Gizmodo: iSight

Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro Webcam For Macs, Like iSight but Better

Kit Eaton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Remember the old Apple iSight: auto-focus, built to last, clip-on and generally fantastic? Well, Logitech is trying to take us back to the days when you snapped a cam onto your machine to do your video-calling, and has released the QuickCam Vision Pro Webcam for Macs. It's got Carl Zeiss optics, a voice-coil motor for smooth auto-focus, a 2-megapixel sensor and can record video in 720p resolution. Sure it's not quite as sleek as the old iSight and you can't use it for iChat video effects, but it seems a tad better than Apple's built-in cams. Available July for $129.99. Press release below.

Jun 24, 2008 04:00

Logitech Unveils First Mac-Compatible Webcam with Premium Autofocus Technology, Carl Zeiss Optics

Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac Delivers Image-Perfect Detail, Exceptional Video Calling with iChat and Skype

FREMONT, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jun. 24, 2008 To help you stay close to those who matter most, Logitech (SWX:LOGN)(NASDAQ:LOGI), the world's leading manufacturer of webcams, today unveiled its first Mac(R)-compatible webcam with premium autofocus technology and Carl Zeiss(R) optics: the Logitech(R) QuickCam(R) Vision Pro webcam for Mac. The new Logitech webcam delivers image-perfect detail and clarity, and exceptional video calling with iChat(R) and Skype(R).
"With this new webcam for Mac computers, we've integrated our most advanced video technologies to truly enrich your video-calling experience," said Gina Clark, general manager and vice president of Logitech's Internet Communications business unit. "The lens and autofocus, the sensor and the lighting software all contribute to create image-perfect detail and clarity. Whether you've used a stand-alone or an embedded webcam in the past, you'll be amazed at the difference in quality our new webcam makes."

To deliver image-perfect detail and clarity, the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac combines Logitech's premium autofocus technology with Carl Zeiss optics. The new Logitech webcam uses a voice coil motor for its autofocus system, instead of a stepper motor. Focusing is fast and fluid — crisp even in extreme close-ups only 10 cm from the camera lens. Logitech's autofocus system compensates for changes in image-edge sharpness and refocuses images in less than three seconds. And through its exclusive collaboration with Carl Zeiss, Logitech ensures that the lens meets the world-renowned Zeiss standards for design and manufacturing to achieve superior sharpness in a compact, lightweight design.

The 2-megapixel sensor helps the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac capture video images in high resolution. It is assisted by Logitech's RightLight(TM)2 Technology, which enables the webcam to adjust intelligently in dim or harshly backlighted situations.

Optimized Experience for the Mac

When you and your loved ones use the new Logitech webcam with iChat or Skype, you can enjoy VGA-quality video at up to 30 frames per second — four times as sharp and twice as smooth as any other video-calling solution — at no additional charge.

The new Logitech webcam is also plug and play right out of the box, so you can make a video call immediately — no software required. When using your webcam to capture video to store on disk or send to friends, the QuickCam Vision Pro records sharp video clips in the 720p high-definition (HD) video format (960-by-720 pixels).

Complementing the style of your Mac computer, the new webcam for Mac computers presents a black-and-silver profile with a prominent built-in silver microphone.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in July. The suggested retail price in the U.S. is $129.99.

[Logitech]

Stolen MacBook Victim Uses Screen Sharing and iSight to Bust Thieves

Adrian Covert — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:37:42 EDT

A White Plains, NY woman who was the victim of burglary, including her MacBook, used the Back To My Mac screen sharing feature to turn on her webcam and capture images of the unwitting culprits using the computer. As a result, police were able to arrest the thieves and recover most of the stolen goods, which included two laptops, two flat-screen televisions, two iPods, gaming consoles, DVDs and computer games.

