Google Hangouts

[Nicholas Skaggs]

On 11/12/2013 06:54 AM, Scott Kitterman wrote:
>
>>> Since UDS went online, Kubuntu has used a combination of IRC and
>> mumble voice chats to plan its work. I've participated in a few of the
>> hangouts sessions too.  I don't think IRC/mumble is noticeably inferior
>> to the hangout approach and it avoids the first class/second class
>> citizen problem with hangouts (only a select few are on the hangout -
>> everyone else is on IRC).  No age limits either.
>>> Scott K
>>>
>>>
> In practice it's been fine. I really dislike a situation where there are a pre-selected few who can participate directly.
>
> Scott K
>
Thanks for sharing Scott. I'm glad mumble works out for you and team. 
It's an interesting option. I'd like to point out a few things for those 
who want to participate.

1) Anyone can join! Really, anyone can join. The hangout link is 
provided on the page or ask the meeting creator. For the quality 
sessions especially, please consider joining the active discussion if 
you have something to say :-) We have plenty of room!
2) If you are under the agre restrictions in your country, not much can 
be done. Laws are laws. Hangout on IRC :-)
3) If you don't have a webcam or don't want to be on video, you can join 
anyway with your video muted.
4) If you have bad internet connection, join in and slide down to audio 
only mode. This should be bandwidth friendly, should be very similar to 
mumble as above and is better than having to type on IRC.

As far as webRTC and the like, it seems like we're moving fast towards 
having more open systems on the web. I welcome the change :-)
https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/10/30/video-interoperability-on-the-web-gets-a-boost-from-ciscos-h-264-codec/

Nicholas