Like everyone else I was anxiously awaiting the release of Skype 1.5 with Video which turned out to be Skype 2.0 with Video ;-)
I tried it yesterday, both in "Test Webcam" mode and with a relative and well, perhaps something is wrong on my end, but, well, it was not as high quality as I was anticipating. Lips and voice were not synced. Motion was not full and fluid.
Again, perhaps there is a tweak I need to make. I found video quality (specifically fluidity) to be about the same as MSN, better than Yahoo and not as good as WigiWigi.
What are other people's experience with video quality with the new Skype compared to other apps (or plug-ins for Skype) they have tried.
Also, if you guys know how I can make my Skype Video more fluid and insync with my speaking, please let me know.
Richard
Full Version: Skype Video Quality Comparison
From the Los Angeles Times.... http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-te...ties-technology
I can't comment on the quality of Skype video because I use a Mac, but I can confirm that iChat's video is really excellent, at least when bandwidth at both ends is sufficient. This poll will need to be retaken when Skype 2.0 comes out on the Mac.
QUOTE
....Nevertheless, the image was hardly perfect, even when both parties were using high-speed Internet connections. There is a general haziness to the images, and the picture quality washes if the chatter is in low light. Movement causes some pixelization.
Indeed, the image quality is not quite as good as that achieved by the iChatAV system that Apple Computer Inc. debuted in 2003. But iChatAV was a marginal development because it works only on Macintosh machines, meaning it can be enjoyed by only a relatively small number of computer users.
The significance of Skype is that it's the first quality, online video communication regimen for the masses.
Indeed, the image quality is not quite as good as that achieved by the iChatAV system that Apple Computer Inc. debuted in 2003. But iChatAV was a marginal development because it works only on Macintosh machines, meaning it can be enjoyed by only a relatively small number of computer users.
The significance of Skype is that it's the first quality, online video communication regimen for the masses.
I can't comment on the quality of Skype video because I use a Mac, but I can confirm that iChat's video is really excellent, at least when bandwidth at both ends is sufficient. This poll will need to be retaken when Skype 2.0 comes out on the Mac.
I second that.
I would add also that image quality depends to a very large extend on the image quality of the webcam in use.
IMHO Bandwith is the second criteria which comes to mind, followed by how powerful the computer is (proessor, graphic card, memory).
I would add also that image quality depends to a very large extend on the image quality of the webcam in use.
IMHO Bandwith is the second criteria which comes to mind, followed by how powerful the computer is (proessor, graphic card, memory).
I'm using a Pentium M with 3.08 GHz, a 5 Mb/s Cable Connection and a Logitech 4000 WebCam. Behind a router of course. Voice calls are excellent, but video does not sync with voice.
Skype has still a long way to go before even come close to what Wigi performs ( on video quality and voice/video sync...)
rgrds
rgrds
I am not familiar with those. Do they work from cross-platforms (Mac/ Windows)?
QUOTE(Cougar73)
Skype has still a long way to go before even come close to what Wigi performs ( on video quality and voice/video sync...)
rgrds
rgrds
Maybe so but with Skype I click a button I get video, with wigi you press a button, stand on your left leg holding your right ear, scratch you nose, at that point I gave up. Wigi is far to complicated.
A lot will also depend on camera quality. Skype testers did a lot of testing and improvements.
My understanding is that its pretty good, but you do need a decent web cam to enjoy it at its best.
My understanding is that its pretty good, but you do need a decent web cam to enjoy it at its best.
Ok i only have 1Mbit down 200kbit up BUT skype didnt even get near the max speed. The quality sucked while the speed was slow (the person i tested it with has about the same connection). No way it is better than wigiwigi. I hoped that they made it better than this.
I tested skype and video quality was great.
1. I connected my PC and Laptop to a router.
2. I connected my webcam to the PC and placed the Laptop next to the PC.
3. I logged to skype in the PC and Laptop with different accounts and placed a call, so that I can see what happens on my Laptop.
RESULTS:
great video quality, especially in full screen format. it's really amazing.
I have done the same test with msn. the quality was good but not as good as skype. in addition, there is no full screen feature in msn.
now i am seriously considering to connect my PC to the TV to maximize the experience with the full screen feature.
Thank you skype.
1. I connected my PC and Laptop to a router.
2. I connected my webcam to the PC and placed the Laptop next to the PC.
3. I logged to skype in the PC and Laptop with different accounts and placed a call, so that I can see what happens on my Laptop.
RESULTS:
great video quality, especially in full screen format. it's really amazing.
