SandroMelia

Q: External iSight works ONLY with Yahoo messenger

The reason I still got it is the design.. I love it.

 

Ok here's the problem, I got late 2012 iMac13,1 with 10.8.3

 

iSight is tested to be fully functional on my late 2006 iMac using original cable,  early 2012 iMac using original FireWire 400 cable + FireWire 400 to 800 adaptor + FireWire 800 to thunderbolt adaptor.

 

But with new iMac it only works with Yahoo messenger but with very low framerate. I've read everything about it here and on Ez Jim's pages too. I tried everything with differend cables and adaptors.

I repaired permissions,  reset SMC and Pram, created a new user account twice with different privileges... no luck.

 

iSight is listed as a FW device:

 

Screen Shot 2013-05-11 at 1.23.48 AM.png

 

 

Opening the iris barrier launches messages app but not always and video preview freezes.

External iSight, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 10, 2013 2:32 PM

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Q: External iSight works ONLY with Yahoo messenger

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  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 11, 2013 6:05 AM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2013 6:05 AM in response to SandroMelia

    Update

     

    installed iGlasses.. not it works with Photobooth too using iGlasess  but FPS is like 2 frames per minute

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim May 11, 2013 8:23 AM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    May 11, 2013 8:23 AM in response to SandroMelia

    Hello SandroMelia.

     

    You've certainly been thorough in using http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090 and all other possibilities you have tried.  Here are a few ideas you can consider if you've not already eliminated them as possible remedies:

     

    (1) As explained in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2411, your camera can be used by one application at a time.

     

    To keep your Mac from launching the messages app when you connect external iSight, launch Messages and use the Messages > Preferences... Audio/Video menu command to verify that the "Open Messages when external camera is turned on" box is NOT checked (ticked).

     

    Also verify that you have no Login Items or Dashboard Widgets trying to simultaneously use your camera(s).

     

    (2) If you have all the same apps (including YM) on the other Macs you have used to test your external iSight, and if external iSight works properly with everything on all your other Macs, try uninstalling YM from your problem Mac.  Then restart it and see if other apps work properly now.  If other apps work after YM has been properly uninstalled, your problem Mac either had some problem or conflict with its YM installation.  Check YM Help to see if someone there may have already found the solution to your issue.

     

    (3) Power down all other computers on your network and check whether someone else may be using/sharing/stealing part of your wireless bandwidth.  An overloaded wi-fi can slow your systems.

     

    (4) External iSight can be rather picky about how and with what it shares your Mac's Firewire circuitry.  Be sure you have no other Fiewire devices connected to your problem Mac while you troubleshoot and fix your problem.

     

    (5) If you:

     

     

      • MUST have multiple Firewire items connected to this Mac while using the camera, or

     

     

      • MUST use YM on this particular Mac, and 

     

      • MUST have other camera apps simultaneously installed on this Mac, and 

     

      • cannot get things sorted any other way,

     

    try a USB external camera instead on this Mac.

     

    USB cams can be less finicky than Firewire cams like external iSight.   Because you like external iSight's "design", you may be interested in the aGent USB webcam.

     

    (6) Properly applying the Combo version of updates can sometimes correct software problems.

     

    Use your Mac's Disk Utility to repair permissions and then download and apply the latest Combo Update for your Mac OS: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1640

     

    Repair permissions again immediately following the system restart that completes the Combo update.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.3

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 11, 2013 10:37 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2013 10:37 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Hi Jim, thanks for the reply.

    As I already mentioned above... I did all those things u offered.

    I've read all your posts in other threads and on your page. I do permission repair all the time aspecially after combo updates. I'm aware of isight can be used only by one app at the time.

    I've read somewhere that YM fixes the isight ao that's why I installed it.

    Before that isight wasn't working at all in any app on my new iMac.

    Strange problem...

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 11, 2013 1:15 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2013 1:15 PM in response to SandroMelia

    Is QuickTimeFireWireDV.component  required for external iSight to work? Cuz I don't have it in my /library/quicktime folder. :/

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 11, 2013 1:34 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2013 1:34 PM in response to SandroMelia

    never mind found it.. that was not a problem

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim May 11, 2013 6:51 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    May 11, 2013 6:51 PM in response to SandroMelia

    You're welcome.

    SandroMelia wrote: ... I did all those things u offered...

     

    Having now tried everything that we users can do to fix such your "strange problem", backup your Mac and contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider to make an appointment for service.

     

    The Apple Service technicians have access to all service/test equipment, technical data, and replacement parts required to diagnose and resolve your problem in the most efficient manner possible.

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.3

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 12, 2013 5:36 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 5:36 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Well thanks for an advice.. but I don't think that I should service my brand new iMac witch works perfect with everything except the 7 year old iSight. That's obviuosly not a solution.

     

    p.s. I do have all of the official Appletest and service soft/hardware from november 2012 and I know my mac's fine. I guess fresh install will solve the problem but again that's not a solution.

     

    Thanks for your time EZ Jim

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim May 12, 2013 7:17 AM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    May 12, 2013 7:17 AM in response to SandroMelia

    You're welcome.. but you posted that you had already tried everything. I doubt that another fresh install will resolve the problem you describe.

     

    Not having your new iMac (along with your old iSight and all connecting cables and adapters) serviced is certainly a reasonable choice if:

     

      • you don't really need to use your old iSight with this Mac, and

     

      • you are having no other problems with the new iMac.

     

    Cheers for letting us know what you decided!

     

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.3

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 12, 2013 10:39 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 10:39 AM in response to EZ Jim

    I found the reason why it works only on yahoo messenger and nothing else.. even thought it's detected and turns on.

     

    Well I'm afraind it's the new iMac... and it's thunderbold port powermanagement unit..  witch doesn work well with apple's oem thunderbold to firewire 800 adator.

     

    That's why the same exact hardware  (FW400to800 + FW800toThunderbolt adaptor) works well on older thunderbolt iMac.

     

    p.s. YM works just because they have this algorithm witch checks each frame and if more than 90% of image is black it lowers the frame rate down to the 1 frames per sec. That's enough even for new thunderbolt ports )

     

     

    I guess that's it. Dead end.

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 12, 2013 3:11 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 3:11 PM in response to SandroMelia

    I gues there's one thing I never tried. iSight 1.0.3 firmware update. I can't find iSight Updater 1.0.3 app for intel. It comes with Leopard cd. Can anyone mail it to me foxnoodles $# gmail.com

     

    Thanks

  • by SandroMelia,

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 12, 2013 4:03 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 4:03 PM in response to SandroMelia

    never mind found it. didn't help

  • by SandroMelia,Solvedanswer

    SandroMelia SandroMelia May 15, 2013 2:51 PM in response to SandroMelia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2013 2:51 PM in response to SandroMelia

    So.. iSight still works with older iMac... but not on late 2012 iMac with 10.8.3  even after updating the firmware to 1.0.3 I'm still getting  black image in all Apps except YM. SMC Reset didn't help.

     

    Anyways I'll mark this as solved.