[BLU/Officers] Online meetings
John Abreau
abreauj at gmail.com
Sun Mar 15 23:27:07 EDT 2020
I just installed Windows 7 in a gnome boxes VM. I tried installing
samepage, but it needs a new version of .net, so I'm installing Windows
updates now, which may take a while. If I can successfully install samepage
without needing to spend money on a Windows 10 license, we can give that a
try, too.
On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 10:53 PM John Abreau <abreauj at gmail.com> wrote:
> I saw a posting from the CDC that suggested a few options for virtual
> meetings, and one of them was skype. I just installed skype on my laptop,
> and it seems it does have a group meeting function, plus there's supposed
> to be a way to save a video file of the meeting.
>
> I picked up the hotspot from the library this afternoon (Sunday), after
> returning it Saturday, so I'm able to test it this week. What's a good day
> for us to try it out with an officer's meeting?
>
> If there's no day that works for everyone, we can always test it with just
> a few of us.
>
> Regardless of the outcome, of course, we should still examine the other
> options at some point.
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 4:51 PM John Abreau <abreauj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> typo in previous message: "complete" was supposed to be "compete" :-)
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 4:50 PM John Abreau <abreauj at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Google Meet sounds like a good option to try.
>>>
>>> While the question of streaming or archiving the session to youtube is
>>> not a show-stopper, it's something I would very much like to do, if
>>> possible.
>>>
>>> I took a brief look at the BlueJeans page. I see the cost of the
>>> entry-level package is $9.99/month for up to 50 attendees, and the next
>>> level up is $13.99/month for up to 75 attendees.The second one provides up
>>> to 10 hours of "Cloud Meeting Recording", whereas the entry-level one
>>> doesn't provide for recording at all, so if we could afford it, I'd prefer
>>> the one with the recording option. It's unclear from the page whether
>>> that's up to 10 hours per meeting, per month, or per year, so we'd need to
>>> clarify that before committing to the platform.
>>>
>>> The other options Bill mentions are also worth looking into, of course.
>>>
>>> As for my broadband access, I borrow a 4G/LTE hotspot from my local
>>> library for a week at a time. I can't guarantee that I'll have it on the
>>> night of the meeting, as I have to complete with other library patrons for
>>> access to borrow one of the eight the library provides, but most of the
>>> time I've been able to borrow it again the day after returning it.
>>>
>>> Of course, if the library decides to shut down completely due to the
>>> pandemic, then I may no longer be able to borrow the hotspot.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Mar 14, 2020 at 3:17 PM Bill Ricker <bill.n1vux at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> *Adding Tom Metro* to CC: list since he has experience and opinions in
>>>> remote meeting tech.
>>>>
>>>> I've seen a number of new-to-work-from-home and new-to-teaching-online
>>>> posts on twitter this week.
>>>>
>>>> Two threads (of many) by old hands at remote-meeting/teaching that have
>>>> useful info
>>>>
>>>> *Options* (addressed to non-tech, but really is addressing anyone new
>>>> to WFH)
>>>> https://twitter.com/GlennF/status/1238690177435852803?s=09
>>>>
>>>> *Hints for Zoom instructor*, half will apply to all platforms and many
>>>> to non-academic semi-lecture meeting like ours
>>>> https://twitter.com/SamWangPhD/status/1238838659949961216?s=19
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My own *comments* on platforms -
>>>>
>>>> - *Screenleap* has 45 minutes (iirc) on free account and
>>>> only-presenter-pays options also.
>>>> Desktop clients for win, mac, Android, iOS.
>>>> Iirc one of chrome or firefox would let me share a window on linux;
>>>> the other would only let me share a tab.
>>>> (*This may have changed with new FireFox security which is more
>>>> flexible and explicit this year*. *We haven't used this one as much
>>>> lately so not really current on it*. *When last used, it had some
>>>> difficulty switching presenters but we eventually got used to how to do it
>>>> without restarting meetings*.)
>>>>
>>>> - *Slack* has screenshare/meetings too. *I think i used it once or
>>>> twice, don't remember details.*
>>>>
>>>> - *Google Meet*: Works well with our remote client and their remote
>>>> team.
>>>> Oddly Android client is least featureful, can't feed a screenshare;
>>>> I suspect because Android has better program separation but might be less
>>>> multiprocessing? (Android can watch screenshare. )
>>>> Includes a phone bridge dial-in for folks who want audio via phone
>>>> instead of tablet/laptop for whatever reason, or only want audio.
