Friday, May 19, 2017

Skype Video Conferencing: Create Webcam, Find Contacts & Co.

If you want to talk with your friends, friends and relatives, you can often use the phone. It makes it much more fun to see his conversation partners in the chat. The good news: Videochats are neither complicated, nor do you have to spend money on it. Such entertainments are not limited to only two participants. You can communicate with several people at the same time – also free of charge.


Skype is the first choice


Regardless of which device you want to communicate with Videotelefonie, the software Skype does not lead us in our opinion. While there are some alternatives to choose from, Google Hangouts, Facetime, and Contenders are limited to a few platforms. Google Hangouts only runs on Android and iOS devices, and Facetime is for iOS and Macs only.


Selecting the right webcam


Skype, on the other hand, is available for Windows and Mac, is available for all major mobile operating systems, and can also be used on selected Smart TVs, Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles, and even directly in the browser (Skype for Web) use. Remember, the video chat solutions are not compatible with each other. In plain text: You can not call Faceta or Google Hangouts with Skype.


Configure Skype for Videotelefonie


If you are still running Windows 7, you must install the software separately. You can find them on the Skype homepage, click the Download Skype button in the upper left and save the installation file on your PC. If you are using Windows 8 / 8.1 or if you have already migrated to Windows 10, you do not have to do anything else since Skype is permanently integrated into these operating systems. The same is true for Windows Phone devices. Skype is also available for Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. To install the app, just open the app store and search for Skype.


Find and call contacts


Before you start setting up the software, you first have to choose the right accessory - if you want to use Skype on your PC. Notebooks as well as tablets and smartphones are already equipped with integrated cameras from the factory.


The range of offered webcams is great, the cheapest way to the world of Videotelefonie leads over one of the numerous beginners webcams, like from Hama and Trust (from 5 euro). Such devices, which you connect to the computer via a USB interface, usually offer a maximum screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Focusing is done manually, so you have to set the sharpness yourself. Also note: A microphone is not always built-in, so you have to spend money again.


When you invest a little more money into a webcam, your conversational partners will benefit from significantly higher video quality. You yourself benefit from extra features such as facial recognition and autofocus. Interesting are HP HD-4310 Webcam (about 40 Euro), Microsoft LifeCam Studio (about 50 Euro) and Logitech HD Webcam C615 (about 50 Euro). These three top webcams support high-definition (1920 x 1080) resolution, have a multi-stage auto-zoom and offer an integrated microphone. In our workshop, a Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 (about 20 Euro) is used.


Setting up a USB webcam is not a challenge: you connect the device to a free USB port by cable, Windows then searches for the appropriate drivers. If you have a widely used model, the chances are good that the operating system finds the drivers and automatically plays. If this is not the case, you must commission the accessories in the conventional way. Insert the supplied CD / DVD into the drive, wait for the automatic start, and then select the appropriate driver installation command.


If you have connected and configured the webcam, start Skype on your PC and log in. Click Actions and select Options. In the left column, click Video Settings. If the setup of the Webcam has worked, you will see the live camera. Click on the Webcam Settings button to open another dialog where you can adjust brightness, contrast, and hue. If you want to shoot a photo with the webcam and use the recording as a Skype profile photo, click on Change picture and select Snapshot and use this picture in the following dialog. It can not hurt to adjust the basic settings of Skype.


After clicks on actions and options, select the General Settings entry under General. Here you can specify the time period in which you will be listed as Absent in the contact lists of the other Skype users. Important is the option of the same name. To prevent unwanted calls and videotelefonate, it is advisable to opt for Only contacts from my contact list allowed to contact me. In this dialog, click the Advanced Options button to view additional privacy settings and customize them if necessary. Save to save the changes.


Now you are ready for the Skypen. In order to get in touch with other users, you must first determine who is also using Skype. Select Contacts, Add Contact, and Browse Skype User Directory. The contact search can be done using Skype users, real-life names and e-mail addresses. Tap the desired search term in the input field and start the search by clicking on the Browse Skype button. In the list of references, select the person you are looking for and click Add to Contacts in the main window.


Children can walk the Videotelefonie. It is sufficient to click on an entry in the contact list and select the video call. When the caller receives the call, the transmission of the moving pictures begins and the video telephone can start. Very useful in this context are the icons, which show the current status of your contacts. For example, you can see at a glance whether a person is online or not. It is also possible to invite more people to the video chat.


Lesetipp: Start a Skype video conference - this is how it works


If another Skype user wants to contact you, the VoIP client will alert you to the incoming call by a ringtone and the insertion of a dialog. To access the conversation, click on the green button.

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