a great way to keep in touch with relatives and friends, and provides an easy way to receive important information without waiting for a letter or phone call.
- Buy a phone card - Phone cards come in handy when trying to make local and long distance calls while abroad. You can prepay for a phone card and get a certain number of minutes, so that you're never alone and left without a way to contact others.
- Turn on the global calling option of your cell phone - Most new cell phones nowadays, especially PDAs (iPhones, BlackBerrys, etc), come with the option to turn on global calling or not. This will run-up your cell phone bill very efficiently, but is a good tool to have for emergencies.
- Send a letter - By far the most obsolete and primitive form of contact, sending a letter is almost like sending an e-mail, except much slower. This outdated form of communication may take longer than your trip, so try e-mailing before sending a letter.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
CBS News to Let a Web Site Pick Up Its Live Coverage
Seeking a younger audience more accustomed to watching the news on the Internet than on television, CBS News said Monday that it had joined with a live video Web site to simulcast its newscasts and special reports.
The Web site, Ustream, will show the “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric,” breaking news coverage and unfiltered news conferences and speeches. While CBSNews.com already shows many of those live streams, the news division says it hopes to expand its audience by providing video to third-party Web sites.
As their television audiences have stagnated, news providers have tried to connect with younger consumers on the Internet.
Reaction has been tepid to some efforts by networks in recent years, like afternoon Web-only newscasts. But some of Ms. Couric’s online efforts, including a YouTube channel and a Twitter feed, have been well-received.
CBS, which has tried mightily to make inroads as a top news destination on the Web, hopes it can make a dent by working with Ustream, which makes the video more interactive by allowing users to chat beside the live coverage and embed the video player on other sites.
“What we’ve realized is that, as opposed to just keeping all your content on your own Web site in a proprietary manner, we are better off pushing our own news content to as many sources as we can,” Sean McManus, the president of CBS News, said.
Mr. McManus added an important caveat: revenue. Media companies are increasingly willing to spread their video far and wide, but usually only if advertisements are attached. CBS said it would sell the ads on Ustream.
Local affiliates have expressed concern in the past about Internet simulcasts of network shows, but CBS has streamed the “Evening News” since 2006. On television, the newscast remains in third place behind competing offerings on NBC and ABC. In mid-May, the program averaged 5.4 million viewers daily, holding steady from that period last year.
CBS News’s Internet sites were visited by 10.8 million people in April, according to Nielsen Online, up 9 percent from April 2008 but paling in comparison to news sites owned by MSNBC, Yahoo and CNN, which each draw 35 million to 40 million visitors a month.
By BRIAN STELTER
Source: NY Times
The Web site, Ustream, will show the “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric,” breaking news coverage and unfiltered news conferences and speeches. While CBSNews.com already shows many of those live streams, the news division says it hopes to expand its audience by providing video to third-party Web sites.
As their television audiences have stagnated, news providers have tried to connect with younger consumers on the Internet.
Reaction has been tepid to some efforts by networks in recent years, like afternoon Web-only newscasts. But some of Ms. Couric’s online efforts, including a YouTube channel and a Twitter feed, have been well-received.
CBS, which has tried mightily to make inroads as a top news destination on the Web, hopes it can make a dent by working with Ustream, which makes the video more interactive by allowing users to chat beside the live coverage and embed the video player on other sites.
“What we’ve realized is that, as opposed to just keeping all your content on your own Web site in a proprietary manner, we are better off pushing our own news content to as many sources as we can,” Sean McManus, the president of CBS News, said.
Mr. McManus added an important caveat: revenue. Media companies are increasingly willing to spread their video far and wide, but usually only if advertisements are attached. CBS said it would sell the ads on Ustream.
Local affiliates have expressed concern in the past about Internet simulcasts of network shows, but CBS has streamed the “Evening News” since 2006. On television, the newscast remains in third place behind competing offerings on NBC and ABC. In mid-May, the program averaged 5.4 million viewers daily, holding steady from that period last year.
CBS News’s Internet sites were visited by 10.8 million people in April, according to Nielsen Online, up 9 percent from April 2008 but paling in comparison to news sites owned by MSNBC, Yahoo and CNN, which each draw 35 million to 40 million visitors a month.
By BRIAN STELTER
Source: NY Times
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Rumor: Video Chat Coming to iPhone 3.0?
Live video iChat on the iPhone may be something we would expect from Apple, but is the timing and technology ripe for this functionality to come out this summer? Some reports are reading into AT&T network upgrades to 7.2 Mbps as a sign that they are bracing for more bandwidth demands from their iPhone subscriber base, and that one of those demands could be live video chat.
The longer AT&T can deliver what Apple needs for its hardware, the longer the company stands to profit from an exclusive arrangement to offer the iPhone on its network. Other leaks and data that point in the direction of a front facing camera on the next generation iPhone have also surfaced.
The new "4G" black bezel design moves the speaker up much closer to the top edge of the device. This leaves much more space between the display screen and the speaker for sensors or a front-facing camera on the new model.
Past rumors from China had wholesale suppliers delivering two different resolution cameras to Apple. The two camera models could be destined for different devices (such as the rumored iPod Nano camera and the iPhone). The alternative is much more interesting. Two cameras in one iPhone 3.0 facing in two directions.
Realistically, the bandwidth requirements of millions of iChat video users, along with iTunes video renters and purchasers, make this prospect unlikely until the wide release of faster LTE wireless network technology in 2011.
It is widely known that the iPhone 3.0 will feature the 802.11N Broadcom BCM4329 Wi-Fi chip, making possible wireless downloads of up to four times the speed of 802.11G. To save bandwidth for carriers, it's likely that Apple will restrict iTunes video downloading to iPhones that are connected via Wi-FI.
Could it be that video iChat on the iPhone would also be a restricted Wi-Fi only application? Although the capability would be impressive, without a serious battery upgrade video chatting would even further tax the built in power limitations.
Also curious that developers using iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5 have not uncovered any hidden video communication code or apps, whereas they have uncovered video editing and sending capabilities. Of course this doesn't exclude the possibility that 3rd party developers could distribute such a product on the AppStore.
It's a matter of time until videoconferencing on mobile devices is ubiquitous. Until we hear an official announcement from Apple we'll keep our fingers crossed, but we won't hold our breath.
By Bob Bhatnagar
Source: iPhone FAQ
The longer AT&T can deliver what Apple needs for its hardware, the longer the company stands to profit from an exclusive arrangement to offer the iPhone on its network. Other leaks and data that point in the direction of a front facing camera on the next generation iPhone have also surfaced.
The new "4G" black bezel design moves the speaker up much closer to the top edge of the device. This leaves much more space between the display screen and the speaker for sensors or a front-facing camera on the new model.
Past rumors from China had wholesale suppliers delivering two different resolution cameras to Apple. The two camera models could be destined for different devices (such as the rumored iPod Nano camera and the iPhone). The alternative is much more interesting. Two cameras in one iPhone 3.0 facing in two directions.
Realistically, the bandwidth requirements of millions of iChat video users, along with iTunes video renters and purchasers, make this prospect unlikely until the wide release of faster LTE wireless network technology in 2011.
It is widely known that the iPhone 3.0 will feature the 802.11N Broadcom BCM4329 Wi-Fi chip, making possible wireless downloads of up to four times the speed of 802.11G. To save bandwidth for carriers, it's likely that Apple will restrict iTunes video downloading to iPhones that are connected via Wi-FI.
Could it be that video iChat on the iPhone would also be a restricted Wi-Fi only application? Although the capability would be impressive, without a serious battery upgrade video chatting would even further tax the built in power limitations.
Also curious that developers using iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5 have not uncovered any hidden video communication code or apps, whereas they have uncovered video editing and sending capabilities. Of course this doesn't exclude the possibility that 3rd party developers could distribute such a product on the AppStore.
It's a matter of time until videoconferencing on mobile devices is ubiquitous. Until we hear an official announcement from Apple we'll keep our fingers crossed, but we won't hold our breath.
By Bob Bhatnagar
Source: iPhone FAQ
Thursday, May 28, 2009
AT&T's faster 3G network could signal video chat coming with new iPhone
Faster data speeds would be welcomed regardless of video, however
If the next iPhone model supports video chat, as some rumors say it will, AT&T Inc.'s plan to expand to a faster wireless network called HSPA 7.2 later in the year would enrich the experience of iPhone users who take advantage of that feature.
And even if video chat is not coming in the expected July release of the next-generation iPhone, faster network speeds with the 3G upgrade would still be welcome news.
An AT&T spokeswoman wouldn't comment today about whether the new iPhone would offer HSPA 7.2 support, although she said "multiple" HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones will be introduced later in 2009. AT&T is the exclusive carrier for Apple Inc.'s iPhone in the U.S.
Some analysts said that they believe AT&T's HSPA 7.2 plans are part of a general trend among wireless carriers to support smartphone wireless traffic of all kinds, and don't necessarily make room for video chat. But it's inevitable that video streaming will keep growing, even if the video isn't real-time and moving in two directions, as is the case with video chat.
"Smartphones are growing like crazy, and the networks are rushing like crazy to upgrade to meet the choking demand," said independent analyst Jeffrey Kagan.
Some analysts said they don't believe a video chat feature on the next iPhone would be used very much. However, based on the usage trends of some other phones with that capability, Cisco Systems Inc. and Polycom Inc. are expecting a burgeoning market for wireless video chat on handhelds.
