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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?
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.
This was my thought......SnapChat has a video mode and is more like an IM than a broadcast.
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?
Specifically, note
Vine Messages: http://blog.vine.co/post/81606...
Vine Kids: http://blog.vine.co/post/10959...
Step 1: Create a private Youtube channel and post your videos there.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
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... "
Yea, FTP, rsync and SCP are all great fucking suggestions, and clearly things than can easily be taught to a 5 year old. They all work great on an iPad too. "Use HTTP" is probably the best suggestion, and definitely a complete solution to his problem. Just other day my mom wanted to send a video file to my nephew, and she asked me how to do it and I said "Hey mom, use HTTP" and she was like "Oh, great, thank you, all my problems are solved now".
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.
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.
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.
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 was trying to get a +5 Funny
OP could create a YouTube channel. If you make the videos private (i.e. only your login to YouTube can see them) and then have your kids use the same login you'll be the only ones that can see the videos. You can also publish the video but make them "unlisted" which anyone could technically find but they'd need to figure out the link.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
Perfect is the enemy of good.
I realise that now.
I'll try better next time.