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Ask Slashdot: Simple, Cross-Platform Video Messaging?
DeathToBill writes: I spend a lot of time away from my kids (think months at a time) who are aged 3-8. I keep in touch with them by Skype, but the young ones are not really old enough to concentrate on it and we're often in quite different timezones, so it's not often it can be very spontaneous. We'd like to have some way that we can record short video messages of things we're doing and send them to each other. It needs to have an iPad app that is simple enough for a three-year-old to use with help and for a five-year-old to use without help; it needs to have an Android or web client, preferably one that doesn't require an Apple ID; it needs to be able to record a short video and send it to someone. As far as I can tell, iMessage requires Apple kit (there is an Android app but it sends all your messages through a server in China...) and Whatsapp works on iPhone but not iPad. What can you suggest?
You can post them on Facebook and share them with your family.
If you get divorced, make it a top priority over career to stay in same town as the children. Phone and video is no substitution for your presence in their lives.
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
I believe Skype has the capability to leave video messages if the recipient doesn't pick up. I've never used it, but I've seen the option pop up before.
Seems the obvious solution.
Or upload to youtube + share the link over email or whatever chat client you are using.
Just email video clips back and forth? Or upload them to youtube, and send links via email. You can make videos private on there.
Sounds like a perfect scenario for Snapchat.
Sounds like a perfect snapchat scenario.
just like whatsapp, et al but does work on multiple devices (inclusive ipad) per account.
Vine works for short videos: https://vine.co/
Otherwise, I thought Google Hangouts partially supported this feature for short videos.
Wechat does all this - it's actually better than WhatsApps from what I have used.
If you already use Skype, you might as well take advantage of the video message feature it has.
Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
How to install WhatsApp on an iPad
Seriously, there are a billion ways to solve this and none of them involves using an 'app'. Take the videos and just straight email them. Set up an FTP server. Setup rsync between two sites, use HTTP, use SCP, use sneakernet (mail SD cards). The point is the tools are all out there waiting for you to pick them up, they simply dont always come in a shiny wrapper called an 'app'.
Good-bye
DropBox? GoogleDocs? It is just a file to be saved in some saved location right?
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
The person sounds like they are security concerned (Military?) so not Facebook. Record videos, rsync, and build a web page which reloads and has a big button for the kid to play new and old messages. The HTML should take a few minutes, and a script to sort videos a bit longer.
-The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
Learn to use a Youtube channel. You can't always be sure they will have an iPad or thier own computer, and you can't always be sure where they will be.. or that they can't even get your email. Posting it to a Youtube channel "privately" is your best option.
Facebook has some sort of video channel chat.. uber.. we're complicated and anoy the "hell" out of you and your friends thing.. but really all its good for is throwing pictures at people in meaningless ways. Facebook is plain mean spirited and vicious.
Step 1: Create a private Youtube channel and post your videos there.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
GroupMe checks every box you listed.
I think someone else already mentioned it, but Skype allows you to record a video message. Why not use that? Read a book to your kids, tell a joke, etc.
"Contrarily the lookaside buffer might not be the panacea... "
I've found Oovoo to be simple to use and easy to get my un-tech family members to use. I think they have apps for everything except maybe Linux. You can store and send video messages, chat, or video chat. You can also invite non-oovoo callers to a video call via a web app. Quality is pretty good as well.
Virtual Presence Robot
Wouldn't video messages recorded with whatever your phone's MMS client take care of this?
Setup a NAS at home that has cloud storage (think personal dropbox). Then set up you phones/ipads to automatically backup your photos and videos.
You could also probably use an app like IFTT and program some rules around it. (you could probably use that app without the NAS)
My kids are 7 and 10 now. We have tried video calls with them over the years, as well as trying to use video conferencing with the grandparents.
It was a shit show every time. Besides the inevitable delays, jumps, crappy audio, etc, the kid was just more fascinated with seeing themselves on the video and then trying to out-compete the sibling for attention, then we had to shush them, then they got mad, would hit the other one, then the devolved into a giant mess. Then the video would get broken up and we'd just revert to using the phone because the audio had dropped out again.
My suggestion would be to have the responsible adult on the other end living with the kids record something, then email it to you, put it in Dropbox, etc. Expecting a three or five year old to do this is asking too much, even with the best UI imaginable. My ten year old could certainly handle something like this, the seven year old would be iffy at best. But if their mother was holding the phone it would definitely be OK.
Naturally.
It needs to have an iPad app that is simple enough for a three-year-old to use with help and for a five-year-old to use without help;
Ask the state to help. After all, if you're leaving a three year old with a five year old, the state will get involved at some point soon.
Or, if I misinterpreted and there's some sort of adult supervision, have the adult press the damn icon on your iPad.
Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.
I believe video sites like Vimeo let you have a private area where you can post videos. I get Kickstarter projects doing that all the time. Then the kids can view the video after you pass away, potentially, to remember you.
I don't know, but it works for me.
