This message is for all Adobe Connect Pro (aka Breeze) users in ANR and potential users.
First, UCD's Adobe Connect server along with others in the campus Data Center will be down for maintenance M-Th 6-7am September 14-17.
Second, this same server will be replaced in the coming weeks by a server hosted by Adobe.
Communication Services has arranged for continued Adobe Connect Pro use for all ANR faculty and staff with similar access and availability.
There will be a period of transition as the campus and I get used to the new system, identify the differences and training resources. Those with host accounts now will automatically have their online rooms and content moved to the new server. The old server will continue to function for the sake of delivering content that cannot immediately be transfered to the new location.
This change will also provide an upgrade from the current version 6 to 7 with these enhancements:
- Recorded meetings can be edited by the meeting room owner and also downloaded.
- Access will be via your ANR Portal, simplifying the login process.
- System reliability will be backed by redundant servers.
- Meetings can have breakout rooms where participants can break into smaller discussion groups and then rejoin the larger body.
- 46 tutorials produced by Adobe will cover basic and advanced features.
- Timely upgrades (version 8 is in development now).
- The Events feature will allow you to set up automatic reminder emails and even post-event "thank you" emails.
For now, there is nothing you need to do. You will be notified of any changes that affect your access to or understanding of Adobe Connect.
As always, if you are in ANR and have a question about Adobe Connect, please contact me.
Thanks.
Mike Poe
mlpoe@ucdavis.edu
530-754-3905
The time has finally come for UCD and ANR to move to the current version of Adobe Connect Pro.
UCD's Connect server will be replaced by the hosted service at Adobe.com. There will be a period of transition as content is moved to the new service and the current list of ANR hosts.
Here are some improvements to look for in the newer Version 7 features/refinements:
- Many more help files and tutorials available
- The ability to download and edit recordings
- Separate Audio and Video pods
So continue to use Adobe Connect as you always have. Just know, changes are coming.
Adobe Connect Pro V.6 on the UCD campus (used by ANR)If you've experienced frequent requests from the Adobe Connect V.6 server to install the Adobe Connect Add-in, you're not alone.
Background:
The Adobe Connect Add-in is a quick automatic addition to your browser the first time you use a computer for an online meeting. It is required the first time you are Host or Presenter. Those are the two roles that can share and the add-in is integral to sharing in Connect. The add-in only needs to be installed by the system once for each computer you use for an online meeting.
Problem:
On Father's Day, June 21, the server was not able to detect that the add-in was already installed. Then, when one would accept the offer to install it for you, it always failed. This caused a bit of a panic for folks prepping for a Monday morning meeting. They were not able to upload or share anything. This occured for me on Win XP using Chrome, IE8, and Firefox browsers.
Later in the day, the problem cleared up. Sort of. While the server still did not detect the already installed add-in, it did install it for you successfully. Unfortunately it went through this routine each time you entered a room as a Host or Presenter.
The reason for the issue according to a tech at Adobe was that the signature for the add-in expired. This caused Connect to think the add-in was out of date and unusable.
Solution:
Adobe provided a new signature that will last for 20 years. That takes care of new users. What about the rest of us with the old add-in installed? You'll need to do this:
- Clear your browser cache.
- The next time you enter an Adobe Connect room as a Host or Presenter, the system will detect that you have no add-in and will install the latest version. That should take care of the problem.
If the problem persists, let me know.
Mike Poe
ANR Communication Services
Adobe Connect was originally developed by Macromedia and called Breeze. Desktop videoconferencing is its thing. You can be at your desk and using a computer with an Internet connection and a browser like Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc., share documents, images, and audio. If webcams are used at both ends, it's like a video phone but with space for sharing items on your desktop.
For ANR faculty and staff, you have unlimited access to use Adobe Connect without charge.
Connect is primarily developed to allow one person to give a PowerPoint presentation to one or more folks at the other end. Connect will let you upload your PPT file and will convert it to Flash. Everything in Connect is Flash-based. Flash is the video format most conducive to the Internet. It is installed on 98% of all personal computers, so compatibility is in its favor, too.
You can overlay a whiteboard to draw on photos, or charts, or illustrations, or any other document you share and print the results.
For interaction with your audience, there is a Chat pod, and you can poll them with the Poll pod.
There is no software to install and your audience doesn't need any training to participate in a meeting you host.
To host a meeting, you need to be added to the server and training would be a good thing, too. Contact me at 530-754-3905 or mlpoe@ucdavis.edu for both.
Mike
I have recommendations and reviews for webcams listed in my Equipment Recommendations Blog
A webcam is not essential for Breeze, but it is a quick and easy way to install a camera and microphone (most have them built-in). Besides, it's fun to be approaching the Jetson lifestyle in a fairly easy way.
If you are "meeting" with just one other person, using video works well. It also works well if you are the only presenter with a camera with dozens of participants watching. But if you are planning to have several folks online using cameras, think again. That's a lot of bandwidth and you are likely to see things slow down in your meeting. Remember the Breeze server is in Davis so everything you do on Breeze travels to and from Davis. The further away you are, the more likely there will be congestion on the parts of the Internet Highway your signal is traveling. So the Jetson's thing is not quite here, yet.
