I was out bird watching Sunday evening, but I didn’t want to miss our Michigan User Experience Professionals’ Association conference call.
So I used the call-in option for the video conferencing application.
Sat in my car on a dirt road as sunshine flickered through the tall 75-foot-tall trees, peered at the email message for the call-in number, and called in.
The video conferencing application asked me for the conference code, which I attempted to enter.
Unfortunately, the system timed out before I could enter the code. Twice.
I’ve said it three years ago, I’ll say it again.
My wish is for a video conferencing application that doesn’t make me think.
One I can simply use without having to call in, enter conference code numbers.
I’ve been writing about easy-to-use video conferencing applications since 2010, looking for the elusive unicorn.
One that I don’t have to download. An application that doesn’t require me to create an account. Or make me figure out where the controls have been hidden.
And in this case, one that does’t require me to enter in a conference code before the system times out.
Hello. Goodbye.
I thought I had the ideal solution a couple years ago, when Firefox released Hello.
Built into Firefox, the Hello video conference features didn’t require any download or special code. No account set up.
All you needed to do to start a video conversation was select Hello from the toolbar and send an email link to the person you wanted to have a conversation with.
The other person didn’t need to use Firefox. They could be on any browser that supported WebRTC, which at the time Hello was released meant Chrome or Opera.
With the first version, Hello only supported conversations with one person.
Less than six months after launch, Firefox extended the features in Hello to include conversations with multiple people and screen sharing.
I was delighted!
And then in 2016, Firefox removed the Hello feature. Yes, I was disappointed.
And left wondering what application I would find that would fit my criteria:
- Easy to use
- No download
- No need to create account
I returned to my old standby, Google Hangouts.
Looking at Appear.in. Again.
I explained my search for an ideal video conferencing application in my online design groups last week.
One of my colleagues replied, mentioning Appear.in, an application I reviewed in 2014. He uses it daily for chatting and video conferences with colleagues.
I remembered I liked Appear.in; it was easy to use and required no download or account creation.
However, when I reviewed it, there were a few restrictions:
- Only worked on Chrome and Opera
- Limited to eight people
- No keyboard navigation
I want back to the appear.in website to learn what changed in the past three years. I was excited to discover a slew of new features and support, including:
- Support for the latest two versions of Firefox, Vivaldi, and Chrome. Microsoft Edge is also supported, as of April 2017 (though the Appear.in. website hasn’t updated their support info about Edge).
- Support for iOS via the Appear.in iOS app
- Support for Android, if you use Chrome, Firefox, or Opera for Android. If not, you can download their Android application.
- Support for Chrome OS
- Easier screen sharing
- Invite people by copying link or via Facebook
- Claim a room to customize the background image, lock the room, and provide membership to other people to the room
I have to admit, the new features make Appear.in a more fully-featured video conferencing application.
What’s Missing?
If you’re in need of an application that supports more than eight people, Appear.in is not the solution for you. But for smaller groups, it would work well.
Keyboard support is still lacking. I’ve contacted Appear.in to ask what steps they’re taking to add keyboard support and other accessibility features.
Summary
Depending on the browsers and mobile devices you use, Appear.in may be a good video conferencing option for you.
It’s free, doesn’t require a download, and provides good browser support (unless you’re on Safari or older versions of browsers).
If you’re looking for a video conference solution for more than eight people or you’re looking for an accessible video conference application, Appear.in is not going to work for you.
Note: as of August 2019, Appear.in has rebranded to Whereby.
I’d love to know what video conferencing applications you’re using. Share your apps in the comments.
