Comments on: Windows Live gets a LifeCam

New Webcam line designed for Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger seeks to make video calling commonplace.
Photos: Webcams shoot the Messenger

[ServedUp]

That strategy isn't new.

Clearly, Microsoft with its enormous markeshare will have more
people video chatting. Can't argue that.

But that strategy isn't new, Apple longtime has recognized the
significance of video chatting and has already been adding web
cameras to its computers for years. Along with the popular
application called Ichat its still miles ahead of Messenger.

Sadly because of Apple's minimal marketshare, Microsoft will
probably take all the credit for what Apple has already
recognized in this market with Ichat and Isight.

And the Microsoft innovative machine just keeps rolling...

[ServedUp]

That strategy isn't new.

Clearly, Microsoft with its enormous markeshare will have more
people video chatting. Can't argue that.

But that strategy isn't new, Apple for a longtime has recognized
the significance of video chatting and has already been adding
web cameras to its computers for years. Along with the popular
application called Ichat its still miles ahead of Messenger.

Sadly because of Apple's minimal marketshare, Microsoft will
probably take all the credit for what Apple has already
recognized in this market with Ichat and Isight.

And the Microsoft innovative machine just keeps rolling...

[Llib Setag]

iChat + iSight + AIM BUILT IN

Out of the box, on a Mac OSX computer, for several YEARS now...

Plus you can have a 4 WAY teleconference meeting with three other iChat/AIM people as well.

The webcam is built into all iMacs & Mac notebooks
running on Intel Core Duo chips for video & audio teleconferences, telecommunters, family gatherings & long distance friends.

NOT A NEW INVENTION, only new to Citizen Gates & windows... just because the tiny refrigerator bulb of a brain came on in Redmond's Jurassic Park, does NOT translate into a new invention.

Once again Gates playing catch up to Steve Jobs.

NOT NEWS C/NOT.

been there, done that, moving onto the future...

[ggupta7]

think different....

I went to Bestbuy 3 years ago and saw a Sony Vaio laptop with built-in web-cam, right above the screen (just like the current macbooks). This was 2 years before Steve Jobs came out with iSight built into the computer itself. I don't remember the exact model of Sony but I found this report dated May 24th 2004:
http://products.sony.co.uk/article_12.asp

So it's actually Apple who 'stole' the idea from a PC company.

If you look around, you will find that you can do teleconferencing with MSN messenger and Yahoo messenger as well, and that has been there for years too.

Just because you are ignorant about these things doesn't mean they don't exist (or existed before Apple 'invented' them)... but for some, ignorance is bliss

Besides, you can't seriously compare a 5 megapixel camera which microsoft is coming out with to a VGA camera (VGA = 0.3 megapixel) that comes with Macs. It's like comparing a S class Merc to Dodge Neon

[Llib Setag]

iChat + iSight + AIM BUILT IN

Out of the box, on a Mac OSX computer, for several YEARS now...

Plus you can have a 4 WAY teleconference meeting with three other iChat/AIM people as well.

The webcam is built into all iMacs & Mac notebooks
running on Intel Core Duo chips for video & audio teleconferences, telecommunters, family gatherings & long distance friends.

NOT A NEW INVENTION, only new to Citizen Gates & windows... just because the tiny refrigerator bulb of a brain came on in Redmond's Jurassic Park, does NOT translate into a new invention.

Once again Gates playing catch up to Steve Jobs.

NOT NEWS C/NOT.

been there, done that, moving onto the future...

check it out:

http://www.apple.com/imac/isight.html

[Llib Setag]

See Vista's web cam future TODAY

http://www.apple.com/imac/isight.html

been there, done that for YEARS, moving onto the future...

have fun & be patient, Citizen Gates is cranking the copy machines in Jurassic Park (Redmond One) as fast as he can to keep up with Apple.

[catch23]

As always, Apple lags in the past

Sony had cameras built into their laptops long before Apple. They also has 1/2 way decent software
(funny if slightly racy ad, and not even for their first model)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-596357525020519671

ah well, if something isn't invented until Apple condescends to copy others, I guess your right.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Message has been deleted.

[emersk]

Will the latency be as low as the iSight?

This will be a big advance if you connect directly to the person you are talking to, not through a server. Then you can expect low latency during calls, not annoying delays. I will be happy to catch up with Apple.

[hetzbh]

It's too bad

That Logitech so far hasn't added some bigger resolutions to it's webcams. You still get up to 640x480 and if you do a "Full Auto Mode" the FPS goes down below 15FPS.

Logitech, Wake up! we need cams with MUCH better resolution, responsiveness and full support for USB 2.0, FORGET the USB 1.1 already!

[The Governator]

This won't change a thing

Unless every computer maker gives one of these away with every
purchase this will not change anything,webcams have been
around for years (granted not in this quality) but the reason
Apple (and yes Sony) built them into their products is that there
is no point in having the software available if nobody has the
hardware,if you want to make a video conference you are reliant
on at least two people going out and buying a camera and you
know how lazy people are.

[mystereojones]

iSight or LifeCam?

Doesn't the latest iMac have the iSight built it? The cool technology is Apple getting a patent for a LCD screen to work like a cam. This LifeCam doesn't seem that bad though.
http://www.techknowcafe.com/content/view/528/42/