One CIO who supports a large college IT infrastructure endorsed the concept of video chat on the iPhone. "One feature I would love to have [in the next iPhone] is two-way videoconferencing," said Jorge Mata, CIO for the Los Angeles Community College District, by e-mail.
"You would have a small kickstand in the back of the device and you could set it down on a table and have a videoconference (Skype-like) with others," he wrote. "That would be great for collaboration, especially if it ties into enterprise unified messaging systems."
If the theoretical speed of HSPA is 7.2Mbit/sec., as AT&T says, the new network would help video chat, but it's not clear whether that speed is sufficient for a quality video chat experience, especially if there are many users on a single cell tower.
Earlier this year, Polycom CEO Robert Hagerty described ways that his company has enabled videoconferencing via a Palm Inc. handheld with Ericsson networking in Italy, although he didn't reveal the network speed. He said Polycom's technology supports high-quality laptop videoconferencing inside airports over Wi-Fi, which tops out at 54Mbit/sec. for 802.11g wireless networks.
So Wi-Fi will still be faster than HSPA 7.2 by far, although AT&T also touts its prowess in that realm, boasting that it supports 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots. Publicly, the question of whether AT&T is getting ready for video chat is still a subject of speculation, but realistically it's probably a matter of when, not if, the carrier will support that capability.
By Matt Hamblen
Source: Computer World
If the next iPhone model supports video chat, as some rumors say it will, AT&T Inc.'s plan to expand to a faster wireless network called HSPA 7.2 later in the year would enrich the experience of iPhone users who take advantage of that feature.
And even if video chat is not coming in the expected July release of the next-generation iPhone, faster network speeds with the 3G upgrade would still be welcome news.
An AT&T spokeswoman wouldn't comment today about whether the new iPhone would offer HSPA 7.2 support, although she said "multiple" HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones will be introduced later in 2009. AT&T is the exclusive carrier for Apple Inc.'s iPhone in the U.S.
Some analysts said that they believe AT&T's HSPA 7.2 plans are part of a general trend among wireless carriers to support smartphone wireless traffic of all kinds, and don't necessarily make room for video chat. But it's inevitable that video streaming will keep growing, even if the video isn't real-time and moving in two directions, as is the case with video chat.
"Smartphones are growing like crazy, and the networks are rushing like crazy to upgrade to meet the choking demand," said independent analyst Jeffrey Kagan.
Some analysts said they don't believe a video chat feature on the next iPhone would be used very much. However, based on the usage trends of some other phones with that capability, Cisco Systems Inc. and Polycom Inc. are expecting a burgeoning market for wireless video chat on handhelds.
One CIO who supports a large college IT infrastructure endorsed the concept of video chat on the iPhone. "One feature I would love to have [in the next iPhone] is two-way videoconferencing," said Jorge Mata, CIO for the Los Angeles Community College District, by e-mail.
"You would have a small kickstand in the back of the device and you could set it down on a table and have a videoconference (Skype-like) with others," he wrote. "That would be great for collaboration, especially if it ties into enterprise unified messaging systems."
If the theoretical speed of HSPA is 7.2Mbit/sec., as AT&T says, the new network would help video chat, but it's not clear whether that speed is sufficient for a quality video chat experience, especially if there are many users on a single cell tower.
Earlier this year, Polycom CEO Robert Hagerty described ways that his company has enabled videoconferencing via a Palm Inc. handheld with Ericsson networking in Italy, although he didn't reveal the network speed. He said Polycom's technology supports high-quality laptop videoconferencing inside airports over Wi-Fi, which tops out at 54Mbit/sec. for 802.11g wireless networks.
So Wi-Fi will still be faster than HSPA 7.2 by far, although AT&T also touts its prowess in that realm, boasting that it supports 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots. Publicly, the question of whether AT&T is getting ready for video chat is still a subject of speculation, but realistically it's probably a matter of when, not if, the carrier will support that capability.
By Matt Hamblen
Source: Computer World
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Will the next iPhone have iVideo?
Cisco, others want to offer mobile video chat, so why not Apple?
The new iPhone hardware expected to ship this summer from Apple Inc. is rumored to have a video chat capability supported by MMS, among other new features.
Today's roundup of rumors and speculation about the upcoming iPhone hardware also suggest that there will be a 32GB model, a boost from the current 8GB and 16GB models.
But the reports raise questions about why the iPhone doesn't have an expansion card slot for unlimited storage capability, especially if users will be storing massive amounts of video from video chats, video streams off YouTube or other places.
Whether the iPhone will support video chat, or some version of real-time videoconferencing, was a big concern of some developers and analysts at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last year. Some expressed disappointment that various video features were not included in the iPhone 3G.
In March, Apple said the new iPhone 3.0 software would support MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service, along with 100 other new features such as cut-and-paste and stereo Bluetooth.
The MMS software reports indicate to some observers that the next iPhone (due out July 17, according to some speculation) could support iPhone video chat, which would be possible with a good camera and microphone and a fast wireless connection.
Kevin Burden, an analyst at ABI Research, said the question of the camera for video chat is not a trivial one, since Apple might need to have two cameras, one to face the user and one to face what a user might want to record in the distance. That issue has been a major concern of some manufacturers, including Nokia and Samsung, which have installed two camera lenses on a single phone, one on either side.
But it is questionable how high a priority video chat will be for Apple. "Our research shows that use of video chatting on existing devices is pretty darn small," said Ramon Llamos, an analyst at research firm IDC.
"Certainly video chat will be big for certain groups, but for the majority of people, that's not something you seek out and buy with a new phone," Burden said. "For the most part, that feature goes unused." He added that the next iPhone could, at least, use a flash to go with the camera.
While video chat usage on phones is not that popular, that doesn't mean Apple couldn't start a fad, just as it turned the MP3 player into a huge phenomenon with the iPod, the analysts admitted.
"Apple could take video chat and make it so friendly that it takes off," Burden added. "Yes, that's Apple's heritage, as with iPod. What works is all about delivering a personality to the device."
Video chat as the new killer app
Major communications equipment vendors seem to think mobile videoconferencing is coming, not just for younger users willing to try the latest fad, but also for business users.
"We envision the capability to have videoconferencing on mobile devices such as iPhone and BlackBerry," said Richard McLeod, director of collaboration solutions for channel partners at Cisco Systems Inc.
"Just as today people are looking at YouTube videos on mobile phones, we believe that you will use the camera on a phone to have the same video communications two ways," he added. "We think video is the killer app and will reinvent how business is conducted."
McLeod said call centers are already interested in having mobile users see a video while waiting on hold, perhaps one that will show an advertisement or deliver content based on the customer's profile. That one-way streaming from customer service could conceivably become two-way, analysts have noted.
Cisco recently purchased Pure Digital, maker of the popular Flip handheld video camera. "Our purchase of Flip video is one more step toward where we think video is going," McLeod added.
Earlier this year, Polycom Inc. CEO Robert Hagerty also discussed the potential uses and value of videoconferencing on handhelds.
Why stop at 32GB?
Meanwhile, Apple's rumored plans to include 32GB of storage raise the question of why Apple needs to stop there, and why it doesn't add an expansion slot so users can increase the storage limit to whatever they want.
Clearly, Apple controls what applications are used on the iPhone by not allowing sideloading through an expansion slot, the analysts noted.
"Internal storage keeps you beholden to the iPhone," Burden said. "It doesn't have an expansion slot, but that could be a great addition." Apple probably could add an expansion slot and still restrict what applications could be imported through an expansion card, he said.
But Llamos said Apple is likely to stick with no expansion slot for a while, restricting downloading of applications through the App Store in iTunes. Expanding to 32GB of storage would principally support the App Store concept, which has had more than 1 billion downloads in less than one year, he noted.
"The App Store is a runaway hit," Llamos said. "Why threaten that?"
By Matt Hamblen
Source: Computer World
The new iPhone hardware expected to ship this summer from Apple Inc. is rumored to have a video chat capability supported by MMS, among other new features.
Today's roundup of rumors and speculation about the upcoming iPhone hardware also suggest that there will be a 32GB model, a boost from the current 8GB and 16GB models.
But the reports raise questions about why the iPhone doesn't have an expansion card slot for unlimited storage capability, especially if users will be storing massive amounts of video from video chats, video streams off YouTube or other places.
Whether the iPhone will support video chat, or some version of real-time videoconferencing, was a big concern of some developers and analysts at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last year. Some expressed disappointment that various video features were not included in the iPhone 3G.
In March, Apple said the new iPhone 3.0 software would support MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service, along with 100 other new features such as cut-and-paste and stereo Bluetooth.
The MMS software reports indicate to some observers that the next iPhone (due out July 17, according to some speculation) could support iPhone video chat, which would be possible with a good camera and microphone and a fast wireless connection.
Kevin Burden, an analyst at ABI Research, said the question of the camera for video chat is not a trivial one, since Apple might need to have two cameras, one to face the user and one to face what a user might want to record in the distance. That issue has been a major concern of some manufacturers, including Nokia and Samsung, which have installed two camera lenses on a single phone, one on either side.
But it is questionable how high a priority video chat will be for Apple. "Our research shows that use of video chatting on existing devices is pretty darn small," said Ramon Llamos, an analyst at research firm IDC.
"Certainly video chat will be big for certain groups, but for the majority of people, that's not something you seek out and buy with a new phone," Burden said. "For the most part, that feature goes unused." He added that the next iPhone could, at least, use a flash to go with the camera.
While video chat usage on phones is not that popular, that doesn't mean Apple couldn't start a fad, just as it turned the MP3 player into a huge phenomenon with the iPod, the analysts admitted.
