Skype HD: 720p videocalling from PCs or directly through LG & Panasonic HDTVs

Skype has already made an impact on the home phone, mobiles and PC desktops (couldn't do our podcast without it) and now it's taking on the living room. LG and Panasonic are already lined up to deliver new HD webcams for their internet connected plasma and LCD HDTVs that will enable living room-to-living room calling in 720p. With support for the service's standard features like free Skype-to-Skype calling, voicemail, receiving inbound calls and more, using the TV to make calls should be just as easy (but likely more embarrassing, try some HD makeup -- just a tip) as we're used to. PC users haven't been left behind with 720p HD streaming built into the latest client and new webcams on the way from faceVsion and In Store Solutions. Like the ones planned for the TVs, they handle video processing onboard so even older computers or underpowered netbooks can support HD streaming without bursting into flames. Let the good people at Skype explain it all to you in a video embedded after the break, we'll wait to get our hands and made-for-SD faces some time with the new setup this week at CES

Update: We've found a few pics of LG's version of the Skype HDTV experience to go along with the Panasonic rendering above, check the gallery.

LG's Netcast Skype LCD HDTV

[Teslanaut Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:32AM]

*While watching pornography*

Call From: Mom

OH SHI-

[Vidboy10 Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:32AM]

No offence, but i find this kinda silly.

[heartychoke Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:17AM]

@Vidboy10 How so?

I use my 46" for Skype all the time, via an attached laptop and webcam. In fact, this Christmas my kids opened presents with both sets of grandparents (who live in different states) being telepresent via Skype.

What the video says about preferring to chat in the comfort of your sofa is right on, especially when 4 kids want in on the video chatting action at the same time.

So I say, enabling this behavior without the need for an attached computer is brilliant, not silly.

[doktordot Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:37AM]

Oh my... a friend once suggested to me that the only reason 48 inch and higher HD TV's exist is for life sized pron... now we'll be able to broadcast those special "life moments" in 720p from the comfort of our living rooms... woo hoo! Can someone dissuade me from saying this is the future of the pron business?

[Rohan Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:43AM]

@doktordot you beat me to it, this will change the game of "free cams" advertisements and open the floodgate to new "HD" buzzword additions...

[ddhboy Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:18AM]

@Rohan Now imagine when they have glasses free 3D TVs. Live P2P 3D HD porn sounds amazing.

[Rohan Posted Jan 5th 2010 6:53AM]

@ddhboy Lol, who says glasses free? Just think http://xkcd.com/598/

[Cheesy142 Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:39AM]

Does that mean that since I have a mac I'm out of luck for the moment?

[ROFL Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:02AM]

You...you have a mac? I am so sorry...who perpetrated this misery upon you?

[darth vader Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:12AM]

@Cheesy142
I'm pretty sure that only 2007+ machines support HD video on the isight cameras. Could be a bit of a pain if your still rocking a Core Duo machine or have one of the iSight externals.

[Munk Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:24AM]

@Cheesy142 "Hi, I'm a PC & I have good software" :P.

Since they are supposed to be Skype enabled TV's, im guessing you wont really need a computer. Just sign in via the tv and communicate via the webcam (otherwise how is this different than connecting my laptop via hdmi to my tv?).

[Munk Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:27AM]

@Cheesy142 "Hi, I'm a PC & I have good software" :P.

Since they are supposed to be Skype enabled TV's, im guessing you wont really need a computer. Just sign in via the tv and communicate via the webcam (otherwise how is this different than connecting my laptop via hdmi to my tv?).

[Munk Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:43AM]

@Munk Wow. First time I've been hit by the double-post bug. Apologies.

[rederikus Posted Jan 5th 2010 4:16AM]

@ROFL
Hey, I have a mac. It keeps the rain off real good. lol.

[Cheesy142 Posted Jan 5th 2010 3:06PM]

@darth vader I actually have the newest version of the macbook pro (15") that I got in May after apple added the SD card slot

[Blastar Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:45AM]

Bring the "Old UI" (3.8 Version) Back now !!!
I really really hate 4. Version's UI.. and I think lot of other people do the same.

[doktordot Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:48AM]

@Rohan - you got it - free, readily accessible and fat pipe, easy to use technology (plug 'n' play folks), with a guaranteed marketplace - can you say, ca-ching!

[Mitch Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:53AM]

When can we expect the software update? I've already got a 720p cam....

