I’ve been away from Google+ HOAs for quite a while and am just now returning. I experimented with different platforms, doing my half-hour interview show (TV Skywriter) on Blab, Firetalk, and a few others, but decided to give Google+ another try.
Upon my return, my first show went fine, although I was surprised that the entry point is now YouTube. However, my second show was a total mess; the replay was useless and I had to set a date to redo the interview with my guest. The third show started out badly—the first couple of minutes that served as the “green room” was recorded even though I hadn’t clicked the Broadcast button yet! And the first couple of minutes after clicking the Broadcast button went unrecorded.
It seems that Google+ HOAs are much worse than ever but I hope and pray that everything gets sorted out and that I simply experienced a couple of random glitches.
Unfortunately you happened to come back in the middle of a major glitch. This week has had a few issues.
ReplyDeleteNormally we do not expect the kind of issues you faced.
It's unfortunate, but it truly is rare to have such debilitating errors.
Yeah, what's up with that? I created an HOA for a meeting on Monday and though I hit the Broadcast button and ended it as usual the video never showed up on YouTube. This was a minor inconvenience but if this happened on one of my monthly webcasts it would be disastrous. Is there anyplace we can go to find out more about current problems with the YouTube Live interface?
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is to leave feedback ( a lot). They need to know when we have issues saved what those issues are. I had a business hangout with 50 attendees and had many issues. If you can get into a hangout let them know in feedback
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your responses—at least I’m not the only one experiencing glitches. Whew! Luckily for me, when these things happen I don’t disappoint hordes of people. More people watch the replays than the live broadcasts, so redoing an interview is annoying but fortunately not devastating.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Michael and I do leave feedback. In this instance where everything seems to go normally until the hangout is over and no video appears the feedback has to be "after the fact". I know it had to be embarrassing to set up a session using a process you have used many times before and have it go south in front of so many people. Even though we know better many of those folks are new to the YouTube Live format and will now have a bad impression of the whole set up. I am a huge Google fan and have received incredible benefits for almost no cost so I'm not going anywhere. I guess I am just disappointed when others new to these products get an unfavorable impression due to glitchy sessions.
ReplyDeleteI plan to hang in there this time. The reason I left in the first place was because governmental employees aren't allowed to download unauthorized apps, and I had planned to interview department heads and program leaders from City and County government. Now that I'm back, I'm finding that this is still an issue, but maybe I'll use Huzza for those interviews (something I'd actually rather not do).
ReplyDeleteI was in 2 BHOA's, no apparent issues, before, during or after and use the Live Event starting on You Tube 3 times this week, for a Video Blog, and didn't have issues there this week either. Must have been lucky.
ReplyDeleteRuss Worthington yes you were. My show on Tuesday recorded like it was 2013 with the worst camera ever.
ReplyDeleteOthers had no sound.
Many could not even begin.
Luck of the RUSS! lol
patricia A murray I was under the impression that there was nothing to download if using Chrome browser.
ReplyDeleteNot sure of much else that will allow a user access without some sort of permission/download as it will require access to computer for camera and microphone usage.
Let us know what you find. We love learning here.
Heather Kraafter
ReplyDeleteOoh! “Nothing to download if using the Chrome browser”! If that's really true, I might be able to work with that! I'll check. My latest interview (the one that had issues in the first couple of minutes) was with the director of our county library system. Because she's the boss, she simply had the IT guy do the download. I'll definitely check into this—thanks!
patricia A murray
ReplyDeleteWith Chrome you have to have the Hangout Extension. Not sure if that is considered a download or not.
What browser were you using?
That has been an issue for me. Not starting but during a HOA Chrome has been an issue. Firefox is more stable, but would require a download of the APP. Edge and MSIE are not Hangout friendly with HOAs.
Russ
Heather Kraafter - sorry you were having issues on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I sent one of our folk to you, as being a Kraaftie type person and wanted to use the multi-camera trick as you do so well.
Russ
Russ Worthington I always use Chrome. Because I'm not experiencing this as my guests, I'm not really sure what they go through. They do tell me that their computers are having them download something, though. But if I can make it easier by telling them to use Chrome, then I'll definitely do that. (Mind you, many of my guests are very unsure of their computer skills, and I'm not much better, LOL.)
ReplyDeletepatricia A murray
ReplyDeleteChrome is my default browser, but I have had HOA issues with Chrome and have had to switch to Firefox. One of the developers for the Business Hangout platform has said that there have been issues with Chrome. When I see them, I just change to Firefox for that session.
When we have a "planned" Guest in our HOA, we always do a practice run with them to avoid these issues. We even have a monthly Game Show which allows us and "new" participants to get used to our HOAs. We also have 15 minutes in the "green room" before we start. IF someone has an issue during the HOA we move on, but will stick around after the HOA to resolve the issues.
Russ
And while we're at it...For those of you using the Hangout Toolbox have you found the settings are no longer carried over to the next HOA? I know we've had problems on and off with the Toolbox for a while but now it seems to work every time but never retains the previous information.
ReplyDeleteGary Solomon
ReplyDeleteNot sure that is a new issue. I ALWAYS check ALL of my settings going into a HOA. Chrome appears to be more stable than Firefox in the settings area, at least for me.
When we talk to your Participants, we always ask them to check ALL of their settings.
Russ
Russ Worthington I'm referring specifically to the Hangout Toolbox settings where one can have the previous lower 3rd entries repopulate each time a new HOA begins. If you mean the HOA settings themselves such as audio and video inputs and outputs etc then yes of course. And I also agree with you about practice sessions being essential. With all the details we all discuss daily about HOAs it is a job keeping up with the intricacies we all must do. We can never expect our guests to be at this level of experience so a checklist and run through is always required for a smooth HOA. Even that is no guarantee ;^)
ReplyDeleteGreat information here—thank you, all! I always do a test run with my guests, especially those who have never done an online interview. I always prefer that we do this in advance so that they're less frazzled during the interview. The lower thirds don't seem much of a problem. I have to remember that the toggle now automatically flips to OFF and that I simply have to click it to ON. (I also tell my guests to have a pair of earbuds handy just in case there's echo during the show—even if the test run is perfect, you just never know.)
ReplyDeleteGary Solomon Just tested and posted a video about the Hangout Toolbox problem.
ReplyDeleteI'm just surprised the Hangout Toolbox hasn't had greater failure rate. I can confirm the non-saving of presets for":lower thirds." But otherwise it seems to serve. A definite annoyance, though.
ReplyDeleteI recently had a failure to engage the Unified Chat extension in HOA green room, non-live. I set up the comment stream, and it worked fine... then, a day later it would not give access - eve from the direct link generated from U.C. Suddenly today, everything seems "normal." Go figure.
Yes, I too have noticed no Lower Third saved in Toolbox.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that all of the changes and difficulties have made me so uneasy that I'm not comfortable taking a chance these days. Would you all say that these glitches have now been resolved? I'm asking because I've observed bad experience as a viewer as well.
ReplyDeleteChristina Ervin, I have since done a couple of shows, including a 20-minute broadcast where I told ghost stories (with a spooky music backdrop). It was perfect. I think I'm willing to put my trust in G+ again. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback patricia A murray!
ReplyDeleteEver since YouTube unfairly jailed me as I was setting up my 50th HOA for *CHANGES* conversations between authors, and I have been hearing about so many glitches since the forced march to YouTube-only, I have not rescheduled my guests or tried to set up a new HOA. I have zero interest in putting myself or guests through so much stress. Waiting for it all to get better. January, maybe?
ReplyDelete