So after my preliminary tests with voice chat on Saturday, I've been playing (working isn't the right word to describe how much fun this is!) with getting the voice chat implemented in BitWise. Last time, all I had was hardcoded parameters, no UI... just encoded audio being sent and received. So much has happened since then, in only 2 days.
A UI window was created showing some information about the voice chat session and giving you control over several quality parameters. (Screenshot) A basic preferences page was created and implemented, giving you control over your bandwidth setting, as well as auto-accept and auto-show window settings. The interface elements for initiating a voice chat and showing the voice chat info window were also added. Some of the control for accepting or rejecting chats was added, along with a busy notification. Voice chats now gracefully shut down. Essentially, everything is in place to initiate, have and terminate a voice chat, along with the ability to control the chat parameters.
I was able to test it tonight, both on broadband and on 28.8 dialup. The broadband tests were excellent and crystal-clear. Even on 28.8 dialup, we were able to achieve better-than-telephone quality. The file size is only 972k at this time, a mere 42k over 1.0.2! So not only did many additional voice elements get added, but the tests went superbly and the file size isn't much worse for the wear considering all that has been added!
There are still a few major things to do, including encrypting the voice chats, having better control over the initiation process (what if I ask Bob to a voice chat, but he's not there and doesn't respond, and in the meantime I accept a voice chat from Mary, and then Bob comes back and accepts my original voice chat request?), implementing the toolbar on/off button for really easy access to the voice chat feature, and getting it working on OS X and Linux. Plus lots and lots of testing, of course (on all platforms).
All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with how voice is turning out. I am pleased with the code structure, pleased with the performance, pleased with the test results, and pleased with how quickly it's being constructed (I'm waiting for the catch!). Voice chat is definitely coming, and far, far sooner than anyone imagined, us here at BitWise included.
Funny what a hankering to play around with a new toy/technology will do. :)
cant wait to test it out. I'll be the one on a 26kbps connection, for slow connection testing. Now I just need to find someone to test it with... oh and the voice chat :)
