Today Apple Computer released a free beta version of iChat AV, its instant-messaging software updated to include audio and video capabilities. It’s nearly effortless to set up. It runs only in Mac OSX, and you need a microphone, although most Macs come with one built-in. (Of course if you want to do video chatting you would also need a camera such as Apple’s new iSight).
The audio feature means that you can do long-distance conversations for free with any other Mac OSX user running the software, with much less hassle and better sound than previous internet phone technologies.
I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but Apple claims that the sound quality is excellent. It seems to me that this could be a good teaching tool for teachers and students who don’t live near each other…it would be better with the video feature but probably workable with just audio.
I’d like to test it and see if it works. If anyone out there wants a free flute lesson via iChat AV (audio only, I don’t have a video camera) to go over techniques or tunes that you’re working on, send me a private message with your AIM or .Mac instant-messaging address and we can set up a time to test it.
This might also be something the Scoiltrad folks might want to look into, offering real-time lessons, possibly at a premium price.
Or maybe all this is just too hopelessly geeky and removed from the direct experience of two musicians sitting down face-to-face!
I’ve been tempted to pick up one of the new Macs several times over the past year or so, but have resisted mainly because while it would be fun to play with it wouldn’t directly relate to my daily work. (I write software for a living, but non-Mac.)
However, if Scoiltrad or some other reputable group were to start offering realtime lessons using this tech, I’d probably breakdown and buy one just to be able to access the lessons.
It’s frustrating not having teachers in my local area and I’m always looking for alternatives.
Given that Microsoft usually ends up following Apple’s lead, I’m sure comparable technology will be available from them for Windows machines before too long, probably a couple of years or less. Webcam and Internet telephony technology exists already for Windows, but the Mac version is much better quality and easier to use. I’ve heard from people who started using iChat AV yesterday for free long-distance voice conversations and conference calls, and they say the sound quality is as good or better than local cellphone calls.
