Poll: What iChat features are you capable of using? [Archive]

scem0

Jun 29, 2003, 11:33 PM

50% say NONE?!?!!?

well, I guess I am all of the 50% since only 2 people have voted. :rolleyes: ;).

Well, I am still PC-bound so I have no iChat support what-so-ever. Oh well, at least I can re-direct IM's to my phone as text messages....

1.8GHz G5 soon though.... :D

scem0

Bunzi2k4

Jun 29, 2003, 11:48 PM

haha nice 1.8 ghz g5... i have audio capabilities, i'll probably get isight sometime this summer though

whfsdude

Jun 30, 2003, 12:47 AM

Apple went out of their way to make it so the IOXperts USB cam drivers don't work. :-(

sososowhat

Jun 30, 2003, 12:55 AM

I bought two iSights - one for my dad (he's 77) & one for me. He's no computer guy, but I walked him through the setup over the phone. The only issue was that it required OS X 2.6 & he had 2.5 (correction: 2.4) & we couldn't remember the admin passwd to upgrade, but other than that it was smooth sailing.

I've used PC-based video chat (I have a friend at Logitech who gives me all the new stuff) & the image and sound quality just don't compare. This stuff is hot. I love video phone calls. It allows me to be in touch with my dad & relate in a totally new way. Revolutionary.

ibookin'

Jun 30, 2003, 01:07 AM

I've got a built in mic on my iBook and iMac and a cable modem, so iChat Audio works well.

An iSight is a little too much money, though. Although I did buy a PowerMate... I must be a hypocrite.

Rower_CPU

Jun 30, 2003, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by whfsdude
Apple went out of their way to make it so the IOXperts USB cam drivers don't work. :-(

No they didn't. USB cams don't work with iChat AV.

For Video:

Mac OS X v10.2.5 or later

G5, G4 or G3 procesor at 600MHz or faster

Video: iSight or any FireWire-based video camera*

Audio: iSight or any microphone (internal or external)

Cable, DSL, or or other broadband Internet connection

*DV camcorders require G5 or G4 processor.

whfsdude

Jun 30, 2003, 01:14 AM

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
No they didn't. USB cams don't work with iChat AV.

They work just fine

"Basically, I plugged in my A/D DV converter (Director's Cut) into my
firewire port. iChat assumed it was a camera, and showed an image
accordingly (which was black since the converter did not have anything
plugged into its A/V ports). I then plugged in my iRez Kritter camera, and
exited iChat. When I opened iChat after that, it found both the DV
converter and my Kritter USB (ioxpert driver as well) and now I am getting
amazing images with it! The image on iChat with my USB Kritter webcam blows
away iVisit, etc. The funny thing is that once I remove my firewire hookup,
iChat no longer sees the Kritter and my video disappears."

- Someone from IOXperts mailing list :-)

dricci

Jun 30, 2003, 01:26 AM

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

Three major things people seem to want are Voice chat compatible with the Windows version of AIM, customizable AIM profiles, and support for USB web cams. TELL APPLE WHAT YOU WANT!

If enough people send them feedback, they'll listen.

Go to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html and fill out the form. It'll only take a few seconds.

Again: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

If enough people ask for something, we'll get it. It only will take a few seconds of your day, please go to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html and tell apple.

Happy iChatting!

tazo

Jun 30, 2003, 02:49 AM

right now i could use audio i suppose. video nope :( apple doesnt support my Intel PC camera pro.

celaurie

Jun 30, 2003, 03:04 AM

I've been utterly suprised at the number of Mac users who just haven't d/l'd iChat AV.

They think it's all a gimick and you *must have* a cam to make it work.

I even had someone site the fact that the reason they don't use iChat is because they can't warn people like you can in AIM.

The mind boggles!

Chris

Alexander

Jun 30, 2003, 03:41 AM

Originally posted by sososowhat
I bought two iSights - one for my dad (he's 77) & one for me. He's no computer guy, but I walked him through the setup over the phone. The only issue was that it required OS X 2.6 & he had 2.5 & we couldn't remember the admin passwd to upgrade, but other than that it was smooth sailing.

Huh? I put an iSight on a 10.2.5 machine and it worked fine.

And the poll doesn't have my option: audio/video but not text. On my PowerBook, something's hosed and I can't type text into iChat. Didn't work with regular iChat or the beta. I'm waiting for my Panther preview to reinstall. :)

And if you haven't tried iChat AV even with just the audio, do it. It's pretty cool.

Nermal

Jun 30, 2003, 05:04 AM

I don't have a camera, but I downloaded AV anyway. Unfortunately all my friends are on Windows or Linux so I can't talk to them :(

bluedalmatian

Jun 30, 2003, 05:07 AM

I'd like to use it now it's got video but everyone I know uses MSN so thats what I use.

I always bin iChat off my Macs cos theres no point in having it cluttering up the applications folder when i never use it.

MacFan25

Jun 30, 2003, 07:26 AM

I can use iChat text and audio. If I had broadband I would probably get the iSight, but I don't have it.

AhmedFaisal

Jun 30, 2003, 09:02 AM

Be that MSN Messenger XP, Yahoo! Messenger, Netmeeting or that they offer their own Video Conferencing Software for the PC. This Mac only thing may be ideologically right but it makes iChat AV practically useless for me since most of my friends and family own PCs and sure will not switch just because *I* happen to have a Mac Chat Prog that only supports its own platform. Until Apple fixes that I will keep using Yahoo! Messenger. I already posted feedback to Apple though I have little hope that it will have any effect....:(
Cheers,

Ahmed

Freg3000

Jun 30, 2003, 09:29 AM

I have a DV camera that would allow me to use the video side of iChat, as well as the audio.....but I don't have anyone to talk to!