"Apple could take video chat and make it so friendly that it takes off," Burden added. "Yes, that's Apple's heritage, as with iPod. What works is all about delivering a personality to the device."
Video chat as the new killer app
Major communications equipment vendors seem to think mobile videoconferencing is coming, not just for younger users willing to try the latest fad, but also for business users.
"We envision the capability to have videoconferencing on mobile devices such as iPhone and BlackBerry," said Richard McLeod, director of collaboration solutions for channel partners at Cisco Systems Inc.
"Just as today people are looking at YouTube videos on mobile phones, we believe that you will use the camera on a phone to have the same video communications two ways," he added. "We think video is the killer app and will reinvent how business is conducted."
McLeod said call centers are already interested in having mobile users see a video while waiting on hold, perhaps one that will show an advertisement or deliver content based on the customer's profile. That one-way streaming from customer service could conceivably become two-way, analysts have noted.
Cisco recently purchased Pure Digital, maker of the popular Flip handheld video camera. "Our purchase of Flip video is one more step toward where we think video is going," McLeod added.
Earlier this year, Polycom Inc. CEO Robert Hagerty also discussed the potential uses and value of videoconferencing on handhelds.
Why stop at 32GB?
Meanwhile, Apple's rumored plans to include 32GB of storage raise the question of why Apple needs to stop there, and why it doesn't add an expansion slot so users can increase the storage limit to whatever they want.
Clearly, Apple controls what applications are used on the iPhone by not allowing sideloading through an expansion slot, the analysts noted.
"Internal storage keeps you beholden to the iPhone," Burden said. "It doesn't have an expansion slot, but that could be a great addition." Apple probably could add an expansion slot and still restrict what applications could be imported through an expansion card, he said.
But Llamos said Apple is likely to stick with no expansion slot for a while, restricting downloading of applications through the App Store in iTunes. Expanding to 32GB of storage would principally support the App Store concept, which has had more than 1 billion downloads in less than one year, he noted.
"The App Store is a runaway hit," Llamos said. "Why threaten that?"
By Matt Hamblen
Source: Computer World
Monday, May 25, 2009
ooVoo Confirms First Air-to-Ground 'Three-Way' Video Chat
ooVoo, the solution of choice for multi-point, high-quality, easy-to-use video communication, conducted the first air-to-ground three-way video conversation on April 3rd 2009 on Virgin America Flight 350 from San Francisco to Boston. This communication milestone marked a first for the airline and video conferencing industries, as ooVoo CEO Philippe Schwartz conversed live at 35,000 feet via video chat with ooVoo owner, Clay Mathile in Florida and ooVoo vice president of marketing, Lisa Abourezk in NYC.
"When I learned about Virgin America's new WiFi service I couldn't wait to put ooVoo to the test. Speaking face-to-face mid-flight with two colleagues on the ground was not only a testament to the quality of the service we've built, but to how far we've come technologically as a society," said Philippe Schwartz, CEO of ooVoo.
Every day, ooVoo connects millions of family members, co-workers, friends and online communities with its remarkably clear and highly superior video quality. ooVoo allows up to six people to video chat at the same time, to record video conversations and to call friends or colleagues that do not have ooVoo installed with a "Web Video Call," letting them easily join a video chat via a web browser. ooVoo's multi-point video was also recently seen on the Dr. Phil Show episode connecting five therapists from around the US into the live show.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Growing Pains for Online Video Chat
Seesmic, TokBox, and other startups in this area of social media must contend with issues of personality and, especially, privacy
Turns out, even the most outgoing social media animals get shy once in a while. Tom Sparks can be found just about everywhere on the social Web, with profiles on Twitter, Blip.fm, Tumblr, Flickr (YHOO), Delicious, Last.fm, and more. He aggressively pursues every online chance to find interesting connections and experiences. When he had the chance to try new Web-based video chat tools, Sparks signed up with Seesmic. While it was still in a very early "alpha" test stage, Sparks recorded conversations regularly and responded quickly to other people's videos.
Then something strange happened. Unlike with other social networks, Sparks soon found himself feeling uneasy about the lack of privacy and the pressure to perform. Sure, social media mavens have to produce pithy and useful tweets on Twitter and post attractive photos and witty status updates on Facebook. But it's another thing entirely to speak in front of a Webcam while potentially thousands of strangers watch, judging your looks, delivery, and every gesture. "They cause performance anxiety," Sparks says of video chat sites. "It takes an extrovert personality to be able to do it consistently, and I got tired of it.…My interest fizzled." As blogger Robert Scoble once told me, "You have to be outrageous and over the top." Most people don't have his gargantuan ego.
Ultimately, a good social app is driven by a strong sense of accessibility, simplicity of use, and even privacy. Otherwise users get turned off. That's what happened to Seesmic; it had a hard time retaining early adopters and didn't grow beyond a core user base. Seesmic peaked at 150,000 monthly unique visitors in October 2008 before dropping to its current level of 92,000. Another startup, 12 Seconds, was heralded by tech pundits as the Twitter of video but suffered a similar fate. It's now nothing more than a micro social video community.
Loss of Control
What went wrong? Startups are essentially experiments—works in progress where assumptions are tested on a daily basis. In Seesmic's case, the assumption was that people would be excited to use video. They may be in the future, but not now. People can control their tweets and Facebook posts. Not so with video, says UCLA Internet historian and social media expert Brad Fidler. "Putting yourself on video is a major thing," Fidler says. "Most people don't want their faces on video when they don't get to control their own content." Seesmic users had a greater sense of security when the site was in test mode, he explains. "It was protected and everyone got to know each other and they felt safe," Fidler says. "Once Seesmic went public, that was not there anymore."
We give up some anonymity when we use the social Web, but many people aren't willing to give it up quite so completely. "Anonymity allows greater freedom because there are things you don't want your employer or family to know about," says Amanda Lenhart, an analyst at the the Pew Internet & American Life Project. "People have public and private personalities, and video sites take that away." On Facebook, for instance, users still control the content and how it's used, tagged, and distributed. "With text and photos we can create an image we like and want to present to the outside world, but video makes that difficult to accomplish," Lenhart says. "The way you come across on video also depends on the quality—the ambient light and how you display yourself."
Video also lends itself to more extroverted personalities, Lenhart says. "It also includes your voice and mannerism and this requires a bold personality," she notes. "Not everyone is charismatic enough to pull it off and most people have limits as to what they want to expose in public." This is evident on both Seesmic and 12 Seconds, where certain individuals dominate the public conversation.
Promoting "Personality"
While we can't blame the video sites for the human banality and narcissism we encounter in their public video streams, they do deserve some blame for promoting it. For example, Seesmic founder Loic Le Meur tried to control the conversation flow by introducing provocative topics and hosting celebrity guests like Deepak Chopra and Paulo Coelho. It was a costly gimmick that wasted VC money, yielded poor results, and baffled many users. "They wanted to shape the conversation flow," Fidler says. "That clearly backfired on them.…You can't force people to open up to strangers." The folks at 12 Seconds are guilty of similar tactics, enticing users to participate in social karaoke. "12 Seconds was like a comedy show—but then I got tired of trying to be funny and clever," Sparks says.
Seesmic seems to have gotten the message, giving users more ways to protect their privacy. "As a company we had to change focus," Le Meur says. "We understood that people didn't want to share with strangers and they wanted more privacy.…Now, instead of telling people to join the Seesmic community, we tell them to share with your community." Seesmic is also putting more energy into what it calls Seesmic Desktop, a tool that lets users more easily post and share video. "We have three years of funding," Le Meur adds. "So we'll wait for video to take off."
For some, the wait may not be so long. One of my favorite video chat sites is TokBox. With more than 180,000 unique monthly visitors, TokBox has achieved some success with a straightforward interface that lets you manage private and public video chats with relative ease. If you want to chat with another member just push the "Talk" button and you're connected. If you want to invite someone who is not a member, TokBox lets you create a video chat channel and give unregistered users entry through a private link.
TinyChat's Impressive
But the most exciting new player in my view is TinyChat, a cool startup launching later this month that offers video and text chat. TinyChat takes private Web-based video chat to a new level. The Web interface is also the best I've seen so far in terms of simplicity and elegance. "It's completely private and only those who know the link can enter your video chat room," says TinyChat co-founder Daniel Blake. "The app won't save the video conversation unless you decide to save it for future access." In private demos, I was able to talk to up to seven people at once in real time without a glitch and Blake says the app can handle up to 12 people per video chat room. This is a remarkable tool for individuals and small businesses and you can't help but admire the underlying technology.
TinyChat learned from the mistakes of others. It's the advantage of being a small operation—you can take your time focusing on the technology and user experience before trying to figure out a way to make money. Currently, the startup is self-funded. In the future, it may try to make money by selling ads, offering premium services for a fee, or licensing its technology to others, Blake says. "We're ready to experiment with different business models."
I showed TinyChat to Sparks and he too was impressed with the level of privacy and minimalism. "I'm definitely using this when it launches," he says. At the same time, his response was subdued. Having been burned once, he's approaching future video chat sites with caution—an approach likely to be taken by a lot of chat-site users in these early days. That's a challenge Blake is all too willing to face, because in his view, "Video chats are the future."
Zeledon is a former research analyst for International Data Group in San Francisco. He is currently researching the growth of the financial social Web and runs a digital consulting firm, Myagito.
