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iSight No Longer Available

kildraik said:
New iSight release on Monday along with the announcement of the iPhone?

It better be 3 MP.:D
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Why do you need 3 MP for video conferencing? That kind of relosution would only fit into 30" display (4 MP). Not to mention you need an insanely fast internet connection to get acceptable quality and framerate
 
eXan said:
Why do you need 3 MP for video conferencing? That kind of relosution would only fit into 30" display (4 MP). Not to mention you need an insanely fast internet connection to get acceptable quality and framerate
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If it can be done with minimal cost, it might be useful for other webcam applications such as photobooth and other interesting stuff.
 
Gunnjack said:
My speculation since they introduced the iSights built into the G5 iMac and Intel Macs (Mac Pro/Mini aside...) that they are going to create a USB 2.0 iSight with iChat available for PCs so Apple can corner the video chat market, after all iChat is the best out-of-the-box Video Chat application available. :D
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They'll get a hard fight against Skype there, but if they can somehow bundle iChat with iTunes then maybe..
 
Poff said:
They'll get a hard fight against Skype there, but if they can somehow bundle iChat with iTunes then maybe..
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Mmm, I would be more than happy to see Skype completely overtake the IM market, text, audio, video, and all. Their product is outstanding. But no one uses it. I have a buddy list of what ... like about 100 people. Half of them are on MSN and the other half on AIM. Maybe three or four people on Yahoo. No one on Skype.
 
Built-in iSights do auto-focus...

Anyways, if they're re-designing it, they definitely could make it tiny. Just take the iSight in any iMac or MacBook/Pro and give it an enclosure. Almost spy camera-like.
 
Diatribe said:
It's software focussing though, isn't it? Or am I confused?
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I have seen it be slow to respond sometimes and not get it quite right...I would be inclined to believe that the camera is focused through software rather than having a system built right into the camera itself.
 
OutThere said:
I have seen it be slow to respond sometimes and not get it quite right...I would be inclined to believe that the camera is focused through software rather than having a system built right into the camera itself.
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Almost all modern autofocus mechanisms use software of a sort, or at least an electromechanical algorithm, to focus. And they're all prone to failing to aquire the focal plane....

But my understanding also was that the built-in iSights used fixed focal length optics...
 
the cost of the iSight needs to come down. $150.00 for a webcam is too much. The iSight is great but it's twice the money of a good PC webcam.
 
I thought Jobs mentioned a better iSight coming, with built in apple remote sensor, and better camera? I thought this was expected...
 
superleccy said:
It's not available in the UK either.

If a revision is in the pipeline, I hope it's cheaper! :)
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I beleive it was Eurpope where the problem originated. The airport and other devices did not get approved under a new european standard. Apple has initiated programs to make new updated products and will ship them worldwide when available. European approvals are really slow. Ours took almost 2 years!

But I ask this. Since the "problem" is european centric, why not sell the "older" units in whatever markets do not suffer from that over-regulation, such as asia, americas, and eastern europe?

There are plenty of third party alternatives for the affected products, but that is so not-Apple.

Rocketman
 
iJawn108 said:
not in the canada store either.
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I noticed yesterday, that the front page graphic for the iSight had been replaced by the 'power products'.. but didn't realise the iSight was no longer available at the store. Interesting. I'd like an iSight to share between my MP and iBook, but ~CDN$200+ (with taxes) is a bit steep. I've been using my DV Camera, but it's a PITA at times.

I hope they don't just replace the external iSight with a built-in option on displays, there are many uses to an external iSight like, hey Granny check out the Grandkids running around the room, check out the view/weather from our window etc... bit tricky waving a 24-inch iMac or similar display around after the kids :D

scottlinux said:
I thought Jobs mentioned a better iSight coming, with built in apple remote sensor, and better camera? I thought this was expected...
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Frontrow for my MacPro would be nice and would definately help my decision to finally buy the iSight.
 
I just bought one for my parents

DeadSirius said:
A friend of mine just bought me one for Christmas, and it shipped within 3 days. I too couldn't find it in the store ('cuz I was curious how much he spent). I'm curious how he bought it....
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I hope that they aren't updating them as I just bought one for my out of state parents for Christmas so they can keep in touch with my kids. It is still shrinkwrapped but it is a Christmas present so by the time I find out for sure it won't matter much anyway.
 
My guess is that apple will launch a new iSight so they can resume selling it in Europe. I heard somewhere that the iSight was banned in Europe for environmental reasons.
 
Those of you who say we don't need an external iSight now that they are built in, have you ever compared the two?

There is NO comparison. The built-in iSight has very poor color accuracy, and looks washed out. As others have said, they are also fixed-focus. There is also limited brightness adjustments, when you use third party tools like iGlasses (which is indispensable if you use your iSight in anything but day light).

Good luck if you want to use your built in iSight to show something to someone. With the external iSight, you just turn it around, and shoot away. It makes for a great "walking tour" when you want to show off something new in the house, etc. I can never get the internal iSight positioned at the right angle, and still be able to see my screen.

For very casual use, the internal models are great, but for anyone who uses their iSight very often for iChatting, the external is the only way to go.

The different in picture quality is quite dramatic.

I have checked the iSights built into the MacBooks, MacBook Pro's, and iMacs - all look the same.

I really hope Apple comes out with an improved version - one with better low light sensitivity...
 
guzhogi said:
I'm hoping Apple includes an iSight in the next revision of their cinema displays so that Mac Pros can use them, too.
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What about those who already have a Mac Pro or Mac-Mini, but no iSight yet... there's no way I'll replace my existing monitor, just for an iSight, even though I'd like one... I'd much rather see a smaller, external iSight with better low-light performance.
 
I am happy this is going to happen because I'll pick up the older one for a great price. I couldn't see myself actually paying that much for something I'd hardly use and if I used it, it'd be to scan stuff into delicious library.
 
Here's to the iSight 2.0

Featuring:

- USB 2 MP Camera
- Built in IR sensor for Remote
- Bundled Apple Remote
- Better Mic
- PhotoBooth
- PC support w/ iChat for Windows

$79.99
 
corywoolf said:
PC support w/ iChat for Windows
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iChat for Windows would be interesting, free download for all obviously!

Since we've had little luck getting two-way audio/video to work properly with Skype (neither Mac>PC or PC>PC) between here and Scotland, we're stuck using MSN at the moment.
 
Here comes iSight HD!

Finally, video chat sessions can look as awesome as they do on TV commercials (that intercontinental stare-out contest on a wall-sized classroom screen) and in movies.:D
 
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