External Mic Works on the Fire!

grvthang · 11-25-2011, 10:39 PM

Maybe this belongs in "Tips and Tricks":

I had a set of headphones with an inline microphone laying around. I decided to try it on the Fire. I downloaded and installed an audio recording app, and made a 10-second recording. It worked - the audio came out loud and clear. This is almost a game-changer - that means Skype and other applications requiring a microphone can made functional on the Fire.

Now if I can figure out how to app a camera and gps lol...

asb2164 · 11-25-2011, 11:34 PM

Don't forget about Grooveip if you are rooted and have Google apps installed you can make free phone calls through Google voice.

Jessica Lares · 11-25-2011, 11:55 PM

I got Square to install... Regarding GPS...

If there is a way to trick it into thinking you have any, it would work BRILLIANTLY with the Fire.

As for the microphone, that's awesome!

weatherman · 11-26-2011, 08:08 AM

Hold up a sec: its possible that the jack worked as a mic but that it doesnt act as a headset. You may know you can record using the headphones doesn't mean that you know that you can have a coversation via skype. To test whether you have full headset capability you'll have to actually use it on something like skype, though I guess it might be enough to just play some music in the background while using the audio recording feature - if you can do that, I would think that would prove it.

howyoudoin · 11-26-2011, 08:19 AM

JSWolf will [/wrists] at this piece of news

asb2164 · 11-26-2011, 09:43 AM

I installed Grooveip and signed into my Google voice account with it hooked up my headphone/Mic that does work with the Fire, It actually made a phone call to my cell phone but the mic did not work.
Maybe I just need to mess with some settings in grooveip.
If you are not familiar with Grooveip here it is http://www.amazon.com/snrb-Labs-Groo...2318367&sr=8-1

jswinden · 11-26-2011, 09:51 AM

I'm skeptical this works. Many mic/headset speaker combinations have two plugs rather than one, so they won't work. A mic only, if it worked at all being plugged into a speaker plug, would most likely cause the internal speakers to stop working, which is counterproductive for Skype.

Even if you can find a mic/headset speaker combo with only one 1/8" plug that does work, what is the point. Using Skype with a WiFi only tablet without a camera is not going to be that big of a deal. If you have a WiFi connection you probably have other devices which will do the job a lot better than a Fire.

asb2164 · 11-26-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

I'm skeptical this works. Many mic/headset speaker combinations have two plugs rather than one, so they won't work. A mic only, if it worked at all being plugged into a speaker plug, would most likely cause the internal speakers to stop working, which is counterproductive for Skype.

Even if you can find a mic/headset speaker combo with only one 1/8" plug that does work, what is the point. Using Skype with a WiFi only tablet without a camera is not going to be that big of a deal. If you have a WiFi connection you probably have other devices which will do the job a lot better than a Fire.

All hands free sets that come with most cell phones have one plug and include a mic on the plug it will have 3 black bands 2 for the headphones if stereo and one for the microphone.

If the headset was designed to work with a computer most likely it would have 2 plugs but we are not talking about those we are talking about headsets made for cell phones.

WillysJeepMan · 11-26-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

I'm skeptical this works. Many mic/headset speaker combinations have two plugs rather than one, so they won't work. A mic only, if it worked at all being plugged into a speaker plug, would most likely cause the internal speakers to stop working, which is counterproductive for Skype.

Even if you can find a mic/headset speaker combo with only one 1/8" plug that does work, what is the point. Using Skype with a WiFi only tablet without a camera is not going to be that big of a deal. If you have a WiFi connection you probably have other devices which will do the job a lot better than a Fire.

Video conferencing isn't the only use for Skype. For those of us with Skype-In/Skype-Out service, being able to make/receive Skype calls on the Fire is useful. $60 a year (in the US) for unlimited local and long distance calls makes a fantastic alternative to a traditional landline.

If I'm in the food court at the local mall using their free wifi hotspot, I can accept calls to my "home phone".

The fact that virtually every computing device in my home (PSP, iPod Touch, iPad, notebook, tablet, and freetalk base module) can act as a phone is very convenient.

grvthang · 11-26-2011, 10:54 AM

I just tried it out by installing a very small and simple recording app. Skype wouldn't be the only use for it, obviously; the opportunity may be there to use many apps that require a mic (speech to text apps, Google Voice, guitar tuners, recorders, etc., etc.).

Jessica Lares · 11-26-2011, 01:52 PM

If I can just record my classes and read my textbook on it at the same time, that's the only thing I'd ever want.

jgaiser · 11-26-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

JSWolf will [/wrists] at this piece of news

grvthang · 11-26-2011, 09:47 PM

Here's a stand-alone mic (not a headphone/mic combo) that should work: I just ordered one - for $1.44+free shipping I don't think you can go wrong:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=5336653508-20

The type of plug needed is called a TRRS plug - it has four conductors on it, rather than the three conductors found on the (TRS) plug on normal stereo headphones. If the plug has three "stripes" on it, it's a TRRS.

