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10.4.9 Adds USB Camera Support for iChat; Xbox Camera Works

Here's a nice, easily overlooked tidbit from the release notes to the 10.4.9 update that we mentioned before: Apple has added support for USB Video Class cameras in iChat without the need of a third party driver a la iChatUSBCam from ecamm. A user in the MacRumors forums reports that the the Xbox Live Vision Camera (~$40) now works natively with the Mac. This should presumably be the case with other USB Video Class cameras as well, and while I would probably prefer a model from Logitech, the Xbox camera is widely available and relatively inexpensive. With iSights now unavailable this lends credence to the rumor of some sort of USB iSight replacements (or maybe Apple is just going to stay out of the webcam business altogether, given that iSights are built-into so many models now).

[Via Digg]

Thanks to those who sent this in!

Update: Be sure to note that iChat in 10.4.9 only works natively with USB Video Class, not every USB webcam is Video Class.

Here's a nice, easily overlooked tidbit from the release notes to the 10.4.9 update that we mentioned before: Apple has added support for...
 

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Ed Hopkins

I just purchased a logitech quickcam Fusion Webcam and put it on my G4. (Dual processor, 1.25 giga herz with a USB 2.0 card installed). It works out of the box perfectly--

but--none of the special features that are avalable with the control software for PCs are available.

Anyone have any idea how to get those speical featues--face following, etc--working?
thanks
ed

June 01 2007 at 7:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mitch

Josh, I have the same problem with an iMac G3. It no longer recognizes a USB 1.0 Logitech QuickCam that i had in use (via Macam and iChatUSBCam).

I had to revert to 10.4.8 in order to get it working again... iSight support is still there, however (FW isight works).

I noticed this, however, that w/o iChatUSBCam and macam installed, iChat wouldnt even recognize the webcam... but with them installed, it will recognize them but it'll say that they're 'in use' by another app.

It's really annoying... but i'd like to know if this is a USB 1.0 issue? Because if it is, boo on apple's part for (possibly?) putting a USB 2.0 restriction...

March 30 2007 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh K

I have a microsoft lifecam nx-6000 and I know it should work nativley now with ichat but doesn't. Does macam still need to be installed? Since I updated to Mac OS 10.4.9, ichatusbcam stopped working with ichat. It says the camera is in use by another app when it isn't. Anyone one know how to get it to work again anyway?

March 30 2007 at 12:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
locobox

Anyone knows if this camera works with xMeeting? (H.323 video conferencing)

March 26 2007 at 5:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
walvis

@Denis

My mini has USB 2.0

I checked the requirements on the box of the Quickcam pro 5000, it says USB 1.0, 2.0 so I suppose you could give it a try

March 20 2007 at 9:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DS

Does anyone who purchased the QuickCam 5000 know if it is plugged in a a USB 1.0 or 2.0 device? I only have USB 1.0 on my current machines and am looking for a decent, widely supported, and yet inexpensive web camera.

March 20 2007 at 12:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

The built in iSights, since they were introduced, sat on the USB bus. The external ones were FireWire until they were dropped. I would imagine it was something similar to a flipped bit to activate them. ;)

March 19 2007 at 10:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tofu

I want a USB iSight.

March 19 2007 at 12:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben Snyder

I just purchased a Logitech Quickcam Pro 5000 as well. Works great out of the box in iChat and Skype. Also the microphone works too.

March 19 2007 at 10:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
walvis

Just bought the Logitech Quickcam Pro 5000,
it works out of the box with:

- OSX 10.4.9
- plug it in a computer USB-port (not a hub)
- Make sure you buy the LATEST version of the pro 5000 (the one with a Windows Vista sign on the box). This camera is USB Video Class compatible

March 19 2007 at 4:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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