OoVoo- Video Chatting for 2008
OoVoo is a desktop software application that allows people to chat with up to five others (six total) using video, text, and I believe audio (though I didn’t try an audio only connection). Yesterday, I took part in My OoVoo Day with a bunch of other bloggers and media makers. It was basically a bunch of scheduled chats with people using the technology.
My first thought was that it was like Stickam and/or maybe like PalTalk, only with a slightly different mindset. It’s shiny. There are lots of buttons to push. There’s a fairly simple (fairly) social communication tool.
It worked okay for a six way chat early on. The errors people experienced were mostly bandwidth related, it seemed. I think Mac users get a slightly less robust experience (grumble, grumble), but otherwise, it worked-ish. Jeff Glasson from PerkettPR (on a Mac) had a rough time, but I think that’s him. : )
What I Don’t Like
- Client-side app made it one more communications box open (like Skype, AIM, etc). But hey: video *ON* the net is tricky stuff. That’s why there’s a conference about it in May. (plug plug for Jeff).
- I didn’t like that PCs can record and Macs can’t. Parity, folks. Especially in the hungry blogger crowd. We’re all (okay, mostly) using Macs.
- I don’t know why I’ll use it. I mean, I get it, but I’m not sure how often I’ll use it. (But that’s me.)
What It Will/Can Do
Videobloggers can use it as a way to hold video interview panels easily. People can do ad hoc face-to-face moments. It’s much less expensive than pro conference services.
My vote? It’s okay. Not sure I’m an adopter, but that’s not saying it’s bad. I just need to find the right use case for when I need a group video platform.
What did you think?
(Oh, and props to Scott Monty of Crayon for really rocking the campaign and getting lots of people into the experience. THAT was a raging success).
