“Google Inc . added a voice and video chat feature to its Gmail email service on Tuesday, launching a free Web-based service that competes with the likes of eBay’s Skype,” Jennifer Martinez reports for Reuters.
“Gmail and Google App subscribers can now choose to speak with friends on a video screen and simultaneously instant message them in a Google Chat box,’ Martinez reports. “The video screen can be popped out of the chat box and moved around a user’s computer screen. Users can also change the size of the screen and expand it to full-screen size.”
Martinez reports, “The feature is available for both PC and Apple computer users.”
MacDailyNews Take: That’s great, but we stopped using our Apple computers circa 1984. Does it work with Macs, too? (Pet peeve; just ignore us.)
Martinez continues, “A webcam and small web browser plug-in are required to use the video chat. Users who do not have a webcam will still be able to chat with friends by voice.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “iChat AV User Since June 2003” for the heads up.]
Well, they’re computers and they’re made by Apple…
I think you’re pet peeve is better classified as a minor psychotic disorder.
Ironically, an Apple IIGS would probably work just fine with Gmail Voice.
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Unrelated but still funny: http://www.theonion.com/content/infograph/os_x_snow_leopard_vs_windows
But you don’t use Apple in the header of your website because Apple would sue you for using their branded name…
MacDailyNews not AppleDailyNews.
That last line about those without webcams still being able to chat with friends by voice…. for those computers that don’t have built-in mics, do they come with built-in mics?
Finally a way to video chat between a mac and a windows PC. I’ve been waiting for this feature for a long time.
More than a year ago in a competition, the iPhone was able to use iChat to video conference. This should already be in the iPhone 3G with Cut and Paste.
Come on Apple, this is the easy stuff and would set aside the other old school smart phone again. Don’t be like Microsoft and be the last to the party!
Here is a link to the story:
“Mirror-based video conferencing developed for iPhone”
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/13/mirror-based-video-conferencing-developed-for-iphone/
This should already be an iPhone option or accessory by now!
@anaknipedro
My wife videoconferences with all her friends and family PCs in China using our Macbook with
Skype. It’s been around for quite awhile.
“…for PCs running either Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X.”
I have never been able to use the built in iChat ever since I purchased my Mac. It could never get through my Firewall. The same is true for my family abroad. Thus we have used Skype in the past. It’s okay, but has a significant delay at times. This may be an interesting competitor. I will definitely use it.
I always liked this feature in QuickMail (audio attachments) and wonder why modern email packages don’t offer this.