Any question answered...

They can't legally stop a retailer selling them below RRP, however they can stop supplying that retailer at their choosing. Specialized are notorious for doing the same.

Video conferencing. Or audio conferencing. What are my options?

Have a new client who wants weekly calls. We tried Skype through laptops - terrible quality. Google hangouts the same - both even with video switched off. Mobile to mobile I was happy with but I think he wants something more as we'll be including several contributors. It was basically an hour of trying stuff and being equal parts frustrated and embarrassed.

I'm going to be working from home from January so ideally internet based - have Virgin's fastest fibre option.

I've used Meetup Call in the past with some success but this was an account the client held so I don't know about ease of use/pricing etc. I was just emailed a number and dialled in when required.

Who uses what?

What about your Skype (for Business?) experience was terrible?

If you just want old fashioned audi conferencing then we use https://whypay.net/ as it is free and never had any issues at all, once you sign up for an account you get a dedicated room number and pin which doesn't change.

Sony Z3 compact (not Z5 compact)

Can anyone recommend me a small form factor Android phone for my mother please?

Alcatel Pixi starts at 3.5", although I'm not sure how much point there is in a smartphone that small. I have a Pixi3 4.0" as a burner and I wouldn't want to use it a lot.

Yeah, I avoided @ you because I didn't want to seem like that guy! :,(

I found 10% off at Boots, which I think might work but not tried yet. I thought it might be a popular xmas gift.

a burner

A what, sorry?

It was just standard Skype - happy to pay for a Business account for our users but was under the impression quality of call remains the same and it's just things like additional users on the call, linking outlook schedules etc which isn't really relevant for us. The call was unclear, kept dropping out - apparently I was very quiet even speaking loudly directly into the mic (tay zonday), my client was 'pixellated' if that's possible in audio terms. It kept glitching. Eventually we resorted to the chat function. He was connected to WiFi in an office in the City and works for an internet company so I assume at the very least he has a stable and fast connection. My connection should be good too.

A what, sorry?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Burner

Never heard of this - looks interesting thanks - kind of amazed by the amount of text on the site explaining that it really is free : ) But looks good - especially the ability to have automated invites etc

gandi. every time.

Honestly if you're having shitty connection with Google hangouts then I'm not sure anything will be better.

Well that sucks.

It was really dismally bad. Worse than Skype by far. I've never used it for video before so I don't know what to compare it to but it's not something I would be rushing to use again based on that. I've since tried here with a friend elsewhere in Brighton - still shit. I've also moved and connected at a different location (in case it was my connection) and still shit.

Are your chakras misaligned?

Powwownow?

Well that sucks.

It was really dismally bad. Worse than Skype by far. I've never used it for video before so I don't know what to compare it to but it's not something I would be rushing to use again based on that. I've since tried here with a friend elsewhere in Brighton - still shit. I've also moved and connected at a different location (in case it was my connection) and still shit.

I use videoconferencing heavily, Adobe, Cisco-Webex, Microsoft, Readytalk, Google, and more recently Zoom.

Microsoft (Lync/Skype for biz) is the only one that's truly bad, and that's from a "I fucking hate using this and having to download the client every single fucking time" perspective, the quality of the video and the audio is on-par with the others.

But - they all have the same Achilles heel, and that's bandwidth - if I was running my own company I'd immediately choose Google Hangouts as it's intuitive and works very well. The only slight pain is that you can't share a Powerpoint deck in presentation mode - you have to upload it as a Google Presentation, but that's not a show-stopper once you know it's a restriction.

I'd blame your clients connection, and then something being wrong with your laptop, in that order. If both of you are on the end of a connection with a decent upload speed (check this!) then you'll be fine with hangouts.

I'd blame your clients connection

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/patchy-skype-call-becomes-blame-game-over-who-has-shittest-internet-20161020115735

Worth looking at cashback via Quidco, etc also

Yeah I've used a number of them too when I was managing a remote team. I found Google Hangouts to be the most friendly of shit connections but it you can't even get the voice to work properly without video then there's something really wrong with the connection somewhere.

Almost certainly.

I'll blame my clients connection.

I'll also happily blame Skype which took me 2 password resets before it even let me in which added to the embarrassment.

I've sent this to the client and expect the contract to be renewed imminently.

Will investigate connection and in the meantime stick to phone based solution. WhyPay looking the best so far but would like to do some tests from locations/mobiles/landlines.

I use Powwownow for audio conferencing. Join.me for screen share. Video conferencing is shit and I avoid it.

You can also patch multiple calls together on modern phones - might be worth investigating.

Assume you are using headphones with a mic? If not look at doing that along with investigating other connection issues.