By Max Zeledon
Souce: Business Week
Turns out, even the most outgoing social media animals get shy once in a while. Tom Sparks can be found just about everywhere on the social Web, with profiles on Twitter, Blip.fm, Tumblr, Flickr (YHOO), Delicious, Last.fm, and more. He aggressively pursues every online chance to find interesting connections and experiences. When he had the chance to try new Web-based video chat tools, Sparks signed up with Seesmic. While it was still in a very early "alpha" test stage, Sparks recorded conversations regularly and responded quickly to other people's videos.
Then something strange happened. Unlike with other social networks, Sparks soon found himself feeling uneasy about the lack of privacy and the pressure to perform. Sure, social media mavens have to produce pithy and useful tweets on Twitter and post attractive photos and witty status updates on Facebook. But it's another thing entirely to speak in front of a Webcam while potentially thousands of strangers watch, judging your looks, delivery, and every gesture. "They cause performance anxiety," Sparks says of video chat sites. "It takes an extrovert personality to be able to do it consistently, and I got tired of it.…My interest fizzled." As blogger Robert Scoble once told me, "You have to be outrageous and over the top." Most people don't have his gargantuan ego.
Ultimately, a good social app is driven by a strong sense of accessibility, simplicity of use, and even privacy. Otherwise users get turned off. That's what happened to Seesmic; it had a hard time retaining early adopters and didn't grow beyond a core user base. Seesmic peaked at 150,000 monthly unique visitors in October 2008 before dropping to its current level of 92,000. Another startup, 12 Seconds, was heralded by tech pundits as the Twitter of video but suffered a similar fate. It's now nothing more than a micro social video community.
Loss of Control
What went wrong? Startups are essentially experiments—works in progress where assumptions are tested on a daily basis. In Seesmic's case, the assumption was that people would be excited to use video. They may be in the future, but not now. People can control their tweets and Facebook posts. Not so with video, says UCLA Internet historian and social media expert Brad Fidler. "Putting yourself on video is a major thing," Fidler says. "Most people don't want their faces on video when they don't get to control their own content." Seesmic users had a greater sense of security when the site was in test mode, he explains. "It was protected and everyone got to know each other and they felt safe," Fidler says. "Once Seesmic went public, that was not there anymore."
We give up some anonymity when we use the social Web, but many people aren't willing to give it up quite so completely. "Anonymity allows greater freedom because there are things you don't want your employer or family to know about," says Amanda Lenhart, an analyst at the the Pew Internet & American Life Project. "People have public and private personalities, and video sites take that away." On Facebook, for instance, users still control the content and how it's used, tagged, and distributed. "With text and photos we can create an image we like and want to present to the outside world, but video makes that difficult to accomplish," Lenhart says. "The way you come across on video also depends on the quality—the ambient light and how you display yourself."
Video also lends itself to more extroverted personalities, Lenhart says. "It also includes your voice and mannerism and this requires a bold personality," she notes. "Not everyone is charismatic enough to pull it off and most people have limits as to what they want to expose in public." This is evident on both Seesmic and 12 Seconds, where certain individuals dominate the public conversation.
Promoting "Personality"
While we can't blame the video sites for the human banality and narcissism we encounter in their public video streams, they do deserve some blame for promoting it. For example, Seesmic founder Loic Le Meur tried to control the conversation flow by introducing provocative topics and hosting celebrity guests like Deepak Chopra and Paulo Coelho. It was a costly gimmick that wasted VC money, yielded poor results, and baffled many users. "They wanted to shape the conversation flow," Fidler says. "That clearly backfired on them.…You can't force people to open up to strangers." The folks at 12 Seconds are guilty of similar tactics, enticing users to participate in social karaoke. "12 Seconds was like a comedy show—but then I got tired of trying to be funny and clever," Sparks says.
Seesmic seems to have gotten the message, giving users more ways to protect their privacy. "As a company we had to change focus," Le Meur says. "We understood that people didn't want to share with strangers and they wanted more privacy.…Now, instead of telling people to join the Seesmic community, we tell them to share with your community." Seesmic is also putting more energy into what it calls Seesmic Desktop, a tool that lets users more easily post and share video. "We have three years of funding," Le Meur adds. "So we'll wait for video to take off."
For some, the wait may not be so long. One of my favorite video chat sites is TokBox. With more than 180,000 unique monthly visitors, TokBox has achieved some success with a straightforward interface that lets you manage private and public video chats with relative ease. If you want to chat with another member just push the "Talk" button and you're connected. If you want to invite someone who is not a member, TokBox lets you create a video chat channel and give unregistered users entry through a private link.
TinyChat's Impressive
But the most exciting new player in my view is TinyChat, a cool startup launching later this month that offers video and text chat. TinyChat takes private Web-based video chat to a new level. The Web interface is also the best I've seen so far in terms of simplicity and elegance. "It's completely private and only those who know the link can enter your video chat room," says TinyChat co-founder Daniel Blake. "The app won't save the video conversation unless you decide to save it for future access." In private demos, I was able to talk to up to seven people at once in real time without a glitch and Blake says the app can handle up to 12 people per video chat room. This is a remarkable tool for individuals and small businesses and you can't help but admire the underlying technology.
TinyChat learned from the mistakes of others. It's the advantage of being a small operation—you can take your time focusing on the technology and user experience before trying to figure out a way to make money. Currently, the startup is self-funded. In the future, it may try to make money by selling ads, offering premium services for a fee, or licensing its technology to others, Blake says. "We're ready to experiment with different business models."
I showed TinyChat to Sparks and he too was impressed with the level of privacy and minimalism. "I'm definitely using this when it launches," he says. At the same time, his response was subdued. Having been burned once, he's approaching future video chat sites with caution—an approach likely to be taken by a lot of chat-site users in these early days. That's a challenge Blake is all too willing to face, because in his view, "Video chats are the future."
Zeledon is a former research analyst for International Data Group in San Francisco. He is currently researching the growth of the financial social Web and runs a digital consulting firm, Myagito.
By Max Zeledon
Souce: Business Week
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Video Chatting finds its way to combat Swine Flu
People are using Video Chatting to chat with the local medical experts & health officials of their area on the swine flu outbreak and its implications for Northeastern Wisconsin. Users can send questions in advance to forum [at] greenbaypressgazette [dot] com or ask a question live during the discussion.
Ad Agency's New Live Video Chat Makes Employees Self-Conscious; Better Groomed
Chicago ad agency, Plan B, implements new live streaming video chat to its website's home page. The video chat function at thisisplanb.com lets visitors spy on agency employees live, in real time, as they perform their daily work.
Chicago, IL May 1, 2009 -- Facebook? Fugetaboutit. Twitter? Twhatever. With the launch of its new website featuring live streaming video chat, renegade Chicago ad agency Plan B has relegated text-driven social media to the "so 2008" file, along with David Cook, Bear Stearns and Slumdog Millionaire.
Injecting a hyper-real dose of fishbowl creepiness into the World Wide Web, the video chat function at thisisplanb.com lets visitors spy on agency employees live, in real time, as they perform their daily work.
"Yeah, I don't even have a My Space or anything, so this whole thing is like -- whoa," said Creative Director Bill Anderson. "I had one guy chat me who'd been watching me eat my breakfast. He asked me about my bagel."
Other members of the Plan B team see the video chat function as incentive to redouble their efforts at fastidious personal hygiene. "I walked out of the house without shaving the other morning, and then I remembered the video chat," says Pat Miller, Business Development Director. "I walked five blocks back home and shaved. That's when I noticed the nose hairs."
"I'm seeing an aesthetician this Saturday."
But apart from cruelly exposing the deepest insecurities of Plan B employees, the video chat function is -- astonishingly -- serving its intended purpose admirably.
"We've had several business inquiries through the chat," says Agency Partner Ric Van Sickle. "And we're getting great feedback from everyone who sees it."
"If advertising is all about generating buzz," he says, "We're officially a beehive."
"Plus, one of our art directors was asked out on a date through it. So it's definitely having an impact."
The video chat has proven such a hit, Plan B plans to expand its capabilities in the future. "And we're thinking of putting on some mime shows, maybe something like Blue Man Group. Just to keep things interesting," Miller says.
Chicago, IL May 1, 2009 -- Facebook? Fugetaboutit. Twitter? Twhatever. With the launch of its new website featuring live streaming video chat, renegade Chicago ad agency Plan B has relegated text-driven social media to the "so 2008" file, along with David Cook, Bear Stearns and Slumdog Millionaire.
Injecting a hyper-real dose of fishbowl creepiness into the World Wide Web, the video chat function at thisisplanb.com lets visitors spy on agency employees live, in real time, as they perform their daily work.
"Yeah, I don't even have a My Space or anything, so this whole thing is like -- whoa," said Creative Director Bill Anderson. "I had one guy chat me who'd been watching me eat my breakfast. He asked me about my bagel."
Other members of the Plan B team see the video chat function as incentive to redouble their efforts at fastidious personal hygiene. "I walked out of the house without shaving the other morning, and then I remembered the video chat," says Pat Miller, Business Development Director. "I walked five blocks back home and shaved. That's when I noticed the nose hairs."
"I'm seeing an aesthetician this Saturday."
But apart from cruelly exposing the deepest insecurities of Plan B employees, the video chat function is -- astonishingly -- serving its intended purpose admirably.
"We've had several business inquiries through the chat," says Agency Partner Ric Van Sickle. "And we're getting great feedback from everyone who sees it."
"If advertising is all about generating buzz," he says, "We're officially a beehive."
"Plus, one of our art directors was asked out on a date through it. So it's definitely having an impact."
