New webcams bring Skype to your TV
In January, we told you that we’d be bringing Skype to your living room – today, the final piece of the puzzle is in place for Panasonic and Samsung HDTVs.
Brand new cameras for Panasonic and Samsung HDTVs let you make great quality video (and voice) calls from the comfort of your sofa. They include specially designed microphones, and capture high quality video.
The Panasonic camera is available now in the US from your local retailer, or online from Panasonic. It’ll be available elsewhere in the world over the next month or so, and supports HD video at up to 1280×720 pixels at 22 frames per second.
The Samsung camera is made by FREETALK, who make our incredibly popular Everyman headset, and is available now, worldwide, in the Skype Shop. It sends high quality video at up to 640×480 pixels at 30 frames per second.
To get Skype on your TV, you’ll need an Internet-connected TV with Skype built in, one of these special webcams, and a broadband Internet connection. Supported Samsung HDTVs are all ready to go, and the Skype software is now available on Panasonic HDTVs in the US. It’ll be rolling out to supported Panasonic TVs in the rest of the world over the next month.
Any questions? Just drop us a line in the comments below, or on Twitter.
Skype will be available on Panasonic VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series HDTVs, and on Samsung C7000 and C8000 series HDTVs.
Any up date on the Panasonic to Mac video problem ?
The only reason we bought a Panasonic was to use Skype to my daughter who has a Mac.
Will we be able to see video if she partioins her drive and runs windows ?
Well we tried video calling my daughters friend, who has a Mac with a partioned drive and running windows on it. The 2 Macs can communicate with video, but we still dont have video between the Panasonic tv and the Mac with the partioned drive running windows . Is it a problem with the Panasonic camera, or the software in the tv ?
I could always get a different camera.
Hey,
Any updates regarding HQ TV (Pana) to PC? The product has been out for a while now…
Also Skype 5 just went out of beta, any eta on compatibility update?
Before buying the camera, I tested a Panasonic G series TV in the store. My coworker was running an Logitech HD PC camera on his desktop. Video call placed to computer successfully and received video call from computer successfully!! Simply amazing!!
any thoughts on developing a “widget(app)” for the Samsungs so the 2009 crowd can enjoy skype too? If you could pull that off, that would be great!
Be AWARE that no Samsung plasma series tv,s will work as skype is not available for them dues to the fact of hardware limitations. I bought the camera and just found out the hard one
Just bought the viera as we want to do video conferencing. Like everyone else we have been foiled by it not being mac compatible. Very dissapointing, will be taking the TV back. It would be nice if stores were alerted of this problem so when they sell the TV’s the ask what your using (guess its not skype problems though, will definitely be complaining to panasonic)
No MAC support yet for my $180 Panasonic G20 Camera? It’s “by the end of the year” according to posts here, from June and July. Only 63 days till 2011? What do I do with this $200 minus $20 camera gathering dust on the tv?
It appears that since there has been no updates on MAC an Panasonic and Skype working since July, we are all out of luck and sitting on very expensive cameras that even Best Buy had no idea wouldn’t work with a MAC.
I was talked into getting the new 65 inch Pana with Skype, Skype is my main tool of communicating with my kids when away. Nothing anywhere I saw told me it would not work with a MAC until I found this forum after having problems. We have even had the Pana tech people try to tell me its because my internet is slow….its the highest speed telstra sell so thats not the issue. Looks like they have no idea either.
Now we have a $200 piece of plastic thats useless on top of the telly and I wasted an extra couple of grand getting the new model for Skype that does not work, pretty annoyed now.
Any news on when it may work would be nice or do I take it all back to the store ? In Australia we are well protected under consumer plans so when I get home, if there is no fix the entire package can go back tot he shop and they can deal with it….
Like ronscantlin above ( Wed Oct 27) I’d love to see a Skype widget for my Series 7 2009 Samsung. I’ve just added Twitter and Facebook as services. It surely is within the realm of possibility to add Skype rather than buy another TV.
It seems that Skype version 5.0 is workable for the vedio.
