Videophone!!!

[skizo]

Seriously!!

The NX series surely has the hardware capabilities to be used as a videophone with the wificard in an internethotspot. Maybe we should contact people writing clients with webcam support (Yahoo, ICQ, AOL etc.) and request that they write the software to make it possible. Yahoo already has a Palm-OS chat client out there.

Any suggestions?

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by skizo
Seriously!!

The NX series surely has the hardware capabilities to be used as a videophone with the wificard in an internethotspot. Maybe we should contact people writing clients with webcam support (Yahoo, ICQ, AOL etc.) and request that they write the software to make it possible. Yahoo already has a Palm-OS chat client out there.

Any suggestions?

It's coming, just wait a month or so.. ;)

[Token User]

Originally posted by skizo
Any suggestions? Its been discussed before. I am a developer, and Sony have only released a limited SDK (software developer kit) for the OS5 devices. By limited, I mean that no support for the CF slot (a whole other debate about that decision), no support for the camera (unlike the NR series SDK, which had the API's available), and ditto with the audio APIs.

<editorial>Apparenetly it is possible to get a full SDK, but Sony are playing the game that its their hardware, and they don't want small independant developers pushing the innovation envelope on their hardware when they maybe kinda sorta possibly might consider doing/controlling that themselves.</editorial>

The hardware is up to the task for H.323 and VoIP operation over the 802.11b link, now we just need Sony to step up to the plate.

[T1000X]

No doubt it could have that capability, but without a fast enough network to support it, all it would be is a novel idea (like a digital camera on a phone). We will have to wait until we have faster data transfer rates on the CDMA and GSM networks before video conferencing capabilities are available.

Other uses mentioned for the NX (and NZ) cameras have been trying to use it as a web cam while in the cradle, which I think is an awesome idea. Another is using the camera and IR port together to form a night vision camera (IR port emits a signal the camera could pick up and allow for night vision - in theory). One thing I cannot wait for is the USB-To-Go chipset to be successfully and fully implemented in a Palm OS PDA. Then we could use USB keyboards, mass storage devices and other items. Another feature I'd like (but not a must) is a built in TV tuner.

I'm sure we will eventually see Sony implement all of these devices in a high-end device like the next NZ. My only concern for Sony is at the rate they relese models and give new model numbers, before the end of 2004 they will have gone through every possible letter combination in the alphabet at this rate. It's already March, and they have released three models so far (NZ90, SJ33, TG50). Yes, by the end of 2004 we will have the aBBa-XL900T, or the CYRA90.

[skizo]

Hey what's coming in a month or so? - Sure sounds interesting.

About the connectivity. Wifi runs at 11mbits. You only need about 128 kbits for decent videophoning. It's only interesting if the future Clié software interfaces with one of the common PC/MAc compatible clients though.

The idea is to use it to connect via the internet, not as a device to device connection.

[Unregistered]

has any one seen that comercial, where the use the nx as a video phone? i've seen it twice on fox here in nyc, i know its fake its a comerical for a conecting technology, conecting people firm, one of those where thay really don't tell you exactly what the hell they do. it was defanatly an nx and the camera was a cf one not the built in one

[yulri8]

YEah I saw that commercial. I was wondering about that commercial too. I also worried about the rate of models sony is making right after I got my nx i see an ad for the nz While i am jealous of the cameras one mega pixel its kinda...well clunky.

[skizo]

Did a search on google and it does not appear that sony is planning any development of voice and video over ip for the clie. What a shame. The unit is just made for it - I cant help thinking it is thought into the clamshell design.

Revive the thread!

[reggae]

don't listen to any rumors that comes from an unregistered user... it's just good advice

the videophone and voip suggestion is an old one. i know, i suggested it. sony api's (in their current existence) does not allow for A/V manipulation nor streaming it through the wifi.

oh well, if only this were treated like a REAL palm.

[Rick 098]

Unless the unregistered user puts a registured reply under it saying he forot to login:)

[qurgh]

Why would you need the CF API to do a vid phone?

All you should need are the sound and camera APIs. The sound ones are out there, cause Kinoma and games are using them, you just need the capture side of them. You would use normal PalmOS TCP/IP API to go over the network.

Sony only released the version 1.0 APIs for PalmOS 5 devices on Mar 19th this year. Up until then everyone was using a beta version. If you look at the docs you can tell they were orginally in Japanese and translated to English (poorly I may add). I'm guessing (and hoping) that Sony will release the other APIs at some point in the future. They did for the other devices and it only hurts them if they don't. They might not be the best at technical support but they know that releasing those APIs will make them more money.

Has anyone contacted sony and asked them if they palm to release them on their Developers site? If no one has, I'll be happy to send a mail their way.

[sheik28]

I have looked and looked...where can you get the yahoo chat client for a ClieNX??

[skizo]

Somewhere on the sony website - found it on google - alas it's not os5 compatible.

[caipro]

with the advent of 3G networks in the uk and europe video calls over a cell phone are now possible sonyericsson is just about to release the Z1010 a fully comlpliant 2way 3G video phone, so maybe there is a possibility of this coming to fruition or am i being really naive?? sony will want to flog the new tech so why should they update ours?