Can I use my iSight camera as a webcam?

Question

Can I use my iSight camera as a webcam?

Hi!

I want to set up my iSight as a webcam to stream live video on a site

Is that possible or does the iSight only work with iChat? Do I need to download some special software? If this is really complicated, I'd rather just go by some new webcam with proprietary software all set up. I'm no code writer.....but I do OK with technology stuff.

Message was edited by: Amy Finlayson

Message was edited by: Host

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Nov 13, 2007 6:23 AM

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Answer 1

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 13, 2007 7:20 AM in response to Amy Finlayson

Hello Amy

Your iSight is a webcam, so you can certainly use it with any compatible video web sites. If the site you want to use is based on Flash technology, you will need to configure your "Flash settings." See this post if you need help configuring these settings.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4761707&#4761707

If you need more help than that, see the Help or Support info for the web site you want to use.

In addition to iChat and video web sites, and depending on what you want to do with your webcam, iSight also works with lots of other applications.

By the way, your dog will miss you horribly while you are away. They need to be with their humans. Be kind. Consider looking for a job that will let you take her with you to work.

EZ

Jim

PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5) External iSight

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Answer 2

Nov 13, 2007 8:07 AM in response to EZ Jim

Hi Jim!

Thanks for your response! I thought it was a webcam but my coworker said it wasn't. Whew!

Now I need to understand how to use it with other software. When I plug it in iChat automatically opens. I will check out your link!

As for my doodlebug, she does go to work with me each day. But occasionaly i have to leave her at home (if I have a doctor appointment, or a construction site meeting) and it KILLS me. I hate being away from her more than she hates being away from me! Lol.....so, I need to be able to see her. This means A LOT to me, so I really appreciate your help. When I asked some of my "techie" friends about it, they made fun of me for wanting to set this up for my dog - and they are not Mac people to ad further insult to injury. 😟

Message was edited by: Amy Finlayson

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Answer 3

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 13, 2007 12:14 PM in response to Amy Finlayson

You're welcome, Amy.

Once iChat has launched, you can disable future automatic launching by deselecting " Automatically open iChat when external camera is turned on" in the iChat > Preferences... > Video settings. Then quit iChat until you decide to learn more about it or start using it.

To learn more about iChat, look at iChat > Help > iChat Help on your Mac while you have iChat running. If you need more iChat help, see Apple's Mac 101 Lesson 12: iChat.

Use the links in the "Other applications..." page to learn more about any other apps of interest to you. The documentation that comes with those apps will help you with questions about any of them you may want to use.

EZ

Jim

PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5) External iSight

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Answer 4

Nov 13, 2007 3:36 PM in response to EZ Jim

Great - will do. Thanks again.

Oh- one more thing. Is there a live-streaming site you'd recommend or know about for Macs? I was going to use <Link removed by Host due to inappropriate content> but it's only for PC.

Message was edited by: Host

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Answer 5

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 13, 2007 3:17 PM in response to Amy Finlayson

You're welcome, Amy.

I understand and refuse to even post the names of some of the disgusting sites that are out there.

I do not regularly use any video web sites, but I recently tested http://www.mebeam.com/ - and it worked. ( Help pages here.) However, only you can decide whether it will do what you want.

You can review sites found by a Google Search like this one.

You might also be interested in Ralph John's "Chatter Lists pages" near the bottom of this page: http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/page2.html#_Chatrooms

Finally, for your dog-surveillance use, you might find one of the webcam applications such as those listed in the " iSight as a surveillance or Nanny cam" section of Some Applications You Can Use With iSight.

Please let me know if you need any more info before you can mark your question "Answered."

EZ

Jim

PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5) External iSight

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Answer 6

Nov 14, 2007 8:05 AM in response to EZ Jim

Jim - that is a huge help. Thanks again!!!

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Answer 7

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Nov 14, 2007 8:06 AM in response to Amy Finlayson

You're welcome, Amy.

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