Daily Magazine

"BigBlueButton is an open source web conferencing system built on over fourteen open source components to create an integrated solution that runs on Mac, Unix, and PC computers. In the true sense of open source, we invite you to try out and participate in our project.

Vision: Our vision is that starting a web conference should be as easy as clicking a single metaphorical big blue button. As an open source project, we believe it should be easy for others to embrace and extend education. And while web conferencing means many things to many people — our focus is to make the best web conferencing system for distance education.

What’s new in this release (Beta 08.1):
1) Simplified interface – BigBlueButton now has a consolidated Users window for easier session management and a more consistent user interface (including updated skin and icons) to help new users get started quickly.

 

2) Layout Manager – BigBlueButton now enables users to choose from a number of preset layouts to quickly adapt to different modes of learning.

 

3) Recording of whiteboard and webcams – BigBlueButton now records for playback all the activity in the presentation window (whiteboard, mouse movements, and pan/zoom) and all webcams shared during a session.

 

4) Text tool for whiteboard – Presenters can now annotate their slides with text.

 

5) New APIs – The BigBlueButton API now includes the ability to dynamically configure each client on a per-user bases, thus enabling developers to configure the skin, layout, modules, etc. for each user. There is also a JavaScript interface to control the client.

 

6) Accessibility – BigBlueButton now supports screen readers JAWS (version 11+) and NVDA. A list of keyboard shortcuts have been added to make it easier to navigate through the interface using the keyboard.

 

7) LTI Support – BigBlueButton is IMS Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) 1.0 compliant. This means any LTI consumer can integrate with BigBlueButton without requiring custom plug-ins.

 

8) Mozilla Persona – The API demos now include examples of how to sign into a BigBlueButton session using Mozilla Persona.
Support for LibreOffice 4.0 – BigBlueButton now uses LibreOffice 4.0 for conversion of of 9) MS Office documents (upload of PDF is still recommend to provide best results)." from source: http://www.bigbluebutton.org/

Via ghbrett, michel verstrepen

Robin Good: Altadyn is a new Facebook prototype app and API which allows you to create, edit, personalize and publish three-dimensional spaces in which to meet, talk and share content with your other people.

 

Key features include:
-- Voice/IP
-- Chat
-- Desktop Sharing
-- Live Feeds on screen
-- Manipulate 3D Objects
-- Laser pointer
-- Auto-animated objects
-- User-triggered animations
-- Basic physics
-- Multi-Functional Avatars
-- Import your own 3D Buildings or furniture
-- API.

 

Altadyn is a Platform as a Service on the cloud, and it has been designed for Facebook app developers, who want to create easily accessible sophisticated applications where users enter 3D immersive spaces and socialize virtually with each other.

 

Source code of the prototype app MyLoft is available free of charge for all registered users of the Development Platform within their free account. App developers can use My Loft source code as a basis for developments to which they add value with:

-- their own content: variety of creative avatars and variety of 3D spaces,
-- customization features: enabling creative custom homes,
-- their own application purpose: gaming, hangouts, photo viewing, video watching, concerts, dance floors, meetings, events, etc..

 

Check the BBC World News story on this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9714258.stm ;

 

License for apps with less than a 100 daily users are offered for free.

 

To learn more: http://ALTADYN.com/developers-api/  

 

To read a more detailed Press Release: http://ALTADYN.com/PR/ALTADYN-adds-3D-to-Facebook.pdf ;

Via Robin Good

Robin Good: StartMeeting is a new web service providing a web conferencing and webcasting platform integrating screen-sharing and audio-conferencing functionalities for up to 1000 people. 

 

Key features include:

 

1) Audio Conferencing
- toll and toll-free dial-in numbers which are accessible via fixed, mobile and high-definition (HD) VoIP telephones. See pricing.

 

2) Screen Sharing
- allows hosts to share the entire desktop or selected applications with their meeting participants. Also available: switch presenters, view a list of your participants, chat with your audience, and highlight your content with a variety of drawing tools.

 

3) Customizable Meeting Page
Customize a personal meeting wall to use for your online meetings. With this page you are able to upload pictures, documents, and links to share with your meeting participants. In addition, update each meeting with a title and description, invite participants, provide a schedule of future meetings, set preferences and access dial-in credentials for your online meetings.

 

4) Free Audio Recording
Record your conference calls for free. One GB of storage space is provided free of charge. The host can provide recordings to participants via playback number, podcast or RSS feed.

 

5) iPad Support

"In terms of the technology, the audio conferencing component features reservationless access for up to 1,000 participants.

 

Access options include toll, toll-free, and an integrated high-definition VoIP platform. Pricing ranges from .029 to .039 cents per minute for toll-free access.

 

StartMeeting further provides unlimited use, screen-sharing subscriptions with 50-, 200-, 500- and 1,000-seat options. Monthly pricing falls between $12.95 and $19.95 for a 50-seat license."

 

30-day free trial available.

Pricing info: http://www.startmeeting.com/pricing ;

 

Audio conferencing tutorials: http://www.startmeeting.com/audio ;

 

Screen-sharing video tutorials: http://www.startmeeting.com/screen_sharing ;

 

FAQ: http://www.startmeeting.com/faq ;

 

More info: http://www.startmeeting.com/ ;

Via Robin Good