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2013 Mac Air: BIGGEST ISSUE and LIMITATION that you WILL HATE
- Thread starter johnjey
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And yet they fail each and every time. There is no operating system in the world that doesn't have these problems. Applications are not exempt from this either. Updates are usually no problem but upgrades can result in a complete mess. Ask any system administrator how many times he had to roll back after an update/upgrade and you'll most likely get the answer "numerous times". Sysadmins know all hell will break lose when upgrading so they plan it, carefully (ITIL and many others call it "release management"). And yet things still go wrong so they do a roll back, fix the problems and try again later. It is this carefulness that causes companies to be a little behind with versions of software and why so many sysadmins get angry with fast release cycles.
Be realistic about it: software can break when you update or upgrade. You need to take measures and prepare for the worst.
Ontopic: some Macs have iSight cameras that are connected to the usb bus but some do not. Those iSight cameras are connected to the PCIe bus. That's why some will see their iSight under "Camera" but not under "USB". Do check "PCI cards" when you don't see it in "USB". This might also explain why some software does not recognise the camera. VMware Fusion does not when it is a PCIe camera as no desktop virtualisation application can do PCIe passthrough; they can only do USB passthrough so only the USB iSight will be seen. I'm guessing the other apps look for a USB webcam and not for a general iSight. That is an issue with the application and should be considered something of a bug. In that case you need to contact the manufacturer of the software to get it fixed. That, or look for other software such as Adium.
IIRC the new 2013 MBA has a PCIe iSight just like the MBP has had for a few years now.
I believe you nailed it
I wonder if has something to do with the recent Sandboxing of Flash in Safari under Mavericks. It may be that it's sandboxed and Safari is written to have access to it but the apps mentioned need to be updated to work around the sandboxing?
I wonder if has something to do with the recent Sandboxing of Flash in Safari under Mavericks. It may be that it's sandboxed and Safari is written to have access to it but the apps mentioned need to be updated to work around the sandboxing?
Just looked at System report on my 2013 11" MBA. The camera is not listed under USB. There is a separate item "Camera" listed under hardware, but when I click it says, "There was an error while scanning for video capture devices". There is no listing for a camera under PCI or any other hardware heading. I am still running 10.8.4 and the camera works properly in Skype.
Weird...
Weird...
Skype works just fine with 10.9 as does FaceTime etc. It would appear that Yahoo, Tinychat (whatever that is) and Ch****bate (whatever that is) haven't bothered to update their apps.
Try Skype, if that doesn't work then your Air needs fixing.
Any USB video-class camera will also work with Macs, no drivers needed. You can pick one up for $20 at the local computer store and see if the built-in iSight camera is the issue. Return the camera if that doesn't work either. 
The built in Messages App should work with Yahoo
Haven't heard of the other services but perhaps Adium supports them
Also, sandboxing of Flash on Mac = strangers can't spy on you
As others said, the developers haven't got to updating their apps for the newly released 10.9 yet.
Ever heard of Vista?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_Vista
Haven't heard of the other services but perhaps Adium supports them
Also, sandboxing of Flash on Mac = strangers can't spy on you
As others said, the developers haven't got to updating their apps for the newly released 10.9 yet.
Ever heard of Vista?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_Vista
Why is this still a thread?
This isn't a MacBook Air issue. This is the developers job to ensure their apps will continue to work on new platforms for their customers. Just because Apple decides to rollout a new OS doesn't mean they should ensure that every client app will work.
Now they are responsible to give developers the time to update their apps and the most helpful resources / documentation to get the job done in the most safe manner to protect THEIR customers, not the app developers.
EDIT: If your iSight camera doesn't work with FaceTime then you need to exchange your computer (if within return policy) or get it fixed (if still within AppleCare).
This isn't a MacBook Air issue. This is the developers job to ensure their apps will continue to work on new platforms for their customers. Just because Apple decides to rollout a new OS doesn't mean they should ensure that every client app will work.
Now they are responsible to give developers the time to update their apps and the most helpful resources / documentation to get the job done in the most safe manner to protect THEIR customers, not the app developers.
