Release Notes Polycom PVX Version 6.0.1 Polycom is pleased to announce the release of Polycom PVXTM version 6.0.1. Polycom PVX version 6.0.1 delivers unprecedented technology and performance to PC video conferencing. With premium audio and video algorithms and enhanced collaboration features, the Polycom PVX software delivers power and performance never before seen in PC video conferencing. Enhanced collaboration features include H.264, SirenTM 14, People+ContentTM and AES security. Working together with a PC and a standard USB camera, the Polycom PVX 6.0.1 software application brings video conferencing to every desktop. It is ideal for employees who work from home, sales or consulting professionals who travel, educators conducting distance learning events, or health care professionals delivering services in remote facilities. Polycom PVX software extends Polycom's unmatched capabilities and conference room performance to the desktop. Polycom PVX 6.0.1 supports the ViaVideoTM and ViaVideo II cameras, as well as standard USB 1.x and 2.x web cameras. When you choose a standard web cam, the PC processing capabilities let you use additional features such as H.264, Siren 14, and view-only mode. Polycom PVX Software This version of the Polycom PVX software is available as a software upgrade for ViaVideo version 5.x users or a full software installation. The Polycom PVX Version 6.0.1 Upgrade supports ViaVideo and ViaVideo II cameras. It is freely downloadable, and no product activation required. The Polycom PVX Version 6.0.1 Full Installation supports industry standard web cams, ViaVideo, and ViaVideo II cameras. It is shipped with ViaVideo II cameras beginning in October 2004. It may also be purchased separately. These release notes apply to both the upgrade and the full version of the product. What's New in This Release Industry Standard Web Cam Support (such as Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro) Polycom Siren 14 super wideband audio. Full-duplex echo cancellation and noise suppression. H.264 video compression allows great quality video at call rates up to 768 kbps. H.263+ video compression is available at up to 2 mbps. New and improved video error concealment. High-resolution content sharing lets you send your PC desktop at its native resolution simultaneously with your people video. pvx_rel601 last updated 10.26.2004 Release Notes Polycom PVX 6.0.1 Standard-based AES encryption, including H.235 v3, is supported across IP networks. View-only mode lets users without cameras participate fully in video conferences. Support for multiple monitors provides expanded desktop viewing and rich content sharing. ViaVideo and ViaVideo II cameras High-resolution content sharing lets you send your PC desktop at its native resolution simultaneously with your people video. Standard-based AES encryption, including H.235 v3, is supported across IP networks. This feature is available with all new purchases and requires a license key. It is not available in the ViaVideo maintenance version downloaded from the web. New and improved video error concealment. Support for multiple monitors provides expanded desktop viewing and rich content sharing. Hardware and Software Requirements Windows Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or later Processor ViaVideo and ViaVideo II camera People Video only: · · · · · · 800 MHz Intel® Pentium® III Any Intel® Pentium 4 or Intel® Pentium M 1800+ Athlon XP 1.2 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 900 MHz Intel® Pentium M 1800+ Athlon XP People+Content: Web Cam with PC processing H.263 People Video only: · · · · · · · · · 1.0 GHz Intel® Pentium® 3 1.2 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 900 MHz Intel® Pentium M 1800+ Athlon XP 1.5 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 1800+ Athlon XP 2.0 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 1.4 GHz Intel® Pentium M 2200+ Athlon XP H.264 People Video only: People+Content: (Polycom PVX requires a processor that supports the Intel SSETM processor extensions. SSETM is not supported on the Pentium II family or Athlon CPUs prior to the Athlon XP.) RAM Video Memory 256 MB 8 MB pvx_rel601 updated 10.26.2004 -2- Release Notes Polycom PVX 6.0.1 Hard Drive Space USB Camera 60 MB available (for Polycom PVX software) USB 1.x or 2.x web cam, ViaVideo, or ViaVideo II camera (camera is optional for view-only calls) Speakers or Headset · · · · Monitor Network Access Microsoft® Internet Explorer Windows Media® Player Microsoft DirectX® Software Headphones Headset with microphone Computer speakers (external or internal) Speakers connected directly to ViaVideo SVGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution Broadband IP (64 kbps and above) Version 6.0 or later Version 9.0 or later Version 9.0b or later For information about setting up Polycom PVX for use with a ViaVideo or ViaVideo II, see the documentation that came with the camera. For information about setting up Polycom PVX for use with a web cam, see the documentation that came with the software. Supported Web Cams and Audio Devices The Polycom PVX software is tested extensively with a wide range of products. The lists in this section are not a complete inventory of compatible equipment; they simply indicate the products that have been tested for compatibility with this release. Supported Web Cams The following industry standard web cams have been tested with this version: · · · · · Creative WebCam Pro EX Creative WebCam NX Pro Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro Logitech Notebook Pro Veo Velocity Connect Note that a web cam is optional for view-only video calls. If multiple cameras are connected, you can specify which camera to use by choosing Setup > Video. When you set the camera to Auto, the system uses the first camera it finds. Supported Audio Devices The following audio devices have been tested with this version: · · · Standard analog or USB microphone GN Netcom 2110 STD 01 USB headset Plantronics DSP 400 USB headset If multiple audio devices are connected, you can specify which audio device to use by choosing Setup > Audio. When you set the Audio Output Device to Auto, the system uses the sound playback device specified in the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices control panel. When you set the Audio Input Device to Auto, the system uses the sound recording device specified in the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices control panel. Ringing for incoming calls is played through the default Windows speakers. pvx_rel601 updated 10.26.2004 -3- Release Notes Polycom PVX 6.0.1 Installing Polycom PVX version 6.0.1 Installing PVX for the first time 1. 