New webcam binary

[Carlos Yaconi]

Hi everyone!

So much time has passed since our first release of the Windows Webcam module, and as you have noticed, there are 2 main issues that have been reported since then: black and dark images. 

The first case (black images) is 99% of the times due to Cyberlink's YouCam, a webcam software that "wraps" the computer's webcam, avoiding Prey to get a snapshop with it. The dark images case is different because Prey does take the picture, but the low lighting condition surrounding the webcam produces a dark image due the time the lens takes to open.

To solve these both problems we've been working on a new release based on DirectShow that should work fine, but as we've only been able to test it just on a few devices, we'd love if you can help us testing on more machines. It's very easy actually: Just download the attached file, unzip it, and run it from a DOS terminal. The README markdown document included gives further instructions of the command line options, and how to report any bug found.

If everything goes fine, we'll be releasing this new binary in the next Prey version.

On behalf of the Prey team: Thank you very much for your help!

Carlos

[Tom Wood]

Carlos,

  Seems to work fine on my Lenovo T500 running Windows 7 32-bit.  Although, my system may not be the best test platform as I think the historical binary worked fine 98% of the time too.

 

Tom

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[kohenkatz]

Here are my results on a Lenovo G770.

The first time I tried, I got the YouCam screen.  However, the YCMMirage application was running in the background and it started the camera so the next time I ran it I got a picture.  Unfortunately, YCMMirage never releases the camera, wasting battery, and leaving the camera light illuminated as a dead giveaway.

When I used "-invalid CyberLink", it worked perfectly.

One other interesting note is that the camera supports a resolution up to 1600x1200 (UXGA) but the program doesn't seem to default to that.  Instead, it gives me tiny 320x240 shots.  Is there some way to tell it to make the picture as big as the camera supports (without manually specifying what that size is)?

It also works perfectly with the Logitech USB camera on my desktop.

Moshe

[Carlos Yaconi]

Moshe, are you sure the program is actually using the camera, or it's been bypassing by the YCMMirage application? Enabling the debug option will show which camera it's using.

The program *should* use the best available camera resolution, so would be very useful to know if this isn't happening. 

Thanks!

-- 

Carlos Yaconi

[kohenkatz]

Carlos,

Here is what I get for each way I run it:

• When I run with no arguments: "Using capture device: CyberLink Webcam Splitter" - Picture is 320x240 "Please Start YouCam"
• When I run with " -invalid CyberLink": "Using capture device: Lenovo EasyCamera" - Picture is 640x480 but is a real picture
• When I run with no arguments while YCMMirage is open: "Using capture device: CyberLink Webcam Splitter" - First Picture is 320x240 "Please start YouCam", but subsequent pictures are 320x240 real pictures.  However, the camera is never released by YCMMirage.
• When I run with " -invalid CyberLink" while YCMMirage is open: "Using capture device: Lenovo EasyCamera" - Real Picture is 640x480
  
• When I run with no  " -invalid CyberLink" after YCMMirage has been used to open YouCam:  "Using capture device: Lenovo EasyCamera" and then "!! Webcam picture couldn't be taken: The parameter is incorrect."  However, adding "-kill_youcam true" solves this problem.
  

However, no combination of arguments gets the full resolution unless I specify it manually using "-height 1200 -width 1600".

On a different note, is the source of this available anywhere?  Given that it is C#, it should be easy enough to decompile, but having the source available is easier.

Moshe

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[Carlos Yaconi]

Great feedback Moshe, thank you. It seems that auto full size picture isn't working. Does the current snapshot.exe take 1600x1200 pictures using no arguments?

Currently the code isn't available, but if you're willing to help I can move it to a public repo.

Thanks again.

Best

-- 

Carlos Yaconi

prey-securit...@googlegroups.com

[Jonathan]

I can confirm that it works on the Asus G51J Series, and the Dell Latitude E6500. The old script worked fine for the most part as well.

~Jonathan K

[Moshe Katz]

In truth, I had not yet tested the current snapshot.exe on this computer yet because it is someone else's computer.