I have done the same test with msn. the quality was good but not as good as skype. in addition, there is no full screen feature in msn.
now i am seriously considering to connect my PC to the TV to maximize the experience with the full screen feature.
Thank you skype.
Wigi wins.
[quote=gwaelod][quote=Cougar73]Skype has still a long way to go before even come close to what Wigi performs ( on video quality and voice/video sync...)
rgrds[/quote]
Maybe so but with Skype I click a button I get video, with wigi you press a button, stand on your left leg holding your right ear, scratch you nose, at that point I gave up. Wigi is far to complicated.[/quote]
Wigi is not finished, it is still "just" a test-version.
It still needs a GUI, so in due time you will get a button to press when you want to make a call.
But you can still scratch your nose if you want to.
rgrds[/quote]
Maybe so but with Skype I click a button I get video, with wigi you press a button, stand on your left leg holding your right ear, scratch you nose, at that point I gave up. Wigi is far to complicated.[/quote]
Wigi is not finished, it is still "just" a test-version.
It still needs a GUI, so in due time you will get a button to press when you want to make a call.
But you can still scratch your nose if you want to.
Tested here Skype Beta about 30 x with a lot of different
people all over the world.
For a Beta it is not bad indeed, but there are lot's of bugs
yet to be slammed. I want especially mention the bandwidth
control (Elastic Bandwidth) which behaves very badly for
high speed connections, giving the opposite result in speed
and quality. This gives me an upload of 5-10KB/s with bad
results. Reported that issue already.
Using a high quality cable internet connection of 5 Mbps
download and 1 Mbps upload. Wigiwigi gives me always a
very fluent, highspeed and high quality video. I am using the
Creative NX Ultra CCD webcam.
Willem
people all over the world.
For a Beta it is not bad indeed, but there are lot's of bugs
yet to be slammed. I want especially mention the bandwidth
control (Elastic Bandwidth) which behaves very badly for
high speed connections, giving the opposite result in speed
and quality. This gives me an upload of 5-10KB/s with bad
results. Reported that issue already.
Using a high quality cable internet connection of 5 Mbps
download and 1 Mbps upload. Wigiwigi gives me always a
very fluent, highspeed and high quality video. I am using the
Creative NX Ultra CCD webcam.
Willem
[quote=Willem5201]Wigiwigi gives me always a
very fluent, highspeed and high quality video.Willem[/quote]
I am sure it does however make it a single click integrated with Skype solution and I am with you.
very fluent, highspeed and high quality video.Willem[/quote]
I am sure it does however make it a single click integrated with Skype solution and I am with you.
Just startup Wigiwigi, do not move the settings, observe the bandwidth used, and the quality delivered. *Fluidity*, framerate. Check that.
Just when I thought I had seen it all, somebody comes around and messes with the laws of physics.
Yes, I too find the name Wigiwigi a little silly. But the technology is not.
Gentlemen of Skype, you did a nice job. but..
But the fastest way for succes is to pack a sack of money, go buy Wigiwigi and be done with it.
Design by acquisition, nothing to be ashamed of -
M$ does it all the time :-)
Still, Skype is a decent, if not distant, second runner up.
Just when I thought I had seen it all, somebody comes around and messes with the laws of physics.
Yes, I too find the name Wigiwigi a little silly. But the technology is not.
Gentlemen of Skype, you did a nice job. but..
But the fastest way for succes is to pack a sack of money, go buy Wigiwigi and be done with it.
Design by acquisition, nothing to be ashamed of -
M$ does it all the time :-)
Still, Skype is a decent, if not distant, second runner up.
Tested with a friend in Europe and the results were very good. Full screen video was very clear and much better quality then I have seen anywhere else. Must be due to the On2 codec which is superior to all other video codecs that I have seen. You can view what it can do at www.vividas.com or on2.com, it is also used some on AOL. The on2 codec was also recently selected for use in FLash 8 by macromedia so you know it must be the best codec out there. GOOD JOB SKYPE.
Noticed on Wigiwigi forum they encouraged people to vote here. I would take that into account when looking at these results for a while. Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. I don't think it is close to skype and skype is brand new, will get even better.
Kap
Noticed on Wigiwigi forum they encouraged people to vote here. I would take that into account when looking at these results for a while. Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. I don't think it is close to skype and skype is brand new, will get even better.
Kap
[quote=kaptainx]Noticed on Wigiwigi forum they encouraged people to vote here[/quote]
How sad they actually think this vote matters?
How sad they actually think this vote matters?
No, it is not sad and it does not matter at all.
However, it is sad that people here react in such way.