The video chat has proven such a hit, Plan B plans to expand its capabilities in the future. "And we're thinking of putting on some mime shows, maybe something like Blue Man Group. Just to keep things interesting," Miller says.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
iPhone 3.0 to have Video Chat feature
A new Apple patent filing suggests the next iPhone may have iPhone-to-computer video chat.According to Apple Insider, a recent filing would lead many to believe that the handset will be equipped with a front-facing video camera and software which is capable of adjusting itself in the event a user is in motion utilizing the phone.
The first patent discuses interfaces which would be used when an person is moving. The patent discusses motion based gestures which would allow an person to navigate their cell phone intuitively rather than actually looking at the device, by doing things like flicking the phone. This would be great for people on the go constantly who use the phone during driving, exercise, or while riding a bike or walking.
Changing your music, or making a phone call could be done safely, causing little to no distraction. When attempting to use an iPhone while out for a run, or traveling between events it can sometimes be difficult to toggle between making a call and changing music tracks, it also causes a great diversion from the task at hand. An onscreen or bezel button would aid in the elimination of unintentional commands during every day and normal use.
An additional platform shows a motion detecting function which resizes the interface and additionally the icons when it senses that an person is either jogging, or walking, the interface then resizes buttons and fonts to make reading and selection simpler.
"For example, if the user wishes to view the contact information for 'John Adams,' the user touches the display over the area of the row for the contact 'John Adams,'" Apple says. "While the device is moving, the motion of the device can be detected. The device can change the size of the rows of the contacts in the contact list application to give the user a larger target area for each contact. For example, the height of a row can be increased. This gives the user a larger touch area with which to select a contact. In some implementations, the height of the toolbar can be increased as well."
A before an after image from Apple's new patent shows how the interface will enlarge text for easier reading and navigation when the user is in motion(Source: Apple Insider)
The icons will also be enlarged, allowing the user to be able to click them more easily.(Source: Apple Insider)
A patent for a front facing video camera is also depicted in the iPhone drawings. This would lead one to believe that video conferencing would potentially be adopted. The new camera would allow game developers to create new games that allow for interaction via video among users.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Short-term long-distance doesn’t mean the end
Summer is upon us once again and a good number of students are in an unexpected state of disarray. Maybe you are one of these students, or maybe you just have a friend in this boat.
This awkward place is one I like to refer to as short-term long-distance. To clarify, this is the uncomfortable place you find yourself in when you start dating someone you met away from home and continue to date them while you are apart for the summer. It’s not exactly a long-distance relationship (as you’ll only be apart for three months), but for a short time you will not be as close as you’re used to.
The obvious reaction here is to realize that this will suck. While three months isn’t a very long time in the grand scheme of things, it can seem like an excruciatingly long period if you are used to seeing your significant other all the time, or even if you’re just used to seeing him or her moderately often. If you’re anything like I am, the more often you think about the prospect of being apart, the scarier the idea gets. Never fear, my young Casanova, there are solutions.
First and foremost, talk about it. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page for the summer. It sounds stupid, but I’ve seen plenty of situations where one person remains unwaveringly faithful while, unbeknownst to the faithful one, his or her partner thinks the two are on a sort of break. Cue the palm to the face.
Communication breakdowns do not need to ruin your relationship. These three months should be used to strengthen your relationship and gain a greater appreciation for your partner. In my experience, many college students develop unhealthily dependent relationships because it is easy to spend all of your time with just one person. In these situations, the three months apart is an even better idea. Codependency is something to avoid this early in your life. Even if you are married, you need to know how to take care of yourself and not depend on your partner for things you could, or should, be doing for yourself.
Modern technology makes it more possible than ever before to stay in touch with your sweetheart. With video chatting software like Skype and iChat, you can talk it up to your heart’s content and never even have to get out of bed, though that’s not exactly recommended. These methods are definitely also something to keep in mind if your special someone might be studying abroad eventually, too. However, there are countries where video chatting won’t be an option due to the lack of necessary technology, so don’t let cell phones and land lines become a thing of the past just yet. When all else fails, everybody likes getting good old-fashioned snail mail. You could even seal it with a kiss.
With just a little planning and communication, summer suddenly becomes less scary. Short-term long-distance isn’t something you should stress about. It’s a healthy way to develop a good amount of independence in your relationship while really growing to appreciate your partner when you see him or her again. Next August is closer than it seems.
Originally appeared in The Daily Evergreen
This awkward place is one I like to refer to as short-term long-distance. To clarify, this is the uncomfortable place you find yourself in when you start dating someone you met away from home and continue to date them while you are apart for the summer. It’s not exactly a long-distance relationship (as you’ll only be apart for three months), but for a short time you will not be as close as you’re used to.
The obvious reaction here is to realize that this will suck. While three months isn’t a very long time in the grand scheme of things, it can seem like an excruciatingly long period if you are used to seeing your significant other all the time, or even if you’re just used to seeing him or her moderately often. If you’re anything like I am, the more often you think about the prospect of being apart, the scarier the idea gets. Never fear, my young Casanova, there are solutions.
First and foremost, talk about it. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page for the summer. It sounds stupid, but I’ve seen plenty of situations where one person remains unwaveringly faithful while, unbeknownst to the faithful one, his or her partner thinks the two are on a sort of break. Cue the palm to the face.
Communication breakdowns do not need to ruin your relationship. These three months should be used to strengthen your relationship and gain a greater appreciation for your partner. In my experience, many college students develop unhealthily dependent relationships because it is easy to spend all of your time with just one person. In these situations, the three months apart is an even better idea. Codependency is something to avoid this early in your life. Even if you are married, you need to know how to take care of yourself and not depend on your partner for things you could, or should, be doing for yourself.
Modern technology makes it more possible than ever before to stay in touch with your sweetheart. With video chatting software like Skype and iChat, you can talk it up to your heart’s content and never even have to get out of bed, though that’s not exactly recommended. These methods are definitely also something to keep in mind if your special someone might be studying abroad eventually, too. However, there are countries where video chatting won’t be an option due to the lack of necessary technology, so don’t let cell phones and land lines become a thing of the past just yet. When all else fails, everybody likes getting good old-fashioned snail mail. You could even seal it with a kiss.
With just a little planning and communication, summer suddenly becomes less scary. Short-term long-distance isn’t something you should stress about. It’s a healthy way to develop a good amount of independence in your relationship while really growing to appreciate your partner when you see him or her again. Next August is closer than it seems.
Originally appeared in The Daily Evergreen
Monday, April 27, 2009
Facebook for Blackberry
The Facebook application for BlackBerry was released earlier this week with a handful of practical feature enhancements. Some of the features in the latest version are to partially merge your Facebook profile pictures with your BlackBerry address book & to add your Facebook events to your native BlackBerry calendar. The new feature added is First Look Video which can later be used for real time video chat with BlackBerry owners.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
PalTalk is #1 Chat Program on Download.com
PalTalkScene software was the #1 Chat program downloaded on CNET’s Download.com with 75,000 downloads of PaltalkScene compared with only 40,000 of Windows Live Messenger product.
Paltalk, the leading real-time, video-based community with over 4 million active members, announced today that the PaltalkScene software was the #1 Chat program downloaded on CNET’s Download.com for the week ending April 19th. There were nearly 75,000 downloads of PaltalkScene compared with only 40,000 of Windows Live Messenger product.
“Paltalk’s rise in popularity on Download.com reflects the increasing popularity of video chat into the mainstream,” says Judy Shapiro, Paltalk’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Paltalk emerges as the best chat program because it is easy and full featured. This is a result of over 10 years of dedication to research and development in the video chat space.”
PaltalkScene currently available on Download.com includes a SuperIM feature; the ability for up to 10 people to video chat instantly for free. Connect with anyone in the world, with no downloads needed to participate in the video chat session. SuperIM is system agnostic and can be used by Mac or PC users with any browser.
The Download.com editors give PaltalkScene a four star rating. According to the editors, “Paltalk’s integration of video, audio and text chatting unified into one window makes for a strong chatware program that includes a wealth of features.”
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Video chat website idea
Hello guys, this post may sound wierd to many. But I was just wondering if a website with the following featured could be made:
I hope they are hearing.
- The website will provide one single account to access the video chat.
- It may have different applications for different platforms such as iPhone, Windows, Linux, etc.
- Not just video chat, users would also be able to post & tag videos under different categories.
- The users can maintain a list of their friends & relatives.
I hope they are hearing.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Nintendo DSi
Nintendo DSi has been launched in the US earlier this month and is being called the 'lifestyle' device that goes beyond just gaming and recent commercials have featured female celebrities like Beyonce Knowles & Lisa Kudrow. The DSi comes in a flip-case with 2 screens - the lower one being the touch screen & can be manipulated with the help of a stylus or user's finger. The size of the luminous screens has been increased by Nintendo after eliminating the slot for Nintendo Advanced Games.
There are over 850 games to choose from and the prominent being the Pokemons, Mario, Auto Thieves, etc. Users can also download games directly to the console with DSiWare & surf the internet with a wireless connection. It also has a camera but the DSi still lacks the feature of clicking & sending pictures through email & video chat.
There are over 850 games to choose from and the prominent being the Pokemons, Mario, Auto Thieves, etc. Users can also download games directly to the console with DSiWare & surf the internet with a wireless connection. It also has a camera but the DSi still lacks the feature of clicking & sending pictures through email & video chat.
