Re: Feature removal proposal

Soren H wrote:

> ......

> * "Show your face" graphics.  This comprises a complicated part of
> both the source code, and also the transmission protocol.  It is known
> to contain some problems, and I don't think any of the current
> developers know how it works.  In the modern context, where IM is
> popular, but none seem to have this feature, I have the impression
> it's not something that people are looking for these days.

I've always used this feature, but can certainly live without it.  People
always enjoyed seeing my photo pop up in Speak Freely, but in the entire
few years that I've been using Speak Freely I've only encountered one
other user that ever used it - and that was about three years ago!  It is
certainly easy enough for me to e-mail a photo if requested.

Feel free to remove this feature as far as I'm concerned if it will help
development.




> * Simple 2x compression (4kHz sampling).  This is a special-case
> "compression mode" because it can be used in conjunction with other
> modes.  With the modern codecs and faster CPUs, I don't see this being
> useful anymore and it complicates the decoding process.

I've never used "simple 2x compression."




> * VAT protocol.  This was made obsolete by RTP many years ago. Does
> anyone still use it?  Protocol detection is one of the more awkward
> areas, so reducing the options from 3 to 2 may help.

I've never used "VAT protocol."




> * direct modem communications.  With the ubiquity of the internet, is
> this still likely to be of use?

I've never used "direct modem communications" but based on what some of
the other responses have been, I can see that it would be a useful feature
to have, as long as it doesn't significantly hamper development.




> * Old version compatibility.  Is there anyone who would have problems
> if the next version released were not compatible with some versions of
> speakfreely prior to 7.6?   I think good backward compatibility will
> remain regardless, but it would be good to hear any constraints on
> this.

I believe that backward compatibility to 7.6, and no further, is perfectly
adequate.  I found that prior to John Walker's "end-of-life" deadline,
most people had already migrated to 7.6.

I would like to again reiterate my strongest recommendation (which I have
brought up in prior posts) to retain a feature that was introduced in 7.6,
and which you haven't specifically mentioned in your request for feature
removal feedback.  That is, the feature that John added which he called
"Adaptive Output (Audio) Rate Adjustment" which addresses the long
standing and much reported "increasing audio delay" problem.

I bring this up because some previous posts have tended to undervalue its
importance, not realizing that many users over a long period of time
complained about this problem.  More users than one might think prefer to
communicate in full-duplex constant transmit mode, rather than utilize the
push-to-talk feature.  It is much more natural and "telephone like."  I've
encountered users who refuse to operate any other way.  It would be a real
shame to lose this much awaited feature after having finally obtained it
in 7.6.

Also, of lesser importance, I would very much like to see the new (in the
Windows version of 7.6) "Systray Icon" feature retained.

Thanks!

Jeff MacKinnon, KB1RC




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