skype vs i chat for smog
DESCRIPTION
Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast Podcast hosted at podfeet.com demonstrated the capabilities in iChat AV vs. Skype for text, audio and video conferencing along with screensharing at the April 10th, 2010 meeting of Southern California Macintosh Owners | Users GroupTRANSCRIPT
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Allison SheridanAllison SheridanNosillaCast Podcast hosted at NosillaCast Podcast hosted at http://podfeet.comhttp://podfeet.com
A Technology Geek PodcastA Technology Geek Podcast
with an EVER so slight Macintosh Biaswith an EVER so slight Macintosh Bias
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
iChat vs. SkypeiChat vs. SkypeThe SmackdownThe Smackdown
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
You’d like to connect with friends and chat but You’d like to connect with friends and chat but you’re beginning to hate the telephoneyou’re beginning to hate the telephone
Your dad is in another city and you provide tech Your dad is in another city and you provide tech support for himsupport for him
Your daughter is in Italy going to school and you Your daughter is in Italy going to school and you wish you could see her smiling face to be sure wish you could see her smiling face to be sure she’s okshe’s ok
You’re a sophisticated chat user and you’d like You’re a sophisticated chat user and you’d like to be able to record your conversationsto be able to record your conversations
What Problems are We Trying to What Problems are We Trying to Solve?Solve?
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
The ChallengeThe Challenge
PricePrice
Ease of use & FeaturesEase of use & Features
QualityQuality
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
PricePrice
iChatiChat = Free = Free
SkypeSkype = Free = Free
ScoreScore: Tie at 5 to 5: Tie at 5 to 5
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Ease of UseEase of UseSetupSetup
iChatiChat uses AIM protocol - most common in the US uses AIM protocol - most common in the US so most people have AIM accounts alreadyso most people have AIM accounts already
Also lets you chat with Facebook, ICQ, and MobileMeAlso lets you chat with Facebook, ICQ, and MobileMe
Comes on all Macs preinstalledComes on all Macs preinstalled
Features limited if talking to PC’ersFeatures limited if talking to PC’ers
SkypeSkype is it’s own protocol is it’s own protocolMight have to convince people to download it to talk to you (but it’s Might have to convince people to download it to talk to you (but it’s easy to install/configure)easy to install/configure)
Cross platform - all features work Mac to PCCross platform - all features work Mac to PC
ScoreScore: iChat = 5, Skype = 4: iChat = 5, Skype = 4
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Ease of UseEase of UseVideo ChatVideo Chat
iChatiChat you connect by clicking on the little you connect by clicking on the little video icon (even works if they’re on AIM)video icon (even works if they’re on AIM)
But to find Audio chat you have to right click or But to find Audio chat you have to right click or go to Buddy, Invite to... or Screensharing go to Buddy, Invite to... or Screensharing
This seems trivial but I have to teach my father-in-law EVERY This seems trivial but I have to teach my father-in-law EVERY timetime
SkypeSkype gives you 3+ buttons when you open gives you 3+ buttons when you open a chat window - easy peasya chat window - easy peasy
ScoreScore: iChat = 5, Skype = 5: iChat = 5, Skype = 5
Call (voice), Video, or Screensharing (plus Call (voice), Video, or Screensharing (plus More)More)
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Ease of UseEase of UseScreenshariScreensharingng
iChat iChat is hinky is hinkyYou can request to share someone’s screen or offer to share yoursYou can request to share someone’s screen or offer to share yours
Doesn’t always work, have to try flipping who invites whoDoesn’t always work, have to try flipping who invites who
Only shares entire screen - which is awful if you have two screens and Only shares entire screen - which is awful if you have two screens and the receiver only has onethe receiver only has one
You can control the other person’s screen so very good for tech You can control the other person’s screen so very good for tech supportsupport
SkypeSkype is easy peasy and always works is easy peasy and always worksOne click to share your screen - asks to share full or just share One click to share your screen - asks to share full or just share selection (and you can resize shared area on the flyselection (and you can resize shared area on the fly
Can’t control the other person’s screen so not as good for tech Can’t control the other person’s screen so not as good for tech supportsupport
ScoreScore: iChat = 3, Skype = 5: iChat = 3, Skype = 5
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
FeaturesFeaturesRecordingRecordingiChatiChat - Built in audio/video recording - Built in audio/video recording
Records video as shown on screen, asks permission, audio is one AAC fileRecords video as shown on screen, asks permission, audio is one AAC file
SkypeSkype - Call Recorder from - Call Recorder from ecamm.comecamm.com for $20for $20
Side by sideSide by side video, audio can be split so you can process tracks separately video, audio can be split so you can process tracks separately
ScoreScore: iChat = 4, Skype = 3: iChat = 4, Skype = 3
You might also want to check out one of these two You might also want to check out one of these two great audio recording programsgreat audio recording programs
WireTap Studio ($69 from WireTap Studio ($69 from ambrosiasw.comambrosiasw.com ) or ) or
Audio Hijack Pro ($32 from Audio Hijack Pro ($32 from rogueamoeba.comrogueamoeba.com))
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Other Other FeaturesFeatures
iChatiChat - Share files and photos with iChat - Share files and photos with iChat TheaterTheater
““SkypeSkype Out” allows you to call land line phones Out” allows you to call land line phones
Unlimited US & Canada for $36/year (or Unlimited US & Canada for $36/year (or 2.1¢/min)2.1¢/min)
Unlimited One Country = $72/yearUnlimited One Country = $72/year
Lots of other pricing optionsLots of other pricing options
Skype Skype for iPhone & iPadfor iPhone & iPad
ScoreScore: iChat = 3, Skype = 5: iChat = 3, Skype = 5
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
QualityQuality
In my tests Skype has better compression for In my tests Skype has better compression for video chatvideo chat
Tested iChat vs. Skype to Italy & Skype was a Tested iChat vs. Skype to Italy & Skype was a pretty clear winnerpretty clear winner
Might sacrifice quality for 3 way video chat Might sacrifice quality for 3 way video chat capability in iChatcapability in iChat
ScoreScore: iChat = 3, Skype = 4: iChat = 3, Skype = 4
NosillaCast Mac Podcast by NosillaCast Mac Podcast by Allison Sheridan
Final Score in Final Score in Our Our SmackdownSmackdown
iChatiChat = 4.0 = 4.0
SkypeSkype = 4.4 = 4.4
Skype wins on ease of use and quality, and for the Skype wins on ease of use and quality, and for the cost of $20 you get full featured recordingcost of $20 you get full featured recording
iChat was hurt by the unreliability of screensharingiChat was hurt by the unreliability of screensharing
The good news? You can’t go wrong with either The good news? You can’t go wrong with either oneone