2Megapixel front-facing camera - is it still there?

Image911 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 08:00 PM

Greetings and Happy New Year - fellow Geeks!

My question posed to the minion is this... for the few of us that are Verizon suc... er, uhn... customers... we noted with margonal dismay of the missing and seemingly non-functional front-user-facing 2 megapixel camera - which was designed for video conferencing. I was wondering IF it is actually STILL there, and if so, is there anything that can be done to make it work... software-wise? I know that Verizon relented to remove its grips on the GPS, and it's rumored to be released some time this month... making it free for us to use with GoogleMaps and LiveSearch... to name but a few. Perhaps this product (did you even know it was there... in the upper right corner - in the black - about 3/4" from the speaker...?!?) is still functional, but software disabled... well, you know...!!!

Hint... hint!!!

By-the-by... had the chance to show off the attributes of VZ Navigator the other night - whilst attempting to find the residence of an emergency call in an area we were not familiar with. While enroute, I smugly typed in the coordinates - and set the device to work. Oh, it was slick out the gate, but s-l-o-w-e-d to the speed of cold molasses - until it froze completely. Only took about 10 minutes - and - to make situations even worse, it heated up the back of the device to the point that I got a prompt that I would have to unplug the phone from the power jack. After all the posturing and chest pounding (hey, I'm a guy... okay? We do that... like peeing standing up and not putting the lid back down.. it's just (SOME OF) what we do) I was humbled to find that my powerful new Omnia wasn't all that.

Kinda hurt...! Know what I mean??

Anywho, VZ Navigator is an expensive endeavor - even at less than $10 a month - if it's not gonna work well. Besides, I can't hear the voice'd directions - even if set to hands-free.

Any comments...?!?

**syrguy1969** · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 12:36 AM

There is no front camera on our Omnia. The i910 wasn't built with it because American carriers don't support video conferencing. What you see near the speaker is the light sensor!

I do agree it would have been nice to have the option at least, could have been fun!

devinc · #3 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 01:01 AM

I use VZ Navigator and have never had the problems you experienced. I just used it this moprning to find a new dentist's office.

Frankly, it is better than Amaze, though Amaze is free. Since my work pays for my monthly phone charges I might keep VZ navigator even after Verizon opens up the GPS. Of course, I like Google Maps and Live Search as well.

Devin

**syrguy1969** · #4 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 10:22 AM

Nothing against VZNav itself (aside from paying VZW even more for using my device that has GPS on it), but I really think if VZW sold it like other GPS apps (AKA...sell a license) and unlock the GPS I really think they would sell even more than they do now trying to force it on us. I have heard very good things about it, but I would never use it, even if GPS never gets unlocked, I would carry around another device/part before I pay (by force) for something that I already have a license for (I have a Tom Tom license for PDA I used to use on PPC that broke).

So I do agree with devinc's sentiment about keeping/using VZNav after they unlock the GPS....offer a choice and if your product is as good as it should be, people will use it!! (I think being offered a choice has a lot to do with it)

angel12 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrguy1969

There is no front camera on our Omnia. The i910 wasn't built with it because American carriers don't support video conferencing.

at&t supports vid conferenceing...
i know vzw doesnt, thats kind of a evdo barrier, cant do voice and high speed data at the same time

Squantodog · #6 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 01:14 PM

Yeah the camera is disabled. There is a executable grandprix that you can test the front camera but it only uses the back camera. Here is the link to find the exe.
http://www.samsung-omnia.org/how-to/...ichwhywhen/60/

**syrguy1969** · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angel12

at&t supports vid conferenceing...
i know vzw doesnt, thats kind of a evdo barrier, cant do voice and high speed data at the same time

AT&T does now? OK...that is a new one to me, but cool....means it will be eventually by the larger carriers as well!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squantodog

Yeah the camera is disabled. There is a executable grandprix that you can test the front camera but it only uses the back camera. Here is the link to find the exe.
http://www.samsung-omnia.org/how-to/...ichwhywhen/60/

The reason you only get the back camera is because the front camera isn't disabled, there is no front one on the i910 at all!!

**Adrynalyne** · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 01:23 PM

By that time, LTE will be in place. Thats a good few years before any large adptation.

**syrguy1969** · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

By that time, LTE will be in place. Thats a good few years before any large adptation.

'LTE'?

I really don't know if I would ever use video calling, but it is a pretty cool idea!!!

**Adrynalyne** · #10 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 11:59 AM

Hmmm, thought that my post stuck from yesterday.

LTE is 4G, the evolution of GSM, and the replacement for CDMA (for Verizon anyway).

It looks pretty awesome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution