why isn't facetime installed?

Question

Level 1

32 points

why isn't facetime installed?

Why can't I find facetime on one of my iMacs? It's about 1.5 years old. (Snow Leopard)

It looks like it costs .99 for downloading it, but on one of my SL iMacs (new) it's already installed for free....

I remember reading something about this, (free for some, pay for others) but can't find it now...

Also, I see in the promo page for FaceTIme, that it's only available for FaceTime enabled webcams.... how can I tell if my iMac has a facetime enabled iSight? (How can I tell the specs on my iSights)

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7), i5 with Thunderbolt

Posted on Aug 23, 2011 8:33 AM

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Answer 1

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Aug 23, 2011 9:36 AM in response to AppleJason

It doesn't come installed for free you need to purchase it from the App Store.

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Answer 2

AppleJason Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:02 PM in response to sig

Sig, I'm sorry, but "it doesn't come installed for free" is flat out wrong.....not to mention I already knew that I somehow am being asked to pay $0.99 for it... that's why I'm asking the question - WHY?

It "came installed for free" on my new iMac.... Also free for iphone, ipad users, etc.

Can you explain the difference - why it's free for some, and not free for some?

How about my other question: how can I tell if my iSight is "face time ready"?

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:04 PM in response to AppleJason

It is included with Lion but not Snow Leopard so if your new iMac came with Lion that's why it is there and not there on your 1.5 year old iMac.

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Answer 4

AppleJason Author

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32 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:05 PM in response to Csound1

Csound1, I do not have Lion on my "new" iMac either.

It came with Snow Leopard about 3 months ago.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:12 PM in response to AppleJason

AppleJason wrote:

Csound1, I do not have Lion on my "new" iMac either.

It came with Snow Leopard about 3 months ago.

Guess you got lucky then

It's .99c, we've spent more than that on electricity in this post so far 🙂

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Answer 6

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:25 PM in response to Csound1

Agreed. I just bought my MBP last month. It came with SL and FaceTime was not included. Based upon that I answered what I did.

Version .9 was free download. Version 1.0.2 is $.99. Version 1.1.1 is free with Lion.

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Answer 7

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:26 PM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

It is included with Lion but not Snow Leopard so if your new iMac came with Lion that's why it is there and not there on your 1.5 year old iMac.

It's possible - http://www.apple.com/support/mac/facetime/getstarted/

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Answer 8

AppleJason Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:30 PM in response to sig

Interesting!

I know I found this answer in an article somewhere a few months ago, but search engines and histories are not working for me today

There was a reason.... I remember....

edit: I have version 1.0.3 on my 3 month old iMac.

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Answer 9

Alex94

Level 1

5 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:51 PM in response to AppleJason

FaceTime is included on any Mac that has a built in FaceTIme HD camera, regardless of what version of OS X it was shipped with. You can check if you have a FaceTIme HD camera built in by using System Profiler and looking in the USB section. One of the listed devices will either be a built in FaceTime camera or a built in iSight camera.

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Answer 10

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:57 PM in response to Alex94

Alex94 wrote:

FaceTime is included on any Mac that has a built in FaceTIme HD camera, regardless of what version of OS X it was shipped with. You can check if you have a FaceTIme HD camera built in by using System Profiler and looking in the USB section. One of the listed devices will either be a built in FaceTime camera or a built in iSight camera.

iSights are on all new and new (ish) Macs, Facetime is not, are you sure your information is correct?

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Answer 11

AppleJason Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:58 PM in response to Alex94

Alex94, this is helpful...with both of my questions. Thanks.

where did you get this info?

I just checked, and yes, I do have a "facetime HD camera".

But doesn't explain why Sig did not have facetime installed on his new MBP... I'm sure the camera is Facetime HD..... Sig???

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Answer 12

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Aug 23, 2011 5:59 PM in response to AppleJason

I have 3 mid 2009 to mid 2010 macbook pro's, all have iSights, none had Facetime until I upgraded them to Lion, just sayin'

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Answer 13

AppleJason Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 23, 2011 6:21 PM in response to Csound1

I just found out that "iSight" and "Facetime HD" cameras are different. (see this)

So it's a working theory now, that when Apple upgraded the camera to "FaceTime", they started including Facetime app - to some of us.

Muddier than ever! hehe

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Answer 14

Alex94

Level 1

5 points

Aug 23, 2011 7:08 PM in response to AppleJason

I found out when I bought a 2011 iMac. I was trying to decide between a new iMac or a MacBook Pro when Apple updated the iMac line and started advertising the FaceTime camera and app.

Csound1: Weird, I didn’t get it on my two MacBook Pro’s when I updated them. I know it is included on at least the most recent MacBook Pro’s, Air’s and iMac’s. I'd say it might have something to do with the age of the computer, but Sig said he bought his last month...

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Answer 15

Alex94

Level 1

5 points

Aug 23, 2011 7:45 PM in response to Alex94

... Ok, I'm stupid for not noticing this before. I just remembered I had FaceTime 0.9 before I updated and that Lion installed the new one alongside the old one. The old icon was in my dock so I never noticed the new one. Csound1 is right, FaceTime is included with Lion.

In my defense, I launch all my applications with spotlight.

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