Record video and email it. Done.
I use an application called Telegram for this. It has Linux, Mac, and Windows
applications as well as Android and iOS. It also has a fully capable web version.
It is a very simple to use and (as I understand it) very secure application. You
can create group chats with it as well and send pre-recorded videos, pictures,
locations, and files of any kind to the group chats or any specific user.
See https://telegram.org for more info.
If you once felt good enough about a person to not merely have sex, but to have a child together, he can not be a complete asshole in your opinion.
Remember this rule (it applies equally to mothers despite my use of male pronouns). The affection you once had may have disappeared, but, if you suddenly think much worse about him, then your own opinion of what constitutes an asshole is changing — your partner remains the same person as before.
You may no longer be friends, but watch yourself and don't let your friends/parents make you two into enemies. If that helps, think of yourselves as co-workers working on the same project for the next 15-20 years — and stay professional.
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
No Linux app? That's short slighted of them, 2016 will be the Year of the Linux Desktop.
Jitsi is just like skype, but XMPP based. Choose some server to create accounts (many of the big emails account also have XMPP support). As it build with java, works in all systems and it supports very well video and voice.
Android jitsi version is still under developement, but it should work already
for simply saving video messages, use the http://www.videomessageonline.... (webviewer) or the http://mailvu.com/ (via email), but you can always save one locally, using guvcview, cheese or other webcam tools and send the video via email or a shared dropbox or similar
Higuita
I'm sure the lag is large enough to match the difference in timezones :) Use Firefox "Hello" or Jitsi's WebRTC over a satellite connection.
I spend a lot of time away from my kids (think months at a time)
Get a paternity test. There is no way your wife staying faithful if you are away this long.
Share a folder Read Only, drop your recordings in it?
I've used http://www.readeo.com/ to connect my children with their grandparents. It allows you to share a book and a webcam with each other. It keeps the kids more engaged than a simple Skype conversation. They have some great books, too. You'd probably recognize some of them. It does cost some money, but I think it's reasonable and you can try it before committing money to it. It's browser-based so it's already cross-platform.
Work hard to keep connected to them. It's worth it and may be one of the most important things you do.
Seriously. I know we all hate Mozilla and Firefox, but Hello actually threatens to be a useful little app when you're not intentionally drowning yourself in cynicism. Just install Firefox, create a link to a video call, and share a link with someone who has a decent browser, and you're set. They don't even have to use Firefox, just a decent browser, which they'll almost certainly already have.
Voxer is a phone/tablet app that does audio/text/photo mesages, now does short video.
Hangouts works on every platform I've tried it on, has Chrome apps on many platforms, native on others. It supports group video/voice chat as well.
- Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
I think people have been saying that every year since i can remember on slashdot. Not entirely convinced that this one is any different!
I have recently been to a two day workshop via a short flight in near enough the same time zone. It was time away from my wonderful wife and kids (1y & 3y) which is always saddening.
We use Skype, which is fantastic. I have it setup on my locked down work laptop (skype web) and my personal mobile (android) phone. My wife and kids have it on their tablet (android), phone (android) and laptop (windows). We used to use the xbox 360 msn messenger kinect thing to, but that got discontinued.
When away, I skype in at breakfast time, dinner time and bed time. One morning my wife sets up the phone to talk to my 3 year old over breakfast... the phone fell over and he had great concern that daddy was stuck upside down... a little explanation required! On the way back home I had dinner in the airport with my wife and kids via skype. Every one stared and thought I was very odd, but every second with them is important to me, so I'll take the video moments!
The kids are very used to talking on skype with the grandparents on a weekly basis. The problem is trying to get them to sit still as it's quite dull for them. So we leave the camera setup in the distance and just let them get on and play. The grand parents can chat and watch them play, or have dinner etc, rather than force them into a phone call style situation which is unnatural for them. This works really well and means they have lots of opportunity to really spend time with each other without watching the call costs.
Years ago, before kids, my wife and I would msn messenger together and leave both laptops with cameras open in our living rooms for the day. We used to watch TV side by side. I know it sounds a little weird, but it make a marked difference in our lives as we kept up our quality time.
So in summary, skype is great, but I find trying and do it while you do normal family time things works best, especially with little ones.
An yes, my 1 year old was running around the house with the phone yelling daddy at the top of her voice with mummy running after her, and the phone getting covered in dribble and snot.
Yes, skype can send delayed video messages, I just tried it. I don't use it as I prefer to talk in real time, but that might be really useful when I am out of timezone.
Being away from your family can be hard, so I hope you find a good solution. /me offers empathy
While it may be out of vogue, it does it very well and in a secure fashion for both live streaming video and video attachments. It's available on android, iOS, and of course blackberry. No windows or mac though.
