Envy 15 Purple Webcam Solution Released by HP

[GarenT]

Hi everyone,

HP has released some instructions that explain and assist with the following issue: HP ENVY 15 notebook PC webcam in low light conditions, images on the webcam may have a purple tint.

Please refer to: Webcam Images May Have Purple Tint

[dnewman20]

This solution does not fix the problem.  At best it makes the image Black and White. Is there any movement of fixing this?  Have you replicated it in your labs?

[okashira]

"This solution does not fix the problem.  At best it makes the image Black and White. Is there any movement of fixing this?  Have you replicated it in your labs?"

Did you even bother to read his link? If you did even a little research you'd realize this issue is related directly to the design of the webcam and the light (as well as your lighting conditions). I am on noone's side here, but, honestly, HP did the best they could in this case.

If you have a specific program where you're having the "issue," you may be able to adjust color temperature or some sort of color processing there.

It's posts, etc. like this that remind me how hard it must be for consumer product companies to handle and support cases... :-(

Especialy in this case. I am amazed how publisized the "purple webcam," issue has been. Despite the issue being a result of the basic design of the webcam, HP has done quite abit to adress it where they could to appease those who don't understand the situation.

I've encoutered this in my one use of the webcam with Skype. It took me about 20 seconds to fix it, without even a Google search, let alone an HP support call.

[dnewman20]

Yes I did read the link. My lighting conditions are not low. My understanding is that there is a problem with incandescent light. Since my computer is still under warranty, my assumption is that HP would have a firmware fix for this problem or they would replace the camera in the computer.  That seems reasonable when a product is faulty.  Otherwise I am happy with my Forman grill of a laptop.

daniel 

[trollmama2]

I have the same problem and this HP solution does not fix it. I have tried all the sliders and the low light controls to no avail. As the previous user stated, the low light control just makes my picture black and white and no manipulation of the sliders adds in color. I am not in low light, I have tried strong sunlight and strong incandescent light.

There are so many complaints about this on YouTube, Gizmodo, Engadget, etc. and HP still hasn't issued a solution. Advising ENVY owners to use the webcam under fluorescent light is NOT a solution.

Oh I almost forgot...the most hilarious part about Okashira's scathing criticism above is that the HP employee admin gave him 10 kudos for it AND his amazingly easy solution for Skype, nah, he didn't bother to share it with us. Was he a plant? Well, he did register on 7-20 and just a few hours later, posted that comment and never posted again.

[aktran88]

Please tell me there is a fix for this? I've had this laptop since May 23rd (my birthday) and I've been waiting patiently for a fix and it's been a good few months for me already and apparently even longer for those who had this laptop before.

[francois_gn]

I have the same issue here.

The "fix" - desactivation of adaptive light - doesn't change a lot.

Images are still purple tainted, less, but still.

Regards

[Binadms]

yeah it did not fix it...same experience with purple tint webcam

[sonicguitar]

as far as i understand this is not a problem with the software, it apears to be hardware related.  I bought my laptop for £1000 and forked out £200 for the battery and another £250 for the 3 year warrenty and i am so angry about this issue it is a disgrace for a laptop of this price. i purchased mine about four months ago and now since i am back at uni i need the webcam to keep intoche with my girlfriend and family.  For Hp to say the camera should be used under Flourecent light is rediculous because i dont know about you but i always have one of them in my back pocket.  Thats like buying a new car and the lights not working and when you tell them about it the salesman says we suggest you only drive the car drung the day.  I thought that hp would have resolved this issue by now but seen as they havent i will be calling them this week to see what they are going to do about it. I would launch a petition that hp offer all envy 15 coustomers a FREE external webcam at the very least to resolve this if not then i shall be pushing for a refund or some partial refund to cover the cost of me having to buy a new webcam. 

On another note the way the env 15 id advertised in the shops claming a 6 hour battery life without telling you that thats with a battery slice is apauling. Although they are not direcly responsible it is there job to make sure that their distributers are well informed to make sure that the customers are well informed. 

I am not having a go at the people on the other end of the phone as i have always found them very pleasent and helpfull, its these high fat cats that make the money making decisions that get on my nerve. 

I was thinking of starting an online pettion about the webcam issue if anyone has any ideas about how to go about this i would really appreciate this.

[ahhduy]

it's pretty ridiculous that this hasn't been fixed yet. yes i have tried all of their "fixs" but none of them do anything at all