Android's Skype client just gave itself a sizable update, officially bringing video calling to a number of new devices. And they are:
- Samsung Galaxy S II
- Samsung Galaxy S
- Samsung Droid Charge - Verizon
- Samsung Galaxy Tab
- HTC Desire (2.2)
- HTC Thunderbolt - Verizon
- HTC Sensation
- HTC Evo 4G
- HTC Evo 3D
- HTC Incredible S
- HTC Desire HD
- HTC Flyer
- LG Revolution - Verizon (2.2)
- Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
- Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro
- Acer A5
That's a nice little increase from the previous quorum, which comprised the Nexus S, Xperia neo and Xperia pro, and the Desire S.
Now, the bad news. If the phone listed above isn't yet running Gingerbread, only the rear camera will work. (The app listing does a nice job explaining that's a Froyo limitation, and not the app's fault.)
Update in the market, or use the download links after the break.
Reader comments
Skype adds video support for a slew of new devices, with a catch
I tested this out on my Gingerbread MyTouch4g with a call to a Skype desktop and while the sound threw the speaker wasn't great (it never is, I needed an earpiece) the video was very solid.
Of course this was over wifi. Didn't try it over 4g.
So the app does support the MT4G? I mean, it would be very weird for a video chat/calling app to not support one of the first, if not THE first Android phone with a FFC, I think.
The supported phone list says Incredible S. Does this mean the Incredible 2 may be supported?
Galaxy infuse ?
where is the support for the lg g2x? its been out a lot longer then the sensation 4g and evo 3d.. damn just got rid of my sensation 4g for the g2x too lol.
When u say tha galaxy tab is that the 10 or 7 inch
Still have the leaked Skype installed and haven't downloaded the recent firmware update for my T-Bolt that got pushed out, so enjoying the best of both worlds, LOL. Will wait for Gingerbread...sheesh, VZW, what's the problem with rolling it out?
What bugs me is the Thunderbolt was I believe the first phone to be advertised as having Skype capabilities and even today it still is just only half assed on the phone.
Works fine on my Epics FFC using GB leak.
do you still have to put the phone in
landscape mode to get the video correct
or did they fix that in this release?
While Skype is working great, the Stop Skype program doesn't seem to work anymore. Is anyone else seeing this?
Tried it on my Evo 4G and HTC Flyer. Front camera works great for both. (Stock GB on both)
Funny how Skype owns Qik,which made a specific app version of Qik for atrix with front facing camera, and we don't even get any cameras for skype.
I don't get how it takes this damn long to release. Seriously, some companies should just release on XDA. Everything is done faster.
Works on the Evo 4G but I'll be sticking with my laptop for skype video calls.
Video option not available on my wife's stock Evo4g. Anyone else having this issue? Is there a place to DL the GB update in case she didn't get it or got a corrupt version? Would love to ditch Fring and try out Skype.
Menu, Settings, System Updates, HTC Software update...If she hasn't installed it yet.
Tried it on Evo 4G with GB and GB update and my front camera does not work. Didn't have time to try the back camera. I could see the other person fine. Also, once it turns from portrait to landscape it won't go back to portrait without logging out and logging back in.
Anyone using this with the FFC on Verizon's Xperia Play yet?
Does this apply to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Original Galaxy Tab?
I have the original Tab and it works for me. Presumably it would list the 10.1 seperately.
I'm glad my TB is rooted. Works fine with my TB:) Why is TB always behind in all the updates compared to other phones??? any idea???
ooVoo now works on the Thunderbolt, I'm very impressed with the software not only on Android, but the pc has well, miles ahead of Skype.
Thanks for the heads up. Just tested this on my Thunderbolt with a solid LTE connection calling to my wife's laptop. ooVoo for the win! Super easy setup. Worked right out of the box. FFC works fine on stock Froyo OS. Skype people must have slept through that class.
Yay! Finally some Galaxy Tab love. For me, anyway, Skype just keeps getting better on my Tab.
It's disappointing that so many aren't able to use the FFC on supposedly supported devices.
I can confirm that it does work on the HTC EVO 3D.
