Facebook Chat Video

In case you have not heard, there's most definitely a war going on between Facebook and Google - and its only just begun. With all the current hype and buzz walking around the Web concerning Google+, Facebook made a decision that they had to take action to obtain back into the limelight; so they've now partnered with Skype to bring its users video calling - Facebook Chat Video.

This implies that you and any of your friends can see each other face-to-face utilizing your web cams and chat utilizing your voice. Seeing that Google+ simply came on the scene with their video chatting function called Hangouts, this "new" feature on Facebook seems rather unoriginal. Yet, Facebook's video calling function is actually very impressive and also functions a little bit in a different way.

If you resemble me, a lot of your non-tech savvy family members and also non-geeky friends have not even become aware of Google+; if they have found out about it, more than most likely they're not willing to try it out. To ensure that indicates you're stuck still using Facebook and also may too invite the new attributes (due to the fact that there will definitely be even more to find in this war) with open arms.

Facebook Chat Video

Allow's take a look at the best ways to make it possible for and use Facebook's brand-new video chat.

Beginning

Before you can begin video calling your friends, you will have to enable it. This can be done by going to the Facebook Video Calling page and clicking on the green "Get Started" button. You'll after that be prompted to download and install as well as run the Java application needed to use this feature. Don't worry, this is a really quick process.

Note: The option to use this brand-new attribute is not available for everyone. When I asked my husband to visit the web page, he was not able to see the green button. It specified that the function wasn't yet available to him. In this situation you'll require somebody that can access the feature to initiate a video call with you. From there, they'll be motivated to install and also run the Java application.

How to Call A Friend

There are two methods to call your friends.

First Technique

You could enter into a chat window as well as click the camera icon from the top bar of the window. This technique lets you call any of your friends.

If they haven't made it possible for the feature, they'll be triggered to do so. If they aren't online, you'll be able to leave them a video message.

2nd Method

The various other technique is by clicking the "call" button on your good friend's profile web page. The "call" switch will certainly show up right beside the message switch, in the leading right of their account web page.

If you take place to call them and also they're offline, you'll have the ability to leave a video message.

Keep in mind: The "call" switch will just show up if you're authorized into Facebook chat and if that friend has the highlighted enabled. So if you do not see a phone call switch, you'll need to utilize the very first technique to ensure that they'll be motivated to make it possible for the attribute.

Setup and Quality

The high quality of the video chat is pretty excellent. I have actually tried Google+ Hangouts too as well as I need to confess that the high quality of the camera was not almost as clear as Facebook's video calls. There likewise just weren't nearly as lots of "hiccups" (i.e. home window cold or delays).

If you have actually done a video chat in Skype, after that you'll recognize the configuration; there is a tiny home window in the top right edge of the major window to ensure that you could see yourself. Once you're finished with a phone call, you could just close the window to finish it.

Below is the camera view without the controls. The window can be enlarged, however this is the smallest size. Even at complete screen view, the quality continued to be superb.

Here is the camera sight with the controls. While I am writing this on Windows, I did test out the attribute on the Mac OS. So, your home window could look a little different from mine. The only alternative available here is to transform the resource of your microphone (i.e. internet or headset).

Final Thoughts

I do desire that there were even more choices. For example, there is presently no way to mute your microphone from the video call window; so you 'd have to go into your computer system setups to do this or use the mute switch on your headset (if it has one).

Also, unlike Google+ Hangouts, there is presently no way to do group video talks-- something that makes sure to find in useful for catching up with numerous friends and family, team tasks, conferences, conferences, as well as extra. In the meantime, you can still use Skype for that. Considering that everybody is already on Facebook and are not most likely to actually download and install Skype (if they have not already), this is definitely something that should be carried out ASAP. However, you can do team message talks within the normal chat home window.

What are your thoughts on Facebook's brand-new video calling attribute? Do you think it's a necessary feature? Is it something that you can see yourself and/or friends and family utilizing in all? Don't hesitate to tell us your ideas in the remarks below.

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