Video Chat On Facebook

In case you have not heard, there's definitely a war taking place in between Facebook and Google - as well as its only just started. With all the current hype and also buzz walking around the Net about Google+, Facebook decided that they needed to act to get back right into the limelight; so they have actually now partnered with Skype to bring its customers video calling - Video Chat On Facebook.

This implies that you as well as any one of your friends could see each other in person utilizing your cams and also chat using your voice. Seeing that Google+ just emerged with their video chatting feature called Hangouts, this "new" feature on Facebook seems instead unoriginal. Yet, Facebook's video calling feature is really very excellent as well as works a bit differently.

If you're like me, the majority of your non-tech savvy family members and also non-geeky friends have not even heard of Google+; if they have actually heard about it, more than likely they're not ready to try it out. So that indicates you're stuck still making use of Facebook and could as well invite the new features (due to the fact that there will most definitely be even more ahead in this war) with open arms.


Video Chat On Facebook


Allow's take a look at how you can make it possible for and also use Facebook's brand-new video chat.

Getting going

Before you can start video calling your friends, you will certainly need to allow it. This can be done by going to the Facebook Video Calling page and clicking the green "Get Started" button. You'll after that be triggered to download and install as well as run the Java application had to utilize this feature. Don't worry, this is a very quick process.


Note: The choice to utilize this brand-new attribute is not readily available for everyone. When I asked my husband to go to the page, he was not able to see the green button. It specified that the function had not been yet offered to him. In this situation you'll need a person that could access the attribute 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 2 means to call your friends.

First Method

You can go into a conversation home window and also click on the camera icon from the top bar of the window. This method lets you call any of your friends.

If they have not allowed the feature, they'll be prompted to do so. If they aren't on the internet, you'll have the ability to leave them a video message.

2nd Approach

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

If you happen to call them as well as they're offline, you'll be able to leave a video message.


Note: The "call" switch will just show up if you're signed right into Facebook chat and if that friend has the featured made it possible for. So if you don't see a phone call button, you'll have to make use of the very first method to make sure that they'll be prompted to allow the feature.

Setup and Quality

The top quality of the video chat is quite excellent. I've tried Google+ Hangouts too as well as I need to admit that the quality of the camera was not almost as clear as Facebook's video calling. There also weren't nearly as lots of "hiccups" (i.e. window cold or delays).

If you have actually done a video chat in Skype, after that you'll identify the setup; there is a small home window in the leading right corner of the primary home window to ensure that you could see on your own. When you're performed with a telephone call, you can simply close the home window to finish it.

Right here is the camera sight without the controls. The home window can be enlarged, but this is the smallest dimension. Also at full display sight, the quality continued to be superb.


Right here is the camera sight with the controls. While I am composing this on Windows, I did examination out the attribute on the Mac OS. So, your home window could look a little various from mine. The only choice available right here is to alter the source of your microphone (i.e. net or headset).


Final Thoughts

I do wish that there were more alternatives. As an example, there is presently no way to silence your microphone from the video call home window; so you would certainly should go into your computer system settings to do this or utilize the mute switch on your headset (if it has one).

Also, unlike Google+ Hangouts, there is presently no other way to do group video chats-- something that makes certain ahead in helpful for catching up with several family and friends, group projects, meetings, conferences, and more. For now, you can still make use of Skype for that. Considering that everybody is already on Facebook as well as are not most likely to really download Skype (if they have not currently), this is definitely something that ought to be executed ASAP. Nonetheless, you can do group message chats within the typical chat home window.

Exactly what are your ideas on Facebook's brand-new video calling feature? Do you think it's a necessary function? Is it something that you can see on your own and/or friends and family using at all? Don't hesitate to inform us your ideas in the comments below.