Even TechCrunch and SlashDot seem to lack basic analysis skills. There's a bunch of news out in the blogosphere about an apple patent containing a hint about video conference calling on a phone. The patent application is enormous and apple has filed tons of patents that they haven't actually used, so I wouldn't count on it. Just thought I'd post, as it seems relevant to teh discussion.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/02/a-video-conferencing-iphone-in-the-works/ On Feb 2, 3:45 pm, Reinier Zwitserloot <[email protected]> wrote: > Blast it all! My argument, obliterated by fashion sense. > > On Feb 2, 10:48 am, Steven Herod <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I saw the killer application of forward facing video camera on a phone > > today on the train. > > > A woman was using it to check her hair. > > > It's apparent we don't understand the real, compelling uses of > > technology. > > > On Feb 2, 9:53 am, Michael Neale <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Yes I think GSM holds a lot of things back I am afraid. > > > > Unfortunately it will take a while to happen, once things move away > > > from GSM around the world and into more IP based options (I guess?? > > > but not a telco expert). At the moment no one has interest in this. > > > > On Jan 31, 3:52 pm, Reinier Zwitserloot <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hey Peter, Michael: > > > > > I apologize, I should have been more specific. I meant: video call -on > > > > a mobile phone-. I make video calls routinely when I'm behind my desk. > > > > But when I'm using a mobile phone (which presumes that I'm not already > > > > seated behind a computer and therefore probably on the move, busy, or > > > > distracted): Never even had the slightest itch for it. > > > > > As far as video calling for kitchens and the like - the idea being > > > > that you can chat while busily preparing something: Sure, but, it's > > > > not going to be with a mobile phone, because you'd have to put it on a > > > > stand. Perhaps 1984-esque tv/camera combo screens all around the > > > > house, with a central computer system that figures out where you are > > > > and routes your (video)calls to the right screen/camera device. That > > > > seems more likely to me. > > > > > As for voice quality: I had that exact same idea a while back. Why do > > > > iPhones and android phones still use a crappy outdated algorithm? If > > > > they packed-switched the voice data using a modern algorithm that can > > > > rely on a far better CPU, then the voice quality could triple without > > > > using more bandwidth. Let alone that bandwidth isn't nearly as big an > > > > issue these days. Unfortunately the GSM standard doesn't really allow > > > > that kind of flexibility. I don't know if continuous streams of > > > > packets across the 3G are more demanding for a cell tower than a > > > > standard GSM voice block. If they are, that would certainly be a > > > > roadblock. Perhaps the phones can encode a better quality audio INTO > > > > the gsm voice stream. That'd be an awesome hack. When the call is > > > > routed, your phones will beep at each other to realize they both speak > > > > this protocol, and then, -bing-, your voice quality just improves > > > > markedly on the spot. Would be a nice sell for either the iPhone or > > > > android phones: Convince your friend to buy this phone too - your > > > > calls will sound soo much better! > > > > > On Jan 30, 11:53 pm, Peter Becker <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Reinier Zwitserloot wrote: > > > > > > [...]> Video calling has been available for years and I haven't ever, > > > > > - > > > > > > ever-, seen anyone do it. Care to name an exception? Are you video > > > > > > calling? > > > > > > I have to out myself: I do. Admittedly I'm only using MSN/Skype/etc > > > > > on a > > > > > computer and it all started with grandparents watching a baby/toddler > > > > > on > > > > > the other side of the world, but I have also used it with my friends > > > > > that I rarely see in real life since we are all modern nomads. > > > > > > It's not going to replace normal phone call, though (at least not for > > > > > me). My mobile phone doesn't have the second camera and I don't care. > > > > > Webcam into the room or on top of my netbook is convenient and I can > > > > > certainly see someone setting up a videoconferencing configuration in > > > > > their kitchen in the near future. Maybe then it becomes interesting to > > > > > video-call in from a mobile, but I personally don't see myself running > > > > > around with my mobile phone held up in front of me. > > > > > > Peter --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
