Microsoft Portrait 2.1 Release with Improved Features

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://research.microsoft.com/~jiangli/portrait/' target='_blank'>http://research.microsoft.com/~jiangli/portrait/</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://research.microsoft.com/~jiangli/portrait/portraitpc.jpg" /><br /><br />Not sure what Microsoft Portrait is?<br /><br />"Microsoft Portrait is a research prototype for mobile video communication. It supports .NET Messenger Service, Session Initiation Protocol and Internet Locator Service on PCs, Pocket PCs, Handheld PCs and Smartphone. It runs on local area networks, dialup networks and even wireless networks with bandwidths as low as 9.6 kilobits/second. Microsoft Portrait delivers portrait-like video if users are in low bandwidths and displays full-color video if users are in broadband. In low bandwidths, portrait video possesses clearer shape, smoother motion, shorter latency and much cheaper computational cost than do conventional video technologies. Microsoft Portrait pursues providing presence notification, chat/voice/video functions anytime, anywhere, on any device."<br /><br />If you're a previous user, <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/~jiangli/portrait/newpc.aspx">check out the list of what's new</a>.

[Robert Levy]

Woohoo! Finally we have a Smartphone version! I look forward to trying this out.

[sting0r]

Where are the sdio cameras for pocketpc already????

[delfuhd]

hmm just seems like a lot of bug updates for video... Is an update really necessary? I don't really have a problem with it anyway, i just use it for audio and text chat...

[bdegroodt]

I guess I'm even more curious about the broader concept of video conferencing. Does anyone really use this outside of a boardroom every once in a while? We've had video cameras available for the tops of our monitors for years and I've never once in literally thousands of conference calls had someone suggest we use video. I'm positive I'm not in need of seeing someones choppy video of them dressed from the neck up any more than a regular phone call.

Can anyone explain it to me? What would you really use this (Or video conferencing in general) for?

[trachy]

Can anyone explain it to me? What would you really use this (Or video conferencing in general) for?

I'm right there with you on this one, BD. A friend and I spent a considerable amount of time one night messing with firewall settings to try out video conferencing. After we finally got the bugs worked out, we quickly realized we didn't want to look at each other. Uncomfortable silences were complimented by uncomfortable stares. It was like we were each watching the other on a stage, waiting for something to happen. We're just not conditioned to see someone while talking on the phone yet.

I think that video conferencing won't be widely used until it's fluid. Once that happens though, I believe it will be commonplace and taken for granted just like POTS.

[bcre8v2]

Video Conferencing with desktop cameras can be limiting due to many factors such as bandwidth, connection speed, camera resolution, audio quality, and VC software. This contributes to a reduced satisfaction with both the hardware and software. Take the new Nokia phones with the built in camera - These are successful marketing items because of the novelty. These phones won't be compatible with any VC system.
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We have multiple VC rooms in my company which are constantly being used (PictureTel-based systems). The feeling is that these systems work well for many-to-many type meetings. We try and encourage more NetMeeting (desktop) collaboration when a meeting requires one-on-one.
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Portrait has been used by us in 2 scenarios:
1) CTO has been stuck in traffic. He dials up using his PPC phone (with attached camera and MS portrait 2.0) and conducts a very "choppy" VC. We haven't tried MS Portrait 2.1 .
2) As a thin replacement for NetMeeting. The interface is simpler for novice user.
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Usages for Phone-based VC:
Parents requiring their kids to check in.
Grandparents wanting to see their grandchildren.
When you want someone to see the real expression on your face :oops:
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My own opinion is that VC has it time and place, but most people don't need it or after they use it for a short amount of time, simply don't want it.

-Steve

[R K]

Can anyone explain it to me? What would you really use this (Or video conferencing in general) for?

It seems like video conferencing works really well in long distance chats.
When you can hop over to a buddy's in ten minutes, choppy video conferencing doesn't seem like much, but when you're talking to friends or relatives on the other side of the world, being able to see their face makes the meeting more pleasant.

Back to talking about Portrait--I wish the Portrait team would make a way for full-duplex voice chatting with the Pocket PCs. It worked with PPC2000 by using two different audio codecs but PPC2K2 doesn't have the second one so we only get half-duplex chats for now.

[that_kid]

I remember when me and my friend first got broadband. We hooked up the camera's and it was great, then the fun faded and we went back to regular IM. I do have few good uses for Vc though, having my son see and hear my parents and other family members is always great. Most of my family have broadband so we never get the choppy video. I like portrait but It really does need a full duplex driver. the other hard part is getting all my family and friends to install it.

[daveshih]

Where are the sdio cameras for pocketpc already????

Here: http://www.hv.co.kr/eng-hard/sol-sdcam.asp

8)

When it first appeared, it was for CE.Net only, but apparently they've solved the PocketPC2002 compatibility problem, and we should see it sometime this year.

800x600, CMOS lens, 176x144 video recording at 15 pps...

Dave

[ARW]

It's great that this is out for Smartphone. Now, if we could only get a Smartphone. :cry:

[24va]

How do I find the IP address of my PPC? :oops:

[trachy]

You can try Pocket Hosts. It will display your IP and give you the opportunity to change it as well. It's free at Handango (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=54305).

[24va]

Thanks! :D

[soportePRO]

The developers of this great project (Microsoft Portrait) say that this new release works with the new driver for the HP pocket Camera.

But they do not say where is it. I try to find it without result.

Any body know where is it. The latest driver that I saw in HP was developed sice 2001 year.