I just tested it and here is what it does:  The first time it runs, it gives a 320x240 YouCam logo, but YCMMirage starts up the YouCam program in the background.  The second time it runs, it gives a 320x240 real image and then it closes YouCam after it has taken the picture.

As far as YouCam goes, maybe we can do something with the fact that YCMMirage will automatically start YouCam when the camera is accessed.

Moshe

--
Moshe Katz
-- mo...@ymkatz.net
-- +1(301)867-3732

[Martin]

Hola, por favor no podes publicar tu post en espanol-spanish???, me encantaria poder ayudar, pero no se bien de que se trata tu post, muchas gracias.

Saludos, Martin.

[Carlos Yaconi]

Martín, muchas gracias por tu ayuda. Ahora estoy un poco "desconectado", pero apenas tenga acceso nuevamente a mi equipo traduzco al español la guía para que así puedas entender de que se trata este nuevo binario.

Gracias nuevamente!

Saludos

Carlos

-- Sent from a mobile device.

[Martin]

Ok dale, muuuuuuchas gracias.

Saludos, Martin.

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[Chris]

ive got an alienware m17x r3 with windows 7 professional 64bit and its still a complete black image 

[Carlos Yaconi]

Chris, can you please run it using the -debug true option and paste the output here? I think the application is using a camera driver that should be included into the -invalid option.

I'm attaching a new binary that now really really uses the max camera resolution to take the picture. Can you guys confirm this please?

Thanks a lot!!

Carlos

[Moshe Katz]

The new binary correctly determines the max resolution for me:

C:\Users\Moshe\Downloads>prey-webcam.exe -invalid Cyberlink
-- Parsed Command Line Values
  -outfile = prey-picture.jpg
  -framerate = 15
  -width = 0
  -height = 0
  -frame = 4
  -kill_youcam = False
  -debug = False
-- Discarding invalid capture device: Cyberlink
-- Using capture device: Lenovo EasyCamera
-- Capabilities detected:
-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 320 Height: 240 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 160 Height: 120 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 800 Height: 600 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 1280 Height: 720 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 1600 Height: 1200 Bit per pixel: 16
-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 24
-- Width: 320 Height: 240 Bit per pixel: 24
-- Width: 160 Height: 120 Bit per pixel: 24
-- Width: 800 Height: 600 Bit per pixel: 24
-- Width: 1280 Height: 720 Bit per pixel: 24
-- Picture resolution: 1600x1200
-- Frame used in picture: 5

Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Moshe

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-- mo...@ymkatz.net
-- +1(301)867-3732

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[Carlos Yaconi]

Thanks Moshe for you feedback!

Best

-- 

Carlos Yaconi

[Chris]

the new one works!! so when will the new prey version come out?

[CT]

Hi,

I have a number of machines all with Cyberlink YouCam installed, which fail to take a picture with the current snapshot.exe program. I've tried this new prey-webcam.exe program with the ignore command line set and it works perfectly :)

2 questions:-

1) Is there a way to make existing installations of Prey use the prey-webcam.exe instead of snapshot.exe?

2) If 1 isn't possible when will a new version of Prey be available which does use it and can have the command line options set

Cheers.

[CT]

I worked out how to make the new .exe live.

modified the functions file under the webcam sub-dir to:-

"$module_platform_path/prey-webcam.exe" -invalid youcam,cyberlink,google -frame 10 -outfile "$tmpdir/prey-picture.jpg"

On Wednesday, 11 July 2012 04:39:38 UTC+1, Carlos Yaconi wrote:

[Pierre-Luc Pdot]

Hi,

I have Cyberlink and it was blocking prey from taking pictures, giving me a black image.

I've tested both "prey-webcam" versions and they both work only if the -invalid cyberlink parameter is on. The second version does take a picture at the correct full resolution of my webcam (1280x720).

I tried using frame 1 to see if it would be dark but not for me. It uses frame 2 and it gives a clear image. As clear as if using frame 11.

