Voice chat and so much more..
Written: Sep 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to set up, learn how to use, Very fun.
Cons: None
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| BlackCat2's Full Review: Firetalk |
I like Fire Talk because you can hear the person who is speaking to you. You can also type to talk or do both alternately.
The set up wizard helps you along in setting up Fire Talk for use. It helps you configure your volume levels as well as your microphone. This made the set up totally painless and everything worked with no errors on the first try.
The sound quality is usually excellent except for maybe when there are many people online, you have a bad connection, or you are operating to many other applications at the same time. Even if the sound is bad you can always use the typing option. One thing that they suggest will help with sound quality is the use of a headset. I have not tried this out though.
Fire Talk also has forums you can join:
1.Computers and Technology: At the time of this writing the current subcategories are:
a. CWD
b. PC Tech
c. PC Tech-beginners
d. Reef
e. Stockers
f. Trading the Markets
g. Webdesign 101 and Flash4
h. Hackerz
2.eLearning: Current subcategories are:
a. General
3.Family: Current subcategories are:
a. abu
b. Friendly Folks Chatting
c. hohing
d. General
4.Games, Hobbies, Sports: Current subcategories are:
a.4C Evercrack
b.General
5.General: Current subcategories are:
a.Veterans and Friends
b.Dog House{50 Plus}
c.Firetalk users helping users
d.General
e.General chat and new users
f.UFOS & TECH & MORE
6.International: Current subcategories are:
a.Brasil Tomando Cafe
b.General
c.Japan and things japanese
d.Pakistanis Best
e.Pinoy Village
f.Russian Popizdelki
g.Tequila y mate
h.Turkish Chat
i.UK
j.Bunch of others not in english. LOL.
7.Love and Romance: Current subcategories are:
a.Aussie Down Under
b.General
c.South Calif Night
d.Surfins
e.Text chat preferred
8.Physically Challenges Users: Current subcategories are:
a.General
9.Spirituality and Religion: Current subcategories are:
a.Muslim Oasis
b.Apologetics {I wonder if this is like Dionetics??<grin>}
c.Dispension of Grace
d.General
e.Metaphysical discuss
f.Religious debate
10.Teens: Current subcategories are:
a.all teens come and chat
b.DragonBall Z
c.General
d.TeEnZ
11.The Stage: Current subcategories are:
a.General
b.Guardian and friends
c.nickybb and friends
12.Trivia: Current subcategories are:
a.General
13.Adults Only: Not listing current subcategories here for
obvious reasons...<grin> This one does have the most
subcategories though.
Anyone can create a subcategory under one of the appropriate main categories. You can also make the room private and invite users to join you if you know there FireTalk ID. Voice and text chat can both be used either separately or simultaneously. The forums can be fun but it is often hard to hear what is going on as many people will talk at once if the group is large.
Also with FireTalk you can place a direct call to anyone in the world provided you have their FireTalk ID. Incoming and outgoing text and voice messages are saved in a file that resembles using an email client when you open it. i.e. Inbox, Outbox etc..
You can also use FireTalk to add voice chat on your web site or surf with friends while you are talking. I have not tried any of these features as yet so I cannot comment on how well they work.
They recently added a new feature called a 'Virtual Auditorium'. With this you can host an event with up to 1000 participants. Some advantages I see to this over the forums are:
1. You can schedule an event
2. Have guest speakers
3. Invite people to join
4. Post a notice of the event on your website
5. Make it a regular meeting every week/month etc..
6. Only when you have been handed the microphone may you speak.
7. If you wish to speak, you can press the raised hand button to request the microphone be handed to you.
I really think this could be interesting. It would also be handy for business meetings when the people involved are scattered around the country or the world. Everyone can set a date and time, save money by not booking a physical hall because they are using a virtual one, and not have to worry in most cases about long distance charges depending on their ISP.
FireTalk is easy to use, set up and to learn how to use. It is also really fun. One other plus I have noticed is it does not use up too much memory and for me, that is the biggest plus. I would recommend this to almost anyone. Teenagers and other kids being the exception. That Teen category in the forums really worries me. I just have to wonder how many pedophiles hang out in there. Other than that though I really like the forums. If you can go unnoticed you can just sit and listen as you do other things. If the group is large you do stand a good chance of not being seen. Also when you start it up you get automatic notice of updates being available if there is one. Downloads for these are not large and go very quickly.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: BlackCat2
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Member: Heidi Gagne
Location: San Marcos Texas
Reviews written: 363
Trusted by: 216 members
About Me: *Shake it off and Step Up*
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