This plan first launched into action when a co-worker of the nameless woman at the Apple Store noticed her computer online and notified the woman. She was then able to log into her computer and the rest is history. So the moral of the story is this: If you steal a MacBook, please be sure to cover the iSight with some tape. Otherwise, you could also be charged with a second degree felony. [Iohud via TUAW]

iPatch Blocks iSights on MacBook, MacBook Pros For Your Prurient Needs

Jason Chen — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:09:03 EST

You already know why you need this iPatch to cover up your iMac's iSight—because you do dirty, dirty things in front of your computer—but now the small, molded piece of plastic is form-fitted for your MacBook and MacBook Pro. It works exactly the same as the old version. Just slide it over your iSight when you're about to get naughty, then slide it off when done. They even have a MacBook Air version coming later this week. On the other hand, the light comes on when the iSight is active, but unless you really stare at the thing you won't notice the light. [The iPatch]

Santa Rosa MacBook Pro's Have a 1.3MP Camera Inside

blongo3 — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:20:27 EDT

The crafty folks over at Mac Daddy World discovered that the new MacBook Pro's have a different iSight inside. The new version, manufactured by Micron, outputs images to a much improved 1280x1024. Although iApps, like iChat, don't yet take advantage of the increased resolution they're still stuck in VGA. But an upgrade's an upgrade, right?

New MacBook Pros == New 1.3 MP Camera Sensor [Mac Daddy World via TUAW]

The iPatch Guards Your Privacy

Jason Chen — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:00:52 EDT

Are you often masturbating with the worry that someone's staring at you through your iSight? Fear not, the iPatch is here to save your dignity. Just place the plastic iPatch—which is available in four different colors and two different shapes—over your iSight and you can be sure that nobody is looking at you.

For those of you that are even thinking about buying this, you should be aware that there's a green light next to the iSight that comes on whenever the camera's active. Available for iMacs now and MacBooks and MacBook Pros later. – Jason Chen

Product Page [iPatch via Gadgetell]

Xbox LIVE Vision Cam: Works on Macs

Mark Wilson — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:15:07 EDT

Macs are notorious for not supporting webcams natively...other than the iSight, of course. Ironically, there's one camera works quite well without even the installation of an extra pack of drivers. And it's made by Microsoft...

So now, $39 can buy Mac OS 10.4.9 users "VGA 640H x 480V video at 30 frames per second and still photos at 1.3 mega-pixels" with the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera. And it's probably a good option, since the non-integrated iSight has disappeared from the Apple store completely. – Mark Wilson

Confirmed: Xbox Live Vision Works [via digg]

Apple Rumors: New Monitors Tomorrow?

blongo3 — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:53:54 EST

Well it's been a couple of weeks since Apple's last announcement, which means it's about time to start speculating again. And Think Secret started it off claiming that tomorrow Apple will release new displays or at least cut prices of their current display line up. Also they point to Apple's usual practice of upgrading Mac Pro's along with displays. We think a price drop is more likely, but new displays with built-in iSight aren't completely out of the question either. Especially since Apple doesn't have the external version online right now.

My unicorn fantasy is for a surprise release of OS X 10.5 Leopard to bitch slap Vista's 0-birthday tomorrow. We give this rumor a 30% chance of likelyhood, pegged mostly around Think Secret's accuracy rating.– Brian Lam

Apple product announcement Tuesday? [Think Secret]
Apple Cinema Display Rumors: Loaded with HDCP-safe HDMI, Bigger LCDs, and iSight [Gizmodo]
Apple Planning a Special Leopard Announcement? [Gizmodo]

MacWorld Keynote 2007: Not Much Hardware to be Found?

Jason Chen — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:20:10 EST

Looking back on that revelation about European journalist not being shipped to London to watch the Keynote, we've come to the conclusion that there's going to be only a few hardware items released on Tuesday. Why? Because if there were new hardware—MacBooks, updated Mac Minis, new Cinema Displays—the Europeans would be in on it too.

Of course, this is just conjecture, and doesn't quite mesh with some other info we've seen.

Some more developments have popped up as well, like an upcoming iChat update. The support page was updated yesterday, and notes:

This update renews the .Mac certificate required by iChat for encrypting text, audio, and video conferences.
This document will be updated as more information becomes available.

Would Apple release an iChat update alone? To us that points to two possibilities. Leopard being revealed, which is unlikely, or a new iSight camera with new functionality. This counts as new hardware, which kinda strains what we said before.

Then there's iWork and iLife apps, which were seen on Amazon for a short time, leading everyone to believe that the new revisions are coming Tuesday.

So in short, we think there's US-centric items being revealed Tuesday, such as new iTunes Movie store content, the iPhone, possibly an new iPod, and release date announcements of Leopard.

iChat [Apple]
iWork [ThinkSecret]
Amazon Leak [MacWorld]

Apple Cinema Display Rumors: Loaded with HDCP-safe HDMI, Bigger LCDs, and iSight

Brian Lam — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 19:47:47 EST

Deep inhale. The Apple Keynote is 2 weeks away. And that means the Mac rumors are spinning up like a carnival vomitron reaching its apex. Here's a roundup of the super imaginary monitor the rumor sites have dreamt up, sparked up by the expectation of the iTV set top box. Without further ado, or proof, please put on your fantasy hat and enjoy these rumors like the Geek-issue of US Weekly.

