For many of us, it's not easy during the holidays to get all our friends and family together in one city to celebrate. Thankfully, tools like Skype make it possible to still have face-to-face conversations. However, to avoid images of headless relatives and choppy audio conversations, here are 5 tips to for better video chats.
1. Update Skype software - First up, once you've downloaded Skype make sure that everyone Skypeing together is running the latest version. Simply go to your Skype menu and click on Check For Updates to make sure.
2. Wire in to Internet - In some cases wireless Internet may be your only option, but if you can use an ethernet cable and hard wire into your computer chances are your connection will be more dependable.
3. Face the light - If you're sitting near a window with natural light, face the window. If you're in a dark room like a basement, try to put a light in front of you to boost your video quality.
4. Frame your face - Try to keep your head and shoulders in the shot, but don't go too far away from your web camera. Also, as much as you want to stare at the picture on your screen, try to look into the camera when you're talking.
5. Use a USB headset - For the best audio quality, invest in a USB headset so you have a mic and headphones. If more than one person in your house is in front of the camera, you'll have to use the built-in mic so make sure you're in a quiet room and sit close to your computer.