| Video Chat |
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We will be incorporating web page embedded video chat sometime this spring, but until then,
with the right hardware and software you can do audio and video chat with others anywhere
on the globe, free. Basically all you need is a microphone and/or web cam and the free
software downloads listed on this page. The best quality requires newer operating
systems, faster computers and broadband Internet connections, but even older systems and
dial up connections can sometimes squeeze out a few video frames. If you have a newer computer, web camera and a broadband connection (cable, DSL, etc.) our recommendation for video chat is AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) for both Mac and Windows. Once you have installed the required software you can exchange AIM user names with other members and initiate audio or video chats. Audio only software is described near the bottom of this page. |
| AIM -- AOL Instant Messenger 5.5
(PC or Mac) |
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You don't have to be an AOL subscriber to use AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). If Windows
users want to video chat (including sound) with Mac users, this software is essential.
(The Mac version is 4.7.) AIM provides lots of cute extras like games and animated smiley
faces in addition to text, audio and video chat. Video frame rates will depend on your
connection speed. Mac users will actually chat through iChat AV while connecting using their AIM user name. System Requirements Windows
For Video Macintosh
Mac OSX v10.3 (panther) and iChat AV 2.1 |
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iChat AV http://www.apple.com/ichat/ (Mac) |
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On a fast new Mac, iChat AV provides full screen, full motion video and decent audio over
a broadband connection. Now featuring support for Windows via AOL Instant Messenger 5.5
(AIM), it is finally possible for Mac users to video chat with PC users. Mac users can
use iChat software while connecting through their free AIM account (see above). System Requirements Macintosh
For Audio:
For Video: |
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Yahoo Messenger (PC, Mac, Unix) |
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Yahoo Messenger allows you to send text messages, send files and do both video and audio
chat. Windows users with broadband connections will experience reasonably good audio and
video while chatting with other Windows users, but there is no audio when using this
software on a Mac. This is an option for users of older Mac operating systems, who will
be able to type text messages while sending and receiving small video images at low frame
rates. System Requirements Windows
Minimum Requirements Additional feature requirements:
Windows Media Player - 7 or higher Macintosh
A connection to the Internet |
| Audio Chat |
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Skype (PC, Mac OSX, Linux, Pocket PC) |
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Skype is a free audio chat service which also lets you do text messaging and large file
transfers. Audio quality is excellent. For a small fee they will also let you call from
your computer to real telephones anywhere in the world. (Calls to telephones in North
America, Western Europe and Australia cost roughly 2 cents (USD) per minute.) Calls
between computers (audio chat) are free. The high quality audio, full encryption,
conference calls and support for various platforms makes Skype our first choice for audio
only chatting. System Requirements Windows
Windows 2000 or XP Macintosh
G3, G4 or G5 processor Linux
400 MHz processor Pocket PC
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC |