FZ190 Instant Mode and Camera

I just received my FZ190 from Sony. According to the manual, to launch "Instant Mode" you press the "AV Mode" button when the laptop is OFF or in Hibernate mode. When I press the "AV Mode" button, however, it launches Vista, then brings up the "Instant Mode" window. What gives here?

I tried the VAIO Camera Capture utility. It does activate the built-in camera, but only to capture snapshots or videos. When I try to import pictures directly into a photo utility such as Picasa or Adobe Photoshop Elements, it tells me that there is no camera detected. Also, it doesn't look like the camera can be used as a webcam.

Anyone have any experience on "Instant Mode" or on using the camera?

 

Why wouldn't you be able to use it as a webcam? It isn't recognized by the Software?

 

If you have the Blu-Ray drive there is a known issue with the AV mode and that drive.

Gary

 

I haven't used my camera yet, but the manual warns that it will not work with a number of programs.

 

As far as I know, Picassa and Photoshop can only import "already taken" pictures from the memory card of a camera. They don't really support interactive picture taking, which is what it sounds like you're trying to do.

As for web camming, mine works ok with MSN messenger. Don't have experience with any other software.

 

Good question. However, I just got a note back from Sony Tech Support and they said that it cannot be used as a webcam. No further explanation, 'though.

I have a USB webcam on my desktop machine. It uses a TWAIN driver when activated. I don't think the Sony camera uses a TWAIN driver.

 

HUH? If it can't be used as a web cam then what CAN it be used for? I thought it was there to be used with things like AOL and Skype.'

Gary

 

I haven't tried it with AOL or Skype. I do use AIM, but I don't see where
you can specify a webcam with it. Any ideas on this? I'll be glad to give it a try.

 

Start AIM and sign in. Select Edit -> Settings and click "Enhanced IM" on the left side. Look for the Video section and click the drop down list. Your camera should be listed. Select it and click Save.

 

Thanks, Rick. I'll give it a try.

 

Okay, I went thru the selections as you said and the Sony camera was listed. I selected it and saved. However, when I sent out an invitation for a video chat on AIM, my system gave me a message that another application was using my camera. I have no idea what that could be. I could see the other guy's video, but I had none from my own camera. What next?

 

the webcam works perfectly. whoever in tech support told you it doesn't function as a webcam needs to be needs to be fired immediately. I don't use AIM but it works when I use it on MSN. so does the cam on my SZ

 

Yep, that's what they told me. Here's their reply to my question:

Thank you for contacting Sony Online Support.

We understand you need to know how to download photos directly from your camera and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Below link will help you to import photos into your notebook:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;840163&SD=SONY

However we need to inform you that Camera can not be treated as Webcam.

We hope that this information will help you to solve the issue. If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us

Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance.

Your Sony Email Response Team
Kimberly

 

You, sir, are correct! I installed MSN Messenger on my FZ190 and, wonder of wonders, the camera worked during an IM session. After that, I went back to try it with AOL Messenger and it did not work... same message: "another application is using the camera"... I don't know what is causing it to not work with AIM, because it works great with MSN. I also tried to use the camera with an online video conference service (MegaMeeting) and the camera would not work with it. Pretty frustrating!

 

Try this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=132119

 

Are they talking about the digital camera here and you misunderstood it for the FZ cam?

 

You can use your FZ camera as a webcam. Ive done it myself using MSN. For some reason AIM does not let me though. It must just be certain programs support the camera, others don't.

 

Yep. I found the same thing to be true. I can connect consistently with MSN, but never with AIM. I also was able to use the camera on the MegaMeeting website a few minutes ago and joined a videoconference session, which I had tried earlier and was not successful. So it definitely can be used as a webcam. I don't know why the Sony tech told me that it could not be used as a webcam. Doesn't give you a whole lot of confidence in Sony's tech support, does it?

 

If the above message is what the Sony tech support told you, then I guess they were talking about the digital camera and not the FZ camera.

 

that would makes since now. although there is a fat sticker on the FZ saying camera and microphone. prolly misunderstood you for an actual camera and not the FZ's cam.

