It is well known that the camera is the least utilized feature of the N800. Since the last firmware update (and the discontinuation of the "Call Invitation Beta") the ONLY way to use the camera was for either the feature-lacking Camera application or for N800-to-N800 calls. Since the primary messenger programs for the N800 (Google Talk, Skype, Gizmo Project, and Pidgin) have not implemented ways to video call between the N800 and other systems, the camera is currently just wasted space.
In a conversation with another N800 owner, we both realized we'd love the ability to either stream live video or video blog directly from the N800 tablet. Matt Faulkner of GottaBeMobile.com also noticed this during his uStream.tv live unboxing and introduction to the N800. The Flash implementation on the N800 supports the microphone but not the camera. I asked other users at InternetTabletTalk what they thought and there were two primary reactions: Either developers need to code more camera support or they shouldn't have included the camera to begin with.
Since preliminary rumors indicate that a webcam WILL be included in the third generation tablet, this is what we would like to see:
- Webcam support for the Flash browser plugin, allowing live streaming to uStream.tv and live video blogging to YouTube.
- Webcam-to-PC support for any popular messengers, especially Skype.
- Perhaps an installable lightweight N800 video server, like this one.
14 comments:
You're so right! Given that the camera was the one *visible* hardware improvement over the 770 when Nokia introduced the N800, it is actually unbelievable there's almost no use for it at all. You'd have expected they'd put in the camera *after* they'd thought of use cases; instead, it seems they had some spare cam chips and decided to sell them in the N800 rather than to throw them away, not really knowing what purpose they'd serve...
One of the reasons I "ran out" and drop $400 for the N800 back in January was the fact Nokia said Skype would be release for it. I assumed the CAMERA would be a functioning element for Skype, silly me!
So if any use can be found for the camera besides adding weight to N800 would be welcome here, from an end-user thanks.
It seems like such a no-brainer. Hopefully your voice is loud enough, Thoughtfix.
There is a camera application that lets you use it as a regular old VGA still cam. Still rather crappy, but better than nothing.
Greetings ThoughtFix:
That is a very great application streaming Video directly into Second Life.
Now for business people like you and me, it would great if the next generation N800 would have a webcam for video and a portable LCD projection lens to project on the wall.
Now we're talking
Regards Robert
Am I the only one who would rather see the next gen Nokia Tablet NOT have a camera? I'd much rather it be a consistent width, maybe with a hard cover for the screen again! (still, find a way to include a built in stand...)
Anyone ever hear of Movino? From the site (http://www.movino.org/):
Movino is a collection of open source applications for streaming and broadcasting live video from smartphones.
There's a Series60 and a J2ME client, but it's Open Source, so I wonder if it would be a good app to port? Is that even possible?
Vote for N800 to PC calls here,
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1833
Did you hear about Gizmo 4.0 Beta with video calls?
http://forum.gizmoproject.com/viewtopic.php?t=7098
http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9425
One of the main reasons I purchased my n800 was to be able to catch my mlb.tv broadcasts on the go. Apparently there are no apps or browsers that will stream the mms feed at 400Kbps. In fact, I am not even able to listen to the gameday audio for mlb. What a bummer.
You know, I hadn't even thought about Flash access to the webcam until I saw your photo -- such a missed opportunity that it doesn't work!
IMHO that should be the *first* thing they should enable and promote, as it would elevate the profile of the device's browser and Flash plugin, and open it to 3rd party web services...which is just the kind of publicity the device could use the most considering some people's claims about viewing "the whole internet."
YES
why were features removed from camera 3
that were in camera 2
there is an app for os2007 that does not work under os2008 called psurveil.
it takes pictures at user set intervals.
if someone updated it, the N800 could serve as a nanny cam or be carried around in ones pocket and record the day.
I bought the N800 for Skype and camera... unfortunately Nokia never delivered this awesome feature who would have allowed me to recommend the product to friends of mine.
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