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Audio/Video Conference with iChat and AIM

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the beginning-of-the-end-of-the-analog-phones? dept.

JHromadka writes "Apple and AOL released today new versions of their instant messaging software that allows audio and video conferencing between Mac iChat users and Windows AIM users. " Anyone else think we're nearing the end of the analog phone system?

4 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. Not a chance by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Informative

    Anyone else think we're nearing the end of the analog phone system?

    Not anytime soon, as long as (1) IP-based applications remain best-effort solutions, (2) IP stuff remain significantly more insecure than phone connections (that's quite a low standard to achieve, but still) and (3) any relevant part of the rest of the world doesn't want to switch to VoIP (i.e. everybody who doesn't enjoy the standard of living found in the 5-10 most developed countries in the world).

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. Re:At least AOL is supporting us.... by reiggin · · Score: 4, Informative

    It doesn't. AIM for Linux is like using AIM for Windows 95. It kinda sucks. GAIM is much better, IMHO. There are others out there, too. It'd be interesting to know if any of the OSS guys plan on rolling these video chat features into their clients, though.

  3. Re:One Way Video? by dulinor · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wow, that's just flat-out untrue.

    If both iChat users are using iChat AV (the software, not the iChat delivered with Jaguar) you can do one-way video chat if the other machine is missing a camera. I do this all the time (ok, just to test and go "hey this is cool" but it does work)

    No idea if AOL will support that on PC, but it is a feature of the iChat AV network.

  4. Much better frame rate than you might think. by zerocircle · · Score: 4, Informative
    Have you ever used a video phone?

    good luck signing asl at a framerate of 4 fps

    Have you ever used iChat AV?

    I tried it for the first time a couple of nights ago. FireWired my Sony Digital-8 video camera to my TiBook 667 running Panther. iChat recognized the camera with no configuration and immediately offered a video-chat button for a friend in my AIM buddy list -- he has a Power Mac G4 and an iSight.

    Talked for an hour with a constant two-way frame rate of 15fps over a cable modem / sub-optimal AirPort signal. Plenty good for visual conversation.

    The iChat interface is great, too.