September 2020 Summaries

Agora Video SDK 3.0.1 for Unity was released on September 18th, 2020. The Unity SDK is based on the native SDK 3.0.1 and includes new features such as Geo-Fencing and iOS 14 Local Network Permission support. It also addresses various issues from previous releases, including screen sharing for UWP windows, RGBA pixel format compatibility, transcoding fixes, and build settings improvements. Developers are advised to delete the entire AgoraEngine folder before importing version 3.0.1 due to changes in enum types and names.

Agora's contact information and social media links are provided, including their phone number and address in Santa Clara, California. The company outlines its offerings, such as pricing and support plans, and encourages users to connect through various platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. The text also highlights sections like About Us, Blog, Compliance & Privacy, and Investor Relations, suggesting a focus on transparency and user engagement. Additionally, Agora emphasizes its commitment to privacy and compliance through policies like the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, explaining that the use of cookies enhances user experience and site analytics, with an option for users to learn how to opt out.

The global market revenue for app development is projected to reach US $3,553m in 2020 due to increased app usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporating features like in-app video chat and live streaming can drive user engagement and create monetization opportunities. For example, The Meet Group added these features to their dating apps and found that video became one of the biggest revenue segments for each app. They also use creative ways to monetize the in-app experience by offering virtual gifts and other in-app purchases during interactive social engagements. Other industries can apply similar strategies to increase engagement and monetization opportunities, such as gaming, retail, and education. Embedding video chat and streaming into apps is easy with Agora's Real-Time Engagement Platform.

Agora WebRTC SDK 3.2.0 was released on September 7, 2020, introducing a video transmission optimization strategy and support for chromium-based Windows Edge browsers (version 80 and above). The new StreamSpec interface's optimizationMode property allows users to choose between detail and motion modes when creating a stream object, prioritizing clarity or smoothness respectively. For screen sharing, the default setting is detail to improve picture quality under weak network conditions. Additionally, improvements have been made to the Stream.init method call and issues with audio sending bitrate have been resolved.

The blog discusses Augmented Reality (AR) technology and its integration into various industries such as film, medical research, and entertainment. It explains the two key principles required for AR - real-world object mapping and displaying digital graphics on real-world objects. The author also highlights the importance of AR streaming or recording and introduces ARVideoKit, a framework that enables developers to stream and record AR content from iOS and iPadOS devices. Furthermore, it discusses AgoraARKit, which integrates ARVideoKit's technologies with Agora's RTE (live broadcasting and communications) technologies for efficient live streaming of AR experiences. The author emphasizes the importance of staying updated with the latest tech in software engineering to integrate powerful AR functionalities into applications.

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to build a live-streaming application with face filters using Agora Video SDK and Banuba Face AR SDK on iOS. The tutorial covers the development of an app that includes features such as user account creation, virtual room setup for hosting live streams, audience joining, face filter usage during streaming, text messaging within virtual rooms, and user search functionality. It also provides information on setting up Firebase for authentication, analytics, and user management.

Agora provides various contact options and social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Medium, and GitHub for engagement and connection, while offering resources like pricing information, support plans, and developer tools. The company emphasizes transparency through its compliance and privacy policies, terms of service, and acceptable use policy, ensuring users understand their rights and responsibilities. Agora also highlights its commitment to user experience by employing cookies to enhance website functionality and analyze site traffic, with users consenting to this practice by continuing to use the site.

This tutorial guides developers on how to use Agora's Video SDK to build a cross-platform video chatting app. The app supports four major platforms - MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It focuses on creating a simple 1-to-1 video chat scenario using Unity Editor. The tutorial covers setting up a new project, importing the Agora Video SDK for Unity, creating user interfaces, developing a controller script, setting up UIs, handling Agora Engine events, and testing the code. It also provides tips on application clean-up to prevent memory leaks and resource mismanagement. The completed project can be found in this Github repo.

Agora's website provides comprehensive information about the company, including its contact details, social media links, and various navigation options for users to explore its services and offerings. The site features sections such as Pricing, Support Plans, and Developer Resources, alongside company-related information like About Us, Careers, Newsroom, and Investor Relations. Agora emphasizes compliance and privacy through detailed policies and offers users the ability to manage their cookie preferences. The footer of the site contains legal notices and links to essential policies, ensuring transparency and user awareness of the terms and conditions governing the use of the site.

This tutorial guides developers on how to add real-time engagement features, specifically a face filter, in their game. The process involves using an existing project and applying a face filter feature to the player. Key prerequisites include having an Agora developer account, a Photon developer account, Banuba Face AR SDK for Unity, and Unity 2019.3 or up. Developers are also required to obtain a Banuba client token from [email protected]. The tutorial covers steps such as importing the Banuba package, setting up the BNBARStuff prefab, creating a render texture, creating a local view prefab, setting up a drop-down list for masks, and making code modifications to spawn with the Banuba FaceFilter-Enabled Prefab. The tutorial concludes by encouraging developers to reach out if they encounter any issues during implementation.