It is true - there are always choices to be made when it comes to video conferencing, but...

well, the video after the jump probably explains it better.

Some things in life are pretty predictable. You can usually count on millions of turkeys being sold in mid-November. There’s almost always a terrible summer movie sequel (or prequel) that should have gone straight to DVD. And Apple will unleash annually a new, upgraded version of their products. From what I’ve heard, the new iPad 2 will not disappoint.

As Apple tends to be secretive, all of the rumored improvements are mostly guesses. However, many of the improvements make sense, and use technology that Apple has already implemented in its other products in the past year, so we’ll assume that the general consensus of tech prognosticators is right.

New Features (reportedly) Include:

• USB Port
• 3 Versions of iPads: Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi/UMTS (AT&T 3G network) and Wi-Fi/CDMA (Verizon 4G Network)
• Improved Speakers/Microphone
• Front and Back-Facing Cameras

The camera additions are probably the most exciting feature to the iPad upgrade. Introduced with the iPhone 4, many thought this would have been a feature on the original iPad, but with the growing number of businesses utilizing tablet computers, there is no doubt the iPad 2 will be conference ready.

As impressed as you might be if I were to list the ways video conferencing can help you trim those unwanted pounds and quit smoking, let’s instead take a look at more familiar resolutions in video conferencing:  720, 1080, ….will 1440 be a New Year Resolution in 2011?...

High Definition video conferencing is all the buzz in today’s video communication world, and rightly so – a high quality, high definition video conference is not only impressive; it is effective at driving productivity, improving communication, and controlling travel costs.

And as the quality of the video resolution and frame rate increases, so does the quality of the overall video conferencing experience and consequently end-user adoption and demand.

However, the trend for higher resolutions and pristine video quality is paralleled by another, often competing trend.

Anyone else still getting last-minute holiday shopping done?

Seeing all of the Mall Santa’s around gave me an oddly eerie feeling this year. There’s a suspicious amount of uniformity among them.  The red coats, the white beards, “Ho Ho Ho” inflections,  the side of the head the hat folds toward (always to the right), even the color palette and circumference of the rosiness on their cheeks – I’m convinced this is no coincidence.

I have no doubt that this kind of synchronization of Santa’s “big helpers” could only be accomplished through coordinated video training, much like the kind frequently employed by organizations around the world using a video conferencing MCU.

Organizations from manufacturing to retail to education to medical to government have long been utilizing the power of multipoint video conferencing to quickly bring large groups of constituents up to speed.  It only makes sense that Old Saint Nick would look to the same technology to help standardize the Mall Santa industry.

With Sony’s HD Video Conferencing terminals and a High Definition MCU from Compunetix, organizations of all shapes and sizes can easily bring together kids from 1 to 92 (actually up to 3600 sites can join a call at CIF resolution with Compunetix’s scalable solutions), whether a multi-national enterprise from the North Pole or a local chestnut roaster with a national sales team.

So as you’re wrapping up that last bit of shopping and checking your list twice, be sure to let your local Mall Santa know his training paid off.

Happy Holidays from the Spire Global Family to yours.

-Jeremy

As video conferencing usage continues to explode, so does the variety of applications.

Inspired by a recent news story, the thought crossed my mind: what if Sony Video Conferencing could help fight crime? Far-fetched?  Perhaps not-- the result of this pondering follows.

7 Ways Sony Video Conferencing Can Save Your Stuff

1.       1080 High Definition 10x optical zoom PTZ camera

No need to squint, you’ll be able to pick “the perp” out of a lineup in no time. Even catch what brand of gloves they were wearing.

2.       Bright-Face Technology

Less-than-ideal lighting? Not a problem with Sony’s Bright-Face technology.  It provides optimum facial lighting for a brighter, clearer picture, down to the freckle.

3.       Memory Stick Recording

Easily record the live video or capture still images directly from the codec onto a Sony Memory stick.  Share by email, upload to YouTube, or take the media files directly to the police station.

4.       Multi-Point Calling

Need a witness? Connect with a neighbor or co-worker to watch the events unfurl by hosting a quick multi-point call.  Encourage your neighborhood watch headquarters to add a video conferencing system as well.

You may remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned how standards-based video conferencing systems can now fully communicate with mobile devices using Mirial's ClearSea technology.

Here's a clip I received from one of our Resellers using his HTC EVO to connect to his office's conference room. Seeing is believing... (watch after the jump)

We have a lot to be thankful for this past year: Our health, family and friends, Fortune magazine finally announcing that Verizon’s getting the iPhone– you fill in the blank. Regardless of what it is we’re thankful for, the holidays are a good time to reflect on all the blessings and great people around us, and to remember and thank those who afford us the freedom to celebrate – sacrificing their time with family and friends, and sometimes their lives to serve our nation.

One exciting perk of video conferencing is the chance to reconnect families who are miles apart due to deployment. Organizations like the Freedom Calls Foundation have been incredibly generous, and do a great job of bridging the gap during the holidays.

“Back To The Future”, the timeless trilogy starring Michael J. Fox turns 25 this year -- October 26^th, to be exact, marking the day Marty McFly saw history and his future re-written in a time-traveling DeLorean.

To celebrate the occasion, the cast and crew reunited, select AMC theatres brought the trilogy back to the silver screen, and Universal Studios released a special Blu-Ray trilogy pack loaded with special features, commentary, and crisp HD picture.

One of the things that still impresses me  is the creative vision of director Robert Zemeckis, predicting what fashion, technology, and culture would look like in the year 2015. He didn’t get it ALL correct, but it’s impressive nevertheless, for instance…

(more after the jump)