Qnext Review Guide
WHAT IS QNEXT?Qnext is a cross-platform Mobile and Desktop Unified Communications and sharing Suite. Qnext addresses the needs of consumers and business users that demand real-time, rich, interactive and intuitive communication and sharing experiences that are seamlessly available and accessed across the spectrum of consumer and business devices from local and cloud networks.
Qnext lets users consolidate all of their contacts into one place, communicate using 8-way VoIP, 4-way video, send and receive messages from popular instant messaging protocols such as Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Facebook, MySpace, Jabber, GoogleTalk, iChat and MSN, transfer files of any size, play games, remotely access PCs and share applications, instantly share files, documents, videos, photos and stream music to anyone, even if the recipient does not have Qnext installed.
Qnext uses Java, services-delivery architecture, hybrid direct PC connection, Web 2.0 technologies and a developmental environment that enables a broad array of third party developers, OEMs, organizations, digital entertainment providers and social networking to develop new services or integrate Qnext to their existing solutions.
Qnext brings tremendous benefits of cross-platform compatibility by increasing productivity while removing issues that are typically associated with the need to use multiple applications. Users no longer need to worry about their friends and associates computers and mobile OS platforms. They can carry a video conference, use multiple IM protocols and share / stream content, no matter if their group uses Mac, Windows or Linux.
Operating systems: Qnext runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. For support for iPhone, iTouch, iPad and Android please follow our website.
CONVENTIONSQnext uses general computing conventions. Namely, double-click on a contact to start Instant Messaging and right-click on most icons, contacts, zones and objects to reveal a context menu. Qnext always uses drag and drop for both contacts and content whenever possible. Drag and Drop file(s) or folder(s) onto a contact's name to start an immediate file transfer, or drag a contact’s name into an audio or video conference window to add them to the discussion.
Create a New Account
When Qnext starts up for the first time you will be on the main Sign In to Qnext window. Click the Create an account link and simply follow the steps of the Create a new account wizard. Fill in any information you wish to give as you go along, and when you are done, click Finish.
The information that you must provide is a username and password. The inclusion of an email address in your information is optional, although it is the only way by which a forgotten password can be retrieved later on. We strongly recommend that you provide your email address. We will not sell or share your email address or any other personal information with any third party unless we required to do so by law.
When you sign in for the very first time with your Qnext account you will have the choice to sign up to external instant messaging protocols such as Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Facebook, MySpace, Jabber, GoogleTalk, iChat and MSN. Once you import your existing messenger accounts, press the Continue on to Qnext… link. Even if you skip that step you can Add a contact or an IM or email account any time later from the main Contact Panel.
Qnext services and capabilities can be accessed from the Contact Panel and from the Qnext Desktop.
Open Qnext Desktop
When you first start Qnext it displays the contact panel. Selecting the Qnext desktop icon will display additional features and capabilities. Although most of the features and settings can be accessed from their respective dialogs, the Qnext Desktop provides one place in which most of the features are displayed.
The Qnext Desktop is the place where a user can view shared content, create and edit shared content, run other services such as video and audio, play games, enable remote access and change settings for the different services.
Add Contacts
Qnext consolidates a user’s contacts for easy communication and sharing content from one list. To add contacts to your contact list, click the Add a contact or an IM or email account icon at the top of the contact panel.
You can (i) Add Qnext contact by Enter the UID (User ID) of the contact or search for the contact, (ii) sign-into external Instant Messaging protocols (Add IM Account), and (iii) import your email contacts (Add Email Account). Email contact is typically used to send a quick email and to share content with anyone by sending a link that will display the shared content in a standard web browser.
Customize your Contact Panel Display
To change the default Contact Panel display settings select Contact display options icon.
Contact Status
Right click on your name on the top of the Contact Panel. Here you can set your Status as it will display to your friends, including any external IM contacts.
After your selection, the icon next to your name will display the status chosen.
On the same context menu you can set some Contact Options and view your Connection status. Click Enter status message to insert a message that your friends will see.
Contact Options
Throughout Qnext we offer multiple ways for settings and communication options that are typically available directly from the relevant dialog.
Right Click on a contact name to perform many functions that are directly related to the contact you selected. Such as: initiate video and audio conference, start an IM conversation, selecting Contact Center etc.
View Shared Zones
Qnext stores the share content in Zones for easy access to the shared content and a simple way to know which content is shared with whom.
If someone is sharing a Zone with you, there will be a number and a 
sign to the right of their name. The number indicates how many Zones they are sharing with you, click on the to reveal those Zones. The Zone icon, displayed in the tooltip, will indicate which type of Zone the person is sharing (photos, music, etc). Double-click on any Zone name to instantly view the content in the Qnext desktop. You can also view or edit shared content from the Qnext Desktop.
To view the Zones that you've created go to Create and Edit Shared Content from the Qnext desktop.
To view all the Zones that are shared with you by everyone, select Browse Friend’s Content. This option also shows the Zones that you have created.
CONTACT CENTER
Instant Messaging / File TransferDouble-click on the name of the person you would like to communicate with. This will open the Messages and Files (File Transfer) window. Here you can initiate multiple tasks:
Send and receive messages. 
Set IM global settings. View history, set date and time display etc.