My system is: Acer Aspire one 756 // Windows 7 64bits ultimate

Here is the result:

prey-webcam.exe -invalid cyberlink -frame 1 -debug true

-- Parsed Command Line Values

  -outfile = prey-picture.jpg

  -framerate = 15

  -width = 0

  -height = 0

  -frame = 1

  -kill_youcam = False

  -debug = True

-- Discarding invalid capture device: cyberlink

-- Using capture device: HD WebCam

-- Capabilities detected:

-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 160 Height: 120 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 176 Height: 144 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 320 Height: 240 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 352 Height: 288 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 1280 Height: 720 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 1280 Height: 800 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 160 Height: 120 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 176 Height: 144 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 320 Height: 240 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 352 Height: 288 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 1280 Height: 720 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 1280 Height: 800 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Width: 0 Height: 4 Bit per pixel: 0

-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 24

-- Picture resolution: 1280x720

-- Frame used in picture: 2

Thank you!

[CT]

Hi Carlos,

any news on a new version with the updated webcam exe?

[Justin S.]

I got it to work but I needed to go all the way up to frame 15 for a proper picture to take. Anyway to incorporate this into the current build? I saw someone post they modified but I dont quite understand the process.

Can't wait to 

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 11:39:38 PM UTC-4, Carlos Yaconi wrote:

[Lolhy ta]

me robaron mi pc ase 3 semanas y esta activao el modo desaparecido pero aun no me llega nada...0 notificacion , sera q no lo estoy utilizando bien

2012/8/25 Justin S. <justinjs...@gmail.com>

[Carlos Astudillo]

m mmmm el mio lleva desaparecido desde abril y ni na sola notificacion....ya ni siquuiera confio en prey...

2012/8/26 Lolhy ta <lorenaa...@gmail.com>

--
Carlos Astudillo Morales.

[Martin]

Marcaste la pc como desaparecida???, contanos si lo hiciste.

Saludos y suerte, Martin.

[Carlos Astudillo]

claro que si, esta marcada como desaparecida y ajuste los criterios para poder encontrarlo y nada ni una sola notificacion.

2012/8/29 Martin <marti...@hotmail.com>

Marcaste la pc como desaparecida???, contanos si lo hiciste.

Saludos y suerte, Martin.

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[Martin]

Ok, pueden ser varias las causas por las cuales no te llega ningun reporte, puede que en donde el ladron tenga la pc no alla señal de wifi, puede que el ladron todavia no encendio la pc, pueden haber formateado e instalado de nuevo algun sistema operativo como Windows entonces de esa forma Prey ya no sirve, ya que se borra automaticamente si formatean la pc, entendes???, es cuestion de tener un poco de suerte creo yo y esperar, otra no te queda, e insisto, es mejor tenerlo instalado a no tenes nada, con Prey tenes muuuuuchas posibilidades de encontrar el dispositivo robado, sea una pc o un celular, yo recomiendo muuuuucho que se lo instalen, te repito no te queda otra que esperar, en algun momento la van a prender la pc.

Saludos y suerte, Martin.

[voice over]

tu sabes  como ver   donde  esta  el pc   digamos   como  gps

[Mike P]

Grabs a cam picture here with your last test program on   Win7/64  Lenovo G570  intel  manufactured march29 with Cyberlink YouCam v5.  

 

 ...I'm guessing Prey would work with the YouCam,   but the video on first start takes about 3 seconds here to get the YouCam program  started up .. then the video works..  It puts that Black Window with Start your Youcam graphic first in yahoo messenger always ...  then about 3 seconds later  the video starts.     If it had a white widown advertising YouCam asking you to start your youcam,   that  is when the cam doesn't start.

