|
Replies
:
9
-
Pages
:
1
-
Last Post
:
Feb 12, 2008 1:37 PM
by: CodLBi
|
|
|
Posts:
2
From:
Southern Cali
Registered:
Jan 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Jan 31, 2008 4:58 PM
|
|
|
Is this possible. For the life of me, I can't figure it out. I work for a tech company and we are developing new wireless product. For whatever reason, my director wants to disable the iSight, and only use an external cam for demo purposes. Since I'm the GD here, and the only person who's comfortable on macs, they all come to me for answers.
TIA for anyone who can help me out with this.
james
Mac Pro G5
Mac OS X (10.5.1)
just your typical, everyday, bread box
|
|
Posts:
6,558
From:
Mid USA
Registered:
Apr 18, 2001
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Jan 31, 2008 9:33 PM
in response to: liquidsilo
|
|
|
Welcome to Apple Discussions, james (liquidsilo)
An Apple Service Technician can remove or disable your built-in iSight without endangering your warranty coverage. He can also restore its operation if you should later want the built-in back.
I know of only one way to do disable built-in iSight yourself without risk of hardware damage and endangering warranty or Apple Care coverage. You can use the instructions in this article to disable it. Because you are comfortable on Macs, I expect you know that it is generally a bad idea to move, modify, rename, or delete any item outside your User > Documents folder unless you are an experienced OS X user. You may need to do this on every individual Mac in question rather than entrust moving this file to someone less experienced. If you decide to use this method to disable your built-in iSight, be sure and keep the file in a safe place so you can put it back when you want to use your built-in USB cam again
Because removing the QT component file disables every USB cam connected to your system, this workaround is only useful if the external webcam connects via Firewire.
EZ  Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight
|
|
Posts:
9,519
From:
London, England, UK
Registered:
Nov 3, 2001
|
|
|
Posts:
1,558
From:
Netherlands
Registered:
Dec 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 1, 2008 10:47 AM
in response to: liquidsilo
|
|
|
It is not necessary to disable the internal iSight:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302781
Hope the demo will be smooth.
Touch the link in the article for a summary, and for some additional information on Pro applications.
iMovie ’08 supports SD and HD video from tape-based and tapeless camcorders, including Flash-memory, hard disk drives and DVD cams. Even the latest AVCHD cams!
Message was edited by: CodLBi
MBP C2D 17" 2.33
Mac OS X (10.5.1)
|
|
Posts:
6,558
From:
Mid USA
Registered:
Apr 18, 2001
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 1, 2008 1:48 PM
in response to: Defcom(UK)
|
|
|
Nice find, Defcom.
I don't have a built-in iSight to test this, but, like the the macosxhints.com solution I linked above, I believe that applying this script would disable ALL USB webcams. If I am correct, the script will useful to those wishing to substitute a Firewire cam or wanting no camera of any kind.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight
|
|
Posts:
2
From:
Southern Cali
Registered:
Jan 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 4, 2008 5:05 PM
in response to: liquidsilo
|
|
|
Thanks to all who responded. I spoke with Apple care's techs and they told me in some uncertain terms that it can't be done "meaning that it probably can, but they are under discretion.) You physically have to crack the machine open and disable is manually, which apple will not do under any circumstances. The last response using the work around through iChat is the one that we are going to have to use, as moving the QT component file disables all cameras for iChat, but not for Photo booth, which is the image capture app we'd like to use in our demo's. Thanks again!
James
Mac Pro G5
Mac OS X (10.5.1)
just your typical, everyday, bread box
|
|
Posts:
6,558
From:
Mid USA
Registered:
Apr 18, 2001
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 4, 2008 9:36 PM
in response to: liquidsilo
|
|
|
You're welcome, James
Thanks for letting us know.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight
|
|
Posts:
1,558
From:
Netherlands
Registered:
Dec 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 10, 2008 9:38 AM
in response to: EZ Jim
|
|
|
Hi Jim,
I know the question is marked as "answered", allow me to just add a finding that might be useful.
like the the macosxhints.com solution I linked above
The component that "disables" the internal iSight, does not consistently disable the iSight.
Reinstalling or installing Quicktime gets iSight back to work in Photo Booth, proceed by;
1. Target mode is a safe bet, place a copy of the component back in place and the iSight just works again.
(Run the executable in Terminal, it reports it is a binary file and not compatible)
2. In case this doesn't work, replace the "folder above", however the picture will be less bright.
(use pre-flight, installer, post-flight, they live in the download).
I've tried this on MBP's, somehow these steps have a positive effect on problems related to:
-In use by another application
-Black screen
I am in the dark about side effects and what exactly gets it to work again.
M.
MBP C2D 17" 2.33
Mac OS X (10.5.1)
|
|
Posts:
80
Registered:
Sep 18, 2005
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 12, 2008 12:01 PM
in response to: liquidsilo
|
|
|
This isn't disabling it per say, but if a program (like PhotoBooth for example) doesn't allow you to choose which camera to use, there's an easy way to force the program to not use the built-in iSight.
To do this, simply start video from the built-in iSight going in another app (like iChat for example), then with that video still running, open the app you want to use with the external cam.
Since the built-in camera is busy in the first program, the second program will fall back to using the external camera.
-Ken
|
|
Posts:
1,558
From:
Netherlands
Registered:
Dec 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
Re: disabling internal iSight to use external webcam
Posted:
Feb 12, 2008 1:37 PM
in response to: Ken Aspeslagh
|
|
|
This is true, Quicktime Pro however will force Photo Booth to use the same camera whenever Quicktime Pro is recording and Photo Booth is selected as front application with Quicktime using it at the same time. This will produce mirrored images from the same camera that is in use by two applications.
MBP C2D 17" 2.33
10.5.2
|
|
|
