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Question

Video conferencing on an older smart tv

by May 7, 2016 1:51PM PDT

I have an older Samsung smart tv,and want to add video conferencing. So, I bought a Skype -approved cam, plugged it in to the USB and then went to download Skype from the Samsung App store. Problem is, my smart tv doesn't have Skype as an option, and I can't add any apps from the store, according to Samsung.

They also said the usb won't work anyway, since it only recognizes sticks and not cameras.

Then as if that wasn't bad enough, Samsung is killing Skype from all of their TVs, starting in June.

Soooo, I have neither the software or the hardware to have the video chat that I want. I have seen units like Tely and others, but will those give me the whole solution?

I have 2 offices with TVs, and I had this great excitement over hooking them up for meetings and stuff.

Can anyone give me some suggestions, or at least point me in the right direction please?

Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope. ...

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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Answer
Some debate if this is a Samsung or Microsoft issue.
by Forum moderator May 7, 2016 2:10PM PDT

But that camera, is it Samsung? Skype approved cameras are almost always for PCs and Apples.

-> And then it's not Samsung killing Skype but Microsoft. Be sure you know this.

That said, a small PC is likely the exit here.

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Thanks for the reply
by Gohawkeyes90 May 7, 2016 4:25PM PDT

Yeah, Microsoft is stopping any support for Skype, but samsung is the first manufacturer to delete the app from it's TV'S.

How would you suggest hooking up a pc to the tv and the camera, etc, please? Could I use a low cost tablet too?

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Sony dropped it too.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2016 4:50PM PDT

I know folk are getting upset over this. As to a low cost tablet, we'd have to look at what you found.

Maybe some of those Android boxes? Example. http://www.androydz.com/how-to-skype-on-tv/

But the last word I got from Samsung is this will continue until June 2016 and models that have it, still work.

Your top post sounds as if you got a "Skype approved camera" and your TV never had Skype at all.

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I didn't have Skype, but thought I could download it.
by Gohawkeyes90 May 8, 2016 12:32PM PDT

I looked it up on the Samsung store, and had assumed that I could download it on my tv. What I learned is that my tv could only download a certain group of apps and not all of the apps.

So you are saying I should get a tablet with a camera, and connect it, with Skype running, to my tv Via the usb? You think that would work? If so, that would be fine with me.

Hey, thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

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I've only used USB to power such things.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 8, 2016 1:05PM PDT

The connection I used last time was HDMI for video display and the box or laptop did the actual Skype work.

These smart TVs are not like PCs. There has yet to be an open model that let you load apps as you wish. And not one would take a camera from a skype approved list. Both Samsung and Sony had specific cameras only from them that worked.

The story is clear now. This is not a model that ever had Skype so you are looking for other solutions.

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Translation for what Bob wrote
by Pepe7 May 10, 2016 7:36AM PDT

The brass tacks are skip the tablet. You ideally would be using a cheap PC with HDMI output to connect to the HDTV. (I often see them for $100 used, $199 new). This has many advantages, the two most important being you would always be able to find a video conferencing software that will continue to work for you on a PC running Windows vs relying on either app for tablet or TV. Using the HDMI output from laptop to HDTV is also fairly bulletproof once setup correctly. My $.02 anyhow.

cheers

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