I've read good things about it, and I want to use it as a webcam primarily (although I haven't looked into if you can use things like Skype with it, and for the record, I want Skype with it while still hooked up to the PS3 and my living room TV). Essentially, my fiancee lives in Germany currently and when she moves her parents will still be in Germany, so video conferencing is good. But it's been out for a while and I don't know with upcoming tracking technology like with XBox if Sony is expecting to come out with something better in the near future.
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Should I buy the PS3 eye?
- Thread starter beatledud
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Yes, if you're bored, want to spend money, and are looking for something to occupy your time. 
You'll need it anyways for Sony's new wand.
You'll need it anyways for Sony's new wand.
Correct me if I am wrong here, but I don't think you will be able to use it with Skype while it's hooked up to your PS3. You will have to connect it to your computer, in which case it will work fine with Skype. (If it's a Mac, you will need a special driver for it, but it's available on the web for free.)
That said, it's a pretty good cam and has a few fun applications for the PS3....but I really don't find myself using it much at all. Not enough games that make good use of it at this point. (Besides EyePet, but that really doesn't appeal to me...)
That said, it's a pretty good cam and has a few fun applications for the PS3....but I really don't find myself using it much at all. Not enough games that make good use of it at this point. (Besides EyePet, but that really doesn't appeal to me...)
Until they actually produce a service that requires the Eye Toy, don't buy it. It's a useless piece of junk currently... all the games that use it suck, and no one else would be crazy enough to buy it to actually video chat you with the PS3.
Webcam + Skype or some other chat client is way better.
Webcam + Skype or some other chat client is way better.
Well thanks to some for the useless comments that didn't really address my question.
But really thanks to Taustin. After more searching looks like there is a big request for Skype on the PS3, but nothing yet (it's on the PSP though). And thanks for your review of the quality of the camera. The thing is, it's only $30 on amazon, not a huge waste. And for a webcam, that's not a lot of money. The primary use of it would be for video conferencing, and I want it on my big TV. I have my MBP that I currently use, but I like the idea of my girl and I sitting on the couch talking to her parents together. Throw in the fact that it's a PS3 eye and probably more compatible with current games, albeit ones that don't interest me either, but future games/technology like the wand.
The real question is, it's been out for a while, does anyone know if Sony's gonna release something better before a PS4, like maybe with the introduction of their wand (when is that coming out BTW)? Are the other webcams that are like $70 really that much better if at all? Or should I stick with PS3 so it's still somewhat compatible with PS3 features (both future and current).
I guess for skype/Google chat I'll just have to install Ubuntu (I've been meaning to do this with my new 320GB HDD). And does Skype/PS3 Eye work with Linux?
But really thanks to Taustin. After more searching looks like there is a big request for Skype on the PS3, but nothing yet (it's on the PSP though). And thanks for your review of the quality of the camera. The thing is, it's only $30 on amazon, not a huge waste. And for a webcam, that's not a lot of money. The primary use of it would be for video conferencing, and I want it on my big TV. I have my MBP that I currently use, but I like the idea of my girl and I sitting on the couch talking to her parents together. Throw in the fact that it's a PS3 eye and probably more compatible with current games, albeit ones that don't interest me either, but future games/technology like the wand.
The real question is, it's been out for a while, does anyone know if Sony's gonna release something better before a PS4, like maybe with the introduction of their wand (when is that coming out BTW)? Are the other webcams that are like $70 really that much better if at all? Or should I stick with PS3 so it's still somewhat compatible with PS3 features (both future and current).
I guess for skype/Google chat I'll just have to install Ubuntu (I've been meaning to do this with my new 320GB HDD). And does Skype/PS3 Eye work with Linux?
Don't plan on using Ubuntu on the PS3 for anything useful....it's painfully slow since it can't access all the resources.
If you want a cam primarily for skyping, just get a regular webcam for your computer. You'll probably get more bang for the buck. The only downside would be that you can't use it for Skype on the PS3 - but that doesn't exist anyways!
The wand is supposed to come out sometime springish, I believe.
If you want a cam primarily for skyping, just get a regular webcam for your computer. You'll probably get more bang for the buck. The only downside would be that you can't use it for Skype on the PS3 - but that doesn't exist anyways!
The wand is supposed to come out sometime springish, I believe.
Don't plan on using Ubuntu on the PS3 for anything useful....it's painfully slow since it can't access all the resources.
If you want a cam primarily for skyping, just get a regular webcam for your computer. You'll probably get more bang for the buck. The only downside would be that you can't use it for Skype on the PS3 - but that doesn't exist anyways!
The wand is supposed to come out sometime springish, I believe.
But like I said, I have a MBP with the builtin webcam. I really want a better cam and it to be on my TV showing my whole couch.
If the wand comes out this spring, then maybe they'll release a better cam to go with it...any rumors on that?
There are no rumors that I am aware of. And I don't really expect them to release another one.
That said, your problem will not be the cam, but rather the lack of Skype on the PS3. (Again, don't count on Ubuntu to be of any real use for you...)
That said, your problem will not be the cam, but rather the lack of Skype on the PS3. (Again, don't count on Ubuntu to be of any real use for you...)
Yes...
Hey Beatledud,
Not sure if you decided yet but I've been using the eye for about 6 months. It's great on skype. It's actually the best cam I've seen so far and I did a lot of research. I bought a mac mini for my TV(Samsung LED46") and I just leave it connected to that most of the time and switch it out if I ever decide to use it with ps3. It's pretty useless on the ps3 because of the lack of games for now but I'm sure it will be better with the wand.
Either way on the mac it's actually better than the Logitech Quickcam pro 9000(not meant for MAC). There's no lag and you get very little, if any, blurring with movement. The only other cam I'd recommend is the Logitech Quickcam Vison Pro which is the excact same but made specifically for Mac and will work just like the isight cam. It also costs 3 times more than the ps3 eye.
I'd say go for the eye. Unless you spend $160 for the quickcam for mac all of the other cams will do the same thing as the eye with less quality and they don't connect to your ps3. On top of that at least the eye has manual zoom since there is no functionality with any cams on the mac. It mounts nicely on top of the TV and captures the whole couch.
You just need to download Macam( http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/ )on your MBP, output the MBP to your TV with an HDMI adapter, turn it on and start using it. From there I just sit my butt on the couch and talk away.
Hope this helps you or anyone else looking. I know I searched for days looking for a recommendation.
Hey Beatledud,
Not sure if you decided yet but I've been using the eye for about 6 months. It's great on skype. It's actually the best cam I've seen so far and I did a lot of research. I bought a mac mini for my TV(Samsung LED46") and I just leave it connected to that most of the time and switch it out if I ever decide to use it with ps3. It's pretty useless on the ps3 because of the lack of games for now but I'm sure it will be better with the wand.
Either way on the mac it's actually better than the Logitech Quickcam pro 9000(not meant for MAC). There's no lag and you get very little, if any, blurring with movement. The only other cam I'd recommend is the Logitech Quickcam Vison Pro which is the excact same but made specifically for Mac and will work just like the isight cam. It also costs 3 times more than the ps3 eye.
I'd say go for the eye. Unless you spend $160 for the quickcam for mac all of the other cams will do the same thing as the eye with less quality and they don't connect to your ps3. On top of that at least the eye has manual zoom since there is no functionality with any cams on the mac. It mounts nicely on top of the TV and captures the whole couch.
You just need to download Macam( http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/ )on your MBP, output the MBP to your TV with an HDMI adapter, turn it on and start using it. From there I just sit my butt on the couch and talk away.
Hope this helps you or anyone else looking. I know I searched for days looking for a recommendation.