I searched on the internet and I found many links who talk about the problem but not exactly mine. So here a little howto to help you if you got my same problem.

This howto is realized on an Ubuntu 9.10 - the Karmic Koala

First, check your sound preferences in   System -> Preferences -> Sound
In the input tab, you will have a list of the available sound input for your machine. For example, I got 2 microphone. The first for the one integrated with my webcam and the second was for the input plugin.

Sound Preferences

- Verify that your microphone isn't muted. It should look like this :

Input volume

If your microphone is working you should get something like this :

Microphone working

If you get something like this, your microphone is not working.

No microphone detected

Now, I will explain how I got it working for me. I did this while trying many things, so if you try it tell me if it's working actually. Also, it might not be the best solution.

So, I installed Gnome ALSA mixer.

In Synaptic (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager), type gnome-alsamixer in the search and install it.

You will find gnome alsa mixer under Applications -> Sound & Video. You will get something like this :

GNOME ALSA Mixer

Now adjust your input volume and make sure to test them all. In my case, it was Front Microphone which controls my headset micro. If you go back to the sound preferences, and using the right input you should see that the input of your microphone moving.

You can test the input with Sound Recorder (Applications -> Sounds & Video) or if you are using Skype with the Testing call (Options -> Sounds Devices -> make a test call).

This is it ! If you have some questions or remarks let me now.

Running the web application will give you an error like this :

** Unable to load Mozilla for hosted mode **
java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: .../eclipse/plugins/com.google.gwt.eclipse.sdkbundle.linux_.../gwt-linux-2.0/mozilla-1.7.12/libxpcom.so: libstdc++.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
at java.lang.ClassLoader$NativeLibrary.load(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary0(ClassLoader.java:1778)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary(ClassLoader.java:1674)
at java.lang.Runtime.load0(Runtime.java:770)
at java.lang.System.load(System.java:1003)
at com.google.gwt.dev.shell.moz.MozillaInstall.load(MozillaInstall.java:190)
at com.google.gwt.dev.BootStrapPlatform.initHostedMode(BootStrapPlatform.java:53)
at com.google.gwt.dev.HostedModeBase.(HostedModeBase.java:434)
at com.google.gwt.dev.SwtHostedModeBase.(SwtHostedModeBase.java:162)
at com.google.gwt.dev.HostedMode.(HostedMode.java:282)
at com.google.gwt.dev.HostedMode.main(HostedMode.java:241)

This is due that the libstdc++5 is missing from your Ubuntu.

Usually an update thorough apt-get can save

sudo apt-get install libstdc++5

but you can get this message

Package libstdc++5 is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package libstdc++5 has no installation candidate

Then you will have to get the libstdc++5 manually like this

# change directory to /tmp directory:
cd /tmp/

# download deb package:
wget -c http://lug.mtu.edu/ubuntu/pool/main/g/gcc-3.3/libstdc++5_3.3.6-10_i386.deb

# unpack deb package to get library file
dpkg -x libstdc++5_3.3.6-10_i386.deb libstdc++5

# copy library file to /usr/lib directory
sudo cp libstdc++5/usr/lib/libstdc++.so.5.0.7 /usr/lib

# change directory to /usr/lib directory
cd /usr/lib

# create a link to library
sudo ln -s libstdc++.so.5.0.7 libstdc++.so.5

Now you will be able to run the hosted mode.
If you are using a 64bit linux you have to copy to /usr/lib32 instead of /usr/lib

Messenger Live API down

Today, I want to try the API for Windows Live Messenger from Microsoft.

First, I rapidly found the official site  http://dev.live.com/Messenger/. Interesting site with a good layout and pictures. But soon I was redirect to MSDN with a lot of text that don't say a lot of things.

What was interesting is a interactive SDK which will have samples to use the Messenger Web Toolkit and have a intercative demo with code snippet for the Toolkit controls.

I was exiceted by this until I got this message --->

Since this morning, I was waiting for the supposed 24 hours to end. And the most amazing that I didn't found anywhere else the samples sources.

Fortunally, I made some breakthourgh even without these samples and spending long minutes on MSDN using many samples of other Live APIs.

I will post a little tutorial about making a C# Web Application later. Stay tuned.