Comments on: Skype with video?

Question: Skype with video?

robhuddles — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:47:34 -0800

I read an article a year or so ago about free IM services. One of the ones mentioned included the ability to use webcams and get video. I have a three year old, and live 1000 miles from her grandparents, so I'd love to get this service and have them be able to see each other while they talk. You know - the good old Jetson's-style videophone stuff.

I thought it was Skype, but I downloaded and installed it and can't find any settings or anything in it for video.

My requirements are simple: I need it to be free (both the software and the service), and run on Windows XP Pro. I haven't purchased a webcam for myself or them yet, so webcam compatibility isn't an issue - I'll get whatever will work with the service.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:53:31 -0800

iChat and AIM now provide interoperable videochat.

Unfortunately, only Mac-based iChat-to-iChat with Apple's iSight really provides a satisfactory experience. It is free, given that you own Macs and iSights, which I realize is out of your scope.

However, I have been using this setup to keep in touch with my parents for over a year now and I gotta tell you - it rocks. To the point that I feel some of the feelings one has when one's parents live in the same town. :)

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:55:32 -0800

I should calrify - when last investigated, AIM on Wintel (XP and up, i think) offered free videochat. iChat and AIM use the same network.

WinAIM, however, limited the video window to a native-resolution display within the AIM UI. iChat does not.

By: abcde

abcde — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:08:04 -0800

AIM, MSN and Yahoo all offer this. ICQ doesn't but no one uses it.

By: robhuddles

robhuddles — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:20:27 -0800

Thanks, abcde and mwhybark. However, I don't want a text-based IM like Yahoo that merely lets me view a webcam. I also need audio support, since my 3-year-olds spelling isn't too great. :) From the looks of the FAQ, it looks like AIMs doesn't offer the audio side of things, either. If I'm wrong about either of these, please let me know. But the ability to actually *talk* to each other is also of paramount importance - sorry I forgot to list that in the original post.

By: filmgeek

filmgeek — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:56:39 -0800

Robhuddles...My brother & I chat monthly (along with my 4 yr old niece).
He has XP, a webcam and a USB microphone.
I have OSX, and an isight.

We get a 320x240 10fps conneciton - good enough that lips + sound are in sync.
Two macs can get 30fps.

All of this is only possible on a highspeed connection.

No text. It's like a video phone call. No additional chargers.

By: bruceyeah

bruceyeah — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 22:20:21 -0800

I've used MSN Messenger to have a video/audio chats between the UK and Australia with no problems (and no cost). Both sides were using Logitech webcams which seem to have good driver support in XP.

By: geekyguy

geekyguy — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 23:06:18 -0800

Like Skype but with video would be vSkype.

By: phox

phox — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:54:20 -0800

MSN Messenger has worked great for me doing this. After much trial and error using other webcam software/messengers, I always end up going back to MSN. The sync and speed are great, plus its free.

By: kimota

kimota — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 03:17:47 -0800

filmgeek, is that with AIM/iChat, or what?

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 04:31:55 -0800

Yahoo's instant messager handles audio and video.

By: Who_Am_I

Who_Am_I — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 05:12:37 -0800

There is a video plugin for Skype called Spontania. I was very impressed with both the video and audio quality of this service, but had some trouble getting it to install on different machines. I would recommend going this route if you can.
Currently, my girlfriend and I are using Yahoo Messenger to communicate between North Carolina and Denmark, and it works pretty well. The quality isn't quite as good as with Skype and there seems to be a little more lag (maybe 1-2 seconds). It supports text, audio and video.

By: abcde

abcde — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 10:17:23 -0800

All three also handle audio, I should say.

By: thanotopsis

thanotopsis — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 12:15:56 -0800

Creative Labs sells a number of sub-30.00 cameras that are more than passable for use over the major IM video/audio chat networks. Having purchased a pair of cameras 2 years ago, I was able to set up a passable video chat from the east coast to the midwest on Christmas eve, and connect up various branches of the family. Worked like a charm.

Only thing I can advise is to try and remove any routers/switches/firewalls for the time when you're going to be connecting the cameras up. Even though they provide passive resistance, it's enough to drop your frame rate noticeably.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 18:33:32 -0800

I've used Netmeeting successfuly for video chat and it is shipped with XP. Go to Start -> Run -> conf to access.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 23:31:17 -0800

iChat/AIM video does indeed handle audio.

By: geekyguy

geekyguy — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:55:12 -0800

Skype has recently released Skype 2.0 with built-in video capabilities. Good stuff.