Q: iMac + 24" ACD

Guy Parrot wrote:
Just connected a 24" ACD to my 24" iMac, and these questions pop up:

Easy questions, different answers...

- Can I switch iSight cameras while using Skype or iChat (for example)?

Yes, for apps that allow it.

How you select among connected cameras depends on which application you are using to operate your iSight. Here is how camera selection works in a few examples:



(1) For iChat, you can choose which iSight you use in the "Camera:" choices bar in iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video that appears when more than one compatible camera is connected. Although your camera choices will be different, the choices bar will look something similar to the Preferences settings shown here:



  



If you cannot see the "Camera" choices bar, your Mac is recognizing only one (or none) of your iSights. In that case, consider the suggestions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090



This particular choices bar solution applies ONLY to iChat. Most other applications also have settings that allow you to choose which camera to use. However, they do not all work the same way.



(2) For instance, iMovie HD's camera choice is NOT set via Preferences. When you have more than one compatible camera connected, iMovie uses a drop-down menu choice something like this (depending on which version of iMovie you use):



  



Note: Because I had no built-in iSight connected when I made this example, and because my external iSight was not connected, the drop-down menu showed only "Time Lapse." Because your Mac has a built-in iSight, your built-in iSight would show in the drop-down menu even when no other camera is connected. Connecting an additional Mac compatible webcam should allow you to choose either camera.



iMove 9 (from iLife '11) uses a different camera choice button shown in this article:



  http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/9.0/en/mov39f84285.html



iMove 8 (from iLife '09) is slightly different as explained in this article:



  http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iMovie/8.0/en/10172.html



In general, you can use your Mac's help for the application in use to find out how to select among more than one connected camera.



(3) Photo Booth in Snow Leopard 10.6.x uses the Photo Booth > Camera menu command to select which camera to use.



Note for readers with older Mac OS X: The previous version of Photo Booth that came with Tiger (10.4.x) is such a simple, basic app that it offers no menu selectable choice. Unless your built-in iSight is already occupied as the camera being used by some open application before you launch Photo Booth, Photo Booth will use ONLY your built-in iSight.



However, you can use the trick from ¶ 4 of http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302781 to let Photo Booth use an external camera.



(If you have an external Firewire camera connected, it may be used in preference to any USB webcam. If that is a problem for you, merely disconnect the problem Firewire device.)



(4) For the new FaceTime beta, launch app and click the Video menu item.



If your Mac recognizes more than one connected compatible camera, a "Camera" section listing the cameras from which you can choose will appear there. Clicking on the desired camera name will let you select the one you want.



If your Mac recognizes only one compatible camera, the "Camera" section will not appear in the Video menu, but FaceTime will automatically use the connected camera that is recognized by OS X.

(5) For other apps, see Help for each app for info on how to select your desired camera.

- Ditto the speakers with iTunes?

No.

You switch speakers via  > System Preferences... > Sound > Output

- Can I shut off the ACD without pulling the cord?

No. Complete info in the User Guide Manual for your ACD:

  http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Apple_LED_CinemaDisplay.pdf

  http://manuals.info.apple.com/frFR/Apple_LED_Cinema_DisplayF.pdf

- Can I still use the 3 USB ports in the back of the ACD?

Yes.

They seem to be unpowered.

No. "Connections and expansion" here: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP502


Message was edited by: EZ Jim


Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

Guy Parrot wrote:
EZ Jim -
WOW! A most complete answer if I have ever seen one in this forum!
Re. the choice of iSights using iChat: I was never given a choice in the Audio/Video menu after setting up the ACD. However, this morning, it's there! All I had to do to enable this part of the menu was to restart my computer. So simple, yet I never thought of it.
Re. the choice of audio speakers: again, all I had to do was restart my iMac to see the additional choice, but I solved it another way by plugging in outside speakers from Cambridge Soundworks.
Re. the USB ports: it would have been simple from the get-go if I had connected my ACD's USB wire to my iMac, but I only had the video cable connected.
Re. the user's manual: I had read it but it didn't say much to shut down the ACD. I'm sure many here would wonder "Why shut it down when its picture is so amazing?!?" So I'll find an excuse to keep it on by shifting an app or two permanently to that screen, and never want to shut it down again.

Many thanks for your help!

Best regards from Montreal.

You're most welcome. Thank you for the kind words.

Having added another set of external speakers (I have others, too), you will have even more choices in your System Sound preferences.

Thanks for letting us know that your topic is Answered!





Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1