Donnageddon · 11-26-2011, 10:30 PM

I am confused (not an uncommon occurrence) but has anyone actually successfully made a skype call yet?

If it works, great! If it don't, well then... it don't. Which would prevent a nasty blood stain on JSWolf's carpet.

SCION · 11-26-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I am confused (not an uncommon occurrence) but has anyone actually successfully made a skype call yet?

If it works, great! If it don't, well then... it don't. Which would prevent a nasty blood stain on JSWolf's carpet.

Hilarious!

11-25-2011, 10:39 PM	#1
grvthang Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 53472 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn NY Device: Kindle Fire, Droid Incredible2, Kindle Touch	External Mic Works on the Fire! Maybe this belongs in "Tips and Tricks": I had a set of headphones with an inline microphone laying around. I decided to try it on the Fire. I downloaded and installed an audio recording app, and made a 10-second recording. It worked - the audio came out loud and clear. This is almost a game-changer - that means Skype and other applications requiring a microphone can made functional on the Fire. Now if I can figure out how to app a camera and gps lol...

11-26-2011, 09:51 AM	#7
jswinden Nameless Being	I'm very skeptical that this works I'm skeptical this works. Many mic/headset speaker combinations have two plugs rather than one, so they won't work. A mic only, if it worked at all being plugged into a speaker plug, would most likely cause the internal speakers to stop working, which is counterproductive for Skype. Even if you can find a mic/headset speaker combo with only one 1/8" plug that does work, what is the point. Using Skype with a WiFi only tablet without a camera is not going to be that big of a deal. If you have a WiFi connection you probably have other devices which will do the job a lot better than a Fire.

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11-25-2011, 11:34 PM	#2
asb2164 Member Posts: 15 Karma: 7210 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	Don't forget about Grooveip if you are rooted and have Google apps installed you can make free phone calls through Google voice.

11-25-2011, 11:55 PM	#3
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	I got Square to install... Regarding GPS... If there is a way to trick it into thinking you have any, it would work BRILLIANTLY with the Fire. As for the microphone, that's awesome!

11-26-2011, 08:08 AM	#4
weatherman Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 1010052 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: (previous: Kindle 2, Kindle Fire) Kindle 4 WiFi, K3K, KPW	Hold up a sec: its possible that the jack worked as a mic but that it doesnt act as a headset. You may know you can record using the headphones doesn't mean that you know that you can have a coversation via skype. To test whether you have full headset capability you'll have to actually use it on something like skype, though I guess it might be enough to just play some music in the background while using the audio recording feature - if you can do that, I would think that would prove it.

11-26-2011, 08:19 AM	#5
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	JSWolf will [/wrists] at this piece of news

11-26-2011, 09:43 AM	#6
asb2164 Member Posts: 15 Karma: 7210 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	I installed Grooveip and signed into my Google voice account with it hooked up my headphone/Mic that does work with the Fire, It actually made a phone call to my cell phone but the mic did not work. Maybe I just need to mess with some settings in grooveip. If you are not familiar with Grooveip here it is http://www.amazon.com/snrb-Labs-Groo...2318367&sr=8-1

11-26-2011, 10:54 AM	#10
grvthang Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 53472 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn NY Device: Kindle Fire, Droid Incredible2, Kindle Touch	I just tried it out by installing a very small and simple recording app. Skype wouldn't be the only use for it, obviously; the opportunity may be there to use many apps that require a mic (speech to text apps, Google Voice, guitar tuners, recorders, etc., etc.).

11-26-2011, 01:52 PM	#11
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	If I can just record my classes and read my textbook on it at the same time, that's the only thing I'd ever want.

11-26-2011, 09:47 PM	#13
grvthang Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 53472 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn NY Device: Kindle Fire, Droid Incredible2, Kindle Touch	Here's a stand-alone mic (not a headphone/mic combo) that should work: I just ordered one - for $1.44+free shipping I don't think you can go wrong: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=5336653508-20 The type of plug needed is called a TRRS plug - it has four conductors on it, rather than the three conductors found on the (TRS) plug on normal stereo headphones. If the plug has three "stripes" on it, it's a TRRS.

11-26-2011, 10:30 PM	#14
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	I am confused (not an uncommon occurrence) but has anyone actually successfully made a skype call yet? If it works, great! If it don't, well then... it don't. Which would prevent a nasty blood stain on JSWolf's carpet.