January 2021 Summaries

In 2020, Agora made significant strides in the Real-Time Engagement (RTE) industry. The company had an IPO and was listed on Nasdaq as API. To better serve its developer community, Agora published numerous tutorials to help developers add features such as Call Stats UI, AR Remote Assistant, and AR Face Mask. Additionally, they are working to enable RTE technology across more platforms like Unreal Engine, Flutter, and React Native. Agora launched a program for developers to share insights and an education program that provides hands-on experience to university students on software development. They also featured Ekaansh Arora, a passionate developer with React Native and UI design experience, as part of their Agora Superstars program. The company introduced the Content Contributor Program, which encourages developers to contribute content and get rewards. They also launched the Agora Certificate Program for university students to gain hands-on experience in RTE technology and software development. The pilot program was launched with the University of Washington, and they plan to bring it to more universities in 2021.

The RTE App Builder (beta) allows developers to create a customizable video calling application without writing any code. It supports deployment on six platforms - Web, IOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux. To get started, navigate to https://appbuilder.agora.io and configure the app builder by providing details like project name, display name, and uploading images for customization. Configure OAuth if needed and enter Agora credentials. Choose desired features and select platforms for deployment. Deploy backend using Heroku wizard and update config.json with obtained URL. For web deployment, use Netlify or Vercel. For desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), create an empty folder called .electron in the frontend directory and run npm commands to produce a development build or production release. For Android, connect the device, start the development server, and deploy the app using npm run android command. For IOS, register the device for development, install IOS dependencies, set camera and mic permissions, add URI scheme, and use XCode to run the project. Code signing information can be found in a separate guide.

The future of higher education in the United States is uncertain due to factors such as student loan debt, rising costs, and excessive regulation. Online education will play a significant role in shaping this future. Changes in teaching methods, more affordable learning options, and the integration of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are some developments that could impact higher education. The disappearance of traditional college campuses and increased accessibility to online education may also change how students learn. Virtual education offers benefits such as location independence, more effective professors, and flexible universities. Hybrid learning environments and connecting teachers with students worldwide are other possibilities for the future of higher education.

Live commerce is a new form of online shopping where customers make purchases during live streaming video events, combining the personal help of in-store shopping experiences with online convenience. This trend has gained popularity in Asia and is now making waves in the US. Amazon recently launched Amazon Live, which is currently livestreaming product demos and influencer efforts. The benefits of live commerce include reduced distribution costs, improved customer experience, tracking and measuring marketing efforts, and increased brand loyalty.

This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Agora Cloud Recording API for Unity applications, allowing users to control cloud recording with a custom server. The project involves setting up an environment with client-server and Amazon S3 account, creating server scripts in PHP, and developing a Unity client application using MVC design pattern. The tutorial provides detailed instructions on how to configure the environment, implement server logic, and integrate the components into the Unity client. Finally, it guides users through testing the project and offers additional resources for further learning about Agora applications.