WebCam

Some smart TVs will accept a USB webcam - so if you can install a suitable app on the TV that might also be an option for some.

(although I have a feeling that skype have stopped supporting TV apps now)

You can generally select audio from a different device if you want, but that's the camera I was talking about the other week where its audi gave better results than the separate mic/preamp.

I know? My TIC suggestion is that you don't get all these issues or have to faff about with extra hardware on your PC (laptops not so mad as often have webcam / mic built in) to have a very good group videochat facility (with the tracking option and loud / clear speaker).

Not tried, no need ... <tries>, well, with just the account on my phone I hosted a meeting then was able to connect using the Portals web browser but couldn't transmit video from the Portal to the phone (but seemed to have audio both ways by the howl). Video from the Phone to Portal seemed fine.

The thing is, they are a Facebook 'product' so I wouldn't assume they would be so keen to allow anyone to connect via other means (inc Skype etc).

See above. Portal to / from Facebook Messenger on a phone is also fine.

Cheers, T i m

Did have a look for it. Seems to be the new bog roll or flour. Out of stock or at a big premium, price wise.

Been like that for several weeks. I dug out an old (rather inferior) on as a stopgap, but have a better one on order (I need it anyway).

They do indeed and very cleverly / well.

In fact, it's often difficult to re-position it to 'show' someone something other than you (like the dog).

That said, you can go in manual mode where it locks the image off but that defeats the point (rendering it as 'dumb' as most other videochat tools). ;-)

I understand it's just a very wide angle, fairly high resolution camera and the software simply manipulates the image to get the core subjects (based on recognising faces) in frame.

So, as long as the Portal is basically somewhere it can see you, you (or as many of you within it's sight), are fitted within the frame.

And this movement is very subtle, no thoughts of movement sickness yet responsive enough to 'keep up'.

I'm no fan of Facebook or closed solutions but will happy ignore those when something seems to do what it says on the tin and especially as the discounted price (£129 > £79 for the Mini).

Easier to use (in total, including the auto-framing feature) than any tablet or phone and easier to unplug and move elsewhere if required. Even the ability to have portrait or landscape via the simple tube 'foot' works very well (where even my 90 year old Mum uses it without thinking).

We (as a family) have easily saved the purchase price of the Portals in petrol and traveling time already (and they are all bound to be used after the restrictions).

I wonder if someone will jailbreak one (without losing the camera feature) without then getting it locked out?

Cheers, T i m

yes you can, bit of buggering around and installing bits of software on phone and PC. Google it.