The zoom challenge and other video calling apps
Suddenly in this lockdown many groups are having group programs online
May it be music, dance, singing and even Terrace based RSS shakha proceedings
The top user must be the Art of living Guru Sri Sri RaviShankar ji. The meditations at 12:00 noon and 19:30 hrs India time meditations have attracted close to 1.2 million viewers users from over 140 countries. The meditations are live on FB Twitter YouTube and some days on Zoom.
I remember bridge across nations music events for the end of hunger in the times of Rajiv Gandhi.
I saw zoom music events by various groups of singers abroad and in India.
In India it was named Sangeet Sethu or music bridge lead by Akshay kumar as a MC and Asha Bhosle as a lead singer.
I saw one of the Coldplay singers on zoom with a synchronised music event online with about 10 musicians ,drummers pianists and vocalists.
Smule has been popular with Satsangs with singers joining from other countries .
I made a quick review of video calling web based apps on desktop and downloadable apps in smart phones
(I am not a techie or a cyber specialist )
Zoom stands out as most popular and easy to install use and pay for a max of 100 users with a limit of 40 minutes. The apps can be used both on desktop and smartphones and is downloadable.
There is some noise over its security breaches and with corona virus making groups work more on zoom the cyber experts have found it dangerous if the bugs are not dealt with on time.
Facebook has its own messenger with a max 50 members is more inclined to a call based text usable app that can be downloaded.
Skype with a limit of 50’users also allows calls chats and text. The Microsoft team is an enhanced version of Skype for large business users and teams usage at work.
Google duo and hangouts (now dead) are other calling platforms that allows (duo) upto a max of 8.
Google hangout was phased out and had facility to connect about 50 plus users across nations. It’s usage was as good as the zoom of today however it was not so steady . Features in zoom seem to be overlapping.
Google Duo is not as popular as zoom and Skype.
FaceTime from the Apple stable also allows chats and texting does not allow more than 32 users in a video call.
Discord is a gaming apps that also allows multiple users again limited from 10-50 users. This is more a gaming apps
Discord allows all platforms like iOS Android Windows Mac and web usage
So also Skype facebook messenger
Facebook messenger call and video is not permitted in closed countries like UAE more because of social policing.
Twitter live and facebook live also have popular users. The periscope is robust in the twitter stable and can handle large volumes of users
There appears to be no restriction on number of users on FB live ,however restrictions on age , authority to view can be set along with country or area viewers.
YouTube live and insta live are costly and there appears to be less restrictions as to number of users and viewers
Both these are very popular and easy to use. Split screen up and down is a instalive feature.
Lark is a new video calling apps and some others are raising their heads in view of the lockdown that is prevalent across nations.
The clear winner appears to be zoom inspite of security concerns that are possible to be plugged. FB live and YouTube and insta are close second jointly
Zoom - On the smartphones some significant features available on laptops or desktops are missing . The gallery view and the screen shares are easy on laptops desktops.
Enjoy this lockdown times on zoom music or talks and meditations
Enjoy creativity that has reached new limits . I saw a town in Kerala use zoom across the home terraces with social distancing among groups of max 4 go live with shakha proceedings and singing national songs and prayers. The leader could also deliver inspiring talks and meditations from the terraces. The geographical limitation was set to distances that carried sound of the teams and speakers (loud)
Post CoVID we are sure to have new media apps for video calling that could be easy to use and reach larger global audiences for streaming chatting texting
One point all need to know that Data usage has been huge and costs are also high. Airtel and Voda -idea and Reliance users may see new excessively crossing Fair usage bills next two months. Reliance has not been a good platform to use for the large audiences.
Let creativity shine in this lockdown for the online delivery partners and new ones jumping in to use their large data storage capabilities.
I had read OLA may be the largest store house of data or individuals’ travel, food habits , travel stoppages at motels hotels and eateries all documented well. Couple I know have reached courts with evidence of ola travels of the husband to pin him down to adultery based on locations visited and travels made frequently at odd hours .
Let us use these resources judiciously and carefully keeping an eye on the bills
Happy lockdown days
Muralidharan R Nair
Day 28 of lockdown
21 April 2020
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