As you may know voip is all the rage. The Worldgate Ojo is what I like to call foip technology, or fugliness over internet protocol, because most people on the interwebs have about as much physical appeal as a 3 year old opened package of bologna.
The real news is that the Ojo is now capable of working with the H.263 and G729 video and audio codecs along with now being able to use the H.323 communication protocol. This basically means the Ojo can work with other webcams and of course it will still be able to interact with other Ojos.
“We are confident that this interoperability will not only further the advancement of the video phone market, but also, Ojo’s market penetration and leadership position within that market,” said Hal Krisbergh, Chairman and CEO, WorldGate
The capability will first be used by SNAP VRS, a subsidiary of Aequus technologies, beginning this March. Snap VRS provides sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired and now will not be limited to just Ojo video phones. For those interested in the Ojo it costs $399 dollars directly from Worldgate.
*Tidbit of the day: Ojo means eye in spanish.
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7 Responses to “Ojo plays nice with other webcams”
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February 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
this think looks pretty slick. whatdoyou think?
http://www.thumbwarz.com/index.phtml?snum=1&sterm=ojo&limit=0
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:58 pm
You can get this for $250 at Amazon…
http://www.ministryoftech.com/2006/11/08/worldgate-ojo-shadow-video-phones-coming-soon-to-new-zealand
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Amazing stuff to work at!!
February 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Actually there are two models of Ojo. The original Ojo has a detachable cordless phone which, if picked up deactivates the speakerphone. The picture is more realistic with the speakerphone because the sound seems to come right out of the picture, in synch with lip movement. Also has a phone jack for regular audio calls. This model has an MSRP of $399.
The Shadow Ojo has a black satin finish and is devoted to video. MSRP is $299. Both phones are less expensive from www.thenerds.net where the Shadow costs just $223.
There is a monthly service charge ordinarily $14.95 for UNLIMITED VIDEO PHONE CALLS worldwide at any time. IF you register your Ojo before the end of June the monthly charge is just $9.95 good for the rest of 2007. Both phones are made by WorldGate Comm www.wgate.com Nasdaq WGAT $1.15 on Feb 23.
The Ojo is wonderful with no breakup or pixelization. Profoundly realistic picture and audio. If you have a friend or loved one who lives at a distance the Ojo will change your life.
galt
February 24th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
This is pretty cool. Now i can see my folks, kids and other relative who are not in our state. I just read on their website that they are also offering a travel ojo. This means i can SEE my wife and kids always, instead of just hearing them. I’m having construction done so i can see the actually development even if I’m traveling.
Thank you for the write up.
February 24th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
I’ve had three web cams and I gave up on them. I bought an Ojo and it is the real deal. I love it. Here’s a link to a video of my Ojo Shadow in action.
Keep in mind this is a video of a video, the Ojo image quality is better than whats in my video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2899332557989427366
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
http://www.darylcrouse.com/index.php?option=com_jomcomment&task=trackback&id=26&opt=com_content
In an interesting e-mail that was sent out today by Snap!VRS Mr. Schatzberg claims that the Ojo is interoperable and that consumers should simply take that as reality. However, the reality is much different from what that claim.
Let me begin by expressing my appreciation and gratitude to the employees of Snap, Worldgate and CAN who have worked long and hard on the interoperability project. I have seen and used an interoperable Ojo. The interoperability solution as I’ve seen it works well and seems to be well thought out. I applaude those who’ve worked diligently to make that a reality.
The issue here is that interoperability is being given out in a selective, subjective manner. That means, if you already have an Ojo and want the interoperability download you have to be approved by someone at Snap to receive it. There doesn’t appear to be any objective criteria for how that decision is made. For example, a number of Ojo’s located in New Mexico that were purchased through retail channels (”non-Snap” Ojo’s) were recently approved by Snap to receive the interoperability download. In contrast, when I asked to receive the interoperability download for my non-Snap Ojo I was told that I could not receive the update.
How was that determination made? Who made that determination in each situation? What were the objective criteria?
Some people have asked, “but you’re hearing Daryl, why do you need it?” I don’t need it specifically, but Deaf friends and colleagues who have and will visit my home have needed it. It would be overburdensome to ask my friend to bring his own Ojo to my house just so he could make a telephone call. I can stand in the place of my house guests in my request because it is personal to me and affects my guests visiting my house.
The great thing about technology and the blogosphere is corporations and the people who run them can be placed under an unforgiving microscope of transparency. Either the reality that is hyped is true or it’s not.