Conference for Mac OS allows you to audio conference with any other Conference or H.323 user on the Internet, whether they are using a Power Macintosh computer, or other platforms supporting H.323. Conference for Mac OS is part of the Netscape Communicator suite of services and will be fully integrated into Communicator. Conference for Mac OS takes advantage of Apple's QuickTimeｪ Conferencing technology and the built-in sound capabilities of Power Macintosh computers.
This version of Conference for Mac OS is pre-GM software and is intended for evaluation purposes only. Use at your own risk. For updates or more information about Conference for Mac OS and QuickTime Conferencing, visit the QuickTime Conferencing web site at the following address:
http://qtc.quicktime.apple.com/
Contents
This document contains the following sections:
Hardware Requirements
Software Requirements
Installation tips
Important Information About Conference for Mac OS 4.0
Setting Up Conference for Mac OS
Launching Conference for Mac OS
Connecting
Audio
QuickTime Conferencing Home Page
Hardware Requirements
･ Power Macintosh computer
･ 16 megabytes of RAM
･ PlainTalk microphone
･ Access to a TCP/IP based network
･ A video source such as the QuickTimeｪ Conferencing Camera 100 (optional)
･ External speakers (optional)
Note: If using Conference for Mac OS in conjuction with Netscape Naviagtor 3.0 or later or Timbuktu Pro 2.0.4 or later, it is recommended that you have at least 24 megabytes of RAM.
Software Requirements
･ System 7.5.5 or later (System 7.6.1 strongly recommended)
･ QuickTimeｪ 2.5
･ OpenTransport 1.1.2 or later
･ Conference for Mac OS Installer
Installation Tips
All the required software can be downloaded from the Internet at the following locations:
Apple's web site: start at http://info.apple.com/swupdates/ and log on to one of the FTP sites.
America Online: use the keyword applecomputer
CompuServe: on the GO APLSUP forum
･Apple VideoPhone 1.5 does not function optimally over the QuickTime Conferencing 2.0 extension that Conference for Mac OS installs. Several features have been redesigned for Conference for Mac OS, including the Shared Whiteboard and File Exchange. These new features will not be available to Apple VideoPhone users.
Important Information About Conference for Mac OS 4.0
･Conference for Mac OS does not support sending or receiving video.
･You may experience a problem with some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) where your modem connection is periodically dropped. The symptoms of this are that audio stops updating, but the application does not close. If this happens, restart you Mac (either via the Finder menu or by simultaneously holding down the "Ctrl", "Command (Apple)" and "Power" buttons until you hear the restart chimes.
･Conference for Mac OS is designed to work with MacPPP 2.5.1, or FreePPP 2.6 or later. Users of other versions of PPP, including MacPPP 2.5 (included with OpenTransport 1.1.1 in the Extras Folder), FreePPP 2.5 or earlier and OT-PPP may experience problems unless they make sure that either MacPPP 2.5.1 or FreePPP 2.6 is selected in the TCP/IP Control Panel before dialing an ISP to use Conference for Macｪ OS.
･FreePPP 2.6b2 appears to cause problems for some International ISPs. Contact Netscape immediately if you experience problems using the Collaborative Browser when using Conference for Mac OS on the Internet via a non-US ISP. Also, FreePPP 2.6b2 doesn't correctly update DNS information in the TCP/IP control panel. Symptoms of this problem are a system freeze and/or failure to connect to the DLS Server or Netscape home page with a DNS error message upon launch of Conference or Communicator. If this occurs, restart the computer and verify DNS settings in the TCP/IP control panel before attempting to relaunch Conference.
Setting Up Conference for Macｪ OS
･ If using externally powered speakers, it is highly recommended that you use RCA-style connectors to connect to the left and right audio (the ones marked CD) on the back of the speakers, not to the Audio-in port (the stereo miniplug marked with the Mac icon). This will avoid a problem where low-level audio is cut off.
･ The preferences file is now located in the Preferences folder inside the System Folder, in a folder called "Conference for Mac OS Files."
･ Conference for Mac OS is not intended for use on a computer running router software.
Launching Conference for Macｪ OS
･ Do not try to launch this version of Conference for Mac OS with less than 3.5 megabytes of available RAM.
･ If you wish to transmit a picture of yourself, copy a snapshot into a graphics editor and save it as a PICT file. Connectix Color QuickCam users may experience problems when taking snapshots. Download the "Color QuickCam 2.1a Updater" from the Connectix web site at http://www.connectix.com/.
･ Conference for Mac OS checks for an available TCP/IP network. Before you launch Conference for Mac OS, you must configure and activate your TCP/IP Control Panel. If you have a direct Internet connection consult with your network administrator to make sure you have the correct IP address, subnet mask and domain name service information. If you are using a modem or ISDN terminal device, configure your TCP/IP to dial your Internet access account via PPP. Conference for Mac OS will initiate the call on launch if PPP is configured correctly.
･ You may notice that application memory isn't being released promptly after you quit Conference for Mac OS. If this is a problem uncheck the "Load only when needed" checkbox in the options dialog in the TCP/IP Control Panel.
Connecting
･ You must allow enough time for a complete disconnection before you try to connect again. Conference for Mac OS currently requires several seconds to completely disconnect from a conference. If you try to connect (or someone tries to connect to you) before you have completely disconnected, you may experience problems. It is best to wait at least 10 seconds between connections.
･ Conference for Mac OS uses the H.323 protocols and therefore should be able to connect with any other H.323 compliant system (such as NetMeeting). Conference for Mac OS is designed to support point-to-point (i.e. two party) connections only.
･ Auto answer doesn't work with Conference for Mac OS in the background and Movie Player running in Presentation mode.
Audio
･ When conferencing with a Conference user on a PC, you may find that you cannot hear audio sent by the PC. Some PC sound cards do not support full-duplex sound. Try clicking on the "Mute" button on the Mac side when you want to hear audio from the PC. This will temporarily block the Mac from sending sound. You will have to select "Talk" on the Mac when you want to talk. You can also try adjusting the silence sensor in the sound level meter. Asymmetric connections, where one computer is connected to a relatively fast network and the other computer is using a 28.8 modem connection may experience the same problem.
･Modem to LAN connections may result in the modem side receiving no audio unless the LAN side also chooses matching setting (for example, "28.8" for a 28.8 bps modem) in the Network Connection section of the preferences dialog before connecting.
･ Full-duplex audio is not supported on the Performa 6320. You will not be able to talk and listen at the same time.
The QuickTime Conferencing Home Page
To find out about the latest QuickTime Conferencing software updates, information, announcements, live broadcast events, questions, answers, and related products, point your web browser at:
http://qtc.quicktime.apple.com/
05/02/97
Copyright ｩ 1995-1997 by Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. QuickTime is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Portions of Netscape Conference are Copyright (c) 1997 Lucent Technologies and Copyright (c) 1996 Voxware, Inc. Manufactured under one or more patents licensed from DSP Group and Lucent Technologies. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate.