•Bigger than 30-inch cinema displays.
•With HDMI connections that are HDCP compliant, for full resolution playback of the alledged Blu-Ray support we talked about on Sunday.
•iSight cameras built in, fueled by the supposed discontinuation of standalone iSight cams.

I'd buy that. Those rumors read like an All Giz Wants entry for monitors. –Brian Lam

Monitor Rumors [Mac OS X Rumors]

Protect Your MacBook: iSight Pics of Failed Logins

Jason Chen — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:00:10 EST

Here's a nice trick to take iSight snapshots from your Apple machine whenever someone registers a failed login. Whether your wife's trying to break into your machine to read your emails to your mistress, or some punk's made off with your MacBook Pro when you weren't looking, knowing who was trying to access your data is pretty darn useful.

You can even set the computer to automatically upload the pictures to an FTP so you can track the thief remotely. Though if you're anything like us, it'll probably be full of pictures of yourself (see Adam of Lifehacker) in various states of confusion as you fat finger your way to a failed login once again. – Jason Chen

Take iSight snapshots during invalid login attempts [Mac OS X Hints via Lifehacker]

Huckleberry Uses Mirror to Make MacBook More Versatile

Charlie White — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:35:17 EDT

Here's an idea straight out of a prison movie: the Huckleberry, which can turn your MacBook into a video camera. You know how prisoners use hand mirrors to see people in the next cell? That's how the Huckleberry works, using a small mirror to let you use that little iSight camera on the MacBook as a forward-facing video camera, too. Developed by Charlie Dancey with a little help from Mungai Mirrors Ltd., it'll be introduced at Mac Expo on October 26 in London, selling for 14.95 (about $28).

Neat idea. Now if they could just make it quickly swing out of the way using electronic switching, you could use it to video record interviews between you and someone sitting in front of you. – Charlie White

iMage Mac-Compatible USB Webcam

Jason Chen — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:00:20 EDT

For those of us not lucky enough to get a built-in iSight with our PowerBooks like those MacBook and MacBook Pro owners, the only other practical choice is the relatively expensive iSight. But if you don't want to fork over $149, here's the iMage USB webcam. It gives you 640x480 video (like the iSight), and works with iChat AV, Yahoo, and Skype Beta.

It's USB compatible, and works without any need for drivers. The included software gives you added functionality, but by default it works like the iSight. Available for $59.95, which is almost a third of the price of an iSight. – Jason Chen

iMage USB webcam [ecamm]

Is the Apple iSight Getting An Upgrade Soon?

Jason Chen — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:15:08 EDT

Is the venerable Apple iSight getting a much needed upgrade in the next two months? The estimated ship date on the Apple Store for the webcam says "October", but it's hard to believe that so many people would be interested in one seeing as only two models of Apple computers—Mac Pro and Mac Mini—don't have iSights built in.

Reader Ben felt the same and gave Apple a call. The guy he spoke to couldn't give a comment on whether it was backordered or on hold until the new models come in—Standard procedure. But it does make us wonder whether the Paris Expo will bring us some new webcams. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Apple]

Skype For Mac Updated, Super Secret Preview Version Does Video

Gizloco — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:10:04 EDT

Today Skype released a beta of their VoIP software for Mac OS X that offers a few improvements, including an altered, more Mac-like interface and better integration with Apple's Address Book.

But that's boring.

If you look around their Web site with a careful eye, you'll notice something called the Skype for Mac with Video Preview. Also released today, this special, possibly very buggy version of Skype for Mac finally includes video support. Apple's iSight is included on the list of supported Web cams, as is the Logitech QuickCam Pro 400. Skype is really stressing that this is only a preview, so if you do find any bugs, you're encouraged to give their developers all the information you can. – Nicholas Deleon

Skype for Mac with Video Preview [Skype]

Skype for Mac 1.5 Beta [Skype via Macworld UK]

iSight Windows Driver Contest

Jason Chen — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:41:28 EDT

We all saw how well the Windows XP on Intel Mac contest worked, so why not do something similar for the iSight? As you may know, the iSight is the popular Apple webcam that may be discontinued, due to all the new machines—iMac, MacBook, MacBookPro—coming with a built in iSight. Ignoring the Mac Mini of course.

