Megaconference

["Simon Horne" <>]

Peter should have also mentioned the

Logitech Conference Cam BCC950

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/conferencecam

It’s the one we use on the PC.

It has PTZ and our software controls it via the

USB Camera IAMCameraControl Interface

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd389145(v=vs.85).aspx

(hint for vendors out there)

 

But the real problem with PC based solutions from our experience is always the human factor. People log in with different user accounts, unplug the camera, turn the box off, turn off the application etc etc. It becomes a support nightmare.

 

The long term solution we see is dedicated (turn on/off) android set top boxes (as peter mentions) which are now coming on the market.  Hopefully soon there will be PTZ options so it becomes possible to replace $15,000 H.323 Hardware solutions with $150 (hope) H.323 hardware alternatives. Then I think we will see mass adoption.

 

Simon

 

 

From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Peter Hayes
Sent: 25 May 2013 04:41
To: Rusty Presley
Cc: Leonard, Mark;
Subject: Re: [Megacon] Videoconferencing "Soft Client" vs Codec Hardware

 

Tely Labs is nice because it has the wide angel lens but no PTZ.  The best one I have seen with list price of $1400 is the VDO360 PTZ USB Camera.  However, right now, I think it only does 720p.   We are currently testing a $99 1080p Android camera where you load the app on the camera itself.  It has wireless, HDMI out, and a video dual core processor, but you still have don't have the PTZ ability.  

   

 

 

Peter Hayes

CEO

202-438-3410

Spranto ID: phayes

http://www.spranto.com

 

 

 

 

On May 24, 2013, at 2:35 PM, Rusty Presley <> wrote:

We run Radvision's Scopiadesktop using a Microsoft lifecam studio webcam in some of our class/conference rooms.  Works well for us.  Not sure if pic specs from webcam would meet your needs. 

Rusty

 

 

 

 

From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

-------- Original message --------
From: "Leonard, Mark" <>
Date: 05/24/2013 1:26 PM (GMT-06:00)
To:
Subject: [Megacon] Videoconferencing "Soft Client" vs Codec Hardware

Hello Megalister's--

 

I'm curious if anyone out there has run a side by side comparison of say a Cisco C-20 against a 'soft client' like this--

• Mac mini 2.6Ghz Intel Core i7
• Cisco Jabber (enterprise version- MOVI)
• USB Camera with pocessing within the camera
• Pretty capable USB speaker phone

Sure…in a perfect world we would always buy the dedicated codec for video collaboration-- right?   —  but I'm really starting to wonder about reasons not to run  the $1000 set up above in non mission critical events—

 

How about it?

Anyone out there running a H.323 soft client  in a classroom set up? 

 

And yes— to make it a little tougher… I must have 30fps, 1080, and connection speeds around 1000kbs  :>)

 

And no— I'm not so interested in the 101 web based videoconferencing services that have popped up as this is really a 'hardware' discussion. In my eyes— the weakest link in the soft client is the camera. Buying a $3K+ USB camera to compete with the Cisco HD camera kind of defeats the purpose of looking at workarounds to a dedicated VC codec.

 

Thanks for looking at this-

Have a great long weekend-

 

~Mark

 

Mark Leonard

Media and Collaboration, UNH IT