EDIT: If your iSight camera doesn't work with FaceTime then you need to exchange your computer (if within return policy) or get it fixed (if still within AppleCare).
"BIGGEST ISSUE and LIMITATION that you WILL HATE!!!11one!"
Bit dramatic over something most people (myself included) couldn't care less about tbf
Bit dramatic over something most people (myself included) couldn't care less about tbf
Well if that's the "biggest" issue then I can live with it. It doesn't limit my use of the laptop and I don't need those particular apps to absolutely work with the integrated cam.
I worked at Apple (albeit a long time ago) so I got a first-hand view of how the pipeline and process generally goes as an OS update is proceeding. It doesn't happen in a vacuum. All software developers, vendors know about OS upgrades long before they occur. It is always incumbent upon a software developer to get their app to work with the hardware, be it a Windoze PC or an iOS PC.
Apple has help available and takes reports from their developer community, but no hardware company guarantees that every developer's software will be compatible with the latest OS -- that is up to the developer to comply. Of course if there are specific bugs or other anomalies that's a different story, but it's (always) a case of the 800 lb gorilla (Apple, Microsoft, whoever) and others flex.
I worked at Apple (albeit a long time ago) so I got a first-hand view of how the pipeline and process generally goes as an OS update is proceeding. It doesn't happen in a vacuum. All software developers, vendors know about OS upgrades long before they occur. It is always incumbent upon a software developer to get their app to work with the hardware, be it a Windoze PC or an iOS PC.
Apple has help available and takes reports from their developer community, but no hardware company guarantees that every developer's software will be compatible with the latest OS -- that is up to the developer to comply. Of course if there are specific bugs or other anomalies that's a different story, but it's (always) a case of the 800 lb gorilla (Apple, Microsoft, whoever) and others flex.
I don't use the camera and my 2013 MBA is just fine. I have only a few minor issues with it. I have 4 Macs that have the camera, and have never used the camera, whether for video or still.
THEY have the camera installed for a reason i.e. to be used, so your statement isn't helping us in anyway.
For others suggesting external camera's, please share your experiences with what has worked the best for you?
PS: I updated adobe flash player and i-sight now works on certain sites
Might be related to VMware
Turn off or remove VMware. Then see what happen.
What version of VMware?
I don't have any off the issues you state, with that said it could a hardware issue. But you have not provided enough info, like the camera, does it work for photo booth.
More info would more helpful in resolving the issue, than the effort spent ranting and whining.
Like everyone else here, i took the dive of a $1650 laptop and bought this 11' 2013 i5/8GB RAM/ 512 SSD and guess what the software boys at Apple has made sure that this system "CONTINUES" to "DISAPPOINT" in every possible way:
The I-Sight camera in this thing DOES NOT work with:
1. Yahoo Messenger
2. Tinychat
3. Ch****bate
4. Any other application or website that requests for a camera access.
I am on OSX v10.9 (the so called Mavericks: pathetic as it doesn't even allow a bloddy in-built webcam to work, the so called 64 bit architect appears useless)
Please do not suggest here to NOT use Yahoo Messenger or to NOT use this with other websites, because i DID NOT buy this thing to add limitations in my life...a product is ONLY GOOD if it bloody works with the other worldly things on which a pathetic windows $300 laptop operates smoothly.
An in-built webcam "alone" (the so called isight camera)is a BIG DEAL BREAKER for me.
I know the experts may suggest that oh it's a yahoo issue as they don't support 64-bit stuff ...accepted but what about other websites? I have flash installed and enabled.
Solution:
1. Is there any "known" 3rd party webcam device that i can buy and use with OSX 10.9 that works flawlessly with any other application and website?
2. I also have VMware Fusion installed and using Windows 7 in that and obviously the I-sight DOES NOT work there as well.
Please advice, i am really frustrated regarding this whole i-sight thing not working with so many applications and websites that i ultimately had to start this thread.
Turn off or remove VMware. Then see what happen.
What version of VMware?
