Skype has now released a new feature called group chat in their latest release of the their beta version.  For most, like myself, the statement that comes to mind is, "well it's about time."

I have to admit, I've only been using Skype for about a year now.  I've been using Gizmo5 project for a bit longer because of it's integration with Google Voice.  However, my parents got on with Skype and rather than try to make converts of them to another system, I went ahead and installed it on a windows machine.  I have to admit after using Skype video conferencing for a while for the kids to talk to the grandparents, I soon signed up for more features.  In fact it is my full time busines line because of it's price and high quality. In fact for some time I had used it to bridge a full blown daily conference call for about 6 people and it worked pretty well.  I've since added it to my most loved linux laptop.  For linux Skype has been perpetually in beta but works very well but with not too many features.

So now while we converse through video chat with my parents, we will now be able to add other relatives to the mix via video.  This feature at the time being is free, but after it is fully released it will be with an additional charge. 

The one thing I did not find is the ability to do a screen share to mutiple users.  Another feature that would seem simple enough to provide with the technology that Skype has.  Currently you can very easily do this one on one but not with multiple users such as that of dimdim.com.  Certainly a feature worth adding on to their portfolio.

The beta version video chat does have clear video and good sound quality.  It is not available yet for MAC and Linux users but is currently reported to be under development for both. 

Flash news instead of News Flash - get it..

Steve Jobs wrote a public letter recently called Thoughts on Flash, where he announces that Apple devices such as the iPad, iPod, iTouch, iDunno everything they make will no longer support Adobe Flash.  For some this is a real shocker as Apple has held approximately 20% investment into Adobe's portfolio.  Adobe products have continuously been married to the Apple product line.  Finally, Steve Jobs has announced what most of us (all linux users) already know, Adobe Flash sucks!

I do remember the first time I saw a website done in Adobe Flash.  It had motion, it was graphically the most beautiful thing on the web I had ever seen to that point.  It was litterally an image of a tree with birds moving around it and alternating text.  I'll never forget the words I said half out loud as I looked at this site, "This is the future of web design right here."  {I'm right now sort of half way laughing to myself..no at myself.}  I proceeded to purchase every book available I could on find on Flash, I bought Macromedia (maker at the time) Flash software and went to work.  After about a couple of weeks I thought, this takes too long...ughhh.

The fact is, it was the future of web design for at least a couple of years.  It became so popular so fast that it became annoying.  It seemed like every major corporation website you went to you had to either watch a commercial before you could enter the website to see content or as most of us quickly learned exactly where the "Skip intro" link was to completely ignore a beautiful piece of work that a programmer probably slaved over for months.  Click = shut up.

The letter from Steve Jobs outlines the reasons for Apple's departure for using Adobe Flash as the future of the web will greatly rely on mobile devices and Adobe Flash just doesn't run well on mobile devices.  It drains battery life, it was designed for interaction with a mouse and not with use of touch screens.  From a development standpoint Flash is closed source and proprietary and they require developers to use Adobe Flash development tools.  Jobs sees this as a liability for Apple requiring development to a limited source library makes for substandard apps. 

Apple instead will embrace the new HTML5 standards which is more open for all systems and browsers on any device and browser and is very media content friendly. 

This is a bold move for Apple in my book.  Apple is often seen as having too much control over functionality of its devices, yet by doing so they've managed to have a very high control over the quality and performance of their products.  No other computer manufacturer can compare.  So it pleases me a great deal that Apple recognizes the need for open yet structured standards for web browsers.  These new standards are built with accessibility and usablity in mind, making them not only cross-platform but cross-device as well.  A website that rocks on your PC will also rock on your Android device (did I really say that), or your iPhone.