Filed under: Hardware, Software, Video
Spy on friends and family with your iSight-enabled Mac
This post could also have been titled: "how to lose family and friends quickly with your iSight-enabled
Mac." A poster over at macosxhints discovered that you can start a
new video recording session in QuickTime Pro on an iSight-enabled Mac (for that low-profile surveillance look), and
invoke Fast User Switching while the QT Pro session keeps on recording. For more stealth surveillance, you can set your
display to shut off and, aside from the green light, most people will be none the wiser.Ethics and exclamations of 'how dare you?!' aside, I wonder if this 'built-in webcam' feature is going to inspire a new niche of unique video recording software.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sebastien Gomez said 7:45PM on 4-24-2006
Oh boy, wait for the jealous boyfriend trying to catch his girlfriend cheating or maybe even a new form of pornsites.. sad. :(
Reply
themacguru.com said 8:30PM on 4-24-2006
I have thought many times that built-in audio and video recording devices should have a hard mechanical switch that makes it impossible for the devices to be used unless you want them to be. It is just a bit too 1984'ish to me.
Reply
Joe said 8:50PM on 4-24-2006
It's the new SpyMac!
Reply
J.T. Mill said 8:51PM on 4-24-2006
I've always wanted to see what happens when I'm out of the room. Too bad I've got a Macbook. The inside of my case makes great movie material T_T.
Reply
cameron aka desk003 said 9:28PM on 4-24-2006
You have to admit, coupled with a program to make it start recording when motion happens, it's a great way to have a built in security camera.
Dorm folks can catch the person(s) putting peanutbutter on their keyboard now.
Reply
Michael Oman-Reagan said 11:02PM on 4-24-2006
I posted this hint on OSX hints, and I still haven't heard from anyone on how to disable the green light. Any ideas?
send them over!
spymac@fieldgallery.org
Reply
McMac_05 said 11:09PM on 4-24-2006
I have tried this with my Sony Hi8 and it works great. I started recording and left the computer at the login window. I was gone for about 4 hours and it was still working. The file size amazingly was under 300mb's. Now do I dare to use this on my girl friend?? I gotta think about that long and hard. lol
Reply
Wheels said 12:24AM on 4-25-2006
"I posted this hint on OSX hints, and I still haven't heard from anyone on how to disable the green light. Any ideas?"
A piece of white tape, silver for the MacBook?
Reply
Pick said 12:57AM on 4-25-2006
Could you do the same with iChat? Like, start a video chat between two macs then use fast user-switching? If so, I think Apple should release a patch for it.
Reply
Aaron Vogel said 2:54AM on 4-25-2006
Anyone heard of IveZeen? Motion detection recording has been a part of that program for a while. Works with iSight, DV cameras... hide the program and you're pretty much doing the same thing. Haven't tried it with fast user switching. Actually have tried it at all on anyone. I have more respect for people than that. Though there are legit uses: freshman in college? Make sure your roommate isn't stealing your stuff while you're out. I knew a buddy that caught his friend getting it one with his sister in his room while he was out. Not with IveZeen, but another PC program like it.
Reply
brian said 4:41AM on 4-25-2006
The iSight would make a great security device for a laptop. Have software on the laptop that can be triggered remotely (ie, after it is stolen), to take a snapshot and email it to a certain address, and you a picture of the thief!
how long til someone finds a way to turn the isight on remotely and stream it over a network? I hope soon...er i mean, I hope they fix it soon.
Reply
Ins said 5:36AM on 4-25-2006
I used to use evocam too, but now use security spy http://www.securityspy.com/
the newest version has audio capture too, but it's a little buggy. The older version though is rock solid, VERY configurable, and just all round peachy. Give it a shot. The licenses are a little steep, but if you need them, they are worth every penny.
(true story time: some little sods came into our [temporarily empty] office one lunchtime, and the chancers, having spotted a laptop, picked up and walked off with it. All caught on a fire-i, attached to a snow imac running security spy. The police loved the video I was able to provide, recognised the perps, and all the little buggers did time.)
Reply
Ian said 7:21AM on 4-25-2006
You may want to look at this. A program that revolves around what you are all talking about.
http://orbicule.com/undercover/
Reply
UncleJerry said 9:50AM on 4-25-2006
iPorn!!!!
Reply
Pick said 1:22PM on 4-25-2006
#11 "how long til someone finds a way to turn the isight on remotely and stream it over a network? I hope soon...er i mean, I hope they fix it soon.", That's pretty much exactly what I said in post #9, I even said I hope they release a patch. :)
Reply