Skype video calling

[Ominous]

I've just updated skype, popped up a notification from market...
Surprise!!! video calling.

Logged in, enabled video calling in settings, starting call... voice is working, video is starting, starting.. starting... no video call xD
Then another info popped, you should reinstall skype.
Ok, reinstalled it.
Now there is no video calling in settings to enable xD

Ok, something is messed up. Uninstall skype. market, find skype, install. no video calling.
Market-> find skype, not found o.O, my apps, there it is, installed. click, item not found 2xo.O what is going on?

A70Sit@2.3.81

[jamie41]

I've just updated skype, popped up a notification from market...
Surprise!!! video calling.

Logged in, enabled video calling in settings, starting call... voice is working, video is starting, starting.. starting... no video call xD
Then another info popped, you should reinstall skype.
Ok, reinstalled it.
Now there is no video calling in settings to enable xD

Ok, something is messed up. Uninstall skype. market, find skype, install. no video calling.
Market-> find skype, not found o.O, my apps, there it is, installed. click, item not found 2xo.O what is going on?

A70Sit@2.3.81

Thanks for the heads up. I installed it on my A70 and got similar messages to you, including "Try again later", "you should re-install Skype", etc. I ignored them all. I signed in ok, Skype told me that although my device wasn't listed, it would run Video Calling ok, and that I should enable it in Settings.

I enabled it in Settings, then it chucked me out and exited Skype. WhenI tried to login again, I got those messages again. I kept trying to login until I succeeded. Eventually I logged in, checked Settings, and sure enoughj Video calling is enabled, with options on whom to allow to see that I have video calling etc.

Since I'm sitting here in my underwear at the moment, I don't intend to try it yet, with any of my friends - they may be eating

So have a go - it probably works, if you can get by the usual Skype logging in hiccups.

I've now installed it on my A101, with the same result. Now to find a Skype friend with a webcam.

[FZelle]

nope, it doesn't.
You will see the other one if he/she is using a pc, but you will send a black screen.

[jamie41]

Thanks for the info. Did you report this in another thread? I'm sorry, it didn't occur to me to check - I thought the update had only just been released.

[Ach]

Yup, I too tested this new version in the morning... I am able to receive video quite clearly, but I'm unable to send (after turning on the feature in settings), it just shows a black screen in my window and for the person I'm talking to, it shows an endless loop as if the video is about to start for them but it never does.

[jamie41]

I just saw this thread http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=55346

[Ominous]

Ok, i've managed to get that video settings after yet another update from market.
Video calling is working on skype side of this, what's not working? Damn froyo only back cammera support.
That's right. Skype on froyo can use only back-facing camera which we don't have. In theory, firmware hack could fix this, by reporting front camera as back. Or giving an option to set this in settings. Check box, report camera as front/back-facing.

[Ach]

Ok, i've managed to get that video settings after yet another update from market.
Video calling is working on skype side of this, what's not working? Damn froyo only back cammera support.
That's right. Skype on froyo can use only back-facing camera which we don't have. In theory, firmware hack could fix this, by reporting front camera as back. Or giving an option to set this in settings. Check box, report camera as front/back-facing.

based on this thread in Xda: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1153285
Skype treats our front camera as the back camera, read the thread and see how they modded a version to have an option for a front camera, but it still has problems.

[jamie41]

Isn't the term "webcam" the only important thing, wherever it is? Not much point in having Skype only supporting a camera which faces away from the screen. Or am I missing something?

[Farsquidge]

Isn't the term "webcam" the only important thing, wherever it is? Not much point in having Skype only supporting a camera which faces away from the screen. Or am I missing something?

Well, you are, yes and no!

The problem is not with Android or Skype, the problem yet again is with Archos..
Another reason why they could not get Google certification for the Gen 8's is that they have placed what should have been the back camera, on the front of the device!! Goodness knows why??

This problem also appears when anyone wants to use a Barcode reading app on the Archos, it uses the front camera....

[jamie41]

Isn't the term "webcam" the only important thing, wherever it is? Not much point in having Skype only supporting a camera which faces away from the screen. Or am I missing something?

Well, you are, yes and no!

