Software Evaluation
Audio
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All internet audio software reviewed on this site was tested at least twice with the same configurations of equipment, connection, and users, so as to increase test-retest reliability. Click on a feature (e.g. Clarity, Articulation) for a definition of the criteria for its evaluation. Click on a product name to download and test it.
This evaluation summary was last updated in December, 2001.
| PRODUCT | Groove | ICQ | Net Meeting |
PalTalk | Roger Wilco | Talk City | Yahoo Messenger |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUND QUALITY | The first section compares each tool to that experienced on an excellent telephone connection with an average quality telephone, where 3-stars is exactly like a telephone call, 0 is useless as a voice communication tool, and 4 or 5 ranks higher than a telephone call. These ratings are based on subjective assessments by MDE users, and have no foundation in empirical research. | ||||||||||||
| Clarity | **** | *** | *** | *** | ** | ? | *** | ||||||
| Articulation | *** | ** | ** | ** | * | ? | *** | ||||||
| Lag | ** | * | ** | ** | ** | ? | ** | ||||||
| Delay | * | * | ** | ** | ** | ? | ** | ||||||
| FEATURES | This section indicates whether or not the software has a particular feature. | ||||||||||||
| File-sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | ||||||
| Educational Tools | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ||||||
| Conferencing (>2 persons) |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||
| Integration | No | Yes | Limited | Yes | No | No | Limited | ||||||
| Installation | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | ||||||
| Cross-Platform | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ||||||
| OTHER CONCERNS | The following section provides ratings in which 1-star is poor and 5 is excellent. These ratings are based on subjective assessments by MDE users, and have no foundation in empirical research. | ||||||||||||
| Intuitivity | * | ** | * | ** | * | * | ** | ||||||
| Stability of Service | ** | ** | * | *** | *** | 0 | ** | ||||||
| Competence | ** | ** | * | ** | * | 0 | ** | ||||||
| PRODUCT | Groove | ICQ | Net Meeting |
PalTalk | Roger Wilco | Talk City | Yahoo Messenger |
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| SIMILAR TOOLS | Click on the Tools title to go to the software website for download. The downloading, installing, and subscription process of some of these tools are challenging. | ||||||||||||
| CentraNow | Voice conferencing, collaboration, and polling tool for up to 500 users that is free to load and test for a short trial period. After which the cost is approximately $35,000 per year for a group of users. It does allow free e-meetings for up to 9 participants. | ||||||||||||
| Conversay | Voice-activated web surfing tool - not IP Audio: shows promise for enabling disabled access to CMC and other web-based DE curriculum. | ||||||||||||
| MediaRing | PC to PC calls, PC-to-Phone, and voice messaging capabilities. Fee for use for PC to telephone calls: e.g. 5 cents per minute to China from North America. | ||||||||||||
| TeamSpace | Several products appear to exist by this name. Flypaper Teamspace's web site offers integrated collaborative tools including audio "for as little as $10,000 for an annual hosted service supporting up to 20 active users." | ||||||||||||
| VoiceNet | Internet Telephone Network for as low as 5 cents per minute for U.S. calls. This appears to be primarily an internet-to-telephone integration technology. | ||||||||||||
CDE - Last Updated by MM June 14, 2011
