Bad Beta Firetalk
Written: Apr 22 '00 (Updated Nov 01 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The program Does Work...sorta....
Cons: censorship; secret monitoring; arbitrary enforcement of the Terms of Service
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| scajj's Full Review: Firetalk |
Update #3: I need to make some corrections to my Update #2 and provide more information.
The BETA is finished. Firetalk has roled out it's new version and is NOW SELLING THE "so called" higer quality VQ Version for $19.95 PER SIX MONTH PERIOD!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE!
I was NOT accurate about the conference rooms being web based. There is an option in the settings panel I missed which allows you to continue to access conference rooms from within the program. Excuse me for missing that button.
My experience with the VQ for SALE software is that the guys using don't really sound like the VQ beta. Now, the Firetalk CS staff sure sound like they are using the VQ BETA stuff.....but what I can't figure out is why use Firetalk for $19.95@ month when you can get PalTalk for free?!
UPDATE #2: I shall now write about the purported upgrade of Firetalk and it's "public" beta releases. I can have only one Epinion.com opinion on this subject, so I shall simply add to my original.
Firetalk continues. It's now launched into the public beta of it's Firetalk VQ or Firetalk Basic. You can download from here: http://www.firetalk.com/beta/beta_intro.html
The "Basic" version's audio is better than the current public release of Firetalk, but remains "ad supported". The "VQ" version has a trifle bit better audio than the "Basic" but it's still very lacking. A check of the parameters shows an upload of about 7-9kbps and a download very similar. This method of measuring "audio quality" I have found to be very useful. 14-20kbps sounds almost like an FM radio station and is what many other programs will produce. Firetalk has made the same mistake again: They used the same simpleton's who turned the current public release into a koffe klatch to begin the beta testing of these two new releases. Thus, the same cult like and groupie like atmosphere exists between the CS staff and these lamers who seemingly have nothing else to do but think and act like they own firetalk. I went into the "HELP" forum and was attempting to text chat with a real CS (Customer Support) person, but couldn't keep up the scrolling text because so many of his "groupies" were throwing in their two cents!
Oh, yeah. Firetalk plans on charging for this program. I predict it will go down the tubes. You're much better off using a program like paltalk at http://www.paltalk.com which remains free and has no intention charging for their services. The audio quality on PalTalk is about 15kbps and FM in nature. Also, Firetalk "VQ" and "BASIC" rely on the installation of MSIE 4.x or higher. You will no longer be able to access "chat rooms" except via your browser.
Bottom line....Firetalk has not learned from it's initial errors and has augmented it's problems by now making it browser dependent.
UPDATE: Shortly after the posting of this opinion, ALL my accounts on this program were BLOCKED. Perhaps the fact I dared to speak frankly and openly was a significant contributor to this essential BAN? You be the judge.(Added April 25,2000)
BOGUS...that's the operant term for this program. Firetalk's "come on" in all the media is "SPEAK YOUR MIND". There's a catch to this process however. You may "speak your mind" as long as the monitors who are employed by Firetalk agree with what you're expressing. If one attempts to discuss OTHER "talk programs", such as dialpad.com, Netmeeting, PhoneFree, etc., one is BOOTED from the program with no notice at all. They can "boot" you for 20 minutes, 120 minutes, two days, or even TRY to prevent you from accessing the program.
I am one of the first folks who downloaded Firetalk and began to use it. Quickly, the program attracted the lowest common denominator of American society. It's basically the CB Radio of 2000. An alarming number of "gang mentality" "tyranny of the majority" folks have gravitated to this program. "Cult" like attraction to certain personalities has allowed these personalities to "jockey" for power with the CS (customer support) staff of the program. If one dares to differ with either the CS staff or these "personalites" one can expect a "rough" time while using this program. If one has ideas, opinions, or thoughts which are NOT acceptable to the Jerry Springer talk show like participants, one will become the object of disdain.
The program is set up so one has a feeling of privacy. Be aware the sysops for the program can and do monitor your "private" chats which may be either audio based or text based. As well, the CS staff are permitted by the management side of this company to form personal relationships with users of the software and, in my opinion, these personal relationships contribute to preferential treatment in addition to NOT having the same set of rules apply to the "friends" of the CS staff as they do the "general" user. I have been advised Firetalk CS staff have actually met and dated users they met while functioning in their official capacity.
Firetalk HAD potential. It's window of opportunity is closing as the "powers that be" function with a "pack mentality" and pander to the whims of the "majority". Remember....you may speak your mind...BUT only as long as your mind's ideas MATCH those of the "chosen few".
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
scajj
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Location: Hawaii
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 8 members
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