Friday, April 17, 2009
New Apple Patent Points at Next-Gen iPhone Video Chat Again
A new Apple patent on a motion-aware iPhone user interface points again at the possibility of a front-facing video camera for video chat in next generation iPhones. One that won't require the 3G videoconferencing kit.The new patent describes a morphing interface that will adapt to the motion of the user. For example, if you are in a shaky bus, the elements on a list will get bigger so you can target them better with your fingers. In the patent, the drawings depict a front-facing video camera that—if implemented—will enable the possibility of having face-to-face real-time communications between two iPhone users or—hopefully—one iPhone user and a desktop iChat user. And yes, with "face-to-face real-time communications" we really mean video sex. [MacRumors]
by Jesus Diaz Source: Gizmodo.com
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Get In on the Skype IPO
If it first you don't succeed, let it go as an IPO.
eBay finally found a way to unload its popular voice and video chat platform. It will simply take Skype public as a stand-alone company in the first half of next year.
The move makes sense, since investors clearly aren't appreciating Skype's growth within eBay's sluggish digestive tract. It also will help put what eBay cynics -- and accountants -- consider to be one of its biggest mistakes behind it, since eBay took a whopping $1.4 billion charge to write down its investment in Skype two years ago.
Let's not cheat Skype out of its accomplishments. The software has been able to grow nicely, even under eBay's conflicted wing.
by Rick Aristotle Munarriz
Source: Motley Fool
eBay finally found a way to unload its popular voice and video chat platform. It will simply take Skype public as a stand-alone company in the first half of next year.
The move makes sense, since investors clearly aren't appreciating Skype's growth within eBay's sluggish digestive tract. It also will help put what eBay cynics -- and accountants -- consider to be one of its biggest mistakes behind it, since eBay took a whopping $1.4 billion charge to write down its investment in Skype two years ago.
Let's not cheat Skype out of its accomplishments. The software has been able to grow nicely, even under eBay's conflicted wing.
by Rick Aristotle Munarriz
Source: Motley Fool
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
BoostCam for 2-way instant video chat
BoostCam is known to be the quickest & simplest way to start a two-way video chat with your friend or family. No sign-up is required for you or for the person you are chatting with. Just send them the URL and with a click you can start chatting with them. The URL is created each time a new video chat is started and of-course web-cam is required to initiate the chat. One can also hear the audio of the person they are chatting with.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Trillian 3.1.12
Trillian messenging client, from Cerulean Studios, is used to manage your messenging, and more with a single touch. Trillian has long been regarded a leader in multi-network chat and has captured a large number of users with every incarnation, even with Alpha & Beta builds.With Trillian users can use a single client to monitor all chat networks of Yahoo, MSN, AIM & ICQ apart from audio & video chatting, contact list and a detailed chatting history. The history of video chat is however not supported.
Trillian 3 is available in Standard (free) and Pro ($25) versions. The major difference between the two is of the video chat. The newest iteration of Trillian (version 4, also called Astra) is currently in Beta, and will not only be released for Windows-based PCs, but also for iPhone and MacOS! It is expected to support even more features in the basic version than Trillian 3. One of the other important features of Astra is the inclusion of Facebook, MySpaceIM and Twitter functionality, bringing social networking to the venerable chat suite's offered package.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Dell Video Chat softwares
Dell Video Chat software is powered by Sight Speed and is free to download from "www [dot] sightspeed [dot] com/dellvideochat/". The software allows FREE voice calling between two computers and real time video chat with anyone globally. It also has a feature of low rate calling to any landline or mobile number. The most important feature of 'Dell Video Chat' is that memorable Video Mails can be created, viewed & stored for future. It also provides the users a facility to text chat while in a video conversation.
Support is always availalbe on the above mentioned site and the software comes FREE with the DELL Vostro laptops.
Support is always availalbe on the above mentioned site and the software comes FREE with the DELL Vostro laptops.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Now an iPhone application from Yahoo!
Yahoo! Messenger for iPhone'Yahoo Messenger for iPhone' is a FREE application from Yahoo! available through hte iTunes App Store and tailor made for iPhone & iPod Touch which can be used for chatting purposes. Although it's not clear whether the users can voice chat with the application but they can send & receive IM & SMS messages and share photos with the application. One can take new images from within the application itself and emoticons are supported.
The features of the desktop chat, such as the following, are included in the Yahoo Messenger for iPhone:
- Status updates
- Adding new contacts
- Notifications of new chats
- Yahoo! ping when a new message arrives
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Video Chat websites
Video chat websites allow you to easily see, hear and chat, in text or voice, with friends & people from all over the world through a web pages. These sites usually require registration before you can proceed towards video chatting and the users can broadcast streaming video & audio with the help of a webcam. Usually, no camera is required if the users want to see and hear people. A few of the websites which provide such facility are:
- Google Chat
- Haftoo
- ivideochat
- Camfrog
- Webcamnow
- Camvoice
- Freevideochat.net
- ispq
- oovoo
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Skype on iPhone
Skype is VOIP (voice over internet protocol address) client and makes connections through WiFi and not through cellular network. The main advantage over using Skype is that if the person you are calling to also uses Skype then making the call doesn't cost you anything. The main benefit of using Skype on iPhone is that one can purchase Skype credits from their website and call any landline number in the world. Skype is also a video chat client but the quality of video is not that clear on iPhone.
The disadvantage of using Skype is that you can't call emergency services and the company accepts it. The future iPhones will be having video capturing capabilities which will give a palmtop or laptop kind of an experience on using Skype over the iPhone.
Skype is free to download for iPhone.
The disadvantage of using Skype is that you can't call emergency services and the company accepts it. The future iPhones will be having video capturing capabilities which will give a palmtop or laptop kind of an experience on using Skype over the iPhone.
Skype is free to download for iPhone.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Ugly face of Video Chatting
While Video Chatting is a major technological advancement, it showed its ugly face recently in Italy when a husband killed his wife charging her of having affairs with an online partner. The accused called Giyusepe Castro (35) said that he could not see his wife, Maria (41), of having an online affair with someone and killed her. Police have recovered three computers and various account details from their home.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Interactive Video Commercials in Search Advertising
NeXplore Corporation announced the beta launch of NeXplore Ads 2.0 to enable search marketers for creating video commercials that have a blend of text, images & other rich media. The Search Advertising platform has in-built capabilities of video chatting, call scheduling, emailing & instant messaging along with the management of paid search ad campaigns.
NeXplore Ads, the complete lifecycle search advertising platform, seamlessly integrates NeXplore Search and already has around 5.5 million unique monthly visitors. NeXplore.com is a visually engaging Web 2.0 Search Engine which is optimized for multimedia display & easy social sharing.
The platform eases its users to do a real-time video chat with a call center representative and watch a brief video commercial side by side or with one click.
NeXplore Ads, the complete lifecycle search advertising platform, seamlessly integrates NeXplore Search and already has around 5.5 million unique monthly visitors. NeXplore.com is a visually engaging Web 2.0 Search Engine which is optimized for multimedia display & easy social sharing.
The platform eases its users to do a real-time video chat with a call center representative and watch a brief video commercial side by side or with one click.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
iPhone lovers may chat using Skype
Skype, formally launched today the application to be used over the iPhone, and Blackberry in the future, to video chat. Both of the version will allow Skype users to chat and call for free amongst themselves. However, the service requires WiFi for its voice functions.
The users will have separate access to the iPhone contact list & Skype friends and will be allowed to mute calls as well as placing them on speakers. The application should be live on Apple's website by tuesday, however, the Blackberry should be live by May.
The users will have separate access to the iPhone contact list & Skype friends and will be allowed to mute calls as well as placing them on speakers. The application should be live on Apple's website by tuesday, however, the Blackberry should be live by May.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Obama does video chat, again
Barack Obama created history by video chatting with around 64,000 people in the US answering their question LIVE. The most popular question was whether legalizing marijuana might stimulate the economy by allowing the government to regulate and tax the drug. The viewers included teachers, students & small business people.
The video chat lasted for around 70 minutes wherein Obama disclosed that he intended to announce in the next couple of days what kind of help his administration would extend to the auto industry.
The video chat lasted for around 70 minutes wherein Obama disclosed that he intended to announce in the next couple of days what kind of help his administration would extend to the auto industry.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Obama, Schoolchildren video chat with astronauts at Space Station
The crew of astronauts of the space shuttle Discovery at the International Space Station shared some light moments with the president Barack Obama, several Congress members and several schoolchildren from Washington middle schools, from the White House, through video chat for about half an hour on Tuesday. The President congratulated the crew for standing firm against all unidentified space obstacles and for their recent work at the International Space Station.
The president seemed extraordinarily proud of the astronauts for their work & showed his desire to know as to how they installed the new solar panels & how the green power would help the ISS.
Obama said, "This is really exciting! We're investing back here on the ground a whole array of solar and other renewable energy projects and so to find out that you're doing this up at the space station is particularly exciting.” while the astronauts were relaxing after the third & final spacewalk on Monday.
The president seemed extraordinarily proud of the astronauts for their work & showed his desire to know as to how they installed the new solar panels & how the green power would help the ISS.
Obama said, "This is really exciting! We're investing back here on the ground a whole array of solar and other renewable energy projects and so to find out that you're doing this up at the space station is particularly exciting.” while the astronauts were relaxing after the third & final spacewalk on Monday.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Heroes Star Greg Grunberg Auctions Charity Video Chat
Meeting with Fans to Benefit the Epilepsy Foundation Charity
Greg Grunberg, star of NBC’s “Heroes” and creator of TalkAboutIt.org, will auction his time for a one-on-one video chat to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation charity. Bidding is exclusively online at humanety.com and will open to the public beginning at 4:00 P.M. Thursday, March 26, and end at 4:00 P.M. April 5. The winning bidder will participate in a personal 30-minute video conversation with Grunberg at a later date. The auction is conducted by Humanety, which will record the conversation and make it available for playback from its Web site.