So, this user wants to use the iSight mic on his Windows XP machine. Problem? No drivers. He's offering the same kind of bounty—people pitch in, winner collects, everyone wins—for someone to create an iSight driver and release it into open source. The pot's for Win XP only, but if someone wants to make a Vista version that's outside the requirements of this contest. Hackers have 6 months to make a driver, or he's going to return everyone's money. Get to work. – Jason Chen

iSight Microphone Windows XP Driver Competition [Mark 2000]

French iSight Ripoff on the Loose

Gizloco — Tue, 02 May 2006 08:49:57 EDT

You might expect a knockoff iPod to come out of eastern Asia somewhere, but a knockoff iSight from Republican France? Say it ain't so! Well, monsieur, it is. Introducing the cleverly-named Webcam USB 2.0 En Metal from Pearl Diffusion, a scrappy webcam that recreates the styling of Apple's iSight without any of the associated quality.

For €29.90 (about $38), you get a webcam that boasts the ability to record a whopping 300,000 pixels and a 640x480 VGA resolution at 30 frames per second. The webcam doesn't have a microphone, either, since nobody would want to be able to speak to whom they're looking at. If you use a Mac, you'll need to find another impostor iSight from somewhere else, since this is only compatible with Windows. C'est la vie.

Product Page [Pearl Diffusion via Ubergizmo]

iPatch: Covering the Prying Eyes of Big Brother

Charlie White — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:39:25 EDT

If you feel like somebody's watching you when you're using that iMac or MacBook Pro, the iPatch iSight lens cover will make sure Big Brother isn't keeping tabs on your stuff. Available in four colors, this little piece of plastic fits right over that lens, and there is also an adhesive sticker to permanently cover up the camera for those workplaces where no cameras are allowed. Sure, when it's not turned on, no one can see anything through the iSight, can they? Well, can they?

Product page

DIY: iSight Outdoor Security Cam

Travis Hudson — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:58:18 EST

Screw those X10 cameras—this is the real way to go. Jon Curwen has set up a little security/monitoring device in his back yard with a few cheap tools. He uses an iSight camera being powered and run by an old—technicolor G3 iBook old—Apple computer.

The camera is placed inside a weatherproof housing with a FireWire cable running from inside the house to the designated iBook. Using ImageCaster software, the Mac uploads one screenshot per minute to Jon's .mac site to satisfy his paranoia and allow monitoring anywhere with Internet access.

Setting Up an Outside Webcam [EconTechnologies]

DIY Skype Headset for the Rich and Bored

Travis Hudson — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 14:45:48 EST

As DIY projects go, this is one of the oddest I've seen in eons. The fellow pictured above didn't like the sound quality of his Skype connection, and apparently didn't want to buy a good $30-$60 headset. So he took a pair of Grado headphones, which are the ne plus ultra of consumer ear cans. To that fine product, he appended an iSight camera as a microphone (nevermind the sound of that camera hanging from my chin and auto focusing zip-zap). The whole contraption is explained in 13 or so well documented steps, including a sculpted clay prototype, on his website. The total cost of this headset? $244. I'm pretty sure that air traffic controllers pay less. Although when it comes to sound quality (and random video images of this guy's desk) I'm sure there is no match.

DIY Skype Headset Instructions

Mini Psi--The Mac Mini Robot

Travis Hudson — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 10:18:29 EDT

Don t toss out the ol' Roomba yet. This is just a prototype for a robot powered by a Mac Mini. The Mac Mini works in conjunction with an iSight webcam to fulfill every robot-loving Mac-fanboy's wildest dreams. This prototype appears to be powered by 13,000 AA batteries.

Mac mini Robot [Kulturtechnik]

Apple Integrating iSight Into Laptops?

Noah R — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:55:05 EDT

A newly published patent filing reveals that Apple has been toying with ways to integrate a video cam into the latch of a laptop since 2004. And the company considered the idea again as recently as last year. Which means an iSight integrated PowerBook could arrive sooner rather than later considering that Apple has made a huge effort to push iChat AV onto people with the promise of a better videoconferencing experience. Our guess is that if they do decide to create a laptop with a built in video camera, it'll be in the PowerBook, which is long overdue for a design overhaul. Hopefully we'll see something before Apple goes all Intel on us.

Apple may build video cams into future Macs [AppleInsider]