Take a look at the Ily Family Phone. They say that three-year-olds can learn to use it. Coming in 2016 from around $200. See http://www.ily.co/
Tox is a free and open-source, peer-to-peer, encrypted instant messaging and video calling protocol. The stated goal of the project is to provide secure yet easily accessible communication for everyone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tox_%28protocol%29
https://tox.chat/
https://github.com/tux3/qTox
http://utox.org/
I was trying to get a +5 Funny
Ever consider the notion that the ones coming to Europe are just possibly the ones who don't want to live in a war zone and/or theocracy?
Pretty sure I already know the answer, but I thought I'd ask anyhow.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
You should've posted something funny.
I realise that now.
I'll try better next time.
Easy as iMessage to use, works on the devices you mentioned (though no web client), and has good security.
If you're wanting to create an archive of messages that the kids can play back whenever they want Plex may be a good solution. You have playback apps for almost any platform, remote access with a plex pass account. The downside is the kids will struggle to leave messages for dad, but for Dad it should be easy to record messages and remotely drop them in the library folder.
www.tango.me
RealNetworks has a service, "RealTime", that works across most platforms for doing just this kind of thing. The use case explained to me was a family sharing video where much of the family is Windows but also there is a Unix person, a few Apple-or-nothing, and another few "Android All the Way".
Since this indeed describes my extended family, it was helpful.
I laughed when I first read it. I thought the same thing. [insert year here] will be the year of the linux desktop. :-)
Set up IceComm on a web site that only you and your kids can access, and give them the Chrome browser with a bookmark to go there at scheduled times .. https://icecomm.io/
Very easy to set up server less video conferencing. Add a bit of TogetherJS to the mix and you've got realtime chat as well - without needing to install anything on any local computers besides the Chrome browser.
I use IceComm on my main server as the 'front door' to my business - I have a browser sitting on my front door all day, and whenever clients visit I'm ready for them. Its just like having a virtual front door to the business .. very handy and very care-free for the customers.
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
Automatic, secure, android device compatible, etc...
You could just find time to make one yourself. Make it browser based, have calls be done through WebRTC, include video recording that instead pushes the captured images into a video with ffmpeg and stores it somewhere like Dropbox, design the UI easy enough for your children to use it exactly for what they need to use it...
So keep the UI as simple as possible, some visible sidebar to show recorded and sent videos. Big buttons to open recording or call views.
Since you'd have a very limited user base you could forget about user registeration, you could just keep everyone able to see everything. Just have it press the user name (or icon, if too young to read) at start to identify who's using it this session. And of course allow access only from trusted machines perhaps with a Single Sign-On solution using a single password shared by the whole family.
Could make a nice long time project to work on during off-times to make it prettier to look at too. Server space doesn't cost much either these days.
See, that's actually funny. Someone mod parent up.
Glide (www.glide.me) is a messaging app for both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets that was built specifically to quickly and easily send video messages (up to 5 mins in length) to your closest friends and family. Messages can even be emailed, sent via SMS or shared via Twitter or Facebook and viewed by someone without the app in their Web browser. With just a single tap (so it's super simple for a child to use), your message is streamed live to the recipient(s) and, if they're there, they can watch it while it is being recorded. If they're not, it is stored to the cloud for viewing later. I definitely recommend giving Glide a try.
You can record video messages in Skype. Use it. Nothing beats Skype in cross-platform compatibility and video quality. Also, everyone is already using it.
http://www.toymail.co/ it may not be exactly what you are looking for it is audio only but allows you to send messages via your phone and they can reply back. It was a kickstarter awhile ago. My sister used it while her daughter and family were stationed in a different state, worked well until her granddaughter figured out skpye/facetime
Appear.in works on the linux desktop using Chrome. If you want the full feature set to work (desktop sharing), chrome is the way to go. However, FF and Opera also work. IE sadly doesn't have WebRTC support (not that I'm sad though).
You mean it was funny. Years ago.
I cannot believe nobody here has brought up WeChat. The app is free, is super easy to use, can send both short audio and video messages, as well as text chat, and make audio or video calls. It's far superior to Whatsapp; once you use it, Skype and Whatsapp look like button-mashing clickbait for imbeciles in comparison.
Seriously, people, get your shit sorted out. WeChat fills all his listed requirements. Everyone should be using it for Internet comms.
Literally. Check us out at http://www.eggcyte.com/ We had your usage in mind when we developed The Egg - families. We wanted to give people a private, EASY way to share photos, videos and other stuff with their families without using social media or cloud services. You can put videos, photos, whatever you like on The Egg and share them with your kids. They can use our iOS/Android app (or even a web browser) to view it. Please check us out! Thanks.
Check out The Egg (http://www.eggcyte.com ). We specifically had this usage in mind when we developed it: a way for families to PRIVATELY share photos, videos, that is EASY for all to use. You can put your stuff on your Egg (a handheld personal cloud device with up to 256GB of storage) and your kids will be able to access it using iOS or Android apps we've developed. Contact me if you'd like more information - we've got 'chat' on our website. Or info@eggcyte.com.
#downwiththeteens