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Down the Road, But In the Works: 3-D Video Calls From Skype
An anonymous reader notes that Skype is reportedly working on a 3D version of its messaging application. As reported by the BBC, an unnamed senior executive says that rumors to this effect are true. However, don't get too worked up about sending your avatar to school or to work just yet: Microsoft's corporate vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett, says that "the capture devices are not yet there. As we work with that kind of technology you have to add multiple cameras to your computer, precisely calibrate them and point them at the right angle. ... We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we're looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market." Also at SlashBI.
Why would I want 3D? I thought 3D was dead anyway - no-one wants it anywhere.
Microsoft, trying to innovate. How embarrassing. Surely there's another company they can buy some kinect-like tech off to at least give the impression they have a clue about what's going on in the industry?
As we work with that kind of technology you have to add multiple cameras to your computer, precisely calibrate them and point them at the right angle. ... We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we're looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market."
It requires laptop manufacturers to place two cheap webcams in the lid instead of one, and the appropriate software. We have it in the lab and would like to launch. We are currently in liaison with our armies of attorneys and MBAS to make sure that all our patents, copyrights and other vendor lock in is correctly set up to maximize corporate profit at the expense of consumer flexibility and satisfaction. Only one the attorneys are done will we bring the product to market.
Silence is a state of mime.
...because 2D sexting is not enough for Anthony Weiner!
"heh heh heh he said weiner" - Beavis
--
BMO - puerile enough for you!
That 3D printing is powerful stuff, be careful kids.
You wouldn't want to be in jail when the Eschaton comes and we all move to Mars.
Skype can barely handle regular voice calls, why do you think it is up to the task for anything else?
Ballmer fired.
New CEO coming in a few months time.
Share-holders are demanding sweeping changes across the board.
MS's Skype division "Look at us, we're doing stuff. We're still relevant. Please don't axe us."
Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.
Stereovision.
There is a world of difference.
3D would mean that one's real-space position would affect exactly what they see. It would also mean that one wouldn't have to wear glasses to perceive the depth. You would perceive different images in each eye, producing the appearance of depth, because your eyes are in different locations in space instead of because specific different images are being forced into them.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Its going to use VP8 over H.264 too the reasons. " Chew says that VP8 will be able to deliver HD video to up to 10 people at a time, which is something H.264 couldn't handle. VP8 will also take up less bandwidth than H.264, allowing Hangouts to deliver better looking video at lower bit rates. And VP8 will also allow Google to begin transitioning Hangouts over to WebRTC, an emerging set of video and audio standards" http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/28/4668326/google-hangouts-getting-720p-hd-video-upgrade
>> vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett, says that "the capture devices are not yet there"
Wow that was a bit of a slip. There is and its even a Microsoft product. Seems to me this is exactly the sort of thing Kinnect is useful for.
it seems like this would be the perfect way for the NSA to get 3d models of your face for facial recognition and associating it to you is easy if pay for any skype services. from there they can pick you out of any video feeds they look at. this isnt paranoia, this is very possible. we already know they have full access to the system and this is just an incremental step..
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
I would prefer 3D video calls from Makerbot...
Is there a big pent up market demand for 3D skype calls?
Sounds like a problem in search of a solution to me ... because except for the obvious porn applications, would the average skype call be improved by being in 3D?
Maybe I'm just missing something here, or not the target audience. I just don't see the value in this.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I really want to know who asked for this feature.
before I start using skype again
I really want to know who asked for this feature.
Its a story concocted for the press / publicity. Reputation management stuff. Its does not exist, and may never well. Sounds like a nightmare to set up anyway. You'd probably have to hire a "computer scientist".
Skype has some of the worst user interfaces on its current products. (Particularly OS X.) They could add the 3D feature tomorrow and I wouldn't be interested in using it. They would do themselves well to raise the bar on their current products first before getting in over their heads with 3D.
Skype working on 3D is like Somalia working on the next space shuttle.
Because 3D is the next big thing in....oh wait everybody is pulling out of 3D content these days.
Leave it to Microsoft to be way behind on current consumer trends.
I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
Can the Skype team stop adding more and more crap to it, and start removing some of the existing bloat?
I want an instant messenger, not something that takes minutes to load, minutes to fetch messages (many of which i already read on another comp or on my phone, but it still alerts me like they are new messages), and when finally loaded i get bombarded with ads that do not interest me in the slightest, or offers to connect Skype to Facebook and the like, something i already told it to go do something anatomically impossible about more than once.
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Making current 2D calls not suck first? Skype's video quality is ungodly sucky compared to real VC software.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Steve Ballmer.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Skype was great. It allowed you to customize privacy settings, set your own themes, colors, and use third party distros of the app. It didn't crash that often particularly if you're on unstable connection. But Microsoft came around, killed the android app so that it would break about 15x a day at least, the PC version became uglier than ever, features were removed, and the NSA got involved. I don't give two-cents about 3D support because they can't even get 2D to work without crashing at least once or twice every few hours. LDRs are impossibly hard with skype. I suppose that's why viber is quickly replacing skype.
if different microsoft divisions actually *worked together* instead of separately...
they've got a usb, pc-compatible 3d motion and audio capture device in kinect
they've got audio and video calling and conferencing app and service in skype
doesn't take a 3rd grader to add those up.. hell, even unca stevie could figure that one out.
if kinect needs a hardware modification to work.. call it "kinect one with skype" bundle it with the new shitbox and make it available separately for windows for $149 with $50 skype credit in the box.
Given the customer response to 3-D movies, I'm unconvinced there will be a consumer market.
Though in special cases, like remotely supervising surgery, it could be extremely valuable.
How about no. I stopped using Skype after the NSA bullshit. There is only so much of this bullshit a person can take.
At least it is REAL 3D, and not scam that is in the theaters.
3D Skype? I can see how this would potentially benefit my long-distance girlfriend, but I'm not sure I'd see any appeal in it. She has small breasts.
So what?
Next release of Pidgin will allow you to do videoconferencing! Well, sort of, and only in Linux. And with a maximum of 1 fps.
Windows users will get it soon after that, just 3 years later.
I actually suspect the NSA funded Microsoft's purchase of Skype strictly to get it into the hands
of someone who would play their game
Yeah, as if Skype's end-user license agreement didn't already mention that they were ready to collaborate with law enforcement as required by local wiretapping laws.
End-to-end encryption, people. That's the only way to be sure.
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]