 

I see what you mean. Maybe they thought I was referring to a digital camera when they said I was asking how to download photos. However, I said nothing about downloading photos, only if the laptop's camera could be used as a webcam.

I got another reply back from Tech Support when I asked about a problem I am having with "Instant Mode". Whenever I press the "AV MODE" button when the computer is "OFF", it boots into Vista instead of going directly to "Instant Mode" as the manual says it should. Their response was a "cut-and-paste" quote from the Instant Mode manual about the files being compressed and I need to decompress them first. This turned out not to be the case and after following their instructions, it still boots into Vista. I just can't seem to get any decent technical help from Sony.

 

I also recently purchased a Sony FZ190 and cannot figure out how to use the "Instant Mode". As you said, the manual states that to launch "Instant Mode" you press the "AV Mode" button when the laptop is OFF or in Hibernate mode. When I press the "AV Mode" button after a full shutdown it begins a full boot of Vista that ultimately ends at a regular window desktop. No Instant mode, not instantly, nor after a full boot.

Has anyone had success with Instant Mode? Does it actually activate on a closed computer without having to go through a full boot. Are there some configuration actions that turn the function on.

Thanks for any insights

 

If you have the NVIDIA display, the "Instant Mode" does not work. And does not appear that it ever will. There is some conflict on the Nvidia card that precludes this.

Gary

 

Well, I guess that explains why I could not get Instant Mode to work on my FZ190. Mine does have the NVIDIA card. Now don't you think that Sony Tech Support could have told me that when I asked them why it didn't work instead of sending me the "cut-and-paste" b.s. from the Instant Mode manual about compressed files? That just destroyed any confidence I had with Sony Tech Support, particularly after they told me that the built-in camera could not be used as a webcam, which I found out is not true. There were just too many quirks with the FZ190 plus all the crapware on it that caused me to finally return the computer to Sony for a refund.

 

Thanks Gary for the info on the NVIDIA card causing Instant Mode not to work. Do you know where that information comes from?

Other than the Instant Mode problem and, as LarryG says, the crapware that you have to remove, I've found the FZ190 to be an amazing computer. Best laptop I've ever seen or used. The display is great. It's super fast for a laptop. It's very light for it's size. And there's just something about the way it looks and feels that's very cool and fun to use.

As far as Instant Mode, one of the things about Windows Vista that I have found extremely useful is it's "sleep" mode. Basically if you put it to "sleep" (rather than "hibernate") and you turn it back on within about 18 hours, it comes back to your desktop, fully ready, in about 4 - 5 seconds! To me that's like an Instant Mode all the time. It seems to maintain this ability with just a trickle of power to the RAM. After about 18 hours, or if the battery is real low when you put it into sleep, it goes autmatically into "hibernate" from sleep.

Pete (odyssey570)

 

The issue with AV Mode and Nvidia cards was reported here in another thread. Remember that AV Mode is the ability to use the machine as a DVD / CD player, WITHOUT having to boot Vista. So it is not really the same thing as "sleep".

Gary

 

What are the specifications of the built-in web camera in the FZ190? Just megapixel information will be helpful enough.

Thanks

 

The camera is 0.3 megapixels - VGA resolution - adequate, but not spectacular.

 

Thanks. Is this the same (0.3 megapixel web camera) for the FZ160e and FZ180e? I have seen the VAIO Camera Capture Utility on both of these models and its not great but its certainly fairly decent as you said.

 

Yep. Same camera on all FZ-series notebooks.

 

Thanks LarryG

 

Absolutely right. The built in web camera should work on any instant messaging client. I have used it on Skype and Windows Live and it works. I do not know about AIM and Yahoo! but I assume they work well too. This is not an issue with Vista or any of the IM clients. Try looking around with the settings in VAIO Camera Capture Utility.

 

Hello guys, just bought a Vaio FZ21Z and experiencing problem with AV Mode. No instant or quick start! On pressing the AV mode button it just boots windows as usual. Can anybody please help me fix the problem?

 

Specs for FZ21Z : Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 | 2GB RAM | 300GB HDD | NVidea GeForce 8600M GS| Intel Pro Wireless 4965AGN | Blu-ray ReWriter