Invite your Qnext friends for a private game with participants of your choice.
Select the Theme for the window display. To add your own Theme as a background to your Contact Center select Settings > Show history and drag and drop any image into the IM history area. Note: if you drop the image in the typing area, a file transfer will be initiated. In a future release we are planning to include the ability to manage and save new themes.
My PC (Remote Assist) or Remote help from a Qnext user. This is an extremely powerful tool in which by a user provides permission to one of their contacts to access their PC directly and help them in solving any problems they may have. When user requests help, the Helper receives a message and by accepting they will have a real time access to their friend desktop. Their friend can follow what the Helper is doing. The user that requested the help can disconnect the session at any time by selecting Disconnect Remote Help Session from the My PC drop down menu.
When selecting the Files tab you can transfer files to the recipient by dragging and dropping the files or folders in the Qnext File Center window. There is no file size limit when the transfer is between Qnext users. (External Instant Messaging protocols such as Yahoo, AIM, MSN, iChat, Gtalk, jabber and ICQ, may have some file transfer size restrictions and may not support all of the Qnext features). Note that a file transfer can be also initiated with dropping files or folders onto the contact’s name in the Contact Panel.
Click on this button to send files by selecting them from a file manager.
Initiate an instant and direct one on one voice and video conference. Video and Audio with multiple Qnext users can be initiated directly when you right click on a contact or from the Qnext desktop. You can have as many as 4 friends in a video conference and 8 friends in an audio conference by dragging them from the main Contact List into the conference window.
This tab in the Contact Center will be added in the next release and will let users share Zones content directly from the Contact Center.
INCOMING EVENTS and ALERTS
Incoming events are received for a message, a file transfer, video or audio call, remote MyPC access request, and games. When you receive incoming events, you will hear an audio cue and see an alert poping up on your screen for 30 sec. Along with that the IM, File Transfer, and Incoming Call icon will flash beside the contact’s name and the Qnext icon will flash in the system tray until the event is accepted or denied. Simply click on the pop-up alert or the flashing icon to open the IM/ file transfer window or accept the incoming call as the case may be. Pop-up notifications are also displayed when contacts come online and MyPC clients are connecting/ disconnecting from your PC.
Share Files, Photos and Stream Music
Select Share Content from the File menu or Create and Edit Shared Content from the Qnext Desktop. The ability to share content in seconds without any file size restriction and stream music to anyone is one of the most powerful features of Qnext. Qnext users can view the shared content directly in Qnext by selecting next to the user name in the contact panel or from Browse Friend’s Content from the Qnext Desktop.
When the Zone is shared with users from other IM protocols or email contacts, those users will receive a link to the shared Zone. By clicking on the link they will have access to the shared content from any standard web browser.
To create a Zone with shared content, select the type of content you wish to share, follow the instructions and save. Check mark Broadcast to web browsers when you want to share the Zone with none Qnext users and or for anyone through a web browser. Drag and drop the contacts that you want to share with into the Audience area. Qnext automatically create a Zone name and it can be changed by right clicking on the Zone name and select rename. To send an Invite to any of the shared Zones, right click on the contact name or group in the Audience area. An IM contact will receive the Invite via IM and email contact via email.
You can also copy the Zone webcast link to be paste in other programs by selecting Share Content in the File menu, right click on the Zone and select Properties. The webcast link will start with http://userID.qnext.com/..... Click on the icon to the left Copy the URL to the clipboard and then paste it in your communication. A link to the Zone within Qnext qn://userID/Zonename is also available in the same dialog.
BROWSE FRIEND’S CONTENTHere you can view all the Zones that everyone is sharing with you, including all the zones that you have created.
QNEXT MyPC
From the Qnext Desktop, double Click on the Remote Access (MyPC) icon. This is a powerful, easy-to-use Remote PC Access and Share application service. QnextMyPC lets you access your computer from any connected Internet web browser in the world as well as share your desktop or a specific application with anyone.
QNEXT MOBILE (Currently in Beta)
Our initial mobile devices support includes Apple iPhone, iTouch, iPad and Android.
Our vision is to allow people, no matter where they are, to have real-time access to all of their or anyone else’s permitted digital content, consolidate contacts, receive and send messages using multiple protocols and reach their contacts no matter what device they are using – Be truly connected.
We believe that a mobile device must be a part of the user worldwide network and it should be treated like any device on the network. We will continue to expand Qnext mobile capabilities as we see larger storage and more embedded technologies that will equate mobile device’s functionality to that of a PC.
CONNECTION STATUS
Qnext is a secure unified communications and sharing suite that operates best with an open communication channel between users. Qnext uses advanced connection technology that supports UPnP devices and in most cases will automatically configure your router for the best connection.
To view the type of connection that was established, go to File > Contact Options > Connection or from Qnext Desktop select Settings > Contact Options. If All Incoming Connections – Direct, this means that you have the best connection possible. If your router doesn’t support UPnP and you are behind a restrictive firewall or a router, we suggest that you will manually configure your device(s) in order to open this channel for the best performance. If necessary, please follow the instructions in the Online Manual under the Support section on Qnext website on how to do this. In most cases you will be automatically connected. For more information go to http://portforward.com/
