HP E27d G4 Docking Monitor Camera

Since I have an evaluation copy of Windows 10 64-bit, updated over a couple days by me to the current build 1909, and running under VirtualBox, and for which HP specifically offers video and audio drivers for the HP E27d G4 Docking Display (Windows 10, nothing earlier) I decided to run some tests.

Drivers installed fine, audio works under all circumstances, Windows Camera recognises and works with BOTH HP Display Camera and my old Logitech USB webcam.

So I then tried Windows 10 Skype Desktop (which worked perfectly under Mac OS High Sierra with both new and old webcams). Old Logitech webcam works fine, HP Display Camera provides audio but no video... I didn't bother to install Zoom and try that also.

I have concluded that to use all facilities of the new HP E27d G4, a laptop or desktop with native USB-C in/out/power ports is absolutely required. I have neither. It is possible that Macs running Catalina or Big Sur, but no USB-C ports may get Facetime to work with this display, but I have no way of checking. Your mileage may vary..

So I decided to bite the bullet, push the display webcam down to its inactive state and leave it there, and to order a modern Logitech USB HD webcam with stereo microphones from a reputable dealer with a promised delivery date of 3-4 weeks (not too bad in these Covid-19 times - all "Made in China"). When that arrives, the old Logitech goes to my wife for her frequent Zoom meetings (which she currently performs with her MacBook Pro 13" open and propped up in front of her Benq Monitor, with the iSight camera catching her unflatteringly from below). After she gets my old webcam she can close the lid, sit back, and relax.

This problem can now be flagged as SOLVED (not solvalble under current circumstances).

cheers, Trevor

Postscriptum: my dealer has just emailed me to inform me that they now have no promised delivery date for the new Logitech webcam, so I have had to cancel and request a refund on my credit card. So it goes...

I am going have to post in parts because of the 500 Char limit - part 1

I am appending the USB part of the hardware report, the smart 2.0 hub is a powered 3.0/2.0 hub to which mouse and old Logitech camere are attached on the 2.0 side, and the USB 3.0 to USB-C cable to the HP display is in a USB 3.0 slot. Behaviour of Apps with the display camera is the same whether the cable is in the powered hub or directly in the (2016) Mac Mini

part 2 follows

Part 2

This is what Facetime video menu looks like with Logitech plugged in

in this state I can choose the Monitor camera, which lights up but delivers no video

and without LogitechI knows that the monitor has microphones, but not a camera

part 3 follows

Part 3 - page 23 of the monitor manual

It appears that the camera is in fact 2 cameras, one RGB and one infrared. The infrared camera is said to be needed for "Windows Hello", I presume facial recognition in Windows 10. It is also recommended to use the IR camera for videoconferencing, which appears strange to me (misprint?)

cheers, Trevor