iChat VideoConferencing, Java 1.4.1, and MPC7457

[MacRumors]

Various tidbits:

Motorola posts further details about the MPC7457. The 7457 was previously discussed and will be introduced at 1.3GHz with 512k of L2 cache and up to 2MB of L3 cache.

An Apple iChat update is in the works and the next revision will introduce Video Conferencing capabilities. An Apple Video Conferencing application was first hinted at by Steve Jobs himself in April 2002 during a shareholder meeting. Microphone and Camera icons were subsequently found in iChat's resource files, further hinting at future functionality.

An Apple software update will be appearing on March 3rd... but details are scarce. The most likely candidate appears to be Java 1.4.1 Final which is rumored to be released on that same day, but hints at iMovie 3.0.2 have also emerged.

[Dj Kioto]

keynote 1.01 is up too

[iJon]

well it shouldnt be too hard to get videoconfrencing into ichat, they already have quicktime broadcaster. how cool would it be to start having an optional itty bitty camera installed in the top of your studio display or any other mac for this, ah the wonders. dont think it will be that but i think apple will wow us.

iJon

[howard]

stupid motorola nobody cares about your damn chips anymore

[Kwyjibo]

I personally think video ocnferencing in iChat will be cool, It especially makes sense for apple to make further intergration like this since everything is already tied with the Address Book, I can jsut imagine Now Conferencing with "user", I hope theres a way to do it with non ichat ppl too tho atleast eventually.

[FelixDerKater]

Originally posted by howard
stupid motorola nobody cares about your damn chips anymore

Oh so true... They are just like duct tape, holding together Apple's hardware lines until the 970 arrives. Still, why don't they leave the L2 cache at 1MB instead of dropping it to 512K?

[TMJ1974]

Originally posted by FelixDerKater
Oh so true... They are just like duct tape, holding together Apple's hardware lines until the 970 arrives. Still, why don't they leave the L2 cache at 1MB instead of dropping it to 512K?

The L2 cache is currently at 256K, 1 or 2 MB is the L3 cache, so 512K L2 cache is an improvement.

[wsteineker]

I may be the only one who feels this way, but I for one am glad to see Motorola getting a little more concrete about the 7457. It's not like Apple is goint to debut the 970 in all of its machines at the same time, so we'll continue to need G4s to run the "i" series. PowerPC development, be it done by Motorola or IBM, will only benefit us in the long run. Still, we'll have to wait and see if they actually produce.

[law guy]

Originally posted by wsteineker
I may be the only one who feels this way, but I for one am glad to see Motorola getting a little more concrete about the 7457. It's not like Apple is goint to debut the 970 in all of its machines at the same time, so we'll continue to need G4s to run the "i" series. PowerPC development, be it done by Motorola or IBM, will only benefit us in the long run. Still, we'll have to wait and see if they actually produce.

It's probably already been suggested (a thousand times), but the 7457 specs (speed, pin compatable, 2mb L3) and the delay (no 1.42 dual G4s for four more weeks -early April) suggest that the new 1.42s are using the 7457. Is that correct?

[nickmcghie]

if/when apple does release the new version of iChat, will the videoconferencing abilities only be compatible with other users of iChat? is it possible that somehow it will be integrated with AIM? does AIM even support videoconferencing now?

[FredAkbar]

Originally posted by nickmcghie
if/when apple does release the new version of iChat, will the videoconferencing abilities only be compatible with other users of iChat? is it possible that somehow it will be integrated with AIM? does AIM even support videoconferencing now?

The latest AIM version for OS X doesn't have any video conferencing capabilties, and neither does the Windows version, as far as I know.

--Fred

[ChoMomma]

Maybe AOL will roll a new video conf feature out at that time... ??


it would be good if it required Quicktime to be installed : ) more Apple Quicktime users : ) !!!

World Domination is ours!!!!!!!

...sorry got carried away...

[awulf]

Where can you see those iChat icons?

I really would like voice chat in iChat, but first I need a mic port. I think excluding mic ports was one of apples dumbes things.

[bidge]

Originally posted by awulf
Where can you see those iChat icons?

I really would like voice chat in iChat, but first I need a mic port. I think excluding mic ports was one of apples dumbes things.

remeber though that most of Apple's computers already have built in microphones.

[phampton81]

7457 rumors seem good on the outside, but scary on the inside. Good that we will at least have faster/better chips in our 'i' series macs if not 970's, scary because of the possibility the power lines will continue to use motorola for the next year or two. Oh the horror.

