TinyChat

Startup Tinychat, which started out as a simple IRC-style chatroom app to complement conversations on platforms like Twitter, has been steadily building out its innovative platform to include video chat and screensharing options and Facebook Connect.

Today, the startup is launching Tinychat.tv, a Ustream-like streaming platform that lets users live stream any video conversations or shows that are hosted on Tinychat live to the web. The site, which was built out using Tinychat’s API, lets anyone launch a branded page and channel where they can then conduct and stream multi-participant shows. Tinychat will not be charging for bandwith and will let users fully customize the landing page that hosts the videos. Visitors can comment on the page via Facebook and Twitter, subscribe to a show and more. Plus, the new site is just one example of the applications, such as a live streaming video site, that can be easily built from Tinychat’s API.

Dan Blake, co-founder of Tinychat, says that the platform is seeing 5 million minutes of usage per day, which isn’t bad for the bootstrapped startup. And with the steady iteration of its product, Tinychat’s browser-based communication platform now rivals some of the tools built by large corporations or venture-backed startups out there. As we’ve written in the past Tinychat is giving competitor TokBox a run for its money and is now encroaching on Stickam’s and Ustream’s territory.

via TechCrunch

Microsoft's HD LifeCam

Looks like Microsoft’s working on a snazzy new glass lens Webcam capable of 720p video at 30fps (in full 1280×720 resolution). Other features are expected to include 4x digital zoom, and a built-in noise-cancelling microphone.

The camera is made from aluminum and has a stand designed to work with both desktops and laptops. Pocket-link goes on to say that:

The LifeCam Cinema is of course compatible with Windows Live Messenger, but also with Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery. It’s also compatible with Windows 7 out of the box, as well as Windows Vista and Windows XP.

We’ve seen 720p Webcams before but the video specs on this one look quite promising. The Lifecam Cinema is expected to be $80 when it hits stores on September 9. [via Pocket-Lint]

via Gizmodo

Well we kicked off our second Friday live video tech chat session yesterday with better success. With enough viewers and chatters to keep the room going, but no record breaking numbers. As many of you know, last time we used a mix of Ustream and Skype to host the chat. The downside was that in order for a guest to chat, they had to create a Ustream account. Not bad for Ustream, but very inconvenient for our guests.

This week we tried TokBox with much better success for user interaction. All though TokBox held up well without too many refreshes from the audio drops, it was not without it’s problems. We had no ability to record the show as well as no ability to moderate. I had a call from 2 people yesterday that said they wanted to watch, but every time they went to the chat, TokBox asked them for permission to use their camera, so they quickly got scared and left the page.

Next Friday we will be attempting to use TinyChat. Robert has signed up for a pro account which allows us moderation. We already anticipating some issues with this too. It meets all of our needs except the recording has yet to work for us in our tests. Another problem we are facing, is a way to pull caller audio into the chat as well. We hope to have a solid platform to host our weekly video tech chat soon, but you will have to be our guinea pigs. :)

In the mean time you can keep up with our progress and submit your tech/computer questions to questions@aztechguys.com which we will be trying to answer on the show every week. We really appreciate all of you that have helped so far to get this project started.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @aztechguys to keep up with our progress and announcements.!