Grunberg’s son, Jake, 12, has epilepsy and the actor relied on the Epilepsy Foundation to gain the knowledge needed to care for him. Over time, Grunberg became the official spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation and EpilepsyAdvocate.com. He recently created TalkAboutIt.org, a website that helps remove stigmas about epilepsy and provides a forum for information about the affliction.
“When I heard about Humanety, I jumped at the chance to raise money and awareness about a cause I feel so passionately about. I love talking with my fans, and nothing is off limits: Heroes, Alias, Felicity, Yowza!!, my best friend JJ and his new Star Trek movie and, of course, epilepsy. Let’s talk about it,” said Grunberg.
"Humanety is a new way to help support and promote a wide variety of vital charities," said Michael Campbell, CEO of Humanety. "By conducting these meetings over the Internet, we are able to connect celebrities to their fans anywhere around the world. We are honored to work with Greg to help him promote the cause of the Epilepsy Foundation and hopefully raise significant donations in the process."
The Epilepsy Foundation is a national voluntary agency solely dedicated to the welfare of more than three million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The charity works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and, to promote research for a cure.
Two-time Saturn Award nominee Greg Grunberg stars in NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated ensemble drama series “Heroes” as Matt Parkman, a police detective with the ability to hear the thoughts of others. He just wrapped the romantic comedy “Group Sex” which he co-wrote, co-produced and starred, and will soon launch Yowza!! a mobile coupon application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. A philanthropist by nature, Grunberg started the celebrity rock band for charity "Band From TV" with fellow actors Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Adrian Pasdar, Jesse Spencer and Bob Guiney. Most recently, Band From TV performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “American Idol Gives Back” where they helped raise over $60 million.
Humanety is a new method of aiding charities. Fans bid on auctions to meet their favorite celebrities, and this helps raise awareness and funding for worthy causes. Two-way conversations are conducted over Internet videoconference and shared with the world via the Humanety web site.
Release Summary: Greg Grunberg, star of NBCs Heroes, will auction his time for a one on one video chat to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation charity. Bidding is exclusively online at www [dot] humanety [dot] com and starts Thursday, March 26.
Greg Grunberg, star of NBC’s “Heroes” and creator of TalkAboutIt.org, will auction his time for a one-on-one video chat to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation charity. Bidding is exclusively online at humanety.com and will open to the public beginning at 4:00 P.M. Thursday, March 26, and end at 4:00 P.M. April 5. The winning bidder will participate in a personal 30-minute video conversation with Grunberg at a later date. The auction is conducted by Humanety, which will record the conversation and make it available for playback from its Web site.
Grunberg’s son, Jake, 12, has epilepsy and the actor relied on the Epilepsy Foundation to gain the knowledge needed to care for him. Over time, Grunberg became the official spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation and EpilepsyAdvocate.com. He recently created TalkAboutIt.org, a website that helps remove stigmas about epilepsy and provides a forum for information about the affliction.
“When I heard about Humanety, I jumped at the chance to raise money and awareness about a cause I feel so passionately about. I love talking with my fans, and nothing is off limits: Heroes, Alias, Felicity, Yowza!!, my best friend JJ and his new Star Trek movie and, of course, epilepsy. Let’s talk about it,” said Grunberg.
"Humanety is a new way to help support and promote a wide variety of vital charities," said Michael Campbell, CEO of Humanety. "By conducting these meetings over the Internet, we are able to connect celebrities to their fans anywhere around the world. We are honored to work with Greg to help him promote the cause of the Epilepsy Foundation and hopefully raise significant donations in the process."
The Epilepsy Foundation is a national voluntary agency solely dedicated to the welfare of more than three million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The charity works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and, to promote research for a cure.
Two-time Saturn Award nominee Greg Grunberg stars in NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated ensemble drama series “Heroes” as Matt Parkman, a police detective with the ability to hear the thoughts of others. He just wrapped the romantic comedy “Group Sex” which he co-wrote, co-produced and starred, and will soon launch Yowza!! a mobile coupon application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. A philanthropist by nature, Grunberg started the celebrity rock band for charity "Band From TV" with fellow actors Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Adrian Pasdar, Jesse Spencer and Bob Guiney. Most recently, Band From TV performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “American Idol Gives Back” where they helped raise over $60 million.
Humanety is a new method of aiding charities. Fans bid on auctions to meet their favorite celebrities, and this helps raise awareness and funding for worthy causes. Two-way conversations are conducted over Internet videoconference and shared with the world via the Humanety web site.
Release Summary: Greg Grunberg, star of NBCs Heroes, will auction his time for a one on one video chat to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation charity. Bidding is exclusively online at www [dot] humanety [dot] com and starts Thursday, March 26.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Uses of video chatting
Video chatting finds its uses in the following:
- Live interacting with family & friends
- Celebrity interviews
- Conferences
- Meetings & seminars
- Finding a date, mate or friend online
- Interviews
Monday, March 23, 2009
faceVsion Offers True HD Video Communications to Mass Market
faceVsion Technology Limited (FVT), a market innovator in empowering consumers and SMEs with face- to-face communications experience anytime, anywhere, on any screen, today announced the availability of 720p/HD video chat service on standard broadband network. The company will also showcase in CeBIT its innovative FVfone(TM) solution, the first ever full function DECT phone system that allows users to enjoy HD video chat and multimedia experiences over big TV screen.
Offering netbook/notebook users or even those without PC experience to enjoy true HD video chat experience under standard broadband network is a must to bring HD video chat to the masses. By inserting FVexpress(TM) into any netbook/notebook, and/or getting an innovative FVfone(TM) from faceVsion or its channel partners, consumers and SMEs' can now enjoy true HD chat without any hassles.
FVexpress(TM) and FVfone(TM) are engineered with state-of-the-art technology at consumer price. By embedding mainstream HD encoding and decoding algorithms at chipset level, together with optimized implementations for image quality and noise cancellation under lowest bandwidth requirements, these cutting edge solutions is designed for use with a variety of webcams and interoperates with standards-based third-party video chat applications like Gmail video chat.
"This announcement is our first step in empowering mass market users with true HD communication experiences -- from looking real to feeling real, from exclusive (to corporate users) to affordable (for general public with low upfront investment), and from location-bound (within conference room) to pervasive connectivity," said Alex Huang, faceVsion CEO. "Now, with our FVexpress(TM) and/FVfone(TM), users of Gmail video chat will be able to connect with each other. We are bringing a real mass market solution to empower consumers and SMEs with face-to-face communications."
"We are pleased to see that faceVsion has chosen to interoperate with Gmail video chat, which expands the scope of our respective video products," said Justin Uberti, technical lead for Google Talk. "At Google, we strongly believe in the use of open standards such as XMPP and H.264, which make it easy for partners like faceVsion to communicate and interoperate on the Google Talk network. We look forward to working with all video, voice, and IM providers regarding the opportunity provided by our open communications network."
Offering netbook/notebook users or even those without PC experience to enjoy true HD video chat experience under standard broadband network is a must to bring HD video chat to the masses. By inserting FVexpress(TM) into any netbook/notebook, and/or getting an innovative FVfone(TM) from faceVsion or its channel partners, consumers and SMEs' can now enjoy true HD chat without any hassles.
FVexpress(TM) and FVfone(TM) are engineered with state-of-the-art technology at consumer price. By embedding mainstream HD encoding and decoding algorithms at chipset level, together with optimized implementations for image quality and noise cancellation under lowest bandwidth requirements, these cutting edge solutions is designed for use with a variety of webcams and interoperates with standards-based third-party video chat applications like Gmail video chat.
"This announcement is our first step in empowering mass market users with true HD communication experiences -- from looking real to feeling real, from exclusive (to corporate users) to affordable (for general public with low upfront investment), and from location-bound (within conference room) to pervasive connectivity," said Alex Huang, faceVsion CEO. "Now, with our FVexpress(TM) and/FVfone(TM), users of Gmail video chat will be able to connect with each other. We are bringing a real mass market solution to empower consumers and SMEs with face-to-face communications."
"We are pleased to see that faceVsion has chosen to interoperate with Gmail video chat, which expands the scope of our respective video products," said Justin Uberti, technical lead for Google Talk. "At Google, we strongly believe in the use of open standards such as XMPP and H.264, which make it easy for partners like faceVsion to communicate and interoperate on the Google Talk network. We look forward to working with all video, voice, and IM providers regarding the opportunity provided by our open communications network."
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fly to conferences? Now, it's via video
AS BUSINESSES curb air travel expenses during the economic downturn, companies in Singapore are switching to videoconferencing to conduct business meetings across the miles.
Telcos and software companies offering the service report that business has surged. SingTel, for example, has seen a 20 per cent rise in the number of customers requiring videoconferencing services in the past 12 months.
Local sales of Cisco's Telepresence - an upscale videoconferencing solution launched here in 2006 - have gone up by 100 per cent in the same period.
Microsoft's Unified Communications Server, which combines video, voice and text messaging in one platform, has also seen a higher take-up. Microsoft has declined to give figures for Singapore, but said that within the Asia-Pacific region, 100 more companies have signed up with it.
Smaller firms operating on more limited budgets, meanwhile, are turning to cheap - or free - alternatives, such as Google video chat and Windows Live Messenger, which has chalked up a year-on-year increase in usage of about 25 per cent.
