Am I the only one that would hate a built-in iSight?

[qubex]

Yes, it looks rather ugly and "out of character", and it definitely is a privacy concern. You get a somewhat less-flexible iSight for free built right into the package.

But I'm thinking of it from a functional point of view. CCDs are sensitive to IR (infra-red) and thus, my guess is that the iSight actually doubles as the receiver for the IR Apple Remote. If you cover it, you probably won't be able to use the remote. (I hope somebody carries out this experiment when they get one of these machines.) Probably the cost of putting a full iSight into the machine wasn't much more expensive than putting in a simple IR receiver, and it gives them something "obviously new" to focus on and harp about.

On a somewhat unrelated note, has anyone else noticed that the new iMacs are quoted in Apple's TechSpecs page as having PCI-Express (rather than AGP) graphics controllers. This points to a major revision of Apple's G5 architecture, that previously depended on PCI/PCI-X/AGP. I'm pretty sure that we'll find out they've finally revamped the out-dated and under-performing 'U3' chipset... maybe we'll soon have PCI-Express PowerMacs with revised chipsets?

 

[puckhead193]

Yea i thought of that too. I wish it had a swivel and tilt, people come in all shapes and sizes
I could see this more practical on a PB or ibook since its one less thing to carry. But still should include a swivel and tilt.

 

[Mac_Freak]

...

But I'm thinking of it from a functional point of view. CCDs are sensitive to IR (infra-red) and thus, my guess is that the iSight actually doubles as the receiver for the IR Apple Remote. If you cover it, you probably won't be able to use the remote. (I hope somebody carries out this experiment when they get one of these machines.) Probably the cost of putting a full iSight into the machine wasn't much more expensive than putting in a simple IR receiver, and it gives them something "obviously new" to focus on and harp about.
...

You make a nice point there qubex, that would explain the lack of IR receiver listed in the specs.

 

[wdlove]

I'm also concerned about the built in iSight. It wouldn't allow for portability. I know for sure that it wouldn't work for me at my local Apple Store. Would almost need to get down on my knees.

 

[jaw04005]

I think it looks much better than have to stick one of Apple's gooey mounts to the back of your iMac.

 

[zim]

How is the built in iSight a privacy concern? Regardless as to if it is built in or not you still have to acknowledge any video conferencing. It is not like someone can just jump on and "see" you without you first giving access.

As for it being built in, looks fine to me. It might have been nice if they used a white plastic for the inside ring but there may be a reason for keeping with black. Wonder if this is something that will be carried over to the iBook. A built in iSight on a laptop would be very nice.

 

[FoxyKaye]

Never used a webcam, so to me the iSight is just flash. Plus, I always thought the whole point of webcams were that you could position them and move them around, so it seems a little silly to have a single position camera staring right at me - like a mugshot or something.

Yeah, I know you need to be running iChatAV or somthing for the iSight to send images, but it just being there still feels a little Orwellian to me.

[Edit]:

You make a nice point there qubex, that would explain the lack of IR receiver listed in the specs.

Hmm... wonder how long it will take for haxies to appear that expand on this functionality.

 

[markjones05]

It might just be my paranoia, but I would feel like someone was constantly watching me....

 

[Lacero]

It would be nice if they made a white cover to conceal it when not in use. A camera that is constantly open would freak me out. What happens when the green light malfunctions and you don't realize you are being broadcasted to the entire world while doing some personal business?

 

[whooleytoo]

How is the built in iSight a privacy concern? Regardless as to if it is built in or not you still have to acknowledge any video conferencing. It is not like someone can just jump on and "see" you without you first giving access.

Not necessarily. Let's say you download some shareware game from macgamefiles.com. But it turns out it's a Trojan, while you're playing the game, it takes a sneaky picture of you, and sends it over the network. Encodes it as text, and sends it out through port 80 so it'll almost certainly get through any firewalls.

Or worse, it could spin off a separate process, so it could take pictures at any time, and wouldn't stop when you uninstalled the game.

I can't see any benefit of this other than voyeurism, but that's enough motivation for many people.

That said, you could do some fun stuff with this - imagine a game which sneakily takes your photo while you're playing, then uses it in the game content (uses your face as part of a character's texture etc.) Could be freaky!

 

[ITASOR]

http://macbst.com/?p=26#comment-13

^there's my true comments.

Quoted:

Ryan Says:
October 12th, 2005 at 9:45 pm
[...]When I video chat (using a DV Camera, because I don’t have an iSight), I tend to “point” the camera around to show people the things I am talking about, my computer screen, etc. I do not see myself making use of a stationary camera, as I think I use the camera more to show objects rather than myself. I don’t think Apple really realizes that iChat AV is a great way to show someone what you’re doing on the screen, show someone your beautiful Mac, etc. rather than chat face to face like all the demonstrations show. I have never really chatted face to face with someone, reason being, what’s the point? I mean, if you’re chatting with text or voice, seeing the person doesn’t really help unless it’s a family member you haven’t seen in a while or those type of exceptions. I have chatted with clients and used iChat to show them a printed design, show them how I created what I did in photoshop, point the camera at the screen and SHOW them the layers and then quickly flash to the final printed result on my desk. To me, for my use, if I didn’t have my DV Camera, and had the iMac with the iSight, I would most likely buy another normal iSight and the built in one does not suit my needs AT ALL.

 

[crazydreaming]

I've never quite understood Video Chat. I'm a college student and in a way, we use Aim as our main form of communication. Seriously, I probably set up more appointments and things over aim than I do with my phone.

Anyway, there is not one person who shows up on my iChat buddy list with video chat capabilities. I know a lot of people on aim, but no one I know has a web cam! Who would I talk to?

I think it's really cool technology, it reminds me of back in the jetsons when they would video chat for talking on the phone. It's awesome that we really do have that technology today, and it doesn't cost any aditional fee unlike using the phone. It's just not very popular. -yet

Maybe if Apple starts integrating webcams, more and more people will start video chatting.

 

[iEdd]

It certainly doesn't add anything to the iMac's beauty.

Aesthetically, going from the G4 to the G5 imac was a step backwards..
.
.
.
Or two steps.