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Bill Campbell
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SkypeSee Windows Video: Fun things to do on a lazy Sunday

April 3, 2005 09:07 AM

Topics: Yet More News Topics

The VoIP video conferencing sector is heating up. Every week seems to bring another video application. Some are boring, some like Apple’ Tiger iChat (link) are awe inspiring other like SkypeSee (link) that I tested this morning our simply a must have to test and experience because they appear to push the envelope.

I tested SkypeSee from Western Canada to Denmark and Poland. Skype voice quality was not compromised in anyway. Frame rate was fast enough for good lip sync. Video bandwidth consumed was averaging 50 kilobits per second. Pic size was what ever we wanted.

Download was about 15 seconds… the program is only 387 KB. It reminded us of Picophone. Set up is just about as fast. Router friendly, there are no ports to forward. My XP SP2 firewall asked if I wanted to “Block” or “Allow” this program. The next step is a bit of a mind-bender. You or the other party need to pass an ID code to the server in order to sync your PC with their’s. Your SkypeSee session ID is created when you boot the SkypeSee application and is simultaneously copied to your clip board. All you do is open a Skype Chat Message, Right mouse Click and select “Paste”. An ID similar to this one will be pasted into the Skype Chat Message window: Video-ID: aa919a1784919309 your buddy then Copies this entire phrase including the identifier “Video-In” onto their clip board and clicks on Put ID. The connection will be established in less than 15 seconds.

SkypSee is currently a beta release. I was testing version 054. A MAC version is promised.

From looking at archived screen shots in the SkypeSee Forum it was interesting see familiar Skype Staff faces in them testing this product. Anyone recognize this face:

Tip: The secret to good video is a good cam $100 price range (I use a Logitech 4000 Pro) and good lighting from behind the camera not from behind you.

Good Skyping...

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Posts linking to SkypeSee Windows Video: Fun things to do on a lazy Sunday:

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» Skype's Evolution Continues from Mark Evans
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Comments

Posted by: Charlie Barker at April 4, 2005 12:21 AM

I always wonder how mainstream video phones will be. I can understand the Grandparents in Australia wanting to see their new grandchild in England, but in an office, driving your car, on a train would you really want a video phone? Maybe i'm getting old and stuck in my ways :)

Posted by: Bill Campbell at April 4, 2005 10:33 AM

Hey Charlie!

I wish I could answer your question. It is actually a very difficult issue to describe.

Before I started testing video about a year ago I felt just as you do. I also felt that since there was no eye contact possible, the technology would be useless. I was wrong.

The best word I can come up with to describe the experience is "ambience".

It turely adds an important dimension to communications. Like presence does. Maybe video is in fact the ultimate real-time presence engine.

I can capture many aspects of my audience's presence: do I have their attention, did that comment bring a smile or frown, are they understanding what I am saying, are they engaged or Googling...

Try it Charlie... maybe you will get hooked like I did. :) :)

Thanks for posing such an interesting comment.

Regards,

Bill

Posted by: Jens Gammelgaard at April 9, 2005 12:22 AM

Hello,

Has any of you found the real association of Skypesee and Skype?

Are they only sharing (nearly) the same name?

BR
Jens Gammelgaard

Posted by: Bill Campbell at April 9, 2005 9:18 AM

Hey Jens!

I do not believe there is any connection. In fact Ashod the developer of SkypeSee had a posted request on his Forum to help him find a new name for his product: http://www.skypesee.com/viewtopic.php?t=41

Thanks for the question.

Regards, Bill

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