Holy Grail of iApps for Digital Hub

[sjs]

Below is a quote from Apple.com explaining QT6 in Jaguar:

"QuickTime 6
Jaguar includes QuickTime 6, the world’s first complete media solution for MPEG-4 content creation and streaming when combined with the free QuickTime Streaming Server and QuickTime Broadcaster. As an MPEG-4 compliant technology, QuickTime 6 includes the video codec for encoding and decoding MPEG-4 video content, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), the next generation audio format, and adheres to the Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) 1.0 specification. "

Can someone please tell me what these new capabilities are and what types of things could come out based on QT6?

For example, would it be possible to combine the ability of iChat to link two users and QT6's streaming and abilities to give ordinary users a videoconferencing ability? Kind of like chatting with webcams and a telephone, only high quality? Forgive me, maybe you can already do this somehow else. But if Apple can pull this off in their typical "ease of use" style and with top quality video and audio, wouldn't that sort of be the Holy grail of iApps for the Digital Hub, essentially replacing long distance telephoning while also leapfrogging it technologically?

Or am I dreaming...

 

[Rower_CPU]

iChat has definitely raised eyebrows as to the possibilities of videoconferencing...but I haven't heard anything from WWDC discuss it.

QT6 should definitely enable video to be used in new ways easily and in old ways better.

 

[sjs]

For starters, will QT6 support live "streaming" or whatever you would call it where two people would be talking to each other as in a phone conversation except with audio AND video over the internet?

To put it another way, what are the chances I could be on a "buddy" list with Rower and connect via iChat but have QT6 live audio and video instead of sentences popping up on my screen?

(Not that Rower would want me on his buddy list...just an example.)

 

[Rower_CPU]

QT 6 includes an app/technology called "Broadcaster" which will do exactly this. The demo I saw of it (QuickTime Live) used a DV camera for higher quality.

I'm not sure if it will work as well/at all with USB cams. I'm also not sure if it will require access to QuickTime Streaming Server, as the demo I saw did.

If Apple makes this P2P it would be great, but I think that would require buying a specialized app...that much power for free would be pretty doubtful.

(Who says I wouldn't want you on my buddy list? Are you a meanie? )

 

[sjs]

The reason I say this would be the Holy Grail of Digital Hub iApps is I have a spouse and (especially) kids. Between chatting and telephoning, if you could do what we have described (easy to use and high quality) I think the demand for Apple products would skyrocket.
What kid would not be begging their parents for this technology.

For that matter, what business would not love to have it. In fact I could envision businesses having at least one Apple in each of their locations just for this method of communicating, even if theri other applications required MS compatibility.

Sell AT&T...buy Apple!