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Buying Guide: Video Chat: How to Get Started
Not too long ago, video phones were more sci-fi fantasy than reality—something you'd see, for instance, on the popular cartoon, The Jetsons. Then along came broadband Internet. Suddenly, what was once a technological pipe dream became reality. Not surprisingly, the first few attempts were disappointing. These days, however, video chats, or calls, are practically mainstream thanks to the proliferation of webcams, and fast Internet connections.
Video chatting is easy—if you know where to look, how to set it up, and how to get all of your friends, family, and co-workers on compatible systems. Here's all the information you need to get started.
Webcams
The cameras used today for most video chats are called webcams, a term that dates back to the days when they were mainly used to show a continuous streaming image of something on a Web page. Today, they're built into just about every laptop. And the free-standing Webcams can do a lot even though they're powered by nothing more than a USB connection. In fact, most even come with an improved microphone and almost high-definition video capabilities. Don't expect to get that kind of quality with full-motion video on most calls; even a mediocre Internet connection will drop the quality.
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Recommended Webcams:
Logitech Webcam C600
Microsoft LifeCam Cinema |
Headsets
Video isn't the only thing you need to think about. Unless you know American Sign Language, you still need audio to communicate during your video chat. A cheap microphone can do the trick, but when used in combination with not-so-great speakers will likely create echo problems. Of course, the best microphones and software can handle this.
Generally, the best choices for chatting online—video or not—are USB-based headsets, with an integrated microphone. The computer sees them as a completely different sound system, so you can plug or unplug them as needed; Windows will generally just switch back and forth, between headset and speakers, as needed. (Avoid the mini-jack versions, with plugs for audio/speakers, unless your computer is so old it's your only option.) You can even go wireless using Bluetooth headsets, the same kind you'd use with a cell phone, if your computer supports Bluetooth. But I wouldn't bother: Bluetooth is a lot more persnickety on a PC than on a phone, the cost is much higher, and the sound quality of the wired headsets is generally much better, if not superb.
Remember, many webcams also come with an improved microphone built in. They're great, but they still won't help with potential echo problems if you listen to the other side of the conversation via speakers.
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Recommended Wired/Wireless Headsets: Logitech ClearChat Pro USB Plantronics .Audio 995 Digital Wireless Stereo Headset FreeTalk Stereo Wireless Headset Recommended Bluetooth Headsets: Aliph Jawbone Icon Plantronics Discovery 975 |
Software & Services
You've got the equipment. Now you need a conduit to share your good looks—screen to screen. You can either opt for software, which means all parties of the video chat need to be running the same application, or use a Web-based service.
Skype's become a full-fledged communication console, in fact, one that supports file transfers, instant messaging, calls out to regular phone numbers, and even calls in. Even better, the newest beta (5.0) finally supports multiple video users. That's destined to become a pay-only feature in the future; one-on-one (PC-to-PC) video calls will remain free. Skype is the poster-child for video conferencing, having made it easy and free to video chat between Skype users. The software—generally used for its audio and the ability to make cheap phone calls—is relatively expert at recognizing the hardware you use (with the exception of the occasional hiccup—check your audio settings if you plug/unplug headphones a lot and no one can hear you.)
In fact, with Skype, you don't always need a computer. Asus makes the AiGuru SV1T Internet Videophone Touch for Skype, which has a touchscreen and camera and costs around $250. Of course, you can get a netbook for that same price that does Skype and more, including Asus's own EeePC 1001P.
Another app that's easy to use is Logitech Vid (Windows or Mac). Thankfully, Logitech didn't limit it to its own webcams, so you can use it with the integrated camera in a laptop. Create an account, make sure your friends and family do the same, and you can video chat. It's that simple. Of course, that's all you get. There are no bells and whistles—no text chat, file transfers or the like. Logitech Vid is just a simple way to make a video call. It's all based on tech from PCMag's old favorite, SightSpeed. The software is bundled with Logitech cameras, such as the C600 (mentioned above).
Even a site like TinyChat, which is all about creating a quick-and-dirty Web-based chat room with one click, now integrates video for broadcasting to others in the room. When everyone in the chatroom is broadcasting, everyone is visible, and that's a de facto video conference. Twelve users can join a chat at once, and it's all free.
Your next, simplest option for video chatting is an instant-messaging platform. If you and all your friends use AIM, Windows Live Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger, the software involved has video conferencing/broadcasting built in. Google Talk users can download an extra plug in for Windows or Intel-based Macs to video chat from within Gmail, Google Wave, or iGoogle. Mac users with AIM or MobileMe accounts should activate them within iChat, which makes video chat on a Mac system look great.
Once you step beyond Skype and instant messaging, video conferencing goes a little high-end, delving into areas where small businesses play.
For example, TokBox, a Web-based conferencing service, specializes in video meetings where up to 20 people can video chat for free; pay $10 a month, and you can start adding meeting moderation (such as muting the annoying people) and scheduling. TokBox is also built into instant-messaging sites like Meebo; it even lets you video chat with Facebook friends. Maybe someday Facebook will integrate its own video chat. It could happen. In the meantime, the regular text chat in Facebook is still pretty lame, so stick with hopping out to TokBox.
ooVoo is a download for Macs and Windows PCs that handles free, two-way video chats. Most ooVoo users will likely opt to download the software, but it's not necessary: You can conference in users with a webcam via the ooVoo site—no download needed. For a fee, you can set up a multi-user video call and get better quality video (three callers for $9.95 a month up to $39.95 a month for business use, which includes sharing your desktop).
And finally, there's ChatRoulette. Uh, the less said about that, the better.
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Recommended Video Conferencing Services: Skype 4.0 ooVoo TokBox AIM 7.2 |
Video Chat Tips
1. Lighting Counts
A dark room is going to lead to a bad video image. If possible, light your face and behind your head (but don't shine the light into the camera lens), you'll improve the quality of the video. Avoid direct sunlight. It's worse than indoor, indirect lights. Makeup is optional.
2. Avoid Patterns
If your clothes have wacky patterns on them, the video signal could interpret them strangely as it takes the time to compress the video to send and then decompress on the other end. You'll look more like a screensaver than a person.
3. Stay Centered
Center your webcam as best you can. If you can, clip it to the top of your monitor, right over the video of your fellow chatter. That way, as you look them in the eye, they'll be looking you in the eye—well, sort of. Make sure you're visible from the shoulders up, and try not to cut off the top of your head in the video frame.
4. Stop Moving
If you move around too much (i.e. make wild hand gestures or rock side to side) the video is going to degrade as the camera and service figure out how to handle all that extra movement data. You'll go from smooth to jerky in a second.
5. It's Not a Mirror
Once you've established that you're in the video frame, close the video window displaying your end of the link. That way you'll concentrate more on the person or persons you're engaged with, rather than checking to see if something spilled on your shirt.
6. Close Other Open Applications
Video conferencing is still a CPU-intensive task and the video will stutter and degrade if your PC is doing other things while you're trying to video chat.
This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.