What matters, is that I officially reported several
bugs in Skype v1.4.0.84 and 2.0.0.43 and did not
get an answer, though those bugs were replicable
and on all systems I use here (7).
Worked yet a few days with v2.0.0.43 and already
a handfull bugs discovered and had many crashes.
Hope they fix them soon, that will really matter.
Willem
However, it is sad that people here react in such way.
What matters, is that I officially reported several
bugs in Skype v1.4.0.84 and 2.0.0.43 and did not
get an answer, though those bugs were replicable
and on all systems I use here (7).
Worked yet a few days with v2.0.0.43 and already
a handfull bugs discovered and had many crashes.
Hope they fix them soon, that will really matter.
Willem
[quote=kaptainx]Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. I don't think it is close to skype and skype is brand new, will get even better.
Kap[/quote]
Skype development moves much slower than WW's (also the video itself does
). It's weird that a billion dollar company sucks at being innovative. I guess they rather push the money into marketing crap. If they put WW's audio and video in Skype..that would be great.
Kap[/quote]
Skype development moves much slower than WW's (also the video itself does
). It's weird that a billion dollar company sucks at being innovative. I guess they rather push the money into marketing crap. If they put WW's audio and video in Skype..that would be great.
[quote=kaptainx]Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. Kap[/quote]
I believe it has something to do with observing the monitor, and spotting the unavoidable difference in e.g. framerate.
All the same, I do not care who wins. I just stand back, observe, and select the best free video communication option. I have shares in no party, competition breeds supreme quality - the consumer (that's me)wins. It is no holy war.
The fact that a lone programmer vastly outperforms a multi-million $ organization is however somewhat amusing to me.
If I were a Skype CEO, I would jump in the company learjet asap, and go down under to visit somebody before some guy from Redmond gets there first :-)
I believe it has something to do with observing the monitor, and spotting the unavoidable difference in e.g. framerate.
All the same, I do not care who wins. I just stand back, observe, and select the best free video communication option. I have shares in no party, competition breeds supreme quality - the consumer (that's me)wins. It is no holy war.
The fact that a lone programmer vastly outperforms a multi-million $ organization is however somewhat amusing to me.
If I were a Skype CEO, I would jump in the company learjet asap, and go down under to visit somebody before some guy from Redmond gets there first :-)
[quote=rene_zuidema]The fact that a lone programmer vastly outperforms a multi-million $ organization is however somewhat amusing to me.[/quote]I agree 100% on this. 
[quote=rene_zuidema]If I were a Skype CEO, I would jump in the company learjet asap, and go down under to visit somebody before some guy from Redmond gets there first :-)[/quote]To make it more interesting WW once was named “skypesee”. :lol: :wink:
[quote=rene_zuidema]If I were a Skype CEO, I would jump in the company learjet asap, and go down under to visit somebody before some guy from Redmond gets there first :-)[/quote]To make it more interesting WW once was named “skypesee”. :lol: :wink:
If you are not sure why people think that wigiwigiw has better video quality you should give it a try. Its allways better to know what you are talking about.
Skype video has a good potential - but it has a long way to goo before it reaches the same quality and speed as Wigiwigi.
[quote=kaptainx]Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. I don't think it is close to skype and skype is brand new, will get even better.
Kap[/quote]
Skype video has a good potential - but it has a long way to goo before it reaches the same quality and speed as Wigiwigi.
[quote=kaptainx]Not sure how they could think that ww has better video quality. I don't think it is close to skype and skype is brand new, will get even better.
Kap[/quote]
Althoug wigiwigi's video quality is quite impressive comparing it to Skype is like comparing apples and peaches. ww would be absolutely useless without other communication tools out there as you simply would not be able to establish a call. Now get a contact list, some decent ui and stuff into wigiwigi and then tell me if you still get that performance.
Right now it is way to complicated to use. But still... the video quality is a challenge for skype. The audio isn't
Right now it is way to complicated to use. But still... the video quality is a challenge for skype. The audio isn't
Yeah, indeed you do not need Skype to use video with Wigiwigi.
Bad thing huh? Everyone can choose his beloved communication
tool and it works on most of them... so, Skype works with
Wigiwigi, but also a program like a jabber client, MSN, etc etc.
That's i.m.h.o. a good thing!
willem
Bad thing huh? Everyone can choose his beloved communication
tool and it works on most of them... so, Skype works with
Wigiwigi, but also a program like a jabber client, MSN, etc etc.
That's i.m.h.o. a good thing!
willem
I have voted for MSN. It is the only one allowing video and voice at my analog connection @42,6 kb.