Like (seemingly) everyone else, I’m pissed that mac skype isn’t supported on my new G20. I’m more pissed that no one at Panasonic, Best Buy, or Skype was up front with this information prior to my purchase.
But maybe worse is the vague “later this year” promises from Skype/Peter Parkes. I know you don’t need my business, but you’re going to lose it soon.
Any plans for VIZIO tv’s to be enabled with Skype?
I’ve got all these usb ports and broadband connection waiting to Skype on. Any chance for real?
Thx
Love the TV to PC calling feature on the Samsung, only problem is the Mac compatibility, its been alomost six or seven months, whats the deal?
There are several Samsung Bluray players and hometheater systems which bring TV@internet to any screen or beamer. e.g. BD-C8900S, DB-C8500
Is it possible to use Skype over TV@internet with such players? Do they recognize webcam and micro over their buildin USB connectors.
Any comment might be helpful.
Thank you
Steffen
The reviews on the FREETALK camera have not been that great. I bought the Samsung 7000 series TV for the Skype feature but now hesitant to buy a subpar camera especially if a better quality version will be out in the near future. Are there any plans for a HD camera that is compatible with the Samsung TVs?
This all sounds like a disaster. Pretty sad to launch such a half baked product, did anyone test it before giving it the green light. It sounds awesome in concept and absolutely want a set up like this . Maybe next year they will have their act together.
I bought an ANVC200 Skype certified camera for LG HDTV. How come the skype site does not have any reference of this camera at all. i only see camera reference for Panasonic and Samsung. I also heard that Skppe is now available in the USA but for some licensing issue its not yet implemented inhere Europe.. This has been advertised since the start of 2010 and now we are entering 2011.. Really Frustrasting. !!
I am having my Panasonic GT25 50″ plasma delivered soon to my house. I’m wondering if I can use just any webcam with the TV or am I pigeonholed with Panny’s proprietary webcam? (speaking of which..is the panny webcam usable on a pc/laptop?)
Can we please get an update on a release date for Mac compatibility with the FreeTalk camera and the corresponding Samsung Tv’s.
Thanks.
I purchased an LG 60″ in the Spring of 2010. The Skype feature was one of the main. Selling points. After waiting 8 months for any word on LG enabling that feature and releasing the camera, I now find out there is no Apple video compatibility. Everyone I Skype with is on Macs and iPhones but all I get is the avatar and audio. So frustrating. The biggest growth potential for Skype is the mobile space but they are leaving out the biggest mobile device.
Peter,
From the previous comments on this blog, I realize I’m not alone with my problem. I have the Panasonic G20 tv with the TY-CC10W camera, and Skype works well with a PC, but audio only with a MAC. Has there been any progress on a fix for this? Also, is it possible to update Skype software on a tv?
Thank you,
Derek Duhon
@derekduhon and others – the latest version of Skype for Mac now supports video calls to/from TVs. Make sure your friends and family are using that version.
To update Skype software on your TV, please contact the TV manufacturer – they’re responsible for the software.
Hope that helps!
I have the same setup as jim.scott30 but also the same issue. The volume doesn’t go louder than 30. Does anyone have a fix/solution for this issue?
I have a Panasonic TV with it’s skype HD camera + High Performance PC with C910 Logitech camera (capable of close to 30fps HD video call).
My problem is the PC doesn’t seem to be able to send HD 720p to the Panasonic TV but it works fine to another PC. Panasonic TV sends HD fine to PC.
Panasonic uses h264 coding, and C910 doesn’t use h264. How can i get PC to send 720p to Panasonic TV???? I did pay ALOT for these components, tv cam etc…. VERY DISAPPOINTED IF IT WONT WORK!
Help please.
Hi – I recently purchased a Samsung LN46C750R2F 3d LCD TV with internet apps – any chance there will be a skype solution (skype app and approved camera) for this TV? I’ve been trying to find this out with not much luck. Thanks in advance!
Is Skype available for this Samsung Model: LE32C650?
Or will it be available through a Samsung App? Or a blu-ray player?
Thanks.