KD49XF7596 and using webcam with Puffin TV browser

[ksaro1]

I have the subject model Sony Bravia that I have attached a webcam to via one of the USB ports. I've enabled use of a camera via the Pro menu setting. I have installed Google Duo on my TV and this works fine with the webcam. However, I would also like to use Zoom. And since I haven't found a working Zoom APK for this Sony model, I have tried using Zoom via the browser, which in my case is the Puffin TV browser. It appears that the audio works, but the video doesn't. I get an error message in the browser saying that the browser's settings need to be set to allow access to the media device. However, there are no such settings that I can find within the Puffin TV browser. I have enabled access to my Storage via settings on the actual Sony TV settings thinking this enables access to the USB device. But that doesn't work.

Has anyone had any luck with using Zoom via a browser using their USB-attached webcam?

I also notice the video quality via Duo is quite poor. My webcam is 2K and the picture I see on my TV is very, very poor. I think this may be an issue with Duo though. When I attach the same webcam to a PC and use it in Zoom it's picture quality is as expected.

[Peter_S.]

Hi,

Well official this is not supported by the TV so there's not much we can do.

Cheers

Peter

[ksaro1]

@Peter_S.  Thanks for the reply. 

Perhaps I misunderstand? But I thought that one purpose of forums like this one was for members to provide solutions to each other for issues that are not "officially supported" ? I'm just looking for information from any other members who have succeeded in getting a webcam working with Zoom on a Sony Bravia Android TV.

BTW - when you say not supported, what do you mean? The browser, or the webcam, or Zoom, all or some ?

[Joe_Dohn]

The TV doesn't "officially" support video calling apps (Duo being an exception for some people, but it's not visible on the store for some reason), so basically, all of that isn't supported (which might also explain the low quality of the video feed).

That said, the browser access to USB devices is a permissions thing and may not be possible and I'm not sure if Zoom has an apk that works for Android TV, I tried checking APKMirror and it might be worth trying the universal nodpi apks, but I wouldn't really hold my breath.

Personally, I connect up a laptop and use that instead with the TV as my screen.

Hope this helps!

- JD

[ksaro1]

@Joe_Dohn  - Thanks for the reply.

It sounds that you've found pretty much the same as I. Thanks for taking the time.

I'm now investigating using a Raspberry Pi connected via HDMI to my Sony Bravia TV as my Zoom platform. For our use, we'd prefer that the keyboard and mouse were separate to the CPU/display so that we can sit comfortably in our room with the TV and communicate. So my plan is to connect a Pi with a webcam to the Sony and use a BT keyboard and mouse to control the Pi from the comfort of our sofa. I had hoped that this could have been done natively from the Sony using the remote, but it seems that the Android TV app market isn't robust enough at the moment to offer such an option,

[Joe_Dohn]

@ksaro1

Yeah, unfortunately.

I'm holding out hope for some new life after the Google TV announcement, Android has always been so "eh meh" when it comes to adoption and support in new markets (TV, Wear, etc..).

It also doesn't help that Google creates services then nukes them from existence if they don't become popular INSTANTLY, so basically, not much hope to be honest, but there IS some 😅🤷🏻‍♂️

PS: loving your Pi idea, hope it works out great for you ^^

- JD