Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Skype goes high definition - The Inquirer

VOICE OVER IP OUTFIT Skype has introduced a version of Skype for Windows that can deliver up to 720p HD quality video calling at 1280x720 resolution and up to 30 frames per second.

All you will need is a high-speed broadband connection, a new HD webcam, a PC with at least a 1.8GHz dual-core processor and Skype 4.2 Beta for Windows.

Josh Silverman, CEO of Skype, using a bumper size jar of lyrical wax said, "Imagine being able to see the sparkle of your grandchild's eyes or the setting of your best friend's engagement ring."

True, but you will also be able to see your girlfriend before she has put on her make-up, and other joys.

New HD webcams are due to arrive in early 2010 and will probably be priced at $100 with a microphone and $69 without.

The HD function is around on the new beta software and it needs 1 Mbps symmetrical bandwidth to work.

The 'symmetrical' part will rule out most of the UK as well as a lot of ADSL links everywhere, since the "A" in ADSL stands for "asymmetric", meaning that the uplink speeds of many DSL connections are lower than 1 Mbps. So we can imagine howls of anguish when the phone sex market can't get it to work.

Considering most of my Skype hangs have been caused by trying to use low definition video we will be surprised if this works very well. ยต

Posted via web from Wesley83's Posterous

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