Where Art Thou, Videophone? First wireless videophone released Wednesday Dec 17 2003 14:05 EDT Home video-phones have been part of a promised a communications revolution since the sixties. D-link is trying to wow the consumer market with the industry's first Wi-Fi ready video-phone. - At the 1964 World's fair, AT&T promised attendees that video-phones were right around the corner. In fact, the company's 1969 annual report predicted that by 1980 it would sell more than 1 million Picture-phones with revenue reaching $1 billion. Several decades later, and most PC based video communications systems have left something to be desired, and the use of video-phones remains about as popular as they were back then. While film developers, musicians and industry have turned to broadband video-conferencing via high-end gear, the market for lower end consumer video-phones continues to experience growing pains. Among critics looking for reasons as to the failure of the consumer level video-phone, most of the venom gets directed toward the commonly used H.323 standard. The sentiment is so pervasive partially because H.323 requests that 98 percent of the 65,000 odd ports through your firewall be open for it to work effectively. The broadband invasion has parented the release of products like the i2eye Broadband Videophone from D-Link, which, unlike PC Web cams, connected directly to a TV set on one end and a broadband router on the other - meaning you don't actually need a computer to make it work. Reviews around the web were generally favorable, though business users frequently dub the unit the "Poor man's Polycom Viewstation", preferring higher quality and more expensive gear. Today D-link released what they claim is the first wireless broadband videophone, the DVC-1100, which uses "enhanced 802.11b" wireless technology - letting you place the unit next to your television without running cable. You then send Christmas greetings to Grandma (if she's got a unit) simply by using the remote control. The new unit, like the DVC-1000, uses the i2eye directory service, which identifies users by their land-line phone number and allows you to store 50 contacts. The unit uses WEP security instead of WPA, but does support 256-bit key encryption. The unit costs $249; more information is available at the D-link website. |
FrinkProfessor Premium Member join:2000-07-13 Scotch Plains, NJ |
Frink
Premium Member
2003-Dec-17 1:08 pm
reminds me of...flying cars! where are my flying cars??? | |
| | gatorkramNeed for Speed Premium Member join:2002-07-22 Winterville, NC |
Re: reminds me of...said by Frink: flying cars! where are my flying cars???
Yeah, and living on the moon... | |
| | | ronpinImagine Reality join:2002-12-06 Nirvana 1 edit |
ronpin
Member
2003-Dec-17 1:42 pm
It works at 384Kbs.I enjoy good quality video conferencing -- but it really does require at least 384Kbs upload speed and a firewire camera to get 30fps -- on a tiny picture at medium quality. It took some fiddling to discover that a USB mic/headset was needed to conquer the echo. It really does work well - but most folks probably remember the early dial-up versions -- and got cured-for-life. Since it's still rare for two distant family members to have at least 384kbs upload -- it's still frustrating for most (and this is 2003?) | |
| | | | Omega Premium Member join:2002-07-30 Golden, CO |
Omega
Premium Member
2003-Dec-17 2:45 pm
Re: It works at 384Kbs.I think it will be a while till most people get 384kbs upload.
Also, caps have to be done away with. | |
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| fholeThe Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings Premium Member join:2001-09-18 Clover, SC |
to Frink
No lie!
Where is my JetPack?
I was promised a JetPack! | |
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to Frink
Moeller is working on one right now - it's in tethered flight tests. I dont recommend a car to plane convertible as the are a: cars with bolt on wing sections that always eventually fall off in flight b: poopy little clown cars that work well a cockpits but look pretty weak in the street. | |
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to Frink
said by Frink: flying cars! where are my flying cars???
what! people cant even drive on the ground let alone in the air! | |
| | ameniteThe Soylent - It's People Premium Member join:2002-11-21 Ridgewood, NJ |
to Frink
And what about the disposable/edible jumpsuits we were supposed to be wearing by the 60s?? | |
| | BIGMIKEQ Premium Member join:2002-06-07 Gainesville, FL 2 edits |
to Frink
flying cars! you never have people fly cars like thay drive cars, thin ever one wood need a Anti-Aircraft Gun! | |
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to Frink
flying cars....perfect vehicle for smashing into skyscrapers
i hope the terrorists dont get that idea lol | |
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Dreadwing6Unleash The Giver2 Premium Member join:2002-03-10 Da Bronx? |
Capsules!I can't wait for some capsules | |
| Radio ActiveMy pappy's a pistol Premium Member join:2003-01-31 Fullerton, CA |
H.323 Standard98% of 65535 ports open? Wouldn't that kinda break your firewall?
Can you say "Deal Breaker?"