I don't have any off the issues you state, with that said it could a hardware issue. But you have not provided enough info, like the camera, does it work for photo booth.
More info would more helpful in resolving the issue, than the effort spent ranting and whining.
Thanks Jeff, yes i-sight works perfectly fine with Facetime, Photobooth, and now these websites
that i mentioned in my earlier post because i updated flash, only thing it doesn't work with is Yahoo messenger because yahoo stopped supporting 64 bit architecture?
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That's quite possible.
As the owner of a MacBook, I don't want any old application to be able to use the camera on my MacBook and spy on me. But since Mavericks cannot possibly know which apps are spying on me, and which apps are legitimately using the camera, I'm sure that AppStore apps have to tell Apple about their camera use.
It's a compatibility issue between Flash and Mavericks.
I'm seeing a similar issue using the camera in Adobe Connect meetings, on two computers: a 2011 iMac and 2013 MacBook Pro. I've spent some time troubleshooting by doing the following:
1. Tried the "Skype fix" mentioned earlier in the thread; rolling back to an earlier camera plugin. It did not work. I think the issue with the camera plugin that appeared in 10.8.5 was probably fixed at some point.
2. Before Adobe Connect crashes I get console messages "VDCAssistant: AVF encoder error: fail to create accelerator instance". VDCAssistant is a process of the "VDC.plugin" file that FaceTime uses. For some reason flash is invoking this file each time it starts the camera. I tried turning off FaceTime, and even tried removing the VDC.plugin file. While Adobe Connect didn't crash as often it still crashes.
3. Tried all the other usual stuff with PRAM resets, permissions, safe mode, etc. etc.
As for the earlier comment about the camera not working in Windows: There actually is a BootCamp driver for it out there. I have VMWare running on my MacBook, and booting into Windows is the only way I can attend the meetings I have to go to. The fact that it works fine in Windows ruled out the possibility of a hardware issue for me.
Best guess: Something gets screwed up when flash interfaces with CoreMedia, CoreIO, quicktime, or something (I don't know) in Mavericks. This issue was present in Mountain Lion and the work-around was to use Firefox or Chrome. In Mavericks all browsers seem to crash equally.
Frustrating. On the bright side, Cisco WEBEX, Skype, etc. all seem to be working fine. Only problem seems to be with using the camera with Adobe Flash.
I'm seeing a similar issue using the camera in Adobe Connect meetings, on two computers: a 2011 iMac and 2013 MacBook Pro. I've spent some time troubleshooting by doing the following:
1. Tried the "Skype fix" mentioned earlier in the thread; rolling back to an earlier camera plugin. It did not work. I think the issue with the camera plugin that appeared in 10.8.5 was probably fixed at some point.
2. Before Adobe Connect crashes I get console messages "VDCAssistant: AVF encoder error: fail to create accelerator instance". VDCAssistant is a process of the "VDC.plugin" file that FaceTime uses. For some reason flash is invoking this file each time it starts the camera. I tried turning off FaceTime, and even tried removing the VDC.plugin file. While Adobe Connect didn't crash as often it still crashes.
3. Tried all the other usual stuff with PRAM resets, permissions, safe mode, etc. etc.
As for the earlier comment about the camera not working in Windows: There actually is a BootCamp driver for it out there. I have VMWare running on my MacBook, and booting into Windows is the only way I can attend the meetings I have to go to. The fact that it works fine in Windows ruled out the possibility of a hardware issue for me.
Best guess: Something gets screwed up when flash interfaces with CoreMedia, CoreIO, quicktime, or something (I don't know) in Mavericks. This issue was present in Mountain Lion and the work-around was to use Firefox or Chrome. In Mavericks all browsers seem to crash equally.
Frustrating. On the bright side, Cisco WEBEX, Skype, etc. all seem to be working fine. Only problem seems to be with using the camera with Adobe Flash.
Doesn't bother me.
Use FaceTime or Skype.
Like my 15+ battery life + light and easy to carry + blazing fast and powerful.
Use FaceTime or Skype.
Like my 15+ battery life + light and easy to carry + blazing fast and powerful.