skype vs i chat for smog

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


iChat vs. SkypeiChat vs. SkypeThe SmackdownThe Smackdown


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?


The ChallengeThe Challenge

PricePrice

Ease of use & FeaturesEase of use & Features

QualityQuality


PricePrice

iChatiChat = Free = Free

SkypeSkype = Free = Free

ScoreScore: Tie at 5 to 5: Tie at 5 to 5


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


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


Call (voice), Video, or Screensharing (plus Call (voice), Video, or Screensharing (plus More)More)


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



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


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))


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



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



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

skype vs i chat for smog

Technology

persons screen

chat

audio

skype

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share

screensharing

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