The problem is not with Android or Skype, the problem yet again is with Archos..
Another reason why they could not get Google certification for the Gen 8's is that they have placed what should have been the back camera, on the front of the device!! Goodness knows why??

This problem also appears when anyone wants to use a Barcode reading app on the Archos, it uses the front camera....

Nope, still don't get it, sorry. You use the terms "front" and "back" as if those terms have a universal meaning. Without looking it up somewhere, I don't even know which is the front and which is the back of the Archos. The back sounds as if it's the "non screen" side of the device. The "front" of anything is the business end in my world. So the screen side of the Archos is the front? That seems to conform with what you say about the Archos device.

But then if Archos decided to include a "webcam" on their devices, why on earth should they put that webcam on the "back" of the device, as you suggest? Sounds nuts to me.

I'm obviously still missing something

[Ominous]

Android is phone OS, as you could notice some phones have 2 cameras. One on the front of the device, screen side and one on the back.
I'm not sure about method of implementation of camera in Gen8 but IMO android should have some switching mechanism for devices that have only one camera or at least Archos should have implemented software method of reporting webcam.

Tnx for all links. It would be nice if we could see a fix for video calling. What's the use of webcam if you can not make video calls. It's not type of device for taking pictures

it would be ql if someone could report this problem to skype developers.

[paulus3476]

I don't think this is an Archos problem - the new skype app behaves exactly the same on my Dell Streak, it can only use the rear camera !!. I think it's a Froyo problem.

[Farsquidge]

Isn't the term "webcam" the only important thing, wherever it is? Not much point in having Skype only supporting a camera which faces away from the screen. Or am I missing something?

Well, you are, yes and no!

The problem is not with Android or Skype, the problem yet again is with Archos..
Another reason why they could not get Google certification for the Gen 8's is that they have placed what should have been the back camera, on the front of the device!! Goodness knows why??

This problem also appears when anyone wants to use a Barcode reading app on the Archos, it uses the front camera....

Nope, still don't get it, sorry. You use the terms "front" and "back" as if those terms have a universal meaning. Without looking it up somewhere, I don't even know which is the front and which is the back of the Archos. The back sounds as if it's the "non screen" side of the device. The "front" of anything is the business end in my world. So the screen side of the Archos is the front? That seems to conform with what you say about the Archos device.

But then if Archos decided to include a "webcam" on their devices, why on earth should they put that webcam on the "back" of the device, as you suggest? Sounds nuts to me.

I'm obviously still missing something

Yeah, it is confusing, but just for the sake of argument, WHY did Archos include the camera, apart from a purely marketing ploy because... WHAT application does it work correctly with?

Qed....

[jamie41]

It's obviously a webcam, with its low resolution, and positioning next to the screen. The device is an Internet Tablet, not a phone.

You can take / record pics / clips of yourself for transmission via the internet, using the built-in "Camera" app. That facility is now develping as apps develop, e.g. Skype, to take advantage of the hardware.

Besides, the main clue is where the Archos Spec page on their website says it's a webcam, not a camera as in a phone http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archo ... gb&lang=en

"Webcam - Yes"

then later, under Miscellaneous

"Front VGA Camera"

No wonder people are having difficulty reading barcodes etc. That's not what it's for.

[Ominous]

you can turn mirroring option in barcode scanner app so it does work for scanning, but you need a good lighting to actually scan bar code.

[Farsquidge]

It's obviously a webcam, with its low resolution, and positioning next to the screen. The device is an Internet Tablet, not a phone.

You can take / record pics / clips of yourself for transmission via the internet, using the built-in "Camera" app. That facility is now develping as apps develop, e.g. Skype, to take advantage of the hardware.

Besides, the main clue is where the Archos Spec page on their website says it's a webcam, not a camera as in a phone http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archo ... gb&lang=en

"Webcam - Yes"

then later, under Miscellaneous

"Front VGA Camera"

No wonder people are having difficulty reading barcodes etc. That's not what it's for.

So, I say again, if it is a 'Webcam' which apps does it work with?
Skype.... No!
Video calling.... No! (no 3G)
ANY video calling app.... NO!
ANY APP THAT USES A 'WEBCAM'....NO!

So? Wossit for??

