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Swancoat · Mar 3, 2006, 10:22 PM

Ok, so I got the MacBook Pro to replace the old 12" G4. This is the first webcam I've ever had and I think it could be interesting. I have a few questions about its use though:

1. Can I record movies to the hard drive with the built-in iSight Camera?
2. If so, can I do it without showing a window of what the iSight sees? Say, have iTunes playing and iSight recording away in the background?
3. Can I somehow use the little media remote to start and stop this background recording?

Thanks in advance.

ibook_steve · Mar 3, 2006, 11:44 PM

1) Yes. You can use it as a source in iMovie.

2) Sure. I guess. Not sure why you want to do that.

3) I don't think so. The remote is just for Front Row. You control movie recording in iMovie itself.

Steve

PurpleRabbit73 · Mar 5, 2006, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Swancoat

2. If so, can I do it without showing a window of what the iSight sees? Say, have iTunes playing and iSight recording away in the background?.

What are u gonna do? Lip-Sync Like those fools on the internet??

PurpleRabbit73 · Mar 5, 2006, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Swancoat

2. If so, can I do it without showing a window of what the iSight sees? Say, have iTunes playing and iSight recording away in the background?.

What are u gonna do? Lip-Sync Like those fools on the internet??

drift1492 · Mar 5, 2006, 08:04 PM

No, he's going to put on some nice "mood" music and bring a girl over and point the computer at the bed and....well...

P.S. Just Kidding

Swancoat · Mar 7, 2006, 07:44 PM

Naw, you're not wrong drift. I can't believe it took everyone so long to clue on to that. It was the first thought of several friends I showed the laptop to.

iTunes should supply the music, but it would be nice to 'start recording' via the little remote.

JoshuaZ · Mar 7, 2006, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by drift1492

No, he's going to put on some nice "mood" music and bring a girl over and point the computer at the bed and....well...

P.S. Just Kidding

Good luck my friend. Good luck. (Invest in a nice big external HD... video takes up a lot of space.)

silverbullet · Mar 7, 2006, 08:27 PM

Just make sure she's either

A) Ok with the idea, espically if you plan to distribute

B) that it NEVER gets back to her or you might have some problems on your hand

ibook_steve · Mar 7, 2006, 08:42 PM

Aren't people saying the embedded iSight can't focus very far? Your bed (or wherever this will happen) would have to be quite close to the Powerbook. At that range, don't you think she'd be just a little suspicious? My suggestion: ask for permission, then buy a real video camera to...take care of business.

OK, now I feel dirty.

Not that it's a bad idea...

Steve

inkhead · Mar 7, 2006, 10:07 PM

Yeah it's designed to focus on the person in front of the laptop. But it will focus slightly farther. I noticed that during demos with lots of people the Apple Rep put his hand above the built in isight almost to shield it from light, but it cause it to stay focused to the front.

I'll have my macbook pro tomorrow so I'll let you know.

SSharon · Mar 7, 2006, 11:17 PM

just search macupdate for isight. I had an app that would record video whenever it sensed motion. Don't forget about the glowing light though as that could get you busted. just say it's part of the itunes visualizer and make sure to change the video setting from DV to something that doesn't require an xserve raid.