User interface is painful, voice quality horrible, but one can understand and video is there.
vSkype was running very well, but since it is Festoon, there did chenge something in bandwidth management/sound engine, so sound is to bad if video is active.
User interface is painful, voice quality horrible, but one can understand and video is there.
vSkype was running very well, but since it is Festoon, there did chenge something in bandwidth management/sound engine, so sound is to bad if video is active.
Used the video today for the first time. It was fine. Only note of complaint is that the nearside camera picture in the bottom corner is to small? Can't be bothered with Wigi and it is to complicated to start, Festoon (Formerly VSkype) was rubbish. Failed about 80% of times used.
Skype wins. I clicked a button on a single application and it worked to Australia first time.
One note of caution. I had video to Australia form UK for 1 hour using Skype to Skype. I did not spend a penny with Skype. Explain the business model?
Skype wins. I clicked a button on a single application and it worked to Australia first time.
One note of caution. I had video to Australia form UK for 1 hour using Skype to Skype. I did not spend a penny with Skype. Explain the business model?
I just discovered WigiWigi yesterday, and I am TOTALLY IMPRESSED.
It works absolutely great. Amazing video quality, and perfect video fluidity and sincronitzation.
Don't get it wrong, I like Skype a lot, and I think they are very good in making things just EASY. But I'll move to wigiwigi when it gets an interface, since my family don't know how to use this beta versions.
It works absolutely great. Amazing video quality, and perfect video fluidity and sincronitzation.
Don't get it wrong, I like Skype a lot, and I think they are very good in making things just EASY. But I'll move to wigiwigi when it gets an interface, since my family don't know how to use this beta versions.
[quote=ignasi]I just discovered WigiWigi yesterday, and I am TOTALLY IMPRESSED.
It works absolutely great. Amazing video quality, and perfect video fluidity and sincronitzation.
Don't get it wrong, I like Skype a lot, and I think they are very good in making things just EASY. But I'll move to wigiwigi when it gets an interface, since my family don't know how to use this beta versions.[/quote]
And just another detail.
WW audio is same quality or even better than skype.
If you dont believe me just try it and give yr opinions.
hilario.
P.S. actually this is not a surprise lots of programs have same audio quality as skype: GIZMO, GTALK, VOIPBUSTER,and so many others....
It works absolutely great. Amazing video quality, and perfect video fluidity and sincronitzation.
Don't get it wrong, I like Skype a lot, and I think they are very good in making things just EASY. But I'll move to wigiwigi when it gets an interface, since my family don't know how to use this beta versions.[/quote]
And just another detail.
WW audio is same quality or even better than skype.
If you dont believe me just try it and give yr opinions.
hilario.
P.S. actually this is not a surprise lots of programs have same audio quality as skype: GIZMO, GTALK, VOIPBUSTER,and so many others....
I'm very disapointed with Skype video.
Tested today with a friend nearby, both on broadband me 2MB down 128 up
him 1 MB down 128 up, and we were frustated.
Definately MSN is 100 times better than skype.
hilario.
Tested today with a friend nearby, both on broadband me 2MB down 128 up
him 1 MB down 128 up, and we were frustated.
Definately MSN is 100 times better than skype.
hilario.
Just went through two full days of trial testing: - V2, festoon with V1.4, Spontania, Wigi.
Skype with Spontania seem a better choice for Skype.
Wigiwigi beats all of the above, no questions.
ADSL,
Athlon XP 2800 1 Gig,
Logitech Orbit MP.
Someone suggested that Skype should buy WW. I say - NOW!
The way this Aussi guy programs, it may already be too late! In any case Ashod, do not negociate this on your own - come to the US and hire a good BA tech law firm!
Alex.
Skype with Spontania seem a better choice for Skype.
Wigiwigi beats all of the above, no questions.
ADSL,
Athlon XP 2800 1 Gig,
Logitech Orbit MP.
Someone suggested that Skype should buy WW. I say - NOW!
The way this Aussi guy programs, it may already be too late! In any case Ashod, do not negociate this on your own - come to the US and hire a good BA tech law firm!
Alex.
[quote=biovirus]Ashod, do not negociate this on your own[/quote]right, ... but probably he is better off finding good support in Australia!
And indeed, this guy is a genious in his field!
And indeed, this guy is a genious in his field!
He may be able to get more (and better quality money) in Europe but only if he makes himself known in the venture law offices in Bay Area first.
Especially after Ebay-Skype deal.
Australia? I very much doubt it. Do you know any examples?
Alex.
Especially after Ebay-Skype deal.
Australia? I very much doubt it. Do you know any examples?
Alex.
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