 

/////////////

C:\Anyfile\prey-webcam>prey-webcam.exe -invalid youcam,cyberlink,google -frame 4

-- Parsed Command Line Values
  -outfile = prey-picture.jpg
  -framerate = 15
  -width = 0
  -height = 0

  -frame = 4
  -kill_youcam = False
  -debug = False

-- Discarding invalid capture device: youcam

-- Discarding invalid capture device: cyberlink

-- Discarding invalid capture device: google

-- Using capture device: Lenovo EasyCamera

-- Capabilities detected:

-- Width: 640 Height: 480 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Width: 320 Height: 240 Bit per pixel: 16

-- Picture resolution: 640x480

-- Frame used in picture: 4

C:\Anyfile\prey-webcam>

[Dan S]

Hi,

I am having similar troubles and getting a black screen only with the webcam snapshot (compaq presario laptop) I can open the attached prey-webcam.exe and it takes a screenshot but it is obviously too quick so only catches a black screen before the webcam can initialise.  I only have pretty basic knowledge on the computer, but I managed to open it with a dos terminal, but could not find how to alter any values, can anyone give a simple guide to this? Also how do I replace the standard screenshot.exe with this new one?  When I overwrite the file with the new one, the reports just come in with no webcam screenshot at all.  Thanks in advance. 

[Martin]

Hola, no entiendo lo que me queres decir... tenes que esperar a que te lleguen los reportes, otra no te queda.

Saludos y suerte, Martin.

[Mark (MKHCB)]

Wow, it has been a long time since I have visited this site. I am sorry for abandoning this project Carlos and Tomas.

Anyhow, I don't have YouCam since it does not support Windows 8, in all entirety. However, it runs well on Windows 8, provided you get past the SmartScreen lock Windows 8 places on the app via authorization.


Also, just fyi, Prey fully supports Windows 8 x64 on my computer (Lenovo Ideapad z570).

I am developing http://www.alltechtalk.net/2012/08/28/beta-pc-lock/ right now. Essentially, it is an extension of the Prey Lock I initially made. However, this will be used to activate Prey should your computer be stolen (not be activated by Prey as a result of the Online Control Panel).

Feel free to test it out and give me feedback. If you like to bundle this lock in a future release, just shoot me an email (I am sure you guys have my email ;)).

[CT]

This should help.  Extract the files from the attachment into this directory:-

c:\prey\modules\webcam\platform\windows

Following this edit the file "functions" in this same directory

Look for :-
"$module_platform_path/snapshot.exe" -q 100 "$tmpdir/prey-picture"

place a # in front of this line and underneath add:-

"$module_platform_path/prey-webcam.exe" -invalid youcam,cyberlink,google -frame 10 -outfile "$tmpdir/prey-picture.jpg"

save the file and test by making the device missing on the Prey control panel.

[Mike P]

"$module_platform_path/prey-webcam.exe" -invalid youcam,cyberlink,google -frame 10 -outfile "$tmpdir/prey-picture.jpg"

 

It Works !!!    Thank YOU !

 

win7 64bit with YouCam that works now with Prey :)

[Tomás Pollak]

Awesome. I guess this wraps it up for the test so we can finally ship an updated version of the Windows snapshot binary.

:)

-- Tom

[Steve Lester]

I still can't quite get this to work . Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

 

When I unzip the folder into the directory, am I supposed to move all of the files out of the "prey-webcam" folder and put them into the "c:\prey\modules\webcam\platform\windows" directory? Also, do I have to do something to the "functions" script file after I get done editing it?

 

Steven Lester

[Drew Reece]

Tom's last message indicates it was being put into the next release (in September).
What version are you running?

You can grab the 0.5.8 release at http://preyproject.com/releases/
That should install & correct the webcam issue, post back if it works (or fails). More positive results may help become a full release.
You could probably compare your version to the 0.5.8 version but it's easier to uninstall & grab the 0.5.8 version.

Drew

> --

[Steve Lester]

nevermind. I got it to work!!

Before, i just copied the whole "prey-webcam" folder to the c:\prey\modules\webcam\platform\windows  folder, and not the individual files. the script file probably couldn't find the binary, and so caused it not to work properly. oops!

 

However, I fixed it, and it works beautifully!

 

I'm running prey version 0.5.3 on an HP Pavilion DV6z with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

 

Thanks for the help!