Not for me, thank you very much.
Unless a really good standalone unit came out, I guess I'll talk the old-fashioned way. No connection to my computer, other than a router for connection to the cloud. | |
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Re: H.323 StandardHrmm not interested. Just doesn't sound like something that would be very useful at this point in time. | |
| | | EvergreenerSent By Grocery Clerks join:2001-02-20 Evergreen, CO |
Re: H.323 Standardlol, me neither...
remind me again why i want this for routine conversations? | |
| | | | ronpinImagine Reality join:2002-12-06 Nirvana |
ronpin
Member
2003-Dec-17 3:34 pm
Re: H.323 StandardBecause when it comes to distant family members -- the most valued conversations are with the wee-ones who can't even talk yet. In the future sales people will probably use video "cold-calls" that make you hot -- for the 'lil tart on the other end. But other than that -- it may be the same difference between a shower and a bath. A shower is more efficient -- a bath can be more enjoyable. | |
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W8ASABiet Noi Tieng Viet Khong? join:2000-07-31 Dayton, OH ·Time Warner Cable
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W8ASA
Member
2003-Dec-17 4:22 pm
It's already hereI've been conversing with friends all over the world for a long time with video and voice, using CuSeeMee, Yahoo, Paltalk, or other programs. Nothing new here. The video is a little choppy, but it's essentially free, and you can at least see the other person.
The drawback to what I do is that you have to make sure the other person has the same program and can buzz you somehow, which is possible with all the programs I've used. | |
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reWell at least were getting close to it, off by several decades~ | |
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1964 World's FairI attended the 1964 World's Fair as a child, and I remember seeing the AT&T videophones there. I also vaguely remember a display from General Motors showing some sort of futuristic transporation system.
On the other had, it was also the first time I ever saw a Nixie tube* and I marveled at the thought that someday we might have such things in our homes.
Some things haven't changed at all, and some things have changed more than we could have imagined.
*A Nixie tube was a device for displaying the digits 0 thru 9. It was a glass tube containing ten electrodes, each in the shape of a digit, which would glow red when energized. You would display a digit by energizing the appropriate electrode.
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Re: 1964 World's FairThe 1964 World's Fair spawned the T1 line. It was the essential link for the Videophone. | |
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gwionwild colonial boy
join:2000-12-28 Pittsburgh, PA |
gwion
2003-Dec-17 5:19 pm
Possible since the seventies......possible even in the sixties, at a little expense. But nobody ever wanted them. Conferencing, they've had some takers. Since the early nineties, you've been able to buy the things. But, again. Nobody ever wanted them. So, how about now? We're more gadgety, true. But I'm more gadgety than most, and they aren't anywhere near the top of my wish list... aren't even on my wish list... every few years, somebody brings them up, again, as though there's a perception that we want the things, we just don't know we do, yet. I don't know about that... somehow, I just don't see them as a killer app. Somehow, I just never "picture" them as a "must have." Data terminals integrated with telephones may find themselves gaining popularity, but the classic "picture phone", unless it's in a conference room or something along those lines, and for those who want to employ a lot of videoconferencing, is pretty much a novelty, not a need. In fact, 9 out of ten times, when I pick up the phone, I don't want to be seen. If I do, the technology's available, and has been for years. It's one of those things, though, that looks fantastic in a mock up, but when you start dealing with the practicalities of it as comonplace, it looks less and less useful or attractive, as an ubiquitous technology... | |
| X_DigitBinary Enhanced Premium Member join:2003-06-12 Mansfield, TX |
X_Digit
Premium Member
2003-Dec-17 5:34 pm
What kind of image from a solicitor?I can picture it now... a solicitor calling me up asking about the new and improved penis enlarger! What image is going to flash on the teleprompter then? NO THANKS... | |
| | KAIFS V I P Premium Member join:2001-01-11 CHEEEESE WI |
KAIFS
Premium Member
2003-Dec-18 8:14 am
Re: What kind of image from a solicitor?said by X_Digit: I can picture it now... a solicitor calling me up asking about the new and improved penis enlarger! What image is going to flash on the teleprompter then? NO THANKS...
Now this is funny! Seeing GWB jr. latest spam bill, it is all possible - big screen TV penis calling you to invite to the same size | |
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FrustratedVideoUser
Anon
2003-Dec-17 5:51 pm
Video conferencing needs Skype!What the world really needs is a video telephone tool that works like Skype does for audio. There are many people for whom configuring firewalls is too difficult. | |
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Re: Video conferencing needs Skype!WHAT about a HOVER board ? I have been wanting one for years heh | |
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