Meebo: Webcam and Voice Chat IM support for Linux
IM issue is back once again. I’m still doing some of my experiments with theses IM thingy in Linux and so far I find Gyache a good substitute for Yahoo Messenger in Linux. One more thing though about Gyache is that the webcam support doesn’t have this lag or delay in frames when you broadcast it online. It’s like having a real-time broadcast experience. The only downside is it’s awful appearance. I hope that they can have a much better interface with Gyache soon.
For Multi-platform support, Kopete still rocks because of it’s webcam support minus the voice chat. Appearance wise, it is way to appealing compare to Gyache. So if you’re the type of person who has multiple IM accounts and doesn’t care much of the voice chat then go with Kopete. Gyache is only for Yahoo. Pidgin, uhmmm it’s ok though I just tried it once and never signed back again.
Now what is this cross-platform IM capable of handling both webcam and voice chat support for Linux? No clue?
Introducing Meebo! Meebo who?
Meebo is a web based multi-platform chat client that supports various IM services like Yahoo, MSN, Gtalk, AIM, ICQ and Jabber. Meebo’s early stages where somewhat limited to just chatting alone. But when I check back on it earlier this morning they already have this cool new applications capable of having webcam support as well as voice chatting. The application is called, Tokbox. Here’s the excerpt from the official meebo blog:
So many of you have asked for this feature from day one and now you can video/audio call (TokBox), voice chat (Pudding Media), and group voice call (TalkShoe) on meebo, plus you can even create your own live TV show (UStream) to share with your friends!
With Meebo’s growing popularity the need for IM softwares for Linux maybe over, hopefully not. But the three common issues in Linux were addressed in Meebo right away and that’s why Meebo is just to hard to pass up. One, no need to install since it is web-based. Two, it’s interface is neat and clean. Third, voice and webcam support is available across all IM platforms.
See? Those are more than enough reason to try and use Meebo and best of all it is fully compatible with Linux specially if you’re using Firefox as your browser.
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Comments
I have signed on to my yahoo account via meebo.com. While using a Windows computer, I was able to make some VOIP (computer to regular phone line) calls, with the $10 I paid for voice-yahoo. Will I be able to call regular phone lines using Meebo, or any other software/website?
(Pls email if you can). Thanks.
Meebo is one of the best and smart client I have come across, surely better than any other app used in linux like Gyache or kopete.
Hy, I appreciate your blog about meebo.
But now I run my blog with the meebo widget in qn environment intrepid ibex and I have “network disruption”
although I am regurarly connected in the other window with the IM….ùAny suggestion???
Thank you very much….
Luigi
Video chat on Meebo does not work on Linux. I run Ubuntu (Intrepid Ibex) and Meebo video chat does not recognize my webcam (I have a Dell XPS m1330). I duel boot with Windows Vista and the Meebo video chat works fine when I’m in Windows. So if anyone knows what could be done to get Linux to work with Meebo video chat, please reply.
I think meebo is a decent app, but why doesn’t it show the voice chat, I can only get video, live brodcast, and social conference call, but no regular voice chat. Also, with the voice chat, I have dial up, can I still use it?
When in Linux you have to be certain that you have the right driver installed.
Try Puppy Linux 4.2, the folks on the Forum are very helpful and they have worked hard in the distro to provide drivers for the most common Webcams … and even some uncommon ones.
Cannot speak for Ubuntu, it is way too large compared to Puppy so I have not bothered to try it.
HTH … doc
it has nothing to do with drivers in linux. flash in firefox on linux has issues accessing the libraries where it would tell users to click “allow” and “remember” because of this linux users cannot set their camera. it has nothing to do with meebo, its acutally a flaw in the flash vs camera support and affects sites like tinycam as well.
I’m still not impressed with the application based IM clients for linux as of yet.
I’m trying Kopete tonight as suggest from your previous article on it and I will post with how I go.
I have tried aMSN but it looks like junk as compared to Pidgin, my current preferred IM client.
Good article though.
I am subscribed to your RSS feed so keep up the good articles and the good work, i enjoy reading them.