2. 3. 4. Close any programs running on your computer. Insert the CD-ROM into your PC. When the wizard starts, follow the instructions on the screen. When installation is complete, verify the software version number in the Polycom PVX System Information screen. The correct software version number is 6.0.1.1315. Upgrading from ViaVideo version 5.x All existing user preferences and directories are preserved when you upgrade from ViaVideo version 5.x. 1. 2. Close any programs running on your computer. If you are using a ViaVideo or ViaVideo II camera, make sure that the camera is connected and powered off. Do one of the following: · · 3. 4. If you are installing from a CD-ROM, insert the CD-ROM into your PC. If you downloaded the software from the web, copy the installation program (PVX_6_0_1_upgrade.exe) to your local hard drive and double-click it. When the wizard starts, follow the instructions on the screen. When installation is complete, verify the software version number in the Polycom PVX System Information screen. The correct software version number is 6.0.1.1316. Upgrading from ViaVideo version 3.x If you do not need to preserve your settings, use the Windows Add or Remove Programs Control Panel to uninstall version 3.x before installing version 6.0.1 using the steps in Installing Polycom PVX for the first time. If you want to preserve your settings, you must upgrade to ViaVideo version 5.x before you upgrade to version 6.0.1. To do this: 1. 2. 3. Download ViaVideo version 5.x from the Polycom website (www.polycom.com). Double-click the installation program to start the wizard, and follow the instructions on the screen. When installation is complete, you must run the 5.x software at least once before proceeding to the instructions in Upgrading from ViaVideo version 5.x. System Performance For systems with a ViaVideo or ViaVideo II camera, most of the media processing is done by the camera. Systems with a 1.2 GHz Pentium 4 or greater can support People+Content. The People+Content sharing requires PC processing and therefore demands the higher performance processor. Content sharing will benefit from additional CPU speed. For systems with a web cam, all of the processing is done on the PC. There is a wide range of PC performance levels. To optimize the video experience on each system, a CPU resource manager within the Polycom PVX software gauges the system performance and adjusts the media features accordingly. If you do not use People+Content, disable this feature for the best video and audio quality. If you use People+Content, you can adjust the way the Polycom PVX software allocates system pvx_rel601 updated 10.26.2004 -4- Release Notes Polycom PVX 6.0.1 resources between people video and audio and content. To do this, choose Setup > General and then click Performance. Choose one of these performance settings: This Setting Balanced Other Applications Polycom PVX Provides: Good video without too great an impact on general application performance. More processing power for running critical applications while reducing the processing allocated to people video and audio. Great audio and video while reducing the responsiveness of other applications. Issues and Restrictions The following types of issues are described in this section: Audio Issues Calling Issues Microsoft Windows Network Issues VideoMail Issues ViaVideo Hardware Issues Web Cam Hardware Issues Video Issues Audio Issues If the audio from a system with a web cam and PC microphone is loud or distorted, reduce the microphone gain setting. This is under the audio tab of the setup screen. When adjusting audio settings, ensure that your system is not muted. The audio adjustment slide bar is accessible only if the system is unmuted. To minimize the echo that might be returned to the person at the far end, do the following: · · · Reduce the web cam microphone gain under the audio tab of the setup screen. Reduce the volume of the local speakers. Separate the microphone and speakers as far as possible. In a multipoint call, a Polycom PVX system with a web cam may sound either too loud or too soft compared to the other participants in the call. If this is the case, adjust the microphone gain. To do this, click Setup > Audio. This solution is much more effective than adjusting the playback volume depending on who is speaking. Users may experience various audio anomalies using USB audio with their ViaVideo or ViaVideo II cameras. Polycom recommends using analog audio instead. For optimum audio performance, connect external microphones to the same device as the external speaker set. Once connected, be sure to select the device in the PVX audio options under Setup > Audio > Audio Input Device. You may notice loss of far-end audio when you speak at the same time as the far end when using a ViaVideo or ViaVideo II camera. Users may notice an increase or decrease of the audio volume level when starting the Polycom PVX application. pvx_rel601 updated 10.26.2004 -5- Release Notes Polycom PVX 6.0.1 Calling Issues When users are in an audio-only call, they may lose their local video if they click the PIP button. Local video will return once the call is terminated. To avoid losing local video, do not click the PIP button in an audio-only call. If your system is registered with a gatekeeper, you must use quotes when you call an alias or extension that includes a space in the name. For example, to dial Polycom Austin as an alias, you must enter "Polycom Austin" in the address field to connect the call. When placing a call from the Directory dialog either by manually entering an address or by selecting a number from a directory, use the Call Quality drop-down list to choose a call rate for that address. The selected rate will override the rate stored in the directory for that number. If you choose a different address from the directory, the call will be placed using the rate stored in the directory rather than the Call Quality override rate. If you change the available speeds on the directory drop-down list (via the H.323 > Dialing Speeds tab) or remove the current directory default speed, you must go back to the directory and explicitly change to the new speed. If you do not select a new speed in the directory, Polycom PVX will continue to place calls at the previous default speed, even though that speed no longer appears in the list. This issue will be addressed in ...