Photon? how about any Moto device at all?
Yeah, I was a disappointed and pretty surprised to see my Atrix left off of the list. It shouldn't be long, though. With the release of the iPad app (which works great) and now this update, at least it's apparent that Skype is really working on this stuff.
If you got the 2.3.4 update for Atrix - GTalk voice and video work great.
WTF! where is the photon support? Come on skype, get on the ball.
Yeah, I was really disappointed this morning, but we're not the only device owners being left out, there's apparently more to the requirement than just running Gingerbread. I'm more than ready for somebody to come along and rid the Earth of Skype once and for all. Where's Google Talk's desktop video chat client and universal Android application! Common get with it people in Mountain View, CA!!!!
Or any Motorola product support. My wife just got the Droid 3 (physical keyboard lover). Guess she is SOL.
Agreed. Doubly frustrating that the Droid3 runs 2.3.4 yet doesn’t have support for Google Talk either.
-Suntan
Ditto!!!
The leaked version of Skype, which ran fine on a stock TBolt with Froyo, was able to utilize the front-facing camera. So blaming this shortcoming on the OS is bull. Jeez...
Will the galaxy tab 10.1 get some love?
they probably programmed it to work on gingerbread basing off the fact that GB is supposed to be out. The update is a Verizon hold back, so skype probably wanted to release it ready to go on 2.3.4
Still no Xoom Wifi support, eh? Unless someone knows a work-around...
If ffc video chat is not possible in froyo for the revolution, then how did tango seem to make it work?
They must have a secret programing book.
Netflix, now this. Slow but sure. Now for VZW to release Gingerbread, and yes, I did say Verizon. I'm rooted and already running a Gingerbread rom as well. I think all these lack of updates are from the Thunderbolt not running Gingerbread....yet.
Good day to be a Rooted Thunderbolt user running a Gingerbread ROM... finally Skype for the Thunderbolt... after it was listed as an App before the TBolt was released (big disappointment for many of us).
How can you do video chat on a Galaxy S if it only has a rear facing camera?
The GT-i9000 has a FFC. It's only the US models that lack it.
Except for the Epic on Sprint.
With magic... or with a mirror or 2.. either way, fail.
edit: okay, maybe I failed, not sure, but the AC specs on the i9000 does not show FFC.
You have to use mirrors.
Got it on my ThunderBolt and can confirm this is true it only works on the rear facing camera and what is false is Froyo being a limitation on the front facing camera. Yahoo messenger works, Tango works, Fring works, Qik works. So please Skype stop bsing us its a limitation in your app.
Yeah they're full of crap. Lots of apps use the FFC on Froyo and earlier releases.
The leaked Skype version from months ago worked fine with the front and rear camera support - now the "official" release does not support the front camera and blames the OS version. This is so bizarre. We need a credible alternative to Skype... Why do I feel like I am being bamboozled by HTC, Verizon and Skype until the Thunderbolt is out of date and they hope we all go away and spend money on another $600 dual core replacement on contract full price.
The Thunderbolt seems to be the 2011 smart phone with the greatest unrealized potential. It has been limping along getting patches and fixes for the last 5 months. Hopefully it will be a full functioning smart phone before my two year contract is up.
You bought your TBolt on a 2 year contract? Ouch.
Not a big deal, got a company discount on the phone and service. Cancelling the phone and buying something new is not much, nor is there anything else on the market now or near term that excites me anyway.
Not a big deal, got a company discount on the phone and service. Cancelling the phone and buying something new is not much, nor is there anything else on the market now or near term that excites me anyway.
I can confirm that Video Calling is not enabled with this update on my HTC Desire. Triple Checked. Am I wrong or does everyone with a Desire not have Video Calling?
Signing out and signing back in did the trick for me. Give that a try.
It IS a limitation in the way the Android apps are developed. Its a lot less work and more future-proof to support the new standard camera API only found in GB rather than hack together code for each device that sports a front camera (the Froyo way it used to be done).
More on that here:
http://techcitement.com/mobile/skype-latest-update-version-2-1-for-andro...