Any success video calling with the front camera?

**Rev2010** · 07-10-2012, 11:19 PM

I don't know what is is... but I've tested video calls through both Skype and Google Talk over my fast home wifi and with the phone over 4G LTE and I just can't get the front camera to display any form of smooth motion. It sticks on a single "picture frame" for a long time then changes. Sometimes there are small bouts of motion then instant freeze frame. If I switch to the back camera it displays smooth motion - though using either camera shows really garbage quality video on the other end. My web cam sending from my Ubuntu Linux machine to my phone however displays beautifully, so it's not a connection issue as I've hooked them up over the same connection and separate connections and it's the same either way.

As mentioned at least the back camera displays full motion, albeit in crap quality. Has anyone else had issues with the front camera over video chat? I really have only ever used video chat over my PC so it's not a huge issue, but it would be nice to know I could kick back on my couch once in a blue and video chat, or walk the phone to somewhere else in my house to show something to someone.

Rev.

**ultralord** · 07-11-2012, 12:23 AM

I tried video chatting with my girlfriend today (both of us on a SGSIII) & it worked fine.

**Y0RIC HUNT** · 07-11-2012, 01:52 AM

Works fine for me on WiFi and 3G on Skype, not tried any other video calling apps though.

**soojeelau** · 07-11-2012, 02:23 AM

Works fine on Tango.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

**jc86** · 07-11-2012, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by ultralord

I tried video chatting with my girlfriend today (both of us on a SGSIII) & it worked fine.

What did you use?

For the iPhone, I think there is a way to directly video call another person with an iPhone. You don't need to get an app or go into an app. You just click the contact and it gives you an option to 'call' or 'video call'. Is there something like that on the GSIII? Or do you have to go through Google Talk/Skype/an app?

**T_Virus** · 07-11-2012, 11:25 PM

just wondering, which skype version on you guys using? Skype for Verizon? Original Skype? There are soo many skype version lately.

**WhiteMarble** · 07-12-2012, 12:20 AM

It didn't work for me also.

**markhallyo** · 07-12-2012, 12:32 AM

I tango'd with my girlfriend who has an iPhone and we were both on wifi. The small thumbnail video of my own camera was extremely smooth but the video of my girlfriend wasn't very high quality and was very pixelated. I didn't expect this as we were both on good wifi, but who knows it was my first time ever. Seemed pretty good to me though.

**Rev2010** · 07-12-2012, 07:33 AM

I'm using Skype that is on the market, not the included mobile version. I tested again yesterday over my work network and had the same issue. As before though, if no switch to the back camera than back to the front then the front worked fine - so at least I have a solution. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling but that didn't help.

Rev.

**billism** · 07-12-2012, 08:35 AM

I've tried Skype and Tango on both LTE and wifi. Each test showed pretty damn poor video quality of the other person. Frame delays, pixelation, compression artifacts.

Using wifi, on my friend's iPhone 4S (on the same wifi network as me), the video of me was clear on his end, using Skype; we were in the same room. But the video of him on my GS3 was still crappy.

I'm hoping this can be fixed with a software update.

**Rev2010** · 07-12-2012, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by billism

I've tried Skype and Tango on both LTE and wifi. Each test showed pretty damn poor video quality of the other person. Frame delays, pixelation, compression artifacts.

Do you have high video quality set under the Skype video options? On my phone viewing the other party looks quite good, really no complaints there at all. The video I send however has varied from very nice to horrendously poor. Yesterday's test over my work network was very good. Good quality video on both ends, I was rather pleased with it - I just hate that I have to swtich to the back camera then back to the front to get the front working. Otherwise it stays stuck on one frame for a half minute at a time.

Rev.

**Suntan** · 07-12-2012, 10:13 AM

Just a general comment, but Skype on mobile handsets has been shotty off and on for a very long time.

Don't be too suprised if you get janky performance, regardless of which handset you use.

-Suntan

**junglejunkie** · 07-12-2012, 10:15 AM

I used Google Talk with my wife she has a GNex. Worked great although we were both on WiFi.

**LadiJae** · 07-12-2012, 10:48 AM

Used Google talk video calling on WiFi only and worked pretty well

~GS3 on Tapatalk~

**Disturbd1** · 07-12-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by soojeelau

Works fine on Tango.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

Ditto here. Sprint model.

**rage151** · 07-12-2012, 01:52 PM

Use Google talk video chat daily with my wife & 18mth old. We both have an S3 and both use 4g (VZW). Video and audio quality is suprisingly good.

**tripsbacks** · 07-12-2012, 02:02 PM

Works great on Qik and yahoo messenger.

**Scottee28** · 07-12-2012, 06:53 PM

Works great on Google+ with Hangouts.

**Kevin_STLTechTalk** · 07-12-2012, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Scottee28

Works great on Google+ with Hangouts.

Glad to hear. I feel Google+ Hangouts are more enjoyable than Skype.

**radyoactive** · 07-12-2012, 07:58 PM

I've used google talk with my sister on an S3 and brother in law on a Maxx with no problems.

Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

**flygrrrl** · 08-14-2012, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by rage151

Use Google talk video chat daily with my wife & 18mth old. We both have an S3 and both use 4g (VZW). Video and audio quality is suprisingly good.

**flygrrrl** · 08-14-2012, 07:34 PM

I think im.going withyour answer thank you.n

**rage151** · 08-14-2012, 07:39 PM

Cool. Let us know how it goes!

**kcallis** · 12-27-2012, 01:50 AM

I know this is an older thread, but what the latest version of Messenger and the plug-in, how does one start the video (and/or the video) to play within a particular conversation? I push the button, and it tells me to use the hardware button. So I am lost! Using the Samsung S III...