Zorap FAQ
q. What does FAQ stand for?
a. Frequently Asked Questions.
q. Are there any new features?
a. Check out our release notes to find out how we've been spending our time.
q. You guys run on Microsoft XP, Microsoft Vista, and recommend Microsoft WebCams - are you freaky Microsoft zealots or what?
a. Zorap will expand to include support for other browsers and other operating systems. Support for Macintosh is at the top of our list. Send e-mail to mac@zorap.com, linux@zorap.com, or opera@zorap.com to further inspire our software development efforts.
q. Which browsers do you support?
a. You can read all about it here.
q. How do I choose a different audio device? How do I choose a different camera?
a. Zorap uses your default windows devices. If you want to choose something else... On the bottom of the screen you will see a box which has the heading, "Sound and Video". You can choose different devices by clicking on the (choose) button next to the device you want to select. After a short pause, Zorap will change devices on-the-fly. You do not have to restart Zorap.
q. How much bandwidth does Zorap use?
a. Zorap is bandwidth hungry. The platform was designed to support multiple streams of super-high resolution video - up to HD quality. Our current version has been restrained to use only 800Kbps of inbound bandwidth, and 320Kbps of outbound bandwidth. If your internet connection doesn't have that much bandwidth, or if your bandwidth changes, Zorap will dynamically adjust its expectations. We recommend a minimum of 300Kbps inbound, and 120Kbps outbound.
q. Which webcams do you support?
a. Microsoft and Logitech webcams work - we know because we've used them. There are other webcams out there - most should work great with Zorap. If you find a camera that doesn't work, please send a message to cams@zorap.com and we will try to support it.
q. My name is not "Syntoria", but Zorap seems to think so. How do I tell it otherwise?
a. Zorap has automatic "personality identification and name assignment software" that analyzes your video and chooses the ideal name - just for you. If you don't like the name that you get, you can change it. Just click the (change) button in the top right corner of the Zorap page. Enter your name in the text box and then click "Save".
q. How big is the Zorap ActiveX control?
a. It's about 1Mb.
q. How do I share photos?
a. Simply drag a photo (JPEG file, typically) from a Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) window into the Zorap window. You can share up to four photos simultaneously. When you try to share more photos, Zorap will replace other photos that you shared previously.
q. What happens if I close a photo?
a. You won't see it anymore.
q. I just returned from Hopatcong State Park with a TON of photos. How do I share a slideshow?
a. Just drag an entire folder of folders into Zorap - and the photos will play in a special slideshow control.
q. How do I share music?
a. Drag an MP3 or WMA file into the Zorap window. Zorap will automatically stream the music to everyone on your page. If your file was ripped (rather than copied... or ripped off), you will probably see the album cover as well.
q. How do I share a video?
a. Drag a WMV file (some AVIs work as well) into the Zorap window. After a short "buffering period", Zorap will stream the video to everyone on the page.
q. It would be so COOL if you could share YouTube videos too.
a. As luck would have it - you can share YouTube videos! Just click the "Share YouTube" link and find the video that you want to share. You can also drag video URLs from a browser window directly into Zorap. But it's usually easier to click the button and search.
q. My friend shared a super-cool Teletubbies song - how do I turn it up all the way?
a. In the top left corner of the playback window you will see two little arrows. Press the UP arrow to turn the volume up. Press the DOWN arrow to turn the volume down. This only changes the sound level for music or recorded videos. It does not change the sound level for voice.
q. Can my friend make a copy of an MP3 using Zorap?
a. No. Zorap is totally in-the-moment. Life happens. Move on.
q. The voice quality really sucks. Is this thing written in COBOL?
a. Once you become a Zorapper, you will understand that webcams are called "WebCams" and not "WebCamAndMicrophones" for a reason. The microphones in webcams are really, really good at sending the sound of air conditioners, squeeky chairs, or leaf-blowing landscapers to all your friends. Unfortunately, they aren't as good at voice. Get a headset. They make great holiday presents!
q. Zorap WAS working great. But now, something is wrong... I am so sad...
a. Cheer up and follow this sage advice: First, close all your Internet Explorer windows. Next, run TaskManager. Look for all processes which are called "iexplore.exe" and kill them. Now try Zorap again. This is due to a sneaky bug - please send us e-mail at bugs@zorap.com and let us know if you feel better.
q. I am not having a cool experience on Zorap due to one of the following symptoms; slow video, I can't hear people, people can't hear me, people can't see me, I can't hear the music, blah, blah. blah.
a. Most problems with Zorap stem from problematic internet connections. To help diagnose problems with internet connections, please do the following. First, run Zorap and experience "non-coolness". Next, type ".dump" into the text chat control. This will create a file called "ZorapInboundClientLog..." in your "My Documents" folder. Send this log file to dumps@zorap.com. We will take a close look at the log you dumped and get back to you. Mmmmm....
q. How do I resize windows in Zorap?
a. Zorap windows are two sizes; Normal and Zoomed. Click a window to zoom it. Click it again to un-zoom it.
q. I think that Richard Simmons and Leo Sayer are the same person. Am I right?
a. Richard Simmons (born Milton TeagleRichardSimmons July 12, 1948) is a fitness expert that promotes weight-loss programs. Leo Sayer ((born Gerard Hugh Sayer May 12, 1948) is an english performing artist known for the hit single, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing". Alas, there is no scientific evidence to support your theory.
q. Speaking of bad music, what happens if I close a music window?
a. If someone shared a song and you just can't stand it, you can close the music window to make it stop. If YOU shared a song, and you close the music window the song will stop for everyone on the page. This ensures that people can only share music that they are willing to listen to themselves.
q. My friend is ugly, how do I close his/her video window?
a. You can't close other people's video windows. Put electrical tape on your monitor to hide his/her video.
q. I am a geek. Show me something that only I can appreciate.
a. Type ".diag" into the text chat control and press send. You will see geeky statistics about your Zorap experience.
q. Why don't you guys support iTunes or QuickTime formats?
a. Steve Jobs doesn't want people to use Apple formatted files in non-Apple products. We are looking for ways to work around Mr. Jobs (without working for Mr. Jobs). Obviously our new Mac client (codenamed "ZoMac") will support some of the QuickTime formats.
q. How does Zorap work?
a. Video, Music, Voice, Photos and Text are locally aggregated and dynamically routed to an abandoned A&P grocery store in downtown Athol Massachusetts. Here, Zorap Media Professionals carefully sort and prioritize the information using special heuristic analysis. A hyrdraulic neural network is used to pump the media to your friends in real-time.
q. My question is the best question ever, but it isn't in your FAQ. Why?
a. Please send questions to faq@zorap.com. Questions which meet the standard-of-excellence for the Zorap FAQ will be included as time permits.