[Munk Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:20AM]

@Mitch The new versiOns in beta. It supports hd vid

[GregV8 Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:16AM]

So...has anyone rung up 'lgskypetv1' yet? I want to "webcam chat" with those ladies on the pic.

[gumer Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:21AM]

And still no proper Linux version...

[avinyc Posted Jan 5th 2010 9:41AM]

@gumer

Gizmo5 works for linux...

[demon Posted Jan 5th 2010 7:41PM]

@gumer: Hm? I'm running Skype on my Ubuntu desktop and netbook (an HP Mini 311); it works fine on both machines. It's still labeled as "beta", but it works perfectly well. I don't see a problem.

[Heathen Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:30AM]

They can do this, but still not have a version out for the Blackberry?

I mean come on they announced they would release in May 2009 for the Blackberry. So Lame!

[Munk Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:45AM]

If they can pull this off and do it "right", it could provide a lot of competition to Cisco's "Tele presence"

[pika2000 Posted Jan 5th 2010 3:26AM]

I hope this goes mainstream as it will force ISPs to improve upload speed and increase/eliminate caps.

[barry99705 Posted Jan 5th 2010 8:13AM]

@pika2000 Keep dreaming.

[chiefy Posted Jan 5th 2010 4:04AM]

So for me and many other Aussies, the 256k upload speed will mean we're out of luck for 720p?

[rederikus Posted Jan 5th 2010 4:20AM]

Hmmm. Camreras in the TV in the living room. Strains of Orwells' 1984 (26 years late).

I hope this thing is hard to hack because it won;t be Big Brother watching you it will be the geeks from planet Zogg crawing up your wires/wireless to see when you are in/out/not wearing any clothes.

[KurtBurt Posted Jan 5th 2010 5:30AM]

@rederikus
Ahh, the Telescreen. Disturbing!

[Wesscoast Posted Jan 5th 2010 5:16AM]

I can't take my eye off the black guy in the back.
I know. I'm an asshole.

[N8theGr8 Posted Jan 5th 2010 8:50AM]

This is awesome. Something I will actually use on VieraCast

[beyondthetech Posted Jan 5th 2010 8:56AM]

Finally, Skype comes to LCDs. This is the way it should be done. Hopefully it can come as a pop-up on any input you're watching. But, they couldn't tack on a $25 HD webcam and integrate it INTO their bezels? Hmpf.

[GoogleGeek85 Posted Jan 5th 2010 9:05AM]

Previously, I've had a webcam attached to my laptop connected to my 40'' LCD. I have two questions:

1. Why put the camera on top? It seems like it makes more sense, whether the TV will be wall mounted, or sitting on top of a stand, to put the TV at eye level. Although it would be difficult to see the person on the receiving video end if put on the bottom
2. Zooming in. I sit 5 feet away from my TV, not up close like those hot asian models. Even with 720p, without some kind of zoom feature, it's going to be really hard to see someone so far away.

[htd Posted Jan 5th 2010 9:41AM]

quite putting stuff INTO my TV, just put everything in a nettop that's HOOKED to my ＴＶ

[Evoss Posted Jan 5th 2010 10:32AM]

What?
How it is possible I can make video call with more than one person ???

[aquaibm Posted Jan 5th 2010 11:20AM]

The girls in the pics are so sexy,dude.

[brad77 Posted Jan 5th 2010 11:46AM]

This looks cool and all, but I'm not about to replace my 52" Sony for this. This will take a long time to take if the only way to get it is to buy a new set. Why not make STB kit that kids who've moved far away can send to their parents?

[SkEvo Posted Jan 6th 2010 12:12PM]

I'm not about to buy a new tv for this feature alone (I only just bought a new TV!). But I do agree it's the right direction and I agree with all the stuff about people wanting to comm. from a comfy part of the house (ie the couch).

The mockups are intriguing to me. I have used skype for a while on my 40" (winxp) but due to the way skype was made, increasing the DPI in windows dosen't change the text size of the skype app. - so you're stuck with very very small text in most of the app (and when you're sitting on the couch 4metres away that's no good).

If they bring this TV-friendly UI to the PC version I will be a very happy guy.

[N8theGr8 Posted Jan 6th 2010 3:36PM]

Does anyone know if this will make it out to the older VieraCast Models such as the Panasonic TH-46PZ850U?