The shift in Singapore reflects global trends. Last month, research firm Gartner predicted that high-definition video meeting solutions would replace 2.1 million airline seats annually by 2012.
Firms here said using such services can save them a pretty penny.
Local thermal solutions manufacturer Opulent Group, for example, has cut its travel expenses by half after switching to video meetings from September last year. It declined to give its travel budget, but said about a third of its 100-strong staff used to travel to Asian or European destinations at least three or four times a week.
It recently decided to purchase a Microsoft system and has since enjoyed savings. The system uses the firm's existing broadband connection to run.
In addition to a cut in travel bills, Opulent also saves on monthly IDD phone charges, which used to hit $5,000.
Tech advances add to the attraction of videoconferencing.
Said Mr Nagi Kasinadhuni, 46, a general manager at Datacraft, a global information technology consultancy: 'There are more choices. It is getting cheaper, and gives a richer, immersive experience.'
Another plus: Videoconferencing makes it easy to set up meetings between customers in more than one country. Datacraft said, for instance, that organising a three-way conference between Singapore, London and Bangalore is a snap.
'Doing this face to face would have taken a month to set up,' Mr Kasinadhuni said.
Datacraft has cut back on travelling by a third as a result, saving a bundle in the process.
Six other companies The Straits Times spoke to also said they managed to cut back on travelling and have switched to videoconferencing. They said cutting costs was a major factor, but doing away with the hassle of travelling was also a boon.
For smaller local outfits, spending tens of thousands on videoconferencing equipment is out of the question, so they have turned to cheaper options.
Point-Star, a Web solutions company, uses free applications such as Google video chat and Skype to conduct business discussions with its partners and clients overseas. It said it can save up to $5,000 a month on travel expenses using these services.
Mr Justin Lee, 28, Point-Star's founder, said: 'The tools are getting more 'integrated'. It often doesn't feel like we're in a different country or time zone any more.'
There are also benefits for those who have to travel, he added, as jet lag is now a thing of the past.
Mr Lee said travelling can get very disruptive. 'I have to adjust to the time difference, language and culture. Initially the jet-setting can feel very exciting, but in the end it is just not worth it.'
Good as it is, firms polled said videoconferencing was not always the answer. When sealing a big deal or getting a foot in the door, meeting clients face to face is still the best option, they said.
'Socialising with clients in person is important too. You can't do that over video,' said Mr Kasinadhuni.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
by Tan Weizhen
Telcos and software companies offering the service report that business has surged. SingTel, for example, has seen a 20 per cent rise in the number of customers requiring videoconferencing services in the past 12 months.
Local sales of Cisco's Telepresence - an upscale videoconferencing solution launched here in 2006 - have gone up by 100 per cent in the same period.
Microsoft's Unified Communications Server, which combines video, voice and text messaging in one platform, has also seen a higher take-up. Microsoft has declined to give figures for Singapore, but said that within the Asia-Pacific region, 100 more companies have signed up with it.
Smaller firms operating on more limited budgets, meanwhile, are turning to cheap - or free - alternatives, such as Google video chat and Windows Live Messenger, which has chalked up a year-on-year increase in usage of about 25 per cent.
The shift in Singapore reflects global trends. Last month, research firm Gartner predicted that high-definition video meeting solutions would replace 2.1 million airline seats annually by 2012.
Firms here said using such services can save them a pretty penny.
Local thermal solutions manufacturer Opulent Group, for example, has cut its travel expenses by half after switching to video meetings from September last year. It declined to give its travel budget, but said about a third of its 100-strong staff used to travel to Asian or European destinations at least three or four times a week.
It recently decided to purchase a Microsoft system and has since enjoyed savings. The system uses the firm's existing broadband connection to run.
In addition to a cut in travel bills, Opulent also saves on monthly IDD phone charges, which used to hit $5,000.
Tech advances add to the attraction of videoconferencing.
Said Mr Nagi Kasinadhuni, 46, a general manager at Datacraft, a global information technology consultancy: 'There are more choices. It is getting cheaper, and gives a richer, immersive experience.'
Another plus: Videoconferencing makes it easy to set up meetings between customers in more than one country. Datacraft said, for instance, that organising a three-way conference between Singapore, London and Bangalore is a snap.
'Doing this face to face would have taken a month to set up,' Mr Kasinadhuni said.
Datacraft has cut back on travelling by a third as a result, saving a bundle in the process.
Six other companies The Straits Times spoke to also said they managed to cut back on travelling and have switched to videoconferencing. They said cutting costs was a major factor, but doing away with the hassle of travelling was also a boon.
For smaller local outfits, spending tens of thousands on videoconferencing equipment is out of the question, so they have turned to cheaper options.
Point-Star, a Web solutions company, uses free applications such as Google video chat and Skype to conduct business discussions with its partners and clients overseas. It said it can save up to $5,000 a month on travel expenses using these services.
Mr Justin Lee, 28, Point-Star's founder, said: 'The tools are getting more 'integrated'. It often doesn't feel like we're in a different country or time zone any more.'
There are also benefits for those who have to travel, he added, as jet lag is now a thing of the past.
Mr Lee said travelling can get very disruptive. 'I have to adjust to the time difference, language and culture. Initially the jet-setting can feel very exciting, but in the end it is just not worth it.'
Good as it is, firms polled said videoconferencing was not always the answer. When sealing a big deal or getting a foot in the door, meeting clients face to face is still the best option, they said.
'Socialising with clients in person is important too. You can't do that over video,' said Mr Kasinadhuni.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
by Tan Weizhen
Friday, March 6, 2009
Gmail voice and video chat
Gmail voice and video chat allows you to see & hear family and friends right inside Gmail using the chat. You are required to install Gmail Voice & Video Chat on Windows XP or later to use the facility. The unique feature of Gmail Voice & Video Chat is that you can have a voice chat, or a 1-way video chat, even if your friend doesn't have a video camera. The cameras that are supported for voice and video chat are:
- Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP for Windows desktops
- Logitech QuickCam Pro for Windows laptops or notebooks
- Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac
Friday, February 27, 2009
Xbox Live gold members get (even) more benefits
Xbox Live Gold-level members aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Honestly, I'm surprised Silver-level members even exist if they can't even play games online. So, color me somewhat surprised that Microsoft will be offering even more incentive for Gold members to keep paying their $49 per year.
According to Ars Technica, the company is now offering weekly sales on gaming content for Gold-level members only. First up will be the game "Braid." Usually available for 1,200 gamer points, or $15, it will now cost Gold-level members 800 points, or $10.
According to the article, Microsoft says upcoming weekly sales will include the "hottest arcade titles, game add-ons, Xbox originals, and other great content."
Gold-level members get to play Xbox games online, and get early free demos and trailers, as well as video chat, photo sharing, and messaging with friends.
by Eric Franklin Source: news.cnet.com
Monday, February 16, 2009
Serial burglar caught on webcam
The Burglar as caught on a webcamA house burglar was caught after a webcam on the owner's computer recorded images of him carrying out the raid.
Stills of serial raider Benjamin Park, 19, of Cambridge, were sent to an email address so even when he stole the computer, the images could be found.
Police said it was a "brilliant idea" of software engineer Duncan Grisby, who set it after a previous burglary.
Park was given an 11-month jail term by magistrates in Cambridge on Tuesday after admitting burglary.
"I was burgled three years ago and was annoyed at the time because I had thought about setting this system up then, but hadn't got around to it," said Mr Grisby.
"I was relieved it did what I'd intended it to when I was burgled again. It was nice to catch him in the act - but it didn't stop him from stealing my things.
So how does it work?
"The burglary was a real violation of my private space but at least he got caught.
"I just wish he'd got a longer sentence."
Mr Grisby said the system was easy to set up. "There are lot of products for Windows that you can use to do this - though I used some free software and wrote some extra software myself."
Police described Mr Grisby's idea as "absolutely brilliant".
"The webcam was set up in his computer and began filming once it registered motion. It captured every movement Park made," said Det Sgt Alan page, head of Cambridgeshire Police Burglary Squad.
"At one point he stared into the computer as if it might be making a noise or something to make him suspicious.
"He then stole the computer but it didn't matter because Mr Grisby had set it up so that as it was recording it was sending the images to an email address.
"When the break-in was discovered Mr Grisby simply gave us the email address and we were able to watch several minutes of footage and say, `That's Ben Park'.
"Mr Grisby is an extremely bright man. He'd set this up because he'd been burgled some years ago and the quality was superb.
'Better than alarm'
"It was better than a burglar alarm and when Park initially denied breaking in to the property we were simply able to show him the footage."
Magistrates heard Park, who has more than 13 previous convictions for theft, had stolen computer equipment and other property with a value of nearly £4,000 from Mr Grisby's study.
He committed the offence in February while on bail after being charged with an attempted burglary in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in August.
"The webcam made our job really easy," added DS Page. "It was a pleasure to show him the pictures and see his expression when we interviewed him."
So how did Duncan Grisby catch the burglar in the act?
There are many commercial software packages available to capture images from a web cam and send them to an e-mail address or over the internet to a web page.
But Mr Grisby took a more Do-It-Yourself route which requires some technical knowledge.
He used a cheap video camera which is plugged into a video card inside his PC to capture the images.
Software running on the PC - which must be left switched on and have an "always-on" internet connection - detects motion and activiates a separate program written by Mr Grisby.
That program instructs the computer to grab photos from the video camera - up to five stills per second - and then send them to an e-mail address or over the internet to a webpage where they are stored for viewing.
inputs by BBC UK
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