Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#1

Post by amakaruk » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:28 PM UTC

Why does my laptop's camera light briefly turn on after making a phone call using Google voice? It's a simple phone call that doesn't use my camera, so why does the light flicker on briefly afterward?

Does anyone else experience this?

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#2

Post by dctoedt » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:45 PM UTC

This confirms the good sense of covering the camera lens when not in use. For example, I've long stuck a narrow strip of paper, torn from the adhesive part of a Post-It note, to my MBA's camera lens, removing it when making a video call.

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#3

Post by enjo » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:47 PM UTC

Can't replicate calling from either the Chrome extension or from within gmail.

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#4

Post by ChiperSoft » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:49 PM UTC

My guess is that when the plugin initializes, it connects to the camera to confirm that the previous settings are still valid and then disconnects once it sees that video isn't needed.

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#5

Post by maxk42 » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:54 PM UTC

dctoedt wrote: post #2

This confirms the good sense of covering the camera lens when not in use. For example, I've long stuck a narrow strip of paper, torn from the adhesive part of a Post-It note, to my MBA's camera lens, removing it when making a video call.

I use a band-aid. Prevents adhesive from getting on the lens.

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#6

Post by mylons » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:54 PM UTC

takes a picture of you to store along with the metadata it sends to the NSA?

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#7

Post by ossreality » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:55 PM UTC

Lol. It's because your webcam has a mic and hangouts is initializing.

this is the stupid nonsense that passes for hn posts. wow

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#8

Post by greenwalls » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:57 PM UTC

maxk42 wrote: post #5

dctoedt wrote: post #2

This confirms the good sense of covering the camera lens when not in use. For example, I've long stuck a narrow strip of paper, torn from the adhesive part of a Post-It note, to my MBA's camera lens, removing it when making a video call.

I use a band-aid. Prevents adhesive from getting on the lens.

EFF has a laptop camera sticker cover set. https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#9

Post by nomercy400 » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 4:58 PM UTC

dctoedt wrote: post #2

This confirms the good sense of covering the camera lens when not in use. For example, I've long stuck a narrow strip of paper, torn from the adhesive part of a Post-It note, to my MBA's camera lens, removing it when making a video call.

or disable your camera device/driver in windows? if you are using it so little that you want to cover it, you might as well disable it.

Re: Strange Google Hangout Phenomenon

#10

Post by nextweek2 » Sat, Aug 23, 2014, 5:19 PM UTC

This is your camera lighting up when it polls for its resolution, many cameras lie about their resolution so the most reliable way to know is to grab one frame. Mine does the same with that and other software.