Thirteenva

Jun 30, 2003, 09:56 AM

I would say audio because i have a built in mic but... it requires the use of a 56k modem and i can't tie up my phone line at work or home. Why doesn't audio work over my existing broadband internet connection....

is there a way to do this with ichat A/V? I know windows AIM supports it, i've used it a number of times on my dsl connection at home...

zaphoyd

Jun 30, 2003, 10:33 AM

Audio chat doesnt require a 56k modem!!!!!!!!

it requires an internet connection of 56k or greater, your broadband connection will work fine.

Rower_CPU

Jun 30, 2003, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by whfsdude
They work just fine

"Basically, I plugged in my A/D DV converter (Director's Cut) into my
firewire port. iChat assumed it was a camera, and showed an image
accordingly (which was black since the converter did not have anything
plugged into its A/V ports). I then plugged in my iRez Kritter camera, and
exited iChat. When I opened iChat after that, it found both the DV
converter and my Kritter USB (ioxpert driver as well) and now I am getting
amazing images with it! The image on iChat with my USB Kritter webcam blows
away iVisit, etc. The funny thing is that once I remove my firewire hookup,
iChat no longer sees the Kritter and my video disappears."

- Someone from IOXperts mailing list :-)

Only if you go through Firewire. Going USB direct doesn't work at all.

wdlove

Jun 30, 2003, 11:11 AM

For the moment can't even use iChat, running Mac OS 9!

Jerry Spoon

Jun 30, 2003, 11:23 AM

I just tried the video with my mini-dv camcorder and it worked well. Unfortunately, there's only a couple other people that I know that can do it also and they're local...so what's the point. It would be nice if my relatives out of town had macs :(

thejll

Jun 30, 2003, 12:00 PM

I have a PowerBook G4/800 and a Sony digital camcorder, so theoretically I'm supported...

But Apple's implementation requires me to punch too many holes in my firewall which I'm not willing to do, so I'm limited to text only.

I'm kind of paranoid about security, so there's no way I'm opening myself up that much.

jelwell

Jun 30, 2003, 01:13 PM

I'm video & audio enabled. Video through my dv camcorder and audio through my powerbook's built in mic.

None of this matters. Not a single friend in my buddy list is running ichat AV. One guy at work, through rendezvous, has ichat AV but his G4 tower doesn't have a mic, let alone video.

Until the windows AIM client supports video/audio communication with iChat AV, I'm afraid the new features will just be a toy.

Although I do appreciate some of the other new features, like better buddy icon editing, support for groups (sortof)
joe.

coumerelli

Jun 30, 2003, 01:18 PM

And unfortunitely I have a 'Summer 2000' iMac D/V (which is a G3 400mhz) and iChat A/V 'requires' at least 500 - if I'm correct. At least what I do know is my 400mhz is 'too' slow and won't even try. I just wish apple would humor me and let me suffer thru slow frame rates and everything. :(

scem0

Jun 30, 2003, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by coumerelli
And unfortunitely I have a 'Summer 2000' iMac D/V (which is a G3 400mhz) and iChat A/V 'requires' at least 500 - if I'm correct. At least what I do know is my 400mhz is 'too' slow and won't even try. I just wish apple would humor me and let me suffer thru slow frame rates and everything. :(

you can't even attempt to install it?

I bet you could install it and it would work with slower frame rates etc. and apple just said 500 MHz so people wouldnt complain when they were getting slow frame rates on their 233 MHz iMacs ;).

scem0

wdlove

Jun 30, 2003, 03:24 PM

coumerelli

Jun 30, 2003, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by scem0
you can't even attempt to install it?

I bet you could install it and it would work with slower frame rates etc. and apple just said 500 MHz so people wouldnt complain when they were getting slow frame rates on their 233 MHz iMacs ;).

scem0

iChat 'A' works just fine...great, in fact. It's the 'V' part that won't. It installed fine, but when I go to the prefs and select video it just has a black box that says 'comuter is not supported' or the like. Even with Sony D/V cam plugged in and on. I don't get an option to click the cam on a buddy either. boo!:mad:

Just heart-broken that I have to wait until x-mas to use that feature.

ibookin'

Jun 30, 2003, 06:23 PM

I have heard that there is a known issue with Sony cams and iChat AV.

Those with Sony cams are probably feeling pretty pissed at this point.

zaphoyd

Jun 30, 2003, 06:47 PM

Also there is an evil little star by DV camcorders. Even a 900Mhz G3 iBook will not work with any dv camcorder. It doesnt try either, it just doesnt see any camera. iMovie and ASP see it fine. VERY annoying. WHY apple?!

coumerelli

Jun 30, 2003, 11:06 PM

Originally posted by zaphoyd
Also there is an evil little star by DV camcorders. Even a 900Mhz G3 iBook will not work with any dv camcorder. It doesnt try either, it just doesnt see any camera. iMovie and ASP see it fine. VERY annoying. WHY apple?!

But, know that in the requirements it asks for >400mhz or it won't work. And, for anyone with a working video part of iChat, do you see 'this computer does not support video' in the 'video' tab in the prefs when no cam is connected? I believe that it's just a black box if their is no cam hooked up.

Could someone please troubleshoot so we can know. :( Thanks.:D