We’ve been blogging quite a lot on the subject of video conferencing recently, covering everything from browser-based net meetings to improving screen sharing. And while some of the services we’ve featured offer conference recording as standard, most don’t.
So what do you do if you have an important online meeting with a client who is specifying changes? Like the rest of us you’re probably scribbling furiously while talking, which gets a bit confusing and can make conferencing more stressful than it needs to be.
There is a solution: online video conference recording. Here are some standalone apps that will record your meeting as well as tools provided by conference services.
Read the rest of this entry »
While most of the gadgeterati gazes lustfully on the Apple iPhone, millions continue to use mobile phones powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile. These phones and devices can also run third party applications such as word processors and other productivity software.
Out of the box devices (including Pocket PCs and smartphones) running Windows Mobile will make calls as usual across the mobile network. However, there is a good choice of VoIP softphones for Windows Mobile that allow you to make calls across the internet and save you money.
Please note that Windows Mobile softphones are a whole different ball game compared to softphones for Windows, as well as Linux and Mac OS X for that matter!
So without any further ado, here are some of the best Windows Mobile softphones to try out!
Read the rest of this entry »
I suppose that one of the biggest trends online right now is the move away from desktop-based applications to browser-based software. We have seen this trend growing especially as Google and Microsoft push their suites of office applications.
While I for one don’t foresee myself using only browser-based tools in preference to their fully featured desktop counterparts any time soon, the notion of having my documents, contacts and messages stored somewhere in ‘the cloud’ is an attractive proposition. I have moved over entirely to Gmail and I do use Google Docs regularly because it comes with me, wherever I may be.
This omnipresence of data is perhaps most useful in communications; that ability to get in touch with anyone anywhere and vise versa is attractive. It’s already here with browser-based IM and now there are some startups breaking the desktop-based ‘best-of-breed’ mould by going browser-based.
Read the rest of this entry »
Staying in touch with friends, family and coworkers via the internet has been in an almost constant state of evolution. The first ‘killer app’ was email; quick and easy, email allowed millions of people across the world to stay into touch without having to actually print or write a letter and post it. Soon after came IM, an even more efficient way to send small messages and conduct quick conversation.
The evolution of online communication stepped up a gear with VoIP technology, most commonly used as part of an IM client. More recently video chat functionality has also been added, making it possible to not only communicate over the internet via text and the spoken word, but also visually.
Individuals and businesses are turning to online video conferencing to communicate with others now more than ever, especially now that the price of fuel is so upwardly mobile. If you just want to have a face-to-face meeting, then you probably don’t need all the functionality (such as screen sharing) offered by one of the better known video conference services, however. Here are some of the best cheap video conference solutions available today.
Read the rest of this entry »
Online conferencing is becoming more popular as businesses curb spending on travel and are increasingly looking to reduce their carbon footprint with a green solution to meetings. The problem is that while video conferencing and screen sharing is a great way to hold meetings, it is largely dependent on your software and hardware.
Some of the hacks which we identity are so simple that they’ll cost you nothing more than a few minutes of time before initiating your online meeting. It should be pointed out, however, that some of these tips involve upgrading equipment to improve screen sharing performance. If money nor time are an issue, then you should be able to see noticeable improvements.
Here are some tips on how you can improve the performance of screen sharing for your next meeting.
Read the rest of this entry »
