Zoom

[ian16th]

Getting a lot of mention in the Meeja.

Anyone got it?

Any benefits for the home user?

I use Skype and WhatsApp and I'm wondering if Zoom is worth the effort of even looking at it.

Comments?

[Boac]

It is a bit of a 'fashion statement' - "but every one uses it, Dwarling".

It is a better front-end than Skype but limits one to 40 minutes, whereas I think Skype is 4 hours? There have been significant security concerns with it, not helped by the admission by Zoom a while ago that a lot of their 'dialogue' was being routed through Chinese servers - not that HMG probably care........ Because of the 'concerns' (and probably to protect the new Google 'conferencing' thing?) Google have banned its use by employees.

It is a little bit more complicated to set up a 'meeting' with it than Skype.

[llondel]

It has improved a lot since the start of the lockdown. My employer was using it before then, so it's not new to us, but we did tighten up some of our procedures and take advantage of new features. I did note on one call that it said it was routeing via a server in the US, although it's easy to print such a message regardless of what's really happening. the free version allows 2-person calls of any length, but if it's three or more then you're limited to 40 minutes unless you've got a paid-for service. It works pretty well, and is cross-platform, so I can use it on Linux or Windows here.

[ian16th]

I'm sort of getting the message that for personal/family use it is no benefit over Skype or WhatsApp.

[Boac]

The only caveat I would place on Skype is that it is run by M$.

[ian16th]

But they didn't invent it and haven't buggerd it up, yet.

[llondel]

The Linux version definitely got worse after MS took it over.

[ExSp33db1rd]

But they didn't invent it and haven't buggerd it up, yet.

Yes they have, it all still works for me but the Echo/Sound Test service no longer replies to me.