[wsteineker]

Originally posted by phampton81
7457 rumors seem good on the outside, but scary on the inside. Good that we will at least have faster/better chips in our 'i' series macs if not 970's, scary because of the possibility the power lines will continue to use motorola for the next year or two. Oh the horror.

It's definitely a mixed blessing, to say the least. We can only hope that the trained chimps at Motorola have finally figured out how to run a production line.

[redAPPLE]

i hope the ichat would be compatible to AIM (it is cross-plattform right?).

i hope it can not only video conference, i hope it can voice conference too.

and did i mention, i hope it is cross-plattform?

[d46799]

Originally posted by iJon
how cool would it be to start having an optional itty bitty camera installed in the top of your studio display

Love it! I wonder if they could fit one at the top/middle of a powerbook screen.

On second thought, if cams were built in to computers as standard practice, the term 'spyware' might take on new meaning. 'Big Brother' comes to mind too.

[macgroove]

Can someone tell me whether it is possible already to chat with MSN Members in iChat......and better yet, does anyone anticipate VC'ing with MSN/users and users of polycom video conferencing software....?

[Dont Hurt Me]

Originally posted by law guy
It's probably already been suggested (a thousand times), but the 7457 specs (speed, pin compatable, 2mb L3) and the delay (no 1.42 dual G4s for four more weeks -early April) suggest that the new 1.42s are using the 7457. Is that correct?

I dont think so since they had posted mass production was going to be in 4th qtr this year. Still makes you wonder where and how apple gets 1.25 and 1.42? and apple and motorola aint talking about this as far as i know.

[ozubahn]

Originally posted by d46799
On second thought, if cams were built in to computers as standard practice, the term 'spyware' might take on new meaning. 'Big Brother' comes to mind too.

That's definitely a concern, but I think there are easy ways to control that. For instance, putting a small LED next to the lens that glows when the camera is active would be simple, and it could be handled at a level of hardware far below the reach of spyware. The spyware could turn on your camera, but not without revealing its existence in the process. There are probably other more elegant approaches too, but that's a start.

I think a built in camera would be a good idea. All the monitors have internal USB connections anyway, so there is no cable issue (unless you want a firewire camera). And judging from the most recent crop of Japanese cellphones, Apple could fit all the cameras it wants into monitor frames, even in the PowerBook.

[matznentosh]

Originally posted by ozubahn
That's definitely a concern, but I think there are easy ways to control that. For instance, putting a small LED next to the lens that glows when the camera is active would be simple, and it could be handled at a level of hardware far below the reach of spyware. The spyware could turn on your camera, but not without revealing its existence in the process. There are probably other more elegant approaches too, but that's a start.

I think a built in camera would be a good idea. All the monitors have internal USB connections anyway, so there is no cable issue (unless you want a firewire camera). And judging from the most recent crop of Japanese cellphones, Apple could fit all the cameras it wants into monitor frames, even in the PowerBook.

Interesting idea. Could this turn into a practical version of an iPhone? As a Powerbook it wouldn't be a PDA or a phone, so it wouldn't contradict Steve Jobs' emphatic denial that Apple would make a PDA.

[BenRoethig]

Originally posted by Dont Hurt Me
I dont think so since they had posted mass production was going to be in 4th qtr this year. Still makes you wonder where and how apple gets 1.25 and 1.42? and apple and motorola aint talking about this as far as i know.

The 1.25, 1.33, and 1.42 are exclusive to Apple. They make too much heat to be used in the embedded market. Since Motorola does not plan to market these to other companies, they don't bother to list them on their website.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Thanks, i have wondered about this for a while and that sounds like a good explanation.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Originally posted by wsteineker
I may be the only one who feels this way, but I for one am glad to see Motorola getting a little more concrete about the 7457. It's not like Apple is goint to debut the 970 in all of its machines at the same time, so we'll continue to need G4s to run the "i" series. PowerPC development, be it done by Motorola or IBM, will only benefit us in the long run. Still, we'll have to wait and see if they actually produce.

Unless IBM has another PPC chip they decide to switch over to.

It certainly would be wonderful if everything did go to the 970. There may be enough range in speed at the get go to do something like that. It's doubtful though. But IBM may offer an alternative that could upgrade the G3s.

I have a feeling the G4 will be about the same cost, if not more, as the 970. Why stick that in your lower end? Yet, it would be beneficial if you could get Altivec into all your machines. IBM can make chips cheaper and more efficiently - so a complete switch over could be possible.