Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iChat AV Beta Build 112

Let's hope that they don't rush iChat AV into Panther, and have an even buggier revision than the last one. That reminds me of something. Oh yeah, Safari. Let's not have the good go bad again.
 
Did any of you actually watch the keynote? iChat won't cost a thing with Panther, but for Jaguar users it will cost 29.99.

Do some research before you post.
 
Originally posted by Capt Underpants
Let's hope that they don't rush iChat AV into Panther, and have an even buggier revision than the last one. That reminds me of something. Oh yeah, Safari. Let's not have the good go bad again.
Click to expand...

The last Safari beta was great and 1.0 on both Jaguar and Panther work wonderfully. At least for me and I browse the Internet maybe 8-12 hours a day as part of my job... Safari on the Mac and Firebird on XP, IMO the best browsers today. I use my Mac now 90% of the time.
 
iChat using Standard specs.

I'm glad that Apple is using public standards as part of iChat AV. In fact their Audio standard is the same used on cell phones and actually sounds clearer with an Internet connection. This means that Apple could theoretically release an iChat AV to Wireless and plain old phone link. That would be pretty cool and would replace the need for a local phone line or two.

They are using SIP for initiating, controlling and managing connections. This is the current best of breed and is an automatic fit for VOIP (voice/video over IP). For those who feel that iChat AV is an Island, take a closer look at the standards Apple is employing and that should paint the entire picture for you of iChat AV future.
 
Re: iChat using Standard specs.

Originally posted by stingerman
For those who feel that iChat AV is an Island, take a closer look at the standards Apple is employing and that should paint the entire picture for you of iChat AV future.
Click to expand...

Amen! Your last argument just made me switch camp, from the sceptics to the believers. Let's hope you're onto something.

Seb
 
Re: iChat using Standard specs.

I'm just very upset that we have to pay for this stuff. I bought the computer, everything else should be free. I mean seriously first it's 29.99 for ichat, which is unfair now that I am hooked on the beta and use it to totally transform the way my company works; they want me to buy this thing. Next it will be expose, they actually expect me to get Panther to get expose and other features. It should be free, I should not have to buy panther to get Expose. Further how dare they expect me to buy panther to get the panther features; I bought a mac i should get the panther features for free with-ought having to buy it... HMMM I am starting to see a problem with the way i am thinking.

Maybe the only reason people are upset is because apple went out of its way to make a portion of panther backwards compatible and now this effort is rewarded by demands for it to be free. If expose was backwards compatible would you demand it for free, etc.

People work hard to make this type of software for apple to survive they have to charge for a large portion of there products; deal with it.

Wolf
 
I don't have a problem with Apple charging $30 for ichat. I just don't think it is right for them to charge $30 for people who bought an iSight.
 
Originally posted by xmad
I don't have a problem with Apple charging $30 for ichat. I just don't think it is right for them to charge $30 for people who bought an iSight.
Click to expand...
Simple solution: Buy Panther and get iChatAV for free. Between Panther's performance improvements and added features, it's worth every penny.
 
Originally posted by daveL
Simple solution: Buy Panther and get iChatAV for free. Between Panther's performance improvements and added features, it's worth every penny.
Click to expand...
thats dumb, thats not the point he is making. we know panther will probably be good, some people dont want to shell out 129 for it. what he is saying is that a good product should come with software to run it, but basically to use his isight he needs to at least spend 180 dollars, or he can spend 250 dollars. for some people its a big price jump, for others its chump change, it all depends how much a dollar is worth to you.

iJon
 
iChat AV, iSight, Panther

Apple is hedging its bets, and pretty well.

Who would pay $29 for the full version of iChat AV?

1) Those who aren't crafty enough to keep using the public beta until Panther ships.

2) Those who don't plan to upgrade to Panther.

If iChat AV 1.0 isn't released until Panther is released, then that kinda negates #1.

Basically, Apple is not expecting you to actually buy it separately, Apple wants you to buy Panther.

If you're one of those non-early adopters, and you don't want to update to Panther until a few revisions later, then why are you using beta software in the first place?

But for those customers, you can pay $29.95 and get your very on iChatAV. But I'm not going to buy it. I'm gonna sink my money into Panther. *Then* I'll buy an iSight.

Jaedreth
 
Re: iChat AV, iSight, Panther

Originally posted by jaedreth
But I'm not going to buy it. I'm gonna sink my money into Panther. *Then* I'll buy an iSight.
Click to expand...
Me too. :)
Besides, you will probably be able to get Panther for $90-100 when it comes out, Jaguar could be bought for $90 for a while. I except some deals similar to that with Panther. Too bad it might be a coupon/rebate thing.
 
Re: Still yet another useless island solution...

You don't have to use iSight. You can use ANY FireWire based camera. Furthermore, you don't have to use iChat!! You can use YahooMessenger's video program too!!! Sheeesh.

That's 2/3rds of the most popular IM programs.

Sheesh.


Originally posted by AhmedFaisal
... that's what iChat AV is at the moment. Until Apple gets it into their thick skulls that having a Mac Only Video Chat solution renders it virtually useless I am not buying iChat AV and I am going to demand a 30$ discount for Panther. Out of all the IM Providers Apple choose AOL just the one that is legally shunned by the FCC to include Video Chatting in their messenger. Until that FCC ruling gets reverted (and that will take aeons) AOL will not have Video Chat and iChat will not be able to do Video Communication with 95% of the computer world. Good job Steve :rolleyes: !