And anything else where you have to guess where you are pointing it (no viewfinder I mean) is ridiculous...

Actually, I know of one viable function for it! It makes a great vanity mirror device to look at your own face...

Women should buy it now!

[Ominous]

Easy guys, webcam works for pictures, video recording, barcode scanning, there are video calling apps that can use it, I've used it on yahoo+video plugin.
I have some app that takes picture of you and you can deform it, think it's facegoo or something. So yes, there are apps that can use this webcam.

this is just a temporary setback. Sure it's frustrating but as always there will be a fix soon for this.

Remember that Skype didn't officially support video calling on gen8.

[jamie41]

So, I say again, if it is a 'Webcam' which apps does it work with?
Skype.... No!
Video calling.... No! (no 3G)
ANY video calling app.... NO!
ANY APP THAT USES A 'WEBCAM'....NO!

So? Wossit for??

See Ominous post - there ARE apps which use it - you just have no knowledge of them. Just because you keep typing "No" doesn't make it true.

And anything else where you have to guess where you are pointing it (no viewfinder I mean) is ridiculous...

Err.. exactly. That's why the only time you can see what the camera is looking at is WHEN IT'S POINTING AT YOU. A webcam! Jeez.

Actually, I know of one viable function for it! It makes a great vanity mirror device to look at your own face...

Women should buy it now!

You finally got there, yay. Now that's the time to turn the Archos "Camera" app on, when you're doing your lipstick in the mirror. What you do with the results is up to you.

If it looks like a monkey, sounds like a monkey, smells like a monkey - hey, it's a monkey! And Archos say it's a monkey, err Webcam. Not a barcode reader.

I've never used used a barcode reader in my life. Archos didn't promise me a barcode reader. Who gives a stuff about barcode readers?

Archos promised us a Webcam, they gave us a Webcam. In the A5IT they promised us a GPS, they gave us a GPS. But it would never have guided us anywhere if app developers hadn't created an app to use it. Archos didn't write an app to do it.

Enter Skype, belatedly. I don't remember Archos promising us a "Webcam app". They provided us with the hardware, and it's in the correct place for a Webcam. Over to you app developers.

Exactly what have Archos done wrong in promising a webcam, delivering a webcam, in the correct place for a webcam, and which works?

Creating an app to use it isn't their job.

QED

[Farsquidge]

So, I say again, if it is a 'Webcam' which apps does it work with?
Skype.... No!
Video calling.... No! (no 3G)
ANY video calling app.... NO!
ANY APP THAT USES A 'WEBCAM'....NO!

So? Wossit for??

See Ominous post - there ARE apps which use it - you just have no knowledge of them. Just because you keep typing "No" doesn't make it true.

And anything else where you have to guess where you are pointing it (no viewfinder I mean) is ridiculous...

Err.. exactly. That's why the only time you can see what the camera is looking at is WHEN IT'S POINTING AT YOU. A webcam! Jeez.

Actually, I know of one viable function for it! It makes a great vanity mirror device to look at your own face...

Women should buy it now!

You finally got there, yay. Now that's the time to turn the Archos "Camera" app on, when you're doing your lipstick in the mirror. What you do with the results is up to you.

If it looks like a monkey, sounds like a monkey, smells like a monkey - hey, it's a monkey! And Archos say it's a monkey, err Webcam. Not a barcode reader.

I've never used used a barcode reader in my life. Archos didn't promise me a barcode reader. Who gives a stuff about barcode readers?

Archos promised us a Webcam, they gave us a Webcam. In the A5IT they promised us a GPS, they gave us a GPS. But it would never have guided us anywhere if app developers hadn't created an app to use it. Archos didn't write an app to do it.

Enter Skype, belatedly. I don't remember Archos promising us a "Webcam app". They provided us with the hardware, and it's in the correct place for a Webcam. Over to you app developers.

Exactly what have Archos done wrong in promising a webcam, delivering a webcam, in the correct place for a webcam, and which works?

Creating an app to use it isn't their job.

QED

Hey! Cool off boyo....

1 example of someone finding an app that works with it correctly is not my idea of proof...

Archos supplied a Webcam, fine but the could also have supplied wingmirrors for all the use it is!

LOL.