>>>> Larger Meetings can be set to automute. Individuals can unmute/mute
>>>> selves; and toggle their video camera.
>>>> Will work with camera off.
>>>> With Latest FireFox, the user must grant camera, mic, screenshare
>>>> privs to in-tab applet, and FF keeps a visible warning that one is sharing,
>>>> very nice. (*And will work if you deny camera, which i do.*)
>>>> I haven't tried with Chrome but i think Tom did. We recently shared
>>>> both Terminal window and a Google Docs tab alternately, switching
>>>> presenters.
>>>>
>>>> Smaller replies interleaved below ...
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Mar 14, 2020 at 9:47 AM Jerry Feldman <gaf.linux at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Some of our speakers may have access to a video conferencing system.
>>>>> We certainly could have the speaker give his/her talk via YouTube. But, our
>>>>> next speaker is Federico who has access to BlueJeans
>>>>> <https://www.bluejeans.com/>.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Perfectly reasonable to let the speaker present with their preferred
>>>> brand.
>>>> (Whether we can or should capture a BlueJeans presentation on our
>>>> YouTube channel is a separate question.)
>>>>
>>>> In the future, we can explore ways to be able to conduct online
>>>>> meetings where the audience will be able to interact with the speaker.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Having an IRC-like back channel, either in the presentation app or on a
>>>> second screen (tablet) can work.
>>>> Some of the apps allow participants to unmute themselves and butt right
>>>> in, others have RAISE HAND button and chat channel.
>>>>
>>>>> We would need to secure a location with a high enough bandwidth for
>>>>> the speaker,
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Staples Brighton has a WeWork or equivalent meeting space in the back,
>>>> but if they have any sense they've shut that down for the duration.
>>>>
>>>>> or the speaker could present from his/her home or work.
>>>>>
>>>> During this time of sanitary isolation that's probably ideal.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> We would probably need to buy a license that would allow our members
>>>>> to connect. (Possibly Boston User Groups could use its funds to acquire a
>>>>> license). For us, we must be able to use Linux. I'm sure most support
>>>>> Android.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> True Linux Desktop clients are few and far between (due to the
>>>> infinitude of testing space) but ability to work from the browser on Linux
>>>> is more common; some Electron "It's not a browser" apps exist (e.g. Slack).
>>>>
>>>> As noted in my comments above, at least Google Meet native Android App
>>>> can not drive a screen share - which is likely an OS restriction so i
>>>> suspect may be across the board.
>>>>
>>>> Zoom is $14.99/Mo
>>>>>
>>>> This seems to be the popular choice for Universities going On Line.
>>>> Per Glenn's comments, they've fixed their egregious security botch.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> SamePage has a free option. Prices start at $7.50/User
>>>>> RingCentral $14.99/Mo
>>>>> jitsi https://jitsi.org/ Free/Open source. We may be able to use
>>>>> this. Source is on github.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Google Hangouts Meet
>>>>>
>>>> I like, am using at least weekly with client currently.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Talky (https://talky.io/) built on jitsi
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Let's take a look at the above list and add or subtract.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> See my list and resources above.
>>>>
>>>>> I would like to be able to test 1 or more of these online within a few
>>>>> days among us. I would prefer all of John, Me, Kurt, Bill, and Dave. I
>>>>> think John is the key here since he does not really have home internet.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> If John doesn't have home broadband, how would he consume a streaming
>>>> video meeting from home?
>>>> 4G tablet OTA?
>>>> I don't expect anything beyond text chat and audio will work well over
>>>> dialup, iffy on ADSL !
>>>> Self-isolation w/o broadband is not going to be pleasant!
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Officers mailing list
>>>> Officers at lists.blu.org
>>>> http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/officers
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix
>>> Email: abreauj at gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID
>>> 0x920063C6
>>> PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix
>> Email: abreauj at gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID
>> 0x920063C6
>> PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6
>>
>>
>
> --
> John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix
> Email: abreauj at gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID
> 0x920063C6
> PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6
>
>
--
John Abreau / Executive Director, Boston Linux & Unix
Email: abreauj at gmail.com / WWW http://www.abreau.net / PGP-Key-ID 0x920063C6
PGP-Key-Fingerprint A5AD 6BE1 FEFE 8E4F 5C23 C2D0 E885 E17C 9200 63C6
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