WebRTC

[RadarGaming]

WebRTC is an API that is made for browser audio and video calling. The great thing about WebRTC is that it doesn't require any plugin to work. Currently it is only supported in Google Chrome and Firefox and should be heading to other browsers soon. I have done very limited testing with so far. Here is the website I used https://apprtc.appspot.com. Please let me know what you think of WebRTC.

[TomSinclair]

On last week's show I used the webRTC implementation at https://apprtc.appspot.com (https://apprtc.appspot.com/) in a "call-in" segment at the end of the show. Not being familiar with the webRTC integration in Chrome, it took me a bit to discover how to change video & audio devices (an icon in the top right corner of the browser window). It was nice to see that the VidBlaster VVD was a listed video device option. My caller appeared in the larger screen and I appeared in the bottom right corner over the top of his video. Here's a screen shot:

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One of the viewers shared in chat a different site that allowed a 3-way video conversation. Talky (https://talky.io/) is a bit nicer as the videos do not overlap each other. Sorry, no screen shot as it was during the aftershow that we tried this one.

There is an interesting list of webRTC Browser support at http://iswebrtcreadyyet.com/.

Overall the Bandwidth and CPU usage did not appear more than with Skype with https://apprtc.appspot.com (https://apprtc.appspot.com/). I have not tested Talky to see if the Bandwidth is doubled with two remote guests. If that's the case, then Skype's group call option gets the nod here.

[oscarmartz]

Does it work in HD?

[techzentv]

MY testing with WebRTC has been mixed. First, there does not seem to be a way to remove or even shrink the window that has your video. I tried the site that nick listed and had issues with it staying up for a long time. In a very short time after starting I would get an error in Chrome. I have not tried Firefox yet.

I also seem to still have the same squishing video issues that are in skype which tells me that it may not be a skype issue but a driver issue with my input.

[TomSinclair]

Tried the webRTC implementation by Talky.oi on today's show with mixed results. With three callers and myself the frame rates dropped to about 15fps, but audio quality remained good depending on each caller's audio set up. Callers experienced a 3-6 second delay and that tended to ebb and flow. Take a look here beginning at about 26:00: http://youtu.be/7uBrfIhM41A

Caller's video came in at 4:3 even if they sent 16:9. Interesting.

[techzentv]

Seems like WebRTC is not quite production ready. However, since it is an open standard from the W3C I am sure it will only get better as more people start adapting to it.