Ahmed:mad:
Click to expand...

[mod. edit - Insults are not tolerated. First and only warning.]
 
Alternatives

But I don't want a third party camera, or yahoo messanger. I want iChat AV and iSight. And I want Panther. And I want it now! *joking, I'll wait patiently*

Jaedreth
 
Originally posted by xmad
I don't have a problem with Apple charging $30 for ichat. I just don't think it is right for them to charge $30 for people who bought an iSight.
Click to expand...

Your iSight works fine without iChatAV (try any 3rd party videoconferencing app like Yahoo Messenger!). And iChatAV works fine without iSight (actually, the video coming out of my friend's DV camera is better than iSight when doing iChatAV, but the iSight is comparable if I use QuickTime Broadcaster or EvoCam and adjust for the color cast).

Also, Apple has been very up-front of the pricing with respect to iChatAV. As a previous poster mentioned, Apple made it very clear since it was launched, that this is a Beta that will cost $30 in Jaguar and be free with Panther. Also many people have noted (indeed it was the first thing I noticed about the iSight when I purchased it) that it didn't come with any software--not even a beta of iChatAV. I can only imagine this was to further emphasize the distinction between the two. (Heck, in Job's Keynote, he introduced them about 30 minutes apart.)

If price was honestly an issue, you would have gotten a budget fixed-focus camera like an iBot and paid $30 for iChatAV with money to spare. I don't know why there is this sense of entitlement with respect to iChatAV software, you can easily remove the beta and go back to iChat from within the application itself. For non-AV software, there is a wealth of 3rd party options.

For myself, I'm glad. It shows a commitment to Jaguar that is missing during the 10.1 to 10.2 migration. For instance, can I get the latest Java for 10.1? There is a commitment not to force people to upgrade to Panther when no such thing existed for Jaguar. Even as the open architecture of iChatAV audio-video protocol leaves room for 3rd party products on Mac as well as Windows and Linux versions made by 3rd party vendors.

Of course, I'm biased because I'll probably get Panther when I renew my developer subscription. But then again, I'll be paying a lot more than $130 ($90 if you look around or are a student).

Take care,

terry
 
Re: Re: Still yet another useless island solution...

Originally posted by mgescuro
You don't have to use iSight. You can use ANY FireWire based camera. Furthermore, you don't have to use iChat!! You can use YahooMessenger's video program too!!! Sheeesh.

That's 2/3rds of the most popular IM programs.
Click to expand...


I don't see the use of doing Video conferencing when there is no sound (ref. Yahoo Messenger) - and why the heck does iChat not support USB cams if it's not for Apple making $$$ with its overpriced iSight.
Lastly, what's the use of iChat if you can't even communicate with friends on PC (98% of the the world).

Well, my opinion is very simple - stick with a 'cheap' USB cams and pray Yahoo Messenger Mac will have audio built-in soon. In the meantime stick with iVisit or OhphoneX that work fine for Mac-Mac or Mac-PC video conferencing.
Apple is like Microsoft, only $$$ matter. I just try to think different.
 
Re: Re: Re: Still yet another useless island solution...

Originally posted by msxgames
I don't see the use of doing Video conferencing when there is no sound (ref. Yahoo Messenger) - and why the heck does iChat not support USB cams if it's not for Apple making $$$ with its overpriced iSight.
Lastly, what's the use of iChat if you can't even communicate with friends on PC (98% of the the world).

Well, my opinion is very simple - stick with a 'cheap' USB cams and pray Yahoo Messenger Mac will have audio built-in soon. In the meantime stick with iVisit or OhphoneX that work fine for Mac-Mac or Mac-PC video conferencing.
Apple is like Microsoft, only $$$ matter. I just try to think different.
Click to expand...

there are 3rd party firewire webcams. it is probably a bandwidth issue; they might have felt that the 12 mbps usb 1.1 wasn't enough for the uncompressed video going to the comp, i don't know. the res on yahoo messenger is weak too. 300X200 video is just sad in this day and age. i have isight and love it...but i wish ichat worked with pc users too. when i bought it the ppl at the applestore told me there was some freeware online that would allow mac users to vid chat to pc's. if it exists, i haven't found it.
 
iSight with new powerbooks?

I haven't used iSight much but I dusted it off to use iChat AV beta (public) with the new 15 powerbook runing 10.2.7 with a friend with the same config... and its not working. Neither one of us sees the request to chat. Comments? I have had it working before with other people.
 
Re: Re: Still yet another useless island solution...

Originally posted by mgescuro
You don't have to use iSight. You can use ANY FireWire based camera. Furthermore, you don't have to use iChat!! You can use YahooMessenger's video program too!!! Sheeesh.

That's 2/3rds of the most popular IM programs.

Sheesh.
Click to expand...

The funny thing is...well it's really not funny but... I bought Panther today and our new Sony DV TR33 cam STILL does NOT work with iChat A/V on our 10 month old 800mhz iBook! This sucks! The beta version said it would work with this iBook and that was wrong so we filed a bug report so that they were aware of the problem.
Now we buy Panther for all of the new features hoping that we would get a bonus by getting iChat A/V to finally work with this firewire cam...no dice.
We're disappointed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back